French Toast with Fresh Berries and Mascarpone Cream at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 whole eggs
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 pieces of thick-cut white bread or sourdough
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Crack eggs, and whisk them together with whole milk, vanilla extract.
  2. Evenly coat all eight pieces of bread with mixture. All egg/milk mixture should be absorbed when finished.
  3. Using nonstick griddle, cook each piece of toast approximately 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Butter can be used if desired to griddle toast (or omitted).
  4. Keep French toast warm in oven until all pieces are cooked and ready to be served.
  5. Combine mascarpone, sugar, and heavy cream until well mixed. Should be the consistency of melted ice cream. Adjust with a few tablespoons of heavy cream if needed.
  6. Cut French toast pieces in half diagonally, and shingle on large serving platter.
  7. Sprinkle strawberries and blueberries across the platter of French toast.
  8. Drizzle mascarpone cream over the platter and top with orange zest.
  9. Serve immediately.

Cook’s note: Traditional maple syrup can also be available, but not necessary, as the mascarpone cream and fresh berries add sweetness to the dish.

As D23: The Official Disney Fan Club continues to celebrate 65 Years of the Disney Theme Park, we’ll be sharing more delicious recipes from the vault over the next few weeks. Some include:

Stilton Cheesecake at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Tuna Burgers at Captain Hook’s Galley at Disneyland Park
Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Three Cheese Lobster Macaroni at Lumiere’s and Triton’s Disney Cruise Line
Chocolate Soda at Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom Park

Three Cheese Lobster Macaroni at Lumiere’s and Triton’s on Disney Cruise Line

Serves 6 to 8

THREE CHEESE SAUCE

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 shallots, finely diced
  • 1/2 fennel bulb, sliced thin
  • 2 celery stalks, finely diced
  • 1 leek, finely diced
  • 3 cups Chardonnay
  • 5 stalks fresh tarragon, leaves reserved for garnish
  • 6 cups of heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère
  • 1/1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shaved Parmesan
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

STEAMED LOBSTER

  • 16 ounces lobster meat
  • 1 1/2 cups white wine

PARMESAN CRISPS

  • 8 tablespoons shaved parmesan

MACARONI

  • 1-pound box rigatoni, cooked al dente

FOR THREE CHEESE SAUCE:

  1. Melt butter in 4-quart saucepan over medium heat; add shallots, fennel, celery, and leeks, and sauté until tender.
  2. Stir in the Chardonnay and tarragon stalks, increase heat to medium-high, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until reduced by 3/4. Add the cream and simmer for about 10 minutes or until reduced by 1/3.
  3. Strain sauce through a sieve into a 2-quart saucepan. Return to stove over medium heat. Mix butter and flour in small bowl; stir into cream sauce and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes to thicken.
  4. Add Gruyère, cheddar, and Parmesan and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, or until it reaches a consistency of a thick cream. (Sauce thickens more as it cools.)

FOR LOBSTER:

  1. Cut lobster into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Heat wine in medium saucepan with steamer insert, over medium-high heat until boiling. Reduce heat so that wine simmers; add lobster to steamer basket, cover and cook about 3 to 5 minutes or until lobster changes from translucent to white; remove from heat, setting aside 1/4 cup for garnish.

FOR PARMESAN CRISPS:

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Place 1 tablespoon Parmesan on baking sheet lined with parchment paper; lightly shape into an oval. Repeat with remaining cheese, spacing about 1/2 inch apart.
  2. Bake 10 minutes or until golden and crisp. Cool.

TO SERVE:

  1. Cut tarragon leaves into thin strips. Stir together rigatoni and cheese sauce, coating evenly. Fold in lobster, reserving 1/4 cup for garnish. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with tarragon, lobster, and Parmesan crisps; serve immediately.

As D23: The Official Disney Fan Club continues to celebrate 65 Years of the Disney Theme Park, we’ll be sharing more delicious recipes from the vault over the next few weeks. Some include:

Stilton Cheesecake at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Tuna Burgers at Captain Hook’s Galley at Disneyland Park
Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
French Toast with Fresh Berries and Mascarpone Cream at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant Magic Kingdom Park
Chocolate Soda at Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom Park

Chocolate Soda at Plaza Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park

Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces chocolate syrup
  • 4 ounces soda water
  • 2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Directions:

  1. Mix chocolate syrup and soda in a pint glass. Add vanilla ice cream.

As D23: The Official Disney Fan Club continues to celebrate 65 Years of the Disney Theme Park, we’ll be sharing more delicious recipes from the vault over the next few weeks. Some include:

Stilton Cheesecake at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Tuna Burgers at Captain Hook’s Galley at Disneyland Park
Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Three Cheese Lobster Macaroni at Lumiere’s and Triton’s Disney Cruise Line
French Toast with Fresh Berries and Mascarpone Cream at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant Magic Kingdom Park

