Disney Announces Frozen Attraction Coming to Epcot

Today Walt Disney Parks and Resorts melted Disney fans’ hearts with the news that a Frozen attraction will be coming to Epcot.

Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs announced that construction is starting at Walt Disney World Resort on a brand-new Frozen attraction at, fittingly, the Norway Pavilion in Epcot. The new attraction replaces Maelstrom and will take guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film. The pavilion will also include a royal greeting location where Anna and Elsa can meet guests. “We think these Frozen elements are great complements to the Norway Pavilion, which showcases the country and region that inspired the film,” Staggs explained.

The Frozen characters will also have a bigger presence at Magic Kingdom Park this holiday season. Queen Elsa’s powers will transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace very night, beginning in early November; and Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf will also appear in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

In addition, though summer may be ending, some of your favorite elements of Frozen Summer Fun LIVE! will remain into the coming seasons. Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will still be able to sing along to Frozen songs with Elsa and Anna as well as frolic in real snow—in Florida, no less—at Wandering Oaken’s, which will set up shop closer to the show through the holiday season.

We’re so happy, we can’t help but let it go!

Where We Left Off Last Season…

Once Upon a Time (New Season Premieres Sunday, September 28)

After being pulled into Zelena’s time portal, Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) find themselves in the past in the Enchanted Forest, where they see the Evil Queen/Regina (Lana Parrilla) being, well, evil. As much as she wants to help, Hook urges Emma not to change anything in the past or the future may not happen. Leave it to Emma to nearly ruin her parents’ meeting and love connection. Luckily, Hook helps her make everything right—well, maybe not everything. While imprisoned by Regina, the duo meet a young woman sentenced to death who Emma just can’t help but save. As the trio show up to the naming of Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) and David’s (Josh Dallas) son—and Emma’s brother—at Granny’s, they don’t realize that three’s a crowd. Turns out the woman is Maid Marian, and Robin Hood—who has connected nicely with Regina—is now going to be forced to make a choice. The kind of choice that could make Regina really, really upset. And no one wants that, right? But the biggest shocker of all was that the trio didn’t come back alone. They brought with them one Disney superstar, extra chilly, as Elsa was revealed to be coming out of the portal in the show’s final scene.

See What’s Coming Next In Our Once Upon A Time Season Four Preview ►

Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (New Season Premieres Tuesday, September 23)

Thanks to the events that took place in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, S.H.I.E.L.D. collapsed in HYDRA’s wake, leaving all the agents wanted by law enforcement—and, in some cases, pitted against each other. The finale saw Coulson (Clark Gregg) and team ultimately defeat a seemingly unstoppable Garrett (Bill Paxton), with a little help from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Not as lucky were agents Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) who—thanks to a Hydra-following Ward (Brett Dalton)—ended up on the bottom of the ocean. Fitz risked his own life to save Simmons, and while he is alive, last we knew, he was in critical condition after being oxygen deprived. But nothing could prepare us for Coulson—now Director Coulson, per Fury—unable to sleep, mindlessly drawing what look like extraterrestrial schematics.

D23 Gold Members received a special preview of the new season of Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the Fall 2014 issue. Not a member? Join today!

Castle (New Season Premieres Monday, September 29)

In the Season 6 finale, as Castle (Nathan Fillion) is driving to his much-anticipated nuptials, an ominous black SUV bores down on him. Then, when he doesn’t show up at the wedding, Beckett (Stana Katic) is called to an accident scene where she sees Castle’s car in a ravine, engulfed in flames. Who or what caused the car crash? Is there anyway Castle could have survived? Season 7 will pick up at the scene of that accident, right where the finale left off, in a premiere that promises to put Beckett through the toughest case of her career.

Modern Family (New Season Premieres Wednesday, September 24)

After a few fires—both literal and metaphorical—Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) finally made it down the aisle in the wedding of the season. But there was a terrific blend of sweetness and sassiness along the way, including Sal (Elizabeth Banks), their original officiant, having her water break before the ceremony—luckily, Phil (Ty Burrell) stepped up to the plate. Haley (Sarah Hyland) helped Andy (Adam DeVine) see that his girlfriend was treating him badly—and while she was forming a crush on him, younger sister Alex (Ariel Winter) convinced her to let Andy down easy, knowing Haley would eventually break his heart as well. And after losing not one but three wedding locations, Jay (Ed O’Neill), who Mitch has thought was not supportive of his nuptials to Cam, came through with an idyllic country club setting for their I dos. So will all be happily ever after?

The Goldbergs (New Season Premieres Wednesday, September 24)

Last season leaves off as Murray (Jeff Garlin) learns his high school free throw record has been broken so he begrudgingly attends a banquet as the guest of honor, shoots, and misses. Reliving his glory years, his school spirit is re-energized until the crowd mocks him. Elsewhere at home, Barry (Troy Gentile)decides to throw a party where he quickly loses the spotlight and it’s up to Erica’s (Hayley Orrantia) friend Lainey (AJ Michalka) to help him get it back. When Murray and Bev (Wendi McLendon-Covey) show up, Barry is allowed one moment to bask in the glory of his party, and is then grounded for the summer. The family comes together at the end on the basketball court to discuss life.

