Wildcats, Wizards, and More at “Stay Tuned: You’re Watching Disney Channel” at D23

August 13, 2024August 13, 2024

By Courtney Potter

“We’re all in this together” sang the East High Wildcats… and excited fans at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event were together feeling all the feels, as a whopping 13 beloved Disney Channels stars gathered for a hilarious and heartfelt panel celebrating favorite shows and Original Movies of years gone by—as well as today’s hit franchises, including Descendants, and the return of a certain wizard family to our screens!

Moderated by Ashley Eckstein (herself a Disney Channel alum), “Stay Tuned: You’re Watching Disney Channel” welcomed Meg Donnelly, Malachi Barton, and Freya Skye from the ZOMBIES franchise; David Henrie and Janice LeAnn Brown from the upcoming Wizards Beyond Waverly Place; That’s So Raven star Raven-Symoné and her Raven’s Home co-star Mykal-Michelle Harris; Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu, and Dara Reneé from the world of High School Musical; and Reneé’s Descendants: The Rise of Red co-stars Kylie Cantrall, Malia Baker, and Ruby Rose Turner to the stage for some rapid-fire questions, hilarious stories, and even a smattering of emotion. Below are a few memorable moments:

Several panelists found out they’d been cast in their Disney Channel projects in, shall we say, unusual ways:

“After a long audition process, because of the time difference from London to Los Angeles, I found out at 3 a.m. in the morning,” remembered ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires co-star Skye. “My parents got a phone call. I had a hair mask in; I had pimple patches everywhere! So they said, ‘Freya, quickly, maybe take off some of those patches!’ I was like, ‘What? Okay…’ They said, ‘They need some headshots of you.’ So I stand in front of the wall; I’m posing at 3 in the morning for some headshots—I don’t know how I believed it! And then that’s when they told me, and I just burst into tears. It was a dream come true. I’ve loved these movies forever, and then to get to be a part of it—it’s just such an honor. So we went downstairs and we put on ‘Someday’ [from the original ZOMBIES film] first, and then we just blasted the whole ZOMBIES soundtrack until 6 a.m. in the morning. We had a party! It was such a surreal moment, and I’ll definitely remember that one forever.”

Added her co-star Barton, “I actually had gotten tricked by my manager and my agents. They called me and they said that I hadn’t gotten it. They prepared me for that disappointment—but my mom couldn’t keep a straight face behind the camera. So I immediately knew what was going on.”

Bleu giving credit to Disney Legend Kenny Ortega for fostering the original High School Musical’s success, and on his mentorship of the cast:

“I feel like you have so many cogs that were just all moving in the right direction,” he explained. All of us had worked before; we’d all come from a background in the entertainment field, but nobody was a household name at that point. So you really were watching all of these ‘unknowns’ that were living their best lives. Everyone on set—all of us—were dedicated, hardworking enjoying the process, but we really were authentically living this experience. I think [you can see] that joy is there, and I feel like Kenny not only nurtured that, but he also demanded perfection.”

He continued, “When I think back on my lessons in life, in discipline and how I approach my work, so much of that comes from Kenny. There wasn’t a single moment in those movies where he wasn’t focused on every single little detail, down to our background actors. There were times that he would go have discussions with them; explain to them what’s going on in the scene. He would do a take over again, because the energy coming from the background actors wasn’t ‘correct’—and that isn’t often the case. Oftentimes directors just get the shot, and as long as what’s happening in the foreground is good, they don’t care about anything else. But he wanted every single detail on that screen to be perfect.”

Coleman on how singularly special it was, returning to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:

As the actress recalled, “In the fourth season, the one that I was in, it had been 15 years [since High School Musical had debuted]—and it really had actually been 15 years, in real life. And so that ‘meta world’ that we were existing in came full circle. When we pulled up to East High School, and I saw it for the first time in all of those years, it literally did feel almost like returning to high school in some way. Before we shot our episodes, Tim Federle, who was the creator, actually reached out and said, ‘You’re going to be coming back on the show and I actually want to hear from you: If you were given the opportunity to say anything, what would you want to say? Either as your character, or as yourself?’”

She added, “I’m a little older than everyone—and so for me, I’ve had a lot of life experiences since then. Having played Taylor McKessie, which was very much like my personality in terms of being an overachiever and so forth, I said to him, ‘I would love to come back and make it clear that your life is not just about your accomplishments; it’s not about what you’ve done. It’s about who you are.’ Because at the end of the day, the thing that is so special is that we get to continue to do this together. After we had shot our scene, Dara and I, when we had it ‘in the can’—I think it’s an iconic scene, it’s so special and powerful to me—Tim literally said, ‘Okay, you guys, we have it. I want to give you one just for you.’”

Coleman continued, “And he allowed us to just literally do the scene and say whatever we really wanted to say—to each other. And just thinking about what it was like as a young Black actress [during the first High School Musical], and how special it is to be able to share the screen with Dara… that moment right before he called action, Tim said, ‘Take up space, ladies.’ And for me, that healed every trauma, every pain point, everything. [I thought about] every door that was opened by the people that had come before me, like Raven and so forth. I felt like I got to heal a part of myself that used to not think that I was enough, by being able to look into Dara’s eyes and think, wow—I’m so happy that you’re here with me in this moment. It was really amazing.”

Henrie on why now is the right time for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place:

“Selena [Gomez, original Wizards… star and executive producer on the new series] and I would just hang out so much over the years,” explained Henrie, “and then I got married and my wife and Selena became close. And Selena would come over, and we’d be reminiscing about old memories and talking about what our characters would be doing nowadays. After a while I said, ‘Selena, we should just have this conversation in front of Disney. I have a feeling it would go well.’ So that’s what we did! We pitched a show idea. And the thing that fueled us the most was wanting to bring back those Wizards of Waverly Place family values in a sitcom format for a whole new generation… The thing that always touched Selena and I over the years was when fans from all over the world would come up to us and say, ‘Hey, we come from a tough situation in life. We come from a really broken situation, and your show showed us that there is this thing called family that can have each other’s backs—no matter what. And it made me want to have a family one day.’ So thank you guys for that.”

Raven-Symoné on how what she’s learned—and how she’s grown—during her time with Disney:

“I grew up watching Flip Wilson, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett,” she admitted. “My parents did not allow me to watch ‘normal’ television. I was only allowed to watch those kinds of variety and comedy shows. So when I was auditioning for Absolutely Psychic—which is the original pilot for what That’s So Raven was called—and knowing that I was able to implement the things that I had studied and learned [from those shows] for so long was an absolute pleasure. I had the bruises and the medical bills to prove it,” she added, to laughter from the audience.

“Disney Channel is one of the only networks that keeps ‘situation comedy’ alive in the way that they do, which I love. And I think it’s important that everybody should know how to prat fall,” she added, demonstrating a perfect pratfall down from her chair onto the stage, eliciting even more laughs from the crowd. She the continued, “But it’s surreal, working with a company that actually allows you to step up the ladder with every single project that you do. I actually got asked to direct an episode of That’s So Raven back in the day because of where I was and how we did things. And I turned it down because … I didn’t want to do it [then]. But as I continued working with this network, now I have an overall deal with Disney; I’m able to produce, I’m able to direct, I’m able to work with young talent and show them what I went through. I learned everything [comedy] that I needed to know from the classics like Flip Wilson, and when it comes to production, from Disney.”

