New Lightyear Trailer is Out of This World—Plus More in News Briefs

April 22, 2022April 21, 2022

By Courtney Potter

**New Lightyear Trailer Reveals Thrilling New Details**

It’s true: The good folks behind Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear have just revealed a new trailer for the upcoming sci-fi action adventure, revealing some stellar details. Take a look at the clip, below.

The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters—and threatening the mission—is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.

The film features the voices of Chris Evans as Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear; Uzo Aduba as his commander and best friend Alisha Hawthorne; and Peter Sohn as Sox. Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, and Dale Soules lend their voices to the Junior Zap Patrol’s Izzy Hawthorne, Mo Morrison, and Darby Steel, respectively—and James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. The voice cast also includes Mary McDonald-Lewis as onboard computer I.V.A.N., Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside, Efren Ramirez as Airman Diaz, and Keira Hairston as Young Izzy. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director, Finding Dory), produced by Galyn Susman (Toy Story That Time Forgot), and featuring a score by award-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up), Lightyear debuts only in theaters on June 17!

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

Considering Friday, April 22, is Earth Day, and we’re about to wind up Earth Month, this coming weekend is the perfect time to delight in the wonders of the natural world. Fire up Disney+ and settle in for the premiere of Disneynature’s Polar Bears, National Geographic’s Explorer: The Last Tepui, and so much more.

**Disney+ Original Series Genius to Focus on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X**

Disney+ and National Geographic have announced that the fourth season of Genius will focus on two truly iconic geniuses: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Genius dramatizes the fascinating stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators, exploring their extraordinary achievements along with their volatile, passionate, and complex personal relationships. With three seasons on National Geographic having already garnered 20 Emmy® nominations, the critically acclaimed series will move to Disney+ for this fourth installment and all subsequent seasons.

Genius: MLK/X will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies, and key personal relationships of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest, Malcolm X argued forcefully for Black empowerment, identity, and self-determination. With their formidable wives—Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, respectively—by their sides, King and Malcolm X became synonymous with the Civil Rights era and the fight for racial and economic justice. While they met only once and often challenged each other’s views, neither would have been as successful without the other.

Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood will serve as executive producers under their production company, Undisputed Cinema. Genius: MLK/X will be produced by Imagine Television Studios and 20th Television, and Brian Grazer and Ron Howard return as executive producers. Be on the lookout for further info, including a premiere date, in the coming months.

Marvel Studios Reveals First Look at Thor: Love and Thunder

There’s some hilarious cosmic adventure in store when Thor: Love and Thunder hits movie screens this summer! Earlier this week, we got a glimpse into all the thunderous shenanigans via the film’s brand-new trailer, above.

Thor: Love and Thunder finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced—a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of all the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who—to Thor’s utter surprise—inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing galactic undertaking to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance… and stop him before it’s too late!

Directed by Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum, Thor: Love and Thunder bolts into theaters on Friday, July 8.

Everything to Eat, See, and Do to Celebrate Nighttime Spectaculars’ Return at Disneyland Resort

The moment has finally arrived: As of this evening (for those reading in the future, we mean Friday, April 22), several beloved nighttime spectaculars have returned to Disneyland Resort! Find out how you can celebrate the Main Street Electrical Parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks, and World of Color (plus the subsequent arrival of Fantasmic! on May 28)—with delicious eats and treats, as well as exclusive merchandise—right here at D23.com.

**Amy Hennig and Skydance New Media Developing New Star Wars Game**

One of gaming’s most acclaimed creators is bringing fans an all-new Star Wars Adventure. Earlier this week, Skydance New Media announced a collaboration with Lucasfilm Games to develop and produce a narrative-driven action-adventure game featuring an original story set in the Star Wars galaxy. The project is being led by award-winning writer and director Amy Hennig—a game-industry legend whose credits include Legacy of Kain, Jak and Daxter, and Uncharted.

This is the second notable project announced for Skydance New Media, which was formed by Hennig and veteran producer Julian Beak to pioneer a new category of narrative-driven interactive entertainment. In late 2021, the studio announced a partnership with Marvel Entertainment to craft an all-new game with an original story and their unique take for beloved Marvel characters.

“I’ve often described how seeing Star Wars in 1977 essentially rewired my 12-year-old brain, shaping my creative life and future indelibly,” Hennig recently said. “I’m elated to be working with Lucasfilm Games again to tell interactive stories in this galaxy that I love.”

Stay tuned for more info about this sure-to-be-electrifying new game as it becomes available.

**ICYMI: The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season Two in Production for Disney+**

Is it possible to be even more loud and even more proud about a favorite show? Absolutely! Fans did just that earlier this week when Disney+ announced that season two of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is in production. Read up on what you can expect from the further adventures of Penny Proud, et al, by clicking here.

7 Infinitely Interesting Details from Lightyear’s Filmmakers

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022

By Courtney Potter

In the world introduced by Pixar Animation Studios’ iconic 1995 animated hit Toy Story, the character of Buzz Lightyear was popular enough to warrant a line of toys—leading to young Andy’s memorable birthday gift. But what exactly made Buzz such a sought-after item? What movie inspired Andy to beg for an action-figure hero with lasers, karate chop action, and cool aerodynamic space wings?

A sci-fi action adventure and Buzz’s definitive origin story, Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear seeks to answer those questions. The new film, directed by Angus MacLane (co-director, Finding Dory), follows the legendary Space Ranger (voice of Chris Evans) on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits (voices of Keke Palmer, Dale Soules, and Taika Waititi) and his robot companion Sox (voice of Peter Sohn). Also joining the cast are James Brolin, Uzo Aduba, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Efren Ramirez.

Recently, D23 heard from several of Lightyear’s filmmakers—MacLane; producer Galyn Susman; sets art director Greg Peltz; tailoring and simulation supervisor Fran Kalal; visual effects supervisor Jane Yen; and director of photography Jeremy Lasky—about how they’re bringing this memorable new iteration of Buzz (as well as his galactic cohorts) to the screen:

Lightyear director Greg Peltz is gesturing with one hand in the air.