Grey’s Anatomy (New Season Premieres Thursday, September 25)

While she may not have been all warm and fuzzy, saying farewell to Dr. Christina Yang (Sandra Oh) was one of the hardest things we had to watch. But there’s plenty of drama to keep the hospital running. While Miranda (Chandra Wilson) was assured she’d get a seat on the hospital’s board after Yang’s departure, the future wasn’t so clear after Yang left Karev (Justin Chambers) a package giving him her seat. After Derek (Patrick Dempsey) landed a plumb job in Washington, D.C., Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) wasn’t so sure she wanted to relocate, leading to a standoff that could destroy their marriage. As if that wasn’t enough, possibly the biggest surprise was when the love child of Meredith’s mom, Ellis, and Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.) showed up. The Grey family tree just keeps growing!

Last Man Standing (New Season Premieres Friday, October 3)

This season, Mike (Tim Allen) continues to be surrounded by forces seeking to challenge his ideals on just about everything in which he believes. As he and his wife Vanessa’s (Nancy Travis) three daughters grow up and move on, they’re forced to confront that quintessential parenting dilemma about how much they can still influence their three daughters. As usual, Mike tries to escape any female drama at home in the warm, manly embrace of his job at the Outdoor Man store.

The Middle (New Season Premieres Wednesday, September 24)

While Sue (Eden Sher) counts down the days until the Hecks depart on their road trip to Walt Disney World (she won the trip in a “Hands on a Hard Body” contest), Brick (Atticus Shaffer) begs his parents to take a detour to North Carolina so he can meet his online girlfriend, and Axl (Charlie McDermott)anxiously awaits the posting of his final grades as a college freshman. Then, when the Hecks arrive at Walt Disney World, a good time may not be had for all when a series of misfortunes threatens to put a damper on their trip.

Nashville (New Season Premieres Wednesday, September 24)

There was so much drama in the season two finale of Nashville, someone should write a country song about it. Oh wait. Anyway, Maddie (Lennon Stella) continues to be a brat. No cliffhanger there. Scarlett (Clare Bowen) decides it’s time for her to pack up and leave town and is pretty much thisclose to hitting the road when she stops at the Bluebird where Gunnar (Sam Palladino) sings a pretty love song to her and asks her to stay. With those eyes, how could she say no? In other news, Jeff (Oliver Hudson) continues to torment Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) about their tryst, threatening to expose them to her boyfriend Avery (Jonathan Jackson). After getting crazy drunk, and threatening to leave Rayna’s (Connie Britton) label Highway 66, Juliette finally comes clean with Avery—who is already super angry since Gunner told him first. Oops. But in the end, it looks like they’ll patch things up. Meantime, despite Jeff’s numerous attempts to derail Rayna’s album from succeeding, it looks like she is going to crush Will Lexington’s (Chris Carmack) debut, which could destroy his career. He starts cracking up, and Gunnar encourages him to come clean about being gay to Layla (Aubrey Peeples). Will does so, unaware that the “hidden” cameras capturing their “romance” for a reality show are recording every moment. Luke (Will Chase) proposes to Rayna—in front of 70,000 people, so it would have been hard to say no (and did you see the size of that ring?). But naturally Deacon (Charles Esten) comes by her house that night with the ring he was going to originally give her when he was set to propose years before. He kisses her. She kisses back. Cue a country song.

Revenge (New Season Premieres Sunday, September 28)

So there was a lot more death than we anticipated in the Revenge season finale. But here were the big moments in a show that was pretty much only big moments: Nolan (Gabriel Mann) teamed up with Margaux’s (Karine Vanasse) brother Gideon (Daniel Zovatto) to get back the MyClone program so they can make a fortune. Gideon catches Daniel (Josh Bowman) in a compromising position that gives him some power. A seriously ticked off Charlotte (Christa B. Allen) has Jack (Nick Wechsler) arrested for kidnapping her, even though it was Emily’s (Emily Van Camp) idea—as pretty much everything is. A seriously ticked off Victoria (Madeline Stowe) murders Aiden (Barry Sloane) and leaves his corpse as a gift for Emily, before getting carted off to a mental asylum. Oh right, and Emily’s presumed-dead father, David (James Tupper) is actually alive. And he kills Conrad (Henry Czerny).

Scandal (New Season Premieres Thursday, September 25)

The amount of crazy that took place in the season three finale of Scandal had our heads reeling. Let’s start with the easy stuff. Charlie (George Newbern) breaks things off with Quinn (Katie Lowes), knowing she been, well, licking Huck (Guillermo Diaz). But as a parting gift, he provides proof that Huck’s family is still alive. Huck, being Huck, doesn’t handle the news so great, but by the end comes face-to-face with his family. No major characters died in the bombing so it looked like VP Sally (Kate Burton) was going to win the election, which made it probably as good a time as ever for Olivia (Kerry Washington) to tell Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) about Mellie (Bellamy Young) being raped by his father—and possibly being Jerry IV’s son. Mellie and Fitz share a moment, he decides he can’t leave her for Liv (again). That’s the easy part of the story. Let’s just say, Olivia and Jake (Scott Foley) take off in a plane just in time to miss the outcome from the following: Olivia’s dad Eli (Joe Morton), who she though might be good, is really, really evil. He has Jerry IV (Dylan Minnette) killed and frames Olivia’s mom Maya (Khandi Alexander), so that he can put her back in “the box.” This also seals Fitz’s election win and re-establishes Eli as the head of B613. If we were Olivia, we wouldn’t turn the plane around any time soon.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is Coming to Disney California Adventure and Much More in News Briefs