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Cast Share Season 2 Casting News and Teaser Trailer at D23

August 13, 2024August 27, 2024

By Alison Stateman

The Disney+ Original series Percy Jackson and the Olympians made quite a splash with a star-studded panel Saturday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Moderated by Juju Green, aka Straw Hat Goofy, the panel featured series stars Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase), and Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood), along with Charlie Bushnell (Luke Castellan) and Dior Goodjohn (Clarisse La Rue), who join as series regulars this season.

Also on hand were executive producers Jonathan E. Steinberg, Dan Shotz, and Craig Silverstein, plus surprise appearances from Toby Stephens (Poseidon), Jason Mantzoukas (Mr. D/Dionysus), and Daniel Diemer (Tyson), who was recently revealed as joining the cast as a cyclops and Percy’s half-brother. The panel marked the first public appearance of all six of the Season 2 regulars together. Mantzoukas also confirmed that he’ll return as Camp Half-Blood’s camp director, Mr. D, and exclaimed how happy he was to return this season.

Fans were given a tantalizing look at the coming season through a teaser trailer featuring a more grownup Percy (Scobell) taking the reins of a chariot.

They also revealed that Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho, and Kristen Schaal will guest star in the upcoming season as the Gray Sisters. Bernhard will portray Anger, the Gray Sister in charge of collecting cab fare from heroes who call upon the taxi. Anger impatiently awaits her turn to use the one eye shared among the sisters. Schaal will portray Tempest, who currently has the coveted eye and uses it to peer at the heroes, read their future, and tease them about their crushes and social lives. Cho will portray Wasp, the main driver of the Gray Sisters Taxi. She takes the heroes on a high-speed and hair-raising journey to Camp Half-Blood. Even though she’s blind most of the time, she’s truly seen it all.

Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is based on The Sea of Monsters, the second installment of Disney Hyperion’s bestselling Percy Jackson book series by acclaimed author Rick Riordan.

A Taste of Disneyland Treats to Come at D23

August 13, 2024August 27, 2024

By Alison Stateman

Disney fans were given a delectable taste of Disneyland treats to come Friday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. The panel, “Disney Eats: Disneyland Foods – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow,” moderated by Pam Brandon, co-author of the Official Disney Parks Cookbook series, was chock-full of fascinating tidbits from Disneyland chefs John State, Culinary Director, Disneyland Resort; Jimmy Weita, Executive Chef; and Graciela Gomez, pastry sous chef at the Central Bakery at Disneyland Resort.

Each shared their personal journey leading to their culinary careers at The Happiest Place on Earth and how they honor Walt’s legacy while continuing to elevate park offerings.

Slate was a chef in Northern California when Disney recruited him to open the Flying Fish Cafe at Disney’s BoardWalk at Walt Disney World Resort in 1995, where he was part of the opening team that planned and designed the restaurant. “It felt like I was joining the Olympic team, like I was joining an energy level of talent and skill that was going to continue to elevate our brand. It was already well-established but there was just room to keep growing,” he shared. “You mentioned evolution [in food] at Disney World and that’s what I saw. I could just see the rising ships; high tides rise all ships. I could just see the energy was contagious.”

State joined Disneyland Resort in 2015 where he was instrumental in developing new food and beverage concepts. “When I started at Disneyland Resort, I became the coach of the Olympic team. I had the opportunity to have chef Jimmy on my team, who is an incredible think tank. A good coach just guides the talent. They were already telling good stories, but we needed to help amplify their voice a little bit,” he continued.

The central focus on storytelling at Disney extends not just to the entertainment it creates, but to its embodiment at Disney Parks in attractions, shows, parades, and, yes, the food and drink generations of parkgoers have come to enjoy. “Storytelling is the heart of it all. Even with dining on day one of Disneyland Park, we were serving prime rib on Main Street, U.S.A.—that legacy with dining certainly impacts what you do today,” Brandon pointed out.

“I think I have the coolest culinary position at the resort because I’m not tied to a restaurant, necessarily,” said Weita, oversees the Festivals and Park Events Culinary Team—researching, developing, and executing Disneyland festivals and all park-catered events. “We really have the ability to push the envelope.”

While guests might want to feel and taste and have the experience Walt did back in the day, Weita and his team work on translating food from the 1950s to today’s tastes. “Walt was very big on canned chili. He used to walk around the park with canned chili and he also liked short ribs, so we developed an item for one of our events where we put it in a plastic tin can and it was chili beans and short ribs. When you ate it, you could almost feel like this probably was like what he had, but [our version was] very current and relevant. It was a lot of fun to put our twist on what he may have had.”

Weita, whose self-professed favorite Disneyland treat is the corn dogs from the Little Red Wagon, shared a few new treats coming to the menu for the upcoming Festival of the Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park.

Among them is a delicious treat that tips its hat to Thanksgiving leftovers—with a twist.

“Our take on it is cheddar mashed potatoes. We played around with turkey, but popcorn chicken is just oh so good—it’s got turkey gravy, and we always have to put something fun on top, so we are doing a dried cranberry stuffing on top for crunch,” he shared to happy gasps from the audience.

A chorizo queso fundido mac and cheese with tortilla crunch on top is also in the mix. “And on the sweet side, I’ll give you three words: ‘sticky toffee pudding,’” he said. “But not like you think,” Gomez interjected with a laugh.

Of course, one perennial holiday isn’t going anywhere—gingerbread cookies. This season’s recipe, Gomez says, took incorporating two separate recipes and over a year to develop!

“We had to physically make two different types of dough and get different percentages of each and mix them together to get that perfect consistency.”

Magical Moments from 2024 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony at D23

August 12, 2024August 14, 2024

By Courtney Potter

As a practically perfect “kiss goodnight” to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, thousands of fans filled the massive Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Sunday evening, August 11, for the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony—sharing in countless magical moments as 14 incredible talents were honored for their significant contributions to the Disney legacy.

The Disney Legends program is a treasured tradition of The Walt Disney Company, and began with inaugural inductee Fred MacMurray (The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Happiest Millionaire) in 1987. Now a D23 tradition, the awards ceremony is a celebration of truly epic proportions—and it all kicked off, in the largest space the ceremony has ever been held in, with host Ryan Seacrest welcoming the colossal crowd.

“Tonight, we’re continuing the time-honored tradition of celebrating the innovators and icons who make the Disney dream a reality; the people behind the magic who inspire our sense of wonder for creativity, storytelling, and entertainment,” Seacrest said. “This marks the 37th year we have given this award to the artisans who have left an indelible mark on the Disney company, and I’m super excited to be here—not just as your host, but as a member of the Disney family, and most importantly, as a fan, just like all of you.”

Like past Disney Legends events, those attending were in some extraordinary live performances, emotional video packages, appearances from the Legends themselves, and a few extra-special surprises. And new this year: The Legends Ceremony will be streamed exclusively on Disney+ beginning Monday, August 12, at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.

