How to Princess: 6 Ways to Celebrate World Princess Week

This World Princess Week, we’re celebrating the timeless magic and beloved storytelling of Disney Princesses. We’ll take a closer look at the innovative artistry that brought these iconic adventures to life, and at the inspiration the Disney Princess characters provide globally.

Rediscover the timeless tales, relive the magic, and be inspired by your favorite Disney Princess!

Three images in a triptych. The first image is a child sitting on a bed in a blue Cinderella-themed dress. The next image features plushies of Belle, Moana, Jasmine, Tiana, Cinderella, and Ariel sitting on a couch. The final image is a Disney Story doll of Mulan in her green soldier outfit. A child, who is mostly offscreen except of their arms, is holding the doll and putting a sword in its hands.

Shop the Stories You Love on shopDisney
Our first stop for products inspired by Disney Princess characters is shopDisney! Fans of all ages can dress as their favorite Princess with beautiful costumes and accessories; re-enact enduring tales with Disney Story Dolls; express their own fashion style with apparel featuring Disney’s Moana, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White; and more!

Three phone screens against a purple, glittery gradient. Above the phones are the Disney and Calm app logos. Each phone features a screenshot from the Disney Princess-themed section of the app.

 Go Confidently Back to School with Calm
Disney and Calm are bringing the inspirational stories of the Disney Princess characters to families with new mindfulness and sleep content, available exclusively on Calm. The robust new series of content is designed to help kids and their parents head into the new school year with confidence, encourage enjoyment and rest at bedtime, and help make mindfulness a priority for families. Parents will find sleep stories, meditations, and soundscapes featuring Disney Princess characters such as Moana, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Ariel, Cinderella, and more.

Belle, Jasmine, and Mulan as they appear in the video game Disney Speedstorm. Each princess is wearing a racing suit in their associated color. Belle is leaning against a red and orange race car with the number “91” on it. In the lower right corner is the logo for the Disney Speedstorm game, in white.

Experience Disney Princess Stories in New Ways with Disney Games
Fans and gamers will be delighted by several new in-game Princess character offerings! Disney Dreamlight Valley welcomes Belle to the Valley, where players can explore the all-new “Beauty and the Beast” realm in the next free content update this September. Disney’s Jasmine is another character addition that will bring a royal racing style to Disney Speedstorm, as a break-out new Racer, coming soon.

In a screenshot from the game Minecraft, Sebastian, Ariel, and Flounder face the camera, with the castle of Atlantica in the distance behind them.

Disney’s Ariel, Snow White, Belle, and Jasmine also join Minecraft Disney Worlds of Adventure, releasing later this month. Lastly, fans can play the Courage and Kindness Token Quest in Disney Emoji Blitz all month long for your chance to collect the new Platinum Tiana Emoji and other rare Disney Princess Emojis!

A toy Disney Princess Castle. The top floor features a vanity, Aurora’s pink dress on a dress stand, and a pink bathtub. The bathroom with the tub also features a waterslide that leads to a pool on the ground floor. The ground floor features a kitchen, gold entry doors, and a dining room. 

Celebrate Disney Princess with New Products from Mattel
The ultimate Disney Princess doll house—the Disney Princess Magical Adventures Castle—is now available! Standing four feet tall and featuring magical lights and sounds, the castle includes 10 play areas, each inspired by a Disney Princess character. Kids (and kids at heart) will love discovering all three levels of play, with a slide and pool, and over 25 furniture and accessories.

Fashion dolls of Jasmine, Belle, and Aurora against a rose gold curtain background. All three dolls are in bejeweled gowns.

The Mattel Creations’ Royal Radiance Doll collection is a new line of collector dolls featuring newly reimagined looks. First up is Disney’s Belle, in her sparkling yellow gown decorated with elegant charmeuse rosettes and tear-shaped gems. Fans can also celebrate Disney 100 Years of Wonder with special collector-edition Tiana and Cinderella dolls, inspired by the timeless films, Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and Disney’s Cinderella. Tiana wears a luxe new vision of her memorable green gown, while Cinderella shines in satin, glitter, and an elegant diamond motif. The dolls are available for pre-order now and feature beautiful displayable packaging. A dream come true for any Disney collector!

triptych of three book covers: A Twisted Fairy Tale Anthology, which features the silhouette of a castle against a red background; The Queen’s Council: Realm of Wonders, which features an illustration of Jasmine holding the genie lamp against a purple background; and A Disney Princess Journey Through History, a white book with illustrations of Rapunzel, Mulan, Tiana, Cinderella, Moana, Belle, Snow White, Ariel, Aurora, Pocahontas, Merida, and Jasmine surrounding the title 

Discover New Worlds with Disney Princess Books
If you have a passion for adventure, you can take a trip to the many lands of Disney Princess characters with new offerings from Disney Publishing Worldwide. A Twisted Tale Anthology, available for pre-order now and edited by New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Lim, features 16 short stories with new twists on fan-favorite Disney films. Also available to pre-order now, The Queen’s Council: Realm of Wonders is a sweeping Young Adult fantasy series where Disney Princess characters grow up—and learn to rule—guided by the magical Queen’s Council. A Disney Princess Journey Through History is perfect for younger fans; starring Moana, Cinderella, Mulan, Jasmine, Merida, Tiana, Rapunzel, Aurora, and more, this deluxe hardcover picture book takes young readers around the world and back to experience the true historical times that inspired the worlds of Disney Princess characters.

A screenshot from Hey Disney! featuring an illustration of a blue-toned beachscape. On top of the illustration is the white text “Catch the Wave of New Moana Fun. Discover jokes, fun facts, Easter eggs—and boatloads more! Try ‘Hey Disney, tell me about the new Moana fun.’” To the right of the text is an illustration of Moana.

Celebrate World Princess Week with Hey Disney!
To celebrate World Princess Week, the Hey Disney! voice assistant (available on Alexa-enabled devices) will be debuting new Moana content! Enjoy jokes, games, and soundscapes with some of your favorite Disney characters—find out more about Hey Disney! by clicking here.

Q&A with Star Wars: Ahsoka Star Rosario Dawson

Ahsoka Tano’s story is just beginning.

The fan-favorite character embarks on a new adventure in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Ahsoka, now streaming exclusively on Disney+. Set after the fall of the Empire, the Original series follows the former Jedi Knight and Padawan to one of the greatest Jedi of all time, Anakin Skywalker, as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. In May, star Rosario Dawson opened up to D23: The Official Disney Fan Club about reprising her role as the dynamic and principled warrior.

D23: What was your experience with the Star Wars movies growing up?
Rosario Dawson (RD): I’ve always just really loved Princess Leia. I loved how strong she was. I loved how capable she was... She was so Force sensitive, even if it wasn’t spoken about in the same sort of way as Luke.

D23: What else do you remember about your early Star Wars fandom?
RD: It was very interesting how complex the characters were. It was never like, “I’m the good guy or the bad guy—and that’s definitive.” There was something more, something deeper.

In a scene from the first episode of Star Wars: Ahsoka, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) watches a Holoprojector message from Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).

D23: What can you tease about one of your favorite scenes to film in Star Wars: Ahsoka?
RD: There’s this forest where we have this really crazy battle; Shin [Ivanna Sakhno] and Sabine [Natasha Liu Bordizzo] are fighting and I am also battling in it. It’s really quite beautiful. It’s kind of like a burnt-out forest with these red leaves. It’s just really striking and very beautiful.

D23: What do you think is special about the Star Wars universe that accounts for its continuing appeal over generations? Why is it such a great universe for storytelling?
RD: I really love the generational-family aspect between a lot of the characters. There are certain callbacks. In Obi-Wan Kenobi, you get to see Obi-Wan take off part of Darth Vader’s helmet. You get to see Ahsoka do that in the animated series [Star Wars Rebels]. But the only one who was ever properly able to take it off completely and help him to be seen again in the light was Luke [in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi]... [There’s a recurring theme that] the hero can become the villain and the villain can become the hero. I just think there’s something quite beautiful about that, and there’s a tremendous lesson in that.

Tiana’s Palace at Disneyland Park: Everything You Need to Know

By Zach Johnson

At Tiana's Palace, each dish is served the way good food should be—with love!

Just as Tiana transformed an old sugar mill into her dream restaurant in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ released The Princess and the Frog (2009), Tiana's Palace—a reimagining of the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California—will open its doors to guests on Thursday, September 7. Naturally, the quick-service restaurant draws its design inspiration from the film, and its menu features authentic New Orleans flavors—some sourced from the area!—inspired by Tiana's friends and adventures.

Many talented chefs collaborated on the menu to ensure that it appeals to a wide swath of guests, according to Michele Gendreau, Director, Food & Beverage Experience Integration Disneyland Resort. "This is a study of palates," she said. "Not one of our chefs speaks the same spice level. We had very big discussions about how to bring the authenticity: 'How is it not too flat? How is it not too spicy?'" From coleslaw to macaroni and cheese, each chef got to add a bit of their own flavor. "I think that's where we're going with all of our food," Gendreau said. "We try and be as authentic as we can, and then we'll take guests' opinions."

You don't need to "dig a little deeper" to find out more about the crown jewel of the Crescent City. This week, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club sampled several of the delicious dishes and also heard from a handful of people who helped bring Tiana's Palace from dream to reality: James Finch, Visual Development Artist Walt Disney Animation; Kim Irvine, Executive Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering; Chef John State, Culinary Director, Food and Beverage, Disneyland Resort; and Lindell Skinner, Operations Manager, Food and Beverage, Disneyland Resort, and Co-Chair of PULSE Employee Resource Group.

The skylight at Tiana’s Palace is made up of blue glass and held up by wooden beams lined with white lightbulbs.

Designing the Space

The look of Tiana's Palace at Disneyland Park can be traced back as early as 2006, when The Princess and the Frog's filmmakers embarked on their first research trip to New Orleans "to learn all that we could about the Garden District, the French Quarter, the Ninth Ward, and everything in between," Finch recalled. "For the setting of Tiana's restaurant, we looked at the regional factories, industrial buildings, and sugar mills that were left behind in the changing era." Additional design inspiration came via Disney Legends Herb Ryman and Dorothea Redmond, whose collective vision helped shape New Orleans Square's aesthetic.

Like the filmmakers, Disney Imagineers "did a tremendous research" before they began transforming the French Market Restaurant into Tiana's Palace, Irvine said. "We had lunch in New Orleans Square with [film] directors John Musker and Ron Clements, as well as the producers, and we looked at all the different façades. When we got to the French Market, Ron and John said, 'That's it! It looks like a sugar factory. It has all the bones: the balcony out front where she comes out to wish on a star, the brickwork on the exterior. It's perfect!'"

A mural inside Tiana’s Palace depicts the blue bayou from the film The Princess and the Frog.

Indeed, Tiana's Palace is as pretty as a magnolia in May (as Charlotte would say). "We went from a soft pink to a golden yellow with green awnings, which are Tiana's colors," Irvine said. Within its peach-colored walls and wrought-iron balconies are elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of those seen in the film. "The interior had so many wonderful elements to it already, from the skylights to the big areas for the murals. We now have a beautiful mural of the bayou with Evangeline and Raymond—stars up in the sky," Irvine said.

A small shelf hanging on the wall at Tiana’s Palace contains cookbooks on top and pots hanging from hooks below. A green porceline bell hangs to one side, in the shape of a frog prince.

Keep an eye out for references to Tiana's story, from frog figurines to her father's favorite gumbo spoon, as well as lilies that appear on numerous signs, plaques, and lighting fixtures. Props touting the Firefly Five Plus Lou were inspired by some of the Disney's original animators, who had a jazz band in the 1950s called the Firehouse Five Plus Two. "You can also see the pots and pans used to steam oysters and shrimp, as well as the kinds of mixing tools Tiana would use to make beignets," Irvine said. "All of the details are there!"

A bass drum sports the logo for the Dixieland jazz band Firefly Five Plus Lou at Tiana’s Palace.

Jazz music is in The Princess and the Frog's DNA, and the band plays on in Tiana's Palace. "Our musicians at Walt Disney Imagineering put together a fabulous jazz score for inside the restaurant!" Irvine raved. "It feels authentic to the space, and it adds an excited energy."

A golden brown beignet with lemon pie filling sits on plate at Tiana’s Palace. This is the lemon-glazed House-Filled Beignet.

Designing the Menu

Tiana's father taught her the joy of cooking and sharing food with others—and that's the same sentiment the talented Food and Beverage team at Disneyland Resort kept in mind as they worked together to craft a menu that honors the flavors and flair of New Orleans. As the co-chair of PULSE, creating the menu was a particular point of pride for Skinner. "PULSE stands for People United to Lead, Serve, and Excel, and our mission is to enhance the experience for our cast and our guests of African and Caribbean descent," he said. "PULSE actually came in to work with the chefs, and with the team, to give their feedback."

Skinner added that as a New Orleans native, he felt "humbled" to play a role in opening Tiana's Palace at Disneyland Park. "For someone who grew up in the inner city, who has worked for this company for 23 years, it's an absolute honor to bring this to you," he said.

At Tiana's Palace, dessert is always served first! The House-Filled Beignet is a lemon ice box pie filling topped with a lemon glaze. (To quote Big Daddy, "Keep 'em coming till I pass out!") A lemon ice box pie "is not something you can find in a commercial restaurant," Skinner explained. "Beignets are a staple in New Orleans, but another [traditional dessert] in New Orleans is the lemon ice box pie; you really have to go into the neighborhoods to find them. We're paying homage to them by creating a filling that is a part of this beignet."

A chilled glass holds a serving of the Joffrey’s Coffee Chicory Cold Brew served at Tiana’s Palace. The glass shows swirls of cream and coffee colors and sits on a drak green cloth.

Speaking of sweet offerings, the Joffrey's Coffee Chicory Cold Brew is topped with a cream made from cane syrup, which is sourced from Louisiana and is unique to the beverage. The Ray Firefly Glow Cube* is also available with the purchase of a beverage. This bright addition will light up your drink—just like Evangeline lights up the night sky!

A bowl contains a serving of the plant-based 7 Greens Gumbo and white rice, as served at Tiana’s Palace.

The 7 Greens Gumbo is a delicious and savory plant-based option; guests have the option to add chicken and andouille sausage to the dish. To create the gumbo, State explained, "First, we take the white beans and puree them. Then, we heat up the oil, because that's a critical part of a good roux. After we add the white bean puree to the hot oil, we stir slowly and often... Next, we can add in the trinity: bell peppers, onions, and celery. We add garlic in there, and then, of course, we add the seven greens. After adding our house spice blend, the gumbo is finished with a few key ingredients: roasted sweet potatoes, roasted yams, and roasted okra. Gumbo really wouldn't be complete without rice. We've introduced Carolina Gold Rice; it's a very specific rice with a certain texture that can be traced back to West Africa. Once the rice is steamed, it's finished with butter—butter that actually is plant-based, but has the same creamy texture and the same aroma that real butter would have."

A bowl holds a serving of House Gumbo, as served at Tiana’s Palace. The dish features sliced sausage, shredded chicken, white rice, and vegetables.

The House Gumbo, meanwhile, is a New Orleans staple that combines braised chicken, andouille sausage, and heirloom rice. "In The Princess and the Frog, Tiana really got her love of gumbo from her dad, James," Skinner said. "So, this is us trying to do our best to pay homage to that." Creating the dish, State added, was both "a privilege and an undertaking."

The Muffuletta Sandwich stacks mortadella, salami, rosemary ham, cheddar, provolone, and house-made olive relish on toasted sesame seed bread, while the Beef Po-boy Sandwich features slow-cooked beef coated with gravy and fully dressed with shredded lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise atop a toasted French bread. Both sandwiches are served with red beans and rice and house-made pickles. To honor Tiana's heritage, the breads used for both offerings come directly from New Orleans. "The ingredients are critical to tell the story, and sourcing this bread wasn't an easy task," State said. "We tried to duplicate the bread here, we tried to make it ourselves, we tried to work with somebody local to make it for us—and we just couldn't get there. What's important about the bread is that it's light and airy; it helps let the ingredients on the inside shine and really stand out as you eat it."

A white bowl holds a serving of Gulf Shrimp & Grits, as served at Tiana’s Palace. The reddish shrimp at the center are surrounded by cheesy yellow grits.

The Gulf Shrimp & Grits features grilled shrimp tossed in a creole sauce and paired with cheesy grits. "We want to want to highlight the fact that it's coming from the Gulf of Mexico that borders Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida," Skinner said. "Again, we want to be as authentic and true as we possibly can to the city of New Orleans."

The Cajun-Spiced Half Chicken is brushed with a house-made chicory BBQ sauce and served with baked macaroni and cheese and coleslaw. Want something extra on the side? Order Southern staples such as the Buttermilk Cornbread, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Red Beans & Heirloom Rice, Coleslaw, Cheesy Grits, or the plant-based Heirloom Rice.

Little ones can enjoy the Roasted Chicken Drumstick, served with a sweet BBQ sauce and heirloom rice; the Toasted Ham & Cheese Sandwich, topped with savory ham and provolone; or the Baked Macaroni and Cheese. All three offerings come with a Cuties Mandarin Orange and applesauce, with a choice of DASANI Water or a small low-fat milk.

Guests can mobile order all of the dishes at Tiana's Palace by using the Disneyland app**!

*Limit 10 per person, per transaction.

**Message, data, and roaming rates may apply for the use of the Disneyland app. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you're under 18, get your parents' permission first.

(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)

QUIZ: Which Disney Princess Would Be Your BFF?

By Emily Hewitt

Disney Princesses, with their sweet and kind essence and epic passions such as thingamabob collecting and cooking, are definitely BFF material. But which would be your perfect bestie match? In honor of World Princess Week, take the quiz below to find out:

What is your ideal mode of transportation?

Who would be your ideal animal companion?

What is your favorite food?

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

What goal do you hope to accomplish with a friend?

Where’s your favorite place to chill?

What skill in a friend would be handiest in your daily life?

What describes the most impressive skill you can bring to a friendship?

Where is your ideal vacation spot?

Which Disney Princess Would Be Your BFF?
Rapunzel

Rapunzel, from the film Tangled, is in a purple dress that has pink sheer sleeves with pink and purple shoulder puffs. She looks shocked while holding a frying pan with both hands in a swinging position behind her.

Rapunzel, from Tangled, would be the perfect friend for you. Her passion for light festivals, ballet, and art will give you a lot of activity options and she will always have a guitar at the ready to enliven any event with music. Plus, her dressmaking skills will come in handy on special occasions and her love for baking will be the cherry on top of any hangout.
Ariel

Ariel, from the film The Little Mermaid, is wearing a purple top and is looking straight up during the “Part of your World” song. with flounder right behind her, looking at her.

Ariel, from The Little Mermaid, would be the perfect friend for you. Her love of both ocean and land activities will mesh well with your personality, as well as her passion for traveling. She also always has a hairbrush and other thingamabobs at the ready that can come in handy. If you know the best places to thrift even more thingamabobs, Ariel would love to be your friend. She can even give you a grand tour of the ocean.
Tiana

Tiana, from The Princess and the Frog, is standing in front of the window where food comes out in a restaurant. She is wearing a yellow-colored dress with a shirt underneath and her hair in a ponytail. She is holding a tray with a plate of biscuits and gravy upon it and looks to the side and smiles.

Tiana, from The Princess and the Frog, would be the perfect friend for you. If you know the best places to buy the most special ingredients in the land, then she would love to be friends with you so you can cook together. You can even open a restaurant with her or just eat beignets by the swamp while relaxing. Plus, she would be happy to show you around New Orleans when you come to visit.
Anna

Anna, from the film Frozen, is standing in a forest with green grass and purple and white flowers while wearing a black necklace with a green pendant, and a dress with a black bodice that has a green and red design, green off the shoulder cuff sleeves, and a light green rim on the top. Her hair is up in a bun with a braid around her head and a green bow tied into her bun.

Anna, from Frozen, would be the perfect friend for you. Anna would go to the ends of the earth for you (literally) and would gladly play in the snow when you are not bursting out into improvised songs. After enjoying a chilly sandwich-filled lunch, you could go skating together. She would have a ball showing you around the fjords of Norway with her friend Sven, a jolly reindeer.

QUIZ: Which Big Hero 6 Character Are You Most Like?

By Emily Hewitt

While all the characters from Big Hero 6 have both brains and awesome super armor, each one has their own unique skills, strengths, and personalities. In honor of San Fransokyo Square opening at Disney California Adventure Park on Thursday, August 31, see which Big Hero 6 character you are most like by taking the quiz below.

Which superpower would you rather have?

What is your most formidable skill?

What would you most like to invent?

How are you most helpful to people around you?

What kind of student are you?

How do you come off to others?

What holds you back most?

What color do you like wearing the most?

Quiz: Which Big Hero 6 Character Are You Most Like?
Hiro Hamada

Hiro Hamada, from Big Hero 6, is in his purple super armor with red stripes that has two antennas sticking out of his helmet. He stares forward in awe while he hangs onto Baymax’s back and a flash of light comes from behind him.

You are most like Hiro Hamada. You are a brainy whiz at school who might have graduated early or been an overachiever. Your biggest skill is computer engineering and you are capable of building microbots or super armor for your friends with ease. In your spare time you like to construct robots and fight them against each other. Although you might doubt yourself, your inventions are epic.
Baymax

Baymax, from Big Hero 6, stands in a concrete room with several objects around him including a soccer ball, robotic hand, blue machine, caution sign, cardboard box, and several other unidentified tools.

You are most like Baymax. You are more than likely to help someone by comforting them, healing them, or listening to their feelings. You are great at doing a deep dive for information on the web and want to learn as much as you can about a topic. Although you need to recharge your battery a lot, you are as sweet as can be.
GoGo Tomago

GoGo Tomago, from Big Hero 6: The Series, is in her yellow super armor with an angry look on her face as she runs forward. There is a person behind her with green upper body armor on, blue pants, and a gray cylinder at the end of his leg.

You are most like GoGo Tomago. You have an edge to you and can sometimes be guarded but are extremely honest. If you could have any superpower, it would be to move on wheels, and you would be a pro at making an ultra-fast bike given your mechanical engineering skills.
Fred

Fred, from Big Hero 6, is wearing a white long sleeve shirt under a red short sleeve shirt, green cargo shorts, white high-top sneakers, and a green hat while he sits in Baymax’s lap. To the left of them is a bookshelf with books on the top shelf, blue arm weights on the bottom shelf, and three drawers under the shelves with the top drawer pulled out. To the right of them is a gray light.

You are most like Fred. With such an extreme passion for lizards—to the point of wanting to become a fire breathing one!—and a love for researching your interests outside of school, you are most like this fun-loving character. Although you can sometimes be unmotivated to put your knowledge into action, your calm energy radiates and balances out your friend group.

Disney Princess Stories Come to Life with LEGO®

See some of your favorite Disney Princess characters and the LEGO® Ultimate Adventure Castle come to life in LEGO® Disney Princess: The Castle Quest, now streaming on Disney+. The special features Tiana, Moana, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Ariel and their unexpected adventure to a mysterious castle, where they discover Gaston has hatched an evil plan to take over their kingdoms. The Princess characters must work together to solve challenges hidden deep within the castle walls and try to save their kingdoms from Gaston. Will bravery, quick thinking, and teamwork prevail? Find out by checking out the special now!

 

Inspired to enact your own castle quest? Look no further than shopDisney for your own LEGO Ultimate Adventure Castle and other LEGO sets inspired by Disney Princesses, and more!

A LEGO castle set, featuring mini figures of Moana, Snow White, Ariel, Tiana, and Rapunzel. All princesses except for Snow White are gathered by a cake in front of the castle. Snow White is standing on a castle balcony, next to a bird house, with a bluebird perched on her hand.

New Series, Specials, and Casts Announced at “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate” Event at Disney California Adventure

By the D23 Team

Disney Junior made announcements this morning sure to please the young and young-at-heart—including a new iteration of its flagship series, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, set to debut in 2025, and the stop-motion Halloween special Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats, premiering this October. Announcements so magical in nature were naturally made at a most magical place: Disney California Adventure Park, during this weekend’s big “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate” event!

Other announcements included additional holiday-themed episodes of Disney Junior favorites including SuperKitties, Pupstruction, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, and Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends; and casting for the new 2024 series Disney Junior’s Ariel and RoboGobo. In shorts news, the September 6 premiere date of Doc McStuffins: The Doc & Bella Are In!—the first new, fully original Doc McStuffins content to premiere since 2020—was revealed, along with new Playdate with Winnie the Pooh and Me & Winnie the Pooh shorts, which debuted today on Disney Junior and the Disney Junior YouTube.

“Disney Junior captures the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families everywhere with stories and characters filled with magic, wonder, adventure, and heart,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television. “From providing early entry points into classic Disney franchises to introducing brand-new IP that becomes the latest kid obsessions, Disney Junior is always there with infinite opportunities to engage and play.”

The three-day “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate” event, which celebrates the magical, entertaining, and music-filled stories of Disney Junior’s hit series, will move to the Downtown Disney District on Saturday, August 19, and Sunday, August 20, giving even more young fans a chance to experience the beloved characters and storytelling of Disney Junior.

The poster for Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats, featuring Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Donald Duck in their Halloween costumes, looking fearfully above them, where Witch Hazel is cackling behind a glowing green cauldron.

New Projects

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2.0 (working title) — New episodes coming 2025 on Disney Junior and Disney+
In the next iteration of Disney Junior’s Emmy® Award-winning global hit series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2.0 (working title), Mickey and pals welcome everyone back to the clubhouse for all-new adventures filled with songs, laughs, handy helping, and fun new surprises. The new series will see the clubhouse expanding with a brand-new area just for Minnie Mouse and the addition of Duffy the Disney Bear, Mickey’s trusted teddy bear, who will make surprise appearances in multiple episodes. Beloved by preschool fans and their families around the world, the series combines the rich heritage of Disney’s beloved classic characters with state-of-the-art CG animation and introduces a whole new generation of preschoolers to Mickey and his pals. The series originally premiered in 2006 and became a pop culture phenomenon that is still breaking records today—with over 4 billion views on Disney Junior’s YouTube Channel, including for the iconic “Hot Dog Dance” video.

Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats – Premieres Sunday, October 1, on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and Disney XD at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT; streaming Monday, October 2, on Disney+
In this new Halloween stop-motion special, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck are trick-or-treating when Donald spies the spookiest mansion he’s ever seen—and assumes it has the best treats. After he convinces his friends to risk a visit, the owner, Witch Hazel, casts a spell that turns them into their costumes! The special features new original music from Emmy Award-nominated songwriter Beau Black (The Lion Guard).

An image from the series Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends featuring The Thing sitting at a table and holding up honeycomb. On the table in front of him are jars of honey. Behind him, watching while stuck to the brick wall are Spidey (voiced by Benjamin Valic) and Miles Morales (voiced by Jakari Fraser), both in their costumes. 

Special Holiday Episodes

SuperKitties – Halloween episode premieres Monday, September 25, on Disney Junior at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT; shortly thereafter on Disney+
One of the hottest new series for preschoolers, SuperKitties follows the action-packed adventures of four fierce and furry superhero kittens on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and paw-esome place. In the full-length Halloween episode, titled “Howloween Cat,” the pets’ Howloween treats go missing all over Kittydale, so the SuperKitties must track down the thief.

Pupstruction – Halloween episode premieres Wednesday, September 27, on Disney Junior at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT; streaming same day on Disney+
Pupstruction premiered in June 2023 and follows the adventures of the Pupstruction team—a doggone hard-working construction crew ranging from some of the brawniest breeds to irresistibly cute and playful puppies. It centers on Phinny (voiced by Yonas Kibreab), an innovative young corgi who might be the smallest pup on the crew but proves that you don’t need big paws to have big dreams or big ideas. In the Halloween episode, “Happy Howl-o-ween/The House of Howls,” Bobby Boots (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) thinks he wasn’t invited to Pupstruction’s Howl-O-Ween party; and Tank (voiced by Carson Minniear) doesn’t think he’s brave enough to help build a haunted house.

Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends – Rosh Hashanah-themed episode featuring The Thing (aka Ben Grimm) premieres Friday, September 15, on Disney Channel at 8:30 a.m. EDT/PDT and Disney Junior at 1 p.m. EDT/PDT; streaming shortly thereafter on Disney+
In a new “Web-Spinners” storyline introduced into the series this summer, Spidey (voiced by Benjamin Valic), with the help of Iron Man (voiced by John Stamos), creates new hi-tech suits and gear that lets the Spidey Team stop baddies and help people—not just in their friendly neighborhood, but now all over the world. The storyline will continue into season three, debuting next year, and brings into the fold new characters joining the ranks of other well-known Marvel Super Heroes and villains who have appeared in the series, including The Thing (voiced by Andy Milder); Ms. Marvel’s teleporting dog, Lockjaw (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker); and the power-hungry robot supervillain Zola (voiced by Trevor Devall). In the episode titled “An UnBEElievable Rosh Hashanah,” Gobby (voiced by JP Karliak) steals all of the bees, so Team Spidey and The Thing must get them back and save Rosh Hashanah.

Mickey Mouse Funhouse – Halloween-themed episode premieres Wednesday, September 26, on Disney Junior at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT; a Dia de los Muertos-themed episode premieres Friday, October 6, on Disney Channel at 10 a.m. EDT/PDT and Disney Junior at 12:05 p.m. EDT/PDT; both episodes streaming shortly thereafter on Disney+
The whimsical animated series Mickey Mouse Funhouse introduces preschoolers’ first pal, Mickey Mouse (voiced by Bret Iwan), and his friends to Funny (voiced by Harvey Guillén), an enchanted talking playhouse, who takes the Sensational Six on adventures of all types to unique worlds that inspire the imagination. In the Halloween-themed episode titled “The Curious Case of the Kooky Scientist,” premiering September 26, Mickey and the gang are off to Halloweenville to see kooky scientist Von Drake’s (voiced by Corey Burton) newest invention. Then, in the episode premiering October 6 titled “Stink, Stank, Stunk! /Día de los Muertos,” Mickey and the gang discover the Grand Pumpkin and must return it to Halloweenville before it rots away; and Donald’s (voiced by Tony Anselmo) pal Panchito invites the gang to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Mexico City.

The logo for the series Disney Junior’s Ariel, featuring the title against an animated seashell outlined in turquoise and purple. To the right of the logo is the animated version of a young Ariel as a mermaid, with her fish friend flounder smiling beside her.

Casting News

Disney Junior’s Ariel – Premieres 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+
Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) has been cast in the lead role of Ariel in Disney Junior’s Ariel, an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of The Little Mermaid. Broadway, film, and television stars Taye Diggs (Rent) and Amber Riley (Glee) will voice King Triton and Ursula in the series—which follows 8-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond. In addition to Harris, Diggs, and Riley, the series stars Elizabeth Phoenix Caro (The Christmas Chronicles) and Cruz Flateau (SuperKitties) as Ariel’s friends Lucia and Fernie, respectively; and Gracen Newton (Puppy Dog Pals) as Flounder.

RoboGobo – Premieres 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+
A plethora of noteworthy stars—including Cynthia Erivo, Valerie Bertinelli, Alan Cumming, Susan Kelechi Watson, Ana Gasteyer, Alison Pill, and Dulé Hill—have been cast in recurring guest star roles for Disney Junior’s next new series RoboGobo. They join a talented roster of young voice actors, including Ja’Siah Young (Raising Dion), Brayden Morgan (Slumberkins), Azuri Hardy Jones (My Adventures with Superman), Gracen Newton (Puppy Dog Pals), newcomer Leili Ahmadyar, and veteran voice actor Dee Bradley Baker (Phineas and Ferb), who voice lead character Dax (Young) and his five adorable, adopted pets, Booster, Allie, Hopper, Shelly, and Wingo. After being given super-powered Robo-Suits by kid inventor Dax, the pets are on a mission to save other pets in trouble and learn how to become a family in the process.

The logo for Firebuds, which features the title in bright red font, stylized to resemble a fire truck. Below the title is the subtitle “Forest Rescue” in white text against a green background. The two words are separated by a yellow shield with a green pine tree on it. 

Premiere Date/Months

Doc McStuffins: The Doc & Bella Are In! – Premieres Wednesday, September 6, on Disney Channel and Disney Junior at 9:25 a.m. EDT/PDT; streaming same day on Disney+
Doc welcomes Bella Bunnynose (voiced by Kate Micucci), an adorable plush bunny who dreams of being a toy doctor just like Doc. Bella joins the toys in the clinic and learns from Doc as her intern. The series’ lead voice cast, including Laya DeLeon Hayes (Doc), Lara Jill Miller (Lambie), Robbie Rist (Stuffy), Jess Harnell (Chilly), and Loretta Devine (Hallie), will reprise their roles in the shorts.

Firebuds – Season two premieres in November on Disney Junior and Disney+
From Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Disney’s Elena of Avalor and Sofia the First), Firebuds follows a group of friends, all children of first responders, who embark on adventures to help their community and learn what it truly means to be a hero. Building off the success of the series’ debut, season two features a forest rescue theme and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in the great outdoors. Throughout the new season, the Firebuds embark on daring forest rescues while continuing to help their neighbors in Gearbox Grove.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures – New episodes premiering November 8 on Disney Junior and Disney+; more new episodes coming 2024
Set 200 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force; explore the galaxy; help citizens and creatures in need; and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. A new batch of episodes, including a Life Day holiday episode, will debut on Disney Junior and Disney+ on Wednesday, November 8. The Life Day episode will follow Master Yoda (voiced by Piotr Michael), Master Zia (voiced by Nasim Pedrad), and Jedi younglings Kai (voiced by Jamaal Avery Jr.), Lys (voiced by Juliet Donenfeld), and Nubs (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) as they take a trip to Kashyyyk to celebrate and learn more about the Wookiee’s holiday traditions.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

By Courtney Potter

Firmly moving into the fall, we have another sure-to-be-enjoyable weekend ahead of us—replete with captivating content to watch from all over the worlds of Disney. The delightful Williams family of 1960s Montgomery, AL, wrap up their second season on ABC’s The Wonder Years, and World Princess Week kicks off with an exciting new special on Disney+; meanwhile, stars a-plenty gather across networks (for the eighth time!) to raise funds for an extremely worthy cause… There’s so much more where that came from—read on for what you can expect:

In an image from the second season finale episode of ABC’s The Wonder Years, Lillian (Saycon Sengbloh), Dean (Elisha “EJ” Williams), Kim (Laura Kariuki), and Bruce (Spence Moore II) are seen walking near the front of Disneyland Park, close to the Disneyland train station, which is seen in the background. Two costumed characters—penguins from Mary Poppins—are seen interacting with guests to the right. Benches are seen to the left and right, and other guests are milling about; some are holding Mickey ear balloons on strings. Dean is wearing Mickey ears.

The Wonder Years—season finale now streaming on Hulu
The Wonder Years wraps up its second season with two new episodes… In “Happy Birthday, Clisby,” the Williams gather to celebrate Clisby’s (Richard Gant) 75th birthday—including Bill’s (Dulé Hill) brother Melvin (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) and his daughter. While Bill and Melvin try to one-up each other for Clisby’s approval, Melvin’s daughter shares big news with Lillian (Saycon Sengbloh) and Kim (Laura Kariuki). In “The Happiest Place on Earth,” the season finale, the family decides to go on vacation; Kim suggests a road trip to Austin College, while Dean (Elisha “EJ” Williams) proposes a stop at Disneyland Park. In the meantime, after meeting up with his old bandmates, Bill reflects on his life choices.

In an image from Hulu’s Miguel Wants to Fight, Miguel (Tyler Dean Flores), on the left, is dressed in a yellow jumpsuit a la Uma Thurman’s character in Kill Bill. He is readying to fight another person to the right, who’s dressed in a white button-up shirt and black pants. They are facing one another in fighting poses, with their arms up, on a grassy field. Behind them is a line of teenagers, all wearing white jumpsuits with black stripes down the arms and legs. A yellow flag with a line depiction of a lion is seen flying on a pole behind the teens to the right.

Miguel Wants to Fight—now streaming on Hulu
Despite living in a neighborhood where fighting is stitched into the fabric of everyday life, high school junior Miguel (Tyler Dean Flores) has never found himself in one. And, to be honest, he’s perfectly fine with that… But when a combination of events turns his life upside down, Miguel and his three best friends—the stoic David (Christian Vunipola), the rowdy Cass (Imani Lewis), and the quick-tongued Srini (Suraj Partha)—enter into a series of hilarious misadventures as he tries to get into his first-ever fight. This new Hulu Original Film is directed by Oz Rodriguez and written by Jason Conception and Shea Serrano.

The poster for Disney+’s LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest features Tiana, Moana, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Ariel in the foreground, seen in front of a castle; in the background are looming images of Gaston and King Triton. The background is in shades of purples and pinks; towards the bottom of the image is the special’s title, premiere date, and the Disney+ logo.

LEGO® Disney Princess: The Castle Quest—Friday, August 18, on Disney+
In LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest, Tiana, Moana, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Ariel are off on an adventure as they are each unexpectedly transported to a mysterious castle. Shortly after arriving, they soon discover that Gaston has hatched an evil plan to take over all their kingdoms! The Princess characters must work together to solve challenges hidden deep within the castle walls and try to save their kingdoms from Gaston. Will bravery, quick-thinking, and teamwork prevail? Featuring the voices of Disney Legend Jodi Benson as Ariel, Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Disney Legend Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Katie Von Till as Snow White, Richard White as Gaston, Joanne Worley as the Wardrobe, Corey Burton as the Magic Mirror, and Jim Cummings as King Triton, the special helps kick off the big World Princess Week celebration!

In an image from Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Master Yoda (voiced by Piotr Michael) with Jedi Younglings, Kai Brightstar (voiced by Jamaal Avery Jr.), Lys Solay (voiced by Juliet Donenfeld) and Nubs (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) and their friends Nash Durango (voiced by Emma Berman), and RJ-83 (voiced by Jonathan Lipow) are seen standing together on the planet Tenoo. It is nighttime, and lit-up dwellings can be seen behind them. Hills can be seen in the distance.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures—Friday, August 18, at 9 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and Disney XD and 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior
The episode’s two stories include: “Visitor’s Day,” in which the Jedi track down artifacts stolen from the town fair; and “The Growing Green Danger,” where Nubs (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) plants a seed that grows out of control.

 

The logo for Stand Up To Cancer, in black, red, and yellow, features several arrows on the left of the image that point up.

Stand Up To Cancer—Saturday, August 19, at 8 p.m. EDT and PDT / 7 p.m. CDT on ABC
On Saturday, August 19, the entertainment community will come together for Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) and its eighth cross-network fundraising special, supporting urgently needed research and new treatments for cancer. Debuting in a refreshing new format, the televised celebration entitled “How It Started, How It’s Going” will recognize SU2C’s impact and progress over the last 15 years. Celebrities making a special appearance during the one-hour show include Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel, Don Cheadle, Katie Couric, Danai Gurira, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Maria Menounos, Julianne Moore, Tig Notaro, Jimmy Smits, Eric Stonestreet, Justin Timberlake, and more; and a special montage of comedic skits from past specials will feature Jack Black, Ben Falcone, Zach Galifianakis, Brad Garrett, Bill Hader, Jon Hamm, Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy, and Matthew McConaughey.

Meet the Characters of Star Wars: Ahsoka

By Jocelyn Buhlman

On August 23, the next chapter of Ahsoka Tano’s journey begins, on Disney+. In order to prepare for Star Wars: Ahsoka to take us on an adventure through the galaxy, we’ve gathered up intel on both the familiar and new faces bringing action to the series. Whether they are rebel or imperial or something in between, make sure you’ve mastered your knowledge of these characters before the series premieres….

Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), an orange-skinned Togrutan with white face markings, lifts the hood of her cloak off of her head with a serious expression.

Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson)
The titular former Jedi Knight was introduced to fans a long, long time ago… Well, 15 years ago, to be precise! We first met her as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan learner during the Clone Wars. A respected leader and warrior, Ahsoka grew into a formidable fighter before the Empire’s reign changed the course of galactic history. Although she walked away from the Jedi Order, she continued to stand up for those fighting for peace and justice in the galaxy long after the fall of the Republic. Most recently, we’ve seen Ahsoka appear as a mentor figure in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, guiding Grogu on his journey with the Force. Rosario Dawson, a long-standing fan of Ahsoka Tano, was over the moon for the chance to bring the character to life: “As a fan, it’s been really incredible to first be a part of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, but to now have this show be a continuation of her adventure…it’s been exceptional. And I can’t wait for you all to see where [Ahsoka] is now.”

Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), a Mandalorian with short, purple hair, stands in front of a mural she painted featuring the crew of the Ghost. She is looking off into the distance with a thoughtful expression.

Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo)
A Mandalorian warrior and artist with the flair for the rebellious, Sabine defected from the Imperial Academy of Mandalore to join the crew of the Ghost alongside Hera Sydulla and Jedi Kanan Jarrus. Her creative spirit shines through her colorful explosives and custom painted beskar armor, but her major mark on the galaxy is her signature starbird. While it originally served as a mark to sign her street art, it eventually inspired the symbol for the Rebel Alliance. Additionally, during the events of Star Wars Rebels, Sabine briefly wielded the legendary Darksaber—a symbol of the leader of Mandalore—before handing it to Bo-Katan Kryze, whom she deemed to be the rightful person to lead their fight against the Empire. Most recently, Sabine joined Ahsoka Tano on the search for their friend Ezra Bridger, who disappeared after helping liberate his home planet of Lothal from the Empire. In memory of her found family (including Ezra and Hera), Sabine immortalized them all in a mural—which you can spot in the trailers for Ahsoka.

Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a green Twi’Lek wearing a flight jacket and goggles, looks at something offscreen to the left.

Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)
The captain of the Ghost, Hera Syndulla has been a fixture in the fight against the Empire since Star Wars Rebels, acting as a general in the New Republic. Hera was instrumental in the Lothal rebellion and now, beyond being a general, is mother to her child with the late Kanan Jarrus. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who brings the character to life in Ahsoka, reflected on Hera’s legacy, saying, “There’s a pretty rich history that we’ve seen in Rebels, and what happens at the end has had a great effect on her. I had to try to be all that she is, which includes being a leader and a maternal figure: leading an army and being everyone’s mom. Those are such different personality traits, but somehow, she encompasses them all. I tried my best to rise to her level.”

Chopper (Voiced by Dave Filoni)
C1-10P, affectionately known as “Chopper,” is the Ghost crew’s resident droid, assisting in everything from ship maintenance to combat—even though he didn't always want to. Recovered from a crashed ship on Ryloth, Chopper was pulled from the wreckage and became a loyal companion to Hera Syndulla when she was still just a child. He may be cranky inside and out, but his dedication to Hera and her crew is unmatched, becoming an essential member of the rebel team.

Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen)
The legendary Star Wars villain proved a mighty enemy to the rebellion during the Galactic Civil War, determined to “pull the rebels apart piece by piece.” Although his brilliant mind and ruthless nature made him a formidable foe for the crew of the Ghost, he was eventually defeated in a move of self-sacrifice by Ezra Bridger—both he and Ezra were carried away by a pod of purrgil, seemingly disappearing… for now. Actor Lars Mikkelsen, who provided the voice for Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels, is now debuting the character in live action. When asked about what type of villain Thrawn is, Mikkelsen shares “he’s strategic; he hasn’t got the Force but he can connect with dark forces to meet his end goals.”

Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) sneers at something off camera, her white hair pulled back with braids. Out of focus in the darkness behind her are Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) and Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson).

Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto)
We first met this cruel former Magistrate of Calodan, known as an associate of Grand Admiral Thrawn and an enemy to the New Republic, during season two of The Mandalorian. While we don’t know much about her past, we know she has reason to resent Ahsoka—Morgan was bested in battle by the former Jedi and arrested for acting as an Imperial sympathizer.

Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), a pale human with grey hair and a beard, holds up his red lightsaber parallel to his face. He stands in partial darkness, his serious expression illuminated by the red glow of his lightsaber.

Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson)
Baylan Skoll is lightsaber-wielding mercenary-for-hire, overseeing his apprentice Shin Hati. But make no mistake: Although there was a time when Skoll knew the acclaimed Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, Baylan is no Jedi. Now allied to Morgan Elsbeth, after the fall of the Jedi and the Empire, Skoll remains a shrewd fighter in search of power who believes that another war is inevitable.

Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), a human with blonde hair and blunt bangs, sits in the cockpit of a spaceship, her expression focused as she pilots it. She is wearing a headset with a microphone and is bathed in red light.

Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno)
We don’t know much about Shin Hati yet, but what information we do have proves she is a formidable threat. The eager apprentice of Baylan Skoll, Shin is adept at lightsaber combat, a skill she uses in their work as mercenaries.

Our 5 Favorite Easter Eggs and Callbacks in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 4

By Zach Johnson

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has always been meta—but the final season might be the most meta of them all! With the entire series now streaming exclusively on Disney+, we’ve rounded up five of our top Easter eggs and callbacks throughout Season 4.

In a scene from the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series episode “High School Musical 4,” Taylor McKessie, played by Monique Coleman, and Ms. Darbus, played by Alyson Reed, stand onstage opposite Gina Porter, played by Sofia Wylie, and Mack Alana, played by Matthew Sato, who are both dancing. The stage is bathed in purple light.

“This Is All About Me?”
Season 4 opens with a scene from High School Musical 4, in which Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Bart Johnson, Alyson Reed, and Kaycee Stroh reprise their High School Musical trilogy roles as Chad Danforth, Taylor McKessie, Ryan Evans, Coach Jack Bolton, Ms. Darbus, and Martha Cox, respectively. “Tonight isn’t just the 15th anniversary of the best class ever,” Chad says onstage. “It is also a very special night for a very special teacher. Happy retirement, Ms. Darbus!” Blushing, Ms. Darbus says, “This is all about me?” It’s a reference to High School Musical 3: Senior Year, in which Ms. Darbus tells Chad, “The spring musical is all about you.” But tonight? It’s Ms. Darbus’ time to stand in the spotlight!

In a scene from the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series episode “HSM v. HSM,” Kourtney Greene, played by Dara Reneé, smiles and holds a bedazzled pink phone.

A Familiar Tune
In “High School Musical 4,” Gina (Sofia Wylie) and Mack (Matthew Sato) reference Troy Bolton’s High School Musical 2 song “Bet on It” while performing “High School Reunion”—and it’s definitely not the last time a character mentions a trilogy song in new music or a line of dialogue. For example, in “HSM vs. HSM,” Ricky (Joshua Bassett) references High School Musical 3: Senior Year’s “Now or Never” in the recap sequence, while Kourtney (Dara Reneé) reveals her bedazzled her phone case is covered in stickers that celebrate Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and her signature High School Musical 2 solo number, “Fabulous.”

It Was You All Along
In “High School Musical 4,” Ricky and Gina co-write the song “Maybe This Time,” which features newly filmed fantasy flashbacks to the Season 1 episodes “Homecoming” and “What Team?” and the Season 2 episode “Valentine’s Day.” Maybe they really are endgame!

In a scene from the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series episode “Trick or Treat,” various characters are wearing Halloween costumes and are gathered in a circle.

In Character
In “Trick or Treat,” Ricky’s Halloween costume is a nod to Zac Efron, who starred as Troy Bolton in the film trilogy. But rather than dress up as that character, he decides to go another route. “I hate to say it, but I think we’re going to need more oil,” Ricky says as his dad (Alex Quijano) applies cooking oil to his costume. “Zac Efron was famously shiny in Baywatch!” More on the mark, Dani (Kylie Cantrall) dresses up as Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) from High School Musical 3: Senior Year, complete with cap and gown.

In a scene from the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series episode “Valentine’s Day,” Ricky Bowen, played by Joshua Bassett, plays guitar amid a sea of boxes.

Be Mine, Valentine
In the Season 2 episode “Valentine’s Day,” Gina assumed Ricky had gifted her a box of chocolates… only to realize it was her mom (Napiera Groves) who had sent them. It was the beginning of a crush that would deepen over time. And in the Season 4 episode “Admissions,” Gina finally gets a box of chocolates from Ricky—in the pouring rain, no less!

The Universe Works in Mysterious Ways
“Trust the Process” features multiple flashbacks—too many to list here. But our favorite flashback involves Miss Jenn (Kate Reinders), whose name Alyson never forgot (and whose outburst at the High School Musical 3 premiere she never forgot, either). Had Alyson not offered Miss Jenn some words of wisdom during an audition for Wicked, Miss Jenn might never have become East High’s drama teacher—and the Wildcats would be worse off for it.

There are many more Easter eggs and callbacks throughout Season 4 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series—and you can find them by streaming it on Disney+!