9 Spectacular Spots on the D23 Expo Show Floor

July 14, 2017

By Courtney Potter

Enter the bustling Anaheim Convention Center, and you’ll feel it. That special “something.” To say there’s excitement in the air is putting it mildly! A bevy of enchanting experiences await guests this weekend at D23 Expo 2017—and just hours ago, we got a special sneak peek of the Expo show floor… and nine magical moments you just can’t miss.

1. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ “A Galaxy of Stories” Pavilion
Attention, fans of all things Star Wars: We know your first stop on the show floor. It’s the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ “A Galaxy of Stories” Pavilion, where you’ll literally feel like you’ve walked into your favorite Star Wars film… The pavilion features amazing first-ever looks at unique locations, cool starships, extraordinary creatures, and droids that will bring Star Wars to life at the new Star Wars-themed lands set to debut at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts in 2019! But that’s not all: The pavilion spotlights—wait for it—an actual model of the lands’ overall vision. (Plus insanely cool celebration of Star Tours’ 30th anniversary—featuring one of our favorite droids, Rex!)

2. Walt Disney Archives’ “Fantastical Fashions”
You’ll get to see some of your favorite dresses—worn by heroines and villains from six of your favorite Disney live-action films—up close at the Walt Disney Archives’ “Fantastical Fashions” exhibit. The details are truly incredible! Ever wanted to see Giselle’s beautiful white gown from 2007’s Enchanted (designed by Mona May, a previous D23 Expo Mousequerade costume contest judge) in person? Or the flaxen-hued dress worn by Belle in 2017’s live-action Beauty and the Beast? This exhibit is your Expo-rific chance!

3. The Lion King 360° VR Experience
Feel like you’re on a Broadway stage, alongside the triple-threat talents of Disney Theatrical Productions’ The Lion King, by visiting “The Lion King 360° VR Experience.” Visitors don special headsets in order to get the full 360-degree look. Additionally, several Julie Taymor-designed masks from the Broadway production are on up-close display… and they are truly incredible. It’s an Expo show-floor feature that’s sure to delight fans of both the original 1994 animated film and the Broadway production.

4. Center Stage
As we walked the show floor, we noticed some killer music coming from just around a corner. Sure enough, it was a sound check for D23 Expo’s Center Stage—where a cavalcade of awesome musical performances (by the likes of Broadway vet Susan Egan; Buena Vista Records’ Temecula Road; and nerd-rock artist Kirby Krackle), fun trivia games, and all manner of entertainment will be presented throughout the weekend. We’re especially impressed by the stage’s massive video screen! Note: If you’d like the voice of Disneyland, Bill Rogers, to record your outgoing voicemail message, this is the place to be.

5. Walt Disney Animation/Pixar Animation Studios Pavilion
Another truly can’t-miss spot on the show floor? Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Animations Studios’ massive pavilion, where you can see life-size Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez from Cars 3 (as well as super-cool Cars concept art); take a selfie with fantastic statue of The Incredibles’ Edna Mode (who, we promise, will not critique your outfit); get autographs from your favorite filmmakers; collect cool giveaways; and interact with displays celebrating Disney and Pixar’s latest.

6. Walt Disney Archives’ “A Pirate’s Life for Me: Disney’s Rascals, Scoundrels, and Really Bad Eggs” Exhibit
Walt Disney Archives’ brand-new exhibit for this year’s Expo is so massive and so life-alteringly amazing that we had to give it its very own article. So make sure to read all about it by clicking here!

7. Marvel Studios Pavilion
For the first time ever, Marvel has a pavilion on the Expo show floor—and it’s gonna be thrilling, to say the least. Displays include an array of props and costumes from Marvel Studios’ upcoming films Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther, as well as a look at brand-new console and mobile Marvel Games. The pavilion even has its own stage, where lots of big announcements will be made!

