Legendary Handprints – Manuel Gonzales

October 13, 2021October 13, 2021

In 1936, the Disney studio needed new artists to work on its first feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Open auditions for artists were held at Rockefeller Center in New York, and Manuel Gonzales was one of 33 selected from thousands of applicants to join the Disney ranks. In 1938, Gonzales took over penciling duties on the Sunday Mickey Mouse comic strip from Disney Legend Floyd Gottfredson. After taking a three-year break for Army service, Gonzales began to pencil and ink the strip in 1946, a role he continued to occupy until 1981.

For nearly 40 years, Manuel brought Mickey Mouse to newspaper comics, nationwide. At its peak, his Mickey-starring strips appeared in 120 newspapers around the world with a collective circulation of more than 20 million readers each week.

During his time at Disney, Manuel was known by some of his colleagues simply as “Gonzy.” He was amazed by the talents of the artists around him and was honored to be in their ranks. As a Disney comics artist, Manuel helped to showcase the off-screen adventures of Mickey Mouse and his pals Goofy and Pluto, and also drew promotional comic strips that helped introduce films such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp. From 1956-1981, he penciled and inked the popular daily newspaper strip featuring Scamp, the mischievous son of Lady and Tramp. Gonzales occasionally stepped in to pencil the daily Donald Duck strip, and also contributed to various Disney comic books and publications throughout his lengthy career, and was known for tackling each project with a masterful sense of artistry.

Manuel was presented a “Mousecar” award for his company accomplishments by Walt Disney himself in 1966. Walt joked that Gonzales, who signed each of his comic strips as “Walt Disney,” had probably signed Walt’s name more often than Walt himself had! Having lived a life filled with artistic accomplishment, Manuel passed away on March 31, 1993.

Inside Dancing with the Stars’ Magical “Disney Heroes” Night

October 12, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Dancing with the Stars’ “Disney Week” is off to a shimmering start!

Monday’s episode was inspired by “Disney Heroes,” with the 13 couples performing choreographed routines to songs from hit films such as Aladdin, Frozen, The Lion King, Moana, and Tarzan. Melora Hardin and pro Artem Chigvintsev earned the top score, earning 36/40 points from judges Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli for their Quickstep to “I Wan’na Be Like You (2016)” from The Jungle Book.

In a magical twist, host and executive producer Tyra Banks announced at the end of the episode that no couples would be eliminated—meaning everyone will return to the ballroom tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC to perform “Disney Villains”-inspired numbers!

After Monday’s show, we chatted with two of the 13 couples—Jimmie Allen and pro Emma Slater and Melanie C. and pro Gleb Savchenko—to get an exclusive peek inside the magic of “Disney Week.” Allen said that all along, he’d been anticipating this special two-night event. “If I’m being honest, I’m a Disney nerd. My love for Disney is what got me through,” Allen admitted. “I’m exhausted from dancing and touring; my body is tired. But it’s Disney!”

Allen isn’t just any “Disney nerd,” as he also confessed to visiting Walt Disney World Resort 82 times in nine years! “My first time ever going was 2012, because we couldn’t afford it when I was younger,” he said. “I actually picked up two extra jobs and saved money for a year and a half so I could take my mom and two sisters. We went there for a week and hit all the parks. Ever since, I go every Christmas, every Thanksgiving, every Flower & Garden Festival, every Food & Wine Festival, every Easter, every New Year’s Eve.”

The country artist channeled his passion for Disney into his performance of “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan on “Disney Heroes” night, earning him and Slater a score of 30/40. “He gets nervous before each dance, and I can feel it,” Slater explained. “But then when he gets onto the floor, he turns into this performer. He’s a natural. For instance, Jimmie picked this song himself. He sang it the entire dance—absolutely everywhere! I think it really helped him commit more to the movement, so it was a really good choice.”

To their surprise, Allen and Slater received two bonus points from the judges for their inventive take on the “Mickey Mouse Challenge”—a set of moves each couple had to incorporate into their routine, no matter the dance style. “It was quite tricky, being a Paso Doble,” explained Slater. Inspired by Mulan’s action sequences, she decided to slow it down. Luckily, Slater said, Allen “absolutely nailed it. He defined each of the movements.”

