By D23 Team
One of Disneyland Paris’ most iconic attractions, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, celebrated its 10th anniversary on April 5. To honor a decade of thrills and chills, check out this behind-the-scenes look at the history of the attraction, featuring a look backstage, interviews with Imagineers, and rare archival images. The half-hour featurette provides a unique look at the attraction for Disney fans all around the world.
By Beth Deitchman
On your mark… Get set… GO! Disney Channel is racing toward summer, and we’ve just been given a sneak peek at the fantastic and fan-centric programming and events the network has planned—including brand-new episodes and special on-air offerings, a fan event set for the Disneyland Resort on May 12 and the Disney Channel GO! Road Trip that will make its way around the U.S. in July and August.
The fun begins on Saturday, May 12, at the Disneyland Resort, where dozens of Disney Channel stars will be on hand for the Disney Channel GO! Fan Fest. The festivities begin at 11:15 a.m. PDT with a cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland park, then the action moves across the esplanade to Disney California Adventure, where fans can enjoy panel discussions and meet some of their favorite stars from 1–5 p.m. PDT. It promises to be a duck blur of an afternoon, highlighted by a live DuckTales script performance—or “table read”—by members of the series voice cast. The celebrity lineup for the event includes stars from the Andi Mack, Raven’s Home, Stuck in the Middle, Bizaardvark and BUNK’D, as well as the Disney Channel Original Movies ZOMBIES and Freaky Friday.
Later in the summer, Disney Channel is taking the show on the road—and fans will help set the course! The Disney Channel GO! Road Trip will make its way around the U.S., giving fans the opportunity to make their own Disney Channel Wand ID, play games for prizes and more. Visit DisneyChannelRoadTrip.com from May 12 through June 12 to cast your vote for where you’d like the Disney Channel GO! Road Trip to visit.
And wherever you’re planning to be this summer, Disney Channel is bringing a lineup chock full of new programming beginning at 9 a.m. EDT/PDT weekdays and at 8 a.m. EDT/PDT on weekend. Look for all-new episodes of DuckTales, Andi Mack and Stuck in the Middle; season premieres of Raven’s Home, Tangled: The Series, Bizaardvark and BUNK’D; series premieres of Big Hero 6 The Series, Big City Greens and Bug Juice: My Adventures at Camp; the debut of the Disney Channel Original Movie Freaky Friday; and the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards, You can also view new short-form programming all summer long in the DisneyNOW app, on the Disney Channel YouTube and at Disney.com.
By Courtney Potter
Mark your calendars for some Disney wedding delight, and catch a sneak peek at the new Disney•Pixar short Bao… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
Freeform requests the pleasure of your company on Monday, June 11, for the highly anticipated return of Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings… Chronicling several nuptials planned through Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons, a program aimed at making a couple’s Disney dreams come true, the series premiered as a holiday special last year—and is hosted once again by professional dancers and real-life couple Stephen “tWitch” Boss (The Ellen Show) and Allison Holker (Dancing with the Stars).
Trust us—you won’t want to miss any of this marriage-magic! And we should know: D23 got a very special inside look at the series earlier this year, and you can read all about it in the Summer 2018 issue of Disney twenty-three. Find out more about the issue, as well as how you, too, can get this unique quarterly publication delivered to your very own doorstep, right here.
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives April 22, 2018 D23 Celebrates 20 Years of Disney’s Animal Kingdom May 19, 2018 Exclusive Meet & Greet with Ashley Eckstein May 25, 2018 D23’s Return to Marceline 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 April 26, 2018 Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land opens at Shanghai Disneyland 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 April 27, 2018 Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War opens in U.S. theaters 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 April 30, 2018 Dancing with the Stars: Athletes Premieres on ABC (8–10 p.m. ET/PT) May 2018 New episodes of DuckTales debut every Friday throughout the month |
Get a taste of #Bao, our upcoming short opening ahead of #Incredibles2 June 15. pic.twitter.com/Yw17N2pNZX
— Disney•Pixar (@DisneyPixar) April 12, 2018
The world may be talking about the incredible new trailer for Incredibles 2 (rocketing into theaters this summer)—but a new Disney•Pixar film also means a brand-new Pixar short. The one slated to premiere before the Parr family’s latest shenanigans looks ridiculously cute… and heartwarming, to boot!
