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

By Courtney Potter

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

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

american born chinese

American Born Chinese Coming to Disney+

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

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

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

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

dancing with the stars

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

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

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

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

bite size halloween

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

By Zach Johnson

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

Shark Tank

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

Sydney to the Max

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

Muppets Haunted Mansion

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

Big City Greens

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

Impeachment: American Crime Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special Edition Amazon Plush

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

amazon plush

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

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

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

amazon plush

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Junior Celebrates Halloween with Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches

By Courtney Potter

Ready for some Halloween fun and frolic that’s fit for the entire family? Look no further than Disney Junior’s brand-new animated movie Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches—premiering Thursday, October 7, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

The tale begins on Halloween, as Mickey tells Pluto a story about two witches-in-training, Minnie the Wonderful and Daisy Doozy, who must pass four tests to graduate from the Witch Academy in Happy Haunt Hills. While Daisy isn’t particularly confident about passing, she and Minnie join forces—along with Count Mickula and the gang—to defeat a mischievous ghost. Ultimately, Minnie and Daisy learn that working together is what makes their magic and their friendship stronger.

D23 recently spoke with executive producers Rob LaDuca and Mark Seidenberg (both known for their work on the Emmy® Award-nominated series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Mickey and the Roadster Racers) to get some spooktacular specifics on what the young and young-at-heart can expect from Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

D23: Thanks for chatting with us today! So, are you both Halloween fans?

Mark Seidenberg (MS): We’re both fans of spooky films and ghost stories and all that. [Rob and I] were talking about that classic Disney cartoon short Lonesome Ghosts, with Mickey Mouse and the gang hunting ghosts; that’s been a great inspiration for us doing a Halloween story.
Rob LaDuca (RL): We looked at everything [for inspiration], including live-action movies—a little bit [of a certain young British wizard] was thrown in, some Tim Burton… Halloween is all about fun and magic and spooky things.

Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches
(l-r) Executive producers Rob LaDuca and Mark Seidenberg

D23: How long did it take to bring Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches to life?

MS: What’s really nice [about this project] is that we got to concentrate on one story, and we were really able to polish it over the span of a year—a little over a year. And so, we were constantly refining, whereas with a TV series, it’s very tight schedule and you have to move things quickly.
RL: Also, we’re so used to working on an 11-minute cartoon—and now we’re given 45 minutes! And so emotionally, you can [make the journey] a little happier and then get a little sad; you have more time to really work with the emotions of the story, which is great.
MS: And we were able to really push the suspense—start kinda slow and then build to the big moments toward the end of the film. That’s hard to do with short-form [animation].

D23: What would you say was one of the biggest challenges with creating this animated movie, especially over the last year-plus with so many things in flux due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

MS: Well, one of the first big challenges was working with the actors, because we’re used to always being in a recording studio [with them], and now all the actors had to record from their own homes. They all had to make their own home studios, so you don’t have the energy of the room, like when you’re all together. It took a little while for us get used to that, doing it all through Zoom, but it worked out—it worked out really well!
RL: Certain [voice actors] didn’t necessarily have the right equipment, so we did have to go back in when we were doing post-production and re-record some of the dialogue. But I was surprised at how well things went…[When] we got into the sound mixing room, sitting six feet apart… It was so nice to see the movie on the big screen—a color-correct screen, and with the correct sound.

D23: Is there a moment in the movie that you just can’t wait for audiences to see?

MS: In our story, Pete [Mickey’s occasional nemesis] is a ghost—he goes through this transformation, and it’s really fun to watch him become bigger than life!
RL: Pete getting magical powers was a scary thought to begin with, but he takes the ball and runs with it—until, of course, he trips.
MS: The other thing I want to say about the Halloween movie is there’s two very special guests that will show up in the film that are relatives of Pete, that might look familiar—maybe even a little like Rob and myself…

D23: Oh, we love Easter eggs! We’ll make sure to keep our eyes peeled. Is there anything else you want to tell the readers of D23.com about Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches?

MS: It’s really about the themes of friendship and family and loyalty and love, and working together—caring for each other. I mean, we really focused on [the fact that] families would be watching this movie… Minnie and Daisy want the same thing in Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches, and they’re working together—they’re making it happen by working together… The friendship of Minnie and Daisy has never been better.
RL: We really wanted to make [this movie] special, because we had the extra time to make it a little more cinematic—make the shadows a little deeper, the highlights a little brighter. To go a little more Technicolor so it really plays like a movie, y’know?
MS: And the music is very lush… we really pushed the sensibility and the feel of the film. It’s very, very unique… and I’ve gotta give kudos to [voice actor] April Winchell as “witch master” Clarabelle. She went above and beyond the call of duty. She’s absolutely wonderful.

