By Andie Hagemann
Don’t be late for a very important date with the brand-new animated series Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, premiering Wednesday, February 9, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior and Disney Channel. The first 6 episodes will also be available on Disney+ same day. Alice (voiced by newcomer Libby Rue) and her pals are whipping up magical delicious treats for all of Wonderland in this fanciful show geared toward kids aged 2 to 7 and their families.
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, inspired by the animated classic Alice in Wonderland, centers on the great-granddaughter of the 1951 film’s heroine and a promising young baker at the Wonderland Bakery; audiences will also be reintroduced to iconic characters such as the Cheshire Cat (voiced by Max Mittelman), and meet new and reimagined characters—including the Queen of Hearts (voiced by Eden Espinosa) and Princess of Hearts (voiced by Abigail Estrella).
Before savoring this sweet series, here are five things you need to know about Alice’s Wonderland Bakery:
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Food is an integral part of Alice in Wonderland, as the heroine eats and drinks her way through her magical journey. For executive producer Chelsea Beyl and co-executive producer and art director Frank Montagna, it was only fitting to include food and baking in Young Alice’s story too. “I think so many kids love baking, and I hope the show inspires them to try something new or express themselves creatively through a batch of cupcakes, cake, or decorating—because food is so creative,” Beyl tells D23. The treats at the Wonderland Bakery use real-world ingredients such as eggs and milk to connect with the show’s young viewers, and a touch of whimsy to give recipes a Wonderland twist. “One dessert I love is when Hattie [Alice’s madcap pal, voiced by CJ Uy] makes the ‘Try Again Tart,’ because it’s a cute example of when kids make something and put their own twist on it, and he later has to remake it for the Queen. It’s a fun lesson on how he bakes the Hatter way,” says Montagna.
You’ve Got a Friend in Me
Alice is joined in the Wonderland Bakery by best friends Hattie; Fergie (voiced by Jack Stanton), a white rabbit; and Rosa, the Princess of Hearts… along with her magical cookbook, Cookie, and some enchanted appliances. The group uses teamwork, creativity, and friendship to create delectable creations for all their pals. Alice, Fergie, Hattie, and Rosa are descendants of the iconic characters and created for a modern audience; to that end, the creative team was inspired to bring a global feel to the series—seen in the set design, the food, the music, and the casting. “We always wanted the cast to be diverse, and when we were thinking about Hattie or Rosa, the Queen, we tried to clue into different cultures; it just seemed natural,” says Montagna, who landed on a Japanese-inspired design for Hattie and a Cuban influence for the Queen (and Princess) of Hearts.
Dance (and Bake) to the Music
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery features toe-tapping songs sure to get fans movin’ and groovin’ in the kitchen. With music being a major part of storytelling, the show’s creators turned to the pros to ensure the fun songs go off on the right note: “We got a lot of talent from Broadway, especially for the flowers [characters], who have a big singing presence in Wonderland,” says Beyl.
Inspired by Disney Parks… and Beyond
In the early days of production, the crew took a field trip to the central bakery at Disneyland Park to view which tools Alice would need to make her bakery unique—and may of the items the creative team chose (including a giant mixer similar to Disneyland’s industrial one) also passed muster with Beyl’s pastry-chef sister. Alice’s bakery itself is reminiscent of the eye-popping treats she’s creating, with a color palette full of candy-coated pastels.
Wonderland’s Whimsical Guests
Make sure to keep those (rabbit) ears open: The first season of Alice’s Wonderland Bakery features hilarious guest voices including former Saturday Night Live comedians Vanessa Bayer and Bobby Moynihan (Tweedle Do and Tweedle Don’t) and Ana Gasteyer (Kiki); Craig Ferguson (Doorknob); Donald Faison (Harry the March Hare); friend of D23 Yvette Nicole Brown (Mama Rabbit); and many more!
Don’t miss Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, debuting February 9—with new episodes premiering on Thursday, February 10, and Friday, February 11, as well—on Disney Junior and Disney Channel and the first 6 episodes available on Disney+.
