Disney Channel Stars Share Hopeful “We’re All in This Together” Messages

By Zach Johnson

“We’re all in this together.” That’s the unified message Disney Channel stars are sharing in a series of new interstitial messages designed to offer reassurance and a sense of community during the current global health crisis. The series will premiere Friday, March 27, on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube. More than 35 Disney Channel stars each filmed their video message from their homes and around their neighborhoods, sharing how they stay positive, active, and, with the help of parents and family members, navigate through this uncertain time.

Participants include Raphael Alejandro (BUNK’D), Suzi Barrett (Just Roll With It), Paxton Booth (Coop & Cami Ask the World), Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home), Will Buie Jr. (BUNK’D), Kylie Cantrall (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables), Coco Christo (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables), Meg Donnelly (American Housewife, ZOMBIES 2), Maxwell Acee Donovan (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables), Scarlett Estevez (BUNK’D), Callan Farris (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables), Kaylin Hayman (Just Roll With It), Carla Jeffery (ZOMBIES 2), Pearce Joza (ZOMBIES 2), Sky Katz (Raven’s Home), Chandler Kinney (ZOMBIES 2), Ava Kolker (Sydney to the Max), Dakota Lotus (Coop & Cami Ask the World), Mallory James Mahoney (BUNK’D), Milo Manheim (ZOMBIES 2), Ariel Martin (ZOMBIES 2, Disney Fam Jam), Miranda May (BUNK’D), Jason Maybaum (Raven’s Home), Ramon Reed (Just Roll With It), Ruth Righi (Sydney to the Max), Navia Robinson (Raven’s Home), Kylie Russell (ZOMBIES 2), Olivia Sanabia (Coop & Cami Ask the World), Shelby Simmons (BUNKD), Trevor Tordjman (ZOMBIES 2, Disney Fam Jam), Albert Tsai (Coop & Cami Ask the World), Ruby Rose Turner (Coop & Cami Ask the World), Anneliese van der Pol (Raven’s Home), and Tobie Windham (Just Roll With It), plus Izabela Rose, Siena Agudong, Elie Samouhi, and Max Torina from the highly anticipated Disney Channel Original Movie Upside Down Magic.

Disney Channel released the first wave on YouTube today:

The “We’re All in This Together” interstitial series is designed to demonstrate for viewers age 6–14 that they are not alone in this experience—and, of course, that we are all in this together (#WAITT). Disney Channel consulted with media, education, and child psychology expert Dr. Arthur Pober Ed.D. to ensure relevant and sensitive messaging for the Kids 6–14 demographic.

Disney+ Honors Earth Month with Brand-New Adventures—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Celebrate Earth Month with two brand-new Disneynature films on Disney+, and plan your weekend binging with our handy rundown… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Narrates Elephant for Disneynature and Disney+

 With Earth Month just over the horizon, our friend at Disney+ announced this week that Disneynature will premiere their brand-new film Elephant on the streaming service on Friday, April 3. And that’s not all: They’ve announced that the film will be narrated by none other than Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex!

Elephant—directed by Mark Linfield; co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz and Alastair Fothergill; and produced by Mark Linfield, Vanessa Berlowitz, and Roy Conli—follows African elephant Shani and her spirited son Jomo as their herd makes an epic journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources, and persistent predators as they follow in their ancestor’s footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise.

In recognition of Elephant, Disneynature and the Disney Conservation Fund are supporting Elephants Without Borders—an organization working in Botswana to ensure people and elephants thrive, with strategies to protect Botswana’s elephant haven; reducing human-wildlife conflict through education; and developing economic solutions that either redirect elephant migration away from people, or provide communities with tools that help to protect themselves and their properties when elephants are nearby.

But wait, there’s more: Also premiering on Disney+ on April 3 is the previously announced Dolphin Reef, narrated by Oscar® winner Natalie Portman. The film dives “under the sea” to frolic with some of the planet’s most engaging animals: dolphins. Created with Disneynature’s signature storytelling style, Dolphin Reef introduces Echo, a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin who can’t quite decide if it’s time to grow up and take on new responsibilities. Dolphin society is tricky, and the coral reef that Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy. But Echo has a tough time resisting the many adventures the ocean has to offer. Keith Scholey, who directed Disneynature’s Bears, helms the film.

