The Ultimate Foodie Guide to the 2018 Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park

By Karina Schink

Add an extra notch to your belt, pull on your most elastic pants, and get ready to treat yourself to some of the most magical holiday creations from all around the world! Starting November 9, Disney Festival of Holidays is back at Disney California Adventure park, and with 12 delicious destinations, we will leave no éclair, tamale, or macaron unturned!

Before you get ready to fill up on all of that classic holiday spirit, make sure you grab a Disney Festival of Holidays Tasting Passport at any of the marketplaces to guide you on your journey. You can also pick up a Sip and Savor Pass, which gives you the opportunity to taste your way through your choice of eight different dishes or non-alcoholic beverages from participating Festive Food Marketplaces.

Our friends over at the Disney Parks Blog rounded up every delectable treat and eat the festivities have to offer. So, with much further to chew, here is a roundup of all the delishes dishes making their jolly way to DCA.

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Brews & Bites

Food:
Chorizo Queso Fundido with House-made Tortilla Chips

Beverages:

  • Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Paradise Rd, Pilsner
  • North Coast Brewing Co., Blue Star, Wheat
  • Brewery Ommegang, Rosetta, Aged Cherry Ale
  • Deschutes Brewery, Mirror Pond, Pale Ale
  • Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Boont, Amber Ale
  • Aftershock Brewing Co., Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ale
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Isomerizer, IPA
  • New Belgium Brewing Company, Accumulation, White IPA
  • Cigar City Brewing, Maduro, Brown Ale
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company, 9 Bonfires Blazing, Golden Stout
  • Legends Brewery, Cookies Galore, Chocolate Cookie Milk Stout

Festive Progressive Flight:

  • Figueroa Mountain Paradise Rd Pilsner
  • Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale
  • Karl Strauss Isomerizer IPA
  • Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale

Flavors of the Season Flight

  • Ommegang Rosetta Cherry Ale
  • Aftershock Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ale
  • Karl Strauss 9 Bonfires Blazing Golden Stout
  • Legends Cookies Galore Milk Stout

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Favorite Things

Food:

  • Holiday Ham Shanks with Brown Sugar-Pineapple Glaze
  • Reuben Potato Tots with Russian Dressing and Rye Toast

Beverages:

  • Cranberry Sangria with Lime Garnish
  • Eggnog Cocktail with Whipped Cream and Nutmeg Dusting

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Holiday Duets

Food:

  • Curry Cauliflower Soup with Braised Lamb and Mintchurri
  • Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Sausage
  • Holiday Mickey and Minnie Cookies

Beverages:

  • Ballast Point Brewing Company, Spruce Tip Sculpin, IPA
  • Warm Peppermint Chocolate Float with Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream and Peppermint Crumbles

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Making Spirits Bright

Beverages:

  • Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
  • Baileyana, Firepeak, Chardonnay, Edna Valley
  • Bartenura, Moscato, Italy
  • MacMurray Ranch Estate, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
  • Joel Gott, Zinfandel, California
  • Rodney Strong, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
  • Chandon, Sparkling Wine, Brut, California

Mimosa Flight:

  • Pomegranate Mimosa
  • Pear Mimosa
  • White Cranberry Mimosa

White Wine Flight:

  • Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
  • Baileyana, Firepeak, Chardonnay, Edna Valley
  • Bartenura, Moscato, Italy

Red Wine Flight:

  • MacMurray Ranch Estate, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
  • Joel Gott, Zinfandel, California
  • Rodney Strong, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Visions of Sugarplums

Special Offering:

  • Sweet Dreams and Milk – Horizon® Organic Lowfat Milk and Choice of Dessert

Food:

  • Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce
  • White Chocolate Cranberry Blondie
  • Eggnog Wreath Éclair with White Chocolate Icing
  • Horchata Fudge

Beverages:

  • Warm Bourbon Cider with House-made Bourbon-infused Marshmallow
  • S’mores Frozen Chocolate Milk with House-made Toasted Marshmallow-infused Whipped Cream, Graham Cracker Crumble and Chocolate Drizzle (non-alcoholic)
  • Horizon® Organic Lowfat Milk

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Merry Mashups

Food:

  • Turkey & Stuffing Tamale with Cranberry Relish
  • Lox & Everything Bagel Nachos
  • “Hot Cocoa” Marshmallow Macaron

Beverages:

  • Sparkling Wine Punch with Chandon Brut, Sparkling Wine and Lime Sherbet
  • Holiday Punch with Lime Sherbet and Sprite (non-alcoholic)

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Winter Wonders

Food:

