By Courtney Potter
Muppet Babies Will Make Their Dreams Come True (Again!) in 2018
Fans of all things Muppet, get ready to rejoice: Disney has just begun production on a brand-new, “reimagined” Muppet Babies! The CG-animated series—which will chronicle the playroom antics of the beloved Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, and more—is slated to debut on Disney Junior in early 2018.
Geared towards kids ages 4 through 7, each episode will feature two 11-minute stories that follow the Muppet Babies on various adventures—from building a time machine to flying through outer space—as they let their imaginations take them to the farthest corners of the universe. The stories are designed to highlight creative and critical thinking skills by using the power of imaginative (and it being the Muppets, hilarious) play.
Stay tuned for more info on Disney Junior’s new Muppet Babies as it becomes available!
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives November 4 Lunch with a Disney Legend: Glen Keane November 5 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23 November 19–20 D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures July 14-16, 2017 D23 Expo 2017 Studios November 4, 2016 Doctor Strange opens in theaters November 23, 2016 Moana opens in theaters December 16, 2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters March 17, 2017 Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters |
Parks September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30; October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort September 23, 26, 28, 30 October 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 29, 31 Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort September 2–October 29 (Friday and Saturday Nights, plus October 31) Club Villain, special ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios September 14–November 14, 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29; December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort Television November 11, 2016 Frozen makes its broadcast debut on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT November 20, 2016 Elena and the Secret of Avalor is simulcast on Disney Junior and Disney Channel at 7 p.m. ET November 24, 2016 Freeform’s Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas begins December 1-25, 2016 Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas |
Once Upon a Time: Magic Kingdom Park to Debut a New Projection Show
Once Upon a Time. All the best stories start with those words, and we’re confident that the new projection show debuting at Magic Kingdom Park on November 4 will be one for the books! The new show takes guests on a magical trip through the most adventurous scenes from beloved films like Cinderella, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Leading us on this journey is none other than Mrs. Potts, who shares bedtime stories with Chip that include Peter Pan’s flight, a tea party in Wonderland, and dueling Beast and Gaston. She’ll no doubt have us hanging on her every word through the character-filled grand finale.
Replacing the current Celebrate the Magic projection show, Once Upon a Time (inspired by a similarly named show at Tokyo Disneyland Park) will blanket Cinderella Castle in vibrant, seemingly three-dimensional images. So mark your calendars, and get ready for a new reason to stay up late at Walt Disney World Resort!
Disney Cruise Line Gets “Marvel-ous”—Plus Fresh Itineraries for 2018
Are you ready for some simply “Marvel-ous” ocean travel? Disney Cruise Line is celebrating the epic adventures of the legendary Super Heroes and Super Villains from the Marvel Universe beginning next year!
Marvel Day at Sea combines the thrill-a-minute entertainment of Marvel comics, films, and animated series with the excitement of a Disney Cruise to summon everyone’s “inner Super Hero” for the adventure of a lifetime! Occurring on one action-packed day, the event features hours of entertainment, including exclusive interactions with some of the mightiest Marvel Super Heroes (and the menacing foes that oppose them); an amazing deck party; Marvel-themed youth activities and trivia games; special merchandise; and totally unique food and beverage offerings. Plus, guests can enjoy exclusive at-sea screenings of fan-favorite films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (including the newest theatrical releases). Marvel Day at Sea will be on seven- and eight-night Disney Magic Bahamian cruises departing from New York through October and November 2017.
But that’s not all: DCL has some brand-new ports of call up its sleeve for 2018, including the beautiful Caribbean destination of Bonaire, and a limited-engagement return to San Diego, CA—both via various sailings on the Disney Wonder. For more info on all of this sea-worthy fun, check out DisneyCruise.com.
Star Wars Stand-Alone Film Finds its Young Lando Calrissian
There was a (most exciting) disturbance in the Force last week, as Lucasfilm announced that Donald Glover—acclaimed actor (Community, Atlanta), award-winning writer, and Grammy®-nominated recording artist (under the name Childish Gambino)—will be playing the part of young Lando Calrissian in the still-untitled Han Solo Star Wars film!
Glover will join Alden Ehrenreich—previously cast as Han Solo—in bringing two truly iconic Star Wars characters back to the big screen, but at a time in their lives previously unexplored. This new film depicts Lando in his formative years as a scoundrel on the rise in the galaxy’s underworld—before the adventures involving Han, Leia, and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back, and his rise to Rebel hero in Return of the Jedi.
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film is slated for release in 2018.
Hear Dwayne Johnson Croon a Tune as Maui in New Moana Clip
As if having Dwayne Johnson voicing a character in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ highly anticipated Moana wasn’t cool enough… he happens to croon several fabulous new ditties throughout the movie. And most of those tunes? Were written by the one and only Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony Award® winner for Broadway’s Hamilton (and star of Disney’s upcoming Mary Poppins Returns).
Can’t wait ‘til November 23 to hear Dwayne sing? Never fear: Dwayne himself broke portions of the Internet this week when he posted a clip from one of Maui’s songs, “You’re Welcome”—and it’ll soon be followed by exclusive behind-the-scenes moments from his recording session with Lin-Manuel, as part of his very first “Instagram Story.”
So keep your eyes on Dwayne’s social media accounts—and look for Moana in your local cinema this fall!
Frozen To Make its Network Debut on ABC This Holiday Season
For the first time in, well, forever, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ mega-hit Frozen will make its network broadcast premiere as part of ABC’s Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday, December 11, at 8 p.m. ET. The story of eternal optimist Anna (Kristen Bell) and her reclusive sister Elsa (Idina Menzel); mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and his trusty sidekick reindeer Sven; and a hilarious snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) is the perfect addition to the holiday season!
Following the film’s ABC premiere is The Making of Frozen: A Return to Arendelle, 10:04 p.m. ET), a special that ventures behind the scenes for a look at the origins and evolution of the Oscar®-winning film. And as a chill-rific added bonus, it includes an exclusive sneak peek at an all-new, all-original holiday event starring the whole Frozen cast of characters, coming to ABC in late 2018!
Freeform’s Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas—Beginning November 24!
Once the turkey’s been carved and the family’s firmly ensconced on the couch watching Thanksgiving Day football, it can only mean one thing… that the holiday season has officially begun! And over at Freeform, they’re getting into the spirit with Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas—their programming celebration that really puts the jingle into “jingle bells.”
Beginning Thursday, November 24, Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas features some of Disney and Disney•Pixar’s classic films, including Toy Story and Toy Story 2, as well as Brave, Tangled, Mulan, Wreck-It Ralph, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Additionally, the programming event will include the premiere of The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Boxtrolls, and the network premiere of the fourth installment of the hit Cinderella Story franchise, A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits, starring Sofia Carson (Descendants, Adventures in Babysitting).
And don’t forget: 25 Days of Christmas starts decking Freeform’s proverbial halls on December 1!
