5 Amazing Easter Eggs in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

December 29, 2017

By Courtney Potter

The holly-jolly featurette Olaf’s Frozen Adventure found the merriest snowman on the planet (voice of Josh Gad) searching high and low in Arendelle for the perfect holiday tradition to pass along to his best friends, Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel).

Besides the gorgeous visuals, the nifty songs, and the chance to revisit such beloved characters, the featurette also contains some very fun surprises you might have missed! Our pals over at Walt Disney Animation Studios recently clued us in to several Disney-related “Easter eggs” you may not have caught the first time ‘round… and now that the featurette is available on digital HD platforms like Movies Anywhere and iTunes, it’s the ideal opportunity to take another look!

Here are our five favorites:

Prep & Landing’s Lanny and Wayne
As you may know, the directors of Olaf’s Frozen Adventure—Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton—also directed the adorable 2009 holiday TV special Prep & Landing (and its sequel, Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice). So of course the special’s stars, Lanny and Wayne, had to end up in their most recent project! Here they are as wood carvings on the mantel of a family Olaf is visiting to get some “holiday tradition” tips.

Nessie from The Ballad of Nessie
Deters and Wermers-Skelton also directed the 2011 Walt Disney Animation Studios short film The Ballad of Nessie, which tells the origin story of the Loch Ness Monster. Here, you can see the film’s lead character, the adorable Nessie, as a toy in Olaf’s sleigh.

Moana’s Canoe… in a Bottle!
You’ve heard of ships in a bottle… but what about canoes? (How do they get them in there, anyway?) During the song “That Time of Year,” Olaf can be seen rollicking with a boat-bound family whose mantel features a very special “canoe in a bottle”… namely, the one belonging to Moana in Disney’s 2016 animated hit of the same name.

Anna and Elsa’s Dolls from Frozen
Remember, in the original Frozen, how cute it was that little Anna and little Elsa had dolls that looked like them? Well those dolls also appear in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, on a shelf in a young girl’s room. (Also, can we talk about how many gifts this kid is hiding? Hilarious!)

Baymax’s Rocket Fist from Big Hero 6
“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your holiday traditions?” Disney’s Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6 was produced by longtime Disney animator Roy Conli… who also happened to produce Olaf’s Frozen Adventure! Naturally, Baymax had to make an appearance—in the form of his rocket fist, seen on Olaf’s sleigh.

Every Epic Disney Thing that Happened in 2017

December 28, 2017March 26, 2018

By D23 Team

As 2017 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of the most magical Disney memories from this past year. We experienced brand-new immersive attractions at Disney parks around the world, and we were thrilled by blockbuster feature debuts at multiplexes close to home. The last 12 months were marked by milestone anniversaries, and a three-day fan event that went above and beyond all Expo-tations. With a year such as this, we can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store! Here are some of our favorite moments from 2017:

January 11: Iron Man Experience
Disney kicked off 2017 by opening its first Marvel-themed attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland. Guests can explore Tony Stark’s innovations up close and take flight in an Iron Wing, enjoy a personal encounter with Iron Man himself, and get the chance to channel their inner Avenger through the interactive game Become Iron Man.

February 26: Academy Award® Winners
Zootopia, the 2016 film about a mammal metropolis where “anyone can be anything,” became an Oscar® winner when the film was honored for best Animated Feature. The little bird who stole our hearts also won the hearts of Academy members, who voted Piper best Short Film (animated); and The Jungle Book took home an award for its innovative Visual Effects, after the film made us believe that we were really in a jungle, surrounded by wild animals.

March 17: Beauty and the Beast Opens in Theaters
There were new twists on the tale as old as time when Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast graced our screens. Starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Josh Gad, and Luke Evans, we traveled deep into the “mysterious heart of France” as we returned to the beloved story of a beauty who learned to love a beast.

May 5: Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Opens in Theaters
Our favorite gang of meteoric misfits flew back into our lives in May, ready to save the Galaxy once more. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel all reprised their roles from the original film, with Kurt Russell and Pom Klementieff rounding out the cast of this action-packed adventure through space.

May: A Magical Month at Disney Parks
The Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park debuted on May 12, combining the most innovative projection mapping technology with scenes from Moana, Big Hero 6, and Zootopia to take guests on an emotional journey with favorite characters as they pursue of their dreams.

On May 24, Pandora – The World of Avatar was dedicated in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, ahead of its official opening on May 27. The brand-new land immerses guests in the alien planet of Pandora, which features a bioluminescent forest that comes alive after sunset, and breathtaking, wondrous floating mountains. Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! also opened on May 27 at Disney California Adventure, giving guests the opportunity to help the Guardians of the Galaxy break free from the hold of The Collector.

June 16: Shanghai Disney Resort Celebrates its First Anniversary
From the largest Disney castle ever built to innovative attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, Shanghai Disney Resort had much to celebrate this June when the resort marked its one-year anniversary. Shanghai Disneyland attractions were honored by the Themed Entertainment Association and Visual Effects Society, the park welcomed more than 11 million guests in its first year, and its first post-opening expansion, Disney Toy Story Land, is set to open on April 26, 2018.

July 14: Disney Legends 30th Anniversary
The Disney Legends Awards honor the remarkable people who’ve helped form Disney into the magical company it is today, from actors and animators to Imagineers. 2017 marked the Disney Legends program’s 30th anniversary, and a new class of Legends that included Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Julie Wayne Jackson, Stan Lee, and Oprah Winfrey joined the prestigious group. In addition to the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which kicked off D23 Expo 2017, D23 also celebrated the spectacular milestone with a special issue of Disney twenty-three.

July 14–16: D23 Expo 2017
The bi-annual D23 Expo treated Disney’s biggest fans to showcases, sneak peeks, and presentations from all corners of The Walt Disney Company, highlighting Disney’s past, present, and future. Eleven new Disney Legends were inducted, audiences got a first look at Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War, and Josh Gad crashed a party of Disney princesses as he joined the actresses who have lent their voices to some of Disney’s most iconic royal roles for a fabulous photo-op following the debut of a scene from the upcoming Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2.

July 21: Descendants 2 Premieres
Audiences returned to Auradon and the Isle of the Lost when the sequel to Disney Channel’s Original Movie Descendants debuted in an unprecedented six-network simulcast on Disney Channel, ABC, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movies. The TV-film reached 13 million total viewers, becoming the No. 1 cable TV telecast since the original film aired in 2015.

August 12: A Brand-New DuckTales Movie—Woo-oo!
Woo-oo! That’s not just a Duckburg superlative, it’s also the name of the one-hour television movie that heralded the return of everyone’s favorite family of ducks. The fan-favorite series DuckTales celebrated its return to television with the TV movie’s premiere in August, followed by the debut of the series’ first two episodes in September.

October 1: Epcot’s 35th Anniversary
Epcot park celebrated its 35th anniversary with a special ceremony featuring Disney characters, performances by musical acts Voice of Liberty and the Mariachi Cobre—who debuted when the theme park opened on October 1, 1982—and, fittingly, a look to the future. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has announced a new restaurant for the Mission: SPACE pavilion, two new attractions inspired by the Ratatouille and the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and an updated Circle-Vision film for the China pavilion in World Showcase. D23 couldn’t help but join in the fun through our monthlong Fanniversary, which celebrated Epcot’s 35th anniversary with exclusive content and special events throughout October.

November 3: Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok Opens in Theaters
We returned to the magic of Gods and wonders of other worlds when Marvel Studios released the third film for the God of Thunder. Directed by Taika Waititi, Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok followed the title character and his “friends from work” through a comedic space adventure to stop Hela, the goddess of death, from completely destroying Thor’s home planet of Asgard. Thor was reunited with his Avengers buddy Bruce Banner, AKA the Hulk, bringing the big green giant back to the screen after his disappearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

November 8: Grey’s Anatomy Broadcasts its 300th Episode
After 12 years, the doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital celebrated an impressive milestone that few broadcast dramas reach: 300 episodes. Characters have come and gone, but Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) remains a relatable character who has guided the series’ fans through the ups and downs of love and heartbreak.

November 13: The Lion King Celebrates 20 Years on Broadway
The “Circle of Life” continues onstage as the cast of The Lion King celebrated 20 years on the Broadway stage on November 13. To mark the anniversary, Tony®-nominated composer Elton John took to the stage for a surprise performance of the iconic song “Circle of Life” during a special event held at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City on November 5.

November 14: Mark Hamill Surprises Star Tours
The Force was strong for a group of fans on the Star Tours attraction at Disneyland park when they were surprised by a visit from actor Mark Hamill—none other than Luke Skywalker himself. Hamill recounted for them how he dreamed as a little kid about one day working at Disneyland. He then joined the thrilled guests for a Star Tours journey, giving them the dream-come-true moment of flying alongside the Jedi master.

November 21: Jordan Fisher Wins Dancing with the Stars
Singer and huge Disney fan, Jordan Fisher (who you definitely heard on the Moana soundtrack as well as the theme song for Happily Ever After) was named Season 25 champion on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Fisher took home the Mirrorball trophy with his pro partner, Lindsay Arnold, after the pair received perfect scores on their final two dances.

November 22: Coco Opens in Theaters
Disney•Pixar’s newest film Coco opened in November, telling the story of Miguel’s musical dreams and his journey through the Land of the Dead on Día de los Muertos. The stunningly vibrant film not only explored the rich culture of Mexico, it also celebrated family in the most heartwarming ways possible. Coco has been nominated for two Golden Globe awards: Best Motion Picture, Animated and Best Original Song, Motion Picture for “Remember Me.”

November 29: Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War Trailer Debuts
The culmination of a decade of Marvel Studios’ films arrived in the form of the Avengers: Infinity War trailer that debuted on November 29. We lost count of the super heroes who are featured in the two-and-a-half-minute trailer, but the list includes Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and more. Avengers: Infinity War opens in U.S. theaters on May 4, 2018.

December 15: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Opens in Theaters
The latest installment of the Star Wars franchise flew into theaters at lightspeed on December 15, continuing the adventures of scavenger Rey, ex-Stormtrooper Finn, and Resistance pilot Poe Dameron, alongside fan-favorites Luke Skywalker and General Leia Organa—and introducing fans to new faces from a galaxy far, far away, such as Rose Tico, Vice Admiral Holdo, and Ahch-To’s adorable avians, the Porgs.

Find Your Inner Jedi Through the Force of This Quiz!

December 27, 2017November 26, 2019

By D23 Team

Let’s face it, we’ve all imagined what it might be like to put on the robe of a Jedi and wield a lightsaber of our very own. And, from time to time, we may have even tried to summon the television remote without getting off the couch, using only the power of the Force. In a different world—or perhaps in a galaxy far, far away—we would all be Jedi Knights. But which one? In honor of the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we invite you to answer these questions to find out which galactic hero you would be.

This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!

D23’s 2017 Year in Review

December 27, 2017December 27, 2017

By D23 Team

It’s been an exciting year to be a Disney fan, and an even more awesome year to be a D23 Member! Take a look at a few 2017 D23 highlights below––we’ll see you in the new year with even more magic!

January: Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men
After taking D23 Gold Members behind the desk of Walt Disney in 2016, the 2017 D23 Gold Member gift highlighted the unparalleled talent of Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men of animation, with artful reproductions of items representing their storied careers with The Walt Disney Company.

March 8: Celebrating a tale as old as time
A day before the world fell in love with this “tale as old as time,” D23 Members in Denver, Colorado attended a complimentary advance screening of Beauty and the Beast (2017). In addition, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members were invited to “be our guest” and attend a complimentary luncheon Lumière would have served himself.

May 1: Discovering the World of Pandora
Before the mysterious land of Pandora – The World of Avatar opened in late May at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney twenty-three gave readers an insider’s guide to the new land. And on May 19, D23 Members were among the first to experience the land with a private tour by Walt Disney Imagineering Portfolio Creative Executive Joe Rohde!

May 12: Lunch with a Disney Legend—Marty Sklar
Our popular Lunch with a Disney Legend series was fortunate to host the late Marty Sklar at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. During this truly incredible afternoon, Marty shared heartwarming (and sometimes hilarious) stories from his 53-year career with Disney.

June 3: A Return to Walt’s Birthplace
D23 returned to the Windy City to check in on the historic restoration underway at The Walt Disney Birthplace. In addition to touring the house, D23 Gold Members enjoyed a Chicago-style picnic in the backyard.

July 6: Honoring our Legends
2017 marked the 30th anniversary of the Disney Legends program, and in a special-edition issue of Disney twenty-three, each and every Disney Legend was recognized through stunning photographs and never-before-told stories from their days with Disney. The issue also introduced our newest Legends, inducted later that month at D23 Expo, including Oprah Winfrey, Stan Lee, and the late, great Carrie Fisher.

July 14–16: D23 Expo
Our fifth D23 Expo was one to remember, with amazing panels (Power of the Princess!), unbelievable talent (the Avengers: Infinity War cast!), and one-of-a-kind experiences (did you get to jump in Scrooge McDuck’s Money Bin?).

August 19: Disney Afternoon on the Lot
D23 Gold Members threw on their best ’90s threads and headed to The Walt Disney Studios lot for an epic throwback event celebrating The Disney Afternoon programming block. The totally rad afternoon included presentations by animators, producers, writers, and voice actors from these fan-favorite shows, including TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, and Gummi Bears! Plus, guests were treated to afternoon snacks, joined an autograph session with special guests including Jim Cummings and Disney Legend Bill Farmer, and even got to hang out with Chip ‘n’ Dale and Launchpad McQuack!

October 1: D23’s Fanniversary Celebrates 35 Years of Epcot
This year’s D23 Fanniversary kicked off this year at Epcot with D23 Members from more than 30 states across the U.S. and four countries around the globe. After enjoying a VIP viewing of the special anniversary ceremony, guests were treated to a plethora of presentations celebrating 35 years of the Walt Disney World park. Later that evening, a group of members enjoyed a progressive dinner throughout Epcot before walking through the iconic Spaceship Earth!

October 29: Halloweentown on the Lot
Dressed in their Halloween best, D23 Members headed to the Disney Studio for a one-of-a-kind spooky screening of Halloweentown (1998). Members also enjoyed a D23-exclusive trick-or-treat trail around the Studios and explored the incredible House of Villains exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives. Joey Paul Zimmerman (Dylan Piper) and Kimberly J. Brown (Marnie Piper) surprised our second screening of the day with a Q&A session that included stories about working with the late Debbie Reynolds.

December 10: D23’s Light Up the Season
D23 Gold and Gold Family Members took to the historic Studio lot for a fan-favorite night filled with holiday happenings only Disney can create––including special games, holiday treats, and quite a few VIP guests, including Santa Claus himself!

December 15: A Force-Filled Star Wars Evening on the Lot
On the evening of the world-wide release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, D23 Gold Members celebrated the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi with a delicious meal inside a First Order-themed room, a dessert reception that included BB-8 and BB-9E cakes, meet and greets with Captain Phasma and Kylo Ren, and a screening of the new film in the storied Frank G. Wells Theater.

Celebrate Mickey Mouse with D23’s 2018 Gold Member Gift

December 27, 2017April 24, 2019

By D23 Team

After honoring Walt Disney and Walt’s “Nine Old Men” in D23’s 2016 and 2017 Gold Member Gifts, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members will enjoy a gift inspired by the one who started it all––Mickey Mouse!

This fascinating collection, available exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members who join in or renew for 2018, chronicles the career of everyone’s favorite mouse, from Steamboat Willie to Shanghai Disneyland. The gift contains 23 reproduced archival treasures that follow Mickey as he transitions from black and white to radiant color, including a miniature animation cel representing Mickey’s first color appearance; a Sorcerer’s Apprentice record cover; a 1978 “Happy Birthday, Mickey” button; a Disney Channel launch party napkin featuring a familiar Mickey-shaped satellite; and a colorful souvenir gift bag from the early days of Tokyo Disneyland. Through it all, Mickey mirrors Walt Disney’s own optimistic spirit and proves himself to be that rare celebrity who is, and always will be, both a global icon and a personal friend to all.

Carefully curated by D23 and with items beautifully reproduced under the supervision of the Walt Disney Archives, the 2018 D23 Gold Member Gift is housed in a beautiful keepsake: a book-like box, perfect for display or safekeeping on your Disney bookshelf.

Click here to find out more about the 2018 Gold Member Gift and each of the items it contains. For more information on D23 Gold Membership, click here.

How The Last Jedi Costume Designer Created the Canto Bight Scene

December 26, 2017

By Jim Frye

From the beautiful, flowing robes of General Leia Organa to the uniforms of an entire squadron of resistance fighters—not to mention the striking red armor of the Praetorian Guard—the costumes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi are an out-of-this-world affair. But perhaps one of the most stylish and eye-popping accomplishments for veteran costume designer Michael Kaplan is the Canto Bight scene, which required costuming some 200 people.

“[Writer/director] Rian Johnson took the opportunity to be very playful, now that audiences know who the characters are,” says Kaplan. “It was nice to add in elements of fun, and to break away from everyone in uniform—and to do that huge, huge fancy dress party was quite daunting.” He’s referring to Canto Bight, the huge cosmic playground for the galaxy’s ultra-rich that is one of The Last Jedi’s most spectacular wardrobe showpieces.

Kaplan began his career with the 1982 Blade Runner, creating a bold look that influenced films and culture for decades. He went to work on an impressive portfolio of films, including Pearl Harbor, Fight Club, Star Trek: Into Darkness and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the blockbuster 2015 return to the Skywalker saga, directed by J.J. Abrams.

With so many films under his belt, D23 asked where he got his inspiration, especially for a film like The Last Jedi, which has such a “futuristic” look (even though it’s set “a long time ago.”). “It’s hard to research the future,” says Kaplan, “but you do look back because fashion does repeat itself. I took elements from the past and from my imagination. Rian had given me some interesting parameters, one being that it was to be all black and white. So I looked at the famous Black and White Ball that Truman Capote had.”

He’s referring to a huge masquerade party hosted by the famous author Truman Capote in 1966 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Held in honor of The Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham, Capote’s lavish affair was the must-attend event of the year. He claimed that he got the idea from a scene in the movie My Fair Lady where the guests at the Embassy Ball dress only in black and white.

“We have a lot of creatures that differentiate it from the Truman Capote party,” Kaplan laughs. “When I first read the script, it seemed like something you’d be more likely to see in a James Bond film, and I was nervous I’d have trouble translating it into the world of Star Wars, which is really ingrained in my mind. When I design something, I can say, ‘No, that wouldn’t work in the world of Star Wars.’”

“To create the look of these wealthy people, which we really haven’t seen in Star Wars before, is new territory and a huge challenge,” Kaplan continues. He says that finding enough fabric was a challenge, and that he dressed a number of characters who weren’t even seen in the film. When he and his team design uniforms, they can design a single prototype and then send it out to be mass-produced. But for the Canto Bight scene, they had to hand-design each and every costume. “They all had to be unique,” he says. “They required jewelry, hair styles, gloves, headpieces, and hats.”

The costumes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi may have been designed for an out-of-this-world affair, but the fact that Kaplan found inspiration a little closer to home is a tribute to that 1966 Black and White Gala. “I love the black and white,” says Kaplan. Capote would probably smile knowing that his party is still the talk of the town.

How Did They Do That? Creating the Sounds For Porgs and Fathiers

December 26, 2017December 13, 2019

By Jim Frye

Mos Eisley spaceport, that “wretched hive of scum and villainy,” provided one of the most iconic scenes from the original Star Wars: A New Hope. Audiences were captivated by all the different creatures that had gathered there for cold drinks, socializing, and avoiding any “Imperial entanglements.” In the immortal words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, it was just our “first step into a larger world,” an entire galaxy of imaginative creatures just waiting to be discovered.

Of all the new characters and creatures introduced in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the latest chapter in the Skywalker saga, perhaps none are more memorable than those adorable little Porgs, the bird-like creatures who inhabit the islands on Ahch-To. With big, black eyes and fluffy feathery fur, the Porgs have been embraced by fans everywhere—even Chewie seems to like them.

Writer/director Rian Johnson tasked sound designer Ren Klyce with finding the perfect sounds for the Porgs. “That was one of the first sounds we were assigned to do,” says Klyce. “Rian gave us a bunch of adjectives as to what he didn’t want it to be. He didn’t want them to sound screechy, or irritating, or squawky. It was a matter of experimenting through four or five versions of the sound.”

He goes on: “At Skywalker Sound there’s a chicken coop with these little chickens, and Coya Elliott, our first assistant, went down and recorded those chickens. And then we took that sound and slowed it down and stretched it out and found little chirps.” They took those chirps and made subtle changes, then added in another sound.

“We found this man who releases doves at weddings,” says Klyce, “and we asked him to come down so we could record them.” Klyce and his team recorded the doves cooing, their wings flapping, and then added in an artificial turkey call from their intern. “So we have a little snippet of that [turkey call], a little bit of chicken, a little dove, and cut it all together.”

Another new species that required sound design were the Fathiers, the large furry animals that race around a track in the city of Canto Bight. “When we first got the artwork for them, I thought they kind of looked like goats,” says Klyce. “So we decided to go record some goats at a goat farm.”

He explains that the female goats are very docile and sweet, but the male goats can be very aggressive. “There’s a male goat in there that we recorded, then pitched the sound down and stretched it out—we call him Big Daddy,” Klyce says. “And then we added in the sound of bears—it’s a combination of different animal sounds.”

Re-Live These Ho-Ho-Home Video Classics from Disney Christmases Past

December 22, 2017January 8, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

Many Christmases ago—before the days of DisneyNOW… before the days of Movies Anywhere… even before the days of D23—Disney fans had a very different way of experiencing holiday specials on the small screen. Sure, we could watch them any time—after we sat through the rewinding process, if we were watching on VHS—but we couldn’t watch them just anywhere. We were “forced” to curl up on the couch, within remote control range of our DVD or VHS player, to watch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas for the umpteenth time (that year). Truly, there may have been no cozier tradition. We here at D23 took a gander at our collection of VHS tapes and DVDs and came up with this list of some of our favorites.

Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (1991)
We first celebrated Christmas in the Hundred Acre Wood on December 14, 1991, when this Pooh-rific special debuted on ABC; it would be released on VHS in 1994. In the special, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet set out to retrieve Christopher Robin’s letter to Santa Claus, detailing all of the gang’s holiday wishes, because Pooh has forgotten to include what he wants most: hunny, naturally. When their plans don’t work out, Pooh decides to test out his own Santa skills… and Christmas chaos ensues.

A Goof Troop Christmas: Have Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas (1992)
Goofy wants to make the yuletide special for his son, Max, but his best-laid holiday plans—and decorations—always end rather goofily. As Max describes, “Every year we do the same thing—put up a ton of stuff and burn a turkey.” Max isn’t the only one who has had enough of Goofy’s merry mishaps: Pete is so determined to keep his neighbor from wrecking his Christmas that he packs up his family and heads to Asprin, Colorado. But when Max convinces his dad that father and son could use a break from tradition, a horrified Pete discovers that Goofy has followed him to Asprin. Goofy and Pete share some holiday cheer in the end, but along the way there are accidents galore, a blizzard, and a hungry bear. A Goof Troop Christmas reminds us that friendship, family, and a rousing reindeer dance can get us through any holiday challenge.

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
Originally called Beauty and the Beast: Christmas Belle, this direct-to-video animated feature was released on November 11, 1997. The story is set in a Christmas past, when Belle is determined to bring a little holiday spirit and hope to Beast’s castle. She enlists the help of the household objects, including Angelique, a tree ornament that’s been stowed away in the attic—but they must first outmaneuver the evil pipe organ, Forte, who wants to prevent Beast from falling in love with Belle. Paige O’Hara (Belle), Robby Benson (Beast), Jerry Orbach (Lumiere), David Ogden Stiers (Cogsworth), and Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts) reprised their roles from the 1991 feature, and were joined by Bernadette Peters and Tim Curry, who voiced Angelique and Forte, respectively. At the time of the film’s premiere, Paige O’Hara told the Los Angeles Times, “Robby Benson and I are both so proud of these parts [we play]. We treated this one just as importantly as the first one. They took such care. Everyone had respect for the writing.”

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
This 70-minute film is comprised of three festive tales tied together by narration from actor Kelsey Grammer. In Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas, Huey, Dewey, and Louie love the holiday so much that they wish upon a star for it to be Christmas every day, only to learn that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Max questions Santa’s existence in A Very Goofy Christmas, and Goofy goes to great lengths—and heights—to prove to his son that St. Nick is really real. Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi brings a magical spin to an iconic holiday tale, as Mickey struggles to buy Minnie a chain for her watch as a Christmas gift, while she’s scrimping to put together enough money to give Mickey a case for his harmonica. The true gift they both give and receive proves to be the best gift of all: love.

Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street (2001)
This 2001 home video release is comprised of four episodes of the TV series Recess, which followed a quirky group of fourth graders navigating the school day. When Principal Prickly, Miss Grotke, and Finster are waylaid by a snowbank on their way home from school, their first instinct is to blame T.J. and the gang—which inspires them to share “favorite” memories of their nemeses, the Recess kids. But when T.J. and company end up coming to their rescue, the school administrators can’t help but acknowledge that they might have some warm feelings toward the group after all—good thing they don’t hear the kids in the grand finale, a rousing chorus that begins, “Jingle Bells, Prickly smells…”

Mickey’s Magical Christmas—Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
Who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas at the House of Mouse, the amazing nightclub where characters from all around the worlds of Disney animation would gather to enjoy cartoon shorts, musical numbers, and emcee Mickey Mouse’s lively introductions? Gracious host that he is, Mickey invites his guests to enjoy a Christmas party at the House of Mouse while a snowstorm rages outside. To combat Donald Duck’s “Bah, Humbug!” spirit, Mickey decides to show the guests a series of classic cartoons: The Nutcracker, Donald on Ice, snippets from Mickey’s Christmas Crisis, Pluto’s Christmas Tree, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol. The direct-to-video film also included a brand-new song that details how being with family and friends makes for “The Best Christmas of All.”

Disney’s Sing Along Songs (Very Merry Christmas Songs) (2002)
The much-loved Sing Along Songs series received a holiday twist in this beloved video. With narration from actor Roscoe Lee Browne (Francis from Disney’s Oliver & Company), the 2002 release featured “The Best Christmas of All” from the aforementioned Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse, “As Long As There’s Christmas,” from Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, as well as a song each from Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year and Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving—in addition to beloved carols. If you’ve never learned the full lyrics to “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” or “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” why not learn them with the help of Huey, Dewey, and Louie or Goofy and Max?

Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
When this direct-to-video release debuted, it marked the first time that the Fab Five was presented in 3-D computer-generated animation. “Making the characters in 3-D is a challenge. Especially Mickey,” Matt O’Callaghan, director of Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas, told Disney Newsreel (a publication for employees of The Walt Disney Company) in 2004. “They are so beloved; everyone knows them and has expectations of what they should look like. Mickey’s been around for 75 years now, so we used the medium for what it could bring, such as lighting, camera angles, and textures, but we were careful to keep the classic sensibilities of the original cartoon characters.”

Fans were treated to five charming holiday stories, including Christmas Maximus, in which a college-age Max brings his girlfriend, Mona, home for the holidays to meet his dad. Max’s fears that Goofy will embarrass him shine through in the original song “Make Me Look Good,” which serves as a framing device for the vignette. The release also featured Christmas: Impossible, Donald’s Gift, Mickey’s Dog-Gone Christmas, and Belles on Ice, in which Minnie and Daisy go head to head in a figure skating competition. For the latter, world-renowned skater Michelle Kwan served as inspiration for the characters’ movements, but producer Pam Marsden said that inspiration for all of the stories in Twice Upon a Christmas was found closer to home. “People feel as if they know them, so you have to stay within certain characteristics. But they all have such unique personalities, so the characters actually drove the stories,” Marsden said.

If these classic DVDs aren’t already part of your library, you can find a number of them on shopDisney.com—and don’t forget to use your D23 Gold Member Discount. Do you have a holiday classic to add to our list? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter. And happy holidays from D23!

Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs… Which One Are You?

December 22, 2017November 26, 2019

By D23 Team

The holidays are the perfect time to enjoy the historic, heartwarming film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs… but this year, it’s truly special! The legendary animated feature—the first created by Walt Disney at his new studios—was released 80 years ago today, on December 21, 1937. Animation, and film in general, would never be the same.

The story unfolds like this: A beautiful young princess known as Snow White (the “fairest of them all”) seeks refuge in a nearby forest from the jealousy of her stepmother, the Wicked Queen. Thankfully, Snow comes upon a cozy home… and finds it belongs to seven delightfully quirky Dwarfs who pledge to do their best to keep her from harm. Drama and adventure ensue, and our heroine is felled by the queen—but ultimately, she’s saved by a handsome prince and “true love’s kiss,” and everyone lives happily ever after.

If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably wondered, “Magic mirror on the wall… which Dwarf am I most like?” We here at D23.com decided to find out once and for all… so “Heigh-Ho” your way into the quiz-mine, and then head over to Facebook and Twitter to let the world know!

This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!

Build Your Own Disney Holiday Sweater

December 22, 2017November 26, 2019

Is there anything better than putting on a cozy, quirky sweater during the holiday season? Upload one of your favorite photos below (this will work best with photos where you’re facing the camera straight-on) and create your own Disney holiday sweater using the stickers below!

This campaign has ended. Check out D23.com for more Disney fun!