Don’t miss Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches—premiering Thursday, October 7, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior… and look for it on Disney+ beginning Friday, October 8!

Marvel Studios’ “You’re Such a Poser!” Gallery

By the D23 Team

Don’t show this to Yelena Belova! To celebrate Marvel Studios’ Black Widow becoming available to all Disney+ subscribers, we’re channeling one of the film’s funniest lines with this gallery celebrating our favorite heroes who can be “posers”—as in, they know how to strike a pose for the camera! While Yelena teased Black Widow for her super stance, Natasha’s not the only one who knows how to pose. We’ve rounded up images of some of our favorite Marvel heroes in poses that have now become iconic. Will Yelena ever give in to the power of cool poses? Watch Black Widow on Disney+ now and find out for yourself.

Stars in their Rides: The Celebrities Behind Beloved Walt Disney World Attractions

By Jeffrey R. Epstein

In honor of the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort, we’re sharing a classic Walt Disney World article that was originally printed in Disney twenty-three magazine in 2011 for the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Stay tuned to D23.com for more stories celebrating the past, present, and future of Walt Disney World Resort!

On the opening day of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, Walt Disney made history in countless ways. One of those enduring achievements was combining popular stars of the day with his classic talent for storytelling. So, along with Snow White, Dumbo, and Mr. Toad, on hand that day was Davy Crockett star Fess Parker, who led the parade and the Mouseketeers made their debut (their Mickey Mouse Club wouldn’t premiere until that October). And of course, Walt himself was there—already a huge celebrity to millions of people around the globe.

The tradition of blending storytelling with celebrities has continued to this day. D23 had the chance to speak with some of the talented individuals who have appeared in Walt Disney World attractions from the past and present, lending their voices, bodies, and sometimes hours of time in a makeup chair to create magic for park guests.

stars and their rides

John Michael Higgins
Supervisor, original Test Track, EPCOT (1998 – 2012)
I’m often stopped at grocery stores by rabid Test Track fans who say how much they like the ride, and it always takes me a few minutes to figure out what they’re talking about—I did the Test Track job in 1997. I remember we shot the “security cam” footage in one day at a stage in Hollywood. The footage itself had to be one continuous take because it was a security cam and there were no cuts! So, if I messed up five minutes into it, I had to start over from the beginning. Very arduous, but we eventually got it.

stars and their rides

Steven Tyler
Himself, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (2000 – present)
You know you’ve made it when… you are at your own roller coaster! Joe Perry and I got on it and we rode it 29 times just to get the sound right. Then we were like this [eyes wide and shaking], so I said, “Joe, let’s go do the Tower of Terror and it will get us straight!” And we did, and we were able to walk home after that! What a joy! And I can go down there and ride it whenever I want!

stars and their rides

Don Rickles
Mr. Potato Head, Toy Story Mania, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (2008 – present)
Sixteen years I’ve been doing Mr. Potato Head! It was one of the finest things I’ve ever had happen to me. My grandchildren know me as Mr. Potato Head. For the ride, I was just in a sound booth by myself. Lee [Unkrich], who directed it, would direct me. I recorded about 300 or 400 lines. “You sir, step out of the line!” And the ride is a big draw! I was there when it opened. It was great. My grandkids love the ride. It’s fun for kids. They thought it was very exciting. I was very pleased with that.

stars and their rides

Allison Janney
Peach, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, EPCOT (2007 – present)
Aly San San, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (2011 – present)
I have always been a huge fan of Disney. Being able to play Peach in Finding Nemo was really a dream come true. But then to be asked to voice a character on a Disney attraction—especially one as legendary as Star Tours—was unbelievable. The Disney parks have a lot of meaning for me, and to now be a part of their history is truly magical. Recording the role was so much fun—I was able to play around, and all the Imagineers were incredibly inspiring to work with. I was really flattered to hear that George Lucas named the character Aly San San after me. How great is that? I don’t think she looks very much like me, though.