MacLane on how Buzz’s Lightyear story began:
“Buzz is a character who is best when he is at odds with his surroundings,” the director explains. “So, we’ve got Buzz’s core trait; that’s someplace to start. But we need to ground the story—we need a universal truth. What universal truth can I draw from? Pixar directors often draw from their own lives to find this kernel of truth to build around. My parents were very supportive of my art, so it’s not a ‘coming of age’ story about a character who wants to be an artist. But for Lightyear, I wanted to do something really specific; something we could all relate to; something that I was thinking about a lot. For Lightyear, I chose time.

“When I started at the company, I was in my 20s,” he continues, “and now I’m in my 40s. Time is moving on. It’s universal for all of us... They say you can’t live in the past, but what if you could? We all wonder what it’s like to go back in time, but instead, we’re jumping forward in time, all of us. So that’s the truth I wanted to build a hand around for Lightyear. Nostalgia for the past, while rapidly jumping to the future.”

Susman on some “out-of-this-world” research that informed the film:
“When we started working on Lightyear, I was absolutely certain we had to get a research trip to NASA,” she admits. “We tend to be a bit obsessive about research at Pixar. The goal is to take your key creatives and expose them to the people, environments, experiences, everything that will impact the design and the language of the film. And we completely lucked out: Lindsey Collins, who’s the producer of Pixar’s Turning Red, introduced us to Tom Marshburn, an astronaut currently stationed on the ISS. And he in turn grabbed his fellow astronaut friend Kjell Lindren—and between the two of them, we were treated to a comprehensive, multiday exploration of the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“We saw the original control center for the Apollo missions, as well as the one being used today to track the ISS [International Space Station]. We learned about spacesuit construction; we saw buttons and switches and knobs and dials and badges. We were guided through a replica of the ISS U.S. quarters, and the labs. We saw vehicles, and training aircraft, and capsules—and we even got to sit in a few... and the icing on the cake? Tom brought our picture up to the ISS and put it in the cupola, so we’ve been in space!”

A photograph of the Lightyear filmmakers is placed on a window of the International Space Station with planet earth in clear view behind it.

Peltz on the look and feel of the film’s machinery:
“I’m a model maker at heart, and I’ve had a deep love for big machines ever since I was a kid,” he admits. “Since this movie is literally overflowing with cool models and machines, it was kind of a dream come true for a nerd like me... We envisioned a ‘push button’ world that was thick, geometric, and analog. We really wanted the look of our models to be such that you’d want to reach out and touch them and start playing with all the buttons and switches. Plus, our basic rule of thumb is that there are no touchscreens or cloud-sharing in the world of Lightyear; it’s all Zip disks and 20-pound CRT [cathode-ray tube] monitors. In addition to looking cool, there’s a toy-like appeal to the shapes and the deco of the style that fits really well with the subject matter that we’re adapting.”

Kalal on how the team decided what Buzz and his cohorts would wear:
“As the tailoring and simulation supervisor, I lead a team that takes what we know about art and fashion to make the costumes of Lightyear,” she explains, “and what we know about physics and computer science to perform our characters’ outfits and hairstyles. Lightyear has a ton of supercool costumes that we’re so proud of, including the spacesuits—not only did we get to design one spacesuit, we got to design several that advanced over time... [We asked ourselves], ‘What is a spacesuit? What does it do? And how would a spacesuit design evolve over time?’ To learn that, we dove into research. We went on a research trip to NASA; met with a spacesuit design consultant; looked at reference materials from the Smithsonian; found inspiration in cinema; and finally got access to a tangible replica.

“We achieved new levels of technical and look complexity to deliver these costumes,” she concedes, “which we hope [audiences] enjoy as much as we do.”

A concept art of the various Lightyear characters standing in a row.

Lasky on his camera and staging goals for the film:
“After much discussion and input from Angus, our team decided on three goals for the look of the film,” he says. “Cohesive, clear, and cinematic. Lightyear is a complex film, but the storytelling should always be clear. An audience watching a movie is constantly being bombarded with information, whether through sound or visuals; it’s vital to construct the images that guide the audience through the film, so they’re never confused about what’s happening on screen. Through the emphasis of graphic shapes over form, our shots maintain a visual clarity that helps direct the audience’s attention.

“I collected many images during pre-production that would help inspire the look of Lightyear,” he continues. “Many, many images. And although they’re from different films and genres, each one is notable for featuring bold, clear staging, and memorable compositions. On top of all that, it was vital to remember that we’re making a sci-fi movie. That simple statement was a touchstone for me and for the crew.”

Yen on how they made every image in Lightyear as unique as possible:
“When I joined the Lightyear team, Angus made it clear that his number one visual priority was having what I like to call a ‘unified film stylization,’” she explains. “A stylization that not only was more graphic and less hyper realistic, but a stylization that felt exceptionally cohesive in every element of our world, both in the way it was animated and in the way it looked. For instance, we wanted to avoid realistic characters and animation in a ‘cartoony’ world—or ‘cartoony’ characters in a realistic world. The goal was to strike a precise balance across sets, characters, hair and cloth simulation effects, and lighting. After some exploration, it became clear that the biggest impact would come from focusing on the holistic oversight of the shading and look and materials of our world.”

A scene from Lightyear with two unknown characters facing a rocket in the distance that dwarfs their size.

MacLane on what he hopes comes through to audiences:
“We really worked hard to nerd out and make this the best Buzz Lightyear film we could,” he admits. “We built Buzz’s world out in a way that we’ve always wanted to see it. I’m so excited about the film; it’s gonna have everything you’d want in a Buzz Lightyear film... it’s a celebration of movies, and sci-fi epics in general—but also inspired by the dark side of nostalgia, and the dangers of living in the past. As a director, it’s the movie I’ve always wanted to make. And as a filmgoer, it’s the movie I’ve always wanted to see.”

Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear rockets into theaters on June 17!

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

April 21, 2022April 21, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

This weekend, celebrate Earth Month by viewing fantastical documentaries that highlight nature’s beauty. From exploring the arctic and the ocean’s depths to a grueling mission in the Amazonian jungle, we present five exciting features to binge watch on Disney+, including four titles debuting on Earth Day (Friday, April 22): Disneynature’s Polar Bear, Bear Witness, National Geographic’s Explorer: The Last Tepui, and The Biggest Little Farm: The Return. Plus, celebrate the anniversary of Disneynature’s Oceans!