Oswald is Coming to Disney California Adventure

You’ve worn the rabbit ear hats; you’ve tasted the Oswald ice cream sundaes at Clarabelle’s. Now, beginning September 14, one of Walt Disney’s earliest cartoon stars, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, will be on hand to meet guests at Disney California Adventure Park in the area between the park’s main entrance turnstiles and the Hyperion Bridge, from the time the park opens until 7 p.m. Oswald made his film debut September 5, 1927 in the cartoon short Trolley Troubles and appeared in 26 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shorts, before Walt Disney lost the rights to the character in 1928. Oswald returned to the Disney family in 2006 and made his first Disney Parks appearance earlier this year at Tokyo DisneySea.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Summer and Fall 2014
D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration
September 13
From the Vaults: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
September 27
D23 Member Night at Aladdin on Broadway
October 11
From the Vaults: Sleeping Beauty
November 8
Walt Disney Studios and Archives Tour
November 11
The Hunchback of Notre Dame VIP Experience
November 22-23
Destination D: Attraction Rewind at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World
Through January 4, 2015
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
August 14-16, 2015
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California
Television
September 29
Phineas and Ferb—“Lost in Danville” premieres on Disney XD at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
October 13
Star Wars Rebels premieres on Disney XD at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
October 20
Kirby Buckets debuts on Disney XD at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Parks
September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, and 28; and October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 31
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties at Magic Kingdom Park
September 26, 30; October 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, and 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort
November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, and 30; and December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 19
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties at Magic Kingdom Park
Studios
October 10
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day opens in theaters.
November 7
Big Hero 6 opens
December 25, 2014
Into the Woods opens in theaters
March 13, 2015
Cinderella opens in theaters
June 19, 2015
Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava)

Disney To Begin Production on The Finest Hours

Disney has announced that production is set to begin in September on The Finest Hours, starring Chris Pine (Star Trek), Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), and Holliday Grainger (Cinderella). Craig Gillespie directs the thriller based on the true story of a 1952 U.S. Coast Guard Rescue. To learn more about The Finest Hours, visit D23.com.

Alexander Soundtrack Available for Pre-Order, Includes Original Songs and Movie’s Score

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day hits theaters October 10, 2014 with a soundtrack that includes an original end-credit song from The Vamps, plus original songs from two of the film’s stars and score by Christophe Beck (Frozen, The Hangover). The six-song EP will be released in the U.S. by Walt Disney Records on October 7, 2014. The Vamps perform the end-credit song “Hurricane” and also filmed a music video for the song that features a cameo by Bella Thorne, who appears in the film. A sneak peek of the video will debut on Disney Channel September 12, followed by the full video premiere on VEVO. Dylan Minnette, who plays big brother Anthony in the film, co-wrote the song “Surf Surf Don’t Drown,” which is performed by Minnette’s band, The Narwhals, and also appears in the film. The other cast member who provides a song for the soundtrack is Kerris Dorsey, who portrays big sister Emily. She wrote and performed the song “Best Worst Day Ever” along with her sister Justine Dorsey. Fans can pre-order the soundtrack beginning today.

See Super Heroes in Action in a new Disney Infinity Trailer!

The release date for Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) is almost here. But in the meantime, check out this latest rockin’ trailer that features Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, Rocket Raccon, and more! Save the world in play sets for The Avengers, Spider-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Create your own universe with the newly enhanced Disney Infinity Toy Box 2.0 Edition. Bring on the Super Heroes!

Cast Announced for The Hunchback of Notre Dame at La Jolla Playhouse

La Jolla Playhouse announced the cast for its upcoming U.S. premiere musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which will run October 26–December 7, 2014 in the Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Thetre. The cast features Michael Arden (Broadway’s The Times They Are A-Changin’, Big River) as Quasimodo, Patrick Page (Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, The Lion King, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!) as Frollo, Ciara Renée (Broadway’s Pippin, Big Fish) as Esmeralda, Andrew Samonsky (Playhouse’s Little Miss Sunshine, Broadway’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as Phoebus, and Erik Liberman (Broadway’s Lovemusik) as Clopin. The Hunchback of Notre Dame features a score by the multiple Academy®, Grammy®, and Tony® Award-winning team of composer Alan Menken (Newsies, Little Shop of Horrors) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), book by Peter Parnell (The West Wing, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) and direction by Scott Schwartz (Playhouse’s Jane Eyre, Broadway’s Golda’s Balcony).

Disney XD Announces Kirby Buckets

Disney XD has announced that Kirby Buckets will debut Monday, October 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The single-camera series, a mix of live-action and animation, introduces viewers to the vivid imagination of charismatic 13-year-old Kirby Buckets, who dreams of becoming a famous animator like his idol Mac MacCallister. With his two best friends, Fish and Eli, by his side, Kirby navigates his eccentric town of Forest Hills, where the trio usually find themselves trying to get out of a predicament before Kirby’s sister Dawn and her best friend, Belinda, catch them. Along the way, Kirby is joined by his animated characters, each with their own vibrant personality that only he and viewers can see. Jacob Bertrand (Marvin Marvin, Bubble Guppies) stars as Kirby, and the series also features Mekai Curtis (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) as confident and smooth Fish, Cade Sutton (The Neighbors) as naïve nice guy Eli, Olivia Stuck (Good Luck Charlie) as Kirby’s crafty older sister Dawn, and Tiffany Espensen (Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures) as Dawn’s whip-smart best friend Belinda.

Original Hoop-Dee-Doo Cast Reunites for Show’s 40th Anniversary

When the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review made its debut at Disney’s Fort Wilderness resort on September 5, 1974, the Pioneer Hall Players were college students. They couldn’t help but return to Fort Wilderness for the show’s 40th anniversary, and the Disney Parks Blog shared the video above to commemorate the event.
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Marvel Announces Super Hero September

Disney Consumer Products and Marvel are encouraging kids and their families to “Power Up Like a Marvel Super Hero” with the launch of Marvel Super Hero September. Visit MarvelSuperHeroSeptember.com to find Super Hero content and activities, including a national photo sweepstakes contest. There will also be in-store events and promotions at retailers like Walmart, Target, Payless, and Disney Store, to name just a few. And, of course, Marvel Super Hero September takes to the airwaves on Disney XD with the debut of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man Web-Warriors and the season two premiere of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble animated series.

New Dancing with the Stars Cast Announced

A brand-new cast of celebrity dancers will be gracing the ballroom floor for the first time on live television during the two-hour season premiere of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars on Monday, September 15 (8–10:01 p.m. ET).
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Dogs Show Their Disney Side at Magic Kingdom

Some of Disney’s favorite dogs, such as Pluto, Bolt, and Dug, were joined by Disney fans’ favorite dogs on September 3 for the first-ever Disney Side Dog’s Day at Magic Kingdom Park. More than 100 dogs and their owners walked the green carpet down Main Street U.S.A. for the event, which included a costume contest, a doggie dance party, and a first-of-its-kind dog walk through Cinderella Castle, led by none other than Goofy. Highlights from the event will be included in an Animal Planet Disney Side edition of America’s Cutest Pet, scheduled to air in October.

Get Ready for ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween

ABC Family is bringing the thrills and chills this October with 13 Nights of Halloween. This popular programming event, now in its 16th year, starts Sunday, October 19 and concludes on Friday, October 31. This year’s fright fest features brand-new Halloween-themed episodes of Melissa & Joey and Baby Daddy, an all-new Pretty Little Liars fan appreciation special, plus the hilariously scary prank specials Freak Out. The 13 Nights of Halloween will also include the network television premieres of Dark Shadows and ParaNorman.

New Merchandise Coming to Disney Parks

Summer may be coming to a close on the calendar, but the Disney Parks still have new pins and accessories available for purchase in August and September. The latest arrivals include a four-pin set that features Carl and Ellie from Up and new pins that feature Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, and other characters from Tangled.

Walt Disney Animation Studios Announces Frozen Fever

Last week, Walt Disney Animation Studios announced the new animated short Frozen Fever, welcoming back to the big screen Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.
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Watch a Two-Minute Clip from Big Hero 6

Viewers who watched the ABC special, The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic were treated to a two-minute clip from Big Hero 6, which opens in theaters in 3-D November 7. Check out the video above to see Hiro and Baymax in action.

Disney Store Launches Holiday Sketchbook Ornament Collection

Leading into the holiday season, Disney Store has launched the Sketchbook Ornament Collection, which celebrates Disney artists and their creations that each began with a sketch. The fully sculpted ornaments feature a 2014 Disney Store logo charm and several styles include musical and light-up components. The pieces range from $12.95 to $16.95 and are available in select Disney Store locations and online at DisneyStore.com.

Production Set to Begin on The Finest Hours

The Walt Disney Studios announced that production is scheduled to begin this month on The Finest Hours, starring Chris Pine, Academy Award®- and Golden Globe®-nominee Casey Affleck and Holliday Grainger.

The thriller, which will be directed by Craig Gillespie, will shoot on location in Quincy and Chatham, Massachusetts.

In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. On a small lifeboat, faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot-high waves, four members of the Coast Guard set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard the rapidly sinking vessel. The Finest Hours is the story of their heroic mission, which is still considered the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history.

The film will be released in the U.S. fall 2015.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Celebrates 40 Years Of Foot-Stompin’ Fun

When Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue launched on June 30, 1974,

. . . the high-energy dinner show at Pioneer Hall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground was created in the heyday of dinner theaters for Walt Disney World guests with a summer college intern cast. The foot-stompin’, hand-clappin’ musical starred six young actors and offered endless buckets of fried chicken and ribs.

Today one member of the original cast from the college program still works for Disney–Marilyn Kay Magness, who played the part of Dolly Drew. She’s executive creative director, Disney Parks, Creative Entertainment.

As that first summer ended and guests were clamoring for more, Walt Disney World Entertainment already was auditioning a full-time cast, and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue opened as a permanent show on September 5, 1974. Today it’s one of the country’s longest-running dinner shows and has presented more than 37,000 performances. More than 10.5 million guests have seen the high-spirited show.

And while Hoop-Dee-Doo has been fine-tuned over its 40-year run, the heart of the show never has changed: a slice of Americana, old-fashioned family fun, and heaping helpings of good, down-home food. “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue exemplifies everything that Disney stands for,” said show director Tom Vazzana. “It’s interactive fun for families and stellar entertainment–six performers put on a show that’s 90 minutes of pure enjoyment.”