Dave Foley
Flick, It’s Tough to Be a Bug, Disney’s Animal Kingdom (1998 – present)
As a child growing up in Toronto, I always dreamed of visiting Disney World but I never got the chance. On the other hand, I never dreamt I would one day play a part in a Disney World attraction. Bringing my own children to the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom was one of my proudest days as a father. Even if they were terrified by Hopper. Oh, and the spiders.

stars and their rides

Patrick Warburton
Chief Flight Attendant Patrick, Soarin’, EPCOT (2005 – present)
Getting to be a part of a ride at Walt Disney World has been one of the most special opportunities that I have been granted while working in the industry. Disneyland has always been so magical. It was a special place for me to go to as a child, and now it’s a special place for me to share with my children. It’s been an honor to be associated with a Disney ride.

stars and their rides

Alexander Gould
Nemo, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, EPCOT (2007 – present)
The whole Nemo experience was amazing, I started with the film at age 7, and at age 12, I completed my Nemo life with The Seas with Nemo and Friends. My biggest memory of voicing the ride was recording the song “In the Big Blue World.” My pitch wasn’t the greatest back then, but I think it added to the charm of the character. My little sister did the commercial advertising the Seas ride, so she got to experience it before I did. She thought it was awesome. I actually experienced the ride for the first time… in 2010 when I spent winter break in Florida with my youth group. Weird at age 16 to hear yourself at 12. My friends were singing “In the Big Blue World” all day just to annoy me.

Stay tuned to D23.com for more ways to celebrate Walt Disney World’s milestone anniversary, and let us know on social media what your favorite Walt Disney World Resort attraction is using the hashtag #DisneyWorld50.

Dancing with the Stars: Disney Heroes and Villains Songs Revealed!

By Zach Johnson

Ready for a double dose of the fan-favorite “Disney Night” on Dancing with the Stars?

ABC’s Emmy® Award-winning series’ milestone 30th season will be adding a dash of Disney magic during its special two-night “Disney Week” event on ABC! The fun begins Monday, October 11, at 8 p.m. ET /PT, with the 13 remaining couples performing choreographed numbers inspired by Disney Heroes. Then, on Tuesday, October 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, the celebrities and their partners will put on a wickedly good show inspired by Disney Villains. Can’t wait for “Disney Week?” Neither can we! Before they return to the ballroom next week, we’re sharing an exclusive look at the couples’ song titles and dance styles for both nights!

dancing with the stars

“Disney Heroes” Night | Monday, October 11 | 8 p.m. ET/PT

  • Kenya Moore and pro Brandon Armstrong dancing Contemporary to “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana
  • Olivia Jade and pro Val Chmerkovskiy dancing the Samba to “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” from The Lion King
  • Amanda Kloots and pro Alan Bersten dancing the Rumba to “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan
  • JoJo Siwa and pro Jenna Johnson dancing the Viennese Waltz to “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella
  • Melanie C. and pro Gleb Savchenko dancing Jazz to “Step in Time” from Mary Poppins
  • Suni Lee and pro Sasha Farber dancing the Salsa to “Colombia, Mi Encanto!” from Encanto
  • Melora Hardin and pro Artem Chigvintsev dancing the Quickstep to “I Wan’na Be Like You (2016)” from The Jungle Book
  • Jimmie Allen and pro Emma Slater dancing the Paso Doble to “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan
  • Iman Shumpert and pro Daniella Karagach dancing the Foxtrot to “Let It Go” from Frozen
  • The Miz and pro Witney Carson dancing the Quickstep to “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin
  • Brian Austin Green and pro Sharna Burgess dancing the waltz to “Someday My Prince Will Come” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Cody Rigsby and pro Cheryl Burke dancing the Jive to “Stand Out” from A Goofy Movie
  • Matt James and pro Lindsay Arnold dancing the Quickstep to “The Incredits” from The Incredibles

