Jungle Cruise: New Adventures Await!—Plus More in News Briefs

May 28, 2021

By Courtney Potter

New Trailer for Jungle Cruise

With this week’s brand-new trailer for Disney’s Jungle Cruise, we’re 100% sure there’s all kinds of amazing adventure just around the bend… and we’re so ready!

Inspired by the famous Disneyland attraction, Jungle Cruise is a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton (Emma Blunt). We follow Lily as she travels from London, England, to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat—in a quest to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities… and the power to change the future of medicine.

Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters dangers a-plenty and supernatural forces galore, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the colorful rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank, and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.

Jungle Cruise is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and also stars Edgar Ramírez and Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti. Look for the film in U.S. theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 30!

**Plus: Updates on Jungle Cruise Experience at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom**

The new Jungle Cruise trailer isn’t the only “backside of water”-related news to be revealed this week: Our pals at the Disney Parks Blog just announced that the newly enhanced Jungle Cruise at Disneyland Park will officially open July 16, with an updated experience that welcomes new characters from around the world plus even more of the humor, wildlife, and skipper heart that makes this classic attraction a favorite! And at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, guests can continue to enjoy the Jungle Cruise while updates are being made, and all changes will be completed this summer.

In a fun new video, above, Disney Imagineer Kevin Lively takes us on recent trip down the river at Magic Kingdom to share a reminder of some classic Jungle Cruise moments. (There are, as you might imagine, a plethora of puns… )

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Yes, we’ve made it to Memorial Day Weekend 2021, which for most of us means an extra day of rest and relaxation; delicious BBQ (that’s our hope, at least!); and some added time to spend watching lotsa good content from around the worlds of Disney. Chiefly, Disney’s LAUNCHPAD, a collection of live-action shorts debuting on Disney+; a brand-new episode of FX’s Pose; and so much more.

Disney Junior Premieres New Spots Featuring Chip ‘n’ Dale

The good folks at Disney Junior recently debuted the first in a series of adorable new videos honoring traditions from across the globe and featuring everyone’s favorite pals, Chip and Dale!

Shake Your Tail with Chip N’ Dale celebrates music and dance from around the world—giving young viewers a connection point to the language and culture of another country. Each spot highlights music and dance from a country or region around the world and encourages preschoolers to get up on their feet and dance. In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the first video, seen above, is India-themed; Gaayatri Kaundinya & Dhruv Goel (Mira, Royal Detective) wrote the song and provide the vocals. Other countries highlighted in the first batch of spots include Nigeria, Brazil, and China.

Look for the videos on Disney Junior now and on the Disney Junior YouTube channel beginning in June.

New Teaser Trailer for Marvel Studios’ Eternals

This is a movie we’ve been particularly jazzed to see… and now we have an amazing first look to tide us over ‘til its premiere this fall.

Just this week, Marvel Studios debuted an exciting teaser trailer for Eternals, the third film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), welcoming an exciting new team of Super Heroes to the fold. The film’s epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants.

The Eternals’ ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris; Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi; Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo; Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari; Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos; Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak; Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite; Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh; Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig; and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena… with Kit Harington as Dane Whitman.

Directed by recent Oscar® winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), Eternals is set to debut November 5.

The Walt Disney Archives Exhibit is On the Move!

Just this week, we here at D23 announced that the exhibition Inside the Walt Disney Archives—which first debuted at D23 Expo Japan in 2018 before heading to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana—is making its next stop at the Graceland Exhibition Center in Memphis, TN, beginning this July 23! To read up on what you can expect from this incredible 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit, click here.

Guide Map Revealed for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park

Are your Spidey senses tingling with excitement? Ours sure are… and it’s because we’re just a few days away from the sure-to-be-magnificent opening of Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort! To that end, Disney Parks Blog recently revealed a first look at the Avengers Campus map, offering a more detailed look at what experiences await.

