5 Ways to Celebrate the Ice Age 20th Anniversary and National Nut Day

October 22, 2022October 18, 2022

Scrat, Ice Age’s saber-toothed squirrel that we all know and love, began his pursuit for the elusive acorn 20 years ago. So in honor of the film’s 20th anniversary—and the fact that today, October 22, is National Nut Day—rather than collecting acorns, we’ve collected five cool ways to celebrate all things Ice Age below.

**1. Shop the Ice Age product collection**

The Ice Age Collector Plush Set includes four furry friends: Scrat the saber-toothed squirrel, Diego the saber-toothed tiger, Sid the sloth, and Buck the weasel.

You can also join the Paleolithic fun with the Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild Figure Set. These seven unconventional friends will make a bold display or fill hours with imaginative roleplay.

For all the acorn enthusiasts, interact with Scrat by giving and taking away his beloved acorn with the Ice Age Goin Nuts Scrat Plush. Scrat sways and chirps excitedly when passed his acorn—and he voices enthusiastic protest when the acorn is taken away.

The Baby Scrat Plush with Sound Effects is a cute new addition—and if you press Baby Scrat’s belly, you can hear sweet sounds and chitters.

Story time is also play time with the Ice Age My Busy Book, an engaging book and toy in one activity kit!

**2. Join in the Ice Age fun on social**

Search the hashtags #PassTheScrat and #IceAge20th on TikTok to join in the fun on National Nut Day! Fans can #PasstheScrat by making a video catching the plush and passing it along to the next person. The Scrat plush featured in the TikTok, along with other Ice Age products, can be purchased here.

**3. Experience the first Ice Age film in theaters for a limited time**

At 175 select Cinemark, Marcus, and Cinepolis theaters nationwide from October 21 – 28, fans can watch the original Ice Age film on the big screen! These theaters are also running product box sweepstakes to celebrate the release, with prizes that include Just Play Ice Age plush and collector figures; a Phidal book; and Minecraft code. Click here to purchase tickets.

**4. Stream the Ice Age Collection on Disney+**

For those who want to just chill out at home, check out your favorite movies and shorts in the Ice Age Collection on Disney+. Starting today, fans can now also choose select Ice Age characters as their profile avatar! (Must be 18+ to subscribe.)

**5. Explore the world of Ice Age in Minecraft**

Celebrate 20 years of Ice Age with Minecraft and Disney! Have you checked out the Ice Age Mash-Up in Minecraft? Explore Ice Age’s frozen wonderland while playing as your favorite character from the movies. You can help Scrat find his acorn, and even brave a ride down the Eviscerator!

How The Hair Tales Celebrates Black Women Through a Lens of Joy

October 21, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

Disney Legend Tracee Ellis Ross, Michaela angela Davis, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey are going back to their roots in the new Hulu Original docuseries The Hair Tales from Disney’s Onyx Collective and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

“Michaela and I have been friends for over 20 years, and our friendship over those years has been anchored in style, justice, and joy,” shares Ross, who executive produces The Hair Tales along with Davis and Winfrey. “When Michaela brought this idea for us to develop together, it was really an evolution of us discovering something that we have loved this whole time, which is Black women. But it was a combination of us loving ourselves, loving the sisterhood that we come from, and wanting to see it represented in the world in a way that reflected what our experience has been.”

The Hair Tales uses the framework of telling a story through Black women’s hair because it seamlessly leads itself to historic and cultural themes. “We are our stories; that’s how humanity heals,” says Davis. “The storytelling is the queen of our show, and the hair is the leading lady.”

The docuseries uniquely approaches Black women’s hair from a source of power, instead of depicting it solely as a challenge or problem to solve. “We’re talking about in the layered way in which we live,” Davis says. “When we get to tell our own stories, we get to tell them inside the complexity in which we actually live, and not have to shapeshift around the narrow narratives that the culture constructed for us.”

Ross adds, “Like so many others, I can chronicle my journey of self-acceptance through my journey with my hair. I don’t think it was until I was a teenager that I started to face my own personal journey with my experiences with my hair [after] not seeing myself mirrored back through culture, media, newscasters, anyone. I saw it at home, but I didn’t see it out in the world. At the time, I took that personally, and really put that on my own self—that I wasn’t enough. As I got older, my own realization about myself was that I was one of many. I was part of a vast community—a vast culture of people who also weren’t seeing themselves.”

The award-winning actress, who portrayed Rainbow Johnson on the long-running hit ABC series black-ish, has herself become a beacon for Black hair, showcasing once taboo hairstyles on the screen and on the red carpet. “We are exploring, celebrating, and unpacking so much of the historical context of who we are and what our stories are as Black women in this country,” says Ross.

