EXCLUSIVE: Unbirthday: A Twisted Tale Cover Reveal and Author Q&A

May 20, 2020

By Zach Johnson

What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late?

That’s the premise of Unbirthday, the next chapter in the popular A Twisted Tale novel series from Disney-Hyperion. Written by one of our favorite authors, Liz Braswell, the young adult novel will be available on September 1, 2020. As we wait for that very important date, D23 is proud to exclusively reveal the cover of Unbirthday: A Twisted Tale.

Alice is different than other 18-year-old ladies in Kexford, which suits her just fine. She’d rather spend golden afternoons with her trusty camera or in her aunt Vivian’s lively salon, ignoring her sister’s wishes that she stop all that “nonsense” and become a “respectable” member of society. Alice is happy to meander to Miss Yao’s teashop or to visit the children playing in the Square. She’s also interested in learning more about the young lawyer she met there—but just because she’s curious, of course, and not because he was sweet and charming. But when Alice develops photographs she has recently taken about town, familiar faces of old suddenly appear in the place of her actual subjects—like the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, and the Caterpillar. There’s something eerily off about them, even for Wonderland creatures. And as Alice develops a self-portrait, she finds the most disturbing image of all, a badly injured dark-haired girl asking for Alice’s help: Mary Ann. Returning to Wonderland, Alice finds herself on a mission to stop the Queen of Hearts’ tyrannical rule and find her place in both worlds. But can she do it before the end of time?

Before we dive into Unbirthday: A Twisted Tale this fall, enjoy this Q&A with Braswell:

D23: This is about if Alice was very, VERY late. How late are we talking?
Liz Braswell (LB): Over a decade, 11 years, to be exact! On Alice’s Unbirthday anniversary of her first trip to Wonderland, her old friends beg her to return and save them all from the of the Queen of Hearts, who has rampaged destructively across Wonderland with her card army since Alice left.

D23: This series is now a New York Times Bestseller! Why do you think these Twisted Tales resonate so deeply with people?
LB: All of these Twisted Tales reimagine and reframe not only the Disney movies which people love, but also the stories the movies were based on. They resonate because however you watch, see, listen to, or read fairy tales, they are a culture’s tradition and imagined history… and sneakily didactic, teaching lessons through fiction that might not sink in otherwise.

D23: What was your favorite part about getting to write this twisted take on Alice in Wonderland?
LB: Everything! This was a super fun ride and I was honored to contribute to the world of Alice stories. There’s a quote somewhere I need to find about a certain kind of girl always imagining herself as Alice… that was me as a child. In college I visited my friend Katherine at Oxford and spent all of my time visiting every Alice hot spot: Christ Church College, Alice’s Shop, the park with the adorable deer…

D23: Were you able to incorporate elements from the original novels, animated film, or the live-action films?
LB: I stuck mostly to the animated movie when writing this, especially visually, but there are definitely homages to the original books—both books! And some sneaky references to the real world of Charles Dodgson, which clever readers may catch.

D23: Who is your favorite Alice in Wonderland character?
LB: Don’t make me choooooose! Probably the Hatter? Cheshire has his charms. And I kind of always did like loves.

What the Walt Disney Archives Staff is Watching on Disney+, Part Two

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020

By The Walt Disney Archives

Last week, we shared some of the Disney+ picks from the Walt Disney Archives Staff. Need more ideas for your watchlist? The Archives team has selected a few of their favorites, and the reasons behind their picks, to help you make a selection in a pinch. From vintage classics to modern marvels, they’ve got you covered!

Check back here next week for more picks from the Archives!

Dennis Emslie—Treasure of Matecumbe (1976)

“The opening song is truly a 1970’s masterpiece. After some inspired research, I found out that the final scenes featuring a beached shipwreck was filmed at Walt Disney World’s Discovery Island.”

Cesar Gallegos—Robin Hood (1973)

“One of my absolute favorite animated features is Robin Hood. The beloved retelling of this classic, high-adventure tale has everything from romance and action to friendship, all done in a distinctive animation style.”

