EXCLUSIVE: Step Inside Rapunzel’s Mind in These New Disney Channel Shorts

By Nicole Nalty

Hanging out with Rapunzel again in Tangled: The Series may be the best thing ever––we can’t get enough of Eugene, Maximus, Cassandra and, of course, Rapunzel as they embark on brand-new adventures. Luckily, now there’s even more to explore thanks to these new sweet shorts, Inside the Journal.

Fans of Tangled: The Series––and the Disney Channel Original Movie Tangled Before Ever After—know that Rapunzel’s mother gifted her with a journal in which she can jot down her greatest adventures and innermost thoughts. D23 has a first look at Rapunzel’s very first entry before it debuts on Disney Channel this Sunday! Take a look below, and stay tuned for more entries from Inside the Journal.

5 Disney Parks Easter Eggs You Need to Find in Disneyland Resort’s Newest Attraction

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! just opened at Disney California Adventure, and guests are now taking an out-of-this-world tour of The Collector’s famous collection of intergalactic artifacts and wonders. While you explore The Collector’s Fortress to get your chance to view Taneleer Tivan’s latest acquisition—the Guardians of the Galaxy themselves!—you should take a look at what else he has on display, because Disney parks fans might notice some familiar artifacts…

Abominable Snowman easter egg

Abominable Snowman
One of the most thrilling parts of Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds is the sudden rush of thrill when you round a corner and see the horrifying Abominable Snowman growling from his ice caves! While you’re visiting The Collector’s Fortress, however, you’ll encounter the Abominable Snowman in a very different way. It looks like he’s swapped out his icy home for a boiler room, where he’s featured as a part of Taneleer Tivan’s collection.

Delores the Octopus easter egg

Delores the Octopus
Not far from our favorite Abominable Snowman, you might spot a charming little octopus wearing a dainty bow, relaxing in the boiler room displays. Why, it’s the darling Delores the Octopus, who used to spend summers with the wildest bears in the west at Disneyland’s Country Bear Vacation Hoedown! As the girlfriend of musical performer Terrence the bear, Delores made stage appearances in the show for years. She must have charmed Taneleer Tivan, too, since her new vacation spot is in his collection.

Ghost Dog Maquette
Sharp-eyed guests will spot a shout-out to another famous Disneyland collection—a collection of ghosts and ghouls and frights throwing a swinging wake over at Disneyland park! While Taneleer Tivan introduces you to his collection via video in his private office, be sure to take a look at his desk, which features a maquette of a ghost dog from the Haunted Mansion.

X-S Tech invoice easter egg

X-S Tech Invoice
It looks like The Collector has added something a little… extraTERRORestrial to his collection! Guests may notice an invoice on Taneleer Tivan’s desk from the company “X-S Tech,” which was famously behind the terrifying mishaps of the former Magic Kingdom attraction ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. X-S Tech was responsible for the teleportation technology that accidentally sent a horrifying alien monster into a room full of trapped guests. We hope that X-S is a little more responsible with their business transactions with The Collector!

Bellhop hat easter egg

Bellhop Hat
While you wait in The Collector’s office, take a look around and you may spot something from another dimension… Guests can spot a familiar bellhop’s hat for a certain Hollywood Tower Hotel.

Are You More Like Bernard or Bianca?

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Today marks the 40th anniversary of The Rescuers, which followed glamorous Bianca and timid Bernard as they set out to the bayou to rescue Penny from the clutches of the despicable Madam Medusa. Audiences can see themselves in these small-but-mighty mice, who may be little compared to the rest of the world but can still put up a big fight in the interest of good. So, the question is, would you be Bernard… or Bianca? Well, ask no more, because we have just the quiz for you!

This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!

Go Behind-the-Scenes of Once Upon a Time, Meet the Stars of Your Favorite ABC Shows, and More at D23 Expo

By D23 Team

Coming to D23 Expo? See some of your favorite ABC shows jump off the screen and on to the stage with awesome panels and meet and greets from the casts and crews of Once Upon a Time and black-ish, ABC Summer Fun & Games, plus more all weekend long at the ultimate Disney fan event. See the full lineup below and stay tuned for more D23 Expo details.