Performers sing, dance, and act their way through the timeless classic. “I love to go and hear kids squeal with delight at Six Bits, but also hear strong American ballads,” says Vazzana. “Families tell me it’s the first time they’ve seen a Broadway-style show—it’s obtainable and accessible, quintessential Disney.”

Looking Back

In true Disney fashion, Walt Disney Imagineers designed Pioneer Hall in authentic Wild West style with 1,283 hand-fitted pine logs from Montana and 70 tons of stones from North Carolina to re-create a look from the late 1800s. The building opened April 1, 1974.

Themed entertainment is always part of the Disney story. While Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue was being written and cast, a group of country-western musicians called The Star-Spangled Washboard Band opened in Pioneer Hall, according to a historical timeline by Larry Billman, author/writer and Disney entertainment consultant, who was the author and writer of the original show.

Bob Jani, the director of Entertainment for both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, saw the potential for a “dinner theater show” and hired Billman. After multiple rewrites (the first version was called “We’re With You, Mother McCree!”), Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue was born.

Students from the Disney World Fine Arts College Workshop program, an 11-week work experience program, auditioned for the three female and three male character performers in Hoop-Dee-Doo: Six Bits Slocum and Dolly Drew (comic relief), Jim Handy and Flora Long (the singers), and Johnny Ringo and Claire de Lune (the dancers).

“The college students sent us video auditions, and we had more than 600 applicants,” said Forrest Bahruth, show director, Disney Parks & Resorts Creative Entertainment. The cast arrived at Walt Disney World Resort in early June for quick rehearsals, and the show opened on June 30, 1974.

Through the decades, the show saw some small revisions to songs and dance numbers, but the basic premise—a Wild West show in an old-timey music hall with a romantic leading lady and man—always remained as the guests clapped, stomped their feet, and sang along, all the while sharing an all-American dinner around a communal, “please pass the cornbread” table.

The Food

There’s been just one change to the Hoop-Dee-Doo menu since 1974–the strawberry shortcake for dessert. When the show opened it served apple pie, but changed to shortcake in 1979.

Today, servers dish up about 900 pounds of fried chicken every night, and cooks spend about six hours each day just breading the chicken. Add 400 pounds of pork ribs, slow cooked starting at 11 a.m. daily on a big outdoor smoker. For sides, there are 120 pounds of corn, 400 pounds of potatoes to be mashed, and 30 gallons of baked beans. It takes 15 gallons of strawberries and 12 gallons of whipped cream to make dessert.

Servers are part of the show, happily slamming all-you-care-to-eat buckets of ribs and chicken on the tables as they sing and dance their way through the dining room. Beer, wine, sangria, and soft drinks are part of the menu.

Hong Kong Disneyland Crawls With Frightful Halloween Attractions For 2014

The brand new Sideshow Carnival Extraordinaire has rolled into Adventureland with a group of glamorous and extraordinary beings.

What’s New at Disney Parks for Halloween 2014 ►

Featuring an all-new show, Horrors of the Amazon, Sideshow Carnival Extraordinaire, and more ominous entertainment offerings, the Haunted Halloween footprint will spread from Adventureland and seep into many other themed lands.

Available from October 2, on every Friday to Sunday in October, guests will see a different Hong Kong Disneyland at night time as they journey through many new eerie and mysterious stories.

The all-new Horrors of the Amazon show will be staged at the Theatre in the Wild. The show will feature local celebrity Power Chan Kwok-pong who will act as the adventurer Jonas Brisbane and narrate his thrilling tale of his adventures in the Amazon. His illustrious adventures and foreboding encounters will capture and enthrall guests. This is the very first time Hong Kong Disneyland is engaging a local celebrity as a performer in a show.

The mysterious world of lights seeps across the Park and presents a different nighttime atmosphere. In Fantasyland’s Fantasy Garden, Mickey and his friends are hosting a masquerade ball this Halloween. The popular Sideshow Extraordinaire in Adventureland, Grizzly Gulch Halloween Fair, Graves Academy and Revenge of the Headless Horseman will return this year for more haunting fun.

the cannibalized toy Babyhead from Toy Story — Over at Toy Story Land, the cannibalized toy Babyhead fromToy Story has taken up residence in a dark corner after having escaped from his destructive owner, Sid.

Graves Academy, where Master Graves is breeding the evil of the future — *Graves Academy*, where Master Graves is breeding the evil of the future, is opening its doors in a search for new enrollees.

Revenge of the Headless Horseman, a traveling show set up in the heart of Adventureland, dares morbidly curious Guests to find out why the Headless Horseman is seeking revenge from the Barker.

Adventureland and its renowned main exhibit at Revenge of the Headless Horseman — Guests should beware of the imminent treachery they will be exposed to when they visit the traveling show set up in the heart of Adventureland and its renowned main exhibit at *Revenge of the Headless Horseman*.

Hong Kong Disneyland to Paint the Night This Fall

Performers wield light-up lassos in this concept art for the Disney Paint the Night parade unit celebrating Toy Story, which opens at Hong Kong Disneyland on October 1, 2014.

The first-ever fully LED parade created by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will step onto the Hong Kong Disneyland parade route on October 1, and we couldn’t be more excited about how much of a visual treat the new show is going to be.