The docuseries highlights six iconic women—Issa Rae, Chlöe Bailey, Chika, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Marsai Martin, and Winfrey—alongside academic and cultural leaders, hair professionals, and influential contributors, including Esi Eggleston Bracey, Dr. Noliwe Rooks, Mickalene Thomas, and Meshell Ndegeocello. For Ross, moderating the series is new terrain for a multihyphenate such as herself, who has spent the past several decades in the interview seat.

“I love hearing people’s stories,” says Ross. “I love being a warm, receptive, safe space for people to tell their truth; it’s something I do in my own personal life. For Ayana, one of my favorite things I said was, ‘Teach me about your freedom. Teach me about your beauty.’ It was a wonderful experience and I really enjoyed it.”

Admits Ross, “Oprah told me I was good at it. She said in the middle of me talking to her, ‘You’re really good at this,’ and I said, ‘What? Did that get recorded?’”

The first two episodes of The Hair Tales will debut Saturday, October 22, on Hulu and air at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.

How The Banshees of Inisherin Explores Heartbreak and Humanity

October 21, 2022October 21, 2022

By Zach Johnson

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Searchlight Pictures’ The Banshees of Inisherin—playing exclusively in theaters beginning Friday, October 21—follows lifelong friends Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell) and Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), who find themselves at an impasse after one unexpectedly ends their friendship. “The Banshees of Inisherin is the story of an island, the small group of people on that island, and two friends who early on in the film are forced by the decision of one friend to go their separate ways,” Farrell says. “The other friend finds that particularly hard to deal with.”

The film (intended for mature audiences) is set in 1923 on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, far from the Irish Civil War raging on the mainland. The narrative blends comedy and tragedy to present an intimate portrait of humanity—a hallmark of McDonagh’s films. When the story begins, all seems well. As part of their daily routine, Pádraic and Colm usually meet at 2 p.m. to go for a drink in the only pub on Inisherin. Things take a turn, suddenly, on the day when Colm decides to ignore Pádraic’s call. “Colm starts acting very strangely and starts avoiding Pádraic,” says Gleeson. “Colm doesn’t answer the door, which is how we start off the journey. That’s how it begins, with the shutting of a door against a good friend… for no apparent reason.”

Saddened and stunned, Pádraic tries to repair their relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Pádraic’s determination only strengthens Colm’s resolve—and when Colm responds with a desperate demand, things escalate with shocking consequences. Colm believes he has a good reason for cutting Pádraic out of his life, according to McDonagh. “He doesn’t want to waste his time anymore. He wants to devote himself to artistic enterprises: music or thought. Pádraic is the fallout from that decision,” he says. “Until this point things have been easygoing, but Colm is older than Pádraic by 15 or 20 years. Colm identifies that time is precious. He sees him as a waste of time.”

“Colm decides to embrace art and creativity as the most important thing in life and it leads to hellish consequences,” echoes Gleeson. “Pádraic chooses to be nice, and he ends up with hellish consequences as well. The Irish Civil War was a tragedy—that’s the context here. Through examining it and trying to understand how things can get dragged out of shape, maybe we can face it down and not take that path. I hope the film will remind people that making nasty or harmful decisions has a lasting effect.”

Farrell describes Pádraic as “a nice, simple lad,” saying, “He’s happy as long as the animals are fed and he has a couple of pence in his pocket for a few pints and a chat with his friend Colm every day. As long as that’s all happening, then life is just grand.” After the relationship ends, Pádraic struggles. “His loss of innocence is the saddest part of the film,” he says. “He falls apart. He’s not anywhere near as happy as he once was.”

McDonagh—who previously directed Farrell and Gleeson in his debut feature, In Bruges (2008)—is curious to see how audiences respond to The Banshees of Inisherin. “Do you devote yourself totally to life as an artist, and disregard friends or lovers or family? Is work the most important thing? Does it matter who gets hurt in the process?” he asks. “It’s a debate that isn’t answered by me or the film. I don’t think that you have to be a self-flagellating or dark or hateful person to do any kind of art, even dark art. But I definitely think the film explores that interesting conundrum.”

Fantasmic! Returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios—Plus More in News Briefs

October 21, 2022October 20, 2022

By Courtney Potter

**Dream an Amazing Dream—Fantasmic! Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios**

Big news from our pals at Walt Disney World Resort: Forces of good and evil will once again battle it out in Mickey’s dream with the long-awaited return of Fantasmic! on Thursday, November 3, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The legendary nighttime spectacular invites guests into Mickey’s imagination for a larger-than-life show painted on a grand canvas of dancing water overflowing with both silly and suspenseful surprises…

The elaborate 29-minute spectacular takes place nightly—a kaleidoscope of entertainment featuring thrilling stunts, dazzling special effects, and a rousing score based on classic Disney animated films. But that’s not all: Its return will include the debut of an all-new sequence that brings to life heroic moments from Disney stories such as Moana, Mulan, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Frozen 2.