The evening kicked off with Seacrest welcoming Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company, to the stage. “The Disney Legends Award is the highest honor our company bestows,” Iger explained. “It’s presented as a celebration of talent; a recognition of achievement; and, above all, a sincere expression of our deep gratitude. Disney Legends are bound by the special place they have earned in our history for their tremendous contributions in service of entertaining and delighting fans around the globe. The Legends Award was originally established in 1987, and we have honored 304 Disney Legends to date.”

He continued, “Our Disney Legends come from all walks of life, virtually every creative discipline. They’re bound by a special place they have earned in our history with their tremendous contributions in service of entertaining and delighting fans around the globe.”

Iger remained on stage to introduce the evening’s first inductee: Harrison Ford. “He has portrayed some of the most timeless heroes that have ever appeared on the big screen... For those of us who have gotten to know Harrison and had the pleasure of working here with him, you quickly learn that the that the charisma you see on the screen is real. And that’s just who he is. He’s a man of deep integrity.”

A visibly emotional Ford, taking in the immense Honda Center crowd, spoke of his appreciation of this recognition. “I love the life you’ve given me,” he told the fans. “And I love the people that I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Nobody does anything in this business alone; we work in collaboration, no matter who we are or what we’re doing.” To that end, he thanked Iger specifically: “Disney produces a great product. It’s a giant ship, but a giant ship needs an able captain. And the great generosity of that introduction deserves my [acknowledgement] of how important Bob has been in the work that I’ve done in a creative and business capacity, but he’s also as a dear and treasured friend.”

Next up, Lindsay Lohan—a part of the Disney family herself, having costarred in 1998’s The Parent Trap and 2003’s Freaky Friday, as well as that film’s upcoming sequel Freakier Friday—began the introduction for the next inductee: Jamie Lee Curtis. “The magic of Jamie Lee Curtis is that she is timeless,” Lohan explained. “Every character she plays is different, and she always brings something unique to the role. And I feel so blessed to have Jamie as a friend in my life, and I feel lucky to work with a woman that I admire.” Lohan then surprised the crowd by bringing out one of Curtis’ very best friends to continue the celebration—actor/director Jodie Foster!

“She’s so thoughtful and so generous, and such a supportive and kind cheerleader, that it just makes me want to punch her in the face,” admitted Foster, eliciting laughter. “Is that wrong?” On a more serious note, she added, “She is inventive, fearless, full of surprises. She’s an artist who loves to show you human idiosyncrasy: warts and all. Perfectly imperfect. Our ‘Neverland Hall of Famer.’”

Foster continued, “You have been such a good friend and a treasured cohort, so bless you for bringing your blessings to this art form and this world—this ‘happiest place on Earth.’”

Jamie Lee Curtis appears in the front row of the audience at the Disney Legends Awards ceremony at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

In accepting her award, Curtis explained, “That’s why we’re here. It’s the Disney in all of us... The truth is, legends aren’t born. They’re created, and they’re created and nurtured and taught and educated, and then they make art. And then we connect the art. And you make legends,” she emphasized to the audience. “You are the legends—because without you, none of this is possible. So thank you, Disney family—all of you out there.” Curtis then led the crowd in a rousing rendition of the Sherman brothers’ “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” the lyrics of which—she explained—resonate with her to this day.

Seacrest returned and started to introduce the one Disney Legend who happens to be his best friend: Kelly Ripa. “There is no better storyteller than Kelly,” said Seacrest. “She has lightning-fast wit and brilliant comedic timing. Whether it be lighting up a fake cigarette as I rambled on a story… or casually protesting my enthusiasm about eating dinner at 4:51 p.m…. or simply taking any moment at any time and turning it into an adventure that always ends in a laugh—she is the best at what she does.”

Kelly Ripa appears at the Disney Legends Awards ceremony at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

Taking the stage, Ripa said, “It’s a very rare thing in this industry to be employed consistently, but to be employed by the same company for 34 years is my great good fortune. I owe everything—not only my career, but my entire immediate family [to Disney]; I met my smoking hot husband [Mark Consuelos] on All My Children 30 years ago—and from there we made our own three children... right backstage in the Disney labs,” she added, bringing laughs from the audience. After an emotional story about her first trip to Walt Disney World Resort as a child, Ripa added, “Getting to bring our parents back to Walt Disney World with their grandchildren has been the privilege of my lifetime—and being named a Disney Legend is just the pixie dust on top of a sundae.”

Dancing with the Stars favorite Derek Hough then took the stage to fete the next Legend inductee: Martha Blanding. “I couldn’t be more excited to salute Martha for her years of service and contributions to the fabric of the culture here at Disney,” Hough explained. “She’s a part of the foundation that makes Disneyland ‘The Happiest Place on Earth.’” After a delightful performance by the Dapper Dans and the Disneyland Band, accompanied by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Blanding—not just a Legend, but a 50-year Disneyland employee and a pioneer in her own right—was welcomed with particularly enthusiastic applause from the gathered crowd.

Blanding went back to the beginning to help explain her gratitude: “My last semester of high school, just before graduation, the high school counselor met with every student and their parent to talk to them about their college future,” she said. “It was my turn for my mother and I to talk to the counselor. In the meeting, he told me that I needed to learn how to do something with my hands—because I would ‘never make it in corporate America.’ This was quite upsetting to both of my mother and I; when we left this office, I cried, and when I got home, I went to my room and I cried again. But my mother came to talk to me. She told me never to let other people determine your future. I wish my parents were here today to see what I’ve become, because they would be so proud of this moment.”

Appearing on-screen to celebrate the next inductee, James L. Brooks, was a fan-favorite family from the longest-running animated series in history: The Simpsons! Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie welcomed the crowd to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in the hilariously irreverent style fans have come to know and love, before honoring Brooks—who’s been an executive producer on the series since it began as a series of shorts during The Tracey Ullman Show.

But there wasn’t just an animated preface; next onto the stage was Danny DeVito, who costarred in Brooks’ comedy series Taxi. “Jim Brooks is a genius,” DeVito said. “He creates moments that are so funny and so sad and so eloquent... but everyone loves The Simpsons, especially their predictions. I got a prediction for you: There will never be another writer, director, producer, like my dear friend, James L. Brooks.”

James L. Brooks appears at the Disney Legends Awards ceremony at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. With him is Danny DeVito.

As Brooks admitted, “I’m here because I have a great deal of gratitude when it comes to Disney, by introducing us to a whole new audience. The Simpsons on Disney+ has been a godsend... or more accurately, a ‘Bob’-send,” referencing Iger, to the delight of the audience. “But above all that, I’m so deeply and emotionally indebted to them... I’m grateful for it all.”

Oscar^®-nominated director Rob Marshall was next up, to introduce his good friend and Legend inductee Colleen Atwood. “Tonight, Colleen is making history by becoming the first costume designer ever to be honored as a Disney Legend,” Marshall said. “She’s been nominated for a staggering 12 Oscars, and won four... The thing about Colleen is that she’s much more than a designer; she’s a storyteller. In fact, I believe she’s more interested in the internal life of a character and their function in the story than the external look—by itself—that she creates. She deeply wants to understand characters’ wants and needs and motivations and, above all, how they move.”

In accepting her award, Atwood thanked the company for providing her so many incredible opportunities. “With Disney, the tradition of creative support is unsurpassed,” she explained. “The knowledge of collaborators serves to enrich and expand design in today’s marriage of technology and reality. The dedication to inform and educate continues to bring joy to people of all ages... And my continuing wish is to bring magic, hope, and joy to this beautiful world with what I do. For this, I thank you all.”

Seacrest returned to introduce Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer, Pixar Animation Studios, who was on hand to celebrate Frank Oz—his friend and mentor, and the next inductee. “It was Frank’s work with The Muppets that got me inspired to get into the business,” Docter admitted. “Each one of Frank’s characters immediately stick with you as though you’ve known forever—and then they deepen with surprising layers and vulnerabilities. Frank has truly created some of the very best characters in the history of entertainment, and all of that as a performer. Frank claims that was not even a career he wanted! His credits as a director are equally enviable... what I would say is most impactful to me about Frank’s work is his ability to find truth.”

In accepting his award, Oz reminisced about his childhood. “The first time I was ever in Disneyland was a late 1950s,” he remembered. “My parents were Holocaust survivors—and after the terrible time in Europe, they waited for five years to get a visa. And when we immigrated to United States, we ended up in California. I’m so amazed to think that my brother and I played in bombed-out buildings in Belgium, and then about 10 years later we played on Tom Sawyer Island. So it’s very meaningful me to be in Disneyland.”

He continued, “It’s taken me a long time to allow myself to be who I am, and I don’t want you all to wait ’til you’re 80 years old. I want to give you a jump start: Don’t hide who you are.”

Miley Cyrus, with her mother Tish (right), in the audience at the 2024 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony at the Honda Center, during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

The Honda Center crowd then “rocked out the show” as Grammy^®-winning country music star Lainey Wilson and band lit up the stage with a rendition of “Best of Both Worlds” from Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana... honoring, of course, inductee Miley Cyrus!

After being called up on-stage by Wilson, an emotional Cyrus spoke of being grateful for her years at The Walt Disney Company. “It’s such an honor to receive this award,” she said. “The other Legends have said it best—it is all because of you. Everyone in this room, outside of this room, it’s all about the fans... A little bit of everything has changed since [Hannah Montana], but at the same time, nothing has changed at all. I stand here still proud to have been Hannah Montana. In so many ways, this award is dedicated to Hannah, and to all of her amazing loyal fans—and to everyone who has made my dream a reality. To quote the legend herself, ‘This is the life.’”

Seacrest then welcomed Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, on-stage to honor inductee Steve Ditko. “Steve was an incredible artist and creator, and one of the original architects of the Marvel Universe,” Feige explained. “So much of the visual inspiration that you see in our movies comes right from the pages of those early comics that Steve drew. His style as an artist was instantly recognizable, unique, and groundbreaking, and his design for Spider-Man gave us what was probably the most beloved and iconic character of all time.”

Steve Ditko’s nephew, Mark Ditko, appears centerstage at the Disney Legends Awards ceremony at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. At the far left is Marvel Studios president Kevin Fiege.

Unfortunately, Ditko passed away in 2018, but his nephew Mark was on hand to accept the award on his family’s behalf. “To us, Steve Ditko was a son, a brother, an uncle,” he said. “And to some, he was just a friend. Our uncle Steve did not see himself as a public figure to be admired, nor did he consider awards such as this something to strive for. For him, it was all about the work. It was about doing the best that he can do. His life was a personal journey driven by his own goals and ambitions, not affected by the interests of others around him.”

Next, to celebrate inductee Mark Henn—the animator behind so many favorite Disney characters—a veritable gaggle of Disney Princesses, themselves Disney Legends, took to the stage: Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid; Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast; Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog; Linda Larkin, the voice of Jasmine in Aladdin; and Ming-Na Wen, the voice of Mulan in Mulan. Henn was the supervising animator for all five of these characters! “He doesn’t just design characters on paper,” said Benson. “He creates images infused with passion, vulnerability, and authenticity that connect with people for generations.” Added Rose, “He so beautifully rendered Tiana in a way that allow girls to see themselves and others to see their friends, and be the light for the very first time. A piece of me will always live through her, not just because of my voice, but because Mark made her left-handed, just like me.”

She continued, “His capacity to continually dig a little deeper, to create larger-than-life characters, and the way that he listens and sees us is what makes him a distinguished animator and an extraordinary human being.”

“As I think back on a career that’s spanned over four decades, this award represents the tip of an iceberg,” said Henn. “In every artist’s career, there are so many artists who inspire and influence you... To all the enormously talented artists past and present at Walt Disney Animation Studios that I have learned from over the years—you are all a part of this moment.”

To introduce inductee Joe Rohde, Seacrest revealed a very special video message from legendary conservationist Jane Goodall. “I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than you,” Goodall asserted. “[Over the years], my admiration for your work and your imagination has continued to increase. I’m so proud to be counted as one of your friends—and so delighted that in recognition of your talent and accomplishments, you are now a Disney Legend. But most of all, on this special occasion, I want to speak for the hundreds of animals who, thanks to your vision, have had and continue to have a meaningful life [at Disney’s Animal Kingdom].”

Following a mesmerizing performance by a troupe of African musicians, Rohde took to the stage to offer his profound appreciation for the award. “We do what we do, the way we do it, because we love doing it,” said Rohde. “We would make art. We would sing; we would act; compose music; we would organize, make movies, write, draw, design—in our garage. We would do it anyway because it is who we are. It’s how we live! It’s how we know that we are alive! So it’s an extraordinary extra delight to be recognized, to be rewarded, to be seen.”

While she couldn’t be with the assembled crowd live and in person, Titanic star Kate Winslet sent a video message honoring her friend and collaborator and the next of the night’s inductees: James Cameron. “Aside from being the most prolific director I’ve ever worked with, you are passionate and extraordinary,” Winslet admitted. “You are also one of the most fascinating people I’ve ever met. You’ve made some of the most critically acclaimed and culturally beloved films in, certainly, my lifetime. And it’s mind-blowing to think of how many other movie lovers’ lifetimes you have impacted and entertained.”

But that’s not all: The star of Cameron’s Avatar franchise, Zoë Saldaña, took to the stage to continue the celebration. Said Saldaña, “Working with you has been a wild ride, Jim. Your passion, your dedication, and your eye for detail are truly unmatched. But beyond all that, I thank you for making me laugh, for making me cry, for making me blue, and for keeping things light on set. But most of all, thank you for always pushing everyone around you to be their best.”

James Cameron appears at the Disney Legends Awards ceremony at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

“There’s one person that stands out in my mind right now,” explained Cameron, “as I’m standing up here, and that’s my producing partner of 30 years, Jon Landau. He would’ve loved this moment. He’s standing here with me right now. He left our world four weeks ago. All of us in the Avatar family miss him dearly, we’ll continue to miss him—and we make it our goal now to carry on his legacy. He’s an unsung Disney ‘legend’ himself. He and I climbed mountains together. We made Titanic together; we made Avatar together, made The Way of Water together, and the vast majority of Avatar: Fire And Ash... we’ll carry on his dream. And I just want to thank all of you for honoring, essentially, what you’re honoring tonight—which is imagination.”

Seacrest then welcomed Black Panther director Ryan Coogler to the stage to honor the next inductee: Angela Bassett. “The first time I ever went to the movies was in 1991,” Coogler explained. “I wish I could say tell you guys it was to see Beauty and the Beast—that was actually the second movie I ever saw. The first I ever saw was Boyz in the Hood [featuring Bassett]. I was five years old, and it was deeply traumatic,” he admitted, gaining laughs from the audience. “But I remember being enthralled by Angela’s performance, which really felt like I was watching my mom or my aunts or these women in my life that I knew. It made the film feel real.”

Angela Bassett appears at the Disney Legends Awards ceremony at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

With an entrance befitting a queen, featuring the powerful Dora Milaje from the Black Panther films, Bassett gratefully accepted the award. “I’ve had the extraordinary privilege of working, throughout my career, throughout the Disney Universe—including film and television; documentaries and animation, as well as the ‘wonderlands’ that are the Disney theme parks. But I have done none of this alone. From day one, in my pursuit of a career as an actress, I have understood that I’m a part of something greater than myself. I offer my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me on this journey... and to the fans: You are the magic. There are not enough words to let you know how much I appreciate you, how much I love you.”

Kathleen Kennedy and Harrison Ford appear onstage to honor absent Disney Legend John Williams at the Disney Legends Awards ceremony at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, was joined by tonight’s first honoree, Harrison Ford, to fete the final inductee of the night: John Williams. “I’ve had the incredible privilege of knowing and working with John throughout my entire career,” Kennedy explained. “His film scores have connected all of us across generations... It’s no exaggeration to say that John Williams is the greatest film composer of all time.” Added Ford, “Every time John Williams composes a new score, he finds a way to imbue the film’s story and characters with a timeless and essential quality. That’s because John is a storyteller—and his language is exquisite music that touches our hearts and inspires our dreams... John has written the soundtrack of our lives.”

While the crowd was sad to hear that Williams couldn’t make tonight’s ceremony to accept his award, they were thrilled to learn that he had created a specially arranged piece—featuring themes from so many of his iconic scores—to be played on-stage by the Pacific Symphony, under the baton of conductor Carl St. Clair.

As the ceremony started to come to a close, Seacrest welcomed all of tonight’s inductees on-stage to take the ultimate “class photo.” As the host explained, “This truly has been a wonderful night that only Disney could make possible—and of course, we’re here because of you, the fans; the spirit makes us shine. These Legends have all made their mark not just on the Disney legacy, but on each and every one of us. We are so grateful to live in a world where dreams become a reality, thanks to icons like this.”

The Disney Legends, Class of 2024, stand in a line onstage at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, flanked by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

Avengers Campus Expansion, Villains-Themed Land, Encanto Attraction, and Monsters Inc. Land Unveiled at Disney Experiences Showcase

August 11, 2024August 27, 2024

By Alison Stateman

Disney fans were in for epic news about an unprecedented slate of new offerings and expansions at Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney’s gaming alliance with Epic Games on Saturday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the Honda Center—all aimed at bringing the Disney stories fans love to life in new and thrilling ways.

“Everything we share here tonight is in active development. This isn’t Blue Sky,” said Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, referring to the initial stage of Walt Disney Imagineering projects, where initial ideas and concepts are created through a combination of brainstorming and concept design.

“We’re doing all of it,” he emphasized during his division’s showcase before a sold-out crowd, who greeted the news with thunderous applause.

Among the many announcements were plans for four new cruise ships and details about six new themed lands and areas that will bring guests deeper into the stories they love, including Monsters, Inc., Cars, Indiana Jones, Encanto, Avatar, The Lion King, and the classic Disney Villains. D’Amaro announced plans for 14 all-new attractions featuring those stories and more, such as the Avengers, Spider-Man, and the first-ever ride-through attraction themed to Coco coming to Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort, inviting guests to join Miguel on a trip through the Land of the Dead. Among the five new shows and nighttime spectaculars coming to Disney Parks around the world is Disney Starlight, an all-new nighttime parade set for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

D’Amaro was joined onstage by Disney Imagineers and creative leads across Disney’s film studios to share breaking news, as thousands of fans heard from stars and storytellers in the electric, high-energy showcase. Beloved Disney Legend Billy Crystal announced a Monsters, Inc.-themed land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. Meghan Trainor surprised the audience with a stirring rendition of “Feed the Birds” by the Sherman brothers—a song from Mary Poppins beloved by Walt Disney. D’Amaro also announced the largest expansion in history for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, before Shaboozey treated the crowd to a new rendition of “Life Is a Highway” to announce a Cars-themed area, and Rita Ora joined the Magic Mirror to perform “Trust in Me” as part of the announcement of a Villains-themed land, which closed the show to a sea of roars from the audience.

Here are some of the exciting announcements that Disney Experiences revealed at D23 on Saturday:

Disney Villains, Cars, and the Largest Expansion to Date at Magic Kingdom Park
The world’s most-visited theme park will be getting its largest land expansion ever with Disney’s iconic villains and its hit franchise Cars moving into Magic Kingdom Park.

The expansion at Magic Kingdom—the keystone park of Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida—will bring new and beloved stories to life as Disney Imagineers craft a land based on the wickedly wonderful Disney Villains. The new land is underway with two new attractions planned as well as dining, shopping, and more.

“Since the beginning, our Disney Villains have given us endless possibilities to tell new stories,” D’Amaro said. “In this new land, you’ll see storytelling on a grand scale that only Disney can deliver.”

Fans of Pixar’s Cars were elated to hear that the franchise is also racing into the Magic Kingdom. In a reimagined section of Frontierland, guests will leave Radiator Springs behind and head off into the wilderness with two new Cars attractions—a thrilling off-road rally race and a family-friendly attraction that even the youngest racers will love.

Esperanza, Encanto, and Indiana Jones
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World is also getting a new land, which will take guests on adventures in the Tropical Americas. Guests will enter the land through Pueblo Esperanza, a fictional village in heart of the rainforest that will feel lived-in, with a long, rich history.

Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feature two new signature attractions: a thrilling adventure following the heroic Indiana Jones into an ancient Maya temple and a journey through the Casita Madrigal from Encanto following Antonio’s story on the day after he received his magical gift. It will also feature a beautiful carousel featuring animals from many favorite Disney stories, perfect for young families to enjoy. Tropical Americas is set to open in 2027.

Monsters, Inc. at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World is home to attractions from some of cinema’s biggest blockbusters, such as Toy Story and Star Wars. Now, another popular film franchise is coming to life: Monsters, Inc.

The Pixar franchise is getting a new land, which will welcome guests to tour the Laugh Factory with an amazing new attraction that will be the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney Park, with construction beginning next year.

Avengers and Avatar
New lands and attractions are also coming to Disneyland Resort.

On Saturday, D’Amaro announced that two new thrilling Marvel-themed attractions are coming to Disney California Adventure Park. Avengers Campus will expand, doubling its current size to house the new attractions.

Marvel—which has already made more than $30 billion at the global box office—is not the only popular film brand that is coming to Disneyland Resort.

Avatar—the innovative science fiction series that has brought in more than $5 billion at the global box office—will come to Disney California Adventure including an innovative new attraction that will bring all the action, the excitement, and the wonder of Avatar to life in a completely new and thrilling way. The new destination is inspired by the second Avatar film, Avatar: The Way of Water, as well as the upcoming films.

Updates also included the following:

First-ever Audio-Animatronics® figure of Walt Disney: Next year, a new show based on the life of Walt Disney, Walt Disney – A Magical Life, will play at the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland Park and feature the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney. After the show’s debut run, it will play in rotation with perennial fan favorite Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Epic Games Collaboration: While livestreamed in Fortnite, D’Amaro was joined live on stage by creative leads from across The Walt Disney Company—Jennifer Lee from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pete Docter from Pixar Animation Studios, Kevin Feige from Marvel Studios, and Dave Filoni from Lucasfilm—to discuss Disney’s expansive collaboration with Epic Games and how they are bringing Disney storytelling to this dynamic new environment.
“Imagine a place where all the Disney characters and worlds converge in one connected universe. Imagine a place where you can watch, play, and create your own Disney stories,” said D’Amaro. Among the announcements, the group unveiled new characters and skins coming soon to Fortnite, from Disney Villains to The Incredibles and The Mandalorian, and showed a trailer for the next Marvel season featuring Doctor Doom, which debuts on August 16.

The beloved animated film The Lion King, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, will also be brought to life through the first-ever ride-through attraction themed to the film next to Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris, within a themed area of the park, complete with dining, shopping, and character meet-and-greets. This water attraction will go down into the caves beneath Pride Rock to follow Simba on his journey from cub to king, following the story from the classic Walt Disney Animation Studios film.

For more on these and other updates unveiled at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, visit the Disney Parks blog.

5 Goof-tacular Stories from “Making A Goofy Movie: The Road to Lake Destiny” at D23

August 10, 2024August 27, 2024

By Courtney Potter

It’s been nearly 30 years since A Goofy Movie debuted in theaters—and in the ensuing decades, it’s become a veritable fan favorite. So it’s no wonder that filmmakers Eric Kimelton and Christopher Ninness have chosen to explore the making of A Goofy Movie in a brand-new documentary. And it’s only natural they’d want to honor both the film’s upcoming anniversary and this new documentary at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with a legion of fans, who filled the Walt Disney Archives Stage on Friday evening for a rollicking look at the past, present, and future of Goofy and Max’s heartfelt and hilarious father/son adventures.

Joining the filmmakers onstage for the panel, titled “Making A Goofy Movie: The Road to Lake Destiny,” was our moderator for the evening, Disney Legend Don Hahn, as well the director of A Goofy Movie, Kevin Lima, and Hahn’s fellow Disney Legend—the voice of Goofy—Bill Farmer! Also on hand for the celebratory occasion were head of story Brian Pimental, animation sequence director and storyboard artist Steve Moore, and editor Greg Perler.

Besides showing clips from the still-in-production documentary, Lima and friends delved into several memorable behind-the-scenes stories from the making of A Goofy Movie. Like Goof and Maxie, head out “on the open road” and read on for some highlights:

How Lima came to direct the film:

“I got a phone call one day, and they asked whether or not I’d consider taking over the directing duties on the piece,” Lima explained. “I often say that so much of what happens to us has to do with luck—I was in the right place at the right time, wanting to do the work. I had asked to do the work; I had said I wanted to be a director, and they knew that… I thought we had the opportunity to make a John Hughes movie in animation. Let’s make a movie that’s about contemporary teenagers.”

On the tone of the finished product:

As Pimenthal explained, “Right from the start, we thought it was a comedy—but [then Walt Disney Studios chairman] Jeffrey Katzenberg really pushed for the film’s heart. He wanted us to dig deeper; he wanted it to feel like a real father son relationship. That made sense in hindsight. At the time, though, we thought, ‘We’re not going to be able to do what we’re used to seeing Goofy do,’ you know? But we realized we’d be able to do both.”

“Most of my contemporaries were upset with me for bringing deep emotion to Goofy,” continued Lima, eliciting chuckles from the audience. “They didn’t understand, because it had never been a part of his character up to that point. But we all really felt like the only way to survive on a 75-minute journey was to have there be some strong emotion at the center of it. When we clicked into that idea—that there was going to be this is sort of odd, I guess, ‘pain’ in A Goofy Movie—we were able to discover new things. And in discovering those new things, I think it made the movie click in the way that it has.”

Why a certain sequence in the film means a lot to one of the documentary’s directors:

“A Goofy Movie means so much to us—because on emotional level, it hit us at a pivotal moment in our lives,” admited Ninness. “I was 5 years old when A Goofy Movie came out, it was a time in my life where I wasn’t connecting as much to my father. ‘Hi Dad Soup’ has always been my favorite scene in the film, and I could never quite articulate why I loved it so much. This was the first scene we edited for the documentary. When we found the footage we just showed—which, so you have some context, is Kevin would film himself and send the tapes off to [the Disney Animation studios in] Paris, since he was in Burbank, and that’s how he would be able to direct them—and he’s breaking down the scene beat by beat. Anyway, I would watch ‘Hi Dad Soup’ over and over and over because it was the first time I got to really hear someone articulate how I was feeling as a kid. So to see Kevin’s footage… it makes the scene even better for me now as a 35-year-old.”

On which scene has grown on Farmer over the years:

“It sounded the most like me,” the iconic voice actor explained, “which bothered me when I first saw it. Because I thought, ‘That’s too much me; I’m not doing enough Goofy!’ I was trying to split between me and Goofy, to give the Goofy qualities and still have the nurturing father and the worry and all of the reality that the scene needed. But over the years, I’ve come to love that scene because it is the most real and heartfelt and shows the depth that Goofy’s emotions can go. And that was difficult to add—because Goof Troop, which was my first series before A Goofy Movie, was Saturday morning, high-energy fun. And we didn’t have to add layers of emotion to this character that he’d never had before. So that was the hard part—and I’m glad that we stuck through it and worked on it over the couple of years and the many, many recording sessions, to add that depth of emotion. Because it stands the test of time.”

On editing “I 2 I,” and why it stands out from the crowd (so to speak) as a favorite:

As Perler admited, “Trying to keep the story going—intercutting between the story that was Goofy and Max getting into the stadium and also showing Powerline [performing]—was a really delicate balancing act. I remember it being thoroughly storyboarded. The song [“I 2 I”] was so perfect; we never really edited the song or anything. And there’s a modulation in the song at a certain point, and we said, ‘Okay, that’s when they come together on stage,’ and you just work backward from there. Some of the shots in there are ‘blink and you miss ’em.’ I mean, they’re eight frames! And you still had to keep that Goofy and Max where they were, [then show them as] they got separated, [then] we’ve got to get them back together—oh, and kids are watching this all on TV, which was part of the story. So yeah, it was a real juggling act.”