dancing with the stars

“Disney Villains” Night | Tuesday, October 12 | 8 p.m. ET/PT

  • Kenya Moore and pro Brandon Armstrong dancing the Viennese Waltz to “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande (inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
  • Olivia Jade and pro Val Chmerkovskiy dancing jazz to “Remember Me” from Coco
  • Amanda Kloots and pro Alan Bersten dancing the Paso Doble to “Call Me Cruella” from Cruella
  • JoJo Siwa and pro Jenna Johnson dancing the Paso Doble to “Ways to Be Wicked” from Descendants 2
  • Melanie C. and pro Gleb Savchenko dancing the Viennese Waltz to “Once Upon a Dream” from Maleficent
  • Suni Lee and pro Sasha Farber dancing the Viennese Waltz to “I Put a Spell on You” from Hocus Pocus”
  • Melora Hardin and pro Artem Chigvintsev dancing Jazz to “Mother Knows Best” from Tangled
  • Jimmie Allen and pro Emma Slater dancing Jazz to “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish (inspired by Peter Pan)
  • Iman Shumpert and pro Daniella Karagach dancing the Argentine Tango to “Arabian Nights” from Aladdin
  • The Miz and pro Witney Carson dancing the Argentine Tango to “Be Prepared” from The Lion King
  • Brian Austin Green and pro Sharna Burgess dancing the Paso Doble to “He’s a Pirate” from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Cody Rigsby and pro Cheryl Burke dancing the Viennese Waltz to “Gaston” from Beauty and the Beast”
  • Matt James and pro Lindsay Arnold dancing the Paso Doble to “Jungle” by X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons (inspired by The Jungle Book)

dancing with the stars

We can’t wait to see what everyone wears as these iconic Disney songs are brought to life on ABC—and if last year’s “Disney Night” is any indication, it’s sure to be a magical “Disney Week!” You can help spread the magic, as host and executive producer Tyra Banks on Monday introduced a VIP—Mickey Mouse—“to show us some moves that each of the couples will have to include in their routines, no matter which dance style they perform.” After you learn the routine, post it on social media using #DWTSMickeyDanceChallenge!

Want to see your favorite couple advance in the competition? Voting is available via abc.com and SMS/text. The live votes will occur each episode, but only during the live broadcast in ET/CT time zones; fans in all U.S. time zones may vote within that window.

Which D23 Halloween Invasion Movie Should You Watch for Halloween?

By Jocelyn Buhlman

All month long, D23 is getting into the Halloween spirit with an out-of-this-world twist. D23 Halloween Invasion is the ultimate sci-fi Halloween, beaming all the fun and frights from Disney and classic Fox film universes to your living room. The month has just begun, and there’s a wealth of wacky, weird, and wonderful sci-fi films to choose from. Need help picking your first film to watch? Whether you’re an earthling, an alien, or a robot programmed to love movies, this quiz will help you find the perfect film to kick off your intergalactic Halloween celebration!

What kind of Halloween movie do you like to watch?

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

What kind of animal would you want for a pet?

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

If you were in a sci-fi movie, what would your role be?

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

Aliens have landed on Earth! What do you do?

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

What kind of alien creature would you most like to meet?

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

Ok, fine. If you had a robot, what skill would you want it to have?

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

Pick a piece of technology from a Disney film that you wish was real

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

Finally, what are your Halloween costume plans?

Halloween Invasion Movie quiz

Halloween Invasion Movie Quiz
You should watch: The Cat From Outer Space

the cat from outer space

Since your taste in sci-fi films is less about scary, try something su-purr-natural instead. This quirky live-action Disney classic has it all: a boy, a girl, and… a talking alien cat? The Cat from Outer Space is more of an offbeat comedy than a fright fest, following the adventures of “Jake” the cat when his spaceship crash lands on Earth. The humans who help Jake soon discover there are nefarious forces out to cat-nap the intergalactic feline. Spies and criminals won’t stop the humans from helping their new friend—after all, with an alien that’s so dang cute, you’d want to help him out, too!
You should watch: Lilo & Stitch

lilo & stitch

Want a sci-fi film that’s less about intergalactic travel and more about the friends we make along the way? Lilo & Stitch is a beloved Disney animated film about Stitch, an escaped alien convict programmed to destroy—until he meets an outcast young girl, Lilo, who sees the best in him. This blossoming friendship is threatened by the wacky (and sometimes scary) aliens trying to capture Stitch and return him to intergalactic prison.
You should watch: Avatar

avatar

When you think “sci-fi,” you’re thinking about visiting another planet—not just visiting, but immersing yourself in the nature, the culture, the wildlife… If you could become an alien yourself, you’d do it! While we can’t travel to other planets (…yet), the next closest thing is watching Avatar, the groundbreaking epic film about Jake, a former Marine who operates the body of an “avatar,” a hybrid of humans and the local species, the Na’vi. In his avatar, Jake becomes acquainted with the Na’vi and their culture and realizes that humanity’s attempt to colonize the planet is a terrible mistake. The film is iconic for its innovative use of motion capture and visual effects to create the Na’vi and their immersive home planet of Pandora.
You should watch: The Black Hole

