vballchica134 at IDF went to the taping of this at Disneyland and posted a great comprehensive recap over on the other board.

Wow, today was a long day. Sorry it's taken me so long to post.

Got there aroun 7:30. The park wasn't open yet, so everyone was coming for the parade taping. I guess the 2,000+ other people are annual ticketholders who waited online for hours to get tickets, so they were all super excited. Most from out of town, I guess.

Anyways, we were crowded into an area right in front of the castle. First thing I noticed: it was humid with a constant mist in the air and no sunlight. Not the best conditions for filming. They were trying to cover all the electronic equipment with ponchos and plastic things.

The original schedule: DWTS, Patti LaBelle, Katharine, Jessica Simpson. Filming was supposed to start at 8. By 10:30, the audience warm up guy wasn't so entertaining anymore, and we still hadn't seen any performances (or celebs at all). Kids were crying, parents frustrated, people sitting on the ground (that'd be me and my friend lol). DWTS couldn't go next, as the stage was wet. Wet floor + dancers = broken bones. So they put Patti first ... who probably wasn't prepared to go first, so it took a long time to get her out there. I think we went to go ride rides around 11. Came back and Patti was running through a few takes. She was okay, not spectacular, so we didn't stay. It was actually funnier to watch the warm-up guy run through the practice AS Patti ... he got so into it.

So they decided the stage was dry enough (after several moppings) for the dancers to go. This was probably the biggest production. Helio, Sabrina Bryan, Joey Fatone, Cheryl Burke and partners all performed while John Secada sang a medley of Christmas songs. There were dancers in the audience and also a pyro elements os they did many many takes (broken up) then finally did one take straight through (which they probably won't use).

Rode more rides, came back for Jessica who sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." It was "raining" the hardest when she came out. People were making fun of her for having a guy with an umbrella over her during the practice runs but I'm sure it was so they wouldn't have to redo her hair and makeup a million times. She had a pretty big production too, with the gospel choir singing backup. They jazzed up the end, and did it double time, so that was cool. She sounded decent, but didn't look extremely thrilled to be there. The warmup guy also played her part but complained that "Jessica Simpson wears me out" lol.

So there was a set change between all of the performers. They had a lot to do before Kat actually came out. By this time, it was 3:30 (she was supposed to perform at 11:15). Finally the princesses started coming out, and the warmup guy had to go find out what Kat was singing so he could be her. It was kind of secretive, everyone was wondering what she was singing. So the track starts (all of them had recorded tracks that the cast ran through before hand, so I got to hear Kat's song before she even came out) and it's a medley of the Disney songs: When You Wish Upon A Star, A Whole New World, etc. Can't even remember them all now, but it was super cool and the track sounded great. Each of the princesses were sort of honored during their part. There was also "little princesses" (they had encouraged kids to dress as their favorite character) sitting in the front, so Kat was "singing" to them.

Finally Kat came out. She looked gorgeous (from way back on the side of the castle where we were). She did a bunch of practice run throughs since she had to walk down stairs and make sure she was in the right place as she sung each princess' song. Her mic was turned way up at first, so it didn't sound amazing, but the fixed that. She probably sang through parts or all of the song 10-12 times but she seemed the most deteremined to get it right, if that makes sense. Jessica just looked over it, and I didn't see Patti so I can't judge her. But Kat was really listening to herself and talking to the audio guys as she moved around. The finished product was very good. I got a lot on tape and took several pics ... hopefully the audio is decent.

I'll start uploading now

The first one happened to be the final take: http://www.sendspace.com/file/0xuyfx (not the best audio)

Sorry it's sideways. If anyone knows how to fix that, feel free. I'll try to upload to youtube too.

First walk through: http://www.sendspace.com/file/6q6qtq (no singing)
First take: http://www.sendspace.com/file/16wdre (pretty good sound because her mic was too loud)
Second take: http://www.sendspace.com/file/w1gpfl (similar to first)

katpack_15 from IDF put up a couple of streaming links for those who are averse to downoads.

