Get an Exclusive Discount on Tickets to “Wild Hope” by National Geographic Live with Ami Vitale

National Geographic Live is returning to Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Washington, from November 13 through November 15 with photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale. For three nights only, Vitale will share her journey as a National Geographic Explorer through first-person accounts of the unsung heroes and communities protecting our wildlife across the globe.

This special presentation titled “Wild Hope” will cover stories on the reintroduction of northern white rhinos and giant pandas back to the wild, as well as Kenya’s first indigenous-owned and run elephant sanctuary. You won’t want to miss this intimate look at Vitale’s award-winning work.

Ami Vitale stands in an alley between buildings holding her camera. She is submerged in green murky water that reaches all the way up to her hips and she is wearing a purple patterned shirt and smiling at the camera. Behind her is a man wearing a blue striped polo shirt, also smiling, and behind him there is a blurry image of a child hanging out of a building window.

Ami Vitale, is one of the most versatile photographers working today, known for sharing powerful stories that drive change but also inspire us to push boundaries and have an impact in our daily lives. She has lived in mud huts and war zones, contracted malaria, and donned a panda suit—keeping true to her belief in the importance of “living the story.” Today, she focuses on our fragile relationship with the natural world and finding solutions to our most pressing environmental challenges.

: A man in an olive-green poncho and hat stands face to face with a rhino in a grassy field. He is mouth to mouth with the rhino, nearly kissing, and holding a striped rainbow umbrella above them.

Get tickets for National Geographic Live’s “Wild Hope” for just $35 using promo code “WILD.” The code is valid for all Orchestra level seating and can be entered at the top of the shopping cart page once a performance is selected. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes stories from National Geographic photographers, scientists, and filmmakers, along with exclusive footage and unforgettable imagery highlighting our world’s surreal natural beauty and the enduring power of the human spirit.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

Don’t miss all the spectacular content debuting on your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this week! From hilarious new shorts to an inspirational new series, there is something for every member of the family to enjoy. On Wednesday, all episodes of Zootopia+ and Save Our Squad with David Beckham premiere on Disney+. Catch a new episode of Grey’s Anatomy airing Thursday on ABC, followed by the series finale of Atlanta on FX. A brand-new episode of Raven’s Home premieres Friday on Disney Channel.

Zootopia+Wednesday, November 9, on Disney+

Return to the bustling metropolis of Zootopia in this brand-new collection of short-form stories that explores the lives of some the city’s most intriguing residents. From Fru Fru, the fashion-forward arctic shrew to Clawhauser, the sweet-toothed cheetah, you won’t want to miss these hilarious adventures (and equally comical misadventures!).

In a still from Disney+’s Save Our Squad with David Beckham, from left to right, a young boy stands with his hands on his hips. He wears a navy-blue zippered jacket with a thick white stripe down the arms and matching pants. Former soccer star David Beckham stands to the right and smiles; he wears a black beanie with a large logo, black windbreaker jacket, black pants, and a gray hoodie. They stand on a soccer field with a large goal behind them.

Save Our Squad with David BeckhamWednesday, November 9, on Disney+

Former soccer superstar David Beckham returns to his roots in East London to help the Westward Boys’ under 14 squad, who are in danger of relegation. Beckham has a tall task in front of him—as this desperate squad has yet to win a game this season. Follow the Westward Boys, their coaches, and their families on their quest from failure to redemption when all episodes debut at launch.

In a still from ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, from left to right, actors Midori Francis, Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, and Alexis Floyd each sit solo at large desks. Francis, Shum, Kane, and Floyd wear white medical coats and blue scrubs. The tables are covered with large white machinery and metal lights. Actor Scott Speedman stands facing the group and leans on a desk. He wears dark blue scrubs.

Grey’s AnatomyThursday, October 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC

After life-changing news rocks Grey Sloan, an intense thunderstorm hits Seattle. The attending surgeons and interns work together to save an injured reporter and family affected by the storm. Elsewhere, a beloved author undergoes a risky surgery, and complications from the storm arise.

In a still from FX’s Atlanta, actor Donald Glover sits in a diner booth with orange leather seats. He wears a navy-blue tuxedo with black lapels and a white button-down shirt. The table in front of Glover holds a white plate and two clear water glasses.

AtlantaThursday, November 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX

The series finale is here—which means it’s time to say goodbye to the award-winning story of Earn (Donald Glover) and friends. Season 4 kicked out with Earn, Alfred ‘Paper Boi’ Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (LaKeith Stanfield), and Van (Zazie Beetz) back in Atlanta after their European tour. But the question is, has Atlanta changed, or have they? This series is intended for mature audience only.

In a still from Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home, actors Issac Ryan Brown, Emmy Liu Wang, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Raven-Symoné, and Rondell Sheridan stand in a line and hold the person in front of them. Brown grasps the door knob as they all attempt to unlock it.