Fantasmic! is just one of many new and returning live-entertainment experiences guests can enjoy during the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration. Look for it nightly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; guests can enter the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater up to 90 minutes prior to the show’s start—but since it is an outdoor venue, the show is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, and showtimes are also subject to change.

Beginning Wednesday, October 26, dining packages for select restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be available to purchase to secure reserved seating for performances occurring on Wednesday, November 30, and beyond. To experience Fantasmic!, guests need both a valid park admission and a park reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios on the same date; visit DisneyWorld.com for more info!

“Some imagination, huh?!”

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

How is it almost Halloween? And to that end, how is it almost November?! If these questions leave you seeking some comfort viewing from around the worlds of Disney, never fear—there’s much to choose from. Look for a new episode of The Villains of Valley View on Disney Channel; the new docuseries The Hair Taleson Hulu; the premiere of Peyton and Eli’s Spooky Adventure: A Places Universe Special on ESPN+; and so much more.

New Cast Members Announced for ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration

Earlier this week, ABC announced six additional performers joining the highly anticipated animated and live action blended special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration… and all told, the cast is shaping up to be a veritable who’s who of talent!

Celebrated comedian and Emmy^® Award-winning actor Martin Short will play Lumière; Tony Award^® winner David Alan Grier will play Cogsworth; Rizwan Manji will play Gaston’s sidekick, LeFou; and Jon Jon Briones will play Belle’s father, Maurice. Additionally, five-time Grammy Award^® winner and top-selling female country pop artist Shania Twain and Leo Abelo Perry will play mother-son duo Mrs. Potts and Chip, respectively.

As previously announced, H.E.R. will play the role of Belle; Josh Groban will play the Beast; Joshua Henry will play Gaston; and Rita Moreno will narrate. Jon M. Chu executive produces the special, with Hamish Hamilton directing—taking viewers on a memorable journey through the classic enchanted tale.

Presented by The Wonderful World of Disney, this two-hour reimagining of the beloved story will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Thursday, December 15, from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and stream on Disney+ the next day.

**Let D23 Help You Take the Perfect Halloween Photo at Disneyland Resort**

As Jack Skellington and crew once warbled, “This is Halloween, everybody make a scene”—and what better place to do that, in front of one’s camera (natch), than at Disneyland Resort? D23 has your guide to the spookiest places across the resort to take the perfect Halloween photo, including a Hocus Pocus 2 photo op at Downtown Disney. What spell-tacular fun will you come up with?

Adventures by Disney Sails the Adriatic Sea in 2024

The good folks at Adventures by Disney have announced an incredible new destination and expedition cruise to complement their global itineraries: the Adventures by Disney Adriatic Expedition Cruise! In 2024, Adventures by Disney will take guests to Croatia and points along the beautiful Adriatic Sea with two departures.

Starting in Venice, Italy, guests will board the Ponant’s ship, Le Bougainville, a small purpose-built ship designed to access remote locations, and make stops at seven ports in Croatia and Montenegro. The eight-day, seven-night round-trip family sailing includes the Disney-trained Adventure Guides, who deliver their signature service and storytelling, ensuring guests enjoy a hassle-free vacation.

Adventure Guides lead activities aboard and ashore for every member of the family. While the Junior Adventurers enjoy a Pirates of the Adriatic swim party or a Dalmatian Dash scavenger hunt, the adults can participate in a cocktail workshop, try out a fitness class, or simply relax on deck, overlooking the exquisite sites.

Additional activities available during the Adventures by Disney Adriatic Expedition Cruise include kayaking along the Pakleni Islands; biking through vineyards and lavender fields of the UNESCO Stari Grad Plain; visiting Predjama Castle in Slovenia; and much more.

Thinking of planning a ’24 vacation? For more info about this family-fun Adriatic Sea expedition cruise—or any other exciting expedition cruise destinations, including Antarctica, the Arctic, or Galapagos Islands—visit the “Expedition Cruising with Disney” page at AdventuresByDisney.com.

Official Trailer Unveiled for Disney+’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules

Disney+ just released the official trailer for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, an all-new animated movie based on the second book in Jeff Kinney’s wildly popular book series. The original song from the movie, “Can You Smell Us Now”—written and produced by Jon Levine, with lyrics by Jeff Kinney, and performed by Jimmy Tatro—is also now available.

The hilarious antics of angst-ridden, disaster-prone middle school student Greg Heffley (voiced by Brady Noon) continue in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, focusing this time ’round on his complicated relationship with older brother Rodrick (voiced by Hunter Dillon). A spiky-haired high school student, Rodrick is lazy and undisciplined and spends way too much time practicing with his rock band, Löded Diper. While he loves to torment Greg, he ultimately has a deep affection for his younger brother.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is directed by Luke Cormican and written and produced by Kinney. The movie also features the voices of Ethan William Childress as Rowley Jefferson; the late Edward Asner as Grandpa Heffley; Chris Diamantopoulos as Frank; and Erica Cerra as Susan. Look for it beginning Friday, December 2, on Disney+.