That very same day, and following its theatrical release last year, Disney+ will also debut Disneynature’s Penguins… as well as an Earth Month collection featuring additional titles, including In the Footsteps of Elephant, A Life on the Edge, and Diving with Dolphins—all of which give viewers behind-the-scenes access into the unique filmmaking process of all three films. We can’t wait!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Looking to fill in that “binge-watching” calendar of yours? We’ve got a chock-full-o’-fun roundup for what to watch this very weekend—the last one of March, can you believe it?—complete with new episodes of Raven’s Home, The Incredible Dr. Pol, and the very cool Disney Family Sundays series on Disney+. Click here for more info.

Our Star Wars Stories

Our Star Wars Stories Returns for Season Two on StarWars.com

Our Star Wars Stories, hosted by series producer Jordan Hembrough, has returned for its second season with more heartwarming tales of fans who have found inspiration in a galaxy far, far away. “These are stories of humanity and life, not just Star Wars,” Hembrough recently told StarWars.com. “Our Star Wars Stories is about courage, creativity, and community. It’s an honor to shine a light on these amazing fans and all they’ve accomplished through their love of Star Wars.”

In Season two’s premiere episode, Hembrough travels to Cleveland, Ohio, to meet Dale Hopkins, a cancer survivor who found strength in Star Wars—along with a surrogate family in its fandom. Hopkins recalls how Star Wars helped him face his disease and why he will pass on what he has learned.

Additional episodes of Our Star Wars Stories will be released monthly on StarWars.com and on all the official Star Wars social media accounts. Miss it, you shouldn’t…

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Welcomes Two Adorable Babies

Life goes on for all the incredible animals living inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort—and just recently, Disney’s Animal Care Team welcomed two very special new additions: a baby porcupine and a zebra foal! Check out the new lil’ porcupine in the Disney Parks Blog clip, above.

This female prehensile-tailed porcupine was born to mom Peri on February 25, 2020; known as a porcupette, it’s covered in a fine red fur coat with tiny quills underneath that begin to harden in the hours after birth. Prehensile-tailed porcupines have internal sex organs, so to determine the baby’s gender, the care team had to send some of her tiny quills off to a lab for DNA testing. Disney has not yet named the baby, which is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to ensure responsible breeding of threatened and endangered species.

Then, on March 21, the animal care team welcomed a new female Hartmann’s mountain zebra foal to the herd! The 65-pound zebra was born to first-time mom Heidi and was up and moving within 30 minutes following her birth. Already very active and curious, the foal—who has yet to be named—is much like her mother. See her in action in the video, above.

In a few weeks, after the foal and her mother have developed a strong bond, they will be introduced to the Kilimanjaro Safaris savannah. Similar to the porcupette, the foal was born as part of the SSP program; her arrival marks the third zebra birth at Walt Disney World this year. Aren’t they just the cutest?!

The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild to Arrive Early on Digital

Just this week, The Walt Disney Studios announced that The Call of the Wild—the 20th Century Studios film that opened in theaters February 21—will be available to buy digitally and on Movies Anywhere beginning Friday, March 27, here in the United States.

Adapted from the novel by Jack London, the film tells the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Canadian Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team—and later its leader—Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master. A hybrid of live-action and animation, The Call of the Wild employs visual effects and animation technology to bring the animals to life. Directed by Chris Sanders, the cast includes Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, Cara Gee, Michael Horse, Jean Louisa Kelly, Colin Woodell, Adam Fergus, and Abraham Benrubi.

Dapper Dans Use Their #VoicesFromHome to Make Magic

You may have already seen this clip blazing a tuneful trail across your social media accounts—but it’s definitely worth a second (or 18th; we don’t judge) look… The famed Dapper Dans, seen warbling their incredible tunes up and down Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park, this week created a first-of-its-kind #VoicesFromHome performance of the iconic “When You Wish Upon a Star”—and it’s just as amazing as you’d expect.

Dapper Dans from Burbank, California, all the way to Houston, Texas, banded together to create the clip… and now, you can visit the Disney Parks Blog to vote on which other iconic Dapper Dans ditty you’d like them to sing next! So make your own voice heard, and keep your eyes peeled for the next installment of #VoicesFromHome.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

By Savannah Salazar

Another weekend brings another incredible lineup of shows to watch! With new episodes from around the worlds of Disney—including Disney Channel, ABC, Disney+, and National Geographic—there’s plenty to tune in for. So, start planning, because we’ve rounded up five things you’ll want to watch this weekend:

Coop and Cami

Coop & Cami Ask the World—Friday, March 27, at 5:25 p.m. on Disney Channel
Wouldn’t you rather watch a brand-new episode of Coop & Cami Ask the World? The latest episode—out this Friday—“Would you Wrather Turn 13,” is celebrating Cami’s 13th birthday. Hijinks ensue when Coop and Fred mistakenly take the juice bar barista Jen for pop star Ariana Grande and bring her to the party.

Shark Tank

Shark Tank—Friday, March 27, at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT on ABC
What do an Italian cuisine business, a baby fashion line, and a pest-control industry veteran with a humane solution to home defense from unwanted vistors have in common? Well, they’re coming to the Sharks of Shark Tank to make the pitch of a lifetime. Join this week’s Sharks Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, Barbara Corcoran, and Daymond John and tune in on Friday.

Disney Family Sundays

Disney Family Sundays—Friday, March 27, on Disney+
Being inside your house doesn’t have to be uneventful. You can watch a movie, cook a meal, or become a crafter extraordinaire, just like Amber Kemp-Gerstel. Watch Disney Family Sundays every week for a new and exciting craft inspired by different Disney stories, such as a Sugar Rush racer from Wreck it Ralph to a Toy Story toy bin and even The Muppets-themed pom poms. Kemp-Gerstel takes viewers through each step-by-step process and makes it fun for the whole family. You can catch up on past activities, with 20 episodes now streaming on Disney+, and get ready for a brand-new craft this Friday!

Dr. Pol

The Incredible Dr. Pol—Saturday, March 28, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on Nat Geo WILD
Animals, heartwarming stories, and “America’s favorite veterinarian.” What more could you need? The Incredible Dr. Pol follows Dr. Jan Pol and his wife, Diane, as they run a veterinary clinic in the farm country of Central Michigan. Dr. Pol and his Pol Vet team have encountered challenging cases and fun experiences for more than 15 seasons. For his next challenge, in the special episode, “Hold Me Closer, Tiny Prancer,” Dr. Pol works with small animals. Catch the episode on Nat Geo WILD this Saturday, and you can stream seasons 1–15 on Disney+.

Raven's Home

Raven’s Home—Sunday, March 29, at 5 p.m. on Disney Channel
The weekend just keeps getting better! Top off your weekend with a brand-new episode of Raven’s Home, with guest star Karamo from Queer Eye as Miguel, who encounters Raven and Chelsea as they start a DIY renovation to their new business space. Meanwhile Booker must decide who will represent the class at the district poetry slam. Will it be Nia? Looks like we’ll have to watch and see!

Tommy Walker – Celebration Specialist

By Michael Buckhoff, Walt Disney Archives

Most today would not immediately recognize the man standing with Walt Disney near the central hub of Disneyland in 1964, but if you have enjoyed a fireworks spectacular at the park you have Tommy Walker to thank. Son of Disneyland bandleader, Vesey Walker, Tommy served as band director at the University of Southern California. After seeing USC’s halftime show in 1955, Walt Disney asked Walker to come join him as the Entertainment Director for his soon-to-open theme park in Anaheim. Walker planned the opening day festivities and would later go on to help organize events such as Dixieland at Disneyland and Disneyland After Dark. He would also serve as Pageantry Director for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. Walker’s suggestion for fireworks at Disneyland was so popular that they would eventually become a mainstay, a nightly extravaganza.

Disneyland Fireworks

Le Tournament de Disneyland Paris

By Becky Cline

Every Disney fan knows that Disneyland was built on orange groves in Anaheim, California, and that Walt Disney World Resort was constructed amidst the undeveloped everglades of central Florida. Many know that Tokyo Disneyland Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resorts were built on land reclaimed from the sea, and that Shanghai Disneyland was built on undeveloped land in the Pudong district of Shanghai. But what many people don’t know is that Disneyland Paris sits on a historic plain that was once one of the most popular places in Europe for medieval entertainment, more than 800 years before.

archives disneyland paris
William Marshal at a joust unhorses Baldwin Guisnes. From the Historia Major of Matthew Paris, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College Library

During the medieval period, the field of Lagny-sur-Marne was the most popular place in France for jousting tournaments. The field at Lagny was located east of Paris on the east bank of the River Marne, bordering the region of Champagne. Disneyland Paris now sits on a portion of that vast field.

The largest and most spectacular of all medieval tournaments ever held was hosted there in November 1179, by King Louis VII of France, to celebrate the coronation of his nephew and heir—Philip. (It was a tradition in that era that a king would sometimes crown his heir during his own lifetime.) On All Saints Day 1179, the nearly 15-year-old Philip was anointed and crowned at Reims Cathedral and following the ceremonies, more than 3,000 men—noble knights and their men—met at Lagny-sur-Marne for what might be considered the “Super Bowl” of the Middle Ages.

archives disneyland paris
Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Disneyland Paris Resort (2014)

Today, we think of a tournament as a jousting match with individual knights riding with lances to meet each other on a field of single combat, and this was indeed a component of the tournament—but it was never its main feature. The “Melee” was the focus of the event, and consisted of a mock battle where two teams of mounted knights fought one another on a very large “battlefield.” The object was to capture opposing knights so that they could be ransomed, (a very profitable business for skilled knights such as these).

Notable participants from all over what is now France attended the coronation and tournament in 1179 as well as team of luminaries from the court of England. Led by England’s own 24-year-old “young king” Henry Plantagenet (the eldest son of King Henry II) the English team of knights also included his brothers, Richard, Duke of Acquitaine (the future King Richard “The Lionheart”) and Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, as well as the man many refer to as the greatest knight who ever lived, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke. Also participating in the coronation and tournament were the Count of Flanders, the Duke of Burgundy, David Huntington (brother of the King of Scotland), and many others, both French and English.

Though the tournament was a friendly “mock” combat, the melees were very dangerous events, and there was the real possibility that a knight could be seriously injured or even killed. On the day of the tournament the teams formed on each side of the field, lined up for the charge. At the signal, the lines rode at each other with their lances leveled. Those who were able to remain on horseback after that first charge, would turn about quickly and seek out knights to engage individually, hoping to capture them for ransom. Throughout the rest of the day, running battles spread over multiple miles until both sides were exhausted, or daylight faded away. The day then ended with a lavish banquet, entertainment, and the awarding of prizes. Following the Lagny tournament, great praise was heaped on the victorious William Marshal, who was lauded by the Young King Henry who nearly met disaster when his brother Geoffrey abandoned him to chase opponents for ransom. William Marshal and a knight named William de Preaux came to his rescue and even though his helmet was torn from his head, he was saved from capture.

We are fortunate enough to have a contemporary account of the famous tournament, described in detail by William Marshal’s own biographer.

There were to be seen banners unfurled, so many of them and of such diverse types that no man could make them out sufficiently to be able to describe them in detail. The entire field of combat was swarming with them, the plain so full of them that there was not an inch of ground to be seen.

I can tell you that that encounter was not a stealthy affair, indeed, there was great noise and tumult as all strove to deal mighty blows. There you would have heard such a great clash of lances, from which the splinters fell to the ground as the companies met and impeded the forward charge of the horses.

The throng across that plain was huge, with each company shouting out its battle cry.  On all sides you would have seen horses running and sweating with their exertions.  Every man strove hard and did all within his power to perform high deeds, for it is in such a situation that prowess is shown and displayed for all to see. It was a very fiercely fought contest, many were the feats of arms performed that day; the tournament was an exceedingly fine one.

My lord William the Marshal performed so many feats that … afterwards, the King, those who witnessed the event, and those who heard speak of it, said that never before had finer blows been witnessed from a single knight, or known of, as those dealt by the Marshal that day. The bravest amongst them gave him high praise for this.

archives disneyland paris
Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Disneyland Paris Resort (2014)

So, the next time you take up the reins of your noble steed, ready to embark on an enchanting ride aboard Le Carrousel de Lancelot… don’t forget the dashing young King Henry and his valiant knight William Marshal, who gallantly defeated their adversaries on the field beneath your feet.

Share Your Disney Opinions With These 5 Brackets

By Jocelyn Buhlman

As Disney fans, we can’t help it: We have opinions about our favorite Disney films, characters, attractions—you name it, we have thoughts on it! If there’s one thing we love more than having Disney favorites , it’s sharing our favorites—and sharing how correct our opinions are. Over the years, we’ve asked Disney fans to give their opinions on everything from Disney Parks snacks to Disney babies—and while collectively Disney fans have voted a winner from each bracket, now we want to know YOUR opinion. That’s right! Download these brackets and fill them out yourselves, choosing what you think should win each round. Make sure to tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to let us know what YOU think is the best in the world of Disney.

Plus—make sure your opinion is heard in this year’s March Hare Mania. It’s down to the final two, so vote now to determine which Disney Adventure Duo will win!

1. A Zoo-per sized bracket
As first featured in our 2016 March Hare Mania bracket, choose which Disney animal should be the winner! They are all so cute—but you can only pick ONE to be the champion.

Click the image to download.
March Hare Mania 2016 tournament bracket

2. D23 Snack Bracket
So delicious, yet so challenging. In 2017, we asked Disney fans to pick which Disney Parks snack was the best of the best. How will you rank these tasty treats?

Click the image to download.
D23 March Hare Mania: Snack Bracket Round 1

3. D23 Track Bracket
You hum the tunes while you walk, you belt out the words in the shower—but can you pick which song reigns supreme? Our 2018 March Hare Mania bracket was the most toe-tapping challenge yet.

Click the image to download.
March Hare Mania 2018 bracket Round 1

4. D23 Baby Bracket
2019’s March Hare Mania was a big challenge with small characters! Can you pick which Disney baby you think is best?

Click the image to download.
D23 March Hare Mania: Baby Bracket

BONUS: The Ultimate Disney Couple’s Tournament
We first challenged the cast of ZOMBIES 2 to rank their favorite Disney couples—but now, we need to know from you which Disney couple you think is the fairest of them all!

Click the image to download.
Ultimate Disney Couples Tournament bracket

Renié Conley, Costumer to the Stars – Part Two

By Lynne Drake and Heather Hoffman, Walt Disney Archives

We continue our look at costumer, Renié Conley, whose Disneyland costume designs were spotlighted last week as part of her earliest wardrobe concepts. If you happened to miss part one, check it out here.

Renié is also well known for designing the female costumes for the 20th Century Fox film, Cleopatra (1963). She worked alongside famed costumer Irene Sharaff, who exclusively designed the costumes for Elizabeth Taylor, and Vittorio Nino Novarese who designed all of the costumes for the male cast. The three won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the film at the 36th Academy Awards held on April 13, 1964.

Here are three of Renié’s original costume design sketches from our photography collection as well as the original informational captions written by 20th Century Fox publicist, Sonia Wolfson. #1, an Egyptian handmaiden’s gown, #2 “Charmain” gown, and #3) “Calpurnia” sheer chiffon gown.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Zach Johnson

Three finales. Two premieres. One week. Our calendar is filing up fast, and we’re anxiously awaiting the finales and premieres of original series from Disney Channel, ABC, Freeform, and Disney+. It all begins tonight with the season two premiere of Sydney to the Max and extends through Friday with the series premiere of Be Our Chef. So plan accordingly, because we’ve rounded up five series you should watch this week:

Disney Things to Watch

Sydney to the Max—Monday, March 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
The season two premiere, “Farther of the Bribe,” kicks off a weeklong rollout of new episodes. Set in the present day with flashbacks to the 1990s, Sydney to the Max continues to follow outgoing middle schooler Sydney (Ruth Righi) who lives with her single dad Max (Ian Reed Kessler) in his childhood home, along with her free-spirited grandmother Judy (Caroline Rhea). In the season opener, Sydney is excited when she makes the school’s first girls fencing team. But when she learns her dad helped Coach Carlock (guest star Eric Allan Kramer), Sydney fears she may have gotten on the team for the wrong reason. Episodes of Sydney to the Max will also be available in DisneyNOW.

Disney Things to Watch

Stumptown—Wednesday, March 25, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The freshman series’ season finale finds Dex (Cobie Smulders) taking matters into her own hands after finding herself at the forefront of a murder investigation where she’s the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Hoffman (Michael Ealy) struggles to remain impartial in the investigation—and he just might lose everything if he continues to help Dex. Elsewhere, Grey (Jake Johnson) attempts to work on his budding relationship with his estranged father, Michael (Matt Craven), while a familiar face from the past makes a surprise visit.

Disney Things to Watch

The Bold Type—Thursday, March 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
The spring finale, “Some Kind of Wonderful,” is set on Sutton (Meghann Fahy) and Richard (Sam Page)’s wedding day—and Sutton is faced with a big decision. Jane (Katie Stevens) tries to celebrate their big day while also struggling to process recent discoveries. Meanwhile, Kat (Aisha Dee) faces unexpected and life-altering consequences for her continued crusade against Scarlet magazine’s board.

Disney Things to Watch

A Million Little Things—Thursday, March 26, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
There are a million little reasons to tune in for the season two finale! It starts with Eddie (David Giuntoli) and Katherine (Grace Park) preparing to renew their vows—just before Eve (Ebboney Wilson) goes into labor and everyone rushes to the hospital. Meanwhile, things are getting serious with Delilah (Stephanie Dzostak) and Miles (Parker Young). Maggie (Allison Miller) shares some shocking news with Gary (James Roday)—and Eddie learns more about his involvement in the mysterious lake accident.

Disney Things to Watch

Be Our Chef—Friday, March 27, on Disney+
This new cooking competition series invites five food-loving families to create themed dishes, all inspired by the magic of Disney! They will compete for a once in a lifetime opportunity to present their very own signature dish to be served at Disney Parks. In each episode, hosted by Angela Kinsey, two of the five families go head-to-head in a themed cook-off challenge, using family traditions and learned skills. The two families with the most wins make it to the spectacular finale. The premiere episode, “Bibbidi Bobbidi Bon Appetit,” is a Cinderella-inspired challenge that asks the Merrill and Robbins families to magically transform a classic comfort food in to a gourmet meal.

Dining at Disney’s – The Commissary at The Walt Disney Studios Turns 80

By Rebecca Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives

When The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank opened in 1940, employees were struck by the admirable lawns and pedestrian thoroughfares which were ideal for walks, picnicking, or leading to the nearby studio restaurant, or “Commissary” as it is called, which featured relaxing outdoor patios or air-conditioned indoor seating areas.  The Commissary itself opened 80 years ago today.  Please enjoy the following excerpt from the book “The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember” (by Steven Clark and Rebecca Cline, Disney Editions, 2019):

The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember” (by Steven Clark and Rebecca Cline, Disney Editions, 2019):

The Commissary was both convenient for employees and practical given rigorous production schedules.  “Our restaurant was designed on the basis of feeding the maximum of people in the shortest length of time, and give them food that would keep them from going off the lot,” explained architect Frank Crowhurst.  The facility was divided into two parts: “…a restaurant for those who want to linger over their dinner, and a coffee shop where they can be served quickly and where they can turn them over three times an hour.”  Both areas, of course, offered high food quality and service at an affordable price.  After all, given the lack of lunch options in the Burbank area in the 1940s and the distance to the nearest restaurants, Walt ensured that the studio commissary was subsidized, operating at either break-even or a slight loss, so that his staff would remain on campus and productive. 

Before the Commissary opened on March 21, 1940, a temporary restaurant was located on the soundstage, offering “Fine Food at Popular Prices,” according to the January 12, 1940, Bulletin.  The article continued:

A complete restaurant, even flowers on the tables, has been laid out in the Live Action Stage on the Burbank lot and is being operated by the Brittingham Commissary.  This has been done for the comfort and convenience of the employees and everyone is invited to take advantage of its excellent facilities.

This restaurant came into being over last weekend, with carpenters, painters, plumbers and electricians working night and day to complete the setup for Monday’s lunch.

The Brittingham Commissary is to be complimented on the fine food and service.  Both a cafeteria and dining room have been installed.  A full-course luncheon in the dining room may be had for 60¢ — the same luncheon is 50¢ in the cafeteria.  Sandwiches and salads are offered at popular prices, pies and desserts are 10¢ and coffee is a nickel.

In order to provide the best possible facilities and insure that only the highest quality food is served, the studio pays a flat rate of 80¢ for each person served, regardless of the amount of the check.

The “Cartoon Special,” on the menu daily, is a particular feature.  This consists of an entrée, rolls and butter, coffee, milk, or buttermilk, and is offered at 35¢ in the cafeteria, and 40¢ in the dining room.

 The temporary location was a fine offering, but once the permanent commissary opened, it was an instant hit.

The Commissary became a vital place to dine and to see and be seen.  Most Disneyites would frequent the restaurant, including Walt himself.  According to Katherine Beaumont, the voice of Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Wendy from Peter Pan, “Walt was a person who was quite visible.  Most studio heads, I had learned, you know…they’re in an office somewhere.  But, Walt would come down to the cafeteria and go through the line at lunchtime, with his tray, and find a place to sit just as everybody else was doing at lunch.  He would visit with people.”