Allen and Slater will open “Disney Villains” night by dancing Jazz to “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, inspired by Peter Pan. “I dance with a hook on the whole time,” Allen said. “The whole time!” It’s a design detail worthy of “some publicity,” Slater joked. “He dances with a hook on his left hand—and we do three lifts! I did at one point ask the producers, ‘Does he need to dance with it the whole time?’ They said, ‘Yes, we would love to have that happen.’ We said ‘no problem’—even though I was secretly like, ‘This is going to be a problem!’ We strategically placed the hook in certain places so that it won’t get caught on my dress or my hair. But believe me, he is dancing! This isn’t like a slow Jazz; he is dancing his tush off!”

Initially, Slater had planned to dress up as Smee, but when cameras roll Tuesday night, she’ll be in costume as none other than Tinker Bell. “I really wanted a bounce board for him to be a villain against,” she said of Allen, who will dress up as Captain Hook. “We turned the whole dance into sort of like a fight challenge/showdown/dance-off situation.”

Allen said he will be channeling the “confidence” of Captain Hook on “Disney Villains” night. “Even though he loses time and time again, his self-belief is like no other,” he said with a laugh. “Captain Hook is delusional. He has this confidence and borderline arrogance to him, so that’s the attitude I’m going to take into the dance. And even though he always loses, his delivery in every moment makes you think there’s a chance he could pull this off.”

Speaking of pulling things off, Melanie C. and Savchenko were riding high after their Jazz performance of “Step in Time” from Mary Poppins earned them a score of 31/40 on “Disney Heroes” night—their best score yet. Goodman called it “enchanting” and compared it to Disneyland itself, while Hough paid them the ultimate compliment, saying Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke would have “loved it.” As Melanie C. told us after the show, “We’d both been watching ‘Step in Time’ from the movie, and I’m just in awe of Dick Van Dyke and the choreo and the characterization of it all. That was high praise, indeed! We had so much fun with this dance. It was hard: we had props, it was super quick, and it was super physical. But when we saw the set and we got into the costumes, and then after we got to watch it back, we were like, ‘Wow!’ We felt like we were on Broadway. It was a really special night for us.”

Because “Disney Week” is a rare two-night event—part of Dancing with the Stars’ milestone 30th season—that means each couple had to learn two dances in one week. No easy task! “I always start by asking myself: ‘What can Melanie do?’” Savchenko said. “She’s very athletic, so I thought, ‘OK, we should do a cartwheel. But can she do a one-handed cartwheel?’ It’s nice to show different sides of what she can do, from a Tango to a Foxtrot to a Cha Cha.” Audiences will get to see a different—and wickeder—side of Melanie C. on “Disney Villains” night, when she and Savchenko dance the Viennese Waltz to “Once Upon a Dream” from Maleficent. “What’s so exciting about our choice of Hero and Villain is that they are worlds apart,” Melanie C. explained. “All the fun and energy and uplifting of tonight, I really want to show the opposite of that tomorrow—the darkness and the moodiness and the drama. I’m equally excited about tomorrow, but in a very different way.”

Savchenko described their “Once Upon a Dream” routine as “dark, powerful, and sexy.” To choreograph and teach two dances in three days is “really hard,” he added, “but I’m excited to play two different characters and get into that zone.” He will play a dragon, while Melanie C. will dress up as Maleficent. “I think I got possibly the best two female characters you could ask for, right?” she said. “I’m really happy, and the song is beautiful. I’ve told my makeup artist I want to look like Angelina Jolie… she said she’ll do her best!”

Melanie C. will no doubt do her best, just as she’s done week after week. Although relocating to the U.S. to film Dancing with the Stars has been hard at times, she said, “I really wouldn’t change it for the world. I love the show. I’m such a big fan of the show here in the U.S. and the U.K. And also, I love being in America. America has been great to me and the Spice Girls; we always had so much fun working here. To be back is really special.”

Dancing with the Stars’ “Disney Villains” episode airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1970s: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

October 12, 2021October 13, 2021

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives

This film is for mature audiences.

