Bring Solo Merchandise from a Galaxy Far, Far Away to Your Very Own Home

May 16, 2018

By Megan Deppe

Everyone’s favorite “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder” is back, and it’s only appropriate that we celebrate his return to the big screen with some Solo: A Star Wars Story gear! Just in time for the movie’s May 25 arrival in theaters, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite new Solo-inspired merchandise for you to add to your galactic collection. And don’t forget, D23 Gold Members enjoy a 10 percent discount off your purchase of $50 or more at shopDisney.com.

1. Chewbacca Plush
Laugh it up with your very own fuzzball! This cuddly co-pilot will have your back on all of your own journeys, and his attached satchel is perfect for smuggling your most important small essentials.

2. Solo: A Star Wars Story Figure Play Set
We hear you’re putting together a crew, so we rounded up some likely candidates! You can send Han Solo and the gang off on a brand-new mission or reenact your favorite scenes from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

3. Millennium Falcon Kessel Run Playset by LEGO
Here’s a ship you won’t have to gamble with Lando Calrissian to get your hands on! This “bucket of bolts” comes with more than 1,000 pieces, spring-loaded shooters, a detachable escape craft, and the best crew this side of the galaxy.

4. Han Solo Costume Bomber Jacket for Boys
Little scoundrels everywhere need a jacket to keep them warm as they travel through hyperspace. Favorite Solo characters adorn the printed lining, Chewbacca can be found on an interior ID label, and the Millennium Falcon zips up the faux suede jacket.

5. Solo: A Star Wars Story Monopoly Set
Classic Monopoly takes a turn on the Kessel Run and allows you to travel at light speed to buy all of the hideouts and facilities from the film Solo: A Star Wars Story.

6. Solo: A Star Wars Story Backpack for Adults
As you travel through hyperspace (or across your college campus), you’ll need a bag capable of holding all your gear. With plenty of pockets for hiding your cargo, you will be ready for any adventure that comes your way.

7. Chewbacca Water Bottle
It’s important to stay hydrated on your intergalactic journeys and you can bring your drink of choice along for the ride in this water bottle, which you can hook onto your Solo backpack for the ultimate convenience.

8. Millennium Falcon T-Shirt for Men
If you’ve ever wanted to know all about the iconic Millennium Falcon, this is the shirt for you. The blueprints for the fastest ship in the galaxy can be found on this tee, which showcases the Falcon when it was still shiny and new.

9. Solo: A Star Wars Story Character Mug
You can’t make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs without your morning cup of caffeine! Now you can fuel yourself with a Solo character mug that features your favorite faces from Solo: A Star Wars Story before you head off to move your cargo.

10. Chewbacca Blaster by Nerf
You can’t be a grade-A smuggler if you’re not prepared to defend your cargo! Chewbacca’s Nerf Blaster comes equipped with glow-in-the-dark darts and laser blast sound effects, perfect for a trip across the galaxy (or across the backyard)!

All the New ABC Shows Coming This Fall—Plus More in News Briefs

May 16, 2018November 8, 2018

By Courtney Potter

ABC announces its 2018–19 prime-time season, and Frozen on Broadway gets its cast recording and a national tour… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Get Your Remotes Ready: ABC Announces 2018–19 Prime-time Season!

It’s May, which means graduations and weddings and warmer temperatures—and also an end to the current television season… but there’s good news, TV fans: On the flip side, the new TV season is just over the horizon. And our pals over at ABC just made their big 2018–19 primetime announcement; it’s chock full of returning favorites, new stories and characters, a few familiar faces making their TV comebacks, and more comedy and drama than ever before!

From The Rookie (starring Nathan Fillion as a middle-aged newbie in the Los Angeles Police Department) to the new 1970s-set comedy The Kids Are Alright… from the return of faves like Roseanne and black-ish to a brand-new talk show from Alec Baldwin… make sure those DVRs are set to ABC come fall. Read more about ABC’s upcoming prime-time season right here at D23.com.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
May 19, 2018
Exclusive Meet & Greet with Ashley Eckstein
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
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

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)

Broadway’s Frozen—New Cast Recording and Big Upcoming Tour

There’s a blizzard of news from the world of Disney Theatricals’ Frozen, and it’s got us bundling up and breaking out some celebratory cocoa. The record-breaking Broadway smash just released their official cast recording; find out more, and see a clip featuring Caissie Levy singing Elsa’s signature “Let It Go,” here. Plus, Disney Theatrical has announced a huge national Frozen tour, officially opening in Los Angeles, to kick off in 2019—read all about it here. Anyone else feel like a warm hug right about now?

Freeform Announces Slate for 2018–19 Season

Along with ABC’s big prime-time announcements this week, Freeform got in on the action with some revelations of their own… Joining successful series like Siren, grown-ish, and The Bold Type for the 2018–19 season are brand-new shows including Besties—a half-hour comedy from co-creators Kenya Barris (black-ish, grown-ish) and Ranada Shepard that explores friendship, identity, race, and class as two lifelong best friends use each other to get through some of the toughest challenges that they’ll ever face… as well as Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, a spin-off from PLL creator I. Marlene King that follows a group of three college friends as they struggle with the stress of being overachievers.

As we head towards the end of 2018, look for some fresh holiday-related Freeform programming, including the Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Extravaganza (celebrating the fan-favorite Halloween staple starring Bette Midler) and Decorating Disney: Halloween—a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into transforming the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts for their spooky shenanigans. But that’s not all: Tyra Banks will revisit an iconic role from early in her career with Life Size 2, an original holiday film that has the doll-come-to-life helping a young woman learn to live and love again.

Keep your eyes peeled for more information about Freeform’s new series and specials in the coming months!

Woo-oo! All the News from Disney Channel GO! Fan Fest

Disney Channel held its very first GO! Fan Fest on Saturday, May 14, at the Disneyland Resort—and D23 was there! We got the inside scoop from a veritable cavalcade of stars, including David Tennant, Ben Schwartz, and Danny Pudi from DuckTales; Peyton List and Mallory Mahoney from BUNK’D; and Lilan Bowden from Andi Mack. Read all about it right here (and make sure to watch the clip of the awesome DuckTales live table read, featuring most of the cast—all together on stage for the very first time!).

Mandarin Beauty and the Beast Opening June 14

Shanghai Disney Resort will soon get its very own “tale as old as time,” when the brand-new Mandarin production of the hit Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast opens June 14 at the Walt Disney Grand Theatre in Disneytown!

More than 80 actors and crew members were selected, after a six-month search, to bring the show to life—including an ensemble of world-class performers that includes both well-known and undiscovered Chinese talent… as well as a few folks from around the globe. And audiences who caught the resort’s previous hit musical, The Lion King, will see several familiar faces.

This spectacular new production features award-winning music composed by Disney Legend Alan Menken, who met the cast in Shanghai earlier this year. The original Broadway creative team is also in Shanghai working with the local cast and crew to bring this beloved story to the stage. For those readers who may be planning an epic Shanghai sojourn, tickets go on sale to the public on May 24.

New Photography Book Celebrates Mickey Mouse

A cadre of celebrities and cultural icons—including Disney Legend Mark Hamill, Marvel’s Agent Carter star Hayley Atwell, and actress Liv Tyler—have come together to pay tribute to Mickey Mouse’s 90th, with stylish portraits by photographer RANKIN… and it’s all in support of the UK charity Together for Short Lives. Take a gander at some of the pics, and find out how you too can help this important cause, here at D23.com.

Adventures by Disney Announces Incredible 2019 Vacations

Sure, we’re just heading into Summer 2018—but that doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about vacations for next year. Thankfully, Adventures by Disney (ABD) recently announced their vacation options for 2019, and they’re as exhilarating as you’d expect!

ABD is offering more destinations than ever before, with more than 50 trips to six continents. Plus, their very first Japan vacation (an epic 11-day, 10-night itinerary with experiences in Kyoto, Takayama, Odawara, and Tokyo) is now on sale; it’s a collaboration between ABD and the Japan National Tourism Organization, and it’s sure to be ridiculously special.

For a quick look at what you can expect from ABD in 2019, check out the new video, above. And make sure to visit AdventuresbyDisney.com for more information.

Don’t Miss These 7 New Shows in ABC’s 2018–19 Lineup!

May 16, 2018May 16, 2018

By Courtney Potter

TV fans of America, rejoice! For this week brings with it delightful developments—when our good friends over at the ABC Television Network announce to the world all its brand-new shows for the upcoming prime-time season. In addition to the return of fan favorites like Roseanne, black-ish, Grey’s Anatomy, American Idol, and Speechless, ABC is adding four new shows to its sure-to-entertain fall lineup. (Honestly, we’re ready to set our DVRs right now.) Plus, three more series will join the network as we head into 2019…

Take a gander at the new shows (including their just-released trailers) below—and don’t forget to let us know which ones you can’t wait to watch!

A Million Little Things—Starring James Roday (Psych), David Giuntoli (Grimm), Ron Livingston (Office Space), and Romany Malco (Think Like a Man)—and based on events from series creator DJ Nash’s real life—this drama follows a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unforeseen circumstances. In the decade since, some have achieved success; others are struggling with careers or relationships; but there’s one thing they all have in common: They feel stuck. When one of them dies unexpectedly, it’s the startling wake-up call the others need to finally start living again.

The Rookie—Nathan Fillion, late of ABC’s Castle (and also known for the fan-favorite series Firefly), stars as small-town guy John Nolan who—after a life-altering incident—decides to pursue his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, John’s met with skepticism from higher-ups who see him as a walking “midlife crisis.” But if he can use his life experience, determination, and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of life.

Single Parents—This ensemble comedy follows a group of single parents (including Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, Everybody Loves Raymond star Brad Garrett, and former Saturday Night Live player Taran Killam) as they lean on each other to help raise their 7-year-old kids and maintain some kind of personal lives outside of parenthood. When it becomes obvious that the new dad at school has spiraled down a rabbit hole of PTA and princesses, the rest of the gang bands together to make him realize that being a great parent doesn’t mean sacrificing everything about your own identity.

The Kids Are Alright—Set in the 1970s, this comedy is based on series creator Tim Doyle’s real life growing up in a working-class Southern California suburb. The show follows the Clearys, a traditional Irish-Catholic family, as they navigate big and small changes during one of America’s most turbulent decades. Parents Mike and Peggy are raising eight (!) boisterous boys who live out their days with little supervision. But the household is turned upside-down when oldest son Lawrence returns home and announces he’s quitting the seminary to go off and “save the world.” Times are changing—and this family will never be the same.

… And debuting in 2019:

Grand Hotel—A provocative new drama from executive producer Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), this series—based on a Spanish TV show—takes place at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza (Oscar® nominee Demián Bichir) owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi (Roselyn Sanchez), and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury—but scandals, escalating debt, and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior.

Whiskey Cavalier—This high-octane, hour-long action dramedy follows the adventures of tough but tender FBI super-agent Will Chase (Scott Foley, Scandal)—codename: “Whiskey Cavalier.” Following an emotional breakup, Chase is assigned to work with tough CIA operative Francesca “Frankie” Trowbridge (Lauren Cohan, The Walking Dead)—codename: “Fiery Tribune.” Together, they lead an inter-agency team of spies who periodically save the world (and each other) while navigating the rocky roads of friendship, romance, and office politics.

The Fix—Attorney and author Marcia Clark co-writes and executive produces this new legal drama. Maya Travis (Robin Tunney, The Mentalist) is an L.A. district attorney who suffers a devastating defeat when prosecuting an A-list actor for double murder. With her high-profile career derailed, she flees for a quieter life in Washington… but eight years later, when this same celebrity is under suspicion for another murder, Maya is lured back to the DA’s office for another chance at justice.

Every Magical Moment from Disney Channel GO! Fan Fest

May 15, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

“There are no fans like Disney Channel fans,” said Joshua Rush, who plays Cyrus on the network’s fan-favorite live-action series Andi Mack, at the Disneyland Resort on Saturday, May 12. Rush joined a host of Disney Channel stars from series such as DuckTales and Raven’s Home, as well as Disney Channel Original Movies ZOMBIES and Freaky Friday, for the first-ever Disney Channel GO! Fan Fest. From the star-studded cavalcade on Main Street, U.S.A., that kicked off the event to an afternoon of exciting panels inside Stage 17 at Disney’s California Adventure, an unforgettable time was had by both stars and fans alike.

“I love parades so much I’ve already warned everyone I might cry out of happiness,” said Kate Micucci—the voice of DuckTales’ Webby Vanderquack—when D23 caught up with her at the beginning of the fan-centric day. The Leader of the Club led the way: Mickey Mouse and his motorcar were the first to make their way down Main Street, U.S.A., followed by the casts of Raven’s Home, BUNK’D, Bizaardvark, Andi Mack, Stuck in the Middle, ZOMBIES, Freaky Friday, and DuckTales—accompanied by the likes of Pluto, Goofy, Launchpad McQuack, and Scrooge McDuck. As they say in Duckburg, woo-oo! You can re-live the special procession, which was streamed live on the Disney Parks Blog, in the video below:

Throughout Saturday afternoon, fans were able to meet some of their favorite stars outside of Stage 12 in Hollywood Land—while Stage 17 was the place to be for panel discussions that were full of surprising revelations about the beloved Disney Channel series and their casts.

To begin the afternoon, the cast of Bizaardvark found themselves in a spirited debate over who in the cast is truly the funniest. Season three newcomer Maxwell Simkins made a pretty compelling case for himself, but we encourage fans to tune in this summer and decide for themselves.

Peyton List and Mallory Mahoney revealed that when BUNK’D returns, the Ross kids will be fixing up Camp Kikiwaka following the fire that took place at the end of season two. List reassured fans that the camp’s food will continue to be a source of dismay for the campers (and deliciously amusing for the audience).

We spoke with actor David Tennant, the voice of Scrooge McDuck, in advance of the DuckTales live table read. “It’s a white-knuckle ride! It’s a leap into the dark today,” he told us, adding, “We’ve never all been in the same room reading at the same time together.” Realizing that they were about to rewrite history, Bobby Moynihan (Louie Duck) shared, “I’m slowly realizing that this is the most important day of my life!” Of course, the actors had no cause for worry. The staged reading was a duck-blur of fun and frivolity, with actors doubling up on roles in some cases: David Tennant read the role of Flintheart Glomgold in addition to Uncle Scrooge, and Toks Olagundoye voiced the very proper Mrs. Beakley as well as the very improper Ma Beagle. To see the cast as they were literally out there making DuckTales, the entire table read is here for your viewing pleasure:

The Andi Mack panel proved that the cast members are truly a family on screen and off. The series is filmed on location in Utah, and on a typical Saturday night during production, you might just find all of them at the local roller-skating rink, tripping the disco-light fantastic together. Fans can tune in to the new season to see relationships continue to grow and evolve. Lilan Bowden (Bex) teased that we’ll learn more of the characters’ secrets, while Joshua Rush promises new “ship names” and more “baby taters.”

When the Stuck in the Middle cast came to the stage, the bond they have formed was apparent, as well. The actors agreed that they feel like they have two families—at home and on set—and when asked by a fan which role they would like to play (other than their own), it sounds like it’s pretty good to be Beast—a fact confirmed by Malachi Barton, who enjoys the stunts and set pieces the writers dream up for his character.

Raven-Symoné executive produces Raven’s Home, in addition to reprising the role she originated on That’s So Raven, but her involvement with the new series goes deeper than that. Issac Ryan Brown thinks of her as a surrogate aunt and mother figure on set—and Raven-Symoné explained that as a onetime child actor, she appreciates the responsibility she now has toward the young cast. She referred to herself as “strict” on set, banning cell phones and fidget spinners, and wanting the kids to be able to walk on to any other set and conduct themselves professionally—but first and foremost, she wants them to have an amazing experience. Sky Katz confirms that the plan has succeeded: “Without Raven, on-camera and off-camera, the show would be completely different,” she said.

After a look back at the Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES, the Fan Fest ended with a peek at what’s still to come: Freaky Friday, which premieres this summer. Fans in Stage 17 were the first to see a scene from the upcoming movie, and hear from stars Heidi Blickenstaff and Cozi Zuehlsdorff about the production. Zuehlsdorff detailed how she and Blickenstaff would attend “mannerism meetings” that allowed them to study each other’s physical habits and quirks, and learn how to portray each other. “The best part [of the production] was the time we spent together building these two characters,” said Blickenstaff. You can see these two amazing actresses in action right here:

This fan-tastic event ushers in an unbelievable summer of new and original programming on Disney Channel (and the DisneyNOW app) that includes the series premieres of Big Hero 6 The Series, Bug Juice: My Adventures at Camp, the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards, and so much more. You won’t want to miss a minute, but never fear—we won’t either. Stay tuned to Disney Channel—and D23.com—all summer long!

Breaking News: Frozen is Taking the Snow on the Road

May 15, 2018May 15, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

We’ve got some news that we can’t keep in—and heaven knows, we won’t even try! The Broadway smash Frozen will embark upon a North American tour in the fall of 2019 (commencing in Schenectady, New York), with an official opening planned for The Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Since its March 2018 opening, Frozen has smashed two long-standing house records at Broadway’s St. James Theatre, and the musical has received three Tony® Award nominations, including Best Musical. When Frozen takes the snow on the road next year, it will join the North American tours of The Lion King and Aladdin that are crisscrossing the continent at this very minute.

Frozen’s incredibly talented creative team—including the Academy Award®-winning writing trio of composer/lyricists Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and book writer Jennifer Lee, along with Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage, Tony-winning choreographer Rob Ashford, Tony-winning scenic and costume designer Christopher Oram, Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, Tony-nominated sound designer Peter Hylenski, Tony-winning video designer Finn Ross, Drama Desk Award-nominated puppet designer Michael Curry, and Tony-winning music supervisor Stephen Oremus—will again collaborate to bring the tour to vivid life.

Stay tuned for casting announcements and for the tour’s full itinerary, which will be released at a later date. In the meantime, you can register for advance ticket notifications and find additional information at FrozenTheMusical.com/Tour, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This promises to be a tour worth melting for!

Just Released—The Frozen Original Broadway Cast Recording

May 11, 2018May 10, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

Do you want to hear a snowman?

How about a princess and a queen, as well? Well, you’re in luck—the Frozen Original Broadway Cast Recording has just been released. It’s now available digitally everywhere, with the physical album coming your way on Friday, June 8, wherever music is sold.

But that’s not all the cool news: In celebration of the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording, Frozen has debuted a brand-new music video of “Let It Go”—marking the first time in forever that fans have heard Caissie Levy (Elsa) perform the song outside of Broadway’s St. James Theatre.

Frozen’s incredible cast was joined in the recording studio by an orchestra of 44 musicians, including a string section 22 strong. For a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the album was brought to life, take a look at this video featuring album producers Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Dave Metzger, and Chris Montan, along with the Frozen company:

In addition to fan-favorite songs from the 2013 animated feature, such as “Love Is an Open Door,” “In Summer,” “Fixer Upper,” and “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People,” the soundtrack features new music from Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, including:

“Monster”, performed by Levy and the Broadway company:

“What Do You Know About Love?”, a stunning duet between Patti Murin (Anna) and Jelani Alladin (Kristoff):

“True Love,” an Act Two solo performed by Murin:

“Dangerous to Dream,” an interior monologue for Elsa, performed by Levy:

The complete track list for Frozen’s Original Broadway Cast Recording includes:

ACT ONE

“Vuelie” / “Let the Sun Shine On”—Company
“A Little Bit of You”—Young Elsa, Young Anna
“Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”—Young Anna, Anna, Elsa
“For the First Time in Forever”—Anna, Elsa, Townspeople
“Hans of the Southern Isles”—Hans
“Queen Anointed”—Townspeople
“Dangerous to Dream”—Elsa, Townspeople
“Love Is an Open Door”—Anna, Hans
“Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People”—Kristoff
“What Do You Know About Love?”—Anna, Kristoff
“In Summer”—Olaf
“Hans of the Southern Isles” (Reprise)—Hans, Weselton, Townspeople
“Let It Go”—Elsa

ACT TWO

“Hygge“—Oaken, Kristoff, Anna, Olaf, Family & Friends
“For the First Time in Forever” (Reprise)—Elsa, Anna
“Fixer Upper”—Bulda, Pabbie, Olaf, Hidden Folk
“Kristoff Lullaby”—Kristoff
“Monster”—Elsa, Hans, Men
“True Love”—Anna
“Colder by the Minute”—Anna, Kristoff, Elsa, Hans, Townspeople
“Finale” / “Let It Go”—Company

Bonus Track

“When Everything Falls Apart” Outtake—Olaf, Kristoff, Anna

Frozen was recently nominated for three Tony® Awards: Best Original Score (Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez), Best Book of a Musical (Jennifer Lee), and Best Musical. To learn more about the production, or to purchase tickets, visit FrozenTheMusical.com.

Exclusive First Look: The New Fantasia-Inspired Mickey Mouse Short is a Treat for the Eyes and Ears

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

Fantasia—it’s a word with several meanings. In music, it refers to a composition that doesn’t have a clearly defined form. Translated to other works of art, such as poetry or drama, a fantasia is a work that is brought to life with unrestricted creativity. And in the wonderful world of Disney, Fantasia is Walt Disney’s 1940 masterpiece, a symphonic concert with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra, embellished by Disney animation. “Springtime,” the brand-new Mickey Mouse cartoon short debuting this Saturday, May 12, at 7:55 a.m. ET, is also a fantasia. The short has no dialogue and no sound effects; the soundtrack is comprised only of music, with a classical-inspired score that pays homage to the iconic film.

We sat down with Christopher Willis, the Emmy®-nominated composer for the Mickey Mouse shorts (as well as The Lion Guard and the Emmy-winning HBO series Veep) about putting a classical spin on this contemporary series. Here’s what the musicologist (who has a PhD on 18th-century music) had to say about “Springtime.”

“Springtime” begins with a wonderful nod to Fantasia.
The first sound you’ll hear at the start of “Springtime” is the tapping of a conductor’s baton against a music stand to gain the attention from his or her orchestra. This is a callback to Fantasia’s opening scene, which began with a silhouette of famed conductor Leopold Stokowski, who engages the orchestra to start the film.

Mickey goes on an epic adventure.
Mickey and his nemesis, Pete, face off against each other in what Willis describes as a kind of “ballet.” Pete is the spirit of winter, while Mickey is a harbinger of spring. “Winter doesn’t want to go away without a fight, so they have to battle it out in order for the seasons to progress,” Willis explains.

There is one big difference between the music in “Springtime” and the music in Fantasia.
Willis points out that in Fantasia, “The filmmakers found beloved pieces of classical music and then worked out stories or scenarios that would fit them and would help people to appreciate them even more.” He emphasizes that “Springtime” is written in a classical style that’s a mixture of 18th- and 19th-century influences such as Beethoven, Rossini and Tchaikovsky. Because “Springtime” is less abstract than the vignettes in Fantasia, Willis knew they needed a new piece that sounds classical. “With the expectation and the history that we’ve built up with Mickey Mouse, I think it makes more sense to be a complete story.”

Different instruments represent the iconic characters.
With no dialogue, in “Springtime” it’s the music that tells the story and the instruments help guide you along. The low brass instruments, often used by Mozart to signify a powerful and often demonic force, here represent Pete; while the flute signifies Mickey. A solo violin represents a flower in a temple and the object of Mickey’s affection. You’ll have to tune in to “Springtime” for a grand violin solo—and a grand reveal, as well.

For the first time, Willis didn’t so much as score the animation as the artists animated Willis’ score.
Because the short is completely music-driven, Willis wrote the score much earlier than he usually would in the animation process. Executive producer/supervising director Paul Rudish and his team presented what were essentially sketches to Willis, so that he could advise on the pacing of specific scenes. “It allowed me to come back and say, ‘Well, if you could give me some more time here and a little less time here, a little more time here and a little less time here, then I can make musical phrases that make sense,’” he details.

There are Easter eggs—or should we say Ear-ster eggs?—for classical music aficionados.
When the temple is introduced in the short, Willis reveals that the accompanying music pays homage to Mozart, especially his opera The Magic Flute. And in fact, Mickey actually plays a magic flute throughout the short.

The score for a frenetic sequence when Pete steals Mickey’s magic flute features a fugato, a section often included in the middle of a classical composition to signify chaos. And for when spring begins to bloom at the end of “Springtime,” Willis composed a folk dance, an 18th-century musical “jig” that signifies a celebration. “Things in the cartoon often mean similar things to what they might have meant in classical music,” says Willis. He adds that the more you know about classical music, the more winks and nods you’ll discover—or perhaps, the more you enjoy the short, the more you’ll be inspired to learn.

The classic end-credits tune becomes a classical end-credits tune.
Stay tuned through the credits for a special version of Mickey’s beloved whistling melody, which is performed in “Springtime” by an orchestra in the classical style. Willis explains, “We wanted to give the cartoon a classy sendoff, rather than coming back to the old familiar whistling style.”

“Springtime” premieres Saturday at 7:55 a.m. ET/PT and on the DisneyNOW app. But you can view an exclusive clip from the short right here:

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Phone Wallpapers Inspired by Disney Moms

May 10, 2018

By D23 Team

You can celebrate your love for Disney and your love for the most important woman in your life—your Mom!—with our new Mother’s Day-themed phone wallpapers. You can download any of these wallpapers and remind yourself every day how much you love your Momma.

Click here to download.

8 Important Life Lessons We’ve Learned from Disney Mothers

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018

By Megan Deppe

There’s no one in your life who knows and loves you quite like your mother does. She’s been there since the day you were born, and she began sharing her wisdom with you long before you first headed off to school. To celebrate Mother’s Day, we’ve rounded up some of the powerful lessons that Disney mothers (and grandmothers) have taught us throughout the years. And for an additional holiday treat, you can also follow this link to our collection of Mother’s Day phone backgrounds to share with your Mom on her special day!

1. “Never forget how much your family cares for you.”—Mamá Imelda, Disney•Pixar’s Coco
Because Miguel’s family banned music from their lives, he never felt that they supported his dream to follow in the footsteps of his favorite musician, Ernesto de la Cruz. Many times, Miguel’s great-great-grandmother Mamá Imelda tries to make him promise to forget about music. But when it is time for Miguel to return to the Land of the Living, Mamá Imelda insists that he make a different promise: to remember that, no matter what, his family will always love him—because that is what family is for.

2. “You have more power than you realize.”—Mrs. Incredible, The Incredibles
Since Violet had to hide her powers for so many years, she doesn’t have a lot of confidence in herself when she uses them. Mrs. Incredible tells her not to worry, though—being a hero is in Violet’s blood, and she is stronger than she thinks she is. It’s proof that you should always trust a mother to know what you are capable of, even if you don’t—especially if you don’t.

3. “Show them who you are.”—Queen Ramonda, Black Panther
When it is time for T’Challa to ascend the throne, he’s unsure about what sort of a king he wants to be: Should he continue the traditions that have been passed down for years, or should he begin to change Wakanda and follow his own path? When he fights to prove himself as a leader at Warrior Falls, his mother reminds him that he has always been a king—he just needs to show that side of himself to everyone else, including those who would challenge him.

4. “Love is infinite; you can always make more when you need it.”—Emily Barnes, Twitches
When Camryn finds her twin sister and birth mother, a part of her feels guilty for loving them when she has wonderful parents she’s known all her life. Her adoptive mother, Emily, gives her a great bit of advice: There’s no such thing as a limit on love. Just because there are more people to love in her life doesn’t mean that Camryn has to choose who to love—it just means that there are more people to love her back.

5. “You will always be in my heart.”—Kala, Tarzan
Tarzan struggled for a long time because he didn’t look like the rest of his gorilla family, but his mother, Kala, never let him feel as though he was less important because he was different. When Tarzan considers leaving the jungle to be with his own kind, Kala supports his decision and reminds him that a mother’s love never ends—their hearts go with their children forever.

6. “You are so much more than you can see.”—Connie Torres, Camp Rock
When Mitchie arrives at Camp Rock, she’s so intimidated by all of the stars around her that she lies about who she is just to fit in. When her secret comes out, her mother reminds her that it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t have any famous relatives—Mitchie is already amazing, all on her own. She simply needs to believe in herself enough to see that. Connie admits that she is a little biased, of course, but a mother’s opinion counts for a lot—probably more than anyone else’s.

7. “There is nowhere you could go where I won’t be with you.”—Gramma Tala, Moana
Throughout her entire life Moana has dreamed of sailing beyond the reef, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t a little nervous when it’s time to go—especially when that means she’ll be leaving her beloved grandmother behind. But Gramma Tala reminds Moana of an important fact: Just because your family is not with you in person doesn’t mean they are not with you at all. Family is with you wherever you are.

8. “Have courage and be kind.”—Ella’s Mother, Cinderella (2015)
It’s easy to let life turn you bitter when things don’t go the way you want them to, just like Ella’s stepmother. Ella chooses to take her mother’s advice to heart instead—to have courage and to be kind. The lesson reminds her to stay strong and true to herself—no matter what her family throws at her—and to make the world a kinder place by doing so.

Roar for Change and Mission Force One—Plus More in News Briefs

May 10, 2018November 8, 2018

By Courtney Potter

Your Chewbacca roar will help kids in need, and Mission Force One journeys to the International Space Station… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

The Force is Strong with Roar for Change

Well, we had an incredible May the Fourth, and hope you did, too! (You took a gander at our look inside The Star Wars Show and its special May the Fourth episode with Ron Howard, right? So cool!) The Star Wars fun continued this month with Roar for Change, the global challenge in support of UNICEF.

This challenge—part of the Star Wars: Force for Change charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and Disney—invited fans and families to share their very own version of Chewbacca’s iconic roar online. For each public post, like, or share on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter that included the hashtag #RoarForChange, Star Wars: Force for Change U.S. will donate $1 to UNICEF USA, up to $1 million. And here’s the best news of all: The challenge was met, in just over 24 hours! (Nice work, fans and friends.) Funds will be used to support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children around the world.

Check out the clip all about the initiative, above. Even though the goal was met, you still have time to add your voice to the global roar—post your own video in celebration of Solo: A Star Wars Story’s big premiere on May 25!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
May 19, 2018
Exclusive Meet & Greet with Ashley Eckstein
May 25, 2018
D23’s Return to Marceline
June 9, 2018
D23’s Mickey’s of Glendale Shopping Experience in Florida
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
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

A Look Inside Mission Force One’s Journey to the ISS

D23 was recently given exclusive access into Disney Junior’s Mission Force One—the newest chapter of Miles from Tomorrowland—and its action-packed, chock-full-of-guest-stars episode centered around the International Space Station! Hear from the show’s creator and executive producer Sascha Paladino right here.

Epcot Prepares Guardians of the Galaxy-Themed Coaster!

What’s totally daring, will probably include a rockin’ soundtrack, and needs an incredible 960 trucks’ worth of concrete? It’s the brand-new Guardians of the Galaxy-themed roller coaster coming to Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort… and our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog just posted a video detailing some of the construction work that’s been going on behind the scenes. Take a gander, above!

The attraction is on track to become one of the world’s longest enclosed coasters—and to house it, a new facility is being built next door to the existing Universe of Energy building. Inspired by the films, this Guardians of the Galaxy-themed attraction will expand on the original vision of Epcot’s Future World, with a truly epic storyline being created by Walt Disney Imagineering, in collaboration with the original Guardians filmmakers.

Look for the attraction to debut in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary… but don’t forget that you can catch Star-Lord and Gamora on stage all summer long in “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” at Epcot’s America Gardens Theatre, as part of the resort’s “Incredible Summer.”

Disney Channel GO! Fan Fest Set for This Saturday

Calling all Disney Channel mega-fans: This Saturday, all your favorite stars from shows including BUNK’D, Ducktales, Andi Mack, Stuck in the Middle, and Raven’s Home will descend upon Disneyland Resort for a fun-filled day of in-person experiences! Check out our rundown of the GO! Fest here.

Something to Sing About: American Idol Renewed for Second Season

Warm up those vocal chords for a second exciting season of American Idol! Following the historic revival of the beloved series on ABC, the fan favorite will set out once again on a nationwide search to discover the next singing sensation during the 2018–19 season. Returning to help discover the next Idol are music industry legends and all-star judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie—and Emmy®-winning producer Ryan Seacrest will also return to guide the series as host.

And don’t forget: The Top 5 will take to the Idol stage, to sing their hearts’ out for America’s Vote, on Sunday, May 13—live coast-to-coast starting at 5 p.m. PDT/8 p.m. EDT, only on ABC.

Star Wars Day at Sea Returns to Disney Cruise Line in 2019

From January to early March 2019, the galactically popular Star Wars Day at Sea returns to Disney Cruise Line onboard the Disney Fantasy. The special event takes place on nine voyages, and its positively chockablock with Star Wars fun for the entire family. Take a peek at what’s in store via this brand-new video right here at D23.com.

Get Your Remotes Ready: ABC Announces 2018–19 Prime-time Season!

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

Broadway’s Frozen—New Cast Recording and Big Upcoming Tour

Freeform Announces Slate for 2018–19 Season

Woo-oo! All the News from Disney Channel GO! Fan Fest

Mandarin Beauty and the Beast Opening June 14

New Photography Book Celebrates Mickey Mouse

Adventures by Disney Announces Incredible 2019 Vacations

The Force is Strong with Roar for Change

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

A Look Inside Mission Force One’s Journey to the ISS

Epcot Prepares Guardians of the Galaxy-Themed Coaster!

Disney Channel GO! Fan Fest Set for This Saturday

Something to Sing About: American Idol Renewed for Second Season

Star Wars Day at Sea Returns to Disney Cruise Line in 2019

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

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