Mushroom Arancini Recipe From Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

January 7, 2020January 6, 2020

As cookbook author Pam Brandon writes, “Vacations are often a time for indulgence, and a meal shared around a table on holiday is often the best time of day, especially for families who ‘divide and conquer’ the theme park experience—and then gather at day’s end to share stories and memorable moments.” In Brandon’s newest cookbook, Delicious Disney: The Fresh Edition, she serves up a collection of mouth-watering recipes from interesting venues across the domestic Disney Parks and Resorts. “Once you’re back home, we hope you can have fun, amaze your family and friends, and rekindle a memory around your own table,” she notes in her book.

As a special treat, our friends at Disney Editions have served up three of the book’s delightful recipes for us, which we’ll be sharing during the month of January. So while you wait for your next Disney excursion—after all, Brandon’s book is on-sale as an exclusive souvenir only available at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts—feast your eyes on these delicious dishes, Disney-style. Check back next week to see the next recipe!

Mushroom Arancini
DISNEY’S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
CÍTRICOS

With an open kitchen and airy dining room, Cítricos offers a taste of the Mediterranean, like these crispy, deep-fried balls of rice. (The name “arancini” comes from the little oranges that these rice balls are said to resemble.) Carnaroli rice is best for making the appetizer, as it keeps its shape better, thanks to a higher starch content and firmer texture.

MAKES 16

POMA ROSA SAUCE:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon sliced garlic
28-ounce can tomato puree
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more to taste
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1 pinch sugar
1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon sliced fresh chives

ROASTED MUSHROOMS:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pint cremini mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
1 small shallot, sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 small sprig fresh rosemary
1 sprig fresh thyme
Coarse salt, freshly ground black pepper, to taste

ARANCINI:
3 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
1 sprig fresh thyme
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, finely diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup carnaroli rice
1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio
1 tablespoon mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped roasted mushrooms (from recipe)
Coarse salt, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tablespoon sliced fresh chives
Vegetable oil, for frying
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 cups panko bread crumbs

FOR POMA ROSA SAUCE:

Combine oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until garlic turns golden, being careful not to burn garlic. Add tomato puree and red pepper flakes.
Bring to a light simmer and stir in salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer 10 minutes. Season to taste.
Add parsley and chives just before serving.

FOR ROASTED MUSHROOMS:

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Toss mushrooms, shallot, garlic, and herbs in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Roast 10 to 12 minutes on sheet pan, or until golden.
Remove from oven and cool. Cut mushrooms into small dice and set aside.

FOR ARANCINI:

Heat vegetable stock in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add bay leaf and thyme sprig.
Heat oil in a large sauté pan or deep skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic; cook until soft, stirring often, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
Add rice to oil and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add wine and cook until wine is almost completely absorbed.
Ladle in 2 cups vegetable stock. Cook, stirring almost constantly, until completely absorbed. Continue adding stock, 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding the next.
Cook until rice is tender but not mushy. (You may not need all of the stock.)
Add mascarpone and Parmesan, stirring to combine. Add chopped roasted mushrooms. Season with salt.
Stir in parsley and chives, then spread rice mixture on a baking sheet to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Pour vegetable oil to a depth of 3 inches in a heavy-bottomed saucepan or a Dutch oven over medium heat. Heat to 350°F.
Place flour, almond milk, and panko in separate shallow containers.
Scoop a 2-tablespoon portion of cooled rice mixture and gently roll into a compact ball. Set aside. Repeat with remaining rice.
Dredge rice balls in flour, then almond milk, and then panko, packing firmly to adhere.
In batches of 4 or 5, fry rice balls until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
Serve with the poma rosa sauce for dipping.

5 Disney Skyliner Sights to See from Walt Disney World Resort

January 6, 2020

By D23 Team

Criss-crossing above Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney Skyliner has become a new way for visitors to glide in style. Connecting select resort hotels to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Skyliner transports guests in the sky, bringing “beautiful views, including the larger-than-life theming of the resorts on either side,” says Melanie Bronstein, marketing manager at Walt Disney World Resort. “And really, you’re so high up that you can see most of Walt Disney World.” So, we’ve put together a couple of locations to look out for while taking flight on your gondola.

Swan and Dolphin Resort
Near Epcot is a massively elegant green and orange hotel known as the Swan and Dolphin Resort. While passing by, look out for the giant swan and clamshells atop the hotel.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
You can spot The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, the landmark of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, towering over the park from the Disney Skyliner.

Spaceship Earth and the Imagination Pavilion
Another park landmark you can see is Epcot’s flagship attraction and iconic metallic geosphere—Spaceship Earth. You can also spot the Imagination Pavilion, home to Journey into Imagination with Figment.

Boardwalk Inn & Villas
Located on the waterfront across from Epcot, this boardwalk-inspired hotel is another sight to see while traveling overhead. Taffy-colored cottages, boats, and beautiful gardens are just a taste of what you can see from your gondola.

