Disney News: Jake & The Never Land Pirates Holiday Episode and 24 Hour Disney Junior Channel!

It’s no surprise how much we love the Disney Junior channel in our household. With a 3 year old toddler and parents who are Disney fanatics, it’s on a lot.

It’s such a staple in our household that it was hard to believe that Disney Junior just launched this past February! Since then, Disney Junior continues to grow and break all previous records for Disney Channel’s preschool programming!

Disney Junior’s hit series, Jake and the Never Land Pirates is cable’s #1 series for Boys 2-5 since its launch and on track to be Disney Channel’s #1 preschool series ever.  The show currently is among one of the most co-viewed preschool series, with 45% of moms watching with their preschooler. {I know I watch it with Hayden!}

A music-filled interactive treasure hunt, Jake and the Never Land Pirates introduces a crew of kid pirates – leader Jake and pals Izzy and Cubby – and follows their Never Land adventures as they work to outwit two infamous characters, the one and only Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, from Disney’s classic “Peter Pan.” Along the way, they model teamwork, problem-solving and physical activity, earning gold doubloons as they conquer a variety of tasks. The series features original “pirate rock” music performed by Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band.

Sharky and Bones

Coming up next for Jake and the Never Land Pirates is a December holiday episode, to be followed in January by the debut of the first-ever 45-minute series special and season two of the series.

In the holiday episode of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, titled It’s A Winter Never Land! / Hook On Ice, Jake, Izzy and Cubby awake to find that Peter Pan has left the crew some presents and a tree to celebrate Winter Treasure Day, and Captain Hook invites Jake and the crew on a winter treasure hunt. The episode premieres FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 (8:30-9:00 a.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

We had the chance to check out the holiday episode of Jake and the Never Land Pirates! After watching it a few times {okay, more than a few times with my pirate obsessed toddler!}, I know your kids will love it! Warning though, you may have some of the songs easily stuck in your head!

If your child is like mine, then they love Disney Junior. But it’s hard to catch the shows when they are only on in the early morning!

Guess what Moms?

Disney Junior is listening…they talked to thousands of parents of 2-7 year olds every year. They heard from moms that they want more Disney programming for their younger children made available throughout the day, especially during those later afternoon/early evening hours when they need it most while making dinner and unwinding from the day.

The result – a brand new standalone 24-hour Disney Junior channel will launch in early 2012. (The current Disney Junior programming block, which launched in February 2011 on Disney Channel, airs weekdays from 4:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., ET/PT and weekends from 4:00–9:00 a.m., ET/PT.)

How exciting is that? I know I can’t wait!

Disclosure: I received a Jake and the Never Land Gift Pack to help write my post from Team Mom, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. My family is an avid watcher of all things Disney Junior.