By D23 Team
D23 sat down with Jeff Kurtti for a behind-the-scenes chat about his book Travels With Walt Disney, available now.
Did You Know? 10 Tuneful Facts About Walt Disney’s Melody Time
By Jim Fanning
Melody Time is not just a Disney classic. It’s seven Disney classics in one. Celebrating seven decades of delighting audiences with its animated delicacies, Melody Time is one of Walt Disney’s “package films,” comprised of several short animated pieces “packaged” together to form one feature. With its cornucopia of varied stories, dynamic characters, and compelling artistic approaches, it’s one of the most entrancing of Walt’s omnibus features. Featuring the enduring talents of big-time stars of its day, Melody Time premiered on May 27, 1948, at the prestigious Astor Theatre in New York’s Times Square, and, in one form or another, Disney’s 10th full-length animated feature has entranced audiences ever since. In honor of 70 years of music and movement, color, and characters, here are 10 melodious facts about Melody Time.
1. Mary Blair Lends Artistic Flair to “Wintertime” Charm
Looking at once like an old-fashioned greeting card and a cutting-edge experiment in modern design, “Once Upon a Wintertime” is the Victorian-era tale of cute-couple Jenny and Joe who find unexpected adventure on a sleigh ride-ice skating expedition. Set to the title tune sung by velvety voiced radio and recording star Frances Langford, this nostalgic segment was produced as a concerted effort to bring the distinctive graphic stylings of Disney Legend Mary Blair to the screen. Disney Legend Ken O’Connor championed Blair’s highly stylized designs. A veteran layout artist, O’Connor arranged to have the animators draw “in a decorative… design-y way” reflecting Mary’s conceptual art, while also enlisting Disney background artist Art Riley to paint the story’s settings in Blair’s non-rounded contemporary style. The result is a charming yet striking reflection of the unique Blair artistry treasured by Walt Disney himself.
2. Get Them Apple Trees A-Growin’: “Johnny Appleseed”
Mary Blair also provided her signature stylizations for the “Johnny Appleseed” segment. “Being storytellers ourselves,” Walt said, “we’ve always wanted to portray the deeds of such colorful characters as Johnny Appleseed…” The real-life Johnny was John Chapman (1774-1845), an early American pioneer who sowed apple seeds throughout the Ohio River valley and beyond. However, Walt insisted that his version of Johnny Appleseed be adapted from the legends surrounding the real figure. Suitably evoking folk art, the arresting designs of Mary Blair gives the segment a visual poetry matched by the poetic narration, written by Disney Legend Winston Hibler. Walt was moved to tears when he heard “Hib” present his “Johnny Appleseed” narrative. Three of Walt’s Nine Old Men—Milt Kahl, Ollie Johnston, and Eric Larson—were directing animators for the Johnny character, and Walt was well pleased with the fruit of their work, calling Johnny “a very likable little character.”
3. Starring The Voice(s) of Dennis Day
Another seed sown in the animated storytelling of “Johnny Appleseed” was Dennis Day. The “singing star” on Jack Benny’s radio show since 1939, Dennis was known for his lilting Irish tenor and the naive “kid” character he played to comic perfection. (Disney favorite Verna Felton vocally portrayed Dennis’ overbearing mother on the Benny program.) With a natural ear for dialects and impressions, Dennis was a versatile voice actor, and in “Johnny Appleseed,” he not only voiced gentle Johnny but also the feisty Guardian Angel and the Old Settler who narrates the sequence. Day’s tenor singing voice finds full expression in songs written specifically for his vocal range. “He’s coming up,” Walt said of Dennis Day at the time. “People really like him.”
4. Donald and José Reunited To Take on the Samba
First teamed up in Saludos Amigos (1943) and The Three Caballeros (1945), Donald Duck reunited with his Brazilian parrot pal, José Carioca for “Blame it on the Samba.” The wacky Aracuan Bird (introduced in The Three Caballeros) introduces the duo to the infectious Brazilian dance in colorful animation blended with live action of Hammond organist Ethel Smith. This segment was originally envisioned as part of a projected third Latin American feature, and Ethel Smith was recorded performing the segment’s title song (on a rented electric organ installed on the Disney Studio’s sound-effects stage) in 1945. The third feature never came to be, but “Blame it on the Samba” was revived for inclusion in Melody Time and Smith returned to the Disney lot in February 1947 to film her live-action performance—which was then combined with the animation starring Donald and José—for a wildly imaginative follow-up to Disney’s two previous South American romps.
5. The Buzz About “Bumble Boogie”
Originally planned for a continuation of Fantasia (1940), the “Bumble Boogie” segment joins a jazzy swing version of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee with the frantic animated flight of a bee named Bumble as he flees a nightmarish succession of piano keys and other musically themed pursuers and obstacles. A hit 1946 recording by Freddy Martin and His Orchestra, featuring Jack Fina at the piano, provides the musical score. It was said that Fina possessed “the 10 most talented fingers in radio,” and his virtuosity on the 88s drives this Melody Time segment at a funny, frenetic pace.
6. I Think I Shall Never See a Poem as Lovely as “Trees”
Another sequence intended for a new Fantasia, “Trees” is musicalization of the famed poem written in 1913 by Joyce Kilmer. Using only evocative images with little character animation, this visual tone poem draws its striking imagery from the pastel story art of Disney stylist Dick Kelsey. It was Melody Time’s unsung hero, Ken O’Connor, who decided to use cels with a “frosted” surface to capture the vibrancy and texture of the original pastel story sketches. The camera, thanks to careful layouts and clever editing, provides most of the actual movement. The strength and beauty of Kelsey’s unique art are conveyed to emotional effect, all underscored with the haunting choral work of Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians.
7. Three-Part Harmonies in New York Harbor: “Little Toot”
After their singing stint in Walt’s first package film, Make Mine Music (1946), The Andrews Sisters returned to Disney to bring their trademark three-part harmonies to the musical story of “Little Toot.” This segment is based on the book written and illustrated by former Disney animator and acclaimed watercolorist Hardie Gramatky, a classic of children’s literature that has remained in print since its publication in 1939. Inspired by the tugboats he observed in the East River outside his New York studio, Gramatky created Little Toot as a mischievous tugboat who playfully chugs along side his dad, Big Toot. Stars of screen, radio, and recordings, The Andrews Sisters—contralto LaVerne, soprano Maxene, and mezzo-soprano Patty—tell Little Toot’s story in harmonized song.
8. A Tall Tale as Only Disney Animation Can Tell It
The boundless imagination and artistry of Disney animation make a perfect match for the hilarious visual hyperbole of the American tall tale, and nowhere is this better exemplified than in “Pecos Bill.” The legendary cowboy was born of Texas tall tales and, as Walt observed, “Pecos Bill is a large and important part of [America’s] heritage and what makes us who we are.” The outrageous humor and high-spirited exaggeration of the “Pecos Bill” stories—from the “Western superman” digging the Rio Grande to taming a tornado—made the Wild West tales the ideal subject for the outsized action possible only in Disney animation.
9. It Took a Roundup of Stars to Tell Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale
With Ward Kimball, one of the Nine Old Men, as Pecos Bill’s directing animator, Walt lassoed the silver screen’s (and later, television’s) “King of the Cowboys,” Roy Rogers, to narrate. Accompanying Roy was his steadfast steed, Trigger, billed as always as “The Smartest Horse in the Movies,” and the Western singing group, The Sons of the Pioneers. Also part of this Melody Time roundup: Disney’s youthful stars Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten, for whom Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers spin the musical yarn of the outsized hero Walt called “the rootin’est, tootin’est, shootin’est cowboy to ever ride out of American folklore.”
10. Melody Time is Timeless
Though Melody Time was never theatrically rereleased, many of its segments were issued as separate featurettes. While “Trees” was released to schools as an educational piece celebrating music, art, and poetry, it was television that became the greatest showcase for the Melody Time sequences. For example, the Mickey Mouse Club TV series presented “Once Upon a Wintertime” as a Mousekartoon on December 20, 1956. On his primetime television anthology series, Disneyland, Walt featured “Johnny Appleseed” as one of the “Four Fabulous Characters” in 1957, while Pecos Bill was honored with his own episode (sharing billing with a certain Magic Kingdom) that same year in “Disneyland, The Park (and) Pecos Bill.” In 1972, “Bumble Boogie” was showcased on Ward Kimball’s wild Laugh-In-like TV series, The Mouse Factory. Today, with the film’s availability on DVD and eventually streaming services, more Disney fans than ever before can now enjoy Melody Time. For, as the lyrics to the film’s title song has it, “It’s time to swing along, to a happy land of song, where love is the thing… It’s Melody Time!”
10 Secrets Spilled at the Solo: A Star Wars Story Press Conference
By Jim Frye
Solo: A Star Wars Story, which launches Han, Chewie, and Lando on their first adventures together in the galactic underworld, arrives in theaters May 25. To help christen, so to speak, everyone’s favorite space cowboy and his faithful co-pilot on their maiden voyage in the Millennium Falcon, the cast and filmmakers gathered for a press conference ahead of the film’s debut. Here are 10 things they revealed:
1. Director Ron Howard likes to use practical effects in addition to CGI.
“As great as visual effects and CGI are,” Howard said, “the effect supervisors will tell you in-camera is always what you want to go for first. With the Millennium Falcon and the great sets and so forth, the approach always was to try to get as much in-camera as you could.” He continues: “What’s so magical and amazing about ILM and what they can do—is they make the experience as palpable and immersive as it could possibly be.”
2. Co-Writer Lawrence Kasdan is one of Han Solo’s biggest fans.
“When I was relatively young, and I first saw Han Solo in the cantina I immediately sparked to him,” Kasdan said. “He lifted up the whole movie instantly and I loved the movie. But at that moment I thought, oh, this movie’s just got me. This is the kind of character that I have loved always and it’s been so important in all the movies that I care about. This is a character who’s reckless, who’s cynical, who doesn’t trust anybody.”
3. Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo) had two responses to the Millennium Falcon.
“Being in the Millennium Falcon is very, very cool,” Ehrenreich said. “For me it was two things: One, you get in and you can’t believe you’re in it and it’s so surreal… And then a couple months into shooting in it, you’re inside of it and you’re flying it. You know where the buttons are, you know how the chair feels, and you feel like, OK, this is kind of like my ship now. And that is deeply gratifying.”
4. Donald Glover (Lando) reeeeally wanted the part.
“I told my agent, ‘If they’re making anything with Lando in it, I have to be Lando.’ He was like, ‘I hear you—but I don’t like your odds.’ And that was exactly what I needed to hear, because I auditioned like it was the only role I wanted in the world,” said Glover. “I’m just really happy to be part of this experience.”
5. Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca) attended a “Chewie Boot Camp” with Peter Mayhew.
“It’s funny, because this character is so loved and Peter Mayhew, who created this character, along with George Lucas, has been so instrumental helping and giving me his blessing and giving me some tips in our weeklong session together, how to be this character,” said Suotamo. “It was fun because I never could have understood what went on underneath the mask of Peter Mayhew.”
6. It’s hard for Emilia Clarke to discuss her character, Qi’ra.
“It’s really difficult to talk about because she is a pretty mysterious character,” Clarke said. “We meet her quite early on with Han and then they’re separated for whatever reason, and when we find her again, she seems to have lived a pretty dark life in that time. So when you re-find her, you can’t quite figure out what it is that’s happened to her in the time that you haven’t been with her and who it is that she is now.”
7. Woody Harrelson says it was easy to identify with his character, Beckett.
“I thought it was a really easy character for me to play, because he’s a scoundrel and a thief,” Harrelson joked. “For a lot of people who are Star Wars fanatics, this is their favorite Star Wars character, which was really cool. Larry and Jonathan really wrote an extraordinary script and Ron came in and did his magic.”
8. Thandie Newton (Val) loved the camaraderie on the set.
“The production design is so amazing,” said Newton. ”We would feel like we were in real sort of battle scenarios with explosions going off and debris and mud in places you didn’t even know you had places… That camaraderie was really felt. We were really going into battle together. I mean, obviously, a sort of fantasy, fun battle, but we’re still going into battle.”
9. Phoebe Waller-Bridge called her character, L3-37, a revolutionary droid.
“She creates herself out of astromech droids and protocol droids so she turns herself into a unique creature that’s kind of taller, stronger… more independent than she originally was,” Waller-Bridge said. “She’s fearless, she’s uncensored, she’s very funny, she’s a revolutionary, and she has an agenda, which is bigger than the sum of her parts.”
10. Paul Bettany is super happy about being a bad guy.
“It was just lovely to play somebody—having come from Avengers where Vision is fundamentally good—to somebody who’s just deliciously bad,” said Bettany. “I’m really okay with it. No neurosis. No guilt. Just super happy about being evil.”
A Big Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Announcement—Plus More in News Briefs
By Courtney Potter
The illustrious Incredibles designer is ready to greet fans, and American Idol and Dancing with the Stars both crown a winner. … Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Opening Season Announced!
Is it possible to lightspeed to 2019? Because that’s when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will officially come to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. And now we have a bit more of a definitive timeframe to circle on our proverbial wall calendars… Take a gander at the big news here at D23.com!
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
May 25, 2018
D23’s Return to Marceline
June 9, 2018
D23’s Mickey’s of Glendale Shopping Experience in Florida
June 14, 2018
Enjoy Complimentary Tickets to a Special Screening of Disney•Pixar’s Incredibles 2
June 23, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Robin Hood on the Lot
June 29, 2018
Lunch with Disney Legend: Burny Mattinson
June 30, 2018
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Robin Hood at Walt Disney World
November 16-18, 2018
Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse
August 23-25, 2019
D23 Expo 2019
Parks
February 28–May 28, 2018
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
May 25, 2018
Incredible Summer Begins at Walt Disney World Resort
May 27, 2018
Star Wars: Galactic Nights Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
June 23, 2018
Pixar Pier opens at Disney California Adventure
June 30, 2018
Toy Story Land opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
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
August 30-November 12, 2018
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
September7-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
May 25, 2018
Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters
June 15, 2018
Incredibles 2 opens in U.S. theaters
July 6, 2018
Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp opens in U.S. theaters opens in U.S. theaters
August 3, 2018
Disney’s Christopher Robin opens in U.S. theaters
November 2, 2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters
December 19, 2018
Mary Poppins Returns opens in U.S. theaters
Television
June 9, 2018
Big Hero 6 The Series premieres on Disney Channel (9 a.m. ET/PT)
June 18, 2018
Big City Greens premieres on Disney Channel (9:30 a.m. ET/PT)
Big News, Darlings: Edna Mode to Visit Disney Parks This Summer
Much like illustrious designer Edna Mode, a fan favorite from Disney•Pixar’s The Incredibles (and soon to be seen in Incredibles 2), we “never look back, darling.” And we’re absolutely looking forward to Edna’s just-announced appearance at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts this summer!
According to our pals at the Disney Parks Blog, Edna will be appearing at Magic Kingdom park starting this upcoming Memorial Day weekend—and it’s all part of their big “Incredible Summer” celebration. Guests will be able to mix and mingle with a bunch of characters from The Incredibles, including Edna, at the Incredible Tomorrowland Expo. And just in time for the opening of Incredibles 2 on June 15, the legendary super-suit couturier will jet her way over to Disney California Adventure park as part of the first-ever Pixar Fest. (In fact, she’ll continue to reward guests with her larger-than-life presence to celebrate the opening of Pixar Pier, later this summer.)
So make plans now to meet Ms. Mode in person… and remember: no capes!
ABC’s American Idol and Dancing with the Stars: Athletes Crown Winners
It was a big night for singin’ and dancin’ on the ABC Television Network—as both American Idol and Dancing with the Stars: Athletes crowned their most recent winners.
All 10 athletes returned to the ballroom for the one-hour finale of DWTS, during which they performed one last group dance. The three couples who remained in competition each took to the floor for two more dances… ultimately, figure skater Adam Rippon (and pro partner Jenna Johnson) took home the special Athletes Mirrorball trophy!
And over on American Idol, a plethora of stars—including Bebe Rexha, Gary Clark, Jr., Patti LaBelle, and even Muppet icon Kermit the Frog—offered up memorable finale performances, in addition to each of the Idol judges (Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan) joining members of the Top 10 finalists for a tune. And when all was sung and done, the winner of Season 1 of American Idol on ABC was revealed to be… Maddie Poppe!
Bonus tip: Don’t miss Maddie as she takes to the stage at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards, coming to Disney Channel on Saturday, June 23.
Boo-tiful Fun: Halloween Time Returns to Disneyland Resort September 7
Okay, okay—we know. Summer doesn’t quite “officially” start ‘til Memorial Day this coming Monday, May 28… but color us frightfully fired-up for this announcement from our friends at Disneyland Resort: Halloween Time returns on September 7, and will cast its spooky spell through All Hallows Eve, October 31.
For the uninitiated, Halloween Time is a seasonal celebration of all things “happy haunt,” with special attraction overlays; themed décor in every nook and cranny of both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks; delicious eats and treats; limited-edition merchandise; and festive encounters with all your favorite characters. Speaking of which—Disney California Adventure will again feature Oogie Boogie from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas; Cars Land is set to celebrate “Haul-o-Ween” in Radiator Screams (get it?) once more; and Star-Lord and crew will delight in some frightful tomfoolery with Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. Over at Disneyland, get ready for the return of fan-faves Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy.
Plus, the exceedingly anticipated (and always amazing) Mickey’s Halloween Party—a separately ticketed event featuring the Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular, trick-or-treating, and even a visit from the Headless Horseman himself—will welcome guests on 15 evenings throughout September and October. Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 12! Fire up the ol’ cauldron and keep an eye on Disneyland.com/Halloween for more information as the witching hour approaches…
Disney Channel’s Big City Greens Premieres This June
When an animated series is given a second season before it’s even premiered, you know it’s gotta be fabulous fun! Case in point: Disney Channel’s latest show, Big City Greens, premieres on Monday, June 18 (9:30 a.m. ET/PT)—but it’s already been greenlit (that’s fancy Hollywood-speak for “given the go-ahead”) for a second season!
Created by comic book authors (and brothers) Chris and Shane Houghton—and influenced by their childhood growing up in the small rural town of St. Johns, Michigan—Big City Greens is a comedy-adventure about a mischievous and optimistic 10-year-old named Cricket Greens (voice of Chris Houghton) who moves to the big city with his wildly out-of-place family. Listen for an incredible slate of guest-cast voices throughout the first season, including Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Raven-Symoné (Raven’s Home), Danny Trejo (Spy Kids), Jim Rash (Community), and Paul Scheer (ABC’s Fresh of the Boat).
The series will premiere with a big week of new episodes rolling out daily, from Monday, June 18, through Friday, June 22—all as part of Disney Channel’s GO! Summer, featuring fresh programming for kids and their families all season long. Following that debut, new episodes will premiere throughout the summer on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. EDT/PDT.
Target’s Mickey Merchandise Brings Sunshine to Your Summer
Speaking of summer: With the whole world starting to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s historic 90th anniversary, the fine folks at Target have just released an adorable line of Mickey-related merchandise—perfect to make your summer even more magical.
All season long, Target will have exclusive new Mickey products throughout their stores, including children’s, women’s, and men’s apparel and accessories; bath and beauty products; pool gear; bedding for kids and kids at heart; pet toys and treats; and much more.
There are more than 350 items, so there’s truly something for everyone. Looking for a graduation gift? Something for that baby shower you’re going to in a few weeks? Or even that wedding that’s later this summer? Looks like Mickey and Target have us all covered…
Cheyenne Jackson Cast as Hades in Descendants 3
Disney’s Descendants 3 is currently shooting in Vancouver, Canada—and to keep us fans satiated, they’ve been offering updates via their fun #D3Deets video series on YouTube. Just this week, they’ve announced that casting is now complete with the addition of a familiar face from both TV and theater…
Cheyenne Jackson—known for his turns on Glee, American Horror Story, and 30 Rock, and starring roles in All Shook Up, Xanadu, and Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway—will join the cast as Hades, the hilariously quirky villain from Disney’s animated hit Hercules. He joins cast members Dove Cameron as Mal, Cameron Boyce as Carlos, Sofia Carson as Evie, Booboo Stewart as Jay, Mitchell Hope as King Ben, China Ann McClain as Uma, Sarah Jeffrey as Audrey, and Anna Cathcart as Dizzy for a return to the world of “villain kids” and Auradonians.
Check out the #D3Deets clip, above—and keep your eyes peeled for more Descendants 3 news as its 2019 premiere draws closer.
Opening Season for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and a Brand New Sneak Peek
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Not too long from now at some theme parks close, close by, guests will be able to explore the world of Star Wars like never before! Disney Parks Blog just announced that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open summer 2019 at Disneyland Resort and in late fall 2019 at Walt Disney World. Soon, guests will be able to take part in all the action, fun, and adventure of Star Wars.
Take a look into the fun with this out-of-this-world sneak peek video, and start planning your trips now—we’ve got a good feeling about this!
3 Disney Destinations for the Perfect Vacation
By D23 Team
Some days you just want to kick back, relax, and get away from it all… but you can’t relax until you pick a vacation destination! Don’t worry, you don’t have to break a sweat with your trip planning this year, because we’ve found the perfect Disney destinations to make your vacation a dream come true. Just download these postcards below and get ready for a magical trip! Need even more inspiration? Make sure to check out our other shareables for even more Disney vacation spots.
Wakanda, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther
Click here to download.
Crait, Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Click here to download.
The Internet, Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2
Click here to download.
15 Disneyland Restaurants Coming to the Mobile Ordering Service
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Guests at Disneyland Resort can soon get their favorite meals at the push of a button. As announced by Disney Parks Blog today, 15 restaurants at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will be utilizing the new mobile ordering service that guests will be able to access from the Disneyland App.
To use this service, download the Disneyland App (or install the latest app update) and follow the prompts to register for an account.
Are you ready to use the food ordering service of the future? Check out the full list of restaurants that will be using the service:
Disneyland Park
- Bengal Barbecue
- Galactic Grill
- Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
- Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Jolly Holiday Bakery Café
- Red Rose Taverne
Disney California Adventure Park
- Award Wieners
- Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
- Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
- Corn Dog Castle
- Flo’s V8 Café
- Lucky Fortune Cookery
- Pacific Wharf Café
- Paradise Garden Grill
- Smokejumpers Grill
We can’t wait to use this service to order all of our favorite Disneyland Resort foods!
Your Ultimate Guide to the Most Instagrammable Disney Walls
By Karina Schink
A day at a Disney park is filled with treats beyond compare, rides that thrill, and, of course, magic! At the end of the day, all we want is to bottle it all up and take it home with us! And what better way to do that than with a perfect picture in front of a wonderful Disney wall for Instagram?
But, what makes a beautiful backdrop? Well, a bit of faith, trust, and pixie dust (and a stunning Disney fan to take center stage), of course! Here are some of our favorite photo-op locations.
Walt Disney World Resort
Magic Kingdom
The Purple Wall—Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
You could say that this was the wall that started it all. The Purple Wall (#purplewall) is located next to Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, near the entrance of Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom Park. But, that’s not all! While a solid purple wall may be your backdrop of choice, there is also a fun, geometric design (#galacticpurplewall) you can snap your impeccably purple pictures in front of!
The Candy Stripe Wall—Main Street Confectionery
Main Street, U.S.A.’s Confectionery in Magic Kingdom Park is the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth, but don’t forget to snap a photo (with or without your treat!) in front of the Candy Stripe Wall (#candystripewall).
Epcot
Galaxy Wall
You may have to work your way around some pixie dust for this wall, because as Imagineers are hard at work on the new Guardians of the Galaxy themed attraction, a brand-new Galaxy wall has gone up. But, you have to get there quickly, because this wall is temporary!
Bubblegum Wall—Spaceship Earth
Everyone’s day needs a pop of color! Located near the exit doors of Spaceship Earth, the Bubblegum Wall (#bubblegumwall) provides just that!
Blueberry Wall—Spaceship Earth
The Blueberry Wall (#blueberrywall) at Epcot is definitely a fan-favorite “Wall of Disney.” Located near the exit of Spaceship Earth, this wall is the perfect place to remind everyone that there’s no need to be blue when you’re at the most magical place on Earth!
Rose Gold Wall—Mission: Space
It’s the craze heard ‘round the world! Rose gold is here to stay, and we love it! Whether you have your rose gold Minnie Mouse ears or spirit jersey, or not, you can show your affinity for the bright color by grabbing a photo in front of the Rose Gold Wall (#rosegoldwall) in Epcot!
Mosaic Wall—The Land Pavillion
The Mosaic Wall (#mosaicwall) is located in The Land in Future World in Epcot, and it’s a cool space (in the shade!) to grab a uniquely colorful photo!
Toothpaste Wall—The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion
The Toothpaste Wall (#toothpastewall), located at The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion, is a swimmingly good place to take a picture or two!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Walls of Harambe
You don’t have to travel far to satisfy all of your wanderlust daydreams, because right inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom are the Walls of Harambe (#wallsofharambe) which transport you to an African safari, with tons of different walls to choose as your backdrop venue.
One of the most popular walls, the You Are Most Beautiful wall (#youaremostbeautifulwall), is an excellent way to give everyone a reminder of just how great you are.
Moss Wall—Pandora: The World of Avatar
For the greenest, most adventurous wall, you just have to fly to Pandora—The World of Avatar. The Moss Wall (#mosswall) is located near Satu’li Canteen, and it’s an out-of-this-world spot to outlive your wildest wilderness dreams.
Disney Hollywood Studios
Checkerboard Wall—Toy Story Land
We’re so excited about the opening of Toy Story Land, and not just for the new rides and eats, but for all the new spots to snap a few photos! One of those is the Checkerboard Wall (#checkerboardwall) located by Toy Story Mania!
Toy Story Block Wall—Toy Story Land
As you continue your day as an honorary toy in Toy Story Land, head over to the Toy Story Land Block Wall (#toystorylandblockwall), where you can prove just how joy-filled and toy-filled Andy’s backyard is!
Popsicle Wall—Toy Story Land
Golly bob howdy! Not only does the new Toy Story Land offer exciting new eats and attractions, but also great new walls to pose in front of! The Popsicle Wall (#popsiclewall) quickly became a fan favorite, and we can see why! Find this wall over at the exit of Toy Story Mania!.
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Incredibly delicious! ?? #HollywoodStudios #WaltDisneyWorld (?: @disneyinsta.disney07)
Incredibles Celebration Wall—Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Even though it’s been a few months since Incredibles 2 landed in theaters, we’ll never stop celebrating our favorite family of Supers. Located at the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this all-new wall (#incredibleswall) transports you to the city of Metroville, the very place the Parrs call home. And, who wouldn’t want to be transported to a world filled with laser-eyed crime-fighting babies?
Jack-Jack Wall Cutout—Disney Hollywood Studios
Right across from the Incredibles Celebration Wall, next to the giant thermos, you can find the baby, the myth, the cookie-eating legend himself, Jack-Jack (#jackjackwall)! As per usual, he’s too fast for us! Fueled by Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums (which you can taste for yourself!) the youngest member of the Parr family has already blasted his way through the wall onwards towards his next adventure. But, you can take a picture alongside the slight damage he made!
Dino Wall—Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you won’t just be walking amongst some of the most ancient creatures to roam Walt Disney World, you’ll be transported back to their time. With the Dino Wall (#dinowall) as your backdrop, you can fool all of your friends into believing you had a brief time-traveling adventure on your latest Disney trip.
Disney Hotels
Neon Mickey Wall – Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Mickey’s legacy burns so bright, we can’t help but snap a couple photos! At The Neon Mickey Wall (#neonmickeywall), located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you can live a moment (and capture it) in technicolor, so your photo can shine just as bright as you!
Flower Power Wall – Pop Century Resort
The Flower Power Wall (#popflowerwall) at Disney’s Pop Century Resort is blooming with color and Instagram photo potential. With bright and bold flowers as your backdrop, we can see why Disney fans are flocking to show their love for flower power.
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park
it’s a small world Wall—Fantasyland
It might be a small world after all, but that does not limit our choices of prime photo points, especially around the attraction itself! Located to the left of the inimitable international ride, right behind Fantasy Faire Gifts, the towering blue and white it’s a small world Wall (#itsasmallworldwall) is a flawless spot for grabbing a photo with friends.
Star Wars Wall—Tomorrowland
In a galaxy far, far away, there is a wall strong with the force for all of you Wookiees, scoundrels, Jedi, and Sith. The Star Wars Wall (#starwarswall) wraps around Star Wars Launch Bay and you can choose spots with or without those famous words. May the force be with you… as you snag a couple photos!
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Celebration Wall—Mickey’s Toontown
Swing on over to Mickey’s Toontown to take a quick picture in front of the brand-new Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Celebration wall! Located where the Minnie Mouse polka dot wall used to be next to Minnie’s house, this wall is inspired by the mouse that started it all, and his leading lady.
Vine Wall—Disneyland
When you’re heading over to it’s a small world for the traditional ride on the classic attraction, be sure to stop at the Vine Wall, right next door. It’s the perfect backdrop to mark the occasion of your worldly adventure on the classic attraction.
Frontierland Wall—Disneyland Resort
While, by the looks of it, you may think this wall was in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, it’s actually tucked away between Fantasyland and Frontierland. The Frontierland Wall (#frontierlandwall) makes for a natural backdrop to add a spot of uniqueness to your photo gallery.
Downtown Disney
Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration
Something extra special has made its way to Downtown Disney. The Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration is filled with unique photo opportunities to celebrate the true original. For a more in-depth look at all of the Instagram-worthy backdrops inside, click here.
Disney California Adventure
The Blue Wall—Hollywood Land
Is there a more classic color than blue? The famous Blue Wall (#bluewall) in Hollywood Land will make you feel like royalty when you stop for a snapshot at this regal wall.
Happily Ever After Wall—Hollywood Land
Whether you’re celebrating a special milestone or you cherish those famous three words, this wall is a perfect spot to stop and take quick photo. The Happily Ever After Wall (#happilyeverafterwall) can be found in the tunnel going from the Animation Academy into Off the Page.
Luxo Ball Jr. Ball Wall—Pixar Pier
With the addition of Pixar Pier, there are even more great locations to take a quick picture. One of our favorite stops is right inside the Lamplight Lounge at the Luxo Ball Wall (#luxoballwall). Let Luxo light up your photo as you stop for a quick photo shoot (and, of course, snack on some Lobster Nachos, because how can you not?).
Discover the Characters of Solo: A Star Wars Story
By Jim Frye,
Get ready, because Lucasfilm’s Solo: A Star Wars Story blasts into theaters this Memorial Day weekend, telling the early tales of Han Solo, the most iconic space cowboy in cinema history. Directed by Ron Howard, Solo finds Han, an orphaned scam artist who, after being kicked out of the Flight Academy for, as he says, “having a mind of my own,” dreams of being the best pilot in the galaxy. He gets mixed up with a colorful group of gangsters in the galactic underworld, taking him on an adventure that eventually introduces him to some of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars universe.
Han Solo: Alden Ehrenreich
Finding a new Han Solo was no easy task—Harrison Ford, who originally played the character, cast a very large shadow. “Harrison Ford is so unique and has embodied the character for so many years that they were gigantic shoes to fill,” says Producer and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “We weren’t looking for someone who looked like Harrison; we didn’t want an impersonation of him nor his Han Solo. We wanted an actor who could find those traits that are so loveable, so roguish about Han Solo.”
Alden Ehrenreich, from films such as Hail, Caesar! and Rules Don’t Apply, was excited to land the role. “It’s really special to be part of a franchise that has so much heart and that means so much to people,” he says, “and to play such a multi-dimensional character in the Star Wars universe.”
Lando Calrissian: Donald Glover
Donald Glover is an award-winning writer, director, musician, stand-up comedian, and actor. Fans might recognize him from Community, Atlanta, and 30 Rock. “Lando was my first action toy,” he says. “The character really spoke to me, and I am honored to dig a little deeper into him. I think he’s a really intriguing character. Sometimes he’s good, sometimes bad, and really only beholden to himself. These are interesting and honest traits.”
Chewbacca: Joonas Suotamo
Starting with Star Wars: A New Hope back in 1977, Chewbacca has been the faithful best friend and co-pilot for Han. Solo explores the beginnings of that relationship, with Chewbacca played by former college basketball player Joonas Suotamo. “Chewbacca is truly the most loyal companion,” says Suotamo. “He’s very attentive, always alert to danger because he’s lived such a long, dangerous life, always on the watch. He is the perfect partner to have watching out for you. It becomes clear to Chewbacca that Han needs someone to take care of him.”
Beckett: Woody Harrelson
Three-time Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson plays Beckett, a career criminal who takes young Solo under his wing. “Han joins forces with Beckett and his group,” says Harrelson. “They’re trying to pull off these heists, but there are a lot of complications and, during the course of them, I think Beckett does teach Han a thing or two about how to live—perhaps not the most positive things, like don’t trust anyone, but things that become codes he lives by.”
Val: Thandie Newton
British actress Thandie Newton, known for roles in TV series such as Westworld and Line of Duty in addition to films such as Crash, The Pursuit of Happyness, and The Chronicles of Riddick, plays Val, a tough, no-nonsense gangster with Beckett. “Val’s so calm, nothing fazes her,” says Newton. “Even when she’s in the most threatening situation, she remains calm. She’s incredibly sure of herself.”
Qi’ra: Emilia Clarke
The enigmatic Qi’ra, an early love of Han, is played by Emilia Clarke, perhaps best known as Daenerys Targaryen from HBO’s hugely popular Game of Thrones. “It’s really exciting to be creating a new, strong, female character in the Star Wars universe,” says Clarke, “especially one who is integral to the story of such a beloved character in cinema history.”
L3-37: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
L3-37, Lando’s co-pilot and the first leading female droid in the Star Wars universe, is perfectly played by English actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, best known for her comedy TV series Fleabag. “She reconstructed herself,” says Waller-Bridge. “She started out as an astromech droid like R2, gave herself a voice and limbs and is able to do lots of things that she wouldn’t otherwise have been able to do. She’s very revolutionary, very determined.”
Dryden Vos: Paul Bettany
Star Wars is legendary for its great villains, from Emperor Palpatine and Kylo Ren to the iconic Darth Vader. In that same fashion, Solo gives us Dryden Vos, played by actor Paul Bettany. “He is a sociopath, unpredictable, anarchic,” says Bettany. “He’s like one of those characters that appeared post-perestroika, after the introduction of the free market economy into a country that culturally had no system of ownership. Some people were trodden on, and some people did the treading. Dryden is like one of those guys who clawed his way up.”
Director Ron Howard says that Solo is a character study—maybe the first for Star Wars films—about everyone’s favorite scoundrel. “This is a rite of passage story, consistent with Star Wars, with many themes that will resonate with audiences,” he says. “It’s about one character’s journey, the way that he is tested by the unique challenges that he faces and by the people he meets to become the character we know so well.”
Solo: A Star Wars Story rockets into theaters May 25.
Must-See Photos of Mystic Point at Hong Kong Disneyland
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Lord Henry Mystic was deep in his adventures when he rescued an adorable monkey from the web of a monstrous spider. Instantly smitten with the peculiar primate, Henry decided to remain in this tropical locale with his new companion, who he named Albert. Thanks to that bond between man and monkey, Mystic Point was born.
This popular location at Hong Kong Disneyland opened five years ago alongside the attraction Mystic Manor, a free-roaming romp through Lord Henry’s home and museum—filled to the brim with artifacts, trinkets, and other tokens of unknown magical quantities.
Beyond featuring this stunning main attraction, Mystic Point is beloved by Disney fans from all over the world for being a part of the larger storyline to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.). S.E.A. is an international assembly of men and women who travel the world in search of knowledge, adventure, art, and priceless cultural artifacts—and their adventures often are explored in unique Disney attractions, such as Tokyo DisneySea’s Tower of Terror, and Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Celebrate this unique land at Hong Kong Disneyland with our stunning photo gallery below.
