Fantasia At 80: Exploring Beethoven

December 9, 2020December 9, 2020

By Katie Strobel, Walt Disney Archives

We’re continuing our Fantasia (1940) composer series by exploring the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”) (1808), streaming now on Disney+

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Fantasia: 01:12:14-01:36:09

Fantasia at 80: Exploring Bach — Bust of Beethoven in Walt Disney’s collection of miniatures at The Walt Disney Studios.

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of those historical figures who is often used to show the bridging of two musical worlds: there is before Beethoven and after Beethoven. Before our pal Ludwig, many composers wrote and performed their music as an obligation to their job (remember J.S. Bach from our last spotlight?). Beethoven, however, who was brought up in this old world, eventually veered off on a freer and more independent path of self-expression, leading to what we now know today as the Romantic era of Western classical music. His compositions were longer, more complex, and had more orchestral color than that of the previous Classical era (home to composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), and throughout his life he composed works such as piano concertos, string quartets, works for solo instruments, songs, one opera, and nine symphonies.

What is remarkable about his symphonies is that Beethoven could break so much ground in the symphonic genre (his ninth symphony featured a choir – highly unusual at the time!), and yet he simply did not compose that many of them. His contemporary, Mozart, composed forty-one, and his well-known teacher, Franz Josef Haydn, wrote over 100! What is also remarkable is that Beethoven hadn’t even published his own first symphony when he started to hear a buzzing in his ears. He was going deaf. Beginning in his mid-twenties, Beethoven gradually lost his hearing until he was completely deaf around the age of 44 in 1814. He was so distraught about this that he spent some time in the quieter outskirts of Vienna and wrote a personal and heartbreaking letter to his brothers known as the Heiligenstadt Testament (1802):

“…what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair…”

When you picture a typical portrait of Beethoven, do you see a frustrated and angered man? Perhaps it makes a little more sense now.

But the Beethoven work heard in Fantasia (1940), Symphony No. 6 in F Major, is far from angry! It is overall light and gentle when compared to works like his infamous fifth symphony (dun dun dun dun!), which coincidentally was composed at the same time in 1808. The sixth symphony depicts life in the country (no doubt inspired by his time in the Viennese countryside) and gets Beethoven’s rare distinction of programmatic music: he really does want it to convey pastoral feelings of the countryside, having given titles to the sections of the composition such as “Scene by the brook” and “Thunderstorm.” And, having composed the symphony in 1808, we know that Beethoven was more than halfway through his losing battle of becoming deaf. Again, a quote from his Heiligenstadt Testament, this time to show how important music was to him:

“…only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon to produce…”

So where else can you see (or hear) Beethoven? Well, there is no shortage of Ludwig’s music in popular culture, from four notes motifs to entire symphonies. But for starters, check out these films, streaming now on Disney+ and more! And be sure to check back in next week for a look at Franz Schubert!

Music Land (1935)

00:00:00-00:00:05 – This Silly Symphony title card is introduced by the main theme of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major.
00:00:26-00:01:15 – Minuet in G Major, WoO 10, No. 2

Can be found on the official Walt Disney Animation Studios YouTube page.

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1996), streaming now on Disney+

00:06:57 – You can see a bust of Beethoven on Mr. Holland’s desk in his classroom.
00:09:15-00:10:00 – The student orchestra attempts to play Beethoven’s fifth symphony.
00:58:48-01:01:30 – After learning about his son’s “90% hearing loss,” we see Mr. Holland playing Beethoven’s seventh symphony for his class and teaching them about Beethoven’s own deafness.
01:50:41-01:51:34 – Mr. Holland conducts the ending of the final movement of Beethoven’s third symphony.

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

00:01:13-00:04:04 – The film’s opening segment highlights the first movement of Beethoven’s fifth symphony.

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), streaming now on Disney+

01:11:05-01:12:31 – We hear the second movement of Beethoven’s seventh symphony when Apocalypse takes over Cerebro. It is an apt choice as this particular piece of music has been described as an “almost unrelievedly doom-laden episode, with its relentlessly repeated statements of grief and mourning.”