There are three entrances into the new 6-acre land where you can join the action with the Avengers and their allies, including Iron Man, Black Panther, and Black Widow; sling webs on the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man; taste-test innovative food and drinks; and become part of a bigger universe. Discover your own powers as you train alongside some fan-fave Super Heroes, with a chance to live out your own heroic story! You can plot out your Avengers Campus visit on your mobile phone or desktop; check out the map on Disneyland.com and the official Disneyland mobile app. And don’t forget to take a gander at the official Recruit’s Guide to familiarize yourself with all the special food, beverage, and merchandise offerings.

Plus, read up on how to utilize the virtual queue system for Avengers Campus’ incredible new attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, by clicking here. (Hint: Much like the queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, you’ll need that aforementioned Disneyland app.)

We can’t wait to see what’s in store at Avengers Campus, beginning next Friday, June 4

**ICYMI: Winnie the Pooh Musical to Debut in New York This Fall**

Our tummies are rumbly (in a good way!) about this recent news: The Hundred Acre Wood will soon come to musical life at Times Square’s Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) in New York City, beginning this October. Get an idea of what’s in store once Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation—featuring the Sherman Brothers’ classic Grammy Award®-winning music with additional songs by A.A. Milne—hits the stage by clicking right here.

Legendary Handprints – Tyrus Wong

May 28, 2021May 28, 2021

While Tyrus “Ty” Wong worked at The Walt Disney Studios for only three years, between 1938 and 1941, his impact on the animated classic Bambi endures.

As legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston point out in their book about the making of the motion picture, “He set the color schemes along with the appearance of the forest in painting after painting. Paintings that captured the poetic feeling that had eluded us [artists] for so long. Ty Wong not only inspired the other visual artists, but he created a standard that was met by musicians and special effects too.”

Born in China, on October 25, 1910, nine-year-old Ty immigrated to America with his father in 1919, eventually landing in Los Angeles, California. While an indifferent student, he loved sketching and received a scholarship to nearby Otis Art Institute. After graduating in 1935, Ty exhibited his watercolors and participated in the W.P.A. Federal Arts Project, a program instituted to employ artists during the Great Depression. Ty created two paintings each month for exhibition in public libraries and government buildings.

Looking for steady employment, he joined The Walt Disney Studios to work on animated shorts as an inbetweener, but quickly moved into feature films after submitting landscape paintings with deer as early concepts for Bambi, which was in pre-production. Among his paintings was a stunning image of a stag fight filled with dynamic action, strong compositions, and dramatic lightning.

When Walt Disney saw Ty’s inspirational sketches, he was intrigued by their mysterious quality. As Thomas and Johnston wrote, “In contrast to the paintings that showed every detail of tiny flowers, broken branches, and fallen logs, Ty had a different approach and certainly one that had never been seen in an animated film before. He [Ty] explained, ‘Too much detail—I tried to keep the thing very, very simple and create the atmosphere, the feeling of the forest.’”

Ty left Disney before Bambi was released in 1942, and would go on to devote more than 25 years of his career developing story boards and concept sketches for motion pictures.

Upon retirement, he focused his attention on his own passions, including exhibiting and selling watercolors, designing Christmas cards for Hallmark and other companies, illustrating magazine covers, painting ceramics sold through Neiman-Marcus, and designing, constructing, and flying kites.

Ty Wong passed away on December 30, 2016 at 106 years old.

Download These Cruella Wallpapers to Add Fashion to Your Phone

May 27, 2021

By The D23 Team

We’re celebrating all things Cruella, in advance of the film’s debut in just a few days’ time… And what better way to bring of that same rebellious, revengeful fun into your daily life than by adding some style to your smartphone?

These brand-new phone wallpapers feature Cruella (Emma Stone) in all her glory—and two of them are cool, coordinating photos you can share with a BFF!

Download the images below:

Mobile: 1080 x 1920 • 1125 x 2436 • 1440 x 2960

Cruella debuts this Friday, May 28—in U.S. theaters and on Disney+ (with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets).

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

May 27, 2021

By Zach Johnson

This Friday marks the launch of Disney’s LAUNCHPAD, a collection of live-action shorts from a new generation of dynamic storytellers. The next day, FXM will broadcast the comedy film Spy. On Sunday, join us in streaming Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy on Disney+ (just because!) and then watch Ralph Breaks the Internet on Freeform. Cap off the weekend with a brand-new episode of the trailblazing series Pose, airing Sunday on FX.

LAUNCHPAD—Friday, May 28, on Disney+
Enjoy six original short films from six unique perspectives. The goal of Disney’s LAUNCHPAD is to diversify the types of stories that are being told and to give access to those who have historically not had it. Inspired by life’s journey, these first six short films are based on the theme “Discover.” Season one includes American Eid, written and directed by Aqsa Altaf; Dinner Is Served, directed by Hao Zheng and written by G. Wilson & Hao Zheng; Growing Fangs, written and directed by Ann Marie Pace; Let’s Be Tigers, written and directed by Stefanie Abel Horowitz; The Last of the Chupacabras, written and directed by Jessica Mendez Siqueiros; and The Little Prince(ss), written and directed by Moxie Peng.

Spy—Saturday, May 29, at 4:55 p.m. ET and Sunday, May 30, at 2:15 p.m. ET on FXM
Written and directed by Paul Feig, this 2015 comedy centers on CIA analyst Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy), who has spent her entire career as a desk jockey, working hand-in-hand with dashing agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law)—despite having solid field training. Using high-tech equipment and a hidden earpiece, Susan helps Bradley avoid danger. But, after Bradley is assassinated by arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), Susan wrangles her way into her first undercover assignment to help apprehend Rayna and avenge Bradley.

Guardians of the Galaxy—Sunday, May 30, on Disney+
Space adventurer Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) becomes the target of relentless bounty hunters after stealing a mysterious orb. To evade Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), who will stop at nothing to retrieve the orb, Peter forms an unlikely alliance with four misfits: Rocket Raccoon (voice of Bradley Cooper), Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). But after Peter discovers the orb’s power, he must rally his ragtag team in order to save the universe from a cosmic calamity.

Ralph Breaks the Internet—Sunday, May 30, at 6:15 p.m. ET on Freeform
In this sequel to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph, best friends Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the World Wide Web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, they rely on the citizens of the internet—aka the netizens—to help navigate their way, including an entrepreneur named Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site BuzzzTube.

Pose—Sunday, May 30, at 10 p.m. ET on FX
The series’ penultimate episode will set the stage for an unforgettable finale. As the dust settles on an unforeseen life change, Lil Papi (Angel Bismark Curiel) will adjust to being a guardian. Meanwhile, Angel (Indya Moore) will seek guidance from an unexpected source.

Disney’s LAUNCHPAD Shorts Tell Deeply Personal Stories Sure to Resonate with Every Disney Fan

May 27, 2021May 26, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

Personal storytelling and lived experiences are at the heart of Disney’s LAUNCHPAD, which on Friday, May 28, brings six amazing new shorts to Disney+. They’ve been directed by six dynamic filmmakers, all from underrepresented backgrounds, who have looked to their own lives to inspire these bold stories. Disney’s LAUNCHPAD will introduce audiences to a Mexican American teen who is half human/half vampire, struggling to keep her identity a secret from both worlds; a young Muslim Pakistani immigrant who goes on a mission to make Eid a public-school holiday; and a Chinese student at an elite U.S. boarding school who tries out for a leadership position that no other international student has ever applied for—to name just a few of the characters these stories center on. Each LAUNCHPAD short is wonderfully unique and personal, but all will touch the heart as the most quintessentially Disney stories always do.

Disney launched this new program in 2019 to create opportunity for those who have typically been left behind in Hollywood, and to give them a space where their voices can be heard. Mahin Ibrahim, Director of Disney’s Diversity & Inclusion, Market, who oversees the LAUNCHPAD program, says, “Disney at its heart is all about storytelling. So what better way to give artists a seat at the table than through the power of them telling their own stories?”

The six filmmakers whose shorts debut in this first season of LAUNCHPAD were selected from a pool of more than 1,000 filmmakers. In addition to classes—which were mostly conducted virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic—the filmmakers were assigned executive mentors from various divisions of The Walt Disney Company, including Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney+, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, and Pixar, who offered support throughout the process, from script development all the way through post-production.

