Destination D23 Attendees Can Be Among the First to Buy an All-New H2O+ Travel Essentials Kit

By The D23 Team

The H2O+’s 50th Anniversary Travel Essentials Kit, created in honor of the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, has all your favorite Sea Salt and Sea Marine hair and body care favorites, in convenient travel sizes. The kit will be available at shopDisney.com starting on December 1, but this pre-launch is exclusively available to Destination D23 attendees. If you’re joining us at Destination D23, be sure to stop by the H2O+ table for samples, gifts, and more! Be among the first to purchase this special kit, and experience the magic of relaxation with a magical Disney twist!

If you’re not attending Destination D23, keep an eye on shopDisney.com for the debut of this all-new kit, launching December 1.

Yogibo Discount

Where

What

When
https://yogibo.com/pages/disney-collection 10% off and free shipping on all Yogibo products 12/31/21

Bring home the comfiest stuff in the Galaxy! Whether a Star Wars fan or a Mickey Mouse fan, we have a special offer from Yogibo for D23 members: Starting now through the end of the year, D23 members can get 10% off and free shipping on all Yogibo products! Expanding upon their furniture line, Yogibo creates upscale accessories for everyday use, creating an entire lifestyle of comfort and functionality.

Yogibo

*Note:

Promotion Terms: D23 Members can use code D23SF at checkout to receive a 10% discount and free shipping on Disney collection products exclusively on https://yogibo.com/pages/disney-collection. Code cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires 12/31/21.

EXCLUSIVE: Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives Director John Gleim Talks Meeting Mark Hamill, Exploring the Archives, and More

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Every Disney fan dreams of exploring the fabled Walt Disney Archives, where treasures of Disney’s rich history are safely stored and preserved. From our favorite theme park Audio-Animatronics® figures to gorgeous matte paintings that brought movies to life, it is impossible to pick where to start first on a journey into the Archives’ halls. Well, it’s impossible for most Disney fans to pick—but John Gleim, writer and director of the documentary Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives, was up to the task of mapping out said adventure. The documentary, which will be available to stream starting Friday, November 19, on Disney+ and previously streamed exclusively in 2020 to D23 Gold Members, delves not just into the warehouses and libraries of the Walt Disney Archives, but to Disneyland, the Walt Disney Studios, and Walt Disney’s former home—all to give Disney fans an inside look at how the Archives not only preserve the history of The Walt Disney Company, but also at how they share that history with Disney fans all over the world, bringing us together in enthusiasm and fandom.

We had a chance to chat with Gleim about his experiences making the documentary—so read on to discover what it was like to have the enviable chance to explore the Archives, meet Disney Legends, and send Don Hahn on an epic quest for a delicious snack:

John Gleim

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club (D23): How did the idea for a documentary about the Walt Disney Archives come about?
John Gleim (JG): The idea for the film was sparked by the then upcoming 50th anniversary of the Archives, which was created in 1970. Rather than make a straightforward “talking head” historical documentary about the Archives with just names and dates, I wanted viewers to experience some of what I experience—the awe of seeing all these great Disney treasures and the joy in speaking with the Archives team about any corner of Disney history. This is truly a love letter to the Walt Disney Archives. I couldn’t have made this happen without Archives director Becky Cline. Her enthusiasm and support for the film were crucial to its success.

John Gleim

D23: The scope of the Archives is HUGE! How did you decide what and how to cover?
JG: The Archives is responsible for documenting and preserving the entirety of The Walt Disney Company, so to start I had to take a very pragmatic approach as far as what to cover. What are the broad types of artifacts the Archives preserves? What are the major locations where the Archives houses artifacts or does their research? And finally, what are some cool artifacts that either I or the Archives team would want to feature? Once I answered all those questions, I was able to begin structuring the film. From a story perspective, I was inspired by the 1941 Disney classic The Reluctant Dragon, where Robert Benchley tours the Studios to seek out Walt Disney. For our film, Don Hahn tours the various Archives locations to find Walt Disney’s office, which has been lovingly restored by the Walt Disney Archives. Another big inspiration was the tone and style of the Disney anthology TV series: Disneyland, Walt Disney Presents, and The Wonderful World of Color. In those programs, Walt would inject a bit of fun and magic into what he was showcasing, and I tried to do the same.