GALLERY: Extraordinary Costumes from D23 2024’s Mousequerade

August 10, 2024August 11, 2024

By Courtney Potter

Ready for fashion and fandom to collide? Guests filled the Anaheim Convention Center’s Premiere Stage Saturday morning for one of the most anticipated shows of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event: the 2024 Mousequerade!

DJ Rubin Ervin hilariously warmed up the crowd before Nina West—recently seen on tour in Broadway’s Hairspray, and competing for charity on RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars Season 9—took to the stage, with a gaggle of dancers, to perform her original song “You Are the Dream.” Dressed in an Alice in Wonderland-inspired costume, West was returning for her second stint as Mousequeradehost, and the crowd was thrilled to see her again.

DJ Rubin then introduced our Mousequerade judges, including Emmy^®nominee Yvette Nicole Brown, star of Disney+’s Disenchanted and Big Shot and Disney Junior’s Alice’s Wonderland Bakery; and Ashley Eckstein, voice of Star Wars’ Ahsoka Tano, author, and the creator of the Her Universe clothing line (dressed as, in her words, a “fashion-forward Lottie” from The Princess and the Frog)—both of whom were returning to Mousequerade as well. New to the festivities this year were Caitlin McHugh Stamos, noted model, podcaster, jewelry designer, and cosplayer; and newly minted Disney Legend Colleen Atwood, the incredible, four-time Oscar^®-winning costume designer. What a lineup!

West then returned to explain the Mousequerade... For 2024, contestants would be judged in three categories: “Fantastic Worlds,” celebrating the most stunning costumes inspired by the best of Disney, Pixar, The Muppets, and Disney Parks around the world; “Epic Adventures,” featuring looks from the worlds of Marvel, Lucasfilm, Hulu, National Geographic, and 20th Century Studios; and “Cast of Characters,” the category for duos or groups creating their favorite cosplays from any of the Disney universes.

Once Eckstein led everyone in an impromptu rendition of “Happy Birthday” for both West—whose birthday was that day!—and Brown, who was to celebrate hers a few days later, the contest began. The winners of every Mousequerade category, chosen by the four judges, received a Disney gift card; additionally, the assembled audience got to vote via the Disney D23 app for an “Audience Choice” favorite, who also won a gift card!

And now, take a gander at each incredible category winner; the “Audience Choice” winner—as presented by head of D23, Michael Vargo; and a few other looks from the show...

“Fantastic Worlds” – Diva of EPCOT: Tangledfett

“Epic Adventures” – The Rumor, The Legend, The Mystery! Grand Duchess Anastasia: Maryna Matlock

“Cast of Characters” – Golden Afternoon: Cassie Wanda and Friends

“Audience Choice” – Disney’s Magic Beginning: Jessica Martin and Friend

D23: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT PRESENTED BY VISA - On Friday, August 10, 2024, at the Anaheim Convention Center, fans of all ages and from around the world experienced [ENTER PANEL NAME]. D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center on August 9, 10, and 11, 2024, is a one-of-a-kind, multi-day fan experience showcasing the very best in creative storytelling and unrivaled innovation from across the worlds of Disney. The event has been reimagined to be more expansive and more immersive than ever before, offering fans access to more of what they love. (The Walt Disney Company)

D23: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT PRESENTED BY VISA - On Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the Anaheim Convention Center, fans of all ages and from around the world experienced the D23 MOUSEQUERADE: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY COSTUME CONTEST. D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center on August 9, 10, and 11, 2024, is a one-of-a-kind, multi-day fan experience showcasing the very best in creative storytelling and unrivaled innovation from across the worlds of Disney. The event has been reimagined to be more expansive and more immersive than ever before, offering fans access to more of what they love. (The Walt Disney Company)
NINA WEST

Disney Lorcana Deals Out a Winning Hand of Big News

August 10, 2024August 27, 2024

By Bruce C. Steele

At the Disney Lorcana panel Friday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, members of the Ravensburger trading card game’s creative team held all the cards and played them one at a time to please the standing-room-only crowd: Pixar! Pocahontas! A Lorcana Challenge World Championship! A one-of-a-kind Lorcana card!

Ryan Miller, senior brand manager and co-designer, began the event by saying that the year since the Disney Lorcana launch had been “like a roller-coaster on a rodeo,” a momentous period only partly captured by “a lot of numbers.” Such as:

More than 1 billion Disney Lorcana cards sold, which comes out to 131,000 cards an hour.
One-and-a-half times around the equator: The distance that could be covered by all those cards placed end to end.
More than 400,000 downloads of the related app.
100,000 players participating in regularly organized play.
More than 76,000 organized play events so far.

More important than that, said Brent Strong, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering, is that “every single game is a story.” Appropriate to this creative partnership, he said, “I love the way Lorcanacaptures the stories [Disney tells].” Strong is a player himself, along with his 8- and 10-year-old children.

“We’re bringing all the generations together,” added Steve Warner, co-creator and game designer. “That’s huge.”

There are three ingredients to a great experience, Miller noted: love, attention to detail, and hard work—elements exemplified by both Disney storytelling and Ravensburger’s crafting of the Disney Lorcana game and its beautiful, collectible cards.

After sharing behind-the-scenes details and artwork detailing the finely honed process of creating each Lorcana card—and the creation of the rich, semi-secret backstory that underpins the Lorcana world—the panelists moved on to sharing a lot of big news, including:

Four major regional Disney Lorcana events (previously announced) are scheduled for the remainder of 2024: in Toronto, Canada, later this month; in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Birmingham, England, in September; and in Seattle, Washington, in October.
Those events will be followed by the European championship in December at the Disneyland Paris Resort and the North American Championship in January at the Disneyland Resort. Exact dates and details will be revealed later.
Even bigger news was that a Disney Lorcana Challenge World Championship will take place in 2025 at Walt Disney World Resort. (Dates and details to follow.) The participants in the World Championship will be playing for a one-of-a-kind Disney Lorcana card: a golden card featuring Mickey Mouse as the Brave Little Tailor. (It has already been printed and hidden in a secure location, all duplicates shredded at the printer.)
As for cards that every player can own, fans can look forward to:
- Autograph-ready cards that can be signed in Disney Parks by the characters depicted—part of a Disney Lorcana Quest activity now in development.
- An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit card later this year.
- Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers cards, also later this year.
- Cards featuring The Black Cauldron, coming in 2025.
- A Pocahontas card to complete the Disney Princess deck, coming in 2026.
- Cards featuring Pixar stories, songs, and characters, also in 2026.

But besides all the collectible cards and challenging events, Miller emphasized, “Story is the glue that holds it all together.” That, and the warmth of friends and family gathered to enjoy a Disney Lorcana trading card game together.

Ravensburger has just released the fifth and newest card set for Disney Lorcana, called Shimmering Skies. A sixth set (details to come) will have a nautical theme, with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and other characters depicted in pirate roles.