Ann Marie Pace, writer and director of Growing Fangs, was mentored by Osnat Shurer and Halima Hudson of Walt Disney Animation Studios, home to so many films that resonated with her, such as The Lion King and Frozen. “I felt like I could call them any time or ask them any question I needed,” Pace shares. “I remember a very specific experience when we were working on the script. One of the script notes they gave me was, OK, what’s Val’s ‘Let It Go’ moment? It was really profound to hear from these women who have made these films that inspired me in my life, giving me a script note based on their work. I will take their lessons with me from now until forever.”

If storytelling is at the heart of Disney’s LAUNCHPAD, collaboration is intrinsic to the program’s soul, as well. Being a studio filmmaker is a collaborative experience, Phillip Yaw Domfeh, Senior Manager of Disney’s LAUNCHPAD, notes. He says, “We’re looking for people with unique voices and perspectives, but people who also are willing to work with others and build something new and beautiful with that.”

Fittingly, all of the shorts for Disney’s LAUNCHPAD season one live-action short films are based on the theme “Discover.” All six begin streaming this Friday on Disney+, and you can enjoy a sneak peek at all of the shorts in the trailers below.

America Eid, written and directed by Aqsa Altaf
Ameena, a Muslim Pakistani immigrant, wakes up on Eid to find out that she has to go to school. Homesick and heartbroken, she goes on a mission to make Eid a public-school holiday, and in the process reconnects with her older sister and embraces her new home, while her new home embraces her.

Dinner is Served, directed by Hao Zheng, written by G. Wilson & Hao Zheng
A Chinese student at an elite U.S. boarding school realizes excellence is not enough when he tries out for a leadership position no international student has ever applied for.

Growing Fangs, written and directed by Ann Marie Pace
Val Garcia, a Mexican American teen who is half human/half vampire, has had to keep her identity a secret from both worlds. But when her human best friend shows up at her monster-infested school, she has to confront her truth, her identity, and herself.

The Last of the Chupacabras, written and directed by Jessica Mendez Siqueiros
In a world where culture has nearly ceased to exist, one lone Mexican American struggling to carry on her traditions unknowingly summons a dark and ancient creature to protect her.

Let’s Be Tigers, written and directed by Stefanie Abel Horowitz
Avalon’s not ready to process the loss of her mother, but when she’s put in charge of a 4-year-old for one night, she finds more comfort than she ever could have expected.

The Little Prince(ss), written and directed by Moxie Peng
When Gabriel, a 7-year-old Chinese kid who loves ballet, becomes friends with Rob, another Chinese kid from school, Rob’s dad gets suspicious about Gabriel’s feminine behavior and decides to intervene.

A second season, which will be based on the theme of “Connection,” is already getting underway. Aspiring LAUNCHPAD filmmakers may submit applications now through June 11, 2021, here on LAUNCHPAD.disney.com. To bring even more storytellers into the fold, the program will also include a writers track for its sophomore season, which means that it’s possible to apply as a writer, writer/director, a director with a script someone else wrote (so as a team), or as a director. Domfeh emphasizes, “There are so many different types of stories. We want to see stories from every facet of underrepresented filmmakers out there. I think opening up that writers track is going to be paramount to doing that work.”

While the program gives its talented filmmakers a platform that enables their stories to connect with audiences around the world, Ibrahim reveals the unexpected impact Disney’s LAUNCHPAD has had closer to home. “There are about 100 of us who worked on LAUNCHPAD internally within the Company and people have talked about how meaningful it is to them—and one of the most meaningful projects they’ve worked on,” she shares. “This just floored me, because these people work on the most amazing films that impact culture like none other… When work becomes more than work and leads to purpose, that has been truly humbling to see for sure.”

Legendary Handprints – Lea Salonga

May 26, 2021May 26, 2021

In the field of musical theatre, Lea Salonga has been honored with the Olivier, Tony^®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards. In addition, she holds the distinction of having performed the vocal roles of two Disney leading ladies—the spectacular singing voices of Princess Jasmine and Mulan.