Raven’s Home—Friday, November 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel

Alice (Mykal-Michelle Harris) and Ivy (Emmy Liu Wang) create a safety plan for the family in the event of an emergency, but the Baxters aren’t eager take part. The girls decide to trick the family into rehearsing. However, things don’t go smoothly as they wind up locking themselves and the whole family in the basement.

5 Things You Need to Know About Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

By Zach Johnson

In Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the people of Wakanda are grieving the loss of their king, T’Challa (Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman), all while Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers. And, in the wake of T’Challa’s death, an even more dangerous threat emerges from the hidden undersea nation of Talocan: Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía). As the Wakandans try to embrace their next chapter, they must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) to forge a new path for their kingdom.

Before the film opens in U.S. theaters on November 11, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club attended a virtual press conference with the cast and filmmakers behind the action-adventure. Below are five things fans should know before they see the movie.

In a still from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri (Letitia Wright) wears white ceremonial funeral garb and makeup. She has a sad expression on her face. In the background are mourners, also wearing white.

1. Rather than recast T’Challa after Chadwick Boseman’s death, the story was revised.
A sequel to the Oscar®-winning film Black Panther was announced at D23 Expo in 2019. Boseman died from colon cancer a year later, prompting the filmmakers to debate how—or even if—they should proceed with the follow-up. “The shock turned into, ‘What do we do? What should we do? Should we do anything?’” producer Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, recalled. “Relatively soon, it was determined that this amazing ensemble of characters and this world that had been created onscreen needed to continue. Ryan pours everything—all of himself—into everything he does, and he’d been working for almost a year on a version of the movie with T’Challa in it.”

2. The actors channeled their own grief into their performances.
Shuri, the brilliant inventor and princess of Wakanda, is bitter after losing her brother, T’Challa. Wright says she had a “heart-to-heart conversation” with Coogler about how to take “a gentle step forward, because it’s so raw.” Ultimately, Wright said, “We were able to bring something that felt real, that felt truthful. I was able to really give my heart to it and give Shuri a full arc. Hopefully people resonate with that and find some healing, alongside us, with it.” Whereas Shuri is angry, Nakia “is a little further along in terms of her processing,” Nyong’o added: “It’s not like she has it all figured out. In the first film, Ryan described her as T’Challa’s oasis, and that really resonated with me. So, when I was reading this script and thinking about where she is, I realized that what she once was to T’Challa she now has the opportunity to offer Shuri. It made a lot of sense in terms of the structure and architecture of the story; we’re talking about the exploration of grief. It’s really grounding to have someone who is befriending of that change—both for the people in the story, and also for an audience. The fact that she was T’Challa’s love, in a way, allows an audience to know, ‘It’s okay.’”

In a still from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) is underwater. He wears a gold headdress and jewelry.

3. To the Wakandans, Namor is a threat—but to his people, he’s a god.
As M’Baku says in the film, Namor’s people do not call him general or king; they call him K’uk’ulkan, “the feather serpent god.” He has not concerned himself or his people with the affairs of the surface world—until the Wakandans exposed the world to Vibranium, the strongest metal known to man, unknowingly making Talokan a target. Now, Huerta Mejía said, Namor wants to “destroy” anyone who opposes him. “Ryan found a way to make him human, to justify why people do that kind of thing,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that it’s OK or not. Maybe it’s not an excuse, but it’s an explanation.”

4. Shuri meets her match—and makes a new friend.
Dominique Thorne makes her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Riri Williams, a brilliant inventor and student at MIT—and according to Wright, she makes quite a first impression! “I’m really excited for Dominique and the performance you guys are about to see,” Wright said. “She’s incredible, and Riri is so much fun. And I love the fact that we get a beautiful opportunity to see another Black young girl be a genius at school, doing her thing, inspiring so many. That was a cool connection [between us].”

5. Female characters are front and center in the story.
“These were the characters who were most affected by T’Challa’s passing, so we focused on the people who were appropriate,” producer Nate Moore said. “It’s not about pushing women forward or holding men back; it’s about telling the story that is organic. Sometimes maybe from the outside, there’s a thought that there are agendas at play. It’s just telling good stories, you know? We are blessed with an amazing cast who breathe life into these characters and makes you want to see what’s happening with Shuri, or Okoye, or Nakia, or Ramonda. To not highlight them would have been a disservice to the story. The movie’s better for it—because if we would have wedged in some new male characters just to have that voice, that would have been performative.”

Where to See a Sneak Peek at Disney’s Strange World—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Sneak Peek at Strange World Coming to Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line

Ready to go adventuring? Guests visiting select Disney Parks can soon get an early look at scenes from Strange World, the latest film from Walt Disney Animation Studios. A special sneak peek of the film began playing today, November 4, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort—and sneak peeks of footage from the film will also be coming soon to Disneyland Paris and Disney Cruise Line.

