The Grapes of Africa—Day 3 of Adventures by Disney Safari to South Africa

By Robert Yoshioka

Continuing our awesome avian encounters from yesterday’s penguins, this morning we set off to visit a raptor wildlife rehabilitation and conservation center in Spier. We were given an up-close and personal introduction to their numerous eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and, my favorite, vultures!

ABD Safari

ABD Safari

It was awe-inspiring to watch these majestic birds soar inches above our heads.

ABD Safari

ABD Safari

ABD Safari

“Meet some of Africa’s majestic birds of prey, and the people who help injured birds and return them to the skies. Africa has an extraordinary array of eagles, vultures, sparrowhawks and more. Falcons (especially the Peregrine) are known as the Ferrari of the skies. You’ll be amazed by the speed and incredible precision with which these rapacious predators hunt. They are incredible!”
—Dr. Mark

ABD Safari

Having worked up our appetites interacting with these incredible creatures—we couldn’t leave the Cape Winelands without visiting at least one winery for lunch. This area of South Africa is famous for creating the pinotage grape variety, a blend of Hermitage and Pinot Noir, thanks to its rich soil, hot dry summers and cool wet winters.

“Today we entered wine country. Back in the 1600s, French and Dutch settlers established these farms in the perfect climate for vineyards, and still produce some of the world’s most famous wines.”
—Dr. Mark

ABD Safari

At the winery near Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second-oldest European settlement and acknowledged wine capital, we dined inside this Cape Dutch Manor home—an architectural reminder of its Old World origins. It was quite a unique experience being in South Africa, while still seeing the influence of Dutch colonial culture as we strolled down the oak-shaded streets of Stellenbosch surrounded by lush vineyards and breathtaking mountains.

Click here to see more about this amazing safari adventure.

Dreidel Craft and Game

What You Will Need:

  • Heavy printer paper
  • Clear tape or glue
    • Scissors
    • Hole punch
  • Wooden dowel or pencil
  • Coins or candy

Kids, have an adult help you with the scissors.

How to Make the Dreidel:

  1. Download and print onto heavy paper.
  2. Trim along solid lines.
  3. Fold along dashed lines.
  4. Glue or tape where shown on flaps to assemble the driedel.
  5. Poke a hole where shown to insert a dowel or pencil.

How to Play the Game:
Distribute to each player equal amounts of coins or candy.
All players put in one coin or candy.
Each player, in turn, spins the dreidel and then takes the action that coordinates to the letter that is facing up when the dreidel stops spinning. See on the PDF.
If the pot runs out before the end of the game, everyone puts in a coin or candy, and the game continues until one player has all of the coins or candy

There’s So Much Disney Magic on The Great Christmas Light Fight on December 3

By Beth Deitchman

It’s time to deck the halls—which, for Disney fans, means the time has come to put away the Disney décor… and bring out the Disney holiday décor! Mickey and Minnie Baus—which does, indeed, rhyme with M-O-U-S-E—know a thing or two about Disney holiday magic. The couple’s home, located just a skip and a hop from Walt Disney World, is a Disney fan’s dream, with rooms paying tribute to Aladdin, Olaf, Tinker Bell, Mickey, and more. But at Christmastime, their imagination and their love for Disney take their house to another level, as they create custom cut-outs, build Mickey-shaped “topiaries,” and adorn their front yard with too many mouse ears to count. Meet Mickey and Minnie and marvel at their incredible collection of all-things Disney in this clip:

Now Mickey and Minnie hope to add a new treasure to their trove: the coveted Light Fight trophy, which will be awarded to the winner of ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight. On an episode of the series airing this Monday, December 3 (8–9 p.m. ET/PT), Taniya Nayak, who judges The Great Christmas Light Fight with Carter Oosterhouse, will visit Windermere, Florida, to see Mickey and Minnie’s Disney World Christmas Wonderland—featuring their very own take on the Main Street Electrical Parade—for herself. Here’s an exclusive look at the Baus house, which includes a room where it’s Christmas all year long:

Tune in to ABC on Monday evening to see their dazzling Disney display in its entirety!

The Great Christmas Light Fight

We also asked Nayak and Oosterhouse to share some decorating Do’s and Don’t’s with fans who want to blend the spirit of the season with the spirit of Disney Parks at their own homes.

D23: What advice do you have for Disney fans who want to re-create a Main Street Electrical Parade as part of their own holiday décor?