the black hole

Just because you’re in space doesn’t mean you can’t be a little freaked out—that’s your philosophy for picking a sci-fi film, anyway. If you don’t want to graduate to full on thrills and chills, but wouldn’t mind a little bit of fear mixed in with your robots and lasers, it’s time for you to watch The Black Hole. The film follows the crew of humans and robots traveling in spacecraft U.S.S. Palomino, who stumble across a—you guessed it!—black hole with the abandoned U.S.S. Cygnus drifting in its wake. The crew of the Palomino investigate—but what they find inside is not what it seems…
You should watch: Flight of the Navigator

flight of the navigator

For you, sci-fi is all about adventure: meeting strange aliens, discovering new planets, flying in unimaginable spacecraft. Buckle up for your next adventure, the live-action hidden gem Flight of the Navigator. Twelve-year-old-David Freeman falls and is knocked unconscious—when he awakens, eight years have passed, but David has not aged at all. At the hospital David discovers he has a link to a mysterious spaceship that crash landed on Earth… And so begins his journey to becoming “The Navigator,” the key to helping the crash-landed aliens return home.

The Retro Inspirations Behind the 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector Set

By the D23 Team

This month, we’re ringing in 50 magical years of Walt Disney World Resort—but here at D23, we’ve been celebrating this milestone anniversary all year long, thanks to our 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector set! The Collector Set takes inspiration from the classic souvenirs of “The Vacation Kingdom of the World.” With “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” underway, we asked our friends at the Walt Disney Archives to join in the fun by sharing some of the items from their collection that inspired the exclusive items in our Collector Set! Get more information on the 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector set here, and read on to take a nostalgic trip into souvenirs from Walt Disney World’s past.

collector set inspo

collector set inspo

Souvenir Lunchbox
A fan-favorite souvenir from early in the resort’s history, the 1973 Walt Disney World lunchbox was a natural inspiration for the centerpiece of our collector set. The original lunchbox features Mickey, Donald, and Goofy on the front, with vignettes from around Magic Kingdom park on the sides. Our updated version for the 50th anniversary, designed by Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, features Mickey, Donald, Chip, and Dale (carrying a Pluto hat as a nod to the original lunchbox); 48 years after the original lunchbox debuted, the resort now has four fabulous parks, and icons from all four them appear in the background. The vignettes on the sides of the lunchbox feature updated scenes from Typhoon Lagoon, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and more!

Got an appetite for even more information on how the new lunchbox was designed? Check out this interview with designers Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily here.

collector set inspo

collector set inspo

Walt Disney World News
Extra, extra! Fifty years after “The Vacation Kingdom of the World” first opened, Walt Disney World is still making headlines. The Collector Set features a 2021 tribute to an original publication, the Walt Disney World News, which was released in 1971. In the excitement leading up to the opening of Walt Disney World, the original Walt Disney World News featured stories on the first family to enter the park; guides to dining and shopping; and more information teasing at what was in store for all the fans eagerly awaiting opening day. The 2021 edition of the Walt Disney World News features a welcome letter from head of D23 Michael Vargo, a retrospective on the origins of Walt Disney’s “Florida Project,” and a tribute to “50 Favorite Things” found at Walt Disney World—written by the staff of D23 and the Walt Disney Archives to inspire adventures of your own.

collector set inspo

collector set inspo

Vinyl Record
The music of Walt Disney World Resort has appeared on vinyl many times, including The Official Album of Walt Disney World pictured above. Our mini-version of this souvenir, made in partnership with Walt Disney Records, features the 1971 classic “Bear Band Serenade” from Country Bear Jamboree on one side, and the modern classic “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway on the other. While the toe-tapping tunes of Country Bear Jamboree have their own vinyl record (pictured above, right) “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” makes its vinyl debut on this retro-inspired disk.

collector set inspo

collector set inspo

Pennant
While pennants typically commemorate favorite sports teams, nothing makes us cheer like a fun-filled trip to Walt Disney World Resort! Inspired by this classic souvenir, the 2021 D23 Gold Member collector set features a pennant commemorating a different “team,” so to speak: The Official Disney Fan Club! The full-sized D23 pennant was designed by artist and the Official Voice of Mickey Mouse, Bret Iwan, and features a nod to classic pennants with the iconic Cinderella castle sparkling in the distance.

If you haven’t already joined D23 and want this exclusive set inspired by iconic Walt Disney World history, you can join D23 here. The 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector set is included as part of your D23 Gold Membership. Already a member, but have a history buff in your life who’d love a Collector Set of their own? For a limited time, D23 Gold Members can purchase an extra collector set—get more details here.