What’s New This Holiday Season at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts

By Nicole Nalty

In our opinion, nothing makes the holidays even more magical than a visit to Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resorts. While Disney Parks around the world are celebrating the holidays (and we have a whole round-up of that, too!), we’ve put together this list for those who anxiously await their holiday trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World each year, so you can see what new merry magic awaits this season.

Cars Land Holiday

Disneyland Resort

Cars Land is adorable 365 days a year, but Radiator Springs really kicks it into high gear during the holidays. This season, take a spin on Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, a seasonal transformation taking place for the very first time. As with the popular Mater’s Junkyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Haul-O-Ween that debuted during Halloween Time, expect to hear some brand-new holiday tunes.

Festival of Holidays made its debut last winter and returns to Disney California Adventure park with delicious eats, music, and entertainment. New this year are Holiday Sunset Concerts, dance parties taking place every day at Paradise Park. Catch Phat Cat Swinger Friday–Monday, and the Mariachi Divas Tuesday–Thursday and stick around for one of our favorites, Disney ¡Viva Navidad!

Sunset Seasons Greetings

Walt Disney World Resort

Planning an evening stroll down Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Be sure to take in Sunset Seasons Greetings, a new holiday experience featuring projections of Mickey, Minnie, and more favorite Disney characters as the street’s billboards come to life and the iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel displays seasonal scenes, such as a giant pile of holiday gifts, a gingerbread house, and a frozen winter wonderland. Sunset Seasons Greetings runs continuously throughout the night at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Echo Lake Holidays

While you’re there, be sure to ooh and ah over the new holiday dressing over at Echo Lake––even Dinosaur Gertie is sporting her holiday best! Also at Echo Lake, it’s time to revisit our friends Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff at For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, where a very special snowman will be making an appearance and you can sing along to new songs from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, a brand-new featurette debuting in front of Disney•Pixar’s Coco.

Epcot holidays

Just down the road at Epcot, celebrate with snowflake sugar cookies or a warm apple fritter with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce at the Cookie Nook in the Odyssey Complex. Or, (And? We don’t judge) head to the Canada pavilion to try tasty eats like the Maple Bûche de Noël––maple mousse rolled in gingerbread chiffon cake with cranberry sauce and pecan crumble. While you’re walking through World Showcase, keep an eye out for Chip ‘n’ Dale; they’re on the hunt for ornaments for their Christmas tree in Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree. Purchase a map and stickers from select merchandise locations and find Chip ‘n’ Dale throughout World Showcase. Then, return your completed map for a sweet surprise from the two nutty chipmunks. During your travels, enjoy holiday entertainment from around the world, including a new celebration of Hanukkah in a new location along World Showcase promenade.

Candlelight Processional

While Candlelight Processional itself is a time-honored tradition (dating back to the first few years of Disneyland park!), expect to see some new narrators this year, including Pat Sajak, Matt Bomer, CCH Pounder, and Disney Legend Kurt Russell. You can see the full schedule here.

What are your must-dos during the holidays at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts? What are you most excited to try this season? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

It’s a Jolly Holiday Around the World at Disney Parks

By Courtney Potter

Break out the cocoa and switch on the twinkly lights—it’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are just around the river bend, and the good folks at Disney parks and resorts across the globe have some truly merry magic in store. From celebrating with Mater’s new Jingle Jamboree over at Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land, to the new Disney Gifts of Christmas nighttime spectacular at Tokyo Disneyland, guests are in for a cheerful, candy-colored treat!

Take a gander at a few of our favorite ways Disney parks and resorts are celebrating the holidays below. (Do you have your own holiday traditions at a certain Disney park? Go a-wassailing over to D23’s Facebook and Twitter and let us know!)

it's a small world

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort—Jingle All the Way!

Beginning Friday, November 10 (and jingle-jangling through January 7), the entire Disneyland Resort is getting a very merry makeover… and honestly, we can’t wait! The magic is endless at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks—with seasonal attractions, joyful entertainment, jolly décor, and themed treats that make every day feel like a holiday.

Guests will revel in the debut of brand-new holiday transformations inside Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, as Mater and Luigi put an adorable yuletide spin on their two popular attractions. Meanwhile, the park’s Festival of Holidays returns—featuring the sights, sounds, and tastes of diverse cultures. The Festive Foods Marketplace will once again serve up delicious multicultural holiday fare, and ¡Viva Navidad! will offer authentic music and dance and the chance to meet Princess Elena of Avalor. Plus: The World of Color – Season of Light nighttime spectacular returns to Paradise Bay with sparkling winter fantasy and fun.

Over at Disneyland park, Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle will once again transform each night with 50,000 twinkling LED lights, and the incredible Believe… in Holiday Magic fireworks—with its legendary snowfall finale—will captivate young and young-at-heart alike. Haunted Mansion Holiday continues to thrill and chill guests with visions of sugar plums and Jack Skellington’s sleigh, and the truly beloved A Christmas Fantasy Parade returns to Main Street, U.S.A. Over in Fantasyland, it’s a small world transforms into it’s a small world Holiday to honor children’s winter-time celebrations around the world once more… and guess what? As a special treat this season, FastPass will be available for this attraction. So warm up those vocal chords and get ready to join the it’s a small world choir for a round of “Deck the Halls”!

Walt Disney World

Merriment Abounds at Walt Disney World Resort

The theme parks of the Walt Disney World Resort will sparkle and shine brighter than ever before this holiday season—especially over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! From November 9 through December 31, there are tons of brand-new holiday happenings around the park, including a Sunset Seasons Greetings experience that transforms the park’s Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Tower Hotel with special scenes of the holidays. The hit Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular returns, along with its separately ticketed dessert party event that includes reserved viewing. But wait, there’s more: Holiday fun continues at the Hyperion Theater in For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, as Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff welcome Olaf to the popular show—which will now feature songs from Disney’s all-new animated featurette Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.

Across the rest of Walt Disney World, Epcot’s Holidays Around the World transforms into the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, from November 19 through December 30—surrounding guests with the wondrous sights, sounds, and flavors of the season once again. Plus, look for a fun new scavenger-style hunt called “Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree”—where guests can purchase a map and stickers (from select merchandise locations) and travel around World Showcase looking for the cheery chipmunks and their ornament collection. At Magic Kingdom Park, A Frozen Holiday Wish (with Arendelle’s most famous siblings, Anna and Elsa) takes to the Castle Forecourt Stage nightly from November 9 through December 31; Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade returns to Main Street, U.S.A.; and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party—the beloved specially ticketed event—makes the holidays merry and bright on select nights from November 9 through December 22. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feature a fabulous day-into-night holiday transformation for the Tree of Life, and Disney Springs will capture the spirit of the season with a bigger and better Christmas Tree Trail of custom decorated trees, each dedicated to a popular Disney theme.

Tokyo Disney Resort

Christmas at Tokyo Disney Resort

This year, the elves at Tokyo Disney Resort have a host of holiday fun up their sleeves, kicking off this week and making merry through December 25. Tokyo Disneyland park will premiere its brand-new nighttime spectacular Disney Gifts of Christmas; colorful images will be projected onto Cinderella Castle, featuring Mickey Mouse and his all his pals in a heartwarming yuletide story followed, naturally, by a sensational fireworks display! This year’s special Christmas Fantasy event will swell throughout the park, themed to “storybooks filled with the Disney Friends’ Christmas fun.” And the Disney Christmas Stories Parade will feature pages from storybooks showing Disney friends having all manner of Christmastime fun.

Over at Tokyo DisneySea, their Christmas Wishes event will illuminate the warmth and wonder of spending the holidays with family. A Perfect Christmas, the daytime show at Mediterranean Harbor, will feature Disney characters sharing their holiday dreams of Christmas—while Colors of Christmas will delight guests after dark with softly falling snow around the park’s harbor waters.

hong kong disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland: A Most Delightful Disney Christmas

From November 16 to January 1, guests at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will enjoy festive celebrations from day to night with “A Disney Christmas,” as the resort is transformed into a winter wonderland filled with music, magical lights, and shimmering snowflakes. By day, the Castle forecourt will be transformed into a themed stage for a special Mickey and Friends Christmastime Ball song-and-dance experience; at night, Main Street, U.S.A. will be covered in gently falling snow. All manner of Disney characters will be available for holiday photo moments filled with lots of surprises… and for the first time this year, the adorable StellaLou, the newest friend of Duffy the Disney Bear, will take part!

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris: Christmas Magic at Both Parks

Across the pond, Disneyland Paris is offering up magical merriment from November 11 through January 7… and this year, the festive delights will be seen in both Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios Parks for the first time!

Our pal Goofy will be bringing holly-jolly fun for the very first time to Walt Disney Studios Park, where he’ll transform the Hollywood Tower Hotel into the backdrop for a spectacular magical Goofy’s Incredible Christmas nighttime experience! The entire park will also buzz with the sounds of the season, as Mickey Mouse and friends take to the Production Courtyard stage several times a day for a holiday singalong. Meanwhile, at Disneyland Park, Main Street, U.S.A. will feature both the legendary Disney Stars on Parade as well as the comeback of Disney’s Christmas Parade (complete with snowfall!). Plus, a brand-new show—A Merry Stitchmas—will bring Stitch’s holiday shenanigans to the Sleeping Beauty Castle stage. And over in Videopolis, the all-new Mickey’s Christmas Big Band show will offer up some tuneful sounds of the season.

Shining Bright at Shanghai Disneyland Resort 

The holidays are descending upon the newest addition to Disney Parks & Resorts, and in a big way! Shanghai Disneyland Resort will soon be a-glow with charming holiday decorations in every nook and cranny, as well as favorite Disney characters dressed in their holiday best—including Santa Goofy! Each day, guests will swing to the sound of the Disneyland band during Happy Holidays Mickey!, in which Mickey Mouse himself leads revelers in a Christmas swing dance. And at night, Frozen’s funny, sunny snowman Olaf will lead the “When We’re Together” Tree Lighting Ceremony to illuminate the 60-foot tall Christmas tree in front of Enchanted Storybook Castle.

The Royal Banquet Hall, Remy’s Patisserie, and Lumiere’s Kitchen will all have special holiday-themed meals added to their menus, and exclusive merchandise—including 40 limited-release seasonal products like adorable stockings and a Duffy-themed popcorn bucket—will be ready to take its place under your own Christmas tree at home. 

Walt Disney World Resort Enhancements at Coronado Springs and Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center

By Jeffrey Epstein

Earlier this year, it was announced that Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort would be adding a spectacular 500-room, 15-story tower. This new tower, set to open in 2019, will include a rooftop restaurant and lounge boasting gorgeous panoramic views, a lawn for events, and additional meeting, event, and convention space.

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Each of the resort’s existing guest rooms are also being fully re-imagined with new features and amenities. When complete, guests will be able to conveniently connect to other areas of the resort via a series of bridges and walkways that pass through an island oasis.

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We are thrilled to share recently released renderings of this major expansion already underway at Walt Disney World Resort. 
 
In addition to this expansion at Coronado Springs, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts are also enjoying unprecedented growth to their East Coast-themed convention center and meeting areas. By 2017, the space will expand by 28,000 square feet, bringing the total amount of flexible meeting and event space to 100,000 square feet.
 
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Plus, the resorts themselves have already gone through a transformation with 1,190 newly renovated guest rooms with a modern, breezy design and convenient access to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And soon the Yacht Club will offer a re-imagined lobby lounge, and the Captain’s Grille will be transformed into the Ale & Compass Restaurant.
 
For more on these exciting changes, visit DisneyMeetings.com.

The Secrets Behind Thor: Ragnarok

By Beth Deitchman

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, nothing is impossible. According to Jake Morrison, VFX supervisor for the latest blockbuster, Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, there is literally nothing that can’t be done when it comes to bringing to the screen mind-blowing visuals that no one has seen before. “There is no ‘no.’ Kevin [Feige, producer and president, Marvel Studios], Victoria [Alonso, executive vice president, physical production, Marvel Studios], and Louis [D’Esposito, co-president, Marvel Studios] encourage filmmakers to just dream big,” he explains.

Morrison, whose time with the studio dates back to Iron Man 2, notes that at Marvel Studios, directors are given the freedom to run with their visions, and the VFX team enjoys the fun and exciting challenge of figuring out how to turn something that seems impossible into a memorable sequence that’ll have fans scratching their heads and wondering how they were able to pull it off. And while the newest technology is a vital part of innovation in Marvel Studios films, creative problem solving can be just as important.

In one of Thor: Ragnarok’s most memorable scenes, Thor and the Incredible Hulk face off in the gladiator’s arena in a fight so realistic you can almost feel the impact of each thunderous punch. Thor and Hulk fought once before, on the Helicarrier deck in Marvel’s The Avengers, but Morrison wanted to take the showdown on Sakaar to another level. The dilemma, he explains, is that the Hulk is 8-feet, 6-inches tall—towering over not just the 6-foot, 4-inch Thor, but over the tallest of stunt men. In the past, Morrison explains, “You’d end up with these situations where they’d got a really tall stunt guy, like six-foot-seven, and they’d put a backpack on him and a big Hulk head.” When Hulk and Thor would start throwing punches at each other, their shoulders would only be about three inches apart—necessitating a lot more animation to make the scale seem accurate.

Thor: Ragnarok

The question that Morrison pondered was this: “What if, instead of the Hulk being eight-foot-six, the Hulk is six-foot-four? And what’s the other math—how big does Thor have to be if Hulk is six-foot-four?” Simple math led Morrison to determine that they would need Thor’s stunt double for the sequence to be four-foot two—but does such a stunt man even exist? Enter Paul Lowe, an English stunt man who frequently doubles for child actors. The fight was choreographed, Morrison details, and they were able to use motion capture to ensure that the scale and relationship were accurate. “Then we had Chris [Hemsworth] learn the scale-Thor version of the fight and perform that against a blue screen,” Morrison reveals. “When we took the mo-cap Hulk and the blue screen of Thor and clicked the two together, they dovetailed so you get this fight that feels like they’re fighting at the proper scale for the first time. It could have been a terrible idea, but it turns out it actually works—and we think that’s the first time anybody has done anything as crazy as that.”

Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok

From a technical standpoint, Morrison points to Valkyrie’s flashback sequence—when she relives her last meeting with Hela, Goddess of Death—as the most innovative. The team designed a brand-new lighting rig with 145 different hot-shoe strobe lights. The lights were mounted high above the actors, with each strobe timed to a single frame of film being exposed. The sequence was then shot with a special camera that slows time down to approximately 1,000 frames per second, Morrison explains. “It creates this way of looking at a scene and a moment that has never been seen before,” he says, adding that it also creates challenges for the actors. “I told Tessa [Thompson, who plays Valkyrie], ‘This is the range of motion we’re hoping to go through—and you kind of have to go through that stuff in half a second.’ It really is like acting under a microscope. It was incredible,” he states.

Thor: Ragnarok

Just as the most amazing visual effects are so often the ones you don’t see, some of the most amazing VFX technology was virtually invisible on set. Director Taika Waititi asked Morrison to make the technology transparent, so that it would not get in the way of the actors’ ability to emote and improvise. “So with that in mind, we built all of the mo-cap technology into the sets,” Morrison shares. The VFX team collaborated with the art department to build cameras into the walls of the sets, where they were out of the actors’ view.

The thinking in the VFX world used to be that visual effects worked best when there was time to plan and polish. Now, Morrison says, “It’s a bit more like jazz. You go along and hopefully your first instinct is the best instinct.” He appreciates Marvel Studios’ dedication to making bold moves. “If something isn’t working, they’ll change it. And if they think of something better, they’ll change it. They’ve enabled us to really think outside of the box on this stuff and not be afraid to push the envelope.”

5 Things that Make Star Wars Rebels a Great Star Wars Story According to Dave Filoni

By Jocelyn Buhlman

We’re celebrating five years of the thrilling adventures of Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Hera Syndulla, Sabine Wren, Zeb Orrelios, and the feisty astromech droid Chopper: Disney XD’s Star Wars Rebels. We talked with Dave Filoni, executive producer of Star Wars Rebels, as well as the previous animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, about what makes this tale of a ragtag group of rebels a true Star Wars story at its heart.

Star Wars Rebels

1. It’s Fun for the Audience
The beauty of Star Wars Rebels is that you can fall in love with the show no matter how much you know about Star Wars. Some fans are on the edge of their seats waiting to see how this final season will lead into the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: A New Hope, while other fans watch the show and wonder about that mysterious weapon the Empire is building. Whether you’re a near-Jedi in your knowledge of all things Star Wars or a mere padawan who is still discovering the galaxy far, far away, you can count on having a blast while watching this final season of Rebels. As Filoni explains, “The key is always to remember to treat the story as if nobody actually knows what’s going to happen, and that really helps.” Of course, the crew loves to give shout-outs to the hardcore fans, but Filoni wants everyone to be able to enjoy Star Wars Rebels. He explains, “Your friend might be getting more out of it because he’s a bigger Star Wars fan than you are, but that just increases the fun. There’s nothing quite like Star Wars.”

Star Wars Rebels

Fans of Star Wars Rebels who may—gasp!—have not really watched the original movies are encouraged to enjoy the story of Rebels for what it is. “While there is a point where there are crossovers, the story of Star Wars Rebels is still fulfilling on its own, even if you’ve never watched A New Hope  or Rogue One,,” Filoni explains. And if Rebels is your starting point for the Star Wars universe? Filoni hopes it enhances the rest of your viewing experience: “For example, if you’ve watched Rebels and then watch Rogue One, you have a better understanding of Saw Gererra as a character, but it’s not necessary in order to enjoy Rogue One. Rebels is about Ezra and his family. I try only to cross over when it’s important for our characters.”

2. It Inspires Hope
We can’t help but feel hopeful when we watch any Star Wars story—that’s what the movies are all about! And Star Wars Rebels carries on that message of hope in more than just the story. Each character can inspire fans to be their best selves, and two fan-favorite characters have their own special impact.

Star Wars Rebels

“I think that Sabine is an important character because she started off kind of lost in the beginning: She had to find her family and had to learn to trust, and that’s a valuable lesson,” Filoni explains of the young Mandalorian artist. She’s come a long way from her life as a cadet at the Imperial Academy of Manadlore—now, she’s a full-time rebel, artist, and team player. That’s something that everyone can learn from, but young girls especially can see themselves in her. Filoni elaborates, “She doesn’t just suddenly have a relationship with Ezra because he’s the  young boy on the show. They have a mutual respect for each other. They like each other and they care about each other, it’s not the typical teen romance. We wanted to avoid that.”

Star Wars Rebels

Similarly, Hera Syndulla, the pilot of the Ghost, serves as the Rebels’ team mom, and that makes her unique in the Star Wars world. Filoni points to Hera’s bravery and maternal qualities to explain why the character is such a fan-favorite. He notes, “She embodies so many women out there who are mothers, who are strong, who are empowered; and we don’t have a lot of that type of character in Star Wars.”

He hopes this inspiration will resonate with fans long after the final season has ended. As Filoni puts it, “It parallels that girls can be anything—but sometimes you need to see it in order to be it. Sometimes you need to be that strong warrior and wear that helmet.”

3. We Get to Meet Characters From All Over the Star Wars Galaxy
So many characters the fans love are returning for this final season of Rebels, from Star Wars: The Clone Wars favorites like Bo-Katan Kryze, to film favorites like Mon Mothma, and, most excitingly, the Star Wars Legends character Thrawn.

Star Wars Rebels

Adapting each character is its own challenge, explains Filoni. “The characters in the movies are somewhat easy because they are pretty defined, since there’s an actor playing them and we know what their voice sounds like. You think about how much you want a voice actor impersonating the character versus bringing something to the role as themselves,” he says. “We knew Genevieve O’Reilly was going to play Mon Mothma in Rogue One, and we wanted to make Star Wars Rebels’ Mon Mothma a visual combination of her and Mon Mothma from Return of the Jedi [portrayed by Caroline Blakiston], so there’s a frame of reference when we make the characters on screen. We want the audience to go, ‘Oh, that’s Mon Mothma, oh that’s Saw Gererra.’”

Star Wars Rebels

When it came to adapting Thrawn, Filoni faced a unique challenge: “The character is well-known, but you’ve never heard his voice! While he’s been seen in a lot of art and may have consistent elements, there’s no one defining Thrawn. So you’re dealing with a character that lived in the fans’ imaginations for years! We hoped that the version we have in our heads is true to the one the fans are picturing. In the end, Lars Mikkelson just nailed it. And I’ve had a lot of people remark that his voice is what they heard in their heads, which is a credit to Lars’ voice acting.”

4. It’s Full of Easter Eggs
While Star Wars Rebels ties in with the Star Wars films, fans of the series can also expect shout-outs to the characters they love from the show while watching the theatrical films. Who wasn’t freaking out when a certain grumpy astromech droid had a cameo in Rogue One? Filoni tells us that he was possibly the most excited of us all: “I was on set when Chopper was rolling across the hanger! Easter eggs are something that we have a great time with here, and the Rogue One crew said, ‘Can we put the Ghost in Rogue One?’ and I was like ‘Oh yeah, you can! What else do you want?’”

Rogue One was a goldmine for Star Wars Rebels fans, in terms of Easter eggs. Filoni tells us, “I think that’s one of the coolest things we can do for a fan. It’s rewarding and exciting, and it ties things together. The hammerhead ships that appear in the movie came about because I said, ‘We should really have our ships be similar, since the movie and show take place in the same time period. Why don’t you take some of the hammerheads?’ and they came up with that great maneuver to ram the Star Destroyer.” Filoni also reveals that if you listen closely during a Yavin IV sequence in Rogue One, you might hear a reference to Hera Syndulla.

Star Wars Rebels

5. Star Wars Is for Everyone
Whether you watched Star Wars: A New Hope when it premiered in 1977 or you’re turning on your TV this week to watch Star Wars Rebels for the first time, the galaxy far, far away connects us all. Filoni believes this connection is why we just can’t stop telling these stories.

“I think that the galaxy far, far away feels really close to home,” he says. “It’s filled with characters that we relate to on a daily basis. Amazingly, people all around the world relate to these characters. It gives us something in common. And that story of hope that George told at the beginning is the fundamental reason to watch. Hope, and happiness.”

The Lion King’s Circle of Life—On-Stage and Off

By Beth Deitchman

Twenty years ago, Rafiki’s stirring call rang out through Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre for the first time. Julie Taymor’s groundbreaking adaptation of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ beloved film The Lion King used puppetry, masks, and innovative staging to bring the African savanna to the Great White Way. “When we came down the aisle during the first number, ‘Circle of Life,’ people were in tears. It was amazing. You saw people happy… crying… screaming… It was all at once and it was extremely overwhelming,” remembers Lindiwe Dlamini, who was part of the company on November 13, 1997—the show’s official opening night—and who remains with The Lion King to this day.

Lindiwe Dlamini
Lindiwe Diamini, who has been with The Lion King since it opened in 1997.

Diamini was a 19-year-old actress when she first learned of auditions for the new musical. She had come to the U.S. from her native South Africa for the show Sarafina!, but opted to remain in New York and see what she could make happen. “At first when they said, ‘We’re going to do The Lion King, I really didn’t understand how human actors could do it; it should have animals,” she recalls thinking. Diamini’s reading and movement skills landed her a part in the company, and then she began to understand Taymor’s vision. “I really had no clue until we saw the amazing, amazing costumes,” she recalls, and she was also fortunate to learn from the puppet master himself, Michael Curry. “We weren’t puppeteers,” she shares. “But that’s when we learned how to move with the hyena legs, walking like you have four legs. It was such an amazing experience.”

Bonita J Hamilton
Bonita Hamilton is a 13-year veteran of the musical.

By the time Bonita Hamilton joined the cast of The Lion King in 2004, the show was a blockbuster. Just out of graduate school, Hamilton was in Albany performing in a production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ when she learned she’d booked two auditions for her day off. Near the end of a whirlwind day that included a six-hour round-trip drive to New York City, two auditions and two callbacks, she learned that she was cast in both shows. “It was a good drive,” Hamilton laughs, “even though I was stopped by the police.” In her excitement, Hamilton may have been driving just a little over the speed limit—but when she eagerly told the officer she was going to appear in The Lion King, he issued her a warning, rather than a ticket, and told her he hoped to see her on Broadway one day.

Her opening night in the role of Shenzi the hyena was magical. “I had goosebumps,” Hamilton says, of the moment when she first heard “Circle of Life” from a performer’s perspective. And 13 years later, that iconic moment still resonates with her in every performance. “There is something that connects people about the opening of the show. It transcends all cultural barriers, racial barriers—it’s just transcendent,” she notes.

The Lion King on Broadway

“I’m one of the bird ladies, and when I come down the aisle I see almost the same reaction [from the audience] from the time we started the show 20 years ago,” Diamini says. “Every time it’s a different audience member, but it’s almost the same reaction. And then people tell you that they’ve been here 12 times, coming to see the show. They saw it when they were kids and now they’re bringing their kids.”

The cast has become an extension of the actors’ families. Hamiton performed throughout her two pregnancies and she says that her children, now 9 and 12, have had a strong connection with the music of The Lion King from the time they were babies. The actors have watched each other’s children grow up, Diamini shares. “They come around and you see them—this little bitty thing that you did a baby shower for—and they tell you they’re graduating or going to college. To me, those memories are my happiest experiences,” she emphasizes. “We have grown to be a family. We experience each other’s sorrow and happiness.”

The company members helped each other through the tragedy of losing a fellow cast member, 11-year-old Shannon Tavarez, who played Nala in 2009. “We just came together as a unit,” Hamilton says, organizing bone marrow drives and rallying behind the young actress as she battled leukemia. And it was more than a simple case of “the show must go on” for the actors following the events of September 11, 2001. “I remember coming back in the show, and you saw all these people who were just lost—there was so much loss at the time,” Diamini remembers, “and we were able, for three hours, to take that away from people. It was intense and scary, but we were able to make people feel that at the end of the day we’re going to move on. It’s not the end.”

Diamini has come to understand the impact the show still has on fans. “Sometimes an audience member has lost a family member and they come see the show, and they’ll often tell you how watching The Lion King made them feel better,” she says, noting that the human elements of the show resonate with audiences of all ages. “You can relate to the story. You can relate to the loss of someone through the show, you can relate to the birth of someone through the show. The excitement of new life is in the show. I think that people can find so many relatable experiences in The Lion King.”

“I understand that I have a responsibility every time I hit that stage, because this may be someone’s first time experiencing theater,” Hamilton says. “And this may be someone’s last time experiencing theater. And carrying that has changed my perspective a lot.” The Lion King invited audiences to look at theater differently, and it’s had an equally dramatic effect on the actors who have been part of it. After more than 5,000 performances, Hamilton puts it simply: “I just look at the world differently since being in the show.”

 

Discover El Día de Muertos at Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion

By D23 Team

In Disney•Pixar’s Coco, an aspiring young musician named Miguel is transported to the Land of the Dead on Día de los Muertos, a treasured Mexican holiday in which friends and families gather to celebrate loved ones who have passed on but continue to live in our hearts. Marked with colorful festivals, magnificent feasts, and lively music, the holiday is one of the most celebrated and magical occasions in Mexico, and guests can discover its rich history in an all-new exhibit in Epcot’s Mexican Folk Art Gallery: Remember Me! La Celebración del Día de Muertos.

From items reflecting the holiday’s pre-Hispanic origins, to displays of sugar skulls, papel picado, and colorful toys, guests can enjoy an up-close look at incredible artifacts that reflect the unique heritage and beautiful artistry of Día de los Muertos.

The gallery’s centerpiece—an impressive four-piece sculpture group titled “Bridal Couple”—features a towering bride and groom pair representing “a love that will endure long after death.” The one-of-a-kind sculptures (which range from 2.5 to 10 feet in height) were made by a father and son in Mexico City and represent the latest work from a family that has created similar hand-crafted works for more than three centuries! Guests can also explore new artwork from other talented Mexican and Mexican-American artists, whose inspiration and artistic expressions are shared throughout the gallery.

Don’t miss this special exhibit at the Mexico pavilion in World Showcase during your next visit to Epcot.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Creating a Tradition… One Taste at a Time

By Greg Ehrbar

“You know the thing about good food? It brings folks together from all walks of life. It warms them right up and puts little smiles on their faces.”

If Tiana’s father, James, added “from all over the world” to his words from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, he would completely express the feelings that Walt Disney World Guests and Cast Members have for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, a once-a-year coming-together of all ages from all places to share the fun and flavors of the world.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

How the flavors began to blend

“Back in the ’80s, we had a smaller event called the Walt Disney World Village Wine Festival at what is now Disney Springs,” explains Chef Marianne Hunnel, Content Development Manager for Disney Parks Events. “George Kalogridis, who was our Vice President of Epcot, had a vision to bring this kind of festival to Epcot, especially since it’s such a food and beverage-driven place.

“There weren’t as many food-related TV shows or big culinary events back then. Now there are festivals all over the world. It’s neat to know that Epcot was on the cutting edge. Today, it’s grown from 30 days in 1996 to 75 days this year with 35 outdoor kitchens, over 2 million Guests attending each year, and George is our Walt Disney World President. He was willing to take the risk of giving the Festival time to take hold.”

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

“Save the liver!”

The legendary Julia Child was one of earliest celebrity chefs to grace the Epcot International Food & Wine & Garden Festival in 1997. “It was awesome to work alongside her,” Chef Marianne recalls. “She was very jovial. I was so inspired to meet and talk with her. She was in her 80s, but age had no impact on what she wanted to do. Her zest for life was incredible.”

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Two years after Millennium Village opened in 2000 with special limited-time exhibits from around the world, Party for the Senses was celebrated for the first time. At this magnificent dinner—and every one since—the crème de la crème of Disney’s culinary artists plied their trade on an unforgettable feast. In 2008, the cast of Cirque du Soleil, La Nouba, joined in the festivities, performing feats of astonishing agility and ineffable surrealism. (It’s a good idea to reserve tickets for this as soon as they become available.)

“Right here, on our stage…”

The “Beverly” was really bubbling in 2002, when the America Gardens Stage first presented the “Eat to the Beat” Concert Series. These live performances included pop stars like “King of the Twist,” Chubby Checker; Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Little Anthony and The Imperials and the Fifth Dimension. This year, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series will present a total of 225 concerts featuring such artists as David Cook, Baha Men, Taylor Dayne and Plain White T’s.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Soon certain Festival dishes became all-time Guest favorites. “We add numerous new dishes, wines and beers each year,” says Chef Marianne. “But there are some things that we try to serve every year. I don’t know what would happen if, for instance, we didn’t have the cheddar cheese soup at Canada!”

Eating to run, running to eat

In addition to offering a plethora of palate-delighting decadence, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival focuses on the delicious side of good nutrition, fresh food, health and good living. The folks at runDisney did their part by creating foot race events that wind through Epcot and surrounding Disney locations.

The races have also become traditions for a variety of running skill levels. You don’t have to be Thor to enter an event (even your humble author has participated). They include entry to the outdoor kitchens and a late-night party. Plus, there’s a family run, kid’s events and Disney Characters to meet. (NOTE: It’s really popular, so right now you’d have to sign up for 2018 to participate.)

In 2007, the Wonders of Life pavilion became the Festival Center, with a full schedule of demonstrations, seminars and hands-on activities. And in 2011, Ocean Spray Cran-Raisin brought in their first cranberry bog (fun news for those who loved the Sherman Brothers song of the same name sung by Hayley Mills!)

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The stars of TV, movies… and mouths everywhere!

Beginning in 2011, Epcot became a place where “foodies” could exchange ideas, techniques and tastes with the biggest stars of HGTV and later, Food Network. Then in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, the stars of ABC-TV’s The Chew brought their entire show to the park.

2015 also saw the introduction of “Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak” scavenger game also started during the 20th Anniversary year. Using a map and sticker set available at select shops, everyone who plays can win a special button or pin.

One of the most unique ideas came from Disney artist Laura Adams, who asked Disney animator Eric Goldberg (who created the original Genie in Aladdin) to design whimsical “taste buds” for the Festival. Suddenly “Sweet,” “Salty,” “Cheesy” and all their bud-dies were lovable little characters adorning advertising, pins, apps and magazines.

Celebrating the 35th anniversary of Epcot

This year, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is raising a toast to the Epcot Anniversary with charming nods to the Park’s history, designed to resonate especially with those “in-the-know” like D23 members.

In the early ’80s, the Odyssey was a counter service restaurant along the east side between Future World and World Showcase. Today, it is used for private meetings and special events. But this year, Guests have a chance to peek inside—and chomp into one of those fabled “Handwiches.” Chef Figment adorns aprons, oven mitts, mugs and so forth with colorful designs inspired by the look of another fond Epcot memory, the Kitchen Kabaret (“Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit!”)

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Not only does the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival get bigger and better each year, it has inspired other Disney Parks events. “The kind of food component that Guests love during Epcot International Food & Wine Festival has now become a staple of all our festivals—Flower & Garden, Festival of the Arts, and the upcoming International Festival of the Holidays,” says Christopher Stewart, General Manager, Epcot Entertainment. “Even Disney California Adventure Park has its own version of the Food & Wine Festival.”

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is one of those wonderful concepts that’s always bubbling with something new and exciting. At its heart is a rather special optimism—a “so much that we share” philosophy—that people of all cultures can and should gather to enjoy good food, wine and friendship.

This year’s Festival continues through November 13, 2017.

25 Days of Christmas Goes Bigger than Ever—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

The popular holiday programming event expands, and learn how you can celebrate Mickey Mouse’s upcoming birthday… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

25 Days of Christmas Expands Across All Disney|ABC Channels

Okay, we know. We just finished Halloween. But the networks of Disney|ABC are doubling-down on holiday-themed TV—and honestly, we can’t wait!

We’ve been fans of Freeform’s beloved 25 Days of Christmas programming event for years… and in 2017, it’s growing by leaps and bounds! Beginning December 1, the event expands across all Disney|ABC Television Group networks to create the ultimate fan-favorite holiday celebration! ABC, Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, and Radio Disney will all be airing holiday-themed programming and entertainment for the whole family throughout December, leading up to Christmas Day.

Viewers can ring in the season with festive specials, including Freeform’s first original Christmas movie, Angry Angel, starring Brenda Song and Jason Biggs; classic holiday movies such as The Santa Clause and Mickey’s Christmas Carol; and returning favorites like ABC’s Prep and Landing, The Great Christmas Light Fight, and The Great American Baking Show. Plus, don’t miss holiday-themed episodes of black-ish, Modern Family, The Mayor, Speechless, Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Sofia the First, and more.

So hang up those stockings (go on, be the first on your block!) and take a look at the full schedule here.

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

October 29, 2017
D23’s Spooky Screening Series: Halloweentown on The Walt Disney Studios Lot
November 17, 2017
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Russi Taylor
November 18, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Florida
November 18, 2017
Mickey’s of Glendale—Orlando Shopping Event
November 18, 2017
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
November 26, 2017
Join D23 at the Saks Holiday Breakfast with Snow White
December 6, 2017
D23’s Holidays in Hollywood
December 10, 2017
D23’s Light Up the Season
December 10, 2017
D23’s Holiday Shopping Day at Mickey’s of Glendale
February 2, 2018
D23 Member Night at Disney’s Aladdin at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Parks
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
November 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 28. December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort
November 10–January 7
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
December 16
Star Wars: Galactic Nights returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
Studios
November 3, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters
November 22, 2017
Coco opens in theaters
December 15, 2017
Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters
February 16, 2018
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther opens in U.S. theaters
Television
November 20, 2017
Big Hero 6 The Series launches with a one-hour movie on Disney XD and Disney Channel (8 p.m. ET)
December 1–25, 2017
Disney|ABC’s 25 Days of Christmas

#HappyBirthdayMickey button

Celebrate Mickey’s Birthday on November 18!

Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me, and has a big birthday coming up in just a few weeks? Why, it’s Mickey Mouse, of course! If you’re looking for a way to celebrate this truly auspicious occasion, check out D23’s rundown of the special events and fun experiences in store leading up to November 18.

Meet the Stars of Broadway’s Frozen

From the moment in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2013 animated film Frozen when Arendelle’s princesses, Elsa and Anna, decided to build a snowman, Disney fans fell in love with the sisters. And now fans will find themselves equally enamored with the actresses who will be bringing the characters to life on the Broadway stage—Caissie Levy and Patti Murin, who play Elsa and Anna, respectively.

Meet Caissie and Patti in this new video from Disney On Broadway’s YouTube. “They really feel like sisters,” enthuses Jennifer Lee, director of the film, who has written the book for the Frozen musical. You can see the bond between the two actresses here now, and at the legendary St. James Theatre in New York beginning February 2018. Visit FrozenTheMusical.com for more details and ticketing information.

Pixar Fest

Coming Soon to Disneyland Resort: Pixar Fest, Pixar Pier, and New Hotel  

There were several big announcements, late last week, from our pals at Disneyland Resort—and all three are quite historic! Pixar Fest, a colorful celebration of all things Disney•Pixar, kicks off at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks in 2018, while a brand-new hotel is set to debut in 2021 right near Downtown Disney. Read more about Pixar Fest here, Pixar Pier here, and check out some early plans for the hotel right here.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line Expands San Diego Season and Returns to Tropical Faves

Great news for fans of “sailing the ocean blue”… In early 2019, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) will make its big return to favorite destinations on a variety of itineraries, including an expanded two-month season from San Diego; plus, guests can choose from a plethora of options to the Bahamas and Caribbean (from Florida ports), as well as cruises to the Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Tropical locales and endless amounts of Disney magic—what more could you need in a “vacay”?

The Disney Wonder returns to San Diego for an extended season from March to May 2019, with a variety of cruises to Mexico—where DCL guests can enjoy all the colorful culture, pristine beaches, and exciting water activities the area is known for.

And in January 2019, three special Disney Wonder cruises from San Juan sail to the Southern Caribbean, visiting renowned tropical destinations. And with several Disney ships in port (and cruise lengths spanning three, four, and seven nights), vacationers looking for a getaway in early 2019 have a massive menu of options from Port Canaveral, near Orlando. And of course, each of these sailings include a day at DCL’s exclusive private island, Castaway Cay.

For more information, visit disneycruise.com. Bon voyage!

SpectacuLAB

The SpectacuLAB Comes to Epcot This Month

There’s a cool new show coming to Walt Disney World this month… Epcot’s Innoventions will soon welcome The SpectacuLAB—an engaging new interactive show in which guests will join a group of real scientists (and their tech-savvy intern) for a series of cool experiments that put scientific principles like acceleration and ultrasonic pressure to the test.

Through this fascinating new presentation, Epcot guests of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in the demos—and to discover how each principle has inspired amazing technologies we enjoy today. To bring The SpectacuLAB to life, Walt Disney World is collaborating with sponsor Murata, a global leader in the design, manufacture, and supply of advanced electronic components, as well as with Science from Scientists, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve STEM literacy at schools.

Have your proverbial lab coats at the ready—The SpectacuLAB opens for science-y business soon.