Bao tells the story of a Chinese-Canadian woman—feeling the pain of an empty nest—who gets another shot at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes to lovable life. Check out the clip, above.
The short was conceived and directed by Pixar storyboard artist Domee Shi—the first female short director in the studio’s history! Based on Domee’s own life experiences growing up in Toronto, Bao will play in front of Incredibles 2, beginning June 15.
There’s a whole new crop of competitors taking to the floor on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars—and this time ‘round, they’re sure to knock it out of the park, make a touchdown, complete the perfect triple axel… or any other sports metaphor you can think of! Yes, beginning April 30, 10 superstar athletes will begin their quest for the coveted Mirrorball trophy. Who will cha-cha into the history books? Take a look at the exciting new cast right here at D23.com.
Pixar is coming to Disneyland Resort in a major way this year… the just-underway Pixar Fest will lead directly into the big grand opening of Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure park—and to get guests in the mood for all the infinite-ly beyond-cool fun, the Blue Sky Cellar is now hosting a special behind-the-scenes peek at the land.
From early concept art and sketches, to videos and even three-dimensional models, the space will preview the whimsy to come from the land’s four new “neighborhoods”—all inspired by cherished Pixar stories like The Incredibles, Inside Out, and Toy Story. And that includes two merchandise locations, Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff and Knick’s Knacks.
So if you’re visiting Disneyland Resort, make sure to visit Blue Sky Cellar… and mark your calendars for the reimagined Pixar Pier opening this summer!
He’s won a slew of prestigious awards, but it’s safe to say this is the first time he’s played a character with a beak: Lin-Manuel Miranda, late of Broadway’s Hamilton and soon to appear in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, will be joining the cast of Disney Channel’s DuckTales (as fan-fave Gizmoduck) this May! Read up on all the news that’s fit to quack here.
If you’re anything like us and need to keep up-to-date on all things Solo: A Star Wars Story, make sure to take a gander at the film’s latest TV spot, above. We cannot wait to see the finished product on the big screen…
Buckle up inside the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in this all-new adventure, featuring the Star Wars saga’s most beloved scoundrel. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), in an adventure that will set a historic course for the most unlikely of heroes.
The film also stars Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany. Directed by Ron Howard, Solo: A Star Wars Story lightspeeds into a cineplex near you on May 25.
Disney Cruise Line is known for its truly innovative dining experiences—and their latest foodie feat is no exception. Rapunzel’s Royal Table is now open on board the Disney Magic, and it allows guests to delight in delicious meals, sing along to favorite tunes from Tangled, and even kick up their heels with Rapunzel, Flynn, and the hilarious Snugly Ducking thugs! It’s the first Tangled-themed restaurant of its kind, and it’s exclusive to DCL.
For a lively look at the fun in store, check out this new video from our pals over at Disney Parks, above. Beautiful surroundings (dig those amazing murals), dancing, good food, magical music… and it’s all in celebration of the princess’s birthday. Honestly, this looks like such a good time—we can’t wait to visit!
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Some of the best-loved Pixar characters have leapt off the screen and into the planters at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. As part of the celebration of friendship that is Pixar Fest, three of our favorite Pixar classics are now represented in special, shiny topiaries for guests to enjoy. Inspired by Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Finding Nemo, each movie has two planters full of abstract representations of the characters we know and love. Check out our photo gallery of the sparkling new decorations, and be sure to stop by Disneyland Resort from now until September 3 to take part in all the excitement Pixar Fest has to offer.
By Megan Deppe
“You’ve become part of a bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet.” Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) said those words 10 years and 18 movies ago, igniting a cinematic universe that would bring together the world’s greatest heroes—the Avengers. On April 27, those heroes face off against their most powerful foe yet, Thanos (Josh Brolin), the universe’s biggest baddie. As it turns out, some of the moments that have directly hinted at this showdown of showdowns come from Marvel’s end-credit sequences—scenes that usually last less than three minutes, but provide clues that connect the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). We’ve pulled together 10 of the essential credit sequences that lead up to Avengers: Infinity War, starting all the way back in 2008.
Iron Man (2008)
When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) announces “I am Iron Man” to the world, he has no idea how big the universe is that he’s stepping into. Fury changes Stark’s outlook, though, setting the stage for the MCU with one single line: “I’m here to talk to you about the Avenger Initiative.” And in that single moment, so many events of the last 10 years began to assemble.
Thor (2011)
After his adventures with the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth), Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) cautiously wanders into the belly of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s headquarters to meet with Fury. Fury reveals that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been studying the powers of the Tesseract, and with Selvig’s help, the Tesseract could provide unlimited power. But in a twist, Selvig hears a little whisper in his ear saying, “Well, I guess that’s worth a look.” It comes from the trickster god Loki (Tom Hiddleston), signaling trouble ahead.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The mid-credit sequence for Captain America: The First Avenger gives audiences an early look at the larger MCU. As Captain America (Chris Evans) takes out his frustrations on a punching bag, Fury announces that the world needs saving. The conversation leads into the first teaser trailer for The Avengers, bringing the heroes together for the first time onscreen. At that point, Phase One is almost over, but the MCU is just beginning.
The Avengers (2012)
With Loki safely on his way back to Asgard and the Avengers setting up their headquarters in New York, everything seems to be safe. But far off in space, a sinister new threat emerges—Thanos, the mastermind behind Loki’s attack. He has his sights set on Earth, which puts into motion the search for the Infinity Stones.
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
The second of the six Infinity Stones is introduced in Thor: The Dark World. It’s called the Aether, and the Dark Elves attempt to use it to plunge the universe into darkness. In the end-credit scene, Volstagg (Ray Stevenson) and Sif (Jaimie Alexander) take the Aether to the Collector (Benicio Del Toro) on Knowhere. With the Tesseract on Asgard, it’s too dangerous to keep the Aether there as well. When the two Asgardians leave, the Collector makes his real intentions known: “One down, five to go.”
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
As it turns out, the Avengers may have overlooked an Infinity Stone in the battle of New York—the one in Loki’s scepter, which he uses to bend others to his will. The scepter appears in the end credits of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, hinting at its magical properties when it is revealed that it was used to create two more enhanced beings—the Maximoff twins, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Four Infinity Stones are now openly floating around in the universe and it seems that Thanos is losing patience. With the Mind Stone safely with Vision on Earth, the Orb secure in a vault on Xandar where the Guardians of the Galaxy left it, the Aether in the hands of the Collector, and the Tesseract in Odin’s treasure chamber, Thanos makes a decision. He takes out the Infinity Gauntlet, which will hold the stones once he finds them, and says, “Fine. I’ll do it myself.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The Avengers are divided; some in jail, some on the run. The end credit scene places Bucky (Sebastian Stan), the former Winter Soldier, in the mysterious land of Wakanda as he goes back into cryogenic sleep until a treatment for his brainwashing can be found.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor and a ship of Asgardians flee from their burning homeworld, hoping to seek sanctuary back on Earth. Loki, who is not remembered fondly on Earth, asks if this is a good idea. But no sooner does Thor assure him that everything is going to work out than a larger, more menacing ship appears in their path.
Black Panther (2018)
At the end of Black Panther, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) promises to share Wakanda’s knowledge and resources with the outside world. We also see that Bucky, awakened from his cryosleep, seems to be in good health. This is the calm before the storm. The Infinity War is about to begin.
By Matt Moryc
On April 15, 1983, Tokyo Disneyland—Disney’s first international theme park—opened with two future Disney Legends on hand to cut the opening-day ceremonial ribbon, Masatomo Takahashi, president of the Oriental Land Company, Ltd., and Card Walker, then chairman of The Walt Disney Company. Although Tokyo Disneyland closely resembled its sister parks in the United States when it opened, this “Kingdom of Family Dreams” features amazing experiences and unique details that allow Tokyo Disneyland to sparkle with its own special magic.
All the World Down One Street
It’s the first thing you see when you walk into the park: the massive glass roof of the World Bazaar, framing the spires of Cinderella Castle in the distance. This magnificent entryway to the park—reminiscent of Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland—provides an unforgettable welcome to guests before they begin a magical day at the park. Due to Japan’s unpredictable weather, World Bazaar is protected from the elements by an intricately wrought, now-iconic weather-proof glass roof, inspired by Victorian-era architecture. As part of the park’s 35th anniversary celebration, the World Bazaar now features special effects lighting, banners, and limited-time overlays on select stores, so that the anniversary celebration begins as soon as guests enter the park!
Sheer Size of the Magic
When the park opened, it occupied 114 acres, making it the largest Disneyland-style park ever attempted at that time. While the Tokyo Disneyland was made massive to hold all the brand-new magic, the parking lot was not quite as large. At a mere 61 acres, the Tokyo Disneyland parking lot was the smallest built for a Disney theme park at that time, due to the popularity of Japan’s public transportation. Today, the Tokyo Disney Resort has expanded to include a second theme park, multiple Disney hotels, and a shopping district, to which most Guests happily arrive via Tokyo’s extensive metro system.
A New Home for Haunted Mansion
The decision not to include Liberty Square or New Orleans Square in the park raised an interesting question: Where to put Haunted Mansion? It was decided to place the fan-favorite attraction in Fantasyland, along the border of Westernland. This marked the first (and so far, only) time a Haunted Mansion attraction was placed in the land of fantasy.
All Aboard!
If you want to go on a train ride at Tokyo Disneyland, you’ll have to take a trek to Adventureland. Due to the enclosure of World Bazaar, there was no way to place a train station at the park’s main entrance. Instead of a grand circle tour, the Western River Railroad traveled through the jungles of Adventureland and the wilderness of Westernland and featured a thrilling climax––a view into the Primeval World Diorama. This grand trip includes only one stop––the second floor of Jungle Cruise load and unload building!
New Layouts for Jungle Cruise and Toontown
Although the Tokyo Disneyland Jungle Cruise attraction includes all the thrilling scenes of exotic adventure we love at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, it also offers a strikingly different feature—a flipped layout. Passengers on Jungle Cruise follow the river’s path in a clockwise direction—a design choice not replicated until Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005. The attraction also has a unique structural feature as the boarding area for Western River Railroad is stacked on top of the load/unload building for Jungle Cruise.
If you thought you were seeing things flipped on the Jungle Cruise, get ready to step into Toontown. This wacky land features all the attractions we enjoy at Disneyland—but the entire land is a mirror image of its Anaheim twin!
A “Hunny” of a Unique Attraction
Exclusive to Tokyo Disneyland, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt invites guests to board hunny pots and follow Pooh through the Hundred Acre Wood as he hunts for his favorite sweet snack —honey! Using a trackless ride system and fanciful show sets, the attraction re-creates beloved moments from the Pooh stories along with original scenes designed for the attraction. Guests find themselves spinning through a blustery day, boogie-ing with Heffalumps and Woozles, and even bouncing along with Tigger!
The Nephew’s New Campsite
This new campfire-inspired restaurant in Westernland lets guest join in on the adventures of Huey, Dewey, and Louie as members of the Junior Woodchucks of the World. Once inside the dining hall of this camping lodge, guests are treated to the evidence of Donald’s nephews’ countless wacky adventures. Various souvenirs of past perilous camping trips are on display, such as the nephews’ merit badges, coonskin caps, and a hilarious poster of Donald Duck attempting to teach “How to Tie Your Neckerchief—The Woodchuck Way.” If you are passing through and need to eat, Camp Woodchuck Kitchen provides the simple delights of a campfire meal including waffle sandwiches and S’more style desserts.
By Beth Deitchman
Between them, they’ve won Olympic medals, national championships and even a World Series ring—and now 10 athletes will compete for a new trophy to add to their collection, the coveted Mirrorball. Ten athletes will show off their fancy footwork on the dance floor when Dancing with the Stars: Athletes premieres Monday, April 30 (8–10 p.m. ET/PT), on ABC.
The 10 athletes and their professional dance partners were revealed this morning on Good Morning America. Meet the dancers who aim to make this the most competitive season ever of ABC’s hit series.
Adam Rippon with Jenna Johnson
He won our hearts at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, and now figure skater Adam Rippon hopes to win the Mirrorball Trophy. Rippon is known to be a consummate team player who has shared his artistry with fellow skaters, through music and theme recommendations and by choreography programs for U.S. champions Mirai Nagasu and Ashley Wagner. Rippon is also an activist who passionately champions LGBTQ rights and the freedom to be oneself.
Arike Ogunbowale with Gleb Savchenko
Ogunbowale has put away her basketball shoes for the season and is trying on her dancing shoes. The Notre Dame junior helped lead the university’s women’s basketball team to the National Championship at the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament, where she was named Most Valuable Player. She is also a 2018 All-American and Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Chris Mazdzer with Witney Carson
Mazdzer made history at the 2018 Winter Olympics when he became the first-ever American athlete to win a medal in the Men’s Single Luge event. He’s training to compete in his fourth Olympic Games in 2022, and he also has his sight set on another goal: Mazdzer holds a degree in business administration/finance and plans to become a financial consultant when he’s finished with his athletic career.
Jamie Anderson with Artem Chigventsev
Known for her strength and amplitude on the slopes, Anderson will now soar to new heights in the ballroom with Artem. The talented snowboarder has won a record-setting 15 X Games medals, as well as Olympic gold medals in the Slopestyle competition in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang.
Jennie Finch Daigle with Keo Motsepe
A softball player since she was 5 years old, Jennie Finch Daigle’s passion for the game led her to two Olympics: the 2004 games in Athens, where she and her teammates won the gold medal; and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, which led to a heartbreaking loss—and which also marked the last Olympics to feature softball. Daigle continues to act as an ambassador for the game of softball and advocates for women athletes. She inspires the next generation through softball camps and her own softball academy in Flemington, New Jersey.
Johnny Damon with Emma Slater
Over the course of his 18 years in the game, Damon played on some of the most competitive teams in Major League Baseball, winning World Series rings with both the Boston Red Sox (in 2004) and the New York Yankees (in 2009). He now devotes much of his time to charity endeavors through his Johnny Damon Foundation.
Josh Norman with Sharna Burgess
If Josh Norman covers the dance floor like he covers the football field for the Washington Redskins, the NFL star will be a top contender for the DWTS title. Norman also serves as a weekly analyst for FOX NFL Kickoff during the NFL season, and he’s appeared on Disney’s Walk the Prank, ESPN’s E:60 and many other sports and entertainment shows.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Lindsay Arnold
Abdul-Jabbar’s legendary basketball career includes six NBA championships, six years as the league’s MVP and an NBA record: He is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The NBA legend is now paired with reigning DWTS champion pro Lindsay Arnold—could this be a slam dunk? Abdul-Jabbar now shares his perspectives on some of the most socially relevant and politically controversial topics facing our nation as a contributing columnist for publications such as The Guardian and The Hollywood Reporter; and he also advocates to bring educational STEM opportunities to underserved communities through innovative outdoor environmental learning.
Mirai Nagasu with Alan Bersten
She’s began gliding across the ice when she was 5 years old, and now she’s preparing to glide across the ballroom floor. Just this year, Nagasu made history at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics by becoming the first American woman to land a triple Axel jump in an Olympic Winter Games. She also helped lead Team USA to a bronze medal in the Olympic team event.
Tonya Harding with Sasha Farber
Her competitive drive is the stuff of legend, but ice-skating was part of Tonya Harding’s life from the time she was 3 years old. Harding’s high jumps and her dizzying spins were renowned by age 15, and she became the first American woman to successfully land a triple Axel in competition in 1991. Her remarkable life and journey to the 1994 Olympic Games inspired the recent feature film I, Tonya.
By Beth Deitchman
He’s won Tony® Awards, Grammy® Awards, and even a Pulitzer Prize. He’s a star of stage and screen, and now Lin-Manuel Miranda adds another feather to his cap. On May 11, fans will hear the multi-award-winning actor, playwright, composer—and lifelong DuckTales aficionado—in the role of Gizmoduck in a brand-new episode of the animated series, premiering at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.
As reimagined by executive producer Matt Youngberg and co-producer and story editor Francisco Angones, Gizmoduck (aka Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera) is Duckburg’s preeminent hero. In our introduction to the character, who has Latin roots, the brilliant young scientist Fenton is recruited by Launchpad who is feeling menaced by tech genius Mark Beaks’ newest invention. “I’m really excited that a new generation of kids will be growing up with DuckTales,” Miranda said. “As a huge fan of the original series, I love that I can share this new version with my sons.”
You’ll be able to grab on to some DuckTales action throughout the month of May. Beginning May 1, the Emmy®-nominated series will air daily on Disney Channel. New episodes will debut every Friday in May, and fans can look forward to new tales of derring-do throughout the summer across Disney Channel, DisneyNOW, and Disney Channel YouTube.
May 1 also marks the day that DisneyNOW debuts “DuckTales Treasure Hunt LIVE!”—an interactive experience on-air and in the DisneyNOW app. The hunt begins on DisneyNOW, where visitors may select a team based on a DuckTales character—Team Huey, led by Isaak Presley (Stuck in the Middle); Team Dewey, led by Sofia Wylie (Andi Mack); Team Louie, led by Isaac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home); and Team Webby, led by Ariana Greenblatt (Stuck in the Middle). Watch the daily episodes of DuckTales (8 p.m. EDT/PDT) to discover secret treasures that can then be found in DisneyNOW to earn points for the team. Every Friday in May, Disney Channel will give a quack-out to the team with the most points, leading up to a big finish on May 25, when the winning team is announced on-air by the Team Captain (and will receive an exclusive in-app surprise).
Guests can also search for some of the same treasures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Donald’s Dino-Bash! at DinoLand U.S.A.—where you’ll also be able to meet a couple of V.I.D.s (very important ducks), Launchpad McQuack and Scrooge McDuck.
A duck-blur of activities are planned for Disney Channel’s inaugural “Duck Week,” which kicks off on Sunday, May 6. In addition to the premiere of Miranda’s debut episode, “Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!” on May 11, look for a DuckTales product line at Disney store and shopDisney.com, Augmented Reality-branded experience for kids, and a special Snapchat lens allowing fans to jump into a virtual Money Bin with DuckTales characters, all in collaboration with Unity Technologies; a PSA celebrating diverse families as part of Disney|ABC Television’s annual Foster Care Awareness campaign with FosterMore; new shorts featuring Webby and interstitials featuring baby ducks in reimagined scenes from favorite Disney Channel shows including “Andi Quack,” “Raven’s Pond,” and “Duck in the Middle.”
But that’s just the beginning. Still to come this summer are books from Disney Press including DuckTales: Solving Mysteries and Rewriting History!; comic books and graphic novels from IDW Publishing; and a brand-new toy line from PhatMojo, including action figures, plush, and collectibles exclusively at Target. And, for the first-time ever, on June 5 Disney Studios will release DuckTales: Destination Adventure!, an episode compilation DVD with two bonus classic DuckTales episodes.
By Courtney Potter
Check out the official trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story, and get ready for Avengers: Infinity War… See more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
As Han Solo himself once said, “You can never have enough scoundrels in your life.” Which is why the brand-new trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story has made us ridiculously happy—and more than a bit excited for the movie’s premiere later this spring. If you haven’t yet seen the clip, you positively must check it out, above. We’ll wait…
All set? Excellent! There are so many fantastic tidbits of information… From learning Chewbacca’s age (at least when he first met Han) to catching a glimpse of that insanely cool space train, and everything in between—it’s the Han “origin story” we’ve been waiting for!
In related news, the movie was recently given a very special honor: It’s been selected to screen at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival (in Official Selection and Out of Competition) during the festival’s run in mid-May.
Directed by Ron Howard, Solo: A Star Wars Story stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany. Look for it in a cineplex near you on May 25!
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives April 22, 2018 D23 Celebrates 20 Years of Disney’s Animal Kingdom May 19, 2018 Exclusive Meet & Greet with Ashley Eckstein May 25, 2018 D23’s Return to Marceline 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 March 2–April 12, 2018 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival April 13, 2018 Pixar Fest begins at the Disneyland Resort April 26, 2018 Disney•Pixar Toy Story Land opens at Shanghai Disneyland 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 April 27, 2018 Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War opens in U.S. theaters 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 |
Yes, it’s true—we’re only about three weeks away (or maybe less, depending on when you’re reading this) from the debut of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War. All our favorites from the past 10 years of massive Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure in one jam-packed movie, and we are so ready. Luckily, the good folks at Marvel just released another clip for our tiding-over enjoyment; if you haven’t seen it yet, take a gander (above).
“Where will you be when it all ends?,” the trailer asks. Like we even have to explain… We’ll be inside the nearest movie house, popcorn and soda at the ready! Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Infinity War will skyrocket into U.S. theaters on April 27.
Recording the cast album is a “rite of passage” for any new Broadway show—and now, Disney Theatricals’ Frozen will have its songs (and stars) preserved for all musical-theater eternity! The company of Frozen, led by theatre vets Caissie Levy as Elsa and Patti Murin as Anna, is “laying down tracks” (like the kids say) as we speak for the show’s Original Broadway Cast Recording, to be released by Walt Disney Records later this spring. The album is produced by Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, as well as Stephen Oremus, Dave Metzger, and Chris Montan.
Frozen’s already-large pit orchestra of 21 instruments will be expanded even further for the cast recording; a whopping 44 musicians, including a string section 22 strong, will bring the show’s tuneful score to life. Look for it at your favorite brick-and-mortar or online music store soon.
But that’s not the only Frozen news that’s fit to News-Brief: The show has broken the house record at New York City’s St. James Theatre for the second week in a row, for the week ending April 8—with an amazing gross of almost $2.3 million on eight performances. Chill-tastic congrats to all involved!
The sixth annual Radio Disney Music Awards—where all your fave pop and country artists vie for the chance to take home a coveted ARDY statue—were just announced to take place at the Dolby Theatre (home of the Oscars®) in Hollywood on Friday, June 22. Read up on what you can expect when the show airs that weekend on Disney Channel right here at D23.com.
Storks and babies are an adorable pairing that has warmed the heart for eons… and Disney Junior today announced an adorable take on this “special delivery,” the new original animated series T.O.T.S. The heartfelt animated comedy follows the hilarious adventures of best friends Pip and Freddy, a tenacious penguin and a kind-hearted flamingo, who are the only non-stork delivery birds in-training at Tiny Ones Transfer Service (T.O.T.S.). As new members of the esteemed team, these junior flyers must take tender care in transferring baby animals—kittens, cubs, calves, bunnies, puppies, and joeys among them—from the nursery to their forever families around the globe. Together, they will learn how to nurture and care for the babies and use creative thinking and problem solving to model for young viewers that there isn’t just one way to achieve a goal. Travis Braun (Disney Junior’s Vampirina and Disney Channel’s upcoming series Fast Layne) created the new series and serves as co-executive producer. Keep an eye out for more details as T.O.T.S.’ 2019 debut approaches.
Disneyland Resort is chock full of some of the most delicious dishes this side of the Mississippi… and soon, there’ll be a convenient new way to make sure you don’t miss a morsel! Using the Disneyland App, guests will be able to conveniently place orders at select fast casual and quick-service restaurant location.
Using the new mobile ordering service, guests can easily search for a participating location; select a pickup-time; choose items from the menu; and place their order. Talk about easy! (As an added bonus, Annual Passholders will be able to apply their discount to meal purchases using the app.) Here’s how it’ll work: Guests will notify the restaurant of their arrival on the app and within minutes, an app notification indicates the meal is ready to pick up at a designated window—without ever waiting in line to order and pay!
Keep your eyes peeled (and your stomach prepared) for more info on Disneyland Resort mobile ordering as it becomes available, including which foodie-fave locations will be featured.
Pandora – The World of Avatar is already a colorfully thrilling parcel of wonder within Disney’s Animal Kingdom… and it’s set to become even more memorable than before. Beginning later this month, a Pandora Conversation Initiative (PCI) pilot will roam around guests in a brand-new Utility Suit. The suit will help the pilot study wildlife, collect plant samples, and survive Pandora’s unique terrain.
Created in partnership with Lightstorm Entertainment, Disney Parks Live Entertainment, Michael Curry Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering, the Utility Suit will make its big debut on April 22—Earth Day! Take a behind-the-scenes look at how the suit was developed in the cool video (from our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog), above.
By D23 Team
We all feel like Disney characters are part of our family, but what if you were actually related to one of them? To celebrate National Sibling Day, we’ve cast our Disney magic over your family tree, so you can find out which Disney character is your sibling!
This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!