Disney Paint the Night features seven original floats containing over 740,000 individual lights. The seven units/floats include: Tinker Bell, Monsters Inc., Cars, The Little Mermaid, Belle Candlelight, Toy Story, and an incredible Mickey & Friends finale unit. While images have not yet been released of the finale unit from Disney Paint the Night, we do have concept art for the rest of the floats and costumes to give you an idea of just how spectacular this new nighttime parade is going to be.

Here’s a rundown of the Disney Paint the Night parade units in order:

Tinker Bell Opening Float

Tinker Bell leads the way before a dazzling "color spiral" of sparkling fairy dust at Hong Kong Disneyland Paint the Night — Tinker Bell leads the way before a dazzling “color spiral” of sparkling fairy dust! She will magically fly within this “color spiral” while capturing and harnessing all of the colors and pixie dust.

Monsters Inc.

The Scare Floor in Monstropolis at Hong Kong Disneyland — The Scare Floor in Monstropolis comes to crazy, vivid life as Mike and Sulley navigate an array of vibrant, twirling doors! The doors contain embedded hi-res screens that feature an endless array of appearances by “surprise visitors.”

Cars

Lightning McQueen, Mack, and DJ at Hong Kong Disneyland — The Cars unit includes Piston Cup champion Lightning McQueen, Mack, and DJ. The Mack float is over 54 feet long and 18 feet tall. He is driving along in larger-than-life fashion, equipped with giant “light display” panels affixed to his sides!

The Little Mermaid

King Triton, Ariel, and a school of glowing "sea creatures" at Hong Kong Disneyland Paint the Night — Life under the sea is an underwater, watercolor wonderland of vibrant, glowing hues! King Triton, Ariel, and a school of glowing “sea creatures” show the guests their own briny brilliance!

Belle Candlelight

Giant imageries projection features unforgettable chapters from Belle's love story at Hong Kong Disneyland — Giant imageries projection features unforgettable chapters from Belle’s love story. Following Belle are giant glowing candelabras that are framed by lovely Dove Performers and a series of illuminated Court Couples who provide grace and elegance and add the right touch of royalty, majesty, and brilliance to this nighttime “ball on the street.”

female performers on peg stilts as Rose Goddesses at Hong Kong Disneyland — It’s the very first time that Hong Kong Disneyland will feature female performers on peg stilts as Rose Goddesses.

Toy Story

Slinky Dog scampers along with Woody and Buzz at Hong Kong Disneyland Paint the Night — Slinky Dog scampers along with Woody and Buzz holding on for dear life! Slinky’s ever-moving, ever-changing “coils” glow with eye-popping, ever-changing, iridescent patterns, as does Woody’s lasso.

Mickey & Friends Finale

Hong Kong Disneyland Paint the Night Float — Stay tuned to D23.com for the reveal of the parade’s finale float.

The creative team spent two years developing more than 1,000 scenic and lighting designs. New technology coupled with unleashed imagination takes this parade to a whole new level. Each costume has its own very sophisticated system of lighting controls. The team used new technologies in ways that have never been used on costuming before to bring a new perspective to park guests.

More than 80 talented performers have spent over 3 months training with a variety of kinetic lighting props that will be used for the first time at Hong Kong Disneyland.

The talented Cosmetology team (hair, wigs, and makeup) at Hong Kong Disneyland has developed a new technique to create fiber optic wigs that can be styled to create a beautiful glowing effect. They also developed exquisite fiber optic eyelashes that can change color.

Twenty-four new costume designs are especially created for Disney Paint the Night nighttime spectacular. Each costume has its own sophisticated lighting control system, enriching the entire performance.

During two show stop moments of Disney Paint the Night, guests will be able to “paint the night” with an all-new interactive merchandise item. The Mickey Magic Paint Brush will let guests interact with performers. It can change the colors of the performers’ costumes at the touch of a button. Similar to Glow with the Show ear hats, the floats will also sync up to additional magic-enabled merchandise items, including a Mickey Glow Mitt and Minnie Glow Bow, and change the colors of the items on cue.

11 Not-To-Miss Halloween Attractions at Disneyland Resort

This Halloween season, guests will explore their spooky Disney Side with special Halloween transformations of Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain, encounter Disney villains conjured by a magic cauldron, dance to the Mad T Party band, and meet Mickey Mouse and his friends in Halloween costumes.

We’ve pulled together 11 of our favorite attractions that are materializing at the Disneyland Resort this year!

Mickey’s Halloween Party

An additional Halloween Time highlight is the separate-ticket, after-hours Mickey’s Halloween Party, where adults and children show their Disney Side by dressing in costumes and trick-or-treating at Disneyland Park.

Halloween Screams Fireworks

Guests can enjoy an array of special entertainment, including the exclusive Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular as part of Mickey’s Halloween Party.

Mickey’s Costume Party

The Mickey’s Costume Party cavalcade features some favorite characters, performed twice nightly and preceded by the new Frozen float with Elsa, Anna, and Olaf from the blockbuster animated film as part of Mickey’s Halloween Party.

Villains Square

Throughout the evening, the Disney villains arrive in Disneyland Town Square as the “Bad Apple Party Crashers,” riding a black horse-drawn carriage accompanied by thunder, fog, and special lighting effects. Villains such as Cruella De Vil, the Queen of Hearts, Judge Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Lady Tremaine from Cinderella appear for photos and character greetings, and guests are invited to “Party Like a Villain” as part of Mickey’s Halloween Party.