Lea’s breakthrough came on the West End stage in London, England, when she was selected to play Kim in the musical Miss Saigon in 1989. For her performance, she won the Olivier Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical.

She was invited to the Disney Studios to sing Princess Jasmine’s soaring love song for the 1992 animated feature Aladdin. “‘A Whole New World’ is a great song,” Lea once said, “and it’s a dream come true to be a part of a Disney animated film.” She reprised the song, along with the singing voice of Aladdin, Brad Kane, on that year’s Academy Awards broadcast. The song went on to win both the Golden Globe^® and the Oscar^® for Best Song.

Lea returned to Disney just a few years later, this time to sing the bittersweet “Reflection” for the character of Fa Mulan for another Disney animated feature, Mulan (1998). The song received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. Lea sang again as Mulan in the 2005 direct-to-video sequel Mulan II.

“I’ve been listening to Disney music my whole life,” Lea once said. “The challenge in doing these songs is to capture all of their feelings and emotions in just a few minutes. You’ve got to remember that moment will last forever and ever on film, and you have to really do your best in that one shot. The whole Disney experience has been great fun.”

Meet the Characters of Cruella

May 26, 2021May 26, 2021

By The D23 Team

Hurry up and don your best frocks, darlings—we don’t want to be late to the debut of Disney’s Cruella! And just who else will be attending this sure-to-be-swanky affair? We’ve got a look at the “guest list”—some of the characters you’ll get to meet (or, in the case of a certain iconic villain, reacquaint yourselves with) when the film premieres later this week…

Estella/Cruella (Emma Stone)
Just how did Cruella de Vil become the beloved character we know and love (and love to hate!) today? Estella—her real name—was full of energy and edge as a child, and was blessed with creativity, seeing the world from a different perspective from those around her. Suffering a loss early on in life, and haunted by that experience, she often feels like an outsider among her conformist schoolmates. Estella and her friends Horace and Jasper later fall into a life of crime on the streets—pulling a variety of con jobs while using her imagination and sewing skills to create a brilliant array of disguises. But while the two young men are satisfied with surviving as grifters, Estella has aspirations for a better life as a fashion designer. At age 25, she starts working at London’s most stylish department store, Liberty—and while there, she catches the attention of The Baroness, a fashion legend known to be as chic as she is abrasive. “It’s fun to see the origins of Cruella, and we’ve had fun exploring what makes a villain,” says Stone.

The Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson)
Elegant yet wicked, fashion queen The Baroness is the opposite of Estella in every way. Estella is cutting-edge, whereas The Baroness—though highly successful—is slightly old-fashioned… and just doesn’t realize it. After impressing her new mentor with a unique window display, Estella revels in The Baroness’ praise and recognition of her talent—happily inhaling every whiff of fashion expertise and management style her new boss exudes, while willingly keeping her rebellious, independent nature in check. But when The Baroness shows up at a ball wearing a special something from Estella’s past, all bets are off, setting in motion a course of events and revelations that cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous and revenge-bent Cruella. Admits Thompson, “The Baroness is the reason for Cruella, unfortunately.”

Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser)
Young Estella winds up finding a makeshift family—as well as partners in crime—with Jasper and Horace. It’s Jasper who helps Estella get a job at Liberty, knowing that her dream is to leave grifting behind and design fashion. But their family ties become strained when Cruella starts to take over. “It’s very sad, and you see why they need each other, long term, because they’re a real tripod. I don’t know what Cruella would be without Jasper and Horace,” explains Stone.

Artie (John McCrea)
After hatching a plan with Jasper and Horace to upstage and distract The Baroness at an event, Estella goes on the hunt for something suitable to wear. She winds up shopping the vintage stores along Portobello Road, where she meets a kindred spirit named Artie—a young shopkeeper with the ideal dress. Says Stone, “Artie is just this really gorgeous, smart, creative, brilliant person, who Estella meets by just going into his shop, and becomes a very important part of sort of creating Cruella.”

Anita Darling (Kirby Howell-Baptiste)
One of Estella’s former schoolmates, Anita grows up to become a photojournalist at the tabloid publication Tattletale. Of her character, Howell-Baptiste says, “We first meet Anita at one of The Baroness’ balls, and she’s a reporter, a sort of young up-and-comer. She’s very ambitious and smart. What’s lovely is that all the women are very intelligent. The Baroness is the baddie, and then you have Estella, who also has this slightly dark side, and I think Anita falls right in between where she kind of understands them both but isn’t the same as either of them.”

John the Valet (Mark Strong)
Mysterious and tight-lipped, John is a highly trusted member of The Baroness’ entourage. “You’re never really quite sure who he is or what his agenda is, because essentially he’s quite a silent character,” explains Strong. “But then you discover something very interesting about him, and that was the thing that made me want to play him.”

Look for Cruella beginning this Friday, May 28—in U.S. theaters and on Disney+ (with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets).

Walt Disney Archives Exhibit Heads to the Graceland Exhibition Center Starting July 23

May 26, 2021August 6, 2021

By the D23 Team

The magic is on the move! The exhibition Inside the Walt Disney Archives, which first debuted at D23 Expo Japan in 2018 before heading to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, is making its next stop at the Graceland Exhibition Center starting July 23, 2021. The 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit celebrates the legacy of the Walt Disney Archives, with behind-the-scenes access never before granted to the public. Guests of all ages are invited to step into the Walt Disney Archives as they walk through a dazzling display of more than 450 objects, including original artwork, costumes, and props that tell the story of the Archives, The Walt Disney Company, and Walt Disney himself. From nostalgic classics like rarely displayed sketches for Fantasia and ghosts from the Haunted Mansion attraction to modern-day favorites like a maquette from Frozen and a Wolverine costume, this enchanting exhibition is an immersive treasure trove the entire family will love.

The exhibit spans multiple Disney properties including items ranging from Disney live action to animated films, Walt Disney’s personal effects, items from various Disney Parks, vintage Disney merchandise, 20^th Century Fox films, and more. Some of the highlights of the exhibit include:

Jack Sparrow’s compass from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Costumes from Beauty and the Beast, 101 Dalmatians, Pretty Woman, Walk the Line, and more
Mary Poppins’ original carpet bag
Davy Crockett’s racoonskin cap
Wilson from Cast Away
Vehicles from Toad’s Wild Ride, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and Tron: Legacy
The sword from Zorro
Magic Bedknob from Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Prop storybook from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Alien Xenomorph prop figure from the Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction The Great Movie Ride
Tombstones and Hitchhiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion attraction
Electromagnetic Shrinking Machine from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Lumiere and Cogsworth props from 2017’s Beauty and the Beast
Dead Man’s Chest from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Congo Queen Model Boat from Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise

The exhibit will continue through January 2, 2022, and will include a wide array of special events for people of all ages. D23 Gold Members should mark their calendars for Thursday, July 22, which will be a combination press day and D23 Gold Member event. Activities will include speakers including a presentation by the Director of the Walt Disney Archives Becky Cline, music, photo opportunities, and a special ribbon cutting. Plus, whenever you make your visit, remember that D23 Gold Members receive a 20% discount on single exhibition admission and VIP Tours with proof of membership.

Through January 2, 2022 there will be numerous family friendly programing and presentations including:

Disney Trivia Nights
A Haunted Mansion Zoom panel with evening tours of the Disney exhibit and the Graceland Mansion
Exhibit Tour + Dive In Dinner & Movie Screening of The Lion King at the Guest House at Graceland Pool
Halloween costume party at the exhibit with a costume parade, candy stations, face painters, and craft stations
Exhibit Tours & Tea Parties
A Princess and Pirate party with crafts, trivia, bounce house, and games. Costumes encouraged!
Walt Disney’s Birthday Celebration Weekend
A The Princess and The Frog screening and Zoom panel with Disney animators/filmmakers

To see the full schedule and purchase tickets or hotel packages, please visit Graceland’s website.

Disney fans can currently check out Inside the Walt Disney Archives at the Bowers Museum, where the exhibition will be on view through June 20.

Embark on a New Musical Adventure with Winnie the Pooh This Fall

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021

This fall, Disney fans are invited to venture deep in the Hundred Acre Wood via Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation, a brand-new adventure coming to Times Square’s Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) beginning October 21, 2021. Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl, and—of course—Tigger, too, will come to life on stage through stunning life-size puppetry. The beautifully-crafted musical stage adaptation will feature the Sherman Brothers’ classic Grammy Award®-winning music with additional songs by A.A. Milne.

Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation is developed and presented by Jonathan Rockefeller, whose spectacular puppetry delighted audiences who experienced the acclaimed productions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Paddington Gets in a Jam. Rockefeller says, “I am thrilled to be entrusted to create a new classic for the stage, for new audiences as they join our adventure into the Hundred Acre Wood. And what a grand adventure!”

He continues, “Disney’s Winnie the Pooh material is so incredibly rich, that after more than half a century, I doubt there is anyone who hasn’t been profoundly moved or feels a personal connection with the wonderful characters of Pooh. The question we posed ourselves when creating this intimate musical adaptation was, ‘How do we bring Pooh from the screen and onto the stage in an entirely fresh and new way, yet one that still pays homage to the deep canon of Winnie the Pooh iconography?’ The answer was easy… well, conceptually easy, in theory… we needed to create incredible, brilliant, and amazing puppetry that makes it impossible to believe the characters aren’t real. Audiences can expect their hearts will be captivated by the characters, and their imaginations will soar with these life-size puppets.”

In partnership with TodayTix.com, an exclusive ticket pre-sale for Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation begins June 1, 2021, before tickets are available to the general public beginning June 14, 2021. To register for the pre-sale and to learn more about the new show, visit WinnieThePoohShow.com now.

Intergalactic Vinyl – Star Wars: A New Hope Soundtrack

May 25, 2021May 24, 2021

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives

A long time ago…in a galaxy not so far away…Star Wars: A New Hope debuted in theaters on May 25, 1977, and became the surprise smash hit of the summer. The success of Star Wars resulted in a string of beloved blockbuster films and so much more! The impact Star Wars has had on popular culture and moviemaking as a whole is truly out of this world. In creating the world of the film, George Lucas drew from an incredibly vast and diverse well of influences, such as the Flash Gordon serials of the 1930s, The Hidden Fortress (1958) and other films by Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, and the science fiction comics he consumed in his childhood, to create something as wholly unique and individual as Star Wars. This melting pot of inspiration permeates all aspects of Star Wars, from the hero’s journey Luke Skywalker undertakes to the dogfights between spaceships, and even right down to the comical interactions between droids R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Much like other components of the film, the epic score, composed by John Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, reflects Lucas’ creative approach to making Star Wars a truly unique cinematic experience. As the Disney Legend once said, “we wanted a very Max Steiner-type romantic movie score […] Everything is on the same level, which is sort of old-fashioned and fun, but going for the most dramatic and emotional elements I could get.” With this in mind, Williams studiously avoided simply creating a score comprised of “a piece of Dvořák here, a piece of Tchaikovsky there,” and instead, created themes specific to the characters and story.

In his words, Luke’s theme was “fanfare-ish and brassy and bold…and noble,” fitting for any brave main hero as they embark upon their journey.

In contrast, the theme he wrote for Princess Leia was “very romantic […] it is really a fairy-tale princess melody,” reflecting the complexity and strength of her character. Vivid, rich and not to mention instantly recognizable, Williams’ score was integral to the success of Star Wars.

Of course, any fan of Star Wars would want to listen to this iconic score on repeat, and back in 1977, what better way to do this than with your very own vinyl copy of the soundtrack album?

Among the many terrific assets in the Walt Disney Archives collection is an original LP release of the Star Wars soundtrack, replete with the full score and stills from significant moments in the film. Famously, Star Wars generated a flurry of merchandise, of which this LP is a prime example, as it gave fans a way to really listen to and appreciate the intricacies of John Williams’ work. In our current galaxy, however, you can re-experience Star Wars: A New Hope, streaming now on Disney +!