Did You Know? Like Bach, Beethoven was also a keyboard virtuoso and master of improvisation!

In case you missed it, click here to see our last spotlight look at J.S. Bach!

Clemson Football Player Was the Real-Life Inspiration for Safety

December 8, 2020

By Jim Frye

For Ray McELrathBey, Clemson University—particularly the Clemson football team—gave new meaning to the term “home-field advantage.”

The real-life Ray McELrathBey started his freshman year on a football scholarship at Clemson University, one of the most prestigious and demanding college football programs in the country. And even though he faced the same challenges that most college freshman face—new home, new people, and balancing a full academic load with his responsibilities to his team—he was hit with one challenge that nearly derailed his entire future: figuring out what to do with his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr (Fay), who was left on his own after their mother got arrested for possession.

Faced with the impossible choice of staying the course on his college scholarship or losing Fay into the foster care system, Ray decided to smuggle his younger brother into his dorm room at Clemson, which was strictly against the school’s rules and the rules of the National College Athletics Association. If found out, Ray risked losing his place on the team, his scholarship, and his future. This incredible true story is the basis for Disney+’s powerful and moving drama Safety, which explores one player’s college sports experience when put up against seemingly insurmountable odds, while ultimately redefining what it means to have community, family, and friendship.

“This is a surreal, wonderful experience,” McELrathBey said about the film during a recent press conference. “I was born in Chicago but raised outside Atlanta, and I stayed with various coaches and bounced around a little bit when I was younger. [The opportunity to attend] Clemson came during my senior year when I attended a football camp there.” His skill shone through during the camp, and McELrathBey was eventually recruited on a full football scholarship. He says that the Clemson community became like a family to him. “It was one of the better decisions I made in my life.”

When the director of Safety, Reginald Hudlin, first read the script, he knew he had to do it. “I was so excited and moved and inspired,” he says. “This young man—Ray’s 19 years old [in the film]—is taking on a level of responsibility that’s beyond most people. And I don’t care what your background is, what your education is—he’s doing too much! And, through sheer force of will, he manages to do it all. It’s a story of great individual triumph but also brotherhood—the entire community, his football team and the wider university all join in to help him.”

Central to the film, and to Ray’s story, is his drive to escape his disadvantaged background. “I was in a place I didn’t want to be, so to stay there was scary,” he says. “To have to continue to deal with the things I had to deal with—with no end in sight—was unfathomable. My ambitions came from being so scared—it was the fear of failure.”

He continues: “The most difficult part about those first few months [in college] was struggling between the line of what I was able to do, and what others were able to do. I was moving in silence and not telling a lot of people what I was doing early on. It was just being alone in my decision that was the toughest part, but once everyone found out, life became a lot easier. My teammates were always there, they were always guys I could count on. Even in the tougher times there were people I could lean on, and that was God’s gift.”

“I think this movie will speak to all those people out there who are somehow just making it, people for whom failure is not an option,” adds Hudlin. “Here’s a guy who’s just like them who worked hard and did the impossible and inspired a community by his efforts to say this guy deserves our support. And he’s earned it because of his incredible dedication.”

In a film full of people who do heroic deeds, from Ray to his coaches to his teammates, it might be surprising to hear who Ray himself considers to be the hero of this story. “If I had to pick a hero, I’d pick Fahmarr,” he says, referring to his younger brother. “Fahmarr was the catalyst that made me step up. I was a teenager, I was young, I wasn’t different from many other teenagers. But I hadn’t been asked to step up and he put me in a position where he brought leadership out of me.”

To see Ray and Fahmarr’s heroic tale, catch Safety, which premieres on Disney+ December 11, 2020.

Tonya Felicia McELrathBey, Ray McELrathBey, and Fahmarr McELrathBey behind the scenes of Safety, exclusively on Disney+.

Director Reginald Hudlin filming Safety on-site at Clemson University in South Carolina.

Celebrate the Season with Downloadable Gift Tags!

December 8, 2020December 15, 2020

By The D23 Team

’Tis the season for sharing gifts and spreading some cheer. Add some extra Disney magic to gifts for loved ones both near and far with these D23 Season of Magic gift tags.