D23: Do you have a favorite memory from making the film?
JG: They say “never meet your heroes,” but that was not true while I worked on this film. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, having the opportunity to meet and interview Disney Legend Mark Hamill is something I will never forget. He was so genuine and gracious—and very patient as I talked about my handmade Luke Skywalker ornament that appears on my parents’ Christmas tree every year.

Also, meeting with the Archives staff to decide what artifacts to feature was incredibly fun and overwhelming—in a good way. As excited as I was to see everything, the staff was even more excited to share and talk about these amazing treasures!

D23: What was it like meeting and interviewing Disney Legends and luminaries about the Archives?
JG: In addition to interviewing Mark Hamill, I was fortunate enough to interview many Disney Legends and luminaries who inspire me every day. I can’t even begin to communicate how impactful that was. From speaking with Kurt Russell, Kathryn Beaumont, and Marty Sklar about their time in Walt Disney’s office, to then speak with Bob Iger about restoring Walt’s office, and then going deep into Disney lore with people like Floyd Norman, Leslie Iwerks, Pete Docter and Kevin Feige—it’s very clear there is so much love for the Archives and what they do.

John Gleim

D23: You had access to a lot of unique locations—did you have a favorite place to film?
JG: I have been fortunate to spend time at many of the Archives’ warehouses and research areas—and I can’t discount how fantastic that is. However, I also wanted to show how the Archives staff works outside their offices and warehouses, and to film at one of Walt Disney’s homes was an unparalleled experience. His “Woking Way” home was both exactly what I expected and surprising at every turn. Much of the house was designed by Walt Disney Studios artisans, and I never wanted to leave.

John Gleim

D23: Do you have a favorite item from the Archives that was featured in the film?
JG: It’s impossible to name a favorite artifact from the film—there are just so many! There is a quick cameo of the actual bedknob from Bedknobs and Broomsticks that I love, in addition to the matte painting from the film. The Mickey Mouse doll that Walt Disney had with him on the opening day of Disneyland was incredible. The storybook from Sleeping Beauty, the dipmobile from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the maquettes from Pinocchio—I could go on and on. There are so many fantastic artifacts packed into every frame of the film. To be fair, I had some input as to which artifacts were featured, and the staff of the Archives was kind enough to indulge upon many of my requests.

John Gleim

D23: Don Hahn spends much of the film on an epic quest for a Disneyland corn dog—do you have a favorite snack from the parks?
JG: I wrote the delicious Disneyland corn dog into the script, so, of course, that is my favorite snack from the Parks! Not that I didn’t like corn dogs previously, but I never became obsessed with them until I sampled those from the Little Red Wagon—FYI, Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl are tied for second, and next the long beans from Trader Sam’s. However, I must give credit to Don for turning the corn dog bit into the film’s running gag.

Discover the adventure for yourself when Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives begins streaming on Disney+ starting November 19!

Store Your Collection in Style with the D23-Exclusive Disney twenty-three Publication Case

By the D23 Team

D23-Exclusive Disney twenty-three Publication Case

Back by popular demand! Keep your issues of Disney twenty-three publication organized and preserved in this beautiful black linen binder cloth portfolio with silver foil printed on the spine. Each portfolio holds up to four issues of Disney twenty-three—D23’s exquisite collectible publication, filled with stunning photography, dazzling illustrations, and the ultimate Disney insider perspective. It’s your all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney’s past, present, and future, available exclusively to D23 Gold Members!

The Disney twenty-three Publication Case, offered in a limited release, will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney at 7 a.m. PT on November 22, 2021.

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Cases are sold for $29.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change, including—but not limited to—artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices.

Discover the Magic of the D23-Exclusive Encanto Candle Pin

By the D23 Team

D23 Exclusive Encanto Candle Pin – Limited Edition

Celebrate the debut of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest feature film, Encanto, with this pin created just for D23. Featuring the Madrigal family’s glittering candle seen in the film, this D23 Gold Member exclusive is the perfect way to usher in this new magical, musical masterpiece!

Our Encanto pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,000, will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney at 7 a.m. PT on November 22, 2021.

