Kylie Cantrall Previews New Adventures in Babysitting in Gabby Duran & the Unsittables’ Second Season

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

When it comes to challenging babysitting gigs, Gabby Duran has got it covered. Forget crying babies or toddler tantrums. When her charges drink soda, her concern isn’t a sugar high but the possibility that the kid she’s watching might actually explode. Gabby’s ability to remain calm in situations where the fate of the universe is literally in her hands, not to mention the trust she’s earned by keeping her alien employers’ identities a secret, has cemented her status as best babysitter in the galaxy. A new season of Gabby Duran & the Unsittables kicks off Friday, June 4 (8:50 p.m. EDT/PDT), on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW, and star Kylie Cantrall is thrilled for fans to see how the show—and Gabby—have evolved.

“This isn’t her first rodeo,” Cantrall says as Gabby embarks on a new season of babysitting adventures, having already mastered blocking purple slime and quieting a screeching Vibra-Bird in season one. “I can’t say that Gabby is perfect in season two. She still messes up quite a bit—that’s just her nature. But I think she’s coming at the world of babysitting from more of a pro standpoint,” she says.

Season two will find Gabby facing bigger challenges of both the alien and the middle school varieties. “Either one of those worlds is already challenging on its own,” Cantrall acknowledges, noting that Gabby’s unique babysitting gig forces her to be a leader who’s quick on her feet. “But she also has to be quick on her feet when it comes to school, with gossiping and all that stuff that comes with being in middle school,” she points out. “You have to stand your ground and stand up for yourself.”

The new season begins immediately after a cliffhanger that finds Gabby’s mom, Dina, on the verge of learning her daughter’s secret. And with the help of her alien friends, Gabby will have to go to extreme measures to keep Dina from quashing her out-of-this-galaxy babysitting career. We won’t spoil what happens, but Gabby’s efforts involve an emotional trip down memory lane that includes actual home videos featuring a much younger Cantrall. She shares, “It’s such a beautiful scene. That was definitely one of my favorite scenes to film.”

Of course, given the purple slime and the highly entertaining assortment of alien babysitting charges Gabby encounters, Cantrall’s time with Gabby Duran & the Unsittables has included so many memorable scenes to film, many of which involve visual effects. “A lot of the time with our show, we’re not actually working with the other actors because we get such tight angles that they wanted to keep that eyeline close to camera,” Cantrall explains, revealing that the actors sometimes find green tennis balls or pieces of tape as their scene partners, with alien effects added during post. “We actually have these little stickers of everyone’s face that we put on the camera,” she reveals. “It’s fun when you see the final product and you see how it turns out… That piece of tape that I was working with now looks like an awesome blob. It’s so cool to see it at the end.”

From making TikToks with her Gabby Duran & the Unsittables family members Coco Christo (who plays little sister Olivia) and Valery Ortiz (who plays mom Dina), to being splashed with slime, Cantrall is having a blast filming the series. But she’s also proud of the message that the character and the series bring to young viewers. “I just think she’s such a good role model. She stands up for what she believes and she never takes no for an answer. She’s a great friend and sister. And she can kick some alien butt when it comes to using the Ancient Hammer of Gwargwar,” Cantrall notes—and the actress is happy to let fiction influence real life. “To see a young Latinx woman be so in charge and such a great role model is really inspiring to me,” she shares. “I’ll find myself in situations in my everyday life where I’ll be like, ‘What would Gabby do?’”

And Cantrall hopes that viewers find themselves asking that same question, and that they follow Gabby’s lead in celebrating what makes them unique. “I think that’s the main message of the show, just being OK with who you are and embracing what makes you different,” she says. “I hope the show inspires everyone to embrace themselves in every aspect, because that’s the most important thing.”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

June 3, 2021

By Zach Johnson

The best babysitter in the galaxy is back! On Friday, season two of Gabby Duran & the Unsittables will debut on Disney Channel. In addition, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ feature film Raya and the Last Dragon will be available to stream at no additional cost for all Disney+ subscribers, while the theatrical short Us Again will make its streaming debut. On Sunday, the seventh season of Celebrity Family Feud will premiere on ABC, and later that night, FX will air the series finale of the award-winning, groundbreaking drama Pose.

Gabby Duran & the Unsittables—Friday, June 4, at 8:50 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
This season, Gabby (Kylie Cantrall) will face even bigger challenges as she continues to protect her alien charges while also navigating the daily ups and downs of middle school. First, Gabby must talk to Dina (Valery Ortiz), who’s forbidden her from babysitting aliens!

Raya and the Last Dragon—Friday, June 4, on Disney+
Enter the fantasy world of Kumandra, where long ago humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned—and it’s up to Raya (voice of Kelly Marie Tran) to track down the last dragon (voice of Awkwafina) and restore the fractured land and its divided people. During Raya’s epic journey, she’ll learn that it takes more than a dragon to save the world—it’s also going to require trust and teamwork.

Us Again—Friday, June 4, on Disney+
Set in a vibrant city pulsating with rhythm and movement, an elderly man and his young-at-heart wife rekindle their youthful passion for life and each other on one magical night. The years fade away as the joy of dancing propels them across the exciting cityscape of their youth and revives fond memories and ambitions. Director Zach Parrish’s story is told without dialogue and is set to a funk and soul musical score reminiscent of the mid-1960s.

Celebrity Family Feud—Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Host Steve Harvey welcomes Rob Lowe, playing for The Wounded Warrior Project, and Terrence Howard, playing for The Dragon Kim Foundation. On Rob’s team are wife Sheryl Berkoff; sons John Owen Lowe and Matthew Lowe; and Rob’s “right-hand,” Carol Andrade. On Terrence’s team are wife Mira Howard and pals Elijah Kelly, Ross Naess, and Evan Ross.

Pose—Sunday, June 6, at 10 p.m. ET on FX
Category is… a fabulous farewell. When Blanca (Mj Rodriguez) discovers an HIV clinical trial is denying access to people of color she joins ACT UP in an effort to get Pray Tell (Emmy® Award winner Billy Porter) the medication. The series finale is written by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals, Janet Mock, and Our Lady J and directed by Canals.

5 Epic Eats You Need to Try at Avengers Campus

June 3, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

When you visit Avengers Campus, opening Friday, June 4, inside Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort, be sure to bring a taste for adventure and a heroic appetite! The brand-new land—which is dedicated to discovering, recruiting, and training the next generation of Super Heroes—is chock full of innovative new food and beverage offerings you will love 3000. D23 recently spoke with Michelle Gendreau, director of Food & Beverage for the Disneyland Resort, who gave us the inside dish on some of the delicious new items that will be available at dining locations in Avengers Campus. Here are some of the must-try meals and morsels you’ll want to sample.

Pingo Doce
This bubbly drink is legendary in Avengers history; and it’s available exclusively at Avengers Campus. You’ll find the refreshing beverage—that’s lemon-lime with a vanilla kick—at Pym Test Kitchen featuring Impossible™ Foods, where Hope and Hank Pym and Scott Lang are “shrinking problems and growing solutions.” And speaking of “growing,” you might consider picking up an Enlarged Pingo Doce Soda Can novelty and fill it with this signature drink or your favorite Coca-Cola® beverage.

Not So Little Chicken Sandwich
The juxtaposition of a quite sizable fried chicken breast with a much smaller brioche bun makes this sandwich extra fun. “It’s reminiscent of a chicken katsu,” Gendreau shares, and she believes this will be an instant fan-favorite. It’s served with two sauces—teriyaki and red chili—as well as pickled cabbage slaw, with crispy potato bites on the side. Order this dish at Pym Test Kitchen featuring Impossible™ Foods.

Impossible™ Spoonful
“People do not believe me that this is plant-based,” Gendreau says, and this dish of rigatoni and ditalini pastas, plant-based meatballs, tomato sauce, dairy-free Parmesan, and micro basil tastes like the ultimate classic comfort dish. The presentation, however, is anything but classic. The name of the Impossible™ Spoonful comes from the enormous ladle in which it’s served, and said ladle holds a bounty of noodles both large and small, as well as two “meatballs” of vastly differing sizes. “It’s storytelling to the max, and the flavor is really good,” Gendreau says. This dish can also be found at Pym Test Kitchen featuring Impossible™ Foods.

Adult Beverages from the Pym Tasting Lab
Right next door to the Pym Test Kitchen, take note of an oversized beer can for a sense of what’s in store. A variety of craft beers are on tap (and glasses fill from the bottom up!), along with an assortment of Pym particle-infused cocktail experiments and beer cocktails. Among the drinks for Campus recruits who are 21 and older: The Regulator (pictured above) features tequila, Minute Maid lime juice, mango and habanero syrup, wheat ale, and mango popping pearls; while for something a bit sweeter, the Molecular Meltdown is made from marshmallow milk stout and vanilla ice cream (and is topped with miniature marshmallows). Pair all of the Pym Tasting Lab beverages with Snack Molecules, which are mini pretzels, honey roasted peanuts, and sweet & spicy popped sorghum.

Cosmic Cream Orb
Don’t be deceived by its modest appearance. Within the Cosmic Cream Orb’s black exterior is a spectacular whipped raspberry cheesecake mouse in an absolutely vibrant shade of purple. These are among the sweet treats that have been curated by Taneleer Tivan at Terran Treats, a cart located not far from the Collector’s fortress… and they just might tempt you to pay Taneleer a visit.

There’s so much more, of course, that you’ll need to plan on multiple visits in order to make your way through the massive menu, which also includes shawarma-inspired wraps at the Shawarma Palace cart; a “Pym-ini” that’s available in an individual portion or super-sized for a family or friends to enjoy together; and a PB&J Flavor Lab that invites the youngest food scientists to experiment with their own creations using smooth peanut butter, strawberry jelly, and Pym particle bread. Visit the Disney Parks Blog to view the entire Foodie Guide to Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort, and prepare for an epicurean experience that’s epic from start to finish.

5 Super Details for Disney Fans to Discover at Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort

June 3, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

Are you ready to team up with the Avengers and tap into your inner Super Hero? Avengers Campus, an entirely new land dedicated to discovering, recruiting, and training the next generation of Super Heroes, is about to open inside Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort. It’s been brought to life by an incredible team of Imagineers who know and love Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as much as we do, and they’ve gone to truly epic lengths to ensure that the campus itself, its innovative and tasty treats, and all of the magnificent merchandise will delight every fan—even those who might just be discovering these beloved characters for the first time.

“The stories take place here and now,” Walt Disney Imagineering’s Scot Drake, who leads the team that’s assembling Avengers Campus, tells D23. But, to echo the words of Nick Fury, when you enter the land, you become a part of something bigger, with a rich history that you can’t help but notice as you move from one address to another. The Imagineers looked to this storied past to inspire Easter eggs and amazing details to discover when you first visit Avengers Campus. This is just a taste, and you’re sure to find something new each time you return to the land, but here are five fun finds that will get your Spidey senses tingling:

Your journey begins with a map
Drake teases that there are two maps located at Avengers Campus that provide a fascinating glimpse into the land’s longstanding connection to the Starks, and you’ll see nods to Tony and his family throughout the land. The Worldwide Engineering Brigade, or WEB, as the young innovators you’ll encounter there prefer to call it, is located within a brick building that was home to Stark Motors when it first opened. And on both the building’s façade and as you go through the brand-new attraction WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, you might still see traces of its former incarnation as an automotive factory.

And speaking of WEB…
Look to the rooftop and you may see Spider-Man swinging above, so it should come as no surprise to find Peter Parker within WEB’s walls. Peter is just one of the young innovators who has been invited to WEB at the behest of Tony Stark to invent new technologies and equip everyday people to become heroes. “Because WEB is an organization of young geniuses who are inventing the technology for the next generation of heroes, we have so many Easter eggs of other characters along their journey,” Drake teases, noting, “If you go through [the attraction] you can follow that one story, but it doesn’t take much to look around and see all the other fun things that they’re working on and all the other characters that we’re going to be hinting at.”

Avengers’ favorite fare
The campus will feature the second outpost of Tony Stark’s beloved “shawarma joint,” where he and his fellow Avengers dined after the Battle of New York. The original Shawarma Palace is located just a few blocks from the battle zone, but guests at Avengers Campus will be able to refuel with shawarma-inspired wraps at this food cart. Choose from hand-held savory wraps with fragrant chicken shawarma and garlic sauce, the Impossible™ plant-based falafel wrap, or for a heroic start to the day, the Impossible™ Breakfast-Sha-Warm-Up.

Classic Park treats meet the newest Pym technology
Disney fans, what could possibly be better than a soft, warm pretzel? Perhaps a soft, warm pretzel that’s grown exponentially through the use of Pym Particles. When you enter the Pym Test Kitchen featuring Impossible™ Foods, Drake shares, “You’re going to see a big conveyor belt of Park pretzels going in to this small quantum tunnel where we’re going to see pretzels grow and shrink right in front of our eyes. Then you’re going to be able to purchase a pretzel that can feed the whole family or a kit of mini-pretzels.” In the name of science, we’re happy to try both!

A location that might feel Strange-ly familiar
Those who are already steeped in knowledge of the multiverse may be familiar with the New York-based sanctum where Doctor Strange is frequently found. Avengers Campus guests will now have the opportunity to visit an ancient sanctum that’s a bit different, as evidenced by the logo. As the story goes, this ancient site has been hidden for centuries—though there have long been rumors of unexplained events and energies that emanated from this remote location. A Stark Industries complex was built there in the late 1940s and now, decades later, Tony Stark has invited Doctor Strange to the Avengers Campus to enlighten recruits about the mystic arts. Drake reveals that this gateway now connects Doctor Strange to any other place in the multiverse, noting, “He could have just stepped through from Paris or from Hong Kong or from anywhere in the universe.”

Overall, Drake and his fellow Imagineers want Avengers Campus to feel like a world of endless possibilities, a place where literally anything may happen. “And,” he says, “it’s not always going to be the same place every time you go into it. Something new is around every corner.”

5 Pieces of Must-Have Merch You Need to Find at Avengers Campus

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

Beginning this Friday, June 4, guests will team up and assemble with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort. And in addition to the memories they’ll make through missions, attractions, and encounters with an amazing array of Avengers, there’s a super selection of merchandise debuting in the brand-new land that’ll boost the heroic feeling you get during your visit—and even keep it going after you return home.

The stories of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have always been a reflection of the world outside our window, and that’s been a guiding force for the team behind Avengers Campus. “We’re trying to introduce you to concepts and ideas that can happen within the world that you live in,” Brad Schoeneberg, vice president of Brand Merchandising for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, tells D23.

There’ll be three dedicated locations where this magnificent merchandise will be available for purchase: Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop, located at Stage 17 in Disney California Adventure; and within Avengers Campus at WEB Suppliers and the Avengers Campus Supply Pod. Schoeneberg offered an inside look at the vast collection debuting at Avengers Campus, which includes brand-new Funko Pop! figures, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)-inspired kits to do at home, drinkware, and more. Here are five items that we’re sure every Super Hero recruit will want to pick up while they’re in the new land:

Spider-Bots
In creating these interactive companions, Schoenberg explains that he and his team thought, “Every Super Hero needs a friendly sidekick to help protect their neighborhood, so how can we make something that each person can connect with and then learn to play with in their own unique way?” Spider-Bots are powered by a remote control with eight articulated legs that move forward and backward—and they’re customizable. Guests can utilize tactical upgrades to harness the powers and style of favorite Super Heroes such as Black Panther, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Ant-Man and The Wasp. Adding to the “friendly” nature of these sidekicks, it’s also possible to connect with friends’ Spider-Bots to engage in epic showdowns.

WEB Tech Accessory: The WEB Power Band
The exciting new attraction WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure invites guests to don 3-D glasses and sling webs like Spidey himself, and for a truly customizable experience you’ll want to have WEB Tech on your wrist. The WEB Tech base band features an attraction mode that unlocks multi-fire webs while you’re in the ride vehicle to personalize game play for a cool, new experience on the attraction. Schoenberg reveals, “When you wear that WEB Tech inside the attraction, you’re going to get a different power on the ride than others that may be with you.” Guests will have fun discovering their own powers, and they can also add on WEB Tech that’s inspired by Spider-Man, Ghost Spider, Iron Man and Rescue, and other favorite Super Heroes. With lights, sounds, projections, and webs that eject and retract, WEB Tech is the ultimate role-play accessory, both in Avengers Campus and at home.

Spider-Man Goggles
It’s been said that eyes are the windows to the soul, and these stylish Spider-Man goggles display a range of emotions—from concern to puzzled to, well, joy (as conveyed via flashing hearts). They wear like sunglasses, Schoeneberg notes, with a digital screen that the wearer won’t see that’s sure to delight every passerby. “They’re fun to wear but they’re really fun to see someone wearing,” he emphasizes.

Avengers Campus Gear
“We really thought about what do our campus recruits wear when they’re in training,” Schoeneberg explains, and that’s the aesthetic behind the performance fleece hoodies, tees, and more that will be available at Campus Supply Pod. The iconic, Disney Parks-exclusive Avengers “A” is layered in, and items also feature pockets to hold every recruit’s tech. The gear, Schoeneberg says, “is not only reflective of the fact that you’re training potentially for the Avengers, but it’s also comfortable.”

A Brand-new Spidey Suit
Throughout Avengers Campus, Spider-Man will be seen in a new suit that’s been designed exclusively for Disney Parks. This suit has been re-created for young recruits, and Schoenberg says, “It’s really reflective of the character that you’re spending the day with on your visit to a park.”

Schoeneberg notes that the team behind the Avengers Campus merchandise kept technology and innovation in mind as they approached all of the new products and experiences—whether guests will be enjoying them in the park or back at home. “Technology and innovation isn’t a destination on any one item, it’s just part of the way we want to approach new products, new experiences, and especially things that are tied to this fantastic world of the Avengers,” he says. “And there’s nothing more fantastic than guests being able to experience the products in the spaces and in the world that’s been designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. It just feels like you’re living this story. You are really having your own Super Hero journey.”

“We’re Going to Disney World”: Boy Meets World

June 2, 2021September 20, 2021

By Matt Moryc, Walt Disney Archives

If you grew up watching television in the 1980s and 1990s, there is an objective argument to be made that some of the greatest family sitcoms of all-time were produced during this era. The American Broadcast Company (ABC) was at the forefront of this golden age of adolescent television with their Friday night programming block titled TGIF (short for “Thank Goodness It’s Funny”). Debuting in 1989, TGIF became a staple in millions of homes across America, and would continue to be throughout the 1990s as audiences tuned in weekly to watch classic shows such as Full House (1987–95), Step by Step (ABC: 1991–97; CBS: 1997–98), Family Matters (ABC: 1989–97; CBS: 1997–98), and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (ABC: 1996–2000; WB: 2000–03).

For Disney fans, these titles are memorable not only for their place in ABC history, but also for the episodes of each show that were filmed at Walt Disney World Resort. The idea to send family sitcoms to the vacation kingdom could not have come at a better time for The Walt Disney Company as it was in the midst of vastly expanding its hold on ’90s popular culture with a string of hit animated films and new Walt Disney World attractions that were ripe for promotion via television programming created for families.

One of the most popular ABC sitcoms during this era was Boy Meets World (1993–2000), starring Ben Savage (Cory Matthews), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter), Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), and Will Friedle (Eric Matthews). The show centers on Cory, a young suburban Philadelphia boy trying his best to navigate the triumphs and tribulations of friendship, family, school, and romantic relationships along the path to adulthood.

During the show’s third season, the episode titled “The Happiest Show on Earth” finds Cory reeling from a breakup with Topanga, who has recently won a school trip to Walt Disney World thanks to a paper she wrote about the environment. Initially, Cory is happy for Topanga until he discovers that Ronnie “Lips” Waterman (Andrew Keegan), the class heartthrob known for being a flirt, also won the same trip to Florida. Encouraged by his brother Eric, Cory decides to take his best friend, Shawn, with him to Walt Disney World in order to win back Topanga.

The characters split their time between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, with the latter park factoring heavily into the episode’s plotline. Many of the important story beats take place at The Living Seas pavilion (now called The Seas with Nemo & Friends), and there’s even a special guest star appearance by another TGIF alum, Staci Keanan, who played Dana Foster on Step by Step. Ultimately, Cory and Topanga decide to get back together while sharing a romantic embrace perfectly timed to the majestic aquatic choreography of the EPCOT Fountain of Nations.

Thanks to our partners at ABC, the Walt Disney Archives is delighted to share publicity and behind-the-scenes imagery from the filming of the 1996 Boy Meet’s World episode “The Happiest Show On Earth,” and don’t forget to check out the show now streaming on Disney+.

Celebrate even more Walt Disney World nostalgia with the 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector Set, exclusively available to D23 Gold Members!

Have a Ball With a Sneak Peek at the Walt Disney Archives Costume Collection on Display at MoPop

June 1, 2021

By the D23 Team

This morning marked a magical first look at the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibit, opening June 5 at The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) in Seattle, Washington. The gorgeous gallery features more than 70 original items from the Walt Disney Archives’ extensive collection of costumes. Take a spin through some highlights of the exhibit, which was first on display at D23 Expo 2019, and make sure to check out MoPop’s website to plan your own visit and get an up-close look at some of the most iconic and gorgeous Disney costumes.

Celebrate Pride Month with These Colorful 2021 Pride Products

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Pride Month is just around the corner, and Disney fans of all ages can showcase their LGBTQ+ pride with all-new, custom-made products from the Pride Collection.

As a leader in LGBTQ+ content and workplace equality, The Walt Disney Company is committed to inclusive workplaces and supports welcoming environments in local communities. In recognition of Pride Month 2021 and the Company’s Pride collection, The Walt Disney Company is donating funds to organizations from around the world that support LGBTQ+ communities. To learn more about each organization’s mission, visit RainbowDisneyCollection.com now.

NEW: Soon, you can share your pride, D23-style, with our new shirt, available in two color options, coming to shopDisney on June 14.

From apparel to accessories, from pins to plush, there are more items in this collection than there are colors in the rainbow! Below is a comprehensive look at this vibrant new collection, featuring select products available now at shopDisney.com and Disney stores in North America and Japan, Walt Disney World Resort, and Disneyland Resort. The collection arrives later this month at Disney stores in Europe and shopDisney.co.uk.

Show your pride with this colorful Mickey Mouse “Love” Tee, available in both adult and kid sizes, and then complete your look with an a cloth face mask (part of a special two-pack). And what could be more perfect than a Mickey Mouse Fan for Mickey Mouse fans?

Show your true colors in style with this cozy Mickey Mouse Zip-Up Hoodie for Adults and Mickey Mouse Icon Capri Jogger Pants, perfect for a walk in the park or just lounging around the house. Accessorize your ensemble with a Transgender flag pin, or one of the other Pride pins, available now at shopDisney and Disney stores, and coming soon to Parks!

Speaking of pins, we can’t wait to blast off with the Stitch Pin. The Mickey Mouse Heart Hands Pin shows you have heart. You’ll be a hometown hero with the new Marvel Logo Pin, and the Pixar Ball Pin shows your playful side. Feel the Force of pride when you wear the Star Wars Icons Pin, while the Mickey Mouse and Friends Pin is designed for dreamers.

The Mickey and Minnie Mouse Mini Loungefly Backpack and the Mickey and Minnie Mouse Loungefly Wristlet are both must-haves for storing all your essentials with pride.

Other must-have items from the Pride collection include the Mickey Mouse and Friends Bodysuit for Baby, the Mickey Mouse Collectible Key, the Mickey Mouse Ear Hat for Adults, the Mickey Mouse Throw Blanket and the Minnie Mouse T-Shirt for Kids—not to mention the adorably cuddly and colorful Mickey Mouse Plush and Minnie Mouse Plush!

For the first time ever, Disney’s other iconic brands, including Marvel and Star Wars, have created products for the Pride collection. Fans across the galaxy will burst with pride while rocking a variety of tees for adults featuring the Millennium Falcon, Darth Vader, and the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logos, available only at Walt Disney World Resort.

Starting this month, products will roll out from licensees and retailers including Amazon, BoxLunch, Funko, Kohl’s, and Torrid, with even more to come in Europe and Latin America.

In June, our friends at Funko will have a plethora of new Pop! vinyl figures in screaming color, including Stitch and Wall-E (a Funko.com exclusive). Plus, poor unfortunate souls will be delighted when an Ursula Pop! Vinyl figure (a Hot Topic exclusive), arrives in June. Other new Pop! vinyl figures in the collection include BB-8, Tina Belcher, Deadpool, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy (a Funko Hollywood exclusive), and a Stormtrooper.

Hot Topic has have even more colorful products to help you celebrate, including Disney Lilo & Stitch Rainbow Stitch Crew Socks, an adjustable Loungefly Disney Mickey Mouse Rainbow Passport Crossbody Bag, and Disney Mickey Mouse Rainbow Love Slide Sandals.

Torrid is offering a colorful array of items, including Ursula Rainbow Hi Neck Tank, Mickey & Friends Rainbow Crop Leggings, and a Stitch Rainbow Slash Top—all available on May 25!

Amazon’s offerings include a Star Wars BB-8 Rainbow T-Shirt, a Disney Stitch Rainbow Brushstrokes V-Neck T-Shirt, and a Marvel Avengers Logo Rainbow Tie Dye ‘90s Sweatshirt.

Kohl’s has a Star Wars Pride Rainbow Lightsabers Tee and a Mickey Mouse Multicolor Cubic Zirconia Necklace, available now, along with more tees coming over the next month.

More Pride products will roll out globally at various locations and retailers in June and the rest of 2021 as The Walt Disney Company continues to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Setting the Stage: Revisiting Moulin Rouge

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021

By Kevin Kern, Walt Disney Archives

Freedom. Beauty. Truth. Love. All maxims that drive and guide the protagonists at the heart of director Baz Luhrmann’s splashy movie musical, Moulin Rouge (2001).

Set amidst a bustling and bohemian Paris circa 1900, the film boasts a gorgeous design sense that helps to contextualize its characters while also providing a rapt stage for the contemporary pop tunes featured therein. When ingeniously blended together, these elements work in tandem to create a most unique motion picture experience, one that rests at the foot of both the comic and the tragic.

Luhrmann’s euphorically lofty, dream-world-like vision for this dramatic setting effortlessly holds firm as a hallmark example of “Red Curtain” cinematic style. “One of the characteristics of…‘Red Curtain’ films is the use of classic cinema references,” reflected the director at the time of the film’s initial release. “In Moulin Rouge we have utilized this mechanism both in making reference to classic hair styles and costume silhouettes of the great divas of the ’40s and ’50s. Marlene Dietrich (Blue Angel), with a sprinkle of Cabaret and a nod to Rita Hayworth in Gilda. It is this constant referencing and re-referencing that we hope allows a modern audience to decode the historical setting. The ease with which the audience understands the story is crucial. In this musical we are not revealing the characters or plot slowly and invisibly, but quickly and overtly.”

By blending rich costume and production design, the film presents a Parisian world governed both by creativity and excess, presenting imagery that seeks to inspire and move viewers in meaningful and impassioned ways. “Most cinematic naturalism puts the audience into a dream state so that they may observe reality, if you like, through a key hole,” Luhrmann observed. “Whereas we employ a constant device that awakens the audience and reminds them that at all times they are watching a film, in which they are impelled to participate.” Almost as if we are at the Moulin Rouge ourselves, we, the viewers, experience the film simultaneously as both a theatrical production and cinematic experience.

Production designer Catherine Martin specifies that Luhrmann’s vision for this fantastical approach to framing the world of the film was also “about manipulating the elements that existed in [that] world, so they read [in the] now, so that a modern audience can access this period world. Baz wanted us to create a world in a style he dubbed ‘real artificiality.’ A ‘created’ Paris in which the musical of his invention would sit comfortably. A place where breaking out in song would feel natural.”

“We treated this world in a very self-consciously theatrical way,” Martin continues. “Baz wants a completeness to the world, and every design detail tried to reinforce this.” Looking back on these creative aspirations as the film nears its 20th anniversary, what’s abundantly clear about the power of the filmmakers’ approach is that it helped to cement the film—perhaps above all else—as a contemporary classic by pushing daring design to dreamy effect.

How Disney Springs Into Action to Save Monarch Butterflies—and How You Can Help, Too!

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

Fans of Disney animation have been delighted by many an instance of colorful butterflies fluttering around beloved characters, but in our world, many types of these beautiful animals are in need of help. Monarch butterflies play an important role in the environment as pollinators that help flowers to grow, but their populations across North America are in trouble. These butterflies need habitats that include nectar-rich flowering plants and milkweed, a special plant where monarch butterflies lay their eggs. These important habitats are disappearing, but everyone can play a role in helping to protect or restore them for butterflies and other wildlife.

Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has supported nonprofit organizations leading more than 25 projects across North America to save butterflies. This April, during Earth Month 2021, Disney VoluntEARS and Disney Conservation Team Wildlife encouraged Disney employees to don their gardening gloves and update their own yards and patios to provide vital resources for monarch butterflies. More than 800 employees and cast members across the U.S. planted backyard habitats to help ensure that migrating monarchs had plenty of habitat to help them on their journey.

You can also join Disney Conservation Team Wildlife’s efforts to save monarchs by planting native plants that attract and feed butterflies and other pollinators on your windowsill, in your yard, or at a community garden. The secret to creating good pollinator habitat is picking the right plants and getting them outside for the butterflies to visit. Make sure to plant milkweeds that are native to your region, like common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) if you are East of the Rockies, showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) if you are West of the Rockies, or Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), which is native to all of North America. But the best bet is to talk to your local nursery for recommendations about the best pollinator friendly plants for your region. Be sure to tell them about your space to make sure you find a good fit for your home (e.g., Does your space have lots of sun or shade? Wet soil or dry?) You can also download a free Disney Conservation activity packet to learn how to plan a garden for butterflies with your family, and learn more about Disney Conservation’s commitment to saving wildlife and building a diverse global community inspired to protect the magic of nature together at Disney.com/conservation.

For additional inspiration, the next time you visit Walt Disney World, look out for native pollinator gardens across the resort, where Team Wildlife has already spotted more than 70 species of butterflies and other pollinators.

And from now through July 5, Walt Disney World Resort guests can also visit Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival to learn more about butterflies and their favorite plants in The Goodness Garden Butterfly House Presented by GoGo squeeZ® at Future World West. Within the Butterfly House, guests may view a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, learn about their lifecycles, and maybe even see one emerge from its chrysalis. Find more details and theme park reservation information at Disneyworld.Disney.com.