SUPPLIES:
8.5 x 11-inch white cardstock (printable)
Scissors
Double-sided tape

OPTIONAL:
8.5 x 11-inch white sticker paper (found in scrapbooking section of craft store)

Download and print out your sheet of gift labels onto your cardstock.

Using scissors, cut around each tag (using its grey border as your outline).

Fill in the “to” and “from” on the front of the labels.

Attach to your gifts using double-sided tape.

OPTIONAL:
Print the gift labels onto a sheet of sticker paper—then cut around each image (as described above), fill in the “to” and “from” on the front, remove the backing, and affix to your packages.

Give gifts to friends and family… and watch them smile as big as the Cheshire Cat!

NOTE: Cutting should be done by an adult.

Director Sharon Maguire Reveals How Disney Movie Magic Was Made in Godmothered

December 7, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

In Godmothered, streaming now on Disney+, Jillian Bell plays Eleanor, who is a work-in-progress as a fairy godmother. Her wish-granting skills could use a little bit—or more than a little bit—of work, as does the vision of “happily ever after” that she’s determined to help Mackenzie (played by Isla Fisher) achieve, whether she wants it or not. But there’s real magic on screen in Godmothered, from the heartfelt relationship between Mackenzie and her daughters, to the friendship that develops between the film’s two heroes; and in Bell’s portrayal of a fairy godmother any Disney fan would be happy to call upon in their own time of need.

In our exclusive Q&A with director Sharon Maguire, the filmmaker (who previously helmed Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones’s Baby) talks about how classic Disney films and characters influenced the film, the inspiration behind Eleanor’s signature pink gown, and why the film’s nontraditional approach—from “one upon a time” to “happily ever after”—makes Godmothered a perfect and contemporary fairy tale for viewers of all ages right now.

D23: How did you approach a film that has both fairy-tale sensibilities and modern storytelling at the same time?

Sharon Maguire (SM): That was part of the appeal for me, to do a Disney movie that honors the Disney legacy with all those wonderful Disney tropes of magic, wands, fairy godmothers, woodland creatures, and even princes and ballgowns… and “happily ever after” is delivered in a very different way than we’ve come to expect in previous Disney movies. Visually, as a director, I get to do magic but then with the comedy I get to subvert it; that was the big appeal for me and that’s what I hope the appeal is as a movie. Eleanor has a formula for what she thinks will bring “happily ever after” but once she hits the modern world, none of her formula works anymore. I think that’s what most of the comedy comes from.

D23: What was it about Jillian Bell that makes her the fairy godmother that we all really need in our lives?

SM: I like the fact that the character is woefully naïve. It’s quite a difficult thing to play somebody who is both woefully naïve and a true believer but has a kindness. I think Jillian brings that, with a level of irony and with a slight edge to her… Also, she’s a thoroughly decent human being, so I think that always shows on screen. She’s inherently funny and decent and kind, and all of those things at the same time… I thought that she’d make an interesting fairy godmother that maybe Disney hadn’t seen before, and I was excited by the idea of subverting our idea of what a fairy godmother is and looks like, as well.

D23: Can you talk about why you saw Isla Fisher as Mackenzie and what she brought to the role?

SM: When we were casting, I thought, Who haven’t we seen play a harried single mom who can carry those one-line zingers? I knew Isla a bit personally, so I knew that she has a fight in her that’s like that and I would love to see it on film. I knew that she could play that role very well in a very grounded way and that she has that acerbic wit.

D23: What can you tell us about Eleanor’s spectacular pink dress?

SM: [Laughs] Asking your fairy godmother to stand in a field in a pumpkin patch in minus-five degrees and not make her teeth chatter is quite difficult, as a director, and she was amazing. She was so heroic in that dress! There was a corset, and it was boned, and there were so many layers to it. It was made from this beautiful fabric called crepeline, which is kind of like a linen fabric that would have been around in Gothic times. It’s a loose-weave fabric and we dyed it in the same shade that it would have been dyed back in Gothic times, with rose petals and things like that. It was quite faded in places and not faded in others. It sort of had an inner life, that dress, and it took a long time to get right and feel that it was something that suited the time, but also suited Jillian and that she felt happy in. But my God, it was cold when she was filming!

D23: Did any iconic Disney fairy godmothers influence the vision that you had for Eleanor?

SM: Working within Disney, copies of the original drawings of the first Fairy Godmother in Cinderella were on my walls of my office the whole time. That’s what’s kind of fascinating for me about doing the movie, that you get to honor that legacy and deliver on that legacy while subverting it. It’s an interesting ride to be on!

Fantasia at 80: Exploring Bach

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020

By Katie Strobel, Walt Disney Archives

We’re kicking off our Fantasia (1940) composer series by exploring the life and music of the earliest composer in the group, J.S. Bach. The film is streaming now on Disney+.

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 (between 1703 and 1707)

J.S. Bach (1685–1750)

Fantasia: 00:02:52-00:13:38

Johann Sebastian Bach was one of Western classical music’s great, prolific composers, having composed more than 1,000 works! This massive output most likely was due to the fact that during his career, he was relegated to being a church and court musician, mandated to compose and perform in various cities around modern-day Germany. However, this should not diminish his talents as a master craftsman of the many forms of music that he composed. And one thing was for sure: Bach was a keyboard virtuoso. Legend has it that a soloist once fled a planned challenge of improvisation after he had heard Bach play the day before!

It is this virtuosity that we hear in Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, composed for organ sometime between 1703 and 1707; Bach couldn’t have been older than 22 years old! The first portion of this piece is an example of Bach’s florid and improvisatory style, which is essentially how one would describe a toccata. The “fugue” part of this piece, on the other hand, is a more structured and complex style of music in which two or more melodies intertwine to form a conversation of sorts. (You can hear this in Fantasia beginning at 00:07:41, just as bursts of yellow dance across a blue background).

So, where else can you see (or hear) Bach throughout the Disney canon? Check out these films and shows, streaming now on Disney+, to find out! And be sure to check back for our look at the work of at Ludwig van Beethoven!

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), streaming now on Disney+

00:52:28–00:54:40 Captain Nemo plays Toccata and Fugue in D Minor on the organ.

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

“Bart’s Girlfriend” (1994): Season 6, Episode 7
- 00:14:32–00:00:15:04—“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”

“Penny-Wiseguys” (2012): Season 24, Episode 5
- 00:17:05–00:17:15—Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582

“Puffless” (2015): Season 27, Episode 3
- 00:03:49–00:04:07—Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995), streaming now on Disney+

00:27:19–00:28:13—Mr. Holland asks the class if anyone likes Bach. He plays “A Lover’s Concerto” by The Toys on the piano and demonstrates that the song is based on Minuet in G. It is interesting to note that this piece does come from a collection of compositions that Bach put together as a present for his wife, but it is in fact attributed to another composer.
01:06:51–01:07:25—Concerto for 3 Harpsichords, Strings, and Continuo No. 2 in C Major, BWV 1064 – I. Allegro

Gravity Falls (TV, 2012–16), streaming now on Disney+

“The Love God” (2014): Season 2, Episode 9
- 00:05:39–00:05:43—Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565

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

“Coffee” (2019): Season 1, Episode 9
- 00:16:23–00:16:30—Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048: I. Allegro

Did You Know? J.S. Bach was father to 20 children, some of whom became well-known composers themselves!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

December 7, 2020December 4, 2020

By Zach Johnson

’Tis the season for holiday favorites! This week begins with the hilarious Oddbods holiday special, premiering Monday on Disney XD. Freeform will air the film Black Nativity as part of its annual “25 Days of Christmas” event on Wednesday, while ABC will premiere a jolly new season of The Great Christmas Light Fight. Then, on Friday, Disney+ will unbox the highly anticipated High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, which includes a special sneak peek at the upcoming season… and as if that weren’t enough, the streaming service will also debut the original sports drama Safety, inspired by an incredible true story.

Oddbods—Monday, December 7, at 7 p.m. ET on Disney XD
Trouble is brewing in the network premiere of the holiday special “The Festive Menace.” On Christmas Eve, Bubbles’ latest invention, the Naughty-or-Nice Machine, zaps Santa Claus and jeopardizes the whole holiday season. Can they find a way back onto his nice list?

Black Nativity—Wednesday, December 9, at 12 a.m. ET on Freeform
Based on Langston Hughes’ 1961 play of the same name, the 2013 holiday film stars Jacob Latimore as Langston, a Baltimore teen raised by a single mom (Jennifer Hudson), who travels to New York City to spend the holidays with his estranged grandparents (Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker). Feeling stifled by his grandfather’s strict rules, Langston ventures out to reunite with his mom, finding the values of faith and family along the way.

The Great Christmas Light Fight—Wednesday, December 9, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
The network’s tree-mendously popular decorating competition series is returning for its eighth season, airing two back-to-back episodes and featuring returning judges Taniya Nayak and Carter Oosterhouse. Four festive families will face off in the season premiere: the Reynolds family from La Verkin, Utah; the Fiore family from Wilmington, Massachusetts; the Trevisano family from in St. Louis, Missouri; and the Barbieri family from Deer Park, New York. The festive fun will continue in the next episode with the Sumner family from Jenks, Oklahoma; the DeBolt family from Boise, Idaho; the Stott Family from Fontana, California; and the Markowski family from Brownsville, Tennessee. Who will win $50,000 and the coveted Light Fight Trophy?

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special—Friday, December 11, on Disney+
In the all-new holiday music special, the cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series will bear gifts of feel-good holiday cheer, performing their favorite Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s songs and sharing anecdotes from past holidays. Shot semi-remotely with cast across Arizona, California, New York, and Utah, the special stars series regulars Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Julia Lester, Kate Reinders, Dara Reneé, Olivia Rodrigo, Frankie Rodriguez, Larry Saperstein, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr, and Sofia Wylie. There’s one more present under the tree: As part of the holiday special, Bassett will also premiere an acoustic version of an original song he wrote for the upcoming second season.

Safety—Friday, December 11, on Disney+
Inspired by the story of former Clemson University football safety Ray McElrathbey (Jay Reeves), this Disney+ original film centers on a young man facing a series of challenging circumstances—but his dedication and persistence help him to triumph over countless adversities. Aided by his teammates and the Clemson community, he succeeds on the field while simultaneously raising and caring for his little brother Fahmarr (Thaddeus J. Mixson).

Every Way to Celebrate the Holidays Virtually with Disney

December 4, 2020December 4, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

The holiday season is here, and with it the celebration of traditions new and old—and for us at D23, that usually means adding some extra Disney magic while we deck the halls. If you’re looking for some extra pixie dust during your at-home celebrations, look no further! We’ve rounded up all the ways you can get holly and jolly the Disney way, from tasty recipes to festive films.

Ring In a Season of Magic with D23
We’re bringing the seasonal celebrations to you, wherever you might be! Check out our Season of Magic page for fun crafts, recipes, articles, and more to help spread holiday cheer from the comfort of your own home. Plus, check back in every day through December 23 to discover a new prize you might be able to win in our Season of Magic Sweepstakes

Join Us for a Virtual Holiday Party
If you’re a D23 Gold Member (or thinking about becoming one), we’ve got a special holiday event just for you! Tune in on December 8 to watch our virtual holiday party celebrating the new book, Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks. Join authors Graham Allan, Becky Cline, and Charlie Price as they take us on a holly, jolly tour of the holiday traditions at Disney Parks around the world. Get more details here.

Calling All Festive Foodies
All year, Disney Parks Blog has been sharing recipes for some of our favorite Disney Parks treats, and the holiday season is no exception. Make sure to visit their Disney Magic Moments site throughout the month to see what treats you need to try. Want to get cooking right away? Why not try your hand at their Gingerbread Cream Cheese Muffins, make a masterpiece with their guide to making Disney-themed charcuterie boards, or start your cookie collection early with some of their favorite cookie recipes!

Daily Surprises from Disneyland Paris
The Disney Parks magic doesn’t stop there—our friends at Disneyland Paris have created the coolest virtual advent calendar, with a special surprise every day leading up to Christmas! Check it out now, and keep checking every day to see what new surprise is in store.

Play Holiday Tunes with Extra Magic
If you’ve already decked your halls and cooked up classic treats, the only thing left to do to finish making your home a winter wonderland is to play some festive tunes! Good thing Disney Music has put together the perfect playlist of music for “that time of year.” Get details on how to stream it here.

Tune In to Classic and New Holiday Favorites
No holiday celebration is complete without gathering around the TV to watch a festive film or special celebrating the season! This year is full of Season’s Streamings, including a slate of holiday new arrivals on Disney+. Whether you’re rewatching your favorite The Simpsons holiday episodes are piecing together a new holiday tradition with The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, there’s something on Disney+ for everyone to stream.

Head to Hulu to you can check out their Holidays section and re-watch favorites and discover new classics, including Happiest Season, Snow Buddies, and some very cute seasonal scenic involving puppies and kittens.

Over at Freeform, the fan-favorite “25 Days of Christmas” programming block is back with more of your holiday favorites you can watch all month leading up to Christmas. Check out their full schedule here. Leave room in your holiday viewing schedule for special content airing on ABC and streaming on the DisneyNOW app, too!

Hanukkah Hijinks from Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs—Plus More in News Briefs

December 4, 2020December 4, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Daveed Diggs and Disney Channel Want a “Puppy for Hanukkah”

If you read these News Briefs with any regularity, you know we A) love Broadway’s Hamilton (and musical theater in general), B) delight over adorable puppies, and C) obsess about any and all holidays. So you can imagine our insane excitement when we found out those three things were coming together this week, courtesy our friends over at Disney Channel.

Fry up some potato latkes and get the menorah ready, because Hamilton star Daveed Diggs and his band Clipping have released a brand-new, super-catchy original Hanukkah song called “Puppy for Hanukkah”—the video for which (seen above) will be found on Disney Channel in rotation now through December 18. (It’ll also be available on DisneyMusicVEVO.) This new Hanukkah ditty is an imaginative hip-hop anthem that isn’t just totally danceable—it also offers up a great cultural learning opportunity for kids and families, no matter their background or faith.

Featuring a diverse cast of kids, the video conveys a universal message of hope and joy—honestly, who doesn’t want a puppy?!—at a time when we need it the most. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to go check on our drying dreidels…

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, fabulous stuff to watch on our TV from around the worlds of Disney—it truly is our favorite time of year. So, what can you expect this weekend, streaming on the device of your choice? Well, let’s see: There’s the animated hit Anastasia joining the Disney+ library; the 1996 holiday classic The Preacher’s Wife airing on Freeform; the all-new special Disney Holiday Magic Quest bringing some high-stakes Disney Parks adventure right into your home, courtesy Disney Channel; and so much more.

**Go Behind the Scenes of Disney Holiday Magic Quest with New Featurette**

Hey, speaking of Disney Channel’s new holiday special… wonder what it’s like to have the run of a Disney park essentially all to yourself? It’s just about as incredible as you’d think—as evidenced by this new behind-the-scenes featurette, detailing the making of Disney Holiday Magic Quest at the Magic Kingdom inside Walt Disney World Resort.

Join cast members from Disney Channel’s ZOMBIES 2—Milo Manheim, Kylee Russell, Ariel Martin, and Pearce Joza—as well as the special’s creative team as they explain how they brought to life the epic challenges seen throughout the event.

Airing tonight (Friday, December 4, at 8 p.m. ET/PT), Disney Holiday Magic Quest finds the ZOMBIES 2 stars navigating a series of challenges and obstacles through iconic Disney attractions and locations, including the Haunted Mansion and Cinderella Castle, in an attempt to restore the holiday magic that was stolen by famed Disney villains Maleficent and Evil Queen. As the stars compete for the grand prize, proceeds will be donated to Toys for Tots—a nonprofit organization that delivers hope and the magic of the holidays to less fortunate kids.

Hulu Launches New Watch Party Feature for All On-Demand Subscribers

Finding new ways to connect with friends and family, especially during this holiday season, is more important than ever before. And thanks to our pals over at Hulu, all on-demand subscribers will now be given the chance to enjoy a shared entertainment experience with loved ones no matter where they reside…

This week, the company officially launched Hulu Watch Party for Hulu and Hulu (No Ads) subscribers on Hulu.com. Viewers can now safely connect with their friends and family from the comfort of their homes to watch thousands of titles from Hulu’s on-demand streaming library. From the new Hulu original The Happiest Season to holiday episodes of beloved shows like The Golden Girls, This Is Us, and Family Guy, Hulu is home for the holidays this season.

How does it work? Glad you asked! After launching Hulu Watch Party through the “Watch Party” icon on each title’s Details page, viewers can share a link with up to seven other Hulu subscribers to join. Viewers must be 18 years of age or older to access the feature. While watching, group members will be able to react in real-time through the chat function and control their own playback. It’ll certainly make for one cool TV yule!

Disney Parks Wishables and Make-A-Wish: Making Spirits Bright

The Walt Disney Company and Make-A-Wish have enjoyed a truly incredible 40-year relationship—and it continues this holiday season with a new collection of Disney Parks Wishables themed to Disney’s iconic animated hit Aladdin.

This adorable new series features the original wish granter himself, the Genie, and is now available at select Disney Parks around the world; at the Disney store; and online at shopDisney.com. And that’s not all: Disney will donate 100 percent—you read that correctly, a full 100 percent!—of the purchase price from sales of the latest series to Make-A-Wish for more life-changing wishes, marking a first for a product collection from Disney Parks. Amazing, right?

This Disney Parks Wishables is the final collection in the trio of products released this fall that began with the debut of the popular Wishes Come True Blue color collection and last month’s adorable Mickey Vintage Plush, which both unlocked donations to Make-A-Wish. Plus, the good folks at the Disney Parks Blog announced that as of this week, sales from the first two merchandise offerings have unlocked a total donation of $591,100 to Make-A-Wish so far!

Lucasfilm to Celebrate 50th Anniversary in 2021

Hard to believe—since time seems to fly faster than the Millennium Falcon doing the Kessel run—but 2021 marks the incredible 50th anniversary for Lucasfilm. Naturally, they’ll be celebrating this momentous occasion with some equally momentous events… First up: The launch of commemorative, fan-favorite 50th anniversary Star Wars products, kicking off this January and continuing throughout the year with special-edition product releases.

Lucasfilm, for the uninitiated, was founded in 1971 by Disney Legend George Lucas; its films and franchises, including Star Wars and Indiana Jones, took the entire globe by storm and revolutionized visual effects, sound design, animation, and many other groundbreaking filmmaking techniques. The artists and technicians of Lucasfilm have never stopped innovating, and they continue to influence the film industry today. For example, The Mandalorian—the first-ever live-action Star Wars series—is currently one of most popular (and critically acclaimed, and galactically fantastic!) offerings available on Disney+.

We can’t wait to see what else Lucasfilm has in store—for its fifth decade, and beyond.

Show Off Your Disney Style with These Mickey-Inspired Sunglasses

December 3, 2020December 7, 2020

By the D23 Team

Every follower of fashion knows that no outfit is complete without accessories—and when it comes to showing off your Disney style, nothing ties a look together quite like a cool pair of shades! Ray-Ban sunglasses are a timeless fashion staple—but their newest collaboration adds some extra pixie dust to a classic design.

The Ray-Ban Disney Mickey Mouse, Limited Edition D20 sunglasses will be available soon at Island Supply at Magic Kingdom, Sunglass Icon® at Disney Springs, and Sunglass Icon® at Downtown Disney, —so D23 Members are getting a first look at this new design!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

December 3, 2020

By Zach Johnson

This weekend is filled with magic and mystery! Disney Channel will debut two can’t-miss holiday specials, beginning Friday with Disney Holiday Magic Quest and continuing Sunday with Challenge Accepted! Disney Channel’s Epic Holiday Showdown. Also on Friday, Disney+ will make Anastasia available to stream, while Hulu will premiere the complete first season of its original series The Hardy Boys. Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” is the gift that keeps on giving—and one of our favorites, The Preacher’s Wife, is in this weekend’s lineup!

Disney Holiday Magic Quest—Friday, December 4, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
Strange things can happen inside the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort after dark! And this special, virtually hosted by Raven-Symoné, will feature ZOMBIES 2 stars Milo Manheim, Kylee Russell, Ariel Martin, and Pearce Joza competing in a high-stakes holiday adventure. They will navigate a series of challenges and obstacles through iconic Disney attractions, including the Haunted Mansion and Cinderella Castle, in an attempt to restore the holiday magic that was stolen by Disney villains Maleficent and Evil Queen. As they compete for the grand prize, proceeds will be donated to Toys for Tots, a nonprofit organization that delivers hope and the magic of the holidays to less fortunate children.

Anastasia—Friday, December 4, on Disney+
Joining the Disney+ library, the two-time Academy Award^®-nominated animated adventure tells the story of Anastasia Romanov (voice of Meg Ryan), daughter of the last Russian czar. After the evil wizard Grigori Rasputin (voice of Christopher Lloyd) puts a hex on the royal family, a young Anastasia disappears. Years later, the Grand Duchess (voice of Angela Lansbury) offers a reward for her granddaughter’s return. So, con men Dimitri (voice of John Cusack) and Vladimir (voice of Kelsey Grammer) devise a scheme to hold auditions and cast an orphan girl with an uncanny resemblance to the missing princess. They bring her to Paris to claim their reward, not knowing she’s the real Anastasia! All the while, Rasputin has been biding his time, waiting to destroy the Romanov family for good!

The Hardy Boys—Friday, December 4, on Hulu
The Hulu Original Series, featuring characters from the beloved novels, begins after a devastating family tragedy strikes. So, the Hardy brothers—Frank (Rohan Campbell), 16, and Joe (Alexander Elliot), 12—are forced to move from the big city to their parents’ hometown of Bridgeport for the summer. Staying with their Aunt Trudy (Bea Santos), Frank and Joe’s quiet summer quickly comes to a halt when they discover their dad, detective Fenton Hardy (James Tupper), has taken on a secret investigation. Realizing their dad may be on to something, the brothers take it upon themselves to start an investigation of their own—and suddenly everyone in town is a suspect. All 13 episodes will premiere at launch.

The Preacher’s Wife—Saturday, December 5, at 7 a.m. ET on Freeform
Directed by Penny Marshall, this sentimental 1996 film is remake of the 1947 classic The Bishop’s Wife. It stars two-time Academy Award^® winner Denzel Washington as a charming angel named Dudley who’s sent to Earth to help Rev. Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) and his wife (Whitney Houston) save their marriage. But things take a turn when Dudley accidentally falls in love with the preacher’s wife. Featuring an all-star cast (Loretta Devine, Gregory Hines, Jenifer Lewis, Lionel Richie) and an all-star soundtrack (“I Believe in You and Me,” “Who Would Imagine a King”), the film is a love letter to faith and family.

Challenge Accepted! Disney Channel’s Epic Holiday Showdown—Sunday, December 6, at 7 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
This holiday special will center on Santa Claus (Kevin Frazier) and Mrs. Claus (Nischelle Turner) enlisting the help of Disney Channel stars to save the holidays from Ebenezer Scrooge (Anneliese van der Pol). The stars—including Milo Manheim, Chandler Kinney, Trevor Tordjman, Kylee Russell, Issac Ryan Brown, Navia Robinson, Sky Katz, Jason Maybaum, Mallory Mahoney, Raphael Alejandro, Will Buie Jr., Christian J. Simon, Ruth Righi, Ava Kolker, and Ramon Reed—take on a series of holiday-themed challenges to lift her evil curse on Christmas. The special will include a performance by ZOMBIES 2 star Meg Donnelly with one lucky fan and a show-stopping number from the pop group Now United.