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Zach Johnson

Let’s get down to business: Starting this Friday, you can watch the sprawling live-action adventure Mulan on Disney+ and select platforms with Premier Access ($29.99)… before it’s available to all Disney+ subscribers! That same day, Disney+ will debut the original Disney+ series Earth to Ned. Other highlights for the week include Deadpool on FX, The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons – Ever! on ABC, and Quest for the Stanley Cup on ESPN+.

deadpool

Deadpool—Monday, August 31, at 12:30 p.m. ET on FX
This is the origin story of Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero. Former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) undergoes a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers—and some pretty gnarly scars. After fleeing the facility, he adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with brand-new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor—plus new mutant allies in Colossus (voice of Stefan Kapičić) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand)—Deadpool hunts down Francis Freeman (Ed Skrein), aka Ajax, the evil scientist who nearly destroyed his life.

the bachelor

The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons – Ever!—Monday, August 31, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
No matter how challenging his journey to find a soul mate became, Nick Viall never gave up on love. He was one of the final two men on both Andi Dorfman’s and Kaitlyn Bristowe’s seasons of The Bachelorette, but he never had the opportunity to propose. He seized another chance to find love on Bachelor in Paradise with Jen Saviano, but their relationship didn’t end with a proposal, either. Despite his fears of rejection, he agreed to become the Bachelor in Season 21. But did his past prevent him from opening his heart one more time?

espn

Quest for the Stanley Cup—Wednesday, September 2, on ESPN+
The behind-the-scenes documentary series chronicling the remaining eight teams in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs returns in the midst of the NHL’s Phase 4 Return to Play. The first of six episodes will premiere exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S Wednesday, with a new episode to follow every week through October 7. Go inside the bubble and follow the action on and off the ice as the Boston Bruins, the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars, the New York Islanders, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Vegas Golden Knights each compete to lift the greatest trophy in hockey.

earth to ned

Earth to Ned—Friday, September 4, on Disney+
From the Jim Henson Company comes a late-night talk show hosted by alien commander Ned and his lieutenant Cornelius, who call off their invasion of Earth after falling in love with human culture. Broadcasting from the bridge of their spaceship, hidden deep underground, Ned and Cornelius interview Earth’s greatest resource: celebrities! From High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo to Star Wars’ Billy Dee Williams, Ned has lined up some out-of-this-world guests. There’s only one catch: Ned must keep his show a secret from his home planet or suffer the wrath of the Admiral of the Galactic Fleet! All 10 episodes of Earth to Ned will debut September 4.

mulan

Mulan—Friday, September 4, on Disney+ (with Premier Access)
Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the legendary tale of China’s greatest warrior to life. When the Emperor of China (Jet Li) issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan (Yifei Liu), the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that transforms Mulan into an honored warrior and earns her the respect of a grateful nation… and a proud father.

Meet the Characters of Disney’s Mulan

By the D23 Team

We’re only a few days away from the much-anticipated debut of Disney’s Mulan, a Disney+ Premier Access offering—which means it’s the perfect time to meet (or reintroduce ourselves to!) the characters we’ll see in this epic live-action adventure.

mulan

Mulan (Yifei Liu)
Much like the character in the beloved original animated film, Mulan is determined, strong, and compassionate. When each family has to provide one man to join the battle against the invaders, Mulan takes the place of her father, who suffers from an old war wound. At first she is totally out of her depth, but she learns fast and develops into a strong, powerful leader—forging new relationships along the way. On her approach to playing such an iconic character, Liu (The Forbidden Kingdom) explains, “Each day I allowed myself to forget who I am for the moment. You have to kind of lose yourself and not think about just how brave Mulan is. Yes, I am playing a hero, so we need to bring out that side, but I think every human being is complex—and complex is so beautiful. And that’s where the energy of the character is.”

mulan

Zhou (Tzi Ma)
Zhou is Mulan’s devoted father. Describing his character, Ma (24, Rush Hour) says, “Zhou is a former military man who went to war and was injured. When we meet him, it is years later, and he has a family—a wife and two girls. One girl, Mulan, has a spirit that’s very different from anyone else. Zhou tries to contain her spirit as much as he knows how. But it’s impossible, because you cannot contain that kind of a spirit. It’s a gift. And Zhou understands that, so you see Zhou always trying to straddle this line of containment but not refinement. Even when he’s heartbroken when she goes in his place, I think in his heart of hearts he knows she will come back and bring greatness.”

mulan

Commander Tung (Donnie Yen)
Commander Tung is the leader of the battalion in which Mulan winds up serving. Dignified and highly experienced on the battlefield, he acts as something of an adviser to Mulan. Says Yen, known recently for his turn in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, “Tung is [Mulan’s] mentor, and she sees something in [him], not only his skill but also his wisdom… I enjoyed the scenes with the conversations between Mulan and Tung. Those are the more sentimental moments that reveal [his] inner vision and passion. You normally don’t see that because when he’s in his armor, he’s very strict and very military.”

mulan

Honghui (Yoson An)
Honghui is a fellow trainee soldier in the Imperial Army, who begins the film as Mulan’s competitor… but who ultimately becomes her friend. “Honghui is a young conscript,” An (Mortal Engines) explains, “just like all the other conscripts—but he has a military background. So his martial arts skills, compared to the other boys, are pretty much through the roof… I guess you could say that Mulan and Honghui start off on the wrong foot. But as they train together and live together in training camp, Honghui can see that there’s something different about Mulan, in comparison to the other boys. Because Commander Tung is very aware of what Mulan is doing all the time during the training process, Honghui feels like there must be something there that he’s not seeing. So, he makes amends, and it turns out that he’s right.”

mulan

Böri Khan (Jason Scott Lee)
Mulan’s adversary—and the Emperor’s nemesis—is Böri Khan, the embittered Rouran fighter from the North who will let nothing and no one get in the way of his determination to avenge the death of his father. Lee, most recently seen in Netflix’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, admits that he loves “the choices that the villain can make, and I like the heaviness and the weight that those characters carry. It’s fun to be singled out in black costuming. You really get a sense that he’s from a different world. He’s not of that China world that’s been created.” As producer Jason Reed explains, “They say a movie is only as good as its villain, so we knew that our invader from the North had to be scary, intimidating, and a real threat to the army and the Emperor. You have to believe this character is capable of taking down an entire empire at the height of its power.”

mulan

Xianniang (Gong Li)
Xianniang is a completely new character to the Mulan universe, and she’s a close ally of Böri Khan. Describing the mysterious character, executive producer Barrie Osborne explains, “Khan’s hidden weapon is Xianniang—who is a woman not unlike Mulan. She is physically fit and has the power of chi, an almost magical power, which gives you an incredible amount of strength. Xianniang gives Böri Khan an edge over the Chinese army.” “Xianniang is powerful, but the things that she wants are actually very simple,” adds Li (Memoirs of a Geisha, Shanghai). “She wants freedom and survival… Khan and Xianniang have a collaborative relationship. She knows the things he needs, and he knows what she wants… But they won’t reach their goals if they don’t cooperate with each other, so they formed a collaborative relationship.”

mulan

The Emperor (Jet Li)
International mega-star Jet Li dons the robs of the regal Emperor, and he was struck by the tone of the script: “It was very moving and very emotional to read, because Chinese people always believe in loyalty and filial devotion. It’s very difficult to do both well, but the Mulan story is very special. She shows both loyalty to her country and filial devotion to her parents. It’s a wonderful story because it is showing that a human can do both.” And there was no one better to play the role than Li, explains the film’s director Niki Caro: “He brings to the role of the Emperor all the gravitas that you would expect for the Son of Heaven—but he also brings tremendous heart and soul and action. So that when Jet Li’s Emperor leaves the throne to protect his people, you know it is going to go down.”

Look for Mulan when it begins streaming, with Premier Access, on Disney+ this Friday, September 4!

Reflecting on Mulan with Director Niki Caro and Star Yifei Liu

By Courtney Potter

It’s a story for the ages… a fearless young woman risks everything, out of love for both her family and for her country, to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro (Whale Rider; McFarland, USA) brings this awe-inspiring tale to life in Disney’s Mulan, set to debut with Premier Access on Disney+ this Friday, September 4.

Suggested by the narrative poem The Ballad of Mulan and the 1998 Disney animated hit, the film follows Hua Mulan (Yifei Liu)—the eldest daughter of an honored, though now ailing, warrior (Tzi Ma)—as she decides to take his place in the Imperial Army, now defending the country from Northern invaders. Masquerading as a man named Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into a hero… and earn her the respect of a grateful nation and a proud father. The film boasts a celebrated international cast, including Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Gong Li as Xianniang; and Jet Li as the Emperor.

D23 was lucky enough to hear directly from Caro and Liu at a special screening of the film—where both women offered up some fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits.

mulan

On their first encounters with Disney’s animated Mulan:
“I [can’t] remember how old I was when I first watched the animated version,” says Liu, “but it’s for sure in my memory and I loved it. I think in one of my auditions [for this film], I actually sang the song ‘Reflection’.” For Caro, the animated Mulan more fully resonated once she had kids of her own, several years after that version’s release: “I had children—I had girls—and of course I watched it then,” she admits. “I couldn’t believe it, and I was so grateful for it—that in a time of princesses, here was a warrior.”

Caro on what attracted her to such a high-profile project:
“Mulan herself,” Caro explains, succinctly. “I love her—and I think for me it was her journey from village girl, to male soldier, to warrior and hero that felt like it spoke for all of us. It was a story that didn’t in fact originate with the 1998 animation; it’s been resonant and relevant for centuries, and never more so than now… The [only] intimidating thing is my responsibility to the story, to the studio, and to the audience. [But] as far as budget goes… I think with every film I’ve made—Whale Rider included—I had a vision that was far bigger than the budget allowed. And so this time to be able to have a budget equal to the very epic vision of my head was just really satisfying.”

