Every Perfect Picture Spot at Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration at Downtown Disney

April 26, 2019April 26, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Today, something extra special has popped up at Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort: A brand-new Disney photo experience! Fans have already been celebrating Mickey Mouse by “getting their ears on” at Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure, but now you can add another activity to your growing list of Disney to-dos. Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration features seven unique rooms that come together for the perfect “selfie-bration” of Mickey Mouse! We got a special sneak peek at all of the rooms with the help of our friend, Ashley Eckstein (founder of Her Universe, voice of Star Wars’ Ahoska Tano, and all-around Disney fanatic). Take a look at the mouse-terpieces we made at Pop Up Disney!, and then start planning your own, because Pop-Up Disney! is now open!

Room 1: Mickey and Minnie’s Love
The first room you enter at Pop Up Disney! celebrates the timeless sweethearts and all around #couplegoals, Mickey and Minnie. From posing on a “bow-fa” to modelling Minnie’s style, this room features larger-than-life symbols of Mickey and Minnie’s relationship, like bows, hearts, pictures of the couple, and more.

Room 2: It All Started with a Mouse
Two of Mickey’s very first cartoons get a big-picture treatment here. Become the captain of a Steamboat Willie-inspired ship, or pilot a plane that must have flown straight out of Plane Crazy.

Room 3: Mickey’s Friendships & Room 4: Sorcerer Mickey’s Magic
What’s a celebration without your pals? This room features art created by Mickey’s friends. Once you’re done admiring their handiwork, head into a mysterious, glowing tunnel to discover Sorcerer Mickey himself. Inspired by “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sequence from Fantasia, this room full of glittering magic must be seen in person!

Room 5: Mickey Around the World & Room 6: Forever Mickey
In the Mickey Mouse shorts, our pal Mickey takes his zany adventures across the globe. We might not be able to follow exactly in his world-travelling footsteps, but these two photo locations can help appease our inner jetsetter. Once you’re done, head down the mirrored hallway (and make sure to look up—the ceiling is made of Mouse Ear Hats!) and enter a truly stunning room—Mickey Forever! Mirrored walls and neon lights make this room a world of color, reflecting a shiny statue of Mickey right in the center. Snap your pictures quickly, because the lights are constantly changing.

Room 7: Mickey at Disneyland
You can’t have a celebration without a stop at the Happiest Place on Earth! This room celebrates how Mickey has made his impact on Disneyland in so many iconic ways. Take your picture with Mickey-shaped balloons or Mickey shaped-snacks, or, if you’re looking for something a little more dramatic, step inside a Mickey-shaped balloon for an unforgettable picture.

Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration is now open at Downtown Disney.

Everything You Need to Know About the National Football League Draft, Airing April 25 to April 27

April 25, 2019

By Max Lark

The National Football League (NFL) Draft is the perfect way for football fans to bide their time while looking forward to fall and the return of another season of glorious gridiron action.

Which players are moving up in the draft, which are moving down? Will Oklahoma standout Junior quarterback Kyler Murray be drafted in the first round? Which quarterback goes first, University of Missouri’s Drew Lock or The Ohio State University’s wunderkind Dwayne Haskins? Who from the University of Michigan Wolverines will be drafted in the first round, super-athletic defensive end Rashan Gary or speedy, hard-hitting linebacker Devin Bush? Will both be?

For professional and college football fans, the NFL Draft is one of the most-anticipated times of the year. For college football fans, bragging rights are on the line; for fans of professional football, it’s a matter of get our team the best players. In short, if you love football, you love the NFL Draft. What happens over these three days could lead NFL teams to fortune—or misfortune—so fans are engaged.

This year, Disney’s presentation of the 2019 NFL Draft from Nashville, Tennessee, will offer more to fans than ever before, as the entire event will air on both ESPN and ABC, and each network will provide distinct telecasts for Rounds 1–3 in prime time. Additionally, all seven rounds of the draft will be streamed live on the ESPN App and ABC App, broadcast on ESPN Radio and available in Spanish—on both TV and radio—on ESPN Deportes.

Here’s what you need to know about Disney’s blanket coverage of the 2019 NFL Draft.

There is multi-network coverage of every draft round, from 1 to 7.
Here’s the three-day programming schedule:

Thursday, April 25 (8–11:30 p.m. ET): NFL Draft, Round 1—ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Friday, April 26 (7–11:30 p.m. ET): NFL Draft, Rounds 2 and 3—ABC, ESPN/ESPN2, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Saturday, April 27 (12–7 p.m. ET): NFL Draft, Rounds 4–7—ABC (simulcast of ESPN telecast), ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio

This year’s coverage of the NFL Draft is the most comprehensive ever undertaken.
In anticipation of the event, 360+ hours of dedicated NFL Draft content is airing across all ESPN networks (starting the week of the NFL Combine), 250+ hours of top prospects’ and recent NFL Draft picks’ best college games are available on ESPNU and a 26-hour NFL Draft Marathon on ESPN and ESPN2 leads into Round 1. Draft presentations will feature 100+ player personality bumps, 50+ storytelling vignettes, 30 player live shots and 25 “sense of place” bumps with local Nashville artists.

ESPN’s traditional draft telecast, presented for the fourth year by Courtyard, features host Trey Wingo, NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay (Rounds 2–7), NFL analysts Louis Riddick and Booger McFarland (Round 1), NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter and NFL host Suzy Kolber.

ABC’s differentiated coverage for Rounds 1–3, which will focus on the journey of NFL Draft prospects, features Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts (Round 1) and the eight-time Sports Emmy Award-winning College GameDay Built by The Home Depot crew of host Rece Davis, analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, reporters Tom Rinaldi and Maria Taylor and contributor Chris “The Bear” Fallica. Plus, the 2019 NFL Draft on ABC will include ESPN’s Jesse Palmer and special guest NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes (prior to Round 1). American Idol judge Luke Bryan and mentor Bobby Bones will also appear on ABC’s prime-time draft coverage. Bryan will join the GameDay crew on night one, while Bones will serve as a roving reporter from the streets of Nashville on both nights, sharing the enthusiasm of the city, fans’ passion and a behind-the-scenes look at the NFL Draft for viewers at home. ABC will simulcast ESPN’s Day 3 telecast of Rounds 4-7.

ESPN Deportes will also cover every round of the NFL Draft for the first time. Commentators include: Eduardo Varela, Pablo Viruega, Miguel Pasquel, Sebastian Martinez-Christensen, Monday Night Football’s Alvaro Martin and Raul Allegre, and special guests (TV), and Kenneth Garay and Carlos Nava (radio).

All seven rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft will also be streamed live on both the ESPN App and ABC App.

There will be blanket live programming from Nashville on ESPN and ABC
The top names in sports are in Nashville to provide the up-close-and-personal coverage football fans clamor for. Check out some of the programming below:

Golic and Wingo
Mike Golic and Trey Wingo will air on ESPN Radio from 6–10 a.m. ET—with simulcasts on ESPN2 and ESPNEWS—from the West Club at Nissan Stadium on April 25 and 26. Golic and Mike Golic Jr. will be joined both days by host Jason Fitz and a full slate of guests. The broadcasts are open to the public with doors opening at 4:30 a.m. CT.

Good Morning America
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts will be live from Nashville on April 25 to preview the NFL Draft.

Get Up!
Host Mike Greenberg and the team from Get Up! will be live from Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, located next to the stage where the draft picks will be announced, on April 25–26 from 8–10 a.m. ET on ESPN. This will be the first time the popular morning show hosts an entire show from a remote location.

First Take
ESPN’s popular morning debate show First Take will be live from the West Club at Nissan Stadium on April 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to noon ET. Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman will be joined by host Will Cain. Both shows—which will feature a full lineup of NFL and other celebrity guests such as Eddie George, Tim McGraw and ESPN’s Desmond Howard and David Pollack, as well as free giveaways—will be open to the public with doors opening at 7:30 a.m. CT.

SportsCenter
Mike Greenberg will host SportsCenter segments on April 25 and 26 from noon–3 p.m. ET.

Stephen A. Smith Show
The Stephen A. Smith Show on ESPN Radio and simulcast on ESPNEWS, will be live from the West Club at Nissan Stadium on April 25 and 26 from 1–3 p.m. ET. The shows will include previews, reaction and analysis from host Stephen A. Smith on all the latest NFL Draft news from Nashville.

NFL Live
ESPN’s weekday NFL news and information show NFL Live will be live from The NFL Experience on April 24 from 1:30–3 p.m. ET and on April 25 and 26 from 3–5 p.m. ET. Wendi Nix will host all three days with NFL analysts Tim Hasselbeck and Rex Ryan and NFL Draft analyst Jim Nagy. Thursday’s show will also include special guest appearances by ESPN’s Trey Wingo, Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit and Sam Ponder, as well as NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah.

College GameDay
ESPN’s eight-time Sports Emmy Award-winning College GameDay Built by The Home Depot crew Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, David Pollack and Chris “The Bear” Fallica will preview the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25 from 5–7 p.m. ET with special guest Bobby Bones and college football coaches Lincoln Riley, Ryan Day and David Shaw. On April 26 (5–6 p.m. ET), Davis will be joined by Howard, Pollack and Jesse Palmer, as well as special guest Jim Mora. On April 27 (11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET), Maria Taylor will host the show with Howard, Palmer, Pollack and Mora.

NFL Draft Countdown
ESPN’s NFL Draft host Trey Wingo will preview Round 1 on April 25 (7–8 p.m. ET) with Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland, Chris Mortensen, Adam Schefter and Suzy Kolber. On April 26 (6–7 p.m. ET), Wingo will be joined by Kiper, McShay, Riddick, Mortensen, Schefter and Kolber.

There’s Even More Coverage…
This year, there are more ways than ever to get your NFL Draft fix, including:

Across Platforms: ESPN NFL Draft Projections in Virtual Reality
Leading up to and during this year’s NFL Draft coverage, ESPN will assess the potential of prospective players in virtual reality using ESPN Sports Analytics’ new projection model which incorporates grades from Scouts, Inc., NFL Combine metrics and athletically similar players’ past draft results. The segments feature ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky breaking down stats and rankings in an innovative and customizable, virtual reality environment.

