2009 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade Preview

This Christmas day, ABC is set to air the annual Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. Families can tune in and check out the celebrity appearances, as well as their favorite Disney characters as they make their way around the parks, spreading holiday cheer. We have the list of some of the performances that will take place at the parade as well as a couple of video clips.

Before we get to that, I’m throwing out my own personal plug for the Disney parks (particularly Disney World in Florida, as it’s one of my favorite places on the planet). Rather than attempting to lure families into the parks with promises of “dreams” and birthday admission tickets, in 2010, the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” promotion will begin. The program celebrates volunteerism by offering a free, one-day admission to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park to 1 million people in the U.S. and Canada who perform volunteer services with one of the participating organizations. I think it’s a fantastic idea on Disney’s part as it not only encourages families to work together, doing something good and in exchange, getting a day at Disney World (or Disneyland). Kudos to Disney for this venture, which begins January 1, 2010. Hopefully it’ll be a successful one on all counts.

More on the topic of the Christmas parade, two families will be featured during the broadcast as they talk about their experiences with volunteering. Sure, Christmas is partially about getting but it’s more about giving and it sounds as though Disney’s pushing that big-time this year.

Below is the list of performers/performances as posted by ABC and further down, check out a video clip featuring the Jonas Brothers and one with American Idol winner, Kris Allen.

• Ten-time Grammy winner Celine Dion will be featured singing her heartwarming ballad, "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day," and shares her own rendition of "O' Come All Ye Faithful"

* Legendary singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder will have viewers singing along with his very own holiday classic, "What Christmas Means to Me"

* Worldwide pop stars Jonas Brothers - who also star in the hit Disney Channel series JONAS - put a rocking, tropical spin on the holidays when they perform their brand-new song, "Summertime Anthem." The high-energy tune is featured on "All Wrapped Up: Vol. 2," the new holiday CD from Hollywood Records.

* The star of the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place, Selena Gomez, makes a special appearance amidst the festive magic at Disneyland park.

* Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose, voice of Princess Tiana from the new Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film, The Princess and the Frog, performs a musical production inspired by Tiana's Showboat Jubilee. During the number, she will be accompanied by Tony Dovolani and Cheryl Burke, two of the dancers from ABC's hit show Dancing with the Stars. The musical, Mardi Gras-style celebration takes place in New Orleans Square at Disneyland.

* Yanni will bring his Yanni Voices to perform a reverent arrangement of "O Holy Night" featuring Nathan Pacheco.

* "American Idol" winner Kris Allen entertains the crowd with his rendition of a holiday favorite, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".

* Straight from Southern California, the world-famous USC Marching Band beats to their own seasonal drums at Disneyland Resort.

* Demi Lovato, star of the Disney Channel's Camp Rock and "Sonny with A Chance," performs the Paul McCartney classic, "Wonderful Christmas Time".

* The irresistible puppies from Disney's popular series of Buddies movies will make a special appearance to celebrate their all-new and heartwarming holiday adventure on Disney Blu-Ray & DVD, Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws.

* Known for his hit songs on the "Hannah Montana: The Movie," "The Suite Life on Deck" and "G-Force" movie soudtracks, Steve Rushton rings in the holidays with "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - a tune he performs on the "Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws" Blu-Ray & DVD - as he is joined by the famed Florida A&M University Strikers.

* Travel Channel star Samantha Brown checks in with holiday greetings from Disney Cruise Line, aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship.

• Additionally, Radio Disney will air a one-hour holiday special hosted by on-air personalities Ernie D. and Jake Whetter on Friday, December 25 (9:00 a.m., ET/6:00 a.m., PT). It will feature interviews with the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Meaghan Martin originating from Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Corresponding video segments will be featured on RadioDisney.com through January 1, 2010.

* Please note: all talent subject to change.

The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade airs on December 25 (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC.