Get Early Access to the March Limited-Edition Mickey Plush

March 4, 2020March 9, 2020

The March Limited-Edition Train Conductor Disney Mickey Mouse Plush is SOLD OUT! Check back next month for the announcement of April’s plush theme and the date and time for the sale launch on Amazon.

Update for March 2020: Due to the strong response to these incredible plush, D23 and Amazon are making the following adjustments to the on-sale announcement for the upcoming months.

- D23 Members will continue to be among the first to be notified about each month’s theme and have an opportunity to order the month’s design.
- Each month D23 will provide Members with advance notice of the date the plush will be available for purchase on Amazon.com.
- Please Note: You must be signed in as a D23 Member to access the link to purchase. Click “Sign In” at the top of the page.
- Please note extremely limited quantities of the plush will be available on Amazon.com.

Train Conductor Disney Mickey Mouse

All new for the month of March!

Commemorate the Year of the Mouse with this Limited-Edition Train Conductor Disney Mickey Mouse Plush. The third of 12 collectible large plush in the series, this exclusive Mickey Mouse celebrates the month of March. Mickey Mouse stands 16 inches tall and is made of a soft denim fabric featuring his engineer’s outfit with gold embroidered buttons and embroidered eyes. Mickey Mouse features a commemorative gold and satin foot patch and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. He even comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging—ideal for collectors. The Year of the Mouse Train Conductor Disney Mickey Mouse plush makes the perfect gift for Disney fans of all ages.

Mickey Mouse and trains have a long history, from shorts like Mickey’s Choo Choo (1929) and Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip (1940) to Mickey joining Walt Disney aboard the Disneyland^® Railroad at the dedication of Disneyland Park on July 17, 1955. According to Disney lore, the idea for Mickey Mouse was born on a train as Walt Disney traveled from New York to Los Angeles.

Continue to stay tuned every month for a brand-new Mickey plush design announcement! For more Disney favorites, visit amazon.com/Disney for a full assortment of products.

Uncover 7 Hidden Details & Easter Eggs in Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure

March 3, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Celebrating 25 years this month, Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure has been a fan-favorite attraction since opening in 1995. A key part of that passion for Indiana Jones Adventure is the keen attention to detail that is apparent in every part of the attraction. Featuring more than 1,300 props in the queue alone to tell the story of Indiana Jones’ journey into the Temple of The Forbidden Eye, sharp-eyed fans can spot many elements and Easter eggs that add new layers to the already thrilling story. In honor of this attraction’s milestone anniversary, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites you should keep an eye out for (pun intended) next time you decided to adventure with Indy.

Raiders of the Lost Props
The entrance to Indiana Jones Adventure is a spectacular sight, from the massive snake statues to the complex archeological camp set up in front of the temple. But one detail serves as a nod to fans of the first Indiana Jones film—Raiders of the Lost Ark. The German Patrol Truck featured in the queue was actually used in the film! If you look closely, you can spot handlebars with golf balls on the top of the front bumper that were placed there specifically for one of the many car chase stunts in the film.

A Glimpse Into the Future
With its twists and turns through the mysterious temple, you never know what will happen next on Indiana Jones Adventure—or, do you? Did you know that before you even lay eyes upon the fearsome deity Mara, you can discover an artifact that foreshadows your adventures? The “Obelisk of Doom” that appears early on in the attraction’s queue depicts images of the impending dangers in your adventures, including giant snakes, spearing by spikes, deadly rats, and engulfment by flames.

Your Guide to the Temple of the Forbidden Eye
If one very ominous obelisk isn’t a good enough guide for your adventures, we have good news! Near Indiana Jones’ office in the queue, Indiana has helpfully laid out some maps and guides to the temple on a bulletin board. The maps include handwritten notes, diagrams of where to close your eyes, and more. Next time you’re there, make sure to study the bulletin board so you’re extra prepared for your adventure.

Another Day in the Life of Mickey
This one is front page news for Hidden Mickey hunters—you can find your favorite pal and his best gal featured on the front of a 1930s copy of Life Magazine that is lying on the desk in Indy’s office in the queue.

Hello There!
If you’re a Star Wars fan (or a fan of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), then this is the Easter egg you’re looking for. The wall of Indy’s office in the queue is made of crates, including one labelled “Deliver to: Club Obi Wan,” a tribute to not one, but two classic movies. The text is both a tribute to Star Wars’ Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and to the opening sequence of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which is set at a Shanghai club named “Club Obi-Wan.”

Mine! Mine! Mine!
Speaking of Indiana Jones on the Temple of Doom, you might notice this shout-out to one of the film’s most iconic action sequences. The mine car seen just outside the attraction’s exit was an actual prop used during the film’s thrilling mine car chase. That sequence itself was a complicated feat of visual effect wizardry (that even helped secure the film an Academy Award win for Best Visual Effects!), which you can read more about here

The Missing Mouseketeer?
There’s one more hidden Mickey that only the most brave and daring adventurers can find. While you speed through a hall of terrifying skeletons, you can spot one who’s showing off his Disney magic. You can recognize him by his Mouseketeer cap—like any dedicated Disney fan, he’s even gotten it embroidered with the name “Bones.”