ESPN.com
ESPN.com’s coverage of the 2019 NFL Draft will focus on signature voices Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Louis Riddick, Kirk Herbstreit, Mike Sando and others. Highlights include NFL Mock Drafts paired with SportsCenter Specials, pros and cons on every first-round draft pick from NFL Nation, plus Draft Day analysis from NFL Nation on all 254 picks and real-time data via DraftCast. Following the 2019 NFL Draft, ESPN will release Kiper’s Draft Grades (the foundation for SportsCenter Special: Draft Grades on April 28) and ‘Early Impact’ Rookies (April 30) as well as McShay’s best picks for all 32 teams (April 27). Additionally, NFL Nation will break down the biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams (April 29) and McShay will look ahead to next year with a Way-Too-Early 2020 Mock Draft (May 2).

The Undefeated
Senior NFL writer Jason Reid will lead NFL Draft coverage on The Undefeated—ESPN’s multiplatform content initiative exploring the intersections of sports, race and culture—from Nashville. Highlights include:

Reid explores the history of black quarterbacks being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Domonique Foxworth presents his mock draft of the first 32 picks.
Reid will live tweet the first and second rounds of the draft.

ESPN International
This year, ESPN International will cover the NFL Draft with its most robust content plan to date, offering live television coverage of the NFL Draft to more than 31 million households in 61 countries and territories throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Canada (on TSN). Highlights include:

For the first time ever, ESPN will produce all three days of the draft in Spanish language, which will air live throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America.
Also for the first time ever, Brazil will produce and air all three days of the NFL Draft live in Portuguese language.
The Caribbean and the Pac Rim region (Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands) will air all three days live and on the first day, both regions will air the ESPN U.S. production on one channel and the ABC NFL Draft production on another channel, providing fans differentiated content and perspectives.
ESPN will simulcast its television coverage via its broadband players, WatchESPN in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands and ESPN Play in the Caribbean and Spanish-speaking Latin America.
Immediately following the NFL Draft, on Sunday ESPN International will air the EA Sports Madden NFL 19 Bowl esports competition live throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean and in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Everything You Need to Know Before Seeing Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame

April 25, 2019April 25, 2019

By Jim Frye

After 11 years, 22 films, and more battles, triumphs, and defeats than any mere mortal could have ever imagined, Marvel Studios’ Super Heroes are heading into their biggest—THE biggest—super-powered showdown ever when Avengers: Endgame hits theaters April 26. But before you cower at the prospect of catching up on all the stories and far-flung adventures that have led to this moment, don’t worry. The plot all comes down to this: Stop Thanos; save the universe. Easy as that.

And lest viewers feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the story, we have your simple guide to everything you need to know before seeing Avengers: Endgame, as told by the key players in the fray. For a deeper look, read on…

“It’s all been leading to this.”—Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Infinity War
It’s the culmination of all that’s come before—all the Iron Man suit upgrades, all the interdimensional travels, all the outer-space escapades—arriving at a time when the entire universe needs saving. In an unprecedented accomplishment in Hollywood, Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios, together with his creative team and some of the most talented film-makers working today, has woven together a vast tapestry of movies and characters into a single cohesive story that spans the entire Marvel universe. In other words, this is a pretty big deal.

“The universe is finite; its resources, finite. If life is left unchecked, life will cease to exist. It needs correcting.”—Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War
On a very high level, the stakes our heroes face are very clear: The ultimate villain, Thanos, has collected all six Infinity Stones, giving him ultimate power. Having achieved this power in Avengers: Infinity War, he snaps his fingers, turning half of all life in the universe into dust, including many of our favorite Super Heroes.

“He did it.”—Nebula (Karen Gillan) in Avengers: Infinity War
Standing on the devastated planet of Titan, Nebula realizes that Thanos accomplished what he set out to do—destroy half of all life—and she utters the words that send dread down Tony’s (and our) spines. “He did it.” Here’s a list of the heroes we saw turn to dust: Black Panther, Winter Soldier, Falcon, Doctor Strange, Groot, Drax, Mantis, Star-Lord, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and—in a gut-wrenching moment—Spider-Man. “I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go, Mr. Stark,” said a dissolving Peter Parker. Then, during an end-credit scene in Ant-Man 2, we also saw the Wasp, Hank Pym, and Janet van Dyne dust away. Additionally, the trailer for Avengers: Endgame revealed that Shuri is also among the vanished. Add to that list Gamora, Loki, and Heimdall (from the Thor films), who seemingly met their ends at the hands of Thanos. In other words, we have precious few heroes left.

“Even if there’s a small chance, we owe this to everyone not in this room to try.”— Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in the trailer for Avengers: Endgame
But, there are some heroes left—and as Natasha says, they “owe this to everyone” to try and stop Thanos. They are Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, War Machine, Bruce Banner, Rocket Raccoon, Nebula, and Okoye, from Wakanda. As the trailers for Avengers: Endgame reveal, Ant-Man and Clint Barton (Hawkeye) also return to help. Audiences last saw Ant-Man, aka Scott Lang, trapped inside the subatomic Quantum Realm.

And hot off the success of her own solo movie, Captain Marvel, one of the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows up, asking, “Where’s Fury?” We first got wind of this new hero in the end credits of Avengers: Infinity War, where a swiftly dissolving Nick Fury activated a distress call for Captain Marvel, a powerful hero from an alien planet whom he had met in the 1990s. The end credits of Captain Marvel revealed that this powerful new hero did show up in response to Fury’s distress call, ready to join the fight against Thanos. “I like this one,” says Thor. We agree.

