5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

March 13, 2020March 13, 2020

By Savannah Salazar

When it comes to your favorite TV shows and movies to stream, this weekend is full of exciting new content from Disney+, Disney Channel, and more. So, cuddle up on your couch, pop some popcorn, and get streaming because we’ve rounded up five things to watch this week!

Stargirl on Disney+—Streaming now
Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, Stargirl is a heartfelt coming-of-age story adapted by Kristin Hahn and Jordan Horowitz & Julia Hart, who also directs. Reeling from the loss of his dad, young high schooler Leo Borlock wanders through life until he unexpectedly meets Stargirl Caraway, played by Grace VanderWaal.

Secrets of the Zoo on National Geographic—Sunday, March 15, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NatGeoWild
Returning this Sunday, National Geographic is taking viewers into one of the largest zoos in the United States: Ohio’s Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Experience compelling stories and behind-the-scenes adventures as Secrets of the Zoo explores what visitors can’t experience. Learn more about the many animals and the workers who care for them in this riveting series.

American Idol on ABC—Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m. ET
Auditions are almost over! This Sunday, catch the final episode of auditions before Hollywood Week kicks off the following Monday. The competition gets tighter as talented hopefuls sing for music superstars Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry.

The Clone Wars on Disney+—Streaming now
As if willed by the Force, The Clone Wars is back and in full swing! With new episodes premiering every Friday, fans have the chance to treat themselves by watching the final season on Disney+ and we couldn’t be more excited. Whether you’re a Padawan or Jedi Master of the series, get ready to binge all the epic action, fan-favorite characters and beautiful stories of The Clone Wars.

Just Roll with It on Disney Channel— Sunday, March 15, at 8:45 p.m. EDT/PDT
The unpredictable series returns this Sunday with even more wacky adventures and laugh-out-loud moments from the Bennett-Blatt family. A seamless blend of family sit-com with improvisational comedy, Just Roll with It gives its studio audience the chance to vote on the outcome of certain scenes. The cast has no idea what comes next, but well, they just roll with it!

The World Premiere of Mulan Celebrates a Timeless Tale

March 11, 2020

By Zach Johnson

China’s greatest warrior brought honor to us all Monday at the world premiere of Mulan. All eyes were on Yifei Liu, who stars as Hua Mulan in the live-action adventure from The Walt Disney Studios, as she arrived on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The Chinese actress was joined by director Niki Caro, co-stars Jet Li and Donnie Yen, and Disney Legends Christina Aguilera and Ming-Na Wen at the premiere.

The new film draws inspiration from both the 1998 animated classic and the centuries-old narrative poem “The Ballad of Mulan.” According to Caro, “This story has always been ripe for retelling. It’s been relevant for 1,300 years, but never more relevant than now. And in 2020, the opportunity to reimagine it for a global audience is truly exciting.”

According to screenwriter Rick Jaffa, “For Mulan to become truly empowered, she has to be true to who she really is.” To that end, screenwriter Amanda Silver said, “It’s a female empowerment story, of course, which is very timely for today—but it really does transcend that. Anybody, male or female, can learn that lesson. Be true to who you are.”

More than 1,000 actresses had tried out for the lead role before Caro discovered Liu three years ago. “I put her through the most punishing audition any actress has ever been put through,” the director said with a laugh. “Having flown from Beijing to Los Angeles, and not having slept for two days, that young woman never flamed out! She never gave up. She never asked to stop. I knew in the end that we’d found our warrior.”

Even before the cameras rolled, Liu and her co-stars spent months preparing to play soldiers in the Imperial Army. “It was pretty intense. We would train for five to seven hours a day, five days a week, for four months—and that was before filming,” said Yoson An, who plays Chen Honghui. “We would train after filming, too. We would film for 12 hours, then train for two hours after that. We’d eat, sleep, repeat until it was over.”

Jimmy Wong, who plays Ling, said they learned everything from how to ride horses to how to do stunts. “We worked together with every single person in the cast,” he said. “We needed it! You need that inspiration and your friends around to say, ‘Hey, you can do this!’ Because there were a lot of times when you’d think, ‘I’m tapping out.’ But when everyone is still going, you’re like, ‘If they don’t stop, I’m not going to stop, either.’”

Time and again, the cast and crew commended Caro for creating such a collaborative environment on set. “Big props to Niki Caro for being such a fantastic director with such a strong vision,” Wong said. First assistant Liz Tan added, “On Niki’s sets, we always have fun. We take the work seriously—and we honor the work—but we had a lot of fun.”

The film’s cast and crew all said great care went into bringing the story of Mulan to life. As Yen, who plays a new character, Commander Tung, told us, “What better way to present the richness and beauty of Chinese culture than by having Disney behind it?”

Before Mulan opens in U.S. theaters March 27, enjoy more photos from the premiere:

Jet Li (The Emperor) and Donnie Yen (Commander Tung)

Disney Legend Christina Aguilera (Performer: “Loyal Brave True” and “Reflection”)

Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen (Voice of Mulan, 1998)

Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Screenwriters)

Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek (Screenwriters)

Chris Bender and Jake Weiner (Producers)

Tim Coddington (Executive Producer) and Guest

9 Movies on Disney+ That Will Make You Feel all the Feels

March 11, 2020

By Max Lark

We all have them. Movies that we remember for the way they tugged at our emotions—or even turned us into Kleenex-clutching blubbering messes. Here’s a list of just some of the films you can watch on Disney+ that will give you the feels—and you may shed a few tears, as well.

Free Solo
Watching Alex Honnold ascend, without a rope, the 3,000-foot treacherous face of the world’s most famous rock, El Capitan in Yosemite National Park—even when you know he made it—is a sensation akin to what one might feel if he or she were to ski downhill with a blindfold. You’re just waiting for the gut-punch of disaster that will happen at any moment. In a film where the stakes are perfection or death, no viewer can emerge emotionally unscathed. You’d be forgiven for shedding tears over Honnold’s peerless accomplishment—which is at once a moving celebration of the triumph of the human spirit against all odds and probably the greatest athletic feat in history.

Camp Rock
By the time aspiring singer Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) begins to belt out “This is Me,” and established—and brash—rock star Shane Gray (Joe Jonas) realizes hers is the voice he overheard and has been searching for, those of us with a weakness for on-the-cusp-of-adulthood sentimentality in movies are beginning to tear up. When Shane joins her on stage to help close out this gloriously self-affirming song, we’ve lost the battle and give in to happy tears. Shot by world-class cinematographer Dean Cundey, Camp Rock is a movie that looks as good as it sounds and moves us.

Frank and Ollie
A buddy-buddy movie par excellence, Frank and Ollie, is a revealing look at two of the most talented animators in Disney history—Disney Legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston—who worked alongside each other five days a week and lived next door to each other in La Canada Flintridge, California. The film traces a four-decades-long friendship and collaborative partnership—one that began when they both attended Stanford University—and there’s something about seeing the passage of years, the enduring friendship, the mutual admiration, and the withering effects of time that make this tender documentary Shakespearean in what it says about the human condition: No one lives forever, but if you’re lucky, your work will, and friendships that last a lifetime may be worth more than anything.