These Frozen 2-Inspired Outfits Are Truly One-of-a-Kind

March 2, 2020

By Zach Johnson

No matter the time of year, Frozen 2-inspired apparel is always in season.

To celebrate the in-home release of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ record-breaking musical film, L.A.’s Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) recently filled the windows at Westfield Century City’s Disney store with Frozen 2-inspired luxury streetwear. Each garment was based on the five elemental spirits of nature featured in the film: earth, wind, water, fire, and ice. Recent FIDM graduates Paul Hernandez and Tomy Huang designed two female and two male looks, respectively, while FIDM co-chairs and design partners Nick Verreos and David Paul created an Elsa-inspired gown.

The beautiful, distinctive garments were on display at Disney store from February 25 through March 1. During that time, 10 people who purchased the Frozen 2 Blu-ray Multi-Screen Edition were selected at random to go home with an autographed copy from either Kristen Bell or Josh Gad, who voice Anna and Olaf, respectively, in the hit movie.

Take a closer look each of at the stunning designs in the photos below, then pick up your copy of Frozen 2 (now available on Blu-ray, DVD, digital and Movies Anywhere).

Haunted Mansion Tombstones

March 2, 2020

By Kimi Thompson, Walt Disney Archives

When the Haunted Mansion was being developed for Disneyland, Walt Disney asked Imagineer X Atencio to help develop the storyline for the attraction. He even wrote the now-famous lyrics to the iconic theme song, “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” As a fun homage to the Imagineers who helped create the Haunted Mansion, X wrote epitaphs for the tombstones featured outside the attraction in the queue area– including one for himself that used his full name: Francis Xavier.

When the attraction later opened in the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, the tombstones were again created using the same molds as their Disneyland counterparts. Years later, the original fiberglass tombstones from Florida’s Haunted Mansion were replaced with real stone versions—leaving the original tombstones to be proudly preserved by the Walt Disney Archives.

Don’t miss seeing the original versions from Magic Kingdom in our exhibit “Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic” which officially opens this weekend at the Bowers Museum!

“Frances Xavier” for Imagineer X Atencio

“Master Gracey” for Imagineer Yale Gracey

See How Mulan’s Epic Stunts Come to Life—Plus More in News Briefs

February 28, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Disney’s next live-action adventure, and read up on the just-announced Season 5 of Disney Channel’s BUNK’D… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

In celebration of Disney’s Mulan coming to theaters in just a few weeks’ time, The Walt Disney Studios just released a special featurette showcasing the film’s positively thrilling stunts. As director Niki Caro explains in the clip, “I loved creating the stunt sequences in this film. The action is explosive… All of the cast are brilliant, and they trained hard. It’s not just action for action’s sake—it’s all coming from character and from story. Every action is very meaningful.” Along with the new featurette comes news that tickets for Mulan are now on sale!

The epic tale of China’s legendary warrior comes to life in Mulan as a fearless young woman (Yifei Liu) risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors the country has ever known. When the Emperor of China (Jet Li) issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan steps in to take the place of her ailing father (Tzi Ma). Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, Mulan is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform Mulan into an esteemed warrior and earn her the respect of a thankful nation… and a proud father.

See it in U.S. theaters March 27!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
March 4, 2020
D23 Member Preview of Inside the Walt Disney Archives at the Bowers Museum
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
February 28, 2020
Magic Happens parade debuts at Disneyland Resort
March 4—June 1, 2020
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort
March 4, 2020
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
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 Channel’s BUNK’D to Return for Fifth Season

It’s a super popular Disney Channel series, and it’ll soon be back on your screen of choice: BUNK’D is returning for an epic fifth season, chock full of more adventures at Maine’s rustic Camp Kikiwaka. Erin Dunlap (Andi Mack, Jessie)—who joined the series as executive producer in Season 4—will return as sole showrunner for Season 5. Production is set begin this fall!

Returning series regulars include Miranda May as cheerful camp owner Lou; Mallory James Mahoney (Disney Channel’s Adventures in Babysitting), Raphael Alejandro (Once Upon a Time), and Will Buie Jr. (Gifted) as the loveable but mischievous campers; and Shelby Simmons (Andi Mack) and Israel Johnson (Schooled) as their quirky but well-intentioned counselors.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Coming to Disney+

Penny Proud and her lovable, madcap family from the long-running, fan-favorite Disney Channel series are coming back! Disney+ just announced it’s ordered the new animated family sitcom The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder; read more about what you can expect from the show by clicking here.

New Animated Short Vacation Fun Debuts at Mickey Shorts Theater Next Month

“Oh boy!” More exciting Mickey Mouse-related news from Disney’s Hollywood Studios! The park’s newly re-imagined Mickey Shorts Theater will debut March 4 to include a one-of-a-kind animated short…

The original short, Vacation Fun, celebrates Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s favorite vacation memories—plus a few new adventures! Vacation Fun, which will only be seen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will feature new animation and clips from favorite Mickey shorts including Panda-monium, Couples Sweaters, Potatoland, Croissant de Triomphe, Entombed, Dumb Luck, Al Rojo Vivo, Yodelburg, and Outback at Ya!.

Guests can make even more magical memories after the short by stepping into life-sized versions of beloved animated Mickey shorts, where they can pose for photos with family and friends. (Plus, existing shorts from the Mickey Mouse TV series will be used in the post-show photo experience, such as Yodelburg, Potatoland, Entombed, and Panda-monium.)

The very same day Vacation Fun debuts, the new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will begin taking guests right into the middle of a Mickey Mouse cartoon! Prepare for unexpected twists, slapstick gags, and mind-boggling transformations at every turn as Mickey and Minnie try to save the day. And don’t be surprised to find a ton of hidden Mickeys throughout this brand-new attraction… more than at any other Disney attraction or area in the world! Pretty cool, right?

Disney on Broadway Presents 3rd Annual Women’s Day on Broadway

In celebration of International Women’s Day, our friends at Disney on Broadway just announced the lineup for the 3rd annual “Women’s Day on Broadway: The Decade Ahead and How Women Will Shape It.”

Following its successful launch in 2018, Disney on Broadway’s “Women’s Day on Broadway” event aims to engage attendees—of all gender identities and expressions, naturally—in a day of open, honest, and meaningful dialogue about gender equality in the theater industry and beyond… immersing all participants and audience members in a series of conversations, inspiring each attendee to make an impact in their own communities. Panels will include perspectives from the creative forces behind this season’s Broadway shows; insight from women in the theater industry who’ve decided to “pivot” their professions; and a look at the challenges women face in the theater—and some of the solutions they (or their organizations) have put into action to help fix them.

Theatrical artists scheduled to appear at this year’s event include Celia Keenan-Bolger (To Kill a Mockingbird), Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!), Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton), choreographer Sonya Tayeh (Moulin Rouge!), and Schele Williams (director of Disney on Broadway’s upcoming Aida North American Tour).

“Women’s Day on Broadway” will be held on Tuesday, March 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the New Amsterdam Theater—home of Broadway’s hit musical Aladdin. For more info, or to reserve your free general admission seat, visit womenofbroadway.com.

Disney Cruise Line Returns to Greece in 2021

As we say ’round these parts, it’s never too early to start planning a vacation. Looking to travel somewhere amazing and exotic in 2021? Disney Cruise Line has got you covered, with an exciting return to Greece that summer! That country’s awe-inspiring beauty will shine with stunning landscapes and archeological wonders—including Santorini with its iconic whitewashed cliffside dwellings, and Mykonos with beautiful beaches along the azure Aegean Sea…

Other exciting stops on Greek Isles itineraries include Katakolon near ancient Olympia (home to the first Olympic Games), and the gorgeous Greek island of Kefalonia, a first-time port of call for Disney Cruise Line.

But that’s not all: That same summer DCL itineraries will offer ports-of-call stops in Dubrovnik, Croatia; Visby, Sweden; and Eidfjord, Norway. Plus, look for some amazing seven-night Alaskan itineraries, and all manner of tropical getaways to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Bookings open to the public this week—so make those plans, friends and fans! Visit disneycruise.com for more info.

ICYMI: You Need These Star Wars: The High Republic Details…

Lucasfilm and Disney Publishing Worldwide recently announced the launch of an all new publishing-led Star Wars storytelling initiative, and it sounds like it’s gonna be stellar… wait: make that inter-stellar! Read more on what you can expect from Star Wars: The High Republic right here at D23.com.

Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Now On Sale!

Yes, we know, it’s only spring. But we love Halloween here at D23, so we’re always on the lookout for ways to pre-plan some spooky fun. And thankfully, our good pals over at Walt Disney World Resort just announced that tickets for this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom park are now on sale!

This devilishly delightful night, which happens on select evenings August 13 – November 1, includes the return of Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular fireworks show (hosted by Jack Skellington, telling a Halloween tale about Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy!); Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade; the fan-fave “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” stage show; and so much more.

During the event, you’ll have the opportunity to greet favorite Disney characters (some of them wearing Halloween costumes of their own), go trick-or-treating throughout the park, dance the night away at the Disney Junior Jam, and enjoy popular attractions with a special Halloween twist—including Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and Mad Tea Party… not to mention all the cool Halloween décor, delicious food, specialty merchandise, and a few bewitching surprises along the way.

For more information on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, including how to buy tickets (early birds can save $10, by the way!), visit disneyworld.com.

Get a Closer Look at Disneyland Park’s New “Magic Happens” Parade Floats

February 28, 2020

By Zach Johnson

The new Magic Happens parade debuts today at Disneyland Park—and we’ve got your first look at a few of the nine floats inspired by magical moments in movies from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios! The floats will make their way along Main Street, U.S.A., as more than 90 performers bring this daytime spectacular to life.

Creative director David Duffy has been with Disney Live Entertainment for nearly 30 years after beginning his career as a performer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. “When you come to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, there are so many ways to immerse yourself in our stories, but a parade is a unique experience because it’s the only way for you, as the audience, to stay in one place and have so many stories, characters and magical moments pass right in front of you,” explains Duffy. “We’ve designed the Magic Happens floats so that characters, scenes and surprises are revealed a little at a time, making each float a journey of discovery.”

Jordan Peterson, show director for Disney Live Entertainment, began his Disney career as a parade performer and has appeared in more than 18 parades between Walt Disney World Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort. “This parade celebrates the way magic affects both the characters in the stories and the guests who are watching,” Peterson says. “Magic Happens is like a love letter to those special transformative moments.”

Magic Happens features a dazzling musical score and new songs from co-composer Todrick Hall. “This is a full circle moment for me,” says Hall, who began his career as a performer in Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. “I learned how to dance from watching Disney parades, so the fact that I am getting to create the music that these iconic Disney characters are going to be performing to is pretty much the most epic thing that has happened to me in my life!”

The dazzling finale brings together a collection of iconic magical characters, including Aladdin, Blue Fairy, Fairy Godmother, Genie, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and Tinker Bell. To see the rest of the brand-new “Magic Happens” floats—including those inspired by The Princess and the Frog and The Sword and the Stone—be sure to visit Disneyland Park!

5 Styling Secrets for the D23 Fantastic Worlds Adventure Kit

February 27, 2020February 27, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Place a Patch
The totally retro Disneyland patch, designed by Bret Iwan (who you may also know as the official voice of Mickey Mouse), is the perfect piece to punch up any plain item you own. Share your love of the Happiest Place on Earth by sewing this patch onto whatever you please, be it jackets, backpacks, or more!

Polish Up Your Pin Collection
Pins and Disney go hand-in-hand, and odds are, you might have picked up a few at your most recent Disney parks trip (or D23 event!). If you enjoy showing off your collection on a bag or backpack, the D23 Fantastic Worlds travel-inspired pin set (designed by Disney artist Alex Riegert-Waters) will fit right in with your collection! Have a favorite place from our six-pin set? Place it on your purse with pride and let the world see your Disney side.

Liven Up a Lanyard
Of course, bags and purses aren’t the only way to showcase a good pin collection. If you already show off your pins on a fun, Disney lanyard, why not add one or two from our pin set and celebrate a favorite place from a classic Disney film?

Show Off Your Bandana
This super-fun Mickey Mouse bandana designed by Iwan is the perfect accessory for your next foray into Fantasyland or trip to Tomorrowland—so tie it up around your neck and get traveling, because adventure is out there!

Jazz Up a Jacket
Clothing can be an excellent form of self-expression, and nothing says “Disney magic!” quite like a jean jacket full of your favorite pins! The D23 Fantastic Worlds pin set is perfectly eye-catching against denim and is the perfect way to add a little extra pixie dust to your ensemble.

Add Some Flair to Your Hat
Maybe showcasing all six pins on a jacket or bag is a little too flashy for you—but if you still want to show off your love of Disney, try this subtler style. Pick your favorite pin from the set and pin it to a baseball cap for an easy upgrade with Disney style.

Show off how you style the D23 Fantastic Worlds Adventure Kit with the hashtag #D23FantasticWorlds. Get your own Adventure Kit here.

Mulan Rides Again

February 27, 2020September 4, 2020

By Bruce C. Steele

Nothing sets the new live-action Mulan apart from Disney’s classic 1998 animated feature quite like the sight of dozens of horses in action during the filming of a battle scene. Animated horses require just pen and ink, with perhaps a CG assist, but real horses need 24-hour care, tons of feed, and dozens of trained riders who can look convincingly like ancient Chinese and Rouran warriors.

Gathering these elements together on a river plain in New Zealand, where the battle scenes were being filmed in early spring, was no small task. What had been a remote ranch along the Ahuriri River on the South Island basically had to be turned into a Hollywood backlot in just a matter of weeks. Think a John Wayne western, only with more horses and with a Chinese fort in place of the tumbleweed town—Mulan’s army training scenes were filmed just 10 kilometers up the river from the cinematic battleground.

Director Niki Caro said that her team had to gather “more than 800 people in our cast and crew, including around 100 horses,” for the four-week location shoot—part of a filming schedule that included other New Zealand locations, as well as shooting on site in China and at an Auckland, New Zealand, production studio.

“New Zealand is spectacular, and has been well used by many movies,” Caro said. She fell in love with the stunning snow-capped mountain scenery around the Ahuriri as soon as she stepped out of the helicopter that she and her team were using to scout locations—in part because the area had not been used in previous epics shot in New Zealand, such as the J.R.R. Tolkien trilogies, the Chronicles of Narnia films, and Pete’s Dragon. For the battle shoot, she spent a month living in the valley, commuting daily from a lodge a few kilometers upriver to the countless trailers that made up the location headquarters.

The horses had their own digs—corrals constructed just south of the trailer village. They were being cared for by nearly 50 wranglers, plus nighttime security staff. At least one wrangler also needed to be on hand 24 hours a day, “feeding them and checking on them,” said New Zealand horsemaster Wayne McCormack during the shoot. Filming lasted 10 hours a day, six days a week, but the horses needed to be prepped well before the start of the workday and pampered after each day’s wrap. In short, “the horse department works long hours.”

The equine team “started prepping months and months and months ago,” McCormack said. As he spoke, he was standing on a rise above the valley while a camera car far below tracked a few soldiers on foot who had fled a barrage of horse soldiers attacking their forces—just one of many scenes in which horses play a key role.

Most of the horses were native to New Zealand, McCormack said, but some came from “across the ditch”—New Zealand slang for Australia. The stunt riders came from even farther away: 65 from Mongolia and another 45 from Kazakhstan. All underwent weeks of training to learn to portray Chinese soldiers, in the army with Mulan, or the invading Rouran forces, under the leadership of Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee).

“The Rouran are a little bit more rough around the edges,” McCormack says. “The hero guys are more upright and have a little more uniform style of riding.”

It was quite a job to get more than 100 horses ready for “all the sword fighting, all the drumming noises, all the screaming, yelling, and fighting” that the horses would need to tolerate without flinching. It was McCormack’s job to sort the animals “not cut out to be action film horses” from those suited to battle scenes—and then to match each horse with one or more riders and with particular scenes on the shooting schedule.

“Just like an actor might have a riding double or a stunt double, we have a stunt double horse that we use for the hard running and galloping and fighting,” he said.

All the lead actors who perform on horseback got some training before the shoot, depending on their level of experience, and McCormack judged lead actress Yifei Liu “one of our stronger riders and really passionate. She’s done an amazing job.”

Liu also developed “a really good bond” with the horse she rode in the film, McCormack said, so while the animal may not be quite as expressive as in the animated film, it will still be clear to the audience that “she’s very close with her horse.”

Of course, she’s also close with a fellow recruit named Chen Honghui, played by Chinese-born New Zealand actor Yoson An. How close? During a break in the filming, An was providing no details about the film’s romantic subplot. He would say that “as they progress through the training together, [Mulan and Honghui] have this unspoken bond because they recognize each other’s warrior spirit.”

And will they ride off into the sunset together at the end? “You’ll have to watch the movie,” An says coyly.

Your Guide to the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

February 27, 2020February 28, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Ready to eat your way through DCA?

The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival—running from February 28 through April 21—returns with unforgettable cuisine, beverages, and events. The Sip and Savor Pass also returns in 2020. The commemorative credential’s coupons are redeemable for select food and beverage offerings (excluding alcohol) at participating Festival Marketplaces and dining locations. You can use them all in a single visit or save some tabs for another day. The pass can be purchased at Elias & Co., Festival Gifts and Marketplaces, Kingswell Camera Shop, Rushin’ River Outfitters, Seaside Souvenirs, as well as the Sip and Savor Cart and the Studio Store in Hollywood Land.

Mark your calendars, because D23 Sip and Stroll is returning on March 12 and March 18! D23 Members will enjoy a private reception at Sonoma Terrace, where they will hear from the festival’s chef de cuisine, Jimmy Weita, and taste a few of his favorite items while sipping a celebratory beverage. The team will also reveal their culinary inspirations, which will be followed by a Q&A. Members will then get to stroll along the corridor together, equipped with a $20 gift card to sample some of the delicious dishes.

Members will also get to experience a new D23 exclusive: a hands-on cookie decorating lesson from the Disneyland Resort pastry team, led by pastry chef Christina Orejel. Later, at Sonoma Terrace, members will receive an exclusive 2020 D23 Sip and Stroll apron. The event will conclude with access to D23’s reserved viewing area for the nighttime spectacular World of Color! For additional details, including pricing, click here.

Make sure to pick up the handy Festival Tasting Passport, which contains every marketplace menu, as well as information about events, merchandise, and much more.

Be our guest and take a look at what’s on this year’s menu:

Nuts About Cheese Marketplace

Fiscalini White Cheddar Lager Soup served in a Mini Boudin® Sourdough Bowl (Vegetarian)
Impossible™ Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese (Vegetarian)
Oikos® Greek Yogurt Banoffee Tart
Honey Bourbon Lemonade (Alcoholic)

Uncork California Marketplace

California Artisan Cheese with Central Coast Creamery Holey Cow Swiss and Vintage Cheese Co. Cabernet Cheddar (Vegetarian)
White Wine Flight
- Malibu Rocky Oaks, Sauvignon Blanc, California
- Rombauer, Chardonnay, Carneros
- Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sofia, Rosé, Monterey County
Red Wine Flight
- Erath, Pinot Noir, Oregon
- The Prisoner, Red Blend, Napa Valley
- Quilt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Road Trip Mimosa Trio
- Pacific Mimosa
- Mojave Mimosa
- Sierra Mimosa
Chandon Brut, Sparkling Wine, California

Golden Dreams Marketplace

Brunch Fried Chicken & Waffle Sandwich with Mimosa-inspired Slaw and OJ Bubbles
Seared Verlasso® Salmon with Lemon Pea Purée, Black Rice and Meyer Lemon Relish (Gluten-Friendly)
Strawberry-Rose Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)
Fig & Lavender Cold Brew (Non-Alcoholic)

