5 Major Announcements to Kick Off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” at Walt Disney World Resort

September 30, 2021

By Zach Johnson

The magic is calling!

For its 50th anniversary, Walt Disney World Resort on Friday kicks off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” an 18-month event that ushers in an array of new attractions, nighttime spectaculars, and more. To celebrate the milestone occasion, we attended a virtual press event earlier this morning that began with a welcome from Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “As you can imagine, this celebration is packed with new experiences that will connect you to the stories and characters you love most; connect you to each other as you share magical moments together as friends and families; and connect you to the magic in ways you may never have dreamed of before, with new attractions, entertainment, merchandise, dining experiences, and more,” he said. “This celebration will also give us opportunities to continue to invest in our surrounding communities, sharing Disney magic in meaningful ways with children and families who need it most.”

D’Amaro then introduced Disney Legend Julie Andrews, who reflected on being part of the grand opening of Magic Kingdom in 1971 and also shared fond memories of Walt Disney, who hand-picked her to star in Mary Poppins. “All these years later, I’d like to wish everyone at Walt Disney World many more years of joy, love, and wishing upon stars,” she said in a special video message. “Happy 50th anniversary to The Most Magical Place Earth.”

With that, the announcements came pouring in! Here are just five of the many highlights:

1. Disney Enchantment Adds an Iconic Voice Performer: Angela Bassett
Spreading magic across the sky, over a castle, and down a bustling street, Disney Enchantment debuts October 1, 2021, at Magic Kingdom Park to help kick off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” Today, it was announced that Angela Bassett, star of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther and Disney and Pixar’s Soul, will narrate the new nighttime spectacular. Disney Enchantment features a breathtaking spectacle of Disney music, stunning fireworks, enhanced lighting, and immersive projection effects that extend for the first time from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A. Inspiring everyone to believe in the magic that lives within them, Disney Enchantment features characters, moments, and music from beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios films. The show’s stirring soundtrack is anchored by an emotional original song, “You Are the Magic,” written and performed by eight-time Grammy Award^® winner Philip Lawrence, whose stellar career began as a Disney cast member who performed in Walt Disney World shows.

2. The State-of-the-Art MagicBand+ Will Debut in 2022
Innovation is essential to The Walt Disney Company story, dating back to its inception nearly a century ago. Two new technological achievements are destined to carry its theme park and resort guests’ imaginations into the future: The MagicBand+ wearable and the “Hey Disney!” voice assistant. Both cutting-edge innovations will debut in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort as part of the vacation destination’s 50th anniversary celebration.

These innovations continue to build upon the Disney “theme park metaverse,” where technology is part of the magic—seamlessly integrating the physical, digital, and virtual worlds to help guests navigate Disney properties and platforms. Here, guests immerse themselves in Disney stories, connect with characters they love and share unforgettable experiences with the world, creating new magic in ways only dreamed of before.

The MagicBand+ will retain the popular features of the original MagicBand, introduced in 2013, and add new functionality to unlock experiential moments of magic across the theme parks and resorts. “In celebration of Walt Disney World’s 50th, we’ve come up with some really cool designs celebrating this magical place,” said Dan Soto, Vice President, Technology & Digital. And, after a guest enters a theme park, MagicBand+ will come alive at various times with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition, enhancing the environment’s immersive storytelling. The wearable will allow guests to engage with Disney moments in new ways and discover interactive experiences, including:

Playing like a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Interacting with the “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection,” the golden sculptures spread throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks
Experiencing nighttime spectaculars in a new way as they see their bands light up and complement the magic in the skies, including the new Harmonious at EPCOT and Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom Park

More details about MagicBand+ and its capabilities will be revealed in the future.

3. A New Magical Voice Assistant Will Enhance Resort Stays Beginning in 2022
Disney is creating its own custom voice assistant using Alexa technology for supported Amazon Echo devices. Called “Hey Disney!”, this voice assistant will work alongside Alexa to respond to vocal prompts, bringing Disney characters and stories to life in magical new ways to make guest stays even more convenient, engaging, and enjoyable. “Hey Disney!” will begin rolling out in Disney Resort hotel guest rooms across Walt Disney World in 2022. Access will be offered as an optional, complimentary feature during guest stays. “Hey Disney!” will make traditional Alexa services, such as alarms, timers, weather forecasts, etc., feel magical with the help of characters including Mickey Mouse, Olaf, C-3PO, and more.

“Hey Disney!” also features an all-new character, the Disney Magical Companion, to help guests discover more than 1,000 magical interactions, such as hearing special greetings and jokes from authentic Disney character voices, asking trivia questions, and exploring audio environments inspired by Disney films and destinations. Disney Resort guests can learn helpful information about their vacation (“Hey Disney! When does the next bus to EPCOT depart?”), order amenities (“Hey Disney! Can we have some extra towels?”), and more.

“For those looking to bring the magic home, it will also be available as an Alexa skill for purchase through the Amazon Alexa skill store, which you can use with supported Amazon Alexa smart speakers and displays,” said Soto. In addition, two new exclusive Mickey-inspired stands are coming for the Echo Show 5; these durable OtterBox Den Series stands feature Mickey ears in playful designs inspired by either Mickey’s 50th anniversary celebration outfit (which will appear in Disney Resort hotel rooms) or his classic red shorts.

4. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coming in 2022
Walt Disney once said EPCOT “would always be in a state of becoming” as a place that changes with the times. Its biggest transformation yet is currently underway, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences. Among them is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind—set to open in 2022!

The first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT, the family-friendly adventure will begin in the Galaxarium, a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. “The Galaxarium is only one piece of the wonders of Xandar,” Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald said. There, guests will learn a bit more about the treasures Xandar has to share—until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and guests go on an intergalactic chase through space and time! The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering: a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster. “It’s like something you’ve never experienced before,” Disney Imagineer Scot Drake said. “We can’t wait to show you more and more details as they unfold.”

5. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Will Depart for a Galaxy Far, Far Away in 2022
We intercepted an important transmission during the virtual press event: The inaugural voyage of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort will depart March 1, 2022! General bookings for this first-of-its-kind immersive adventure will open October 28, 2021. Some fans, including Disney Vacation Club members, Disney Passholders, and Disney Visa Cardmembers, will receive special booking opportunities ahead of the general booking date.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a vacation experience that goes beyond anything Disney has created before, inviting guests to become the heroes of their own stories during a two-night adventure where they see, feel, and live Star Wars. Guests will travel the galaxy in style aboard the glamorous Halcyon starcruiser, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations; stay in well-appointed cabins; experience exquisite dining and out-of-this-world entertainment; visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; and more. “As this is a Star Wars adventure, you can be pretty sure that not everything is going to go as planned,” said Disney Imagineer Ann Morrow Johnson. “Passengers will find themselves right in the middle of the action, making choices unexpected story moments. Do you help the Resistance, or do you tell the First Order? Your choices determine what happens for you during your voyage, including exciting activities and missions, character encounters, and adventures that go beyond any ordinary vacation experience.” These decisions make will affect how guests’ individual stories unfold as they seize control of their destinies… and potentially impact the fate of the entire galaxy!