Michelle Stafford

Friday, July 14
Meet General Hospital stars Michelle Stafford and Chloe Lanier (4–5 p.m., Talent Central)

Saturday, July 15

Nolan Gould

ABC Summer Fun & Games (10 a.m., D23 Expo Arena)––Modern Family’s Nolan Gould hosts a game of Celebrity Family Feud with some of your favorite ABC Comedy kids, including Daniel DiMaggio and Logan Pepper from American Housewife; Miles Brown and Marsai Martin from black-ish; Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, and Ian Chen from Fresh Off the Boat; Aubrey Anderson-Emmons from Modern Family; and Kyla Kenedy and Mason Cook from Speechless. Plus, the stars will take questions from the audience after the game!

Miles Brown and Marsai Martin

Meet black-ish stars Miles Brown and Marsai Martin (1–2 p.m., Talent Central)

Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, and Ian Chen

Meet Fresh Off the Boat stars Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, and Ian Chen (1:30–2:30 p.m., Talent Central)

Daniel DiMaggio

Meet American Housewife stars Daniel DiMaggio and Logan Pepper (2:30–3:30 p.m., Talent Central)

Meet Speechless stars Kyla Kenedy and Mason Cook (2:45–3:45 p.m., Talent Central)

Colin O’Donoghue

Once Upon a Time (3:15 p.m., D23 Expo Arena)––Join co-creators and executive producers Edward Kitsis (Lost) and Adam Horowitz (Lost), along with series star Colin O’Donoghue (Captain Hook), as they discuss what’s in store for our returning favorites, as well as the new additions to the Once Upon a Time universe. The panel will be moderated by D23’s Jeffrey Epstein.

Meet Once Upon a Time star Colin O’Donoghue and co-creators/executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (5:15–6:15 p.m., Talent Central)

Celebrate 15 Years of Stitch with Our Favorite Adorable Aliens

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Stitch has been making mischief across the galaxy for 15 years now, and, boy, does time fly when you’re having an intergalactic good time! When it comes to cute, cosmic chaos-causers in the Disney family, there’s a whole galaxy full of aliens that we love, from intergalactic crooners and flying fuzzy friends to more familiar felines. We’ve rounded up our favorite aliens that have that same adorably mischievous spirit that Stitch embodies so well.

Stitch

1. Stitch—Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Experiment 626 was created for destruction, but this little blue space invader found a better purpose when he met his ‘ohana on earth. We love him for his rebellious spirit and his need to be silly (we can relate!), but also for his dedication to protecting the new family he calls his own.

Toy Story Aliens

2. Aliens—Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 3 (2010)
Ooooooohhhh… These little squeak-toys come from another planet… Pizza Planet, to be precise! Now that they are on Earth, they live with their adopted parents, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. While at Pizza Planet, they used to worship The Claw, but since Mr. Potato Head saved their lives, they revere him, since, of course, they are eternally grateful.

Meep

3. Meap—Phineas and Ferb (2007)
He’s tiny. He’s cute. And he can only say “meap.” This little alien befriended Phineas and Ferb and worked with them to defeat his nemesis, the evil Mitch. His cute demeanor and simple word choice may trick you into underestimating him, but don’t be fooled: This alien’s bite is much worse than his meap.

Martian Robot

4. Martian robot—Mars and Beyond (1957)
This classic creature from the red planet originated in the television show Mars and Beyond and later bothered Earthlings on the House of Mouse animated series. Controlled by a “Martian mastermind,” his mission is to carry out crazy schemes for a space-aged era.

Skippy

5. Skippy—The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1995)
This cute alien can’t seem to get a break! We met him in the Magic Kingdom attraction The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, when he was used in a demonstration of X-S Tech’s teleportation system, but he gets a little… toasted from the experience.

6. Angel—Lilo & Stitch, The Series (2003)
We all fell head-over-heels for Angel just like Stitch did when we first met her Lilo and Stitch, The Series. Originally called Experiment 624, Angel has the power to turn others either good or evil with just a song. While she originally worked for evil Dr. Hamsterviel, her love for Stitch convinced her to use her powers to help others and save her ’ohana.

Wander

7. Wander—Wander Over Yonder (2013)
If you love to make friends, then there’s no better opportunity to spread your love than by exploring the entire universe! At least, that’s how Wander feels. Teaming up with the horse-like bounty hunter Sylvia and a sentient hat, Wander is ready to turn the galaxy into his pal-axy.