Halloween is creeping up ever closer, and with the eerie flicker of jack-o’-lanterns lighting our way through a stormy evening, we are continuing our journey through some of the most “spooktacular” films from 20th Century Fox. What awaits us now is perhaps the grooviest of decades—the 1970s! We are shivering with antici…pation as we take a closer look at our next film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

A creative and colorful musical homage to horror and science fiction films of days gone by, The Rocky Horror Picture Show opens with Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) declaring his love for the innocent Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon). Unfortunately for this newly engaged pair, their car breaks down, leaving them stranded on a stormy fall night.

In their quest for shelter, they stumble upon a foreboding castle where the glamourous, eccentric scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) is hosting the “Annual Transylvanian Convention.”

The other mysterious and strange guests of the convention include the sinister Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien), his sister Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and Columbia (“Little Nell,” aka Nell Campbell).

However, in the fine tradition of movie mad scientists, Dr. Frank-N-Furter has built his own monstrous creation: a tall, blond, muscular man he names Rocky.

After awakening, Rocky becomes smitten with Janet—and the resulting chaos and conflict affect all the film’s characters in life-altering ways.

The campy drama culminates with the climactic reveal of Riff Raff and Magenta as intergalactic interlopers from a distant planet in the galaxy of Transylvania, taking off in the castle-turned-spaceship.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show began its life in 1973 as an experimental stage production at the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs in London, eventually moving to King’s Road Theatre. The musical, with its book, lyrics, and music written by O’Brien, proved to be a hit with audiences, eventually touring the United States where producer Lou Adler secured the rights to adapt it into a film. O’Brien, Quinn, Campbell, and Curry all reprised their stage roles for the film, with Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick joining as new additions to the cast.

The character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter is perhaps the most compelling and iconic of them all, and in the production notes for the film, Curry stated that “[The character] has a very odd kind of appeal… He can go from doing something really outrageous and horrific to being deeply moving.” The outlandish and extravagant makeup, designed by Pierre Laroche, and the eclectic, creative costumes, by Sue Blane, worked in tandem to create Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s memorable looks. The Rocky Horror Picture Show initially had a limited release, but based on the rising success of late night screenings, 20th Century Fox began screening the film for regular midnight showings. Rocky Horror’s popularity exploded due to these presentations—and to this day, midnight showings remain ever present, with audiences dressing up as their favorite characters from this most camp “Science Fiction/Double Feature.” If you can, do the “Time Warp” and catch The Rocky Horror Picture Show, streaming on Hulu!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

October 11, 2021

By Zach Johnson

It’s “Disney Week” on Dancing with the Stars, and we can’t think of anything more fantastic than that! The two-night event begins Monday on ABC, and the couples will be back in the ballroom Tuesday. The National Hockey League (NHL) has returned to The Walt Disney Company after 17 years, and the opening night doubleheader will be simulcast Tuesday on ESPN and ESPN+. Also on Tuesday, ABC will present A Night in the Academy Museum, featuring a look at the incredible institution and interviews with Hollywood’s biggest stars. Then, on Wednesday, stream the season finale of the animated series Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life on Disney+, which will also debut the first season of the anthology series Just Beyond.

Dancing with the Stars—Monday, October 11, and Tuesday, October 12, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
We’re already tapping our toes in anticipation of the special two-night “Disney Week” event! The 13 remaining couples will perform numbers inspired by Disney Heroes on Monday, and the next night, the celebrities and their partners will perform Disney Villains-inspired routines. (ICYMI, we revealed the couples’ song titles and dance styles last week!)

NHL Opening Night Doubleheader—Tuesday, October 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+
Live coverage of the NHL’s Opening Night will be highlighted by a history-making doubleheader, starting with two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning raising their 2020-21 Stanley Cup banner before hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins in Amalie Arena. The second game will feature the first ever regular season game for the Seattle Kraken, with the Golden Knights welcoming the NHL’s newest team to Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

A Night in the Academy Museum—Tuesday, October 12, at 10:01 p.m. ET on ABC
Oscar^® winners Laura Dern and Tom Hanks are inviting a few of their friends and colleagues to spend a night in the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The special gives fans an exclusive look at the largest institution in the United States dedicated to the arts and sciences of moviemaking. Annette Bening, Cher, Jon M. Chu, Geena Davis, Danny Glover, Eiza González, Emily V. Gordon, Aldis Hodge, Marsai Martin, Marlee Matlin, Melissa McCarthy, Kumail Nanjiani, Michelle Rodriguez, Jurnee Smollett, and Diane Warren will guide viewers through the halls of the institution as they explore the magic and artistry that has enlightened, enchanted, and entertained movie fans for more than 120 years.

Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life—Wednesday, October 13, on Disney+
Donald Duck gives us something to quack about in the season finale! First, in “Delivery Duck,” the chipmunks order food from Donald. Then, in “Dark in the Park,” Donald is stranded in the park at night. In “Choppin’ Dale,” Chip and Dale make a deal with Donald.

Just Beyond—Wednesday, October 13, on Disney+
Inspired by the writings of R.L. Stine, this eight-episode anthology series tells astonishing and thought-provoking stories of a reality just beyond the one we know. Each episode—“Leave Them Kids Alone,” “Parents Are from Mars, Kids Are from Venus,” “Which Witch,” “My Monster,” “Unfiltered,” “We’ve Got Spirits, Yes We Do,” “Standing Up for Yourself,” and “The Treehouse”—introduces new characters who must go on a surprising journey of self-discovery, set in a supernatural world of aliens, ghosts, parallel universes, and witches.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Create Your Best Disney Day When Disney Genie Launches October 19 at Walt Disney World Resort

October 8, 2021

By the D23 Team

We’re a little over a week into October, and already the month is full of magic! Last week, we joined Walt Disney World in kicking off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” with a special video podcast episode of D23 Inside Disney, celebrating 50 magical years of Walt Disney World Resort.

If that wasn’t enough, today our friends at Disney Parks Blog announced another milestone: The previously announced Disney Genie service will launch on October 19 at Walt Disney World Resort!

Available for all of our guests right in the My Disney Experience app, the complimentary Disney Genie service offers new features that let you create your best Disney day. Through Disney Genie, you can prioritize all your favorite parts of your Disney trip via a personalized itinerary creator that effortlessly and smartly maps out an entire day, so you can maximize the magic and make the most of your Walt Disney World vacation.

Much like your phone’s navigation app, Disney Genie is actively updating your itinerary based on changes in the parks throughout the day. Plus, you can adapt to your own needs! Need to go back to the hotel and take a nap? Want to make a side trip for a churro? Suddenly have the urge to ride Haunted Mansion an extra time? Disney Genie continues to update your itinerary, so you can stay spontaneous and go with the flow.

Disney Genie puts guests at the center of the experience by prioritizing ways to:

Reduce time in lines while keeping in mind your top picks
Pace your day with experiences you’ll enjoy—and haven’t already done yet
Build around your existing plans like dining reservations and Park Hopper® preferences

Disney Genie uses Disney’s 50+ years of knowledge and expertise in how guests visit the parks to make the experience better for everyone. To get a deeper dive into how the app was created, check out our exclusive interview with Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Josh D’Amaro.

This launch also includes the introduction of the Lightning Lane entrance. Available for purchase through the Disney Genie+ add-on at more than 40 attractions—or individually, “a la carte” at some of the most highly demanded attractions—the Lightning Lane entrance can save you time waiting in line. Click here for a first look at the list of current attractions with Lightning Lane entrances and info on pricing.

As a reminder, attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue or from time to time, and a virtual queue may instead be used at select attractions—like right now at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT.

Prepare for the launch with all the information you need to know before you go at DisneyGenie.com. Disney Parks’ Guest Experience Team will also be available throughout all four theme parks to assist you, and be sure to head over to planDisney for expert tips from the panelists.

Disney Genie service will come at a later date for Disneyland Resort, so stay tuned to D23.com for more updates.

Build Your Own Disney Park in Disney Wonderful Worlds

October 8, 2021

By the D23 Team

Looking for a way to experience Disney magic on-the-go? Top game developers Ludia and Jam City have teamed up with Disney to create Disney Wonderful Worlds, a colorful decoration Match-3 puzzle game, now available for download through the App Store and Google Play. This magical game allows players to experience a unique storyline while customizing their very own Disney-inspired theme park. Here are some of the features we’re most excited to see:

Collect Classic Characters
Minnie Mouse and friends will aid you on your journey as you solve challenging puzzles and unlock iconic attractions. Collect other beloved Disney and Pixar characters as you discover their associated worlds, such as Jasmine in Adventureland, Rex in Toy Story Land, and—of course—Mickey Mouse on Main Street.