Beating Thanos and saving the universe is the task the remaining heroes face—it couldn’t be more daunting. But now, armed with these simple facts and plot points, understanding where we are in the story is not daunting at all. Remember: Thanos destroyed half the universe. The remaining Super Heroes want to get it back.

Simple story. Epic journey. We can’t wait to see it.

The Avengers: Endgame Premiere Brings Marvel’s Heroes Back to Earth

April 25, 2019

By Zach Johnson

On Monday, Avengers past and present assembled on the purple carpet in downtown Los Angeles for the star-studded world premiere of Marvel Studios’ Avengers Endgame—and we were in the thick of the action, willing to do “whatever it takes” to bring you closer to the stars!

The original Avengers—Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)—were flanked by the Super Heroes who survived Thanos’ snap in last year’s Avengers: Infinity War, including Rocket (Bradley Cooper), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Wong (Benedict Wong), and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), as well as Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau).

“This feels electric! I mean, I’ve never been to anything this big before. I’ve been in other Marvel movies, but this is like a whole other ball game!” said Gillan, who made her Marvel Studios debut in Guardians of the Galaxy. “And it’s just so exciting! I haven’t seen the film. I don’t know exactly what to expect; I have my theories and I have some spoilers, but I want to see the whole thing!”

An arresting Avengers logo towered over the press line, rotating on a platform as dozens of actors from all stretches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), from Laurence Fishburne to Natalie Portman, turned up to celebrate the culmination of 11 years and 22 films worth of history-making storytelling. With help from Dolby and DSC Audio, Disney converted the Los Angeles Convention Center’s Hall K into a 2,000-seat theater, where a 70-foot screen and state of the art projection and sound technology mirrored the size and scope of the epic film. “I don’t know about you,” Chris Evans told attendees at the screening, “but I cried, like, six times.”

We talked to the creative forces behind the MCU on the purple carpet, and they shared their spoiler-free feelings on Avengers: Endgame and everything that led our heroes to this point:

“We’re in the Endgame Now”
Once again, Thanos demands your silence… and so does executive producer Victoria Alonso. “I am excited for every single Disney fan to see three hours of uninterrupted, beautiful, beautiful storytelling,” she said. With a sparkle in her eye, she said, “I’ll tell you nothing today. Nothing!”

“That’s the one thing I want people to do: Please keep [the plot] quiet, so everyone can have their own experience of what it should be,” Victoria told us. “You should see it when you’re ready.”

“You Could Not Live With Your Own Failure”
Wary of accidentally revealing too much, Benedict Wong, who plays Wong, teased, “All I can say is prepare yourselves. Make sure you go to the loo, and take very, very small sips of water!”

“This Is the Fight of Our Lives”
Producer Kevin Feige described the “entire experience” of making and releasing Avengers: Endgame as “emotionally overwhelming,” saying, “I hope the audience feels the same way; certainly the cast and all the filmmakers did. It’s a labor of love.” The idea, he said, was “to tell these 22 movies and to bring it to a conclusion in a way that’s never been done before,” and he believes they’ve done just that. “In a matter of minutes, people are going to be able to finally see the movie. And then we put it out into the world. I can’t wait! I just want people to see it!”

Find out why @Kevfeige can’t wait for fans to see #AvengersEndgame! Check out our Instagram story for more from the world premiere. pic.twitter.com/hSwbjSYMoq

— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) April 23, 2019

“The World Has Changed”
Peyton Reed, director of Ant-Man and Ant-Man and The Wasp, gave credit where credit was due, honoring the movie that birthed the biggest film franchise ever. “I will always have a soft spot for Iron Man—Favreau’s first Iron Man—because it started it all, and it really established the tone of what Marvel could be,” he explained. “I think it’s hard for people to remember now that Iron Man was a dicey proposition—it wasn’t a guaranteed hit. And it’s such a great movie!”

“I Like This One”
Composer Alan Silvestri’s “The Avengers” has become one of the most instantly recognizable themes in movie history. “There’s a little sense of the surreal about it, but it’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Wow! Look at how that thing has grown and how it has been embraced.’ It’s really great, and it’s exciting. You can’t plan for that. When it happens, though, it’s amazing!”

“It’s Not About How Much We Lost”
“Being a part of this world is really… It’s just the best, because it’s make-believe, but it also has heart,” said Cobie Smulders, who first appeared as Maria Hill in The Avengers. Of course, it’s her character’s humanity that makes her a hero. “The thing I’ve always found interesting about Maria Hill, and [Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson], and these people who choose to live this life to help others, who put themselves in front to help other people, is there’s so much honor involved in that… It should be perpetual, where people help others and put themselves in front of others.”

“Part of the Journey Is the End”
Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier turned to dust in Avengers: Infinity War, but he refuses to accept this is the end of the line for the Avengers. “It’s been amazing. We’ve all grown up a little bit. It’s crazy. I started these [films] 10, 11 years ago; we all did. It doesn’t ever feel… you know, it never feels like the end. In a way. For some reason, it’s like we got lucky and we’re here again. We got to do this one more time. I think everybody feels that way. Everybody feels pretty grateful with these things; that’s always my impression,” Sebastian told us. “So, it’s fun.”

Don’t miss Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame when it hits theaters April 26!

Final Episodes of Disney Channel’s Andi Mack Announced—Plus More in News Briefs

April 25, 2019

By Courtney Potter

The critically acclaimed series Andi Mack will air its final new episodes beginning June 21, and Disney’s live-action Aladdin offers up a fresh new look… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Disney Channel’s Andi Mack to Air Final Episodes This Summer

They say all good things must come to an end… and one of those very good things, Disney Channel’s groundbreaking series Andi Mack, will be wrapping up its historic run with a string of brand-new episodes beginning Friday, June 21 (at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT on both Disney Channel and DisneyNOW), and concluding Friday, July 26. See the Andi Mack cast discuss the incredible significance of the series in a new video, above…

Disney Channel President Gary Marsh recently praised the series and its final episodes, saying, “We are forever grateful to Terri [Minsky, creator and executive producer], her talented team, and the outstanding cast, led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, for delivering a meaningful and satisfying conclusion to three wonderful seasons of this brilliant series.”

Andi Mack stars Lee as the title character, Lilan Bowden as Rebecca “Bex” Mack, Lauren Tom as Celia Mack, Joshua Rush as Cyrus Goodman, Sofia Wylie as Buffy Driscoll, Asher Angel as Jonah Beck, and Trent Garrett as Bowie.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
May 1, 2019
30 Years of Disney’s Hollywood Studios – A D23 Celebration!
May 4, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: The Lion King at Walt Disney World
May 6, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
May 11, 2019
D23’s Magical Screening Series: The Lion King on the Lot
May 16, 2019
D23 Celebrates Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World
June 1, 2019
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Return to Walt’s Chicago
June 8, 2019
Lunch with a Disney Legend – Paige O’Hara
June 10, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
June 13, 2019
Mickey Mouse’s Roller Disco Party
June 22, 2019
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour – Presented by D23
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
March 6-June 3, 2019
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
May 31, 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort
August 29, 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort
August 29—November 23, 2019, 2019
2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 29—December 30, 2019, 2019
2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

Studios
April 26, 2019
Avengers: Endgame opens in U.S. theaters
May 24, 2019
Aladdin opens in U.S. theaters
June 21, 2019
Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters
July 19, 2019
The Lion King opens in U.S. theaters
August 9, 2019
Artemis Fowl opens in U.S. theaters
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
Television
May 6, 2019
Big Hero 6 The Series kicks off season two on Disney Channel (3:30–4 p.m. EDT/PDT)
June 21, 2019
Final episodes of Andi Mack begin airing (8 p.m. EDT/PDT)
Summer 2019
Descendants 3 premieres on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW

Feel a Connection with Latest Aladdin Spot

A street in Agrabah. A street rat meets an undercover princess… a connection is made, and the rest—as they say—is history. Check out the latest spot from Disney’s upcoming live-action Aladdin, above.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, this new adaptation of the Disney animated classic stars Will Smith as the hilariously magical Genie; Mena Massoud as the charming scoundrel Aladdin; Naomi Scott as the self-determined Princess Jasmine; Marwan Kenzari as the nefarious vizier Jafar; Navid Negahban as the Sultan; Nasim Pedrad as Jasmine’s friend Dalia; and Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders. Look for Aladdin to fly onto a movie screen near you on May 24.

Coming to Disney+: Natalie Portman Narrates Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef

We’ve already learned so much about all the incredible content to come on Disney+, Disney’s brand-new streaming service, when it launches this November… but leave it to them to surprise us with something more!

In honor of this month’s recent Earth Day celebration, Disney+ revealed that Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman (Black Swan) narrates the next feature film from Disneynature, Dolphin Reef—which will debut on Disney+. The film dives under the sea to frolic with some of the planet’s most engaging animals; created with Disneynature’s signature storytelling style, the film introduces audiences to Echo, a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin who can’t quite decide if it’s time to grow up and take on new responsibilities. Dolphin society is tricky, y’see, and the coral reef that Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy… But Echo has a tough time resisting all the adventures the ocean has to offer! Keith Scholey, director of Disneynature’s Bears, helms the film.

Dolphin Reef will join Disney+’s crazy-cool slate of original nonfiction programming, including Be Our Chef, Encore!, Ink & Paint, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and so much more. (Plus, Disneynature’s most recent release, Penguins, will be available on Disney+ in 2020.) We can’t wait to join Echo and his friends “under the sea”!

D23’s Handy-Dandy Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Reservations

So, you want to go to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when it opens at Disneyland park in just a few weeks’ time? (As if the answer would be anything but a seriously resounding “yes”!) Thankfully, D23.com has a great rundown of everything you need to know to make a reservation… and have a truly out-of-this-world time. Read all about it by clicking here.

Disney’s Aladdin Tour Welcomes Two Millionth Guest

Just a few days ago, the North American tour of Disney’s Aladdin not only celebrated its second anniversary, but it also welcomed its whopping two millionth guest—a lucky gal by the name of Marcela Bloise—at The San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.

Marcela, who lives in San Jose, and her friend Manuel Ortiz were surprised with an upgrade to premium orchestra seats for the performance; later, they were treated to a special backstage tour, as well as a photo opportunity with the show’s stars. (And the entire experience was nothing short of life-altering for Manuel—Aladdin was his first live theatrical experience ever!)