How Liu first learned of the opportunity:
“When I first heard [was when] my manager asked me, ‘So there’s Disney’s Mulan. Do you want to audition for it?’,” Liu says. “I had heard that so many people were auditioning. So I asked myself, if I wanted to go, what can I bring? Because I know, obviously, [that] this is a role that everyone wants to play. It’s just so meaningful, as a woman [and] as a human being, to really be that brave and loving and accepting [of] her imperfectness—to become who she really wanted to be. I really asked myself a lot of questions, because I know the audition process is hard—you need to go into a room and continuously run a few scenes [that are] spread throughout different sections of the script… [On one] side, I’m super excited and nervous—but on the other side, I wanted to bring the best me. So I needed to really, you know, get through [it]—meditate, just calm myself. And then [I got to] meet Niki, this beautiful director… ”

mulan

… And how Caro came to cast Liu—after seeing over a thousand actresses—in what amounts to a role of a lifetime:
“We did a worldwide search, and we did a really deep search in China,” Caro says. “We found, honestly, some beautiful actresses—but when it really came down to it, we didn’t feel that we had found Mulan. So we started again and we went back to China; this is a year after we’d started. We went back and we went through the list of everybody that wasn’t available the first time around. Yifei was one of the people on that list. And she agreed to come audition, [to] come to Los Angeles. And she was so terrifyingly good, as an actor—but also, really strong, super strong. The audition was very demanding. So on top of her jet lag, and the [acting] audition with me, she had to go to a physical audition with a trainer—because I was determined to have a young woman in this role that could understand and commit to the physical nature of the work. And so she hadn’t slept—she’d flown for 14 hours, she hadn’t slept all night, it’s like 5:00 the next day, and she’s in the gym with a trainer who’s pushing her to her limits. And she never stopped, she never asked for a break. She did everything that was asked of her. And I knew then that we’d found our Mulan—and that I’d found a partner and a collaborator, and genuinely a warrior.”

On Liu’s extensive, and varied, training for the film:
“For me, every movie [experience] is brand new—totally new to me,” admits Liu. “I did act in some movies that had a martial arts element, but obviously I’m not a professional. I’m so glad that I had [a] long time to prepare [for this film]… [We trained] in New Zealand for three and a half months. I think [the actions are] so specific for this film that, you know, if you’d ask me [again] what kind of training I would do, I would pick the exact same things. I even learned Tai Chi movements, because for Mulan, I understand her chi as her connection of her spirit—not the ego, but the true self… I really see it as a whole journey.” Adds Caro: “[Yifei] can do everything. So a lot of the times, even though she had a stunt double who was incredible, we would ask for Yifei to come in and do the stunt work—because she has amazing grace, and somehow it was just more right when she was doing the stunt work.”

mulan

On the importance of having amazing women in front of and behind the camera:
“I think it’s the only movie of this scale and genre where all the voices—all the people running it were women,” explains Caro, proudly. “Me; Mandy Walker, our cinematographer; Liz Tan, the first assistant director; also our co-producer, costume designer, makeup designer… [it was] very female-led, this production. And of course, being female-led, [we were] very, very well prepared. We communicated very effectively, brought it in on time, and slightly under budget—because that’s just how we roll!”

On the biggest challenges Caro and Liu faced during production:
As Liu explains, “It’s always easy to ask for answers, like, ‘What is your opinion about this character?’ But the hardest thing about Mulan to me is how to answer… [to] put yourself in that circumstance and then to have it be organic, not like ‘acting’-acting. I really want to thank Niki, for everything—she’s the kindest human being that I’ve really ever worked with.” For Caro, aside from finding her Mulan, the challenge was “how to tell a story about two armies going to war, a young woman going to war… I was really blessed that the fighting style was martial arts, [which is] inherently beautiful. But also, I think what unlocked it for me was that I figured out that I could set the battle sequence in a geothermal valley—so that the smoke and the steam could reveal and obscure violence. So it could suggest it, [and] it could also be very beautiful and very cinematic. I’m proud of that—I’m proud that the battle sequences feel visceral and robust, but never gratuitous.”

Caro on the vital—and timely—message of the film:
“[Filmmaker] Jane Campion is so meaningful to me because she’s the first time I saw somebody that looked like me do this work that I so desperately wanted to do,” explains Caro. “And I used to think—kind of embarrassingly now—that I would somehow have to disguise myself. So the fact that I’m making a movie about this very thing, and the fact that I was able to tell the story in [this] way… the animated movie has Mulan disguised as a man to find herself—and in our version, Mulan learns that she can never be powerful unless she loses that disguise. [There’s that] big moment in the movie, when you hear the iconic ‘Reflections’ music, when she lets her hair down and shows up in battle as a woman and is truly powerful in that moment—and in fact, goes on to save China—that’s what I’m the most proud of, I think. And what is the most meaningful to me, to send that message out there.”

See Disney’s Mulan beginning Friday, September 4, as a Premier Access offering on Disney+!

Remembering Chadwick Boseman

By Beth Deitchman

Actor Chadwick Boseman, star of Marvel Studios’ groundbreaking film Black Panther, has passed away at the age of 43.

“We are all heartbroken by the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman—an extraordinary talent, and one of the most gentle and giving souls I have ever met,” said Robert A. Iger, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, The Walt Disney Company. “He brought enormous strength, dignity and depth to his groundbreaking role of Black Panther; shattering myths and stereotypes, becoming a long-awaited hero to millions around the world, and inspiring us all to dream bigger and demand more than the status quo. We mourn all that he was, as well as everything he was destined to become. For his friends and millions of fans, his absence from the screen is only eclipsed by his absence from our lives. All of us at Disney send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to his family.”

Boseman—who was also known to moviegoers for his acclaimed performances as Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013), as James Brown in Get On Up (2014), and as Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017)—first appeared on screen in what would become his most iconic role in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Civil War. The highly anticipated Black Panther was released in 2018 and the film—and the nation of Wakanda in which the movie is set—quickly became a global cultural phenomenon, inspiring millions of fans around the globe. Boseman’s character was no ordinary Super Hero. He said, “T’Challa is smart. He’s a strategist and that has always been something that stood out to me, even in the comic books… He’s a world leader and with that comes the responsibility for an entire nation and considering its place in the world. That’s something that other Super Heroes don’t commonly have, but he must also uphold his legacy. It’s an interesting combination.”

In a statement, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios and Chief Creative Officer, Marvel, said, “Chadwick’s passing is absolutely devastating. He was our T’Challa, our Black Panther, and our dear friend. Each time he stepped on set, he radiated charisma and joy, and each time he appeared on screen, he created something truly indelible. He embodied a lot of amazing people in his work, and nobody was better at bringing great men to life. He was as smart and kind and powerful and strong as any person he portrayed. Now he takes his place alongside them as an icon for the ages. The Marvel Studios family deeply mourns his loss, and we are grieving tonight with his family.”

Boseman returned to the role of Black Panther in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Chris Evans, who starred alongside Boseman in both films as Captain America, was among Boseman’s many co-stars who expressed their sadness over his passing tonight. “I’m absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking. Chadwick was special. A true original,” Evans said. “He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. Few performers have such power and versatility. He had so much amazing work still left to create. I’m endlessly grateful for our friendship. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in power, King.”

Angela Bassett played T’Challa’s mother, Ramonda, in Black Panther, and she reflected on her strong connection to Boseman, which preceded the 2018 film. Bassett shared on Instagram tonight, “It was meant to be for Chadwick and me to be connected, for us to be family. But what many don’t know is our story began long before his historic turn as Black Panther. During the premiere party for Black Panther, Chadwick reminded me of something. He whispered that when I received my honorary degree from Howard University, his alma mater, he was the student assigned to escort me that day. And here we were, years later as friends and colleagues, enjoying the most glorious night ever! We’d spent weeks prepping, working, sitting next to each other every morning in makeup chairs, preparing for the day together as mother and son. I am honored that we enjoyed that full circle experience. This young man’s dedication was awe-inspiring, his smile contagious, his talent unreal. So I pay tribute to a beautiful spirit, a consummate artist, a soulful brother… ‘thou aren’t not dead but flown afar…’ All you possessed, Chadwick, you freely gave. Rest now, sweet prince. #WakandaForever”

Brie Larson, Boseman’s Avengers: Endgame co-star and star of Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel, shared, “Chadwick was someone who radiated power and peace. Who stood for so much more than himself. Who took the time to really see how you were doing and gave words of encouragement when you felt unsure. I’m honored to have the memories I have. The conversations, the laughter. My heart is with you and your family. You will be missed and never forgotten. Rest in power and peace my friend.”

Boseman’s family confirmed the news of his passing tonight, expressing their “immeasurable grief” and noting, “It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”

Walt Disney World Resort Unveils a Cornucopia of Seasonal Offerings You’ll Fall For

By Beth Deitchman

For some folks, it’s the leaves and their changing hues… For others, it’s the aroma of pumpkin spice coming from their morning latte… but here at D23, we look to Main Street, U.S.A. to know that fall is upon us. And this year, seasonal offerings at the Walt Disney World Resort include gourdgeous décor, delicious treats, costumed characters, and more.

Inside Magic Kingdom park, Main Street, U.S.A. will be filled with Halloween spirit. Pumpkin wreaths adorning the lampposts will cast a special seasonal glow; and Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and their pals will don their favorite costumes for a special Halloween-themed cavalcade that travels down Main Street, U.S.A. Chip ‘n’ Dale wouldn’t miss the opportunity to dress up for Halloween—you might spot them in Frontierland! In fact, you never know you you’ll see dressed in their Halloween finest, riding the horse-drawn trolley down Main Street, U.S.A.

Speaking of costumed characters… what will you be wearing? That’s right, for the first time ever, guests of all ages are invited to wear their funniest, Disney-est, most creative costumes during Magic Kingdom park regular operating hours from September 15 to October 31. But do remember: Costume masks are not permitted for adults; only children younger than 14 years old are permitted to wear costume masks. In addition, all guests are required to wear approved face coverings during their visit. Before you arrive, visit the Know Before You Go page and Costume Guidelines for the most up-to-date information.

Be sure to scare up an appetite during your visit, because throughout the resort, you’ll find an amazing array of sweet and savory ways to treat yourself. Here are just a few of the dishes we can’t wait to be goblin:

Magic Kingdom Park:

  • Cinnamon Donuts (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café)—Served in a Hitchhiking Ghost Novelty container

wdw halloween

  • Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Sundae (Available at Sleepy Hollow)—Pumpkin spice-flavored waffles topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and sprinkles
  • Mickey Monster Mash Burger (Available at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café)—Burger with Muenster cheese, potato barrels, bacon, and sriracha aïoli

wdw halloween

  • Not So Poison Apple Cupcake (Available at Pinocchio Village House)—A spiced apple cupcake with pecan crunch buttercream themed after a poison apple

EPCOT

  • Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Canada Popcorn Cart and Fife & Drum)

wdw halloween

  • Green Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Eats at EPCOT Experience and Mission Space Popcorn Cart)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

wdw halloween

  • Scar Cupcake (Available at Creature Comforts, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Restaurantosaurus)—Red velvet cupcake with toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate marshmallow frosting, chocolate pebbles, white chocolate flames, and an edible icing image
  • Spooky Apple Punch Specialty Beverage (Non-Alcoholic) (Available at Flame Tree Barbecue and Isle of Java)—Sprite with Monin Apple Syrup poured over ice, garnished with a rocky candy apple straw, a gummy worm, a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube, and a sugar lime rim

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Poison Candied Apple (Available at Trolley Car Café)—Apple and caramel mousse covered in red glaze with a crunchy candy base

wdw halloween

  • Box of Bones Chocolate Éclair (Available at Backlot Express)—Chocolate éclair with dark chocolate mousse and white chocolate bones

That’s just a smattering of what’s cooking for this year’s spooky season. Visit the Disney Parks Blog for a complete Foodie Guide. And, in addition to Halloween-themed Glow Cubes, popcorn buckets, and sippers, don’t forget to bring home some of the frightfully fun merchandise that will be available in select locations around Magic Kingdom. Among the featured items for this year are a new spirit jersey, Loungefly backpack, candy-swirl Minnie Mouse headband, and a wickedly wonderful selection of Disney Villains-inspired apparel.

wdw halloween

Of course, one of the most magical ways to remember any trip to Walt Disney World is through pictures of your visit. Look for themed photo opportunities throughout Magic Kingdom park. Disney PhotoPass photographers will help capture your special moments (and, just maybe, a happy haunt here or there).

Follow D23 for more details as they’re revealed, and get ready for a fab-boo-lous fall at Walt Disney World.

10 of Dr. Doofenshmirtz’ Most Maniacal Inators

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Throughout the four seasons of Phineas and Ferb, the goofy-yet-devious Dr. Doofenshmirtz has invented all sorts of machines to aide in his schemes to rule the Tri-State Area. His most famous inventions are his Inators, named for the suffix he attaches to the names of certain inventions. In Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candance Against the Universe, Doof takes his dastardly schemes to space! Before we watch the movie and discover exactly what kind of space shenanigans he’s getting into, we’re taking a look back at 10 of his most evil, maniacal, and just plain silly Inators.

doof inators

1. Bread-Inator (“Crack That Whip,” Season 1, Episode 18)
Doof’s Inator designed to turn objects into whole-grain bread isn’t especially devious on its own (unless you’re gluten-intolerant), but his end goal was especially dastardly: Destroy the statue of President Rutherford B. Hayes, which was constructed beside Doofenshmirtz Evil, Inc and mocks Doof daily with its immortalization of the president’s magnificent beard. Unable to fabricate such follicular fashions himself, Doof plotted to turn the statue to bread and release a flock of hungry magpies to devour it. Fortunately, the Tri-State Area was saved from this truly “hair”-brained plot due to Doof himself having a terrible headache and being too exhausted to put effort into carrying out his plan. He turned the machine on, Perry turned it off, and then Doof went to go take a nap.

doof inators

2. Media-Erase-Inator (“Voyage to the Bottom of Buford,” Season 1, Episode 19)
After accidentally being caught on tape rescuing a kitten, Doofenshmirtz creates this Inator to erase the evidence of his errant do-goodery. Not only is Doof determined to maintain his evil status in the eye of the public, he also will not return any of the “welcome to the good side” gifts he’s received since the footage was aired on local news stations! Now that’s pretty maniacal!