Encanto Pin

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Pins are sold for $12.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices.

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in December 2021

You didn’t think the Disney+ announcements ended with Disney+ Day, did you? Throughout the month of December, a handful of highly anticipated originals, including The Book of Boba Fett, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Foodtastic and Welcome to Earth, will debut on Disney+. The streaming service will also add more fan-favorite films to its library, such as Christmas… Again?!, Edward Scissorhands, Ice Age, Million Dollar Arm, and Tron: Legacy. Enjoy newly added episodes of Disney’s Magic Bake-Off, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks, and more, plus complete seasons of Life Below Zero, Science of Stupid and T.O.T.S. Last but not least, new episodes of Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye will continue to debut every Wednesday leading up to the season finale on December 22.

All the titles coming to Disney+ in December are listed below:

Wednesday, December 1
Disney Insider (Episode 111: “Alice Through the Years, Creative Directing DWTS, Princess Provisions”)
Hawkeye (Episode 103)

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

Friday, December 3
Christmas… Again?!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Premiere)
Disney Holiday Magic Quest
Edward Scissorhands
Ice Age
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Mickey & Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas
Million Dollar Arm
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
The Rescue (Premiere)

Marvel's Spidey And His Amazing Friends

 Wednesday, December 8
The Chicken Squad (Season 1, 4 Episodes)

Disney Insider (Episode 112: “Star Wars Action Figures, A Beauty and the Beast Anniversary, Disney on Ice”)
Gabby Duran & The Unsittables (Season 2, 11 Episodes)
Hawkeye (Episode 104)
Life Below Zero: Northern Territories (Season 1)
Muppet Babies (Season 3, 4 Episodes)
Spidey and his Amazing Friends (Season 1, 4 Episodes)
Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks (Season 8, 10 Episodes)
Welcome to Earth (Premiere) (All Episodes Streaming)

Friday, December 10
Tron: Legacy

Foodtastic

Wednesday, December 15
Disney’s Magic Bake-Off (Season 1, 4 Episodes)
Foodtastic (Season 1 Premiere) (All Episodes Streaming)
Gigantosaurus (Season 3)
Hawkeye (Episode 105)
Life Below Zero (Season 17)
Ron’s Gone Wrong
Science of Stupid (Season 8)

Friday, December 17
Home Alone 4
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist
Arendelle Castle Yule Log: Cut Paper Edition (Premiere)

Wednesday, December 22
Hawkeye (Episode 106) (Season Finale)
Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Party Palace Pals (Season 1, 5 Episodes)

Encanto

Friday, December 24
Encanto
King Tut in Color
Lost Tombs of the Pyramids

Wednesday, December 29
The Book of Boba Fett (Series Premiere)
T.O.T.S. (Season 3)

Friday, December 31
80s Top Ten (Season 1)

Cover Reveal: The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, Deluxe Edition

By the D23 Team

If you’re a fan of Scrooge McDuck’s adventurous antics, today’s you’re ducky—erm, lucky day! We’ve got an exclusive that’s worth quacking about: A first look at the cover of The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck by acclaimed cartoonist Don Rosa. Check out the cover below of the definitive, deluxe edition of Don Rosa’s epic saga of the life story of Scrooge McDuck.

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck

This book is the definitive Scrooge McDuck volume for fans of his globetrotting adventures, living a life of legend. The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck follows Scrooge and a colorful cast of characters in wacky tales and zany antics, all presented with brilliant color and a treasure trove of bonus material. If you love art, you need this oversized, deluxe edition that shows off Rosa’s hyper-detailed artwork to full, glorious effect.

Want to add The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck to your fine-feathered collection? Get 23% off The Scrooge Deluxe Edition Book by Fantagraphics.

‘Tis the Season to Stream Holiday Favorites on Disney+

All of your holiday streams will come true with Disney+’s second-annual Season’s Streamings celebration. Disney+ is bringing holiday cheer with new originals and classic holiday content for families to enjoy together. As of today, subscribers can find all of their favorite holiday-themed episodes, films, shorts and specials in the new holiday collection available on the service. With even more content coming in 2022, Disney+ makes the perfect gift for fans of all ages. To give the gift of Disney+ this holiday season, click here.