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy

Spooky Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy in Tomorrowland is a guest favorite during Halloween Time. The unique Halloween-themed experience begins as a typical Space Mountain adventure, but suddenly launches voyagers into a haunted section of the universe. Ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and swirling galaxies of Space Mountain, reaching out as if to grab guests as they speed through space. The exhilarating drops and curves are punctuated by piercing screams, creepy sound effects and haunting music.

Haunted Mansion Holiday

Jack Skellington returns to Disneyland to take over the Haunted Mansion and brings Haunted Mansion Holiday back to New Orleans Square. Transformed with a mix of Halloween spookiness and Christmas cheer, Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by the classic animated film Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House

Guests find new surprises within the Mansion every Halloween, including this year’s special gingerbread house. This year’s creepy creation adds a little whimsy with a hapless gingerbread zombie who is trapped inside—surrounded by frightening spikes that are very sharp, red-and-white candy canes, and it’s the 14th original gingerbread design since Haunted Mansion Holiday debuted in 2001.

Halloween Carnival

In Frontierland, guests discover an exciting new magic show presented on the Halloween Carnival stage at Big Thunder Ranch. Also at the Halloween Carnival in Big Thunder Ranch, guests encounter favorite Disney characters in Halloween costumes, pumpkin carvers showing their Disney Side with elaborate creations, Halloween décor, and activities for youngsters.

Astounding Cauldron of Magic

Nearby they also may conjure up a Disney Villain at the Astounding Cauldron of Magic sideshow tent at the Halloween Carnival.

Pumpkin Festival

Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland transforms to become the Pumpkin Festival, with hundreds of pumpkins on display, no two of them the same.

Dia de los Muertos Celebration

Frontierland observes Dia de los Muertos with a traditional skeleton display that will remain through Sunday, November 2.

In Disney California Adventure Park, Halloween Time offers frightful fun for guests of all ages, with favorite attractions such as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, where a “supernatural” event happened on Halloween evening 1939, 75 years ago, forever haunting the building with spine-tingling fun. Also at Disney California Adventure, the nighttime Mad T Party in Hollywood Land gets some new Halloween spice. Tweedledee and Tweedledum welcome guests as the Mad Hatter offers some devilishly delicious All Hallows Eve fun featuring new Halloween music and a chilling new look for the Mad T Party band.

Skeletons Take Over Disney TokyoSea!

Disney’s Halloween takes over Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea parks from September 8 through October 31, 2014!

What’s New at Disney Parks for Halloween 2014 ►

Tokyo DisneySea will host a unique event themed to a Halloween carnival with a brand-new program. Skeletons join in the carnival from different areas of Tokyo DisneySea to liven up the atmosphere with the Disney characters.

At American Waterfront, the show New York Halloween Follies will be presented. The skeletons and the Disney friends, dressed in 1920s style, will entertain Guests in a Halloween party with music, dance, and great fashions.

Also new this year is the entertainment program, Welcome Skeleton Friends, presented at Lido Isle in Mediterranean Harbor. Wishing to become even better friends with the Guests visiting Tokyo DisneySea, the skeletons host this show full of smiles and excitement that the Guests can participate in.

And at Lost River Delta, the colorful parade Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Skeleton Fiesta will be presented again in 2014. The skeletons will make their first appearance in this show this year.

Additionally, a special program titled Skeletons’ Street Party will be offered in various areas around the Park. In this spooky-but-fun program, the skeletons dance and play music, greet Guests while they are dining, get Guests to join in the fun, and lots more.

Presented again this year at Tokyo Disneyland is Happy Halloween Harvest. In this parade, the Disney characters will be joined by Halloween ghosts and pumpkins, which have expressive personalities, as they put on a happy Halloween fair. When the floats come to a stop, the guests are invited to join in the fun for even more excitement. The Halloween spirit around the park is enhanced even more with attractions, special menus, and decorations that are linked to the Halloween fair.

In the Plaza at Tokyo Disneyland, guests will find decorations of a traveling fair where Mickey and the Halloween ghosts play on a merry-go-round, and photo locations depicting the Disney pals and the ghosts enjoying the Halloween fair.

Guests can enjoy the Halloween atmosphere at other locations within the park, such as Crystal Palace Restaurant, with its sweet shop decoration, and Westernland Shootin’ Gallery, decorated like a Halloween fair game booth. Again this year, Westernland, Fantasyland, and Toontown will be decorated with pumpkins and more for a lively and cheerful atmosphere.

Guests can also enjoy the Halloween atmosphere at the Disney Hotels and on the Disney Resort Line. The Disney-style Halloween is sure to provide families and friends—together with the Disney characters—even more enjoyment.

The Disney Ambassador Hotel will offer a number of guest rooms that are specially decorated for Halloween. Guests will find the bedspread, designed with pumpkins and the Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes, setting the mood for Halloween even more. In conjunction with the special event at the Parks, the restaurants and lounges at the Hotels will offer a special course from September 1. The course menu—with an original product designed with the Disney characters from Disney’s Halloween, as well as dishes using seasonal ingredients—will provide some Halloween fun as only the Disney hotels can offer.

About 120 types of merchandise will be available at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. For the first time this year, the shared designs will feature the spooky-but-cute “funny monsters,” including Mickey Mouse dressed up as a vampire and Donald Duck as a mummy. There are also other items that feature a pumpkin motif.

