Remembering Ron Dominguez

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021

By the D23 Team

Ron Dominguez, a Disney Legend and former executive vice president of Walt Disney Attractions, passed away early today, January 1, 2021. He was 85. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Betty, and three children from a previous marriage, Sheryl Ralston, Steve Dominguez, and Ronald K. Dominguez Jr, four grandchildren Joby Ralston, Tim Ralston, Chase Dominguez and Reid Dominguez. Great-Grandson Brooks. Ron had a brother, Paul, who had two daughters; Jonnie Jean Hofer, who resides in Iowa, and Melanie Harner, who was raised by the Dominguez family in California.

“We are saddened to have lost a very dear member of our family, Ron Dominguez,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “Ron’s contributions to Disneyland are nearly incalculable. He was well-known among the cast and community throughout his tenure at the park and continued to show his support long after his retirement, guiding and mentoring leaders, including me, for decades. I am personally grateful for all that he has done for Disney, and want to express my deepest condolences to his family on behalf of every Disney Parks cast member around the world.”

Known as a “native Disneylander,” Dominguez’s family originally owned and lived on 10 acres of the orange grove-covered property that was purchased by Walt Disney for his theme park in 1954.

“Our house was located right about where the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean and Cafe Orleans are today,” he once recalled. “The day we moved out, in August of 1954, we were walking in ditches and holes. Things were popping up around us because construction had to move ahead. They built Disneyland in a year.”

Ron, his mother, and brother all grew up on the Anaheim property. They had inherited it from Ron’s grandfather, who had purchased 30 acres of land in the area in the late 1800s. The day they moved away was bittersweet; as Ron recalled, “It was a very emotional day.”

Born on August 10, 1935, Ron later attended Anaheim High School and the University of Arizona, where he studied business administration. Then, on July 13, 1955, just four days before Disneyland opened, 20-year-old Ron took a summer job as a ticket taker at the new theme park. He found that Walt had moved his family’s two-story, Spanish-style house behind Main Street, U.S.A. for use as administrative offices.

Ron gives his former boss Doc Lemmon credit for encouraging him to extend his summer job. Within one year of joining Disney, he had been trained on every attraction and was named temporary supervisor of Main Street, U.S.A.

One of his most memorable stints was working as Davy Crockett on the Keel Boats. Dressed in a coonskin cap, Ron was a popular target for photographers. He didn’t relish the attention, and quickly asked for a transfer.

In 1957, Ron became assistant supervisor of Frontierland and went on to supervise Adventureland and Frontierland before being named supervisor of Tomorrowland in 1962. That same year, he became general supervisor of the west side of the Park and was later promoted to its manager.

By 1970, Ron was appointed director of operations, and, four years later, was named vice president of Disneyland and chairman of the park operating committee. In 1990, he was named executive vice president, Walt Disney Attractions, West Coast.

Throughout his career, Ron developed strong relations with the City of Anaheim, devoting hours of service to local organizations and helping pave the way toward creation of a second local theme park, Disney California Adventure.

Ron Dominguez retired in August 1994 after 39 years of service to The Walt Disney Company.

He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2000 and has a window on Main Street, U.S.A at Disneyland park.

As Disney Legend and Ron’s Disneyland colleague Mary Anne Mang once recalled, “If Ron has one fault, it’s not really believing how special he is to people: He touches people’s lives.”

Sneak Peek at Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Ship—Plus More in News Briefs

December 31, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Disney Cruise Line Unveils Look at Newest Ship: The Disney Wish

If you watched the Disney Parks Magic Christmas Day Celebration on ABC over the recent holiday (and/or DVR’d it for a nice “Christmas in July” treat this coming summer… or was that just us?!), you’ve seen this exciting tidbit of news—Disney Cruise Line just revealed a look at their latest amazing ship, the Disney Wish. For those who may have missed it the first time, or in case you’d like to check it out again, take a gander at the brand-new sneak peek clip, above.

The video showcases new details of the ship’s glittering Grand Hall, and offers a first look at the exquisite character statue at the base of the grand staircase. Inspired by the beauty of a fairy-tale castle, the Grand Hall truly sets the tone for an enchanted family vacation from the moment guests step onboard. And it’s a great setting for a statue of Cinderella, whose story is the perfect example of magic transforming wishes into dreams… and dreams into reality.

The Disney Wish is the first of three—yes, three!—new ships joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet through 2025. All three ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Look for the Disney Wish to set sail in the summer of 2022.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Well, it’s finally here… we’ve made it to 2021, and there is plenty of fun stuff to watch from around the worlds of Disney for this first official weekend of the year. Nat Geo WILD welcomes an all-new season of The Incredible Dr. Pol on Saturday, while ABC’s The Rookie returns on Sunday. And that’s on top of new titles coming to both Hulu and Disney+. Find out what you can expect, and make sure to save some of those yummy New Year’s Eve snacks to enjoy whilst TV-watching over the rest of the weekend.

**The Suburbs Get Strange in New WandaVision Teaser**

In just a few weeks’ time, we’ll all delight in the debut of Marvel Studios’ WandaVision, their first-ever series streaming exclusively on Disney+. And to wet our proverbial whistles, the good folks at Disney+ just premiered another intriguing teaser—which finds Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) settling into their new home in Westview. But it doesn’t take long before they start to suspect things aren’t as they seem…

Directed by Matt Shakman, with Jac Schaeffer serving as the series’ head writer, WandaVision is a blend of classic TV and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rounding out the cast are Kat Dennings, who reprises her role as Darcy Lewis from Thor and Thor: The Dark World; Randall Park, who reprises his role as Agent Jimmy Woo from Ant-Man and The Wasp; as well as MCU newcomers Kathryn Hahn, playing a plucky neighbor; and Teyonah Parris, playing Monica Rambeau, who was introduced as a child in Captain Marvel.