Personalize Your Park
Over 100 Disney decorations, characters, and attractions are just waiting to be unlocked! Customize your own Disney Park, decorate iconic themed lands, and upgrade your attractions as you play. You can even celebrate the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Celebration in-game with limited-time EARidescent decorations and collectibles!

Solve Over 300 Puzzles
Disney Wonderful Worlds has launched with 300 challenging Match-3 puzzles for you to complete, with new levels added weekly. Sharpen your puzzle-solving skills as you experience iconic Disney Parks moments from the comfort of home!

Can’t wait to play? Players can download Disney Wonderful Worlds NOW from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Fun for Kids, Tweens, and Teens Aboard the Disney Wish —Plus More in News Briefs

October 8, 2021

By Courtney Potter

Disney Cruise Line Invites Kids, Tweens, and Teens into Imaginative New Worlds

The experiences on board Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Wish, are truly second-to-none—and now we know a little more about the amazing fun awaiting kids, tweens, and teens!

Star Wars: Cargo Bay is a first-of-its-kind immersive experience that places kids in the important role of creature handlers as they learn to manage a mischievous menagerie of exotic beings from across the galaxy—including a porg, a Loth-cat, a worrt, and more. Throughout the length of the cruise, they’ll use augmented reality-enabled datapads to track and study the creatures on a series of special assignments. But there’s more to this job than meets the dianoga eye: The new crew will actually be joining an important mission to deliver a pair of secret stowaways, Rey and Chewbacca, back to the Resistance!

Meanwhile, Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck is specially designed for the youngest sailors at Disney’s Oceaneer Club… it’s a nautical playground inspired by the colors, icons, and magic of Disney Cruise Line. This brand-new space will be filled with a plethora of maritime-themed physical and sensory-style games and activities, including pipe slides and crawl-throughs; ship’s wheels; “busy boxes” fashioned as ship controls; and cushy life preserver seating areas.

And for the first time on a Disney ship, there’s a third club for tweens and teens: The Hideaway—a posh, colorful hangout with a dance floor and DJ booth that’s the perfect setting for dance competitions and some awesome karaoke!

For more information on what the younger folk in your family can expect on a Disney Wish cruise, check out this rundown by our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog—and don’t miss the latest kids-themed installment of Disney Parks’ “Designing the Disney Wish” YouTube series, above.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

If you’re not planning approximately 47 back-to-back viewings of Muppets Haunted Mansion on Disney+ over the next 72 hours like we are (that might be a slight exaggeration but… not really), there’s plenty of other fun to look forward to from around the worlds of Disney—including an all-new episode of ABC’s Shark Tank; a Halloween-themed Big City Greens special on Disney Channel; and lots more.

American Born Chinese Coming to Disney+

Earlier this week, Disney+ announced a sure-to-be-fantastic new series based on a popular graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang.

American Born Chinese is a genre-hopping action-comedy that follows Jin Wang—an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his immigrant home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods. The show takes a hilariously adventurous look at issues of identity, culture, and family.

“When I was in high school, I was such a big Disney fan that I had at least one Mickey Mouse item on me at all times: a wallet, a watch, a belt buckle, a T-shirt, something. Being a part of Disney+ is a dream come true,” Luen Yang recently said.

Destin Daniel Cretton, fresh off directing Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings, is set to direct and executive produce American Born Chinese for 20th Television. Written and executive produced by Emmy® Award winner Kelvin Yu and Charles Yu, American Born Chinese is also executive produced by Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan, Asher Goldstein, and Luen Yang. Stay tuned for more info on the series in the coming months.

**“Dancing with the Stars – Live Tour 2022” Hits the Road This January!**

Celebrating its banner 30th season, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars is kicking off a brand-new nationwide tour in just a few months’ time!

“Dancing with the Stars – Live Tour 2022” launches January 7 in Richmond, Virginia, with an all-new production featuring fan-fave professional dancers performing all of the breathtaking dance styles seen on the hit series. The tour, like its earlier counterparts, will include showstopping routines from the TV show alongside new numbers choreographed specifically for the live production—ranging from time-honored dances like the Quickstep and Foxtrot to sizzling Latin styles like the Cha Cha, Salsa, and Tango. In this year’s state-of-the-art production, audiences will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the glitz and glamour they see in the ballroom every Monday night live in their hometowns.

The cast is set feature Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Artem Chigvintsev, Sasha Farber, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, and Britt Stewart—with more surprise casting to be announced. Tickets are now on sale; visit DWTSTour.com for the full list of dates and cities, and to purchase your own ticket to the festive, foot-tapping fun!

Bite Size Halloween Short Films Set to Thrill on Hulu, Freeform, and FX

Get into the spooky spirit with season two of 20th Digital Studio’s Bite Size Halloween, a short film series that ranges from horror comedy to psychological thrillers and everything in between. Created by up-and-coming filmmakers, these films are now available to stream on Hulu and will screen across other platforms including Freeform and FX, as well as Hulu’s Huluween platform hub and YouTube channel.

Bite Size Halloween 2021 features 18 emerging filmmakers representing a broad spectrum of styles, identities, countries, and backgrounds. Through both horror and comedy, these shorts take on timely issues such as race, gender, motherhood, beauty, sexuality, the environment, and workplace safety. But that’s not the only cool thing about it: The long-term goal of 20th Digital Studio’s short film programs is to continue to guide and finance the growth of these artists’ careers and to transition some of the shorts into longer features. In fact, 20th Digital is currently shooting its first feature developed in this way, expected to debut on Hulu in 2022!

Among the participants in this year’s Bite Size Halloween are three Academy Award® nominees; an alum of Disney’s Launchpad Shorts program; and two Toronto International Film Festival award winners.

ICYMI: Halloween Frightful Favorites with the Stars of Muppets Haunted Mansion

Ever wanted to know about Pepé the King Prawn’s fave thing to give away to Halloween trick-or-treaters? Or the best trick Miss Piggy ever played on someone? Hear about all that and more in our latest fa-boo-lous video, in which we chat all things All Hallows Eve with the stars of the Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

October 7, 2021October 7, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Who’s ready for the weekend? ABC’s Shark Tank will return for its 13th season Friday on ABC, with plenty of pitches and a special guest Shark. For those looking for something spooky, Disney Channel will air a Halloween-themed episode of Sydney to the Max Friday, while Disney+ will debut the Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special, Muppets Haunted Mansion, starring Kermit the Frog, Missy Piggy, and more. The Halloween fun will continue on Saturday with a Big City Greens special on Disney Channel. (Read all about it here). Finally, FX will air an Impeachment: American Crime Story marathon Saturday for adult fans.

Shark Tank—Friday, October 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Emma Grede, CEO of Good American and founding partner of SKIMS, makes history as the first Black female guest Shark! Grede and the other Sharks will first hear a pitch from an entrepreneur from Philadelphia whose functional apparel and accessories line emphasizes hair care and protection. Then, a husband and wife from Cincinnati pitch a healthy superfood-packed indulgence; a high school art teacher from Burnet, Texas, introduces a convenient, safe way to store jewelry on the go; and a renowned fashion designer from New York City shares a plan to transform the way clothing is manufactured in America.

Sydney to the Max—Friday, October 8, at 8:25 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
In the all-new episode “The Hunt for the Rad October,” Sydney (Ruth Righi) and her friends are excited about Halloween and their peanut butter and jelly group costume… that is, until they discover they are the only eighth graders who are wearing costumes at school!

Muppets Haunted Mansion—Friday, October 8, on Disney+
Inspired by all four of the iconic Disney Haunted Mansion attractions located across the globe at various Disney Parks, the Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special features three new original songs, “Rest in Peace,” “Life Hereafter,” and “Tie the Knot Tango”, plus a star-studded Muppets cast, celebrity cameos, and spooky fun for families to enjoy together. Muppets Haunted Mansion also includes many hidden easter eggs for Disney fans and “Muppet-ized” sets and props that help immerse viewers in the storytelling experience.

Big City Greens—Saturday, October 9, at 8:30 a.m. ET on Disney Channel
The Greens prepare for their Halloween party in “Squashed!” Bill (voiced by Bob Joles) is disappointed by the poor yield of his small pumpkin patch. When he and Tilly (voiced by Marieve Herington) visit BigTech to make a produce delivery, Tilly secretly “borrows” an alien chemical compound from Gwendolyn Zapp (voiced by guest star Cheri Oteri) to make Bill’s pumpkins grow. It’s effective… until it turns them into body-snatching alien monsters!