Two of the film’s voice-actor stars, Jake Gyllenhaal (Searcher Clade) and Gabrielle Union (Meridian Clade), helped make the fun announcement:

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original, action-packed adventure Strange World introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they try and navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog, and a slew of ravenous creatures.

Directed by Don Hall (Oscar-winning Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) with co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer, Raya and the Last Dragon)—and produced by Roy Conli (Big Hero 6, Tangled)—Strange World releases to theaters on November 23!  

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

It’s true—we’re just about a week away from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s debut in U.S. theaters on November 11… so in anticipation, we’ve put together a slate of Marvel Studios content to help you reacquaint yourself with Black Panther—not to mention celebrate the life and legacy of late Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman. Click here for what to add to your weekend watch list! 

New Disenchanted Trailer Asks What Happens After “Happily Ever After”?

Earlier this week, Disney+ released a truly magical new trailer for Disenchanted, the all-new musical comedy… and sequel to the fan favorite Enchanted!

It has been more than 10 years since Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Disney Legend Patrick Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city. So, they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy-tale life. Unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she had hoped for; suburbia has a whole new set of rules—as well as a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy! Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.

The film, which reunites original cast members Adams, Dempsey, Disney Legend Idina Menzel, and James Marsden, also stars Rudolph, Gabriella Baldacchino, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jayma Mays. Directed by Adam Shankman, Disenchanted features new songs from Disney Legend Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Look for the film to debut Friday, November 18, exclusively on Disney+!

A promotional image for Marvel Day at Sea 2023 on Disney Cruise Line features multiple images of Super Heroes and Villains—including Shang-Chi, the Mighty Thor, Black Panther, Ms. Marvel, Captain America Sam Wilson, and more. The Disney Cruise Line logo is seen toward the bottom of the image, in white; beneath that is the red and white Marvel logo, beneath which it reads “Day at Sea.”

Marvel Day at Sea Returns to Disney Cruise Line in 2023

Marvel fans, assemble! As announced this week, favorite Super Heroes and Villains will make your vacation that much more epic when Marvel Day at Sea sailings begin again on Disney Cruise Line in early 2023.

Setting sail January through March from Miami, Marvel Day at Sea combines the thrills of renowned Marvel comics, films, and animated series with the excitement of a Disney cruise. During this one action-packed day aboard the Disney Dream, guests will get to experience all-day entertainment including meet-and-greets; stage shows; film and TV screenings; special merchandise; themed food and beverage offerings; and activities for every member of the family.

For the first time ever, more than 30 Marvel Super Heroes and Villains will be featured in new heroic encounters and live entertainment throughout the event—including the debut of Captain America Sam Wilson, Mighty Thor, Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, Ant-Man and The Wasp, Kate Bishop, and more! Plus, the sailings will feature a brand-new take on “Heroes Unite,” the signature nighttime spectacular featuring special effects, stunts, and pyrotechnics, as well as a cool new “Strange Academy: A Spellbinding Spectacular” show in the Walt Disney Theatre.

But that’s not all: Young recruits will get to sharpen their skills during an all-new, interactive training experience with Captain America Steve Rogers, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Kate Bishop held on the upper decks and in the kids’ club.

For more information on all the amazing fun to expect during Marvel Day at Sea—as well as upcoming itineraries—visit Disney Cruise Line.

Thrilling New Avatar: The Way of Water Trailer from 20th Century Studios

We’re soaring ever closer to the debut of Avatar: The Way of Water, James Cameron’s highly anticipated first follow-up to his Academy Award®-winning Avatar, the highest-grossing film of all time… and to tide us over (pun intended), 20th Century Studios just released a brand-new trailer, above.

With Avatar: The Way of Water, the cinematic experience reaches new heights as Cameron transports audiences back to the magnificent world of Pandora in a spectacular and stirring action-packed adventure. Set more than a decade after the events of Avatar, this new film begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their children), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

Directed and produced by Cameron, the film stars Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri), Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), Sigourney Weaver (Kiri), Stephen Lang (Colonel Miles Quaritch), Cliff Curtis (Tonowari), Joel David Moore (Norm Spellman), CCH Pounder (Mo’at), Edie Falco (General Ardmore), Jemaine Clement (Dr. Ian Garvin), and Kate Winslet (Ronal).

Avatar: The Way of Water opens in theaters on Friday, December 16.

Jingle All the Way to Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas

Yes, we know—we only just finished up the candy and tossed out the carved pumpkin (responsibly)… but it’s now November, which means all holidays, all the time!!! (Sorry, that was our outside voice.) Case in point: The good folks at Freeform have announced the return of 25 Days of Christmas, their yearly yuletide watchfest of epic proportions. For a full rundown on what to expect—including their new “25 Days of Christmas Past” channel on ABC.com—click here.