Everything You Need to Know About The Ghost and Molly McGee

September 30, 2021September 28, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Who cursed who?

In Disney Channel’s fa-boo-lous new animated buddy-comedy series The Ghost and Molly McGee, premiering Friday, October 1, at 9:35 p.m. ET/PT, the enthusiastic Molly McGee (voiced by Ashly Burch) and her family relocate to the town of Brighton and settle into a home occupied by Scratch (voiced by Dana Snyder), a grumpy ghost whose job is to spread misery. Scratch’s instinct is to scare the McGees away—but Molly sees right through him.

Emmy Award^® winners and long-time collaborators Bill Motz and Bob Roth are the series’ creators and executive producers, and their personalities inspired the two main characters. “A number of years ago, Bob was away on a trip, and he came back with this idea that Scratch didn’t curse her; he’s cursed with her,” says Motz. “That made us laugh. The more we began diving into that premise, the more we realized, ‘Wait a second: This is us.’ I’m Molly. He’s Scratch. I’m an extrovert. He’s an introvert. I tend to be a wide-eyed, magical-thinking optimist, and he tends to be a grump and a pessimist. We’ve been friends for over 30 years. Bob has tempered some of my extrovert excesses, and I’ve helped Bob open up from his introverted disposition. We are better people because of our friendship with each other.” The inherent humor in that contrast will be “reflected in Molly and Scratch,” says Roth. “They will become better people—each of them—for the time they spend together.”

Scratch’s initial attempts to scare off Molly have the opposite effect; his “rude, crude, and disgusting” behavior only makes her love him more. Trying to scare off the rest of the McGees (voiced by Jordan Klepper, Michaela Dietz, and Sumalee Montano) doesn’t work, either, as Molly has made Scratch her instant best friend. “Initially, you see this opposites dynamic,” says Motz. “It’s the odd couple idea: She’s positive, he’s negative. She’s yes, he’s no. But very quickly, they really come to care for each other. How they approach things is wildly different, but there’s real love and care between them—and with the whole family.”

Unfortunately, this puts Scratch at odds with the Ghost Council, as he is supposed to be “generating misery,” Motz says, “and here’s Molly bringing joy and positivity to Brighton.”

Molly has struggled to sustain friendships while moving around the country, and now she wants to “embrace everybody”—Scratch included—“because she doesn’t know when they’re going to be ripped away,” explains Roth. “We’re not going to share Scratch’s backstory just yet, but there are similarities there with people being ripped away.”

Music plays an important role in The Ghost and Molly McGee, with each episode featuring at least one original song. According to Emmy Award winner and executive producer Steve Loter, “The songs came about in an interesting way. As we were making the pilot, which was done with a really small crew, we were finding ways to entertain each other and to make each other laugh. And we got to a point in the pilot when we said, ‘It’d be great to put a song here.” They added more and more songs, he says, until the team realized they were “tapping into something that has always been a strong part of the Disney legacy: music.”

The “super talented, super funny” songwriter Rob Cantor was brought in, according to Loter. “Rob can basically do any genre at the drop of a hat. Anything you throw his way—whether it’s inspired by Queen or John Williams—he can do it. Every episode has a song burst, which is basically echoing the theme of the episode. It’s a really fun way to add a lot of humor, and it continues the legacy of how important the music is in Disney productions.”

In the pilot, however, neither Molly nor Scratch sings. “For whatever reason, we said, ‘This show is going to have music, but it’s not a musical. Molly and Scratch aren’t going to break into song,’” Roth recalls. “Cut to the very second episode. We were like, ‘Yeah… Molly’s got to sing this song. Then we had to go through, ‘Oh, no… can they sing?’ But we dodged a bullet; Ashly sings beautiful, and Dana has a degree in musical theater. It all worked out.”

The Ghost and Molly McGee premieres Friday, October 1, at 9:35 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel; the second episode airs in its regular timeslot on Saturday, October 2, at 9 a.m. ET/PT. The first five episodes will be available Wednesday, October 6, on Disney+.

Remembering Disney Legend Tommy Kirk

September 29, 2021

Tommy Kirk, the beloved and iconic star of such Disney family favorites from the 1950s and 1960s as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, September 28, at the age of 79. Kirk was named a Disney Legend—the prestigious honor bestowed upon individuals in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to The Walt Disney Company—in 2006.

Kirk began his association with Disney in 1956 when he was cast as Joe Hardy (alongside Tim Considine as Frank Hardy) in the “The Hardy Boys” serial for Mickey Mouse Club. Considine (also a Disney Legend) said of his longtime friend and former colleague, “He was one of the most talented people I ever worked with. Frighteningly talented. A friend of mine who was a casting director told me that when Tommy Kirk came in to audition, he had never seen a kid actor as good as he was, especially because he could instantly cry on cue. He was a great talent, and it was privilege to work with him and call him a friend.”

“The Hardy Boys” led to a long association with The Walt Disney Studios on a string of highly successful films beginning with Old Yeller in 1957. This was followed by starring roles in The Shaggy Dog (1959), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), Babes in Toyland (1961), Moon Pilot (1962), Bon Voyage! (1962), Son of Flubber (1963), Savage Sam (1963), The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964), and The Monkey’s Uncle (1965).

Commenting on Kirk’s passing, film historian and renowned author Leonard Maltin said, “One of the reasons people remember Old Yeller is not just the fate of a beloved dog, but the shattering grief expressed by his owner, so beautifully played by Tommy. I think his talent and range as an actor were taken for granted somewhat. He was really very versatile.”

Mouseketeers Tommy Cole and Bobby Burgess also added of their long-time friend, “Tommy and I palled around and even double dated as kids,” said Cole. “To me he was a Disney icon.” Burgess looked back with humor, saying, “When Tommy was filming Old Yeller, he went to school on the lot with us Mouseketeers. I remember our teacher asked us what language we would like to learn. We all chose Spanish except for Tommy who wanted to learn German, and indeed he did!”