doof inators

3. Delete From My Mind-Inator (“Tip of the Day,” Season 2, Episode 2)
Did Doof create this Inator in order to delete the memory of an embarrassing viral video from the minds of everyone who viewed it? Yes. But, that’s not the maniacal crime that places this Inator on the list—no, the real evil is how this device was instead used to delete the memory of what that little thingy on the end of a shoelace is called. There’s definitely a word for it! What is it? We’ll never know, thanks to Doofenshmirtz accidentally deleting the knowledge from our brains. If only there was a catchy pop song to help us remember the word…

doof inators

4. De-Volition-Inator (“Brain Drain,” Season 2, Episode 35)
Not to be confused with Doof’s previously invented Devolution-Inator, the De-Volition-Inator is designed to control the mind of whoever is wearing it! Made with parts from Brain, Bath, and Beyond (you know, the local big box mind control store), Doof uses this device to control Perry the Platypus and make him perform horrifying tasks such as “skip down the street” and “eat gum off the sidewalk.” Can a device so nefarious have any positive purpose? In the hands of Perry the Platypus, perhaps! Once Perry breaks free from the Inator, he uses it on Doofenshmirtz to help him DJ at the mid-day junkyard rave his daughter, Vanessa, is attending, and impress all the punks there. Plus, the punks discovered a new way to express how they feel in the shackles of society—because, really, isn’t there a platypus controlling us all, metaphorically?

doof inators

5. Yodel-Inator (“Bubble Boys”, Season 2, Episode 16)
After realizing that he’s “completely and totally unlikeable,” Dr. Doofenshmirtz harnesses the truly devious power of yodeling to bewitch the minds of the public. Is the Yodel-Inator his most sinister invention yet? Using this hat-shaped invention, Doof performs a live country and western concert in order to convince the denizens of the Tri-State Area to “Yodel-Odel-Obey” him. Thank goodness Perry the Platypus was there to knock the Inator off of his head before he could fully ensnare the minds of his audience.

doof inators

6. Other-Dimension-Inator (Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the Second Dimension)
This Inator was created for an innocent reason—for Doof to simply visit another dimension. However, the alternate universe uncovered by this Inator is ruled by an eviler version of Dr. Doofenshmirtz, who kidnaps Phineas and Ferb and even risks Perry’s secret identity as an O.W.C.A. agent!

doof inators

7. Mustache-Inator (“Perry the Actorpus,” Season 3, Episode 13)
In a terrifying act of whimsy, Doof invents this machine that puts mustaches on its victims. What could possibly motivate him to carry out such a sinister scheme? “There’s nothing sillier than a big, bushy mustache,” he explains to Perry. Truly, his evil madness knows no end. Fortunately, Perry the Platypus steals the Inator and uses it for good (namely to disguise his own identity in a series of ads Phineas and Ferb had him pose for).

doof inators

8. Big Sad Eye-Inator (“Blackout!” Season 3, Episode 31)
Dr. Doofenshmirtz decides to throw himself a party—a pity party, that is! What is more devious than the doctor when he’s determined to look really sad so everyone will give him what he wants? How about an Inator that uses so much power it causes a Tri-State Area-wide blackout! Between his scientifically enhanced big, sad eyes and the cover of darkness, it seems like Doof cannot be stopped—that is, until the power is returned and everyone realizes how freaky big, sad eyes look in the light.

doof inators

9. Double-Negative-Inator (“Great Balls of Water, Season 4, Episode 10)
Any good Tri-State Area citizen knows that you can’t order eggnog in summer. That’s just not how it works—unless you’re Dr. Doofenshmirtz and you live to sow chaos! His Double-Negative-Inator was created to allow him to order seasonal drinks… during the wrong season! The horror! The Tri-State Area is lucky that Perry the Platypus hit the Inator’s self-destruct button, saving everyone from the total disordered chaos Doof was trying to create.

doof inators

10. Inexplicable Giant Floating Baby Head-Attract-Inator (“Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror,” Season 4, Episode 18)
Sure, the Inexplicable Giant Floating Baby Head may be a standard part of adventures in the Tri-State Area, but its true terror (beyond being, you know, a giant floating baby head) lies in its ability to grant wishes. In the wrong hands, three wishes could cause total mayhem. Doof creates the Inexplicable Giant Floating Baby Head-Attract-Inator in order to become the ruler of the Tri-State Area… if he had succeeded in his plans, who knows what would have happened? However, due to the tricky nature of wish-making, Dr. Doofenshmirtz ends up as the “head” of the Tri-State Area… as in, he becomes the Inexplicable Giant Floating Doofenshmirtz Head. Once again, the Tri-State Area is safe from his devious plans.

What will Dr. Doofenshmirtz invent next? Tune in to Phineas and Ferb: Candace Against the Universe, now streaming on Disney+.

First-Look Image from Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

First-Look Image from Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon 

We’ve been majorly anticipating Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon ever since it was announced at D23 Expo last year… and just this week, we got a peek at an amazing new image from the film!

In a “first look” seen above, we catch a glimpse of mighty warrior Raya and her trusty steed, Tuk Tuk. In addition to this brand-new image, it was also announced that Kelly Marie Tran—who played Rose Tico in two Star Wars films—will voice Raya, joining Awkwafina as the voice of the dragon, Sisu. Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada are directing, with Paul Briggs and John Ripa co-directing. Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho are the producers, and Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim are writers on the project

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned—and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the last dragon in order to finally stop the Druun for good. However, throughout the course of her journey, Raya will learn it’s going to take more than dragon magic to save the world… it’s going to take trust.