ICYMI: Everything You Need to Know About MagicBand+ Coming to Disneyland Resort

They’ve had it at Walt Disney World Resort for a while, and now those of us on the West Coast will get to experience the fun too… Learn about what to expect from MagicBand+ when it launches at Disneyland Resort on October 26—including info on what’s to come in the very near future—by clicking here.

Celebrate Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort

October 20, 2022November 21, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

Today, our friends at the Disney Parks Blog unveiled the Wakanda-inspired delicacies, props, and heroes coming to Disneyland Resort for a limited time in celebration of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Beginning Friday, November 11, 2022—the day the highly anticipated sequel opens exclusively in theaters—and continuing through Sunday, January 8, 2023, guests can discover the magic of Wakanda at Avengers Campus and beyond at Disney California Adventure, plus pose with a special art installation at the Downtown Disney District.

As previously revealed, M’Baku, one of Wakanda’s greatest warriors and chieftain of the Jabari Clan, will make his way to Avengers Campus. M’Baku will invite recruits to join in “The Way of the Jabari,” an all-new experience that will share some of the culture of the Jabari Clan through chants and percussion.

Adjacent to the campus, The Black Panther Celebration Garden will honor the legacy of the Black Panther in Wakandan lore. The space invites guests to relax and reflect on the legendary protectors of the Kingdom of Wakanda.

Super Hero recruits can fuel up at the Flavors of Wakanda marketplace located in the Hollywood Backlot, where they can enjoy flavorful, spiced, traditional African dishes and experience the vibrant culture of Wakanda through its food. Wakanda-inspired delicacies include Peri-Peri Chicken with yellow Jollof rice; Butterfly Pea Tea Lemonade, the Dawa beverage consisting of vodka, lemonade, honey, ginger beer, and butterfly pea tea; and Maafe, a ground peanut stew with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, and spices, served with naan.

Inside Avengers Campus, feast on the Wakandan Roasted Pork Wrap, featuring spiced pork with black garlic sauce and chermoula at Shawarma Palace and Shawarma Palace Too.

Enjoy your beverage in style with Shuri’s gauntlet, one of several drinking vessels available at the Flavors of Wakanda marketplace, Shawarma Palace, Shawarma Palace Too, and select vending carts near Avengers Campus.

Guests can discover props and costumes from the film and purchase Black Panther-themed gear at the Super Store Featuring Avengers Campus located in Hollywood Land.

In the Downtown Disney District, outside the building adjacent to Star Wars Trading Post, pose by a limited-time mural celebrating Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The colorful illustration will be created by artist Nikkolas Smith, who previously created the art installation “King Chad.”

In Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

Entertainment, experiences, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability or unavailable, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Theme Park reservations and valid admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.

Bob Weis to Retire from Imagineering After 42 Years

October 20, 2022

By Bruce Steele

Bob Weis, Global Imagineering Ambassador and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), announced today that he will retire at the end of the year. “I will always be proud to have led Imagineering from 2016-2021, and to be your Global Ambassador in 2022,” he wrote in an email he shared today with his fellow Imagineers. “I am proud to have been an Imagineer, a collaborator, and someone who loves to do impossible things with impossibly talented people.”

Weis grew up in Southern California and fondly recalls his family’s annual visits to Disneyland on his birthday every year. While studying architecture at California Polytechnic University in Pomona, he worked in Disneyland Park as a cast member selling popcorn and ice cream and absorbing everything going on around him. He joined Walt Disney Imagineering, then called WED Enterprises, in 1980, soon after graduating college, and within eight months had relocated to Japan as part of the WED team creating Tokyo Disneyland.

Subsequent assignments included creative leadership on Disney’s Hollywood Studios (at the time, Disney-MGM Studios), Tokyo DisneySea, and the reimagining of Disney California Adventure. In recent years, he led the creative team for the development, design, and construction of Shanghai Disney Resort. After the resort opened in China in 2016, Weis was named president of WDI, a position he held for six years, a period when more than 200 distinct projects were delivered, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been great to have the confidence of the company behind us,” Weis says. “When I was leading Imagineering, we delivered hundreds of projects that brought new experiences, new stories, new innovations to our guests around the world. And D23 fans who attended the Expo [in September] had a chance to see so many more that we have well under way. It’s truly an exciting time.”

In 2022, Weis took on the role of Global Imagineering Ambassador, following in the footsteps of one of his mentors, Disney Legend and former WDI president Marty Sklar, the first to hold the ambassador title. Sklar left behind a massive collection of Disney artifacts and memorabilia that Weis has been reviewing with a team of specialists. As Weis shared with Imagineers, “When I retire, I am relishing the opportunity to write a book for the Marty Sklar Archives and I’m in the process of developing a screenplay for Walt Disney Studios. I may even find some time to just go down and walk around Disneyland once in a while.”