The logo for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. At the top of the image is the red and white Marvel Studios graphic; below it, it says “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in a shiny silver font.  

Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast Debuts This Week

Proximity Media, in collaboration with Marvel Studios and Marvel Entertainment, announced a six-episode podcast about the making of the highly anticipated film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, opening in U.S. theaters November 11.

Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast—which debuted with its first episode this week—explores this next chapter in the story of Wakanda and honors the remarkable legacy of Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman. Ta-Neshisi Coates, National Book Award-winning author, journalist, and writer for Marvel Comics’ Black Panther, serves as host and writer. Proximity Media’s Head of Audio Paola Mardo serves as producer as well as executive producer alongside Proximity’s founders Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian.

The first episode features a conversation between Coates and director and co-writer Ryan Coogler; the two artists and friends reflect on the cultural impact of Black Panther, the legacy of Boseman, and his inspiration to the cast and crew. “There is no storyteller I admire more than Ryan Coogler,” said Coates, who makes his podcast-hosting debut. “Any chance to partner with him, Proximity Media, and Marvel, is a worthy one. For that opportunity to be a chronicle of the making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was simply too good to pass up.”

Subsequent episodes will be available weekly in January 2023, celebrating the five-year anniversary of the release of the first Black Panther film. Guests will include cast and crew, including stars Angela Bassett and Dominique Thorne; score and soundtrack composer and producer Ludwig Göransson; production designer Hannah Beachler; director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw; co-writer Joe Robert Cole; producers Kevin Feige and Nate Moore; and more. Each episode, in tandem with guests’ conversation, will weave host narration, Göransson’s original score, film clips, and field recordings.

In this promotional image for Disney Cruise Line’s upcoming appearance in the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, three photos from the 2021 parade appear at the top—on the left, the Disney Cruise Line float with NYC buildings in the background; in the middle, a closeup of Minnie Mouse in her Disney Cruise Line finery; on the right, a shot of the Disney Cruise Line dancers and the float during a break in the parade route. Underneath the images, against an orange background, it says “Disney Cruise Line Returns to the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.” There are several brown and yellow leaf graphics surrounding the words.

Disney Cruise Line Makes Return “Sailing” to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Lest we forget about Thanksgiving, our pals at Disney Parks Blog just shared the cool news that Disney Cruise Line will return to the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Last year, Disney Cruise Line debuted an all-new cruise ship float, inspired by the whimsical style of the Disney Wish, during the iconic holiday tradition—and that same vessel will sail down 34th Street again later this month…

In addition to the float, the festivities include a live performance inspired by one of the new Broadway-style shows on board the Disney Wish, “Disney Seas the Adventure.” Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy will lead a cast of performers and iconic Disney characters in this show-stopping number.

Be sure to tune in for the fun, when the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on Thursday, November 24, from 9 a.m. to noon in all time zones on NBC.

New Look at Willow, Coming Soon to Disney+

Lucasfilm and Imagine Entertainment recently released a sneak peek at their all-new, swashbuckling adventure series Willow. Based on Disney Legend George Lucas’ fantasy-adventure film, the Original series debuts in just a few weeks’ time, exclusively on Disney+.

The story began when aspiring sorcerer Willow Ufgood, played by Warwick Davis, was whisked away on a journey to protect an infant empress, Elora Danan, and vanquish the evil Queen Bavmorda from their world of Andowyne… Now, the tale continues with Davis reprising his titular role, as he leads an unlikely crew of heroes on a quest to protect Andowyne from an even larger foe than they had imagined possible!

The Willow series also stars Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, and Joanne Whalley. Watch for it to debut on the streaming service on November 30.

ICYMI: Disney Receives 86 Children’s & Family Emmy® Award Nominations

It’s the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmy® Awards… and Disney came away with an incredible 86 nominations across its content brands and studios. Before the statuettes are handed out on December 10 and 11 in Los Angeles, click here for the complete list of nominations. We bet a few of your favorites made the cut!

The Overnight Holiday Magic That Takes All Year

By Bruce C. Steele

In the wee hours of each November 1, before guests arrive, Main Street, U.S.A., is a very busy place indeed. Within Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort, cast members are busy transforming the street from autumn-inspired and Halloween décor into a Christmas wonderland. By the time guests arrive later that morning, the fall holiday has been replaced with winter, as if by magic.

It’s overnight magic that’s a full year in the making. “We may take a day off here and there,” says Lisa Borotkanics, Manager, Holiday Services at Walt Disney World Resort, “but not anything substantial until next February.”

