Zootopia-Themed Expansion Headed to Shanghai Disneyland

By Jocelyn Buhlman

“Try everything!” The phrase isn’t just the theme of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit animated movie Zootopia—it’s also the motto of Disney park enthusiasts around the world. From the most thrilling roller coaster the latest high-tech attraction, Disney parks fans are ready to try it all—which is why guests at Shanghai Disneyland will have another reason to start singing along with Gazelle.

Shanghai Disney Resort just announced an exciting new expansion that will bring the characters and stories from Zootopia, to life. There’s plenty of reasons to be wildly excited for this expansion: When it opens, Zootopia will become the eighth themed land at the world’s newest Disney park and the first-ever Zootopia-themed land at any Disney park worldwide! Park guests will be able to enter the world of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for the very first time and discover what it is like to visit the place where animals can be anything they want.

Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort

Zootopia will be unique to Shanghai Disneyland and will feature a new, major attraction that seamlessly blends Disney’s storytelling and state-of-the-art technologies in order to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life. The new themed land will also invite guests to fully immerse themselves in the mammalian metropolis of Zootopia, and come along on an adventure with Judy and Nick. With a brand-new attraction, entertainment, merchandise, and food and beverage offerings, the new land will provide guests with even more to experience and enjoy at Shanghai Disneyland than ever before.

“We are thrilled to announce that Shanghai Disneyland will be home to the world’s first Zootopia-themed land,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products, The Walt Disney Company. “The rapid rate of expansion at Shanghai Disney Resort demonstrates our confidence and commitment to the Company’s future development in China.”

The box office record-breaking movie was China’s No. 1 animated feature film in history, meaning guests at Shanghai Disneyland already want to “try everything.” Of course, no matter where you travel, you’re sure to find a fan or two—Judy and Nick can currently be found greeting guests at Disney parks worldwide, and will soon be joined by other Zootopia friends at their very own land at Shanghai Disney Resort.

“Since the resort’s Grand Opening in 2016, Shanghai Disneyland has gone from strength to strength – continuing to expand and enjoying ever-rising attendance rates while also providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests,” said Yang Jinsong, Chairman of Disney’s Chinese joint venture partner for Shanghai Disney Resort – Shanghai Shendi Group. “Shanghai Disneyland has rapidly become one of the fastest growing Disney parks and has been key to the development of the Shanghai International Resort as one of the most visited leisure destinations in the country. This new expansion will provide our guests with an even richer selection of offerings, and will further boost our market competitiveness.”

Construction on Zootopia is targeted to begin later this year. Stay tuned for more updates from Disney Parks and Resorts around the world!

Minnie Style: Everything You Need to Celebrate National Polka Dot Day

By Karina Schink

Ever since that big clock struck 12 and we entered 2019, we know you’ve been waiting, painstakingly, for this very special day to arrive. Well, the wait is finally over because National Polka Dot Day is here! It’s a day to wear your best and boldest (may we suggest red?) and celebrate Mickey Mouse’s leading lady, Minnie Mouse #minniestyle. Here’s our top picks for all the merch you need to celebrate this day in style (and don’t forget to use your D23 member discount!).

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Club Ceramic Travel Tumbler
Hey there! Hi there! Ho there! Forever let us hold our coffee high in this Minnie Mouse Club travel tumbler, the perfect accessory for every day.

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Journal with Pen
Absolutely everything looks better with a bow, especially all of your doodles, notes, and grocery lists, which can live inside this Minnie Mouse journal.

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Pencil Case
We’ve got ears for years (90 to be exact), and we’ll never stop celebrating those iconic circles! Say “cheers” to your favorite set of ears in a subtle way with this pencil case.

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Signature Doll – Limited Edition
What better way to celebrate this auspicious holiday and Minnie than with the lady herself! And can we just say, we’re loving the polka dot lining of her coat.

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Petunia Pickle Bottom Minnie Kids & Adults
Whether for Mom and Dad or your “Minnie” me, the Petunia Pickle Bottom is the perfect way to match in style and hold all of your daily essentials—whether it’s for a trip to a Park or just for on-the-go!

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Rainboots for Women
Not even rain can stop your good mood when you’ve got these rubber boots! In the style of our favorite sweetheart, these’ll make sure you don’t let any National Polka Dot Day plans get canceled due to a rainy day!

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Umbrella for Adults
Sometimes when it rains it pours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t rock those dots. Whether rain or shine, keep cover with this perfectly polka-dotted umbrella.

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Signature Glass Compact Mirror
Happily reflect on your love for the dot with Minnie’s signature glass compact mirror. We know you’re always lookin’ golden, so this gilded compact will only confirm what we’ve known all along!

shopDisney Rock the Dots Minnie Mouse merch

Minnie Mouse Rolling Luggage – Small
The best of packages come with a bow on top, and this Minnie Mouse Rolling Luggage is no exception! This suitcase will make sure even your gear is dressed to the nines.

Every Disney Oscar® Nomination for 2019

By Beth Deitchman

Black PantherMary Poppins ReturnsIncredibles 2Ralph Breaks the Internet… It comes as no surprise that some of our favorite films of 2019 are favorites of Academy members, too. Nominations for the 91st Oscars® have just been revealed, and Disney releases earned 17 nominations in all. Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is Disney’s most-nominated release, with seven nods in all, including Best Picture. Mary Poppins Returns received four nominations, and Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet are both among the nominees for best Animated Feature Film.

Following today’s announcement, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said, “Congratulations to all of our nominated films, and especially Black Panther. To see it recognized by the Academy today with seven nominations, including Best Picture, is truly an honor. Congratulations and gratitude to Kevin Feige and the team at Marvel Studios and to our director, Ryan Coogler, and his incredible team and brilliant cast—we’re grateful for their creative excellence, unparalleled artistry, and heartfelt passion for this project.”

Alan Horn, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios, said, “It’s wonderful and humbling to see so many of our films recognized by the Academy this morning with 17 nominations across eight films, including a Best Picture nomination for Black Panther and Best Animated Feature nominations for Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Congratulations to all of our nominees and the exceptional teams behind these films.”

“Thank you so much to the Academy for this honor,” said Black Panther producer Kevin Feige. “This extraordinary recognition is an endorsement of what Black Panther represents for inclusion and for telling different kinds of stories. It has been humbling and gratifying to see the cultural impact this film has had, and it’s something we’re all very proud to have been a part of. This could not have happened without our amazing cast and crew and our brilliant director, Ryan Coogler, who brought his unique talent, experience, and deeply personal vision to this story. And of course, I have to thank Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for bringing this character into the world to begin with.”

Mary Poppins Returns was nominated for the heartfelt song, “The Place Where Lost Things Go”; its original score, by Marc Shaiman; and its dazzling production design and costumes. Sandy Powell, who created the stunning looks worn in the film (and who is also nominated for The Favourite), said, “All I can think of to say is I’m extremely grateful and proud, and huge thanks to all my talented teams on both films without whom I would not be in this position right now.”

John Myhre and Gordon Sim, nominated for the film’s production design, said, “We are thrilled to be part of Rob Marshall’s magical Mary Poppins Returns. From 1930’s London streets to animated music halls to Topsy turvy upside down rooms, it was the most challenging film that we have ever done. It is such an honor to be recognized by the Academy.”

Bao, the charming short that debuted in theaters ahead of Incredibles 2, is nominated in the Short Film (animated) category. The film’s director, Domee Shi, and producer, Becky Neiman-Cobb, couldn’t wait to share the news with two very important people: “This nomination means so much to us and the whole Bao crew. We are honored to be included with such an inspiring collection of shorts. Bao was a very personal film for all of us and we’re so glad that it has resonated with audiences. We’re off to call our moms!”

Two Disney releases, Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet, received nods for best Animated Feature Film. The team behind Ralph Breaks the Internet was thrilled to see the film honored this year. “To be recognized by the Academy in such an incredible year for animated films is deeply humbling,” said directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston and producer Clark Spencer. “We are honored to represent the wonderful artists and technicians at Walt Disney Animation Studios whose artistry and passion brought this story of a friendship put to the test to life.”

The statuettes will be handed out on February 24, in a live broadcast airing on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Here are the Disney nominees we’ll be rooting for on Oscar Sunday:

Disney Oscar nominations 2019

Best Picture
Black Panther

Disney Oscar nominations 2019

Animated Feature Film
Incredibles 2
Ralph Breaks the Internet

Disney Oscar nominations 2019

Costume Design
Black Panther—Ruth Carter
Mary Poppins Returns—Sandy Powell

Disney Oscar nominations 2019

Music (Original Score)
Black Panther—Ludwig Göransson
Mary Poppins Returns—Marc Shaiman

Disney Oscar nominations 2019

Music (Original Song)
Black Panther—“All The Stars”
Mary Poppins Returns—“The Place Where Lost Things Go”

Production Design
Black Panther—Hannah Beachler
Mary Poppins Returns—John Myhre

Disney Oscar nominations 2019

Short Film (Animated)
Bao

Sound Editing
Black Panther

Sound Mixing
Black Panther

Disney Oscar nominations 2019

Visual Effects
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Visit Oscar.com to view the entire list of 2019 nominees.

Kim Possible’s Fan-Fave Rufus and Captain Marvel Posters—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

The world’s most famous naked mole-rat returns, and we get a gorgeous glimpse of the characters of Captain Marvel… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Rufus the Naked Mole-Rat is Back in Live-Action Kim Possible

He’s a fan favorite from the original Disney Channel series Kim Possible, and he’s back in the brand-new upcoming live-action Disney Channel Original Movie… yes, Rufus the naked mole-rat is returning to Middleton, and he’ll be voiced once again by Emmy®- and Annie Award-winning voice actress Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons).

The DCOM follows everyday teen hero Kim Possible (Sadie Stanley) and best friend and sidekick Ron Stoppable (The Goldberg’s Sean Giambrone) as they embark on their freshman year of high school—all while dealing with a few evil super villains. With danger lurking around every corner, Kim must rely on her family and friends more than ever; it’s now up to “Team Possible”—Kim, Ron, tech-genius Wade, new friend Athena, and Rufus, a naked mole-rat that Ron meets along the way—to stop the villains and save the world!

Look for Kim Possible on Friday, February 15, at 8 pm. EST/PST, only on Disney Channel and DIsneyNOW.

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
January 25, 2018
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Dave Smith
January 26, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—D23 Gold Member Exclusive
February 16, 2018
D23’s Happily Ever After Brunch
February 16, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty on the Lot
February 16, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty at Walt Disney World
March 7, 2018
Don’t Miss a Complimentary Advance Screening of Captain Marvel
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
January 18-February 25, 2019
2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts
January 25-February 17, 2019
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure
March 1-April 23, 2019
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
March 6-June 3, 2019
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Summer 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort
Fall 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort

Studios
March 8, 2019
Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel opens in U.S. theaters
March 29, 2019
Dumbo opens in U.S. theaters
April 19, 2019
Penguins opens in U.S. theaters
May 24, 2019
Aladdin opens in U.S. theaters
June 21, 2019
Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters
July 19, 2019
The Lion King opens in U.S. theaters
August 9, 2019
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
February 15, 2019
Kim Possible premieres on Disney Channel (8–9:32 p.m. EST/PST)
February 24, 2019
The Oscars® airs on ABC (8–11 p.m. EST)
March 3, 2019
American Idol kicks off second season on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. EST)

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These Brand-New Captain Marvel Character Posters are Super… Awesome

We have to admit: We think it’s paws-itively genius that they’ve included Goose, Carol Danvers’ (Brie Larson) beloved cat, in the collection of brand-new character posters just released for Captain Marvel. Honestly, that cool kitty is a big reason we cannot wait to see the film. Other gorgeous new posters feature Larson as Captain Marvel herself (of course), Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jude Law as the commander of Starforce, Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, and Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva.

Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure—from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. When a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.

Look for Captain Marvel, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, in theaters beginning March 8!

Fabulous Disney Parks Fashion Graces Vogue.com

Are you ready for a super fashionable way to continue celebrating Mickey Mouse’s 90th anniversary and its accompanying World’s Biggest Mouse Party? You positively must check out Vogue.com’s just-published rundown of some of the most eye-catching “Main Street Style” seen recently at Disney Parks around the world. Find out more, and see some of the iconic looks in action, here at D23.com.

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Celebrate Minnie Mouse on National Polka Dot Day on January 22

Speaking of Mickey’s 90th—it’s Minnie Mouse’s anniversary, too, and she’s getting in on the fun this year in a really big way! Case in point: Next Tuesday, January 22, is National Polka Dot Day, and Disney is encouraging Minnie fans everywhere to #MinnieStyle with events in Los Angeles and New York, as well as cool new collections launching both online and in retail stores.

Torrid, Happy Feet, Pandora Jewelry, Crocs, Jewelmark, and luxury milliner Gigi Burris will all release Minnie-inspired capsule collections in celebration of her amazing milestone anniversary and this dot-filled annual fan holiday. Plus, this coming weekend, the female-founded “athleisurewear” brand Terez and the cold-pressed juice brand Pressed Juicery are hosting a Minnie-inspired fitness event open to the public at Los Angeles’ Westfield Century City shopping center; several Minnie-inspired juices will then be available, beginning January 22, at all 70+ Pressed Juicery locations nationwide! On the East Coast, artist Alake Shilling will debut stunning artwork inspired by Minnie at Mickey: The True Original Exhibition in New York City on January 22 during an exclusive event. Should you find yourself in the area, tickets are available now by clicking here.

So on January 22, break out those polka dots in honor of that ever-so-fashionable and ever-so-lovely Minnie Mouse… and don’t forget to tag your photos on social media with #MinnieStyle!

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ICYMI: Need-to-Knows for the Epcot International Festival of the Arts!

It’s that time of year again—when the globe’s best in food, fine art, and frolicsome entertainment descend upon the hallowed grounds of Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort. Read up on everything you absolutely must know about the Epcot International Festival of the Arts by clicking here.

news briefs 1/16

Get Ready for Chinese New Year at Disney Parks Around the Globe

Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) begins this February 5, when we’ll officially be living in the Year of the Pig! Disney California Adventure park in California and Shanghai Disney Resort have all manner of festivities planned—with delicious limited-time food offerings, sumptuous decorations, and memorable entertainment. Read more about DCA’s celebrations (which begins January 25) here, and about Shanghai Disney Resort’s festival (beginning this Saturday, January 19) here.

This Interactive Disneyland Paris Vault is Virtual-ly Amazing

Across the pond, our friends over at Disneyland Paris have tons of awesome things planned for 2019—including Legends of the Force – A Celebration of Star Wars, Festival of Pirates and Princesses, Marvel Season of Super Heroes, and much, much more… and you can now catch a playful glimpse of all the fun to be had via a brand-new interactive challenge!

The Disneyland Paris Vault (available in both French and English) contains 19 hidden clues about all those upcoming seasonal offerings and events. Guests of all ages are invited to try their hand at finding every clue—and once they do, the vault will unlock exclusive digital content as well as a special message from Disneyland Paris Ambassadors Giona Prevete and Joana Afonso Santiago.

Ready to play? Visit vault.disneylandparis.com to start your adventure!

A Tale of Two Tarzans: Secrets from #ArtfulEpcot’s Broadway Concert Series

By Jeffrey Epstein

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is a celebration of creativity on all levels—visual, culinary, and performance. And for the latter, the creative forces at Disney Parks tapped the treasure trove of talent from Disney Theatrical Group, inviting the stars of the Great White Way to take to the stage for unforgettable performances in the Disney on Broadway Concert Series. This year, the festival once again runs for 39 days and is bringing in more Broadway talent than ever before, including the return of two favorites—Kevin Massey (who is performing with Kerry Butler January 18, 19, 22, 23, and 26) and Josh Strickland (who will share the stage with Ashley Brown February 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, and 23). Strickland originated the role of Tarzan on Broadway while Massey understudied the role during the run, and both would go on to perform the show internationally. The two talented actors sat down with D23 for a chat about swinging from the vines, their upcoming show, and Disney favorites.

Josh Strickland

When you both look back, what was your favorite part of playing Tarzan on Broadway?
Josh (pictured above): Mine was actually learning to fly. I think that both Kevin and I can attest that when you go into an audition and they hand you a hard hat, that is unusual. But flying was one of the most thrilling parts.
Kevin: I agree. One thing I learned about myself was just getting “in” my body. Like Josh said, flying in the air is one thing, but also learning all the movement and realizing that this awkward person that I am can still get some things out of it that I didn’t think were in there! We did yoga every morning, and all of the sudden I was able to touch my toes which I was never able to do before.

Kevin Massey

Since Broadway, you both did the show in Germany—in German. What was that like?
Kevin (pictured above left):

It was crazy because I had to learn the entire show in about a week and a half. It was one of those things where you say, “Okay, yeah.” And then once you hang up the phone you think, How am I going to do this?! But, you rise to the occasion, you figure it out. It was cool to revisit the show because they added a lot of things that weren’t in the Broadway production—a lot more flying. It’s also scary to do a show in a foreign language and you think, What if I go up on a line or something happens?
Josh: And I do remember going up one time. It was one of my first weeks doing the show. I totally started singing in English, and about 20 seconds go by and I switched back completely to German. My husband was in the theatre watching and he was like, What is happening? I can understand him! I said, “Yes, honey, I just sang in English.”

What is something we might not know about the show?
Josh: Phil [Collins, the show’s composer and Disney Legend] literally brought an entire recording studio to the studios where we were rehearsing and would be with us every single day, writing new songs, recording himself in the studio so he could have a demo to then go and orchestrate or do something. To see him work was probably one of the most thrilling things about getting the whole production together.

Talk about your upcoming shows at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.
Josh: I think is really cool to see the fans—and new fans. There are always Broadway fans, but then you get the new fans who love Disney who have never seen a Broadway show. They get to see the talent that [Disney] Theatrical has. I think that that’s one of the coolest things.
Kevin: Josh and I have been able to be with it from the beginning. We feel like original cast members, and it just keeps growing and growing. One thing I’ve been impressed with is just how big the catalogue of Disney Theatrical songs is. Some of the songs we sing are only in theatrical productions not the movie versions. And every year it’s different. We’ve been back all three years, but each concert I’ve done, some part of it has been different.
Josh: And since we’re not playing a character, we are just ourselves. We get to do stuff that we would never even get hired for: like, to sing “My Strongest Suit” from Aida is really cool.

Let’s talk about your performance partners. Josh, you’ve performed with Ashley all over the world. How did you guys connect in the first place?
Josh: It was during Tarzan and she was doing Beauty and the Beast. She had done a tour of the Disney show On the Record, and then she moved to Beauty and the Beast. And we were rehearsing Tarzan so we would do a lot of things together—singing at galas and whatnot. We forged this life friendship.

Kevin, you’ve performed with Kara [Lindsay, his wife, who created the role of Katherine in Newsies on Broadway] many times. And now you’re performing with Kerry again.
Kevin: The first time I met Kerry—and the first time we performed together—was at the first Festival of the Arts three years ago. We literally showed up the first day and started singing together. So I didn’t have the same long-term camaraderie that Josh had with Ashley, but we developed it really quickly. I had such a blast with her, and it’s great because now she’s such a dear friend and we get to do it again this year together.

Let’s do a round of “Disney Favorites: Epcot Edition.” Favorite World Showcase pavilion?
Josh: Italy. Since being over in Germany, I’ve traveled to see the world and to see these actual places. Italy really was one of those that I just fell in love with.
Kevin: Norway. The Frozen ride is awesome. And one of my first trips over in Europe was when I was a kid and my dad was a professor, and he ended up bringing his students over. I was in first grade, and some of my favorite memories are from the Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway.

Favorite Epcot restaurant?
Kevin: Oh, the Moroccan restaurant [Restaurant Marrakesh]. The last time I was there I had a really good meal there. It was fantastic.
Josh: And I actually like the Japanese restaurant [Teppan Edo]. I really like seeing somebody flip shrimp in their hat.

Favorite Future World attraction?
Kevin: Test Track for sure. The ride itself is cool.
Josh: I have to say Test Track as well. Although, I do have a new appreciation for The Land. It’s actually really neat to see what they do and how they grow things.

Favorite Disney song, Epcot or otherwise.
Josh: Oh gosh, that is so hard. There are so many good ones. I’d have to say, okay, “Santa Fe” [from Newsies].
Kevin: Oh, that’s so good.
Josh: It’s just such a greatly written song, it tells a story, it’s just beautiful. Honestly, I’ll say anything Alan Menken.
Kevin: I’m biased, but “Watch What Happens” [also from Newsies]. It’s a hard song, but it’s so good. When Kara was in the show, little girls were dressed up like little Katherines, and they were all mouthing the words—and that is a wordy song. I know that’s not really a favorite song, but my favorite moment includes my favorite song which is watching Kara sing that song.

Did You Know? 12 Blue-Ribbon Facts About Walt Disney’s So Dear to My Heart

By Jim Fanning

Told through the golden glow of nostalgia, Walt Disney’s So Dear to My Heart celebrates 70 years of humor, music, and animation. Released on January 19, 1949, this heartfelt film is set in 1903, in Fulton Corners, Indiana, where young Jeremiah “Jerry” Kincaid (Disney star Bobby Driscoll) adopts a mischievous black lamb he names Danny after famed champion race horse Dan Patch. With the encouragement of kindly blacksmith Uncle Hiram (Burl Ives, in one of his first film roles), Jerry dreams of Danny winning a blue ribbon at the County Fair. On its 70th anniversary, this charming film remains a little-known Disney gem, so let’s show some “Stick-to-it-ivity” with 12 fun facts about one of Walt’s favorite films.

So Dear to My Heart

1. Pet Lamb, Pet Project
Originally entitled How Dear to My Heart during production, this heartwarming story is based on the bestselling 1943 book by Sterling North, Midnight and Jeremiah. “In this novel,” Walt said, “I found the perfect story for a new kind of motion picture,” referring to his plans to use both animation and live action. He lavished attention on this film that reflected his own childhood in Marceline, Missouri, providing period details including authentic handmade quilts as set dressing.

So Dear to My Heart

2. Sassy Talk for a Granny Woman: Beulah Bondi
Director Harold Schuster suggested acclaimed character actress Beulah Bondi for the role of strict-but-loving Granny Kincaid. This Academy Award®-nominated performer, perhaps best known as James Stewart’s mother in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), learned to plow a field, spin wool, and work a loom to portray the hardworking pioneer woman. In 1952, Walt asked Bondi to reprise her role as Granny Kincaid in recorded narration for the public exhibition of a miniature diorama of Granny’s cabin he had handcrafted, one of the precursors to Disneyland® Park.

So Dear to My Heart

3. Folk Songs and Mighty Fine Stomping: Burl Ives
Burl Ives —“America’s Favorite Balladeer”—was best known as a radio and concert performer when Walt cast him as the neighborly blacksmith. A collector and performer of genuine American folk songs, Ives’ distinctive voice lent authenticity to such folk favorites as  “Billy Boy.” “You should hear him stomp!” enthused co-star Bobby Driscoll. “The whole floor jiggles when he square dances.” After many more films, including The Big Country (1958) for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar®, Ives returned to Disney for another nostalgic period piece, Summer Magic (1963).

So Dear to My Heart

4. Those “Dilly-Dilly” Songs
Aside from actual folk songs, some Disney originals are also showcased in So Dear. In addition to “Ol’ Dan Patch” and “Stick-to-it-ivity,” Disney songwriters Eliot Daniel (later to compose the I Love Lucy theme song) and Larry Morey adapted an English folk song and nursery rhyme that dated from the 17th century to compose “Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly).” A hit song in late 1948, months before the film was in theaters, this Disney-created folk tune was Burl Ives’s first hit single. Often celebrated as a Disney standard, “Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)” was nominated for a Best Song Academy Award®.

So Dear to My Heart

5. Walt’s First Live-Action Leading Man: Bobby Driscoll
So Dear was designed as a vehicle for Disney’s contract child star, Bobby Driscoll, who would later voice the titular hero of Peter Pan (1953). The boy’s impish sense of humor kept cast and crew laughing, as when, after one take of the county fair sheep-judging scene, he quipped, “Sheep and actors back to their pens!” In 1950, Bobby was presented with an honorary Oscar as “the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949” for both the non-Disney thriller The Window and his winning performance in So Dear to My Heart. When asked what the secret to his acting when So Dear was in theaters, Driscoll replied simply, “I just try to live the part.”

So Dear to My Heart

6. Walt’s Little Leading Lady: Luana Patton
Having co-starred with Bobby Driscoll in Song of the South, (1946), Luana Patten was again cast as his leading lady in this new film. Patten later recalled that she often played with Driscoll and Walt’s daughter Sharon on the Disney lot. Even the So Dear to My Heart location became their playground. “Sharon and I used to hide from the film crew, just for fun,” Patten once remembered. “Once, Sharon, Bobby, and I played by a huge dam, catching pollywogs. We had a lot of fun—but when we got back, everybody was so cross with us that we never did it again!” After high school, Patten returned to Disney to play the female lead in Johnny Tremain (1957)—featuring her one-time playmate Sharon Disney in a bit part.

So Dear to My Heart

7. Standing in for Indiana: The Location
Though Disney producer Perce Pearce traveled to Indiana in the summer of 1945 to scope out the atmosphere, the movie was filmed in Sequoia National Park and the San Joaquin Valley of California. According to Disney publicity, “The [actual] location was carefully selected to resemble the Indiana landscape of Brown County, where the story is placed. Tulare County, California, some 250 miles from Hollywood, has many families which originated in Indiana.” Nearly 500 local residents appeared in crowd scenes “dressed in the period clothes of their forebears.” Filming began on April 30, 1946, and extended into late summer, so 27 greens men watered the landscape every night. Most of the sets were built on location, including Kincaid’s red barn, modeled after the structure on the Disney farm in Missouri. Later, Walt replicated the barn as his backyard workshop. The current location of Walt’s So Dear barn is Griffith Park in Los Angeles, where it’s preserved as a museum of Disney railroad memorabilia.

So Dear to My Heart

8. Quaint Patterns, Good People: Mary Blair’s Art
In spring 1945, Disney artist (and later, Disney Legend) Mary Blair took an artistic field trip to Indiana researching farm life for So Dear to My Heart. Her extraordinary pre-production art conceptualized settings, characters, costumes, and designs, integrating her signature vibrant colors and stylized shapes with quilt-inspired patterns. “It seems that quilt making is a revived art in this country now,” Blair wrote Walt at the time, “which fact adds more value to its use as a medium of expression in our picture.”

So Dear to My Heart

9. Here Comes Old 99: The Train
One of many elements that attracted railroad enthusiast Walt to So Dear is the train seen throughout the film. According to Disney publicity, the Evansville and Indianapolis Railroad of 1903-05 was portrayed by “a still older historic train of the bonanza era, the Virginia and Truckee…which once served the splendiferous mining camp of Virginia City, Nevada.” Director Hal Schuster later recalled, “We rented the old engine and cars from Paramount, which had used them for Union Pacific [1939].” Reported Disney publicity, “Old No. 99 of the Evansville and Indianapolis Railroad as it is labeled for the film was actually one of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad’s venerable engines, long since retired.” According to Schuster, “The railroad station was already there [at the film location] as were the railroad tracks.” The film’s Victorian-style wooden depot served as the model for the original Frontierland station in Disneyland Park, now known as the New Orleans Square/Frontierland station.

So Dear to My Heart

10. It’s What You Do with What You Got: Animation
When the live-action filming was completed, Disney executive Card Walker recalled, “Boy, [Walt] spent a lot of time… that’s when he went back and started building those little vignettes in there in animation. He was working to improve it, to make it better.” The animation was not completed until August 1948, more than a year after the live-action filming was completed. The film’s animated segments feature a cartoon version of Danny being advised by the Wise Old Owl seen in the giveaway cards collected by Jerry. “I saw the cartoon characters as figments of a small boy’s imagination,” said Walt, “and I think they were justified.”

So Dear to My Heart

11. Lots of Work And Lots of Hustle: Animators
In addition to Mary Blair, the beguiling animation art treatment was provided by celebrated Disney stylist Dick Kelsey and Disney Legend John Hench. Three powerhouses of animation talent—Marc Davis, Ken Anderson, and Bill Peet, each a Disney Legend in his own right, provided the story treatment. Peet, in particular, brought a So Dear-simpatico sensibility, having been born and raised in rural Indiana. In total, five of Walt’s Nine Old Men are credited, including Eric Larson (pictured, with Bobby Driscoll), who brought his expertise in animals to the animation of Danny.

So Dear to My Heart

12. So Dear to Our Hearts: Release
“So Dear To My Heart, which fascinated me because of its human qualities when I first read Sterling North’s novel, has come up to my every expectation now that it is completed and ready for release,” said Walt in late 1948. The film was previewed at the 27th National 4-H Congress in Chicago on November 29, 1948, attended by Bobby Driscoll and more than 1,200 young 4-H Club members.  After Walt, Bondi, Driscoll, and Patten embarked on a railway promotional tour that included Nashville and Chicago, they were joined at the official premiere in West Lafayette, Indiana, on January 19, 1949, by author North. “So Dear was especially close to me,” stated Walt. “Why, that’s the life my brother and I grew up with as kids out in Missouri. The great racehorse, Dan Patch, was a hero to us. We had Dan Patch’s grandson on my father’s farm.”  With so many components he loved—kids, country life, animals, animation, music, and trains— it’s no wonder that this lovely film was so dear to Walt’s heart and to the hearts of many a Disney fan.

Everything You Need to Know About the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts

By Karina Schink

Two years ago, Disney fans were introduced to what has become one of our favorite annual traditions: the Epcot International Festival of the Arts! Starting January 18 and continuing all the way through February 25, we’ll celebrate the third celebration of art, entertainment, and food all across World Showcase and Future World.

The festivities are just around the corner, so start making your plans now for a fun, artsy, and delicious visit to Walt Disney World Resort.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2019

Must-See Galleries
Disney artists old and new come together to showcase their work and provide guests a close-up look at the brilliance of the colorfully curated collections. Galleries are open daily during the festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Epcot admission is required.

Check out all of the galleries you can visit below.

Pavilion Galleries

  • American Heritage Gallery (American Adventure Pavilion)
  • Explore the artistry of American Indian communities from seven geographic regions across the United States.
  • Bijutsu-kan Gallery (Japan Pavilion)
    Delve into the origin and evolution of “kawaii,” Japan’s cute culture.
  • Gallery of Arts and History (Morocco Pavilion)
    Check out the unique designs of time-honored crafts.
  • House of the Whispering Willows (China Pavilion)
    Discover the wonders of the Shanghai Disney Resort.
  • Mexico Folk Art Gallery (Mexico Pavilion)
    Celebrate the artistry and traditions of Día de Muertos.
  • Stave Church Gallery (Norway Pavilion)
    Explore the “Gods of the Vikings” exhibit, celebrating legendary gods and goddesses and featuring authentic Viking artifacts.
  • Chalk Gallery
    See forced perspective chalk art with a three-dimensional look and watch imaginative artists re-create works by famous masters.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2019

Seminars, Workshops, Photo Ops and More!
There are so many ways to channel your inner Picasso at the Festival of the Arts, from complimentary seminars where you can hear from popular Disney artists and illustrators, as well as local artists, as they talk all about their craft, to actually putting pencil (sans eraser, of course) to paper yourself in a hands-on workshop (available for an additional fee)!

No matter which course you choose, experts are on hand to share tips and tricks. Check back at the Festival’s official website for the latest updates on all the seminars and lessons you’ll be able to join!

There’s no better time than the present to strike a pose and create an everlasting memory. From George Washington crossing the Delaware to that famous Scream, there are so many masterpieces we know would be subtly improved with you “stepping into” them. Get ready for your close-up, because there are so many fun (and artistic) photo ops scattered around World Showcase for you to take advantage of, including a brand-new Peter Pan storybook in the United Kingdom!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2019

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2019

Let Them Eat Art!
It wouldn’t really be a festival without the food! All throughout World Showcase and Future World, there will be food as far as the eye can paint!

Food Studios will be open daily throughout the festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with options to satisfy every painter’s palate.

While your eyes will certainly experience masterpieces at every turn, so will your taste buds! Click here to discover all of the special festival foods that are sure to take you on an extravagantly edible adventure.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2019

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2019 Josh Strickland

Captivation Around Every Corner
Visual arts… culinary arts… The show certainly does go on, as this festival just keeps getting better with its stellar performing arts offerings. All the world’s a stage and everywhere you look there’s something happening. You’ll be able to experience Broadway-inspired performances of all your favorite Disney classics from a talented lineup that includes Arielle Jacobs & Adam Jacobs, Heidi Blickenstaff & Gavin Lee, and Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland (pictured above). Check out the full schedule of performances here.

 If dining also sounds like music to your ears, then check out the Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Package and prepare to savor mouth-watering food offerings as well as the show-stopping tunes.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2019

Imaginative Activities
The festival presents opportunities for all members of the family to express their creativity. Kids of all ages can join in on the artistic action whether it’s by learning or doing! With tons of interactive activities, there are little and big ways for them to get involved.

They can stop by the Animation Academy to experience, firsthand, the magic of Disney animation. Or if you’re looking for something a bit more active, send your little ones on a magical scavenger hunt with Figment!

You can purchase the map and stickers for your little world explorers at Odyssey Festival Showplace, Pin Central, Disney Traders, or World Traveler, and then the search begins. Look for Figment hiding within famous pieces of art!

When you’ve finished your hunt, return your map to Disney Traders for an artful surprise!

And if you find that you’ve been bitten by the creative bug, there are still more outlets to explore—from putting brush to paper at the Expression Section: A Paint by Number Mural or at the Kidcot Fun Stops, where young artists can create new masterpieces to hang on your refrigerator once you get back home.

A Keepsake To Remember
When the weekend comes to a close, one of the best ways to commemorate all the places you went and the things you saw (and ate!) is by bringing home some of the festival’s limited-edition merchandise. All of the colorful and fun Festival gear will be available to purchase around Epcot, from totes to mugs, trading pins, and not to mention the art itself!! Whether if it’s for you or a friend, it’s the perfect way to capture a perfect week.

Kipling Disney Springs Discount


Where

What

When

Kipling at Disney Springs, WDW 10% off Expires Dec 31, 2021

Available Exclusively to Gold Members.
You will be required to show your D23 Membership Card.

D23 Gold Members will receive 10% off their purchase at the Kipling store, located at Disney Springs.
Present you valid D23 Gold Membership Card for your discount.

*Cannot be combined with other offers.

Shanghai Disney Resort Gets Ready for a Magical Chinese New Year Celebration

By Beth Deitchman

The Year of the Pig is nearly upon us, and Shanghai Disney Resort is hosting an unforgettable Chinese New Year celebration from January 19–February 19. Guests from near and far can experience an abundance of offerings and activities that celebrate Chinese customs and, thanks to a little Disney magic, will create fun new memories for families and friends of all ages.

Shanghai Disney Resort Lunar New Year

Decorating one’s home for the holiday is a time-honored Chinese New Year tradition, and Shanghai Disney Resort will also dress its most festive best. Look for shades of red and gold throughout Shanghai Disneyland, along with vibrant Mickey lanterns, Chinese couplets, floral garlands, peach flowers, paper decorations, and more throughout the resort. You’ll also want to keep an ear out for Chinese New Year melodies that complete the immersive New Year experience for guests.

On Mickey Avenue, favorite characters will don their newest Chinese New Year costumes to take pictures together in front of special New Year-inspired photo backdrops. In addition to Mickey and his pals, Duffy, ShellieMay, Gelatoni, and StellaLou, be sure to spot Goofy in his God of Fortune costume, adding extra energy and excitement to the festivities.

And in honor of the Year of the Pig, one of our favorite porcine pals—Hamm from the Toy Story films—will be in the spotlight, signifying luck and good fortune. In the Garden of the Twelve Friends, the pig zodiac will also be adorned with golden coins and red couplets, creating a special photo opportunity for guests. A beautiful archway and spinning centerpiece in the Gardens of Imagination will also help create happy holiday memories as guests pose for pictures with family and friends.

Shanghai Disney Resort Lunar New Year

On select evenings at the Resort, the nightly showing of Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light will be topped off with the Chinese New Year 2019 Firework Celebration: A Feast of Love and Light. Look to the skies on January 25–26, every day from February 4–10, and on the Lantern Festival on February 19. Every morning during the celebration, Mickey and Minnie will preside over a customary drum ceremony near the Storytellers Statue to bring good fortune and happy wishes to the start of the day. Mickey and his pals will also gather in Celebration Square throughout the day for a special high-energy performance of Shanghai Swing that just might inspire guests to swing along.

The Garden of the Twelve Friends transforms for the holiday into the Wishing Garden, where guests can write their New Year wishes on wish cards and hang them in special locations around the garden area to send out their hopes and dreams for a prosperous year ahead.

At the Wishing Star Market in Disneytown, a special Chinese New Year carnival will feature traditional Chinese snacks, festive décor, charming photo locations, and the Wishing Star Skating Rink, where guests will glide their way to memories that will last a lifetime.

For the first time ever, on February 4 and 5, guests visiting Once Upon A Time Adventure at Enchanted Storybook Castle will hear a Shanghainese narration of the attraction’s opening scenes. The new soundtrack was recorded by Pan Hong, who previously provided the attraction’s Mandarin voiceover.

Shanghai Disney Resort Lunar New Year

The celebration for the senses extends to the taste buds, and the Resort has planned special reunion dinners on February 4 and 5. Families and friends can gather for this longstanding tradition in the Cinderella Ballroom at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, where the festivities include special activities for children and a live screening of the Chinese New Year Gala on televisions throughout the ballroom.

Lumière’s Kitchen in the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel hosts a Chinese New Year Feast from February 3–10, featuring a magnificent buffet and photo opportunities with Disney friends. There are also festive food offerings in Shanghai Disneyland throughout the celebration at Wandering Moon Restaurant, the Royal Banquet Hall, Remy’s Patisserie, and Il Paperino.

Shanghai Disney Resort Lunar New Year

Guests will come home with lasting memories from this year’s Chinese New Year celebration, but there will also be more than 40 limited-edition Chinese New Year merchandise items that might be impossible to resist. The new Chinese New Year merchandise collection takes inspiration from customary colors and symbols in the Chinese culture. Vibrant red and gold hues reflect joy and prosperity, while the golden pig, lantern designs, couplets, gold ingots, and other traditional elements help create a diverse array of holiday gift choices. Plus, Lucky Bags are back this year, filled with exclusive holiday merchandise inspired by Hamm the pig. Among the must-have items are plushes, fashionable fleeces, dazzling Minnie headbands, limited-edition Chinese New Year Pins, and so much more.

The festivities begin this Saturday, January 19. Visit ShanghaiDisneyResort.com for more information.

Deconstructed BLT

Enjoy this recipe from the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.

Serves 4

PORK BELLY
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 pounds pork belly
2 teaspoons olive oil

TOMATO JAM
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound plum tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Coarse salt, freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves

SOUS VIDE EGG
4 large eggs

ROMAINE PURÉE
1/2 cup frozen spinach leaves, thawed
3/4 cup chopped romaine lettuce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon salt

HERB CRUMB
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

GARNISH
Dijon mustard
Micro basil, optional

FOR PORK BELLY:

  1. Mix salt, sugar, and black pepper together in a small bowl.
  2. Rub all sides of pork belly with salt mix. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  4. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Place pork belly, skin side down, in hot oil and cook for 2 minutes, or until browned. Turn pork belly and cook other side until browned. Move to a baking pan.
  5. Wrap pork belly in parchment paper and foil. Bake in the pan for 3 hours.
  6. Remove from oven, unwrap and slice pork belly into 8 (2-ounce) slices.
  7. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat for 3 minutes. Cook pork belly slices for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until crispy. Keep warm until ready to serve.

FOR TOMATO JAM:

  1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until translucent.
  2. Add garlic and tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar and brown sugar and stir until brown sugar dissolves. Add salt and pepper.
  3. Cook on medium-low heat for 45 minutes, until thick and reduced by 3/4. Keep warm until ready to serve.

FOR SOUS VIDE EGG:

  1. Preheat water to 145°F in a sous vide machine (or see poached egg instructions below). Add eggs and cook for 30 minutes.
  2. Transfer to an ice bath for 2 minutes.
  3. Peel eggs and place in a bowl until ready to serve.

FOR ROMAINE PURÉE:

  1. Remove excess liquid from thawed spinach by wrapping in tea towel or paper towels and squeezing.
  2. Place spinach, romaine lettuce, mayonnaise, sour cream, and salt into food processor. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

FOR HERB CRUMB:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place panko bread crumbs on baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once, until golden brown.
  3. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.
  4. Place toasted bread crumbs and Italian seasoning into food processor and pulse until fine.

TO SERVE:

  1. Spoon 2 tablespoons of romaine purée down left side of a serving plate. Sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of herb crumb over purée.
  2. Squeeze a thin line of Dijon mustard from top right side of plate to top left side.
  3. Place 2 pieces of pork belly in center. Spoon 1 tablespoon of tomato jam on each end of pork belly. Place 1 egg on top of pork belly.
  4. Garnish with micro basil, if desired.

Cook’s Note: If you don’t have a sous vide machine, just soft-boil the eggs on the stovetop. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Using a slotted spoon, carefully lower eggs into water one at a time. Cook 6 minutes (set a timer!). Transfer to an ice bath for 2 minutes to make them easier to peel.

What to drink: Try a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State.

This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens.
The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version.
All recipes are the property of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc.,
and may not be reproduced without express permission.