  • Pumpkin Soup with Maple Cashew Cream
  • Chana Masala with Grilled Garlic Naan
  • Vanilla and Cranberry Trifle

Beverages:

  • Pomegranate Lemonade (non-alcoholic)

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Blissfully Braised

Food:

  • Braised Pork Belly Adobo with Garlic Fried Rice
  • Cornbread Cakes with Braised Collard Greens and Smoked Bacon Gravy

Beverages:

  • Blood Orange Ginger Mule with a Rosemary Sprig

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Grandma’s Recipes

Food:

  • Beef Pot Roast on a Potato Roll with Horseradish Cream
  • Candied Yams with Marshmallow Cream and Toasted Pecans
  • Gingerbread Mickey

Beverages:

  • Wyder’s Cider, Hard Pear Cider
  • Towne Park Brew Co, Gose Fresca
  • Avery Brewing, White Rascal, Belgian-Style White Ale
  • Smog City Brewing Co., Snugglebug, Sour Blonde Ale
  • Merry Cherry Pineapple Punch with Red Maraschino Cherries (non-alcoholic)

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Tart & Fruity Flight:

  • Pear —Wyder’s Cider, Hard Pear Cider
  • Watermelon, Lime, Hibiscus & Cayenne —Towne Park Brew Co, Gose Fresca
  • Orange —Avery Brewing, White Rascal, Belgian-Style White Ale
  • Boysenberry & Raspberry —Smog City Brewing Co., Snugglebug, Sour Blonde Ale

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Spicy Celebrations
Food:

  • Nashville Hot Fried Turkey with Dill Pickles
  • Jalapeño Latkes with Chipotle Crema
  • Chocolate Chipotle Pot de Crème

Beverages:

  • Pomegranate Margarita with Chipotle-smoked Sea Salt Half-Rim

A Twist on Tradition

Food:

  • Pozole Rojo Beef with Hominy Polenta
  • “Chicken-less” Mole with Spanish Rice
  • Black Forest Yule Log

Beverages:

  • Winter Michelada with Modelo Negra and Brown Sugar Rim
  • Modelo Negra, Dark Lager

Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure

Winter Sliderland

Food:

  • Roasted Turkey Slider with Cranberry Sauce
  • Holiday Stuffing Mac & Cheese
  • Milk Chocolate Candy Cane Pot de Crème

Beverages:

  • Frosty Frosé with Fleurs de Prairie Rosé, Blue Curaçao, and White Cranberry Juice served frozen with Mint Sprig
  • Oskar Blues Brewery, Old Chub, Scotch Ale

This special holiday festival runs through Jan. 8. To learn more about Disney Festival of Holidays and Holidays at Disneyland Resort, check out the Disneyland Resort website.

Three Magical Holiday Specials Are a Magical Gift from ABC, Disney Channel, and Disney Parks to All of Us

We’ve just gotten our first gift of the season—three of them, actually. A trio of star-studded TV specials are coming to ABC and Disney Channel, beginning Thursday, November 29. Not only will the TV events bring the sights and sounds of the holidays at Disney parks right to your home, but they’ll also feature exclusive looks at upcoming attractions and experiences coming to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Here’s what we know about the three specials:

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration—Thursday, November 29 (9–11 p.m. EST on ABC and on the ABC app)

Jordan Fisher—singer, songwriter and Dancing with the Stars: Juniors host—and Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland host the magical two-hour event from the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Jesse Palmer returns as Disneyland host for this star-studded prime-time celebration chock full of musical performances, special appearances and, of course, Disney holiday magic—including an incredible castle-lighting spectacular from Disney Parks around the globe from Florida and California to Paris, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

Musical performances include:

  • Multi-Grammy® Award-winning superstar Gwen Stefani lights up the night with “Feliz Navidad.”
  • Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter Meghan Trainor performs a medley of her hits.
  • CMA Award-winning country artist Brett Eldredge, joined by Meghan Trainor, sing the classic holiday duet “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” from Eldredge’s album Glow.
  • Andrea Bocelli shares his unmistakable voice, singing a Christmas classic; then Andrea is joined by his son, Matteo Bocelli, to perform their beautiful new duet, “Fall on Me,” from Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
  • Jordan Fisher performs his Christmas hit, “Come December.”
  • Grammy Award-nominated artist Aloe Blacc performs his debut single, “I Got Your Christmas Right Here,” from his first-ever holiday album, Christmas Funk, out November 9.
  • American Idol winner Maddie Poppe sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
  • Chart-topping, breakout music group Why Don’t We performs a medley of the classic “Silent Night” and their original holiday song “Hey Good Lookin.”

Disney Parks Presents a 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Party (Friday, November 23, in the DisneyNOW app and Saturday, December 1, from 8–8:30 p.m. EST on Disney Channel)

Jordan Fisher joins Disney Channel’s Coop & Cami Ask the World stars Ruby Rose Turner and Dakota Lotus for this festive half-hour special featuring star-studded musical performances and special appearances by Disney Channel stars Booboo Stewart (Disney’s Descendants 3), Kylee Russell (Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES), Sadie Stanley (Disney Channel Original Movie Kim Possible) and Sean Giambrone (Disney Channel Original Movie Kim Possible, ABC’s The Goldbergs). Viewers can go behind the scenes of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy with Stanley and Giambrone before Lightning and the Cars-themed experience races into Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in spring 2019.

Musical performances include:

  • Gwen Stefani sings the holiday classic “Let It Snow.”
  • Brett Eldredge performs “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.”
  • Disney Channel’s Andi Mack star Asher Angel rocks out to “Last Christmas.”
  • Disney Channel’s ZOMBIES star Meg Donnelly brings tropical cheer with her performance of “Mele Kalikimaka.”

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (Tuesday, December 25, from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. EST, 9–11 a.m. CST/MST/PST; airtimes vary, check listings, on ABC and on the ABC app)

Who doesn’t love a Disney Christmas Parade? Hosts Jordan Fisher and Sarah Hyland share a magical holiday tradition—the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade—with families around the globe. Co-hosted by Jesse Palmer, the celebration will be merrier than ever before, bringing together the adored Christmas Day parade, special musical performances, surprise celebrity guests, and heartwarming family stories to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Joining the festivities as parade correspondents are Freeform’s grown-ish actor Trevor Jackson and star of Freeform’s upcoming series Good Trouble, Cierra Ramirez.

Musical performances include the following:

  • Gwen Stefani performs “Winter Wonderland” from her Christmas album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas.
  • Brett Eldredge sings the holiday classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
  • Andrea Bocelli sings the incredibly moving “Ave Maria”; then Andrea is joined by his son, Matteo Bocelli, to perform “White Christmas.”
  • Host Jordan Fisher performs “This Christmas.”
  • Aloe Blacc performs “Tell Your Mama” from his first holiday album, Christmas Funk, out November 9.
  • Freeform’s Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger star and Hollywood Records artist Olivia Holt sings a holiday tune.
  • American Idol winner Maddie Poppe celebrates the season with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
  • Disney’s dynamic a cappella group DCappella performs the popular Christmas hit “Last Christmas.”
  • Why Don’t We performs “Kiss You This Christmas” from their holiday album, A Why Don’t We Christmas.

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade airs as part of Disney|ABC’s company-wide 25 Days of Christmas programming event—and it’s a tradition that we’ve long held dear. Stay tuned for more details as they’re announced!

5 Costumes from The Nutcracker and the Four Realms that We Can’t Wait to See

By Karina Schink

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, out tomorrow, tells the magical story of Clara (Mackenzie Foy), who, after being gifted a magical key, is launched into four mystical and unforgettable  realms. Trials and tribulations unfold and catapult her further into a dark tale as she travels throughout each realm.

Inspired by the classic E.T.A. Hoffman tale we all know and love, this latest holiday film is filled with intrigue, beauty, and decadence, and Jenny Beavan provides us with an inside look at the film through five incredible Nutcracker costume creations.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Clara’s Dress for Drosselmeyer’s Party
Before young Clara is plunged into a mystical world of Flowers, Sweets, and Snowflakes, she is preparing to attend her godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual Christmas Party. Like so many of the iconic Disney heroines that came before her, Clara is dressed in a beautiful gown, ready for the ball (or party, in this case). It’s a simple ankle-length mauve dress, finished with just a touch of lace, but, according to Beavan, this “little dress” is much more important than a ball gown. It is this outfit that carries Clara into the other world. “She actually lands in a very snowy environment, and [the dress is] completely inappropriate, which is something I just love.”

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Louise’s Dress
Just like her sister, Louise (Ellie Bamber) begins the movie outfitted for their godfather’s party. Though her dress is not the one that caught her eye in a store window, it holds a very particular significance. It was a Christmas gift from her late mother who has only recently passed away, a dress that had once been hers, and according to Beavan, actually “motivates some of the story.” She sees its bows and lace as “old-fashioned,” but we think the dress fits right in to the grandeur of the Christmas party perfectly.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Clara’s Soldier Dress
As Clara’s journey through the Realms towards the fallen, and now evil, Fourth Realm continues, her outfit changes to match her new role in this mystical world. “There were a lot of female soldiers in the 18th (and) 19th century,” Beavan says about Clara’s soldier uniform. “So, it just seemed like a nice thing to give her something that made her very strong.” The costume was designed with functionality in mind. While the gold epaulets, sharp edges, and darker colors are a far stitch from the mauve dress Clara wore at the beginning of the film, it is still a dress. Beavan says that the skirt is to aid her, “she may tear or knot part of her skirt,” becoming another tool she can use in the fight that lays ahead of her.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Mother Ginger
With a cracked visage and menacing glare, the dreadful Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren) has one of the most frightening get-ups of all. Beavan envisioned a specific backstory that played a significant role in designing the costume, which features an amalgam of prints and textures. “I had decided she was, in fact, the doll that hadn’t been [preserved] in the cabinet, she’d been [left out] on top and got a bit dusty [and] neglected,” Beavan explains. We for one, are very intrigued to see what kind of resistance she uses against Clara.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

The Sugar Plum Fairy
Towering stacks of layered pleats, soft colors, and a bold look. The Sugar Plum Fairy (Keira Knightly) guides Clara at the start of her quest and looks stunning doing it, as the tulle accents of her gown lead naturally to a whimsical updo reminiscent of candy floss. Her shimmering lavender costume feels just like many of our favorite princesses’ classic gowns. Unlike the animated classics, however, this fairy’s dress was created not only by Beavan and her team, but in partnership with filmmakers. It took many camera tests to make sure the pleats didn’t appear “metallic” on screen and it took several iterations and many stitches to give her this iconic look.

Meet KnowsMore in New Ralph Breaks the Internet Clip—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Ralph and Vanellope meet an Internet know-it-all, and Captain Marvel prepares to board Disney Cruise Line… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Ralph and Vanellope Meet KnowsMore in Brand-New Clip

We don’t know about you, but we’re as excited as those screaming goats of the world wide web for the upcoming release of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Ralph Breaks the Internet… so you can imagine our pleasure when a new clip of the film debuted this week, in honor of #InternetDay (celebrating the very first time two computers, in different locations, made their first connection). See lovable Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and sassy Vanellope (voice of Sarah Silverman) meet the Internet’s KnowsMore (voice of Disney animation stalwart Alan Tudyk) in the brand-new clip, above.

But that’s not the only Ralph Breaks the Internet news this week: Our pals at Disney Parks have just revealed that Ralph and Vanellope will be breaking free from Litwak’s Arcade to visit guests in person this fall! You’ll find the duo inside Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure park beginning November 9, and at Epcot’s Innoventions West at Walt Disney World Resort beginning November 21—the same day the film debuts in theaters.

So pause that online game you’re playing and make sure to mark your calendars for all this upcoming Ralph Breaks the Internet fun!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
November 6, 2018
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Animation Studios
November 10, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
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
August 30-November 12, 2018
Epcot International Food & Wine 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
November 2, 2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters
November 21, 2018
Ralph Breaks the Internet opens in U.S. theaters
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
June 21, 2019
Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters
Television
November 4, 2018
Mickey’s 90th Spectacular airs on ABC (8–10 p.m. EST)

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel Zooms onto Disney Cruise Line in 2019

One of the newest members of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will soon be joining all her Super Hero brethren on board Disney Cruise Line… Yes, Captain Marvel herself will makes her debut during Marvel Day at Sea in 2019. For the first time ever, guests will encounter one of the universe’s most powerful heroes in person as part of these action-packed, day-long celebrations aboard select Disney Magic sailings, departing January 6 through March 8 from Miami.

Captain Marvel joins the event’s already awesome line-up of Super Heroes and villains, including Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Loki, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and more. And in addition to these “heroic” encounters, Marvel Day at Sea features an amazing deck show spectacular; themed activities for kids and teens; exclusive merchandise; and unique food and beverage offerings.

Learn more about Marvel Day at Sea, and all of DCL’s upcoming sailings at DisneyCruise.com.

Rosita render

Disneyland’s Tropical Hideaway Welcomes a Tiki Room Feathered Friend

It’s almost time for The Tropical Hideaway—the new Adventureland food and beverage outpost coming to Disneyland park—to offer their unique and delicious wares to guests… But what if we told you you’ll be able to meet some of the local wildlife, up close and personal?

After many years performing in the bird-mobile chorus of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, the lovely Rosita will be spreading her wings at The Tropical Hideaway’s loading dock, waiting for her boat to arrive. She’s a friendly cockatoo who’s excited to meet her fellow globetrotters, so make sure to pull up a seat and say hi. As an added bonus, Rosita’s a bit of a comic; she’s got all kinds of jokes up her wing, and we have to say, they rival any hilarity you’ve heard aboard a Jungle Cruise boat…

Keep your eyes peeled for more info about Rosita and The Tropical Hideaway in the coming months!

Just Roll With It

ICYMI: Disney Channel to Just Roll With It

There’s a truly unique new series coming to Disney Channel—one that’ll keep you on the edge of your seats, waiting to find out what happens next. D23 has the scoop on what you can expect on Just Roll With It (created by the fine folks behind Walk the Prank) right here.

LEGO® Star Wars: All-Stars Now Airing on Disney XD YouTube and DisneyNow

LEGO® and the Star Wars universe is truly a win-win for galaxies everywhere—so color us Rebel-iously excited for LEGO Star Wars: All-Stars, the new animated adventure series now airing on Disney XD YouTube and DisneyNow. Comprised of eight shorts and four half-hour episodes (and spanning all Star Wars eras!), the series features LEGO versions of several fresh faces alongside iconic heroes including Kylo Ren, R2-D2, Young Han, Chewie, Young Lando, BB-8, and General Leia. Take a peek at the shorts in the video, above. (We’re especially looking forward to meeting wacky droid Roger!)

The first five shorts are airing daily this week, through November 2, culminating in a compilation special highlighting three additional shorts on Saturday, November 10, at 11 a.m. EST/PST on Disney XD and DisneyNOW. Following the shorts’ debut, four full half-hour episodes will premiere Saturdays—on those same two platforms—beginning November 17 at 11 a.m. EST/PST.

Every Way You Can Celebrate Mickey’s Big Anniversary This Month

By Jocelyn Buhlman

We’re just 18 days away from the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse’s debut in Steamboat Willie. Since his first foray onto the big screen, Mickey has become the global ambassador for The Walt Disney Company and an icon of happiness and fun all over the world. As we kick off Mickey’s anniversary month, let’s take a look at all the ways we can join in the celebration for the true original himself:

Mickey Mouse

Mickey’s 90th Birthday Spectacular
This Sunday, November 4 (8–10 p.m. EST), on ABC, join a star-studded cast to mark Mickey’s big milestone. Kristen Bell, Meghan Trainor, Leslie Odom Jr., and more guests are part of the elegant affair that took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Grab your family and friends and tune in to a special night you won’t want to miss!

Mickey Mouse

Mickey: The True Original Exhibition
From November 8, 2018, to February 10, 2019, this exhibition in New York City celebrates 90 years of Mickey Mouse’s influence on art and pop culture. The stunning exhibit features 10 immersive rooms in a 16,000-square-foot exhibition space, including an entirely black-and-white world of comic strips and cartoons, a recreation of the “All New Mickey Mouse Club” set, and a special homage to the legendary Ink & Paint department. Twenty artists, sculptors, muralists, and designers are partnering with Disney to bring this exhibit to life, including Kingdom Heart’s Tetsuya Nomura, celebrity photographer RANKIN, and yarn artist London Kaye. Tickets are on sale now, so don’t miss out on this amazing exhibition.

Mickey Mouse

A Very Animated Birthday Special
Disney Channel’s wackily wonderful Mickey Mouse animated shorts will debut a special seven-minute, extended-length birthday episode titled “Surprise!” airing on November 18. Tune in to see how Mickey’s wish for a surprise-free birthday ends up becoming the biggest surprise of his life!

Mickey Mouse

The World’s Biggest Mouse Party at Disney Parks
Disney Parks around the world are celebrating Mickey (and Minnie!) with a series of events announced in August on the Disney Parks Blog, including The World’s Biggest Mouse Party, a limited-time, global celebration of Mickey and Minnie. The party is so big it will start on November 18, 2018, and continue all the way into 2019! Also in January 2019, guests at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort can enjoy Mickey and Minnie’s confetti-inspired celebration outfits created especially for this amazing anniversary. If you want an earlier peek at the fun, new looks, guests at Hong Kong Disneyland will get to enjoy the outfits starting on November 18th.

Even more details about magical Mickey celebrations in the parks are yet to come, so keep your eyes on Disney Parks Blog for future announcements.

Destination D: Mickey Mouse

Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
With an anniversary this big, of course we’re hosting our own very special celebration at Walt Disney World Resort. D23 Members will join us for a birthday celebration featuring exclusive shopping, a brand-new exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives, and special panels covering the wonderful, weird, and wacky history of Mickey Mouse himself. If you can’t make it out to join us, stay tuned right here on D23.com and on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to find out every exciting update and announcement from the celebration.

Mickey Mouse

Disney On Ice Celebrates Around the World
Mickey has been the “True Original” host of Disney On Ice  since its inception in 1981, so to celebrate, guests can enjoy a special Mickey’s 90th pre-show in productions touring the United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Additionally, the new production Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Special Celebration launched in July 2018 in Japan and will continue touring throughout the Asia-Pacific region until August 2019.

Mickey Mouse merchandise

Mickey Merch for Miles and Miles
Sure, it’s Mickey’s big anniversary, but why not give yourself a gift, too? You may have already spotted all sorts of Mickey-themed treats and treasure in stores, but make sure to check out some new favorites, such as the Mickey 90 collection on shopDisney (https://www.shopdisney.com/characters/mickey-mouse/mickeys-90th-anniversary), the monthly, limited-release Mickey Mouse Memories Collection available in Disney Stores everywhere, and the more than 30 new titles from Disney Publishing Worldwide celebrating Mickey himself [LINK: books.disney.com]. D23 Members, remember to use your 15 percent discount on purchases of $60 or more at shopDisney.com and Disney stores while shopping for your favorite Mickey merchandise!

Mickey Mouse

Celebrate Right Here on D23.com!
Keep the celebration going from the comfort of your computer! Here on D23.com, we’ve been celebrating Mickey’s big anniversary all year long with…

Join in the celebration on social media using the #Mickey90 hashtag, and stay tuned to D23.com for future announcements on Mickey’s big celebration!

D23 Expo 2019 Mousequerade and Design Challenge

https://d23.com/app/uploads/2018/08/Expo_Generic_Banner_1180_1_JD_v2-1180x156.jpg https://d23.com/app/uploads/2018/08/Expo_Generic_Banner_700_1_JD_v3.jpg

A ghoulish delight or a Jedi knight, a princess fair or a Country Bear… D23 Expo will again feature the ever-popular Mousequerade costume contest. Fans are invited to design their own Disney-inspired costumes for this incomparable competition. Past contests have showcased unparalleled creativity and innovation, and this year will be no exception as dozens of finalists will show off their extraordinary designs for a panel of expert judges.

MORE INFO

Submit your BOO-tiful art to this chilling challenge! The theme for the D23 Expo 2019 Design Challenge is “Haunted Mansion”—a nod to the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland Park and the “spirits” of the Haunted Mansion attractions at Disney Theme Parks across the world. Contestants can base their work on the beloved Disneyland Park attraction or the “spirits” of the Haunted Mansion attractions —including Phantom Manor and Mystic Manor—at any Disney Theme Park worldwide.

MORE INFO

Special New Look at Mary Poppins Returns—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

See (and hear) Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda in action, and check out Freeform’s new Party of Five siblings… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

The Impossible’s Possible in a New Look at Mary Poppins Returns

If you were taking in the Disney Night delights of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars on Monday evening, you probably noticed a very special debut… a brand-new look at Mary Poppins Returns! In case you missed its tuneful goodness the first time ‘round—or just want to enjoy it again—do check out the clip, above.

Featuring all-new songs with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman (Hairspray), and directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago), Mary Poppins Returns finds everyone’s favorite nanny (Emily Blunt) returning to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder that’s missing from their lives following a personal loss. Also starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, and Colin Firth, the film will fly its proverbial kite into a movie theater near you on December 19.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
October 28, 2018
D23 Celebrates 25 Spooktacular Years of Hocus Pocus
October 30, 2018
Be Among the First to See Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms!
November 6, 2018
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Animation Studios
November 10, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
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
August 17, 24, 28, 31
September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
September 19, 21, 24, 26, 28
October 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party at the Disneyland Resort
August 30-November 12, 2018
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
September 7-October 31, 2018
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
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
November 2, 2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters
November 21, 2018
Ralph Breaks the Internet opens in U.S. theaters
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
June 21, 2019
Toy Story 4 opens in U.S. theaters
Television
November 4, 2018
Mickey’s 90th Spectacular airs on ABC (8–10 p.m. EST)

news briefs 10/24

Freeform’s Party of Five Finds Its Cast

Freeform is looking to bring an updated version Party of Five, the beloved series that aired from 1994 to 2000, back to TV—and just this week, they announced casting for the highly anticipated reboot.

The series will follow the Buendía siblings, who struggle to survive together as a family after their parents are deported to Mexico. Brandon Larracuente (13 Reasons Why) will portray Emilio, the oldest (and least responsible) of the siblings; Emily Tosta (Mayans M.C.) will play Lucia, a straight-A student who becomes politically radicalized and defiant to her older-sister duties; Niko Guardado (ABC’s The Goldbergs) portrays Beto, the second oldest brother who steps up in the midst of the family’s turmoil; and newcomer Elle Paris Legaspi rounds out the cast as 10-year-old Valentina, the precocious (but resourceful) youngest sister.

Look for more information on Freeform’s Party of Five in the coming months…

New Imagine Dragons Music Video from Ralph Breaks the Internet

As if reuniting with Wreck-It Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) in Disney’s upcoming animated adventure Ralph Breaks the Internet isn’t exciting enough, we were just this week gifted with the music video (seen above) for the movie’s end credits—featuring a brand-new song by Grammy® winners Imagine Dragons!

The song, “Zero,” reflects the emotional themes in the movie, says Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds. “They are compelling because they are real to each of us, personally. That journey of feeling like nothing and trying to realize and recognize your worth as a human is an important part of life,” Reynolds recently said. “And given the distorted version of reality kids face online and the expectations that come with it, this struggle is real for so many people right now.”

“Zero” will be featured on Walt Disney Records’ Ralph Breaks the Internet original motion picture soundtrack—available digitally on November 16. Look for Ralph and Vanellope as they surf the information superhighway to a theater near you beginning November 21.

ICYMI: World of Disney Re-Opens at Downtown Disney District

Visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort in the near future? Do make sure you check out the reimagined World of Disney stores, which have just reopened at Downtown Disney District in California and Disney Springs in Florida. For a glimpse into the West Coast’s incredibly cool outpost, check out this first-look video (above) from our friends at the Disney Parks Blog.

These reimagined World of Disney stores are being transformed into fresh, distinctly Disney retail settings—inspiring guests young and young-at-heart with an amazing selection of merchandise; improved store layouts; and super fun new design elements that’ll make guests feel like they’ve stepped inside an animator’s studio!

But that’s not all: Both World of Disney stores will feature awesome new reusable merchandise bags, made from 80 percent recycled materials and featuring classic Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Donald Duck. And keep your eyes peeled for exclusive new collections—our current favorite is the one themed to Disney’s classic 1950s TV series The Mickey Mouse Club!

Make sure to visit World of Disney on your next Disney Park sojourn…

Andrea and Matteo Bocelli Sing for The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

It’s almost time to venture with Clara (Mackenzie Foy) into the Land of Sweets, Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers, and the mysterious fourth realm in Disney’s upcoming holiday film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms—and in advance of that debut, Grammy®-nominated singer Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo have released their song from the film’s soundtrack, “Fall on Me.” Have a listen to this poignant new ballad by watching the colorful clip, above.

Also starring Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and prima ballerina Misty Copeland, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms will jeté and pirouette into theaters on November 2.

Adorable Baby Animal Alert: Okapi Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Who doesn’t love cute babies? Or cute animals? When it’s a combo of both, we’ve really hit the jackpot… So when we saw that a baby was born in early October at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we just had to celebrate.

A rare okapi—an endangered mammal also known as a “forest giraffe”—was born to mom Zelda on October 1. Weighing in at 54 pounds (!), the calf was already up and walking around within an hour of his birth. The pair will remain in a behind-the-scenes habitat for the next few months, before joining the other animals on the Animal Kingdom Lodge savanna. See the cutie patootie for yourself in the above video!

The calf’s parents, mom Zelda and dad Mandazi, were chosen to breed through the Species Survival Plan (SSP)—which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and ensures responsible breeding of threatened and endangered species.

Congratulations to one and all!

A Deeper Meme-ing: Ralph and Vanellope Go Viral in Ralph Breaks the Internet

By Craig Tomashoff

If you’re going to call your film Ralph Breaks the Internet, at some point there’s one particular thing you’re going to have to get around to.

“One of the elements of our movie that needed to be reiterated many, many times was the idea of Ralph and Vanellope going viral,” says Natalie Nourigat, one of the story artists who worked on this sequel to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph. “We thought that would be a fun element of the story and help progress what we wanted to do with it. But the question everyone asked was exactly how to create that viral content. We tried many things before we cracked this one.”

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To find the best introduction into Internet culture for Ralph and Vanellope, the film’s story team did what most of us already dedicate much of our spare time to—wander the web for hours upon hours. One of the first things they stumbled across was the popular “Two Kinds Of People” series of memes. These are images of two similar yet different objects such as, say, ketchup and mustard. The caption then differentiates between the types of people for whom ketchup is the go-to condiment and those who prefer mustard.

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The storyboard artists tried to concoct a way in which Yesss (voiced by Taraji P. Henson), the film’s arbiter of all things buzz-worthy, could create some similar memes based on two very different kinds of people, Ralph and Vanellope. However, says Nourigat, “it didn’t end up working because we decided we wanted Ralph to be making sacrifices for his friend. So instead of both of them going viral together, we wondered, ‘What if it’s Ralph going viral and being this clown putting himself out there for Vanellope?’”

It was literally back to the drawing board for the team, and they eventually came up with what Nourigat calls “the meme generator idea.” This time around, because Yesss is a super-powered algorithm, they had her create three random words and mash them together as a theme for viral videos featuring Ralph. One of the first groupings the artists tried was “otter,” “disco,” and “party,” and the end result was a test video of Ralph dancing with some happy otters until “one of them realizes there’s a ham sandwich in Ralph’s pocket and it all devolves into…otter failure!”

There were other suggestions, like “liger,” “wedding,” and “photo bomb”; “unboxing,” “angry,” and “bees”; and “waterslide,” “pirates,” and “hot sauce.” There was also one of Nourigat’s personal favorites—“monkey,” “Botox,” and “stapler.”

“One of our artists, Jeremy Spears, did the most beautiful drawings of this little baby monkey in a diaper stapling Ralph’s face,” she recalls. “It was crazy! But then, I have a dark sense of humor.”

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Those ideas played much better with the film’s directors, Rich Moore and Phil Johnston, than the “Two Types Of People” memes primarily “because of (web surfers’) familiarity with this video genre on YouTube,” according to Nourigat. That’s when Moore and Johnston began encouraging her and her crew to scour the Internet to see what else was grabbing the public’s attention.

“We got into the story room and started to draw things like cooking demos, screaming goats, video game walkthroughs, and even these reaction videos, which had those of us over 25 going, ‘What are these things?’,” Nourigat says. “They are videos where people have a camera on themselves and you see how they react to things like cute animals or movie trailers. From that point, all of these were all familiar things on YouTube that we could point to.”

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She and her fellow story artists started creating quick sketches mashing up the Ralph universe with familiar Internet tropes, resulting in test videos featuring things like Ralph’s head on the body of a screaming goat. Moore and Johnston loved these snippets of scenes, and their notes to the story team became much more specific. For instance, when the artists suggested Ralph do a parody of makeup tutorial videos, the directors’ only input was to push the gag even further. They suggested to Nourigat that instead of showing Ralph straight on, “we have him put the makeup on in profile so the audience will think he’s doing a good job. Then, reveal from the front that he’s a mess with bad eyes.”

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While she admits it may have taken “a thousand ideas” to finally hit on moments like this that take Ralph and Vanellope viral in the film (not to mention the nearly 300,000 storyboards, almost to 8,000 total sequence versions and 10 screenings the film itself went through), Nourigat admits she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“There’s a lot of ideas that come and go in the process, but I think that the best ideas end up winning,” she explains. “There’s always crazy ideas that are really funny that we develop along the way, but some don’t always [find] a place in a particular movie. Things are always constantly changing and evolving but, ideally, always getting better too.”

 

New Disney Channel Series Lets Cast Members Just Roll With It

By Beth Deitchman

When the cast of Disney’s just-announced new series Just Roll With It takes the stage during live tapings of the multi-camera sitcom, they’ll have no idea what outrageous stunts they’ll participate in over the course of the episode. The upcoming series blends scripted family comedy with improvisation—and lets audience members decide what will happen next. The actors might find themselves eating a sardine, grasshopper and ice cream burrito… or they may see someone fall through the roof of their characters’ home. Whatever happens, they’ll “just roll with it!”

This unique series follows the blended Bennett-Blatt family, who, despite their differences, are taking whatever life (or the studio audience) throws at them—together. Kaylin Hayman (One Day at a Time) plays Blair, a rebel without a cause, and the polar opposite of her ex-military mom, Rachel (Suzi Barrett of Kirby Buckets), who tends to be a little strict and more regimented. Blair’s stepbrother Owen (played by Ramon Reed of Broadway’s The Lion King) is a natural athlete who likes scheduling and organization, and who is always trying to clean up his father, creative and charismatic morning radio show host Byron (Tobie Windham of Walk the Prank).

The innovative new series has just received a greenlight, and we’ll bring you more details about Just Roll With It as they’re announced. Adam Small and Trevor Moore serve as executive producers for the series, which is from Kenwood TV Productions, Inc.

“The multi-camera sitcom format has worked as a staple of TV for decades. So naturally, we aimed to totally upend it,” said Jonas Agin, vice president, Original Series, Disney Channels. “By introducing an element of audience interactivity that subverts the expectations of not only the viewers but also the cast, Just Roll With It is a true step in the evolution of comedic storytelling.”