WALL•E
One could argue that the entire first act of director Andrew Stanton’s magisterial WALL•E is a portrait of sadness, with our adorable, decidedly non-hipster robot left alone on Earth, still plugging away at his job compacting trash for no one in particular. Though the Star Wars-inspired WALL•E ends on a high note, Stanton brilliantly brings the movie back “Down to Earth” with an end-credits sequence of astonishing beauty, propelled by the emotionally charged song of that name by legendary English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It’s a tender sequence in which image and song are such perfect complements, you have to decide whether to watch or listen.

Saving Mr. Banks
So many heartbreaking threads are woven throughout this 2013 story about the making of Mary Poppins that one is hard-pressed to remember exactly which poignant scene moves mountains of emotion most. There’s the story of P.L. Travers’ beloved doomed father, who passes away when the author-to-become was just 7 years old. There’s the growing relationship between Travers (Emma Thompson), and her limousine driver, Ralph (Paul Giamatti), who eventually reveals to her the story of his daughter, who is an invalid. But our favorite scene is when Travers, Mary Poppins screenwriter Don DaGradi and composers Richard and Robert Sherman, played by Bradley Whitford, Jason Schwartzman, and B.J. Novak, respectively, break into the uplifting ode “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” that the heartstrings receive the most serious plucking. “I have a heart the size of a peanut,” Whitford once told us. “And even I cry when I watch that scene.”

Queen of Katwe
“In chess,” says one of the characters who teaches 10-year-old Phiona how to play chess, “the small one can become the big one.” It’s a message that will change Phiona’s life forever; Phiona discovers she has a unique skill for the game, one that will take her from the hardscrabble streets of Katwa, a slum in Kampala, Uganda, all the way to the Chess Olympiad in Russia. Her journey to the top of the chess world is fraught with heartbreaking challenges outsiders must always confront, and by the time the film ends, viewers learn, along with Phiona, the heartbreaking lesson that you can emerge victorious even if you don’t win. Adding to the poignance of the film is the recent news that Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who played Gloria in the film, passed away at age 15 after a four-year battle against brain cancer.

Eight Below
Who doesn’t love a movie about man’s best friend? So when you have a movie about eight of them, you know you’re in for an emotional journey that’s going to take you through a valley of tears at some point. Ostensibly an action-adventure story starring Paul Walker as a guide at an Antarctica research base who takes a professor to Mount Melbourne in search of a rare meteorite, this movie is really all about Maya, Old Jack, Shorty, Dewey, Truman, Shadow, Buck, and Max—the eight sled dogs that take the two men to Mount Melbourne. Eventually a storm strikes the base camp, causing an immediate evacuation—and the dogs have to be left behind. What happens next is, by turns, emotional, inspiring, and heartbreaking—and a reminder that man isn’t the only creature who can defy the odds.

UP
Ok, we all know about the famous sequence in which the entire life of our protagonists, Ellie and Carl Fredricksen, is played out in the first 10 minutes or so of this fan-favorite film. It’s one of the most exquisitely conceived scenes in the history of animation. But another favorite sequence of ours is toward the end of the movie when Carl awards Russell with the Ellie (grape soda) Badge. With composer Michael Giacchino’s tremblingly tender piano as backdrop, Carl says the line that gets us every time: “Russell, for assisting the elderly and for performing above and beyond the call of duty, I would like to award you with the highest honor I can bestow—the ‘Ellie’ badge.” Rarely has coming full circle in a storyline felt this earned and transcendent.

Bambi
“Fellas, this stuff is pure gold,” Walt Disney told animators as they labored through an exceedingly slow production schedule for Bambi. He was right. The gorgeous and unforgettable evocation of the forest and the nuanced and delicately drawn characters work their considerable magic on us. By the time of the scene—the one where Bambi loses his mother to the hunters—we are emotional wrecks. However, the movie ends in an uplift that gives us the strength to venture back into that forest again and again, and Bambi remains one of the most charming animated films of all time.

9 Sibling Adventures to Watch on Disney+

March 11, 2020

By D23 Team

With brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot setting out on a grand and glorious quest in Disney and Pixar’s Onward, we realized: Stories from all the worlds of Disney are positively replete with “sibling adventures”—stories where brothers and/or sisters find themselves on a magical, memorable journey… in their very own backyard, halfway across the galaxy, and everywhere in between! Thankfully, Disney+ features a vast array of these kinfolk exploits; read on for some of our favorites, and make sure to add them to your watchlist for viewing with your own siblings!

The Muppets
In this adorable 2011 comedy, Kermit the Frog-obsessed Walter (voice of Peter Linz), his human brother Gary (Jason Segel), and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), travel from Smalltown, U.S.A., to Hollywood—where they not only convince Kermit and the other Muppets to reconvene after an extended sojourn, but they also battle an unscrupulous businessman (Chris Cooper) intent on razing the historic Muppet Theater. See if Walter, Gary, Mary, and more than 100 Muppets save the day on Disney+ right now!

The Sound of Music
High in the pantheon of sibling films sits 1965’s The Sound of Music, based on the hit Broadway musical and a true story from the lead-up to World War II. The six Von Trapp children—Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, and Gretl—are initially under the rule of their stern military-taught father… until a warm-hearted, convent-trained governess named Maria comes to all of their rescues, before leading the whole clan across the Austrian Alps in a 1938 flight to freedom.

Mary Poppins
Siblings Jane and Michael Banks are at the center of this legendary 1964 Disney film, which follows their adventures around London with a mysterious nanny. Initially, the siblings’ proper father and flighty mother are far too preoccupied—par for the course in the Banks household, it seems—to notice the magic that ensues… eventually, Mary Poppins (and her chimney-sweep friend Bert) teach both the children and their parents how to be a loving family once again.

The Incredibles
What’s it like to live in a family that’s seemingly ordinary but has a truly incredible secret? That’s the question faced by siblings Violet, Dash, and baby Jack-Jack in Disney and Pixar’s 2004 animated hit The Incredibles. Forced to give up their crime-fighting ways and go “suburban,” Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) and his wife Helen (Elastigirl) raise their kids in seemingly quiet Metroville. But when an evil genius named Syndrome threatens the world, parents and kids—all of whom have special powers—must band together to save the day.

DuckTales
Life is like a hurricane in Duckburg, and that seems to be just the way that triplet brothers Huey, Dewey, and Louie like it. When the trio came to live at McDuck Manor with their great uncle Scrooge McDuck, they knew he was the richest of the rich, but little did they know of his closely guarded secrets from an epic past. Now their high-flying adventures with Uncle Scrooge and their BFF, Webby (granddaughter of Mrs. Beakley), send the whole family on a duck blur of daring escapades around the world. A brand-new DuckTales debuted in 2017, and the first two seasons can be streamed on Disney+ right now. Woo-oo!

Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World
If you’ve ever deemed your sibling to be a bit of a troublemaker, chances are you’ve got nothing on Thor. His brother, Loki, is literally the God of Mischief, and his tricks and schemes wreak havoc across the realms. In 2011’s Thor, the mighty God of Thunder is faced with stopping Loki from dethroning their father, Odin, and taking control of Asgard. The 2013 follow-up finds Thor entering into an alliance with his treacherous brother in order to save the people of Asgard… and the universe itself.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Though Luke and Leia shared force-filled adventures in both Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi marks the first time they set out to save the galaxy far, far away aware that they are brother and sister. The Skywalker siblings and their friends—including Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, C-3PO, and R2-D2—have their work cut out for them in this epic conclusion to the original trilogy, which finds the Empire preparing to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, while the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station.

Frozen
Whether Anna and Elsa’s adventures involve riding their bikes around the halls or saving their kingdom of Arendelle from an eternal winter, we are here for them. In the 2013 blockbuster Frozen, the sisters encounter Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls, and a beloved cast of characters that include mountain man, Kristoff; his loyal reindeer, Sven; and a hilarious snowman named Olaf. Through it all, however, their sibling bond is truly worth melting for.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
In this 1989 classic, Amy and Nick Szalinski embark on the ultimate backyard adventure. Reduced in size to just 1/4-inch high, by way of their inventor father’s still-in-development electromagnetic shrinking machine, the siblings just want to get home—except that now the mere task of crossing the yard becomes a major trek through what seems like a teeming jungle. Hurricane sprinklers, dive-bombing bees, and a runaway lawn mower are just some of the perils faced by the kids in the comedy-adventure Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, available to stream now on Disney+.

Everything We Know About Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort

March 11, 2020April 10, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Have you ever imagined what it might be like to be a Super Hero?

Well, hold on to your capes because those dreams become reality at Disneyland Resort when the brand-new Avengers Campus opens inside Disney California Adventure Park, coming soon. This immersive new land is designed for the hero within each of us, taking inspiration from the stories and characters in films and comic books that have captivated fans for generations. We recently had the opportunity to tour the land and hear from the incredible people bringing Avengers Campus to life—a group that Scot Drake, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, aptly calls “a team of extraordinary people that are coming together to work on something greater than themselves”—just like the Avengers.

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are assembling at Avengers Campus for the common good. In fact, the name C.A.M.P.U.S. stands for Centralized Assembly Mobilized to Prepare, Unite, and Safeguard. Yes, Avengers Campus will be jam-packed with: nods to fan-favorite characters and films (as well as hidden-in-plain-sight references to upcoming big-screen and Disney+ projects we have yet to see); truly heroic encounters with an unprecedented roster of Super Heroes; and an extraordinary lineup of food and beverages. But most importantly, guests will be able to help the Avengers in their efforts throughout the land via a variety of offerings, including the interactive, high-tech family attraction WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, which will feature Tom Holland reprising his role as Spider-Man.

“Since day one we have been trying to figure out, how do we bring this land to life—and not just bring it to life where you get to see your favorite heroes or you get to meet your favorite heroes, but where you get to become a hero,” says Brent Strong, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “And within the story that we’ve created, the idea here is that every time we’ve seen the Avengers go up against bigger and bigger threats—from Loki to Ultron to Thanos—the way that they’ve persevered, the way that they’ve succeeded, is with a bigger and bigger team. So this land is finally the invitation for all of us to join the Avengers—all of us to join the team—and all of us to actually find the hero within, which is just incredibly exciting.”

ASSEMBLING AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS

The new land is coming together through an amazing collaboration within The Walt Disney Company, say both Drake and Dave Bushore, vice president of Franchise Creative & Marketing for Marvel Studios, who notes that even the challenges faced by this team have been driven by the desire not to miss any opportunities. “They’re the kind of challenges you want. They’re the ones [that come] when you’re on the cutting edge of storytelling. We’re trying to keep up with what we do at the Studio because that’s what people want to step into,” Bushore says.

Avengers Campus will be a living, breathing land that’s forward-looking and incorporate not just films that have already been released, but stories yet to be told. This is something new for the Imagineers, Drake shares, noting, “It takes a lot of trust from our whole organization to say, hey, we’re going to start building this building. But the story, we’re going to wait on until we know the full series of what’s happening with all the Disney+ shows. So that’s definitely been the dynamic part of this. These lands start multiple years ahead of time. We have to commit to what are those core values we want to have, knowing we want to pepper in all of these fun Easter eggs, all of these different story twists along the way.”

And just as the worlds of our Super Heroes have been interconnected on the big screen, guests should look for this same interconnectivity in Disney parks around the world. Avengers Campus is part of a larger story that extends to Hong Kong Disneyland—where the attractions Iron Man Experience and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! are already open—and Disneyland Paris, where an Avengers Campus is planned to open in 2021.

Drake recalls that the teams frequently referenced the iconic quote from Nick Fury, who initially brought together the Avengers: “You’ve become part of a bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet.” Drake emphasizes, “We take that into every attraction, every heroic encounter. Everything should make you feel like you’re part of something even bigger.”

Speaking of vast, the Imagineers had 80 years of comics and more than a decade of films to draw upon as they determined what lies at the heart of Avengers Campus. WDI staff writer Jillian Pagan explains, “As we were starting with Avengers Campus, we took a look at the films and the comics and we took a look at those characters and realized that the core of the Avengers universe—the core themes—are heroism, optimism, and empowerment. So we are trying to stretch those themes across every activation of the land.” As they roam through the land, guests will notice older buildings that have been retrofitted for a new, optimistic purpose. They will go on missions with Spider-Man and Rocket Raccoon. And these themes will extend to food and beverage offerings and merchandise, as well, as guests live out their own heroic stories.

DISCOVER NEW PLACES IN THE UNIVERSE

Several important addresses comprise Avengers Campus, and the level of immersive detail in each will blow you away. “Think about the difference between being a moviegoer and being a theme park goer,” says Heidi Rosendahl, principal color and paint artisan for WDI, who describes her job as being responsible for the “skin” that goes over the “bones” that have been built by other teams. She points out, “When you walk into a movie theater, the filmmaker has set the parameters for you. They tell you what to look at, when to look at it, and you can’t move around inside of their environment. It’s a very focused experience that you have.” In Avengers Campus, you get to choose what you see and where you go. And here are some of the locales you’ll want to be sure to visit.

There’s no mistaking Avengers Headquarters at the center of the land. Look for the signature Avengers logo, the Quinjet on the roof, and Avengers themselves springing into action to head off threats from various foes.

Not far from Avengers Headquarters, the Worldwide Engineering Brigade is better known as WEB. Once home to Stark Automotive, the 80-year-old building now houses an enthusiastic group of young inventors—including Peter Parker—who have been brought together by Tony Stark to invent new technologies and equip everyday people to become heroes like the Avengers. You’ll see their technology in full force in WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure—but more on that later. And look up to the rooftop to take in Spider-Man’s gravity-defying moves, more than 60 feet in the air. When our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man comes back down to Earth, he’ll greet new recruits at ground level outside WEB.