Since launching in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in spring 2017, the critically-acclaimed Aladdin tour has played to packed houses in 25 cities, with more than 824 amazing performances. Future stops for the tour include Baltimore, Maryland; Durham, North Carolina; Houston, Texas; and Washington, D.C. And it’s still delighting audiences eight times a week at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Coming to Disney California Adventure Park

It’s full steam ahead for fun! Our good pals at the Disneyland Resort just announced that Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway—a brand-new attraction coming soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort—is also set to make its big debut at Disneyland in 2022! Find out more right here at D23.com.

This Summer: Updated Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

If you’re heading to Walt Disney World Resort this summer, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s incredible nighttime pageant…

River of Light: We Are One will introduce dazzling additional imagery as well as familiar animal characters from favorite Disneynature films, along with classic moments from Disney animation—all to express our collective connection with animals, and the emotions and milestones shared as we journey together through the “circle of life.” Additionally, the music for Rivers of Light: We Are One will weave together the show’s original score with some familiar Disney themes.

Beautiful lantern floats, innovative special effects, all manner of memorable new additions… it’s a nighttime celebration you just can’t miss! Watch for it at Disney’s Animal Kingdom beginning Memorial Day Weekend 2019.

Looking Forward to ARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration

Music’s biggest event for families is coming up quick—and this year, Radio Disney’s yearly celebration is more interactive than ever before. Read up on what to expect from ARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration (hosted by Descendants and Pretty Little Liars star Sofia Carson) by clicking here.

The Avengers: Endgame Cast Circles the Globe

April 25, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Disneyland Resort, California
What better way to kick off a super-powered world tour than at the Happiest Place on Earth? On April 5, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, and Brie Larson visited the Disneyland Resort to launch Avengers Universe Unites. You can read more about the epic charity event here.

Los Angeles, California
Next, the cast of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame assembled in Los Angeles for a press conference about the highly anticipated continuation to Avengers: Infinity War. D23 was there to document all the secrets and stories shared by the cast and crew, which you can read more about here.

London, England
Fans in London gave a super welcome to Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, and Paul Rudd, along with directors Anthony and Joe Russo and producer Trinh Tran on April 10. Fans came dressed in their super best to greet the team behind some of their favorite heroes.

Seoul, Korea
On April 15, Robert Downey Jr., Brie Larson, and Jeremy Renner joined producer Kevin Feige and directors Anthony and Joe Russo to greet fans in Korea as part of a special Avengers: Endgame fan event.

Shanghai, China
On April 18, fans were delighted to see Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, and Jeremy Renner, as well as producer Kevin Feige and directors Anthony and Joe Russo, at a special fan event celebrating Avengers: Endgame.

Los Angeles, California
The cast of Avengers: Endgame returns to where they started: Los Angeles! The entire cast, plus some special Marvel Cinematic Universe guests, all assembled at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the world premiere of the film!

Hollywood, California
Part of the journey is the end… And what an ending it is! Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, and producer Kevin Feige, all gathered at the TCL Chinese Theatre to place their handprints and signatures in cement in front of the legendary venue.

Every Magical Moment from American Idol’s Disney Night

April 22, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Last night marked the return of the most magical night on TV—American Idol’s Disney Night! The top 10 final competitors all received a sprinkling of pixie dust for last night’s performances of some of the most beloved Disney songs of all time.

Once again, the judges were joined by some special guests—Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy, who all wore their Hollywood best to cheer on the American Idol contestants. Topping last year’s Snow White-inspired outfit, judge Katy Perry once again dressed to impress in a full Ursula costume, complete with tentacles perfect for draping across the judges’ table (or across the shoulders of her fellow judges, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan).

American Idol’s in-house mentor (and reigning Dancing with the Stars champ) Bobby Bones sums up the magic of Disney night best, explaining that no matter which song is performed, the magic shines through: “For me, it’s all about the songs and what they make you feel,” and added that “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is his favorite Disney song ever.

Contestants prepared for the night’s performance in the most magical way possible—with a trip to Disneyland! Besides spending an unforgettable day at the Happiest Place on Earth with friends and family (for many of whom it was their first visit ever!), contestants met with Rebel Wilson in 21 Royal, where the comedienne and seasoned Disney musical performer provided advice, snacks, and the occasional bathtub performance.

Uché started off the night with a performance that Powerline would approve of, taking to the stage with a rocking rendition of “I2I” from A Goofy Movie. While this song is one of our Disney favorites, the judges shockingly were not familiar with this 90s classic (time for an American Idol judges movie night?). No worries, however, because Uché got a big hug from Goofy, dressed in his dapper best.

Following Uché’s performance, Laci Kaye Booth gave a heartfelt rendition of “I See the Light” from Tangled that she said was inspired by her personal connection to Rapunzel, who motivated her to follow her dreams to American Idol.

Giving a performance that Perry said she’d “always remember,” Alejandro Aranda sang along with his own guitar accompaniment, putting his own spin on the Academy Award®-winning “Remember Me” from Disney•Pixar’s Coco. While we wiped away our tears, Alyssa Raghu took to the stage looking like a Disney princess to belt out “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas.

Performing next with a heartwarming classic, Wade Cota sang “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” the main theme from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story series, and even showed off the “Andy” written on his boot! For Cota, this performance hit home for him as the Toy Story movies have been a source of comfort since childhood—and now he’s sharing that magic with the world.

Dimitrius Graham gave an impassioned performance of “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan, which he dedicated to his mother, who had been recovering from recent heart surgery. He was so caught up in the emotions of the moment that Perry had to use all eight of her tentacles to run over to Graham and give him a hug.

We hope you didn’t put your tissues away yet, because the songs kept on tugging at our heartstrings. Walker Burroughs performed next, turning Toy Story 2’s “When She Loved Me” into a charming piano ballad. If Burroughs seemed comfortable telling the story of this song, it’s because he’s had years to perfect it—he first performed the song in a 7th grade talent show! Richie declared that this performance was about as close to a perfect performance as it could be.

Performing a song she hoped would inspire “girl power” in those watching at home, Madison VanDenburg sang “How Far I’ll Go,” from Moana, hitting notes that Perry claimed she didn’t even know existed.

Bringing us a deep cut from a Disney classic, Laine Hardy gave a country spin to “Oo-De-Lally” from Robin Hood, citing the song as one of his father’s favorites. Bryan was so impressed that he warned Hardy, “Be careful, or you might win this!”

The final performer of the night was Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, singing the Pete’s Dragon classic, “Candle on the Water.” This song meant a lot to Harmon, who explained after the broadcast that to him, the song was about “looking to someone you can hope in and lean on.” His Disney Night experience was an emotional one, as he was surprised by his sister at Disneyland so they could enjoy an unforgettable day at the park.

Besides the top 10’s truly spellbinding musical numbers, we enjoyed two special guest performances: Lea Michele flipped her fins to the American Idol stage to give us a sneak peek at her upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experience at the Hollywood Bowl. Her performance of “Part of Your World” was so enchanting that Perry had her sea shell necklace ready to steal Michele’s voice—but Michele left the stage before any sea witch magic could happen.

Last season’s winner and runner-up, Maddie Poppe and Caleb Lee Hutchinson, respectively, performed a country-fied duet of “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, and we couldn’t help but “awwwww” at the sweethearts’ special Disney moment together.

We’re not sure who had the most fun tonight—the contestants, the judges, or us! Perry revealed to us after the broadcast that while Halloween is her favorite holiday, Disney Night is a close second.

Disney Night brought the return of live voting. Viewers cast their votes throughout the broadcast and the results were revealed at the end of the evening. American Idol said farewell to Uché and Dimitrius Graham. While we may be saying goodbye to these two artists now, we know they’ll take last night’s extra sprinkling of pixie dust with them into their next adventures.

American Idol 2019 Top 8 Contestants
Laine Hardy
Madison VanDenburg
Alejandro Aranda
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon
Walker Burroughs
Laci Kaye Booth
Wade Cota
Alyssa Raghu

A special episode of the series—“American Idol: Meet Your Finalists”—airs tonight at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT. Live performance shows resume next week in an all-new episode airing Sunday, April 28 (8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT). Tune in (and vote!) to see which of the Top 8 will make it to the next round!

Gold Member Exclusive: Download a Special Digital Disney twenty-three Article

April 22, 2019

By D23 Team

In honor of the 55th anniversary of Disney’s debut at the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, we shared an article about just where in present day you can find the landmark attractions that debuted there. As a special treat to our D23 Gold Members, we have an exclusive downloadable, longer version of the story we shared today. Designed as a digital Disney twenty-three layout, you can enjoy the gorgeous art and interesting facts about Disney and the 1964 New York’s World’s Fair, all from the comfort of your desktop or mobile device! So, what are you waiting for? Sit back, relax, hit download, and prepare to discover just where is the fair?

Click HERE to download the exclusive downloadable.

Where is the Fair? Where You Can Find Disney’s Landmark New York World’s Fair Attractions 55 Years Later

April 22, 2019

By Jeffrey Epstein

D23 Gold Members can download a full digital magazine spread for this article, with additional content and photos, here. Not a Gold Member but want to join? Click here for more information.

Fifty-five years ago, Disney opened four groundbreaking attractions at the New York World’s Fair. Where are they now?

The 1964–65 New York World’s Fair marked an awesome significant turning point for Walt Disney and the incredible company he had built. The 1960s were a time of great change and innovation in the world, and Disneyland was no exception. In an effort to ensure the park would, in Walt’s own words, “never be completed,” he and his team pitched themselves to a bevy of American institutions to create eye-catching World’s Fair pavilions that guests would never forget and would provide Walt with a major opportunity: Walt could create new attractions that would be financed by pavilion hosts. Following the Fair, those attractions could live on at Disneyland. It also enabled Disney to test out a primarily East Coast audience’s appetite for its revolutionary form of themed entertainment, as the Company was considering an expansive new, well, world on the Eastern seaboard.

Lucky for Disney fans around the world, guests can still experience many of the beloved attractions, which debuted at the Fair, at our parks today. And here is how…

“it’s a small world”

Created as a “salute to the children of the world” for UNICEF—and installed in the Pepsi-Cola pavilion, it’s a small world was a landmark for Disney attractions. By loading passengers onto continually circulating boats to sail them through the charming attraction, it increased the through-put of guests in a massive way. No more did visitors have to wait for the train to return to the station (quite literally at Disneyland), as a fleet was ready to ferry folks on a global tour. Crowds were dazzled by the extraordinary colors and designs of Mary Blair, the costuming couture of Alice Davis, and figure design and articulated animation by Marc Davis (who was married to Alice). The original attraction was transported to Anaheim following the Fair—including the water trough that sailed guests through the attraction!—and can be enjoyed to this day at Disneyland. The Sherman brothers penned the attraction’s titular song, which can now be heard around the world at five of Disney’s theme park resorts—Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland—where versions of the attraction (all inspired by the artwork of Mary Blair) are enjoyed by guests every day.