After that February breather each year, the Holiday Services and Resort Enhancement teams get back to work. There’s spring décor to install, then a new look for the summer and Independence Day—all while work continues at each resort’s holiday warehouse to refurbish and prepare the thousands of decorations for the autumn and winter holidays. The busiest time on both coasts begins in August, since autumn décor needs to be installed in time for the Halloween celebrations that begin around Labor Day and continue through October. (In Florida, decorations for the autumn and winter holidays for the parks, resorts, and cruise ships together fill more than 100 trailers.) But everything leads up to that spectacular changeover on Halloween night.

It can’t begin until all the guests are gone, which can be 1 a.m. or later, and it has to be completed before guests return, as early at 7 or 8 a.m. At the Magic Kingdom, that means getting all of Halloween out and much of Christmas installed in just a few hours. Naturally, it’s all hands on duty. That includes the full-time staff from Holiday Services and Resort Enhancement, as well as dozens of other cast members from many other departments.

At Disneyland park, “install looks a bit different,” says Dawn Pipal-Keehne, Resort Enhancement Area Manager for Disneyland Resort. “We remove all Halloween [in the early morning of] November 1 and then move into Main Street holiday install for three nights, typically starting [in the early morning] on November 2.”

Dawn Pipal-Keehne, Resort Enhancement Area Manager for Disneyland Resort, is seen in the background, while in the foreground is a golden bird ornament, hanging from a Christmas tree in the Resort Enhancement warehouse in Anaheim, California.

“I would describe it as a very beautiful, chaotic dance,” says Pipal-Keehne, Resort Enhancement Area Manager for Disneyland Resort, “because you’ve got to realize it’s not just us prepping for a holiday season, but all of the other crafts in the resort as well. [It involves] all the maintenance teams and custodial and the delivery and project teams—and entertainment, who are doing full dress rehearsals of the [holiday] parade on Main Street, U.S.A. It is a very fine, calculated, organized dance. And even at its best, there’s always sometimes when we have to pivot, because we didn’t know that was going to happen.”

The leaders of the installation, who have been doing this for years, know when it’s right, Borotkanics says. With long experience, they can stand along Main Street, U.S.A., and just look around to see what’s right and what needs adjusting. “You just need to make sure that our optics are correct when the park opens,” she says. “So, throughout that night you’re constantly looking at timing and optics.”

A Holiday in Florida

For the Magic Kingdom, it takes two consecutive nights to get everything in place. After that, the Walt Disney World Resort Holiday Services team and its decorating allies move on to the other parks, then the hotel resorts—a task that takes the Disney elves until almost Thanksgiving. Each resort has an impressive tree as its focal point: 45-foot-tall interior trees at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Wilderness Lodge Resort, and Animal Kingdom Lodge, for example, and a 70-foot outdoor tree at the Contemporary Resort.

As if four parks and more than two dozen resort hotels weren’t enough, the Walt Disney World Holiday Services team also decorates four of the ships of the Disney Cruise Line. (The Anaheim team transforms the Disney Wonder.) For Halloween and then for Christmas on each ship, “we decorate in one morning,” Borotkanics says. “We work very closely with the ship’s crew. We board the ship by 8 o’clock in the morning and typically are gone by 2 o’clock [in the afternoon]. We decorate the entire lobby, and then we decorate the clubs, the kids’ clubs, the restaurants, some of the merchandise [locations], and some of the lounges, too.” For Halloween, each ship has a unique “pumpkin tree” with a face and a name: Reap on the Disney Magic, Bog on the Disney Wonder, Grim on the Disney Dream, Mucklebones on the Disney Fantasy, and Boo on the Disney Wish.

There’s really no break during the holiday season, Borotkanics says, since by the time Christmas décor is installed across the full resort, ongoing quality control has already begun, ensuring everything remains in a fully festive mode throughout the season. Eventually, January rolls around, and it’s time to put everything away until next year—another middle-of-the-night task, this time taking just two weeks to clear the entire Walt Disney World Resort. “It does come down much quicker than it goes up,” Borotkanics says. The task in early 2023 will be a little different than in most years, though, since January also marks the end of the Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th Anniversary celebration. All that EARidescent 50th birthday décor, which has coexisted with the holiday overlay for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, will be leaving along with Christmas.

Several stacked rows of dozens of boxes sit on very tall shelves from the foreground into the distance. Each box displays one round Christmas ornament on the outside, indicating what’s inside. The boxes and shelves are inside in the Resort Enhancement warehouse in Anaheim, California.

Meanwhile, in Anaheim…

A tour of the Resort Enhancement warehouse in Anaheim just days before Halloween finds a surprising calm. Everything has been meticulously planned, based on decades of experience, and most of the decorations awaiting their turn for transport to the resort have long since been renovated, refreshed, or replaced and marked with large gift-like tags reading simply, “READY FOR INSTALL 2022.” Some décor, including the 60-foot tree for Main Street, U.S.A., is already backstage at Disneyland park, in a staging area hidden behind Splash Mountain. The tree, which is stored from year to year in several sections, is constructed and largely decorated backstage. The day of its debut—November 7, this year—it will be carefully separated into two parts and transported by cranes to its showcase position in Town Square. Once in place, its 200 custom-made electric candles and other lights and its 1,800-plus ornaments will be checked by the Resort Enhancement team to make sure everything is perfect for its first encounter with park guests mere hours later. The park’s Entertainment team members are crucial partners for rigging, building, and lighting the tree, Pipal-Keehne notes.