The Sanctum is one of the most beautiful locales to be found in Avengers Campus. These overgrown ruins are the perfect spot for guests to encounter Doctor Strange and learn his secrets of the mystic arts. Doctor Strange will use powerful spells to bring The Sanctum to life, and you’ll want to return to the area after dark, when it will glow even more vividly with majestic colors and lights and its mystic energy will seem even more vibrant.

SLING WEBS WITH SPIDER-MAN

Our Spidey senses are atingle with anticipation for Avengers Campus’ new attraction WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, which uses new cutting-edge technology to enable guests to sling webs just like Spider-Man himself. Here’s how this incredible experience transpires.

The young inventors of WEB have opened the address up for an open house, where many of their new creations are on display for guests—including Spider-Bots, affable robotic sidekicks that have been designed to build anything a Super Hero might need. But something goes haywire and the Spider-Bots run amok, replicating at an alarming rate. The open house abruptly turns into a mission, and Spider-Man needs your help! Guests will don 3D glasses and get to test drive Peter Parker’s latest invention, the WEB Slinger vehicle, and discover never-before-realized powers.

“We always start with wish fulfillment when we’re creating an attraction. What is that thing that you’ve always wanted to do? What is that power that you’ve always wanted to have?” Brent Strong says. Like some attractions, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure uses 3D glasses as well as a hybrid of physical sets, practical effects, and virtual set extensions. But what you won’t see, Strong points out, is a blaster for guests to hold onto. “Believe it or not, with nothing in your hands, you get to reach out and you will sling webs on this ride,” he details. WDI tapped into innovative technology adapted specifically for this attraction for a brand-new interface that uses a gesture recognition system that has been built into every slinger vehicle. “Sixty times a second we are able to determine where a guest’s head is, their shoulders, their elbows, and even their wrists,” Strong explains. “We’re able to track the motion of your body so that when you reach out and sling a web, since we know where your eyes are and we know where your hands are, we can render a web—a virtual web coming right out of the palm of your hand—right out of your virtual web shooters and into a virtual world.”

The attraction will take guests virtually through other Avengers Campus addresses, including Pym Test Kitchen, Avengers Headquarters, and The Collector’s Fortress (otherwise known as Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!). Best of all, the attraction will be thrilling for all members of the family. And after those rogue Spider-Bots have been rounded up, guests will learn how many they caught as a team in their WEB Slinger vehicles.

A CAMPUS “TEEMING WITH HEROES”

Dan Fields, executive creative director for Disney Parks Live Entertainment, states unequivocally, “This is going to be the largest assembly of these heroes anyplace, anytime, anywhere. We really have a place for them to live and work and play and protect and train.”

In addition to Spider-Man, who will be based at WEB; and Doctor Strange, who will most often be found in The Sanctum, guests may have heroic encounters with Black Widow; Ant-Man and The Wasp, making their Disneyland Resort debuts; Captain Marvel; Captain America; the Guardians of the Galaxy; Iron Man; Black Panther; and Thor. Plus, the beloved mischief-making anti-hero Loki will also be on hand to do what Loki does best, and Groot will continue to roam near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

With Avengers Campus based in the real world and serving as a place for all Super Heroes to gather, the Dora Milaje are bringing wisdom from Wakanda to training encounters led by General Okoye—who makes her Disney Parks debut this summer. Recruits will train with Black Panther’s loyal bodyguards and find out what it’s like to be part of this elite royal guard.

At Avengers Headquarters, Captain America, Black Panther, and Black Widow will face off against foes throughout the day. And we’re excited to reveal the identity of one of the Avengers’ adversaries: Taskmaster! The nefarious Taskmaster will have a role in the upcoming film Black Widow, and guests can see him in action this summer at Avengers Campus. In fact, the Black Widow stunt team worked closely with the Disney Parks Live Entertainment team to ensure that Taskmaster’s unique talent—his natural ability to memorize and replicate Super Hero moves—comes to life thrillingly and authentically.

PYM PARTICLES ENHANCE TINY TREATS AND BIG BITES IN THE MOST MAGICAL WAYS

We have the technology of Pym Particles and the ingenuity of the Disneyland Resort Food and Beverage team to thank for the amazing lineup of culinary offerings that will be available at Avengers Campus at four different locations.

Pym Test Kitchen

At the Pym Test Kitchen dining location, Disneyland Resort Culinary Director John State declares, “We are shrinking problems and growing solutions.” The ceiling evokes a quantum tunnel, and just below that you can watch as a conveyor belt of tantalizing Bavarian pretzels go from regular-size to ginormous. How ginormous? Served warm, right out of the oven, these pretzels weigh approximately 360 grams and are perfect for sharing.

Pym Test Kitchen relies on the same technology that Ant-Man and The Wasp used to grow and shrink, well, just about anything. Here the Pym Particles lead to the creation of innovative food—traditional food at very nontraditional scale. Guests are invited to help the Pym food scientists through taste testing. We happily tried our hand at sampling the savories and sweets—in the name of science—and can report on several must-try meals at Pym Test Kitchen:

The Impossible™ Spoonful features plant-based large and micro meatballs, served in a super-sized spoon with a tiny fork.

The “Pym-ini” is a hero among sandwiches. This panini on toasted focaccia with salami, rosemary ham, provolone, sun-dried tomato mayonnaise, and arugula with marinara dipping sauce, is served as both an individual-sized portion, as well as a long, multi-portion sandwich that will satisfy a hungry family or group of friends.

The Not So Little Chicken Sandwich was developed to satisfy guests who are looking for a high-protein, low-carb intake. A crispy breaded chicken breast has grown with the help of Pym Particles, while its accompanying bun seems to have shrunk. The sandwich is dressed with two different sauces—one slightly sweet teriyaki sauce, one slightly spicy chili sauce—and a pickled cabbage slaw. And while you may be inclined to reach for a knife and fork, State urges guests to “be adventurous” and forgo utensils in favor of their two hands.

There may be no more perfect beverage to accompany any food item at Pym Test Kitchen than a refreshing cup of Pingo Doce soda (pictured above right). The distinctly green soft drink—which boasts hints of both lime and vanilla—has deep roots within the Avengers universe. Fans may remember Bruce Banner taking a job at the Pingo Doce Bottling Company way back when he was on the run in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ample outdoor seating is available at Pym Test Kitchen and offers a wonderful vantage point for Avengers activity over at Headquarters.

Pym Tasting Lab

Just a few steps from Pym Test Kitchen, the Pym Tasting Lab represents Scott Lang aka Ant-Man’s pet project and has a focus on adult beverages. Craft beers on tap range from a blood orange hefeweizen to an amber lager, and they’re poured via an ingenious reverse draft system where the glass fills from the bottom up. The Pym Tasting Lab will feature four different beer cocktails, as well as snacks that feature big flavors but come in small, munchable bites, such as sweet and savory popped grains, mini pretzels, and salted honey-roasted peanuts.

Shawarma Palace

What would Avengers Campus be without shawarma? New York City’s Shawarma Palace is an Avengers favorite (and has been since they first tried the local joint following the Battle of New York). By special request of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Shawarma Palace crew is opening up a location within Avengers Campus that will serve a fragrant chicken shawarma and garlic sauce, as well as an Impossible™ plant-based falafel version. Look for the cart that’s decked out with Avengers memorabilia.

Terran Treats

If you’ve already been fascinated by the unique collection Taneleer Tivan has curated in his fortress and on display at Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, prepare to be tempted by his equally enchanting assortment of intergalactic eats and treats at this food cart. The Cosmic Cream Orb resembles an Infinity Stone, but it has the flavor of a delectable cream puff filled with raspberry cheesecake mousse.

Terran Treats will also feature a changing variety of colorful Sweet Spiral Rations, which look and taste like what we have come to know and love as a churro.

SUPER HERO SUPPLIES AND SWAG

Whether you’re looking to gear up and dress the part of Super Hero during your time at Avengers Campus or you want to continue the fun after you’ve returned home, WEB Suppliers should be your first stop. Located across from the WEB building, WEB Suppliers features park favorites such as headwear, drinkware, patches, pins, and more. It’s also home to a version of the Spider-Bots that go haywire in WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure—but we promise, without the ability to replicate, they make wonderful and friendly sidekicks!

Each Spider-Bot is powered by a remote control and has eight articulated legs that move backward and forward. Also available for purchase are tactical upgrades that allow guests to customize their Spider-Bot and harness the powers and style of favorite Super Heroes, including Black Panther, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Ant-Man and The Wasp. “The team at WEB is very inspired by those Super Heroes they see training over at the campus. They’ve developed these tactical upgrades that change not only the overall appearance of the Spider-Bot but also enhance the Spider-Bot’s capabilities,” says Brad Schoeneberg, director, Merchandise Strategy & New Park Experience Development, Disney Global Product Creation.

Stop by WEB Suppliers for a must-have backpack that’s been specially designed to carry and show Spider-Bots when you’re on the go (and they aren’t!), as well as super cool Spider-Man light goggles with 17 unique expressions.

WEB Suppliers also carries a Spider-Man action figure that interacts with mini Spider-Bots, Web-shooters with authentic lights and sounds, a kit that enables fans to make their very own webs at home, and Parks-exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figures of Spider-Man and Iron Man.

For budding WEB inventors of all ages, WEB Suppliers carries a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)-inspired kit that enables aspiring heroes to create their own “Gamma Goo” and more.

If you’re aiming to dress heroically, visit the Campus Supply Pod for official Avengers Campus logo gear such as performance fleece hoodies and tees, hats, drinkware, and more Super Hero supplies.

Avengers Campus officially begins recruiting the next generation of Super Heroes this summer. And while you’re waiting to sling your first web or catch your first in-person glimpse of the Quinjet, stay tuned to D23.com for updates and new details.

Our favorite Super Heroes have taught us that “with great power comes great responsibility,” and the teams working on Avengers Campus keep that iconic sentiment in mind as they bring these beloved Avengers into the real world. Bushore says, “There is a lot of responsibility that comes with the iconography of that and bringing it to life for people. We’re fans, first and foremost, and people take this stuff really seriously, which is awesome. And that’s a really great thing to be able to tap into.”

Disney Legend and Walt Disney Archives Founder Dave Smith to Be Honored with Disneyland Window

March 11, 2020March 31, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

The stories of the Walt Disney Archives and Disney Legend Dave Smith will be forever tied together—Smith’s Disney career began on June 22, 1970, when he founded the Walt Disney Archives. Hired by Walt’s brother—and co-founder of The Walt Disney Company —Roy O. Disney, Smith was responsible for growing the Archives from a simple one-person department to a model among corporate archives, becoming the final authority on all matters of Disney history in the process.

In honor of his incredible legacy and impact on The Walt Disney Company, Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger announced today at Disney’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Raleigh, North Carolina, that Smith will receive the highest honor that Disneyland Resort bestows: a tribute window on Main Street, U.S.A. His window will be unveiled on June 22, 2020, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney Archives’ founding.

Smith, who passed away in 2019, wrote extensively on Disney history, with a regular column in The Disney Channel Magazine, Disney Magazine, Disney Newsreel, and numerous articles in such publications as Starlog, Manuscripts, Millimeter, American Archivist, and California Historical Quarterly. He is the author of the official Disney encyclopedia, Disney A to Z, now in its fifth edition; with Kevin Neary he co-authored four volumes of The Ultimate Disney Trivia Book; with Steven Clark he co-wrote Disney: The First 100 Years; and he edited The Quotable Walt Disney. Dave also wrote introductions to a number of other Disney books.

In October 2007, Dave was honored with the prestigious Disney Legends Award. A resident of Burbank, California, Dave retired in 2010 after his 40th anniversary with The Walt Disney Company and continued working for the next nine years as a consultant for the Company, with the title of Chief Archivist Emeritus.

“My greatest reward has been getting to know the many people who have come to use the Archives over the years. I have been especially proud to be a guide and mentor to so many young people who have gone on to exceptional careers in the Disney organization,” Dave once said.

More details are to be announced about the unveiling ceremony for Smith’s window, so stay tuned to D23.com for updates.

Stargirl’s Stellar Cast and Standout Message Shine on Disney+

March 9, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Mica High School seems to have lost its luster. Its football team, the Mud Frogs, is on an extended losing streak, and the school’s trophy case has been empty for as long as anyone can remember. Leo Borlock (Graham Verchere), the student at the center of Disney+’s Stargirl, has also lost his shine. Having moved to Mica, New Mexico, with his mother after his father’s untimely passing, Leo has gone from an outgoing young boy with a penchant for quirky ties to a quiet teen who seems determined to fade into the landscape. Leo and Mica High are both in need of a little magic, and that comes unexpectedly in the form of Stargirl Caraway, a confident newcomer whose bold fashion and ukulele stylings instantly set her apart.

The title character is played by singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal, who shot to fame on America’s Got Talent at age 12 and who now makes her film debut in Stargirl, based on the bestselling novel by Jerry Spinelli. Julia Hart directs this offbeat, emotional coming-of-age story from a screenplay by Kristin Hahn and Hart & Jordan Horowitz. When it came to finding the enigmatic protagonist, the casting directors cast a wide net, looking at more than 1,000 young actors for the role. As VanderWaal recorded her first audition on an iPhone, with her parents serving as directors and camera operators, she had no idea that she was in the running for a Disney film. “I think I would have been much more nervous if I knew that,” she shares, noting that her lack of acting experience also helped keep any self-imposed pressure at bay. But VanderWaal’s connection to the character was apparent from that first instance, Hart emphasizes, recalling, “When I first saw [Grace’s] audition, she was just Stargirl.”

Music plays an important role in Stargirl, and the title character displays a keen understanding of music’s power to connect from the moment she serenades Leo with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” that she plays on her ukulele. The movie features unique, modern arrangements of classic songs that include the Beach Boys’ 1963 classic “Be True to Your School” and Big Star’s 1972 release “Thirteen.”

And while VanderWaal’s musical talent was well known, Hart kept in mind that any actor cast as Leo would need to sing alongside Stargirl. During a pivotal casting session, the director asked Verchere to sing as part of his audition with VanderWaal, despite the fact that they had just met. “And boy can he sing,” Hart emphasizes, revealing that this moment provided clarity that Verchere was the only choice for the role. “He simultaneously was charmingly terrified to sing in front of her, but did it and did it well,” she shares. “That’s Leo.”

VanderWaal remembers the awkwardness of that first meeting, and believes it’s a testament to Hart’s talent as a director that she saw such inherent chemistry between Verchere and herself. “We were both young and much more awkward I feel like than [we are] now,” VanderWaal says, and, in fact, she now points to the scene in which Leo and Stargirl sing together as one of her favorites in the final film. “It was further down the line [in the production], where I feel like I was more comfortable being on camera and being with [Verchere] on camera, and I feel like [he was] getting more comfortable, as well,” she explains, adding, “When I watch, I’m like, ‘oh, that’s when we were starting to get the hang of it.’”

Stargirl filmed on location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in fall 2018, and the stunning vistas you’ll see in the film were done without special effects. “When you see those absolutely gorgeous shots and gorgeous views, that’s just what it looks like there,” Verchere says. “Every night it would just be incredible. It would always be better than the night before.”

“It wasn’t like other film sets,” Hart emphasizes. “It was just so fun and happy and positive. Our crew was incredible. Everyone—not just the actors, but the people on the crew—had such a great relationship with the young actors.” Rounding out the Stargirl cast are Karan Brar as Leo’s best friend, Kevin Quinlant; Maximiliano Hernandez as teacher and faculty advisor Mr. Robineau; Darby Stanchfield as Leo’s mother, Gloria Borlock; and Giancarlo Esposito as paleontologist Archie Brubaker. The film also features infectious musical numbers crafted by Mandy Moore, the acclaimed choreographer of La La Land, as well as an Emmy® winner for ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

It’s the film’s celebration of individuality, and how it presents the struggle that so many kids and even adults face, that of balancing the desire to fit in with staying true to oneself, that hits closest to home for its two leads. “That’s absolutely something that I have dealt with myself in my own life,” Verchere shares, pointing to school situations where “it feels like you can’t really be your true authentic self, with all of your little weird parts and quirks and everything.”

“I wish there was a more uncomfortable word than ‘uncomfortable,’” says VanderWaal, acknowledging that she was frequently her own worst critic—or as she puts it, “bully”—in high school. “I would just feel so uncomfortable in my own skin and just feel like a million people were staring right at me—when no one was probably looking at me,” she admits. VanderWaal can point to “many more similarities” than differences between Stargirl and herself, yet she still found the character challenging to play because she’s so much more confident “in every single bit of herself.”

“I think I’m still going on my Stargirl journey right now,” she says with a laugh. And for the rest of us? Our Stargirl journey begins March 13, when the film debuts on Disney+. Be sure to check it out.

Want more Disney+ news? Click here to stay up-to-date with what’s streaming.

Celebrate International Women’s Day with These Films on Disney+

March 6, 2020

By Savannah Salazar

International Women’s Day is a globally celebrated day on March 8 that honors the many achievements of women. And here at D23, we’re celebrating with the many amazing Disney women in some of our favorite films. Here’s a roundup of nine films showcasing inspiring women available to stream on Disney+.

Lilo & Stitch
Sisters Nani and Lilo aren’t perfect. Lilo is young, imaginative and extremely spirited, and Nani is just trying to juggle being young, in a relationship, and having a job, all while trying to be the sole guardian to her sister. The two care deeply for each other. They’re “ohana,” but like most siblings, they often get on each other’s nerves, especially after Lilo brings home a pet alien named Stitch. From there, things only get weirder as they must save Stitch from alien bounty hunters, and Lilo and Nani must keep their family together.

Captain Marvel
Always going higher, further, faster, Carol Danvers inspires us to find our inner strength. Set in the ‘90s, Captain Marvel follows Carol as she crash lands to Earth in pursuit of the enemy Skrulls. She soon meets a young Nick Fury and starts to slowly discover the origin and extent of her powers.

The Princess and the Frog
Since Tiana was a child, she learned that wishing upon a star was only half the trick. She’s always worked hard for her dream. That dream? Opening up the restaurant she and her late father had always wanted. But when she meets the laidback Prince Naveen—after he’s been turned into a frog—and kisses him, she ends up on a whimsical adventure through the mystical Louisiana bayou.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The middle chapter of the latest Star Wars trilogy puts all of our favorite characters through many trials. One of them is Rey. After heading off to find the legendary Luke Skywalker, Rey struggles with her primal connection to the Force. She’s brave yet vulnerable, and the sheer power that awakens in her is daunting, but she’s determined to learn more about it and herself—even if it means reaching out to the Dark Side.

Then there is General Leia Organa, who must deal with devastating loss after loss with the Resistance. Both poised and intelligent, Leia and her friend Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo must teach Poe Dameron what it truly means to be a leader.

And last but not least, Star Wars: The Last Jedi introduces us to the lovable, plucky, and headstrong Rose Tico. She joins ex-stormtrooper Finn as they attempt to save the remaining Resistance fleet. Through it all, Rose is selfless and shows Finn a different meaning of being the hero, thus delivering one of the most memorable quotes in Star Wars: “That’s how we’re gonna win: Not fighting what we hate, saving what we love.”

Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama
Kim Possible juggles a lot: boys, family, homework, and saving the world. And in Kim Possible: So the Drama, she starts feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders as all her worlds collide. While trying to find a date for junior prom, she experiences growing pains with her best friend, Ron Stoppable; deals with the evil Dr. Drakken; saves her kidnapped dad; and gets swept up by a mysterious new guy named Eric.

Moana
Young and adventurous, Moana yearns for a life on the sea. Torn between staying on land (per her family’s request) or following her heart and exploring the world, it’s not until she embarks on a daring mission to help her people and restore the heart of Te Fiti that she discovers life beyond her island. And, there’s no telling how far she’ll go!

Princess Diaries: The Royal Engagement
Growing up can be a royal pain, especially when you soon have a whole kingdom to run. In the sequel to the beloved Princess Diaries, Mia Thermopolis is a little older, wiser, and finally ready to take on her role as princess… until she learns from her grandmother, Queen Clarisse, that it’s her turn to assume the crown. Though, unmarried women cannot be crowned queen, so Mia must find a husband in less than a month. While the prospect worries Mia, she has by her side her intelligent and wonderful grandmother, her best friend Lily, and another close friend and fellow princess, Asana.

Delightful Details and Hidden Gems You’ll Find Aboard Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

March 6, 2020January 25, 2023

By Beth Deitchman

We’re getting ready to embark on a train ride unlike any other, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway—the first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction in a Disney park—which you can experience now at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and starting January 27 at Disneyland park. “Mouse rules apply” in this new attraction, which means that anything can (and does) happen, from the moment guests enter for the premiere of a new Mickey Mouse cartoon short, “Perfect Picnic,” until Disney magic brings them through the movie screen and into a cartoon world.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway represents an incredible combination of classic Disney storytelling and cutting-edge technology. “We’ve taken our whole grab bag of theatrical tricks and blended them together so seamlessly you won’t be able to tell what’s what,” said Kevin Rafferty, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “There is more happening in each and every scene than you could possibly have time to see in just one experience.”