Born on December 10, 1941, in Lexington, Kentucky, one of four sons, Kirk moved to Los Angeles in 1943 when he was 15 months old. At age 13, he accompanied his brother Joe to an audition of Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness! at the Pasadena Playhouse. His brother did not get the part (losing out to Bobby Driscoll), but Tommy was cast in a minor role. This led to him getting signed by an agent and being cast in an episode of TV Reader’s Digest (“The Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs”). Television work in such popular shows as Gunsmoke and 37 episodes of Matinee Theatre followed.

In 1956, Kirk auditioned for the part of Joe Hardy in the TV serial “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure” for Mickey Mouse Club and got the part. The popular serial had 19 episodes in the first year, and went on to a second series the following year.

After leaving Disney, Kirk found success with a series of beach-themed movies for American International Pictures (AIP). He played a Martian in the 1964 feature Pajama Party, and starred in other beach films for other companies including The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini and It’s a Bikini World.

He gave up acting in the mid-1970s, making only occasional appearances. In later life, he enjoyed writing and seeing his fans at nostalgia conventions. Just several months ago, he was interviewed for an upcoming publication on the making of Swiss Family Robinson, sharing anecdotes and tales of his adventures during the production.

Looking back on his career on the occasion of his receiving the Disney Legends Award, Kirk recalled, “I want to be remembered for my Disney work, like Swiss Family Robinson and Old Yeller.” He fondly remembered bumping into Walt Disney at a Beverly Hills hotel. “He was with Hedda Hopper, the legendary columnist. He put his arm around me, and he said, ‘This is my good-luck piece here,’ to Hedda Hopper. I never forgot that. That’s the nicest compliment he ever gave me.”

7 Spellbinding Stories from the Encanto Press Conference

September 29, 2021

By Courtney Potter

An extraordinary family, and the equally wondrous, life-altering house they live in… Walt Disney Animations Studios’ Encanto—the studios’ milestone 60th animated feature—follows the Madrigals, a clan who live hidden in the mountains of colorful Colombia. Their home is an Encanto, an amazing place filled to the brim with heightened spirituality and more than a little enchantment. This Encanto has blessed every child in the Madrigal family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal… well, every child except one, that is: 15-year-old Mirabel (voice of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.

With musical numbers by Tony^® Award-winning and Oscar^®-nominated songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, Encanto is set to enchant audiences beginning later this year. But as luck would have it, D23 was recently privy to a memorable virtual press conference featuring many of the film’s creative team: director Byron Howard; director and co-writer Jared Bush; co-director and co-writer Charise Castro Smith; producers Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer; associate production designer Lorelay Bové; heads of animation Renato dos Anjos and Kira Lehtomaki; and assistant choreographer and animation reference consultant Kai Martinez. Read on for some of the morning’s most magical—not to mention fascinating—moments:

Directors Howard and Bush on how the idea of Encanto was originally conceived:
“Byron and I teamed up on Zootopia wanting to evolve and elevate what a talking animal movie could be,” explains Bush. “[Something with] depth of character and sophistication without sacrificing entertainment, but built from a core that really had something to say.”

“And because we’re both musicians—trombonists, by the way,” Howard adds, laughing, “we wanted to apply these same storytelling principles that Jared just mentioned to a musical. We love—L-O-V-E—love musicals. I directed Tangled; Jared wrote Moana. And we knew that if we wanted to take a fresh approach to musicals, we were going to need to work with the best. And luckily, on Moana, Jared worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda.”

“As you know, Lin-Manuel’s whole career is about evolving what a musical could be,” continues Bush. “Obviously, what he brought to Moana was innovative and different and exciting. So it became a no-brainer for us to team up again. And right away we began to talk about what was the most important to us—what do we all have in common?”

“Family was what we had in common,” adds Howard. “No matter the size or the shape, everybody, all of us, we all have a family. For Lin, Jared, and myself, we all have large extended families… so our early research was really about ourselves and our own families.”

“We wanted to ask a central question within our film, a question no doubt we have all asked ourselves at one time or another,” admits Bush; adds Howard, “How well do we truly know our families? And how well do they know us?… We really wanted to get [this film] right. And this has been the most exciting adventure of our careers.”

encanto — (l-r) Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Lin-Manuel Miranda during the *Encanto* team’s 2018 research trip to Colombia.

The directors on deciding where to set the film, and the incredible research trip the team took:
Explains Howard, “At the same time, we were also thinking about where our story should take place. Lin, Jared, and I talked about Latin America, and the more we talked about it—especially the importance of family within the region—we wanted to learn about a place often described as the crossroads of Latin America: Columbia. And that’s when we started thinking about our friends Juan and Natalie.”

“We met Juan Rendon and Natalie Osma when they were working for the network Fusion,” says Bush. “They were filming a behind-the-scenes documentary on Zootopia, so they were really in the trenches with us. We remained friends with them ever since. And in speaking with them, they kept talking about their home country, Columbia—a melting pot of Latin culture and music and dance and art and food, with some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet, also the home to ‘magical realism’ [a literary genre that blurs the line between fantasy and reality].”

“So in 2018, Lin, his father Luis, Jared, and I packed our bags and headed there,” Howard says. “One of the coolest things we were able to experience down in Columbia were areas… of heightened spirituality, places of magic that some people call Encantos—hence the name of our movie. These are all over Latin America, usually in areas of natural wonder. Our friends in Columbia told us that magic happens in these places and always has.”

“We knew we wanted a partner and needed a partner on this journey,” Bush adds. “So shortly after our research trip, we were so lucky to find the amazing Charise Castro Smith. Our team read literally hundreds of scripts; we met with 20 writers; and then we read Charise’s work—and as soon as we saw it, both Byron and I said ‘Yes!’ immediately.”

Co-director and co-writer Castro Smith on evolving the idea of the Madrigals’ magical home:
“It means the world to me to be a part of this project,” Castro Smith admits, “and to have been in the trenches with Byron and Jared and this whole incredible team. Ultimately, we got to work with magical realism at top of mind—and when we infused magical realism into our story of family and thought about those Encantos, everything came alive. Because we realized that if the family in our story lived in one of these magical Encantos, maybe the children born there would be kind of special—special in a way that is a nod to family dynamics that we can all relate to. There’s a strong, dependable child who’s the rock of the family. There’s the perfect golden child whose happiness blossoms. There’s a quiet kid who’s not so comfortable talking to people, so he talks to animals. And there’s the worrywart who can see the future, but only sees the bad things. As we thought about that, we had a big breakthrough, because we realized that the family’s house didn’t just have to be ‘a house,’ because in an Encanto the house itself could have powers too… each of the rooms in this house is a fantastical realm that represents the personality and magical powers of the Madrigal who lives there.”