She adds, “It takes us approximately 3 weeks to install all décor around the resort, including Downtown Disney, the hotels, the Disney Wonder cruise ship and Aulani,” the Disney resort and spa on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

The Cars Land Christmas tree is stored in three pieces in the Resort Enhancement warehouse in Anaheim, California. The ornaments are all hubcaps, and the tree topper, sitting on the floor, is a star made out of tailpipes.

Just before Halloween, however, many other trees are still back at the warehouse, including the Buena Vista Street tree for Disney California Adventure park. Stored in five sections, the tree is already decorated with its custom-made Art Deco-style ornaments, supersized re-creations of vintage examples from the 1920s and early 1930s. Grand ornaments also had to be custom-created for the 40-foot tree at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, matching the resort’s Mission theme with full-size Arts & Crafts lanterns and geometric stars and the like. Nearby in the warehouse, also awaiting its turn, stands the Cars Land tree, in three sections, ready for installation, with its hubcap ornaments and star topper fashioned from tailpipes.

Not all the trees are so massive. “Our largest tree is 60 feet tall, and our smallest tree is six inches,” Pipal-Keehne says. The tiny trees and similarly scaled garlands go into the Lilliputian scenes at the Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland, “our smallest and most intimate installation.” (The holiday overlays of the Jungle Cruise, “it’s a small world,” and Haunted Mansion in Disneyland park and of the Jungle Cruise in the Magic Kingdom are supervised by the parks’ Entertainment departments, rather than by the holiday decoration teams.)

Cast member Carrie Henry stands behind a worktable in the Resort Enhancement warehouse in Anaheim, California. In front of her is a pile of the red-and-green bows she is making from ribbon.

Despite the rapid approach of installation time, many cast members are still calmly constructing and decorating. Carrie Henry stands at a worktable piled high with red-and-green bows, on her way to making about 612 of them—just in case her quota of 600 bows isn’t quite enough to get the job done. She estimates it takes her about three minutes per bow, depending on how cooperative the ribbon is that she’s working with.

Cast member Brandon Griewank stands next to a floral arrangement he has designed and constructed in the Resort Enhancement warehouse in Anaheim, California.

Behind her, Brandon Griewank has recently finished a floral centerpiece for upstairs at the Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure park, combining white poinsettias and roses with amaryllis and snowberries around a central core of birch branches, some of which are draped with hanging dried Amaranthus. Most of these elements, Griewank notes, were sourced by “shopping” the aisles and aisles of artificial florals available within the warehouse.

Not far away from Griewank is Lorie Rossi, decorating six-foot trees on a “French opulence” theme for Disneyland park’s Club 33. The work has involved “a lot of embellishment,” she notes, including repainting existing ornaments to match the club’s color scheme and adding touches of glitter, some of which is now delicately embellishing her blond hair.

Christmas garland decorated with round silver, green, and blue ornaments is bunched up in a giant plastic bag that’s hanging in the Resort Enhancement warehouse in Anaheim, California. The bag is labeled “Ready for Install 2022.”

Everything Old Is New Again

A lot of décor is new each season, of course, but many elements endure from year to year. Mylar ornaments, especially the darker colors, tend to fade in the California sun, so they may only last a year or two. (Before Disney puts in an order for hundreds of ornaments with a vendor, samples are acquired and left outside for about three months, to make sure they’ll tolerate the intense sunshine.) The custom-made ornaments can last for years and years, with yearly refurbishment as needed. Also refurbished annually is the artificial greenery that makes up the bulk of the resort’s garlands and can often return for three to five years. Longest lasting are the carefully maintained giant trees, each of them subject to weeks of maintenance at the end of every season. “Those big trees, we get a very long life out of those,” Pipal-Keehne says. “The last Main Street, U.S.A., tree was at least 12 years old when we just replaced it about two years ago.”

The Disneyland park holiday location about which Pipal-Keehne may be most excited is available to guests in every season. It’s just a year old, but its history has its roots in Pipal-Keehne’s own childhood. “Plaza Point is a year-round holiday location for the Disneyland park at the end of Main Street, U.S.A.,” she explains. The project was initiated by Walt Disney Imagineering, but the Resort Enhancement team was asked to handle much of the décor. Thus was born the legend of shop founder Miss Evelyn Toro, a world traveler who loved all the holidays from every culture and brought that obsession to her Main Street, U.S.A., shop.