Years later, during one of her visits with Walt in June 1963, renowned Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper joined Walt at the Commissary, noting, “Disney employees were standing under the trees talking, or sitting on the many benches that are scattered over his campus.  Some were playing ball.  Walt said, ‘I used to have a baseball field and a putting green, but had to take them out and make parking spaces.’”

 Hopper continued, “A small boy was playing ping pong.  A little boy with a yellow necktie and yellow socks was playing around outside the entrance to the dining room.  Walt said, ‘Hello, Matthew.  How are you?’ and as he passed patted him on the head.  The little boy glowed.”  Of course, Hopper’s visit was during the production of Mary Poppins, and the little boy on his lunch break was Matthew Garber, who played young Michael Banks.  Moments later, as Hopper recounts, “Julie Andrews came by in a pert little hat with a daisy sticking up in front.  Walt said, ‘I’m gonna give you that when the picture’s done,’” referring to Mary Poppins’ signature hat.  Julie replied, “’I want it so badly and didn’t want to ask.’”

As Walt and Hopper left the Commissary, she noted, “In the serve yourself cafeteria is a big case that holds the Oscar with the seven little Oscars Walt got for Snow White; the Legion of Honor from France; the Irving Thalberg Awards and right beside the Legion of Honor are two Mickey Mouse watches – one for a boy, one for a girl.  On the girl’s watch is a sign: ‘The 5,000,000th watch.’  On the boy’s, ‘The 25,000,000th watch.’  On his way out [of the Commissary, Walt] stopped to weigh [himself].  You get a fortune with this.  He weighed 191 – was upset.  His fortune read: ‘You have great self control and can take great abuse.’”

From Ink and Paint to Imagineering: The Remarkable Career of Joyce Carlson

By Nicole Carroll, Walt Disney Archives

Disney Legend Joyce Carlson began her impressive career with The Walt Disney Company in 1944, in the studio traffic department, where she was responsible for delivering mail and other items like pencils, brushes, or coffee to animators and artists. “Traffic was where you could get the lay of the land. It wasn’t a place you’d be very long. Just a place to see where you wanted to go,” Joyce recalled. Just six months later she transferred to the Ink and Paint Department where she would spend 16 years as an inker working on such films as Victory Through Air Power (1943), The Three Caballeros (1945), Cinderella (1950), Peter Pan (1953), Sleeping Beauty (1959), and countless others. Throughout her time in Ink and Paint, Joyce honed her skills at various art schools including: Chicago Art Institute, USC, and the Chouinard Art Institute (now CalArts).

As the studio’s use of the Xerox process developed and began to replace Inkers, many were trained on the Xerox machine, went back to painting, left the company, or like Joyce, went to WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering). One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) would be Joyce’s last film before leaving the Ink and Paint Department and being hired by WED in 1962 where she worked in the famed model shop.

Not long after transferring, Joyce was busy working on attractions for the 1964–1965 World’s Fair in New York. She worked on the models for the Progressland pavilion, including General Electric’s Carousel of Progress and recalled using a coworker’s earring collection as models for lamps and other room décor. Perhaps her most well-known contribution to The Walt Disney Company, however, was her involvement in making “it’s a small world” a reality, where she worked side-by-side with Disney Legends Mary Blair and Marc Davis. Joyce worked on both the original model for the attraction and many of the dolls inside. In a call back to her previous role in the Ink and Paint Department, Joyce naturally took a liking to painting many of the small props for the attraction. Because of her involvement, Joyce was among the artists Walt sent to New York to install “it’s a small world” for its big debut. Following the fair, she helped move the popular attraction to Disneyland Park. As she was essentially the “small world” expert, Joyce helped create new versions of the attraction for both the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in 1971 and Tokyo Disneyland in 1983.

With a remarkable career spanning 56 years (a rare feat itself!) it should come as no surprise that Joyce was the first woman in The Walt Disney Company to reach both 50 and 55-year service milestones. Even though she retired and became a Disney Legend in 2000, Joyce continued consulting and sharing her expansive knowledge with the young artists tasked with the upkeep of attractions until 2006. Today, there are five “it’s a small world” attractions to be enjoyed by Guests around the world – thanks in part to the incomparably joyous Joyce Carlson.