7 Spectacular Facts About Disney Legend Ron Logan

By Francesca Scrimgeour

On Friday, October 19, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members are invited to Lunch with a Disney Legend: Ron Logan at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn conference center at Walt Disney World Resort. During the special event, guests can enjoy a three-course luncheon with Ron and ask him about his 23 years at Disney, where he ushered in a new era of live entertainment.

To learn more about Ron, here are seven spectacular facts about his legendary Disney career, creating entertainment spectacles around the world!

Beauty and the Beast on Broadway

1. Ron helped bring the “tale as old as time” to Broadway!
Building on the success of live theme park stage shows, Ron and his team pitched the idea of a Beauty and the Beast Broadway show to leadership, and the same team that produced the Beauty and the Beast stage show at Disneyland helped to create the Broadway version. They even partnered with the film’s screenwriter, Linda Woolverton, and songwriters (and fellow Disney Legends) Tim Rice and Alan Menken, who added to and adapted the classic songs written for the film by Menken and Howard Ashman. This led to the establishment of Walt Disney Theatrical Productions, where Ron served as President for the early years of Disney on Broadway!

Wild Bill's Wild West Show

2. Ron brought Western legends to life in France!
When Disney was building a theme park in France, the idea of an epic dinner show separate from the theme park was hatched. Thus, an arena-style dinner show, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was created for Disneyland Paris. Ron helped with designing the entire experience, from casting of the actors and actresses, the hearty American-style food service facilities, and the facilities for the animals. The show was such a hit that it still runs today at Disneyland Paris!

3. Walt Disney influenced Ron directly.
Ron had the opportunity to meet Walt Disney three times when he was a college-age trumpet player at Disneyland, and even performed as part of the Disney-produced pageantry for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. One of Ron’s fondest early Disney memories includes being a fanfare trumpeter for the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland. In 1968, Ron remembers a technical issue where all the sound and lighting cut off during the show. Narrator Henry Fonda didn’t skip a beat, but pulled out a pen light from his coat pocket and continued narrating with his robust, unamplified, voice until the electricity returned. That was a defining moment for Ron, showing him that the show must go on, even when elements beyond the performers’ control aren’t going according to plan.

4. Ron added a Disney touch to the Super Bowl and the Indy 500!
Ron was involved in many sporting events and festivals around the world, bringing the Disney magic to new and exciting places. Ron aided in the opening ceremony for the Indy 500, and helped with a Disney float for Carnivale in Rio. He had a big role in creating halftime specials for many of the Super Bowls throughout the decades. Super Bowl 2000 was an especially challenging experience due to ice storms in Atlanta. Bringing in a large cast for the show became impossible, so they focused on a smaller cast to give the show a more sophisticated look. The incredible show that resulted was based on the story of the Tapestry of Nations parade that Ron brought to Epcot to celebrate the new millennium.

5. Ron’s roots run deep in education.
Ron is currently an associate professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, but his education roots reach throughout his Disney career! While he was a music professor at Long Beach City College, he came up with the idea of putting together a two-week pilot program where college-age student musicians would perform on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. The group eventually became the All-American College Marching Band, an educational program that still exists today, bringing college students from around the United States to perform at Disney’s parks!

Happily Ever After

6. Ron took fireworks spectaculars to new heights—literally!

When the first three of the Walt Disney World theme parks were open, launching firework shells to a certain height was unachievable. Ron wanted guests to view fireworks from all three Walt Disney World theme parks, and went to his team to see if they could figure out a way it could be done. They first thought of launching fireworks from helicopters, but they couldn’t find any pilots willing to do that! They ended up finding inspiration in the U.S. military, which was using air-launching systems for training purposes. The Disney team went on to develop electronic chips that ignite fireworks at different heights. This allowed the fireworks to not only reach new heights, but also to sync with the music, bringing Ron’s vision to a reality!

7. Not every Disney Legend has their own window on Main Street, U.S.A.!
Ron was honored with his very own Window on Main Street, U.S.A. above the Emporium in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. His window reads, “Main Street Music Co.—Ron Logan—Conductor —Leading the Band into a New Century”, which is very fitting, considering his start as a trumpet player in Disneyland! See if you can spot it next time you’re there!

D23’s Ultimate Guide to ABC’s Fall Season 2018

By Will Keck

This week kicks of the new season of ABC’s most popular shows and introduces us to new series starring such fan faves as Nathan Fillion (Castle), Ron Livingston (Sex and the City) and Alec Baldwin. Here’s the complete schedule with premiere dates and hints of what’s in store for the characters we love welcoming into our homes each week.

Dancing with the Stars

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

8–10 p.m. ET/PT: Dancing with the Stars (Season premiere)
A Duke brother from Hazzard County, a former Facts of Life schoolgirl, a gymnastics legend who scored perfect 10s and a visually impaired ski champ are among the compelling contestants vying for this season’s 27th mirrorball trophy. Here’s the full lineup of competitors:

  • John Schneider: Best known for playing Bo Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard. In more recent years he’s recorded country music hits and starred on Tyler Perry’sThe Haves and the Have Nots.
  • DeMarcus Ware: One of the NFL’s greatest defensive players who spent nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Denver Broncos and helping them win Super Bowl 50.
  • Milo Manheim: The handsome son of TV star Camryn Manheim (The Practice) who plays Zed on Disney Channel’s ZOMBIES and is set to appear in the new season of American Housewife. 
  • Mary Lou Retton: In the 1984 Summer Olympics, she became the first American woman to win a gold medal in gymnastics (scoring two perfect 10s) and get her own Wheaties box.
  • Nikki Glaser: A stand-up comic who hosts Comedy Central’s live daily morning show, You Up with Nikki Glaser, and appeared in the Amy Schumer film Trainwreck.
  • Joe Amabile: A fan favorite from season 14 of The Bachelorette and season five of Bachelor in Paradise who is known as “Grocery Store Joe.”
  • Danelle Umstead: At the age of 13, Danelle began losing her vision and her spotted vision now limits her sight to less than five feet without any detail. But this challenge didn’t stop Danelle and her husband Rob from making history at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games as the first husband-and-wife visually impaired ski race team to compete and medal for Team USA.
  • Evanna Lynch: Best known for playing Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series.
  • Bobby Bones: Host of the No. 1 nationally syndicated country music morning radio show and mentor on American Idol.
  • Alexis Ren: A social media influencer and model with 12 million fans.
  • Juan Pablo Di Pace: An Argentine-born actor best known for playing Petros in Mamma Mia! and the passionate Fernando on Fuller House.
  • Tinashe: A multiplatinum-certified R&B singer, writer, and dancer.
  • Nancy McKeon: As The Facts of Life’s motorcycle-riding Jo Polniaczek, she always stirred up trouble. Nancy will debut her dancing skills with pro dance fave Val Chmerkovskiy, who is newly engaged to fellow DWTS pro Jenna Johnson.

10–11 p.m. ET/PT: The Good Doctor (Season 2 premiere)
There are some staffing changes at the fictional San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. House’s Lisa Edelstein scrubs in as Dr. Blaize, an oncologist who’ll oversee the treatment of cancer-stricken Dr. Glassman (Richard Schiff).

The Goldbergs

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

8–8:30 p.m. ET/PT: The Goldbergs (Season 6 premiere)
Sean Giambrone, who plays son Adam, tells D23 the season premiere will be something special. “We usually do one homage episode a season, and in our first episode back my character turns 16 so we’re doing (an homage to the film) Sixteen Candles, which is a lot of fun. And then we pick up the crazy way we left things off in the finale, with Barry having proposed to Lainey. Erica dropped out of college, so the family has to figure all that out.” Look forward to a guest appearance from ‘80s rock icon Rick Springfield (as Erica’s boss at a karaoke bar) in the October 10 episode, and Robert Englund reprising his iconic Freddie Kreuger role from the Nightmare on Elm Street films in the Halloween episode.

8:30–9 p.m. ET/PT: American Housewife (Season 3 premiere; new time)
New challenges arise for Katie Otto (Katy Mixon), a confident, unapologetic Westport, Connecticut wife and mother of three, as she tries to compete with the wealthy town’s “perfect” mommies.

9–9:30 p.m. ET/PT: Modern Family (Season 10 premiere)
Series co-creator Chris Lloyd has fans guessing ever since he announced that a significant character would die, inspiring both tears and bittersweet laughter in the beloved comedy’s 10th season.

9:30–10 p.m. ET/PT: Single Parents (Series premiere)
“The show represents a significant part of the population we haven’t heard a lot about: single parents,” star Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) teases to D23. “It’s both funny and realistic.” In the first episode, the group of parents to 7-year-olds welcome a new single dad (Saturday Night Live vet Taran Killam) into the fold.

10–11 p.m. ET/PT: A Million Little Things (Series premiere)
This new emotion-charged drama in the spirit of thirtysomething and This is Us finds a group of Bostonian friends—some thriving, some struggling—dealing with the devastating and perplexing suicide of their pal Jon (Sex and the City’s Ron Livingston).

Grey's Anatomy

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

8–10 p.m. ET/PT: Grey’s Anatomy (Season 15 premiere; two hours)
After weathering some heavy deaths over the past few years, Kim Raver, who plays pregnant doc Teddy Altman, tells D23 that the long-running hospital drama’s 15th season will be the season of love. “Even though the idea of love terrifies Teddy and she keeps trying to find it, she is all about love. I think this season is going to reveal so much about how she’s going to try to move forward with Owen, but it’s not going to be the typical love triangle with Amelia. We’re all going to figure it out together… with love.” And producers promise that the widowed Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) will also be opening up her heart after Derek’s death a few seasons back. Could it be with new orthopedic surgeon Link (The O.C.’s Chris Carmack), who previously served as the team doctor for the Seattle Mariners? Also look for Jackson (Jessie Williams) to make a life-changing decision.

10–11 p.m. ET/PT: How to Get Away with Murder (Season 5 premiere)
In the wake of last season’s turmoil, a flash forward—described as “startling”—will introduce a new mystery that promises to shake things up for all the characters, including some fresh young students selected by Annalise (Viola Davis) to work at her new legal clinic.

America's Funniest Home Videos

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

7–8 p.m. ET/PT: America’s Funniest Home Videos (Season 29 premiere)
Host Alfonso Ribeiro is back hosting ABC’s longest-running primetime entertainment show of all-time, and introducing new LOL clips sent in by Americans hoping their relatable fiascos will win them fame and fortune.

Station 19

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4

9–10 p.m. ET/PT: Station 19 (Season 2 premiere)
Seattle’s heroic firefighters are back risking their lives as first responders as new challenges erupt. New to the station is a seasoned firefighter with a mysterious past played by Code Black heartthrob Boris Kodjoe.

Fresh Off the Boat

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5

8­–8:30 p.m. ET/PT: Fresh Off the Boat (Season 5 premiere; new day and time)
Louis’ visit to a car dealership to buy a new RV introduces him to special guest star Jaleel White (Family Matters’ Urkel) who plays a sarcastic and underappreciated general manager.

8:30–9 p.m. ET/PT: Speechless (Season 3 premiere; new day)
Cedric Yarbrough (Kenneth) tells D23, “We start the show on the front lawn of the DiMeo house after they lost their home at the end of season two. We’re sleeping outside, so the family ends up moving in with me, which goes about as well as expected. I need to get them out of my house. Then, we all fly to London to find Maya’s dad, played by John Cleese. And something happens involving Buckingham Palace. I can’t believe they let us do all that we did.”

9–10 p.m. ET/PT: Child Support (Season 2 premiere; new time)
Fred Savage is back as the host posing questions to adult contestants, who receive support from five kids who have been asked the same questions by edgy funnyman Ricky Gervais.

Dancing with the Stars: Juniors

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

8–10 p.m. ET/PT: Dancing with the Stars: Juniors (Series premiere; two hours)
Former Malcolm in the Middle child star Frankie Muniz is all grown up and hosting this kids version of Dancing with the Stars, alongside song-and-dance sensation Jordan Fisher, who actually won Dancing with the Stars’ mirrorball trophy in season 25. “Everyone knows Dancing with the Stars, but there’s a huge twist with kid celebrities, as well as the kids of celebrities,” Muniz tells D23. “My nieces are so excited to get to watch other kids their own age dancing. It’s so fun. And just wait until you hear the things these kids say.”

10­–11 p.m. ET/PT: Shark Tank (Season 10 premiere and 200th episode)
Joining the returning judging panel and fan favorites such as Alex Rodriguez and Bethenny Frankel will be three brand-new Guest Sharks, including basketball legend Charles Barkley, business titan Matt Higgins and former Shark Tank entrepreneur turned Shark, Jamie Siminoff, who went on to sell his invention, Ring, to Amazon for over a billion dollars. The series will air in its regular 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT timeslot beginning the following Sunday, October 14.

The Alec Baldwin Show

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14

10–11 p.m. ET/PT: The Alec Baldwin Show (Series premiere)
Three-time Emmy® winner Alec Baldwin is back with more in-depth interviews with his famous friends and newsmakers after a special sneak peek aired last spring following the Academy Awards®.

The Rookie

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16

8–8:30 p.m. ET/PT: The Conners (Series premiere)
Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), Becky (Lecy Goranson), and D.J. (Michael Fishman) continue to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford—from parenthood and dating to financial pressures and aging—in The Conners, and now the beloved characters will also grapple with a sudden and unexpected turn of events. Maya Lynne Robinson joins the cast as D.J.’s wife and childhood playmate, Geena, who returns from active duty overseas in Afghanistan, to her husband and daughter, Mary (Jayden Rey).

8:30–9 p.m. ET/PT: The Kids Are Alright (Series premiere)
Like ABC’s The Goldbergs, this new series is set in another decade (this time the ‘70s) and is inspired by the childhood of series creator Tim Doyle. The Clearys are a traditional Irish-Catholic working-class family with a household filled with eight boisterous sons, all having to share one bathroom. Yikes!

9–9:30 p.m. ET/PT: black-ish (Season 5 premiere)
Season 5 starts on a happy note, with Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow’s (Tracee Ellis Ross) 20-year marriage back on track. Now they’ll have to deal with Junior heading off to college, while twins Jack and Diane find some difficulty adjusting to middle school. Fans can also look forward to a special 100th episode, set to air November and sure to be full of surprises.

9:30–10 p.m. ET/PT: Splitting Up Together (Season 2 premiere)
Lindsay Price, who plays Camille, the best friend of Jenna Fischer’s Lena, tells D23, “When we ended the season, (exes) Martin (Oliver Hudson) and Lena had gotten together, and now we have to figure out what to do next. And Arthur (Bobby Lee) and Camille saw Martin’s ex-girlfriend buying a pregnancy test, so that has to be untangled.” Uh-oh!

10–11 p.m. ET/PT: The Rookie (Series premiere)
Castle star Nathan Fillion returns to ABC as John Nolan, who signs up as the L.A. police department’s oldest rookie after surviving a life-threatening incident.

Every New Limited-Time Experience Coming to Walt Disney World in 2019

By Karina Schink

There are so many exciting things happening across the worlds of Disney next year, and Walt Disney World Resort is no exception! From Mickey and Minnie and the Incredibles to some fan favorites showing some new blooms, there is an abundance of ways to experience pockets of magic at Walt Disney World next year! But, as we know, all good things must come to an end, so hurry to experience all that you can, because they’re here for a limited time only!

Move It! Shake It! Mousekedance It!

Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse
The two originals are bringing even more to the park than ever before! Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party is grooving its way over to Magic Kingdom Park. Dance with the duo as well as their pals in front of Cinderella Castle, shaking it along to live music and singers who will belt out new takes on Mickey Mouse Club classics! You’ll even be able to catch the Dapper Dans in their dashing pin-striped suits performing some songs in honor of Mickey and Minnie. No experience with these two is truly complete without a little something to commemorate your visit. Luckily, during this special event, there will be new Mickey- and Minnie-themed merchandise (and food!) to make your party complete.

The Incredibles meet and greet

The Incredibles
Your favorite heroic family is back (with their cape-hating designer in tow!). The Incredibles are coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where you’ll take a stroll along a Municiberg city block—and it’s a good thing you’re there, because it just so happens a party is being held in honor of the supers themselves: Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Frozone! Of course, no celebration like this would truly be incredible without our favorite designer-turned-babysitter, Edna Mode! You can meet her on Pixar Place, where she’ll set up shop with some of her latest and greatest creations!

Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party

New Character Interactions
Oh we just can’t wait to be in the presence of these characters! Timon and Rafiki are making their way to a party near you! We’re rallying the pride to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lion King at Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party on Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Once you’ve let go of all of your worries, you can head over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and come door-to-door with Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc. Another new experience is rolling into Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Spring of 2019 in the form of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy! It’s a brand-new show experience that will bring you face-to-face with Lightning, and you’ll also have the opportunity to meet Cruz Ramirez, Lightning’s speedy pal, just outside the Racing Academy! That’s enough to make you go Ka-Chow!

Epcot Festival of the Arts

Epcot
Exciting things are in store at Epcot! The Epcot International Festival of the Arts returns from January 18 through February 25, delivering world-class culinary, visual, and performing arts. Then, from March 6 through June 3, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will bloom again with delectable bites and dozens of Disney-themed topiaries to discover around the park. And, of course, that’s not all: The Garden Rocks Concert Series is back and it’s bigger than ever. You can enjoy a total of 270 concerts over the course of the 90-day event.

Nothing But Net: Everything You Need to Know About Ralph Breaks the Internet

By Craig Tomashoff

With their return to the big screen in Ralph Breaks the Internet, video game tough guy Ralph and his pal Vanellope von Schweetz seem to be boldly going where pretty much everyone has gone before—the World Wide Web. However, their online odyssey in this sequel to the hit 2012 film Wreck-It Ralph will actually lead them into territory that neither they nor audiences could have anticipated.

“While Ralph Breaks the Internet will make people laugh, I think some of the emotional struggles that Ralph and Vanellope go through in this movie are pretty intense and complicated,” explains Phil Johnston, who co-directed and co-wrote the follow-up film. “We’re exploring the reality of all relationships, which come with ups and downs. Friendships are tested from time to time, and Ralph and Vanellope have to navigate the complexity of theirs—while attempting to navigate the vast and often intimidating Internet.”

Wreck-It Ralph 2

That larger-than-life nature of cyberspace might be a bit scary, but it was also precisely why the film’s creative team never considered using any other setting for their story. Says producer Clark Spencer, “Nothing else was even pitched. Going into the ultra-modern world of the Internet was not only a nice contrast to the first film’s nod to the arcade, it offered unlimited possibilities. We could actually personify retail sites, social media and search engines—we could give people a look inside their computers when they go online.”

Still, this new story begins in a very low-tech place, namely Litwak’s Family Fun Center and Arcade, where Ralph and Vanellope (once again voiced by John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman) first met. However, when the steering wheel on Vanellope’s game breaks, Ralph learns a replacement might exist in a mysterious new place called eBay. It isn’t long before the pair wind up inside the Internet to find it, and find themselves in the process.

“When her game breaks, Vanellope is left wondering, ‘If I don’t have my game, who am I?’” says head of story Josie Trinidad. “Her quest to get the steering wheel to save her game is what motivates her to venture to the Internet. She has no idea what she’s about to experience.”

The digital world may be strange territory for Vanellope, but the way it looks in Ralph Breaks the Internet will make moviegoers feel right at home. The filmmakers opted to create some fictional websites within their make-believe online universe, like the viral video generator BuzzTube, but “we wanted it to be familiar and relatable too,” explains co-writer and co-director Rich Moore. “So we incorporated places like eBay, which is a big part of the story since it’s where Ralph and Vanellope go to buy the replacement wheel part for her game. We have cameos from Amazon, Instagram, and Snapchat, among others, and even some international sites, which adds the kind of legitimacy that we wanted.”

Also populating this digital landscape are two particular types of characters—“Net Users” and “Netizens.” The former are the humans who go online to shop or play games or post pictures of their dinner. The latter are the computerized creations who actually get all that work done, including the Taraji P. Henson-voiced Yesss.

Wreck-It Ralph 2

She is the hippest of the hip in the movie’s version of the Internet, working as the head algorithm and heart and soul of the trend-making site BuzzTube and the Netizen who helps Ralph and Vanellope adjust to their new surroundings. Yesss “personifies the ever-advancing nature of the Internet,” according to co-director and co-writer Rich Moore. “And she’s really funny, too.”

In addition to new characters like Yesss and the walking, talking search engine named KnowsMore (voiced by Alan Tudyk), there are also a few very familiar faces that cross paths with Vanellope. While wandering the film’s wide web world, Disney’s newest and most unconventional princess has a chance encounter with several of her more traditional princess peers, from Cinderella and Snow White to Anna and Elsa. Creating the scene was tricky—“We knew we’d have to find a balance between making fun of and celebrating these iconic characters,” says Spencer—and the writers actually kept it a secret until their first screening of the film for the studio brass because they weren’t sure if it would fly.

Continues Spencer, “Everyone looked at me and said, ‘Do you think we could do it?’ I said, ‘There’s only one thing to do. Write it. Board it. Put it in the screening and one of two things is going to happen: the whole world will laugh and think it’s brilliant and then it’s in the movie, or they won’t find it as funny as we do—but we’ll have to put our best foot forward.’ We just wanted to let people experience it in a screening as it was envisioned by the story team.”

Wreck-It Ralph 2

That screening was such a success, the producers were actually able to convince the actresses who voiced the princesses to bring their characters to life again. “We were able to get just about everyone who’s still with us to reprise their roles,” says Johnston. “As each actress came in to record her lines, we invited her to sit with the animators and talk about her character.”

As much fun as the moment with the princesses is, though, it’s more than just a throwaway gag. The scene is also a critical piece of Vanellope’s “coming-of-age journey,” according to Johnston, and “integral to the completion of her arc in the film.” Vanellope and Ralph may have slipped into cyberspace for Ralph Breaks the Internet but what sets the film apart from Wreck-It Ralph is not so much where the characters are but who they become.

“The first movie ends with the idea that these two misfits are kindred spirits—they have the same sense of humor,” says Trinidad, adding that this time around, “We don’t want to just give the audience more of that friendship—we have to see that relationship grow.”

T’Challa and Shuri Team Up for Exciting New Adventures in Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest

By Beth Deitchman

If you left your heart in Wakanda after watching Marvel Studios’ Black Panther earlier this year—or if it’s always been there—Disney XD and Marvel have assembled a special treat for you. Marvel’s Avengers returns for its fifth season with a new title and a new challenge for T’Challa, King of Wakanda and Black Panther himself, in Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest. The animated series debuts with back-to-back episodes, beginning at 9 p.m. EST on Sunday, September 23.

Black Panther joined the series in its third season—Ultron Revolution—but this season finds the Super Hero fighting new enemies and facing new conflicts: Is he an Avenger first or the ruler of Wakanda? Is he a sword or is he a shield? T’Challa won’t have to take on this challenge alone, however; his sister, tech-wiz Shuri, will be by his side—not to mention his friends Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Miss Marvel, and the rest of the Avengers.

Actor James Mathis III, who has voiced Black Panther since the Super Hero joined the Marvel Avengers series, says that fans will see another, more vulnerable side of T’Challa in Black Panther’s Quest that stems from the king’s relationship with his younger sister. “We haven’t seen that side of T’Challa, not in the way that a family member can bring out,” says Mathis.

Shuri, a breakout character from the Black Panther film, is sure to be a fan-favorite with viewers of Black Panther’s Quest, as well. And the actress who plays her, Daisy Lightfoot, knows how special the character is. “She walks into every room knowing exactly who she is and knowing what she’s there to do,” observes Lightfoot. “There’s no withering. There’s no weakness.”

Black Panther’s Quest takes place completely within its own timeline and is independent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its stories, but Mathis points out that the charm and strength of the relationship between T’Challa and Shuri is a great similarity between the MCU and the animated series. He notes, “We get to take it a little further because [the series] focuses on these two characters at different points during the season. We get to really learn through the simple things in life, the basic things and not just the things that have the stakes of the world involved.”

Black Panther's Quest

If T’Challa and Shuri, as well as Black Panther and Iron Man, play off of each other so entertainingly, that may be a result of the fact that the cast records each scene together as a group, rather than as solo actors in a recording booth. “Thankfully, with our ensemble we’re able to really breathe in the moments and explore from an acting perspective, which then leads to just greater depth of character—which is a lot of fun to play,” says Mathis. He emphasizes that the members of the voice cast do their homework and come in prepared and as sharp as Black Panther’s claws. “We have fun together and the series is so well-written. The synchronicity with the show, it’s all right there in the room,” Mathis adds.

When it comes to their royal characters’ super perks and super powers, Mathis admits he wouldn’t mind having some of Black Panther’s acrobatic gifts. “I would love to be able to jump and flip off of cars in that great martial arts/parkour type of way that he has. That’d be awesome,” Mathis says with a smile.

Lightfoot wishes she had just some of Shuri’s incredible tech abilities. “She’s just very swift with the keys and she knows what she’s doing and flies jets and planes—it’s all incredibly tech-savvy,” she tells us. She believes the science-minded and forward-thinking Wakandan princess will inspire young audiences, and “it means everything” for her to be part of the Black Panther story. “There are girls of all ages, all ethnicities, that are coming up in this generation and they’re looking for something to tell them who they are,” Lightfoot says. “And I want this to be something that gives them a glimpse into what they could be if they stepped into everything that they’re called to be.”

Mathis has been thrilled to see the rest of the world embrace Black Panther in amazing new ways in 2018, though he’s quick to note, “I’ve always felt that great about him.” Seeing the public response to the character has been uplifting to the actor, who adds, “It has added to the responsibility that I’ve already taken with the role. It’s great to see how much he matters to people.”

6 Mickey Mouse Phone Wallpapers to Make Your Phone a Mouse-terpiece

By Karina Schink

What better way to celebrate Mickey’s 90th than with this special wallpaper starring the mouse of the hour—Mickey Mouse. “Oh Boy!”

You can download any of these wallpapers and remind yourself of where it all began.

Mickey Mouse phone wallpapers
Click here to download.

Mickey Mouse phone wallpapers
Click here to download.

Mickey Mouse phone wallpapers
Click here to download.

Mickey Mouse phone wallpapers
Click here to download.

Mickey Mouse phone wallpapers
Click here to download.

Mickey Mouse phone wallpapers
Click here to download.

High-Flying Adventure with Captain Marvel and Mary Poppins Returns—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Meet Carol Danvers; reacquaint with a practically perfect nanny; and view the all-new cover art for Kingdom Hearts III … Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

news briefs 9/19

Go Higher, Further, Faster with Brand-New Captain Marvel Trailer

We’re just not sure how to adequately express our excitement about Marvel Studios’ upcoming Captain Marvel, other than to say that if we could, we’d already be in line at our local movie theater to make sure we’re first to see it. (We’re not kidding. The struggle is real.) And with this week’s brand-new, first-look trailer, we legitimately couldn’t be more ecstatic! In case you haven’t seen it yet, or you’d like a repeat viewing, take a gander at the trailer right here at D23.com.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
October 6-21, 2018
D23’s Spooktacular Fanniversary Complimentary Screenings
October 19, 2018
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Ron Logan
October 22, 2018
D23’s Sip and Stroll at Epcot
October 28, 2018
D23 Celebrates 25 Spooktacular Years of Hocus Pocus
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
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
September 21, 2018
Elena of Avalor: Song of the Sirenas premieres on Disney Junior (7–8 p.m. EDT/PDT)
November 4, 2018
Mickey’s 90th Spectacular airs on ABC (8–10 p.m. EST)

Everyone’s Favorite Nanny Makes a Practically Perfect Return

Speaking of fantastic new trailers: Captain Marvel wasn’t the only film to unleash a new clip across the unsuspecting globe this week. Disney’s upcoming Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt as everyone’s favorite nanny, just released a practically perfect new trailer featuring incredible cameos galore… check out the whimsy, above!

In Mary Poppins Returns, the next generation of the Banks family needs a little bit of help finding the joy and wonder that’s missing from their lives following a personal loss… Enter (or should we say re-enter) Mary Poppins, a magical nanny with unique skills that turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure! Lin-Manuel Miranda costars as Mary’s friend Jack, an optimistic lamplighter who helps bring light (and life) to the streets of London.

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The film also stars Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper, Ellen; Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and introducing Joel Dawson as the Banks’ children… with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins, and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books, and Dick Van Dyke returns to the world of Mary Poppins as Mr. Dawes, Jr.—the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.

Directed by Rob Marshall, Mary Poppins Returns soars onto a screen near you December 19.

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Kingdom Hearts III Reveals Amazing New Cover Art

The much-anticipated Kingdom Hearts III doesn’t hit store shelves ‘til early next year—but we’re ever so thankful that the good folks at Disney and Square Enix are giving us some tasty online tidbits to hold us over. Case in point: The release of the game’s amazing new cover art, created by series director Tetsuya Nomura.

As you can see, the artwork features a ton of iconic characters—including King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy—set against an incredible sunset and skyline. The cover was recently revealed at the big Tokyo Game Show, one of the largest video game exhibitions in Asia (and the world).

Kingdom Hearts III will unleash all manner of action and adventure on gamers this January 29. Look for more info in the weeks and months ahead…

Disney Theatrical Productions Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month—and in honor of this important yearly event, Disney Theatrical Productions and members of their Broadway casts of The Lion King, Aladdin, and Frozen partnered with photographer Ciro Gutierrez for several memorable photo shoots. Featured actors include Enrique Segura from The Lion King; Kathryn Allison, Lauryn Ciardullo, and Gaby Gamache from Aladdin; and Nina Lafarga and Julius Anthony Rubio from Frozen.

In each clip, we get to hear from these talented performers—as well as go behind the scenes of their shoots with Gutierrez. The first video (which recently premiered on the musical’s Facebook page) features Aladdin’s Gaby Gamache; check it out, above, and then stay tuned over the next few weeks for new installments!

Haunted Mansion Holiday Builds its New Gingerbread House

It’s a most auspicious time of year… when Jack Skellington and crew (from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, natch) take up residence with the 999 happy haunts inside Disneyland park’s Haunted Mansion for the spooktacular Haunted Mansion Holiday. One of the attraction’s freakishly fun features is the Gingerbread House, seen in the ghostly ballroom scene. This year’s theme finds a gigantic 5-foot spider lurking above the Mansion’s Grand Hall table. Take a look at the creation of the delicious domicile, above!

Haunted Mansion Holiday will delight guests young and young-at-heart through early January 2019… and Disneyland Resort’s Halloween Time event is currently casting its spell over both parks, now through October 31. Heading to the resort this fall? Trust us: You’ll have a positively fa-boo-lous time!

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Ralph Breaks VR Coming to Disney Springs and Downtown Disney District

He’s gonna smash it! (Well, virtually speaking.) If you recall, just this past winter, ILMxLAB and The VOID launched an incredible hyper-reality experience called Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire at both Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort and Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort. And later this year, a brand-new experience from a beloved Disney universe will surprise and delight: it’s a one-of-a-kind adventure based on the upcoming Walt Disney Animation Studios film Ralph Breaks the Internet!

Beginning this fall, The Walt Disney Company and ILMxLAB (Lucasfilm’s award-winning immersive entertainment division) will once again partner with the team at The VOID to bring you Ralph Breaks VR—a new multi-sensory Disney experience that will put you smack in the middle of both the Internet and online gaming, alongside your pals Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope.

But that’s not all: In 2019, the same collaborators will bring us an as-yet-untitled Marvel experience. So keep your eyes peeled here on D23.com for more info about all things The VOID, as additional details (including release dates and ticket availability) are announced.

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New Nighttime Spectacular to Light Up the Epcot Sky in 2019

It’s been almost 20 years since the fan-favorite nighttime spectacular IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth began delighting Epcot visitors with its incredible fireworks, memorable music, and heartfelt messages of hope. As Epcot embarks on the adventure of an upcoming multi-year transformation (including the additions of the much-anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster attraction and a new Ratatouille-inspired attraction in World Showcase), the good folks at Disney Parks Live Entertainment are already busy creating an all-new nighttime spectacular for the World Showcase Lagoon.

Fret not, fans of IllumiNations, for the classic show—which has entertained scores of guests since debuting as part of the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration in 1999—won’t be ending its current run until Summer 2019… so you still have plenty of time to enjoy its dazzling displays of fire and light. And stay tuned for more info on the new nighttime spectacular as it becomes available; as the narration for IllumiNations explains, it’s “an amazing story—as old as time itself, but still being written… ”

Did You Know? 11 Giant-Sized Facts About Walt Disney’s Brave Little Tailor

By Jim Fanning

One of Mickey Mouse’s greatest adventures, Brave Little Tailor is also one of Walt Disney’s most splendid animated films. This critically acclaimed audience-pleaser, released 80 years ago on September 23, 1938, is a swashbuckling tale of a gentle tailor who vanquishes a Giant armed with only sewing shears, a needle and thread, and his wits—and is a beautifully produced mini-epic boasting eye-filling production values, action-packed storytelling, and top-shelf animated performances. As we celebrate the Year of Mickey for his 90th anniversary, let’s sew things up with an 80th anniversary look at this this classic cartoon that was tailor-made for brave little Mickey.

Brave Little Tailor

1. A Feature-Like Short
The overwhelming success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) didn’t mean that Walt had forgotten his most beloved star. In fact, the prolific producer was inspired to seek a new project that put Mickey squarely in the spotlight. He also planned to elevate the state of the art in his short films now that he had significantly advanced the art of Disney animation with his first feature. This new Mickey short was by design to be of feature quality.

2. Back to the Brothers Grimm
Just as Snow White was based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm so Walt turned to “The Valiant Little Tailor” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm for Mickey. Disney artist Jack Kinney created much of the screen story. “That was the first time I had a story to do by myself,” Kinney said. “Disney was trying to revitalize Mickey Mouse at the time,” he remembered—so naturally Walt was completely involved. “Walt was reaching the highest standard of Mickey stories [at this time],” explained Disney Legend Frank Thomas. “Only Walt could do it—he was the best Mickey storyteller, and played up Mickey’s derring-do. Yet there was so much heart and warmth.”

Fred Moore

3. Mickey Maestro Fred Moore
As he had done before, Walt again turned to Mickey expert and Disney Legend Freddie Moore to craft a new model sheet. This new design allowed the animators to bring Mickey to life with even more expression and stronger acting. “It was one of the best Mickeys we ever had,” said Disney Legend Frank Thomas of this latest model. “Freddie’s new design brought more fullness to the cheeks, and more flexibility around the middle. The body is more pear-shaped. It’s balanced, but not symmetrical.”

Frank Thomas

4. Thomas Tackles Mickey
Fred Moore animated two of Mickey’s best scenes in Brave Little Tailor, but his role was primarily supervisory. It was Moore’s former assistant, Frank Thomas, who animated much of Mickey in the film after he distinguished himself with his work on the Dwarfs in Snow White. Now he was handed this important assignment. “It was considered a great honor to work on a Mickey short,” remarked Frank. “He was our star.”

5. “Gosh, I Don’t How to Catch a Giant”: Walt Gives Voice to the Tailor
Frank Thomas’ best moment in the film—and a pinnacle in Mickey’s onscreen career—is his recounting of “killing seven with one blow” with the King thinking the little tailor means giants, not flies. Long stretches of dialog were usually avoided for Disney shorts in general and with Mickey in particular. But the soliloquy where Mickey milks his story for all it’s worth is a tour de force vocal performance by Walt as his alter ego. Another of Walt’s vocal highlights is the uncertain farewell to the cheering villagers by the reluctant battler of behemoths: “Well—I’ll be seeing you—I hope!” Thomas and fellow Disney Legend animator Ollie Johnston reported that Disney artists adapted Mickey’s forlorn statement as their own catchphrase, especially when heading to a review of their work with Walt. “It became a very popular phrase,” Frank and Ollie noted.

Bill Tytla

6. A Giant Talent
Another animation superstar of the Disney animation Golden Age made an “enormous” contribution to this classic short. Renowned for his powerful animation of physicality—he would go on to animate Stromboli in Pinocchio (1940) and for Fantasia (1940) the towering god of evil, Chernabog—Disney Legend Bill Tytla animated the Giant who is Mickey’s oversized opponent. Disney production executive Harry Tytle took photos of Tytla sitting on a stool so that the animator could use it as a reference to animate the giant sitting atop the roof of a cottage as if was a comfy chair. Interestingly, though the Giant is unnamed in the short, his name was revealed as Gustav in the classic comic-book story Thumper Meets the Seven Dwarfs (FC #19 1943).

7. A “Special” Short
Walt set out to produce one of Mickey’s greatest adventures, and the result was exactly that. Brave Little Tailor was publicized as the highlight of Mickey’s 10th birthday celebration, “a world-wide event.” Moreover, as a costly and prestigious production, this new Mickey extravaganza was promoted almost as if it were a full-length feature. It was among six “special” shorts given a prestige release apart from the usual roster of Disney shorts for the 1938-39 season. More than 100 manufacturers signed on for memorabilia specific to Brave Little Tailor and the other “special” Disney shorts. An elaborate coloring book, storybooks, and a Good Housekeeping magazine adaptation were among the tie-ins. In addition, on September 15, 1938, the Julien Levy Gallery opened a Walt Disney exhibit, with artwork created in the production of Brave Little Tailor as its centerpiece.

8. Report Tomorrow On Sound Stage One: Brave Little Tailor in the Sunday Comics
The film was given an extravagant showcase in the Mickey Mouse Sunday comic page from August 28 through November 27, 1938, in which the full tale (with art by Disney Legend Floyd Gottfredson) was faithfully retold. A wrap-around narrative was added to the film story, with Walt phoning Mickey to report to the Disney Studio and go before the Brave Little Tailor cameras. Mickey’s only requirement in accepting the new assignment: “I hope it’s got plenty of action in it!”

Brave Little Tailor

9. Up for an Oscar®
The excellence of this special animated short was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when Brave Little Tailor was nominated for an Academy Award, Best Short Subject (Cartoon). The third Mickey short to be so honored, Brave Little Tailor did not win the Oscar that year, but the competition was unusually tough that year. In fact, four of the five nominees were Disney productions, and Walt Disney went home with the Oscar for Ferdinand the Bull.

10. Little Tailor, Big Movie
Walt’s determination to give Mickey a superior showcase had its cost. Brave Little Tailor was the most expensive cartoon short ever produced up until that time. Such spending led the Studio to look into the film’s high cost. Frank Thomas for one was called on to justify the expenditures resulting from his work. “Undoubtedly,” Frank stated, “some of the high cost from a story and directorial angle was due to the subtle handling that Walt so definitely wishes.”

Brave Little Tailor

11. Celebrating a Classic
When Walt entered weekly television production with his primetime Disneyland anthology series, the great showman wasted little time in showcasing this mini-masterpiece. On March 2, 1955, “From Aesop to Hans Christian Andersen” was presented on the Disneyland series. Walt explored the age-old art of storytelling, and Brave Little Tailor was spotlighted. In 2018, in honor of Mickey’s 90th, Disney will release Celebrating Mickey on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD. This compilation of 13 of Mickey’s most significant animated shorts, to be released on October 23, will include Brave Little Tailor, which 80 years on continues to be honored as one of Mickey’s—and Disney’s—best.

Yo Ho, A Pirates of the Caribbean Quiz from D23

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Avast! In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, we’re challenging you landlubbers to a test: Can ye really talk like a pirate? Take our Pirates of the Carribean quote quiz and find out for sure. Based on the script of the classic Disneyland attraction, your knowledge will determine whether you’re the captain of the ship—or if you’ll have to walk the plank!

Finish the quote: “Ye come seekin’ adventure and…”

Correct! Wrong!

Finish the lyric: “We’re beggars and blighters and ne’er-do-well cads/Drink up me hearties, yo ho!/Aye, but we’re…”

Correct! Wrong!

Finish the quote: “No fear have ye of…”

Correct! Wrong!

Finish the quote: “Strike yer colors you…”

Correct! Wrong!

Finish the quote: “Don’t tell him, Carlos, don’t be…”

Correct! Wrong!

Which of these is NOT a way the pirates describe themselves in the lyrics to Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)?

Correct! Wrong!

Which isn’t a way the pirates in the jail cell refer to the dog with the keys?

Correct! Wrong!

Finish the quote: “A toast to piracy, and its…”

Correct! Wrong!

Which of these sayings does the parrot at the end of the attraction NOT say?

Correct! Wrong!

Yo Ho, A Pirates of the Caribbean Quiz from D23
Belay that talk! Ye know nothing of the ways of pirate speak. Best be readin’ up on the jargon or it’ll be the plank with you!
Ye know something about piracy, we reckon… enough to swab the deck! If ye plan on risin’ through the ranks, best take the quiz again and see if yer knowledge improved.
Now ye be sailing! Batten down the hatches, because there’s still rough waters ahead for you… Perhaps ye can navigate them, but we reckon you’ll need to brush up on yer knowledge.
Avast! Pirate speak comes naturally to ya, does it? Ye’d almost pass fer a perfect pirate. Aye, we’d let you on our crew… If you brought enough treasure with ya!
Ahoy! We be lookin’ for a crew on our next adventure, and ye seem to have the knowledge we need. Yer mastery of the pirate-y phrase will surely keep any scurvy scum away from our treasure.
There should be a “Captain” somewhere in your name, we reckon, with yer knowledge of pirate speak! Ye’ll be sailin’ to treasure soon, and if ye are in search of a crew, we’d like to come aboard and join ya.

In Search of Cherry Tree Lane: A Visit to the Set of Mary Poppins Returns

By Bruce C. Steele

Visiting the set of Mary Poppins Returns at Shepperton Studios in London reminds you of one of the many reasons the world’s favorite nanny is unique among enchanted movie characters.

As the film’s director, Rob Marshall, puts it, after every spectacular fantasy she conjures, Mary simply “denies any magic that’s ever happened.”

The sound stages at Shepperton do the same: In the middle of the filming, much of the movie magic has already dissolved from reality into memory, captured by cameras but denied by the physical evidence.

Cherry Tree Lane, the London street made famous in the first Mary Poppins? It’s been here and gone, nothing left but the empty shell of one remaining house, shoved into a corner of a sound stage. It sits abandoned in the shadow of a full-size replica of the pinnacle of the London clock tower known as Big Ben, now being built where the lane once stood.

Mary Poppins Returns

The familiar upstairs nursery in the Banks’ house on that vanished lane? It’s still standing in another part of the studio, but without a ceiling, its contents scattered and sharing the space with random pieces of film equipment.

Sure, step around the movie lights on black metal poles and you’ll find plenty of evidence of the Poppins tale that’s still being spun here: stuffed animals abandoned in a toy box, a child’s hand-crafted dollhouse, and—in Mary Poppins’ own room—green hairbrushes sitting on a dresser next to a handheld mirror, slightly dusty, that you know once shimmered with the nanny’s radiant face.

It’s all the same but different, as the movie takes us to the London of the 1930s, 25 years after the original film, when Jane and Michael Banks are adults and Michael is a father with three children of his own, nearly incapacitated by grief over the loss of his wife. The family is in desperate need of Mary Poppins.

But what’s that sound? It’s the ebullient melody of one of the movie’s many original new songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. A jaunty male chorus intoning “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” is playing over loudspeakers, pouring joy and foot-tapping energy into the air.

If you follow the music, walking past a workshop where a half-dozen mechanics are busy working on some 1930s-style bicycles, you’ll find where the Poppins magic has now taken hold.

Inside another sound stage, a small army of London lamplighters — “leeries,” as they’re called — are performing a complicated dance number on a vast, elaborate set in the guise of a London park, an eight-minute extravaganza that will come complete with stunts on all those bikes being assembled next door. The dancers are watched by dozens of crew members — not just by camera operators and lighting technicians, but by costume and hair-and-makeup assistants and set decorators, all ready to make any flaw disappear in an instant.

In the context of the movie, however, the leeries’ audience is much smaller: just Michael Banks’ three children and Mary herself, her practically perfect persona brought back to luminous life by Emily Blunt, who Marshall says “was born to play the role.”

Before the cameras roll again, the lean and limber leeries stand at attention — all dressed in variations on tan pants, black jackets and newsboy caps — getting direction from Marshall, his voice godlike as it fills the studio: “No one can be where Grant is right now,” he says, as third assistant director Grant Butler marks out a forbidden spot on the set.

In a break before the next take, one leerie does chin-ups on the lamppost to which he’s been assigned, bathed like every pole on the set in an otherworldly pool of light. “OK,” says Marshall’s disembodied voice. “Let’s go back to Lin’s section.”

Mary Poppins Returns

The cameras then focus on Jack, the chief leerie, played by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the actor-singer-songwriter-etc. who created the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton. His Jack — a protege of the now-departed Bert from the 1964 film — is Mary’s ally throughout the many adventures of Mary Poppins Returns.

And what a lot of adventures there will be, drawn from the original stories by British author P.L. Travers, who wrote eight Mary Poppins books from 1934 to 1988. The tales are timeless, and whatever the era — Edwardian England, the Great Depression or the present day — “what you realize,” producer Marc Platt says, “is that the magic, the hope, the optimism, the connectivity that Mary Poppins brings as a character to the family and the world around her is really what people are yearning for.”

The filming at Shepperton is continuing as Platt speaks, but he’s removed from the action, introducing visitors to the wonders of the studio’s circus-tent-like Orangery. The vast space is overflowing with costumes, props, concept art, set models, and more items used so far in the making of the film.

There’s an antique wheelchair fitted with a scabbard and sword — the mobile throne of David Warner’s Admiral Boom, the Banks’ Cherry Tree Lane neighbor. There’s a miniature version of the “Royal Doulton Music Hall” set, a theater made of giant books that will be entirely hand-drawn in the movie’s animation-with-live-action fantasy sequence. And there are several iterations of Mary’s signature dark blue coat, this time with cream-colored polka dots hidden in the lining.

Not among the dozens of collected props in the Orangery is one of Marshall’s favorite items: a recreation of the snow globe featured in the “Feed the Birds” number in the previous film, which the children in Mary Poppins Returns find in the attic on Cherry Tree Lane.

Years from now, you can imagine another attic revealing one of the many treasures here displayed — perhaps the belt buckle with an upside down clock face that was worn by Meryl Streep in her role as Mary’s cousin Topsy. Maybe the gold pirate coins and red beach bucket used in a nautically themed song titled “Imagine That,” which Mary sings during bath time early in the movie. Or perchance a rack of children’s whistles and colorful tops that belongs to a vendor in the movie’s finale, a tune titled “Nowhere to Go But Up.”

Because any of these many marvelous objects could spark new flights of imagination in the minds of future believers.

Mary Poppins is, of course, all about imagination, both the kind that a nanny uses to bring joy to a floundering family and the kind Marshall and his Disney-powered team use to bring this story to life in Mary Poppins Returns. Because without imagination, even a giant clock tower inside a sound stage is just a fancy pile of two-by-fours and nails and paint.