Surf’s Up, Pedals Down! Lilo & Stitch Racers Make Waves in Disney Speedstorm

Those alien spacecraft over the racetrack are a sure sign that the Lilo & Stitch racing season has landed in Disney Speedstorm. Seven exciting new Racers join the roster this month, with updates including an all-new environment of tracks with lush jungles, splashy beaches, and some out-of-this-world twists ‘n turns!

Race as Stitch, Lilo, Angel, Jumba, and Captain Gantu, each with their own unique racing style and abilities. Call in some galactic air-support as Captain Gantu and zap your racing rivals off the track. Or, if you’re more suited to a day at the beach, race as Lilo and literally surf your way to first place by turning your kart into a surfboard. For those looking for a more chaotic racing style, it’s Stitch FTW, with the ability to blast a volley of laser beams to stun challengers in all directions.

Ever wonder what it takes to bring thrilling new Racers and environments to Disney Speedstorm? Winslow Caliwag, Disney Games Producer on Disney Speedstorm, has the inside track on hidden details across the Lilo & Stitch racing season. “Lilo & Stitch holds a very special spot in Disney fans’ hearts, so we made sure to include tons of callouts and special nuggets for them to enjoy,” says Caliwag. “Besides the exclusive Kart Liveries, like the design based on the ‘Space Adventure’ coin-operated ride from the animated film, there are plenty of winks and nods that sharp-eyed fans will spot while racing.” Caliwag adds, “Even the numbers on the Lilo & Stitch racing suits themselves carry special meaning; the 626 for Stitch is an easy one, but Gantu’s number 47 may take even the biggest fan a moment to puzzle out!” Once you hit the track with Stitch, Angel, and the rest of the racers, that level of detail is speedily made clear.

Gantu stands to the right of his race car, which is colored black and red to match his racing suit. He is smiling, his fists pumped in excitement, one foot balanced on the wheel of his car.

Play Disney Speedstorm today on PC and Consoles with the purchase of a Founder’s Pack during Early Access for exciting exclusives while still available. See you at the finish line!

Watch These Disney+ Series Before Summer Ends

By The D23 Team

Disney+ contains a multitude of series we know you’ll love to watch, and summer is the perfect time to binge them all! Before school starts and summer fun ends, make sure you’re caught up on some of the fun series Disney+ has to offer… Whether you’re prepping for upcoming movies and series or on the hunt for some hidden gems, there’s something for every Disney fan. So grab your popcorn and get ready for a massive marathon of must-watch shows:

In an image from Disney+’s Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan—in her Captain Marvel cosplay—extends her arm to demonstrate her power, a focused expression on her face.

Ms. Marvel
With The Marvels’ theatrical debut just around the corner, make yourself familiar with one-third of the titular characters: Ms. Marvel! This groundbreaking series follows Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a young Pakistani American girl from Jersey City, navigating the complexities of adolescence while learning to embrace her unique abilities. With a mix of superhero action and relatable young-adulthood storytelling, Ms. Marvel will inspire anyone who’s ever dreamed of being a Marvel hero.

In an image from Disney+’s American Born Chinese, The Monkey King leans on his arm while seated on his throne, a group of people looking at him with their backs to the audience.

American Born Chinese
Based on the award-winning graphic novel, American Born Chinese follows the story of Jin Wang (Ben Wang), a typical high schooler just trying to fit in. His world is changed when he meets Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), the son of the legendary Monkey King. A mysterious prophecy ties Jin and Wei-Chen together, leading to unexpected action—and comedy! The series is perfect for anyone in their “coming-of-age” era or anyone just wants to see some awesome kung fu battles.

 

In an image from Disney+’s The Muppets Mayhem, The Electric Mayhem perform music excitedly, sunlight shining in beams through the windows behind them.

The Muppets Mayhem
Can you picture this? Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem have been rocking out for years, but their extremely groovy career is missing one major milestone… Recording their first album! Join Dr. Teeth, Janice, Floyd Pepper, Zoot, and Animal for a whirlwind musical journey filled with groovy tunes, outlandish gigs, and unpredictable shenanigans. You’ll be dancing along and tapping your feet to their catchy beats in no time!

In a still from Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, two characters embrace against the setting of a blue sky.

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire
Fans of animation need to check out this anthology series featuring 10 all-new animated short films! Inspired by Africa’s diverse histories and culture, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire showcases sci-fi stories from a new generation of creators, taking you on adventures you’ve never experienced before. Each episode features a different art style and story, providing a treasure trove of awesome animated content you can’t miss.

In an image from Star Wars Visions, two blue Twi’leks embrace while fireworks burst in a pink-colored sky behind them.

Star Wars Visions
Star Wars Visions brings the galaxy to life like you’ve never seen before. This groundbreaking anthology features two seasons of animated short films from around the world. Each episode tells a unique and imaginative story within the Star Wars universe, offering fresh perspectives and breathtaking visuals that will leave you in awe. This series is certain wow fans of Star Wars and animation alike.

In an image from Disney+’s Loki, President Loki extends his arms with a confident expression while several other Loki variants stand behind him, preparing for battle.

Loki
Now that the trailer for Loki season 2 is out, we can’t stop thinking about timeline-hopping mayhem and our favorite god of mischief. Whether it’s your third rewatch or your first time watching, now is the perfect opportunity to catch up on the first season before season 2’s October 6 debut. This fan-favorite Marvel series follows the misadventures of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) after his time-bending shenanigans in of Avengers: Endgame. Besides bringing the MCU into the multiverse, Loki is a must-watch for anyone who has loved the character since he first started troublemaking in the original Thor film.

DOWNLOADABLE: Celebrate Disney100 with This Adventurous Coloring Page

By the D23 Team

Summer is the perfect time for your next adventure—but are you in need of some exploration inspiration? We’ve got the perfect coloring page for you! Download this exclusive printable page titled “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery” from Disney Publishing’s new Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder book. Explore your creativity with this must-have adult coloring book that offers a fun and familiar look at everything Disney—past, present, and future.

Development art by Shane Enoch for “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery” gallery poster from Disney100: The Exhibition, 2023. From Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity by the staff of the Walt Disney Archives (Disney Editions, 2023).

Justin Simien: From Disney Parks Cast Member to Haunted Mansion Director

Frightful delights await in Walt Disney Pictures’ Haunted Mansion, now in theaters.

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction of the same name, Haunted Mansion follows a mother and son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. The film is directed by Justin Simien, who developed a deep appreciation for the attraction as a student at Chapman University in the early 2000s. “In college, I was a ride host for the Grizzly River Run attraction,” Simien recalls. “It was amazing to do that in film school, because it was like I got another education in cinema.”

That’s because Simien would spend his downtime mingling with the 999 happy haunts of New Orleans Square, marveling at the physical reactions certain beats in the story would elicit. Even then, he knew there was an “inherently cinematic” quality to the attraction: “I remember experiencing Haunted Mansion back in the day and thinking, ‘What is this? How do I do this in a movie? How do I make a person feel this way?’ Anything is possible in a movie, and I would think about it a lot. But I didn’t have an answer to that until this movie.”

(In fact, Simien had been mystified by the Haunted Mansion attraction ever since a family vacation to Walt Disney World Resort, when “a hitchhiking ghost in a mirror appeared to be riding with me out the exit,” he recalls. “At 8, I figured it was a trick, but I couldn’t work out how. For years I wondered if that ghost was still hitchhiking with me in the real world.”)

To preserve the attraction’s charm onscreen, filmmakers used practical effects whenever possible. “People use the term ‘smoke and mirrors,’ and the attraction literally uses smoke and mirrors—the Pepper’s Ghost effect—to make you believe in ghosts,” Simien says. “It is classic Disney in that way: ‘This is not possible, and yet, it’s right in front of my own eyes and it has a physicality to it that I can’t explain.’ When you see the ghosts waltzing in the dining room, you know they’re not really there, but they’re somewhere; they’re physical. That kind of ‘how did they do that?’ quality was essential for me to take into this movie.”

While Haunted Mansion features state-of-the-art digital effects, Simien notes, “It was important to me that the film never felt like it took place in a digital void. There should always be a sense of wonder as to how the effect was achieved. To this end, we built practical sets, including giant Mansion interiors in both normal and ‘ghost realm’ colors, which allowed us to explore these different spaces in real time with our cast rather than relying upon VFX. There were tracks under the set to move chairs being ‘dragged by ghosts’ as well as people holding filaments and puppeteering the many mysteriously floating objects around the house. Most of the ghosts were filmed practically with people in costumes and prosthetics, often hanging from wires, before being enhanced digitally to ensure the cast could truly interact with each other whether playing the living or dead.”

As the film opens in theaters, Simien is thinking a lot about his evolution from cast member to director. “It’s surreal. It’s an honor. It’s a responsibility,” he says. “Sometimes as an artist, you encounter work and you just know in your bones how to do it. The point of view was already in me. My family is from Louisiana, and I’ve always been obsessed with the attraction. It feels really kismet and weird to direct this, and I probably won’t be able to fully articulate what it’s been like for some time until this is over. I am still very much in it.”

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse Concludes by Returning to Mickey’s Roots with “Steamboat Silly”

Mickey Mouse has lived many lives over his nearly 100 years. He’s been a sorcerer, composer of silly symphonies, and cultural icon. However, in “Steamboat Silly—the final short of The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse—the most famous mouse in the world returns to his roots.

The short—now streaming on Disney+—starts harmlessly enough. Mickey and his friends Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Minnie sit down to enjoy some of Mickey’s home movies. That includes the one that started it all: 1928’s Steamboat Willie. However, soon Mickey finds himself overrun by hundreds of his monochrome character from the original short, resulting in a madcap adventure.

Paul Rudish—the executive producer and supervising director of The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse—pointed out that a madcap Mickey is vital to this final short, and to the history of the character himself.

“Our goal was to bring him back to the new audiences,” Rudish said. He added that the short’s silly nature harkens back to the original Mickey Mouse cartoons of the ’20s and ’30s thanks to their surrealism, physical comedy, and pantomime acting.

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse—which started in 2013 as simply Mickey Mouse shorts—updated Mickey for a new generation using some of the character’s initial rough edges. He’s still the lovable company mascot that he’s been for decades, but now with a little extra spice as the zany scamp he was from the start.

“I wanted to return to that flavor of Mickey and that vibe, but not replicate them,” Rudish said. “We didn’t want to go, ‘Look, here’s a 1930s cartoon.’ We wanted to take the sensibilities of those things but then put that through the lens of a team of modern artists.”

Mickey Mouse, wearing red shorts and yellow shoes, dances next to a black and white Mickey Mouse (inspired by Steamboat Willy) and three skeletons (inspired by The Skeleton Dance) in a scene from The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: "Steamboat Silly."

“Steamboat Silly” balances the past and present of Mickey while also maintaining the comedy—and sometimes even avant-garde essence—of Rudish’s shorts. For example, The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse crew not only drew inspiration from the early days of Mickey in terms of look and feel for “Steamboat Silly,” but also in terms of its sound. This included a technique from the 1920s in which the tempo of the short’s music and action syncs up—a term that is still known as “Mickey Mousing” in Hollywood.

“There’s a portion in the middle, a very action-packed set piece that takes up maybe the middle third of the cartoon, which in particular is at a very, very high tempo, which was used a lot in cartoons in the ’20s and ’30s,” said Christopher Willis, the shorts’ composer. Willis mentioned that a lot of the cartoons from the early days of animation took popular songs and sped them up. He tried to replicate that for this final short.

“I wanted a tempo so high that I wasn’t sure at first if the band would be able to play that quickly,” he said.

“Steamboat Silly” is not just a celebration of Mickey, however. It’s a celebration of Disney as the company commemorates its 100th anniversary. The short is chock full of Disney easter eggs from 1929’s The Skeleton Dance, 1941’s Dumbo, and 1955’s The Mickey Mouse Club.

Mickey Mouse parades down the street wearing a red and gold bandleader uniform in a scene from TheWonderful World of Mickey Mouse short "Steamboat Silly."After more than 120 episodes, the Mickey Mouse shorts are coming to an end, but its impact is undeniable. The shorts have won multiple Emmy® and Annie Awards, been screened at the Venice Film Festival, and led to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disneyland Park in California—Mickey’s first Disney Parks ride-through attraction.

But Mickey has been beloved ever since he stepped foot on that steamboat in 1928. What made this latest version so popular?

“Our Mickey is a bit flawed,” Rudish said. “I think people responded to that. They root for the cheerful optimist, but it’s not always an easy road.”

Also, Mickey still represents “the ongoing message of if you’ve got big dreams and you really try hard, you can make them come true,” according to Rudish.

“Mickey has always been an icon of that idea,” he said. “It’s inspirational.”

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

By Courtney Potter

After a whirlwind of a month, the final weekend of July is upon us—and there’s lots to enjoy from around the worlds of Disney, including several big premieres. If you’re a fan of irreverent animation from the late ’90s/early aughts, set your favorite streaming devices to Hulu and catch up with Fry, Leela, Bender, and friends; if Disney Channel Original Movies are more your speed, don’t miss the latest teen hijinks based on a popular book by YA author Jen Malone. What else is in store? Read on to find out…

In an image from Hulu’s Futurama, Bender (voiced by John DiMaggio) and Leela (voiced by Katey Sagal) are sitting in a futuristic looking conference room, at a table across from several menacing looking robots. At the back of the room, on the wall, is a large logo that resembles the Hulu logo, except it reads “Fulu.” A large window is seen to the left; a bookcase with a television is seen behind the robots to the right. The signature of the show’s creator, Matt Groening, can be seen at the bottom right of the image.

Futurama—Season 11 premiere now streaming on Hulu
The beloved animated series, after a decade’s hiatus, has returned—and it’s now on Hulu! The first two of 10 new episodes dropped this past Monday, and each will have something for everyone. New viewers will be able to pick up the series from here, while longtime fans will recognize payoffs to yearslong mysteries—including developments in the epic love story of Fry (voiced by Billy West) and Leela (voiced by Katey Sagal); the mysterious contents of Nibbler’s (voiced by Frank Welker) litter box; the secret history of evil Robot Santa; and the whereabouts of Kif (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) and Amy’s (voiced by Lauren Tom) tadpoles. Meanwhile, there’s a whole new pandemic in town as the crew explores the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture, and streaming TV.

In a promo image for the Disney Channel Original Movie The Slumber Party, from left to right, are Valentina Herrera as Anna Maria, Emmy Liu-Wang as Paige, Darby Camp as Megan, and Alex Cooper Cohen as Veronica. They’re flanking a huge stuffed hedgehog of some kind; additionally, Herrera is sitting on a bicycle. She is wearing a graphic tee and red pants; Wang is wearing a dark red shirt, a brown vest, and camo pants; Camp is wearing a black graphic tee and jeans; and Cohen is wearing a dark mustard yellow jumpsuit.

The Slumber Party—now streaming on Disney+
This brand-new Disney Channel Original Movie premiered on the network this Thursday, July 27, and is now available for your streaming enjoyment on Disney+! Based on the well-known teen novel The Sleepover by Jen Malone, The Slumber Party follows the hilarious aftermath of a sleepover birthday party hypnotism gone wrong—as best friends Megan (Darby Camp) and Paige (Emmy Liu-Wang), along with soon-to-be stepsister Veronica (Alex Cooper Cohen), wake up with absolutely no memory of the night before. Now, they must retrace their steps to find missing birthday girl Anna Maria (Valentina Herrera)… and explain why there’s a flock of baby ducks in the bathtub; what happened to Megan’s eyebrow; and why she’s wearing unattainable hottie Jake Ramirez’s (Ramon Jose Rodriguez) signature black hoodie. The film also stars Dallas Liu, Paula Pell, and Tituss Burgess. Hear exclusively from some of the cast right here at D23.com!

The logo for Disney’s The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly. Against a black background, most of the writing is in white, except for the words “Mickey Mouse,” which are red with a yellow outline.

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly—debuts Friday, July 28, on Disney+
They say all good things must come to an end, and such is the case with the totally adorable Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse shorts… for this is the final episode, and it’s part of this year’s Disney100 celebration! As we catch back up with Mickey Mouse, our pal is taking a stroll down memory lane by watching old home movies—but when he accidentally unleashes hundreds of Steamboat Willie Mickeys from the film reel, he and the gang must stop them from wreaking havoc on the town with their old cartoon antics.

In a promo image for Disney Branded Television’s Pretty Freekin Scary are Kyan Samuels as Pretty, Yonas Kibreab as Remy, Leah Mei Gold as Scary, Eliana Su’a as Frankie, Emma Shannon as Nyx, Shawn Carter Peterson as Mr. Ripp, and Napiera Groves Boykin as Mrs. Ripp. They’re standing in a room that appears to have a mirror as a floor, as it features mirrored images of the actors. The room is painted entirely light blue and contains a door and several sets of stairs that go nowhere, like a funhouse.

Pretty Freekin Scary—Friday, July 28, at 8:30 ET/PT on Disney Channel
We’ve got two episodes on tap for Friday! In “Birthday Life,” Frankie (Eliana Su’a) learns that Pretty (Kyan Samuels) and Scary (Leah Mei Gold) don’t celebrate birthdays in the Underworld—and this obviously has got to be fixed, pronto! Elsewhere, Mrs. Ripp (Napiera Groves Boykin) prepares for her first book club party. Then, in “A Matter of Life and Debate,” Scary joins the debate to get closer to her crush; Mrs. Ripp tries to insert herself into Remy’s (Yonas Kibreab) life but pushes him away; and Grim (Siobhan Murphy) attempts to help Frankie make amends with Erlic (Yuvi Hecht).

In a promo image for Disney Branded Television’s Raven’s Home are Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter, Issac Ryan Brown as Booker Baxter-Carter, Rondell Sheridan as Victor Baxter, Mykal-Michelle Harris as Alice, Felix Avitia as Neil, and Emmy Liu-Wang as Ivy. They’re standing or sitting in a living room-style set with a large bay window; Raven-Symoné is wearing a black and white checkered crop top and pants and is holding her arms aloft, and everyone else is in casual clothing. They are all smiling at the camera.

Raven’s Home—Sunday, July 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
In Sunday’s sure-to-be-hilarious new episode, Raven (Raven-Symoné) is doing a clothing drop, but a miscommunication sends her fans to the Baxter house. Meanwhile, Neil (Felix Avitia) and Booker (Issac Ryan Brown) get into a disagreement; and Alice (Mykal-Michelle Harris) has to help Pop-Pop, aka Victor (Rondell Sheridan), at the Chill Grill.

Time to SCREAM! Halloween Events with D23

By The D23 Team

It’s almost that special time of the year—stocked full of delicious candy, with endless celebrations of the autumn season... when the worlds of mischief, magic, and the macabre all collide in a spectacle of spine-tingling fun.

Yes, ‘tis nearly time: Halloween is fast approaching! And D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is here to help you make the most of this frightfully fantastic season with a lineup of scream-worthy events—tailor-made for the ultimate Disney fans.

Disney+ Hallowstream Costume Bash at Destination D23—September 10, 2023

  • Destination D23 ticketholders will have the opportunity to usher in the eeriest time of year with an epic Halloween happening, closing out the festivities of the Ultimate Disney Fan Event of the year. Enter the world of Hallowstream with Disney+, the streaming home of your favorite Halloween stories. With phantomized photo-ops, chilling treats, and spellbinding surprises, guests will find all their hearts’ desires in this lavish lair of scares happening only at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World.

D23 Black Flame Ball: Spell-ebrating 30 Years of Hocus Pocus—October 7, 2023

  • Form a calming circle and ready your brooms, mops, and vacuums... D23 is headed back to Salem for a bewitching All Hallows’ Eve Ball! “Spell-ebrate” 30 years of Hocus Pocus with us at a Sanderson-style soiree in the storied city of Salem, Massachusetts. This enchanted event will feature inspired entertainment, reminiscent of the iconic Halloween party from the film. And it wouldn’t be a Halloween happening unless the Sanderson sisters themselves arrived to crash the festivities in ferocious fashion. Sure to put a spell on all in attendance, this is one candlelit costumed confab you won’t want to miss. We ain’t lyin’!

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 30th Anniversary with D23—October 13, 2023

  • What’s this? Just a celebration of an iconic Halloween/Holiday classic, on the anniversary date itself! D23 invites fans and stans of every age to join us for a nightmarish celebration of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in 4D at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. In addition to attending one of the El Capitan’s special immersive screenings of this incredible film, guests can also check out a display of original pieces from the stop-motion production, take a picture at a photo op, and purchase themed concessions.

D23 presents 25 Years of Halloweentown—October 21, 2023

  • The magic of the Cromwell clan makes a triumphant return to St. Helens, Oregon—the filming location of the Disney Channel Original Movie and true Halloween classic! D23 invites you to share in the spirit of Halloweentown, with special theatrical screenings of this beloved film right off the iconic town square. And you can bet this special screening is going to be anything but normal, because as Aggie Cromwell so wisely puts it, “Being normal is vastly overrated!” Whether you come from the Mortal world by an enchanted bus or even Benny’s Skeletal Taxi Service, make your plans now to join us in Halloweentown!

From extravaganzas of the undead to balls of the bewitched, this Halloween is sure to be a “scream come true” for all fans. It’s always a ghoulishly glorious opportunity to celebrate the stories you love, and we cannot wait to see you at any and all of these monstrously monumental milestones. Be on the lookout right here on D23.com and follow our social channels for more “shriek peeks” and information on each of these D23 “Hallow Screams” events coming to you this fall!

Unleash Your Inner Dreamer With Disney Illusion Island: An Adventure With Mickey and Friends—Alongside an Incredible Destination Sweepstakes!

Disney magic has always been something we hold dear, especially on those Saturday mornings filled with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. Now, you can relive those magical moments with Disney Illusion Island, now available on Nintendo Switch! But that’s not all! Disney Games is offering you a chance to experience real-life Disney enchantment with an incredible sweepstakes for your own quartet of friends and family.

Disney Illusion Island, brought to you by Disney Games and Dlala Studios, is a local cooperative 2D adventure platformer. It’s a journey into a world of mystery and wonder, perfect for those cherished family gatherings or a solo gaming session. On the beautiful yet enigmatic Island of Monoth, the famous Disney quartet embarks on a quest to retrieve three missing magical books and save the mysterious island. As you navigate through the stunning landscapes, you can unlock special abilities that will let you jump, swing, swim, and even glide through every nook and cranny. There are some unique team skills you can only use in co-op mode too, the Rope Drop, Leap Frog, and even a health-boosting Hug!

What’s more, each character’s distinct personality shines through in their animations, making every moment of gameplay a delightful throwback to your favorite cartoon adventures.

Now, let’s sprinkle some fairy dust on this already captivating news: Disney Games is running the Disney Illusion Island Getaway Sweepstakes. Yes, folks, alongside a copy of the game, you can win a magical trip to Disneyland® Resort! Imagine, a three night vacation for you and up to three guests. That’s a Disney adventure in real life!

How do you make this dream come true? It’s simple: during the promotion period, which runs now through August 4, head over to the Disney Games’ Facebook page (@DisneyGames). Look for the sweepstakes post and engage with it as instructed to submit your entry. It’s that easy!

In the meanwhile, check out more information on Disney Illusion Island on the Nintendo eShop page. Whether you’re a seasoned platformer enthusiast or someone looking for a fun-filled escape with beloved Disney characters, this game has something for you. Don’t miss out on the chance to bring your virtual adventures to life at Disneyland® Resort by entering the Disney Illusion Island Getaway Sweepstakes.

So, fellow Disney fans, are you ready to dive into this enchanting adventure? Prepare your Nintendo Switch, gather your friends, and let’s explore the magic that Disney Illusion Island has to offer!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter Sweepstakes between 7/21/23 at 9:00 a.m. PT and 8/4/23 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., who are 18+ at time of entry. Limit 1 entry per person. Visit https://games.disney.com/disney-illusion-island-sweepstakes for Official Rules including details on how to enter, eligibility requirements, odds of winning, prize descriptions, and limitations. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, Inc., 1200 Grand Central Avenue, Glendale, CA 91201.

Rock On with this D23-Exclusive Pin Celebrating 20 Years of Freaky Friday (2003)

By Peyton Liebler

Crack open those fortune cookies and tune up those electric guitars, Freaky Friday (2003) is turning 20 years old this year! And D23 Gold Members can celebrate this beloved comedy in style, with a Gold Member exclusive pin themed to Anna Coleman’s band Pink Slip. We know you’re excited, but could you, like, chill for a sec? We have even more special details to share about this fun and FREAKY pin!

Inspired by Freaky Friday (2003) - Dr. Tess Coleman and her teenage daughter Anna have one thing in common—they don’t relate to each other about anything. Then one night a little mystic mayhem changes their lives and they wake up to the biggest freak-out ever. Tess and Anna are trapped inside each other’s bodies! But Tess’ wedding is Saturday and the two must find a way to switch back—fast! Forced to literally walk in each other’s shoes, will they gain respect and understanding for the other’s point of view?

Artwork for D23 Exclusive Freaky Friday Pin, bearing artwork that looks like the punk rock logo of the fictional band Pink Slip including a guitar pick reading “Live in Concert.” The pin is featured on a pink and green backer card reminiscent of the iconic film poster and the contrasting worlds of mother and daughter Tess and Anna Coleman.

D23-Exclusive Freaky Friday 20th Anniversary Pin
Freak out with the body-swapping hilarity of this punk rock pin! This D23 Gold Member exclusive pin will “take you away” to the nostalgia and magic of Freaky Friday. The pin features the insignia for Pink Slip, Anna Coleman’s grungy garage band, marked with a “Live in Concert” guitar pick. Get up, get out and get this jamming pin now!

Our D23-Exclusive Freaky Friday 20th Anniversary Pin, offered in a limited edition of 750 is available to D23 Gold Members at 8 a.m. PT on shopDisney, Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

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*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. These pins are sold for $19.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices

Go Behind the Scenes of The Slumber Party

By Emily Hewitt

The new Disney Original Movie The Slumber Party takes a classic scenario and adds a comic twist. The film, which premieres later this week, depicts the hilarious aftermath of a hypnotism at a sleepover birthday party gone wrong. The film stars Darby Camp as Megan, Emmy Liu-Wang as Paige, Valentina Herrera as Anna Maria, and Alex Cooper Cohen as Veronica.

Before the movie premieres on Disney Channel on Thursday, July 27, at 8 p.m. ET and Disney+ the following day, D23 sat down with the leading cast to hear funny behind-the-scenes stories and what they hope viewers take away from the new film.  

The Characters’ Stories
In the movie, Megan, Paige, and Veronica, wake up with no memory of the night before and must retrace their steps to find the missing birthday girl, Anna Maria. The four characters each bring something different to the film. Paige is the sassy, bold friend who radiates confidence. Liu-Wang said she is very similar to her character from the one-liners to her dry sarcasm. Throughout the film, Paige becomes more mature and responsible while learning to handle new situations.

Lui-Wang’s character is juxtaposed by Camp’s character, Megan, who struggles to try new things. Camp said that seeing Megan grow and face her fear of being embarrassed might inspire kids to do the same.

Her character awakens to find one of her eyebrows has been shaved off. While Camp says she adjusted to the one eyebrow look, even thinking it looked cool, luckily, she didn’t have to sacrifice her own brow for the role. The look was achieved through a combination of silicone prosthetic and makeup.

“For them to get the shape for the little prosthetic they had to do a molding of my face shape, which was such a cool experience,” Camp said.

Herrera’s character, Anna Maria, and Cohen’s character Veronica, bring an interesting dynamic to the story, as soon-to-be-stepsisters.

Anna Maria is against her father marrying Veronica’s mother and Herrera got into her character’s emotional state of mind by writing a diary as Anna Maria.

“When you’re writing in your diary, that’s when you’re most vulnerable and that’s when you don’t expect anyone to read it,” Herrera said.

On the flip side, Cohen provides comedic relief.  Cohen prepared by reviewing her funny moments with the director, Veronica Rodriguez, and putting the finishing funny touches on each of her humorous lines.

Given the diversity of characters, Liu-Wang hopes audiences can relate to at least one character’s traits or struggles. Camp said she believes the film will help people of all ages learn to be their most authentic selves.

“I think especially young kids, I hope what they can take away is how it’s okay to be different and it’s good to celebrate your differences with your friends and family,” Camp said.

Behind the Scenes Stories
Although this film isn’t a musical, audiences can expect a brief High School Musical inspired number from Veronica and Paige’s brother, Mikey who is played by Dallas James Liu, in the film.

“When we were shooting it, we had a lot of fun with it. There was one instance where he started singing in falsetto, so I was singing down here (in a low voice) and after we finished, after we cut, everybody burst out laughing,” Cohen said.

In addition to collaborating with one another, the cast also had the opportunity to work with ducklings. Cohen’s character held a duck named Bill in her fanny pack almost the whole film and by the end, she was called the “duck whisperer.”

A duck audition was held specifically for the part of Bill to ensure the most well-trained ducks were selected to play the part. Yes, that’s ducks, plural. Alex wasn’t able to work with the same duckling throughout the film process because ducks grow at a fast pace, so Bill had to repeatedly be replaced by younger ducklings, Cohen said.

Working with ducks isn’t all fun and games though. When one of the baby ducks pooped in Cohen’s hand, she put her hand out. Fearing the duck was going to fall, Liu-Wang went to catch the duck and the poop fell into her hand which paused shooting for 15 minutes.

Slumber Party Stories
In real life, Liu-Wang had a slumber party similar to the one in the film. Her two best friends slept over at her house where they were meant to all sleep on her couch. However, in the middle of the night Liu-Wang felt homesick and spent the night upstairs with her parents. Her friends woke up the next morning to find her gone, much like Anna Maria seems to be missing in the film.

Unfortunately, the cast didn’t throw a slumber party of their own off set, but when asked by D23 which Disney character they’d invite to their own slumber party, they didn’t hesitate. Cohen’s favorite film is Toy Story so she would love to have Buzz Lightyear at a slumber party. Meanwhile, Herrera said she’d invite Veronica, the character played by Cohen, to add humor to any sleepover shenanigan.

“I think she would have a lot of stuff up her sleeve, and she would be able to get us into anywhere with her parkour,” Herrera said.

Camp’s favorite movie since she was little has been The Little Mermaid and for her 10th birthday, she even had a mermaid-themed slumber party. Thus, it would be a dream come true to have a slumber party with Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid.

Liu-Wang feels like her funny personality would mesh well with Mushu, from Mulan.

“I feel like we would just stay up all night telling jokes or hang out. He would make me laugh uncontrollably in any situation,” Liu-Wang said.