Look for the series on Disney+ on January 15!

New Year, Big News from Shanghai Disneyland

Hot off the proverbial presses comes this fun news from our pals at Shanghai Disneyland: As of this writing, they’ve already passed midnight and are celebrating the first day of 2021. And during their incredible New Year’s Eve fireworks show (“Ignite the New Year”), they officially unveiled the new logo for their upcoming Fifth Anniversary celebration!

The logo’s debut, which illuminated Enchanted Storybook Castle (the world’s largest Disney castle), marked the start of the resort’s milestone year—and hinted at the many festivities and surprises in store for guests as the resort counts down to the Fifth Anniversary of its historic opening in June 2016. Disney guests and fans across the country—and around the world—are eagerly anticipating all the magical offerings that famously accompany a major anniversary at Disney resorts worldwide.

But that’s not all: Earlier this week, Shanghai Disney Resort celebrated a new milestone as construction continues in Shanghai Disneyland’s newest themed land, Zootopia! Leaders and representatives from the resort joined leaders from the Administrative Commission of Shanghai International Resort—as well as from Shanghai Shendi Group—to sign the final steel roof deck before its installation and watched as the attraction was topped out.

As the eighth themed land at Shanghai Disneyland, Zootopia will be the first-ever land of its kind, featuring a major new attraction that seamlessly blends Disney’s storytelling and state-of-the-art technologies in order to bring the beloved movie and its characters (including fan faves Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde) to life. We can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Every Upcoming Disney Movie, TV Show, Disney Parks Attraction, and More We Can’t Wait to See in 2021

December 31, 2020December 31, 2020

By the D23 Team

Everyone has a reason to celebrate the new year—whether you’re picking up a new hobby, planning new adventures, or just excited to stop writing “2020” as the date on everything, the new year holds the promise of a new start. Over at D23, we can’t help but celebrate the new year for another reason: A new year means new Disney experiences! From can’t-miss movies to exciting theme park milestones, here’s what we’re most excited for in the world of Disney in 2021:

Upcoming Films from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and More!
The new year brings a bounty of opportunities to escape into the world of a movie. And there are so many worlds to explore this year—from the Italian Riviera to the fantasy world of Kumandra to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has two films slated for release in 2021. On Investor Day 2020, Disney Animation announced that Raya and the Last Dragon, featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as Sisu, will be available on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets, at the same time as it is released in theaters, on March 5, 2021. And Encanto, which includes new songs by Emmy®, Grammy,® and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, is slated for theaters in November 2021.

In June, Pixar Animation Studios is slated to debut Luca, a new original feature film that celebrates the universal theme of friendship. The film is set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, where a young boy—Luca—experiences an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta, and endless scooter rides. He shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret: They are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

2021 also brings us a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon in Disney’s Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson as wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and Emily Blunt as intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton, who has traveled to the Amazon jungle from London determined to uncover an ancient tree with healing abilities that could alter the future of medicine. Frank is enlisted to serve as Lily’s guide on her journey through the lush rainforest, and as the unlikely duo embarks on this epic quest together, they face innumerable dangers, supernatural forces, and escalating stakes—with Lily and Frank’s fate, and perhaps mankind’s, hanging in the balance. And Oscar® winner Emma Stone takes on the wickedly wonderful role of Cruella de Vil in Disney’s Cruella, a look at the rebellious early days of one of the most notorious—and notoriously fashionable—villains. Cruella also stars Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser, and Joel Fry, and is directed by Craig Gillespie.

Upcoming releases from Marvel Studios include Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow; Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, starring Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina, and Michelle Yeoh; and Eternals, starring an incredible ensemble cast that includes Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, with Kit Harington, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie.

In The King’s Man, among the films coming in 2021 from 20th Century Studios, one man must race against time to stop a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds who are plotting a war to wipe out millions. The film’s cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance. The upcoming animated feature Ron’s Gone Wrong is the story of Barney, a socially awkward middle-schooler and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally connected device, which is supposed to be his “Best Friend out of the Box.” Prepare for an action-packed journey that demonstrates for both Barney and his robot BFF how wonderfully messy true friendship can sometimes be. Free Guy stars Ryan Reynolds as a bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, and decides to become the hero of his own story—one he rewrites himself. The mystery thriller Death on the Nile sees Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turn into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Five-time Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh directs and stars as the beloved detective, joined by an all-star cast of suspects that includes Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright. And later in 2021, the eagerly awaited adaptation of the original Broadway musical West Side Story, from Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, explores young love and tensions between rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks on the streets of 1957 New York—and it’s sure to make Disney fans’ hearts sing.

And you’ll want to keep a steady supply of popcorn in the house throughout 2021. Among the eagerly anticipated films coming to Disney+ are Flora & Ulysses, a delightful comedy-adventure based on the Newbery Award–winning book about 10-year-old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, who rescues a squirrel with unique superhero powers; Sneakerella, a music-driven modern fairy tale set in the avant-garde street-sneaker subculture of New York City, which stars Chosen Jacobs as El, an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens who dreams of becoming a ‘legit’ creative force in the industry—a dream he pursues with a little nudge from his best friend, along with a sprinkle of Fairy Godfather magic; Diary of a Wimpy Kid, based on the popular book series, which comes to Disney+ in 2021 as an all-new animated film; and Night at the Museum, which has a new twist when it arrives on the streaming service: This time it’s animated!

Television Fun in 2021
The new year always holds so much promise… and for 2021, no truer words have been spoken. There are tons of fantastic new shows and specials to look forward to on your television (or streaming device of choice) from around the worlds of Disney. ABC will welcome several new

series that are sure to delight, including Call Your Mother, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Rebel, inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich and starring Katey Sagal; and the brand-new game shows The Chase (hosted by The View’s Sara Haines and featuring three of Jeopardy’s greatest players) and The Hustler (hosted by Craig Ferguson). Over at National Geographic, they’re getting ready to premiere Genius: Aretha, starring Cynthia Erivo, while Disney Channel is prepping their cool new mystery/time travel series Secrets of Sulphur Springs. And this is all on top of new episodes from some of your favorite series, such as ABC’s The Bachelor, black-ish, The Conners, and A Million Little Things; Disney Channel’s BUNK’D; Disney Junior’s Mira, Royal Detective; Freeform’s Good Trouble and grown-ish; FX’s What We Do in the Shadows; and much, much more.

If all that wasn’t enough, hop over to Disney+ in 2021 for new, totally binge-able series we can’t wait to see. As announced during the 2020 Disney Investor Day, Disney Television Studios is currently in production on several live-action series set to debut on Disney+ in 2021: The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Turner & Hooch, Big Shot, Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (working title), Just Beyond, and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Our friends at National Geographic will also be debuting a new, unscripted series, The Secrets of the Whales, narrated by Sigourney Weaver and executive produced by James Cameron.

If you have a penchant for Pixar, check out Pixar Popcorn, which debuts in January, and stay tuned for fall 2021 when the Up spin-off Dug Days premieres. Plus, the highly anticipated animated series, Monsters at Work, is set to debut next year, further exploring the world originally established in Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University. Anyone feeling especially nostalgic should keep an eye out for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, the revival of the original groundbreaking animated series The Proud Family. Need something super-powered for your queue? Marvel Studios has you covered with the highly anticipated series WandaVision, kicking off in January, followed later in the year by The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Loki.

Anyone who binged all of The Mandalorian season 2 is wishing they could make the lightspeed jump to December 2021, when The Book of Boba Fett debuts. Boba Fett’s journey will continue, set within the timeline of The Mandalorian and star Temuera Morrison as the titular bounty hunter, along with Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand. If that wasn’t enough intergalactic fun for you, make sure you tune into Star Wars: The Bad Batch, a new animated series debuting later in the year, which follows a unique group of clones in the aftermath of Order 66.

So, pop some corn, snuggle into your favorite spot, and get ready to enjoy…

Milestone Anniversaries and Enchanting New Attractions at Disney Theme Parks
Our friends at the Disney Theme Parks have been hard at work creating new magic to share with the world in 2021. While Disneyland Resort is currently closed, we are looking forward to exploring Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure next year, where we can channel our inner Super Hero alongside The Avengers, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and more! Over at Disneyland Park, we’ve already seen a sneak peek of the renovated Snow White’s Enchanted Wish attraction, set to reopen next year.

At Walt Disney World, we’re excited to step into the future as EPCOT’s historic transformation continues, including the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France pavilion! Additionally, our nights are about to be brighter with the addition of the new nighttime extravaganza, Harmonious, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created.

At Disneyland Paris, Disney’s Hotel New York is undergoing its largest refurbishment ever, an ambitious reimagining that will transform the property into Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel when it reopens next year. It will be the very first hotel dedicated entirely to the celebration of Marvel art, with one of the largest publicly viewable collections of Marvel artwork in the world. If you’re headed into the parks, keep an eye out for the wheel-y cool, new Cars attraction coming to Walt Disney Studios Park, where guests will be invited on a trip to discover wacky roadside attractions and local natural wonders while meeting some fan-favorite Cars characters!

2021 will also mark several milestone anniversaries at Disney Parks around the world. In October, Walt Disney World Resort will celebrate its golden anniversary—50 years of making magic! We’ll be joining the excitement with our D23 Collector Set Celebrating 50 Magical Years, which will be included with all new and renewed D23 Gold Memberships in 2021. Additionally, Disney California Adventure and the Downtown Disney District will be celebrating their 20th anniversaries in January, while Shanghai Disneyland will ring in its 5th anniversary in June. Hong Kong Disneyland has already started celebrating its 15th anniversary with the debut of the Castle of Magical Dreams last month, and will continue the celebrations into the new year.

A Most Magical Celebration with D23, and More!
D23 continues to bring an unprecedented number of experiences and fun to our members, including a fantastic array of Gold Member-exclusive virtual events. When permitted, we’re excited to continue many of our other fan-favorite experiences, adhering to local safety guidelines, including guided tours of The Walt Disney Studios lot and our Magical Screening Series. Plus, all year long we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World with our D23 Collector Set, Celebrating 50 Most Magical Years of the Walt Disney World Resort.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

December 31, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Start the weekend and the New Year off right by watching Dr. Suess’ Horton Hears a Who! and/or The Wolverine, both of which will become available to stream on Disney+ Friday. That same day, Hulu will add Dead Poets Society to its library (among dozens of other titles). Looking for something new? Enjoy the highly anticipated season premieres of Nat Geo WILD’s The Incredible Dr. Pol (airing Saturday) and ABC’s The Rookie (airing Sunday).

Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!—Friday, January 1, on Disney+
The 2008 film, based on the 1954 book of the same name, tells the story of eccentric nature teacher Horton the Elephant (voice of Jim Carrey), who finds a speck of dust floating in the Jungle of Nool. Upon further inspection, he discovers the speck harbors the tiny city of Who-ville and its residents, the Whos—whom he can hear but cannot see. Horton forms a friendship with the mayor of Who-ville, Ned McDodd (voice of Steve Carell), and promises to transport the city to safety. However, Horton encounters pushback from his neighbors, who refuse to believe that Who-ville exists. In addition to Carell and Carrey, the animated film’s all-star voice cast includes Will Arnett, Carol Burnett, Disney Legend Bill Farmer, Isla Fisher, Dan Fogler, Selena Gomez, Jonah Hill, Joey King, Jesse McCartney, Niecy Nash, Charles Osgood, Amy Poehler, Jaime Pressly, and Seth Rogen.

The Wolverine —Friday, January 1, on Disney+
In this 2013 film directed by James Mangold, century-old mutant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is lured back to Japan for the first time since World War II, finding himself in a shadowy realm of yakuza and samurai. He is pushed to his physical and emotional brink after he goes on the run with a powerful industrialist’s daughter (Tao Okamoto) and is confronted—for the first time—with the prospect of death. As he struggles to rediscover the hero within, he must cope with powerful foes and the ghosts of his own haunted past.

Dead Poets Society—Friday, January 1, on Hulu
Fans of this 1989 Touchstone Pictures drama can now stream it anytime they like! Set in 1959 at the elite Vermont boarding school Welton Academy, this timeless tale follows English teacher John Keating (Disney Legend Robin Williams). He’s new to the all-boys preparatory school, which is famous for its antiquated traditions and high standards. He uses unorthodox methods to connect with his students, who face immense pressure from the faculty and their parents. Over time, he inspires students like Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), and Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles) to live boldly.

The Incredible Dr. Pol—Saturday, January 2, at 9 p.m. ET on Nat Geo WILD
New year, new season! Settle in for a wild ride as the veterinary team deals with new cases—day and night, on the clock and off—with more expertise, grit, heart, and humor than ever before. This season will feature all new animals and many babies, of course… but what additional challenges will the veterinarians confront in the face of a global pandemic?

The Rookie—Sunday, January 3, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC
The season three premiere finds John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) nearing the end of his training. He will face his biggest challenge as a police officer yet when he must come to terms with the choices he has made in pursuit of the truth. “I can’t undo the mistakes I’ve made, but I can help make them right,” he says in the trailer. “No matter what it costs me.”

The Biggest Disney Moments of 2020 from Disney+, Theme Parks, Movies, Fan Events, and More!

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020

By the D23 Team

The Disney+ Adventure Continues

This year brought new adventures in the world of streaming, both anticipated and surprising. At the beginning of the year, we enjoyed the debut of two adaptions of beloved books, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made and Stargirl. The cinematic debuts didn’t end there: in light of cinemas impacted by closures due to the global health crisis, Onward, Frozen II, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker all arrived on Disney+ earlier than expected so we could get a head start on binge watching these soon-to-be classics. Over in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars fans got double the excitement with the debut final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and season two of The Mandalorian. If you prefer belting show tunes to wielding a lightsaber, we bet your Disney+ watchlist includes Hamilton, which debuted in July with a filmed version of the original Broadway production. Now, any room you are in can be “the room where it happens”! As if that wasn’t enough plussing up for the year, on Christmas, Disney and Pixar fans got into the zone to experience the debut of Soul, which you can stream right now, no matter if it’s for the first or 30th time.

Just last month, Disney+ celebrated its first year of streaming magic with the world, and you can check out our roundup of the platform’s inaugural year to read even more about everything new that made it into our Disney+ queue this year.

Appointment Television

In such an unusual year, it was easy to find comfort in some incredible television from around the worlds of Disney—some of which was created under unprecedented circumstances. From brand-new seasons of ABC juggernauts American Idol (filmed remotely) and Dancing with the Stars (featuring new host and executive producer Tyra Banks, and filmed without its usual studio audience), to the amazing final season of ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.… From the Disney Family Singalongs on ABC and Disney Holiday Magic Quest on Disney Channel (that kept both young and young-at-heart enthralled), to memorable special events like ABC’s broadcast of The 72nd Emmy Awards and Freeform’s Love in the Time of Corona… not to mention all the fantastic new content (way too much to list!) that still popped up—no matter the obstacles—on ABC, Freeform, FX, National Geographic, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD… it all made for truly “appointment television” all year long.

Amazing Accolades

On February 9, Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4 was named best Animated Feature Film at the 92nd Oscars.® Producers Jonas Rivera and Mark Nielsen accepted the award alongside director Josh Cooley, who said, “We want to thank the moviegoing audience so much, especially those who grew up with Toy Story. We hope that your adventures with Woody and Buzz made growing up a little bit easier.” Disney releases earned four Academy Awards® in all for 2020. In addition to Toy Story 4’s big win, Taika Waititi received the Oscar for best Adapted Screenplay for Fox Searchlight’s Jojo Rabbit, and Ford v Ferrari, from 20th Century Fox, was honored in two categories, Sound Editing and Film Editing. You can relive all of the magical moments from this year’s Oscars telecast right here on D23.com.

At the 72nd Emmy® Awards, titles from across The Walt Disney Company combined for a total of 24 awards for this year. With seven wins for The Mandalorian, as well as an award for Pixar’s Forky Asks a Question: What is Love, Disney+ received eight Emmys—the most wins ever for a streaming service in its inaugural year. The 24 Emmys were comprised of 21 Creative Arts Emmys plus two juried awards and one Primetime Emmy, given to Uzo Aduba for her acclaimed performance in the FX limited series Mrs. America. View the full list of Disney’s Emmy winners and discover highlights from ABC’s live telecast, which looked a little different from previous years, here on D23.com.

All the Disney News from This Year’s San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con

Fans just couldn’t get enough Disney this year! With large group gatherings not possible, two of the biggest fandom events in the country—San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con—moved online, making their panels available to a wider range of viewers than ever before, and proving that even in this difficult year, fans were eager to hear the latest news and get behind-the-scenes peeks at their favorite shows and movies. And the brands of Disney stole the show, including Disney+, Disney Television Studios, ABC, Hulu, Marvel, FX, 20th Century Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Freeform, and Lucasfilm Publishing!

At San Diego Comic Con, we got our first look at Marvel’s 616, Searchlight’s Antlers, and the next phase of Lucasfilm Publishing. Fans also got their first extended look at 20th Century Studios’ The New Mutants, along with behind-the-scenes panels with Marvel Publishing, Bob’s Burgers, Archer, What We Do in the Shadows, The Goldbergs, and more! And in grand fashion, creators and cast from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. made their final convention appearance. We have a complete roundup of Disney panels here.

Later in the year, New York Comic Con gave us exciting first-looks at Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K., Monsterland, and Animaniacs!, all for Hulu, in addition to Disney Channel’s upcoming the Ghost and Molly McGee. Fans were also treated to panels featuring Big Hero 6 The Series (moderated by Jeffrey R. Epstein, co-host of the D23 Inside Disney podcast), Marvel Publishings’s X of Swords, and a nostalgic look back at the groundbreaking ABC series Lost, with Damon Lendelof and Carlton Cruse. See our recap of all the NYCC Disney panels here.

Out-of-This-World Fun at Disney Parks

The year pulled out of the station with a highly anticipated debut of a new attraction at Disney Hollywood Studios: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway! We were there at the opening of the wacky new attraction starring our pals Mickey and Minnie with a special video episode of our podcast, D23 Inside Disney.

Back over at Disneyland Resort, the galaxy got a little bigger with the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, an epically high-tech attraction that puts fans as the main role in their own Star Wars adventure alongside their favorite characters. We celebrated the opening of this new adventure with another video episode of D23 Inside Disney, filmed inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Even more magic was… well, Happening at Disneyland Resort with the debut of an all-new parade, Magic Happens! The parade, which features floats celebrating beloved Disney classics such as Moana, Coco, and more was first announced at D23 Expo 2019 and is still making magic through the power of the internet! While Disneyland is temporarily closed, our friends at Disney Parks Blog shared an enchanting virtual viewing of the parade so that you can sing and dance along with your favorite characters from the comfort of your home.

We saw even more fun debuts at Disney Parks this year, including the opening of three new shows at EPCOT along with the unveiling of a new entry fountain. Plus, Hong Kong Disneyland enchanted us all with the new Castle of Magical Dreams, while over at Tokyo Disneyland, fans lived out their own “tale as old as time” in the all-new Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast attraction.

A New Kind of D23 Event: #AtHomeWithD23

While we were only able to see our D23 Members in person a few times this year, such as during our screenings of The Three Caballeros and at the world premiere of The Call of the Wild, we connected with our members virtually with our #AtHomeWithD23 event series. We kicked it off with a standout celebration of 25 years of A Goofy Movie, which featured a reunion of the cast and a live tweet of the film.

You can watch a full playlist of our virtual events here, which includes an exclusive reunion of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars cast, a delightful chat with Disney Legend Hayley Mills in celebration of 60 years of Pollyanna, and more!

One of the most exciting “firsts” for D23 this year was the premiere of our exclusive documentary, Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives, which gave viewers a look at rarely seen treasures of the extensive Disney Archives, which was founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith 50 years ago! The premiere was part of a monthlong celebration of the Walt Disney Archives’ milestone anniversary, which included a special issue of Disney twenty-three, exclusive virtual panels, and more!

We also brought together our Gold Members for two exclusive virtual events celebrating 65 years of the Disney Theme Park—a trivia night and special panel ringing in Disneyland’s milestone anniversary.

In September, we celebrated an impressive—most impressive—40th anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with a drive-in screening of the film at the Rose Bowl. At this socially distant celebration, guests dressed up, waved their lightsabers, and enjoyed the epic film on the big screen!

In October, we shared lots of treats and no tricks when we debuted our first-ever Virtual Mousequerade Costume Contest, just in time for Halloween! We celebrated the amazing skills of Disney fans who created stunning cosplays of their favorite Disney characters with a special virtual competition hosted by Nina West and judged by Yvette Nicole Brown, Ashley Eckstein, and Caitlin McHugh Stamos!

Just last month, we brought the fantastic worlds of Disney to you during our Fantastic Worlds Celebration—a week of virtual events celebrating the fantastic worlds of Disney, both real and imagined. You can check out a full playlist of the panels here. We’re so glad we were able to share the magic of Disney with our members this year, and we look forward unlocking all the magic of Disney for you in 2021!

#TheWishEffect was Transformational for this Budding Animator

December 30, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

As so many of our favorite Disney films have demonstrated, a wish is a powerful thing. And Disney’s new video series proves “The Wish Effect” is very real. For children with critical illnesses, a wish can bring hope, strength, and joy, so they can forget about treatment and just be a kid. And as you’ll discover in “The Wish Effect,” that impact continues long after a wish has come true. The Disney Parks Blog recently shared Tali’s wish for a Disney-themed RV camper and Henry’s selfless toy drive. The latest episode introduces TJ, whose wish to tour Walt Disney Animation Studios and meet with animators was granted in 2019.

For 40 years, Disney has worked with Make-A-Wish® to provide magic to kids like TJ of Suffolk County, New York. The 15-year-old has always been a Disney fan, but when he was diagnosed with leukemia at age 11, Disney animated films became an inspiration to him. Throughout his treatments, he watched classic films such as Lilo & Stitch, The Lion King, and Brother Bear over and over, and TJ spent hours sketching his favorite Disney and Pixar characters. It’s TJ’s goal to one day become a Disney animator, so his one true wish was to tour Walt Disney Animation Studios and meet some animators.

Disney Animation welcomed TJ and his family to their studio in February 2019 for a spectacular day that began at the Walt Disney Animation Research Library (ARL), where Fox Carney, Manager of Research, and the ARL staff invited TJ to get a close look at original drawings from some of his favorite films, as well as sketches of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck from the 1930s. Carney shared, “When I saw TJ walk in, his jaw just dropped, looking at our table of artwork. He said, ‘Wow, this really means something,’ and it shows a greater perspective when you see the connection that it makes with a child, and a child for whom this is so important.”

TJ left the ARL with two very special keepsakes, his own pair of white archivist’s gloves, along with the third volume of Walt Disney Animation Studios – The Archive Series, Design, and memories to last a lifetime. “I don’t know if there are words to describe it,” he said.

At Walt Disney Animation Studios, TJ was greeted by a group of animators and directors who worked on some of his favorite films, including Aladdin, Lilo & Stitch, Zootopia, and Wreck-It Ralph. Over lunch, they talked with TJ about their own career journeys and offered encouragement for how he can move forward as he pursues his own dreams of working in animation. “Despite the adversity [he’s faced], there he is smiling, enthusiastic, and he’s loving every minute of it,” said director and animator Eric Goldberg, who supervised the animation of the wish-granting Genie in Aladdin.

After a private tour of Walt’s Office, TJ returned to Disney Animation for some hands-on experiences designed to help him on his path to becoming an animator. Renato Dos Anjos, head of animation for Zootopia and Ralph Breaks the Internet, gave TJ an expert tutorial on computer animation, teaching him how to use a character rig and make it come to life through animation. And Alex Kupershmidt, a supervising animator from Lilo & Stitch—TJ’s favorite film—guided him through the process of character sketching (and gifted TJ with the one-of-a-kind drawings of Stitch they created together). TJ also spent time in Disney Animation’s “animation pit,” where dozens of animators stopped by to meet TJ and share stories about their work and careers.

As he prepared to return home to New York, TJ promised, “In a couple years, I’ll show up again and work here!” And since TJ’s unforgettable visit to Disney Animation, he has remained focused on the bright future that lies ahead. Recently, he and Zootopia co-director/writer Jared Bush reunited virtually for the latest installment of “The Wish Effect,” and TJ shared that he continues to work on his animation skills and heed the advice of the friends he made at Disney Animation.

The “wish effect,” goes both ways, Bush notes. “To celebrate [wish kids] for a day is so important, to allow them to look in the future and see what life is going to be like after they’re through this really hard part. It’s just really exciting to be part of that,” he said, and he told TJ that after spending time with him, the Disney animators were “feeling fantastic for days.”

Together, Disney and Make-A-Wish have made more than 140,000 wishes come true over the last four decades, and every part of The Walt Disney Company has played a role in these life-changing wishes—from theme parks around the world and Disney stores, to the television and movie studios. To learn more about the many ways Disney is working with Make-A-Wish, and to see more episodes of “The Wish Effect,” visit wish.org/Disney.

Fantasia at 80: Exploring Stravinsky

December 30, 2020December 31, 2020

By Katie Strobel, Walt Disney Archives

We’re continuing our Fantasia (1940) composer series by exploring the life and music of Igor Stravinsky.

The Rite of Spring (1913), streaming now on Disney+

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Fantasia: 00:39:37-01:05:17

Fantasia at 80: Exploring Stravinsky — *Fantasia* (1940) concept art

Igor Stravinsky, like Tchaikovsky, started to study law before he realized that music would be his true career path. Things started to change for him when he met composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in 1903 and again when he met Serge Diaghilev, the founder and director of the Ballet Russes. If Tchaikovsky elevated ballet music as we saw in our last spotlight, then Stravinsky took it even a step further. After a successful first collaboration with Diaghilev, Stravinsky was asked to compose music for the Ballet Russes production of The Firebird. It was a huge success, led to further collaboration with Diaghilev, and put Stravinsky’s name on the map.

One of those collaborations was the ballet Le Sacre du Printemps, or The Rite of Spring. Stravinsky composed this work from 1911-1913, and as Beethoven gave a programmatic nature to his sixth symphony, so too did Stravinsky with titles of the movements like “The Adoration of the Earth” and “Dance of the Chosen One.” The piece begins with a strange and haunting melody, made so because of the unusually high range of the bassoon. Stravinsky’s vision for this was “the awakening of nature, the scratching, gnawing, wiggling of birds and beasts.” This is in stark contrast to the following sections that showcase irregular rhythms foreign to Western classical music at the time.

The combination of complex rhythms and music with visually rough and raw choreography, costumes, and settings shocked the audience at the 1913 premiere in Paris—so much so that there was essentially a riot! It got so loud that the dancers could not hear the music, and the choreographer, Vaslav Nijinsky, had to shout their instructions. The opening night was a scandal with some members of the rowdy crowd ending up at the police station. Fortunately, when the work was performed a year later, it was much more well-received and is today regarded as a pinnacle piece of 20th-century music.

So where else can you see (or hear) Stravinsky? Check out Fantasia/2000 (2000), streaming now on Disney+!

Fantasia/2000 (2000), streaming now on Disney+

- 00:59:07-01:08:44 – The Firebird, the ballet that preceded The Rite of Spring, closes out this film in the final segment entitled “Firebird Suite (1919 version).”

Did You Know? Stravinsky, having been born in Russia, settled down in West Hollywood, California, in 1940! However, he is buried on San Michele, Venice’s cemetery island—and near Diaghilev’s final resting place, no less!

In case you missed it, check out our spotlight look at Pytor Tchaikovsky!

These Two Festive Mocktails from Eater’s Guide to the World will be the Apple of Your Eye

December 29, 2020December 29, 2020

By the D23 Team

Our friends at Hulu’s Eater’s Guide to the World have shared two delicious mocktail recipes from McMenamins, a brewery featured on the series. Enjoy the sweet taste of apples in these two drinks, which are perfect for staying warm and feeling refreshed on cool winter’s day.

Crab Apple Toddy Mocktail
In a coffee glass, add:
1 tsp. honey
.5 oz. fresh lemon
1 oz. B Street Crab Apple Shrub drinking vinegar
Fill with hot water

The Crabby Apple Mocktail
Featuring McMenamins B Street Crab Apple Shrub
1 oz. B Street Crab Apple Shrub drinking vinegar
Fill w/ hot apple cider
Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg

McMenamins is featured in episode 1 (“Dining Alone in the Pacific Northwest”) of Eater’s Guide to the World. Join narrator Maya Rudolph in the Pacific Northwest and explore the best part of dining solo—not having to share any of the juicy pork steak, soba noodles, and piping hot fried chicken. All episodes of Eater’s Guide to the World are now streaming, only on Hulu.

About McMenamins B Street Crab Apple Shrub:
Drinking Vinegar
If you combined spring and fall in a glass, this would be it—the sweet-tartness B Street Crab Apple Shrub brings to mind spring’s crabapple blossoms and crisp, ripe autumn fruit. Blended with warm spices and raw apple cider vinegar, the result adds a bright note to cocktails.

This shrub is available seasonally at shopmcmenamins.com October–February.

Ring in the New Year with this motion FIREWORKS series from Disney Collect!

December 29, 2020December 29, 2020

Disney Collect! by Topps® is a proud sponsor of D23 Season of Magic

By the D23 Team

Celebrate the Season of Magic with the Disney Collect! by Topps digital collectibles app which will be releasing BRAND NEW content all month long! The free Topps® app gives fans around the world a chance to collect their favorite Disney characters as well a fun, interactive way to trade with others, craft cards into rarer ones, and more!

See below for the latest releases and head into the app to claim your daily freebies!

Base 2020 – Series 2 – Fireworks Series: Available December 28th

Ring in the New Year with brand new animated MOTION Base Cards. Collect all 108 for a special Yensid award!

The Nightmare Before Christmas – Character Collection: Available Now! 

Collect Jack Skellington and the rest of the Halloween Town citizens in this festive, spook-tacular Collection!

Winnie The Pooh – Classic Christmas Collection: Debuts December 25^th!

Christmas comes to the Hundred Acre Wood with festive Cards featuring Tigger, Piglet, and of course, Winnie The Pooh. This collection also includes special Die-Cut and Motion Cards!

Soul Character Collection: Debuts December 26^th!

Join Joe as he travels to The Great Beyond in this Collection featuring characters from the inspiring new Pixar film, “Soul”. This collection debuts alongside our Watch Party event taking place on 12/26 at 1PM ET, where we’ll be giving out FREE coins, cards, and more!

For more info on our Soul Watch Party, click here.

The Emperor’s New Groove – 20th Anniversary Collection: Available December 16th!

Celebrate 20 years of Kuzco and company with this commemorative Collection celebrating characters and scenes from the classic animated comedy!

Once Upon A Snowman Collection: Debuts on December 21st!

Olaf stars in this frigid fun Collection inspired by the heart-warming new Once Upon A Snowman animated short. Keep an eye (or a nose) out for Rare motion variants!

The Aristocats – 50th Anniversary Collection: Available December 11th!

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Aristocats with new digital collectibles featuring the coolest cats in Paris! This commemorative Collection includes story cards, character cards, and more!

12 Days of Topps: December 14th – December 25th!

Disney Collect’s annual Christmas countdown begins on December 14th with free daily digital collectibles and coins to claim for all users! Be on the look–out for festive rare motion cards which the app will be releasing once per day!

The Rescuers Down Under – 30th Anniversary Collection: Available Now!

Travel to the rugged Australian wilderness with Bernard and Miss Bianca in this brand-new commemorative collection! This 28-card set features all kinds of new digital collectibles including motion cards!

Glitter Ball Collection Set: Available Now !

Collect this special Glitter Ball Collection Set which adds the perfect amount of holiday magic to anyone’s digital collection. All of your favorite Disney Princesses are here!

Start building your Topps Disney digital collection for free now: bit.ly/SoM_DisneyCollect

Stay up to date on all the latest Disney Collect! app news, set releases, and more on Twitter and Instagram.

Fantasia at 80: Exploring Tchaikovsky

December 28, 2020December 22, 2020

By Katie Strobel, Walt Disney Archives

We’re continuing our Fantasia (1940) composer series by exploring the life and music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Nutcracker Suite (1892), streaming now on Disney+
Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–93)
Fantasia: 00:13:39-00:28:47

Fantasia at 80: Exploring Tchaikovsky — *Fantasia* (1940) flowers on blue and purple background concept art

Pyotr Tchaikovsky took piano and music theory lessons starting from a young age, but still decided to study law when he got older. Lucky for us, he changed course and entered the music conservatory in St. Petersburg, followed by a teaching stint at the conservatory in Moscow. There Tchaikovsky encountered the composers known as “The Mighty Five” and was inspired by their love of Russian heritage, but he eventually settled into his own individual style. This style was extremely accessible to listeners of Western classical music at the time—memorable melodies, lush orchestral sounds, and emotions that pulled at the heartstrings. His reach was so far that he even conducted at the opening of New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1891!

The Tchaikovsky work we hear in Fantasia (1940) is the Nutcracker Suite, a selection of pieces from the full ballet, The Nutcracker. This orchestral suite actually debuted before the ballet, having been performed in March 1892 before the ballet’s premiere in December 1892. The Nutcracker is loosely based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fairy tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, and was the last of Tchaikovsky’s three ballets, preceded by Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty.

Unfortunately, Tchaikovsky did not live to see the success of The Nutcracker, but what he did for Russian ballet music was a turning point in music history. Before Tchaikovsky, music heard in ballets was more like background music for the dancers, but he elevated it to an art form in and of itself, with more variety and richness of rhythms, melody, and orchestration.

So where else can you see (or hear) Tchaikovsky across the many worlds of Disney? A lot of places, indeed! Check out the following films and shows, streaming now on Disney+ and more! And be sure to check back for our spotlight look at Stravinsky, the last in our series!

Sleeping Beauty (1959), streaming now on Disney+

The music was adapted from Tchaikovsky’s 1890 ballet of the same name.

The Little Mermaid (1989), streaming now on Disney+

00:59:10–00:59:31—Scuttle attempts to set a romantic mood with the “Love Theme” from Romeo and Juliet.

The Simpsons (TV, 1989–present), streaming now on Disney+

“Wedding for Disaster” (2009)—Season 20, Episode 15
- 00:09:14–00:09:54—The main theme from the first movement of the Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23 is played on the violin.

“How I Wet Your Mother” (2012)—Season 23, Episode 16
- 00:01:16–00:01:38—Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36: III. Scherzo. Pizzicato ostinato.

“I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” (2014)—Season 26, Episode 9
- 00:16:11–00:16:19—“Dance of the Reed Flutes” from The Nutcracker
- 00:19:03–00:19:17—“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker

“22 for 30” (2017)—Season 28, Episode 17
- 00:06:45–00:06:55—1812 Overture

Kim Possible (TV, 2002–07), streaming now on Disney+

“Hidden Talent” (2004)—Season 2, Episode 15
- 00:10:13–00:10:19—“Russian Dance” from The Nutcracker

Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004), streaming now on Disney+

00:11:43–00:13:16—The song “Love So Lovely” is based on the “Dance of the Reed Flutes” from The Nutcracker and the “Love Theme” from Romeo and Juliet.

Little Einsteins (TV, 2005–10), streaming now on Disney+

“The Blue Footed Booby Bird Ballet” (2007)—Season 2, Episode 15
- This episode features music from Swan Lake, including an introduction to Tchaikovsky at 00:01:09.

“The Wind-Up Toy Prince” (2007)—Season 2, Episode 20
- This episode features music from the Nutcracker Suite, including an introduction to Tchaikovsky at 00:01:12.

“Animal Snack Time” (2008)—Season 2, Episode 25
- This episode also features music from the Nutcracker Suite, with an introduction to Tchaikovsky at 00:01:08.

“The Song of the Unicorn” (2008)—Season 2, Episode 31
- This episode features music from the 1812 Overture, including an introduction to Tchaikovsky at 00:01:12.

Maleficent (2014), streaming now on Hulu

“Once Upon A Dream”—Sung by Lana Del Rey in the end credits, this song is based on the melody from the Waltz in Act I of The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018), streaming now on Disney+

James Newton Howard’s score adapts the music from The Nutcracker

The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2019), streaming now on Disney+

“Cosmetics” (2019)—Season 1, Episode 10
- 00:12:23–00:13:01—Swan Lake, Op. 20, Act II: 13. Dances of the Swans

Did You Know? The Nutcracker, notably “Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy,” features the celesta, a brand-new instrument for the time that Tchaikovsky wanted to keep secret from his rivals!

In case you missed it, click here to see our spotlight look at Amilcare Ponchielli and Paul Dukas!