Weis gave the following exclusive interview just before sharing the news of his departure with his colleagues.

D23: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen at Walt Disney Imagineering during your career?
Bob Weis (BW): Well, that’s quite a timespan. I began on Tokyo Disneyland, so I’d say the biggest shift for me is we went from two theme parks in the United States to 12 around the world. That’s just been a huge growth curve in my experience. We’ve also discovered that there are certain things that work across the globe that people want to do together. Certainly, the way we design has changed; the way we develop and visualize and engineer things has changed. But the fundamental power of storytelling, of getting people together for a Disney experience [has not changed].

Bob Weis stands on a terrace overlooking the Gardens of Imagination and the Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.

D23: You were president at WDI during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What was that like?
BW: We marched boldly forward. I have huge admiration for [The Walt Disney Company CEO] Bob Chapek for marching ahead [with us] and believing in the projects that Imagineering does and that the audience would be there [when the pandemic eased]. It certainly wasn’t guaranteed at that time. But he was right. So, this is a nice time for me, where a lot of these major projects are wrapping up in these next few months. It’s good timing for me to think about wrapping up my assignment as well.

D23: You said in your in your email to the Imagineers that “babies born today will someday be taking their grandkids on the experience you’re creating.” How do you, as Imagineers, wrap your head around that kind of responsibility to the Disney legacy?
BW: Well, I was one of the kids once, and now I’m in the older generation. [Across the years,] we’ve all seen that—we’ve seen things that we’ve created have that kind of lasting power across generations. To me, that is the magic of Disneyland—that people take their kids and want them to have the same experiences [that they had as children]. But also, as Marty [Sklar] said, our theme parks are not museums. We have to keep them fresh. We have to keep moving forward. So, there’s this balance: How do you how do you keep the classic things that people remember but at the same time be constantly upping your game, making things better? And that’s one of the great joys of being an Imagineer. We’re always trying to listen to the audience to see how we could make things better—how we could take new stories, new IP [intellectual properties], and put them into our kind of artistic medium to create experiences for our audience.

A young Bob Weis stands in a hardhat and construction clothing in front of a doorway within Tokyo Disneyland, during the construction of the theme park.

D23: You were indeed one of the kids once, since you once sold popcorn and ice cream at Disneyland.
BW: I did, in college. It was very informative to my urban planning and architectural studies, because when you stand out on the street throughout the day, you see behavior; you see how people use the park spaces of Disneyland and how it changes throughout the day and through the cycle of the seasons. It really was a great way to learn from Disneyland. How do you attract people’s attention to move into a space? How do you tell a story in [three-dimensional] space? How do you make Disneyland simple to navigate, so that you don’t really have to think about where you’re going? It’s as if you’re a character in your own movie and you’re drawn through it. We’re not directing you specifically one way or the other. We’re really letting it be your experience. The parks have to have that kind of clarity, and I think that’s a big hallmark of what Imagineering has done in all the parks.

D23: In your farewell email, you wrote that Imagineering “still reflects [Walt Disney’s] creative energy, his storytelling, his belief in talent and collaboration, and his passion for always ‘moving forward.’” Can you talk a bit more about how Imagineering remains driven by the spirit and imagination that Walt Disney established?
BW: This has been high on my mind recently, because I’ve been working on [sorting through] this huge discovery of [documents and artifacts] that Marty Sklar collected during his 50-year career. There’s plenty in there that Marty wrote, and there’s plenty of references to Walt’s philosophy in his first decade in this business. And it becomes very clear that the idea of telling stories for people to experience over and over and in their own way—as I said, as characters in their own experience—Walt was very clear about wanting [the park to be] a seamless environment. He didn’t want to see the world outside. He wanted people to really escape the world that they were living in and have a great time—an experience that was reassuring, that was celebratory. I think those fundamentals are still the same. Whenever we do something—it might be adventure, it might be fantasy, but it’s always in the service of great storytelling and fun. People are really looking for an experience about optimism. That’s one of the big things that Marty was writing and speaking about: a sense of optimism. And that hasn’t changed—that life-affirming, aspirational way of thinking and having a day together where you can celebrate that.

Bob Weis stands, flanked by two other men, behind a scale model of Shanghai Disney Resort in 2012. Weis is pointing to something outside the frame of the photo.

D23: What’s it like for an Imagineer to visit a park filled with guests?
BW: Seeing the parks with people in them and seeing the way that people love the parks—whether it’s their first visit, their 10th visit, or their 100th visit—is so inspiring to me and to all people who work or have worked in Imagineering. We’re really thankful to the fans because of the way that they love [the parks], but also because of the way we are able to learn from them by watching how they react to things. This goes back to Walt’s talking about Disneyland—that he could come in and change it whenever he wanted, that it was a living medium. I went back to Shanghai after we opened and saw how quickly the Shanghai audience—relatively inexperienced in theme parks or in Disney—adopted it and made it their own. It’s an incredible privilege to have this living lab that you can go to and see how people react. And I think the important thing is for Imagineers to listen to fans and listen when things are working and also be willing to admit when things aren’t working—and so, it’s time to update or to make some changes. But fans inspire you. The most emotional time for any Imagineer is when you when you stand out front when something opens and you see the fans come in for the first time and hear their reaction for the first time. There’s nothing more satisfying or more rewarding than that.