“The character is based on my mother, Evelyn, whose maiden name is Toro,” Pipal-Keehne reveals. A native of Puerto Rico, “she decorates her house every single year; it takes her two weeks. There’s a tree in every room. There are five or six Christmas villages. When I think about the holidays and growing up, I have my passion for what I do in the world of art and design and holidays because of my mom.”

The shop is a celebration of diversity—which was something of a challenge in sourcing authentic Victorian-style décor to match the era of Main Street, U.S.A. But as they do with anything else they can imagine but not find ready-made, the Resort Enhancement team simply created the elements they needed from scratch. “We were doing research for paper cutouts and ornaments and things,” Pipal-Keehne relates. What they found was that “traditional ornaments and cards in the [early] 1900s did not have a wide range of inclusion. So, we had to custom make all of that artwork.”

Guests wandering the aisles and perusing the windows of Plaza Point will find Santas of color, a rainbow variety of fat-cheeked cherubs, and elegantly dressed Victorian ladies from diverse backgrounds—at least two of them arm in arm. “We really push the envelope on diversity, equity, and inclusion in this area,” Pipal-Keehne says. Plaza Point, she adds, is “probably the one thing I’m the proudest of to date.”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

By Andie Hagemann

Before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever claws its way into U.S. theaters on Friday, November 11, enjoy this marvelous slate of Marvel Studios content to reacquaint yourself with Black Panther and celebrate the legacy of late Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman. We present five Black Panther-related titles to binge on Disney+…

From left to right, Black Panther, Vision, Iron Man, Black Widow, and War Machine stand side-by-side. The tail of a plane is seen behind them with a blue and white logo. A large white truck is on the far right. Actor and Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman portrays Black Panther and wears an all-black suit with his face covered. Actor Paul Bettany portrays Vision with a charcoal suit and red face. Actor and Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr. portrays Iron Man and wears a red metal suit with gold accents. Actor Scarlett Johansson portrays Black Widow and wears an all-black suit. Actor Don Cheadle portrays War Machine and wears a black and silver metal suit.

Captain America: Civil War—Available on Disney+

After an incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability. The new status quo soon divides the Super Heroes with Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr.) sharply disagreeing about government interference. As the debate escalates, Black Widow (Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) are pressured to pick a side. T’Challa/Black Panther (Boseman) makes his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

Actor and Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman portrays T’Challa/Black Panther. Boseman wears a long-sleeved traditional African embroidered robe and holds a small remote in his hands. Actor Letitia Wright portrays Shuri and wears a white dress with a high mesh neckline. Boseman and Wright stand on a black floor with geometric designs. A white couch and chair are to their right while a long white table with knickknacks is on the left.

Black Panther—Available on Disney+

After the death of his father, T’Challa (Boseman) returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. However, when a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s resolve both as king and Black Panther gets tested. The young king must rally his allies and unleash the full power of Black Panther to secure the safety of Wakanda.

Animated characters Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and Black Panther sprint forward. Hulk is all-green and wears purple shorts. His arms are in the air. Ms. Marvel wears a red and blue Super Hero suit and stretches her limbs to be long. Black Panther wears an all-black Super Hero suit with purple accents. Around them is fall foliage and tall buildings.

Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends: Season 1, Episode 1—Available on Disney+

Spidey (voiced by Benjamin Valic) reminds Spin (voiced by Jakari Fraser), and Ghost-Spider (voiced by Lily Sanfelippo) to work as a team as they attempt to track Rhino (voiced by Justin Shenkarow). Elsewhere, Spidey learns about patience when he and Black Panther (voiced by Tru Valentino) are tasked with taking down Doc Ock (voiced by Kelly Ohanian).

A man stands in the shadows and wears a helmet with glowing purple lights. Behind him is a metal-like wall and tall container with laser beams.

What If…T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?—Available on Disney+

The second episode of the Marvel Studios’ What If…? series marks Boseman’s final performance as T’Challa. In the animated episode, T’Challa, the young prince of Wakanda, is accidentally abducted by Yondu (voiced by Michael Rooker) and becomes a Ravager instead of Peter Quill. Known as Star-Lord throughout the galaxy, he eventually crosses paths with Thanos (voiced by Josh Brolin), Nebula (voiced by Karen Gillan), and Korath the Pursuer (voiced by Djimon Hounsou).

From the left Actor Danai Gurira portrays General Okoye from the Dora Milaje. Gurira and the Dora Milaje wear red and gold uniforms with intricate embroidery, brown leather pants, and brown leather boots. They hold tall metal spears in their left hand. The sky is blue with fluffy white clouds above them.

