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!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Rolls into Disneyland in 2022

April 19, 2019July 17, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

All aboard! We first announced the Walt Disney World debut of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at D23 Expo 2017, during the always unforgettable Parks & Resorts panel. Now, we are excited to share that our friends at Disney Parks Blog have announced that this colorfully cartoonish attraction will be making its next stop at Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland!

It’s the perfect match for Mickey’s Toontown—this attraction allows guest to enter the world of Mickey Mouse cartoons and take on their own adventure. First, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2020, and then the zany attraction will entertain Mickey’s Toontown guests in 2022.

Join Mickey and his friends in the first major Mickey-themed ride-through attraction, where Mickey and Minnie are the stars and Goofy is the… train engineer?! You know with a cast like that, you’re guaranteed a silly and spectacular good time, in the spirit of classic and modern Mickey Mouse cartoons.

Besides marking Mickey’s big ride-through attraction debut, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway also features a brand-new theme song and dazzling visual effects—so you’ll be smiling big and tapping your feet from start to finish during this immersive multi-dimensional experience.

Stay tuned (or should we say… tooned?) to D23.com for more updates about this zany, new attraction.

The 7th Annual “ARDYs” Is Almost Here

April 19, 2019

By Karina Schink

It’s finally time for music’s biggest event for families. The ARDYs are back and bigger than ever! This Radio Disney music celebration is pulling out all the stops, and we’ve got the inside scoop on who will take the stage. Music’s biggest night for families gets better and better every year, so make sure you tune in on Sunday, June 16, to catch all of these incredible performers.

Sofia Carson (Descendants, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists) will take the stage to host this star-filled event, which will, for the first time ever, telecast live from Los Angeles on Sunday, June 16, at 8 p.m. PT on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW, with a simulcast on Radio Disney.

This year’s awards are also more interactive than ever before. If you’re a big fan of Radio Disney, make sure you head over to the DisneyNOW or Radio Disney app, where you can participate in online polls to help shape this event and add your own sprinkle of pixie dust.

Keep checking back here for updates on performances and special guests!

Find Out Which Disney Songs will Be Performed on American Idol

April 18, 2019April 27, 2019

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Is there any better night on TV than Disney night? Ok, we might be a little biased, but let’s be real: We love any excuse to listen to classic Disney songs, and American Idol’s Disney Night is the perfect chance to enjoy fresh renditions of some of our favorites. This Sunday, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, discover how the final 10 contestants will put their own unique spins on these 10 toe-tapping Disney tunes. Keep reading to find out which songs the final 10 will perform—plus, we’re excited to share an exclusive announcement about a special performance from some returning American Idol sweethearts.

American Idol Disney night 2019 — Alejandro Aranda will perform “Remember Me” from *Coco.*

Before performing these classics Disney tunes, contestants will head to Disneyland to prepare for their magical night ahead. Joining the contestants as their fairy god-mentor is Rebel Wilson, an expert at belting out Disney tunes, thanks to her performances as Ursula and LeFou at the Hollywood Bowl.

If you were wishing for even more Disney magic on Sunday night, then consider your wish granted: The all-star judges (Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie) will perform a Disney classic at Disneyland’s Fantasyland; singer and actress (and future mermaid at the Hollywood Bowl) Lea Michele will perform “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid; and we’re excited to be the first to tell you that ABC’s Season 1 American Idol winner, Maddie Poppe, and runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson will return to the stage to perform “A Whole New World” from Aladdin!

Big Hero 6 The Series Renewed for Season 3—Plus More in News Briefs

April 18, 2019

By Courtney Potter

Baymax will return for a third season on Disney Channel, and we take a spin through tons of Star Wars Celebration news … Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Get Ready for More Baymax: Big Hero 6 The Series Renewed for Season 3

On a scale of one to 10, how would we rate our excitement for the following news? A big fat 10, of course! Disney Channel has just ordered a third season of its fantastic, Emmy® Award-nominated animated series Big Hero 6 The Series, just a few weeks’ ahead of its Season 2 premiere on Monday, May 6, at 3:30 p.m. EDT/PDT. New episodes will continue to roll out weekdays through May 17. Episodes will also be available the same day on DisneyNOW.

But that’s not all… A trio of shorts, illustrated in a super-cool watercolor style and featuring Baymax and Mochi, will begin to roll out on Tuesday, May 7, across Disney Channel, DisneyNOW, and Disney Channel YouTube. So make sure to keep your eyes peeled!

Big Hero 6 The Series continues the adventures and friendship of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro (Ryan Potter); his compassionate, cutting-edge robot Baymax (Scott Adsit); and their friends Wasabi (Khary Payton), Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez), Go Go (Jamie Chung), and Fred (Brooks Wheelan) as they form the legendary superhero team Big Hero 6 and embark on high-tech adventures as they protect their city from an array of scientifically enhanced villains. Special guest voices for Season 2 include Jane Lynch (Glee), Timothy Simons (Veep), and Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live).

Unique Animation Styles Coming to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! on Disney XD

Fans of Star-Lord, Gamora, and all their friends—listen up: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! will feature several distinct animation styles in a multipart story arc kicking off on Sunday, May 5, at 9:30 p.m. EDT/PDT—with two back-to-back episodes on Disney XD and DisneyNOW.

In the new storyline, the Guardians—desperate to escape the Collector’s collapsing ship—jump into the Black Vortex Mirror and find themselves separated and trapped in strange new worlds. Crossing time and dimensions, each world was developed using different animation techniques to visually support the storytelling, including CG-stop motion; children’s book illustration; 8-bit; and motion comic—all firsts for a Marvel animated series—as well as Golden Age and traditional CG.

Produced by Marvel Animation, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! stars Will Friedle (Kim Possible) as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Trevor Devall (Johnny Test) as Rocket Raccoon, Vanessa Marshall (Star Wars Rebels) as Gamora, David Sobolov (Transformers: Prime) as Drax the Destroyer, and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show) as Groot.

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 1-April 23, 2019
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
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

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
April 21, 2019
American Idol‘s Disney Night ABC airs on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. EDT/5–7:01 p.m. PDT)
May 6, 2019
Big Hero 6 The Series kicks off season two on Disney Channel (3:30–4 p.m. EDT/PDT)
Summer 2019
Descendants 3 premieres on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW

Everything We Learned from Star Wars Celebration Chicago

You might’ve noticed that there were a ton of incredible announcements coming from the various worlds of Disney over the last week or so… case in point: this past weekend’s mega-huge Star Wars Celebration in Chicago. Luckily, D23 had a front-row seat to the entire Windy City shebang; read up on all the galactically amazing info we heard by clicking here. And then make sure to mark those calendars!

Force for Change to Inspire the Next Generation of Heroes and Innovators

Speaking of Star Wars Celebration Chicago, there was a big announcement made over the weekend related to the Star Wars: Force for Change philanthropic initiative: Disney and Lucasfilm are partnering to provide a $1.5 million donation, in-kind, and mentorship resources to help expand access to FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Check out the announcement video, above!

A global K-12 nonprofit organization, FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills—all while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering and become well-rounded, community-focused leaders of the future. Over the past 20 years, FIRST has inspired millions of students who have participated in team-based, mentor-guided programs in more than 100 countries around the world.

To get the FIRST word out, Star Wars: Force for Change has announced a Twitter sweepstakes that offers up the chance to win a trip to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort. Visit the official Star Wars Twitter account at twitter.com/starwars and retweet the announcement video with #StarWarsFFCSweepstakes—now through April 22 at 11:59 p.m. PDT—to enter!

Your Definitive Guide to Disney+

As if last weekend wasn’t crazy-big enough, Disney also spent last Friday, April 12, telling the entire globe about its upcoming Disney+ streaming service! Read all about what you can expect (movies straight outta the Disney vault! Original Marvel and Star Wars series! And some great Fox content too!) by clicking here… and then get ready to binge-watch when Disney+ debuts on November 12.

Shanghai Disney Resort Kicks Off First International Food & Drink Fest

Each year, culinary aficionados from across the country (and around the world) descend on both Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort and Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort for the opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry at the various resorts’ food festivals… so it’s no wonder that Shanghai Disney Resort would wanna get in on the foodie fun! The first-ever International Food & Drink Fest has now taken over the resort’s Disneytown area—and it’ll be delighting taste buds now through May 4.

Guests can feast on fantastic flavors from around the world; learn from local Disney chefs and culinary experts; and enjoy some tuneful entertainment during this limited-time event, all surrounded by an abundance of colorful blooms at the height of Shanghai’s spring season. Thirteen international food market booths feature regional cuisine from around the world, including Latin Cantina, Italian Terrace, Seoul Snack, Tex-Mex, Hawaii Sweet, and more; each menu boasts unique dishes—created using fresh, healthy ingredients—as well as a range of tasty beverages.

Visiting Shanghai in the next few weeks? First off, you lucky duck! Secondly, tickets for the International Food & Drink Fest are on sale now via the official Shanghai Disney Resort WeChat account, and through the resort’s travel trade partner Meituan Dianping. Happy feasting!

Beauty and the Beast-Inspired Lounge Coming to Disney’s Grand Floridian

Experience a “tale as old as time” in a brand-new way… This fall, a Beauty and the Beast-inspired bar and lounge will—as certain as the sun—delight guests when it debuts inside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort.

Formerly Mizner’s Lounge and Commander Porter’s, this re-imagined lounge will feature four unique spaces inspired by Belle and the Beast. Look for a magnificent gold chandelier above the signature bar (inspired by Belle’s iconic ball gown, with nods to the Beast’s magical rose); additionally, a “formal library” will showcase classical baroque designs and French furnishings inspired by Belle, with hints of all the Beast’s memorable friends, and the whimsical garden room and outdoor patio will draw inspiration from the Beast’s terrace and the enchanted forest outside the castle gates.

So be our guest and stay tuned for more info as this new lounge’s opening date draws near…

From Earth to Penguins We’ve Got Your Disneynature Movie Marathon All Mapped Out

April 17, 2019April 16, 2019

By Karina Schink

For 10 years, Disneynature films have given us an incredible look at some of the wonderful and wondrous things that call Earth home, right from the comfort of a theater or even our own living rooms. To celebrate, we’re taking a look back at these unforgettable films, all leading up to today’s release: Penguins.

Earth
What better way to start a Disneynature marathon than with Earth? It is, where it all began, after all. Earth follows the story of three animal families—polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales—as we watch their remarkable stories unfold. And, for what it’s earth, this Disneynature feature was narrated by James Earl Jones, who also lent his iconic voice to Mufasa and Darth Vader.

The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos
Narrated by Mariella Frostrup, The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos is a story of love, courage, and survival, starring our favorite flock of festively flushed fowl. With all of that in one movie, how can you resist watching it? And we highly recommend that you do. Don’t make us put our foot down.

Oceans
Since we’ve already learned about the Earth as a whole, it’s time to dive a little bit deeper and get pacific—uh specific. Oceans lets you venture into the depths of, well, the ocean, getting an up-close-and-personal look at the creatures that call the saltwater home (no scuba training required). Narrated by Pierce Brosnan, Oceans features state-of-the-art underwater filmmaking that we guarantee will take your breath away.

Wings of Life
Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep narrates this stunning look at amazing winged creatures. From butterflies and hummingbirds, to bees and bats, Wings of Life celebrates these fascinating species that you can find in the sky. And we have to say, we think this Disneynature film is pretty fly.

African Cats
Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, African Cats follows Mara, a lion cub; Sita, a cheetah who is a single mother of five newborns; and Fang, a leader of the pride. Now this isn’t a joke, and we’re certainly not lion, this Disneynature film holds a tremendous supply of heart, humor, and love.

Chimpanzee
Buzz Lightyear himself took a break from battling the evil Emperor Zurg to narrate the Disneynature film Chimpanzee.Tim Allen narrates the story of Oscar, a young chimp who has a rather entertaining approach to life. With the world as his playground, there’s no telling how far he’ll go as he navigates the terrain of the forest in this 2012 film.

Bears
John C. Reilly lends his voice to Bears, the 2014 Disneynature film that introduces us to a particularly adorable family (seriously they’re so cute, it’s unbearable). We join mother Sky and cubs Amber and Scout (who don’t eat as many Scottish pastries as we’d imagined) in their Alaskan home as the trio faces everything from bitter cold to hibernation as they learn to live life to the absolute fullest.

Monkey Kingdom
In Monkey Kingdom—narrated by Tina Fey—we travel all the way to the jungles of South Asia to meet Maya and her son Kip. These two clever macaque monkeys know a thing or two about swinging through life, but it isn’t always easy. In this Disneynature film, we get to take a step inside their magical world of ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia to witness all the love between this mother and her son.

Born in China
Now, we don’t want to start any pandamonium or anything, but Born in China explores three animal families—panda, golden monkey, and snow leopard—in their natural habitats in China. From the frigid mountains to the bamboo forests, this film brings an incredible unseen world to the big screen in a way you never imagined.

Penguins
Now that we’ve broken the ice for you, and you’ve become acquainted with some of Disneynature’s earlier animal adventures, you’re ready for the latest chapter. Steve is the star of the latest film from Disneynature, Penguins, which debuts in theaters today. In this coming-of-age film, the Adélie penguin joins millions of fellow males in the frozen Antarctic spring on a quest to build a nest and raise a family. Narrated by Ed Helms, Penguins is the eighth theatrical release from Disneynature, and we’re sure you won’t want to miss it.

Plus, we’re all invited to join Disneynature to make a difference and help protect the planet. For every ticket sold during opening week of Penguins (April 17–23), Disneynature will make a donation to the Wildlife Conservation Network to protect penguins around the globe. You can get your tickets here.

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

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