Jeff Golden—Monsters, Inc. (2001)

“Two monsters work together to return a human child home. Their journey is a fun-filled adventure families will enjoy.”

Rick Lorentz—Those Calloways (1965)

“This is a great inspirational story with some of Disney’s best recurring actors: Brian Keith, Vera Miles, and Ed Wynn.”

Matt Moryc—The Shaggy Dog (1959)

“This film is fascinating because it combined the talents of both established and future Disney stars (Annette Funicello, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran, Tim Considine, and Fred MacMurray) with the comedic formulas and family-friendly stories that would begin to define the next decade of live-action Disney features. Now, if you had asked me when I was a kid why I like The Shaggy Dog, the response undoubtedly would have been ‘it has a dog.’”

Nikki Nguyen—Pollyanna (1960)

“I really enjoyed re-watching Pollyanna on Disney+ for the first time since childhood. I’ve always loved the positivity of the movie, and the church bazaar scenes are so fun!”

Feel free to share your Disney+ picks and favorite movie memories with the Archives staff by tagging #WDAWatchParty in celebration of the department’s 50th anniversary.

For more of the Walt Disney Archives’ Disney+ picks, make sure to check out the summer 2020 issue of Disney twenty-three, the exclusive magazine for D23 Gold Members.

Welcome Back to Disney Springs

May 19, 2020May 20, 2020

By Jeffrey Epstein and Ryan March

Tomorrow, May 20, Walt Disney World Resort will welcome guests back to Disney Springs, its expansive dining and retail district, and today, D23 had an in-person look at the new measures in place to ensure the safety of our guests and cast members.

As listed on its website outlining the phased return to Disney Springs, guests will be able to enter through four areas: the Orange and Lime garages, the Hotel Plaza Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge, and the rideshare location. Upon entering, all guests will undergo a temperature screening, and all guests (age three and older) are required to wear face coverings. AdventHealth personnel will scan all guests’ temperatures, and guests with temperatures of 100.4 F or above are redirected to an additional location for rescreening and assistance.

All entry and exit points will have hand-sanitizing stations available for use. In addition, portable handwashing stations have been added throughout Disney Springs to allow guests to wash their hands when a restroom is not close by. And Disney has increased cleaning and disinfecting high-traffic areas such as railings, elevators, escalators, tables, and benches.

Upon entering Disney Springs, guests will be greeted by a spirited team of cast members who will offer playful reminders to keep a safe distance and comply with safety measures. One member of the team struck a “safety pose” during our visit—stretching out her arms to demonstrate safe distancing (shown above).

To ensure smooth flow throughout, many of the walkways and stores will have arrows to assist in guiding foot traffic. And in queues for many shops and restaurants, signage has been placed on paths to mark off acceptable social distancing space. Some stores and restaurants have also added physical barriers (such as plastic shields) to areas where keeping your distance is difficult, including spaces between cash registers and guests. (Cashless transactions such as credit cards, gift cards, and Apple Pay are encouraged.)

On May 20, more than 40 locations will reopen, including Planet Hollywood, Frontera Cocina, The Polite Pig, UNIQLO, Anthropologie, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, and Wine Bar George. On May 22, Morimoto Asia, Morimoto Asia Street Food, Pizza Ponte, and Vivoli il Gelato will open. And on May 27, three Disney-owned and -operated locations are scheduled to open: World of Disney, D-Luxe Burger (mobile order), and the Marketplace Co-Op, along with additional outdoor food kiosks.

Disney Springs will be open from 10 a.m.–10 p.m. daily, although individual businesses may have different operating hours. For all the latest news on the phased reopening of Disney Springs, click here.

How to Have a Dino-Mite Disney+ Movie Marathon

May 19, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Let’s face it: Dinosaurs are awesome. We don’t need an excuse to celebrate how cool our favorite Disney dinos are, but we have an extra reason to roar today: 20 years ago in 2000, the animated film Dinosaur debuted in theaters. In addition to being a landmark film for its state-of-the-art computer character animation combined with digitally enhanced live-action backgrounds, Dinosaur reminds us how just plain fun stories about dinos can be. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite animated Disney dinos who you can watch on Disney+ right now.