8. Disney Legends 30th Anniversary Celebration Exhibit
On the grounds of the fabled Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, stands Legends Plaza—where all of the Disney Legends from the last three decades are honored with bronze plaques. Walk through the Expo’s very own version of Legends Plaza at a special exhibit, including a massive version of the Legends statue—which beautifully represents the three main elements of a Legend’s contributions to the Disney legacy: imagination, skill and craftsmanship, and magic.

9. Disney Dream Store, Mickey’s of Glendale, and Disney Store
Last but not least, we took a look at all three fabulous stores available to Expo guests, where “shop ‘til you drop” is sure to be a weekend-long mantra! The Disney Dream Store is ready to offer up some one-of-a-kind items like their Interchangeable Bow Collection (all the better to adorn your Mickey Ears), while Mickey’s of Glendale will have specialty pins and other limited-edition collectibles. And Disney Store is your one-stop shop for Disney Designer Collection Dolls, Star Wars apparel and action figures, Disney Tsum Tsum, and items boasting the D23 Expo 2017 stamp-of-approval seal.

Lightspeed to D23 Expo: First Look Inside the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Pavilion

July 13, 2017

By Jim Frye

Han Solo’s beloved Millennium Falcon is still “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” and one of the most iconic ships in cinematic history. And in 2019, the “ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs” throws open its bay doors, finally giving fans a chance to step aboard. You will be able to get an up-close look inside the ship that Princess Leia famously proclaimed a “bucket of bolts” when Disney opens two 14-acre Star Wars-themed lands—one at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, and the other at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

And for those fans who just can’t wait until 2019, this weekend’s D23 Expo 2017 gives an exclusive sneak peek at this one-of-a-kind intergalactic experience. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts raised the curtain (literally) on a spectacularly detailed three-dimensional model of the new themed land—featuring the Millennium Falcon and a whole galaxy of new experiences—in its “A Galaxy of Stories” pavilion, a marquee display that occupies prime real estate in the center of the D23 Expo show floor.

Dead Men Tell New Tales: “Walt Disney Archives Presents—A Pirate’s Life for Me”

July 13, 2017July 14, 2017

By Max Lark

The Walt Disney Archives, which has preserved Disney history for more than 47 years, opens its vaults once again at D23 Expo 2017 to curate a brand-new 12,000-square-foot exhibit on the Expo show floor. “Walt Disney Archives Presents—A Pirate’s Life For Me: Disney’s Rascals, Scoundrels, and Really Bad Eggs” honors some of Disney’s most beloved pirates from 1927 to the present—from Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow to the classic Disney parks attraction Pirates of the Caribbean, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. If ye be seekin’ pirates, the Walt Disney Archives exhibit is the place to be!

Stepping inside this shadowy space chock-full of pirate treasure is to leave the Expo show floor behind and be utterly transported into a mysterious—and always highly entertaining—world of seafaring scallywags. Immediately you come face to bow with the Black Pearl shooting “bigature”—the opposite of “miniature” in movie parlance—which stands shrouded in mist (you can even hear it creak). This bravura piece of prop-making is so detailed, so formidable, and so finely wrought that guests will be forgiven if the sight of the ship makes them say, à la Captain Jack Sparrow, “Now, bring me that horizon.” It’s a dramatic start to a feast-for-the senses exhibit that reminds guests of everything they love about Disney pirates.

There are three other bigatures on view due east—the Endeavour, the Hai Peng, and the Empress—but there’s no need to rush. “Walt Disney Archives Presents—A Pirate’s Life For Me: Disney’s Rascals, Scoundrels, and Really Bad Eggs” showcases iconic artifacts that no Pirates fans will want to miss: There are original Audio-Animatronics^® figures from the Disneyland attraction, a ride vehicle from Peter Pan’s Flight, and artwork and imagery from Treasure Island, Peter Pan, and more, along with an impressive array of booty from the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, including costumes, props, and set pieces.

As you process through each of the exhibit’s nine galleries, you’ll notice each has its own musical soundtrack. and every nine minutes or so the impressive Flying Dutchman pipe organ seen in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End plays a ghostly tune.

“I’ve always loved pirate stories, and I’ve wanted to do a big pirate exhibit since the day I first saw Jack Sparrow step onto the dock of Port Royal!” says Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline. “This is a dream come true. And this is a chance to showcase some of the fascinating and very cool things in our collections—items that haven’t been shared publicly before.”

More than 350 artifacts are on display, but Walt Disney Archives Collections and Exhibits Manager Nick Vega says that number is somewhat deceiving.

“We have, for example, iconic costumes on display from all five of the Pirates films,” he says. “Captain Jack Sparrow’s costume counts as one asset, but it features more than 30 elements.” Indeed, Captain Jack Sparrow is one fully accessorized pirate. “The costume features a baldric, two belts, a monkey claw, multiple rings and more,” Nick says.

But also keep a weather eye open, Nick says, for an array of artifacts from the early days of Disney, treasures that have never been seen that also reveal how long the world of pirates swirled inside Walt’s imagination. There are visual assets from the earliest days of The Walt Disney Studios, featuring the 1927 Alice Comedy Alice Foils the Pirates, the 1934 Mickey Mouse cartoon Shanghaied, an amazing set of four original pencil-and-color storyboard panels—made for an unreleased Disney cartoon called Morgan’s Ghost—and much more. “When we decided our exhibit was going to focus on Disney pirates,” Nick explains, “we scoured our collections to identify every possible asset that could tell the story. We’re proud to share never-before-seen artifacts like these that reveal the inspiration—and perspiration—involved in the creative process.”

Guests can all see that same dedication to detail and authenticity that helped make the Pirates film franchise such a hit with fans around the world. “In gallery 3, we show a vast range of props and models from the Pirates franchise,” Nick explains, “a stunning reminder of the talents of artists and craftspeople that design elements that bring the Pirates films so magically to life. In our exhibit, we wanted to show Audio-Animatronics® figures, attraction vehicles, costumes, and props that fans will love and know—and at the same time pay homage to the creative process that makes it all possible.”

“We are so excited to share this brand-new exhibit created just for the D23 Expo 2017,” says Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline. “Disney has told so many exciting pirate stories over the last 90 years, from our earliest silent cartoons and the iconic park attractions to the high-energy blockbuster film franchise, and they are all represented here… so please join us as we share ‘all things Pirate’ at the Walt Disney Arrr-chives exhibit at D23 Expo!”

Drink up me hearties, yo ho.

Nick’s Five Picks
Walt Disney Archives Collections and Exhibits Manager Nick Vega picks his five favorite treasures from “Walt Disney Archives Presents—A Pirate’s Life For Me: Disney’s Rascals, Scoundrels, and Really Bad Eggs.”

1. Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean attraction Audio-Animatronics® dog “One of the most iconic characters in the Disney Parks canon.”

2. Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Pintel, and Armando Salazar’s hero costumes. “It’s all about the details.”

3. Black Pearl, Endeavour, Hai Peng, and Empress “bigature” ships. “When you look at them you can almost hear Hans Zimmer’s score and smell the sea!”

4. Captain Hook costumes from Descendants 2 and Once Upon a Time. “I like these two new takes on a well-known, classic Disney character.”

5. Davy Jones Audio-Animatronics® figure used to develop Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. “Guests can see how complex these figures are. We wanted to show how these beloved characters come to life.”

This MINNIE VAN is Wheel-y Cute—See it For Yourself at D23 Expo!

July 13, 2017

By D23 Team

We’re days away from D23 Expo 2017 and we’re busy getting ready to open the doors for the tens of thousands of fans attending the ultimate Disney fan event. Before D23 Expo begins, we wanted to give you a sneak peek of something you’ll spot on the show floor––MINNIE VAN presented by Honda. Inspired by Minnie Mouse, this vibrant vehicle is outfitted with Minnie’s iconic dots and—of course––a big, beautiful bow. While the MINNIE VAN is not for sale, you can watch the video below to see how this magical minivan came to life, and see it for yourself at D23 Expo!

Was Your Favorite Show from Disney’s Media Networks Nominated for a 2017 Emmy?

July 13, 2017

By Beth Deitchman

This morning was a big morning for fans of Disney’s television series, not to mention the talented folks who bring them to your nearest screen. The Disney|ABC Television Group received a total of 45 primetime Emmy nominations. With ESPN’s seven nominations, Disney’s media networks combined for a whopping 52 Emmy nods for 2017.

Dancing with the Stars is hoping to add an entire shelf of Emmys to complement its own Mirror Ball statue. The series was the most-honored from ABC, with seven nominations in six categories—including two for Outstanding Choreography, which went to dancer extraordinaire Derek Hough and the series own choreographer, Mandy Moore.

ABC was well-represented in the talent categories, with black-ish’s Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively. Both were also nominated last year (and this marks the third consecutive year that Anderson was recognized!). How to Get Away with Murder’s Viola Davis—who won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—is also nominated for the third year in a row; and American Crime’s Felicity Huffman (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie) and Regina King (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie) are also repeat nominees.

The beloved Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts series garnered two of the eight nominations that went to Disney Channels—Outstanding Short Form Animated Program and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special. And Disney’s newest princess was honored with an Emmy nomination. Elena and the Secret of Avalor was recognized for Outstanding Animated Program.

O.J.: Made in America, ESPN’s critically acclaimed documentary received six nominations, including Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.

You can view the entire list of Emmy nominees at Emmys.com, and find out who’ll take home the awards on Sunday, September 17. Here is the full list of Disney’s Emmy nominees for 2017:

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Felicity Huffman, American Crime

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, black-ish

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Regina King, American Crime

Outstanding Children’s Program
Girl Meets World
Star Wars Rebels

Outstanding Choreography (3)
Dancing with the Stars—Routine: Kairos, choreographed by Derek Hough
Dancing with the Stars—Routines: On Top of the World and Carol of the Bells, choreographed by Mandy Moore
The Real O’Neals, choreographed by Fred Tallaksen

Outstanding Comedy Series (2)
black-ish
Modern Family

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live, “The (RED) Show,” directed by Andy Fisher

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
The Oscars, directed by Glenn Weiss

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
30 for 30, ESPN

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series
Dancing with the Stars

Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
O.J.: Made in America, “Part 3”

Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics (2)
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special, song title “Jing-A-Ling-A-Ling”
Jimmy Kimmel Live, “The Ballad of Claus Jorstad (Devil Stool)”: Jessica Chastain, Willie Nelson and Hunter Hayes

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
O.J.: Made in America

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program
O.J.: Made in America, “Part 2”

Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming
Dancing with the Stars, “Halloween Night”

Outstanding Music Direction
Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories that Changed America

Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
O.J.: Made in America, “Part 4”

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
O.J.: Made in America

Outstanding Animated Program
Elena and the Secret of Avalor

Outstanding Short-Form Animated Program (2)
Disney Mickey Mouse (Disney Channel)
Marvel’s Rocket & Groot, “Space Walk” (Disney XD App)

Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series
K.C. Undercover, “The Legend of Bad, Bad Cleo Brown,” Disney Channel

Outstanding Directing for a Nonfiction Program
O.J.: Made in America, “Part 3”

Outstanding Guest Actress in Comedy Series
Wanda Sykes, black-ish

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special
Dancing with the Stars, “A Night at the Movies”

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
Alec Baldwin, Host, Match Game

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special
The Oscars

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media Within Unscripted Program
The Oscars: All Access

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Limited Series, Movie or Special
The Oscars

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series
Dancing with the Stars, “Cirque Du Soleil Night”

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special
The Oscars

Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic)
Dancing with the Stars, “Halloween Night”

Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series
Last Man Standing, “Trick or Treat”

Outstanding Special Class Program
The Oscars

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation
Modern Family

Outstanding Structured Reality Program
Shark Tank

Outstanding Variety Talk Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live

Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
Ty Burrell, Boondoggle, ABCd/ABC.com

Outstanding Production Design for Variety, Nonfiction, Event, or Award
The Oscars

Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot, ABCd/ABC.com

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured or Competition Reality Program
Shark Tank, “Episode 801”

Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series or Movie
Marvel’s Luke Cage

Outstanding Original Interactive Program
Amigo to the Rescue (Disney Junior interactive show)

Everything You Need to Know about Shopping at D23 Expo

July 13, 2017July 14, 2017

By Jocelyn Buhlman

We’re just a day away from hitting the show floor at the biggest Disney fan event—D23 Expo 2017! Previously, we’ve told you all about the cool collectibles you can buy during D23 Expo, but do you know where you can load up on every Disney goodie and each piece of magical merchandise your Disney fanatic heart needs? Consider this your primer on all the exclusive shopping you need to check out at D23 Expo.

Disney Dream Store
This special store full of D23 Expo-exclusive collectibles returns to the show floor for D23 Expo 2017. We’ve given you the inside look at what you can expect at the store, from Pirates of the Caribbean 50th-anniversary merchandise to Ear Hats with an interchangeable bow. If you’re looking for that special something to commemorate your magical time at D23 Expo 2017, this is the store for you.

Disney Store
It wouldn’t be Disney shopping without the Disney Store on the show floor! Be sure to stop by to see the latest collections inspired by Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel. Every day will bring new magic, with special product launches occurring throughout the weekend.

MOG: Mickey’s of Glendale
D23 Expo is one of your only chances to visit this famous Walt Disney Imagineering store! Keep an eye out for exclusive merchandise designed by Imagineers, such as hats, T-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, and more. There will also be limited-edition pins released throughout the weekend, so this is one shop you can’t miss!

Disney Music Emporium
If there’s a song in your heart and space in your shopping bag, then the Disney Music Emporium is the store for you! Besides selling unique and collectible music products, this is the place to be for special artist and composer signings throughout the weekend.

Friends of Disney
As you’re strolling the show floor, be sure to stop by American Tourister, Discovery Cube’s McStuffins Toy Hospital, Funko, Havaianas, Honda, Ozobot, Sunglass Hut, The Walt Disney Family Museum, and more.

Disney Partner Retailers
The show floor will be full of retailers bringing all the Disney magic a fan could need. Retailers such as ANOVOS; Disney Fine Arts and Cyclops Print Workshop; JAKKS Pacific, Inc.; Jelly Belly; LuLaRoe; Marvel Gaming Partners; Mattel Inc.; Random House Children’s Books; Sphero; Stance; Kinkade Studios; UNIQLO; and more!

If you’re looking to curate your own collection of Disney art, check out the pop-up art gallery from Collectors Editions, the official publishers of Disney Fine Art. Feast your eyes on limited-edition and original artwork featuring favorite characters like you’ve never seen them before, such as “Sullivan & Mike” (pictured above) from the Pixar Art Collection. Plus, you won’t want to miss new screen print poster art releases from Cyclops Print Works.

D23 Expo Emporium
Let your Disney fanatic flag fly free and stop by stores from vendors such as Animation Ink Archives, Collectible Toys, Crafty Geek Girls, Disneyana Fan Club, Heritage auctions, SoCal Disney Pinporium, Walt Disney Birthplace, and the Walt Disney Hometown Museum.

7 Tips for an Epic D23 Expo

July 12, 2017

By D23 Team

It’s almost time for D23 Expo 2017! You’ve scanned the schedule, figured out what to pack, and you’re almost ready to go. But whether this is your first time at the ultimate Disney fan event or you’re a seasoned pro, make sure to follow these few tips for an unforgettable weekend.

1. Wear comfy shoes––Now is not the time to pull an Anastasia (or Drizella!) and try to make uncomfortable shoes work. Pack your comfiest shoes for happy soles.

2. Stay hydrated––Remember to take breaks to grab a bite and drink some water.

3. Bring a charger––A portable charger is a must-have for D23 Expo. With so much tweeting, texting, and photo-snapping, you need your phone to have as much energy as you do.

4. Stay mobile––The D23 Expo app (for iOS and Google Play) is your one-stop shop for all things D23 Expo. Search the full schedule, navigate through the show floor with the D23 Expo map, and answer pretty much every question you could ever ask, all in one place. Ta-da!

5. Strategic shopping––While you’re exploring the app, figure out which shops are on your must-do list. Mickey’s of Glendale, Disney Dream Store, and Disney Store have lots of Expo-exclusive products and there’s so much more in store (see what we did there?) on the D23 Expo show floor.

6. StorePass and StagePass––Maximize your time by utilizing StorePass and StagePass. Both systems provide complimentary tickets––StorePass grants you priority entry to one of the three stores mentioned above, and StagePass guarantees seating at select sessions at D23 Expo Arena, Stage 28, and the Walt Disney Archives Stage. Click here for more info on both offerings.

7. Follow along on social––With so much to see and do, it’s impossible to do it all! Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat for updates throughout D23 Expo.

Send Disney Magic with the New Disney Stickers: Decades for iMessage

July 11, 2017

By Jocelyn Buhlman

D23 Expo 2017 is just around the corner and, to celebrate, why not add some Disney magic to your iMessages with Disney Stickers: Decades, available on the App Store for iMessage now. The pack features stickers celebrating every decade of Disney films, but that’s not all… As a special surprise for D23 Members, there are secret unlockable D23 stickers! How do you release the magic? Tap these stickers in the following order:

Click Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (1st sticker)
Click Jiminy Cricket (9th sticker)
Click Steamboat Willie (2nd sticker)
Click Minnie Mouse (3rd sticker)

Did you notice what code you create when you tap the stickers? 1923, the year that inspired our fan club name! Be sure to download these stickers so you can share your Disney love with all of your friends.

Arrrrrr You Ready for the Winner of the D23 Expo Design Challenge?

July 10, 2017

By Jocelyn Buhlman

This year’s D23 Expo Design Challenge celebrates 50 years of Pirates of the Caribbean. Arrrrrrtists were encouraged to base their work on the beloved theme park attraction or any of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as other marauders from Disney’s treasure trove of cads including those from Peter Pan, Treasure Island, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. The winner was selected from 23 pieces of finalist artwork, and all 23 works of art will be on display throughout the D23 Expo weekend on the show floor.

We congratulate Matthew Maldonado, who was recently named winner for his piece “Retired Pirate Ear Hat.” Matthew’s work features a Mickey Mouse Pirate Ear Hat placed on top of a skull. On top of the hat is a scene from the attraction Pirates of the Caribbean, complete with tiny guests in boats.

Two runners-up also received trophies along with Matthew. Runner-up Kristin Mouri submitted her piece, “Nine Stitches of Eight,” a quilted portrait of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Runner-up Lauren Knipper’s painting, “Caribbean Pirate Cruise,” depicts famous scenes from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction as performed by the Muppets.

The panel of judges for the D23 Expo Design Challenge includes Michael Singer, author of Disney Pirates: The Definitive Collector’s Anthology (above right); Mike Gabriel, animator and art director (above middle); and Luc Mayrand (above left), Imagineer and Portfolio Creative Executive for Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Matthew received a prize of $2,300 and complimentary tickets to D23 Expo 2017.

Get a close look at the judges, the winners, and all the beautiful pieces below.

7 Real-Life Locations that Inspired Disney Attractions

July 10, 2017October 19, 2017

By Courtney Potter

We all have our favorite attractions and locations inside a Disney Park… whether it’s the grandeur of Sleeping Beauty Castle or the majesty (and excitement) of Expedition Everest, they often hold memories we return to again and again. And many of them are inspired by real-life locations around the globe!

Come with us on a (virtual) tour to some of the farthest-flung spots on planet Earth, and see how some of your Disney Parks faves were informed by real—and really amazing—locales. They’re our very own “seven wonders of the world”… the kind of places we’d put on our ultimate vacation bucket list.

Have you ever been to a real-life location that inspired a Disney Park fave? Let us know over at Facebook and Twitter!

The Matterhorn / Matterhorn Bobsleds (Disneyland Park)
The Matterhorn Bobsleds opened at Disneyland on June 14, 1959—and you might be surprised it’s not just based on the breathtaking mountain that sits on the border between Switzerland and Italy in the Swiss Alps. (It’s also inspired by a Disney film called Third Man on the Mountain, released in 1959.) While the real-life Matterhorn towers over all that surrounds it at 14,692 feet, the Disneyland version comes in at 147 feet—about 1/100th the size of its counterpart!

Neuschwanstein Castle / Sleeping Beauty Castle (Disneyland Park)
It’s been said that the palace served as Walt Disney’s inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle—a park landmark since it opened in 1955—and there are many similarities between the candy-colored castle and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. Commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1869, as both a haven and an homage to composer Richard Wagner, Neuschwanstein Castle is built in the Romanesque Revival style.

Carthay Circle Theatre / Carthay Circle Restaurant and Buena Vista Street (Disney California Adventure)
Walt Disney’s first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered at Hollywood’s famed Carthay Circle Theatre on December 21, 1937. The theater, with its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, was demolished in 1969… but we’re lucky that a recreation of the theater’s edifice now stands sentry at the end of Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. Inside is the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Carthay Circle Lounge, featuring some of the best dining the Disneyland Resort has to offer.

Himalayas / Expedition Everest (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Most of us won’t get to visit the Himalayan range or attempt a journey to Mount Everest in our lifetimes, but the opportunity to visit the Forbidden Mountain at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is much more achievable. At just under 200 feet tall, the attraction is actually the tallest mountain in Florida! By contrast, Mount Everest in Nepal is Earth’s highest peak—towering at an unbelievable 29,029 feet above sea level. Around 640 people summited Everest in 2016… Ever wanted to be one of them?

Cadillac Ranch / Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers (Disney California Adventure)

If you’ve been to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, you’ll recognize the distinctive “car-shaped” range of hills just behind the fabulous Radiator Springs Racers. But did you know they’re based on a real-life public art installation in Amarillo, Texas? Created in 1974 by artists Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels (part of Bay Area-based group known as Ant Farm), Cadillac Ranch is a line of Cadillac cars half-buried nose-first in the ground. Take a trip down Amarillo’s Interstate 40 and you can see it for yourself!

St. Mark’s Campanile / Italy Pavilion (Epcot)
The Campanile di San Marco is the bell tower at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. Standing at 323 feet tall, with a belfry housing five bells and a golden weathervane in the shape of archangel Gabriel, the tower has (in its current form) stood watch in St. Mark’s Square since 1912… but the original tower was built back in 1512. No doubt it’s seen its fair share of history! Epcot’s Italy pavilion houses its very own St. Mark’s Campanile re-creation, just outside its replica of the Doge’s Palace.

New York City Harbor / American Waterfront (Tokyo DisneySea)
Taking a trip to Japan but itching to see a harbor that resembles an Industrial Age-era Northeastern seaboard of our own United States? On first blush, it’s a rather interesting request, but it can be fulfilled—by visiting the quaint and cool American Waterfront inside Tokyo DisneySea! With an elevated railway, a theater, and a harbor containing all manner of ships (including the S.S. Columbia), the American Waterfront is home to several beloved Disney Park attractions—including Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania!