Celebrate Mickey’s Birthday with These Classic Quotes

October 17, 2018

By Karina Schink

In celebration of all things Mickey, we’ve made some sharables with our best pal featured on each one. From bumps in the road to memorable milestones, Mickey’s always prepared with a perfect parable or delightful quip for every situation. Download your favorite mousterpiece and share them with all of your fellow Mickey aficionados.

Click here to download.

Did You Know? Eight Golden Anniversary Facts About Disney’s 50 Happy Years Celebration

October 16, 2018October 16, 2018

By Jim Fanning

D23 members well know the “23” in D23 means October 16, 1923, the date on which Walt Disney founded the company bearing his name. Today, to celebrate 95 years of magic, let’s look back to the yearlong, multi-faceted party entitled 50 Happy Years. Here are eight golden anniversary facts about the happy events and fun-filled happenings from 1973 as Disney celebrated 50 Happy Years of Family Entertainment.

Setting the Date
On November 17, 1970, Chief Archivist Emeritus Disney Legend David R. Smith wrote a memo to Disney Legend E. Cardon Walker, then president of Walt Disney Productions, establishing the official starting date of Walt Disney Productions (as The Walt Disney Company was then called). Dave stated, “Walt signed the first contract with M. J. Winkler to produce Alice Comedies on October 16, 1923.” This memo—written less than a year after the Walt Disney Archives was founded on June 22, 1970—asserted “it is about time now to give some thought to an anniversary celebration.” Card’s response was enthusiastic but he said essentially, “Let’s open Florida first,” as Walt Disney World Resort was set to open its gates on October 1, 1971. When the golden jubilee planning began in earnest in 1972, the stylishly Seventies 50 Happy Years logo, inspired in part by the ubiquitous “happy face” symbol, was created by artists Disney Legend Bob Moore and Norm Noceti. The unforgettable logo was emblazoned on posters, record albums, comic books and all kinds of merchandise and memorabilia, and was incorporated into a special animated introduction shown before every 1973 Disney theatrical release. Key art spotlighting a cavalcade of Disney stars was created, complete with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in the far distance, representing Walt’s pre-Mickey era. The art was used on a fan card and was also adapted as the centerpiece of the 1972 Studio Christmas card, anticipating the celebration to come in the New Year.

Disney’s Golden Anniversary Celebrated in Pageants and Parades
Though a fourth edition of the traveling arena show Disney on Parade was introduced in 1973 to tie in with the 50 Happy Years celebration, Disney’s golden jubilee year stepped off on New Year’s Day with a specially designed float in the 84th annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade. The theme of that year’s parade was “Movie Memories,” an ideal tie-in with Disney’s anniversary. The lead unit in the parade, the Disney float was actually, according to the parade’s official program, “a block-long cavalcade of more than 100 famous Disney cartoon characters…[recreating] the most celebrated memories from Walt Disney’s film classics.” Promenading through Pasadena was a caravan of pirate ships, castle turrets, a circus train, three teapots and Herbie, the Love Bug. In November, a special Disney pre-show was part of NBC’s telecast of another annual parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with a spectacular Disney float in the parade itself. The 50 Happy Years celebration was brought to a close with a salute to Disney at the Orange Bowl on January 1, 1974, with a half-time extravaganza of dancers, singers and Disney characters on NBC, then home to the weekly Disney television series.

50 Happy Years on Television
In his 1970 memo, Dave Smith proposed a special episode of The Wonderful World of Disney television series, and “50 Happy Years” was broadcast on January 21. Showcasing film clips, the creation of Disneyland Park and Walt Disney World Resort, and a preview of the forthcoming animated feature, Robin Hood, this specially created hour boasted clips of more than 60 Disney films. The anniversary episode was the fifth highest-rated show of any telecast that week, while it was the top-rated installment of the Disney show that year.

50 Happy Years of Disney Artistry in a Coffee Table Art Book
Such an auspicious occasion as Disney’s 50th anniversary called for an assessment of the artistic achievements of Walt Disney. The 1973 Annual Report noted, “Disney has entered into an agreement with the internationally famous publishers of art books, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., to publish The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms. This deluxe edition will be a complete compilation of the story and artistic works of Walt Disney.” Featuring 763 illustrations including 351 color plates, the 458-page book marked the first major, serious consideration of the works of Walt Disney as art. Written by Christopher Finch, the text was based on hundreds of interviews with Disney staff members. When the lavish art book was published on October 16, Disney’s actual anniversary date, the first two printings sold out in less than three months, making it one of the most successful book ventures of its kind in publishing history. Through the years, the groundbreaking book has been updated and reissued, with the latest edition published in 2011.

Mickey Takes Manhattan at Lincoln Center
One of the celebration’s most remarkable highlights, the Walt Disney 50th Anniversary Film Retrospective, was held June 9 through August 4, 1973, at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Animated features, cartoon shorts and live-action classics were screened in the 1,095-seat Alice Tully Hall. Lincoln Center approached Disney twice about mounting such a film festival before the third offer struck a responsive chord because it coincided with the 50th anniversary celebration. Also included were seminars such as The Silent Years, The Parks and Beyond, incorporating a look ahead to what would eventually become Epcot Park in 1982, and The Art of Animation, a six-part seminar/workshop hosted by Disney Legends Woolie Reitherman, Frank Thomas and Ken Anderson, open by reservation-only to qualified art and film students. A special exhibition of behind-the-scenes art, posters and cels from the Walt Disney Archives was open through October at the Amsterdam Gallery of the Library & Museum of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. The program for this remarkable Disney event is a sought-after collector’s item with notes and essays written by Dave Smith, Christopher Finch and animation historian John Culhane.

50 Happy Years, 25 Happy Songs
For many Disney fans and music lovers, the 50 Happy Years of Disney Favorites LP record album, released in January 1973, was a major highpoint of the golden anniversary commemoration. Jimmy Johnson, President of Disneyland Records (now known as Walt Disney Records) explained: “Our 50th Anniversary LPs will be a two-record set with an 11-page book of illustrations.” Featuring the “most listenable and beautiful Disney music through the years,” this deluxe album presented songs from Three Little Pigs (1933) to Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), and featured three Academy Award® winners and five Oscar® nominees.

The Disney Parks Celebrate 50 Happy Years
For the 50 Happy Years jubilee year, Disneyland Park celebrated both Disney history and the man behind it when The Walt Disney Story opened on April 8, 1973 (and at Walt Disney World on April 15, 1973). Memorabilia related to Walt Disney from the Walt Disney Archives was displayed, as was an exact reproduction of his offices, reconstructed from photographs and accurate blueprints. The golden anniversary celebration culminated with a special version of the Disneyland holiday pageant, “Fantasy on Parade.” Each of the 35 floats was adorned with the 50 Happy Years logo. Considered the climactic event of the entire 50 Happy Years celebration, Disney’s 21st animated feature Robin Hood was released at Christmastime, and characters from the new film were central to the 50th anniversary pageant.

October 16, 1973: A Golden Day
The actual anniversary date, October 16, was commemorated by a special ceremony on Town Square at Disneyland Park hosted by Mickey Mouse and friends. In addition, a special three-day celebration was held at the park on the weekend of October 20-22. Festivities included a parade featuring guest bands; special performances by the Mouseketeers, including Disney Legends Annette Funicello and Bobby Burgess, from the Mickey Mouse Club TV series; and a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Festival, held in the Fantasyland Theater, with continual screenings of classic cartoons. At the Disney studio and at Disney offices worldwide all permanent employees received a specially commissioned bronze medal, while 94 employees who worked with Walt at the original studio on Hyperion Avenue were honored at a special party and were presented with a “Mousecar” award. Dated October 16, 1923-1973, the commemorative medal was accompanied by a note from Card Walker and studio head Ron Miller: “We thought you might like to have this souvenir as a small token of our thanks for making this, the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney Productions, the most successful in our history.” The back of this once-in-a-lifetime 50 Happy Years medal read: “My greatest reward is I’ve been able to build this wonderful organization. And also to have the public appreciate and accept what we’ve done all these years. That is a great reward.”—Walt Disney

Celebrate 25 Years of Hocus Pocus with These Spellbinding Quotes

October 16, 2018

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Hocus Pocus has cast its spell on us for 25 years now, and fans adore every aspect of the film. From the costumes to the music, Hocus Pocus is known for so many iconic elements, but perhaps none is more beloved than its unforgettable (and oh-so-quotable) dialogue. What’s your favorite line from the film? We’ve rounded up some of ours, which you can download and share with your friends and family.

Click here to download.

5 Hocus Pocus Items that are Sure to Cast a Spell on You

October 16, 2018

By Jocelyn Buhlman

We’re not under one of Winifred Sanderson’s wicked spells—our love of Hocus Pocus really is that strong! As we celebrate 25 bewitching years of this Halloween classic, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite items perfect for any fan of this film. And remember: D23 Members get a discount at shopDisney.

Thackery Binx Tank Top
This glittery tank top will leave you feline fine, since you’re celebrating one of our favorite cursed cats! Show the world you love Thackery Binx while staying comfortable and in style.

Hocus Pocus Journal
Now, you’ll be calling for your booooook just like Winifred Sanderson (although we hope you don’t use it for creating evil spells like she does!). Write down your wicked wonderings and devilish details in this journal that’s perfect for any aspiring witch!

Hocus Pocus Spirit Jersey
Rose gold, millennial pink, rainbow… Sure, there are some nice spirit jerseys already out there, but some of us need something a little more… spooky. For those who like to summon the spirits, craft spells, and cause magical mayhem, there’s finally a spirit jersey that suits our needs. Let the world know that you lit the black flame candle, and that’s no hocus pocus.

Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Combo Pack Multi-Screen Edition
Have you had a Hocus Pocus movie night yet? Celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary with this special edition that lets you enjoy this holiday classic anywhere you want.

Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel
If you can’t get enough of Hocus Pocus, we have good news! The witches are back in this novelization that features a fresh retelling of the film and an all-new sequel. Find out what happens to Max and Allison’s daughter, Poppy, when the Sanderson sisters return to Salem to once again carry out their witchy schemes.

All the Magic Coming to Disney Night on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors

October 15, 2018October 15, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

Disney Night is always a highlight of any season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. We’ve got Monday, October 22, circled on our calendars, and we can’t wait to see the remaining celebs and their pro partners take to the ballroom and dance to some of our favorite Disney songs. But before that, Disney fans can look forward to a sprinkling of pixie dust next Sunday night on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors. Here are the Disney classics for which the remaining DWTS: Juniors teams will show us their magical moves:

Akash Vukoti and Kamri Peterson (mentored by Witney Carson) will dance the jive to “Zero to Hero” from Hercules

Ariana Greenblatt and Artyon Celestine (mentored by Brandon Armstrong) will dance the samba to “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from Lilo & Stitch

Honey Boo Boo and Tristan Ianiero (mentored by Artem Chigvintsev) will dance the foxtrot to “Something There” from Beauty and the Beast

Jason Maybaum and Elliana Walmsley (mentored by Emma Slater) will dance the foxtrot to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story

Mackenzie Ziegler and Sage Rosen (mentored by Gleb Savchenko) will perform a contemporary dance to “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas

Mandla Morris and Brightyn Brems (mentored by Cheryl Burke) will perform a jazz dance to “Un Poco Loco” from Coco

Miles Brown and Rylee Arnold (mentored by Lindsay Arnold) will dance the Charleston to “One Jump Ahead” from Aladdin

Sky Brown and JT Church (mentored by Alan Bersten) will dance a contemporary dance to “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana

Sophia Pippen and Jake Monreal (mentored by Sasha Farber) will dance the samba to “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid

Disney Cruise Line Debuts “Disney at Sea with D23”

October 15, 2018October 15, 2018

By D23 Staff

Last week, guests aboard the Disney Wonder were treated to a brand-new live event, Disney at Sea with D23! The 30-minute entertainment news show highlights what’s new and what’s next from all of Disney’s wonderful worlds, from theme parks and movies to television, music, and beyond.

“Our friends at Disney Cruise Line reached out and asked us to develop a show that would take guests on a journey through all the incredible entertainment and experiences coming from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm,” says Michael Vargo, head of D23. “It’s thrilling to share all of the exciting news—and our love for Disney—with our guests on the high seas.”

While inside the Buena Vista Theatre, guests watched the new Captain Marvel trailer, heard about how Disney is celebrating Mickey Mouse’s 90th around the world, and saw the latest concept art for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland’s Tropical Hideaway, and Tokyo DisneySea’s upcoming expansion. Plus, guests heard about all the ways Disney is celebrating the anniversaries of Hocus Pocus and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—including D23’s own Fanniversary!

The show will be updated every month with new content, so Disney fans can get the scoop on all the excitement coming to Disney.

Plans are to hold the show on every cruise, and the presentation is scheduled to take place on virtually every itinerary, rolling out soon to all ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

Check your Disney Cruise Line Navigator when you get on board for more details, and we’ll sea ya real soon!

Did you know? 13 Diabolical Facts about Hocus Pocus

October 15, 2018July 15, 2021

By Taylor White

D23 celebrates Hocus Pocus with these 13 tricks and treats of trivia, conjured from the depths of the Walt Disney Archives!

1. Producer David Kirschner, the creator of the An American Tale and the Child’s Play franchises, originally conceived Hocus Pocus as a bedtime story for his two young daughters in the 1980s. Early drafts of the screenplay were much darker but lightened up and became more family-friendly with the casting of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.

2. The role of Max Dennison was originally offered to Leonardo DiCaprio, who instead chose to appear in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape with Johnny Depp, earning him his first Academy Award® nomination at the age of 19.

3. Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays the ditzy Sarah Sanderson, discovered that her 10th great-grandmother, Esther Elwell, was accused of “sundry acts of witchcraft.” Elwell was spared, as the witch trials had concluded, though Parker admits that the revelation changed everything she thought she knew about herself.

Hocus Pocus — Courtesy of Tony Gardner / Alterian Studios

4. Jason Marsden, who played the voice of the bewitched black cat Thackery Binx, also played Max, the son of Goofy in A Goofy Movie two years later.

5. Kathy Najimy’s role of the daffy Mary Sanderson was original offered to Rosie O’Donnell, but she reportedly declined the role as she didn’t want to play a “scary witch.”

6. Co-screenwriter Mick Garris went on to hold the record as the director of the most films and TV miniseries based on the works of horror novelist Stephen King, including The Stand, Sleepwalkers, Desperation, and The Shining.

7. The original trailer contains scenes that do not appear in the theatrical, VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray versions of the movie.

8. Hocus Pocus shares the same release year as Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, though the studio chose to release it in July, 1993 to keep the two films from competing with each other during the Halloween season. Both films initially underperformed at the box office, but each gained widespread popularity with every passing decade.

9. According to actor Doug Jones, the moths that fly out of the mouth of his character, zombie Billy Butcherson, are 100-percent real and not enhanced with computer FX.

10. James Horner, the Oscar® winning composer of Titanic, was originally slated to score the film and had penned Sarah Sanderson’s chilling “Garden of Magic” theme to sing on camera during production. When Horner became unavailable, composer John Debney stepped in and scored the entire 96-minute film in two weeks.

11. Animal trainer Larry Madrid used nine cats to play Thackery Binx with each having its own special skill to perform on-camera.

12. Some foreign countries saw the movie retitled as Abracadabra.

13. In October 2016, actress Bette Midler recreated her persona of Winifred Sanderson for her annual Hulaween Party at the Waldorf Astoria to raise funds for the New York Restoration Project.

Mickey Mouse: Your Ultimate Globetrotting Travel Pal

October 15, 2018April 19, 2019

By D23 Team

We’re celebrating 90 incredible years of Mickey Mouse in 2018—and what better time to recall some of the amazing locations that the “leader of the club” has visited over the years? From right in his own California backyard (at the grand opening of the Happiest Place on Earth) to far-flung locations across the globe, Mickey is one well-traveled pal.

Join us on a (virtual) flight around the world to see some of Mickey’s most epic trips, compliments of our friends at Alamo Rent A Car. It might just inspire you to add more stamps to your own passport!

Anaheim, California (1955)
Walt famously said, “…it was all started by a mouse,” so naturally, Mickey was in attendance at the opening ceremonies for Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955. Both Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse could be seen frolicking together and waving to guests during the opening day TV special, hosted by Art Linkletter, and broadcast live on the ABC television network. If Mickey (and Walt Disney) only knew where success would take him—literally and figuratively—over the ensuing years…

Shanghai, China (2016)
This stamp in Mickey’s passport is still fairly fresh… Just over two years ago, Mickey jetted off to the Pudong district in Shanghai, China, for the grand opening of Shanghai Disney Resort. Mickey and Minnie were joined by countless performers—as well as dignitaries from both the United States and China—for a truly memorable opening ceremony in front of Enchanted Storybook Castle, the tallest and most interactive Disney park castle crafted to date.

Marceline, Missouri (1998)
D23 Members and longtime fans know that Walt Disney and his family lived in quaint Marceline, Missouri, during his early childhood. Fast forward to nearly a century later, when in 1998, Walt’s greatest creation visited the town in person—for the premiere of The Spirit of Mickey VHS anthology. The “leader of the club” was joined at the event by some 18,000 delighted Disney fans.

Marne-la-Vallée, France (1992)
As seen on CBS in 1992, Mickey hopped “across the pond” to Marne-la-Vallée—about a half-hour outside the center of Paris—to help celebrate the grand opening of Disneyland Paris… or as it was originally called, Euro Disney. The two-hour TV special was simulcast live across Europe in five languages, and broadcast later the same day in the United States. The special ended with Mickey throwing open the gates to Sleeping Beauty Castle and welcoming the world to Disney’s latest park!

Birthday Tours Around the World
Over the years, Mickey has gone out on special birthday trips, visiting—and even surprising—fans in many countries around the world. Check out his global 2016 birthday celebration right here at D23.com, or take a peek at last year’s fan-centric birthday trip. And keep your eyes peeled… you never know what kind of worldwide shenanigans he’ll get up to for this year’s milestone!

Lake Buena Vista, Florida (1971)
Walt and Roy Disney may have officially announced their plans for a new Disney-themed entertainment enterprise in Florida on November 15, 1965 (not long after the World’s Fair wrapped up), but the resort itself—located in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando—didn’t open until October 1971. Mickey Mouse was, of course, on hand to help throw open the gates to Magic Kingdom Park, as well as the resort’s first two hotels, beautiful lagoons, the Palm and Magnolia golf courses, and a campground. By this point, our pal Mickey was a seasoned traveler!

Moscow, Russia (1988)
Mickey has always been an ambassador of goodwill, welcoming guests from all over the world to Disney theme parks—as well as creating memories for fans through TV shows and specials, animated films, books and toys, and so much more. But he became a true “envoy” when a group of prominent Russian animators invited him to the (now former) Soviet Union for a Disney animation festival in 1988. Cameras followed Mickey and Roy E. Disney (then vice chairman of The Walt Disney Company) on the trip, which was chronicled in the Disney Channel special Mickey Goes to Moscow.

Tokyo, Japan (1983)
Disney’s first theme park outside the contiguous United States opened on April 15, 1983—and there was no way Mickey Mouse would miss that kind of party! In fact, our globetrotting pal—plus Minnie, Donald, and Goofy—were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, alongside Masatomo Takahashi, president of the Oriental Land Company, Ltd., and Card Walker, then chairman of The Walt Disney Company. Not bad for a stamp in the ol’ passport, right?

Flushing Meadows—Corona Park, Queens, New York (1964–1965)
Perhaps one of Mickey’s most celebrated trips was to the New York World’s Fair, which kicked off in April 1964 and delighted guests for two six-month seasons, through October ’65. Several iconic Disney attractions made their very first appearance at the fair, including it’s a small world and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Mickey himself made many appearances at the Fair; for instance, he helped open the Carousel of Progress attraction (inside General Electric’s Progressland, one of the most visited pavilions at the fair), and even met a young John F. Kennedy Jr. in April 1965.

Lantau Island, Hong Kong (2005)
The 11th park in Disney’s now-global roster opened to much fanfare on lush Lantau Island—the largest island in Hong Kong (30 minutes from downtown) and once the site of numerous fishing villages. Mickey was a guest of honor at the park’s opening ceremonies, which included scores of musicians and traditional Chinese lion dancers; a spectacular fireworks display; and even an appearance by Vice President Zeng Qinghong of China—who declared the park Hong Kong’s “eternal carnival.”

The Ballroom Buzz from Dancing with the Stars: Juniors’ Team Brandon

October 12, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

They cha cha’d their way into our hearts on the premiere episode of Dancing with the Stars: Juniors last week, and this week, Team Brandon—actress Ariana Greenblatt, dancer/gymnast Artyon Celestine, with guidance from their mentor, Dancing with the Stars pro Brandon Armstrong—are going to show us how they jive. On Sunday’s episode, the celebrity kids are dancing to a song from the year they were born, and Ariana and Artyon are taking on Avril Lavigne’s 2007 hit “Girlfriend.”

“This is one of my favorite dances that I’ve done,” Ariana enthuses. “Oh my gosh, the jive is so exciting and fun and all the moves have to be precise.”

Ariana, who Disney fans know as Young Gamora in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars and from the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle, is partnered with Artyon, an award-winning dancer who has been making magical moves on the dance floor since he was 8. Brandon, currently competing on the adult Dancing with the Stars with his partner, Tinashe, is having a blast mentoring the next generation, watching them gain confidence over the course of the week as they master a new dance. “Watching them grow and watching them be successful is probably the most rewarding thing for me,” says Brandon.

“Definitely, literally growing,” Ariana is quick to add. “I mean, when I first met Artyon I was way shorter than he is, and now I’m almost the same height!”

Ariana and Artyon have bonded in the ballroom and have become good friends. “He could be the best partner ever,” says Ariana, while Artyon is enjoying another aspect of competing on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors. What does he see as the best part of being on the show? “I think just performing and showing everyone that the kids are better than the adults,” he says with a smile directed at his mentor.

“I think people would be really shocked at how hard they work,” says Brandon about Ariana, Artyon, and all of the DWTS: Juniors dancers. “They may be kids, but they put in a lot of hours and a lot of work to make these performances good.” Each one- to two-minute dance takes several days to learn, along with “hours and hours of rehearsal,” according to Ariana, who, as viewers saw last week, lights up the ballroom with her smile.

As the adult dancers and junior dancers alike prepare for Disney Night, we asked Ariana, Artyon, and Brandon which Disney character they would add to the team. Ariana considered Ariel and Lilo but ultimately decided Moana would be a great addition to their group. “I love Moana because she’s strong,” Ariana says. Though Artyon is a fan of Maui’s muscles and Stitch’s zaniness, he’d like to have Mickey Mouse in the house. “I love him—he’s very nice,” Artyon shares. As for Brandon, he’d like to mentor Mushu, the dragon from Mulan. “That’s my favorite Disney character,” he says.

Ariana, Artyon, and the rest of the Dancing with the Stars: Juniors cast are putting on their dancing shoes this Sunday to trip the light fantastic to songs from the year they were born. The fancy footwork begins Sunday, October 14, at 8 p.m. ET. Tune in to see which pairs get one step closer to the coveted Mirrorball trophy.

The Inside Scoop on Coop & Cami Ask the World

October 12, 2018November 22, 2019

By Karina Schink

Would you wrather have your mom date your principal or take her as a date to your school dance? Would you wrather eat a disgusting mixture of old leftovers or take a bath in it?

Those are some of the classic, age-old questions that Coop and Cami ask all of their “Wratherheads” on Disney Channel’s new series Coop & Cami Ask The World. Premiering on Friday, October 12, at 8 p.m. EDT, the show follows siblings Cooper and Cameron (Cami) Wrather, portrayed by Dakota Lotus and Ruby Rose Turner, respectively, as they entertain their fans online through their various “Would You Wrather” dilemmas.

The Wrathers are a heartwarming family of five, something star Ruby Rose Turner can relate to. “It’s actually kind of crazy because I am one of four and so is Cami,” she says, adding, “Olivia (Sanabia) and Dakota (Lotus) are each also one of four.”

Although Ruby may be familiar with the fun, and sometimes hectic life with three siblings, she is also no stranger to the spotlight. While Coop and Cami interact with their fans daily by asking them to answer “Would You Wrather” questions, Ruby is already known by Disney fans for being light on her feet. She has appeared twice on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and was even able to catch a recent taping of Dancing with the Stars: Juniors!

But her love for Disney (and dance) stretches beyond the ballroom all the way to one of her favorite shows: Shake It Up. “I love to dance,” she gushes, “so I could relate to [CeCe and Rocky]. I’d come home, and I would literally learn all of the dances they would do!” Ruby’s excitement for all things Disney is only matched by her love for her fellow cast members, as she says, “We’ve grown so close together since the pilot. We’re a big old family now.”

Newcomer Dakota Lotus stars as Cami’s brother Cooper, co-host of his successful web series. Olivia Sanabia portrays Charlotte, the twins’ older sister, who would really wrather just stay out of the spotlight (though she’s often caught in embarrassing situations while they’re streaming). Paxton Booth stars as Ollie, Coop and Cami’s younger brother, who is usually much more thrilled to join in on the antics. And we can’t forget their biggest fan, their mom, portrayed by Rebecca Metz.

As the self-proclaimed “biggest Disney fan,” Ruby Rose is overjoyed to see Coop & Cami enter the world. “I’m a big lover of Disney Channel,” she says. “And I’m so happy to be a part of the Disney family now.”

Ruby is so excited to see Coop & Cami officially “ask the world” when it premieres on Friday, October 12, at 8:30 p.m. on Disney Channel, and she hopes that Disney fans will enjoy the show and “just laugh when they watch it.”