By Jocelyn Buhlman
In 1959, we fell under the spell of Sleeping Beauty, the gorgeously animated Disney film known for its unique style inspired by illuminated manuscripts. From the lush backgrounds to the enchanting character designs, the art from this Disney animated classic is unforgettable. To celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s milestone anniversary, check out some of the stunning concept art from the film, courtesy of our friends at the Disney Animation Research Library.
By Courtney Potter
See what Disney films delighted Academy voters, and find out how you can celebrate International Women’s Day with Disney on Broadway… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
Earlier this week, the nominations for the 91st Oscars® were announced, and we were joyfully agog over Disney’s amazing 17 noms—including Marvel Studios’ Black Panther for Best Picture! Check out all the nominations right here at D23.com… and make sure to mark your calendar for the Oscars, airing live on Sunday, February 24, only on ABC.
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives January 25, 2018 Lunch with a Disney Legend: Dave Smith January 26, 2018 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—D23 Gold Member Exclusive February 16, 2018 D23’s Happily Ever After Brunch February 16, 2018 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty on the Lot February 16, 2018 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Sleeping Beauty at Walt Disney World March 7, 2018 Don’t Miss a Complimentary Advance Screening of Captain Marvel April 5, 2018 Lunch with a Disney Legend–Linda Larkin April 6, 2018 D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: The Lion King on Broadway August 23-25, 2019 D23 Expo 2019 Parks January 18-February 25, 2019 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts January 25-February 17, 2019 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure March 1-April 23, 2019 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival March 6-June 3, 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Summer 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort Fall 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort |
Studios March 8, 2019 Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel opens in U.S. theaters March 29, 2019 Dumbo opens in U.S. theaters April 19, 2019 Penguins 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 Television February 15, 2019 Kim Possible premieres on Disney Channel (8–9:32 p.m. EST/PST) February 24, 2019 The Oscars® airs on ABC (8–11 p.m. EST) March 3, 2019 American Idol kicks off second season on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. EST) |
In honor of International Women’s Day, our pals over at Disney on Broadway have announced their 2nd annual “Women’s Day on Broadway: Inspiring Changemakers.” Following its launch in 2018, “Women’s Day on Broadway” aims to engage attendees—of all genders and backgrounds, of course!—in a day of open, honest, and memorable dialogue about gender equality in the theatre industry and beyond.
This year’s event will focus on changemakers driving progress within the theatre and entertainment industry, highlighting ways each and every person can become an agent of change. Panel conversations—as well as a variety of speakers and presentations—will be announced as the day approaches.
“Women’s Day on Broadway” will be held on Tuesday, March 12, at the St. James Theatre—home of Disney on Broadway’s hit musical Frozen. For more info, or to reserve your free general admission seat, visit the brand-new home for “Women’s Day on Broadway”: womenofbroadway.com.
Zootopia favorites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (and all their pals) will soon have a new place to call “home”—an incredible Shanghai Disneyland expansion based on the film! Read up on what guests can expect from the eighth themed land at the world’s newest Disney park here at D23.com.
Imagine: Your name is Andy (or some variant thereof)—and one day, you get a call from Disney asking if you’d like to take part in a very cool after-hours event inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. You’d say yes in a heartbeat, right? (We absolutely would! Sadly, our name isn’t Andy.) So it’s no surprise that 50 different people with variations on the name Andy recently celebrated all the imagination and creativity found at Toy Story Land during a very special “Andy Night”!
The group of guests—all of whom have a flair for being imaginative themselves—included a student named Andi; a concept designer named Andrew; Internet personality Andre Meadows; and even popular actress Andrea Barber (Fuller House). Catch a glimpse of all the fun they had via the video—directed by Grammy® nominee Andy Hines—above.
D23 recently had the good fortune to chat with performers Josh Strickland and Kevin Massey, both of whom have swung and sung on Broadway and on international tours in Disney’s Tarzan as the title role… and both of whom are taking part in the Broadway Concert Series during the Epcot International Festival of the Arts—currently delighting guests at Walt Disney World Resort. See what they had to say right here.
It’s slated to be the 15th property in Disney Vacation Club’s assemblage of captivating holdings, and you can now reserve yourself a room! Yes, Disney’s all-new Riviera Resort is now accepting guest reservations for stays beginning in December 2019. (That’s only 11 months from now!)
This all-new resort will immerse guests in the grandeur and enchantment of the European Riviera, bringing the elegance of a modern European retreat and blending it with a touch of old-world glamour—plus lots of Disney charm. It’s slated to offer approximately 300 family-friendly vacation homes, including deluxe studios; one- and two-bedroom villas; and grand villas that sleep up to 12 guests each. Guests will be able to dine at the resort’s rooftop restaurant, Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera (fun fact: Topolino is the Italian name for Mickey Mouse), or at the Le Petit Café with its freshly brewed coffees and other treats. Plus, guests will be able to access the brand-new Disney Skyliner gondola system to travel from the resort to both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
To learn more (or to make your own reservation), visit DisneysRivieraResort.com—and keep your eyes peeled for more info as it becomes available… Ciao!
