By Jocelyn Buhlman
Every dog has his day, but poor Dante can’t seem to catch a break! Dive into the beautiful world of Disney•Pixar’s Coco in this look into the adventures of Coco’s dog, Dante, who just wants to enjoy a nice bone. What happens when the bone has other plans?
Meet Dante and the whole cast of supernatural fantasy characters and finally find out if Dante does get that bone after all when Disney•Pixar’s Coco opens in theaters on November 22.
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Just in time for the spring season, Tokyo DisneySea is introducing us to one of Duffy’s newest friends! Meet StellaLou, the lovely lavender rabbit joining Duffy’s cheerful group of friends.
StellaLou first met Duffy along the American Waterfront, in front of the S.S. Columbia. She told Duffy about her dream of dancing on Broadway, and the graceful rabbit taught Duffy an important lesson about chasing dreams!
Want to add StellaLou to your adventures? You can purchase your own StellaLou plush starting this Thursday! And there are even tasty treats, like a special strawberry mousse, available for purchase at New York Deli and Cape Cod Cook-Off at Tokyo Disney Resort.
If you want to meet StellaLou in person, be sure to visit when ‘Disney’s Easter’ opens on April 4 for “StellaLou’s Greeting Drive.”
We can’t wait to learn more about StellaLou’s adventures with Duffy and friends! Purchase your own StellaLou plush starting this Thursday, exclusively at Tokyo DisneySea.
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Join in the magic of Beauty and the Beast—in theaters now—with these special coloring sheets. Let your imagination run wild as you bring to life your favorite characters, such as Belle, the Beast, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and more! If you are looking for a fun way to celebrate your favorite Disney movie, then be our guest and color in these pages!
Click here to download.
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By Jocelyn Buhlman
March 26 was a magical day for Disneyland Paris as the park celebrated its 25th anniversary with extraordinary events and extra glitter. Disneyland Paris has delighted guests from France, Europe, and all around the world for a quarter century and is now kicking off new entertainment and experiences to spread the Disney magic into the future. Here’s a look at what happened during this star-studded kickoff event.
Happy Birthday, Disneyland Paris!
Walt Disney parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek welcomed guests to the special event, telling guests, “Since it opened its gates in 1992, Disneyland Paris has been a place where the young and young at heart can step into the worlds of their favorite stories, meet beloved characters, and become part of the magic in a way that only happens at a Disney Park.”
Celebrity Celebrations
Celebrity guests joined in the celebration, with Teri Hatcher taking her father on a grand tour of the theme parks. Additionally, John Legend dazzled the crowd with a surprise performance of Beauty and the Beast.
Sparkling Style for All
Mickey and friends wore brand-new outfits for this special anniversary, sporting beautiful blue and sparkling designs fit for this magical celebration.
Sparkling New Entertainment
This special event not only featured the debut of Mickey’s new outfit, but it also marked the debut of several fantastic new attractions, such as Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Disney Stars on Parade, Mickey presents “Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris,” and The Starlit Princess Waltz. The new finale for guests is a nighttime spectacular like no other, the state-of-the-art Disney Illuminations.
Share Your Sparkle
The Disney magic wasn’t just contained to Paris! Through a special Snapchat filter, guests could send their celebrations to friends all over the world. And as the 25th anniversary celebration continues, guests can spread the magic over social media with a special new hashtag—from now through April 3, every time guests use the hashtag #SparkleForAll on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, a €5 donation will be made to Secours populaire français. The donations will be given to the association and will allow the organization’s children to spend a magical day in the Disney Parks.
For more on Disneyland Paris’ celebration, visit the Disney Parks Blog.
By Tim Lammers
Fifteen years after the conclusion of her sitcom Dharma and Greg, comedy great Jenna Elfman will celebrate her return to the ABC Primetime comedy lineup this spring with Imaginary Mary. In the series, Elfman stars as Alice, a successful ad executive whose imaginary childhood friend, Mary (voice of Rachel Dratch), turns up again in her life as she begins a relationship with a divorced father of three.
Imaginary Mary (sneak peek March 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT, Tuesdays starting April 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT) is a combination of live-action and computer-animation, and Elfman is thrilled that previews have attracted a wide audience.
“My kids love watching the show. I have two boys and they’re super-responsive to Mary,” Elfman says. “Also, women love the show and guys dig it. It’s a family show, but it has romance and has this CGI character. It has all these elements, and they all work together pretty well.”
Elfman’s love of both live-action and animation is reflected in her list of her Fab Five Disney Movies below.
1. The Incredibles: “I love the spirit of that movie. It’s funny, and I feel that the female characters are strong and I like their family dynamic!”
2. Toy Story and 3. Toy Story 2: “I love everything about Toy Story! I love all the characters. I love the humor. I love the writing. I love the animation. I love the story. Just everything, everything, everything!”
4. The Jungle Book (1967): “This is the first movie I ever saw in a theater as a kid! And I remember being emotionally impacted by it and being surprised that a two-dimensional screen impacted me emotionally. I thought it peculiar and magical.”
5. Mary Poppins: “What’s not to love about Mary Poppins? The good-natured spirit, the music. This movie always makes me happy!”
By Nicole Nalty
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is in full swing, and there’s a lot to see, do, and, of course, eat! We ate our way through the festival (in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun!) and rounded up some of our favorites for every appetite.
Don’t forget––Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival features more than just marvelous marketplaces! You can experience culinary demonstrations, brewmaster and winemaker’s dinners, hang out with Goofy at Jr. Chef and Chip ‘n’ Dale at Jammin’ Chef, and catch live performances from local bands. The festival continues through April 16!
LA Style––This marketplace is located in Hollywood Land, near Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! You can find sweet eats like the Chicken Teriyaki Slider with Spicy Dole® Pineapple Jam, and an indulgent (but refreshing) Dole® Pineapple-Strawberry Float with vanilla ice cream and strawberry pearls. Pair these two festival favorites together for a super sweet meal.
Sweet & Sourdough––A piece of Boudin sourdough bread is already a treat, but when combined with milk chocolate in a decadent bread pudding, it’s even sweeter. This was our favorite eat of the festival!
Lemon Grove––A tangy lemonade turns sweet with a cherry twist and cherry pearls.
Bacon Twist––This meaty marketplace is a hearty heaven! Enjoy mac and cheese piled with smoked bacon and barbecue-seasoned onions, and pair it with a baby iceberg and heirloom tomato wedge with peppered bacon and creamy blue cheese dressing. Still hungry? Try the Maple-Bacon whoopie pie.
The Onion Lair––Try the French Onion mac and cheese at The Onion Lair for a hearty vegetarian option. For meat lovers, the Braised wagyu beef falls apart on the fork and is complemented by creamy polenta and haricot verts.
Garlic Kissed––We loved everything at this marketplace highlighting Gilroy Garlic, but the grilled beef tenderloin slider with garlic chimichurri sauce will delight a bigger appetite.
Garlic Kissed––Savory ice cream may seem out of the ordinary, but this Garlic-Rosemary and Avocado Oil Ice Cream Pop is a must-try for any foodie.
Nuts about Cheese––Three different cheese and nut dishes are available at this marketplace, but our favorite was the Brie Toast: topped with fig, mint, and roasted almond crumble, it’s a buttery-sweet snack.
Olive Us––There are few things more comforting than a warm piece of good bread, which you can find at the Olive Us marketplace. Baked with California olives, this roll is topped with olive oil and sea salt.
Seafood…Sustained––This marketplace has you covered. Try the sustainable salmon tataki and a fresh twist on deviled eggs—filled with cream cheese and topped with smoked trout.
Sweet & Sourdough––Two classics combine when a Bay Shrimp Louie Salad is served in a Mini Boudin boule.
Olive Us––Perfect for warm spring California days, a classic cioppino is served chilled (order the olive focaccia on the side!).
I ♡ Artichokes––Each offering at this marketplace is vegetarian, but our favorite was the grilled and chilled artichoke hearts with a tangy romesco sauce.
Lemon Grove––Roasted cauliflower is served with a Meyer lemon-infused yogurt.
Off the Cob––Meatless nachos are taken to the next level with Jackfruit Banh Mi Nachos––this dish can be made vegan if you omit the sauce!
By D23 Team
We can’t wait to reunite with our favorite band of misfit heroes when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters May 5. Tickets for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 are available starting today, and you can catch a new special look at the film below:
Recently, the cast and crew released brand new posters for the upcoming film––and we’re so excited to see lots of familiar faces, and some new ones too (like Disney Legend Kurt Russell as Ego!). Take a look at the new posters and stay tuned for more news from the out-of-this-galaxy film.
By Jocelyn Buhlman
As part of a long-term renovation project for the 25th anniversary celebration, Disneyland Paris is adding a bit of extra sparkle to some of their classic attractions. “These renovations are a part of our innovation and enrichment program, which are proof of our commitment to always offering innovative experiences to our guests,” explains Catherine Powell, Présidente of Eurodisney S.A.S. What kind of innovative experiences are in store for guests ready to celebrate the 25th anniversary? We have the scoop on what magic awaits you in the City of Light.
Big Thunder Mountain
Located in the unique, western-gothic inspired land of Big Thunder Mesa, Disneyland Paris’ version of Big Thunder Mountain is inspired by the famous Monument Valley. What enhancements are in store for the wildest ride in the wilderness? Special, high-tech projection technology utilized for Disneyland Paris’ nighttime spectaculars will create an amazing finale that you will never forget. Additionally, video projectors, new lighting, explosion noises, and steam effects are enriching and renewing classic scenes. To add an aura of authenticity to Big Thunder Mountain, cast members restored a significant number of authentic accessories and décors, some of which are unique pieces, shopped in flea markets and ghost towns around the United States!
Peter Pan’s Flight
This classic dark ride is receiving a new dusting of pixie dust to ensure that it sparkles like never before! The most iconic scenes from Peter Pan’s Flight are enhanced through a 100-percent LED black light. Now, as you fly over London, explore with the Lost Boys, and even soar past Mermaid Lagoon, you will feel even more like you’ve entered the world of your favorite animated classic. All it takes is a little faith, trust, and pixie dust!
it’s a small world
The main anthem of this attraction is performed in eight languages, and now you can hear it through the ride’s brand-new sound system! Costumes have been renovated for all 176 of the dolls, while a new lighting system shines upon the children of the world. The famous façade for it’s a small world has been painted in beautiful, warm colors and its iconic clock tells us the time with an enhanced mechanical system.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Arrr you ready to sail the seas again with these salty old pirates? In the summer of 2017, this classic attraction will reopen—and feature some new (but familiar) faces! Captain Jack Sparrow and other surprise characters will sail into the attraction, along with new lighting effects and remastered audio. And be ready to batten down the hatches when you see the new special effects for the hurricane scenes and the treasure room, creating a totally immersive experience.
Disney’s Newport Bay Club
The largest hotel at Disneyland Paris and the second-largest hotel in all of Europe now shines even brighter, rewarded with a fourth star after months of enhancements! The hotel team meticulously renovated all the hotel had to offer, from room design to guest accessibility services, in order to earn this addition of a fourth star to their hotel rating. The hotel features redesigned interior and exterior areas, a new poolside experience, deliciously reimagined restaurants, and even wonderfully redesigned areas for the service staff! Even when you are away from the thrills of Disneyland Paris, these new enhancements guarantee you are enjoying the best Disneyland Paris has to offer throughout your stay at the resort.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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 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
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
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.
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, Moana
Exploring Motunui with our favorite wayfinder is our idea of paradise.
Click here to download.
Monstropolis, Monsters, Inc.
Visiting Mike and Sulley’s hometown would be a monster of a vacation.
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San Fransokyo, Big Hero 6
Two amazing cities packed into one super location.
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Never Land, Peter Pan
A trip to Never Land is perfect for the young and the young at heart.
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Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh
Spending some time with Winnie the Pooh and friends would be a sweet spring break.
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