California Craft Brews Marketplace

Pepperoni Pizza Egg Rolls
Triple B Cocktail with Beer, Bourbon and Berries (Alcoholic)
Beer Flight – Fun with Flavor
- Mother Earth Orange Vanilla Cali Creamin’ Ale
- Black Market Cucumber Sour
- Golden Road Strawberry and Pomegranate Balboa Blonde Ale
- Aftershock Guavaaah! Hazy Pale Ale
Beer Flight – Bigger & Bolder
- Bootlegger’s Rocco Red Ale
- Stereo Perfect Day IPA
- Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing Hazy IPA
- Karl Strauss® Wreck Alley Imperial Stout
Backstreet La Calleja Mexican-style Lager
Boomtown Ingenue Belgian White
Divine Science Event Horizon Blonde (Gluten-Friendly)
JuneShine Acai Berry Hard Kombucha (Gluten-Friendly)
Meiomi, Rosé, California
MacMurray Ranch, Pinot Noir, Central Coast
Joel Gott, Cabernet Sauvignon, California

One in a Melon Marketplace

Compressed Watermelon and Tomato with Whipped Ricotta and Lemon Olive Oil (Vegetarian, Gluten-Friendly)
Poke-style Watermelon with Cucumber (Plant-Based, Gluten-Friendly)
Pabana Cream Puff with Mango, Passion Fruit and Banana Mousse
Berry Mule (Alcoholic)
House-made Watermelon Agua Fresca (Non-Alcoholic)

Peppers Cali-Ente Marketplace

Creamy Poblano Pepper Pasta (Vegetarian)
Grilled Shrimp Tacos on Jicama Tortillas (Gluten-Friendly)
Cantarito-style Paloma (Alcoholic)
Annabella, Chardonnay Special Selection, Napa Valley

LA Style Marketplace

Asian-style Beef Barbacoa Street Tacos
Smoked Bacon Barbecue Beef Loco Moco on Rice (Gluten-Friendly)
Monkey Bread with Caramel Whiskey Glaze and Candied Pecans (Contains trace amounts of alcohol)
Amaretto Stout-Cream Cold Brew (Alcoholic)
Blue Angeleno Cocktail (Alcoholic)

Avocado Time Marketplace

Petite Impossible™ Burger with Guac and Pepper Jack (Vegetarian)
Tortilla-crusted Fried Guacamole with Carne Asada
Mezcal Cocktail (Alcoholic)
Chapman Crafted Slow Riser with Coconut, Red Ale on Nitro

Off the Cob Marketplace

Mini Chicken Chimis with Chimichurri Corn Pico de Gallo and Chipotle Crema
Shrimp and Braised Corn with Chorizo (Gluten-Friendly)
Mickey-shaped Caramel-Peanut-Milk Chocolate Macaron
Fields & Orchards with Elderflower and Artichoke Liqueurs (Alcoholic)
Farmstand Punch (Non-Alcoholic)

I ❤️ Artichokes Marketplace

Fried Artichokes with Lemon Aïoli (Vegetarian)
Artichoke Toast with Artichoke Cream Cheese and Olive & Artichoke Tapenade (Vegetarian)
Lolea, Red Sangria, Spain
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects Non-Alcoholic Lager (Alcohol regulations apply)

Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo Marketplace

Ranch Fried Chicken Wings with Buffalo Hot Sauce Drizzle
French Onion Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider
Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch
Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc Witbier (Limited-Time Offering)
Craft Micheladas, Beers, and Flights
- Pizza Port Honey Blonde Golden Ale
- Golden Road Pineapple Cart Wheat Ale
- Lost Coast Watermelon Wheat
- King Harbor Cerveza Hermosa Mexican Amber Lager

Berry Patch Marketplace

Raspberry-Lychee-Rose Custard with Mixed Berry Compote
Oikos® Greek Yogurt California Berries Summer Pudding (Contains Trace Amounts of Alcohol)
Blue Marble Berry Hard Seltzer (Alcoholic)
Blue Marble Tropical Hard Seltzer (Alcoholic)
Ruby Citrus Sparkler (Non-Alcoholic)

Garlic Kissed Marketplace

Black Garlic Soy-braised Pork Belly Banh Mi
Carbonara Garlic Mac & Cheese with Nueske’s® Bacon
Aperol Cocktail (Alcoholic)
Wither Hills, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Paradise Garden Grill

Impossible™ Meatball Submarine (Plant-Based)
Beer-battered Fish Tacos, with Karl Strauss® Follow the Sun Pilsner-infused Batter
Buffalo-style Roasted Turkey Leg with Celery Slaw and Blue Cheese (Gluten-Friendly)
Brisket Sliders
Brisket Fries
Black Forest Parfait
Watermelon Vodka Lemonade (Alcoholic, Gluten-Friendly)
Matanzas Creek, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Deschutes Pacific Wonderland Lager
Sudwerk Märzen Amber Lager
Berry Spectacular Cookie Shake (Non-Alcoholic)

Paradise Beer Garden

Smog City Little Bo Pils Unfiltered Pilsner
Ayinger Bräuweisse Hefeweizen
Chihuahua Guava Lime Suprema Low-Cal Lager
2 Towns Outcider Hard Cider
Karl Strauss® Practice What You Peach Sour
Bottle Logic Marceline Muffin Blueberry Imperial Blonde
Enegren Valkyrie Alt Bier
Figueroa Mountain Point Conception IPA
Lost Winds Whirlpool Galaxy Double IPA
Allagash Black Stout
Twisted Horn Raven’s Claw Apple & Boysenberry Mead
Founders Backwoods Bourbon Barrel-aged Scotch Ale

Outdoor Vending Carts

Savory Empanada with Chipotle Crema Sauce
Sweet Empanada with Caramel Sauce

Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta

Chocolate-Hazelnut Cheesecake

Hollywood Lounge

Leading Role Lemonade: Gin with Lavender Lemonade (Alcoholic)
Opening Night Cocktail: Banana Whiskey with Cream Soda (Alcoholic)
Movie Star Mule: Whiskey with Black Cherry and Ginger Ale (Alcoholic)
On Location Libation: Stone Peak Conditions IPA with POG juice (Alcoholic)
Backlot Michelada: Tomato-based Michelada with Modelo (Alcoholic)
Modelo Especial Lager
Hangar 24 Passion Punch Gose
Stone Peak Conditions Hazy Double IPA
Honest Abe Limoncello Hard Cider
Bottle Logic Emerald City Raspberry Piña Colada Hard Seltzer
Supporting Role Lemonade: Lavender Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)

Hollywood Churro Cart

Churro topped with Peanut Butter Cream, Chocolate Icing and Chopped Peanuts

Schmoozies!

Almond Mocha Shake
Almond Mocha Affogato

Sonoma Terrace

California Cheesesteak
Italian Meatball Sandwich
Bavarian Pretzel with Cheese Sauce
Triple Chocolate Brownie
Sandy Beach: Green Apple Vodka with flavors of Sea Salt Caramel (Alcoholic)
Catalina Island: Vodka and Passion Fruit with flavors of Raspberry Lemonade and Lime (Alcoholic)
Sparkling Greyhound: Vodka with flavors of Grapefruit, Chamomile and Cardamom (Alcoholic)
Pineapple Passion: White Rum with flavors of Pineapple and Passion Fruit (Alcoholic)
Firestone Walker Rosalie Beer Rosé
Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sofia, Brut Rosé, Monterey County
Chandon Brut, Sparkling Wine, California
Selection of Craft Beers and Ciders

Pacific Wharf Coffee Cart

Tropicalifornia Tea Cocktail with Berry Vodka, Green Tea, Pineapple and Orange Juices (Alcoholic)
Fruitful Green Tea with Berry, Pineapple and Orange Juices (Non-Alcoholic)

Pacific Wharf Distribution Company

Karl Strauss® Crazy Eyes Doppelbock

Downtown Disney District also created special menu items to celebrate the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, including Ballast Point Brewing Co., Catal Restaurant, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and Salt & Straw.

Ballast Point Brewing Co.

Impossible™ Lettuce Cups with Impossible™ Protein, Peppers, Hoisin, Sriracha, Garlic, Lime, Fresno Chilies and Hydroponic Lettuce
The Ballast Point Burger: 8 Oz Kobe & Chuck Blend Patty, Sharp Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, House-made Pickles, and Ballast Point Remoulade on a Brioche Bun served with Fries
Cioppino: PEI Mussels, Fish of the Day, Argentinean Shrimp, Spanish Chorizo, Stewed Tomatoes, Chili Flakes, Oregano, Crème Fraiche, Chili Thread, House-Made Pasta and Grilled Baguette
All Three Paired with Designated Beer Flight

Catal Restaurant

Smoked Salmon Crostini: Whipped Ricotta, Smoked Salmon and Basil Pesto
Burrata: Burrata, Prosciutto, and Balsamic Gastrique
Hand-shucked Oysters with Champagne and Black Pepper Mignonette

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen

Creole Cobbler with Beefeater Gin, Santenay Crème de Peche, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Orange Bitter

Splitsville Luxury Lanes

Surf & Turf Slider Duo: Salmon Slider featuring House-made Salmon Patty, Sriracha Aïoli, Red Onion, Butter Lettuce and Heirloom Tomato, and Filet Mignon Slider featuring Beef Tenderloin, Béarnaise Sauce, Arugula and Oven-Roasted Tomato

Salt & Straw

Apple Pie with Beecher’s Flagship Cheesecake: Warm-spiced Apple Pie Ice Cream with Beecher’s Flagship Cheddary Cheesecake

The fun continues with cooking demonstrations from some of the world’s best chefs. And, of course, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy at Disney California Adventure. Glide above the Golden State’s natural and manmade wonders by experiencing the Soarin’ Over California attraction, back for a limited time! The journey begins as the foggy clouds of San Francisco part to reveal the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge. Explore panoramic views of picturesque locations including Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, San Diego, Malibu, Los Angeles, and, of course, Disneyland Park. In addition, Annual Passholders can enjoy an extra hour of ride time at Soarin’ Over California—after the park closes—on March 11, 18, and 25.

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, celebrate family time with inspiring and interactive 30-minute cooking demos from chef and host Daniella Malfitano. (No samples will be served.) On those days, the Jr. Chef kitchen will also be open. There, under Chef Goofy’s silly supervision, kids will follow a special recipe, swirl everything together, and pop their “batter” into the magic oven. They’ll then receive a wrapped, ready-to-eat treat. And on Saturdays and Sundays only, don’t miss a mini cooking demonstration where guests can meet the farmers, ranchers, and others involved in growing the food we eat.

The following demonstrations will also be held at the Backlot Stage in Hollywood Land:

February 29: Brian Malarkey (celebrity chef)
March 1: Alex Flores (chef de cuisine, Carthay Circle Restaurant, Signature Dining)
March 7: Nyesha Arrington (celebrity chef)
March 8: Gracie Gomez (pastry sous chef, Disneyland Resort)
March 14: Richard Blais (celebrity chef, restauranteur, and author)
March 15: Amy Benson (chef, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge)
March 2: David Burtka (celebrity chef and actor)
March 22: Johnny Sequro (area chef, Lamplight Lounge)
March 28: Wing Lam (celebrity chef and restauranteur)
March 29: Jorge Sotelo (executive pastry chef, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa)
April 4: Shaun O’Neale (celebrity chef)
April 5: Marcel St. Pierre (chef de cuisine, Disneyland Hotel)
April 11: Jet Tila (celebrity chef and restauranteur)
April 12: Markus Meza (candy maker, Disneyland Resort)
April 18: Jamie Gwen (celebrity chef, radio host, and lifestyle expert)
April 19: Chris Maggetti (executive chef, Disneyland Park) and Gary Maggetti (general manager, Disney California Adventure Park)

From spirit jerseys to pepper mills, you can commemorate the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival with exclusive merchandise made just for Disney foodies! Head over to Festival Gifts (on the Performance Corridor, near Seaside Souvenirs), Studio Store, and Elias & Co. to explore all of the limited-time offerings.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is Coming to Disney+

February 27, 2020March 31, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

The Prouds are back and they’re turning up the volume: Disney+ has just announced it has ordered the new animated family sitcom The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. The long-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking animated series The Proud Family is now in production at Disney Television Animation with Academy Award®-winning creator/executive producer Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar, who led the original series, at the helm. They’re reuniting for the all-new episodes with Calvin Brown Jr. who is co-executive producer and story editor.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder continues the story of its central character, Penny Proud, and her madcap family, including parents Oscar and Trudy; twin siblings BeBe and CeCe; and her grandmother, Suga Mama. Fans can also look forward to the return of Puff the dog, as well as Penny’s loyal crew, Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez, and Zoey Howzer, among others.

Eighteen years after its Disney Channel premiere, The Proud Family is still beloved for its characters, stories, and multilayered humor, as well as for sharing messages about inclusion and cultural diversity in a smart, modern way. “In our minds, the show never really went away, as we still had tons of stories left to tell,” Smith and Farquhar (pictured above) said in a joint statement today. “It’s the perfect time to bring back this show, and we can’t wait to take fans, old and new alike, on this journey with us.”

The original voice cast is coming on the journey, as well. Penny will be voiced again by Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson lends his voice to Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker voices Trudy Proud, Jo Marie Payton voices Suga Mama, Karen Malina White voices Dijonay Jones, Soleil Moon Frye voices Zoey Howzer, and Alisa Reyes voices LaCienega Boulevardez. Additionally, Cedric the Entertainer will also return as Uncle Bobby Proud.

“The show’s humor and relatable stories are as relevant with audiences today as ever,” said Agnes Chu, senior vice president, Content, Disney+. “Our audiences have loved rediscovering their favorite episodes of The Proud Family, and we’re excited Bruce, Ralph, Calvin, and the returning cast are creating new stories for their new home on Disney+.”

“The genius of the original Proud Family series was that, under the guise of a family comedy, it provided a brilliant social commentary on our life and times. With this new series, Bruce and Ralph will once again challenge everyone to think differently about the world we share,” said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.

We’ll bring you more details about The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder as they’re revealed, but in the meantime, you can catch up on all previous seasons of The Proud Family right now on Disney+.

The March Limited-Edition Train Conductor Disney Mickey Mouse Plush is SOLD OUT! Check back next month for the announcement of April’s plush theme and the date and time for the sale launch on Amazon.

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

Disney Channel’s BUNK’D to Return for Fifth Season

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Coming to Disney+

New Animated Short Vacation Fun Debuts at Mickey Shorts Theater Next Month

Disney on Broadway Presents 3rd Annual Women’s Day on Broadway

Disney Cruise Line Returns to Greece in 2021

ICYMI: You Need These Star Wars: The High Republic Details…

Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Now On Sale!

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