Producers Merino and Spencer on what made the Encanto experience special for them:
“One of the benefits of Walt Disney Animation Studios is, we do form these long-term relationships,” Merino says. “I actually first worked with Byron back on Tangled years ago, and I worked with Clark on the first Wreck-It Ralph. Being able to work on this close-knit team, all together, was a dream project for me. I felt like I’d won the lottery [in terms of] casting and working on a film with this team, so it’s been great.” Spencer echoes Merino’s thoughts, adding, “We have this opportunity in animated films to do things you can’t always do in live action. So to bring the Madrigal house in as a character and let it provide both the comedy that it provides, but also have it be this character you’re gonna fall in love with and have an emotional component to it, was really just so exciting. It kind of harkens it back to when Byron and Jared first pitched Zootopia, and they talked about all these different worlds; you’re gonna have Tundratown and you’re gonna have Sahara Square, and you could immediately see that world. The same thing here. You could see this house being very unique, and [a character] that the audience would fall in love with.”

Associate production designer Bové on a few of Encanto’s compelling design elements:
“Early on, we talked to Colombian architects and they gave us such great information about the construction of [this style of] houses, the design of the casita,” explains Bove. “One thing that we learned through the consultants was that in the Coffee region, there’s a lot of [spaces] that have an indoor/outdoor feel, so we really wanted to get that in our casita, as well as the courtyard… we even had a botanist consultant, and we learned about all the plants that grow in the region. We really wanted to reflect the immense biodiversity of Colombia.”

“In our department, we were super excited to have so many diverse characters in this film,” she continues. “Visually, our goal was to organize the families through a distinct color palette so that the audience would be able to understand who is who, and kind of divide the families in two… So we have Julieta and Agustín’s side of the family—they’re Mirabel’s parents, so that side of the family—in cooler jewel tones, and Pepa [Mirabel’s aunt] and husband Félix’s side of the family in a warmer color palette. And since Madrigal abuela [grandma] Alma goes through so much, her costume color palette has a lot of weight, [as does] her character design; everything feels very constricted, more so than the other characters.”

Heads of animation dos Anjos and Lehtomaki on the what inspires the characters’ movements:
“When we first start animating these characters, we make ‘walks,’ says dos Anjos. “We have characters walking the screen just to make sure we’re hitting the notes that the directors are looking for. For instance, Mirabel’s sister Luisa: she has this really strong kind of like persona. The way she walks has this strong, iconic kind of pose—like a superhero. When it came to Mirabel, I found that we really couldn’t hit one ‘walk’ that fit her in every way, so she ended up being [animated differently] for every shot. Every shot you see her moving, she has a very specific thing that she’s doing in that one particular shot; the same thing for dancing.”

Speaking of the film’s choreography, Lehtomaki explains, “As soon as our animation department saw [the reference clip for one of the film’s big numbers, ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’], we were so inspired and excited to work on this thing that we actually decided to put people to work on it early. Renato and I got a team of animators together and we put them to work, using the choreography video as reference, concurrently with our layout team. So the animators would start to very, very roughly translate the dance onto the characters, paying really close attention to how they were moving in the physical 3D space.”

Martinez on the opportunity to bring her life experiences to such a unique project:
First of all, when I was being asked to be a part of this production as a consultant, it was an honor,” Martinez admits. I am Colombian American, so to not only be a part of the [choreography team] for the film, alongside choreographer Jamal Sims, but to also be a part of the cultural side of the dance was a true honor. I can’t say that enough… One of the biggest joys that I got working on this film was to be able to not only share my experience as a Colombian American woman; to talk about my family and my home, my culture, and really dive into that… It just was so cool to be able to go back into my archives and [recall] some old family stories and videos… But I also really appreciated the interest and the desire to learn [that came] from the whole production team. We had meetings, and they had great questions—and the desire to create an authentic feel, an authentic story. That, to me, went beyond what I could’ve imagined being a part of this beautiful film. It was such a joy.”

See Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto when it comes to U.S. theaters on Wednesday, November 24.

An “Eek Peek” Behind the Scenes of LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales

September 29, 2021September 28, 2021

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Halloween is almost upon us, conjuring up thoughts of jack-o-lanterns and silly ghosts and… Poe Dameron? That is no trick—this Halloween season, we’re exploring the spooky (but still silly!) side of the galaxy thanks to our friends at LEGO® Star Wars. While the Star Wars universe doesn’t have its own Halloween-style holiday, the galaxy is FULL of terrifying characters and creatures perfect for filling intergalactic ghost stories! LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales, scaring up fun on Disney+ October 1, takes a ghost story approach to Star Wars, where Poe and BB-8 explore the creepy castle of Darth Vader while being accompanied by the castle’s caretaker, who tells them spooky tales of the Dark Side as they explore. We talked to the special’s executive producers, Josh Rimes and David Shayne, to get an “eek peek” behind the scenes of this terrifying…ly fun special:

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: There’s never been a Star Wars Halloween special—what inspired this one to happen?
Josh Rimes (JR): With the success of The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special a year ago on Disney+, we began thinking about other seasonal events we could paint with the irreverent LEGO Star Wars brush. The answer came to us naturally: a Halloween special! We very quickly knew we wanted to lean into the iconic villains of Star Wars and celebrate the dark side—much like the way the Disney parks celebrate villainy during Halloweentime.

David Shayne (DS): A Halloween special felt like a no-brainer. It got even better when we realized we have perfect haunted house setting: Darth Vader’s castle.

D23: What made Poe and BB-8 the perfect characters to lead this story?
JR: Like the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, this special takes place immediately following the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. We still wanted to play within that sandbox of New Trilogy characters, because through their eyes, we can look back and capture the entire history of the Star Wars saga.

DS: Throughout the sequel trilogy, Poe is full of confidence and swagger—even in the face of overwhelming odds. It seems like the guy is NEVER scared, so we think of him as “courageous.” But we started to ask ourselves, is that really the right way to measure courage? We wanted to see Poe wrestle with that, and it’s fun to have BB-8 along to call that out.

D23: Can you tell us about the new characters, Dean and Vaneé?
DS: Dean is a 12-year-old mechanical whiz kid who uses his wrenching skills to earn money for his family back on Arkanis. Unfortunately, that meant taking a job working for Graballa the Hutt, and while working for a Hutt is never fun, Dean manages to keep a positive attitude.