2021 Holiday Collection Featuring Originals and Fan-Favorite Classics
In addition to the Disney+ original content the whole family can enjoy this holiday season, the Season’s Streamings collection will feature holiday-themed episodes, films, shorts and specials. Subscribers can celebrate the holidays at home with new and classic content including Home Sweet Home Alone, Frozen, Home Alone, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Santa Clause, and more. In honor of its 25th Anniversary, fans can also watch the holiday classic Jingle All the Way. The new Disney Channel Original Movie Christmas… Again?! will also become available Friday, December 3, to stream on Disney+.

New Disney+ Originals Premiering Throughout the Holiday Season
Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye will launch on Wednesday, November 24, with a special two-episode premiere. The Disney+ original series is set in post-blip New York City where former Avenger Clint Barton aka Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), a 22-year-old skilled archer and his biggest fan, to unravel a criminal conspiracy. The episodes are helmed by Rhys Thomas, who also serves as an executive producer, and directing duo Bert & Bertie.

The Book of Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett, a thrilling Star Wars adventure teased in a surprise end-credit sequence following the season two finale of The Mandalorian, finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) and mercenary Fennec Shand (Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen) navigating the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate. The new series from Lucasfilm will debut Wednesday, December 29, on Disney+.

The Beatles: Get Back

The three-part docuseries The Beatles: Get Back is set to roll out over Thanksgiving weekend on November 25, 26 and 27. Directed by three-time Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, The Beatles: Get Back takes audiences back in time to The Beatles’ intimate recording sessions during a pivotal moment in music history.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The first book in Jeff Kinney’s worldwide bestselling series comes to Disney+ in the all-new animated adventure Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Greg Heffley is a scrawny but ambitious kid with an active imagination and big plans to be rich and famous—he just has to survive middle school first. Diary of a Wimpy Kid will premiere Friday, December 3, exclusively on Disney+.

Welcome to Earth

Premiering Wednesday, December 8, the Disney+ original series Welcome to Earth follows Will Smith on an extraordinary adventure around the world to explore Earth’s greatest wonders and reveal its most hidden secrets. Throughout the six-part limited series from National Geographic, Smith will be guided by elite explorers on his awe-inspiring journey.

Foodtastic

Hosted by Emmy® Award-winning actress Keke Palmer, Foodtastic is an immersive global competition series in which highly skilled artists create extravagant scene work and larger-than-life sculptures made entirely out of food. From vegetables and butter to fruit and cheese, these everyday items are transformed into works of art. Each episode is rooted in iconic Disney IP and the food-based builds are an extension of that world. FLOUR SHOP founder Amirah Kassem and NYC’s City Cakes founder chef Benny Rivera serve as food art experts on the series. Foodtastic will premiere Wednesday, December 15, only on Disney+.

New Originals Premiering This Holiday Season from The Disney Bundle
Subscribers to The Disney Bundle will have something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. ESPN+ will offer more than 5,000 men’s and women’s college basketball games; UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier (December 11); 21 exclusive NHL games through the end of the year; and weekly episodes of Man in the Arena: Tom Brady. In addition to Hulu’s extensive library of films and series, Hulu subscribers can stream exclusive Originals including The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For (November 18); season two of The Great (November 19); A Very Solar Holiday Opposites Special (November 22); Candified: Home for the Holidays (December 1); season 2B of Pen15(December 3); season two of Crossing Swords (December 10); and Mother/Android (December 17). To subscribe to The Disney Bundle, click here.

2021 Disney Ultimate Toy Drive
The Disney+ Season’s Streamings celebration coincides with The Walt Disney Company’s 2021 Disney Ultimate Toy Drive benefiting the Marine Toys for Tots Program. Now through December 14, 2021, families and fans can join the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive and give back to those who need it most this holiday season by donating a toy online at shopDisney.com or by donating a new, unwrapped toy in person at Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort or Disney Springs at Walt Disney World. Click here for more information.

See below for the Disney+ Holiday Collection:

Disney+ Originals
Arendelle Castle Yule Log
Arendelle Castle Yule Log: Cut Paper Edition (Premiering December 17)
Godmothered
Hawkeye (Premiering November 24)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special
Home Sweet Home Alone
LEGO® Star Wars Holiday Special
Noelle
Once Upon a Snowman     

Movies and Specials
‘Twas the Night
12 Dates of Christmas
Babes in Toyland
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Christmas… Again?! (Premiering December 3)
The Christmas Star
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Cloud 9
Cool Runnings
Decorating Disney Holiday Magic
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
Disney Channel Holiday House Party
Disney Channel’s Epic Holiday Showdown
Disney’s Fairytale Weddings: Holiday Magic
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special (Premiering November 26)
The Disney Holiday Singalong
Ernest Saves Christmas (Premiering November 26)
Frozen
Frozen 2
Full-Court Miracle
Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas!
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special
Home Alone
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 3
Home Alone 4 (Premiering December 17)
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (Premiering December 17)
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Ice Age (Premiering December 3)
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (Premiering November 26)
Jingle All the Way
Jingle All the Way 2
Life Size 2
Mickey & Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (Premiering December 10)
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
The Mistle-Tones
The Muppet Christmas Carol
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Premiering November 19)
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish
Santa Buddies: The Legend of the Santa Paws
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
The Santa Clause
The Santa Clause 2
The Santa Clause 3
The Search for Santa Paws
Snow Buddies
Snowball Express
Snowglobe
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Togo
Toy Story: That Time Forgot
The Ultimate Christmas Present
While You Were Sleeping
Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year    

Holiday Shorts
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special
From Our Family to Yours
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
Once Upon a Snowman
Pluto’s Christmas Tree
Prep & Landing
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa
Puppy for Hanukkah (Premiering November 19)
Santa’s Workshop
The Small One

The Simpsons Christmas Episodes
“Bobby, It’s Cold Outside”
“Grift of the Magi”
“Holidays of Future Passed”
“I Won’t Be Home for Christmas”
“Kill Gil, Volumes I & II”
“Marge Be Not Proud”
“Miracle on Evergreen Terrace”
“She of Little Faith”
“Simpsons Christmas Stories”
“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”
“Skinner’s Sense of Snow”
“The Burns and the Bees”
“The Fight Before Christmas”
“The Nightmare After Krustmas”
“‘Tis the 30th Season”
“‘Tis The Fifteenth Season”
“White Christmas Blues”

Select Holiday Episodes
Even Stevens: “Heck of a Hanukkah”
Girl Meets World: “Girl Meets Home for the Holidays”
K.C. Undercover: “‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas”
Kim Possible: “A Very Possible Christmas”
Phineas and Ferb: “Christmas Vacation”
The Proud Family: “Seven Days of Kwanzaa”
Sonny with a Chance: “A So Random Holiday Special”
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: “Christmas at the Tipton”
That’s So Raven: “Escape Clause”

Log in to Disney+ to see the entire Season’s Streamings collection.

A Joyous Encanto Journey for Kai Martinez

By Courtney Potter

Walt Disney Animations Studios’ Encanto—following an extraordinary family and the magic their wondrous house in Colombia provides—is only weeks away, and the excitement is truly palpable. In the studios’ milestone 60th animated feature, the Madrigal clan lives deep in the Colombian mountains in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the Madrigal family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal… well, every child except 15-year-old Mirabel (voice of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding their Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she might just be her family’s last hope. Featuring all-new songs by Tony® Award winner and Oscar® nominee Lin-Manuel Miranda, Encanto is directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, and co-directed by Charise Castro Smith.

D23 recently sat down for a delightful chat with a member of Encanto’s incredible filmmaking team, animation reference consultant Kai Martinez. Read on for a peek inside her unique experience, and some favorite memories:

On how Martinez got involved with the making of Encanto in the first place:
“I’ve worked with Encanto’s choreographer, Jamal Sims, in the past,” explains the Los Angeles-based professional dancer (and choreographer in her own right). “When he joined this project, he wanted to make sure the movement was authentic. He knows I’m Colombian American, so he actually called me last year, around Thanksgiving. I just happened to be visiting my parents at the time—it was my first time traveling [since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic]—and I remember I was up in my room and I got the call, and I came down the stairs crying. My parents were like, ‘What’s happening?!’ But it was just so special. I live in California, and they live in Georgia, so to be able to share that moment with my parents was everything.”

Encanto

On what it was like helping Sims create the movement for animated characters:
As a newcomer to the world of animation, “The whole journey was very new and exciting,” Martinez admits. “We were learning new things the whole way. First of all, working with storyboards and layout, in a digital world… but we were in a dance studio, which is just big open space, [so] we had to use our imaginations to recreate in our minds the different scenes in the film. It’s very vibrant, very colorful, there’s so much going on—it was so much fun for us. We’re artists, we love to play and we love to create, so that was great. And then working with Lin-Manuel [Miranda]’s music—I mean, to hear his voice on the demos was so fun!”

On how her work on the film shifted into a different gear:
“It was a surprise!” remembers Martinez, chuckling. “I was brought in as an assistant choreographer and dancer, and during [the project]—I believe it was the first number we worked on, a song called ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’—Jamal asked me if I’d be interested in coming in as a consultant, because on top of being a dancer and choreographer, as I mentioned, I’m also Colombian. It just felt like the right fit, to help with the authenticity of the animation as well. So, of course I agreed! I was a little scared, just because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into—but the animation team were so gracious in bringing me in and teaching me their ways and guiding me throughout the process. I never felt alone; I never felt like I was in the dark.”

Encanto

On the opportunity to learn from the filmmakers, and what it’s meant to her own career:
“I had the honor of being able to sit in on meetings with Jared [Bush] and Byron [Howard] and Charise [Castro Smith]— the whole team—and I looked at it as a masterclass. We were on Zoom, so I kinda felt like I could ‘hide’ in there,” she adds, laughing. “But you know, I learned so much about everything being intentional—the minute details of the expressions; how an eyebrow shift can change the whole expression of a character. I mean, I was already attentive to detail, but even more so now. Knowing how a tiny shift can really change your whole message.”

On a favorite memory from the production process (although it’s quite hard to choose!):
“When the dancers and I saw ourselves in these characters for the first time,” Martinez admits. “It was in a rehearsal and we had no idea it was happening. And then [some of the animators] brought in a layout clip; we didn’t know what a layout was [initially]… So it’s not even the finished animation, but they were so excited about what they saw in our ‘one-take’ [choreography reference video] that they gave it a little extra love; to learn that now really warms my heart. But when we saw that, it was like, wow, we’re real! We all started crying. It really spoke to the child in each one of us. And I remember one of the dancers said, ‘I’ve always wanted to be a cartoon.’ He’s been a professional dancer for many years! And we knew that this was bigger than us at that moment. We knew that this was for the next generation of kids—that this was a film that would be bigger than us, and outlive all of us.”

Encanto

On what Martinez will ultimately take away from her experience with Encanto:
“It’s such an honor,” she states. “It was everything that I could have imagined it to be—and more. It really was. Everyone, top to bottom, was so nice and gracious. And my experience with Walt Disney Animation, and the whole Disney company, has been incredible… I’m really proud of the work that we all did on this film. It was a labor of love, and a truly collaborative effort. And the respect that was received and given, I will take with me forever. I know that anyone who watches this film is just going to feel the love from this [filmmaking] ‘family’—because everyone sprinkled a piece of their own family into it. So I just can’t wait for everyone to see it!”

Experience Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto when it debuts in U.S. theaters on Wednesday, November 24!

Gallery: Go Wild for 50 Years of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground & Resort

By the D23 Team

There’s nothing like the great outdoors, especially at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, one of the original three resorts of Walt Disney World Resort. Inspired by the timeless beauty of the American Frontier, Disney’s Fort Wilderness has a beloved home to Walt Disney World guests for 50 years, where they can camp with their families, enjoy a movie under the stars, take in the twinkling lights of the Electrical Water Pageant, and so much more. To celebrate this golden anniversary, we’ve rounded up vintage photos of the resort to take you on a trip down memory lane to Fort Wilderness as it was in its opening year.

Read more about the 50th anniversary of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground & Resort in the Winter 2021 issue of Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps and is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. Learn more about D23 Gold Membership here. The latest issue will begin arriving before the end of November.