9 Inspirational Disney Imagineers

By Courtney Potter

D23 celebrates Women’s History Month with a look at some of the talented women bringing Disney magic to life at Walt Disney Imagineering.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week—celebrating, as he said at the time, the “achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America… an essential and indispensable heritage from which we can draw pride, comfort, courage, and long-range vision.” The week proved so popular that, in 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating the entire month of March as Women’s History Month.

The story of The Walt Disney Company, like the United States before it, is positively rife with truly extraordinary and unparalleled contributions from women—especially when it comes to Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). It’s not hard to draw a pixie-dusted line from renowned early Imagineers like Harriet Burns (the very first woman hired into WDI), Mary Blair, Alice Davis, Leota Toombs Thomas, and Dorothea Redmond, to all the amazing women shaping Disney magic today including those highlighted below…

As you can imagine, this is but a snapshot of the incredible, history-making work done by female Imagineers for more than half a century.

Sue Bryan

Sue Bryan
Bryan, an executive creative director, leads concept development and production on new attractions in Disney Parks around the world. Specializing in interactive experiences that use cutting-edge tech (read: the insanely cool, “how-do-they-do-that?” attractions that have recently opened—or are soon to open!—around the world), Bryan helps to bring WDI’s biggest ideas to life… including early development work on Shanghai Disney Resort. She first joined Disney to do concept design work for DisneyQuest, an indoor interactive theme park at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort; later, she helped lead the final production and installation of Mission: SPACE, overseeing the onboard experience and interactivity of the Walt Disney World attraction. Bryan also served as interactive designer and co-show producer for Toy Story Midway Mania!, a favorite among guests at Disney California Adventure, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Tokyo DisneySea.

Marnie Burress

Marnie Burress
Beginning her Disney career as an intern and working on the Construction Management team for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Burress is now an Executive Project Manager – which means she partners with leaders on the planning, production, and execution of projects. Most recently, Burress oversaw the development of projects at Disney California Adventure, including Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: BREAKOUT!. She has worked in many leadership roles for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts over the years, including as a Development Manager for Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel; as a Project Manager for Soarin’ Over California at Walt Disney World Resort; and Executive Project Manager for MyMagic+. Burress is currently leading project development in Asia at Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disney Resort.

Lori Coltrin

Lori Coltrin
Coltrin, who began her WDI career as the production designer for Conservation Station at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is now executive creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering. She worked on the overall creative direction for Fantasyland at Shanghai Disneyland, and was the creative director for several of the land’s attractions including The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Hunny Pot Spin, Peter Pan’s Flight, and the Evergreen Playhouse. Prior to Coltrin’s Shanghai-based adventures, she was art director for Fantasyland at Hong Kong Disneyland, Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure and the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot. Coltrin also served as co-art director and production designer for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at the Magic Kingdom. And here’s a bit of WDI trivia for your next cocktail party: Coltrin was once the consulting art director for the New York, New York Casino in Las Vegas!

Kim Irvine

Kim Irvine
Irvine currently oversees the art direction of Disneyland Park. (Dream job, right?!) One of her current projects involves a new look for the north bank of the Rivers of America—opening this summer—featuring an elevated train trestle, enhanced rock work, and nifty new waterfalls and landscaping around the river.  Irvine started her career in the WED model shop, working on “it’s a small world” for Walt Disney World Resort, and mentoring with John Hench on color design for Disneyland Resort’s Fantasyland and Main Street, U.S.A. Some of her projects as Disneyland park art director have included the redesign of Candy Palace and the Penny Arcade, Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, Carnation Café, Rancho Del Zocalo, the Disneyland Dream Suite, and most recently, the remodel and expansion of Club 33. In 2011, Irvine became the first female recipient of the prestigious Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievements from the Themed Entertainment Association.

Shelby Jiggetts-Tivony

Shelby Jiggetts-Tivony
A published author with a deep background in theater, Jiggetts-Tivony leads creative for WDI Creative Entertainment – which means she leads creative executives who inspire innovation through the organization. As a creative director, she has been responsible for a slew of fantastic, memorable productions for all manner of venues at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, including Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story for Disney Cruise Line; The Golden Mickeys (directed by Tony® Award winner Diane Paulus) for both Disney Cruise Line and Hong Kong Disneyland; Disney California Adventure’s long-running Disney’s Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular; a version of which also was produced by Disney Cruise Line; and she led the entertainment program for Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, in Hawaii.