Morph

8. Morph—Treasure Planet (2002)
He may look like just a little, pink blob of space goo, but this tiny alien has the power to shapeshift into anything he wants! We love Morph for his playful personality and his loyalty to his friends, like Jim Hawkins.

Fuzzball

9. Fuzzball—Captain EO (1986)
Wherever you can find the brave Captain EO, you are sure to find Fuzzball faithfully sitting on his shoulder. Is anything cuter than this little orange alien? His fuzzy face, combined with his long tail and lovely wings, makes him the most adorable creature we’ve never seen before. And he knows how to play the bass, which is essential when your captain has the singing and dancing skills of Michael Jackson!

Jake

10. Jake—The Cat from Outer Space (1978)
Arriving on Earth in his “flying saucer,” a cat-like alien named ZUNAR J5/90 DORIC FOURSEVEN, or, as the humans call him, “Jake”, uses a special collar to do everything from speak English to make objects levitate. While he initially wants to repair his ship and rendezvous with his mother ship, Jake eventually learns to love Earth and stays with his human friends instead!

Rocket and Groot

11. Groot and Rocket—Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
This dynamite duo is out of this world! One’s a giant tree-creature who says few words but knows a good dance move or two, and the other is a loud-mouthed raccoon who likes big guns and bigger rewards. Together they form an inseparable—and unstoppable!—team, causing trouble across the galaxy, and occasionally at Disney Parks. You can join in on their intergalactic shenanigans by meeting Groot at Disney California Adventure and then dropping in on the new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, to give Rocket a hand in stirring up some planet-sized trouble!

Chewbacca

12. Chewbacca—Star Wars (1977)
We cannot have a list of favorite aliens without talking about the trustiest, fiercest, and fuzziest copilot in the galaxy: Originally a warrior from the planet Kashyyyk, Chewbacca now teams up with Han Solo to run smuggling missions and occasionally save the galaxy from plots by the evil Galactic Empire.

Sonny Eclipse

13. Sonny Eclipse—Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (1994)
Enjoy your meal at Cosmic Ray’s with some intergalactic accompaniment from this jazzy alien. Visiting us from Yew Nork on the planet Zork, this “Biggest Little Star in the Galaxy” wows guests when he and his backing group, the Space Angels, entertain guests with his “bossa supernova and eclipso musical stylings on the Astro Organ.”

Celebrate 15 Years of Lilo & Stitch with Stunning Production Art from the Animation Research Library

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Once upon a time, a deadly alien crashed onto Earth and became best friends with a little girl who listened to Elvis… That’s not how fairy tales typically start, but this isn’t your average fairy tale. In 2002, Lilo & Stitch crash-landed into theaters and stole the hearts of audiences everywhere with the silly, sunny, and perfectly odd story of what it really means to be in an ‘ohana. To celebrate the intergalactic 15th anniversary of Lilo & Stitch, the Disney Animation Research Library is sharing this stunning gallery of production art from the film. Check out the sketches and full-color artwork that developed these iconic characters and shaped the visual style of the film.

Disneyland’s Returning Faves and Broadway’s Frozen—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Fantasmic! is back this July, and Disney Theatrical Productions gets ready for Frozen on Broadway… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Disneyland Railroad

Disneyland Park Favorites Return—Just in Time for Summer!

The Disneyland Railroad… the Rivers of America (with the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes)… Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island… and, of course, Fantasmic!—they’re all returning to Disneyland Park in the next few weeks, and we couldn’t be more excited! D23 has all the details; read up on the big reopening dates here.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
August 19, 2017
D23’s Disney Afternoon on the Lot
October 1, 2017
D23’s Fanniversary Celebrates 35 Years of Epcot
October 1, 2017
A Progressive Dinner Celebrating 35 Years of Epcot
October 3, 2017
D23’s Sip and Stroll
Parks
July 17, 2017
Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland park.
July 29, 2017
Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes return to Disneyland park.
July 29, 2017
The Disneyland Railroad returns to Disneyland park.
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
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
July 21, 2017
Disney’s Descendants 2 debuts on Disney Channel, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime and ABC (8 p.m. ET)
July 21, 2017
Raven’s Home debuts on Disney Channel (10 p.m. ET)
August 12, 2017
“Woo-oo!” DuckTales Movie premieres at 12 a.m. and airs for 24 consecutive hours
September 23, 2017
DuckTales Series debuts with two new episodes (7 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

Cast of Frozen on Broadway

Broadway’s Frozen: Full Cast & Creative Team Announced

Anna and Elsa are coming to the Great White Way—and now we know who’ll be cavorting through the theatrical version of Arendelle with ‘em. Just last week, Disney Theatrical Productions announced the full cast (and creative team!) for the new Broadway musical Frozen, opening at the lovely St. James Theatre next year. Joining previously announced stars Caissie Levy (Elsa), Patti Murin (Anna), Jelani Alladin (Kristoff), and Greg Hildreth (Olaf) are Andrew Pirozzi as Sven, the adorable reindeer (we can’t wait to see just how they bring Sven to life!); Kevin Del Aguila as Oaken, the burly owner of Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Sauna; and Timothy Hughes as Pabbie, the Troll King… with Audrey Bennett and Mattea Conforti as Young Anna, and Brooklyn Nelson and Ayla Schwartza as Young Elsa. All told, the cast features 40 performers!

Additionally, we’ve learned that recent Tony® winner Natasha Katz (a member of the production team for Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway) will design the show’s sure-to-be-amazing lights; Christopher Oram (Tony winner for Broadway’s Red) will tackle both the scenic and costume design; and Brian Usifer (Kinky Boots) will music direct… with Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage leading the charge as director. What a team, right?

Frozen will “let it go” for a preliminary run at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, from August 17 to October 1—with its Broadway premiere scheduled for Spring 2018. Stay tuned for more news (including its official opening night!) as it becomes available.

DIXP

Gamers, Rejoice: D|XP to Debut on Disney XD July 15

Looking for a cool new peak inside the world of gaming? You’re in luck! Disney XD is getting ready to debut D|XP, a daily summer programming block dedicated to gaming, on Saturday, July 15, from 9 p.m. through 3 a.m. EDT. D|XP will showcase games, publishers, events, and cool personalities from across the gaming landscape, including both entertainment gaming and “e-sports.” It’s a destination that’ll be available on both your TV and through several digital platforms—featuring content produced in collaboration with ESPN, Disney Digital Network (and its Maker creators), IGN, Attack Media, Warner Bros. Television Group’s Blue Ribbon Content, Electronic Sports League, and more… and it’s designed for gaming enthusiasts of all ages (but especially those age 13 and up).

Shows include Polaris Primetime, a weekly one-hour “play-through” gaming and variety show hosted by two huge personalities in the entertainment gaming world, Jimmy Wong of Rocketjump and Strawburry17 (Meghan Camarena)—as well as a daily half-hour series (Parker Plays) from popular YouTube gamer Parker Coppins. So mark your calendars… and fire up those gaming consoles. Better get some practice in!

The “Happiest Horses on Earth” at the New Circle D Ranch

Earlier this month, the Disneyland Resort celebrated the opening of its new Circle D Ranch—an amazing 5.5-acre facility, featuring a gigantic barn (fit for up to 20 horses!), an exercise arena, and even some fun “play pens”—by welcoming the public for a visit. Disneyland Resort Ambassador Mikey Trujillo, Senior Vice President Mary Niven, and (of course) Mickey Mouse were all on hand for the special equestrian occasion.

Check out a great rundown of the day, from our friends at the Disney Parks blog, in the video above. And next time you’re down at the Disneyland Resort and see one of the park’s beautiful horses, remember that they have an equally beautiful new home to go back to at the end of the day!

Cars: Lightning League Now Available for Mobile Devices

If you’ve been itching to help Lightning McQueen prepare for his big comeback, look no further than Disney’s newest mobile game! Available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play, Cars: Lightning League invites players to train the racing champ as he prepares to speed past the competition.

Racers can put the pedal to the metal by building up their own collection of cars, including Lightning, Cruz Ramirez, Jackson Storm, and more. Plus, they’ll be able to “visit” fun locations from Cars 3; complete all manner of high-speed missions; blitz past any and all rivals; and even build up a garage of both new “speedsters” and old favorites. Take a gander at the game’s official trailer, above.

Ready, Set, Shop! New Collections and Collectibles Coming to D23 Expo

By D23 Team

Make sure to leave some room in your suitcase! Disney Store is launching new collections, limited-edition sets, and more never-before-seen items that will make their debut on the D23 Expo 2017 show floor. With more than 5,000 square feet of space, there’s lots to see and shop! Here’s a taste of what you can expect:

  • Disney Designer Collection: Formerly known as the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection, the Disney Designer Collection takes the classic assortment beyond the fairytale to tell the iconic stories of Disney’s legacy of film history and introduces three series: Fairytale Series, Folktale Series, and Pixar Animation Studios Series. Three of the new Limited Edition dolls will be available for purchase:
    • Fairytale Series: Pinocchio (limited to an edition size of 1,023)
    • Folktale Series: Mulan (limited to an edition size of 523)
    • Pixar Animation Studios Series: The Incredibles (limited to an edition size of 1,023)

D23 Expo attendees can also preview and pre-purchase a set of the five limited edition dolls releasing at Disney Store locations and DisneyStore.com September–November (each limited to an edition size of 6,000):

  • Fairytale Series: The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Robin Hood
  • Folktale Series: Moana, One Hundred and One Dalmatians
  • Disney•Pixar: In partnership with John Lasseter and the Pixar Animation Studios team, the Disney Store shop at D23 Expo will offer a special collection featuring some favorite Pixar characters.
  • MXYZ Vinyl Mini Blind Box Collectibles: The newest vinyl blind box collection features eight iconic characters in the Disney Store MXYZ art style—perfect for collecting and trading. Retailing at $5 each, the mini-sized characters come with a key chain attachment to personalize accessories, bags, and more.

Disney Store D23 Expo Star Wars Troopers

  • Star Wars: The Disney Store shop will feature Star Wars apparel, accessories, drinkware, and, of course, collectibles. Notable highlights of the assortment are the limited-edition Star Wars Elite Series Premium Action Figures, featuring iconic hero and villain duos: Princess Leia and Darth Vader; Rey and Kylo Ren; and Jyn Erso and Director Orson Krennic. Each duo retails for $79.95 and is limited to an edition size of 1,000.

Disney Store D23 Expo Oswald

  • Milestone Anniversaries: Disney Store will celebrate three milestone anniversaries at D23 Expo––Oswald the Lucky Rabbit’s 90th, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ 80th, and Bambi’s 75th––each with a special assortment.
  • Disney Tsum Tsum: Disney Tsum Tsum fans will be delighted with a new limited-edition set released each day during D23 Expo.

Disney Store D23 Expo Minnie Signature Collection

  • Minnie Mouse Signature Collection: Spotted––a collection of apparel, accessories, and a limited-edition Minnie doll, looking stylish as always.
  • Marvel: For the first time ever, Disney Store will offer a Marvel collection at D23 Expo––featuring limited-edition collectibles, a pin set, lithograph set, and ornament set.
  • Her Universe: Ashley Eckstein, founder of Her Universe, created exclusive pieces for Disney Store that will be available for the first time at D23 Expo. The never-before-seen products are featured within the Minnie Signature, Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel collections.

Don’t forget to grab your D23 Expo items made in partnership with D23 and Disney Store, which will feature items created just for the event.

StorePass tickets will be available beginning at 9 a.m. each day at the StorePass desk located adjacent to the StagePass distribution area in Hall A. The StorePass will provide Guests with a shopping experience timeslot, between 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit the Things to Know page for more details.

Disney Books
Purchase the latest best-selling books and D23 Expo-exclusive titles in the DCPI Pavilion and the Disney Dream Store, including select titles available for purchase only to D23 Expo attendees before they go on sale to the public this summer, including:

A Kiss Goodnight (Richard Sherman, Floyd Norman)
On sale August 22, 2017

Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation

Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation (Mindy Johnson)
On sale September 5, 2017

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons (Dave Bossert)
On sale August 29, 2017

Art of Coloring: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
On sale July 18, 2017

Want to meet some of the magic makers behind these books? Check out these signings:

Friday, July 14
Alex Hirsch, Rob Renzetti, Stephanie Ramirez, Gravity Falls: Journal 3 (12:30–1:45 p.m., Talent Central)

Daron Nefcy, Dominic Bisignano, Star vs. The Forces of Evil: Star and Marco’s Guide to Mastering Every Dimension (12:30–1:45 p.m., Talent Central)

Pam Brandon, Delicious Disney (3:45–4:45 p.m., Disney Dream Store)

Jessica Fuchs and Steve Thompson, Disney Folktale Series Artists (5 p.m., TBD)

Michael Singer, Disney Pirates: The Definitive Collector’s Anthology (5:30–7 p.m., Talent Central)

Mindy Johnson, Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation (6–7 p.m., Disney Dream Store)

Saturday, July 15
Pam Brandon, Delicious Disney (1:15–2:15 p.m., Disney Dream Store)

Victoria Saxon, Poster Art of Cars (4:15–5:15 p.m., Talent Central)

Jessica Fuchs and Steve Thompson, Art of Snow White Artists (5:30 p.m., TBD)

Dave Smith, Disney Facts Revealed (6–7 p.m., Talent Central)

Sunday, July 16
Dave Smith, Disney Facts Revealed (10–11 a.m., Talent Central)

Dave Bossert, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons (1–2 p.m., Talent Central)

Marty Sklar, Vanessa Hunt, Maps of the Disney Parks (1:30–2:30 p.m., Talent Central)

Floyd Norman, A Kiss Goodnight (2:30–3:30 p.m., Talent Central)

Casting a Magical Spell at Disney Parks and Resorts

By Beth Deitchman

Jungle Cruise skippers—braving some of the world’s most “dangerous” waters, armed with good humor and puns… The delightful Fairy Godmothers-in-Training of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques—who use their unique blend of pixie dust to create magical transformations for young princesses- and knights-to-be, all around the world… Cast members have always been a vital part of the story for guests at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, but with the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission BREAKOUT! at Disney’s California Adventure in California, they’re taking the magic they make—not to mention the guest experience—to a whole new level.

Bridge to Pandora - The World of AVATAR

When guests cross the bridge into Pandora, they leave Earth behind as they venture to this new moon. And every cast member they encounter has done the same. Pandora is presented “in story,” set many generations into the future, long after the events of director James Cameron’s Avatar films. Conflicts between humans and the indigenous Na’vi are long since over, and all of the people who remain on the planet have made the deliberate choice to call Pandora their home. The cast members who guests will encounter on Pandora have been encouraged to determine for themselves why each of them decided to stay. “We put together such a great group of cast members who want to learn the Na’vi language, who want to come up with their backstories, why they’re on Pandora, all of those things,” Avatar producer Jon Landau (pictured below) told D23.

Jon Landau

Landau has his own unique Pandoran backstory—he has played the role of Marshall Lamm, the founder of Alpha Centauri Expeditions, or ACE—the tour company that facilitates guests’ journeys to Pandora, handling all of the infrastructure, such as check-in-points at attractions. Cast members who work on Pandora wear nametags “issued” by ACE—rather than a traditional Walt Disney World badge—while they’re engaging with guests on the new planet.

Pongu Pongu

“There are also ex-pats, people who stayed on at Pandora after [the conflict] was done,” Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Creative Director Stefan Hellwig said. Guests will encounter the ex-pats while they’re patronizing the merchandise shops or enjoying the local cuisine at Pongu Pongu and Satu’li Canteen. Ex-pats serve as the proprietors of these Pandoran businesses that cater to travelers from Earth. Both the ex-pats and the ACE employees are extremely knowledgeable about Pandora, able to answer guests’ questions about the planet’s flora and fauna, as well as the Na’vi customs. Plus, they speak Na’vi, welcoming all visitors to Pandora with a smile and the traditional greeting, “Kalxti!”

Windtraders

Across the country at Disney California Adventure, cast members are having a blast helping to bring to life the story behind Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission BREAKOUT! As “Terrans” (or earthlings)—ostensibly employees of The Collector, Taneleer Tivan—their true loyalty is to the Guardians and, most importantly, the guests. “We are kind of like double agents,” attractions hostess Summer Mendoza explained. “We are supposed to be strict and think the collector is the greatest, but we are really helping Rocket. We can even create our own back stories to add to the show.”

Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission BREAKOUT

Walt Disney said, “You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world… but it requires people to make the dream a reality,” and that continues to be a guiding tenet at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Our cast members are the most important part of telling the story of this attraction and all these characters,” Disneyland Resort Entertainment Senior Manager Glenn Kelman said. “I think one of the things I’m most excited about is tapping into the creativity of our cast and empowering them with enough toys so that they make choices that fit their personality.”

This continued evolution of the interaction between cast members and guests builds upon Disney’s enduring legacy of storytelling and helps to deliver the most immersive experience possible. “It’s why people go to theme parks today, to escape the world we’re in,” Landau said, “and we’re truly giving them a place to escape to.”

Level Up Your Nostalgia with these Classic Disney Video Games

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Afternoons were meant to be cozy, spent in front of the television with a controller in your hand as you experience the rush of seeing the startup screen of your game console, ready to begin your latest adventure. You could be the star of your very own Disney story—racing a Light Cycle across the Grid, or using your Keyblade to defeat the Heartless. What game always had you pushing start? We’ve rounded up some of the most classic, iconic, and just plain fun Disney video games that will have you reaching for your controller before you can reach the end of the article!

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Sega Genesis)—1990
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse was the first of a gaming series that brought Mickey Mouse on a world of adventure through Disney-inspired levels. This platformer is timeless in its game mechanics, and even spawned three sequels: Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, and Legend of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. The game was remade in 2013 for multiple platforms and is currently available in mobile format as well.

Chip ’n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers

Chip ’n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers (NES)—1990
There’s no case too big or small for our favorite chipmunk detectives, which is why Chip ’n’ Dale Rescue Rangers is the perfect show for a video game adaptation, featuring non-linear story progression and challenging gameplay. This game, along with DuckTales, Talespin, and more are now available in The Disney Afternoon Collection, available for Playstation®4, Xbox One, and Windows PC now!

Quackshot (Sega Genesis)—1991
Donald Duck takes cues from Indiana Jones in this game that features globe-trotting, treasure-hunting adventures in the spirit of DuckTales. The game’s title comes from Donald’s special gun, which can shoot plungers, popcorn, or bubble gum, providing a fun strategic aspect for players guiding Donald on his pixelated adventure.

Tron 2.0 (PC)—2003
It wouldn’t be a classic video game list without Tron Light Cycling his way into our favorites! This sequel to the classic film Tron expands the world of the Grid with RPG elements, Light Cycle racing, and a fun multiplayer mode.

Aladdin (Sega Genesis)—1993 
This stunningly animated platformer puts players directly in the action of the movie Aladdin, with levels and challenges directly inspired by the events of the film. Aladdin is a fan favorite, with players praising the game’s beauty, combined with the fun mechanics of a platformer with sword combat.

DuckTales

DuckTales (NES)—1989 
Recently re-released for mobile play, this classic platformer adapted the beloved television show with refreshing game mechanics unique to the world of DuckTales and a soundtrack that leaves players dancing for years to come.

The Lion King (SNES/Sega Genesis)—1994
This game stand outs by utilizing new sequences not seen in The Lion King’s theatrical version to create levels set in between the film’s major action sequences. The unique content, paired with the stunning graphics and soundtrack, have kept The Lion King a king in the hearts of Disney video game fans everywhere.

The Little Mermaid (NES)—1991
Often considered a hidden gem, The Little Mermaid lets players explore an underwater world of puzzles, boss fights, and creative environments that remind you why life is better under the sea!

Goof Troop (SNES)—1993 
Team up as Goofy and Max in this co-op puzzle-based adventure that requires both characters’ abilities to solve each challenge. Together, the two of them must stop nefarious pirates who have kidnapped Pete and PJ in a case of mistaken identity!

Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse (SNES/Sega Genesis)—1994
Mickey Mouse is the star of this game that uses his classic cartoons for each level. Enjoy everything from the black-and-white Steamboat Willie-inspired level to spooky haunted houses and a mad scientist’s lab!

Adventures in the Magic Kingdom (NES)—1990
Explore the wonders of the Magic Kingdom in this creative game that provides a variety of gameplay option as you explore stages based on different popular attractions. Drive to victory in the Autopia stage, navigate a perilous train track on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, defeat ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, and more!

Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts (Playstation 2)—2002
The adventures of a boy named Sora on a mission to restore his home world from destruction by the sinister Heartless, Kingdom Hearts may be one of the most famous Disney video games created. In his quest to remove darkness from the land, Sora teams up with Goofy and Donald, who are on a mission from King Mickey, to explore various worlds based on Disney films, such as Wonderland, Atlantica, the 100 Acre Wood, and Halloween Town.