Disneynature’s Polar Bear—Available on Disney+
The newest Disneynature film captures the challenges polar bears face today amid a changing arctic landscape due to climate change. Follow the titular creature as she navigates motherhood for the first time and adapts to a new normal that impacts the species’ survival. The film is narrated by two-time Academy Award®-nominated actress Catherine Keener.

IMAGE 02

Bear Witness—Available on Disney+
After viewing Disneynature’s Polar Bear, meet the filmmakers behind the documentary. This behind-the-scenes look follows the challenges of filming 300 miles from the North Pole and halting production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the filmmakers create a revolutionary arctic camp on site and navigate impassible snow drifts while collecting their unprecedented footage.

Explorer: The Last Tepui—Available on Disney+
This one-hour Disney+ Earth Day special from National Geographic follows elite climber Alex Honnold and a world-class climbing team led by National Geographic Explorer and climber Mark Synnott. Together, they embark on a grueling mission deep in the Amazon jungle and attempt a first ascent climb up a 1,000-foot sheer cliff with the ultimate goal of delivering biologist and National Geographic Explorer Bruce Means to the top of a tepui.

The Biggest Little Farm: The Return—Available on Disney+
The brand-new special follows Molly and John Chester’s 10-year journey of transforming a once barren land into a magical working farm. Discover how the farmers utilize the interconnectedness of nature to bolster soil health and grow the most nutrient-dense food possible. Also, meet a few adorable residents of Apricot Lane Farms including Emma the pig, who welcomes her newest litter, and a lamb name Moe, who becomes part of the Chester family.

Disneynature’s Oceans—Available on Disney+
Journey into the depths of the oceans with this spectacular story about the marvelous creatures under the sea. Through state-of-the-art filmmaking the film allows viewers to migrate with whales, swim near a great white shark, and see frolicking dolphins.

Exclusive Q&A with Disneynature’s Polar Bear Filmmakers

April 21, 2022April 20, 2022

By Courtney Potter

They’re one of the most recognizable (and beloved) animals on Earth, and they’re coming to Disney+ in celebration of Earth Day… Disneynature’s Polar Bear, narrated by two-time Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener (Capote, Being John Malkovich), tells the story of a new mother whose memories of her own youth prepare her to navigate motherhood in the increasingly challenging world that polar bears face today. Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson, the team behind Disneynature’s Penguins, and produced by Fothergill, Wilson and Roy Conli, the film streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning April 22.

Filmed beginning in 2019 near Svalbard, Norway—just 650 miles from the North Pole—Polar Bear gives audiences a never-before-seen look into the lives of this vulnerable species. To complete their mission, filmmakers created a revolutionary, environmentally friendly, self-contained, sled-mounted mobile camp with a kitchen, lounge area, sleeping accommodations, and several other rooms; their filmmaking equipment included traditional long-lens cameras, a gyro-stabilized camera system, and drones. And it all had to be transported over 60 miles across a glacier—an operation that took 10 full days.

D23 recently spoke with Fothergill and Wilson about their incredible experience directing Polar Bear, made all the more unusual (and memorable) by the global COVID-19 pandemic:

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: Thanks for chatting with us today! We’d love to know—how did the idea for Polar Bear come about?
Jeff Wilson (JW): It started with a passion of Alastair’s, as long ago as I can remember. I’ll let him run with that.
Alastair Fothergill (AF): Both Jeff and I have been lucky enough to work in the poles a lot—certainly, we’re both very passionate about that as a habitat. It’s very special. The Arctic is not like anywhere else. And certainly, as a wildlife filmmaker, you’re often asked, “What’s your favorite animal?” And for me it’s either the chimpanzee—which we made a Disneynature film about in 2012—or the polar bear… I used to keep coming back to pitch meeting after pitch meeting, and they kept on saying to me, “Are you gonna pitch that white bear film again?” And I said, “Yes, I am!” Possibly we wore them down by erosion, but in the end, they were persuaded.

D23: Can you talk a bit about the process? How did the pandemic come into play?
JW: We have the most fluid scripts of any film director I can imagine, because the natural world can throw problems and magic in equal portions your way… The [challenge] about spending time with polar bears is that you really have to get yourself used to the environment as quickly as you possibly can, but that can take a week to 10 days just in the pure logistics of getting there, getting comfortable, getting camp set up, getting your boats in the right place. Often our shoots took a long period of time—eight, nine, 10 weeks in one go, and we would swap people in and out. So we were filming more or less constantly, despite COVID.
AF: We did have to compromise; the British camera operators we would’ve sent in were not allowed into Norway [once the pandemic started] and we had to use local camera operators, which at the beginning was a slightly worrying risk for Jeff and me—but proved to be very successful.
JW: When you are working in the poles, especially in with polar bears, you tend to work from March through the end of September, when the sunlight is there. What many people don’t realize is that the sun rises in mid-March and doesn’t set again until late November; you have 24-hour sunlight, and our crews are often working in 24-hour periods—it’s not a nine-to-five job. So Alastair and I almost have to be on 24-hour directorial attention. You really need two directors in order to play off of one another.

D23: How was Polar Bear different than other Disneynature films you’ve worked on? Any particularly memorable moments?
AF: One of the things that excited us about this project is that so little of polar bear life has actually been filmed. I think probably one of the most memorable sequences is when our protagonist, our female bear—after three years on her own in our story—meets a young male bear… The scientists, everybody who’s seen it, just don’t know quite what’s going on. It’s a wonderfully intimate moment. They play together. And it’s particularly intimate because female bears tend to fear males, because they are known to kill cubs and are pretty aggressive. We filmed amazing courtship rituals, which are really beautiful and intimate. So that was very, very special.

And the other thing is we’ve filmed a lot of behavior in the summer that we hadn’t expected: bears feeding on whale carcasses, bears going up cliffs to steal bird eggs, bears attempting to hunt harbor seals. These are all behaviors that have only evolved in last four or five years, because the ice is melting earlier and the bears are now forced to resort to new hunting techniques. So there’s an awful lot in the film that we have never seen before.