D23: Is there anything else you wanted to say to D23 Members and fans?
BW: One of the most gratifying things for me over the years has been [the emergence of] D23 and seeing the union of all those people who love Disney, who love parks and love Imagineering. And it was a joy to work with Leslie [Iwerks] on her documentary about Imagineering [The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+]. Just over the last decade. [we’ve been able to] lift the veil a little bit and not be so secretive. It’s been gratifying to have that connection to D23 and to be able to show some pride about what we do and show a little bit behind the curtain.

Stream The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+ on Disney+

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

October 20, 2022October 20, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

From a spooky football special to a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy this weekend! Disney Channel and Disney Junior will debut an action-packed episode of Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends on Friday, along with a new episode of The Villains of Valley View, airing that night on Disney Channel. Onyx Collective’s new docuseries The Hair Tales premieres with two episodes Saturday on Hulu. Sunday features a Pirates of the Caribbean movie marathon on FX, and the premiere of Peyton and Eli’s Spooky Adventure: A Places Universe Special on ESPN+.

Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends—Friday, October 21, at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and 12:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior

This brand-new episode is a-maze-ing! Team Spidey—Peter Parker (voiced by Benjamin Valic), Gwen Stacy (voiced by Lily Sanfelippo), and Miles Morales (Jakari Frazer)—gets trapped in a giant sand maze created by Sandman (voiced by Tom Wilson) and must find a way out. Later, the young heroes swing into action at the amusement park after Electro (voiced by Stephanie Lemelin) hijacks all the fun.

The Villains of Valley View—Friday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel

When Amy (Isabella Pappas) and Hartley (Kayden Muller-Janssen) get detention, Amy attempts to wipe the principal’s memory, but inadvertently erases the memory of Vic (James Patrick Stuart) instead. Meanwhile, Eva (Lucy Davis) gets a new job and attempts to keep secret shopper Celia (Patricia Belcher) happy.

The Hair Tales—Saturday, October 22, on Hulu and at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN

This new docuseries from Onyx Collective leads viewers through a revelatory journey connecting the personal tales of phenomenal Black women to broader societal and historic themes. Executive produced by Disney Legend Tracee Ellis Ross, Michaela angela Davis, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey, the series offers an honest and layered look at the complex culture of Black hair and, ultimately, Black women’s identity, beauty, cultural contributions, humanity, and more. Viewers will hear intimate stories from Winfrey, Issa Rae, Chlöe Bailey Chika, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Marsai Martin, alongside brilliant scholars, industry and cultural leaders, hair professionals, and influential contributors.

Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Marathon—Sunday, October 23, from 9 a.m.-1 a.m. ET/PT on FX

Arrrr! A swashbuckling marathon is sailing onto your TV this Sunday. The network will air all five films from the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise in chronological order, starting with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and continuing with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. You won’t want to miss this marathon following the adventures and misadventures of Captain Jack Sparrow (Disney Legend Johnny Depp)!

Peyton and Eli’s Spooky Adventure: A Places Universe Special—Sunday, October 23, on ESPN+

The Places universe is investigating the paranormal in this new special, debuting just in time for Halloween. When two football players at the University of Notre Dame see the ghost of the school’s most legendary football player, head coach Marcus Freeman calls in the experts—no, not the Ghostbusters, but Peyton and Eli Manning, and former NFL and Notre Dame superstar Jerome Bettis—for an extraordinary spooky investigation.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

October 20, 2022October 18, 2022

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your ghostly knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

For 1937’s Lonesome Ghosts, what invention did the Animation Department at The Walt Disney Studios create?

Glow-in-the-dark paint

The Spectral-Vision camera

The multiplane camera

Transparent paint

Correct! Wrong!

The Walt Disney Studios Animation Department created transparent paint for the spooky 1937 animated short Lonesome Ghosts.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

You are the ultimate Disney fan!

Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!

Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!

Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!

Walt Disney Archives Presents: Step in Time at D23 Expo 2022

October 19, 2022December 9, 2022

The Walt Disney Archives invited D23 Expo 2022 guests to step through a Disney100 portal to become immersed in a century of Disney wonder. A central timeline guided visitors through the chronological celebration, showcasing the vast breadth of extraordinary Disney events from the past 100 years—beginning with the Company’s founding in 1923. The timeline became the gateway to nine themed environments which offered guests the chance to literally “Step in Time” and into famous scenes and memorable moments from beloved animated shorts, films, and movie premieres, as well as television productions and Disney Parks favorites. Rarely seen historical objects from the Walt Disney Archives collection were exhibited like never before, displayed in re-creations of the remarkable settings from which they originated.