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Amy Jupiter
With a broad background in film, animation, and visual FX, Jupiter is currently an executive producer with Walt Disney Imagineering—helping to create the next generation of immersive experiences and attractions for Walt Disney theme parks. Jupiter began her Disney career as an intern, working her way up to executive media producer and visual FX supervisor on attractions in every corner of the Disney globe, including Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D at Walt Disney World; The Magic Lamp Theater for Tokyo DisneySea; and Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. In fact, that amazing new addition to the Pirates tradition won Jupiter and her team the prestigious VES Award from the Visual FX Society for Outstanding Visual FX in a Special Venue. Amy’s current big projects include Pandora—The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure, which open to the public on May 27.

Kathy Magnum

Kathy Mangum
Everybody’s gotta start somewhere—and Mangum started her Disney career working at Disneyland park while a student at California State University, Fullerton. And now, she’s the Atlantic regional executive for Walt Disney Imagineering! She’s responsible for oversight of Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and Disneyland Paris. Have you visited Cars Land inside Disney California Adventure? You have Kathy to thank for all that Radiator Springs fun; she was the executive producer of the 12-acre land/expansion that first revved its engines for the public in 2012. She’s also overseen the enhancements to the Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion at Epcot, and provided creative direction for Walt Disney World Resort’s two exhilarating water parks—Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

Hilcia Pena

Hilcia Pena
Pena is a senior facility designer, which makes her responsible for creating themed (not to mention functional) environments and buildings for Disney Parks. (As you can imagine, her architecture degree from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, comes in very handy.) And she’s currently working on one of Disney’s biggest and coolest projects: Using all manner of awesome 3-D tools, she’s contributing to the Star Wars-themed lands scheduled to open at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in 2019. (Oh, to be a fly on the wall in her office!) Over the years, she’s worked on numerous projects at Shanghai Disney Resort (including Treasure Cove and Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure), as well as Hong Kong Disneyland’s Grizzly Gulch, Toy Story Land, and Mystic Point.

Chang Xu

Chang Xu
Born and raised in Shanghai, China, Xu is a producer and cultural advisor for WDI, helping to foster a deep understanding of what audiences enjoy across Asia. She’s been a “go-to” resource for Imagineers creating Shanghai Disney Resort—organizing events that promote cultural awareness as well as ensuring that creative concepts are developed with sensitivity. She joined WDI after earning her graduate school degree at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

5 Dream Disney Spots for Spring Break

By D23 Team

The spring season is newly in bloom and that means it’s almost time for spring break!

Here at D23 we’re dreaming up spring break locales with a little extra pixie dust––download your favorite (below) and share your dream Disney destination with a friend.

Motunui postcard

Motunui, Moana
Exploring Motunui with our favorite wayfinder is our idea of paradise.
Click here to download.

Monstropolis postcard

Monstropolis, Monsters, Inc.
Visiting Mike and Sulley’s hometown would be a monster of a vacation.
Click here to download.

San Fransyokyo postcard

San Fransokyo, Big Hero 6
Two amazing cities packed into one super location.
Click here to download.

Never Land postcard

Never Land, Peter Pan
A trip to Never Land is perfect for the young and the young at heart.
Click here to download.

Hundred Acre Wood postcard

Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh
Spending some time with Winnie the Pooh and friends would be a sweet spring break.
Click here to download.

Coco, Star Wars, and Chip ‘n’ Dale—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Meet Miguel and Dante in Disney•Pixar’s Coco, and get a glimpse at construction for Disney Parks’ new Star Wars-themed lands… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Coco

Colorful Coco Teaser Trailer Debuts

Disney•Pixar’s next animated film, Coco, doesn’t debut ‘til later this fall… but just a few days ago, we got a radiant sneak peek via its brand-new teaser trailer! Meet Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) and his dog, Dante, and take a trip to the beautiful, kaleidoscopically hued Land of the Dead, by checking out the trailer here.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
April 7, 2017
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Burny Mattinson
April 8, 2017
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
April 10, 2017
D23 Members Invited to “Eat Like Walt” at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
April 26, 2017
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Magic in Manhattan & More
May 12, 2017
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Marty Sklar in Florida
May 13, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl On the Lot
May 13, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Florida
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
Studios
April 21, 2017
Born in China opens in theaters
May 5, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens in theaters
May 26, 2017
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
opens in theaters

June 16, 2017
Cars 3 opens in theaters
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
Parks
March 1–May 29, 2017
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
March 10–April 16, 2017
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
May 27, 2017
Pandora—The World of Avatar opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
May 27, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy–Mission: BREAKOUT! opening at Disney California Adventure
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Television
March 24, 2017
Tangled: The Series premieres on Disney Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET

Lou

Adorable New Poster for Lou, Pixar’s Latest Short

Speaking of Pixar, the latest short from the multi-Oscar®-winning animation studio is set to premiere this summer—playing ahead of Cars 3. Lou, directed by Dave Mullins and executive produced by John Lasseter, follows an adorable red-hoodie-wearing creature who helps teach a schoolyard bully a lesson.

Tiding us over ’til the short’s debut is this super-cute new poster, above. Can you spot our hero? Lou gets lost (and found) in theaters on June 16.

D23 Expo Japan

D23 Expo Japan to Return in 2018

Huge news for our D23 friends in Asia… D23 Expo is returning to Japan in 2018! Read the big announcement here, and stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.

Star Wars-themed lands construction update

Construction Update on Star Wars-Themed Lands

Sure, the two Star Wars-themed lands coming to both Disneyland Park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida don’t open ’til 2019—we vacillate between wanting to fast-forward right this minute to then and hoping our gleeful anticipation lasts as long as possible—but that doesn’t mean we won’t receive some cool updates along the way. Case in point: last week’s first look at some of the lands’ progress (courtesy our pals at the Disney Parks Blog). Check out the video here.

Disney Afternoon Collection

Play Along with Classic “Disney Afternoon” Cartoons

If you’re of a certain age, you spent many an afternoon laughing along with the exploits of our favorite chipmunks in Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers; the cuddly, adventurous bears of TaleSpin; and the shenanigans of Scrooge McDuck in DuckTales (soon to be returning to Disney XD). And you probably also spent some time playing the video games based on these classic “Disney Afternoon” series. Well, we’ve got some awesomely nostalgic news: Capcom has just announced a compilation of these now-fully-restored games, and they’ll be available next month! Read more about ‘em here.

Star Wars Rebels’ Exciting Two-Part Season Finale—This Saturday!

Season Three of Disney XD’s Star Wars Rebels is just about to wrap up, and they’re doing so in appropriately adventurous fashion! Airing this Saturday at 11 a.m. ET, “Zero Hour: Parts 1 and 2” follow Phoenix Squadron’s final preparations for their attack on Lothal. But their big plans are disrupted when Grand Admiral Thrawn discovers their location…

Check out a special preview from “Zero Hour,” above… it’s seriously epic! Set over a decade after Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith and five years before Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope, Star Wars Rebels features the voices of Freddie Prinze, Jr., Vanessa Marshall, and Lars Mikkelsen.

Disney Junior Dance Party

“Disney Junior Dance Party” Twirls into Disneyland Resort This Summer

Calling all fans of Disney Junior: There’s a brand-new show coming to Disney California Adventure (DCA) this summer… so break out your dancin’ shoes and prepare to join in the fun! “Disney Junior Dance Party” is a live, high-energy show experience that takes its inspiration from some of the most popular Disney Junior shows on TV—including Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, and The Lion Guard. Guests will catch live appearances from favorite characters; jam to all kinds of fun Disney Junior music; and so much more.

“Disney Junior Dance Party”—taking place inside Hollywood Land at DCA—will introduce a cool new interactive concert format that involves guest like never before, and it all begins on May 26. Mark those calendars now!

Cars 3

Cars 3 Revs Up the “Road to the Races” Tour at Disney Springs

Steer yourselves down to Disney Springs Marketplace at Walt Disney World Resort during the week of March 23 for a real treat… The “Road to the Races” nationwide tour, celebrating Disney•Pixar’s upcoming Cars 3, kicks off with fun activities for the whole family, plus an extended sneak peek at the film!

“Road to the Races” will also feature special Cars merchandise; themed menu items at select food and beverage locations; photo opportunities with some of your fave Cars characters; a look into the history of (and the cool science behind) NASCAR racing; and even a DJ dance party! For more info, including the 20+ other cities the “Road to the Races” will zoom to next, visit Cars3Tour.com.

Everything You Need to Do to Celebrate Disneyland Paris’ 25th Anniversary

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Disneyland Paris’ 25th anniversary starts on March 26, kicking off a sparkling celebration of Europe’s only Disney theme park. If you want to share in Disneyland Paris’ Bon Anniversaire, you can enjoy all sorts of new attractions, experiences, and more. We’ve rounded up everything you need to do to participate in this grand event.

Mickey Presents “Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris”
Celebrate with Mickey Mouse and his friends at Disneyland Park for an anniversary bash like you’ve never experienced! Start the celebration off right with this one-of-a-kind daily celebration.

Anniversary Eats
It’s not a celebration without festive foods to enjoy! Disneyland Paris’ celebrated chefs have cooked up everything from star-shaped main courses to dazzling desserts, which you’ll be able to enjoy in both the parks and the Disney hotels.

Disney Stars on Parade at Disneyland Paris

Disney Stars on Parade
Replacing Disney Magic on Parade at Disneyland Park, this celebration of Disney fun showcases Mickey and friends on brand-new floats and features Maleficent as a spectacular, fire-breathing dragon.

The Starlit Princess Waltz at Disneyland Paris

The Starlit Princess Waltz
The Disney Princesses are hosting their own special celebration on the Royal Castle Stage in Disneyland Park. Sparkle with your favorite princesses, including Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, and Snow White as they throw a majestic ball to celebrate the 25th Anniversary.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Disneyland Paris

Sparkling New Mickey and Minnie Costumes
Disneyland Paris’ talented team created fashionable, French costumes especially for the celebration. You’ll need to take a picture with Mickey and Minnie in their latest fashions, featuring blues, silvers, and glowing stars!

Disney Illuminations at Disneyland Paris

Disney Illuminations
This nighttime spectacular lights up Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant with projections and breath-taking special effects, transporting guests through the stories of Frozen, Star Wars, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Mickey Mouse conducts this amazing feat of special effects and magic.

A Sparkling New Blog
Your all-access pass to the celebration is now live on the web! Enjoy animated GIFs, videos, and all sorts of fun content to share with your friends. No matter where you are, this official blog lets you join in on the festivities!

25th Anniversary Souvenirs
If you want to take the celebration home with you, there will be all sorts of sparkling souvenirs to commemorate this anniversary, from toys to designer handbags. Keep your eyes out for 25th anniversary treats like star-shaped glasses, glittery Minnie ears, magic wands, and more!

The Music of Pixar LIVE! coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will premiere The Music of Pixar LIVE! A Symphony of Characters, starting on May 26. This limited-time event will be presented three times nightly at the Theater of the Stars.

This magical musical revue will feature famous songs from Pixar movies, as well as the films’ iconic scores. Get ready to sing, hum, or dance along to the rhythm of Pixar magic. You might even catch surprise appearances from Woody, Jessie, Mike and Sulley, the Incredibles and more favorite characters.

The new live show will follow the regular, daily performances of Beauty and the Beast—Live on Stage at the Theater of the Stars, so you can enjoy twice the magic of live entertainment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Are you ready to see your favorite Disney•Pixar characters LIVE! at one of the most magical places on earth? What Pixar songs do you hope you’ll hear? Check out the Disney Parks Blog for more information and updates.

The Music of Pixar Live!

Tale as Old as Time… Modern Fashion Sensibilities

Academy Award®-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran talks about designing costumes befitting a fairy-tale world for Disney’s new live-action Beauty and the Beast.

By Beth Deitchman

From the moment that Disney’s live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast was announced, fans eagerly awaited glimpses of Belle, as played by Emma Watson; of Dan Stevens in the iconic role of Beast; and of the beloved household objects—including Lumière, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts and Chip—now brought to life with innovative motion capture and visual effects technology. But there was one object that has remained equally enchanting since 1991, and which fans clamored to see reimagined in the new film: Belle’s iconic yellow dress.

Beauty and the Beast costume designer, Jacqueline Durran

Oscar®-winner Jacqueline Durran (Anna Karenina, Atonement) designed the stunning dress Watson wears in Beauty and the Beast, as well as the wardrobe for all of the characters in the film—from the peasant villagers to, well, the wardrobe. Durran reveals that the yellow dress took more than 238 hours to make. Multiple copies were created, each sewn from several layers of feather-light yellow satin organza and stitched with 3,000 feet of thread. The top two layers feature a gold-leaf filigree with a pattern that matches the Rococo floor and is accentuated with 2,160 Swarovski crystals. It was important to Durran that this dress, like all of the garments Belle wears in the film, reference the animated film, but still feel unique. “In a sense we were reinterpreting the animation,” she explains.

Beauty and the Beast

The blue dress Belle wears when we first meet her, as she bids her fellow villagers “Bonjour!,” is also a nod to the 1991 animated feature, but with several new—not to mention practical—features. “We didn’t want her to be a delicate princess but an active heroine, which is why her costume was designed with pockets where she could place books and things she might need and she was wearing boots, not delicate shoes, so she could run around the village,” Durran shares.

Beauty and the Beast

Each costume in the film is richly detailed and thoughtfully crafted, and bears witness to the months of research and craftsmanship that went into re-creating the fashions of the mid-18th century. Durran’s team included embroiderers, milliners, jewelers, painters and textile artists. When it came to historical accuracy, Durran’s research took her to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where she found a set of bright, colorful block prints that provided a fairly comprehensive look at regional costumes of 18th-century France. “[They], historically, are quite eccentric with a lot of unusual hat shapes and quirky regional details like coats with multiple skirts and dresses with aprons.”

Speaking of aprons, for the dress Belle wears at the end of the film, Durran found inspiration in an original 18th-century apron she bought back when she was a student, and then was able to utilize it in a most 21st-century way: We found an artist in England who took the floral motif from that pattern and turned it into a painted design. The design was then hand painted on canvas and enlarged and printed digitally.”

Beauty and the Beast

The team was meticulous about the detail they brought to their creations, but they rose to a different kind of challenge for a montage sequence that takes place midway through the film: Durran and the team set out to make costumes from entirely ethical and sustainable sources—meaning that only organic materials are used, and purchased from suppliers who pay their employees a fair wage and are considerate of the environment.

Beauty and the Beast

This is something that Durran and her team always try to achieve, she stresses, but, in this case, they were rigid about it. “It was a steep learning curve for all of us!” Durran tells D23. “The biggest challenge was trying to create a costume that was head-to-toe fair-trade, organic and sustainable without compromising our original design.” The team worked with the consultancy Eco Age, which, Durran explains, “gave us social and environmental benchmarks by which we could define a costume as ‘green’ and helped approve vendor certifications and validate some of our pre-existing suppliers.” The costumers used natural and low-impact dyes as well as traditional wood blocks for printing.

Beauty and the Beast

A longtime proponent of sustainable fashion herself, actress Emma Watson—who proudly wore sustainable fashion throughout the Beauty and the Beast world tour—had one additional suggestion that Durran was happy to accommodate. “Emma thought that it would be interesting to have bird motifs and references to birds in her costume as she felt that would help with her interpretation of Belle. There are feathers hidden away in parts of the costume and feathers painted on her shoes and feathers in her hair,” Durran reveals.

Beauty and the Beast

“One of the wonderful things about working with Jacqueline is that she is so incredibly collaborative,” says Watson. “I was just blown away by how much input she wanted from me… she really wanted to understand how I perceived the character inside and out. It was such a special experience for me as an actress, and such a great way to build and understand a character through that process.”

Producer David Hoberman also praised Durran for the imaginative and detailed creations that pay homage to the animated film with choices like cladding Gaston in red, but which also feature touches that are unique to this new adaptation—such as the leaf print on Mrs. Potts’ dress at the end of the film, which mirrors the print on the teapot version of the character. “Jackie is a goddess,” Hoberman says. “She had a really tough job, not only because of the sheer volume of costumes in this movie, but because of the iconic wardrobe from the animated film. She wanted to take into consideration and be somewhat faithful to the costumes worn by all the animated characters, but wanted to create something original as well, and she managed to come up with something completely beautiful and completely her own.”

D23 Expo Japan Returns February 10–12, 2018

By Nicole Nalty

After an unbelievable event in 2015, D23 Expo Japan is back in 2018! This special event for Disney fans, created by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place February 10–12, 2018, at Tokyo Disney Resort. The first D23 Expo in Japan was held in 2013, inspired by the original D23 Expo held in Anaheim, California (returning this summer, July 14–16!), and returns for a third time next year.

“We heard from a lot of fans about how delighted they were with the D23 Expo Japan 2013 and 2015. D23 Expo Japan 2018 promises to be even more spectacular,” said Paul Candland, President, Walt Disney Asia and President, The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. “2018 marks The Walt Disney Company’s 95th anniversary and Mickey Mouse’s screen debut’s 90th anniversary. In Japan, it marks Tokyo Disney Resort’s 35th, Disney Channel’s 15th, and the Disney★JCB Card’s 10th. We’re very excited about being able to present this great event once again, and we know our guests will have an incredible experience during the three days we have planned for them.”

For more information, visit Disney.jp/D23.

Stay tuned for more D23 Expo Japan updates and Disney news!

Take a Peek at These Brand-New D23 Expo 2017 Posters

By D23 Team

D23 Expo 2017 is just a few short months away and, here at D23, we’re busy making magic for the ultimate Disney fan event! While we continue to whistle while we work, we wanted to share a sneak peek at our brand-new posters for D23 Expo.

Since D23 Expo is the only place where fans can find all things Disney under one roof, this year’s posters celebrate some of the greatest characters from throughout The Walt Disney Company. Take a look at the rest of the posters below, and stay tuned for more D23 Expo news.

P.S.: Calling all costumers and designers! There’s still time to enter your costume for D23 Expo Mousequerade and your artwork for D23 Expo Design Challenge. Submissions will be accepted until March 31.

D23 Expo 2017 posters

D23 Expo 2017 posters

D23 Expo 2017 posters

D23 Expo 2017 posters

D23 Expo 2017 posters

D23 Expo 2017 posters

Enchanting Exclusive Preview of the New Disney Aladdin on Broadway Book

Attention, Aladdin on Broadway fans! Join us for our event, D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Magic in Manhattan & More, where guests will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic New Amsterdam Theatre, and can upgrade to a premium ticket that includes Orchestra-level seating for Aladdin, followed by a D23-exclusive cast meet and greet after the show!

By Jocelyn Buhlman

The Road to Broadway and Beyond: Disney’s Aladdin: A Whole New World! by Michael Lassell will hit shelves on March 21, featuring the story of how this show from the producers of The Lion King, Mary Poppins, and Newsies became Disney’s next Broadway sensation. The book provides a peek behind the curtain with interviews with the actors, director, designers, musicians, and magicians who transported audiences around the world to the city of Agrabah.

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Are you looking for some unbelievable sights and indescribable feelings? Well, we can take you to a whole new world with these exclusive preview pictures of this enchanting new book!

Click each image below to get a closer look.

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

Disney Aladdin—A Whole New World—The Road to Broadway and Beyond

13 Lucky Disney Moments for Saint Patrick’s Day

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Everything happens for a reason in Disney movies, sometimes because of a little pixie dust or the power of the Force. But our favorite heroes occasionally need a little something else, a little something… lucky! To celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, we’ve rounded up our favorite lucky moments from some classic Disney movies. May your day be as lucky as theirs!

Mulan

An Avalanche of Luck, Mulan (1998)
When the Chinese army faced off against the massive Hun army, they were going to need all the luck they could get. Fortune was smiling in their favor (or maybe it was because of the lucky cricket that Grandmother Fa gave to Mulan?) when Mulan caught the reflection of the precarious peak in her sword and concocted a brilliant plan: taking a lucky shot at the mountain to cause a massive avalanche, carrying the Hun army away in the snow!

Cinderella

A Lucky Find, Cinderella (1950)
Prince Charming finally met the girl of his dreams and danced the night away with her but—oh no!—she ran away at midnight, before he could even ask her name. But in her haste to flee, she left behind an incredibly unique glass slipper. Lucky for the Prince, he was able to use this unusual shoe to find the woman that stole his heart!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Luck Favors the Fair, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
When the Queen sent a huntsman to kill Snow White, she certainly didn’t expect him to be Snow White’s lucky break. He could not bear to kill someone as innocent as Snow White, lucky for her. But even luckier is that he warned her about the Queen’s intent to kill Snow White, so that the fair princess could to run into the woods and protect herself from the Queen’s wrath.

Toy Story

Falling with Luck, Toy Story (1995)
Buzz and Woody had to move fast to catch up to the moving van heading to Andy’s new house. Lucky for them, Buzz was still strapped to one of Sid’s rockets and they were able to blast off and fly—er, fall with style—into the back seat of Andy’s car, reuniting them with their beloved kid!

A Goofy Movie

A Lucky Guest Appearance, A Goofy Movie (1995)
Goofy and Max were determined to get on stage at the Powerline Concert so that Max could win Roxanne’s heart—but how do two goofs land a guest appearance at the hottest concert of the year? With a little luck and a lot of silliness, of course! Goofy accidentally stumbled into a pod that launches him center stage, only to be joined by Max just moments later. Lucky for them that they know some perfect dance moves, too, and by teaching pop superstar Powerline the “Perfect Cast,” they are all able to see “eye 2 eye!”

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Use the Force… and Some Luck, Star Wars: Episode IV – A  New Hope (1977)
The power of the Force is strong in the Star Wars galaxy, like when Luke makes his shot on the Death Star and successfully blows it up! But sometimes, the galaxy just needs a little luck. Before Luke was able to shoot on the Death Star, he needed some help escaping Darth Vader. Lucky for him, Han Solo decided to rejoin the battle in the Millennium Falcon just as Vader is about to shoot Luke down. “I have you now!” Vader declares, but lucky for Luke, Han shows up just in time with a surprise shot, sending Darth Vader’s TIE fighter squadron into disarray and allowing Luke to concentrate.

Finding Nemo

Lucky Fin, Finding Nemo (2003)
To help free the Tank Gang from a life of dentistry and Darla, Nemo agreed to use his small size to wedge a rock into the water filter. His first try was unsuccessful, but he was rescued by the Tank Gang before anything could go terribly wrong. Lucky for Nemo, he gave it a second try and managed to stop the filter in its tracks!

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

That’s Captain Lucky, Savvy? Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Captain Jack Sparrow is either the cleverest pirate around, or the luckiest! His ability to escape the disastrous and supernatural is unparalleled, no more so than when faced with a duel against his enemy, Captain Barbossa. Barbossa struck with a fatal wound, ready to claim victory over Jack but—lucky him!—Jack had stolen a coin and become part of the Aztec Gold curse as an unkillable skeleton.

Ratatouille

The Luckiest, Littlest Chef, Ratatouille (2007)
Remy’s cooking ability isn’t luck—it’s talent and determination. But sometimes it takes more than fantastic culinary abilities to save the day, so when Remy made a delicious serving of ratatouille for the dour critic, Anton Ego, the little chef was in for his lucky day. With one bite of what is scoffed as a “peasant dish,” Ego was transported back to the happy days of his youth and his mother’s cooking. Remy couldn’t have picked a better dish to cook up!

The Happiest Millionaire

Fortuosity!, The Happiest Millionaire (1967)
Irish immigrant John Lawless has some of the best fortuosity around: landing a job with an eccentric, but kind, millionaire. As a butler to millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, John entered the fun and zany lifestyle of the Biddles.

The Reluctant Dragon

A ReLUCKtant Dragon, The Reluctant Dragon (1941)
The poor Reluctant Dragon just didn’t want to fight, but lucky for him, Sir Giles, the dragon slayer, showed little interest in a serious battle. Instead, the two found friendship through their shared love of poetry!

Lilo & Stitch

A Lucky ‘Ohana, Lilo & Stitch (2002)
You can’t find truer friends than Lilo and Stitch, but their friendship started by lucky chance! All Nani wanted was to get her sister a nice dog companion, but she took Lilo to the animal shelter on the same day that Stitch decided to use it as a hideout. With no other dogs to choose, Lilo adopted Stitch, and together they started a friendship as big as the galaxy!

Tangled

A Lucky Escape, Tangled (2010)
Rapunzel was wondering when her life would begin, but it wasn’t until Flynn Rider came along that she had her lucky day. If he hadn’t chosen to hide in her tower, she never would have had the chance to explore the outside world—and learn that she was the long-lost princess.