D23: What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
JW: Polar bears are unique characters. They show traits that many of us would recognize in ourselves or our own families. And I think that’s always an important storytelling role, in any of the Disneynature films that we do. I also think that we are showing people a part of the world that is, quite feasibly, one of the most beautiful places on Earth—a rarely visited place, and one that is changing fast. I really hope that audiences feel as much passion for the habitat and the environment that we’re putting in front of them—the location—as they do the bears. It is such a magnificent place, and you can’t help but fall in love with the sheer beauty and wonder of the location. So if they can take away a love for the bears and a love for the environment, we’ve won on both counts.
AF: They really are such extraordinary animals, on every level. The other thing about polar bears is that their world always used to change. The thing about the poles is they are transformed completely summer to winter, right? The bears were adapted to that, and that narrative alone is fascinating. But when you actually realize that the predictability of that change has now completely been upset by global warming, now these bears are even more impressive. So I hope audiences, once they’ve seen the film, are just blown away by the power of this animal, and have newfound respect for this animal—while also recognizing there’s a wider environmental narrative.

See Disneynature’s Polar Bear on Disney+ beginning Friday, April 22.

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

April 21, 2022April 20, 2022

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’ve got a special Earth Month-themed trivia question, to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

Q: What’s the title of the first True-Life Adventures film to win an Academy Award®?

A: Seal Island

B. Beaver Valley

C: The Living Desert

D: Water Birds

Correct! Wrong!

In 1949, Walt Disney’s Seal Island took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary: Short Subject. Several more True-Life Adventure films would go on to win an Oscar®, including The Living Desert.

First True-Life Adventures film to win an Academy Award

You are the ultimate Disney fan!

Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Thursday. We’ll see you next Thursday 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 Thursday! 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!

10 Hidden Details at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

April 21, 2022April 22, 2022

By Sarah Sterling

On Friday Disney’s Animal Kingdom turns 24 years old, and we’re celebrating Walt Disney World Resort’s wildest park with 10 hidden details you may not have noticed before!

Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, and… Iguanodon?

Before you board your time rover and head back to the Cretaceous Period, you’ll notice several pipes in the final room of the Dinosaur queue. Above the loading dock, there are three pipes—red, yellow, and white—with a series of numbers and chemical compounds printed on them. These pipes display the chemical formulas for (respectively) ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise! Why? Well, Dinosaur (known at the time as Countdown to Extinction) was originally sponsored by McDonald’s from 1998 to 2008. This detail was left inside the Dinosaur queue as a tribute to the attraction’s beginnings.

Helping Handprints

You may have been too stunned by the beauty of Avatar Flight of Passage to notice this detail at the attraction’s exit. As you make your way out of the Alpha Centauri Expeditions center, you can spot three red handprints clustered together on a concrete wall. These are very different from the Na’vi handprints you see during the entrance queue for the attraction, as they belong to the creative leaders behind the Avatar films and Pandora – The World of Avatar. J.R. stands for Joe Rohde, lead design Imagineer for Pandora and all of Disney’s Animal Kingdom; J.C. belongs to James Cameron, director of the original Avatar and, of course, Avatar 2 (coming December 2022); and J.L. represents Jon Landau, producer of the Avatar films. They really made a lasting mark on this park!

Red hand prints on a wall at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

JORODI Masks & Beads

Speaking of Joe Rohde… As the lead creative designer behind Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there are naturally a few nods to Rohde’s legacy around the park. One can be found at the Tusker House restaurant located in Africa. On your way to the restrooms, look up to find a sign that reads “Jorodi Masks & Beads.” Phonetically, “Jorodi” sounds exactly like “Joe Rohde”—and the mention of “beads,” along with another wooden sign nearby reading “earings,” is a sly reference to the extra-large earring that Rohde famously wears on his left earlobe.

A wall at Disney's Animal Kingdom with Jorodi masks on it.

A Familiar Silhouette

We all love Expedition Everest, one of Animal Kingdom’s most thrilling attractions. Many of you have also visited the shrine across Discovery River that pays homage to the mountain and its fearsome Yeti. But you may not have realized that this shrine’s peaks and shape exactly mimic the silhouette of Expedition Everest! If you stand directly in front of the shrine and position your line of sight toward the mountains, you’ll see how perfectly the two match up! Pretty neat!

Mount Everst at Disney's Animal Kingdom can be seen during a beautiful day with clear blue skies.

Fantasia (1940) & DinoLand U.S.A

You’re probably thinking – what do Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s 1940 musical anthology film, Fantasia, have in common? If you’re a fan of Fantasia’s “The Rite of Spring” sequence, we have an Easter egg just for you! Inside Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand U.S.A., you can spot multiple concept art pieces and character sheets framed on one of the shop’s walls. “The Rite of Spring” features many Jurassic characters, culminating in a showdown between the menacing Tyrannosaurus rex and formidable Stegosaurus—so these pieces of art fit perfectly inside DinoLand U.S.A., and provide a unique opportunity to link Disney’s newest Walt Disney World park with a classic film.

Four framed concept art of dinosaurs on the wall,

Marshall Lam and the Valley of Mo’ara

Soon after Pandora – The World of Avatar was first announced, fans got their first taste of the magic of Pandora when the team broke ground on the construction of this new land. An unbelievable photo was snapped featuring former Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, Imagineer Joe Rohde, former Chief Creative Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering Bruce Vaughn, former Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis, former President of Walt Disney Parks U.S. Meg Crofton, and Avatar producer Jon Landau. They were joined by Mickey Mouse and…a Na’vi! If you visit Pandora’s Satu’li Canteen, you can see this photo in person, located on the wall next to the queue for the registers. Also visible on the wall is a photo featuring two Na’vi with Alpha Centauri Expedition founders at the entrance to the Valley of Mo’ara. One of these founders, the fictional Marshall Lam, is portrayed by Landau!