Raya and the Last Dragon will open in U.S. theaters on March 12, 2021.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Well, it’s here—the final weekend of August. Should you be a fan of all things pumpkin spice and are looking forward to seeing those first glimmers of fall on the horizon, celebrate with some truly great TV/streaming-device viewing from across the worlds of Disney… including the grown-ish All Nighter-ish Marathon on Freeform; a brand-new episode of The Incredible Dr. Pol on Nat Geo WILD; and more. Click here to see what else to expect!

trevor tordjman

 

Trevor Tordjman Joins Cast of Disney Channel’s BUNK’D

Head’s up, campers: There’s a ZOMBIES favorite coming your way! Just this week, our pals at Disney Channel announced that multitalented actor Trevor Tordjman will be joining the cast of the uber-popular sitcom BUNK’D for its fifth season, set to begin production at a date yet to be determined.

Tordjman, who had a memorable turn as cheer squad leader and one-time tyrant Bucky in ZOMBIES and ZOMBIES 2—and who also co-hosts Disney Channel’s dance competition series Disney Fam Jam—will costar in BUNK’D as Parker Preston, a witty charmer with an inherent likeability, despite the cocky demeanor he’s picked up as a member of an ultra-wealthy family. Turns out he’s the only Preston who cares about a deed giving descendants of great-great-grandfather Preston a 15 percent stake in Camp Kikiwaka. Now, Parker shows up at Kikiwaka determined to implement over-the-top ideas to make the camp overwhelmingly successful… but it quickly becomes clear that he’ll butt heads with Lou (Miranda May) over what success really looks like. The series also stars Raphael Alejandro as Matteo, Will Buie Jr. as Finn, Mallory James Mahoney as Destiny, Shelby Simmons as Ava, and Israel Johnson as Noah.

Look for more info on BUNK’D’s upcoming fifth season as it becomes available.

star wars celebration

Exclusives Revealed for Star Wars Celebration 2020

Fans of the Force from across the universe may not be able to assemble in Anaheim this year for the always-incredible Star Wars Celebration… but that doesn’t mean they (i.e. we) can’t celebrate at home! To that end, our pals over at StarWars.com just revealed some must-have items, coming to the Star Wars Celebration Exclusive Merchandise Store.

As a special thank you, all fans who purchased a ticket for the original 2020 event dates will receive three days of early access to the Star Wars Celebration Exclusive Merchandise Store—and even fans who requested ticket refunds can enjoy this exclusive benefit. The early access period begins on Friday, August 28, at 12 p.m. ET over at StarWarsCelebration.com. One of the exclusives is this great Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary t-shirt, seen below:

star wars celebration

But that’s not all! For the first time ever, Star Wars Celebration Exclusive Merchandise will be available to the public—including those who did not purchase a ticket to Star Wars Celebration—at launch! Full, open access to the Star Wars Celebration Exclusive Merchandise Store will begin on Monday, August 31, at 12 p.m. ET on StarWarsCelebration.com. And stay tuned, folks, because there’ll be even more Star Wars Celebration Exclusive Merchandise coming later this year.

Visit the Star Wars Celebration Exclusive Merchandise online store for an initial look at all the exclusives… we’re whippin’ up a batch of Bantha Milk Hot Cocoa and prepping our lightsabers in anticipation of Monday’s launch!

ICYMI: Hear from Phineas and Ferb Creators Dan and “Swampy”

With Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe premiering on Disney+, D23 recently sat down with Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the creators of the Emmy® Award-winning animated series, to chat about this all-new adventure. See what they had to say—and find out the true origin of Marsh’s nickname—by clicking here.

Check Out This All-New Marvel’s Avengers Launch Trailer

It’s crazy but it’s true—it’s almost time to start thinking about holiday gifting. And this recent announcement from Marvel Entertainment might be something to consider for the gamer in your life… Marvel’s Avengers is an epic, third-person, action-adventure game that combines an original, cinematic story with single-player and co-operative gameplay. Available next week, the game is playable on PlayStation 4 (Standard Edition, Exclusive Digital Edition, Deluxe Edition, Earth’s Mightiest Edition), Xbox One (Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, Earth’s Mightiest Edition), and Steam (Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition). Take a look at the brand-new launch trailer for the game, just released by Marvel Entertainment, above.

From the incredible folks at Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, and Square Enix comes Marvel’s Avengers—where players can assemble into a team of up to four players online; master extraordinary abilities; customize a growing roster of Heroes; and defend the Earth from escalating threats. Unlock powerful skills, special abilities, and unique gear for each of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Black Widow, Captain America, the Hulk, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, and Thor. Set five years after A-Day, which resulted in death and destruction, Heroes were outlawed; today, the world needs saving—and that’s precisely what Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) aims to do. But the secret organization, led by George Tarleton, might be doing more harm than good… and it’s up to the Heroes to reassemble and save the day.

Look for Marvel’s Avengers beginning Friday, September 4!