Oosterhouse: DO always use LED Lights. It’s the only way to use a lot of lights and not break the bank. You might even have to retrofit certain blow molds or cutouts. Always try to bury the cords when you can so people don’t trip and risk your lights going out. When trying to create a large display, consider creating numerous smaller scenes. This way you can give attention to each scene individually or certain parts of the yard. You won’t get overwhelmed as fast and it’s easier to balance out a large display.

D23: When it comes to building a collection of holiday items, such as the one Mickey and Minnie Baus have put together, what should people keep in mind?

Nayak: DO keep your collection manageable and under control by keeping what is most important to you. Try to keep everything organized in bins that are properly labeled. DON’T hang on to items that are broken and may not have any value to you anymore—and if something is still in good condition, consider donating it!

Oosterhouse: DO try to keep within a theme. It can get a little overwhelming when you have 200 different styles and looks. It’s easier to display if you have a more systematic approach. Think: color, year, size, shape, etc.

D23: How can any Disney fan incorporate their love of Disney into their holiday decorating?

Nayak: DON’T have everything scattered about in a way that doesn’t tell a story. Perhaps consider mixing photos of family trips to a Disney park with special decorations that have a character theme. DO have fun with it and let your personality shine through!

Oosterhouse: We’ve seen all kinds of Disney characters on The Great Christmas Light Fight, and it’s so amazing to see how people put their own spin on each character. I don’t think there can be rules on this one. I think nostalgia is part of the essence of Christmas. We all grew up with Disney in our lives—it makes perfect sense to incorporate your favorite characters however you can!

Penguin Pursuit—Day 2 of Adventures by Disney Safari to South Africa

By Robert Yoshioka

Refreshing ocean views from the Cape of Good Hope kicked off our morning. Originally thought to be the southernmost tip of Africa, this was an important stopping point for ships sailing between Europe and the eastern colonies.

Two oceans’ currents from two completely different Oceans meet in these waters, resulting in wild and stormy seas. The region was named the Cape of Storms in 1488, and this point has at least 26 sunken ships. Watch for the spray of humpback whales at sea, and the beautiful nectar-feeding orange-breasted sunbirds among the vegetation.
-Dr. Mark

Joe broke out his art supplies and shared why sketching is so important to him as a world traveler:

ABD Safari

I always bring a sketchbook when I travel, and on this trip, so will everybody else.  People might be worried that they can’t draw, or that their work isn’t good enough, whatever that means, but sketching is not really about making a great picture.  Sketching is about making yourself look.  You can take a photograph of something and be looking in the complete opposite direction, never really looking at it at all.  But if you sketch it…no matter the quality of the sketch, you have to really really look. If you really really look, you are going to see things you would not have seen.  And if you are on a once in a lifetime Adventures by Disney trip to Africa…you want to see those things.
-Joe

ABD Safari

From the crisp ocean visit at the Cape of Good Hope, we then headed to a special beach with a VERY strict dress code.

ABD Safari

ABD Safari

Boulders Beach is one of only three land based penguin colonies in South Africa.

ABD Safari

Among the beautiful granite boulders you’ll find the African penguin. There are about 3000 birds in this colony – a great success story showing how people can live with nature around them. Listen for the sound of donkeys braying – those are penguins! They used to be known as the jackass penguin.
-Dr. Mark

ABD Safari

After Boulders Beach, the clouds cleared and we headed up to the beautiful Table Mountain.

ABD Safari

Table Mountain is South Africa’s most iconic landmark. It rises up 3,500ft and is often covered with a beautiful white tablecloth. Best view of Cape Town from the top!
-Dr. Mark

ABD Safari

We wrapped up our first full day of adventure with a Celebration of Africa dinner! Before the meal was served, we “earned” our food with an interactive African drumming class.

Join in the drum experience – in Africa, drums are not just about entertainment. They have great cultural importance, and allow communication over vast distances – when your cell phone isn’t working!
-Dr. Mark

Combined with the evening’s accompanying masks, music and Malian puppeteering – this was truly the perfect way to celebrate the day’s experiences!

Click here to see more about this amazing safari adventure.

D23 Days of Christmas Printable Christmas Card 2018

By D23 Team

As we celebrate the holiday season and Mickey’s milestone 90th anniversary, D23 is pleased to share this festive depiction of a scene from Mickey’s Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this yuletide.

Originally designed as the 1983 Christmas card from The Walt Disney Studios, the piece represents the Studios’ tradition of sharing yuletide charm through an annual holiday card keepsake, which brought delight to business and industry partners, as well as employees and dear friends.

Download and print this on high-quality paper or cardstock and fold in half. Be sure to include a special note and give to the ones you love!

Classic Potato Latkes

Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs. baking potatoes (3 to 4 potatoes)
½ medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
1 large egg
2 tbsp. matzo meal or unseasoned dry breadcrumbs
1 tsp. kosher salt
¹/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 cup canola oil
Applesauce, crème fraîche, or sour cream for serving
Chopped chives for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Set up a wire cooling rack with paper towels.
  2. Grate the potatoes and onions. Use a food processor or a box grater to grate the potatoes and onion.
  3. To get crispy latkes, the potato and onion mixture needs to be dry. Transfer the grated potato and onion onto a large triple layer of cheesecloth. Gather the corners and tie around the handle of a wooden spoon. Dangle the bundle over a large bowl, then twist and squeeze the potatoes and onion to remove all of the liquid. Pour out the liquid from the bowl, but keep the potato starch remaining at the bottom.
  4. Mix the potato starch, egg, matzo, salt, and pepper with the potatoes and onion. Use your fingers to distribute all of the ingredients evenly.
  5. Form the latkes. Use a ¼-cup measuring cup, a slotted spatula, your fingers, and a fork to form a flat, four-inch patty.
  6. Fry the latkes. Heat the oil until latkes sizzle immediately upon entering the oil. Fry until each side is dark golden-brown.
  7. Remove latkes from the oil and drain on paper towels. Serve or keep warm in the oven.

Welkom!—Day 1 of Adventures by Disney Safari to South Africa

By Robert Yoshioka

A little over seven months ago we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom with the Party for the Planet festival, brand-new photo locations and Wilderness Explorers badges, limited-edition merchandise and a very special Adventures by Disney Safari to South Africa hosted by Joe Rohde and Dr. Mark Penning. Now, after just a few *short* flights, we have arrived in the beautiful city of Cape Town to begin this incredible adventure!

Honestly, Cape Town is nothing like we expected. This metropolitan city feels like any major oceanside city in the states, with beautiful views and weather almost like Los Angeles (which makes sense as Cape Town is approximately as far south of the equator as Los Angeles is north of it)! Our luxurious accommodations are set right on the V&A Waterfront with stunning views of the historic port framed by Table Mountain in the background.

“Most people in Cape Town speak Afrikaans, a language derived from Dutch and French settlers. Saying ‘thank you’ for anything in Afrikaans is easy—baie dankie. Pronounced ‘buy a donkey.’”
—Dr. Mark

ABD Safari

ABD Safari

ABD Safari

During the welcome reception, we not only had the chance to meet our fellow Adventurers but also our Adventure Guides Craig and Kira who, along with Joe and Dr. Mark, will be hosting us through the next 10 days of unforgettable experiences.

“Welcome to South Africa, a country famous for its richness of diversity. It has the highest number of official languages, and only 5 countries on earth have greater species biodiversity. Prepare for a rich experience.”
—Dr. Mark

So, as Craig taught us: Masambene! Meaning “let’s go!”

Click here to see more about this amazing safari adventure.

Every Way to Celebrate the Holidays at Downtown Disney and Disney Springs

By The D23 Team

Downtown Disney

Entertainment

Downtown Disney District will feature nightly entertainment throughout the holiday season. From a cappella to carolers—and even a few magicians—there is something for everyone in Downtown Disney. You never know what magical moment you might see while you’re strolling through this winter wonderland.

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Seasonal Overlay

Even with a wintery chill in the air, your heart will melt as you take in the new seasonal overlay, featuring an artificial 30-foot-tall tree positioned near Uva Bar. A tree that tall takes a lot to decorate it—6,200 ornaments in total! You can take in 800 ornaments glimmering on the tree and 900 in each of the six planters.

Holiday Eats and Treats

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Catal Restaurant

  • Breakfast with Santa (Dec 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23): Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s paying a very special visit to Catal Restaurant. Join jolly old Saint Nick and his merry band of elves throughout the holiday season at Catal Restaurant’s classic Breakfast with Santa experience. Guests are invited to feast on a decadent family-style spread of menu offerings such as buttermilk pancakes, crispy bacon, and farm-fresh eggs while Charles Dickens carolers serenade them with their favorite festive tunes. Adults are welcome to sip on bottomless mimosas while little ones are treated to a cookies-and-milk station and steaming cups of hot chocolate from the cocoa cart. After they share their Christmas wishes with Santa, he will gift every child with a pre-stuffed Build-a-Bear™ Workshop teddy bear in addition to a personalized stocking and a complimentary photo print of their magical time with him. Make your reservation today to enjoy this beloved yuletide tradition that is sure to put a smile on every child’s face and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen

  • Christmas Day Menu: Offering specialty menu items such as Gulf Shrimp Ravigote and Fried Green Tomatoes, Blackened Filet Mignon, and a Cappuccino Pot De Crème for dessert
  • New Year’s Eve Menu:
    • Live entertainment on both floors performing until 12:30 a.m.
    • Party hats and noisemakers available for dine-in guests
    • Offering specialty menu items such as a Cauliflower Goat Cheese Bisque, Seafood Jambalaya Risotto, and Rib Eye Steak

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Kayla’s Cake Kiosk

  • Christmas Snowman Macaron: Classic vanilla custard cream with milk chocolate ganache
  • Gingerbread Macaron: Gingerbread buttercream

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Blue Ribbon Corn Dog

  • Holiday Corn Dog (Now through January 6): Our Holiday Feast is a 1/4-pound Chicken Apple Sausage Corn Dog served with cranberry sauce and a side of applesauce

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California Churro

  • White Christmas Churro (Now through January 6): Our White Christmas Churro is coated in powdered sugar with a minty flavor

Cotton Candy Creations

  • Ornament Cotton Candy (Now through January 6): Guests can create their own cotton candy ornament by choosing a holiday stencil that will be placed onto the ornament-shaped cotton candy

DTD holiday
DTD holiday

Starbucks

  • Sugar Plum Cheese Danish (Now until early January): A croissant pastry topped with a tangy cream cheese filling and a plum jam (pictured above)
  • Caramel Brulée Latte (Now until early January): Espresso, steamed milk, and rich Caramel Brulée sauce, topped with whipped cream and Caramel Brulée topping (pictured above)
  • Gingerbread Latte (Now until early January): Sweet and spicy Gingerbread syrup with espresso and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and ground nutmeg
  • Christmas Blend Espresso Roast (Now until early January): Cedary and herbal spiciness with an intense caramelly sweetness

Earl of Sandwich

  • Holiday Ham (Now through December 31): Ham, cheddar, yams, and cranberry sauce on freshly toasted artisan bread

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Sprinkles

  • Bakeries will be giving out Surprise SPRINKLE JOY Favor Boxes to guests at random all month. The favor boxes will include a Red Velvet cupcake and a $10 Sprinkles Gift Card

Seasonal Cupcakes:

    • Pumpkin (November 1–30): Fragrant ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon cake, topped with sweet cinnamon cream cheese frosting (pictured above left)
    • Pumpkin Pecan Pie (November 1–30): Spiced pumpkin cake with a rich candied pecan filling and finished with toasted marshmallow frosting (pictured above right)
    • White Chocolate Raspberry (November 1–11): White chocolate chip-studded raspberry cake, frosted with white chocolate frosting marbled with raspberry compote
    • Double Stuffed Oreo® (November 12–30): Chocolate cake with an Oreo® cookie crust, vanilla buttercream filling, finished with a vanilla buttercream frosting and Oreo® crumb rim

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  • Saturday Late-Night Exclusive (Available at ATM Bakeries only, after 8 p.m., in-bakery and in ATM)—Nutella® Hazelnut Mocha (November 3, 10, 17, 24): Rich coffee chocolate cake filled with whipped Nutella®, frosted with mocha buttercream, and finished with a rim of chopped and toasted hazelnuts

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Salt & Straw

  • Gingerbread Cookie Dough: Rum royal ice cream swirled with cookie butter and bits and pieces of gingerbread. (pictured above left)
  • Peppermint Bark Cocoa: Rich cocoa ice cream with a dash of peppermint oil and handfuls of mint dark chocolate bark, white chocolate and handmade peppermint candy bits. (pictured above left)
  • Cinnamon Coconut Eggnog: Rum-infused almond milk churned with coconut ice cream and laced with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Disney Springs

Entertainment

DTD Holiday

The elves have been hard at work all across Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney Springs is no exception. From a whole forest of Christmas trees at the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail and a special visit from Santa Claus, to seasonal sights and sounds along the waterside promenade, there are boughs of cheer decked across every pathway as far as the eye can see.

While the holidays are a time of joy and gift-giving, sometimes our plans get foiled! It’s a special season’s greetings to sleuths everywhere as you embark on a merry mission to help Stitch recover his lost gift list at Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt.

Holiday Eats and Treats

The Ganachery

  • Hot Ganache—hot drinking chocolate topped with whipped cream and chocolate crispies (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
  • Santa Mickey Piñata—dark chocolate Mickey sphere filled with marshmallow treats
  • Mickey and Minnie Christmas Cottage—chocolate cottage filled with peppermint bark
  • Peppermint Bark—layers of milk chocolate and dark chocolate swirled with peppermint pieces
  • Eggnog Ganache Square
  • Candy Cane Ganache Square

Planet Hollywood

  • Sticky Toffee Pudding
  • Naughty (alcoholic) and Nice (non-alcoholic) Frozen Cocktails—mint chocolate frozen beverage garnished with brownie and candy cane

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Earl of Sandwich

  • Holiday Ham Sandwich—ham, cheddar, yams, and cranberry sauce on freshly-toasted artisan bread
  • Holiday Turkey Sandwich—turkey, cornbread stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and mayonnaise on freshly-toasted artisan bread

Vivoli il Gelato

  • Candy Cane Sundae—cheesecake, vanilla, mint chocolate chip, ginger, and salted caramel gelatos with caramel sauce, graham cracker, and whipped cream

Splitsville Dining Room

  • Gobble Gobble Sliders (available now through December 26)—three sliders stacked with hand-carved roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, and crispy fried onions dressed with rich turkey gravy and sweet-sour cranberry sauce
  • Getting Figgy With It (available now through December 26)—fig-infused vodka, fig jam, ginger liqueur, allspice, and rhubarb bitters

4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck

  • Gingerbread Churro Balls—bite-sized gingerbread tossed in spiced sugar and served with cream cheese frosting for dipping

D-Luxe Burger

  • Peppermint Cookies and Cream Shake
  • Turkey Burger—signature turkey burger with fried butternut squash risotto, fresh mozzarella, bacon-cranberry jam, lettuce, and tomato

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

  • Jock Frost—a Floridian tropical treat with cinnamon cream liqueur, coconut rum, blue liqueur, pineapple, and lemon juice garnished with an orange
  • Jock’s Holiday Nog—a simple holiday eggnog with vodka, cinnamon cream liqueur, vanilla syrup, and mint candies

Amorette’s Patisserie

  • Gingerbread Hat Cookie Ornaments
    • Goofy Hat Cookie—November 25–December 1
    • Donald Hat Cookie—December 2–9
    • Pluto Hat Cookie—December 10–17
    • Minnie Hat Cookie—December 18–24
    • Mickey Hat Cookie—December 25–30
  • Orange Cranberry Chardonnay Wine Slushy
  • Peppermint Chocolate Milkshake—topped with whipped cream and served with a paper straw coated in crushed peppermint
  • Pear Mousse—with poached pear wine reduction and fresh pears
  • Santa Mickey Macaron Lollipop—filled with eggnog ganache
  • Snowman Macaron Lollipop—hot-chocolate-flavored macarons filled with milk chocolate ganache and a marshmallow cream center
  • Spiced Plum Petite Cake—five-spice chiffon cake with plum pâté de fruit and honey mousse
  • Winter Wonderland Petite Cake—cinnamon nutmeg chiffon cake with cranberry cherry pâté de fruit and salted caramel calvados mousse
  • Gingerbread Mickey Dome Cake
  • Santa Mickey Dome Cake

The Daily Poutine

  • Turkey Poutine with Cranberry Chutney

Goofy’s Candy Company and Disney’s Candy Cauldron

  • Assorted Holiday Crispy Treats
  • Holiday Mickey and Minnie Candy Apples
  • Sandy Claws Candy Apples
  • Snowflake Candy Apples
  • Assorted Holiday Cake Pops

Select Outdoor Vending Carts

  • Mickey Pretzels topped with Holiday Sprinkles

Tree Trail

  • Frozen Eggnog (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
  • Frozen Hot Chocolate (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
  • Gingerbread Cookies
  • Holiday Sugar Cookies
  • Holiday Crispy Treat
  • Holiday Cotton Candy—available in gingerbread, eggnog, or peppermint flavors

 

Mira, Royal Detective—Solving Mysteries on Disney Junior in 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Disney Junior is getting ready to take fans on an incredible and mysterious journey to Jalpur, a magical land inspired by the cultures and customs of India. Production is under way on a brand-new animated series, Mira, Royal Detective, slated to debut on Disney Junior Channels and programming blocks around the world in 2020.

It doesn’t take a detective to deduce that Mira, Royal Detective is sure to be amazing. Mira, a young commoner, becomes a royal detective after she solves a mystery (and saves the kingdom’s young prince); she then travels throughout Jalpur helping both royals and commoners alike. Each episode will feature two 11-minute stories that feature authentic music, dance, and customs that are rooted in India’s vibrant heritage.

Mira will be voiced by 15-year-old newcomer Leela Ladnier. The young sleuth will be joined on her new adventures by her friend Prince Neel, a talented inventor voiced by Kamran Lucas (Disney’s Mech-X4); her creative cousin Priya, voiced by newcomer Roshni Edwards; and two comical mongooses, Mikku and Chikku, voiced by Kal Penn (Designated Survivor) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (The Mindy Project), respectively. The series’ star-studded voice cast also includes Freida Pinto (The Path) as Queen Shanti; Hannah Simone (New Girl) as a young commoner named Pinky; Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) as Mira’s Auntie Pushpa; Aasif Mandvi (Shut Eye) as Mira’s father, Sahil; Sarita Choudhury (Homeland) as Prince Neel’s Great-Aunt Rupa; Aparna Nancherla (BoJack Horseman) as Mira’s cousin Meena; Karan Brar (Disney Channel’s BUNK’D) as Prince Veer; Karan Soni (Deadpool) as twins Ranjeet and Manjeet; Sarayu Blue (I Feel Bad) as the palace tailor; and Parvesh Cheena (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and Sonal Shah (Scrubs) as bandits Manish and Poonam, respectively.

Joe D’Ambrosia, senior vice president, Original Programming, Disney Junior, said in today’s announcement, “We are eager to introduce kids and their families to the rich, diverse cultures and customs of India through Mira, a young girl who looks at things with her own unique lens to gain different perspectives and help others in her community. We hope that she will encourage our audience to engage actively with the inspiring world around them and appreciate the little details that make life extraordinary.”

Mira, Royal Detective is executive produced by Emmy® Award nominee Sascha Paladino (Miles from Tomorrowland); the series was developed by Becca Topol (Elena of Avalor), who also serves as story editor. Sue Perotto and Dorothea Schoentag (both of Phineas and Ferb) are supervising director and art director, respectively. Serving as consultants for Mira, Royal Detective are IW Group’s Shagorika Ghosh, who is the series’ cultural consultant; Bollywood dancer and choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan (So You Think You Can Dance) and music producer Deepak Ramapriyan (Basmati Blues). The series will feature original songs written and produced by Emmy nominees Matthew Tishler (Fancy Nancy) and Jeannie Lurie (The Muppets) and music from composer Amritha Vaz (Miss India America). Wild Canary produces in association with Disney Junior.

We’ll be on the hunt for more clues about the upcoming series until Mira officially begins her sleuthing on Disney Junior. Stay tuned for all of the details.

Meet Artemis Fowl and Revisit the Pride Lands—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Step inside the world of Eoin Colfer’s über-popular book, and catch a glimpse at Disney’s upcoming retelling of The Lion King… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Brand-New Peek Inside the World of Disney’s Artemis Fowl

’Tis the holiday season, which brings with it a festive cornucopia of trailers for upcoming Disney films—all of which look amazing, and all of which we’re currently adding to our jam-packed calendar. (Not a bad problem to have, right?) Well, color us enthralled by the latest entrant in the teaser-trailer hoopla: Disney’s Artemis Fowl, which will grace movie screens across the country next summer. See young Artemis in (amazing) action, above.

Based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer and directed by Oscar® nominee Kenneth Branagh, Artemis Fowl follows 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl (newcomer Ferdia Shaw)—a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds—as he finds himself in a battle of strength and cunning against a powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father’s disappearance.

Also starring Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, Josh Gad (Frozen), and Oscar winner Judi Dench, Artemis Fowl will rocket into U.S. theaters on August 9.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
December 8, 2018
Mickey’s of Glendale – Holiday Shopping 2018
December 9, 2018
D23’s Light Up the Season – 2018
December 15, 2018
D23’s Grand Gingerbread Workshop
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
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
December 19, 2018
Mary Poppins Returns opens in U.S. theaters
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
November 29, 2018
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration airs on ABC (9–11 p.m. EST)
December 1, 2018
Disney Parks Presents a 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Party airs on Disney Channel (8-8:30 p.m. EST)
December 2, 2018
Life Size 2 premieres on Freeform (9–11 p.m. EST/PST)
December 8, 2018
Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic airs on Freeform (8–9 p.m. EST/PST)
December 25, 2018
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade airs on ABC (10 a.m.–12 p.m. EST, 9–11 a.m. CST/MST/PST, airtimes vary, check local listings)

Revisit the Pride Lands: The Lion King Roars to Life!

We weren’t kidding when we said there are some incredible Disney movies on the (Pride Lands) horizon… Guests at D23 Expo 2017 were among the first to see footage from director Jon Favreau’s amazing retelling of The Lion King, and now fans across the world can marvel in the film’s photo-realistic CGI—the same process that brought Favreau’s The Jungle Book to life. We legitimately cannot wait to see how it enhances the treasured tale of Simba and all his friends. Take a look, above.

The film will take us once again into the African savanna, where a future king must overcome betrayal and tragedy to assume his rightful place on Pride Rock. Featuring the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari, John Oliver as Zazu, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa (reprising his iconic role from the 1994 animated film), The Lion King roars into a cineplex near you on July 19.

news briefs 11/28

Frozen on Broadway Breaks Box Office Record

The cold never bothered us anyway… and it certainly hasn’t been bothering Broadway audiences in New York City. Disney Theatrical Group’s new musical Frozen recently broke the house record at the St. James Theatre for the week ending November 25, with an amazing gross of $2.3+ million over eight performances—breaking Frozen’s previous record of $2.275 million for the week ending April 8, 2018. This marks the third time the production has broken the house record at the St. James since opening this spring!

Frozen opened on Thursday, March 22, and has been in the top 10 best-selling shows every week, establishing itself as the biggest musical hit of its season. A North American tour will open at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles in Fall 2019. And since we’re celebrating the original film’s fifth anniversary this week, why not check out D23’s roundup of the five best ways to “let it go” with Anna, Elsa, and all their friends?

news briefs 11/28

Wanna Visit the New Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs?

If the answer to the above question is “yes,” we not only agree, but we also have great news: Beginning this week, guests can make reservations for rooms at the Gran Destino Tower, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World, for stays starting July 2019!

The Gran Destino Tower is part of the reimagining of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort—a transformation inspired by the adventurous spirit of great Spanish explorers, as well as innovative Spanish artists, writers, and architects. New dining experiences at Three Bridges Bar & Grill (which will sit on an island in the middle of the resort’s 14-acre lake) and Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood (featuring incredible views of Walt Disney World Resort) will tickle taste buds, while 545 new guest rooms (including 50 suites) will tempt with comfort and amenities galore. And that’s on top of Coronado Springs’ existing 1,800+ rooms having recently been renovated with new furnishing, fixtures, and lighting.

To reserve your own grand Gran Destino adventure, visit the Walt Disney World website today.

ICYMI: Every Amazing Moment from Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse

There was so much fantastically fun news to come out of D23’s recent Destination D event in Florida that we just had to make a video recap to celebrate. From special appearances by Disney characters and favorite celebs, to memorable panels on Disney history, and everything in between—it was truly a weekend for the Mickey-shaped record books! See for yourself right here.

news briefs 11/28

Holiday Special to Feature Sneak Peek of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

Grab the family and gather ’round the TV (or mobile device of your choice): Disney Parks Presents a 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Party debuts this Saturday, December 1, at 8 p.m. EST on Disney Channel! It’s a brand-new half-hour special featuring appearances and performances from a cadre of fave Disney Channel stars, including hosts Ruby Rose Turner, Dakota Lotus (Coop & Cami Ask the World), Kylee Russell, Meg Donnelly (ZOMBIES), and Sadie Stanley and Sean Giambrone (the upcoming Kim Possible).

During the special, Stanley and Giambrone take viewers behind the scenes of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios—where guests will step into the world of Disney•Pixar’s Cars. This exciting new show opens in the park’s Sunset Showcase in spring 2019 as part of the overall transformation of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

So mark your calendars for some holiday “ka-CHOW!” this weekend.