Countdown to Extinction

There are many nods to the original Countdown to Extinction attraction in the present-day Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Countdown to Extinction was re-themed and re-named following the release of Disney’s film Dinosaur in 2000, but the original name lives on through various stamps of “CTX” on ride vehicles, pipes, and walls. One of our favorite nods to the original prehistoric adventure is this stencil along a far wall in the Dinosaur loading area. It reads “Sector CTX-WDI-AK98”, not only recognizing Countdown to Extinction (CTX), but Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), and Animal Kingdom’s opening year, 1998 (AK98)!

A wall with a series of electrical panels that reads "Sector CTX-WDI-AK98"

Simply DiVine!

You may know every detail from Disney’s Animal Kingdom and still might have missed one of the park’s most shrouded treasures—the living plant, DiVine! DiVine is an original character featured at Animal Kingdom and she has been entertaining and surprising guests since 1998. Covered head to toe in vines and flora, DiVine camouflages completely into the foliage of the park, but can often be spotted near the park’s entrance or on the pathway between Africa and Asia. Representing the park’s commitment to environmentalism and the intrinsic value of nature, DiVine never speaks a word and moves about slowly with serenity and grace. She measures between 7 and 16 ft. tall, depending on how she is posed, and will be happy to take photos with guests… if they can spot her!

The Stone Dragon of Beastly Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates creatures of the past; animals that still roam the Earth today; and some that only live in our imaginations. Beastly Kingdom was a proposed land for Animal Kingdom that would have featured unicorns, dragons, and fictional sea creatures like the Loch Ness monster. Remnants of Beastly Kingdom can be seen all over Disney’s Animal Kingdom, namely on the park’s entrance sign which prominently features a dragon silhouette. Keen eyes can still spot another, more hidden, nod to Beastly Kingdom on the bridge between Discovery Island and Pandora – The World of Avatar. When crossing the bridge, or taking a break at Nomad Lounge, gaze out toward the river on the right side of the bridge and you’ll find a collection of rocks shaped like a dragon’s head! Today, Pandora – The World of Avatar and Expedition Everest both fulfill the park’s original mission and allow guests to encounter fictional species like the Na’vi and the Yeti.

Eco-Friendly Benches

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has always been committed to the conservation of wildlife species and the natural world. From the endangered species nursed back to health by Disney’s animal care team to the paper straws found at eateries, many aspects of this park are centered around the ability to reduce, reuse, recycle, and preserve the magic of nature. This includes less-noticeable recycling efforts like the colorful benches found around the park. These bright benches shaped like alligators, turtles, and other animals are made of 100% recycled milk jugs! It takes over 1,000 bottles to make one bench. Next time you’re at Animal Kingdom, find one of these benches and think of all that went into your seat as you rest your feet.

Stay tuned to D23.com for more information on Disney Parks across the globe. Join in on the fun now by joining D23! The 2022 D23 Gold Member Collector Set is included as part of any 2022 D23 Gold membership.

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Your Ultimate Foodie Guide for Celebrating Mother’s Day at Disney Parks

April 20, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

The chefs at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts are hard at work creating delicious treats in honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8. These delectable desserts and sumptuous sips are a special way to celebrate your mother, grandmother, aunt, caregiver, mother figure, or any special person in your life!

Our friends at Disney Parks Blog have assembled a foodie guide of all the available scrumptious treats—as well as where to surprise that special person with a Mother’s Day brunch or dinner, at one of the many amazing restaurants at both resorts:

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park

Plaza Inn

Mother’s Day Brunch: Drop “inn” to enjoy a meal with family right in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. with classic American fare, joined by Minnie Mouse and her friends. You can reserve your spot beginning Wednesday, April 20.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

GCH Holiday Cart

Enjoy various Mother's Day-themed treats, including chocolate covered strawberries, macarons, and cookie shots (available with milk or liqueur)

Storytellers Cafe

Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner: Feast on delicious dishes with the whole family as you enjoy decadent flavors and characters in this brunch and dinner celebration. Make your reservation starting April 20!

Disneyland Hotel

Goofy’s Kitchen

Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner: Grab the whole gang to celebrate over tasty plates and even appearances from beloved Disney friends! You can reserve your dining experience beginning April 20.

Walt Disney World Resort

EPCOT

Coral Reef Restaurant (available on May 8)

Mother’s Day Dessert: Strawberry-pistachio dome with strawberry-lemon gel and ruby chocolate powder (New)

Le Cellier Steakhouse (available on May 8)

Mother’s Day Dessert: Strawberry mousseline, pistachio chiffon, strawberry jelly, caramelized chocolate crumble, and raspberry meringue (New)

Sunshine Seasons (available on May 8)

Mother’s Day Cupcake: Red velvet cupcake with chocolate chip fudge filling and caramel buttercream

Disney’s All-Star Movies, Disney’s All-Star Music, and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resorts

World Premiere Food Court, Intermission Food Court, End Zone Food Court (available on Mobile Order from May 4-11)

Mother's Day Dessert: Strawberry mousse with strawberry compote and lemon curd (New)

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Landscape of Flavors (available on Mobile Order from May 4-11)

Strawberry Bliss Cupcake: Yellow cupcake filled with strawberry boba topped with strawberry buttercream and white vanilla wafers with white chocolate and nonpareils (New)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Boma – Flavors of Africa (available on May 8)

MOM-mosa: A refreshing combination of Sparkling South African Graham Beck Brut Rose, X-Fusion organic mango and passion fruit liqueur, and pomegranate juice (New)

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

BoardWalk Bakery (available on Mobile Order from May 5-8)

Jumbo Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake, peanut butter filling, vanilla buttercream, white crispy pearls, and a white chocolate Mrs. Jumbo and Dumbo (New)

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill (available on Mobile Order from May 4-11)

Strawberry Rose Cupcake: Rose-scented cupcake filled with strawberry rose mousse topped with strawberry buttercream and white chocolate décor (New)

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Contempo Café (available on Mobile Order on May 8)

Chocolate Strawberry Tart: Chocolate mousse tart topped with strawberry crémaux and strawberry balsamic compote (New)

Steakhouse 71 (available on May 8)