In addition, guests can enjoy Halloween treats such as a sundae topped with “ghost” chocolates, a special menu with a souvenir item, and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse buns in a Halloween version.

Maleficent Brews Up Halloween Fun at Disneyland Paris

From October 1 to November 2, 2014, Disneyland Paris is the place to be to meet the Halloween gang of Disney Villains.

What’s New at Disney Parks for Halloween 2014 ►

Every day, Maleficent will bring together the Disney Villains in a cheerfully ominous atmosphere, promising Disneyland Paris guests encounters to die (laughing) for. The Sleeping Beauty Castle Courtyard will be transformed to welcome the good Disney Villains who will take mischievous pleasure in taking over Disney’s Halloween Festival.

And that’s not all! During this delightfully frightening month, ghosts and Disney’s Funky Pumpkins will take possession of Main Street, U.S.A., astonishing pumpkins will take over the flowerbeds in Central Plaza, and Frontierland will be transformed into an autumn garden where sunflowers and pumpkins will take center stage.

Finally, Mickey and friends will offer guests a special Harvest festival-themed cavalcade, not far from Minnie’s Halloween Costume Corner or the incredible candy-making machine invented by greedy Goofy, all designed to ensure Disney’s Halloween Festival is a laugh a minute!

Maleficent’s Court

This year, Maleficent will cast a spell on the Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Disneyland Park and will invite some of the Disney Villains to join her in the Castle Courtyard. Maleficent, surrounded by her friends, the Disney Villains, will take over the place—it has now been invaded by imposing brambles, which guests will be able to pose in front of, next to the Disney Villains. That is how huge brambles mysteriously appear in the Castle Courtyard. Shaped like the famous horns of Maleficent herself, these brambles form the outline of an imposing dragon. As night falls, the bramble will take on a more disquieting look, immersing guests in a universe of bright, unsettling colors.

Mickey’s Halloween Celebration

To celebrate Halloween and to provide guests with a unique party, Mickey and friends will offer guests a cavalcade specially dedicated to the Harvest festival, and have naturally been inspired by the autumn and Harvest theme. Several times a day, Mickey and friends will parade in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and along Main Street, U.S.A., surrounded by dancers wearing autumn colors.

This year, the lovely Daisy will open the cavalcade. The Three Little Pigs and Horace will join Mickey’s Halloween Celebration on their brand new float “Raise the Rafters!” Surrounded by owls, black cats, spiders, and bats, the Three Little Pigs, Horace, and Clarabelle will dance to country music in front of their farm. A tree and an enchanted mushroom will come to life as if by magic.

As for the Disney Characters, they will be showing off their most stunning seasonal costumes. Donald will explore the wonders of autumn in a world made of straw and pumpkins, together with his inseparable nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Meanwhile, Uncle Scrooge will bring up the rear, determined to keep careful watch over a strange pumpkin that appears to be worth its weight in gold…

Mickey and Minnie pay homage to the Harvest season from their huge horn of plenty, filled with autumn leaves, fruits, and pumpkins. Behind them, Chip and Dale, accompanied by the charming Clarice, have taken advantage of the Harvest to steal and hoard as many hazelnuts as they can lay their hands on!

Ghosts invade Disneyland Park

The ghosts of the former residents of Main Street, U.S.A. will use Halloween as the perfect opportunity to make their grand appearance. Delighted to be able to make an appearance during Disney’s Halloween Festival, they will take over Main Street, U.S.A., trying to blend into the scenery. The park’s apprentice ghost hunters will be invited to unmask them, armed with their cameras.

Halloween Costume Corner

Passionate about sewing and fashion, Minnie will invite guests to discover her amazing sewing workshop—specially created for Halloween—an extravagant, colorful world where everyone is encouraged to let their imagination run wild. Minnie, in her fabulous Halloween-inspired dress will no doubt jump at the opportunity to pose with her admirers.

Goofy Bonbons

Halloween would not be the same without bonbons and spells. For that reason, Goofy has designed and created a truly amazing candy-making machine to dazzle those with a sweet tooth, young and old! Fans of bonbons and Goofy will not miss the opportunity to stop in front of this astonishing machine. Goofy might even join them to make sure everything is in good working order. A moment to treasure and a chance for everyone to persuade him to share his confectionery secrets!

Jack and Sally’s Cemetery

The famous couple created by Tim Burton will be at Disneyland Paris during Halloween for a mortally enchanting encounter. The set recreates the universe of the film The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Jack and Sally—in person—will welcome those courageous enough to meet them. A reproduction inspired by the universe of Tim Burton, Jack and Sally’s Cemetery is a unique place.

Disney’s Halloween Party

The now famous Disney’s Halloween Party will be held on October 31 in Disneyland, a unique experience to share with family or friends from 8.30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Disneyland Park will reopen its doors after dark and guests will see it as they have never seen it before—in a more mysterious atmosphere than ever, with unexpected animations, terrifyingly delicious surprises, and a “hellish” atmosphere. The moon will bring out the ghosts, Disney Villains, and other creatures for the party, who are all ready to play their tricks around the most mysterious of places. After enjoying the many attractions Disneyland Park has to offer, guests will be able to immerse themselves in the magical extravaganza of the Disney Dreams nighttime show.