Disney Entertainment Showcases a Slate of New Offerings and Exclusive Sneak Peeks at D23

August 9, 2024August 27, 2024

By Alison Stateman

Music, magic, and sheer delight awaited fans at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on Friday night. Fans were treated to a cavalcade of announcements and exclusive reveals about some of its most beloved brands and franchises, including updates about highly anticipated films and series such as Walt Disney Animation’s Zootopia 2, Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5, Disney’s Snow White, and Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World.

The crowd was primed for the evening with a preshow hosted by CoryLive with The Dueling DJs, DJ SP and DJ Keybo and hype crew, Skye Isaac and Sasha B, before Disney CEO Bob Iger took the stage to thunderous applause.

“Thank you for your warm welcome,” said Iger, while placing a hand over his heart in acknowledgment of the crowd’s enthusiastic greeting. “This is the first time in five years that I’ve been to D23, and over the years I’ve witnessed the special connection Disney has with its fans. Your passion drives us—and there’s nothing we love more than to surprise you and fill your hearts with joy and wonder. We know when we do that, we’ve done our job.”

Surprises and star power aplenty followed Iger’s greeting.

What follows are some of the biggest announcements, updates, and reveals from Disney Entertainment’s event on Friday at the Honda Center as well as show highlights from the evening:

Moana 2
Before getting to the major announcements, the Disney Entertainment Showcase opened with singing, dancing, and Dwayne Johnson hyping the crowd. All of it was to drum up excitement for one of the most anticipated films of the year, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana 2.

Auliʻi Cravalho—the voice of Moana—performed the brand-new song from the film “We’re Back” alongside dancers and a band while Johnson, the voice of demigod Maui, did a call and response with the audience that shook the walls of the Honda Center. The film—which opens in theaters on November 27—debuted a new trailer and poster that celebrated one of Disney’s most popular and growing franchises.

The original Moana grossed nearly $700 million in 2016 before becoming a fan-favorite hit on Disney+.

Frozen 3
With more than $2.7 billion earned at the global box office, a significant product line, and countless renditions of “Let It Go,” one of the most popular cultural franchises of the past decade is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen.

And soon there will be even more from Anna, Elsa, and Olaf to keep the franchise warm in the hearts of fans of all ages everywhere when Frozen 3 debuts in 2027.

Jennifer Lee—Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios—showed off enchanting concept art from production designer Brittney Lee, which drew appreciative gasps from fans, as well as a logo for the new film.

Incredibles 3
Pete Docter—Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer—had a lot to be joyful about thanks to the recent successes and the future of the animation studios on Friday night.

“I’m D23-delighted to be here,” said Docter, before thanking fans for their support of Inside Out 2—which became the highest-grossing animated film of all time this summer. He also offered up updates about series such as 2024’s Win or Lose, the studio’s very first original long form series, and films like 2025’s Elio and 2026’s Toy Story 5. Additionally, Docter announced a new series coming to Disney+ in 2025, Dream Productions, based on the world of Inside Out, and a new feature film set for release in Spring 2026 called Hoppers.

However, one of the biggest surprises of the night was the announcement that Incredibles 3 is officially in the works, to which the crowd erupted in applause. Oscar®-winning filmmaker Brad Bird is currently developing the film.

The superhero series is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed franchises in all of animation with the first two films bringing in nearly $2 billion, collectively, and the original film winning the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.

Avatar: Fire And Ash
Disney Entertainment also shared a lot of news about its live-action slate of films… including one of the biggest film series in box office history: Avatar.

The science-fiction franchise had its stars—including Zoë Saldaña and Sam Worthington—and director and soon-to-be Disney Legend James Cameron in attendance to talk about the next film in the series, which debuts in theaters on December 19, 2025. The 20th Century Studios film also revealed concept art from the upcoming third installment, as well as its new title, Avatar: Fire And Ash.

Other Avatar sequels are set to be released in 2029 and 2031.

The Mandalorian & Grogu
Friday night’s event also featured everyone’s favorite bounty hunter and apprentice from the Star Wars galaxy.

Director Jon Favreau and producer Dave Filoni showed off new footage from the upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, to cheers and excitement inside the Honda Center.

The film—which hits theaters in 2026—is the first starring the characters from the hit Disney+ show. It’s also the first Star Wars film in theaters since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again, which launches on Disney+ in March 2025, brought out the cast of the street-level Super Hero series, including Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, and Jon Bernthal

The series catches up with Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, and his nemesis, Wilson Fisk, who’s pursuing his own political endeavors in New York. The cast shared footage from the new series with D23 attendees.

TRON: Ares
The next film in the TRON series hit the stage in style on Friday night as star Jared Leto showed up on an iconic Lightcycle, alongside fellow cast members Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee, and Evan Peters.

The cast shared details about their characters and gave an in-room-only early look. The presentation then used red lasers to announce big news: the film’s music will be done by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails.

TRON: Ares—which is directed by Joachim Rønning and slated for theatrical release on October 10, 2025—follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.

Mufasa: The Lion King
To close out Disney Entertainment Showcase, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King brought out Lebo M., who contributes to the film’s music, performing the iconic “Nants’ Ingonyama” alongside a full choir.

The film—which hits theaters on December 20—is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins and will explore the story of how Mufasa became one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands.

Jenkins welcomed to the stage Mufasa songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda in his first-ever D23 appearance. Together, they offered a special look at a sequence from the film featuring a new song, “I Always Wanted a Brother.” Jenkins was then joined by cast members Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Theo Somolu, Braelyn Rankins, and Anika Noni Rose.

The crowd was also treated to the newest trailer for the film before it’s official release on Saturday.

The prequel continues the tradition of the original 1994 movie—which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year—and follows the cinematic style of 2019’s The Lion King, which made $1.6 billion at the global box office. The innovative approach blends live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery.

In addition to the announcements and fan reveals, the audience was dazzled by an array of performances, including from Disney on Broadway’s hit productions such as Frozen, during which white-snow-like confetti drifted on the audience from the rafters during a stirring rendition of “Let It Go” by West End star Samantha Barks (who’ll soon be seen in a filmed version of Frozen the Musical on Disney+); additionally, a first look was revealed for their newest show in development The Greatest Showman. And fans of the hit Disney+ film Descendants: The Rise of Red were treated to a medley of songs performed by the cast following an introduction by the Queen of Hearts herself, Rita Ora, bedecked in a floor-length red gown. And there was some literal magic to boot, when famed magician David Blaine led the audience through an elaborate card trick with a specialty card deck provided at the top of the evening. This followed an official first look at his jaw-dropping series David Blaine: Do Not Attempt from Nat Geo.

Fans leaving the three-plus-hour show were abuzz with excitement about the Disney magic they witnessed—and for what’s to come.

GALLERY: Every Car From “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” at D23

August 9, 2024August 27, 2024

By Courtney Potter

Over 30 incredible automobiles and other vehicles take up 24,000 square feet the Anaheim Convention Center for “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show,” the Walt Disney Archives’ brand-new exhibit for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Engine troubles and can’t make the event this weekend? Never fear! We’ll take a drive through the exhibit and check out the fun. Buckle up, and keep your hands and arms inside the (metaphorical) vehicle at all times...