Mother’s Day Brunch: Spring into the seasons with a scrumptious brunch as you celebrate your family legacy over dishes like Walt’s Prime Rib Hash, Floridian Eggs Benedict, and Bacon & Eggs. (New)

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Gasparilla’s Island Grill (available on Mobile Order from May 6-8)

Mother’s Day Mimosa Cake: Golden sponge cake topped with a chocolate Cinderella slipper filled with mimosa-flavored mousse (contains alcohol)

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Capt. Cook’s (available on Mobile Order from May 6-8)

Mother’s Day Sweet Treats Box: Guava macarons, a coconut macaroon with white chocolate drizzle, and a pineapple cheesecake crème puff (New)

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Everything POP Shopping & Dinning (available on Mobile Order from May 4-11)

Strawberry Bliss Cupcake: Yellow cupcake filled with strawberry boba topped with strawberry buttercream and white vanilla wafers with white chocolate and nonpareils (New)

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Riverside

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory and Riverside Mill (available on Mobile Order from May 4-11)

Mother’s Day Cupcake: Lemon-scented cupcake filled with fresh blueberry compote topped with vanilla buttercream and fondant flowers (New)

Disney’s Riviera Resort

Le Petit Cafe (available May 8)

Mini Dessert Chocolate Box: Hand-crafted chocolate box with a ganache brownie, raspberry macaron, and lemon madeleines (New)

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Roaring Fork (available on Mobile Order from May 6-9)

Mother’s Day Cupcake: Raspberry swirl cupcake filled with raspberry custard and crispy pearls topped with lemon buttercream and chocolate and fondant décor (New)

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

The Marketplace at Ale & Compass and Beach Club Marketplace (available on Mobile Order from May 5-8)

Sweeter Than Roses: Raspberry mousse and chocolate cake with a ruby red raspberry center and chocolate and fondant décor

Disney Springs

Amorette's Patisserie (available from May 6-9)

“I Love You Mom” Dessert: Coconut cream, chocolate mousse, and Grand Marnier jam on a coconut chiffon (New)

(Note: All offerings are subject to change.)

Everything to Eat, See, and Do to Celebrate Nighttime Spectaculars’ Return at Disneyland Resort

April 20, 2022April 22, 2022

By Alison Stateman

It’s almost here, the moment you’ve been waiting for—four beloved nighttime spectaculars are coming back to Disneyland Resort!

As daylight fades on April 22, the Main Street Electrical Parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks, and World of Color will bring even more spectacular magic to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. What’s more, the Main Street Electrical Parade, a guest favorite since its debut in 1972, returns with a new grand finale to celebrate its 50th anniversary! On the heels of these illuminating offerings, Fantasmic! —Disney’s longest-running nighttime show—will return to Disneyland on May 28.

Of course, no trip or special event at Disney Parks would be complete without specialty wares and scrumptious munchies to enjoy while you “ooh and ahh” at all the pageantry. From the Parade Macaron at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café to the Light-up Elliott Dragon Premium Bucket, edible embodiments of these illuminated must-sees bring their enchantments to the plate for you to indulge in!

To help you make the most of these colorful evenings, we’ve compiled a list all the things you can eat, see, and do to celebrate with help from our friends at Disney Parks.

Disneyland Park

The triumphant return of the Main Street Electrical Parade will feature long-treasured floats, such as the classic Casey Jr. train and drum unit and Elliott the Dragon, and the familiar strains of the electro-synthe-magnetic musical score based on “Baroque Hoedown” by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley.

In honor of the cavalcade’s 50th anniversary, Disney Live Entertainment introduced a magnificent, all-new grand finale that celebrates the theme of togetherness.

The seven-segment, 118-foot float draws inspiration from the original design of classic Main Street Electrical Parade floats and Mary Blair’s one-of-a-kind art style on “it’s a small world.”

In a nod to the parade’s storied heritage, the finale will also feature the return of the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio and a unique 19-foot-tall representation of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Scenes from more than a dozen Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios films are depicted in thousands of twinkling lights in one of the grandest sequences in the parade’s history. Beloved characters and scenes from classic and contemporary stories such as Encanto, The Jungle Book, The Princess and the Frog, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Aladdin are sure to delight guests of all ages.

For those who like to wear their adoration on their sleeves, eye-catching new merchandise dedicated to the parade is available at Disneyland and shopDisney. These include options that, quite fittingly, feature glowing ink such as an all-over print T-shirt and leggings. Or choose a dress with glow-in-the-dark accents featuring Elliott the Dragon and a bright pink sash in salute to the timeless spectacle. Accessories include an ear headband and a mini backpack by Loungefly perfect for toting all your park essentials.

Parkgoers will also be treated to the Disneyland Forever fireworks spectacular — a street-to-sky celebration filled with sparkling pyrotechnics and immersive projections that envelop guests in a breathtaking journey with surprising special effects. Main Street, U.S.A., and a few other spots in Disneyland become a magical canvas, transporting guests from an Anaheim orange grove into the worlds of timeless Disney and Pixar stories. Disneyland Forever also features two original songs: the theme “Live the Magic,” and the inspiring closing song “Kiss Goodnight,” written by Richard M. Sherman.

Don’t dawdle! The Main Street Electrical Parade and Disneyland Forever fireworks extravaganza are being presented for a limited time. Disneyland Forever will ignite the night from Fridays through Sundays with Mickey’s Mix Magic projections-only show scheduled Mondays through Thursdays. Disneyland Forever fireworks will then run nightly in the summer.

Following these spectaculars, Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland on May 28. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Fantasmic! offers an emotional extravaganza of colorful Disney animated film images, choreographed to an exciting musical score and highlighted by the 45-foot-tall, fire-breathing Maleficent dragon. The waters of the Rivers of America come alive as Mickey Mouse dreams he is the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and faces some of Disney’s most dastardly villains, using the power of his imagination to save the day. Along the way, fantastic events and images as seen in Disney films—including Fantasia, The Jungle Book, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more—come to life with live performers, character appearances, enhanced special effects, and pyrotechnics.

Foodies can find a bevy of yummy options, from a dining package (with reserved viewing of the parade) at the Plaza Inn to sweet and savory offerings throughout Disneyland Resort, to satisfy cravings while taking in all the electrifying sights and scenes.