Steamboat Willie premieres – 1928
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse made their legendary big-screen debut on November 18, 1928, with the release of Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theatre in New York City. Directed by Walt Disney, this cartoon was the first to feature the emerging innovation of synchronized sound. The instant fame and enduring charm of these iconic characters would also usher in a variety of licensed merchandise items beginning in 1930, from writing tablets and watches to clothing and school supplies. Soon, licensed Disney character products became available for every member of the family.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premieres – 1937
Walt Disney’s first animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on December 21, 1937. This creative watershed for the Company was met with lavish fanfare as Hollywood’s biggest stars walked the blue carpet alongside the likes of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Snow White herself. The promotional standees seen here hearken to an early European theatrical release and reflect the film’s worldwide popularity. And as a testament to Snow White’s timeless appeal, the featured costume—designed by Martin Izquierdo for actor Rachel Weisz—was featured some 70 years after the film’s original release as part of the Disney Dream Portrait series by photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Disneyland opens – 1955
Disneyland, Walt’s brand-new concept in family entertainment, opened to an invitational audience on July 17, 1955, and to an eager public the following day. Constructed on a site originally spanning some 160 acres, Disneyland has continued to grow and evolve over the years. The well-known attraction posters that now populate the tunnels of the Main Street Station originally greeted visitors at the park’s main entrance, in front of and near the famous floral depiction of Mickey Mouse. These whimsical posters were introduced within the first year of the park’s operation to provide guests with a taste of what they would see inside the park and in which themed land they could experience it. The posters displayed were all original to Disneyland—each screen-printed by hand and representing such opening day attractions as the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad, Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, Autopia, and Mark Twain Riverboat.

Mary Poppins premieres – 1964
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was the site of a “Jolly Holiday” when Mary Poppins made its world premiere at the famed Hollywood movie palace on August 27, 1964. Heralded as one of Walt Disney’s crowning achievements, the musical fantasy was shot entirely on soundstages at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. As Walt once explained, the film employed “about every trick we had learned in the making of films,” although bringing its chalk-illustrated world to life was no easy feat for Disney’s studio artists. Similar to today’s green-screen technology, an innovative sodium vapor process was developed to combine live-action and animation for the acclaimed “Jolly Holiday” sequence; actors were filmed in front of a screen, which was illuminated from behind with sodium vapor lights, casting a yellow hue. A prism inside the camera then filtered out the sodium light, leaving only the main image, to give filmmakers and animators the ability to later fill in the surroundings with fanciful creations. Add in extraordinary props (like these intricate carousel horses) and costumes (like this creation designed by Tony Walton and worn by Disney Legend Julie Andrews), and no wonder that it’s Mary that we love!

Walt Disney World Resort opens – 1971
In the early 1960s, thanks to the popularity of Disneyland, Walt and Roy O. Disney began searching for a site on the East Coast where they could build an entirely new “vacation kingdom” of Disney entertainment and recreation. To attract guests from new regions, Central Florida was ultimately selected as the ideal site for the project known today as Walt Disney World. The 43-square-mile resort complex opened October 1, 1971, and originally featured Magic Kingdom Park and two surrounding resort hotels—the Contemporary and Polynesian Village Resorts. Unique to the Magic Kingdom was a new themed land called Liberty Square, which debuted with an updated version of the signature Disneyland attraction, the Haunted Mansion. Since the mansion’s doors first creaked open a half-century ago, foolish mortals have toured the happy haunting grounds of 999 spirited specters by Doom Buggy—discovering new and reimagined ghoulish delights as they have materialized over time. Presented here are historical items and apparitions that once called the Haunted Mansion home, including the ghostly bride who departed the mansion’s Attic in 2007.

TRON is released – 1982
Greetings, Programs, and welcome to The Grid! The cult classic film Tron was released on July 9, 1982, sending audiences on a futuristic adventure through the electronic world. This groundbreaking motion picture was the first to make extensive use of computer-generated imagery, requiring gigabytes of expertise and creativity. Inspired by director Steven Lisberger’s passion for computer games, it was only natural that the film’s “real-world” sequences featured an arcade. The impressive neon sign for Flynn’s Arcade, seen here, served as the beacon for the video game facility managed by Kevin Flynn (played by Jeff Bridges) in the film. Whether you prefer playing Lightcycleor Space Paranoids, Flynn’s was the most happening place to be (and remember—to get that high score, it’s all in the wrist).