Carousel of Progress

If ever there was an attraction that embodied Walt Disney, the man, it was Carousel of Progress, which debuted as part of General Electric’s pavilion. Not only was Walt intimately involved in the design of the show, which follows an American family in the Midwest through years of technological innovation and progress, the attraction embodied many of Walt’s values—a fond nostalgia for the past and an optimism about tomorrow. After enjoying a long run at Disneyland, the Carousel was moved to Walt Disney World, where it opened at the Magic Kingdom in January 1975, including all the original GE appliances that washed and whirred. While the final scene of the show, now called Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, has been updated to include virtual reality and voice-controlled appliances, the original three scenes (set in the 1890s, 1920s, and 1940s) remain virtually the same as they were at the Fair. The Sherman brothers crafted the catchy tune “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” for the attraction at the Fair, and the melody is still sung by the show’s “cast”—and many Disney fans in the audience—to this day.

Ford’s Magic Skyway

Ford’s Magic Skyway was, in Walt’s own words, Disney’s “highway in the sky” (apologies to the Monorail). Inside Ford Motor’s Wonder Rotunda, guests boarded actual Ford vehicles as they “drove” into the past to experience the evolution of transportation. To move guests on this massive journey, the cars were set on a network of rollers to keep them in virtual perpetual motion—the birth of the Omnimover system. Guests were transported to “the dawn of time,” which included a pack of dinosaurs, some of whom can be seen today in the Primeval World Diorama on the Disneyland Railroad. There’s also a similar version of the Primeval World, inspired by Disneyland’s and the World’s Fair, which is part of the Western River Railroad at Tokyo Disneyland. Additionally, the Walt Disney Archives has a stegosaurus from the pavilion in its collection which measures 20’ long, 12’ high, and 12’ wide. He has not yet been publicly displayed by the Archives, but we hear he has a roaring good time with the team.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

Walt Disney was a great admirer of President Abraham Lincoln, and Disney’s Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction, created for the State of Illinois’ pavilion, remains an unrivaled tribute to the “Great Emancipator.” Walt eschewed having his state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics® figure give the well-known Gettysburg Address in favor of an artfully crafted combination of five of Lincoln’s speeches to better exemplify his “principles, ideals, and philosophies.” The show was such a hit at the Fair, Imagineers began creating a version for Disneyland that would open on July 18, 1965, several months before the Fair ended. While the original Audio-Animatronics® figure has been updated—and includes a greater range of facial movements—the original Lincoln recordings made for the Fair by actor Royal Dano (who had played the president before on film) can be heard in The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln today. And guests who visit One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can see one of the original Lincoln figures and its programming board up close and on display in the attraction.

What You Need to Know About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Reservations

April 22, 2019April 22, 2019

By Jeffrey Epstein

In anticipation of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on May 31 at Disneyland Resort, the Disney Parks Blog just announced that beginning May 2 at 10 a.m. PT, guests will be able to start making reservations to visit the new land. We wanted to take the opportunity to make sure you were armed (with information, not lightsabers) to help you embark on your journey to the Outer Rim. So here’s what you need to know.

Reservations Are Required from May 31–June 23, 2019: That pretty much says it all. For those 24 days, you need to have a reservation to get into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. There will not be stand-by lines. So please don’t lurk around the entrance like a Jawa trying to hawk a droid.

Did We Mention You Need a Reservation: Seriously!

Reservations Are Available at No Cost: Well, as long as you have entry to Disneyland Park, which isn’t included.

Guests Staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels Automatically Get a Reservation: Yep, you read that right. If you and your family/friends are staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, you are guaranteed to get into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during your stay (again, as long as you have entry to Disneyland Park). And yes, there are still some rooms available! Visit Disneyland.com or call (714) 520-5050. Guests with existing reservations will receive an email with a reservation time and guests who book starting today will receive a reservation time in their confirmation.

Make Sure You Have a Disney Account: You will need to have a Disney account in order to make a reservation. You can set it up at Disneyland.com. Even if you already have a Disney account, it can’t hurt to log in and make sure your details are up to date.

What Happens After June 23: Reservations will not be required to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Our friends at Disneyland Resort have decades of strategic operational planning experience and tools to ensure that all guests visiting the Resort have a fantastic time, regardless of whether or not they plan to visit Black Spire Outpost.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! And don’t forget the sunscreen. We hear they have some serious rays on Batuu!

Disney Channel’s Andi Mack to Air Final Episodes This Summer

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

Feel a Connection with Latest Aladdin Spot

Coming to Disney+: Natalie Portman Narrates Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef

D23’s Handy-Dandy Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Reservations

Disney’s Aladdin Tour Welcomes Two Millionth Guest

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Coming to Disney California Adventure Park

This Summer: Updated Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Looking Forward to ARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration

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