Plaza Inn

Parade Confetti Bundt Cake: Confetti cake with blue sopapilla filling, cream cheese glaze, and Main Street Electrical Parade chocolate décor (New)
Main Street Electrical Parade Dining Package: Plaza Inn fried chicken, smoky mac ’n’ cheese, oven-roasted carrots, baby wedge salad, Mickey-shaped corn bread, and berry cheesecake (Only available with purchase of the dining package) (Kids option also available)

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor hosted by Dreyer’s (Available on mobile order)

Uni-cone: Banana, cherry, and pistachio ice cream in a white chocolate-dipped waffle cone with fantasy sprinkles

Hub Churro Cart

Blueberry Looks Good on You: Blueberry-flavored sugar-dusted churro (New)
Blueberry Cheesecake Dipping Sauce: Blueberry fruit topping with cream cheese icing (New)

Fantasyland Theatre and Small World Popcorn Carts

Electric Sweet & Salty Popcorn: Colorful sweet kettle corn combined with butter-flavored popcorn (New)

Fantasyland and Small World Churro Carts

Electric Sprinkle Dip: Citrus buttercream frosting with sprinkles (New)

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (Available on mobile order)

Parade Macaron: Yellow macaron filled with honey buttercream and lemon curd topped with rainbow sprinkles and Main Street Electrical Parade drum decoration (New)
Mine Cart Brownie: White chocolate-dipped dark chocolate brownie topped with sugar gems
Linzer Cookie: Citrus shortbread linzer cookie with strawberry glaze

Refreshment Corner Hosted by Coca-Cola (Available on mobile order)

Electric Relish Dog: All-beef hot dog, bacon, mustard cheese sauce, electric relish, and sport peppers served with a choice of a Cuties mandarin orange or small bag of chips (New)
Firefly Chips: Corn chips topped with chili, cheddar, Monterey Jack, and jalapeños

Red Rose Taverne hosted by Minute Maid (available on Mobile Order)

Pineapple Night Light: Fresh pineapple purée and Sprite with a glow cube (New)

Town Square Churro Cart

Parade Dreams: Colorful sugar-dusted churro with fruit drizzle garnished with rainbow candy (New)

Town Square Popcorn Cart

Electric Pop: Brightly colored kettle corn (New)

Available at Various Locations Throughout Disneyland Park Throughout the Summer Season:

Light-up Turtle Premium Sipper (Limit two per person, per transaction while supplies last. Availability may vary throughout the season.) (New)
Light-up Elliott Dragon Premium Bucket (Limit two per person, per transaction while supplies last. Availability may vary throughout the season.) (New)

California Adventure Park

Beginning on April 22, World of Color returns to Disney California Adventure Park, bringing animation to life with the help of powerful fountains that create an immense screen of water. Combining the elements of music, fire, fog, and laser effects with memorable animated sequences, the multi-sensory show immerses viewers in legendary Disney and Pixar stories. These include scenes like WALL-E and Eve zipping through the cosmos, Pocahontas exploring just around the riverbend, and Jack Sparrow battling on the sea. The mega-scale spectacular illuminates all of Paradise Bay, with water reaching heights ranging from 30 feet to 200 feet—higher than the top of Pixar Pal-A-Round! A soaring musical score incorporating familiar Disney melodies and a contemporary version of the 1960s TV theme for Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color accompanies the stunning display.

There are several delicacies celebrating this reopening for parkgoers to enjoy.

Paradise Gardens Park

World of Color Dessert Party: Indulge in sweet delights including raspberry cookies, cheesecake, and Mickey crispies.

Wine Country Trattoria

World of Color Dining Package: Prior to the show, enjoy a delicious three-course meal, including dishes such as chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, salmon, and roasted vegetable lasagna, to name a few—plus tiramisu and more. Simply check in with your host or server about upgrading your reservation to the dining package!

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Storytellers Café

World of Color Dining Package: Indulge in an all-you-care-to-enjoy dinner buffet with specialty sweets and a non-alcoholic beverage followed by reserved seating for World of Color. Upon arrival for your reservation, just let your server or the host know you want an upgrade to this exciting enhancement.

Be sure to check out the Disneyland Resort app to stay up to date on the latest nighttime entertainment and schedules, as well as food and merchandise at Disneyland.com and the Disneyland mobile app.

Climb into the Unknown with Explorer: The Last Tepui on Disney+

April 20, 2022April 18, 2022

By Zach Johnson

Ready to discover uncharted territory?

The Disney+ Earth Day special Explorer: The Last Tepui, from National Geographic, follows elite climber Alex Honnold and a world-class climbing team—led by National Geographic Explorer and climber Mark Synnott—on a grueling mission deep in the Amazon jungle, where they attempt a first-ascent climb up a 1,000-foot sheer cliff. Their goal? Bring biologist and National Geographic Explorer Bruce Means to the top of a massive “island in the sky” known as a tepui. The journey quickly proves to be an arduous one, as the team must trek miles of treacherous terrain in order to help Dr. Means complete his life’s work: searching the cliff wall for undiscovered animal species.

The one-hour special, directed by Taylor Rees and Renan Ozturk, is the newest installment of National Geographic’s long-running Explorer series and will debut on Disney+ alongside The Biggest Little Farm: The Return and Disneynature’s Polar Bear.

This expedition, Honnold says, afforded him the opportunity to embark on a different kind of adventure than the one he undertook in National Geographic Documentary Films’ Academy Award^®-winning Free Solo. “I was still mostly motivated by my love of climbing, but I was on the expedition because I wanted to climb the tepuis that hadn’t been climbed,” he says. “But it’s a huge bonus when we can do something that’s actually useful for the world as well. The opportunity to take Bruce Means to an area that he otherwise would have great difficulty accessing was just a tremendous [honor].”

Although the team had an idea of what to expect once their expedition began, Rees confesses, “Nothing could’ve prepared us for the remoteness. It was kind of like wading through chocolate pudding for 10 straight days. We were there to support Bruce on his swan song expedition, moving through the landscape and discovering new species. But Bruce is 80 years old and 300 lbs., so we were moving at his pace.”