Disney’s Riviera Resort
Last but not least is Walt Disney World Resort’s latest hotel—the Riviera Resort. Inspired by Europe, look for the hotel’s sweeping towers while on your trip.

How Does The Show Go On: Behind the Curtain with Thomas Schumacher

January 6, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Beauty and the Beast. The Lion King. Mary Poppins. Aladdin. Frozen. These musicals are giants of the Broadway (and international) stage, and they’ve all been shepherded to The Great White Way by Thomas Schumacher—President & Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. There are few people on the globe who know more about what goes into taking a musical “from page to stage” than Schumacher… and lucky for us, he wrote a book about it!

How Does The Show Go On? An Introduction to the Theater, the first edition of which was published in 2007, gives readers unprecedented access to the business of theater. Using all the fantastical—and fantastically successful—musicals in the Disney stable, Schumacher (with author Jeff Kurtti) takes readers from the front of house to backstage, from the box office to the stage door, and literally behind the curtain to learn everything it takes to bring a show to life.

The third edition, which highlights all the magic that goes into making Frozen come alive on stage, was just released in early November; not only does this edition include never-before-seen photos and personal stories from the making of Disney’s latest hit Broadway musical, but it also includes an incredible new “augmented reality” component—by scanning a code found sprinkled throughout the book, you can use the free Disney Scan app and open fun, related video content right on your mobile device! At the recent kick-off of Frozen’s North American Tour (now playing at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, through February 2), D23 was lucky enough to visit with Schumacher and hear about makes the book so compelling—for both the young and the young-at-heart.

On what made him want to write a book like this…
“[It] actually happened in a conversation with Jeff Kurtti, who’s written many books for Disney… We were on our way to the Apollo Theater in Harlem to see something… [and] I said, ‘I want to write a book.’ And he said, ‘What would it be?’ And I said, ‘I want to write a book about theater. I want to write the book that we wanted when we were kids. I want the book that wasn’t available for us. I don’t want a book about actors, because [most people] know what actors do. I want a book about people who make theater—how it actually happens.’ And all [Jeff] said was, ‘When do we start?’”

On the process of writing the original edition, and then updating it for 2019…
“Because he’d [already] worked so much in publishing, Jeff did the ‘book map’—he helped me figure it out… The original book was an ‘artifact’ book, which was Jeff’s idea. So as you opened it, you could, say, take a ticket out of an envelope. Now that sounds like nothing, but a ticket is meaningful—if [you’re new to theater and] you don’t know that it [lists] a row and a seat number… so there were things you could take out of it. The great thing about the book was it was fun to touch [and explore]; the bad thing about the book was kids took everything out of it… We sold a lot of copies, but we couldn’t reprint it because it was so complicated… Time passed, and we did two editions of the book. I knew that the book had become out of date—technology had changed, and there were [new] things I wanted to say. I wanted the format to be bigger; I wanted different photography… [then] someone brought a bottle of wine to a party at my house—it had a picture on it that if you held your phone over it, it would ‘talk’ to you… I thought there’s got to be a way to embed that [in the book], and they did… The fun thing is, we can update those videos over time. And in future versions I’m thinking about embedding even more stuff.”

On showing young people the possibilities that lie in theater—onstage or behind the scenes…
“Cheryl Thomas is the lead hair and makeup artist on Aladdin. [Her picture in the book] comes to life; it’s an actual of her doing her work… Imagine all the kids who are thinking, well maybe I’ll go to beauty school and maybe I’ll work in a beauty shop… but they could work on Broadway! They could see this and go, ‘I could do that!’ And at the back end of the book is Lisa Dawn Cave, who’s the production supervisor on this Frozen tour. To see her being the most important person backstage, as production stage manager—calling the show—is so empowering. Because [as a kid], I didn’t know people could do any of these things. I knew what actors did; I knew what Fred Astaire did… but to see that there’s all these other jobs and all these [other] people… we were able to put all that kind of stuff in the book!”

On why Disney musicals are the perfect way to introduce readers to the magic of creativity…
“The secret value of [this book] to me was that if you had never done theater, you’d open this and go wait—that’s Simba [from The Lion King]. Wait, that’s Elsa [from Frozen]. You wouldn’t have to physically see the show because you’d know that’s Ariel [from The Little Mermaid]. And even though what she looks like isn’t the [1989] movie, you’d know who that was… it kind of ‘de-terrorizes’ [theater]. I worked for a man who said our job in the arts is to constantly think about ‘de-terrorizing’ them… You’ll meet people all the time who think they’re not creative and it’s just because someone made fun of the way they decorated a cookie, or made fun of their handwriting, or made fun of the way they draw a tree. And if someone had celebrated how they did that, they wouldn’t have been afraid of it.”

