Ultimate Foodie Guide to the Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort

October 28, 2021October 29, 2021

By Zach Johnson

’Tis the season… well, almost!

Walt Disney World Resort is gearing up for the holidays, and our friends at the Disney Parks Blog have helped us put together the ultimate Foodie Guide to Holidays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom Park and Disney Springs, as well as multiple resorts. Stay tuned, as we’ll be updating this guide with additional offerings from EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth.

Now, who’s ready to eat, drink and be merry?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Restaurantosaurus

Open-Faced Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich – Grilled multigrain bread with roasted garlic mayonnaise, cornbread stuffing waffle, sliced smoked turkey breast, herb gravy, cranberry sauce, and a fried sage leaf (available November 25)

Satu’li Canteen

Thanksgiving Bowl – Cornbread stuffing, sliced roasted turkey, cranberry boba pearls, gravy, and slaw (available November 25)
Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse – Pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate “dirt,” and cranberry boba pearls (available November 25-28)
Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse – Peppermint cream cheese mousse, peppermint sauce, peppermint candy pieces, and chocolate “dirt” (available December 1-30)

Tiffins Restaurant

Thanksgiving Plate – Turkey roulade, fine-herbs whipped potatoes, maple-glazed carrots, sweet potato pave, wild mushrooms, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, cranberry gel, and turkey gravy (available November 25)
Roasted Squash Soup – Ginger-pear chutney, pickled jalapeño, chai-spiced and candied pistachios (available November 25)
Apple Pie Cheesecake – Whipped caramel cheesecake, apple pie compote, white chocolate streusel, and cranberry sauce (available November 25)
Horchata Mousse Snow Globe – Golden coffee crémeux, gingerbread sable cookie, coriander chantilly, elderflower meringue, bourbon caramel, and candied pecans (available December 25)
Pork T-Bone – Apple-brined pork, sweet potato variations, boniato mash, and ginger-pear butter (available December 25)

Tusker House Restaurant

Thanksgiving Dinner – Spit-roasted turkey, turkey gravy, mashed red potatoes, and focaccia bread dressing along with seasonal vegetables, pork loin, flank steak, and an assortment of desserts (available November 25)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

ABC Commissary

Sugar Cookie Snowman – A tasty snowman made of white chocolate sugar cookie mousse, whipped lemon curd, and a holiday sugar cookie (available November 8-January 3)

ABC Commissary and Catalina Eddie’s

Santa’s Belt Cookie – White chocolate-covered chocolate shortbread cookie (available November 8-January 3)

Backlot Express and Trolley Car Café

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie – Moist red velvet cake filled with classic cream cheese filling and festive sprinkles (available November 8-January 3)

The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge and Tune-In Lounge

Holiday Bliss – Vanilla vodka, sour apple liqueur, caramel beverage syrup, and vanilla ice cream mix (available November 8-January 3)

ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Rosie’s All-American Café and PizzeRizzo

Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Salted caramel beverage syrup and frozen hot chocolate mix topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup (available November 8-January 3)
Frozen Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate with Black Cherry Bourbon – Salted caramel beverage syrup, frozen hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, chocolate syrup, and black cherry bourbon (available November 8-January 3)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Oasis Canteen, Animation Arch Bar and Sunshine Day Bar

Christmas on the Beach – Coconut rum, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice served with a souvenir glow cube (available November 8-January 3)

Outdoor Carts

Holiday Brownie – Chocolate Mickey brownie with holiday sprinkles (available November 8-January 3)

PizzeRizzo

Butterscotch Caramel Cannoli – Holiday cannoli filled with caramel cheesecake, butterscotch chips, and chocolate flakes (available November 8-January 3)

Rosie’s All-American Café and Trolley Car Cafe

Reindeer Mousse – Spiced caramel cheesecake over peanut butter mousse atop a salty pretzel shortbread cookie (available November 8-January 3)

Woody’s Lunch Box

Holiday Lunch Box Tart – Apple pie filled tart frosted with cinnamon icing, sugar snowflake, and holiday sprinkles (available November 8-January 3)

Magic Kingdom Park

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies

Christmas Cookie Sundae – Christmas Cookie soft-serve topped with whipped cream, hot fudge, and holiday sprinkles (available November 8-December 31)
Christmas Cookie Milkshake – Christmas cookie milkshake topped with whipped cream and holiday sprinkles (available November 8-December 31)

Golden Oak Outpost

Gingerbread Almond Cake Pop – Gingerbread almond cake pop dipped in white chocolate (available November 8-December 31)

Main Street Bakery

Mickey Cinnamon Roll – Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll drizzled with red and green icing (available November 8-December 31)

Sleepy Hollow

Ginger Apple Funnel Cake – Gingerbread funnel cake topped with apple pie filling, vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce (available November 8-December 31)

Disney Springs

Amorette’s Patisserie

White Chocolate Peppermint Éclair with White Chocolate and Peppermint Mousse (available November 5–December 30)
Santa Mickey Dome Cake (available November 5-Dec 30)
Holiday Mickey Mousse Mini Dome Cake (available November 5–December 30)
Holiday Parfait – Bourbon white chocolate mousse, cranberry cherry panna cotta, maple chocolate ganache, and chocolate chiffon cake (available November 5–December 30)
NYE Petite Cake (available December 31)

AristoCrêpes

Cherry Jubilee Bubble Waffle – Bubble waffle filled with scoops of vanilla ice cream, cherries jubilee fillings, and whipped cream (available November 5–December 30)
Santa Hot Crêpe – Sweet crêpe filled with eggnog custard topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream (available November 26–December 30)

D-Luxe Burger

Holiday Turkey Burger – Turkey patty, butternut squash risotto cake, bacon-cranberry jam, lettuce, and tomato (available November 5–December 1)
“Oh Deer” Cookie Shake – Hazelnut liqueur, vanilla gelato, cinnamon beverage syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon, and sugar dusting with ginger deer garnish (available November 5–December 30)

Dockside Margaritas

Snowman on the Beach Margarita – Silver tequila, key lime juice, crème de coconut, sweet and sour, graham cracker rim, chocolate pearls, and carrot sugar piece (available November 5–December 30)

The Daily Poutine

Gobbler Poutine – Turkey, brown gravy, cranberry chutney, and cheese curds (available November 5–December 30)

The Ganachery

Olaf Hot Cocoa Surprise (available November 12–December 30)
Santa Mickey Piñata (available November 5–December 30)
Gingerbread Ganache Square (available November 5–December 30)
Peppermint Bark (available November 5–December 30)
Chocolate Christmas Cottage (available December 22-30)

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

Venison Slider – Sliders with venison sausage patties, arugula, tomato, and cranberry aïoli on house made buns (available November 5–December 30)
Fried Brussel Sprouts – Fried Brussel sprouts with bacon vinaigrette (available November 5–December 30)
Holiday Lights Deviled Eggs – Colored deviled eggs with tobiko and shrimp (available November 5–December 30)
Ham and Brie Flatbread – Shaved ham and brie cheese, pomegranate seeds, granny smith apples, apple vinaigrette, and watercress (available November 5–December 30)
Cookies and Milk – Assorted Christmas cookies and coquito (available November 5–December 30)
Lump of Coal Dessert – Cookies and cream ganache “coal” (available November 5–December 30)
Elf Elixir –Tequila, crème de menthe and half & half with cookie crumb, and holly leaf sugar garnishes (available November 5–December 30)
Holiday Cosmopolitan – Traditional cosmopolitan with a shimmery twist garnished with red and white sugar and a candy cane (available November 5–December 30)
Yule Mule – Gin, ginger beer, cranberry juice and rosemary simple syrup with a holly leaf sugar garnish (available November 5–December 30)

Outdoor Carts and Kiosks

Mistletoe – Coconut rum, melon liqueur, blue curaçao, orange juice, pineapple juice, and Sprite (available November 5–December 30)
Fireside Cider – Cinnamon whiskey, vanilla vodka, white cranberry juice, grenadine, and Ginger Ale (available November 5–December 30)
Merry Margarita – Tequila, ginger liqueur, cinnamon beverage syrup, white cranberry juice, sweet and sour, and grenadine (available November 5–December 30)

Disney’s All-Star Resorts

World Premier Food Court and Intermission Food Court

Pumpkin Tart (available November 25 and December 25)
Thanksgiving Dinner – Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, and cranberry relish with choice of apple or pumpkin tart (available November 25)
Playful Penguin Cupcake – Red velvet cupcake, cream cheese buttercream, peppermint sprinkles, and a sugared playful penguin (available December 19 – January 1)
Christmas Dinner – Ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, and cranberry relish with choice of apple or pumpkin tart (available December 25)

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Landscapes of Flavor and Everything POP Shopping & Dining

Pumpkin Tart (available November 7-27)
Apple Tart (available November 7-27)
Playful Penguin Cupcake – Red velvet cupcake, cream cheese buttercream, peppermint sprinkles, and a sugared playful penguin (available December 19-January 1)
Spiked Coffee Milkshake (available November 1-30)
Cranberry Margarita (available November1-30)
Spiked Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate (available December1-31)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Sanaa

Chocolate Peppermint Ornament – Ghanaian dark chocolate mousse and peppermint crunch chocolate biscuit with pomegranate and raspberries (available December 19-25)
Roast Rib Eye – Roast rib eye with jus lie, Tunisian mashed potatoes, green beans with apricot-cranberry butter, and mushroom conserva (available December 25)

The Mara

Gingeraffe – Gingerbread giraffe cookie (available December 1-31)
Chocolate and Peppermint Cookie Sandwich – Smoked chocolate and spice cookie with peppermint buttercream (available December 1-31)

Disney’s BoardWalk

BoardWalk Bakery

Peppermint Bark – Milk and white chocolate with peppermint candy (available December 1-26)
Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Bread – Pumpkin, cream cheese, and holiday spice (available December 1-26)
Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookie (available December 1-26)
Minnie Sugar Cookie (available December 1-26)
Mickey Sugar Cookie (available December 1-26)
Gingerbread Boy Cupcake (available December 1-25)
Christmas Cookie Box (available December 1-25)
Root Beer Float Cupcake (available December 26-January 1)

Trattoria al Forno

Thanksgiving Sage & Thyme Oven-Roasted Turkey – Cornbread and sausage stuffing, sour cream-mashed Yukon gold potatoes, green beans, and rainbow carrots with herb butter, cranberry citrus compote, pan gravy, and Parker House Rolls (available November 25)
Apple Crostata – Vanilla bean gelato, candied pecans, and caramel sauce (available November 25)
Mickey Eggs-in-a-Basket – Egg-filled butter brioche and classic pastrami hash with choice of ham, bacon, or sausage (available December 19-31)
Oak-grilled Char-crusted Ribeye – Amarone butter, truffle gnocchi, and balsamic-pancetta Brussel sprouts (available December 19-31)
Chocolate Cherry Bombe – Chocolate crunch mousse on a fudgy brownie base with cherry filling and amaretto panna cotta (available December 19-31)

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Centertown Market and Centertown Market Grab n’ Go

Apple Tart (available November 25)
Pumpkin Tart (available November 7-25)
Christmas Brownie Bites (available December 1-31)
Eggnog Cupcake (available December 1-31)

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Contempo Cafe

Gingerbread Boy (available November 14 – January 1)
Pumpkin Pie Tart – Pumpkin pie tart with cinnamon chantilly cream (available November 14-27)
Chocolate Peppermint Cookie (available November 14 – January 1)
Linzer Cookie (available November 14 – January 1)
Gingerbread House Kit – Build-your-own Disney’s Contemporary Resort Gingerbread House (available November 14 – January 1)
Yule Log – Chocolate peppermint yule log (available November28 – January 1)

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Barcelona Lounge

Iced S’mores Macchiato – Espresso, low-fat milk, and toasted marshmallow beverage syrup topped with sweet cream and chocolate drizzle (available December 12-January 8)
Cranberry Mimosa – Cranberry juice and blanc de blanc cava (available December 12 – January 8)

Barcelona Lounge and Dahlia Lounge

Hot Toddy for Two – Twinings Discovery Collection Caramel Rooibos tea, brandy, amaretto, and cinnamon beverage syrup (available December 12 – January 8)

Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Largo

Blood Orange Sangria – Our house-made white sangria topped with blood orange beverage syrup (available November 25 – January 8)
Spiced Winter Sangria – Our house-made red sangria warmed with spices (available November 25 – March 1)

Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Largo and Dahlia Lounge

Peanut Butter S’mores Old Fashioned – Peanut butter whiskey, crème de cacao, toasted marshmallow beverage syrup, and orange bitters (available November 25 – January 8)
Mistletoe Sangria – Our house made white sangria with a melon liqueur twist (available December 12 – January 8)
Cruz de Galicia – Amaretto, spiced rum, lemonade, and a splash of soda (available December 12 – January 8)
Toasted Espresso Martini – Vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, freshly brewed espresso, and toasted marshmallow beverage syrup (available December 12 – January 8)
Turkey “a la Plancha” – Plancha-seared turkey breast, aged sherry-sage gravy, cranberry-apple chutney, and scallion biscuit with a choice of two sides: pomme purée, sweet potato gratin, elote, roasted cauliflower, and magdelana dressing or Brussel sprouts (available November 25)

Toledo–Tapas, Steak, and Seafood

Turkey Roulade – Magdalena dressing, pomme purée, glazed carrots, Brussel sprouts, cranberry relish, and turkey gravy (available November 25)
Mulled Wine Pear Mousse – Orange chiffon, candied apples, almond-leaf tuille, and almond crunch (available November 25)

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Cítricos

Pumpkin Cheesecake – Pumpkin cheesecake resting on a spiced chiffon cake topped with cassis mousse and a pumpkin seed-ginger crumble with caramel sauce (available November 27)

