South Africa: Meet Mickey, Minnie And Goofy this December At Disney Channel’s Christmas Extravaganza
By Own Correspondent – Johannesburg, South Africa – One of Africa’s best loved actresses, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, is set to delight the little ones this festive season with a series of wonderful storytelling events, being held as part of Disney Channel’s Christmas extravaganza at Sandton City, Johannesburg, from 10-24 December.
Surtie-Richards will take to the stage at 10am from 15-19 December at the Fountain Court in Sandton City where she will read various Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse stories for preschoolers and interact with the children. Each day, after the story, kids will have the chance to take part in Disney’s famous Hot Dog Dance before Mickey Mouse makes his appearance to continue the Disney festive fun.
The stories Surtie-Richards will read include Look Before You Leap!, Farmer Donald’s Pumpkin Patch and Donald’s Christmas Gift. The award-winning actress, best known for her role as Nenna Willemse in Egoli, will entertain the children with her trademark sense of humour, whacky accents and facial expressions. And with her previous experience in the Department of Education’s Theatre-in-Education productions and as a kindergarten teacher, there’s no doubt the kids will love every minute of it!
The storytelling sessions will take place in the Disney Channel Mickey Mouse Clubhouse zone – an area specially designed for preschoolers – which will also include daily face painting, balloon sculpting, various craft activities, a play area and ball pond.
The 14-day festival for boys and girls aged 2-14 will feature other individually themed zones that recreate Disney Channel favourites, including Jonas LA, Camp Rock 2 and Phineas and Ferb, each with their own themed activities. Each zone will incorporate a chill-out area where kids can relax on bean bags and enjoy their favourite Disney shows.
Regular stage events will also take place, including hip hop dance demos, dance classes with Camp Rock 2 and demonstrations of Chain Reaction experiments. In addition, loveable Disney icons Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy will make special appearances from 15-19 December*.
The storytelling sessions take place at 10am from 15-19 December, and the rest of the fun, from 10am until 6pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10am to 5pm on Sundays and public holidays.
Disney Channel presents entertainment programming for kids and families including the hit animated series Phineas and Ferb and the Disney Channel Original Movies High School Musical and Camp Rock. As an extra special Christmas treat, Disney Channel will premiere a brand new extended version of Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam on Saturday 11 December at 8:50am and an extended Christmas special of Phineas and Ferb Winter Vacation on Wednesday 15 December at 10:50am. Mickey Mouse fans can catch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in Traditional Tales from Monday 27 December at 7:05am.
The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media group.
TWDC has been active in South Africa for over 50 years. In 2006 the Disney Channel launched on the Multichoice DStv platform and in 2009 was voted the #1 coolest TV channel in South Africa in the Sunday Times Generation NeXt survey. Disney is one of the top distributors of US programming in the region, and brings network series, movies and Disney-branded kids and family content to TV viewers, including top rated US network series on air in the market such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Brothers and Sisters’. In 2007, Disney’s film distribution arm is the leader for family movies in the market, enjoying considerable success in 2009 with box office hits such as ‘Up’ and ‘The Proposal’ and in 2010 with the record breaking ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Disney is now also at the forefront of bringing new technologies to the market through classic film titles such as ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ on Blu-Ray and DVD. In 2009 Disney launched a direct to consumer mobile site for consumers in South Africa (disneysa.mobi), allowing tweens and families to access a range of Disney content directly from their mobile phones.
Disney Channels EMEA represents the most successful portfolio of kids’ channels in Europe,Middle East and Africa with 58 channels* feeds available in 118 countries and in 23 languages. In 2009, Disney Channel ranked as the #1 kids’ channel in 7 countries/territories in EMEA [out of the 17 reported markets]. Disney Channel properties continue to rapidly expand into new markets across the region playing a key role in introducing the Disney brand to new consumers.