To help you discover all of the mouse-terful details throughout the attraction, we’ve put together a list of fun facts and Easter eggs you’ll want to train your eyes and ears upon when you hop aboard the Runnamuck Railroad:

Old friends—and a charming new feathery one—are along for the ride.
Mickey and Minnie set out on a leisurely drive through Runnamuck Park when their plans for a “Perfect Picnic” go off the rails. They’re joined on the madcap adventure by dutiful dog Pluto; Engineer Goofy; a dancing Daisy Duck (who just might have some fancy new moves to teach you); a hot-headed Donald Duck, steaming over the theft of the sign from the hot dog stand he runs; Jackhammer Pete, whose vibrations could have unexpected results for Mickey and Minnie; and an adorable bird, Chuuby (pronounced “choo-bee”), who is sure to fly right into your heart. Chuuby loves to sing and dance in Runnamuck Park—and he’s been created exclusively for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad.

The look of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is intended to resemble the hand-drawn animation of Disney Television Animation’s Emmy®-winning Mickey Mouse shorts.
Disney Imagineers studied every cartoon short and consulted with Mickey Mouse executive producer Paul Rudish and art director Joseph Holt to ensure that the attraction’s hand-drawn look is true to that of the cartoons. During the stampede scene, take note of the extra floating “lines” that have been added around a cactus to create the appearance that they’re standing alone in mid-air.

You’ll hear more than just a whistle on this railroad adventure.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway’s exclusive theme song, “Nothing Can Stop Us Now,” was written by Christopher Willis, award-winning composer of the Mickey Mouse shorts, and his wife, Elyse Willis. The attraction also features several sound effects created by Disney Legend Jimmy Macdonald for classic Disney shorts that date back to the 1930s—and Imagineers used Macdonald’s original equipment to develop some new effects for the attraction, as well. And if there’s something familiar about the sound of Engineer Goofy’s train whistle, it’s because the tri-tone whistle from Mickey Mouse’s 1928 big-screen debut, Steamboat Willie, was used to record it.

Classic Hollywood touches illuminate the brand-new attraction.
As you enter the attraction, be sure to take a close look at the spectacular marquee, which features blinking bulbs and hand-crafted animated neon depictions of Mickey and Minnie. This is reminiscent of the dazzling displays that were custom-made for premieres of epic films during the mid-20th century.

Detail on the ride vehicles will draw you in.
The ride vehicles on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway appear to have been drawn by hand, as if in a cartoon. Imagineers used special painting effects to achieve this magical look.

Easter eggs hidden in the attraction provide nods to Disney history.
Disney Legends, landmarks, and milestones are referenced throughout the attraction in Easter eggs that celebrate Disney’s (and Mickey’s) incredible heritage. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit gets a shout-out on a newspaper with the headline “Oswald Wins!,” a reference to the character created by Walt Disney that pre-dates Mickey Mouse. The Iwerks and Uwerks Waterworks water treatment plant pays tribute to Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, who is credited with sketching Mickey for the very first time. The 1401 Flower Shop takes inspiration from Walt Disney Imagineering’s Glendale, California, headquarters; and look for two other numbers within the attraction—1901 and 1928. Those important dates reference Walt Disney’s and Mickey Mouse’s birth years, respectively.

“Toon” into These Details at Disneyland Resort
Over at Disneyland Resort, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has a much more… animated entrance. Here, the attraction starts in the toon world—Mickey’s Toontown, to be precise. Naturally, you enter the attraction through Mickey and Minnie’s hometown movie house, the El CapiTOON Theatre. Once inside, you’ll need to keep your eyes open, because this unique queue is packed with details, some obvious and some hidden. You might need to walk through a couple times to find them all!

The queue starts with a collection of posters advertising films that seem familiar—but with a toon-ified twist! Keep your eyes out for references to fan-favorite Disney films, such as posters depicting Mickey blasting off as The Mouseketeer and Scrooge McDuck starring in The Scroogiest Millionaire. Once you’re done admiring posters for High School Goofical 3 and The Chipmunk Trap, don’t let your guard down—you’re about to enter a true wonderland of Disney details!

The “Mickey through the Ears” exhibit (curated by Minnie Mouse and the Toontown Hysterical Society) showcases milestone moments in Mickey’s career—from the steamboat wheel from Steamboat Willie to his disco duds from the album Mickey Mouse Disco. Seeing the iconic props in person is already exciting, but don’t forget to look closely to spot some details hidden just for sharp-eyed Disney fans like you.

While the concessions stand is the perfect place for a snack before you watch Mickey and Minnie’s grand world “premear,” it is also full of delicious details shouting out some ’90s Disney classics along with an early piece of Disney history. Hungry for “McDuck’s Chocolate Coins”? How about some “Powerlimes”? If those are too newfangled for you, you might want to try the “Laugh ‘O’ Grahms” instead. The fun doesn’t stop at the snacks—at the condiments station, Disneyland fans can have their own “little” “adventure” figuring out who’s behind the ketchup and mustard’s namesake… (Catch our clues?)

Of course, you can’t go to a movie premiere without popcorn! Look closely at the popcorn inside the concession counter window and you might discover that this snack has some unusual shapes… reminding you of Mickey, Minnie, and even Donald! And over at the cash registers, keep an eye out for the prices that have been rung up—they reference the date of Mickey’s debut.

For more information about the amazing queue leading into Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, check out the upcoming Spring 2023 issue of Disney twenty-three—D23’s quarterly collectible publication available exclusively to D23 Gold Members.

To experience Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland, guests will be required to join the complimentary virtual queue*, which is accessible only via the Disneyland app.** Upon its grand opening, there will not be a standby line for this attraction. The virtual queue enrollment times will be twice daily, at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. PT. More information on the virtual queue system is available at Disneyland.com. Guests may also get quicker entry to this attraction with the purchase of an individual Lightning Lane arrival window, subject to availability.

*Virtual queues are limited and subject to availability and joining a virtual queue does not guarantee entrance to any experience. Guests may only enter a virtual queue once per day for each experience. Subject to other restrictions and change or cancellation without notice.

**Message, data, and roaming rates may apply for the use of the Disneyland app and Play Disney Parks app. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

“Woo-oo!” Season Three of DuckTales Begins Next Month—Plus More in News Briefs

March 6, 2020March 6, 2020

By Courtney Potter,

Get ready to revisit Duckburg, and prepare to meet Artemis Fowl… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

DisneyXD’s DuckTales Returns for a Third Season April 4

“Might solve a mystery, or rewrite history!” Exciting news, fans ‘n’ friends: Season three of the Emmy Award®-nominated DuckTales will debut with two new episodes on Saturday, April 4, at 9:30 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney XD and DisneyNOW. Featuring appearances by classic Disney characters Daisy Duck, Goofy, and even some favorites from TaleSpin, Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, and Darkwing Duck, the new season finds the Duck family embarking on a globetrotting hunt for the world’s greatest lost artifacts—with a secret organization from Scrooge’s past, the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny (F.O.W.L.), trying to stop them at any cost.