Gasparilla Island Grill

Pumpkin Pie Cake Pop – Pumpkin spice jumbo cake pop enrobed in white chocolate to resemble an autumn pumpkin (available November 1 – December 1)
Fall Flavors Cupcake – Cinnamon-spiced cupcake with apple filling topped with a sugar pumpkin and maple buttercream in festive fall colors (available November 1 – December 1)
Happy Holidays Cake Pop – Triple chocolate cake pop enrobed in white chocolate with festive winter décor (available December 1 – January 1)
Very Merry Minnie Mouse Cupcake – Chocolate cupcake filled with cookies and cream mousse and topped with ganache-dipped buttercream with cookie ears and chocolate a holiday bow (available December 1 – January 1)
Red Velvet Wreath Cupcake – Red velvet cupcake filled with cream cheese mousse and topped with a vanilla buttercream wreath and a chocolate bow (available December 1 – January 1)
S’more Cookie – Graham chocolate chip cookie piled with toasted marshmallows and M&M’S (available December 1 – January 1)

Narcoossee’s

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake – Pumpkin cake filled with white chocolate cream cheese mousse with brown sugar glaze and orange marmalade sauce (available November 27)

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Good’s Food to Go

Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake – Pumpkin Cheesecake, bourbon panna cotta, and spiced pecans (available November 7-27)
Peppermint Bark – Dark and white chocolate with peppermint pieces (available December 1 – January 1)
Gingerbread Cupcake – Gingerbread cake, caramel mousse filling, and spiced buttercream (available December 1 – January 1)

Olivia’s Café

Pumpkin Cheesecake – Pumpkin cheesecake with toasted meringue, cranberry compote, and cranberry macaron (available November 27)
Chocolate Peppermint Cake – Chocolate lava cake, peppermint snow, and raspberry sauce (available December 24 – January 1)

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (French Quarter) and Riverside Mill Food Court (Riverside)

Pumpkin Tart (available November 7-27)
Apple Tart (available November 7-27)
Playful Penguin Cupcake – Red velvet cupcake, cream cheese buttercream, peppermint sprinkles, and a sugared playful penguin (available December 19-January 1)

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

The Artist’s Palette

Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake – Pumpkin cheesecake, bourbon panna cotta, and spiced pecans (available November 7-27)
Peppermint Bark – Dark and white chocolate with peppermint pieces (available December1 – January 1)
Eggnog Cupcake – Spiced cake, eggnog mousse filling, and caramel buttercream (available December 1 – January 1)
Gingerbread Cookies – Themed to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (available December 1 – January 1)
Peppermint Mousse – Peppermint mousse, fudge center, and a chocolate cookie (available December 1 – January 1)

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Barefoot Pool Bar

Frozen Martini with DOLE Whip Watermelon – Vodka blended with DOLE Whip Watermelon and a “green” sugared rim

Kona Café

Chocolate Hazelnut Yule Log – Chocolate sponge cake, hazelnut crémeux, chocolate ganache, rum hazelnut chocolate sauce, and royal icing décor (available December 1-31)
Mocha Molten Lava Cake – Mocha molten lava cake, pistachio mascarpone cream, and bitter orange marmalade (available December 20-January 1)

Kona Island and Capt. Cook’s

Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcake – Chocolate cupcake with milk chocolate rocky road filling and buttercream (available November 15-30)
Holiday “Elf” Dome – Vanilla cake with eggnog filling, white chocolate glaçage, and buttercream décor (available December 1-31)
Holiday Moana Cupcake – Chocolate cupcake, Morello cherry, buttercream icing, and Moana chocolate décor (available December 1-31)
Stroke of Midnight Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake with white chocolate Champagne filling, chocolate-covered pop rocks, and white chocolate clock (available December 29 – January 3)

Disney’s Riviera Resort

Le Petit Café

Mickey Gingerbread Cookies – Gingerbread cookie duo backed in chocolate and glazed with sugar (available November 21 – January 1)
Peppermint Mousse – Dark chocolate and peppermint white chocolate mousse (available November 28 – January 1)

Primo Piatto

Eggnog Cheesecake – Eggnog cheesecake with cherry compote and vanilla whipped panna cotta (available November 28 – January 1)
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl (available through November 27)

Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera

Pumpkin Mousse – Pumpkin cheesecake, hazelnut chocolate sponge, pistachio crumble, and cherry compote (available through November 27)
Black Heritage Turkey – Sous vide turkey breast, turkey leg roulade, sourdough stuffing torchon, sweet potato casserole with spiced marshmallows, potato purée, roasted gravy, cranberry marmalade, haricot vert amandine, and roasted rainbow carrots (available November 25)
Caramel Milk Chocolate Mousse – Chocolate-hazelnut cheesecake, chocolate crumble, and chantilly cream (available November 28 – January 1)

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Lobby

Gingerbread Pine Tree (available November 14 – January 1)
Reindeer Food – Cubes of gingerbread, chocolate stripped pretzels, holiday granola, and candies (available November 14 – January 1)
Spiced Moose Cookie (available November 14 – January 1)
Peppermint Bark (available November 14 – January 1)

Geyser Point Bar & Grill

Martinis Around the World Flight (available December 5 – January 8; also available as separate drinks)
- Key Lime Pie – Lime juice, simple syrup and rum with green sugar rim
- Poinsettia – Brut Champagne and cranberry
- Italian Manhattan – Bourbon, vermouth, bitters, grenadine, and cranberry with maraschino cherries
- Caribbean Cream – Rum, cinnamon cream liqueur and cream with nutmeg and green sugar rim

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort

Ale & Compass Restaurant

Pumpkin Tart – Pumpkin tart with chantilly cream with a cherry cranberry sauce (available November 25)

The Market at Ale & Compass and Beach Club Marketplace

Pumpkin Cheesecake – Pumpkin-flavored New York-style cheesecake with caramel sauce, whipped cream, chocolate leaves, and cranberry-flavored sugar crystals (available November 1 – December 31)
Holiday Red and Green Creme-filled Sandwich Cookie Bonbons – Mousse-filled on a cookie base sprayed with colorful chocolate (available November 1 – December 31)
Holiday Mickey Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake filled with vanilla mousse topped with holiday décor and chocolate Mickey ears (available December 1-31)

The Market at Ale & Compass, Beach Club Marketplace and Disney’s Beach Club Lobby

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – A bag of three chocolate crinkle cookies with a dusting of sweet snow (available November 1 – December 31)
Trio of Fudge – White chocolate peppermint fudge, white chocolate-gingerbread fudge, and dark chocolate-hot cocoa fudge (available November 1 – December 31)
Plant-Based and Gluten-Friendly Brownie – Chocolate brownies with chocolate ganache (available November 1 – December 31)
Signature Stollen Bread – German bread created with nuts, spices, and fruit coated with a mountain of vanilla powdered sugar (available November 1 – December 31)
Mickey Gingerbread – Our traditional sugar-glazed Mickey gingerbread with chocolate backing (available November 1 – December 31)
Mickey and Minnie Crispy Rice Treats (Sold Separately) – Crispy rice treats decorated with red chocolate, sanding sugar, snowflakes, and chocolate garnishes (available November 1 – December 31)
Peppermint Bark – Dark and white chocolate with peppermint pieces (available November 1 – December 31)
Chocolate Snow Globe – Dark chocolate snow globe with the 50th Anniversary print (available November 1 – December 31)
Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Snowmen – Chocolate-covered marshmallows decorated to look like adorable snowmen on festive red and white straw (available November 1 – December 31)
Chocolate Creme-filled Sandwich Cookie Pops – White chocolate-covered creme-filled sandwich cookie pops themed to The Little Mermaid (available November 1 – December 31)
Gluten-Friendly Gingerbread Cookie glazed in sugar (available November 1 – December 31)
Gluten-Friendly Gingerbread Chocolate Cookie glazed in sugar (available November 1 – December 31)

In addition, Disney pastry chefs have been busy creating gingerbread masterpieces to get us all in the holiday spirit! Visit the following locations below to see these edible marvels:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Lobby

This stunning life-size storybook gingerbread house with “cinnamon clouds” puffing from the chimney is beautifully decorated with white chocolate candy canes, edible snowflakes, and sugar poinsettias. Treats for sale include house-made Gingerbread Houses and Gingerbread Ornaments. (November 10 – January 1)

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

This life-size spinning carousel is a holiday tradition at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. The Little Mermaid is the theme with hand-painted holiday characters, handcrafted gingerbread shingles and fondant snowflakes. Don’t forget to visit the Yacht Club lobby to see the holiday village with a miniature train. (November 1 – January 2)

EPCOT – The American Adventure Rotunda

The American Adventure Gingerbread Display – The EPCOT pastry chefs have recreated the Lincoln Memorial and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in miniature edible versions along with The American Adventure building and an EPCOT Festival Holiday Kitchen. (November 26 – December 30)

Note: All offerings subject to change.

D23 Exclusive Alice in Wonderland by Mary Blair 70th Anniversary Plush — Queen of Hearts and Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

October 28, 2021October 29, 2021

By the D23 Team

You’ll lose your head—proverbially speaking, of course—for D23’s exclusive Alice in Wonderland plush modeled after pre-production art by Disney Legend Mary Blair. The October release includes the Queen of Hearts and Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum. These collectible, uniquely detailed plush toys commemorate the film’s 70th anniversary.

You’ll receive a Certificate of Authenticity along with each plush, which arrives in a collector’s display box complete with the D23 logo. They’ll be available for purchase beginning October 29 (starting at 7 a.m. PT) at shopDisney.com for ALL D23 Members.

Queen of Hearts
Heads will roll with delight over our Queen of Hearts plush modeled after pre-production art for Alice in Wonderland by Disney Legend Mary Blair. The verdict is ”guilty” of loving this collectible, uniquely detailed plush toy that commemorates the film’s 70th Anniversary.

Click here to purchase the Queen of Hearts plush

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Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum
Say ”how d’ye do” and shake hands with our Tweedledee and Tweedledum plush modeled after pre-production art for Alice in Wonderland by Disney Legend Mary Blair. This two-in-one collectible, uniquely detailed plush toy commemorates the film’s 70th Anniversary.

Click here to purchase the Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum plush

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Remember: Our D23 Exclusive Alice in Wonderland by Mary Blair 70th Anniversary Plush will be available for ALL D23 Members at shopDisney.com beginning October 29 at 7 a.m. PT! Don’t miss out!

About the Alice in Wonderland by Mary Blair Collection
Celebrate the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland with this one-of-a-kind collection featuring the works of Disney Legend Mary Blair. Blair began drawing at Walt Disney Studios in 1940; a pioneer and leading female artist in her field, she was an imaginative color stylist, concept artist, and designer, and worked on some of Walt Disney’s most popular animated classics.

Her topsy-turvy, upside-down art style lent itself masterfully to the film Alice in Wonderland (1951). Create your own wonderland with this distinctive collection of items!

Plush Details:

Limited Release
Certificate of Authenticity
Styled after Mary Blair’s archival inspirational art for Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland
Detailed plush sculpting
Embroidered features
Varied fabrics
Soft fill
Comes in collector’s storybook display box with D23 logo and twin keyhole cover
Disney Legend Mary Blair’s inspirational pre-production work helped set the visual tone for Walt Disney’s 1951 animated feature Alice in Wonderland. She received co-credit for ”Color and Styling” on the film
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland
Part of the Alice in Wonderland by Mary Blair Collection

The bare necessities:

Polyester
Queen of Hearts: 11” H
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum: 9 1/2” H
Imported

And don’t miss the Cheshire Cat & Mad Hatter plush HERE!

To purchase, log in to shopDisney with the Disney account tied to your D23 Membership.

Not a D23 Member? Click here to join.

* Plush available only to D23 Members. Available for purchase starting October 29, 2021, while supplies last at shopDisney.com (online or via phone orders). Not valid on purchases made at Disney store and Disney Baby Store retail and outlet locations or Disney Parks and Resorts locations or on Disney store merchandise purchased from other retailers or using third party websites. Must be logged in to your Disney Account to purchase, using an account linked to your D23 Membership. Maximum one of each plush per D23 membership. 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.

9 Things You Need to Know Before Seeing Marvel Studios’ Eternals

October 28, 2021October 29, 2021

By Zach Johnson

We’re only a few days away from getting to experience Marvel Studios’ Eternals, the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)! Opening in theaters November 5, Eternals introduces 10 Super Heroes from beyond the stars who had protected the Earth since the dawn of man. When monstrous creatures called the Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, the Eternals are forced to reunite so they can defend humanity once again. D23 recently attended a virtual press conference with the cast and crew, where they discussed bringing Disney Legend Jack Kirby’s characters to life for the first time onscreen.

Eternals producer Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, said, “In a post-Infinity Saga world, we wanted to take a bold new step and say, ‘You don’t know everything about the universe yet. There are 10 spectacular Heroes you haven’t met who have been here the whole time.” In her pitch, Academy Award^®-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao showed Feige and his team a photo of sand, then quoted a poem from William Blake. “I was still allowed to stay in the room, so that was really nice!” Zhao said with a laugh. “In the poem, Blake was trying to convey that you can see the endless beauty and the meanings of the cosmos within the smallest things you can find on Earth. The vision of the film was to capture that scale—something as large as the creation of the sun and as intimate as whispers of lovers.”

Before Eternals opens in theaters, enjoy nine highlights from the press conference:

1. The characters mirror aspects of the actors who play them.
“I was attracted to this project for many reasons. I am a fan of the MCU, and I was a big fan of Chloé’s,” said Angelina Jolie, who plays the warrior Thena. The Oscar^®-winning actress said she was sold on “the idea of what this family would be,” explaining, “I just wanted to be a part of this family before I even knew very much about who I was going to play.” Zhao’s work had always been rooted in reality, Jolie added, and Eternals is no exception. “A lot of us were cast to bring out something from our own lives—something within ourselves that maybe we weren’t even aware of—and then let it live and let it grow within the film,” Jolie said. Mission accomplished: “My children said it was the most like me they’ve seen.”

2. The Eternals fall into one of two categories: Thinkers or fighters.
“Sersi is a superhero, but her powers are not the most obvious or the flashiest,” Gemma Chan said of her character. “She’s not the best fighter, but what she does have is empathy and a real affinity for humankind and Earth. And she’s a free spirit. I loved that. One of the most enjoyable things about the film was going on that journey with this character; it’s kind of her coming-of-age, even though she’s probably thousands of years old. She learns to trust herself and to grow into her own power. It was a really interesting thing to explore.”

3. Lovers or fighters? In Eternals, they’re often one and the same.
Richard Madden—who stars as Ikaris, the moral center of the group—said he was excited “to play someone who’s such a soldier but is completely driven by love.” Ikaris doesn’t necessarily see that as a good thing, though. “He’s trying to bury that love because it gets in the way of his duty,” Madden explained. “And so, he’s constantly wrestling with the two.”

4. The Eternals have forged their own identities over time.
After the Eternals went their separate ways thousands of years ago, they were meant to keep a low profile. Kingo, played by Kumail Nanjiani, instead decided to become a Bollywood movie star—something he did for generations by creating an acting dynasty (if you can call it that). “Oh, by far the hardest thing was the dancing,” Nanjiani admitted. “I’m going to put Chloé on the spot: She lied to me! When we first talked about the movie, she was like, ‘There’s a Bollywood dance sequence,’ and I said, ‘Chloé, I don’t think I can do that.’ She said, ‘OK, we’ll make it a Bollywood action scene.’ And then soon as I got to set in London, she said, ‘It’s a dance sequence.’ I was like, ‘Get me a dance teacher right now then!’” Choreographer Nileeka Bose “was wonderful,” Nanjiani said, and worked with him for months since “it was so outside my comfort zone.” Even though he joked that Zhao lied to him, he always knew he was in good hands. “Even in meeting her, I was like, ‘Oh, she’s not going to let me suck in this thing. If she wants me to do something, I’m going to do it,’” Nanjiani said. “I completely trusted her. She had this whole movie, this whole universe, in her head. I didn’t understand it until I watched the movie—but I knew enough to trust her.”

5. The actors weren’t limited to what was on the page.
The natural chemistry between Barry Keoghan, who plays Druig, and Lauren Ridloff, who plays Makkari, bled into the relationship between their characters. Zhao noticed them improvise with such ease that it would be impossible not to explore that onscreen. “I went, ‘Whoa! What’s happening?’” Zhao recalled. “Sparks everywhere! Initially, that was not the intention, but it was because of that meeting that we said, ‘Maybe we should play into it.’”

Speaking through her American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, Ridloff said, “I think the relationship between Makkari and Druig really came as a surprise for several people here onstage. Within the script, it wasn’t really so apparent. Chloé, under her brilliant direction, wanted us to imply there was a lot more to Druig and Makkari. What actually brought them together is that they’re both very impatient and they have a lot of power, but they’re told to hold themselves back. Druig and Makkari are mischievous, and they also have fun.”

6. Eternals represents the most international and diverse cast to date in the MCU.
Brian Tyree Henry plays Phastos, whose cosmic energy gives him the power to help advance mankind. Admittedly, he was surprised when Zhao and producer Nate Moore called to offer him the role. “They said, “So, we want you to be a Super Hero.’ I was like, ‘Cool. How much weight do I have to lose?’ Chloé was like, ‘What are you talking about? We want you exactly as you are.’ To be a Black man, to have someone look at you and say, ‘We want you exactly the way you are,’ is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.” Henry was excited to work with a “beautiful palette of people” to bring Eternals to life. “This is what families look like; this is what they are. And if not, this is what they should be. What Eternals really brings to the surface is that this is a family, this is who we are, and this is what we look like.” Don Lee, who stars as Gilgamesh, added, “I was so impressed by the great, diverse cast from all over the world.” Agreeing, Nanjiani elaborated, “The diversity of the cast is something we talked about a lot, but the way Chloé approached it was so interesting. It wasn’t as if to make a point; it was as if to say, ‘This is how things should’ve always been.’”

7. Not everyone in the film answers to a Celestial.
Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman, a non-Eternal who works at the Natural History Museum in London and has a special connection with Sersi. “It’s me and Phastos’ husband and kid who are representing humanity,” Harington said. “I felt that from the beginning, I had to represent something that was worth saving, maybe. I hope Dane comes across as a nice, standup guy. One thing I really respect him for is that a man flies out of the sky, shoots lasers out of his eyes, and steals his girlfriend—and he’s cool with it! That’s Dane.”

8. Eternals proves the so-called rules were made to be broken.
Salma Hayek stars as Ajak, the only Eternal with a direct connection to the Celestials, a race of cosmic builders who were first seen in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy. The role came as a surprise to Hayek—and not just because her character was male in the comics. “I dream big, and if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten here at all,” Hayek said. “In my big dreams, I always wanted to be a Super Hero.” Hayek worried she may have missed the chance to realize that dream… until Zhao came calling with an offer she couldn’t refuse. “It’s very humbling when, in the middle of your 50s, a brilliant director gives you the opportunity to do something that comes from a deep place and is also a big action movie.”

9. Despite appearances, the Eternals have a long history.
Sprite, played by Lia McHugh, may be 7,000 years old—but she exists in the body of a 12-year-old girl. It’s understandably frustrating for Sprite, as she does not want to be treated like a child. “I’ve always looked younger than I actually am, and people always assume that I’m younger than I am, so I really related to Sprite in that way,” McHugh said. “There are a lot of layers to Sprite. In every scene, she goes through a lot of emotions, but she expresses them in a sort of sassy, temperamental way—like an old lady would.” Zhao wanted her to channel actress Maggie Smith, McHugh added, but still retain “the wonderment of a child.”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

October 28, 2021

By Zach Johnson

The final weekend of Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween” is here, and with it comes spooky specials (Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic), feature films (Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas), and network premieres (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children). And on the animated front, Disney Channel on Saturday will broadcast an all-new episode of The Ghost and Molly McGee, while FXX will air The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror marathon starting at 9 a.m. ET on Halloween and ending at 1 a.m. ET on November 1.

Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic—Saturday, October 30, at 7 a.m. ET on Freeform
In this 2018 special, Good Trouble star Cierra Ramirez hosts a behind-the-scenes look at how Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line each prepare for Halloween.

The Ghost and Molly McGee—Saturday, October 30, at 9 a.m. ET on Disney Channel
First up, in “Mazel Tov, Libby,” the perpetually perky Molly McGee (voiced by Ashly Burch) discovers her best friend didn’t even go close to big on the biggest day of life. So, Molly decides to take charge to throw Libby Stein-Torres (voiced by Lara Jill Miller) the best Bat Mitzvah EVER! Then, in “No Good Deed,” Darryl (voiced by Michaela Dietz) gets into trouble at school, so Molly offers to help reform his delinquent ways via her “nice lessons.”

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Saturday, October 30, at 7:10 p.m. ET on Freeform
Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Pumpkin King Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon) longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa (voiced by Ed Ivory) in jeopardy, creating a nightmare for good boys and girls everywhere.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children—Saturday, October 30, at 11 p.m. ET on Freeform
Based on Ransom Riggs’ best-selling novel of the same name, Tim Burton directs this 2016 fantasy film for 20th Century Fox. After his grandfather (Terence Stamp) leaves clues to a mystery that spans different times and worlds, 16-year-old Jake Portman (Asa Butterfield) discovers a magical place known as Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children, led by the titular Miss Peregrine (Eva Green). Things get weird(er) as Jake discovers more about his new classmates and their unique powers—not to mention their enemies. When Jake’s new friends find themselves in grave danger, it’s his peculiarity alone that can save them!

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Marathon—Sunday, October 31, at 9 a.m. ET on FXX
Celebrate Halloween with 16 consecutive hours of the original “What If…” episodes and Twilight Zone “homages,” brought to you by the Simpsons and the citizens of Springfield.

Embark on the Eternals AR Story Experience

October 27, 2021November 28, 2022

By Zach Johnson

History is not as you know it.

Step inside Marvel Studios’ Eternals with Sprite, an Eternal, as your guide. Go on an epic Augmented Reality (AR) adventure through time and space to discover the truth about humanity. Enter the world, learn the backstory and meet the characters in Marvel Studios’ first Immersive Story Experience*. This mini prequel lets you explore the story like never before and become a part of the action. Download the Disney Movie Insiders app for free and launch the experience now before Eternals opens on November 5. See the movie in theaters and earn double points** from Disney Movie Insiders through November 7, 2021.

*Experience is compatible with iOS 13.3 or newer, iPhone X or newer.

**Double Points offer valid when you purchase Eternals tickets either (1) via your Disney Movie Insiders linked account to a participating theatrical retailer OR (2) via physical purchase and submission of the ticket stub on DisneyMovieInsiders.com. Void where prohibited. Valid for tickets registered or submitted by 11:59:59PM PT on 11/7/2021.

The Director of Lightyear Takes Us to Infinity… and Beyond!

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021

By Zach Johnson

This isn’t just any Toy Story film.

Disney and Pixar today launched the first trailer for its out-of-this-world feature film Lightyear, slated for a summer 2022 release. The sci-fi action-adventure is billed as the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy. The original film will reveal how a young test pilot became the ultimate Space Ranger. In celebration of the trailer’s release, we recently chatted with Lightyear director Angus MacLane—who, of course, is no stranger to the Toy Story franchise. From his work as an animator and story board artist on Toy Story 2 to his turn as the writer and director of Toy Story Tower of TERROR!—in addition to many other Toy Storyfeatures and shorts—he knows Buzz intimately, making him the perfect person to chart the character’s next course.

Opening in theaters on June 17, 2022, Lightyear is inspired by the sci-fi classics of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. “Right now, I’m afraid I can’t reveal much more about the plot,” said MacLane. “Suffice to say, Buzz Lightyear will be in it… and he’ll be voiced by Chris Evans!”

That much we knew, of course, as buzz has been building ever since Lightyear was first announced as part of The Walt Disney Company’s Investor Day event in December 2020. The idea for the film, however, dates back to the very first Toy Story. As Pete Docter, Pixar Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer, explained during the Investor Day presentation, Buzz had always been inspired by a character from an epic blockbuster film. It just wasn’t until the last few years, however, that Pixar decided to bring that story to the big screen.

“Buzz, as a character, I’ve always been pretty close to as a fan—mostly because of his overlap into the sci-fi genre,” MacLane said. “I’ve always wanted to know about Buzz.” As fate would have it, he’d get the opportunity to pitch his idea for Lightyear: “I said, ‘Maybe there was a movie starring Buzz Lightyear, and that’s what Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear action figure. Why don’t we just make that movie—and make it awesome?’”

Speaking of making things “awesome,” it’s clear from the trailer that Lightyear has a different aesthetic than the other Toy Story features and shorts. “There’s a very specific cinematography aesthetic I was chasing, which is a lot of chiaroscuro—a lot of light and dark,” MacLane said. “I also wanted to make the world feel really tactile and chunky. There’s a lot of different sci-fi design aesthetics, but especially in that era that, the ships and the materials were very chunky and the industrial design for them was really robust.”

To realize his vision, MacLane explained, “We first had a Buzz Lightyear ship built by a modelmaker who used to work at ILM [Industrial Light & Magic]. Then, after we saw the ship in 3D, we said, ‘OK, what are the signifiers that make it feel tangible? How do we get that into the movie?’ At the same time, we didn’t want it to look like live-action, because then the CG characters wouldn’t sit in there. It was really a balance of design aesthetics. From shape to surface texture to paint color, everything was designed with that in mind.”

Also top of mind was finding the right person to voice the titular character. Enter Evans, a skilled performer who can easily find the humor amid moments of gravitas. “That’s what he does as Captain America really well,” MacLane said of Evans’ 10-year run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). “This is not the same character, but that proved he could do it.”

“He’s a really good comedic actor, he’s a really good dramatic actor, and he’s really good at action,” MacLane continued. “When we pitched it to him, we saw how easy he was to work with and how excited he was for the project. Once he agreed to do it, we started recording, and it was a really natural fit; it couldn’t have gone better. It’s such a breeze every time we work together. Chris is such a great partner for the film, creatively and spiritually. He’s just so excited and just really positive about it. He’s exactly who you think he is. He’s awesome!”

Getting to voice Buzz Lightyear is a big deal for Evans. “The phrase ‘a dream come true’ gets thrown around a lot, but I’ve never meant it more in my life,” Evans said. “Anyone who knows me knows that my love for animated films runs deep. I can’t believe that I get to be a part of the Pixar family and work with these truly brilliant artists who tell stories unlike anyone else. Watching them work is nothing short of magic. I pinch myself every day.”

While Lightyear features classic sci-fi elements, MacLane said the goal was to tell a wholly original story. “There might be something that feels like an echo of something, but we never want things to be too overt,” he said. “The movie is meant to be a love letter to film.”

Inside Dancing with the Stars’ Frightfully Fun “Horror Night”

October 26, 2021October 28, 2021

By Zach Johnson

There were thrills and chills aplenty on Dancing with the Stars last night!

To bring “Horror Night” to life on ABC, the couples performed fang-tastic numbers inspired by hit horror films. Host Tyra Banks looked fa-boo-lous as ever in two couture costumes, and judges Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli got into the spooky sartorial spirit! Of course, we were dying to interview the couples on “Horror Night,” and they were happy to divulge every devilish detail with us after the show!

The Miz and pro Witney Carson kicked off the episode with a Paso Doble routine to RAIGN’s “Wicked Games,” inspired by Hellraiser. They earned 34/40 points, in addition to high praise for embodying the character of Pinhead. “I was the first one here,” The Miz said. “It took five hours of makeup.” Carson called the makeup artists “truly incredible,” despite being scared of Pinhead. “It’s my worst nightmare,” Carson admitted, “but I’m glad I did it!”

Next up were Kenya Moore and pro Brandon Armstrong, who earned 32/40 points for their Arachnophobia-inspired Argentine Tango. Tonioli called it “beautiful and deadly,” telling Moore, “You can wrap me in your web anytime!” Unfortunately, the couple found themselves in the bottom two at the end of “Horror Night” and were ultimately eliminated.

JoJo Siwa and pro Jenna Johnson performed third, dancing Jazz to “Anything Goes” by District 78 featuring Patrice Covington. Siwa’s turn as Pennywise from the movie It prompted a “scared” Goodman to joke, “I’m so glad I’ve got on my rubber underpants!” For the second consecutive week, Siwa and Johnson earned a score of 40/40 points. “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten two perfect scores in a row, so this is a moment I want to remember forever,” Johnson said after the show. “It’s pretty surreal. I’m so, so grateful and so happy.” Siwa joked she was “literally on the moon right now,” but added she’s trying to remain focused on the task at hand. “These perfect scores obviously add pressure for us again next week because we want to get another perfect score,” she said. “But I think that in both of our heads, we just want to do our best. With whatever style we have, we want to make it as amazing as possible. And if the scores line up to be four 10s again, then that’s just a bonus.”

Cody Rigsby and pro Cheryl Burke earned their first nines of the season after dancing the Cha Cha to Kim Petras’ “There Will Be Blood,” inspired by the movie American Psycho. Hough called it their “best dance” yet—and the other judges agreed, giving them 36/40 points. “We’ve been working hard. We feel good,” Rigsby said after the show. “The hard work is paying off. We took all of those notes from last week and we really applied them.” With “Horror Night” behind him, he is excited for “Queen Night” on November 1. “As a queen, I am very much a Queen fan,” he said. “I’m so excited to honor another queer man.”

Following Rigsby and Burke’s performance, Jimmie Allen and pro Emma Slater danced a Contemporary routine to Daniel Jang’s “Say Something,” inspired by the film A Quiet Place. Both Allen and Slater shed a few tears after their performance, which Tonioli said went beyond dancing: “You captured the essence of the movie, which actually is a love story.” The powerful piece earned the couple their first 10s of the season and a score of 38/40 points. With each movement, Slater explained, “It was like time stood still. Your heart races and you can really feel every second of time in slow-mo.” As for why he teared up at the end, Allen admitted he was thinking about his wife and three kids. “I’m a softie,” he said. “All of my emotions come out, and I’ve cried on the show so much. Why not keep it going?”

Following a “Tango of the Dead” performance from Hough and girlfriend Hayley Erbert—his first on the show since winning an Emmy^® Award for choreographing and performing an elaborate routine in season 29—Olivia Jade and pro Val Chmerkovskiy danced the Paso Doble to “Beggin’” by Måneskin, inspired by The Purge. After landing in the bottom two last week, they were determined to wow the judges—and they did, earning 36/40 points!

Receiving four nines made Chmerkovskiy so happy he had to sing about it! “It felt so great,” he sang. “So, so great!” The feeling was mutual, with Jade telling D23, “Being in the bottom two is not very fun… I’m having the best time during this process, so I never want it to end.” Jade added that her “main priority” is making Chmerkovskiy proud: “He deserves to be here… and we made it another week, which is really exciting. I just hope that it continues.”

Melora Hardin and pro Artem Chigvintsev were the next couple to perform, doing a Jive routine to Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog.” The number was inspired by the 1983 film Cujo, which starred Hardin’s father. He cheered her on from the audience, along with her mom. “My parents are amazing,” Hardin said after the show. “They are the reason I am who I am… I’m very grateful for everything they’ve given me.” Hardin and Chigvintsev received 34/40 points from the judges, and plan to take their critiques to heart going into “Queen Night.” Said Chigvintsev, “We’re going to try our best to come back and be better and do better.”

Next, Iman Shumpert and pro Daniella Karagach earned their first perfect score of the season for their Us-inspired Contemporary routine, set to the song “I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix from Us)” by Luniz featuring Michael Marshall. Hough was so impressed by the couple’s performance that he jumped out of his chair and onto the table in what Banks described as a “Tom Cruise moment.” Hough told the couple, “That was something people will watch over and over and over again!’ Shumpert was so proud of their results, in fact, that he carried one of the judges’ 10 paddles into his interview! “I took one home with me,” he said. “It felt good!” During their rehearsals, Karagach added, “I didn’t even think about a perfect score, to be honest. I just wanted a good performance.” According to Shumpert, “This was a fun week for us. The song, the movie inspiration—everything about it was fun. We could really get into character. That was exciting enough to take us through the week.”

After Suni Lee and pro Sasha Farber danced the Tango to Ed Sheeran’s “Bad Habits,” inspired by The Vampire Diaries, she received a surprise video message from series star Nina Dobrev. “I love her!” Lee told D23 after the show. “She’s my favorite person to ever watch on The Vampire Diaries. I’ve seen it so many times.” It was a highlight for Lee and Farber, who—despite receiving a score of 36/40 points—found themselves in the bottom two. They were saved by Hough, Inaba, and Tonioli, with Goodman revealing he, too, would have saved them had it come down to a tie. “It was crazy,” Lee said. “I definitely didn’t expect to be in the bottom two, and I am very thankful that I am still in the competition.”

Closing out the night were Amanda Kloots and pro Alan Bersten, who danced the Argentine Tango to “Paint It, Black” by Ciara. The number was inspired by the movie Saw, with Kloots wearing facial prosthetics and heavy makeup to embody the character Jigsaw. “Oh, I’m not wearing any makeup. This is normal,” Kloots joked with D23 after she and Bersten earned a score of 38/40 points. In truth, she said, “This was a bit of a process. I filmed The Talk in the morning and then I got here at around 12:30, so we started a lot later than everybody else. I sat right down in the chair, and three hours later, I looked like this. They finished touching me up after dress rehearsal. I was not expecting this full-on look; I thought it was just cheeks and chin, but they started putting a whole face on! I’ve never worn prosthetics like this, and I’ve never looked as creepy as this. So, it was good. It’s cool!”

Dancing with the Stars returns with “Queen Night” next Monday at 8 p.m. on ABC.

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1990s: The X-Files

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives

Halloween is here at last! We are ready to don our festive costumes and fill up our Trick-or-Treat bags with delicious candy. But first, let’s glean a little investigative inspiration from the final installment of our 20th Century Fox “Spooktacular.” We are hot on the case of The X-Files, perhaps the spookiest television series of the 1990s!

Created by Chris Carter, The X-Files debuted in September 1993. While not an initial success, the series grew in popularity, eventually becoming a cult hit among audiences and resulting in 11 seasons, several spin-off series, and two films’ worth of the paranormal, the extraterrestrial, and the downright unexplainable! These creepy happenings make up the titular “X-Files” themselves, cases that the show’s fictionalized Federal Bureau of Investigation deem as unsolvable. FBI Special Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) joins fellow Special Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) to solve these cases; as a brilliant trained medical doctor, Scully is far more skeptical than Mulder, usually taking a more grounded, scientific approach. Even though Mulder is one of the Bureau’s best analysts, his belief in the cryptozoological, extraterrestrial, and inexplicable phenomenon—driven by his younger sister’s mysterious abduction during his childhood—informs his work and earns him the nickname “Spooky Mulder.” Although the duo’s supervisor, Assistant Director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), is at first hesitant to acknowledge any paranormal possibilities, he ends up being a great support to Mulder and Scully in their investigations as they delve deeper into the X-Files.

Mulder and Scully examine all manner of strange cases, with her skepticism and his belief in the supernatural working in tandem to solve them. Some cases are what X-Files fans refer to as “Monster of the Week” episodes, wherein the duo investigate a singular monster wreaking havoc. Other cases end up being connected to a larger conspiracy involving extraterrestrial life that Scully and Mulder uncover over the course of the series. If you want to believe, join Scully and Mulder in solving The X-Files, now streaming on Hulu!

High-Flying Heritage: A Walt Disney World Moment 50 Years in the Making

October 25, 2021

By Becky Cline and Kevin M. Kern, Walt Disney Archives

Every now and then, we here in the Archives have the honor of spotlighting historical materials so unique from our collection that the objects themselves seem to transcend matters of just Disney history and cross over into a realm documenting a wider moment from popular American history. One such item from our collection highlights such an intersection rather perfectly—an otherwise all-too-normal-looking American flag that was used during the grand dedication ceremony for the Walt Disney World Resort in 1971. This flag—a gift from a U.S. president, nonetheless!—has rested safely in our collection for 50 years now and helps weave a fascinating story that connects several important historical locations on the pop culture landscape from Washington, D.C., to Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and beyond.

Recently, while reflecting on the now half-century legacy of the Walt Disney World Resort for various projects (including assisting with the development of the recent coffee table book for Disney Editions, A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth), the Archives began assessing our collection for historical objects that could highlight important stories to share about the history of the resort. Specifically, while curating items for a small historical exhibit to display at the resort for the recent 50th anniversary kick-off festivities, one item piqued our interest, landing squarely in the realm of “this is a story we have to tell!” That item, as you may have guessed it, is the aforementioned flag.

High-Flying Heritage — The American flag presented to Roy O. Disney by U.S. President Richard Nixon flies over Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom during the dedication of the Walt Disney World Resort on October 25, 1971.

The details of this piece are rather (and amazingly!) straightforward—facts that are thusly laid out with beautiful simplicity: The 9-by-5-foot American flag that was raised over Town Square at the Magic Kingdom as part of the resort’s grand dedication ceremony on October 25, 1971, carried a special significance from a longtime friend of the Disney family: President Richard Nixon. An official gift from the president, the flag was first flown over the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 1, 1971 (“Opening Day” of Walt Disney World) and was subsequently delivered to the resort to preside over Town Square during Roy O. Disney’s October 25th dedication. A simple path, but quite the remarkable voyage for such an important symbol of Americana.

“As it is raised in Town Square,” wrote the President to Roy O. on October 23, 1971, “may it represent our faith in the American dream which is so much in evidence at Walt Disney World.” Shortly after the October 25th dedication events, the flag would make its way back to The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, where it was placed in the care of the Walt Disney Archives by Disney Legend Emile Kuri (on behalf of Roy O.) for long-term historical preservation. The flag has remained proudly in the collection of the Archives ever since, and safely tucked away it would reside for decades until another fateful October day, some half a century later…

Fast forward to September 30, 2021, where the staff of the Walt Disney Archives shared a very special one-day-only exhibit with visiting press in honor of the resort’s impending anniversary. Showcasing rarely seen historical objects representing the 50-year history of Walt Disney World, it was a natural opportunity, of course, to feature this important flag and its accompanying documentation with pride of place. Following the event, Becky Cline, the director of the Walt Disney Archives, had the honor of carrying the dedication day relic over to Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom to help kick off the next historical chapter in both the resort’s, and flag’s, storied existence.

There, Becky assisted Walt Disney Imagineering curators Jackie Herrera and Deb Van Horn to carefully install this slice of Disney’s own patriotic heritage in the lobby of The Hall of Presidents attraction. This “Grand Old Flag” can now be viewed alongside other fascinating artifacts that showcase the history of our nation’s great leaders and also serves as a fitting tribute to a monumental moment in the history of The Walt Disney Company.

Thus, as the sun rose on October 1, 2021, amidst the grand debut of The World’s Most Magical Celebration, and after carefully working with our Florida-based curatorial colleagues at Walt Disney Imagineering, the Archives was able to help return this trusty and inspirational emblem to the Magic Kingdom, allowing it to continue serving as a historical beacon of the resort’s legacy for all to see.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

October 25, 2021

By Zach Johnson

What’s on your watch list this week? A new installment of Marvel Studios: Assembled will be available to stream starting this Wednesday on Disney+, offering an inside look at the creation of What If…? The following night, the adult comedy What We Do in the Shadows will conclude its third season on FX. Then, at midnight, Freeform will air the 2012 film Frankenweenie, directed by Tim Burton, as part of its ongoing “31 Nights of Halloween” celebration. The scares will continue Friday morning with a Halloween-themed episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan. Meanwhile, Disney+ will add a few titles to its library Friday, including director Niki Caro’s 2015 film McFarland, USA, inspired by a powerful true story.

Marvel Studios: Assembled—Wednesday, October 27, on Disney+
The immersive documentary series returns with a new chapter focused on the making of What If…?, Marvel Studios’ first-ever animated series. Go behind the scenes with director Bryan Andrews, head writer AC Bradley, and other members of the cast and crew as they share the stories of how they reimagined famous events from the MCU in unexpected ways.

What We Do in the Shadows—Thursday, October 28, at 10 p.m. ET on FX
Intended for mature audiences, the season three finale, “Portrait,” finds the housemates grieving the loss of one of their own. (In happier news, FX already ordered a fourth season!)

Frankenweenie (2012)—Friday, October 29, at 12 a.m. ET on Freeform
Young Victor Frankenstein (voiced by Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and an outsider at school. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog, Sparky, he uses science to bring him back to life—with a few minor adjustments. Victor tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but Sparky gets out, throwing the town of New Holland into chaos. His classmates then steal his secret and use it to resurrect other dead animals—with monstrous consequences.

Live with Kelly and Ryan—Friday, October 29, in National Syndication
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest will once again set a new standard for Halloween celebrations, bringing the spooky season to life with “Live’s Out of This World Halloween.” This year’s extravaganza goes boldly where no other talk show has gone before, launching from “outer space” from the show’s own “Boo Origin.” Featuring 40 costumes, Live will draw inspiration from the latest pop culture trends, including hilarious takes on some buzzworthy shows—Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, The Masked Singer, The Queen’s Gambit, and Ted Lasso among them—as well as a wacky, retro spin on a current home workout craze. Nick Lachey will join the festivities, with more surprise celebrity guests to be announced. Live’s annual audience Halloween costume contest will remain virtual this year, with the winner revealed during the show. Live will be giving away approximately $20,000 in prizes!

McFarland, USA—Friday, October 29, on Disney+
After Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) arrives to teach at a predominantly Latino high school, it’s immediately clear that everyone has a lot to learn about each other. But after he discovers a few students’ exceptional running abilities, everything begins to change. With determination and grit, Coach White’s promising runners overcome the odds to not only become a championship cross-country team but to realize their own American dream.