By Courtney Potter
She’s baaaack! Our friends at Disney Parks Blog just announced a Walt Disney World Resort return we’ve all been waiting for—Maleficent is appearing once again in Magic Kingdom park’s Disney’s Festival of Fantasy parade! Take a peek via the brand-new teaser video, below.
While the float still has her signature “Steampunk” style and her dragon-tastic toothy grin, this Maleficent will have a refreshed look and enhanced features to keep her “in check.” Also making their return to the parade are Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Phillip; the Fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather; and the mischievous “Ravens” who fly around Maleficent just waiting to do her bidding.
Disney’s Festival of Fantasy parade is part of a new generation of parades for Disney Parks featuring truly unique, never-before-used technology on eye-popping floats—all adorned with Disney characters from more than a dozen fairy tales. Set to an all-new musical score, the dazzling parade floats soar up to three stories tall with spirited performers in colorful costumes crafted at an incredible 10 different design houses across the country.
So if you’re visiting Walt Disney World Resort soon, do be sure to make your re-acquaintance with Maleficent as she dazzles her way down that legendary Main Street, U.S.A., thoroughfare…
By Beth Deitchman
“When I was your age…” What kid hasn’t heard those words come out of a parent’s mouth? And what mother or father hasn’t uttered them? Disney Channel’s brand-new comedy Sydney to the Max follows middle schooler Sydney Reynolds as she faces the challenges of life as a modern tween, growing up in the house that her dad, Max, was raised in—with hip grandma Judy along to offer support, as well. Through flashback sequences that take us back to the 1990s—and a very different stage in Judy and Max’s lives—the series reminds viewers that the times and trends may change, but the basic struggles tweens face are eternal.
We recently went back to the ’90s—and just across town to the Hollywood set of Sydney to the Max—to speak with the cast of the heartwarming new series premiering Friday, January 25 (8:30 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel, in the Disney NOW app and Disney Channel VOD. They gave us some inside scoop that will maximize your enjoyment when you tune in tomorrow night.
Santa Cruz native Ruth Righi stars as Sydney, and her on-screen best friend, Olive, is played by Ava Kolker, who Disney Channel fans will remember from Girl Meets World. It’s no stretch for the two to play BFFs; the young actors met early in the Sydney to the Max audition process and have become the closest of friends. Righi says of their on-screen alter egos, “Olive and Sydney go through so much together—whatever experiences or issues that one of the characters is facing, the other will be right there with them.”
Actors Jackson Dollinger (Young Max) and Christian J. Simon (who plays, Leo, Max’s best friend) spend their on-set time in the 1990s—and they’re having a blast diving into the recent past. “The clothes are a little different,” Simon says diplomatically, likely in reference to the “Hammer pants” he wears in an early episode. While Sydney and Olive have the modern convenience of cellphones and devices, young Max and Leo venture out to an arcade to experience the latest technology of their era, and the difference is not lost on the young actors. “The arcade games are really pixelated compared to now,” Dollinger observes.
Jackson’s modern-day counterpart, actor Ian Reed Kesler (Suits), appears only in the present-day sequences, as Sydney’s single dad. “We tag team,” he says of Dollinger and the character they each play in parallel eras. For Kesler, who did, indeed, grow up in the ’90s, the nostalgia-filled episodes are truly special. “Every time we get a script there’s something that jumps out that I think, oh my gosh, I remember that.” Dollinger may not share Kesler’s frames of reference but he and Kesler laugh at the memory of the young actor figuring out on-set how to use a now-antiquated pay phone.
Judy—single mom in the ’90s, fun-loving grandma in 2019—is played by actress and comedienne Caroline Rhea, the only member of the cast who moves from era to era. A strict mom to young Max, Judy is both sidekick and maternal figure to her granddaughter. “She’s already done all of the heavy lifting and she knows that Sydney is in really good hands with her dad,” Rhea says of Judy.
The series films on two structurally identical sets, each dressed to reflect the appropriate era. The appliances and furnishings are unique to each, and Rhea theorizes, “[Judy’s house] had a good renovation. Probably Judy watched a lot of HGTV, then she probably did it all herself, too.”
The series’ multigenerational cast believes that Sydney to the Max will be enjoyed by entire families, and might just create the opportunity for kids to see their parents in a whole new light. “Hopefully kids, when they see it, will every once in a while, go, Wow, I didn’t even think about the fact that my parents probably went through the same thing that I’m going through now,” Kesler shares. “It might have been a different time period, might have been a little different circumstance. But, in reality, they were all kids, too, and I think that’s something that this show says and that’s a huge benefit.”