Marvel Studios LEGENDS—Available on Disney+

On Friday, November 4, three new episodes titled, “King T’Challa,” “Princess Shuri,” and “The Dora Milaje” will be available to stream on the platform ahead of the debut of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The episode “King T’Challa” recalls T’Challa’s (Boseman) tenure as the iconic champion and the tragic struggle against Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). Marvel Studios LEGENDS also remembers the critical role Black Panther played in the epic battle to thwart Thanos (Brolin). Sister of T’Challa and Princess of Wakanda, “Princess Shuri” recalls the struggles Shuri (Letitia Wright) endured to save Wakanda and the dire moments she stood with the Avengers in a showdown with Thanos. The episode “The Dora Milaje” reviews how General Okoya (Danai Gurira) and her soldiers fought to reinstate T’Challa as king and crushed Thanos’ armies.

Celebrate 5 Mighty Years of Thor: Ragnarok with These Behind-the-Scenes Photos

By the D23 Team

Thor: Ragnarok was an electrifying entry into the saga of the God of Thunder—a film so fresh and fun that it’s hard to believe it was released in theaters five years ago today! To celebrate the film that took us to Sakar and back, we’ve rounded up our favorite behind-the-scenes photos from this fan-favorite film. Rock on and celebrate Thor: Ragnarok with us:

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Disney twenty-three Journeys to Pandora, Going Behind the Scenes of the Next-Level Storytelling of Avatar: The Way of Water

In 2009, James Cameron’s Avatar transported audiences to a completely new world, exploring a dazzling landscape of colorful characters and unique species, while touching the hearts of millions. The Winter issue of Disney twenty-three takes readers back to Pandora for a new set of adventures that await fans in Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water. The much-anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing movie of all time opens in theaters December 16, and Disney twenty-three goes behind the scenes on the next chapter in this groundbreaking story with stars Sam Worthington (Jake), Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri), and Sigourney Weaver (Kiri), as well as producer Jon Landau. “At its core, Avatar: The Way of Water is about family, about survival, about our Na’vi and human family, and about the greater family with our fellow creatures and our flora and fauna,” says Weaver.

D23 Expo 2022 gave fans a first look at Disney 100 Years of Wonder. The new issue explores some of the highlights of the celebration—including new theme park spectaculars, incredible films, and an immersive touring exhibition from the Walt Disney Archives.

Ever since Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) got their “happily ever after” in 2007’s Enchanted, fans have been dreaming about what happens next. On November 18, Disney+ is granting that wish with the new film Disenchanted. Stars Maya Rudolph, Gabriella Baldacchino, James Marsden, and Disney Legend Idina Menzel, along with director Adam Shankman, reveal the true meaning of “happily ever after” and what’s in store for this fairytale family after Giselle and Robert share true love’s kiss. Plus, Warwick Davis talks about bringing back his iconic character Willow Ufgood, who is tasked once more with saving the world in Lucasfilm’s Willow, an Original series coming November 30 to Disney+.

Disney Legend Tim Allen revisits key moments from his acting career, including what it was like to reprise his classic role as the “man in the red suit” in the upcoming Disney+ Original series The Santa Clauses, recounting favorite memories from sleigh bells and toolbelts to infinity and beyond. And stars of the upcoming Disney+ Original series National Treasure: Edge of History share their own book of secrets about what’s in store for this next generation of treasure hunters.

The new issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, also takes a boat ride down memory lane with Disney Park historians to commemorate 25 years of “it’s a small world” Holiday. As a special bonus, each issue of the publication will include a set of holiday-themed gift tags as part of D23 Season of Magic presented by Target. 

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Also in the Winter 2022 issue of Disney twenty-three:

  • Embark on an adventure into a Strange World with director Don Hall and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Gabrielle Union, and more
  • Meet New York City’s coolest new partners in crime fighting in Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
  • Look back on the making of The Muppets Christmas Carol 30 years later in an entertaining talk with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, and their friends
  • Get an exclusive sneak-peek of Leslie Iwerks’ upcoming book based on her hit Disney+ documentary series The Imagineering Story
  • Enjoy a special look at the best of the magic from D23 Expo 2022
    Regular features including By the Numbers, D Society, Character Analysis, and Ask the Walt Disney Archives

Disney twenty-three is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps and is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving before the end of November.

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With the Disney D23 app, your membership card is just a few taps away. Access your benefits from your phone!

Showcased are the four 2025 D23 Gold Member Premiums: Disneyland 70th Collection, including The Happiest Place on Earth, a replica Disneyland Park entrance plaque, and a reproduction of the Disneyland Entrance plaque text draft; Gold Member Fan Pack including a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse water bottle, crossbody bag, and hat; a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse Spirit Jersey; and a 10-piece Pin Set.

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Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your Marvel Studios knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

What name does Thor give his team—consisting of Loki, the Hulk, and Valkyrie—in Thor: Ragnarok?

Correct! Wrong!

In Thor: Ragnarok, Thor names his team the Revengers.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!
You are the ultimate Disney fan!
Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!
Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!
Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!