Dick Tracy is released – 1990
“Calling Dick Tracy. Calling Dick Tracy.” Disney’s take on the iconic fedora-clad detective first hit the big screen on June 15, 1990. In this Touchstone release, the colorful world of Dick Tracy was made to resemble the vibrant style of the namesake comic strips originally created by Chester Gould in 1931. Italian costume designer Milena Canonero assigned each character—from starring to background roles—a distinct color to help them stand out, forming a palette from black to white without any mid-tones or muddy colors. In the film’s Club Ritz raid scene, Breathless Mahoney (played by Madonna) wore this backless, black sequined dress as she performed the Academy Award^®-winning number “Sooner or Later [I Always Get My Man]” by Stephen Sondheim. Crime boss Big Boy Caprice (played by Al Pacino) donned the flashy red double-breasted suit with black pinstripes. For Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy costume, the look was lifted straight off the page: the trademark ensemble of black suit, white shirt, red striped tie, yellow coat, and fedora.

First “Wand ID” airs on Disney Channel – 2003
Some of Disney’s most popular stars first delivered the iconic catchphrase, “... and you’re watching Disney Channel,” when the first “Wand ID” segments aired on June 7, 2003—some 20 years after the cable network’s historic launch. Among the first talent to “wave the wand” were actors from Even Stevens (2000), That’s So Raven (2001), The Proud Family (2001), and Lizzie McGuire (2003). With the popularity of these filmed clips, over 350 have aired to date—and they’re still being created with the newest class of Disney Channel talent! Guests at D23 Expo 2022 were able step into a larger-than-life TV to create their own “Wand ID,” surrounded by costumes worn by stars of past Disney Channel original series and movies.

Acquisition of Lucasfilm – 2012
On December 21, 2012, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. Included in the deal was the special effects powerhouse Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound, along with the rights to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. In 2021, the Walt Disney Archives welcomed Star Wars film props, costumes, and other artifacts into the collection, beginning with historical pieces from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). The collection now includes an array of droids, including the ones seen here (BB-8, C-3PO, D-O, and R2-D2), as well as elaborate interior components from the Millennium Falcon.

As we approach the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company—and after such a successful and engaging showing at D23 Expo 2022—we at the Walt Disney Archives are incredibly excited about traveling our new and unique exhibit marking a century of unparalleled innovation and storytelling with the world. Coming in 2023, Disney100: The Exhibition will celebrate the wonder of Disney, from 1923 to the present and into the future.

The Spookiest Places at Disneyland Resort to take the Perfect Halloween Photo

October 19, 2022October 19, 2022

By Jocelyn Buhlman

When the Halloween season is nigh and creepy sights are around every corner at Disneyland Resort, you can’t help but feel inspired to snap a spooky shot or two to commemorate your trip. Whether you’re showing off your Halloween-inspired outfit or hoping a grim, grinning ghost materializes in your final shot, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to capture that perfect picture

Disneyland

Main Street Mickey Pumpkin
Nothing fills us with Halloween cheer more than this giant, gord-geous depiction of Mickey’s face, the icon of Disneyland’s Halloween celebration. No spooky soirée at the park is complete without posing in front of the Mickey Pumpkin.

Partners Statue and Pumpkins
Already an iconic Disneyland photo location, the Partner’s Statue gets extra festive during the Halloween season with cheerful Jack-o-lanterns representing each land at the park. Pose in front of your favorite carving, or take a pic with Walt, Mickey, and the full pumpkin assemblage for a classic fall photo.

Haunted Mansion Holiday
When two holidays collide, it’s the perfect time to take a photo perfect for your Halloween décor—and a future Christmas card? Jack has decorated the mansion in his best attempt at holiday decor, but when Halloween creates Christmas, you never know what’s in store

Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels

Oogie Boogie at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
Well, well, well. What have we here? The Oogie Boogie man makes the perfect backdrop for those of us who are more “Nightmare” than “Before Christmas.” Decorated with bugs, snakes, and creepy cute jack-o-lanterns, you’re sure to snap a spooky shot in front of this display.

Hocus Pocus 2 Photo Opp at Downtown Disney
Calling all aspiring witches: This bewitching photo opportunity boasts a special celebration of the Disney+ original movie Hocus Pocus 2, now streaming. Fly your brooms (or vacuums) over to the photo op—located between Splitsville and Tortilla Jo’s—before it magically disappears after October 31.

Disney California Adventure

The Headless Horseman
If you’re trying to find the best spot at Disney California Adventure to take a photo, don’t lose your head! The Headless Horseman statue by the Carthay Circle Restaurant is your place to be headed for a spooky photo shoot.

Cars Land Sign
Over at Radiator Springs, everyone’s got their car-stumes on and their haul-o-ween decorations up! The “Cars Land” sign is already a must-do photo spot, but with its extra spoke-y decorations, it’s perfect to commemorate your Halloween visit to Disney California Adventure.

Trunk or Treat Sign
If you’re looking to mix things up a little bit when commemorating your time in Radiator Springs, we recommend stopping by this cute sign next to the Cozy Cone Motel. There’s no tricks here—just spooky good fun!