Impeachment: American Crime Story—Saturday, October 9, at 6 p.m. ET on FX
Intended for mature audiences, this limited series examines the national crisis that led to the first impeachment of a U.S. President in over a century, told through the eyes of the women at the center of the events: Monica Lewinsky (Beanie Feldstein), Linda Tripp (Sarah Paulson), and Paula Jones (Annaleigh Ashford). Impeachment: American Crime Story reveals how power lifts some and drops others in the halls of our most sacred institutions.

Get Early Access to the October Disney Treasures From the Vault, Limited Edition Winnie the Pooh Plush, Amazon Exclusive

October 7, 2021December 2, 2021

Click here to access the October Disney Treasures From the Vault, Limited Edition Winnie the Pooh Plush, Amazon Exclusive

Disney Treasures From the Vault, Limited Edition Winnie the Pooh Plush, Amazon Exclusive

Relive the magic of Disney with the Treasures From the Vault Plush. Inspired by Disney’s classic Winnie the Pooh, the Limited Edition Winnie the Pooh is the tenth collectible character in this exclusive Amazon series. Standing 12.75-inches tall and made of soft velvet fabric with plastic eyes and nose, Winnie the Pooh is wearing his signature red shirt. He even includes a Certificate of Authenticity and comes in a window box featuring exclusive Disney Treasures From the Vault packaging with gold foil detailing; ideal for collectors. Collect all 12 of these commemorative plush. Ages 3+

Walt Disney discovered A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books thanks to the laughter he overheard coming from his young daughter’s room. He went in to see what was so funny and found both his girls entranced by the whimsical humor of the Pooh stories. Years later, Walt planned to make a feature-length animated film of the Winnie the Pooh stories, but decided instead to create three separate featurettes to introduce the “silly old bear” to American audiences. The first featurette, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, was released in 1966, followed by Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day in 1968 and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too in 1974. The three featurettes would be linked together by new animation and released as the feature-length animated film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1977, fulfilling Walt’s initial vision of a full-length animated Winnie the Pooh film.

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Tenth commemorative plush in the 2021 Treasures From the Vault Plush collection. Each month a new limited edition commemorative plush is being revealed, exclusively on Amazon. Collect all twelve.
Each Limited Edition Winnie the Pooh Plush includes a Certificate of Authenticity within the box. D23 members will have early access to the line of limited edition Disney plushes presented by Amazon.
Walt was inspired to create a full-length animated film of Winnie the Pooh after finding his daughters entranced by the whimsical humor of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books.
Winnie the Pooh stands 13 inches tall and made of soft fabrics with embroidered eyes.
Ages 3+
D23 Members will be the first to be notified about each month’s theme and have an opportunity to order the month’s design.
Each month D23 will provide Members with advance notice of the date the plush will be available for purchase on Amazon.com.
On Friday, September 8, at 9 a.m. PST,visit this page on D23.com for the link to purchase the October Disney Treasures From the Vault, Limited Edition Winnie the Pooh Plush, Amazon Exclusive
Please Note: You must be signed in as a D23 Member to access the link to purchase. Click “Sign In” at the top of the page.
Please note limited quantities of the plush will be available on Amazon.com.

Don’t miss the October Special Edition Amazon Seven Dwarves plush and Toy Soldier plush sets here!

For more Disney favorites, visit amazon.com/Disney for a full assortment of products.

Disney Treasures from the Vault Limited Edition Winnie the Pooh Plush offer available to D23 Members for a limited time. Limited quantity of plush are available, while supplies last at Amazon.com.

Items not eligible for any additional promotional discounts or offers except available shipping offers. Offer subject to restrictions and to change without notice. Void where prohibited.

Get Early Access to the Disney Treasures From the Vault, Special Edition Amazon Plush

October 7, 2021October 8, 2021

Click here to access the Disney Treasures From the Vault, Special Edition Amazon Plush

Special Edition Amazon Plush

Our friends at Amazon are offering a surprise release of two new limited-edition plush sets and D23 Members will, once again, have a first look at the all-new designs.