For more information about Thomas Schumacher and the book—and to download the free Disney Scan app—visit HowDoesTheShowGoOn.com

Everything We Can’t Wait to Stream on Disney+ in 2020

January 3, 2020January 3, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

The new year is just around the corner, bringing with it 366 days (Thank you, Leap Year!) of Disney+ streaming. The service launched in November with an incredible array of content, and that library only continues to grow. Disney+’s lineup for 2020 features stories from across the worlds of Disney, from Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Lucasfilms’ Star Wars: The Clone Wars to The Phineas and Ferb Movie: Candace Against the Universe. Here’s some of the must-watch content for the coming year:

MOVIES

Stargirl
Based on the New York Times’ young adult bestseller, the coming-of-age film stars Grace VanderWaal and Graham Verchere and is directed by Julia Hart from a screenplay by Kristin Hahn and Julia Hart & Jordan Horowitz based on Spinelli’s novel. Verchere plays an unassuming high school student who is inexplicably drawn to a free-spirited new girl (VanderWaal). Stargirl’s cast also includes Karan Brar, Maximiliano Hernandez, Darby Stanchfield and Giancarlo Esposito.

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
Set in Portland, Oregon, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made follows the title character—a quirky young hero with an incredible deadpan sense of humor—as he solves local mysteries with his 1,500-pound polar bear partner by his side. The film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) from a screenplay by McCarthy & Stephan Pastis based on Pastis’ best-selling book series.

The Phineas and Ferb Movie: Candace Saves the Universe
As if we didn’t already believe that Disney+ is the most amazing “streaminator” ever invented, Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh have come up with a new animated adventure for Phineas and Ferb. In The Phineas and Ferb Movie: Candace Against the Universe, Phineas and Ferb set out across the galaxy to rescue older sister Candace, who has been abducted by aliens and has found utopia in a far-off planet, free of pesky little brothers. Ashley Tisdale reprises the role of Candace Flynn, along with Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn; Caroline Rhea as their mom, Linda; Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus; Alyson Stoner as Isabella; Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet; Bobby Gaylor as Buford; Olivia Olson as Vanessa; Tyler Mann as Carl; and Povenmire and Marsh as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz and Major Monogram, respectively. David Errigo Jr. joins the cast as Ferb Fletcher.

Secret Society of Second Born Royals
Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack) reigns over this contemporary princess story, which introduces Sam (Lee), a rebellious princess who is second in line to the throne of the kingdom of Illyria. Just as Sam’s disinterest in the royal way of life is at an all-time high, she is stunned to learn that she has superpowers and belongs to a secret society with a longstanding tradition of covertly keeping the peace throughout the kingdom. The movie follows Sam’s adventures at a top-secret training program for a new class of second born royals tasked with saving the world. Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect) is among the stars of Secret Society of Second Born Royals, which is directed by Anna Mastro (Marvel’s Runaways, The Bold Type).

LIVE-ACTION SERIES

Diary of a Future President
When this 10-episode series debuts on Disney+ on January 17, it will introduce Elena, a Cuban-American 12-year-old girl navigating the highs and lows of middle school—and for whom an incredibly exciting future lies ahead: She happens to be the future president of the United States. Tess Romero (Blind Spot, Alternatino) plays young Elena, while Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin, Someone Great) guest stars as adult POTUS Elena. Rodriguez directed the first episode of the series and executive produces with Emily Gipson (Someone Great); along with creator Ilana Peña, whose own childhood inspired the series, showrunner Robin Shorr (The Carmichael Show), and Brad Silberling (Jane the Virgin).

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the new series from Marvel Studios will follow Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) as they up for new adventures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier will also feature Emily VanCamp, reprising her role as Sharon Carter, and Wyatt Russell, who will play John Walker, a character fans may know from Marvel Comics, but who has not appeared on screen until now.

WandaVision
Also from Marvel Studios is WandaVision, starring Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Miximoff / Scarlet Witch), Paul Bettany (Vision), Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis), Randall Park (Jimmy Woo), Teyona Parris (Monica Rambeau) and Kathryn Hahn.

Love, Simon
The original series—set in the world of the 2018 film of the same name—follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School, played by Michael Cimino (Annabelle Comes Home, Training Day). Victor is on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city, and struggling with his sexual orientation. When it all seems too much, he reaches out to Simon to help him navigate the ups and downs of high school. Love, Simon is from the film’s original writers, Isaac Aptaker (This Is Us) and Elizabeth Berger (This Is Us), and 20th Century Fox Television.

ANIMATED SERIES

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
At D23 Expo 2019, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced that the fan-favorite series Star Wars: The Clone Wars will return with 12 all-new episodes that will stream on Disney+ in February 2020. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and Captain Rex will be among the beloved characters we’ll encounter in these animated adventures in the galaxy far, far away.

Chip ‘n’ Dale
We went nuts over the news that our favorite chipmunks are coming to Disney+ in a 21st-century take on a cartoon classic, produced by multi-award-winning French studio Xilam Animation. The new series finds the dichotomous duo—the nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale—living in a small park within a bustling metropolis where everyone is seemingly bigger than they are.

SHORTS

Lamp Life
What happened to Bo Peep from the time we last saw her in Toy Story 2 until she was reunited with Woody and the gang in Toy Story 4? The all-new animated short Lamp Life just might cast some light on the topic.

Short Circuit
If you love Disney animation and are always keen to find out what the amazing artists at Walt Disney Animation Studios are cooking up next, these short films are for you. The Short Circuit experimental program was created to encourage risks in both visual style and story, surface new voices at the studio, and explore new technical innovations.

NONFICTION CONTENT

Howard
Don Hahn (Beauty and the Beast) directed this critically acclaimed documentary about Disney Legend Howard Ashman, who penned the lyrics to Disney classics such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid.

Marvel’s 616
This documentary anthology series from Marvel New Media and the production company Supper Club explores the connection between Marvel’s stories and the people behind them, and the world around us. The first episode, “Higher, Further, Faster,” will look at the trailblazing women of Marvel Comics and the inclusive stories they set out to tell, while additional topics covered will include an intimate look at the cosplay community, Marvel’s influence and relationship with hip-hop, illustrators who live and work internationally, and more.

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings
Disney+ will give fans a spectacular look at the world’s most magical weddings and engagements when the popular Freeform series Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings moves to its new home on the streaming service. The new episodes will feature surprise guests and performances; breathtaking locations at Disney Destinations all around the globe; and, of course, incredible love stories. Ahead of the new episodes, you can catch up on all of the episodes and specials from season one, which are streaming now on Disney+.

Be Our Chef
The streaming service is cooking up a delightful cooking competition that invites families from diverse backgrounds to go head-to-head in the kitchen, facing off in a themed challenge that combines their own family traditions and the magic of Disney. Finalists will turn what they’ve learned into the recipe for a dish that represents their family through a Disney lens. Angela Kinsey (The Office) hosts from Walt Disney World Resort.

Dolphin Reef
Go under the sea with Disneynature and meet some of the planet’s most engaging animals in Dolphin Reef. The film follows Echo, a young bottlenose dolphin who knows it’s time to grow up and take on new responsibilities, but finds himself longing to give in to his silly side and just have fun. See how Echo navigates the complicated dolphin society and the temptations that come from the humpback whales, orcas, sea turtles and cuttlefish he encounters on the coral reef he calls home in the documentary coming to Disney+ in the service’s first year.

Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2
Some things never change, and that includes our love for Arendelle and all things Frozen. For this multi-episode documentary series, Walt Disney Animation Studios opened its doors and allowed cameras to capture how the voice cast, directors, and artists together created the blockbuster feature film Frozen 2.

Magic of Animal Kingdom
Our friends at National Geographic traveled to Central Florida to look at the groundbreaking work of the more than 1,000 high respected animal care experts, veterinarians, and biologists who work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and Epcot’s SeaBase aquarium.

Prop Culture
This anthology series, hosted by film historian/collector Dan Lanigan, looks at beloved films such as Mary Poppins, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Tron through some of their most memorable props and costumes. We’ll hear from the craftspeople who created them, the actors who interacted with them, and the collectors and archives that have cherished them over the years. Prop Culture is produced by ABC Studios, Alternative and executive produced by Jason Henry and Dan Lanigan.

Rogue Trip
This is not your typical family vacation. In Rogue Trip, renowned journalist Bob Woodruff and his 27-year-old son, Mack, circle the globe in search of off-the-beaten path locales you won’t likely find on your own. They discover roguish, often misunderstood, and frequently overlooked corners of the world whose hidden corners surprise, amaze, and inspire.

Shop Class
Over the course of this competition series, teams of inventive students will design, build, and test new contraptions on their quest to be named Shop Class Champs.

MUPPETS!

Muppets Now
Our favorite felt friends are truly a class by themselves in this, the Muppets’ first-ever unscripted short-form series. Announced at D23 Expo 2019 (though Joe from Legal made sure that all of the details remained under wraps), the series will be rich with everything we’ve always loved about the world of the Muppets, featuring surprising guest stars, startling silliness, and so much fun!

Inside Walt Disney Archives’ Showcases of Stunning Assets from the Fox Archives

January 3, 2020June 17, 2020

By Max Lark

A fascinating slice of cinematic history is currently on view in the Walt Disney Archives showcases in the main lobby of the Frank G. Wells Building at The Walt Disney Studios. This must-see exhibition (which D23 Gold Members can see in person during our official tours of The Walt Disney Studios lot) pays homage to the Fox Archives, which was established in 1992 to collect and preserve 20th Century Fox’s publicity, props, and costume collections—and which recently became part of the Walt Disney Archives.

This small collection of iconic costumes and artwork will impress anyone who loves film and television. One showcase contains a dazzling array of iconic costumes—from the show-piece dress designed by legendary couturier Orry-Kelly and worn by Betty Grable as Cynthia Pilgrim in 20th Century Fox’s The Shocking Miss Pilgrim and the poncho worn by Disney Legend Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music to the iconic cardigan Alan Alda wore playing Hawkeye Pierce in the beloved Fox Television show M*A*S*H*, Kate Winslet’s delicately embroidered “flying dress” from Titanic, and the “Live-Aid” costume worn by Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody, and more. This small-but-mighty collection of costumes brings you nearer to some of the most popular and timeless entertainment of the last half century.

Another showcase is devoted to the revolutionary work of artist John Alvin. Alvin, who worked for multiple motion picture studios in the late 1980s and 1990s—including The Walt Disney Studios and 20th Century Fox—had a singular talent to convey to adults in one-sheet posters that Disney’s animated films appealed to both children and adults.

“We wanted to welcome the Fox Archives into the Disney Archives in a meaningful manner and in a way that employees could enjoy,” says Robert Maxhimer, exhibitions manager, Walt Disney Archives. “For the costume exhibit, we went in chronological order from one of the oldest in their collection to one of the newest. In the other showcase we wanted to spotlight the career of legendary artist John Alvin. He drew fame for the movie Blazing Saddles; from there he became a celebrity in the world of movie posters. He worked with a lot of studios—mostly Fox and Disney. We’re displaying some original concept art he drew for posters and we also show a sampling of some of the posters he created for Disney and Fox.”

With the Fox Archives now a part of the Walt Disney Archives, the newly unified department is excited to give Disney employees a peek behind the magic of the Fox collections, showcasing that company’s extraordinary history and celebrating a new world of treasures now preserved in the Walt Disney Archives.

If you want to see this exhibit in person, you can become a D23 Gold Member for future opportunities to tour the Walt Disney Studios Lot—plus more exclusive events celebrating the fantastic worlds of Disney!

Share YOUR Epic Pictures with the D23 Adventure Bandana

January 2, 2020January 3, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

In 2020, we’re putting it into the universe: Adventure is out HERE! If you’ve got big plans for the new year, we want to see all your epic pictures—and we have the perfect way for you to commemorate your adventures.

The 2020 D23 Gold Member Gift (a.k.a. the D23 Fantastic Worlds Adventure Kit) features the D23 Adventure Bandana, designed by voice and visual artist Bret Iwan (you may recognize him from, you know, being the official voice of Mickey Mouse!). Inspired by Mickey’s 1939 short The Pointer and America’s National Parks, we hope you take this bandana with you on your next adventure!

If you’re hoping to capture the perfect picture, next time you hold your breath and say, “cheese,” make sure to hold up your bandana, too!

You’re a bona-fide adventurer now! Share your pictures with us by using the #D23FantasticWorlds hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We want to see where you’re adventuring to in 2020!

Want one of these snazzy bandanas for yourself? The D23 Adventure Bandana is part of our 2020 D23 Gold Member Gift, available exclusively for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members joining and renewing in 2020. D23 Gold Family Members get a total of four bandanas with their kit—so the whole family can join in the adventure! Be part of the magic and join D23 today.

Must-See Disney Experiences Coming in 2020

December 30, 2019January 3, 2020

By D23 Team

For Disney, 2019 was one of the most exciting and momentous years in the Company’s history—from record-breaking box-office returns and huge theme park expansions, to the acquisition of 20th Century Fox and the launch of the game-changing Disney+. What a year! And 2020 is looking to be just as exciting. We can’t wait for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or for Marvel Studios’ Black Widow to headline her own film or for the epic return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+, and so much more! Here’s a roundup of the new Disney experiences and entertainment we’re looking forward to in 2020.

Upcoming Films

If you thought 2019 was an epic year in film, you ain’t seen nothing yet! In March, director Niki Caro and actress Yifei Liu bring the story of China’s greatest warrior to life with the live-action story of Mulan. Another highly anticipated live-action film is Jungle Cruise, inspired by the Disney attraction and starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.

After the epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga, the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters a new phase with Black Widow; Scarlett Johansson returns in the title role and leads a cast that includes O-T Fagbenle, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, and Rachel Weisz. New titles from 20th Century Fox include Underwater, The Call of the Wild (starring Harrison Ford), The New Mutants, Free Guy, Bob’s Burgers, The King’s Man, and more.

We’ll get not one but two(!) movies from Pixar Animation Studios—for the first time since 2017—when Onward and Soul open in March and June, respectively. And as we first revealed at D23 Expo 2019, Raya and the Last Dragon opens in November. Finally, Christmas comes early with Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the Broadway musical West Side Story, starring Ansel Elgort as Tony and newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria.

Below is the full list of film titles being released in 2020:

01/10: Underwater (FOX)
02/21: Call of the Wild (FOX)
02/28: Wendy (FSL)
03/06: Onward (DIS)
03/27: Mulan (DIS)
04/03: The New Mutants (FOX)
04/17: Antlers (FSL)
05/01: Black Widow (DIS)
05/08: The Personal History of David Copperfield (FSL)
05/15: The Woman in the Window (FOX)
05/29: Artemis Fowl (DIS)
06/19: Soul (DIS)
07/03: Free Guy (FOX)
07/17: Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
07/24: Jungle Cruise (DIS)
08/07: Empty Man (FOX)
08/14: The One and Only Ivan (DIS)
09/18: The King’s Man (FOX)
10/09: Death on the Nile (FOX)
11/06: The Eternals (DIS)
11/25: Raya and the Last Dragon (DIS)
12/18: West Side Story (FOX)
12/25: The Last Duel (FOX) (Limited)

What’s Coming to Disney+

With must-watch originals that include The Mandalorian, Lady and the Tramp, and Togo, we’ve been glued to Disney+ since its November 13 debut, and we’re planning to stream our way through 2020. The can’t-miss season finale of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is right around the corner on Friday, January 10, and it’s just the start of all that’s new for next year, with the new series Diary of a Future President set to debut on January 17.

The new year also brings the features Stargirl and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made—both based on bestselling books; the return of Lucasfilm’s animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars; and new adventures in Danville via The Phineas and Ferb Movie: Candace Against the Universe. And the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes to Disney+ in a brand-new way with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, with Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprising their fan-favorite roles.

Walt Disney Television

We have several important dates with the couch already planned for 2020, courtesy of our friends at Disney Channel. The new animated series The Owl House premieres on Friday, January 10 (8:45 p.m. EST), on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW. The fantasy-comedy series follows Luz, a self-assured teenage girl, who finds herself transported to a mysterious world where she pursues her own magic-making dreams by serving as apprentice to the rebellious witch Eda.

There’s a big red circle on our calendar around Sunday, February 9, when the 92nd Oscars® are broadcast live on ABC. And we’ll be spending Valentine’s Day among zombies and cheerleaders: ZOMBIES 2, the follow-up to the top-rated Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES, premieres February 14 at 8 p.m. EST on Disney Channel and Disney NOW. Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim reprise their roles of Addison and Zed, respectively, in the DCOM.

On February 16, American Idol returns to ABC (8–10 p.m. EST), with all-star judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie back behind the judges’ table and Ryan Seacrest presiding over the iconic singing competition as host.

What We’re Looking Forward To at Disney Parks in 2020!

If you’re heading to Disney Parks and Resorts around the world in 2020, you can look forward to some incredible new entertainment, thrilling new attractions, and even brand-new lands sure to delight every Disney fan! D23 Expo 2019 attendees were surprised with some sneak peeks at what’s to come next year (and beyond)—including the new Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure park; Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opening inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland; “New Fantasyland” debuting at Tokyo Disneyland; and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. And the good news is, so many of these highly anticipated adventures are now just over the horizon!

Mark your ’20 calendars for the following Disney Parks fun:

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park
Opening January 17, 2020

Awesome Planet at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along at Epcot
Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 at Epcot
New films coming to The Land Pavilion, the France Pavilion, and the Canada Pavilion (respectively) beginning January 17, 2020

Magic Happens at Disneyland Park
Brand-new daytime parade debuting February 28, 2020

Space 220 Restaurant at Epcot
Opening this winter

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
First-ever ride-through attraction featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse opening March 4, 2020

Drawn to Life Presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort
Brand-new show begins previews on March 20, 2020, with its official premiere on April 17—tickets available now

Harmonious at Epcot
New nighttime spectacular follows the limited-time run of Epcot Forever in 2020

“New Fantasyland” Opens at Tokyo Disneyland
New area featuring the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Best attraction and indoor Fantasyland Forest Theatre, debuting April 15, 2020

Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park
Opening Summer 2020

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot
Based on the popular attraction at Disneyland Paris and the hit Disney and Pixar film, opening in the France pavilion in Summer 2020

Disney Genie at Walt Disney World Resort
The revolutionary new digital offering debuts late 2020

D23 Events in 2020

It’s hard to top D23’s spectacular events of 2019—from screenings of beloved films, to groovin’ with Mickey and Minnie at San Diego Comic-Con, to the epic 10th anniversary edition of D23 Expo—but 2020 is already shaping up to be a year chock full of events and experiences to thrill every member of your family. So check your map, pack your bags, and get ready to chart a course for these D23 events in 2020 celebrating all the extraordinary worlds of Disney. From the sun-soaked beaches of Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, to the storied stages of The Walt Disney Studios backlot, to a brand-new exhibit commemorating half a century of the Walt Disney Archives, D23’s experiences in 2020 will transport members like never before. Here are just a few highlights to circle on your calendar.

January 8: Member Mixer at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
What better way to start 2020 than at the D23 Gold Member Mixer at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, located in Kapolei, Hawai’i? We couldn’t be more excited to meet everyone there to kick off D23’s exciting 2020 adventure in tropical style!

March: D23 Celebrates 50 Years of The Walt Disney Archives
Fifty years ago, Disney Legend Dave Smith began what has become a cultural institution—the Walt Disney Archives—and this year the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, will host Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic, offering a rare look at some of the treasures from the Archives. The 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit opens to the public on March 7, 2020. D23 Gold Members are invited to a special Grand Opening Preview of Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic at the Bowers Museum on Wednesday, March 4. Then, to celebrate the actual anniversary of the founding of the Archives on June 22, D23 will hold a special “birthday party” at the Bowers Museum.

But there’s more: The Archives will partner with the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for special El Cap Throwback screenings during the year. Also, D23’s Behind the Scenes Experience: A Day at the Studio Lot events in 2020, held exclusively for Gold Members of D23, will offer a rare glimpse into how the Archives preserves the magic of The Walt Disney Company. And all Official Walt Disney Studios Tours in 2020, presented by D23, will include a special gift for guests themed to the 50th anniversary.

Movie Screenings
This year, D23 will host twice as many Magical Screenings in select cities around the country, celebrating the milestone anniversaries of such films as The Three Caballeros, A Goofy Movie, Pocahontas, The Emperor’s New Groove, and The Aristocats.

November 20–22: D23 Desination D: Fantastic Worlds
Later in what is already shaping up to be an incredible year of events, Destination D returns to Walt Disney World November 20–22 and will honor Disney’s many magical places, from the extraordinary to the fantastical. In addition, the Walt Disney Archives is creating an all-new exhibit that will include 50 iconic treasures, representing the 50 years of the Archives. And Walt Disney Imagineering’s store, Mickey’s of Glendale, will once again open a pop-up shop featuring exclusive items.

Those are just some of the events that D23 Members can experience in 2020. Read more to find out a full list of upcoming events.

How Forky Asks a Question Rescued the Character Rib Tickles

December 27, 2019December 23, 2019

By Zach Johnson

If you don’t remember meeting Rib Tickles in Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story 4, that’s because… no one did. The character, voiced by Aloma Wright, wound up on the cutting room floor. But today, she gets her due in the Forky Asks a Question short “What Is a Pet?” on Disney+.

“I was keen on including characters you hadn’t seen for a while or characters that had fallen out of the film,” says Bob Peterson, writer and director of Forky Asks a Question. Enter Rib Tickles, who is mentioned in Toy Story 4 as being Giggle McDimples’ partner. “Rib Tickles had been modeled and was animatable, but she fell out of the story, so I rescued her and brought her back in,” he says, proudly. “Now, she’s the star of a short!”

Known for her television roles in Scrubs and Private Practice, Wright did a “fantastic” job, Peterson adds. “I had not worked with her before, but we had a great experience.”

Each of the featured actors who lend their talents to the Forky Asks a Question shorts—including John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Kristen Schaal as Trixie, and others—recorded his or her dialogue at the end of a session for Toy Story 4. The one exception was Tony Hale, who voices Forky. “He’s had such a blast with this character and he loved the chance to spend more time being Forky,” says producer Mark Nielsen. “We spent two full days recording him at the end of 2018 for this series.”

With only so much recorded dialogue available, the animators and storytellers had to get creative. “When we’re making a feature, we’ll go for years and we’ll re-do and re-do,” says Peterson. “But these are a lot shorter, so you don’t belabor them. We recorded the actors once, then dealt with what we had. That was a lot of fun; it was almost like independent filmmaking. At one point, we decided to put little buttons at the end. We didn’t have them written in, so we just used found dialogue and crafted these things. Sometimes they ended up as the funniest part of these animations! It was fun being able to go look for scraps and assemble something, and it ended up working fairly well.”

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

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in January 2020

December 27, 2019January 30, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Need something new to stream in the new year? Disney+ has got you covered! In addition to the hundreds of titles already available to subscribers, January will add dozens of library and original content, from the fun adventures in Aladdin (2019) to the guaranteed drama in the season finale of High School Musical: the Musical: The Series.

All the confirmed film, television, and shorts titles coming to Disney+ in January are listed below:

Wednesday, January 1:
America’s National Parks (Season 1)
Austin & Ally (Season 1–4)
Billy Dilley’s Super-Duper Subterranean Summer (Season 1)
Bugged (Short)
Continent 7: Antarctica (Season 1)
Cool Runnings
Dog: Impossible (Season 1)
Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER (Season 8)
Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet (Season 7)
Dr. T, Lone Star Vet (Season 1)
Drain Alcatraz
Drain the Bermuda Triangle
Drain the Great Lakes
Drain the Ocean: WWII
Drain the Oceans (Season 2)
Drain the Sunken Pirate City
Drain the Titanic
El Materdor (Short)
First Class Chefs: Family Style (Season 1)
Hacksaw
Holes
Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors—Battle of the Bands
Marvel Super Hero Adventures (Shorts) (Season 2–3)
Marvel: 75 Years, From Pop to Pulp!
Moon Mater (Short)
Muppet Babies Show and Tell (Shorts) (Season 2–3)
One Strange Rock (Season 1)
Out There with Jack Randall (Season 1)
Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (Season 1–2)
Red Tails
Rescue Squad Mater (Short)
Soy Luna (Season 1)
Spinning (Short)
Super Rhino (Short)
The Golden Touch (Short)
The Lodge (Season 1–2)
The Proud Family (Season 1–2)
The Super Hero Squad Show (Season 1–2)
Time Travel Mater (Short)
Tokyo Mater (Short)
Unidentified Flying Mater (Short)
Vaprinia Ghouls Girls Rock! (Shorts) (Season 1)
Wild Russia (Season 1)
Year Million (Season 1)

Thursday, January 2
Life Below Zero (Season 13)

Friday, January 3
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Episode 109—“Opening Night”)
Encore! (Episode 109—“Pippin”)
Marvel’s Hero Project (Episode 109—“Radiant Jayera”)
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Episode 109—“Coffee”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 105—“Bob Iger: CEO”)
Pick of the Litter (Episode 103—“Training Begins”)
Forky Asks a Question (“What Is Cheese?”)

Wednesday, January 8
Aladdin (2019)

Friday, January 10
Destino (Short)
Marvel’s Runaways (Season 3)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Season Finale: Episode 10—“Act Two”)
Encore! (Episode 110—“High School Musical”)
Marvel’s Hero Project (Episode 110—“Spectacular Sidney”)
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Episode 110—“Cosmetics”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 106—“Modern Family: Cast & Crew”)
Pick of the Litter (Episode 104—“Next Level Training”)
Forky Asks a Question (Finale—“What Is Reading?”)
SparkShorts (“Loop”)

Wednesday, January 15
America’s National Parks (Season 1)
Continent 7: Antarctica (Season 1)
Dog: Impossible (Season 1)
Marvel Super Hero Adventures (Shorts) (Season 2-3)
Muppet Babies Show and Tell (Shorts) (Season 1)
Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (Season 1-2)
The Lodge (Season 2)
Wild Russia (Season 1)

Friday, January 17
Diary of a Future President (Episode 101—“Hello World”) (Series Premiere)
Encore! (Episode 111 – “Ragtime”)
Marvel’s Hero Project (Episode 111 – “Thrilling Tokata”)
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Episode 111 – “Pools”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 107 – “Jose Zelaya: Character Designer”)
Pick of the Litter (Episode 105 – “Meet Your Match”)

Wednesday, January 22
Bluey (Season 1)

Friday, January 24
Diary of a Future President (Episode 102 – “The New Deal”)
Encore! (Finale – Episode 112 – “Anything Goes”)
Marvel’s Hero Project (Episode 112 – “High Kickin’ Izzy”)
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Finale – Episode 112 – “Jewelry”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 108 – “Este Meza: Lucasfilm Events”)
Pick of the Litter (Finale – Episode 106 – “Together at Last”)
Short Circuit (Full Collection Available – Episode 101 to 114)

Tuesday, January 28
The Lion King (2019)

Friday, January 31
Diary of a Future President (Episode 103 – “Disaster Relief”)
Disney Family Sundays (Episode 113 – “Tangled: Paper Lanterns”)
Lamp Life (Premiere)
Marvel’s Hero Project (Episode 113 – “Soaring Seamus”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 109 – “Rob Richards: El Capitan Organist”

Celebrate Disney’s Brightest Star with Sunglass Hut’s New Mickey Mouse-Themed Gift Set

December 26, 2019

By D23 Team

If a trip to either the Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort is in your future, we’ve got the perfect gift for you (or any Disney fan on your shopping list): Our friends at Sunglass Hut recently launched a gift set in celebration of the mouse that started it all. The limited-edition set, which retails for $259, includes a pair of M90th (True Original) Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, an M90th Care Kit, M90th microfiber pouch, and a Limited-Edition Mickey True Original FiGPiN.

The Mickey Mouse-themed gift sets are on sale now at the following locations:

Florida

Disney Springs: Sunglass Icon
Magic Kingdom: Island Supply by Sunglass Hut
Typhoon Lagoon: Singapore Sal’s

California

Downtown Disney: Sunglass Icon
Disney California Adventure: Sunglass Hut

Only 1,000 of these Disney park-exclusive gift sets were created, and from where we’re sitting, 2020 is looking especially bright. Stop by one of the above locations before supplies run out!