Dinosaur (2000)
What better way to start off our roundup than with the film we’re celebrating? Dinosaur follows the adventure of Aladar, an Iguanodon originally raised by lemurs before reuniting with his own kind. As the film’s title promises, you get to meet all kinds of cretaceous creatures during this daring adventure, including a Brachiosaurus, a Styracosaurus, and the dreaded Carnotaurus!

Fantasia (1940)
Fantastic music and animation come together to make the magic of Fantasia—and while some sequences take viewers to amazing worlds of myth and fantasy, the “Rite of Spring” sequence takes us back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth—and they didn’t always get along. One the sequence’s most iconic images is the epic battle between the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Stegosaurus.

The Toy Story Films
Dinosaur fans, you’ve got a friend in all four Toy Story films—specifically, a friend named Rex. You’ll never catch the loveable, green T-Rex starting fights or roaring loud—he’d rather just play video games and stay out of trouble. If you want double the dino fun, make sure to watch Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4, which include Trixie the Triceratops, a fun-loving dinosaur toy who shares Rex’s love of video games.

Meet the Robinsons (2007)
This charming story fills us with optimism for the future—it’s a reminder to keep moving forward to see what comes next…. and sometimes what comes next are dinosaurs! Well… maybe that’s not what the movie was trying to tell us, but we do appreciate seeing Tiny the T-Rex cause hilarious havoc during the course of the film. First used for nefarious purposes by the mysterious Bowler Hat Guy, Tiny eventually becomes a friend—with tiny arms, a big head, and an even bigger place in our hearts.

The Good Dinosaur (2015)
The Toy Story films aren’t the only Disney and Pixar films featuring some darling dinos. The Good Dinosaur, as the name suggests, is full of extremely good dinosaurs. From Arlo the Apatosaurus and Butch the Tyrannosaurus Rex to Bubbha the Velociraptor, you are guaranteed to enjoy a variety of dinosaur characters while you follow Arlo’s adventure in an alternate timeline where dinosaurs and humans lived side by side.

These 10 Hayley Mills Movies Are a Must for Disney Fans

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020

By Zach Johnson

This week D23 is celebrating the sunshine of the classic film Pollyanna! To get you even more excited for the #D23GladGame and the Pollyanna watch party (Preceded by a chat with Disney Legend Hayley Mills!), we’re taking a “glad” look down memory lane and sharing our favorite films Mills has starred in for Disney—beginning with her American film debut in Pollyanna, for which she was awarded a special Oscar® in 1960!

Pollyanna (1960)
Mills stars as Pollyanna, an orphan who brings joy to the lives of everyone she meets. Unfortunately, Aunt Polly (Jane Wyman) is too concerned with appearances, politics, and propriety to appreciate her effervescent niece. It isn’t until the embittered town almost loses their “Glad Girl” that Aunt Polly understands the power of love and lightheartedness.

The Parent Trap (1961)
Mills pulls double duty as Susan and Sharon, identical twins separated at birth. Neither knows the other exists until a twist of fate finds them at the same summer camp. Realizing their relationships, they plan a little twist of their own: switching places! The twins’ goal—to get their divorced parents back together—is simple in concept but difficult in execution.

In Search of the Castaways (1962)
Based on Jules Verne’s popular novel, this daring adventure follows Mary Grant (Mills) as she travels to the four corners of the world to find her missing sea-captain father, John Grant (Jack Gwillim)… even though her only clue to his location is a message in a bottle!

Summer Magic (1963)
When a close-knit Boston family loses their fortune, they find a wealth of secrets, young love, and more in Beulah, Maine. It’s Nancy (Mills), the eldest of three children, who finds the family’s new home—along with a jolly postmaster, a pretentious cousin, and a mysterious absentee landlord.

The Moon-Spinners (1964)
Set on the Isle of Crete, the story pits Nikky Ferris (Mills), a young English tourist, against a wily jewel thief (Eli Wallach). Mistaken identities and perilous escapes—including a nail-biting battle involving a windmill—lead Nikky to a final confrontation aboard the yacht of an eccentric millionairess (Pola Negri) with a passion for priceless gems and pet cheetahs!

That Darn Cat! (1965)
When an uncontrollable tomcat named D.C. (Darn Cat) turns up with a wristwatch for a collar, it becomes a tip-off to an unsolved robbery and kidnapping. After Patti Randall (Mills) recognizes the wristwatch as belonging to a bank teller, the FBI is called in to watch D.C.’s every move. It becomes hard to tell who’s tailing who as nosy neighbors, jealous boyfriends, and an allergic agent play a game of cat and mouse to crack the case.

The Parent Trap II (1986)
Mills reprises her dual roles as twins Susan and Sharon in the Disney Channel sequel. Mistaken identities once again disrupt the twins’ lives when, 25 years later, Sharon’s daughter (Carrie Kei Heim) becomes a mischief-making matchmaker for her divorced mom.

Parent Trap III (1989)
In this sequel, which premiered as part of The Magical World of Disney, Cassie McGuire (Patricia Richardson) is engaged to a man with triplets. She hires Susan (Mills, reprising her role again) as an interior decorator for their California beach home. Before long, Susan steals the man’s heart, encouraged by the triplets who’ve never liked their father’s fiancée.

Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon (1989)
The fourth installment in the franchise, which premiered on The Magical World of Disney, finds Susan (Mills) and her new husband (Barry Bostwick) inheriting a dilapidated hotel in Hawaii, which they decide to clean up. The triplets prove to be masters at deception by impersonating each other to help their dad save the hotel from being sold to a developer.

Back Home (1990)
During World War II, Virginia “Rusty” Dickinson (Hayley Carr) was sent to the U.S. for safety. Five years later, the redhead returns to her native England, where she reunites with her mother, Peggy Dickinson (Mills), and meets her new 5-year-old brother, Charlie Dickinson (Adam Stevenson). Although Peggy had eagerly awaited her daughter’s return, Rusty’s new American sensibility creates conflict. From the family she barely remembers to snobby classmates and a strict boarding school, Rusty must adapt to an all-new way of life.

Discover all the fun ways we’re celebrating 60 glad years with our Pollyanna-versary.

Glad Tidings: The Walt Disney Archives Finds a Lost Treasure

May 19, 2020May 22, 2020

By Becky Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives

Reverend Paul Ford: [reading Pollyanna’s locket] When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will. – Abraham Lincoln.
Pollyanna: He was the President.
Reverend Paul Ford: Yes, yes I know … but I never heard that before.
Pollyanna: Neither had my father. Anyway, he said it started him thinking and from then on, he was gonna look for the good in people. That’s when we both started searching the Bible for the texts.
Reverend Paul Ford: The texts?
Pollyanna: Yes, you know. My father called them the glad passages. You know, the happy ones like “Shout for Joy” or “Be Glad in the Lord” you know, like that. There are eight hundred happy texts, did you know that?
Reverend Paul Ford: No, I didn’t know that.
Pollyanna: Yes, well there are, and you know, my father said, “If God took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, he must have wanted us to do it.”

Well, there was a reason the good reverend hadn’t heard that quote before … because President Lincoln never actually said it.

In 1960, to publicize the release of the heart-warming new Disney film Pollyanna, Walt Disney Productions released a promotional merchandise item—thousands of “Pollyanna Photo Locket Necklaces” inspired by the locket that Hayley Mills wears throughout the film. These promotional gold metal lockets opened to reveal a lovely smiling photograph of Hayley as Pollyanna on one side, and the quote attributed to “Abe Lincoln” on the other.

A short time later, after discovering the necklace in a gift shop while on vacation with his family, writer/director David Swift called the studio to have the item recalled immediately. It turned out that Lincoln had never spoken that sentiment—Swift explained that he had simply made it up for the film.

On May 8, 2010, D23 presented a special 50th Anniversary screening of Pollyanna at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, and I had the honor of hosting the film and doing an audience Q&A afterwards. I told the story of the locket—explaining that all but about 800 of them were recalled by the studio after David Swift’s phone call. I mentioned that the lockets were now very rare, and since we didn’t even have one in the Archives, I had never seen one. Amazingly, a D23 member named Kathye spoke up from the audience and told me that she actually owned one. Afterwards, I asked if she would kindly share photos of it for our Pollyanna historical files.

A few weeks later I received an email from Kathye. In it she said:

“My father took me to see Pollyanna when it first opened and bought me the locket. It is one of the few things I have left that he gave me and is one of my most sentimental treasures. The locket couldn’t have a safer home than the Archives and in a very small way perhaps I can give back a little of the joy that Disney has given to me.”

She brought it to the D23 Walt Disney Archives 40th Anniversary event shortly after and donated it to us. I’m so happy to share this story once again and echo Pollyanna’s simple philosophy—that there’s always a reason to be glad. I’m certainly glad that there are lovely people in the world like Kathye, and that through her generosity I am able share a bit of her joy with all of you.

Hayley Mills as Pollyanna, wearing the locket.

One of the gold lockets with a photo of Pollyanna and a quote inside.

Walt Disney on the set of Pollyanna with Hayley Mills and Kevin Corcoran.

American Idol Season Remote Grand Finale Strikes an Emotional Chord

May 18, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Sunday night’s American Idol remote grand finale may have looked different from previous seasons, but it still packed the surprises, the performances from music’s biggest stars, and the suspense that fans of the show have come to expect. Most important, it proved once again that dreams do come true. The performer known as “Just Sam” was named the newest American Idol after a nationwide vote, a moment she’s said she first envisioned as a child watching Fantasia take the crown.

There were seven Idol finalists at the beginning of the night, and that soon became five as we said goodbye to Louis Knight and Julia Gargano based on the tally of last week’s votes. Dillon James, Jonny West, Arthur Gunn, and Francisco Martin joined Just Sam in performing two songs apiece over the course of the evening: one song to celebrate their induction into the Top 5, and one that they’d each performed previously, that would also serve as their new American Idol single. After all of the contestant performances, the two semifinalists were revealed to be Gunn and Just Sam, with Sam ultimately prevailing.

Idol judge Katy Perry thinks that viewers connected with Just Sam because of who she is as a person and how her journey—which took her from busking on New York subway platforms to performing in American Idol’s Hollywood Week and at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa as part of the show’s audition process—represents the American Dream. “She’s so authentic. She is humble and it’s not false. She has big dreams and a struggle and you can just feel her every time she comes on the screen,” said Perry of Just Sam during a press conference after the finale. “I think people just really related to her story and wanted to see her win. People want to champion the underdog, right now especially.”

American Idol has always been more than just a singing competition, Lionel Richie emphasized. “It’s about your story,” he explained. “If people can resonate with your story, they will not think about any notes you hit wrong. They will fall in love with you.”

The grand finale has always served, in part, as a family reunion, an opportunity for past winners and beloved members of the American Idol family to come back and perform alongside the show’s newest stars. Last night’s show featured a very special performance of the song “We Are the World” by Richie and American Idol luminaries past and present, including Fantasia, Katharine McPhee, Ruben Studdard, and last year’s winner, Laine Hardy. This marked the first TV performance of the song in 35 years, and Richie believes that the song’s rallying cry is as relevant and vital now as it was when he wrote it. “I’m just so happy that the American Idol family was the one who sent that message out to the world,” he said.

And Richie wasn’t the only Idol judge creating memorable musical moments last night. From his Nashville home, Luke Bryan delivered an upbeat, fun rendition of his single “One Margarita,” and the magic of cutting-edge VR technology enabled Katy Perry to perform her new single, “Daisies,” on the American Idol stage and in a brand-new animated world while remaining safe at home. The finale’s other highlights included a medley of Aretha Franklin hits by Oscar®-nominee and star of National Geographic’s upcoming limited series Genius: Aretha Cynthia Erivo and the Top 11; a performance of the song “You Say” by Grammy®-winning artist Lauren Daigle and Just Sam; and the song “Bless the Broken Road” performed by legendary country group Rascal Flatts with Doug Kiker, whose inspirational story touched fans in this season’s early audition rounds.

As emotional as the finale was, and as inspiring as it’s been for the judges to see the level of artistry the contestants have delivered from home week after week, there is one part of the celebration that Luke Bryan missed this year. He said, “The fact that we can’t send them home with their chin up and their head held high for what they’ve accomplished is a little bit of a void in my heart.”

As they bring this history-making season to an end, ABC and the American Idol team are already looking ahead to next year and the show’s fourth season on the network. Aspiring Idols are encouraged to visit ABC.com now to submit an audition. The 2020 season featured an incredible lineup of talented artists, Perry stressed. “I think once again it has solidified American Idol as a friendly place for singer-songwriters, and I think they’re all going to show up,” she said of next season, adding with a laugh, “They’ve had some time to practice at home, that’s for sure!”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

May 18, 2020May 14, 2020

By Zach Johnson

If you’re in the mood for drama, this is your week! On Tuesday, ABC will air The Story of Soaps, an engaging look at how the genre redefined the television landscape. The next night, watch a brave teen redefine her destiny when The Wonderful World of Disney presents Moana. If you’re in the mood for game shows, this week also marks the return of To Tell the Truth on ABC and the premiere of The Big Fib on Disney+. And if you’re in the mood for taking a look back at Disney history, on Friday, Disney+ adds The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story to its streaming library.

The Story of Soaps—Tuesday, May 19, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
ABC and People have teamed up to present a two-hour prime-time television event highlighting the iconic impact of the soap opera. No genre of television has laid deeper roots into our cultural consciousness and serialized storytelling than the soap opera. The special will trace how female creators migrated from radio to television to become the dominant force in daytime for more than three decades. Today, that legacy is alive and well, and much of what propels modern TV traces its roots back to those first sprawling, steamy storylines. The Story of Soaps will feature dozens of familiar voices, including John Aniston, Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Marc Cherry, Andy Cohen, Bryan Cranston, Vivica A. Fox, Deidre Hall, Jon Hamm, Finola Hughes, Disney Legend Susan Lucci, Donna Mills, Ken Olin, Denise Richards, Erika Slezak, John Stamos, Greg Vaughan, and Chandra Wilson.

Moana—Wednesday, May 20, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
The Wonderful World of Disney returns for four consecutive Wednesday nights to bring joy to families at home. Beloved titles, currently available on Disney+, will be shown in prime time—and it all begins beyond the reef with Moana. An epic adventure about a spirited teen who sets sail on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest, the Academy Award® nominated film was released in 2016 to critical acclaim. During her journey, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), and together they cross the ocean on a fun-filled, action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds, and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

To Tell the Truth—Thursday, May 21, at TBD p.m. ET on ABC
As part of the network’s “Summer Fun & Games” lineup, the beloved game show is returning for its funny fifth season. Once again hosted by Anthony Anderson, the star of ABC’s hit comedy black-ish, To Tell the Truth is a hilarious reimagination of the beloved game show that first aired in 1956. In the season premiere, sports icons Deion Sanders and Shannon Sharpe will join comedians Joel McHale and Gillian Jacobs to make up the celebrity panel. Together, they will meet a variety of participants with interesting stories—including Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey’s pedicurist, a professional bee keeper, and more!

The Big Fib—Friday, May 22, on Disney+
This new game show is stranger than fiction! The Disney+ Original is hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown and features Rhys Darby as her robot sidekick, C.L.I.V.E. In each of the comedy game show’s 15 episodes, a child contestant starts by playing a warm-up round, where a silly liar and an expert share fabulous fibs and fun facts. Although the round is played for laughs, it contains a nugget of truth about the topic at hand. During the main round, the kid questions an expert who’s paired with a liar on the same topic—and it’s up to the kid to find the fibber! The game features visual clues, fascinating props, a hot seat round of rapid-fire questions, and culminates with the expert and liar standing under the Fib Foam machine to await their fate. If the kid chooses correctly, the liar gets foamed!

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story—Friday, May 22, on Disney+
Released in 2009, this documentary is new to the streaming library. Delve into the lives of Disney Legends Robert and Richard Sherman, the prolific songwriting duo whose music has been featured in classics like Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Artistocats, and more. Go behind the screen for a fascinating glimpse into how Walt Disney used the language of music to bring the two brothers together, creating a cinematic legacy unlike any in history.