“Once we made it to the wall and we were doing the first descent, we all felt slightly more in our element than we did in the jungle,” Honnold recalls. “The film crew really struggled with fogging of the lenses, with everything being wet all the time, and with everything being muddy and impossible to keep clean. Basically, everything was a struggle! And then once we got to the wall, most of us were like, ‘Thank goodness!’”

Because Explorer: The Last Tepui was filmed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team took extra care to ensure everyone’s health and safety. “There was a lot of fear, and a lot of precautions we had to take as a team, moving through airports and traveling,” Rees says. “At the same time,” she notes, “I’ve noticed and I’ve heard from a lot of communities I’ve worked with that the lack of tourism, of travel, and of collaborative storytelling can negatively impact them. We tried to balance being as safe as possible with not giving up on our relationships and filmmaking collaborations.”

Honnold adds, “Once we got through the initial COVID precautions of getting in country, the expedition was so remote out in the jungle that we didn’t have to worry about COVID. It actually was a bit of a shock when we came back into civilization after a month, having to put masks back on and do those kinds of things. Because we’d been remote for so long, we’d forgotten that a pandemic was ongoing.”

Rees hopes that through Explorer: The Last Tepui, viewers will discover why the tepuis are a treasure trove of biodiversity worth protecting. “In this third year of COVID, I don’t think people have ever been faced so viscerally with how interconnected we are as people, through our spaces and our waters, and how easily disease can transmit around the world,” Rees says. “It gives us opportunities to realize how connected we are to other ecosystems as much as we are to other countries and other people... I hope that continues to inspire and motivate us to do the work that needs to be done.”

Explorer: The Last Tepui starts streaming Friday, April 22, exclusively on Disney+.

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in May 2022

April 19, 2022May 26, 2022

By Zach Johnson

Sure, the sun is shining… but Disney+ just gave us more than a few reasons to stay inside next month! The streaming service has announced which titles you can begin watching in May, including the Original films Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Sneakerella, and We Feed People, and the Original series Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Quest. Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight will end May 4, but don’t worry: Marvel Studios: Assembled – The Making of Moon Knight will premiere on Disney+ just one week later!

In celebration of Star Wars Day, Disney Gallery: The Book of Boba Fett will explore the behind-the-scenes story of the legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett’s return to Tatooine with mercenary Fennec Shand, seeking to claim the territory once run by Jabba the Hutt. In this insightful special, filmmakers, cast, and crew will reveal never-before-seen footage, groundbreaking technology and the practical effects that brought it all to life.

As first announced at WonderCon earlier this month, The Quest is a groundbreaking, immersive, hybrid competition series that drops eight real-life teenagers (aka Paladins) into the fantastic, fictional world of Everealm, where they must save a Kingdom by fulfilling an ancient prophecy. Throughout the eight-episode series, each Paladin will be immersed in a fantasy world come to life complete with a castle, royals, ethereal Fates, all forms of mystical creatures, and a Sorceress intent on destruction and power.

Lace up for Sneakerella, set in the avant-garde street-sneaker subculture of New York City. The high-energy, music-driven movie puts a modern twist on the Cinderella fairy tale and centers on El (Chosen Jacobs), an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens. He works as a stock boy in the shoe store that once belonged to his late mother. El hides his artistic talent from his overworked stepfather and two mean-spirited stepbrothers, who constantly thwart any opportunity that comes his way. When El meets Kira King (Lexi Underwood), the fiercely independent daughter of a legendary basketball star and sneaker tycoon, sparks fly as the two bond over their mutual affinity for sneakers. With a nudge from his best friend and a sprinkle of Fairy Godfather magic, El finds the courage to use his talent to pursue his dream of becoming a “legit” sneaker designer.

A comeback 30 years in the making, Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers catches up with former Disney Afternoon television stars Chip (voiced by John Mulaney) and Dale (voiced by Andy Samberg) in modern-day Los Angeles. When a former co-star mysteriously disappears, Chip and Dale must repair their broken friendship and take on their Rescue Rangers detective personas once again to save their friend’s life. The cast of the hybrid live-action/CG animated action-comedy also includes KiKi Layne and the voices of Will Arnett, Eric Bana, Flula Borg, Dennis Haysbert, Keegan-Michael Key, Tress MacNeille, Tim Robinson, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons. The movie is directed by Akiva Schaffer.

Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated series Obi-Wan Kenobi begins a decade after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, in which Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) faced his greatest defeat—the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. Directed by Deborah Chow, Obi-Wan Kenobi also stars Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell, and Benny Safdie.

The documentary We Feed People, from director and producer Ron Howard, spotlights chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen’s evolution over a 12-year period. Discover how Andrés and a scrappy group of volunteers were able to create one the most well-regarded humanitarian aid organizations in the disaster relief sector.

Here’s everything new you can stream on Disney+ in May:

Wednesday, May 4
Disney Gallery: The Book of Boba Fett (Premiere)
Life Below Zero (Season 18)
Moon Knight (Episode 6) (Finale)

Wednesday, May 11
The Chicken Squad (Season 1, 5 episodes)
Just Like Me (Seasons 1–2)
Marvel Studios: Assembled – The Making of Moon Knight (Premiere)
Mira, Royal Detective (Season 2, 10 episodes)
The Quest (Premiere)
Something Bit Me! (Season 1)
The Wizard of Paws (Season 2)

Friday, May 13
Sneakerella (Premiere)

Wednesday, May 18
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery (Season 1, 5 episodes)
I Cavalieri Di Castelcorvo (Season 1)
Secrets of the Zoo (Season 5)

Friday, May 20
8 Simple Rules (Seasons 1-2)
Alias (Seasons 1-5)
Broken Karaoke (Season 1, Episode 6)
Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers (Premiere)
The Finder (Season 1)
Shook
The Wizard of Paws (Season 2)

Friday, May 27
Bad Boys
Wade: Life Unexpected
Hubble’s Cosmic Journey
Mission Pluto
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Two-Episode Premiere)
We Feed People (Premiere)