First Take streaming/dl : http://www.divshare.com/download/2957118-349
Second Take : http://www.divshare.com/download/2957161-3ee
Third/Final Take: http://www.divshare.com/download/2957118-349

Thanks for the awesome recap and the video tells me that Kat may appear/ be heard in a Disney movie someday!!!

how coolthanks for finding this

Kat sounds absolutely amazing on those classic Disney songs--and if she sounds that good on an amateur fly-on-the-wall video (or is it Disney VIP on the wall? ) then the HD broadcast will obviously be a knockout. This also answers the proverbial question: Nobody works on Christmas Day...even entertainers!

This obviously was a dream and wish our heart made--considering many in the fanbase were wanting Kat to sing these songs back when she was on 'AI.' But Disney probably won't license out their songs to 'AI' in a million years, and we all know 'AI' will be canceled before that time...or so we think. Nevertheless, it was just a matter of time before Kat was picked by Disney to sing some of their classic songs. Now was probably the best time while Kat goes into career transition. It couldn't come soon enough for me--because I'm a huge fan of Disney music old and (relatively) new. Hearing her sing "When You Wish Upon a Star" alone is enough to make you realize Uncle Walt would be beaming right about now.

I've thought for a while that Kat could have likely been Disney's biggest star had she decided to join up with them and do a TV series or music for them. She fits the persona they go for in almost every way. In the last few years, it's been Hilary Duff as the top Disney star. Now, of course, it's Hannah Montana mania. Maybe if Walt Disney was still alive--it would have been better having Kat sign a contract with the company. I haven't been happy with a lot of the directions of contemporary Disney--especially in their music division. Had Kat joined their Hollywood Records (where Hilary Duff apparently still is, believe it or not)--the corporate incompetence would make RCA look good in comparison.

Anyway, seeing Kat singing in Disneyland is the perfect combination that should have happened a while ago. I did notice in the still shots, though, that the Disney magic can't seem to help the annoyance and usual malfunction of earpieces. The stage director and other staffers were practically crawling on Kat's back for two takes just to fix the battery pack. At least the Disney performers and dancers behind her apparently don't have to worry about it.

Thanks to Vballchica for the video and review. People getting tickets a year in advance for that are probably insane...but actually being there makes it understandable why they do.

THANK THE LORD THAT THERE IS REAL TALENT IN THIS WORLD and Katharine McPhee proves that. God what a voice, listen to those pipes resonate throughout the whole Castle...Absolutely Brilliant.

Watch Out Santa: Katharine is on her way and she doesn't need a one horse open sleigh!

Here's the audio from vballchica134's videos, song portions

Kept mono.

Disney 027: www.divshare.com/download/2977299-ab4
First take: www.divshare.com/download/2977300-519
Second take: www.divshare.com/download/2977301-0cd
Warmup guy, prerecorded audio track: www.divshare.com/download/2977302-ee9

And here's Disney 027, rotated rightside up, AVI/mp3:

www.divshare.com/download/2993699-e88
The downloaded file is 240x320, even if the stream looks squished.

Too bad about the tree! My daughter thought that she might have the same problem with her cats but, instead, one of them (without climbing, etc) has claimed it for his own and sleeps under it just daring his brother to get too close!

I had the same problem a long time ago involving both a cat and my toddler! I ended up placing the tree "INSIDE" a play-pen! It worked pretty well! The cat decided it was too much of an effort (not to mention undignified) to go to the trouble of getting to it! And then, there was the windy Christmas Night in Wy when the wind blew so hard the entire house shook and the inside tree crashed down on my 2 year old son!

The best present under the tree this year will definitely be seeing Kat and hearing her interpretation of those Disney Classic Songs!! I'm also anxiously awaiting the news on today's Christmas Tree Lighting event in Sacramento! And then, Dec. 12 from the Washington National Cathedral!   Wishes do come true!!!!!

I thought in her "update" to us, Kat definitely sounded excited about her Christmas performances! That can only mean great singing for all of her fans to enjoy!  I'm sure she wouldn't have sounded as enthusiastic if she felt she hadn't totally "Aced" the performances! She's never been one to "brag", etc. Gee, I'm practically getting "giddy" with excitement!