JR: He’s the heart of our story—a kid who’s a dreamer and is just trying to do his best in a tough galaxy. When Poe comes on the scene, Dean is truly in awe—getting to meet his hero and go on this adventure with him through the castle.

DS: Our villain Vaneé isn’t technically new, since he has a silent appearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and has shown up in the comics, but as far as I know, it’s the first time we’ve heard him speak onscreen—which was done brilliantly by Tony Hale.

JS: Vaneé is Darth Vader’s loyal attendant who stayed behind at the castle, despite years going by without Vader ever returning. We’ve seen this character briefly before, but he truly gets his spotlight here as he regales our heroes with dark tales that feature classic and iconic Star Wars villains.

D23: Can you hint at which villains or creepy characters may appear in the special?
JS: We’ll cover most of them! We wanted to really cover all eras of Star Wars, so we’ll see Darth Maul and General Grievous go, we’ll witness a formative moment in the life of Kylo Ren, and, of course a LEGO Star Wars special wouldn’t be complete without Darth Vader and The Emperor and their hilarious dynamic.

D23: What makes the LEGO format unique for telling this story?
DS: We say that LEGO Star Wars is “canon adjacent,” so we can mess a little with how characters act in order to see their sillier, funnier side. There is nothing more fun than writing scenes with Emperor and Vader, who have a funny, bickering relationship.

D23: What is your favorite part of the special?
DS: Without giving away too much, we took a look at Star Wars: A New Hope through the lens of a classic campfire horror story and it is filled with so many little moments—visual jokes, twists on lines, even the spin on the score—that I just love.

JR: There’s one moment that I absolutely don’t want to spoil, but it involves a Twilight Zone-inspired tale that imagines, “What if Luke Skywalker joined the Empire and went bad?”

D23: What message do you hope fans take away from the special?
DS: I hope if they learn anything from the special, it’s that fear is natural. We all get scared, but the real measure of courage is what we do in the face of our fears. Even as an adult that’s a lesson I am CONSTANTLY re-learning.

JR: We always try to infuse our Star Wars stories with hope and optimism—and even though we are celebrating scary villains, there’s still this great, big heart to this story about facing your fears and how sometimes it’s okay to be scared. There’s such a sweet dynamic between Poe and Dean, and in the end they both teach each other something valuable about what it means to be a hero.

DS: Also, turning Darth Vader’s castle into a hotel is a really, really bad idea. Don’t do that.

D23: What holiday or holiday season would you like to see a LEGO Star Wars special tackle next and/or do you have a dream holiday special for LEGO Star Wars?
DS: I keep insisting that an Ewok-themed Arbor Day special would be a smash hit, but the folks at Lucasfilm wisely keep turning me down.

LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales is streaming on October 1 on Disney+ as part of their annual Hallowstream celebration!

Foodie Guide to the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration

September 28, 2021September 28, 2021

By Zach Johnson

The magic is calling all foodies to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration!”

On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World Resort opened in Central Florida, bringing Walt Disney’s magical dream to life. In the five decades since, The Most Magical Place on Earth has continued to expand with new stories and characters and memories to cherish for a lifetime. Now, to mark its 50th anniversary, the resort is welcoming guests to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” an 18-month event beginning October 1. As part of the celebration, Disney chefs and mixologists have created more than 150 menu items full of color, whimsy, and a touch of EARidescent shimmer—with more coming through next year!

Inspirations for the celebratory creations include Walt’s personal recipes, fan-favorite attractions (past and present), beloved Disney characters, and nostalgic dishes from 1971.

And thanks to our friends at the Disney Parks Blog, we’re sharing a special look at a few of the delicious offerings you can find starting October 1 at Walt Disney World Resort. To view all the 50th anniversary celebration food and beverage offerings on your mobile device, download the My Disney Experience app or view the full menu at Disneyworld.com.

Let “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” begin!

MAGIC KINGDOM PARK

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies

Uncle Orville Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Sundae – Chocolate and vanilla soft-serve, brownie pieces, hot fudge, and whipped cream topped with red, white, and blue sprinkles served in a “bath tub”

Be Our Guest Restaurant

Squids Revenge Drink – A michelada with a salted rim and garnished with charred octopus and cucumber

Casey’s Corner

Pressed Penny Silk Pie – Chocolate tart shell, silky chocolate filling, sweet whipped cream, and a chocolate-pressed penny
50th Celebration Hot Dog – All-beef hot dog topped with strawberry bacon jam, crisp funnel cake pieces, and powdered sugar

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Royal 50th Celebration Flight – Flight of Enchantée Champagne—a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunière (Enchantée Champagne is sold exclusively at the Walt Disney World Resort)

Columbia Harbor House

Happy Haunts Milkshake – Blackberry milkshake topped with a purple chocolate-glazed doughnut covered with black sprinkles

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café

Mission to Mars – Burger topped with bacon and macaroni and cheese, served on a bun dusted with crushed cheese-flavored puffs

The Crystal Palace

Walt’s Favorites on the Buffet – Chicken fried steak, New York strip steak, pork chops, and more

Friar’s Nook

The Toad Burger – Brat burger served on a bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and American cheese

Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

Veranda Fried Rice – Spicy chili-garlic shrimp served over pork fried rice with eggs and peas (from the original Verandah Restaurant menu)

Outdoor Kiosks

Dumbo Churros – Churros rolled in peanut dust and served with chocolate dipping sauce in a Dumbo-themed churro bag
Royal 50th Churro – Churros rolled in strawberry sugar, drizzled with marshmallow cream, and shimmer sprinkles served with chocolate dipping sauce

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor

The Banana Boom – Traditional banana split topped with popping candy and a candied shooting star

Plaza Restaurant

Cheers to 50 Years! – Chocolate and vanilla ice cream, brownies, cupcakes, cookie crumbles, pretzel rods, and hot fudge topped with whipped cream, EARidescent sugar, and a Mickey pretzel drizzled with caramel and chocolate icing (serves 4-6)

Storybook Treats

Heigh-Ho Sundae! – Chocolate soft-serve, hot fudge, graham cracker pieces, chocolate gems, and whipped cream

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

Five Alarm Wings – Wings tossed in a sweet-and-spicy heat served with ranch dressing for dipping

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM THEME PARK

Drinkwallah

Hand-dipped 50th Celebration Mickey Premium Bar – Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar dipped in blue raspberry-flavored coating with celebration sprinkles and a little bit of pixie dust

Restaurantosaurus

Cheese Fries with Walt’s Chili – Crispy fries topped with Walt’s favorite chili and cheddar sauce
Walt’s Favorite Chili on Foot-long Hot Dog – A foot-long hot dog served on a warm bun topped with Walt’s favorite chili and cheddar sauce

Tiffins

50th Celebration Chocolate Gâteaux – Almond praline, white chocolate crémeux, ganache, and chocolate-South African cream liqueur sauce

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Trolley Car Café

Glimmer and Shimmer Pineapple Mousse – Golden pineapple mousse on a toasted coconut crisp with caramel cream and matcha sponge cake

The Hollywood Brown Derby

Filet Mignon with Walt’s Hash topped with an egg (just the way Walt liked it!)

The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge, Oasis Canteen, Sunshine Day Bar, Animation Bar

Shimmer over the Moon – Apple pie moonshine, amaretto, falernum, pineapple juice, and club soda served with a souvenir glow cube

ABC Commissary

Chocolate Mousse – Raspberry-dark chocolate mousse, chocolate-almond cake, and a layer of hazelnut crunch and whipped chocolate-hazelnut cheesecake

EPCOT

Coral Reef Restaurant

Key Lime Tart with toasted meringue, EARidescent shimmer, sprinkles, and chocolate garnish

The EPCOT Experience

EARidescent Croissant Doughnut – Croissant doughnut with blue icing and sprinkles

Le Cellier Steakhouse

Chocolate Mousse Bar – Dark chocolate mousse, caramel cookie pieces, milk chocolate shell, and chocolate shortbread cookie

Sunshine Seasons

Mini Chocolate Bundt Cake – Mini chocolate Bundt cake with chocolate ganache, sprinkles, and icing dusted with EARidescent shimmer and chocolate 50th anniversary garnish

DISNEY SPRINGS

Amorette’s Patisserie

50th Celebration Petit Cake – Vanilla chiffon cake with celebration blue mousse, blueberry jam, and lemon curd

The Ganachery

50th Celebration Chocolate Bundle:
- 50th Celebration Ganache Chocolate Bar – Milk chocolate combined with caramel and crispies
- 50th Celebration Ganache Square – Celebration cake ganache mixed with sprinkles, enrobed in 65% dark chocolate, and decorated with a shimmering castle design

Frontera Cocina

Chocolate Pigñata – Chocolate shell filled with cajeta mousse, tender cake (infused with whiskey and vanilla), crumble of chipotle bacon, candied orange, and Maria cookies (serves 2)

The BOATHOUSE

Sweet Nostalgia Pineapple Upside-Down Cake – Pineapple upside-down cake with caramel glazed with Chantilly cream

Terralina Crafted Italian

Whimsical White Chocolate Mousse – White chocolate mousse with salted caramel and cotton candy

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Caramel Banana Chocolate Sphere – Dark chocolate sphere, vanilla pudding, banana caramel compote, gold dust, and chocolate pearls

RESORTS

The Mara, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Chocolate Mousse with a cardamom financier

Contempo Café, Disney’s Contemporary Resort

50th Anniversary Peanut Butter-Banana Pie – Sweet tart shell filled with peanut butter mousse and banana sauce topped with chocolate glaze and chocolate décor

Toledo–Tapas, Steak, and Seafood, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Braised Lamb Shank with olive oil-potato purée, rosemary-roasted garlic gravy, huckleberry jam, and English peas

P&J’s Southern Takeout, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds

Chicken Dinner Cupcake Trio
Fried chicken-apple fritter, apple pie moonshine filling, and vanilla buttercream
Peas and carrots-strawberry moonshine custard, white chocolate frosting, and M&M’s Mini “peas”
Mock mashed potato-Snickers^® mousse cupcake, caramel buttercream, and Starburst^® “butter”

Grand Floridian Café, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

50th Anniversary Vintage Minnie’s Brown Betty Profiterole – Crunchy-topped cream puff filled with one of Walt’s favorite flavors of cinnamon-spiced apples and Chantilly cream

Olivia’s Cafe, Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Spam-Cheddar Biscuits with white gravy and drizzled with honey

Capt. Cook’s, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

50th Celebration Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake with DOLE^® Whip pineapple center, tropical fruit salsa, and pineapple macaron

Le Petit Café, Disney’s Riviera Resort

50th Celebration Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake, cake-flavored mousse, and caramel-buttercream icing garnished with crisp pearls, 50th anniversary sprinkles, and a whimsical gold Mickey

Roaring Fork, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Petit Stump Cake – Chocolate cake with birthday cake buttercream filling surrounded by chocolate “bark” fondant topped with 50th anniversary chocolate coin

The Market at Ale & Compass, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

50th Celebration Tart – Birthday cake mousse dome on top of a milk chocolate mousse-filled vanilla tart shell with mini chocolate crisp pearls, buttercream, fondant, and chocolate décor

The following offerings are available at select table-service restaurants, lounges, and pool bars throughout the four theme parks and resorts:

EARidescent Sip-a-bration (Non-Alcoholic Beverage) – Minute Maid^® Premium Lemonade and fruity strawberry punch served in a souvenir 50th Celebration Cup with a surprise Character and a little bit of magic!
Magical Beacon Cocktail – Gin, blue curaçao, Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, orgeat (almond) syrup, lemon, hibiscus grenadine, and a souvenir glow cube

In addition, the classic Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar has a festive new wrapper showcasing Mickey in his EARidescent finest!

Disney Channel’s Amphibia Makes Bold Leaps in Season Three

September 28, 2021September 27, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Sprig, I have a feeling we’re not in Amphibia anymore…

When season three of the Emmy^® Award-nominated series Amphibia debuts Saturday, October 2, at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW, it will find Anne (voiced by Brenda Song) transported from Amphibia back to her hometown of L.A. She will be joined by the Plantar family, who must learn to navigate the complexities of this new world while trying (and occasionally failing) to hide their identities as talking frog people. If they work together, can the Plantars—Sprig (voiced by Justin Felbinger), Hop Pop (voiced by Disney Legend Bill Farmer), and Polly (voiced by Amanda Leighton)—make it back home?

“Season three brings a complete role reversal in an extremely fun way. The Plantars have been looking after Anne this whole time in Amphibia, and now she gets to look after them in L.A.,” says creator and executive producer Matt Braly. “It’s very rewarding to see the shoe on the other foot, as it were.” Although season three feels “like a different show” in some respects, Braly says, “It feels like a logical progression of the story we were telling.”

As one might expect, adjusting to life in modern-day L.A. leads to some hilarious hijinks from the Plantars. “It’s easy to forget, but these guys come from a medieval-era frog world,” Braly explains. “Our modern world is new and amazing and surprising to them. It’s really fun to see the Plantars enjoy future comforts, like microwaves and massage chairs, and come to grips with a concept like the internet, which is something that would be very hard to explain to a 15th century peasant.” Luckily, the Plantars pick things up pretty quickly. “It’s really fun to see them interacting with our world, in the same way that it was fun to see Anne interacting with their world,” he says. “It’s almost like a cultural exchange.”

From Anne’s perspective, not much about L.A. has changed. If anything has changed, it’s Anne, given everything she’s experienced in Amphibia. “Anne is a much different person now,” says Braly. “The biggest example of this is seeing how her parents interact with her. They have very clear opinions about the person she was when she left, and throughout the first episode, they realize that she’s not the same person. It’s very rewarding to see Anne, having grown so much, return to L.A. and have to experience it through a different lens.”

Not to mention, Anne has a lot on her plate these days. She wants to help the Plantars return to Amphibia; defeat King Andrias (voiced by Keith David) once and for all; and make up with her best friends, Marcy (voice of Haley Tju) and Sasha (voice of Anna Akana), and bring them back to L.A. Oh, and there’s also the matter of Anne’s mysterious new powers…

“You can tell at the end of the first episode that Anne is a little overwhelmed,” Braly says. “But what’s so great is that this was a girl who had very low expectations for herself, and now she’s basically got a to-do list that is impossible. I think that speaks volumes to how much she has changed, because she’s taking the bull by the horns. For the first time, Anne is leading the narrative—in a way that she didn’t in the first two seasons—because she’s finally become a responsible person who is being a bit more proactive with their mission.”

As for Anne’s powers—which she herself doesn’t quite understand—Braly admits it was a “tricky” thing to introduce at the end of season two. “But it’s become so key to the storytelling in season three, where her powers are sort of a metaphor or a mirror for her own personal growth, where the more she is becoming sure of herself, the better she can use these powers. Something we wanted to be careful with regarding her powers was to make sure they never felt like a quick fix. We wanted to make sure that every time she used them, she was really tuckered out, and it didn’t feel like something that she could just pull out anytime she needed it. You want her to still feel like a 13-year-old girl who’s trying to come to grips with all this crazy stuff that’s happening around her. What’s so nice for Anne is that she’s the last person who expected to have these powers and these responsibilities.”

Without spoiling the rest of what’s ahead in season three, Braly says “a good chunk” will be spent in L.A., and the rest will be spent in Amphibia. “But first, before they can return, Anne needs to make good with her past,” he says. “This is a chance for Anne to really get to know her parents better and reflect before she launches in to this very dangerous mission.”

Don’t “froget” to tune in for the season three premiere of Amphibia on Saturday, October 2, at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW. New episodes of the series will premiere every Saturday through November 27 on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW.

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1950s: The Day the Earth Stood Still

September 28, 2021October 5, 2021

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives

With the leaves falling from trees and temperatures getting cooler, we’re getting into the Halloween spirit by continuing our tour through the decades and looking at some of the most haunting films from 20th Century Fox. For the 1950s—the era of milkshakes, drive-ins, and the Cold War—we shall witness for ourselves The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951).

A loose adaptation of Harry Bates’ 1940 short story “Farewell to the Master,” The Day the Earth Stood Still explores what happens when a mysterious spaceship lands in Washington, D.C., and two even more mysterious figures disembark from it: the humanoid alien Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and his silent, towering robot sentinel, Gort (Lock Martin). Klaatu comes in peace and goodwill, seeking an audience with the leaders of the world, but he is instead greeted at every turn by fear, anger, and mistrust from civilians, the military, and government authorities. However, this changes after he disguises himself as a human man, befriending the young widow Helen Benson (Patricia Neal), her son, Bobby (Billy Gray) and Professor Jacob Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), “the greatest living person” in Bobby’s estimation. It is to Helen and Professor Barnhardt that Klaatu divulges the true reason for his arrival: to warn of Earth’s elimination at the hands of other planets should humanity continue its dangerous escalation of atomic power and its unceasing hostility towards each other. With the help of his newfound allies, Klaatu is able to return to his spaceship and to Gort; upon his departure, he ominously intones to the uneasy crowd gathered around him: “Your choice is simple. Join us and live in peace. Or pursue your present course—and face obliteration. We will be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you.”

The Day the Earth Stood Still reflects the period of world history in which it was made, with Klaatu’s words of warning echoing the very real fears and anxieties that beset a global society in the thick of the Cold War. The film’s score, accented by the eerie sounds of a theremin and the sleek, cool lines of its production design, give it a defined “space race” edge. In fact, the Gort of the film’s source material is described as all green and looking much like an overly muscled human being, while the Gort film audiences see is all atomic era, from his smooth, silvery sheen to the deadly laser beam that emerges from his visor, disintegrating an Army tank in the blink of an eye.

The Day the Earth Stood Still was a modest success upon its release but it is now considered one of the finest science-fiction films ever made, with Klaatu’s iconic command to Gort, “Klaatu barada nikto” engrained in popular culture.

The decision rests with you to experience for yourself The Day the Earth Stood Still.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

September 27, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Prepare for another can’t-miss crossover event between Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy when both series return for new seasons this Thursday on ABC. Then, on Friday, enjoy the spooktacular first short from ZOMBIES: Addison’s Monster Mystery on Disney Channel, in addition to LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales on Disney+ and Sweet Home Alabama on Hulu.

Station 19—Thursday, September 30, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Relationships are challenged at Station 19 after Maya (Danielle Savre) was suspended, complicating things between Sullivan (Boris Kodjoe) and Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz). Meanwhile, Dean (Okieriete Onaodowan) comes to terms with his feelings for Vic (Barrett Doss), while Travis (Jay Hayden) rekindles an old flame. The annual Phoenix Festival ends in chaos, as some unruly locals test the teams at both Station 19 and Grey Sloan Memorial.

Grey’s Anatomy—Thursday, September 30, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC
The drama continues as the city of Seattle revels at the Phoenix Fair celebrating the city’s rebirth post-COVID, and the Grey Sloan doctors treat a patient who encounters illegal fireworks. Meanwhile, Bailey (Chandra Wilson) has her sights set on hiring new doctors, but she’s having trouble finding viable options. Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver) attempt to take the next step in their engagement, and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) receives a surprising opportunity when she meets a dynamic doctor from her mother’s past.

ZOMBIES: Addison’s Monster Mystery—Friday, October 1, at 10:04 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
In the first episode of this new animated series of shorts, Addison (voice of Meg Donnelly) is hosting Seabrook High’s Halloween Fall Ball. She’s going above and beyond to ensure the event is fa-boo-lous. After she gives the “Shrimpy” mascot costume a makeover using stones from the Wolf Den, a mysterious power brings the costume to life. As “Monster Shrimpy” terrorizes the town and smashes everything in his path, she and Zed (voice of Milo Manheim) must work together to save the Halloween Fall Ball… and Seabrook itself.

LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales—Friday, October 1, on Disney+
After the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Poe Dameron (voice of Jake Green) and BB-8 must make an emergency landing on the planet Mustafar. There, they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt (voice of Dana Snyder), who has purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-Wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa, and a mechanic named Dean (voice of Raphael Alejandro) venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé (voice of Tony Hale). Along the way, Vaneé shares three creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. As Vaneé spins his tales and lures the group even deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges. With Dean’s help, Poe and BB-8 must face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends.

Sweet Home Alabama—Friday, October 1, on Hulu
New York fashion designer Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) is over the moon after getting engaged to Andrew Hennings, the city’s most eligible bachelor (Patrick Dempsey). There’s just one hitch: Melanie’s high school sweetheart, Jake Perry (Josh Lucas), refuses to divorce her, meaning she must return home to Alabama to face her past.

Prepare to “Fright the Frights” with Muppets Haunted Mansion—Plus More in News Briefs

September 24, 2021September 29, 2021

By Courtney Potter

**Brand-New Trailer for Muppets Haunted Mansion—Coming Soon to Disney+**

The Muppets are back with an all-new spooktacular special for Disney+, and our pals at the streaming service just released an official trailer, above.

Premiering Friday, October 8, Muppets Haunted Mansion stars a gaggle of fan-favorite Muppets alongside Will Arnett as The Ghost Host, Yvette Nicole Brown as The Hearse Driver, Darren Criss as The Caretaker, and Taraji P. Henson as The Bride.

In the special, the Great Gonzo—world famous daredevil artiste—has done it all, seen it all, and survived it all. But on Halloween night, the fearless Gonzo takes on the greatest challenge of his life by spending one very daring night in the most grim-grinning place on Earth… The Haunted Mansion! Will he (and his sidekick, the inimitable Pepe the King Prawn) see the morning? You’ll have to tun in to find out!

Muppets Haunted Mansion will also feature special appearances from Chrissy Metz as Harriet; Alfonso Ribeiro as Fred; the late, great Edward Asner as Claude; Jeannie Mai as Maude; Danny Trejo as Huet; and Sasheer Zamata as Mary… plus Craig Robinson, Skai Jackson, Pat Sajak, Geoff Keighley, and Justina Machado as the infamous Haunted Mansion busts, friend of D23 John Stamos as himself, and Walt Disney Imagineering’s Kim Irvine as Haunted Mansion Maid.

In addition to the special, the Muppets Haunted Mansion EP will be also released on Friday, October 8, from Walt Disney Records. Look for three new original songs—“Rest in Peace,” “Life Hereafter,” and “Tie the Knot Tango”—plus a cover of “Dancing in the Moonlight.”

When we say we’re excited for this special, it’s possibly the understatement of the year! Mark those calendars, y’all…

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

It’s the first official weekend of fall (even though in our neck o’ the woods, it’s distinctly not “sweater weather” quite yet)—so why not take in some great viewing from around the worlds of Disney to celebrate? Feel all the feels when The Fault in Our Stars returns to Disney+; play along as Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Supermarket Sweep return for new seasons on ABC; and so much more.

Go Behind the Scenes at Pixar with A Spark Story

Speaking of this weekend, don’t miss the debut of A Spark Story, a new feature-length documentary from Disney+ and Pixar Animation Studios. Taking an intimate look at Pixar’s SparkShorts filmmaking process, A Spark Story allows viewers to follow along as two directors strive to get their uniquely personal SparkShorts visions onscreen.

The film introduces Twenty Something director Aphton Corbin and Nona director Louis Gonzales, who navigate the emotional roller coaster of stepping into a leadership role and inspiring their crews—all during the tumultuous times of 2020. Giving fans an exclusive and immersive look at the filmmakers and their films, A Spark Story explores the creative philosophy that makes Pixar unique.

Look for A Spark Story on Disney+ beginning today (Friday, September 24).

California Grill Celebrates Walt Disney World’s 50th with Limited-Time Menu

Walt Disney World Resort is replete with gastronomical wonders… the delights at California Grill, overlooking Magic Kingdom Park and Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, among them. It’s where guests can not only savor the finest in Californian cooking, but now they can also step into a bygone era as the resort ushers in its incredible 50th anniversary.

Evoking the spirit of 1971, California Grill celebrates its past while offering a nod to the incredible future ahead: As part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” the restaurant will soon offer a limited-time three-course menu with dishes inspired by past favorites as well as new market-fresh creations. Look for these latest tasty morsels to be offered beginning October 3, with reservations now available.

Among the dishes you can expect are the California Grill Sushi Classics Trio; the House-Made Artisanal-Style Duck a l’Orange Pizza; and an Oak-Fired Filet of Beef. Okay, now we’re hungry…

To make reservations—and honestly, you should!—visit the restaurant’s Walt Disney World Resort website page.

Disney Halloween Time Returns to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Should you find yourself at across the world this Halloween season, do not miss out on the spooky fun happening now through October 31 at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort! Disney Halloween Time is back—featuring the iconic Disney Villains, as well as beloved Disney Friends decked out in brand-new Halloween looks, and they’re ready to put on an incredibly fun and wicked Halloween extravaganza!

Guests are invited to join the Halloween party by dressing up in their own stylish Halloween outfits, inspired by favorite Disney characters. And what can you expect? Photo opportunities with Mickey Mouse and all manner of his friends, including Vampirina; trick-or-treating at the Halloween Time Festival Gardens during the day; the brand-new Wicked Fun Party Zone, where the Disney Villains are consolidating their power to create the spookiest party vibe; a “Halloween BBQ Feast” at Karibuni Marketplace; the delightfully evil musical stage show “Let’s Get Wicked” returning to mesmerize guests this year; and much more.

Find out how you can get in on the all the fa-boo-lous action by visiting HongKongDisneyland.com.

ICYMI: Disney+ Day Coming This November…

As if this season wasn’t already chockablock with amazing things to look forward to, our pals at Disney+ just added another holiday to the mix! On Friday, November 12, The Walt Disney Company will host Disney+ Day, a truly global celebration that will come to life across all dimensions of the Company. For more on what you can expect, check out our rundown right here at D23.com.