Limited Edition: The Seven Dwarfs Plush Set
Relive the magic of Disney with the Treasures From the Vault Seven Dwarfs Plush Set. Inspired by Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this limited-edition Seven Dwarfs collectible plush set includes all Seven Dwarfs standing approximately 7.5 to 8 inches tall and featuring soft fabric with embroidered eyes. Each character comes dressed in their signature outfit, with fuzzy white beards and hats (with their names printed on the front). The set even includes a Certificate of Authenticity and comes in a window box featuring exclusive Disney Treasures From the Vault packaging with gold foil detailing; ideal for collectors! The Seven Dwarfs Plush Set is great addition to any Disney Treasures From the Vault collection. Ages 3+.

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One of the many groundbreaking techniques featured in Walt Disney’s first full-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the use of personality animation to create the Seven Dwarfs—characters that were all of similar height and appearance, but designed and animated so they could instantly be distinguished from one another. In the film’s original theatrical trailer, Walt Disney described the Seven Dwarfs by saying, “The Dwarfs’ names fit their personalities. This pompous looking individual is Doc, the self-appointed leader of the group. This little fellow is Bashful, who is secretly in love with Snow White. This funny face is Sneezy; he has hay fever. Ol’ droopy eyes is called Sleepy. And Happy here with the beaming smile. And old sourpuss here is Grumpy… And last, but not least, is Dopey. He’s nice, but sort of silly.”

An exclusive, limited-edition commemorative plush from the 2021 Treasures From the Vault Plush collection.
Each Limited-Edition Seven Dwarfs Plush Set includes a Certificate of Authenticity within the box. D23 members will have early access to the line of limited-edition Disney plushes presented by Amazon.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made use of many groundbreaking techniques, including personality animation—a technique which allowed each of the Seven Dwarfs to be designed and animated so they could instantly be distinguished from one another.
Each of the Seven Dwarfs stand approximately 7.5 to 8 inches tall and is made of soft fabric with embroidered eyes.
Ages 3+.

Limited Edition: Babes in Toyland Soldiers Plush
Bring home even more of the magic of Disney home with the Babes in Toyland Soldiers Plush. Inspired by Disney’s Babes in Toyland, each limited-edition collectible plush stands 14 inches tall and is made of soft fabrics with embroidered cheeks and eyes. Includes two soldiers wearing velvet red tunics embellished with gold accents and faux leather belts (non-removable), and matching hats with a braided neck strap. One soldier is playing the drums and the other playing a trumpet. The plush includes a Certificate of Authenticity and comes in a window box featuring exclusive Disney Treasures From the Vault packaging with gold foil detailing; ideal for collectors! The Babes in Toyland Soldiers Plush is great addition to any Disney Treasures From the Vault collection. Ages 3+.

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The “March of the Toys” sequence, a highlight of Walt Disney’s first live-action musical film Babes in Toyland, featured more than 100 toys created especially for the film and brought to life through the magic of stop-motion animation. Babes in Toyland’s iconic red-uniformed toy soldiers became the breakout stars of the film and made their Disneyland Park debut during the 1961 holiday season’s Parade of Toys. They’ve since become a beloved fixture in holiday parades at Disney theme parks, delighting guests with their fanfare trumpets and precision marches.

An exclusive, limited-edition commemorative plush from the 2021 Treasures From the Vault Plush collection.
Each Limited-Edition Soldiers Plush includes a Certificate of Authenticity within the box. D23 members will have early access to the line of limited-edition Disney plushes presented by Amazon.
Babes in Toyland’s iconic red-uniformed toy soldiers became the breakout stars of the film and made their Disneyland Park debut during the 1961 holiday season’s Parade of Toys.
These Babes in Toyland Soldiers stand 14 inches tall and are made of soft fabric with embroidered cheeks and eyes.
Ages 3+.

Don’t miss the October Winnie the Pooh Limited Edition Amazon plush for October!

For more Disney favorites, visit amazon.com/Disney for a full assortment of products.

This Disney Treasures from the Vault Special Edition Amazon Holiday Plush offer is available to D23 Members for a limited time. Limited quantity of plush are available, while supplies last at Amazon.com.

Items not eligible for any additional promotional discounts or offers except available shipping offers. Offer subject to restrictions and to change without notice. Void where prohibited.