By Jim Fanning
Released on January 29, 1959, Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is celebrating 60 years of timeless characters, magnificent music of the classical kind, and dazzling animated artistry. One of the most elaborate animated features ever produced, this enchanting epic tells the spellbinding tale of a lovely princess cursed by an evil fairy to fall into a sleep that can only be broken by love’s first kiss from a handsome prince. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of this treasured classic, awaken to these 11 entrancing facts about this treasured Disney classic.
1. Once Upon a Fairy Tale
“From the time I started making motion pictures,” Walt Disney once said, “I dreamed of bringing Sleeping Beauty to life through the medium of animation.” Disney registered Sleeping Beauty as a planned production title on January 19, 1950, perhaps in anticipation of the success of Cinderella, which was to be released that February. Walt envisioned Sleeping Beauty, based on the 17th century version of the famous tale by Charles Perrault, as the ultimate in the art of Disney animation.
2. Wondrous to See: The Art of Eyvind Earle
Determined to make this new film a Disney animated feature like no other, Walt assigned stylist Eyvind Earle as production designer. Creating a stylized approach that was a radical departure from previous Disney animated features, Earle combined Gothic French, Italian, and pre-Renaissance influences with his own abstract style of realism to create the formalized elegance and stylish design seen in Sleeping Beauty. To create the sumptuously stylized panoramas for this widescreen spectacle, Earle painted dozens of backgrounds in his distinctive style, some of them 15 feet long. Animation artist Tom Oreb skillfully incorporated the strong horizontal and vertical planes of the backgrounds into the character design, so that they had the Earle flair.
3. Hail to the Princess Aurora
With the gift of beauty bestowed on her by the Good Fairies, it was essential that Princess Aurora be a truly lovely sleeping beauty. Animator and designer Marc Davis explained, “We had decided to do Sleeping Beauty as what Walt called a ‘moving illustration’ so … we stylized the drawing of Briar Rose.” The willowy delicacy of newly minted movie star Audrey Hepburn influenced the early Oreb designs of Briar Rose, Aurora’s peasant persona during her stay in the woods. To further marry Briar Rose to her stylized settings, Oreb drew vertical lines into the folds of her peasant garb and graphically integrated two-dimensional swirls into Briar Rose’s long golden hair.
4. An Animator Fit for a Princess: Marc Davis
The perfect choice to oversee Briar Rose, Marc Davis was the final word on animated princesses at Disney. “I didn’t come to the Studio to do female characters,” Davis recalled, “but because of my early work with Grim Natwick on [the character of] Snow White, I ended up doing several of them.” Marc had been a directing animator for the character of Cinderella, so his was to be the guiding hand in infusing this new Disney with graciousness life. Walt explained that the animators “used living models more carefully than ever before, in order to give the artists inspiration, to help them shape the anatomy of movement and expression of the cartoon figures,” but Davis was careful to point out that the live-action footage of Briar Rose was only for reference and was never traced.
5. Every Frame a Work of Art
Sequence director Eric Larson recalled the conscious effort to strive for Sleeping Beauty perfection. “Walt told me after one story meeting that he didn’t care how long it took, but to do it right,” he said. Walt challenged the more than 300 Sleeping Beauty artists and technicians to make each frame an independent work of art. Because of the intricate stylization of the characters, the assistant animators had to work carefully with exacting specifications, even down to the exact thickness of the pencil lines. In the case of the carefully designed Briar Rose, it took one full day to create one cleaned-up animation drawing. For the jewel-like colors selected by Eyvind Earle, the Disney Paint Lab developed new hues using additives that gave the pigments a glow on the screen unseen in any animated film that had come before.
6. Is She Not Most Wondrous Fair? Mary Costa
Although Briar Rose/Princess Aurora appears for fewer than 18 minutes in the film, her scenes are unforgettable, due in no small part to voice artist Mary Costa. Walt had been seeking the ideal ethereal voice for his newest princess for three years when Costa sang at a party in an impromptu performance. As a result, the young singer found herself auditioning for the part of Princess Aurora. Walt personally cast Costa, although she didn’t actually meet the famed producer in person for two years. “He didn’t want to be influenced by my facial expressions and movements, he only wanted to hear my voice,” she explained. After voicing Aurora, Mary became an acclaimed opera singer, performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and at opera houses around the world. “But Sleeping Beauty is the thing I’m most proud of in my entire career,” she has said. “It’s a beautiful film to be associated with, and I was thrilled to be able to do it.”
7. The Mistress of All Evil: Maleficent
In an unusual design role, Davis not only was the directing animator of the royally beautiful Briar Rose, he was also the artistic force behind the epitome of evil, Maleficent. Inspired by a religious painting from a Czechoslovakian art book, Davis artistically experimented with flamelike shapes and patterns of triangular color (as seen here in Davis’s concept art). Basing Maleficent’s headdress on goat horns and the material framing her face on bat wings, the artist gave her flowing garment a reptilian quality, foreshadowing the dragon into which the Evil Fairy will later transform herself.
8. Dream Prince: Prince Phillip
“If there’s anything that’s really tough to animate, it’s the male hero,” admitted Walt. “It’s hard to make him interesting and not have him come out looking like Dick Tracy and Buck Rogers.” He instructed his artists to “make the characters as real as possible, near flesh-and-blood,” and this was especially important for Prince Phillip, as he had such a large role to play. The masterful animation of Phillip resulted in a prince who is not only valiant but also likable with good-hearted humor. “That was done by Milt Kahl,” noted Marc Davis of his fellow animator, acclaimed for expertly bringing to life difficult-to-animate human figures. “The expressions and things that work there—I’ve always been very pleased with that.”
9. Their Magic Can Only Be Used to Bring Happiness: The Three Good Fairies
Knowing that the success of the story depended on Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather and their efforts to shield Aurora from Maleficent’s curse, Walt appointed two “fairy godfathers” to the characters—Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston—to bring the trio of good-hearted do-gooders to life. Thomas and Johnston studied old ladies at wedding receptions and shopping at grocery stores, while stylist Don DaGradi found the key to the characters’ movements by observing that many older ladies wore their hats flat on top of their heads and toddled along briskly wherever they went. The result: three sparkling personalities who have been endearing themselves to audiences for six decades.
10. The Gift of Song: The Music
According to sequence director Woolie Reitherman, “Walt wanted to match the eloquence of the music with the same visual perfection”—and he found the ideal musical score in the Sleeping Beauty Ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1890. In order to adapt the exquisite Tchaikovsky melodies for use in the animated story, composer George Bruns searched through the ballet’s score note by note for just the right themes for each scene in the film and for each of the songs. “It would have been much easier to write an original score,” stated Bruns. “But it is rich in melody, as much of Tchaikovsky is, and it was a matter of choosing which melodies to use.” Conducting the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, George Bruns recorded the enchanting music from September 8 through November 25, 1958, in Germany, where the best state-of-the-art six channel stereo equipment was available. The exquisite score was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Music (Scoring Musical Picture).
11. I Just Love Happy Endings: Release
Sleeping Beauty played only in carefully selected movie theatres specially equipped to project the film in widescreen Technirama 70 and six-track-stereo sound. It has since become one of the most artistically acclaimed features ever produced. “Sleeping Beauty is the most beautiful film we have ever made,“ said Walt in 1959. “It has been a definite challenge but thanks to our talented staff of artists and technicians, it has been met. They have now developed the process of animation to the point where it can truly be called ‘the art of enlivened, moving painting.’”
By Charles Solomon
The amazing artwork of Sleeping Beauty has now become iconic for its unique detail and shape, but how did the stunning designs of this animated classic come to be?
The day Walt Disney put the first scenes from Sleeping Beauty into production, he told sequence director Eric Larson, “What we want out of this is a moving illustration. I don’t care how long it takes.” He actually meant something more specific: A moving illustration designed by painter Eyvind Earle. In one meeting, he said, “For years and years I have been hiring artists like Mary Blair to design the styling of a feature, and by the time the picture is finished, there is hardly a trace of the original styling left. This time Eyvind Earle is styling Sleeping Beauty, and that’s the way it’s going to be!”
Once Upon A Dream Come True
For Earle, receiving such an important assignment from Walt fulfilled a lifelong dream. In 1934, when he was 18, he applied for a job at the old Disney Studio on Hyperion Avenue and was rejected. He applied again the next week and was rejected again—a process that continued nonstop for three years. After serving in the military, attending classes, painting portraits, and designing Christmas cards, he applied yet again in 1951—and was hired as a background painter.
Visits to Continental museums exposed Earle to pre-Renaissance Northern European art that would influence his personal style: the artists Dürer, Van Eyck, Breughel, as well as Gothic art, medieval tapestries, and illuminated manuscripts. These artists didn’t follow the rules of perspective developed by the Italian Renaissance painters: They saw the world differently and depicted it differently.
An Illuminated Inspiration
A key influence on Earle and Sleeping Beauty was the illuminated manuscript the Très Riches Heures de Jean, Duc de Berri, an opulent Book of Hours (a devotional volume that included Psalms, prayers, and a calendar of Church feasts) begun by Herman and Jean Limbourg around 1413. From it, Earle took the key colors for the film: The lapis lazuli blue of the knight’s banners, the yellow-green of Maleficent’s flames, the shell pink and paler blue of Aurora’s gown.
Earle paired these historic influences with a second artistic vision: The modern painting of the early 20th century as interpreted by the artists of the innovative UPA animation studio. The UPA designers and animators looked to Matisse, Cezanne, Klee, Modigliani, and Picasso. The characters and backgrounds in their films were flat, boldly colored and stylized. The innovative look of their cartoons won praise from highbrow art critics who had rarely acknowledged the existence of animation—and pleased audiences around the world.
The Struggle of Stylization
Earle’s fusion of medieval and modern bore little resemblance to the European storybook look of Snow White and Pinocchio—and not everyone at the Studio embraced Earle’s vision. Some of the artists complained the designs were too busy.
The Studio’s top draftsmen, Marc Davis (who animated Princess Aurora and Maleficent) and Milt Kahl (who drew Prince Philip), seem to have enjoyed the challenge. Decades later, animators regard their work with awe: Glen Keane studied how Davis handled the art nouveau curls of Aurora’s hair when he began work on the title character in Pocahontas.
Ron Dias, who worked as a clean-up artist on Aurora and Maleficent, felt Earle was misunderstood by his co-workers. “I got to know and love Eyvind Earle because he spent so much time with me, he was wonderful to me. He was a mentor,” Dias says. “I used to go up to his office and look at what he was doing. He used to let me stand next to him and watch him paint. We would chat and became close friends.”
Hail to the Princess Aurora
60 years after its premiere, Sleeping Beauty stands as a landmark in animation history for its singular designs and animation. The new generation of artists working at Disney, Pixar, and other studios cite Sleeping Beauty as an influence and an inspiration. Oscar®-winning Pixar director Pete Docter says, “Eyvind Earle made great choices in the backgrounds. Most of the photos I took of the South American jungle for Up are just a mess. You can’t really tell what’s foreground and what’s background. Something we referenced from Earle’s work is how light defines where detail is. Where a streak of light crosses a tree, you’ll suddenly see this ornate bark; further up, where the trunk is in shadow, there’s less detail.”
Mike Giaimo, the art director of Disney’s Frozen, explains, “I cut my artistic teeth on Eyvind Earle, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, Walt Peregoy, and Mary Blair, and the kind of color relationships they used. I call the palette in Frozen ‘jewel-like,’ and there is certainly an Earle connection: The colors are deep, rich, analogous. They don’t stray far away from each other; it’s their relationship and how they vibrate. I like hints of vibration that titillate the eye.”
Disney’s retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy tale is now beloved by fans around the world. Chicago Reader critic Dave Kehr praised it as “the masterpiece of the Disney Studios’ postwar style.”
This article originally appeared in a slightly different form in the Summer 2014 edition of Disney twenty-three and was modified for D23.com.
By Karina Schink
The festivities honoring the iconic duo are just getting started, and we plan on celebrating their 90th year in the yummiest of ways. The celebration stretches from Disneyland Resort to Walt Disney World Resort, and it’s already begun!
Get Your Ears On over at the Disneyland Resort where we’re celebrating everything Mickey and Minnie all the way until May! And, over at Walt Disney World Resort, Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration is also already underway, honoring the true originals with entertainment, merchandise, and, of course, what we’re all here for: food!
Make your way to a Park to try each and every one of these incredible treats.
Churros
small world Promenade
Mickey Mouse Celebration Churro—warm chocolate churro drizzled with cookie butter, topped with Mickey confetti and served with a side of red marshmallow crème and classic Mickey buttons
Near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Fantasia Mickey Churro—warm chocolate churro dusted with red and blue sugar served with a side of red marshmallow crème and Sorcerer Mickey hat
Near Haunted Mansion
Banana Pudding Churro—classic churro rolled in vanilla cookie crumbles with banana pudding dipping sauce
Carnation Café
“Celebrate Mickey” Chicken and Waffles (breakfast only)—mini Mickey waffles with icing, sprinkles, and frosted cereal-crusted chicken
Hot Chicken and Waffles—spicy hot chicken and a large Mickey waffle with blistered tomato and balsamic glaze
TV Dinner Pot Roast—Wagyu pot roast, blue cheese and bacon mac and cheese, sautéed green beans and carrots, and braised red cabbage served with a pineapple upside-down cake
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
Birthday Sundae—two large scoops of birthday cake ice cream with a Mickey Mouse-shaped brownie, hot fudge, whipped cream, a cherry, and Mickey Mouse-shaped sprinkles served in a Mickey or Minnie Mouse Kitchen Sink
Jolly Holiday Bakery Café
Mickey Mouse Club Hat Dessert—chocolate truffle mousse dome with vanilla bean crème brûlée center, Mickey ears, and Mickey Mouse Club logo
Specialty Toasted Cheese Sandwich—Swiss, Jack, and Fiscalini cheddar cheese with crispy pancetta and blackberry jam
Plaza Inn
Celebration Cake (available starting February 19)—red and yellow cake with raspberry and lemon filling
Red Rose Taverne
Mickey-inspired Cheeseburger–1/3-lb. Angus patty with burger sauce and lettuce on a red potato bun with black sesame seeds
Mickey’s Toon Town
Mickey’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcake—topped with buttercream frosting, birthday sprinkles, red glitter macaron, sugar candle, chocolate ears, and a blue sprinkle cone “party hat”
Minnie Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcake—topped with buttercream frosting, birthday sprinkles, chocolate ears, and a red bow
Pluto’s Dog House
Bacon Mac & Cheese Footlong Hotdog—topped with creamy bacon mac and cheese, served on an Italian roll
Daisy’s Diner
Mickey Mouse Pepperoni Pizza
Clarabelle’s
Mickey’s Birthday Sundae—frozen yogurt with fruit popcorn, birthday cake cotton candy, candied chocolates, and colorful celebration cake
Troubadour Tavern
Jumbo Hand-Crafted Bavarian Pretzel—topped with nacho cheese, crushed spicy onion chips, and smoked black salt
Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
Mickey Hat Dessert—vanilla mousse dome with churro crunch filling, mango glaze, and striped Mickey ears
Frozen Strawberry Horchata—flavored with strawberry and topped with whipped cream, a dehydrated strawberry, and a sprinkle of cinnamon
Sopes Trio—chicken, beef, and pork served on fried corn dough with refried beans, shredded lettuce, spicy lime aioli, and salsa roja
Café Orléans
Charcuterie Board—artisanal French goat, sheep, and cow milk cheese, sliced meats, honeycomb, dried fruit, nuts, cornichons, creole mustard, and toast
Fried Chicken and Beignets—Buffalo-tossed chicken served with sugar-dusted beignets, herb bacon coleslaw, and waffle fries
Birthday Cake Mickey Beignets—chocolate-coffee cake and white cake beignets
Harbour Galley
Lobster Pot Pie Soup — Lobster, red potatoes, carrots, celery, and herbs in a rich seafood cream sauce, served in a bread bowl
Vegan Hot Diggity Dog — Vegan hot dog topped with spicy lentil chili, onions, and mustard served with seasonal fruit
River Belle Terrace
Cookie Butter Monkey Bread — covered in cookie butter and vanilla ice cream and garnished with two cookie butter cookies
Mickey Jumbo Pretzel — Hand-crafted Bavarian pretzel
Bengal Barbecue
Pad Thai Spring Roll (available starting February 19) — with shrimp, bean sprouts, sweet and sour-flavored rice noodles, garlic chives, scrambled eggs, cashews, julienne carrots, pickled radishes, and butter lettuce with a cashew-hoisin dipping sauce
Galactic Grill
S’mores Parfait
Alient Pizza Planet
S’mores Parfait
Bowtie Pasta — with tomato cream sauce, sausage, and diced red bell pepper
Buffalo Chicken Pizza — Fried chicken breast pieces, buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing topping with fresh carrots and creamy buffalo sauce
Willie’s Churros
Caramel Corn Churro—classic churro dusted with corn cereal sugar and topped with salted caramel and caramel corn
Near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Maple-Bacon Churro—classic churro dusted with cinnamon sugar and topped with maple icing and crumbled bacon
Near Goofy’s Sky School
Celebration Mickey Chocolate Churro—chocolate cookie-dusted churro with chocolate icing and sprinkles
Trolley Treats
Steamboat Willie Black and White Cookie — Butter shortbread cookie dipped in white and dark chocolate with silver crunch pearls
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café
Mickey’s Chocolate Cup and Brownie ‚ Chocolate brownie with cookies and cream mousse-filled chocolate cup
Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
Hand-dipped Mickey or Minnie Ice Cream Bar — Choice of ice cream bar dipped in chocolate with sprinkles
Smokejumpers Grill
Confetti Cake Shake — Vanilla shake with crumbled confetti cake, icing, whipped cream, and Mickey sprinkles
“Share Your Ears” Cheeseburger — Angus 1/3 burger with American cheese and cheeseburger slider “ears”
Pacific Wharf Café
Cookies ‘n Cream Bread Pudding — with condense milk, whipped cream, and crushed chocolate cream-filled cookies
Gourmet Coffee Cart
Mickey Fun Wheel Cookie — Sugar cookie filled with raspberry jelly topped with colored chocolate drizzle and Mickey Fun Wheel chocolate décor
Celebration Cookies — One sugar shortbread cookie filled with raspberry jam and two sugar shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche and topped with a chocolate Mickey celebration logo
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
Spectacular Mickey Pizza — Mickey pepperoni pizza with confetti of peppers and onions
Award Wieners
A Cheesy Celebration — Cheddar sausage link with creamy mac and cheese, salsa verde, crumbled spicy cheese puffs, and cheese curds on a toasted bun
More Cheese Please — Filmstrip fries with creamy mac and cheese, salsa verde, crumbled spicy cheese puffs, and cheese curds
“Get Your Ears On” Funnel Cake Fries — Chocolate cookie-dusted funnel cake fries with cookies and cream icing, whipped cream, chocolate cream-filled cookie ears, and “90” sprinkles
Celebration Cake Funnel Fries — Funnel cake fries topped with crumbled confetti cake, frosting, whipped cream, and Mickey sprinkles
Schmoozies!
Mickey Donut with apple filling
Minnie Donut with cherry filling
Mickey Cookies ‘n Cream Shake with “90” sprinkles
Cozy Cone Motel
Birthday Hat Macaron
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
The Mickey Burger — Angus burger topped with macaroni and cheese, American cheese, cheese sauce, flaming hot cheese dust, and bacon, served on a Mickey Mouse bun
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
Minnie Kitchen Sink — two scoops of ice cream, topped with whipped cream, cherries, and your choice of hot fudge, peanut butter, or caramel
Gaston’s Tavern
Now and Forever Slush — sparkling cider slush served in a Champagne flute, garnished with a white chocolate-dipped strawberry featuring Mickey and Minnie
The Crystal Palace, Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipepr Canteen, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
True Love Cheesecake — a strawberry-vanilla marble cheesecake with raspberry purée, whipped cream, and a Mickey and Minnie chocolate piece
By Jocelyn Buhlman
“Try everything!” The phrase isn’t just the theme of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit animated movie Zootopia—it’s also the motto of Disney park enthusiasts around the world. From the most thrilling roller coaster the latest high-tech attraction, Disney parks fans are ready to try it all—which is why guests at Shanghai Disneyland will have another reason to start singing along with Gazelle.
Shanghai Disney Resort just announced an exciting new expansion that will bring the characters and stories from Zootopia, to life. There’s plenty of reasons to be wildly excited for this expansion: When it opens, Zootopia will become the eighth themed land at the world’s newest Disney park and the first-ever Zootopia-themed land at any Disney park worldwide! Park guests will be able to enter the world of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for the very first time and discover what it is like to visit the place where animals can be anything they want.
Zootopia will be unique to Shanghai Disneyland and will feature a new, major attraction that seamlessly blends Disney’s storytelling and state-of-the-art technologies in order to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life. The new themed land will also invite guests to fully immerse themselves in the mammalian metropolis of Zootopia, and come along on an adventure with Judy and Nick. With a brand-new attraction, entertainment, merchandise, and food and beverage offerings, the new land will provide guests with even more to experience and enjoy at Shanghai Disneyland than ever before.
“We are thrilled to announce that Shanghai Disneyland will be home to the world’s first Zootopia-themed land,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products, The Walt Disney Company. “The rapid rate of expansion at Shanghai Disney Resort demonstrates our confidence and commitment to the Company’s future development in China.”
The box office record-breaking movie was China’s No. 1 animated feature film in history, meaning guests at Shanghai Disneyland already want to “try everything.” Of course, no matter where you travel, you’re sure to find a fan or two—Judy and Nick can currently be found greeting guests at Disney parks worldwide, and will soon be joined by other Zootopia friends at their very own land at Shanghai Disney Resort.
“Since the resort’s Grand Opening in 2016, Shanghai Disneyland has gone from strength to strength – continuing to expand and enjoying ever-rising attendance rates while also providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests,” said Yang Jinsong, Chairman of Disney’s Chinese joint venture partner for Shanghai Disney Resort – Shanghai Shendi Group. “Shanghai Disneyland has rapidly become one of the fastest growing Disney parks and has been key to the development of the Shanghai International Resort as one of the most visited leisure destinations in the country. This new expansion will provide our guests with an even richer selection of offerings, and will further boost our market competitiveness.”
Construction on Zootopia is targeted to begin later this year. Stay tuned for more updates from Disney Parks and Resorts around the world!
By Karina Schink
Ever since that big clock struck 12 and we entered 2019, we know you’ve been waiting, painstakingly, for this very special day to arrive. Well, the wait is finally over because National Polka Dot Day is here! It’s a day to wear your best and boldest (may we suggest red?) and celebrate Mickey Mouse’s leading lady, Minnie Mouse #minniestyle. Here’s our top picks for all the merch you need to celebrate this day in style (and don’t forget to use your D23 member discount!).
Minnie Mouse Club Ceramic Travel Tumbler
Hey there! Hi there! Ho there! Forever let us hold our coffee high in this Minnie Mouse Club travel tumbler, the perfect accessory for every day.
Minnie Mouse Journal with Pen
Absolutely everything looks better with a bow, especially all of your doodles, notes, and grocery lists, which can live inside this Minnie Mouse journal.
Minnie Mouse Pencil Case
We’ve got ears for years (90 to be exact), and we’ll never stop celebrating those iconic circles! Say “cheers” to your favorite set of ears in a subtle way with this pencil case.
Minnie Mouse Signature Doll – Limited Edition
What better way to celebrate this auspicious holiday and Minnie than with the lady herself! And can we just say, we’re loving the polka dot lining of her coat.
Petunia Pickle Bottom Minnie Kids & Adults
Whether for Mom and Dad or your “Minnie” me, the Petunia Pickle Bottom is the perfect way to match in style and hold all of your daily essentials—whether it’s for a trip to a Park or just for on-the-go!
Minnie Mouse Rainboots for Women
Not even rain can stop your good mood when you’ve got these rubber boots! In the style of our favorite sweetheart, these’ll make sure you don’t let any National Polka Dot Day plans get canceled due to a rainy day!
Minnie Mouse Umbrella for Adults
Sometimes when it rains it pours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t rock those dots. Whether rain or shine, keep cover with this perfectly polka-dotted umbrella.
Minnie Mouse Signature Glass Compact Mirror
Happily reflect on your love for the dot with Minnie’s signature glass compact mirror. We know you’re always lookin’ golden, so this gilded compact will only confirm what we’ve known all along!
Minnie Mouse Rolling Luggage – Small
The best of packages come with a bow on top, and this Minnie Mouse Rolling Luggage is no exception! This suitcase will make sure even your gear is dressed to the nines.
By Beth Deitchman
Black Panther… Mary Poppins Returns… Incredibles 2… Ralph Breaks the Internet… It comes as no surprise that some of our favorite films of 2019 are favorites of Academy members, too. Nominations for the 91st Oscars® have just been revealed, and Disney releases earned 17 nominations in all. Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is Disney’s most-nominated release, with seven nods in all, including Best Picture. Mary Poppins Returns received four nominations, and Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet are both among the nominees for best Animated Feature Film.
Following today’s announcement, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said, “Congratulations to all of our nominated films, and especially Black Panther. To see it recognized by the Academy today with seven nominations, including Best Picture, is truly an honor. Congratulations and gratitude to Kevin Feige and the team at Marvel Studios and to our director, Ryan Coogler, and his incredible team and brilliant cast—we’re grateful for their creative excellence, unparalleled artistry, and heartfelt passion for this project.”
Alan Horn, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios, said, “It’s wonderful and humbling to see so many of our films recognized by the Academy this morning with 17 nominations across eight films, including a Best Picture nomination for Black Panther and Best Animated Feature nominations for Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Congratulations to all of our nominees and the exceptional teams behind these films.”
“Thank you so much to the Academy for this honor,” said Black Panther producer Kevin Feige. “This extraordinary recognition is an endorsement of what Black Panther represents for inclusion and for telling different kinds of stories. It has been humbling and gratifying to see the cultural impact this film has had, and it’s something we’re all very proud to have been a part of. This could not have happened without our amazing cast and crew and our brilliant director, Ryan Coogler, who brought his unique talent, experience, and deeply personal vision to this story. And of course, I have to thank Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for bringing this character into the world to begin with.”
Mary Poppins Returns was nominated for the heartfelt song, “The Place Where Lost Things Go”; its original score, by Marc Shaiman; and its dazzling production design and costumes. Sandy Powell, who created the stunning looks worn in the film (and who is also nominated for The Favourite), said, “All I can think of to say is I’m extremely grateful and proud, and huge thanks to all my talented teams on both films without whom I would not be in this position right now.”
John Myhre and Gordon Sim, nominated for the film’s production design, said, “We are thrilled to be part of Rob Marshall’s magical Mary Poppins Returns. From 1930’s London streets to animated music halls to Topsy turvy upside down rooms, it was the most challenging film that we have ever done. It is such an honor to be recognized by the Academy.”
Bao, the charming short that debuted in theaters ahead of Incredibles 2, is nominated in the Short Film (animated) category. The film’s director, Domee Shi, and producer, Becky Neiman-Cobb, couldn’t wait to share the news with two very important people: “This nomination means so much to us and the whole Bao crew. We are honored to be included with such an inspiring collection of shorts. Bao was a very personal film for all of us and we’re so glad that it has resonated with audiences. We’re off to call our moms!”
Two Disney releases, Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet, received nods for best Animated Feature Film. The team behind Ralph Breaks the Internet was thrilled to see the film honored this year. “To be recognized by the Academy in such an incredible year for animated films is deeply humbling,” said directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston and producer Clark Spencer. “We are honored to represent the wonderful artists and technicians at Walt Disney Animation Studios whose artistry and passion brought this story of a friendship put to the test to life.”
The statuettes will be handed out on February 24, in a live broadcast airing on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Here are the Disney nominees we’ll be rooting for on Oscar Sunday:
Best Picture
Black Panther
Animated Feature Film
Incredibles 2
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Costume Design
Black Panther—Ruth Carter
Mary Poppins Returns—Sandy Powell
Music (Original Score)
Black Panther—Ludwig Göransson
Mary Poppins Returns—Marc Shaiman
Music (Original Song)
Black Panther—“All The Stars”
Mary Poppins Returns—“The Place Where Lost Things Go”
Production Design
Black Panther—Hannah Beachler
Mary Poppins Returns—John Myhre
Short Film (Animated)
Bao
Sound Editing
Black Panther
Sound Mixing
Black Panther
Visual Effects
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Visit Oscar.com to view the entire list of 2019 nominees.