Zorro Rode into Television History 60 Years Ago Today

October 10, 2017

By Beth Deitchman

Zorro began as a “side project” for Walt Disney, who had licensed the rights to writer Johnston McCulley’s character through WED Enterprises—the precursor to Walt Disney Imagineering that Walt founded to help create Disneyland. A longtime fan of the masked avenger, Walt hoped a Zorro series could provide the funds he needed to expand the park.

Work on the production began in 1953, though Walt balked at network demands that he shoot a pilot episode for the series. His response, as recounted in the Winter 2009 issue of Disney twenty-three: “I’ve been in the picture business for 30 years, don’t you think I know how to make a film?”

Eventually the ABC Network—home to the successful Davy Crockett serial—signed on. But before Zorro’s swashbuckling could commence, there was one feat to be accomplished: re-creating the Pueblo La Reina de Los Angeles on the Burbank studio lot.

“Walt wanted to do the series with some notable authenticity,” Bill Cottrell, Zorro producer and WED president, once explained. “He wanted a show that would teach people about the time when Zorro lived. He wanted realistic sets, props, clothing, food… everything!” Actor Britt Lomond, who played the villainous Captain Monasterio, recalled, “Walt wanted to make sure everything was right, even the smallest item in the room.”

Disney historian and author Bill Cotter hosted a presentation in celebration of Zorro during this past summer’s D23 Expo 2017. He recalled for Disney fans how the team began with elaborate models, both to determine where the sets could fit on The Walt Disney Studios backlot and to begin planning camera angles. “Three months later, this whole city of Los Angeles was there,” Bill said. The finished sets were amazingly detailed, including touches such as wrought-iron fixtures that would likely go unnoticed by even the most avid viewers. “Walt wanted it done as authentically as it possibly could be,” Bill explained.

According to Bill, one key observer was watching the sets go up—built where the Zorro parking structure now stands, along Riverside Drive at the edge of the Studios: Armando Catalano, a model from New York who was struggling to make a career as an actor in Hollywood. Bill shared, “He was just about ready to give up, and he would tell the story later on how he would sit up in the hills of Griffith Park, watching the studio building those sets down below, and he said, ‘Well, I’m going to try it. If it doesn’t work, I’ll go back to New York and do something else.’” Armando—known better by his stage name of Guy Williams—was an accomplished fencer who could deftly navigate between comedy, drama and action.

On September 11, 1957, Walt previewed what was ahead for the Disneyland anthology series during The Fourth Anniversary Show episode. When a young guest asked, “What about Zorro?” Walt “confidentially” revealed that Zorro wouldn’t be appearing on the Disneyland show—he would be the star of a brand-new, completely different series. “A long time ago, there was a masked rider who rode the countryside,” Walt began. “This was in old Spanish California, back in the days of high adventure and low, soft guitars…”

Just a few weeks later, on October 10, 1957, Disney’s bold renegade officially rode onto TV screens. It has now been 60 years since Zorro first made “the sign of the Z,” and a lasting impression on the hearts of Disney fans everywhere.

6 Epcot Details Every Disney Fan Should Know

October 9, 2017January 2, 2018

By Jocelyn Buhlman

As we celebrate Epcot’s 35th anniversary as part of D23’s Fanniversary celebration, we are exploring this innovative Disney park’s rich history. Epcot started with Walt Disney’s dream for a better tomorrow, and since then has grown into its own unique experience as a beacon of unity for the world showcasing hope for the future. While you prepare to spend all October celebrating Epcot, check out this list of details you might not know — and get ready to discover new things throughout the month as we share more stories from this amazing park.

1. Picturing the Future
While we celebrate 35 years of Epcot, we look back into the past—a past that also represented the future! Future World was originally comprised of six pavilions, and eventually grew to include nine that take guests into a great, big, beautiful tomorrow! In 1982, each pavilion had its own logo, each of which today may seem delightfully retro. While the logos for Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy, World of Motion, Horizons, CommuniCore, Journey Into Imagination, The Land, The Living Seas, and Wonders of Life are no longer widely used, sharp-eyed Disney fans can still see them around Epcot. For example, while World of Motion has moved on, Test Track still honors this classic pavilion’s logo throughout the attraction’s queue. Similarly, fans of Horizons can still spot the ride’s classic logo in the gift shop of Mission: SPACE and in the center of the gravity wheel of the attraction’s queue. If you’re looking for a fun throwback to the Future World of the past, pay extra-close attention for anywhere else you might spot these classic symbols.

2. You Say Tomato, We Say World Record
Living with the Land is noteworthy for many reasons: The attraction educates guests on the science of agriculture and the importance of sustaining a global food supply; the crops become food actually served in the restaurants around the park; and unique specimens of plants grow in the pavilion’s four greenhouses. One of these unique specimens received a very special honor: The experimental tomato tree holds the 2016 Guinness World Record for most tomatoes harvested from one tree in a year! This record-breaking tree produced more than 32,000 tomatoes during the year, which is more than 1,000 pounds worth of produce!

3. Bigger Than a Kingdom
When you visit Epcot, make sure to wear your walking shoes! This park is big enough to hold the world—well, it at least has to have enough room of all of World Showcase and Future World! But how much space do these two “worlds” need? At just over 300 acres, Epcot is the third largest Disney theme park (after Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Shanghai Disneyland) and twice the size of the Magic Kingdom! With so many interesting attractions, exhibits, and shows, we can’t be surprised that Epcot is so big—this park has so much to teach us!

4. More to Morocco
A popular Epcot myth states that every country’s pavilion in World Showcase is sponsored by that nation’s government. While the myth is false, the Kingdom of Morocco did play a large role in developing the Morocco pavilion in World Showcase. The nation actually sent out Moroccan artisans to help design the pavilion’s beautiful mosaics to accurately represent the country. The pavilion itself is designed to look like a Moroccan city and features a replica Minaret, a Bazaar area, and other representations of significant architecture from Morocco.

5. A Number of Important Details
Any seasoned Disney parks fan knows that numbers found throughout the attractions sometimes have special significance. So if you see a lot of “82”s around Epcot, it’s probably not a coincidence. When you’re zooming along Test Track’s high-speed finale, or while you’re passing the farmhouse in Living with the Land, you might have spotted this important number. 82 represents, of course, Epcot’s opening year: 1982. As we celebrate Epcot’s 35th anniversary, keep a sharp eye out for other details that honor that magical year.

6. From Science Fiction to Spaceship Earth
As the icon of Epcot, Spaceship Earth represents many of the themes on which the park is based: progress, communication, and optimism. The attraction chronicles the advancement of human communication, from cave paintings to modern technologies. Who better to inspire this story of human progress than esteemed science fiction writer—and friend of Walt Disney—Ray Bradbury. While the attraction didn’t turn out exactly as Bradbury envisioned in his initial story treatment for Spaceship Earth, the futurist’s positive spirit and belief in the future still influence the attraction to this day. In 1982, Bradbury described why he felt Disney parks gave us hope for the future, explaining, “What Disney is doing is showing the world that there are alternative ways to do things that can make us all happy. If we can borrow some of the concepts of Disneyland and Disney World and Epcot, then indeed the world can be a better place.”

New Walt Disney Archives Exhibit Celebrates 35 Years of Epcot

October 6, 2017January 2, 2018

By Matt Moryc, Assistant Archivist, Walt Disney Archives

In the 35 years since Epcot welcomed its first guests, visitors have journeyed through space, across time, into imagination, and around the world. To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the park’s opening, the Walt Disney Archives has unveiled EPCOT 35, a new display in the Frank G. Wells Building on The Walt Disney Studios lot.

To help showcase and celebrate the early days of Epcot, the two large display cases outside of the Archives’ offices have been arranged to tell the park’s overall story—from concept to reality. The park’s origins are highlighted with a 1966 memo from Walt Disney to Marty Sklar in which Walt gives his signature of approval to begin what would eventually become the final script he used for the “EPCOT Film”—an important step in communicating the ideas for what EPCOT, the community, could become.

Moving into the park’s 1970s development, the display also features a collection of materials related to the groundbreaking ceremony of the Epcot construction site in October 1979: a hard hat (pictured above), event invitation, and even the shovel used by then-Florida Governor Bob Graham as he posed for publicity photos alongside his four predecessors in office, as well as Disney Legend and then-company President and Chief Executive Officer Card Walker.

Characters are the focus in the next stop of the exhibit. Fans of Epcot will delight in seeing Mr. Eggz’s hat from Kitchen Kabaret, Figment’s bowtie and Dreamfinder’s hat from Journey Into Imagination (pictured above), plus maquettes from The American Adventure in World Showcase.

From the dawn of man to the 21st century, Epcot features thousands of costumes for cast members and Audio-Animatronics^® figures alike. This third stop in our story contains a cast member costume from EPCOT Computer Central, the headdress worn by the Egyptian pharaoh in Spaceship Earth (from 1982 until a new headpiece was used in 2007, pictured above), and its corresponding costume sketch with a signature of approval from Disney Legend and then-Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering John Hench.

The exhibit’s final stop explores the opening year of Epcot. Early merchandise, such as a Figment plush toy, a vinyl record, and pavilion logo buttons (pictured above), create a colorful and optimistic aesthetic the destination became known for. Also displayed are items from the park’s October 24, 1982, dedication ceremony, including the original dedication plaque (pictured below) and notecards used by Card Walker.

A passage from the dedication plaque, written by Disney Legend Marty Sklar and dedicated by Walker, beautifully sums up what the dreamers and doers of the Disney organization hoped the park would represent for us all: “May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire, and, above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere.”

Epcot 35 exhibit by the Walt Disney Archives

Here’s What Happens When Baymax Meets the Hatbox Ghost

October 6, 2017October 6, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

We are satisfied with this news! Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion attraction is getting a stop-motion makeover in three brand new on-air promos, created in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, and Disney XD. The stop-motion animated promos star characters from DuckTales, Big Hero 6 The Series, and Star vs. The Forces of Evil on three different adventures throughout the Haunted Mansion, where they might even run into some happy haunts! Plus, Baymax fist bumps the Hatbox Ghost––so creepy cute.

Fans of the Haunted Mansion will notice many nods to the iconic attraction, including: music and effects from the attraction, an appearance from the Hatbox Ghost and Ezra the Hitchhiking Ghost, a tombstone tribute to Disney Legend Marc Davis, the Phantom Five singing busts, and much more.

The promos will start to air this Saturday, October 7, on Disney XD, but you can take a first look below.

Dania Ramirez’s Cinderella Story Begins on Once Upon a Time

October 5, 2017October 5, 2017

By Ingrid Meilan

New adventures and a brand-new journey begin on the season premiere of Once Upon a Time on Friday, October 6 (8–9:01 p.m. ET/PT), as Henry Mills leaves Storybrooke in search of his own story—a search that leads him to Hyperion Heights, a new realm where he encounters a troubled Cinderella (and her villainous evil stepmother Lady Tremaine!) and his course is forever changed. We recently chatted with Dania Ramirez, who joins the beloved series as Cinderella, about playing a key part in Once Upon a Time’s newest chapter.

D23: What does it feel like to be a Disney princess?
Dania Ramirez (DR): It’s iconic. I get to be literally a part of the Disney family and I get to play this iconic character in a completely different way. And what I find more interesting than anything is how groundbreaking it really is for the creators, Eddie and Adam, to have opened up their minds and taken us on this journey that we’ve known in the past, with a completely different vision. Because… I’m Latin! So growing up in the Dominican Republic, this was never a role that I could have ever imagined I’d ever get a chance to play. And when I went in to audition, they didn’t tell me that I was auditioning for Cinderella.

D23: What did you think you were there for?
DR: Honestly, they said it was Once Upon a Time, and I knew the show and I knew it was a big deal, and they told me, “We want to see if you have chemistry with the guy…,” with Andrew West, who was going to play Henry. So I just went in and kind of did my own thing, very raw and edgy, and I think they really responded to that because that’s the kind of Cinderella story that we want to tell. A lot more grounded. I’m a different kind of Cinderella!

D23: How did you make the role of Cinderella your own? What kind of direction did the creators tell you the character was going to be going?
DR: That’s what’s so great about this, they’re defining the role as we’re doing it, so I don’t know what’s going to happen and what direction we’re going. I know that I went in with a very specific perspective of wanting to play a very grounded character that has been through some struggles that people can relate to. I related to the writing when I read it. That’s my journey with this character, staying truthful. To me, it’s always more interesting to represent a story of struggle, and coming out on top later on and being a fighter. As a woman, I think that’s important, especially in today’s age. So I feel like it’s great to give her my voice.

D23: Will they do anything to acknowledge that there was a previous Cinderella? How will they address that?
DR: It’s like sometimes a book ends, and a new one opens. So I think this change is a great thing. It’s also, we have a lot of respect for the fans of the show and they’ve been a part of it and I know what that’s like. You feel like these characters are part of your life and you grow up with them! And then you take a different path and a different journey! And I know for me, when I became a mother, it was different kinds of struggles and now it’s looking at things from a different perspective. What’s great about it was you knew this other Cinderella and you knew about this other storybook with all these other characters and they got their happy endings and that chapter sort of ended. And you saw Henry as this kid who was the believer, season after season. And now, things have happened to him, he left. And you know that journey, when you leave your parents’ house for the first time and you try to find your own way. So I think we meet him a couple years later and there’s a lot that has happened to him in that time. He hasn’t really found the love of his life, and somehow Cinderella’s a little jaded herself. We start off kind of bickering, but I think there’s a lot of chemistry there. So we’ll see where they take it.

D23: Were you a big Disney fan growing up?
DR: Of course! But I didn’t grow up with electricity or even running water in the Dominican Republic or watch TV until I was 5! So in my own head, I created fantasies and I think it’s beautiful. I’ve always believed in fairytales—they’re magical. I feel like I’ve had my own Cinderella story in my life so now it’s amazing getting to define what this story is like. And there are tons of different ways to fall in love, and everybody can relate to that. In this one, I get to play this dual parallel love story where Cinderella—the first time she meets Henry—is younger, and what that is like. And then I get to find her later on, with a child, trying to really find that and find her love there. So that’s very different, I think, than the way that the love stories were told in Once Upon a Time in the first six years.

D23: Are you getting to do a lot of fun stunts, horseback riding, anything like that?
DR: Oh yeah! I’m wearing the ballgown and it’s ridiculous, and literally I’m pretty badass, I’m fighting with a sword! It is pretty cool. I call her Cinderella with an edge.

The Mighty Ducks: Still Mighty 25 Years After its Debut!

October 5, 2017

By Megan Deppe

The Mighty Ducks skated into theaters on October 2, 1992, with the story of a super-competitive trial lawyer who ends up coaching a ragtag peewee hockey team. The film inspired two sequels, not to mention Disney’s first foray into professional sports. In honor of the film’s 25th anniversary this week, we sat down for a viewing of the heartwarming family film and wanted to share just a few reasons why this movie really is all it’s quacked up to be.

1. Top Shelf Sports Moments
There are plenty of heartwarming hockey movies, but you’ve never seen the sport played quite like the Ducks. From the intimidating and impressive Flying V to the power of Fulton’s (Elden Henson) slap shot, the film is filled with cheer-worthy moments you simply won’t see in any other movie. Whether you’re a passionate hockey fan or you have no idea what a Triple Deke is, the film keeps you on the edge of your seat for this moment of hockey life-and-death, holding your breath and hoping the Mighty Ducks will pull this off!

2. Ducks!
When it’s time to choose the team mascot, Peter (J.D. Daniels) argues that ducks are lame, which Gordon (Emilio Estevez), counters that ducks are “one of the most noble, agile, and intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom.” The Mighty Ducks doesn’t just boost overall appreciation for ducks, it makes a case for quacking as an underappreciated, versatile communications tool!

3. Hockey with Heart
The Mighty Ducks really is just as much fun and touching as it was 25 years ago. From the team’s can-do, coed composition to the warm connection that develops between Gordon and Charlie (Joshua Jackson), The Mighty Ducks scores one emotional goal after another. Can anyone refrain from tearing up when Gordon faces the team and tells them, “I would be proud to fly with any one of you”?

4. Perseverance Pays Off
Can we all just agree that Adam Banks (Vincent Larusso) is the unsung hero of this movie for facing problems with such stoicism? When we meet Banks, he’s an “enemy”—a Hawk. But he isn’t trying to be mean to the Ducks, like some of his teammates—he just wants to play hockey! Then, when Gordon finds out he was supposed to be on the Ducks in the first place—and Banks’ father threatens to pull him from hockey altogether—Banks still shows up to practice with a group of people who hate him, because he just wants to play the game! This is just the beginning of Banks’ perseverance under increasingly challenging circumstances, which culminates with his inspirational speech to the Ducks, who have finally embraced him as one of their flock: “Do me a favor. Kick some Hawk butt.” That’s a quack-worthy moment, indeed.

5. Gordon’s True Victory
One of our favorite things about The Mighty Ducks is how much Gordon grows throughout the film. It’s almost impossible to root for this guy when we meet him, but as he teaches the kids the game—and he teaches them well!—he lifts them up, and even fights for them to get safe equipment and play a fair game. The ultimate sign of how far Gordon has come is evident when he gives Charlie the pep talk he should’ve gotten as a kid, reassuring him that losing isn’t the worst thing in the world: “What matters is that we’re here.” Gordon isn’t just making peace with what happened to him, he’s making sure that a new generation of kids learns that it’s more important to enjoy themselves than to win every single game—and that is the lesson that really makes the movie timeless.

4 Breathtaking Epcot Photos to Display at Home

October 5, 2017January 2, 2018

As D23 Members around the world celebrate Epcot’s milestone 35th anniversary, Photographs from the Walt Disney Archives is pleased to offer a series of four stunning historical photographs that capture the park’s spirit of wonder, joy, and excitement. From the towering 180-foot-tall geosphere of Spaceship Earth to the depths of The Living Seas, these breathtaking photographic prints are now available for Epcot enthusiasts to display in their homes and treasure for years to come.

Fans can order these photographs on top-quality canvas or archival paper and select from a series of sizing and framing options at DisneyPhotoArchives.com! Here’s a quick look at the images, available now for a limited time only:

EPCOT Center broke ground on October 1, 1979, and was the world’s largest private construction project at the time. Construction workers proudly stand atop the geodesic sphere to mark the “topping out” of Spaceship Earth.

Spaceship Earth shimmers in shades of blue and green, mimicking the surface of our miraculous orb as the moon rises above in this iconic EPCOT Center photo from 1983.

Mickey Mouse dives to the depths of The Living Seas (now The Seas with Nemo & Friends) to welcome visitors to Seabase Alpha.

A unique architectural achievement, the 18-story geodesic sphere houses one of Future World’s most stunning achievements. Originally opening with EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982, Spaceship Earth invites guests to board a time machine and travel through time to discover the evolution of man’s ability to communicate.

Coco Soundtrack, Thor: Ragnarok, & DisneyNOW—Plus More in News Briefs

October 4, 2017

By Courtney Potter

Take a peek behind the scenes of Thor’s latest adventures, and read up on the newest way to watch your favorite Disney TV shows… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Coco Soundtrack to Feature Original Songs & Traditional Mexican Sounds

Disney•Pixar’s Coco is gearing up to bound into theaters this November—and that means its soundtrack is just about ready for its gran estreno (that’s “big premiere” in Spanish). The film features an original score from Oscar®-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up), a song by Oscar winners Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Frozen), and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco and co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina.

Composer Giacchino worked with Franco to realize an engaging and specific sound—and together, they explored a wide array of Mexican instrumentation in the score, including a guitarrón, folkloric harp, a quijada, sousaphone, charchetas, jaranas, requintos, marimba, trumpets, and violins. Coco’s score was recorded in August featuring a whopping 83-piece orchestra. Plus, Grammy®-winning singers Miguel and Natalia Lafourcade are teaming up to record the end-credit version of the film’s signature song “Remember Me”; other original tunes include “Un Poco Loco” (a song in the son jarocho style of Mexican music), “The World es Mi Familia,” “Everyone Loves Juanita,” and “Proud Corazón.”

Also part of the film’s musical team is consultant Camilo Lara of the music project Mexican Institute of Sound. Coco’s soundtrack is set for release from Walt Disney Records on November 10, with the physical CD now available for pre-orderhere.

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

October 15, 2017
D23 Member-Exclusive Shopping Event at Disney Store in Century City, California
October 29, 2017
D23’s Spooky Screening Series: Halloweentown on The Walt Disney Studios Lot
November 17, 2017
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Russi Taylor
November 18, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Florida
November 18, 2017
Mickey’s of Glendale—Orlando Shopping Event
November 18, 2017
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
December 6, 2017
D23’s Holidays in Hollywood
December 10, 2017
D23’s Light Up the Season
February 2, 2018
D23 Member Night at Disney’s Aladdin at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Parks
August 25 and 29, September 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, and 29; October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, and 31; November 1
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
September 15–October 31, 2017
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
September 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, October 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Park
November 10–January 7
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
December 16
Star Wars: Galactic Nights returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

Studios
November 3, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters
November 22, 2017
Coco opens in theaters
December 15, 2017
Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters
Television
October 19–31, 2017
Freeform’s 13 Nights of Halloween
November 2017
Big Hero 6 The Series Premieres on Disney XD

Behind-the-Scenes Fun with Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok

Last Thursday was pretty special—and do you know why? Because it was #Thorsday—and Marvel Studios celebrated by releasing a brand-new, behind-the-scenes featurette about Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok! Don’t worry; if you missed it the first time around, take a gander at all the Asgardian fun, above.

Hear from stars Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo—as well as director Taika Waititi—about what makes this particular installment of Thor’s adventures so unique. (We’re particularly excited to see the Hulk’s more humorous side.) And if you haven’t already, mark those calendars… Thor: Ragnarok premieres November 2 at a cineplex near you!

Watch Favorite Shows in One Place with DisneyNOW

Awesome news for fans of Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior: Disney recently launched DisneyNOW, an app that consolidates the three previous WATCH streaming platforms into one convenient package! Read our rundown of the app’s cool features right here.

New Star Wars Forces of Destiny Trailer… Next Special October 29!

We’re big fans of October—it’s a month that means beautiful fall foliage, pumpkin everything, Halloween parties… and in the case of this particular October, new stories from the world of Star Wars! Star Wars Forces of Destiny is a collaboration between the good folks at Disney and Lucasfilm, and it explores the untold stories that helped shape the circumstances of several beloved Star Wars characters—including Rey, Jyn Erso, Princess Leia, Padme Amidala, Sabine Wren, Ahsoka Tano, and more. Featuring a total of eight never-before-seen installments, this month’s two new half-hour TV specials on Disney Channel showcase compilations of the popular animated shorts. Besides the aforementioned characters, the installments will also include appearances by Han Solo, Finn, Maz Kanata, and many others. Take a look at the latest trailer for Star Wars Forces of Destiny, above.

And the best part? Talent from across Star Wars films and animated TV series reprise their roles—including Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o, Felicity Jones, Tiya Sircar, Ashley Eckstein, Vanessa Marshall, Catherine Taber, and Matt Lanter. The first installment of the specials aired earlier this week, but the next one will debut October 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel. As Yoda might say, “Miss it, you shouldn’t… ”

Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie Join Judges Panel on ABC’s American Idol

Cue the lights and theme song: The judges’ table on ABC’s upcoming American Idol is now complete! Joining previously announced judge Katy Perry are country superstar Luke Bryan and pop music legend Lionel Richie; Ryan Seacrest returns as host of the series, and the entire panel made their debut appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America this very morning…

“I’m excited at the chance to help some deserving artists reach their dreams,” Bryan recently said. “To be in a position in my career to help facilitate this along with the other judges is just a complete honor. It’s gonna be a blast!” And Richie agrees: “I am very excited to be joining Katy, Luke, and Ryan on American Idol… As a singer, songwriter, and producer, I feel I can bring a great deal of experience to the table. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Some fun facts for Idol fans: When American Idol debuted in the U.S., the series revolutionized TV, pioneering the reality-competition genre and holding an incredible record for being the highest-rated series for nearly a decade! And now, the search for the next great music superstar comes to ABC… Look for the series premiere later in the 2017–18 television season.

Freaky Friday Musical Becomes Disney Channel Original Movie

Longtime Disney favorite Freaky Friday (based on the novel by Mary Rodgers) has delighted fans—on the big and small screens, as well as the musical theater stage—for decades. And now the story’s recent musical adaption is set to premiere as a Disney Channel Original Movie in 2018! Read more about it here.

D23 Announces Fabulous 2018 Lineup of Events

Outside of the holidays, this is really the “most wonderful time of the year”—when D23 announces its upcoming slate of ridiculously cool programming across the country. And 2018 is chockablock with incredible experiences… D23 nights at Broadway’s Frozen in New York City and the national tour of Aladdin in Hollywood? Check! D23 Members visiting Walt Disney World Resort’s new Toy Story Land and Disneyland Resort’s new Pixar Pier? Indeed! Take a gander at the lineup and mark those calendars, fans and friends.

Grey’s Anatomy Celebrates 300th Episode with New Digital Series

When a groundbreaking TV show like ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy celebrates its whopping 300th episode, that’s more than enough reason to celebrate big—and ABC plans to do just that with a brand-new digital series! Grey’s Anatomy: Post-Op, hosted by Gordon James (who plays Nurse Gregory on the show), is a six-part web series from ABC Digital Studios; each week, leading up to Episode No. 300, Gordon will be joined by special guests—including cast, writers, producers, and various crew member—as they look back at over a decade’s worth of memorable moments. Each new episode will offer a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most iconic scenes of the series… as well as an exclusive sneak peek into upcoming episodes from this record-breaking 14th season!

The series goes live this week—on Wednesday, October 4, at 10 a.m.—on ABC.com and the ABC app. Find out more by visiting the show’s website at lovegreys.com.

Get the Buzz on Epcot’s Legacy of Innovation

October 3, 2017January 2, 2018

By Steven Vagnini

For guests who experienced the opening of EPCOT Center 35 years ago, the 21^st century began on October 1, 1982. Walt Disney World’s newest wonder shone brightly at its premiere—a culmination of 18 years of dreaming, planning, design and construction… and a fulfillment of Walt Disney’s vision of an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Despite Walt’s 1966 passing, Disney leadership was determined to bring this bold and important concept to reality. By the mid-1970s, during a turbulent time for the American public, the Disney organization found itself in a unique position to paint a different picture of the world, one of optimism, joy and friendship to “instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere,” as the park’s dedication plaque promises.

As part of his early concept for EPCOT, Walt envisioned a living showcase that would introduce and demonstrate new technologies to meet the needs of people all over the world. Much of this vision had been established with the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971. Beginning that year, visitors and cast members could experience an ideal destination that benefitted from innovative, safe and environmentally friendly transportation systems; an automated central energy resources plant and efficient waste collection system; and unique, welcoming structures brought to life using experimental construction methods.

Epcot, with its six Future World and nine World Showcase pavilions on opening day, introduced and demonstrated new ways to bring its attractions to life, such as the use of a centralized computer system that controlled and monitored the shows across the park, as well as two acres of photovoltaic cells that helped power the Universe of Energy. But Epcot also informed, entertained and enlightened guests on subjects vital to mankind and his survival in the future world—from communication and food production to energy and transportation.

Perhaps the most fascinating example of this continues to be displayed daily at The Land pavilion, where horticulturalists test innovative growing techniques throughout four greenhouses to tackle the challenge of sustaining a growing global population.

To develop the Listen to the Land attraction, Disney Imagineers consulted with Dr. Carl Hodges, head of the Environmental Research Laboratory at the University of Arizona. Late Disney Legend Marty Sklar, who guided the creative development for Epcot, remembered, “We did about a quarter-scale mockup of the ride and walked Carl through it. When we were through, Carl asked me ‘Where do we put the bees?’ And I said, ‘Carl, there are people riding through this on boats—open boats! We can’t use bees.’ And he asked, ‘Well, how are we going to pollinate the food?’ And I said, ‘Look, we’re in the show business here. You’re the scientist—you figure it out!’ And to this day, the staff at The Land pavilion hand-pollinates all of that food.

“For me, The Land pavilion is one of the gems of Epcot and certainly closer than probably anything else to Walt’s idea.”

Be an Epcot Expert with These 10 “Hidden Gems” You Have to Try

October 3, 2017January 2, 2018

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Do you consider yourself an Epcot expert? In a park packed full of information, culture, and fun, there’s something special for everyone to enjoy, but do you know all the ins and outs of the park that ignites your imagination? If you want to make your next Epcot excursion extra-exciting, you must try out these “Hidden Gems” that will make your visit even more special.

Future World

Club Cool
If the Florida heat is making you thirsty, why not stop by and enjoy a free taste test of sodas from around the world? Club Cool, located in Future World, offers samples of different international sodas, all in one place. Have you tried Sparletta, the Raspberry cream soda from Zimbabwe? What about Inca Kola, a Peruvian soda that tastes like bubblegum? Would you dare to sample the famous Beverly from Italy? Why not stop by and see Epcot’s coolest showcase for yourself.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Epcot is filled with so much innovation and rich detail that it’s nearly impossible to notice everything. If you try out one of Epcot’s many tours, however, you’ll discover magic that even the most knowledgeable guests might not have realized. Tours offered include:

Behind the Seeds: This one-hour tour of The Land pavilion gives you an inside look at the pavilion’s fish farm and four greenhouses. Guests might even have the chance to release ladybugs into the greenhouses or see impressive fruits and vegetables from all around the world.
Epcot Seas Aqua Tour: This tour gives you the behind-the-seas look at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Along with unique photo opportunities and educational exploration, you also get 30 minutes of snorkeling inside the pavilion’s massive aquarium.
The UnDISCOVERed Future World Tour: Learn the secrets of tomorrow on this four-hour walking tour of Epcot, which dives into the background of the pavilions and how Walt’s legacy lives on in the park. The tour includes an exciting behind-the-scenes look at a park VIP lounge, a chance to walk beneath the outdoor portion of Test Track, and a rare look inside the park’s impressive wardrobe department!

Epcot Seas Adventure
Have you ever wanted to make friends with a dolphin? In this seasonal, three-hour experience, guests enjoy 30 minutes of dolphin interaction, along with an opportunity to visit backstage, watch dolphin training, and learn about global issues affecting the ocean.

For tour reservations, call (407) 939-8687.

World Showcase

World Showcase Galleries
Who doesn’t love going to World Showcase to experience inspiring attractions, eat delicious food, and meet your favorite characters? But have ever you thought about stopping to enjoy the art and artifacts? Many of the pavilions at World Showcase feature incredible galleries dedicated to the culture of the represented nations, featuring rotating galleries for guests to enjoy!

Galleries you need to check out include:

American Heritage Gallery (The American Adventure)
Stave Church Gallery (Norway)
House of the Whispering Willows Gallery (China)
Bijutsu-kan Gallery (Japan)
Mexico Folk Art Gallery (Mexico)
Gallery of Arts and History (Morocco)

Wine Walk
If you want to enjoy wines from around the world you need to check out this special Wine Walk around World Showcase. Start at one of three locations (Weinkeller in Germany, Enoteca Castello in Italy, and Aux Vins de France in France) and receive a special passport that provides a map of World Showcase, along with a listing of the wines for the walk and suggested food pairings. The experience comes with six specially selected wines from the three locations, each providing a red and white wine. You also receive a souvenir acrylic wine glass to commemorate your fun at this well-loved “hidden gem.”

Hedge maze (United Kingdom)
If you ever wander behind the shops and restaurants of the United Kingdom pavilion, you’ll discover something a-maze-ing. This traditional hedge maze is at a low height (so your little ones don’t get lost) and leads to a gazebo at the center where bands often perform. Stop by this unique area for a nice stroll or to enjoy live music.

Rose & Crown Pub (United Kingdom)
If you ever wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional British pub without taking the long flight across the ocean, we have good news for you: The Rose & Crown Pub at the United Kingdom pavilion is just what you need. Located across from the Rose & Crown Dining Room, the pub has a distinctly authentic atmosphere, featuring a musician who performs classic pub songs that the crowd is encouraged to join in singing.

Victoria Gardens (Canada)
These beautiful gardens at the exit of the O Canada! Circle-Vision 360° attraction are some of the largest manicured gardens on resort property. Featuring 154 rose bushes, the Victoria Gardens are inspired by British Columbia’s Butchart Gardens and provide a beautiful stop on your trip around the world.

Mikimoto fresh pearls at Mitsukoshi Department Store (Japan)
You can select an oyster and discover a fresh pearl for a unique souvenir from your international adventures. The discoverable pearls come in all sorts of colors, and the cast members delight in making your pearl reveal as exciting and special as possible. If you picked a particularly pretty pearl, you can even have it made into special jewelry, such as a ring or an earring.

Personalized Chinese fan (China)
The House of Good Fortune could be its own entry in our “hidden gem” list, but its open-air market outside has an especially unique offering you have to check out. If you find a parasol or fan that you want to take home, you can have the item personalized with your name written in Chinese, giving you a special souvenir that’s unique to you, to commemorate your time at the “Most Magical Place on Earth.”