Just Roll With It: You Decide LIVE! Scares Up the Most Spooktacular Scenario of All

By Beth Deitchman

They’ve eaten sardines with a vanilla ice cream chaser. They’ve plunged into a root beer float dunk tank. They’ve even shared their stage with a pig. But on Friday, October 4 (9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT), the cast of Just Roll With It face their most challenging scenario yet as the producers unveil some new tricks that make for an amazing treat for fans. Disney Channel kicks off the spooky season with a Halloween-themed special, Just Roll With It: You Decide LIVE!, the network’s first-ever live comedy telecast. And, as if performing live wasn’t already exciting enough, viewers nationwide are invited to join the fun. While fans watch the episode unfold in real time, they’ll have the opportunity to vote along with the studio audience to determine key plot twists—and the cast, including special guest stars Raven-Symoné (Raven’s Home) and Miranda May (BUNK’D), will “just roll with it.”

“I hope they throw the craziest things at me,” an excited May tells D23 during our visit to the set during a rehearsal for the telecast. Strange foods… stranger smells… crazy antics… None of it daunts May, who says, “I’m expecting the biggest things in the world. I’m ready for whatever it is.” And as she good-naturedly points out, “It’s only an hour! I can live through that and I know it will be fun.”

For inspiration, May plans to draw upon the 10 years she spent in stand-up comedy before joining BUNK’D. Fellow guest star Raven-Symoné also has a wealth of live performance experience that’s prepared her for Friday’s telecast, from starring in Sister Act on Broadway to her tenure as a co-host on ABC’s The View. “The only thing I’m not prepared for is some of the ‘askings’ that will be there, which the audience gets to choose from,” she shares. “That’ll jolt me but I’ll pop right in to it. It’s going to be interesting.”

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Neither May nor Raven-Symoné would spoil the surprise by revealing how their characters fit into the plot, which finds the Bennett-Blatt family trying to reverse an evil curse. They encounter a host of strange characters, including one played by May, who promises, “I expect to not look at all like myself.” Actors on Just Roll With It simply can’t help but try to guess when the horn will sound and an unexpected scenario will begin. Raven-Symoné tells D23 that she has reason to feel at least a bit sheltered from some of the crazier shenanigans, but she’s up for anything: “My character is the one who does everything, so rarely does anything happen to me—that I know of right now!”

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Just Roll With It cast members Tobie Windham (Byron), Suzi Barrett (Rachel), Ramon Reed (Owen), and Kaylin Hayman (Blair) have bonded over the last few months, as they’ve learned to roll with whatever comes their way, together. They’re a tight-knit group, and they’ve welcomed May and Raven-Symoné into the fold with open arms. “I’m somebody that, if you throw the ball I’ll catch it, and I think they’re the same way,” says May, an improv veteran. “It’s so fun to have people that are like that, where we can just play with each other and off of each other.”

The hour-long special will feature additional surprises, including a musical performance by Kylie Cantrall (Gabby Duran & The Unsittables). May’s BUNK’D cast mates will be in the studio to cheer her on, and Raven’s Home will also be represented by Issac Ryan Brown, who serves as one of the evening’s hosts alongside Ruby Rose Turner (Coop & Cami Ask the World), and Ruth Righi (Sydney to the Max). “This is a big event and it’s something we should all participate in in any way that we can,” Raven-Symoné says of Disney Channel’s history-making telecast, which she’s thrilled to be part of. “It’s such an innovative way to do television,” she says. “I was very, very honored to be asked to be a part of it.”

Don’t miss a minute of the frightfully fun interactive live telecast, which kicks off on Disney Channel this Friday, beginning at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT. And be sure to also follow in the DisneyNOW app or DisneyNOW.com to cast your vote and watch Raven-Symoné, Miranda May, and the series’ incredibly talented cast just roll with it… live!

How Wonderful! Inside the Majestic Maleficent: Mistress of Evil World Premiere

By Zach Johnson

Well, well… imagine our delight when we received an invitation to attend the world premiere of The Walt Disney Studios’ latest live-action adventure film, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Hosted at the famed El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, thousands of fans lined Hollywood Blvd. to get a glimpse of Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, and Michelle Pfeiffer. A few famous fans even hoped to meet the film’s titular antihero as she walked the red carpet, with Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Julia Lester, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sofia Wylie—stars of the upcoming Disney+ Original Series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series—unanimous in their reason for seeing the movie: “Angelina Jolie!”

In addition to actors Chiwetel Ejiofor (Conall), Sam Riley (Diaval), Harris Dickinson (Prince Philip), Ed Skrein (Borra), Jenn Murray (Gerda), and Judith Shekoni (Shrike), the premiere brought out director Joachim Rønning; co-screenwriters Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster; producers Duncan Henderson and Joe Roth; production designer Patrick Tatopoulos; costume designer Ellen Mirojnick; composer Geoff Zanelli; and singer Bebe Rexha, whose original song “You Can’t Stop the Girl” appears on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Speaking to D23 on the carpet, Jolie—who pulled double duty as a producer—explained that getting back into character came fairly easily. “It’s impossible not to feel powerful with giant wings and being eight-feet tall with horns!” Jolie said. “You just have to go with it and have fun, and it allows you to be free.”

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In fact, every actor relied on Mirojnick’s designs to help them fully realize their characters. “With this film, you had to move like the wind; there was no dawdling! It was quite a task,” recalled Mirojnick, praising her “great” team. “You have three huge female characters, the supporting cast, the Dark Fey… There are so many different characters!”

The addition of actors such as Ejiofor and Pfeiffer to the cast only added to the buzz surrounding the sequel. “Michelle Pfeiffer is an incredible actress. She’s just amazing,” Murray raved. “I grew up watching her onscreen, and she is so graceful and intelligent.”

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And as Riley told D23, it was a thrill to both expand upon his role and to reconnect with his co-stars. “It was like it was only yesterday,” Riley said. “As soon as I put the leather trousers on, the six years [between filming Maleficent and its sequel] vanished.” Fanning was similarly keen to show how Aurora has grown since audiences last saw her. “Aurora is someone who [radiates] love and kindness and acceptance. That’s just who she is,” she said. “She is feminine, and there’s strength in femininity and softness.”

Although she faces some uncomfortable truths in the sequel, Maleficent is “having fun,” Jolie assured D23. “If you’re having fun and you’re yourself—your true self—you shine.”

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opens in theaters nationwide October 18, 2019.

These 5 Fun Facts About The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Will Lift Your Spirits

By Zach Johnson

You know the story of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, but do you know the story behind Walt Disney Productions’ animated classic? The package film, released on October 5, 1949, includes two episodes. The first is based on the 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows, by Scottish author Kenneth Grahame, and the second is based on the 1820 short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by American author Washington Irving. In celebration of the acclaimed film’s 70th anniversary and the Halloween season, we visited the Walt Disney Archives to unearth some lesser-known facts about the legend.

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1. Walt Disney was intimately involved in the episode’s production. To capture the feel of the location and sense of background and tradition for the Ichabod Crane episode, Walt personally visited the Tarrytown region on the Hudson River in New York. The filmmakers also researched the music of the colonial period, to ensure the film’s historical accuracy.

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2. Ichabod’s story was intended to be a full-length feature. Following World War II, the cost of making a full feature film was deemed too high, and the studio decided it would be a featurette and bundled it with The Wind in the Willows. The package was initially titled Two Fabulous Characters, but was later altered to The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.

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3. The flirtatious and vivacious Katrina was a look-alike. The superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod, largely animated by Disney Legend Frank Thomas, looked unlike any other character Disney had ever put onscreen before. His paramour, however, looked decidedly more familiar. In fact, animators used the model of Grace Martin from the The Martins and the Coys sequence of Make Mine Music for Katrina—and both bore a resemblance to Slue Foot Sue in Pecos Bill!

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4. Bing Crosby viewed the project as a labor of love. The Old Groaner worked with The Rhythmaires, the choral group on his radio program, while recording the three songs for the Ichabod Crane episode. In addition to narrating the film, he made the recording of the song “The Headless Horseman” a family affair, inviting his sons—Gary, twins Phillip and Dennis, and Lindsay—to join him in the recording studio.

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5. The Horseman May Have Fought For the British in the Revolutionary War. Although the Headless Horseman made his first appearance in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” first published in England in 1820, it was the 1917 U.S. edition that gave him his backstory as possibly a “Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon-ball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War.” Since Hessian troopers fought for the British, the rumors surrounding the Headless Horseman’s past would have made Ichabod Crane particularly wary of this menacing figure.

Mostly Ghostly Trivia Challenge Week 1—Is Your Classic Disney Halloween Knowledge Scary Good?

By D23 Team

Halloween is just around the corner, but let’s creep it real: we’ve been excited for the ghoulishly fun holiday for a while now. And, we’re kicking off the season with the first of four Disney Halloween trivia challenges to celebrate Halloween.

This week, we’re exploring the classic Disney Halloween cartoons from The Skeleton Dance to Trick or Treat, and testing your cartoon knowledge along the way with a spooktacular trivia quiz! Are you unboolievably good, or are you just a slight fright when it comes to our quiz? Let’s see what you can conjure up! Make sure to scroll down for the answers, and to see how ghostly your trivia knowledge is!

The Skeleton Dance was the first of which cartoon series?

Correct! Wrong!

Who does Mickey Mouse encounter in 1929’s The Haunted House?

Correct! Wrong!

Which of these cartoons was directed by Walt Disney?

Correct! Wrong!

Which costume is not worn by Huey, Dewey or Louie in Trick or Treat?

Correct! Wrong!

In the Lonesome Ghosts, the Ajax Ghost Exterminators are comprised of…?

Correct! Wrong!

The Skeleton Dance featured how many skeletons?

Correct! Wrong!

For Lonesome Ghosts, what new invention did the Disney Animation Department create?

Correct! Wrong!

What is the name of the witch that Donald Duck encounters in Trick or Treat?

Correct! Wrong!

The “Lonesome Ghosts” make a cameo in which other Disney project?

Correct! Wrong!

What 1933 Mickey Mouse short was deemed “too frightening for children” by the British film censor board upon release?

Correct! Wrong!

Mostly Ghostly Trivia Challenge Week 1—Is Your Classic Disney Halloween Knowledge Scary Good?
Oh, no! It looks like your knowledge didn’t quite materialize but these questions are no trick! Keep trying.
Alright, so you’re almost halfway there. No bones about it! There’s still room for a comeback so how about giving it another go.
What’s this? You’ve proven yourself to be a frightful contender, but there is still room to conjure a perfect score.
We’re impressed. You’re ghoulishly good but are still a few facts away from being the witch of the ball. You got this!
Well, you’re unboolievably good at this! It’s time to skele-brate because your knowledge is spellbinding.

 

Make This Skeleton Dance-Inspired Garland to Add Some Silly Spooks to Your House

By D23 Team

October is here, and you can feel it in your bones—it’s time to decorate for Halloween! If you’re a Disney fan (and we know you are), you’ll need seasonal décor to match your passion, and we have the perfect thing to add ghoulish delight to your home: This silly garland inspired by The Skeleton Dance! Print out the skeletons and follow along with the instructions below to craft a garland that will turn your home into a Haunted Mansion in no time.

Click here, right click the image to save and download the printable skeletons, then follow the instructions below:

  1. Print several copies of the skeletons PDF on 8.5” x 11” card stock. We recommend at least 5 sheets (20 skeletons total)
  2. Cut individual skeletons out with scissors, following the black lines. Kids, get help from an adult!
  3. Use a hole punch to cut out a small hole on each skeleton’s elbow.
  4. Thread string or ribbon through the front of the left elbow and up through the back of the right elbow of each skeleton, attaching them together.
  5. Use tape to hang your Skeleton Dance garland wherever you please. For longer garlands, you may need to add tape to the middle in addition to both ends.

Hidden Mickey Halloween Cookies Recipe

Enjoy this deliciously amazing recipe from our friends at Disney Family!

With the spooky season upon us, what better way to celebrate than with some colorful Hidden Mickey Halloween Cookies?! The chocolate cookie outside and gooey cream center will have all the little ghosts and ghouls asking for more. Oh, boy!

Ingredients

Cookie Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled
1 egg
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder (Dutch-processed recommended)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Filling Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk
Pinch of salt
Food coloring (purple, green, orange)

Directions

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1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar until well combined. Whisk in the vanilla and melted chocolate. Add in the egg and whisk until combined.
2. In another bowl, stir flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda until combined. Stir flour mixture into the chocolate mixture. Let the dough sit for an hour to firm up.
3. Transfer the dough to a sheet of wax paper. Shape into a log about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Roll log in wax paper and shape as you roll to maintain a smooth cylinder. Twist ends of paper to help keep the shape compact. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm. (If log flattens on one side, rotate every 30 minutes or so to maintain a round shape.)
4. Heat oven to 325° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
5. Cut dough in 1/4-inch thick slices and place on prepared baking sheet.
6. Use a 2’’ round pastry cutter to cut out a smooth circle for each slice.

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7. Cut out a Mickey shape on half of the slices (in the middle of each) using a 3/4″ round pastry cutter for the head and the back of a large, round pastry tip for the ears.
8. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cookies are firm to the touch.
9. Cool and prepare the filling. In a mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add milk and salt, and continue beating until smooth again. Then add preferred food coloring.
10. Place filling into a pastry bag and pipe filling on the bottom of the plain cookies and sandwich Mickey cutout cookies on top.

The Evil Queen’s Mini Poison Apple Pies Recipe

Just one bite of this mini pie, and all your dreams will come true! This cranberry apple pie inspired by the evil Queen is wickedly delicious. Keep scrolling to learn how to make this adorably scary Poison Apple Pie recipe inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Enjoy this deliciously amazing recipe from our friends at Disney Family!

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 can whole berry cranberries
    1 apple, peeled and diced
    1/4 cup water
    3 tablespoons sugar
    2 store-bought pie crusts
    Large, round cookie cutter (3-4 inches)
    Mini pie or muffin tins
    Toothpick
    1 tablespoon coconut, grapeseed, or olive oil

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Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, mix cranberries, apples, water, and sugar together.
  2. Cook until slightly bubbling, stirring occasionally.
  3. Allow to sit in the refrigerator to solidify for at least 4 hours.
  4. Once your pie filling is chilled, preheat the oven to 350° F.
  5. Use cookie cutters to cut into your pie crust, and line your baking tin with half.
  6. Fill each pie crust with your cranberry apple pie filling.
  7. Eyeball the poison apple design and use a toothpick to cut out the shape on your other pie crusts.
  8. Place on top of each of your pies, and lightly brush with oil. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Zero Marshmallows Recipe

It’s no secret that fans of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas love Jack Skellington’s faithful sidekick, Zero. We’re celebrating the spookiest time of year with a treat you can enjoy from now through winter—Zero Marshmallows. We think they make perfect treats on their own and even cuter toppings for your hot chocolate.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital.

Enjoy this deliciously amazing recipe from our friends at Disney Family!

Ingredients
1/3 cup corn flour
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup + 4 tablespoons water
1 1/3 tablespoons gelatin powder
1/4 cup egg white
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/3 cup corn syrup
Piping bag and tip
Scissors
Melted chocolate or food marker
Round orange sprinkles
Store-bought pink marshmallows

Helpful Tip
All cutting and stovetop use should be done by an adult.

Directions

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1. Sift corn flour and 1/3 cup powdered sugar together. Spread on a parchment paper-lined tray, set aside.
2. Add 4 tablespoons water to gelatin powder. Set aside to swell.
3. Add 1/3 cup of powdered sugar to egg white, beat until peaks are formed. Add in lemon juice and set aside. Don’t remove from mixer.
4. Add 2/3 cup powdered sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup of water to a pot. Cook and keep stirring until the temperature reaches 245° F.
5. Remove from stove and add in gelatin mixture from step 2. Mix until there are no lumps.
6. Add the mixture from step
7. Pipe out the mixture into the shape of Zero onto the prepared tray from step 1. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
8. Use melted chocolate or food marker to draw on Zero’s eyes and mouth.

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9. Dot on a little melted chocolate and stick an orange sprinkle to the marshmallow by Zero’s nose.
10. Cut out Zero’s collar from pink marshmallows and attach.

Answer the Call with New Frozen 2 Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Let go of the past and get reacquainted with some Arendelle favorites, and find out where Disney Cruise Line is sailing in early 2021… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

New Frozen 2 Trailer Offers a Sneak Peek at Chills and Thrills… 

It’s one of the most highly anticipated films of the year—and it’s almost here! Just this week, the world was gifted with a brand-new trailer for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 2; if you haven’t yet taken a gander (or, y’know, 26 ganders—but who’s counting?), check out the chilltastic clip, above.

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? The answers are calling her—but also threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven, she’ll face a dangerous but remarkable journey. In 2013’s Frozen, Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world; in Frozen 2, she must hope they are enough. From the Academy Award®-winning team of directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, producer Peter Del Vecho, and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—and featuring the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad—Frozen 2 opens in theaters across the country on November 22.

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
September 28, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on the Lot
October 1, 2019
Freeform’s Second Annual Halloween House at the Hollywood Athletic Club, Los Angeles
October 4, 2019
The Muppets Take Manhattan—Exclusive Screening in Manhattan
October 13, 2019
D23 Heads to the Hollow
October 21, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
October 21, 2019
D23’s Sip & Stroll at Epcot
October 29, 2019
D23’s Mostly Ghostly Halloween on The Walt Disney Studios Lot
November 14, 2019
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experiences: A Day at the Studio Lot
January 17, 2020
Get VIP Tickets to Disney’s Frozen The Hit Broadway Musical
January 31, 2020
Disney’s Aladdin the Hit Broadway Musical VIP Tickets
August 9, 2020
Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise Presented by D23
Parks
August 16, 20, 23, 27, 30;
September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29; October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31;
November 1, 2019
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom park
August 29—November 23, 2019
2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
September 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 2019;
October 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, 2019
Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure park
November 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24;
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 2019
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom park
November 29—December 30, 2019
2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Studios
October 18, 2019
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opens in U.S. theaters
November 22, 2019
Frozen 2 opens in U.S. theaters
December 20, 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in U.S. theaters
March 6, 2020
Onward opens in U.S. theaters
March 27, 2020
Mulan opens in U.S. theaters
May 29, 2020
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
Television
September 1—30, 2019
Freeform’s 30 Days of Disney
October 1-31, 2019
Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween
November 5, 2019
ABC airs The Wonderful Word of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! (8—10 p.m. EST)

Disney Cruise Line Announces Amazing Early 2021 Itineraries

If you’re looking for a truly spectacular way to travel, look no further than our friends at Disney Cruise Line (DCL)—who offer up some of the coolest cruises around. Case in point: the incredible early 2021 itineraries that DCL just announced! After their upcoming inaugural season in “the Big Easy” next year, DCL has revealed that they’ll be returning to New Orleans with several voyages beginning in late January 2021. A limited-time engagement, these Disney Wonder cruises out of Louisiana to the Bahamas and Caribbean—including visits to Disney’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay—highlight DCL’s early ’21 lineup of popular itineraries…

The five-night cruise to the Western Caribbean includes a visit to Progreso, Mexico, a new port of call for DCL on the Yucatan Peninsula; this quaint town is filled with treasures for the whole family to explore together, from ancient Mayan ruins to hidden, crystal-clear swimming holes. Other magical voyages out of “N’Awlins” include a four-night Western Caribbean cruise; three seven-night sailings to the Bahamas (with a stop at Castaway Cay); and a 14-night Panama Canal cruise. And if all that wasn’t cool enough, the Wonder will also return to a few other popular home ports—Galveston, Texas, and San Diego, California—in early ’21.

For more information, and/or to book an incredible trip of your own, visit DisneyCruise.com.

These Delectable Plant-Based Dishes Will Tickle Your Disney Taste Buds

You don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian to enjoy a delicious plant-based meal… so the next time you visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resorts, make sure to check out one of their 400 (you read that right!) fabulous plant-based dishes, including several brand-new options. For a rundown of the delights available—including a festively food-filled clip from our pals at the Disney Parks Blog—click here.

News Briefs Star Wars Special - 2

This Sunday: Celebrate Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with New Freeform Special

All week long, the Disney family of networks has been celebrating all things Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge—from a sneaky Easter egg in the season premiere of 1980s-based The Goldbergs, to a very special new look at the anticipated Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction on Thursday’s Good Morning America, and all manner of TV shows in between. And to wrap up the festivities, Freeform is airing a new Galaxy’s Edge special this Sunday, September 29, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge—Adventure Awaits will take viewers on an exploration of these epic new lands (now open at both Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios park) and how they brought the planet of Batuu to life. With appearance by celebrity guests including Kaley Cuoco, Keegan-Michael Key, Jay Leno, Sarah Hyland, Miles Brown, and more, the special also includes Walt Disney Imagineers, Lucasfilm executives, and Disney cast members sharing how they helped create the largest single-themed land expansion in Disney Parks history…

Don’t miss out on all the galactic fun!

ICYMI: Emmy® Wins for The Walt Disney Company’s Portfolio of Brands

More primetime TV stars than you can shake a streaming device at descended on the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles last Sunday for the 2019 Emmy Awards®—and The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of brands had several nifty, noteworthy wins. Read up about the ceremony right here at D23.com.

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Livestream the Debut of Epcot Forever on October 1

Fans of Epcot, majestic music, and incredible firework displays (hey—that’s us on all counts), we have some great news: You’ll be able to watch the premiere of Walt Disney World Resort’s newest nighttime spectacular live on Tuesday night, October 1!

Beginning at 8:50 p.m. ET (which, for us West Coast folk, is 5:50 p.m.), the Disney Parks Blog will livestream the debut of Epcot Forever, the new limited-time spectacle of music, lighting, lasers, fireworks, and über-cool choreographed special-effects kites around and above the World Showcase lagoon. The show takes viewers on a journey through the past, present, and future of Epcot—and it features a stirring collection of songs that paint a colorful picture of the park, with a look towards the future and all the magical possibilities still to come.

Should you want to get in on the magic yourself, submit your best Epcot pictures to the Parks Blog via Twitter (using the hashtag #DisneyParksLive), and you may just see them during the livestream!

The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! Adds Cast

We already knew that Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah, and Shaggy would be starring in this November’s ABC special The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! (as Ariel, Ursula, and Sebastian, respectively)—and this week, we got a bit more scoop on who will be joining them! Find out who’s set to delight audiences as Chef Louie and Prince Eric by clicking here.

Star Wars: Force for Change Debuts Galactic Builders Digital Series

By Beth Deitchman

Technology and robotics are a huge part of the Star Wars universe—from building an astromech droid or piloting an AT-AT, to creating new experiences for guests on the planet Batuu. A new digital series, Galactic Builders, takes a closer look at how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) come into play in the world of Star Wars, and it’s been created through an amazing collaboration between Disney and Lucasfilm and FIRST, the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit, which empowers K–12 students to learn, grow and positively affect the world around them. As part of its commitment to providing today’s youth with the skills they need to create the future they imagine, The Walt Disney Company has supported FIRST for more than 20 years.Galactic Builders is powered by the Star Wars: Force for Change philanthropic initiative, and the first episode is available now on YouTube.com/StarWarsKids and StarWarsKids.com.

News of the collaboration between The Walt Disney Company and FIRST was first shared in April, during Star Wars Celebration Chicago. Lucasfilm and Disney have provided a $1.5 million in-kind donation and mentorship resources to FIRST, which counts more than 600,000 students among its global robotics community. FIRST students work in teams to build robots that are put to work in competitions, and along the way, the young people develop science, engineering, and technology skills that inspire innovation and foster self-confidence, communication, leadership, and more.

“Lucasfilm and FIRST are a great match,” said Lucasfilm General Manager Lynwen Brennan. “Our hope is that the Star Wars movies will help inspire the next generation of innovators to work with their teammates and have fun exploring robotics and pushing technology. We hope it will be a first step in their journey into engineering and computer science careers and maybe even lead them to being part of the Lucasfilm team someday.”

Galactic Builders

Galactic Builders is hosted by FIRST students, who, along with their teams, had the opportunity to discuss engineering and robotics with makers from Hasbro, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Industrial Light & Magic. In the series, the spokespeople reveal how their work in the Star Wars universe intersects with technology and robotics, giving FIRST students—and Star Wars fans—inside looks at the fan-favorite droid BB-8 and the just-revealed Ultimate Interactive D-O App-controlled Droid toy, as well as how Star Wars filmmakers use motion capture for droids, and how robotics are used in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Engineer, robotics expert, and BB-8 co-creator Matt Denton recently joined FIRST students for an upcoming episode of Galactic Builders. “It’s very nice being able to tell people about another area of engineering that they might not have thought about, in films and entertainment,” he told StarWars.com. “I think that gets people a little bit excited. They probably see the glamorous side of it—not that it’s all glamorous—but it is different. Working in film suits me because the creative side of my brain fights the engineering side all the time. I think it’s quite good for kids to see that there are alternatives. It doesn’t have to be straight engineering if they have a creative streak. That, I think, is pretty important.”

In the first episode of Galactic Builders, below, middle school students Lyndsay and Daniel visit Hasbro to learn how engineers created the Ultimate Interactive D-O App-controlled Droid toy from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Visit StarWars.com to learn more about this amazing new series, and look for a new episode every Thursday.