Prep for the Holiday Season with the New Book Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks

May 15, 2020

By the D23 Team

Fans of Disney Parks are no strangers to celebrating the holidays the Disney way. Whether experiencing the Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Park, visiting the giant gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort, or celebrating New Year’s Eve at Epcot, there are so many ways to celebrate the holidays at Disney Parks.

Disney Publishing just announced that the upcoming Disney Editions book Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks is coming this October. Showcasing the unique blend of Disney magic and holiday enchantment, fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at the holidays at Disney Parks around the world. This spectacular 384-page coffee table book, written by Graham Allan, Rebecca Cline, and Charlie Price, features hundreds of brand-new photographs, as well as stories and contributions from cast members around the globe.

“We are so excited for the upcoming release of Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks, and can’t wait to share the merry madness that went into the making of this glorious book,” says Rebecca Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives and co-author of the book. “After 10 years of research and more than 180,000 miles visiting every Disney park and resort around the world, we’re so excited to share the thrills, chills, fun, and breathtaking beauty of Disney Parks at the most festive times of the year.”

In celebration of the news of the upcoming release, we asked Rebecca to answer a few questions for us!

Q: What is your favorite Halloween tradition at any of the Disney Parks?
A: My favorite tradition is a fairly new one! My very favorite Disney Halloween story is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and there is a very scary statue of the horseman at Disney California Adventure Park at Halloween that gives me chills (in the very best way, of course!).

Q: Can you share a fascinating behind-the-scenes fact you learned while researching this book?
A: I got a chance to see the official “recipe” for the beloved Gingerbread House at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Should you wish to bake your very own 17-feet-tall house, all you need is 1,050 pounds of honey, 800 pounds of flour, 600 pounds each of chocolate and powdered sugar, 35 pounds of spices, and a few egg whites… a mere 140 pints of them!

Q: Why is this book a great collection piece for any Disney Parks fan?
A: We worked very hard to include new historical information about how the holidays were celebrated in the earliest days at Disneyland, along with many rare photos from the Walt Disney Archives. We also showed how Disney has developed over the years from those early homegrown type of events into some of the most wonderful holiday magic in the world. The photography in the book is spectacular, and a good percentage of the 1,900 photos therein were taken just for this book—and have never been seen before. It’s a must-have for Disney fans, holiday fans, and photography buffs, as well!

For more information on Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks, check out DisneyBooks.com.

Go Behind the Scenes of Frozen 2 with Disney+—Plus More in News Briefs

May 15, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 Coming to Disney+ in June

Picture it: The world premiere of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 2 is looming, and the filmmakers, artists, songwriters, and cast are fantastically busy readying the film for audiences around the world. Ever wonder what that incredible process is really like? Wonder no more when Disney+ debuts the brand-new, six-part documentary series Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 on June 26!

In each episode, the talented team behind the hit film reveals the hard work, heart, and collaboration it takes to create one of the most highly anticipated films in Disney’s near-century of moviemaking. For the first time, cameras captured an eye-opening—and at times jaw-dropping—view of the challenges and the breakthroughs; the artistry and the creativity; and the complexity of making the No. 1 animated film of all time.

The series follows director, writer, and chief creative officer Jennifer Lee; director Chris Buck; producer Peter Del Vecho; Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez; and actors Kristen Bell (voice of Anna), Idina Menzel (voice of Elsa), Josh Gad (voice of Olaf), Jonathan Groff (voice of Kristoff), Sterling K. Brown (voice of Lieutenant Mattias), and Evan Rachel Wood (voice of Iduna)—as well as all the artists and technicians of Disney Animation—as everyone races against time to finish the film, with both frustrations and discoveries along the way.

Mark your calendars for a warm hug in Disney+ form, next month!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

We here at D23 are always ready to point out the latest and greatest for your viewing pleasure from around the worlds of Disney… and this coming weekend is no exception. It’s a ridiculously star-studded 24 hours—look for graduation celebrations on Freeform featuring LeBron James and Pharrell Williams; the grand finale of American Idol on ABC; a brand-new concert special from Taylor Swift; and so much more. Click here for our rundown!

Skeeter and Scooter to Visit Disney Junior’s Muppet Babies

There are some fun new friends coming to Miss Nanny’s playroom: Fan-favorite twins Skeeter and Scooter will make their debut in a new episode of Disney Junior’s Muppet Babies on Friday, May 22, at 8:30 a.m. EDT/PDT.

Both 11-minute stories in the all-new episode will feature Skeeter and Scooter: “Win a Twin,” in which Skeeter volunteers to help Miss Nanny bake, but her twin Scooter isn’t sure he can have fun playing without her… and “Skeeter and the Super Girls,” which finds Skeeter excited to save the day with Super Fabulous and Captain Ice Cube—but she worries whether she can be a hero, too, if she has to wear her glasses.

Based on the original Emmy® Award-winning series, Muppet Babies chronicles the hilarious playroom antics of a young Kermit the Frog, Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal and Summer Penguin. It’s loads of Muppet-y fun for the little ones in your life!

Disney+ Announces New Feature Film Clouds

There’s a new feature film premiering exclusively on Disney+ this fall… Clouds, based on the memoir Fly a Little Higher, tells the true story of Zach Sobiech, a musically gifted 17-year-old living with a rare bone cancer. For more info about the film—which boasts a talented cast including Sabrina Carpenter, Thomas Everett Scott, and Neve Campbell—click here.

Check Out This New Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway-Inspired Game

There’s a new game in the DisneyNOW app, and it brings the magic and mischief of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse right into your very own home!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Adventure Kit is a free game (for mobile only) that allows players to control Mickey and friends’ cars, trains, and more through a series of wacky adventures, in a delightfully surprising, off-the-rails sandbox game based on the newest attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. Using augmented reality, players can choose from three characters (Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy) and three worlds (Runnamuck Park, Big City Snarl, and Carnival Chaos), with each setting taken directly from the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction. Drop virtual objects and obstacles to jump, crash, and zig-zag through a zany cartoon adventure… and then race to collect picnic items, so you can unlock even more objects.

So, what are you waiting for? Get to playin’, friends!

Be in the Living Room Where It Happens: Hamilton Coming to Disney+!

Oh goodness, did this news legitimately pulsate through the entire universe or what?! In case you missed it: Originally slated for a theatrical release in 2021, it was announced just days ago that the Tony® Award-winning, groundbreaking musical Hamilton will debut on Disney+ this July 3! (Just in time for Independence Day, natch.) Read up on what you can expect from this very special “live capture” presentation right here at D23.com.

Nat Geo WILD Goes to the Dogs with Special Marathon Next Week

Let’s face it: Our pets have definitely been helping us with some normalcy during this totally unprecedented time. In fact, the number of animals adopted out of shelters and welcomed into homes has jumped up 70 percent! That’s a lot of new dog owners out there… As such, Nat Geo WILD will spend next week honoring the very special connection between dogs and humans with a five-day-long, weekday marathon beginning Monday, May 18, at 7 a.m. EDT.

Featuring a ton of fan-favorite shows, the network’s five-day “Sit, Stay, Dogs All Day” programming event will be headlined by Cesar Millan—who became a “fur-miliar” face on Nat Geo WILD nearly a decade ago; he returns to provide the latest dog tips in an easy-to-understand, “mini-masterclass” format. Topics will include: knowing the proper technique for leashes; creating an indoor exercise program; helping a barking dog; keeping your dog fetchingly clean; and ensuring a night filled with sweet dreams for both pups and people.

Throughout the week, Nat Geo WILD—which is celebrating its 10th anniversary—will feature canine content from the past decade with a spotlight on Millan’s hit shows Dog Whisperer and Cesar 911, as well as current hits including The Incredible Dr. Pol and Dr. Oakley: Yukon Vet. Other programming highlights include Unlikely Animal Friends, A Dog Saved My Life, and Is Your Dog A Genius?

So stay tuned to Nat Geo WILD all next week—you’ll have a barkingly good time!