DuckTales stars the voices of David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Scrooge McDuck; Danny Pudi (Community) as Huey; Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) as Dewey; Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) as Louie; Kate Micucci (Garfunkel and Oates) as Webby Vanderquack; Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) as Launchpad McQuack; Toks Olagundoye (Castle) as Mrs. Beakley; Disney Legend Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck; and Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) as Della Duck, Donald Duck’s twin sister and the nephews’ mother. And the list of guest voices for this third season of hilarity and adventure reads like a who’s-who of Hollywood: Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Selma Blair (Hellboy), Bebe Neuwirth (Cheers), Retta (Parks and Recreation), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Jaleel White (Family Matter), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), and many, many more…

See y’all in Duckburg next month!

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
March 11, 2020
D23 Member Mixer in Raleigh, N.C.!
March 12, 2020
Sip & Stroll 2020 at Disney California Adventure Park
March 14, 2020
Mickey’s of Glendale – March 2020
April 2020
A Goofy Movie 25th—On the Open Roadshow
August 9, 2020
Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise Presented by D23
Parks
February 28—April 21, 2020
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns to Disneyland Resort
March 4—June 1, 2020
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort
Summer 2020
Avengers Campus opening at Disney California Adventure

Studios
March 6, 2020
Onward opens in U.S. theaters
March 27, 2020
Mulan opens in U.S. theaters
May 1, 2020
Marvel Studios’ Black Widow opens in U.S. theaters
May 29, 2020
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
March 20, 2020
Mira, Royal Detective premieres on Disney Channel (11 a.m. EDT/PDT) and on Disney Junior (7 p.m. EDT/PDT)
Disney+
March 13, 2020
Stargirl premieres
March 27, 2020
Be Our Chef premieres

Disney’s Artemis Fowl: Intriguing New Trailer and Poster

Mark your calendars for some fantastical fun in just a few months… Earlier this week, The Walt Disney Studios released a brand-new trailer for Artemis Fowl, a breathtaking adventure based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer. Take a gander at the clip (if you haven’t already—or watch it for a fifth time like we just did), above.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Artemis Fowl follows the journey of 12-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis (Ferdia Shaw) as he searches for his missing father (Colin Farrell). With the help of his loyal protector Butler (Nonso Anozie), Artemis soon uncovers an ancient, underground civilization—the amazingly advanced world of fairies. Realizing that his father’s disappearance is somehow connected to this secretive, reclusive world, Artemis concocts a dangerous plan… so dangerous, in fact, that he ultimately finds himself in a perilous war of wits with the powerful fairies.

The film—which also just debuted a cool new poster, above—also stars Lara McDonnell as Holly Short; Josh Gad as Mulch Diggums; Tamara Smart as Juliet Butler; Josh McGuire as Briar Cudgeon; Nikesh Patel as Foaly; and Adrian Scarborough as the Goblin Chief, with Judi Dench as Commander Root.

Look for Artemis Fowl in U.S. theaters beginning May 29!

ZOMBIES 2 Cast Celebrates Success at Disneyland Resort!

Just a few weeks after their Disney Channel Original Movie debuted to great fanfare, ZOMBIES 2 stars Meg Donnelly, Ariel Martin, Pearce Joza, Trevor Tordjman, Kylee Russell, Carla Jeffery, Noah Zulfikar, and James Godfrey ventured down to Disneyland Resort for a day of fantasy and frolic! The cast park-hopped between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks and enjoyed all manner of attractions; caught the cool new Magic Happens parade; and even met a few excited young ZOMBIES 2 fans throughout the day.

With its big premiere on Friday, February 14, ZOMBIES 2—the music- and dance-filled sequel to the 2018 hit ZOMBIES—became the No. 1 cable telecast of 2020 to date (excluding sports/news programming)! But wait, there’s more: The DCOM’s 10-song, bop-filled soundtrack continues to climb the music charts, reaching No. 1 on the iTunes Soundtrack chart and eclipsing the ’18 movie’s music by more than 22 percent in the United States.

Don’t miss out on the fun—ZOMBIES 2 is still available on DisneyNOW and On Demand, and it’ll air again on Disney Channel next Friday, March 13.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Joins the Disney Parks Designer Collection

This week brought the grand—and we mean grand—opening of the all-new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (speaking of, don’t miss out on the D23 special event Celebrating Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, available for streaming right here at D23)… and to help celebrate, our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog just announced the latest addition to the Disney Parks Designer Collection: a new, themed ear hat, designed by Disney Imagineer Kevin Rafferty, executive creative director for the attraction!

Released on March 5 at Walt Disney World Resort and online at shopDisney.com, this colorful ear hat features Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in the setting of Perfect Picnic, the cartoon featured in the finale of the attraction—and continues to delight as it lights up with fireworks by the flip of a switch! Pretty cool, right? The back of the ear hat features the saying “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” (from the attraction’s memorable theme song), and the inside of the hat has an adorable depiction of a picturesque car ride…

For more information on where you can find this ear hat in person—as well as a rundown of the remaining releases from the Disney Parks Designer Collection—click here.

Max Makes His Debut at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

Should you find yourself catchin’ a wave to the truly breathtaking Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa soon, you may just meet a new friend… Recently, Max—as in Goofy’s son and the star of the fan-favorite A Goofy Movie—made his big debut at the resort!

Guests can meet Max (sometimes alongside dad Goofy) at various locations and times around the resort. Young keiki (children) may even catch Max and Goofy together at Aunty’s Beach House and join the pair for a special program, Surf’s Up! A Surfin’, Fishin’, and Dancin’ Party; this trio of island activities, for kids ages three to 12, includes surfing games; learning about colorful Hawaiian fish; and dancing to surfing tunes. (Do note there is a nominal charge for this special activity.)

Aloha, Max! Welcome to the Aulani ohana!

Finding Dory’s Friends Scavenger Hunt Coming to Epcot

Here’s some fin-tastic news: Beginning this month, guests can become “sea-sleuths” whilst visiting The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion at Epcot by taking part in the new Finding Dory’s Friends scavenger hunt! This self-led journey entails picking up a complimentary booklet and following its map through the pavilion, solving rhyming puzzles and looking for clues to help Dory remember (and locate) her aquatic pals.

This new experience is a fun, interactive way for guests of all ages to learn more about our friends under the sea. The booklets will be located on the first floor inside The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion. Once you get your hands on one, you can collect stickers; learn about amazing ocean animals; and make memories as you travel among the many fascinating exhibits and displays throughout the pavilion.

So if you’re adventuring to Walt Disney World Resort soon, make sure to swim over to Epcot for a whale of a time!

DisneyXD’s DuckTales Returns for a Third Season April 4

Save the Date! Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

Disney’s Artemis Fowl: Intriguing New Trailer and Poster

ZOMBIES 2 Cast Celebrates Success at Disneyland Resort!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Joins the Disney Parks Designer Collection

Max Makes His Debut at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

Finding Dory’s Friends Scavenger Hunt Coming to Epcot

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar: