New Pixar Fest Topiaries Add Movie Magic to Downtown Disney

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.

The Road to Avengers: Infinity War as Told by End Credits

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.”

Road to Infinity War

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).

Road to Infinity War

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.

Road to Infinity War

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.

7 Amazingly Unique Facts About Tokyo Disneyland

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.

tokyo disneyland

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!

tokyo disneyland

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.

tokyo disneyland

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.

tokyo disneyland

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!

tokyo disneyland

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!

tokyo disneyland

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!

tokyo disneyland

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.

Dancing with the Stars Gets Ready for the Most Competitive Season Ever

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Dancing with the Stars: Athletes

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.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is Bound for Duckburg

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.”

Gizmoduck

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.

Galactic New Solo: A Star Wars Story Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

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!

Scoundrel Alert: See the Brand-New Trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story!

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!

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

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

Celebrate the Impending Arrival of Avengers: Infinity War with New Clip

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.

news briefs frozen on broadway

Frozen on Broadway Records Cast Album… and Breaks More Records!

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!

Radio Disney Music Awards Coming to Hollywood

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.

news briefs T.O.T.S.

T.O.T.S.—A Bundle of Joy from Disney Junior

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.

news briefs disneyland app

Coming Soon: Order Your Favorite Park Eats through the Disneyland App

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.

Amazing Utility Suit Coming to Pandora – The World of Avatar This Month

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.

Which Disney Character is Your Sibling?

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!

The 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards are Coming to Hollywood! 

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Get ready to cheer for your favorite tunes! The 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA), music’s biggest event for families, has just been announced to take place on Friday, June 22, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, California. Music lovers can tune in to the special telecast of the sixth annual show on Saturday, June 23, on Disney Channel, as well as platforms such as Radio Disney, the Radio Disney app, the DisneyNOW app and Disney.com/RDMA.

Voting begins Friday, April 27, to determine which artists will win the Radio Disney “ARDY” statuette. Tickets to attend the performance-filled awards show go on sale on Friday, April 27, at Ticketmaster.com.

Through its commitment to music talent across pop and country genres, Radio Disney has become known as a platform that presents unique opportunities for both rising young artists and big-name stars seeking to reach new audiences and gain new fans. Through the annual RDMA show—programmed multiple times on linear and digital platforms—artists can further reach and build new audiences.

Last year’s RDMA was packed with memorable musical performances and appearances, including a surprise tribute performance for Britney Spears, the recipient of the first-ever RDMA Icon Award, by her sister Jamie Lynn Spears, Hailee Steinfeld, Kelsea Ballerini and Sofia Carson. Other magical moments included performances by Alessia Cara, who has since won the Grammy® Award for Best New Artist; Kelsea Ballerini, who went on to receive a CMA Award nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year; Julia Michaels, marking her first awards show performance of her chart-topping single “Issues” and since then was nominated for two Grammy Awards (Song of the Year and Best New Artist); and other fan-favorites including Sabrina Carpenter and Grace VanderWaal; a “Moana” musical collaboration by Jordan Fisher, Alessia Cara, Auli’i Cravalho and Tally; and Nick Jonas receiving the RDMA Hero Award for his philanthropic work with Beyond Type 1.

New Disney•Pixar Short and an ESPN+ Update—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Disney•Pixar readies its latest short film, and ESPN+ sets a launch date… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Adorable New Disney•Pixar Short Debuting with Incredibles 2

There’s something incredible-y cute coming with Incredibles 2 when it races into a cineplex near you this summer… it’s the latest short film from Disney•Pixar!

The seven-and-a-half-minute short is called Bao, and it is a culinary fable about a Chinese-Canadian woman suffering from a bout of “empty nest”-related depression. She gets a second shot at motherhood when, magically, one of her handmade dumplings comes to life!

Storyboard artist Domee Shi becomes Disney•Pixar’s first female short director in the studio’s history with Bao, and she was inspired to tell a story flavored by her upbringing as the only child to Chinese immigrants. “Often times it felt like my mom would treat me like a precious little dumpling, wanting to make sure I was safe, that I didn’t go out late, all that stuff,” Shi recently told Entertainment Weekly. “I just wanted to create this magical, modern-day fairy tale, kind of like a Chinese Gingerbread Man story. The word ‘bao’ actually means two things in Chinese: Said one way, it means steamed bun. Said another, it means something precious. A treasure.”

Look for Bao—in front of the latest adventures of Elastigirl, Mr. Incredible, and family—in theaters in June 15!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
April 7, 2018
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Gold Family Exclusive
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

ESPN+ Streaming App Launching April 12

Sports fans, listen up: There’s a brand-new way to stream some of your favorite sports, and it all kicks off next week! ESPN+, the new direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International (in partnership with ESPN, and featuring ESPN-branded content) will launch on Thursday, April 12—and it’s set to offer fans a totally dynamic lineup of sports-related programming.

ESPN+ will be part of a completely redesigned and reimagined ESPN App, as well as available through ESPN.com. Fans will be able to watch thousands of live sporting events; see original shows and films; catch exclusive studio programs; and search through an amazing on-demand library of content.

Subscriptions are $4.99 a month… Grill up those hot dogs, pick up some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and enjoy!

frozen on broadway

A Chill Has Come Over Broadway: Frozen Breaks Records

Disney Theatrical’s latest production, Frozen, has already made history! In its first full week of performances (since officially opening on Broadway on March 22), the show broke the “house record” at New York City’s St. James Theatre for the week ending April 1—with a whopping gross of more than $2 million on just eight performances. Incredibly, this marks the very first time a production has broken the eight-performance “house record” of $1.6 million established back in January 2004 by the smash hit The Producers…

Frozen is the first—and only—incarnation of the frosty tale that expands upon and deepens its unforgettable plot and heartwarming themes through new songs and story material from the film’s creators; in fact, this new stage production features more than twice as much music as the film! Four of the 12 new songs written for the musical are available now at FrozenTheMusical.com/music and wherever music is streamed or sold.

Congratulations to the entire company of Frozen!

paris pirates and princesses

Disneyland Paris Celebrates 25th Anniversary with New Festival

Disneyland Paris has been delighting guests from around the world for a fantastical 25 years—and to commemorate the occasion, beginning March 31 and continuing through May 31, a plethora of pirates and princesses will take over Disneyland Park.

All fairy tales start with the words, “Once upon a time”… and this spring, how the rest unfolds is up to Disneyland Paris guests. During “The Festival of Pirates and Princesses,” guests can choose their side—creating their very own adventure story; you can choose to be one, or even decide to be both!

Guests will get to experience Disney Pirate or Princess: Make your Choice!, an all-new interactive parade featuring more than 85 performers. “This is the first time we have ever immersed our guests so fully in an outdoor show,” says director Christophe Leclercq. “They decide on their team, and they experience a different story depending on the choice they make.” The two worlds will merge several times a day; setting off from opposite ends of the Parade route, both the “Pirates” float and “Disney Princesses” float will stop halfway and immerse guests in a musical celebration. Then, the floats will head to Central Plaza where they’ll come together for tons of memorable guest interaction…

“The Festival of Pirates and Princesses” is one of several highlights celebrating Disneyland Paris’ 25th Anniversary, which is coming to a close this September.

disney heroes battle mode

Coming Soon: Disney Heroes: Battle Mode

If you’ve never tried a role-playing game (RPG), you’re missing out on a whole world of fun. You can even play them on your mobile devices… and here’s a revelation that’ll excite Disney fans and RPG aficionados alike: Disney and independent mobile games studio PerBlue have just announced a brand-new mobile RPG game called Disney Heroes: Battle Mode.

The game will feature Disney and Pixar heroes battling together in the same universe in all-new ways. Players will experience fun, unexpected “5v5” match-ups with fan-favorite characters from The Incredibles, Wreck-It Ralph, Pirates of the Caribbean, and much more. Pre-registration began this week on Google Play™, with the game available on the App Store® and on Google Play later this year—and guess what? Pre-registered players will receive a free hero of their choice at game launch! Heroes to choose from include Mr. Incredible, Fix-It Felix, Jr., Nick Wilde, Jessie, and Sulley with Boo.

For more info on the game as its debut gets closer, keep an eye on disneyheroesgame.com.