D23 Fab Five: Erin Andrews’ Disney Family Memories

May 8, 2017May 8, 2017

By Ingrid Meilan

Erin Andrews is a lifelong Disney fan. “I grew up in Florida,” the Dancing with the Stars co-host tells D23, “So I was basically raised at Walt Disney World.” Living only 90 minutes from Orlando, the sportscaster says that she was lucky enough to visit the parks on a regular basis. “My parents would take my sister and me if we wanted to have dinner one night or if we wanted to pop in for a couple of rides or watch some fireworks!”

Andrews says what she loves most about Disney is that the memories she created at the parks revolve around the people she loves. “For me, Disney is all about family,” she says. “My dad loves Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney. From the movies, to the music, to the rides, to the food, to just walking down Main Street, U.S.A, Disney is something my whole family loves.”

My people @disney @dancingabc Best Night Ever

A post shared by Erin Andrews (@erinandrews) on Apr 17, 2017 at 7:51pm PDT

While prepping for tonight’s episode of Dancing with the Stars, Andrews—who calls the show’s annual Disney-themed night her “favorite night of the year”—took a moment to share her “Fab Five” Disney memories with D23.

1. Family bonding time at the Magic Kingdom
“Once my family and I went to the late, late dinner at Cinderella Castle during a tropical storm, and it was just raining and windy and the fireworks still went off! I remember watching them and my dad saying, ‘Only Disney could pull off fireworks in a tropical storm!’ We left the castle and the park had emptied out and I just remember my sister and I doing leaps and jumps and dancing down Main Street, U.S.A. It was so awesome.”

2. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
“A big family tradition we have is going to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. It’s an old-fashioned country-western dinner show at the Fort Wilderness Resort campgrounds in Orlando. I always loved eating the fried chicken and the strawberry shortcake there. My sister and I would always get picked out of the audience to be a part of the show, which was so much fun.”

3. Knowing the best spot to watch fireworks from
“I have so many memories of hanging out with my family at the various hotels at Disney World. I love the Contemporary Resort—they have a place [the observation deck at California Grill] where you can go outside and listen to music while the fireworks are going off—it’s really fabulous.”

4. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
“Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas at the Magic Kingdom is always so magical because it’s Florida and it’s 90 degrees and somehow they make it snow! My sister and I loved to get in the Christmas spirit and eat chocolate chip cookies.”

5. A very magical proposal
“This past December, my family and I wanted to go to Disneyland to see Christmas decorations. We got to the park and did a couple of rides, and it was funny—my fiancé [hockey player Jarret Stoll] said he had the ring box in his pocket, and when we went on Indiana Jones, I grabbed him and he said he thought, ‘It’s over, she’s going to feel it!’ We went to dinner that night and afterwards he proposed! Then we watched the fireworks while I cried like a baby.”

Your Wildest Dreams Come True in the Attractions of Pandora – The World of Avatar

May 5, 2017

By Beth Deitchman

We’re bringing you details about this amazing new land opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom all week on D23.com. Click here to read part 1 about this spectacular world and the people you’ll encounter there, and in part 2 we looked at the amazing details in the flora, the fauna, and the bioluminescent forest. Stay tuned to D23.com for more details as the May 27 opening nears, and hear more from the creative team bringing Pandora to life in the summer issue of Disney twenty-three.

Sivako. It’s the Na’vi word for “Rise to the Challenge,” a call to action a Na’vi might use before first taking flight on a banshee or journeying down a mysterious river into a dark, bioluminescent forest. Disney Imagineers rose to the challenge of creating two spectacular attractions for Pandora – The World of Avatar—the wondrous river adventure Na’vi River Journey and the thrilling Avatar Flight of Passage. Last weekend, we had the opportunity to be among the first to experience both of these amazing, immersive attractions—twice, in the case of Avatar Flight of Passage!—and we’ll try to rise to the challenge of recounting our incredible adventure. Sivako, indeed!

A totem representing the Shaman of Songs serves as your welcome to Na’vi River Journey, the attraction closest to the bridge that you cross to reach Pandora. The queue leads into a Na’vi structure that appears to be made with leaves, bamboo, and other natural items. Look up and you’ll see that the ceiling features an intricate, hand-woven representation of the map of the Mo’ara Valley and the river that we’re about to explore.

Lisa Girolami, executive producer, Walt Disney Imagineering, prepares us for what we’re about to experience, telling us that we’re going deep into the forest, where it’s impossible to tell whether it’s day or night—and it’s so dark, we’ll be able to see the bioluminescent forest as we search for the Shaman of Songs. “She can activate the forest around her,” Girolami says of the Shaman, who happens to be the most complicated Audio-Animatronics® figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.

Guests journey down the sacred river in a reed boat, the bioluminescence glowing all around. Animals and insects can be seen, in silhouette, moving atop stunning leaves overhead; shimmering water is reflected on the plant life; and soon we notice that the animals—not to mention the Na’vi—are off in the distance, moving in the same direction we are. The ride culminates with the boat’s arrival at the Shaman of Song, who greets us—musically, of course—and unites us with the living things around us.

The second attraction on Pandora, Flight of Passage, allows guests to explore the planet from another vantage point. Flying on the back of a banshee is an important rite of passage for all Na’vi, but not something we humans can achieve on our own. On the new attraction, guests can link to an avatar and experience the flight of a banshee.

There’s an exciting, epic story being told in the ride’s queue, and it begins in a sacred cave. Through pictographs that can be seen overhead, the intrinsic relationship between the Na’vi, the humans, and the banshee—a hallowed creature in Na’vi culture—is explored, production designer Colleen Meyers explains. “It’s really talking about the ritual, the journey, and all of the history through this cave,” she says, pointing out the blue mountain banshees and the Great Leonopteryx (think: really big banshee) that blocks their path in the paintings overhead.

The cave comes to an abrupt halt and gives way to an RDA facility. “[The RDA] just bored a hole right into [the sacred Na’vi cave] and built a giant RDA facility on the backside of this cave in the middle of the jungle,” reveals Stefan Hellwig, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering, and he draws our eye to RDA signs that have been posted, with words like “toxicity” prominently featured, underscoring the story of the damage humans can make to natural environments.

But restoration and regeneration are underway on Pandora, and the Pandora Conservation Initiative (PCI) has set up shop in the former RDA building. Mark LaVine, executive story development for Walt Disney Imagineering, explains, “[The banshee] is a keystone species of this whole local ecosystem.” By studying the banshee, the PCI scientists are developing a greater understanding of the current environment on Pandora. LaVine emphasizes, “We’ve worked closely with the animal scientist people here at Animal Kingdom to make sure that the things that you’re seeing, although into the future and a bit science fiction, are based in reality.”

Before guests can take flight on the back of the banshee, they have to be linked to an avatar. This happens after we’re scanned and our genetic material is sampled in order to match us with our own personal avatars. Once matched, we board our “Ikran” (the Na’vi word for banshee), and twinkling lights before our eyes give way to the dazzling sky over Pandora as we soar over the land—swooping and curving, a breeze on our faces, mist in the air. You board the attraction like you would board a bike, but you truly feel like you’re atop a creature that you can feel breathe and move beneath you.

The ride is always thrilling, but never scary, as you bank and race across the sky, encountering impossibly large whale-like creatures and a fierce Leonopteryx with his 45-foot wingspan. All of your senses are heightened on this attraction, especially your olfactory. The smells of Pandora change as the ride continues: Floral notes give way to an earthier fragrance, until you—and your nose—reach the sea.

Though the multi-sensory experience uses cutting-edge technology and awe-inspiring special effects, Avatar producer Jon Landau says that in designing the attraction, the priority was not technology, but on how they wanted guests to feel. “Everybody wants to fly. At some point in our lives, we have all dreamed of flying,” he tells D23, and Flight of Passage—like Pandora itself—is truly a dream come true.

30 Years Later, Watch How Disney Dollars Were First Introduced at Disneyland!

May 5, 2017

By D23 Team

Thirty years ago—on May 5, 1987—Disney Dollars, the beloved “currency with character,” were first unveiled to the world. Spearheaded by late Disney Legend Jack Lindquist, the program represented one of the first instances of a private organization printing its own money and having it accepted in theme parks like the U.S. Dollar. Over the years, the bills have featured such favorite icons as Mickey (1987), Goofy (1987), and Minnie (1989), as well as Simba (1997), Donald Duck (2000), Tinker Bell (2002), Princess Aurora (2007), and Pirates of the Caribbean (2007).

While the Disney Dollars program has been discontinued, we’re excited to look back at the unveiling of the happiest currency on earth in honor of its milestone 30th anniversary. Exclusively for D23 Members, we present this rare historical film from 1987 that reveals how the bills were created and showcases some fantastic moments when the dollars were first introduced to guests. Keep an eye out as Jack Lindquist, Mickey Mouse, and even Scrooge McDuck make some very unique appearances:

Disney Dollars may no longer be purchased at either Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, but the memories live on in the hearts (and collections) of Disney fans all over the world.

You Can’t Watch this Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Promo Video Without Dancing!

May 5, 2017May 9, 2017

By Beth Deitchman

Still dancing to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘s awesome soundtrack? Well, we’ve got just the video to help you get your groove on. Our friends at Disney India have mashed together a retro Hindi disco song and the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 trailer to create this special promotional video that will have your toes tapping long before the first chorus of “Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba” kicks in.

Disney India acquired the rights to the song (from the 1984 Hindi film Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki) for this special teaser intended for Indian audiences. “[The] ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ are a super-cool set of Super Heroes who believe in having a ball as they save the galaxy. As music is a dominant aspect of the movie, we thought it would be a great idea to revive a retro hit dance for the Hindi version,” Amrita Pandey, vice president, Studios, Disney India, said in a statement, adding, “After listening to some popular songs from 1980s, the team unanimously felt ‘Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba’ echoes the fun spirit associated with the Guardians. The song is about making the best of the moment and enjoying it, just like these Super Heroes. We hope the mash-up for Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 will be enjoyed by existing and innumerable new fans in India.”

For more out-of-this-galaxy beats, check out the film’s official soundtrack—Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 2—available now. And D23 will catch you up on everything you need to know before you see the film, plus, we’ll even tell you which Guardian of the Galaxy you are.

7 Life Lessons Star Wars Taught Us

May 4, 2017June 26, 2017

By Jocelyn Buhlman

It’s the most famous quote—the one that sends your heart racing and signals the adventure that’s about to begin:

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….”

As children, we learn how to live by travelling in the footsteps of our heroes. We can travel to new and better worlds—and learn how to make our own worlds better, by extension. Star Wars may take place long ago, but it also provides us an optimistic view for life now. We love Star Wars for a lot of reasons—there’s nothing like hearing the opening notes of the main theme; it jumps to lightspeed your memories of childhood awe at epic space battles, silly droids, and edge-of-your-seat lightsaber battles. But besides bringing adventure to your TV, your dreams, your Halloween costumes, and so much more, Star Wars provides life lessons that remind us to be the epic heroes of our lives. Here are our favorite lessons from the Star Wars saga that keep us inspired:

Family is Important
Skywalker. That’s the name the tore the galaxy apart, and the name that pulled it back together. No matter if they are good or bad, the members of the Skywalker family drive the epic story that shapes the Star Wars saga. But more than that, Star Wars reminds us that family has a big impact in influencing your life: It can shape your dreams, whether you’re like Luke, admiring his war-hero father; or like Leia, shadowing your adoptive father’s political career to one day continue his mission. Sometimes it’s what your family does that changes your life. Jyn Erso was a forlorn troublemaker before a message from her father gave her a mission. Luke would never have left the moisture farm on Tatooine if he hadn’t seen the hologram of his sister. Whether your dad is a Sith Lord or your adopted relative is leading an intergalactic rebellion, your family helps shape who you are.

A Good Crew Is Everything
Not everyone in the Star Wars universe has a family, and not everyone wants to be a part of their family. But that’s OK—sometimes they just make their own. The crew of the Ghost in the animated show Star Wars Rebels have all come from very different walks in life, but through their missions to fight the Empire, they have become a tight-knit crew and a found family. Han Solo may take pride in being a roguish loner, but in reality he can’t seem to stop helping his friends, whether it’s his longstanding partnership with Chewbacca or his reluctant return to help the Rebel Alliance. He has a group of people who he may not admit are family, but he’d still save the galaxy for them again and again.

You Can Always Change
Star Wars is a story of good and evil and of light and dark. But those who are evil are not permanently bound to their alignment. In fact, the saga makes a compelling argument that no matter how deeply the dark side has consumed you, you can still come back to the light. The most famous example is, of course, Anakin Skywalker. His fall from grace is remembered as his transformation to Darth Vader, but when faced with the order to kill his own son, he is finally able to break free from his corruption and destroy the Emperor.

There’s Power in Belief
The Force is invisible and yet it binds our universe together. Han used to think it was a bunch of ancient religious mumbo jumbo, but even he learned that sometimes believing in something you can’t see is what saves the day. It’s easy to become cynical and think that the galaxy is full of evil, but Luke’s optimistic reliance on the Force, in moments like destroying the first Death Star, helped save the day. That belief is passed on to Rey, who is doubtful of her Force potential at first, but who, as someone who admired Luke as a hero, eventually echoes Luke’s belief and relies on the Force to defeat Kylo Ren while fighting him on Starkiller base.

It’s Not About Where You’re From, It’s Who You Are
Frequently in Star Wars stories, characters are driven by their destinies—what the Force wills and what mission drives them. But one thing Star Wars emphasizes is that your destiny is not always what you think. A lot of characters thought they were destined to live life alone, surrounded by sand: Luke thought he’d be a moisture farmer forever on Tatooine, Anakin was a junkyard slave, and Rey was an abandoned scavenger on Jakku. No matter how remotely and hopelessly they are situated in the middle of the desert, none of them were destined to stay there—in fact all of them traveled across the galaxy, learning the ways of the Force.

Sometimes escaping where you’re from can be even trickier: Surely if you’re brainwashed as a Stormtrooper for the First Order, that’s your path for life, right? But Finn wasn’t going to let that hold him back! Even though the most evil people in the galaxy stole him as a baby, he still not only escaped a life of a Stormtrooper, but also became a part of the Resistance and fought against the very thing that tried to dictate his life! It didn’t matter where he came from, because he was brave enough to control his own fate and become a hero.

Don’t Be Afraid to Rebel
There are always going to be scary, evil forces in our world, and in worlds far, far away. There are also always going to be people fighting the evil, even if they’re as scary as a super-tall-cyborg, cool-cape-wearing Sith Lord. Princess Leia risked everything to protect the Rebel Alliance—she refused to give information to the Empire, even under threat of torture and the destruction of her home planet. Her bravery and her refusal to comply to the demands of the likes of Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin meant the preservation of the only organization fighting the Empire. Even after the Empire was overthrown, Leia still kept on resisting against any new evil that popped up… like the mysterious First Order.

Never Give Up Hope!
If there’s one thing we can learn from Star Wars, it’s that no matter how dire the situation is, no matter how overwhelmingly big and scary the forces of evil are, we should never give up hope. Whether you’re a farm boy in the middle of a desert dreaming of a big adventure, or a Stormtrooper who wants to be the hero of the Rebellion, there is always a way to save the day. Star Wars proves that even in the darkest hour, the light will still shine through.

7 Guardians of the Galaxy Must-Haves

May 4, 2017May 4, 2017

By D23 Team

Can’t wait to see Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2? Neither can we! Feel like one of the crew with these awesome items from Disney Store. And, don’t forget your D23 Discount, obviously.

Groot Dancing Figure
Could we really start this round-up with anything else? We fell in love with Baby Groot at the end of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy, and we can’t wait to see what he’s up to in the upcoming film. One thing we know for sure, Baby Groot can dance! This figure plays a clip from “Come a Little Bit Closer” from the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 soundtrack, and he’ll dance to your own awesome mix, as well. Yep, Groot can detect music and get his groove on to whatever song you like! Plus, he’s just darn cute.

Groot Journal
Need somewhere to jot down your thoughts? This notebook will have you saying, “I am Groot,” which here means, “Wow, this notebook is so cute, and it has an adorable bookmark.” I am Groot, indeed.

Rocket Raccoon Hooded Backpack
OK, how fun is this? This backpack is the perfect way to rep Groot AND Rocket! You’ll find Groot on the front of the backpack, and you can channel your inner… raccoon? by throwing on this faux raccoon-fur hood. Plus, you can add your name with a special personalization, so everyone knows this sweet bag is yours.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Rock Hand Sign Hoodie
If you’re looking for something subtler, this classic, cozy hoodie will fit just right. The sweatshirt is customizable, and the print is also available in a variety of tees for men, women, and kids.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 iPhone Case
Keep in touch with your super squad in style with this awesome case for iPhone 6/6s.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Sound Machine
Rock the ultimate throwback with this sound machine. Clip it on to your jeans or your keys, and press one of the six buttons for different music and sound effects inspired by the film.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | Star Gazing Canvas Print
Bring the Guardians into your galaxy with this psychedelic artwork, perfect for brightening up dull walls.

Don’t Miss These Amazing Disney Details in Pandora – The World of Avatar

May 4, 2017May 19, 2017

By Beth Deitchman

We’re bringing you details about this amazing new land opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom all week on D23.com. Click here to read part 1 about this spectacular world and the people you’ll encounter there, and hear more from the creative team bringing Pandora to life in the summer issue of Disney twenty three.

Soon after arriving in Pandora – The World of Avatar, guests encounter a welcome sign like one you’d see in any national park here in the U.S.—it warns about feeding the animals and cautions guests to stay on the trails. But written on the sign, just below the name of our location on this beautiful planet—the Valley of Mo’ara—are words we’ve seen before, in James Cameron’s Avatar: “Oel Ngati Kameie,” or “I see you.” Pandora, we are told, is “a world similar to Earth but unique in so many ways.”

It’s the flora and the fauna of Pandora that first captivates visitors, and starts you on your journey of discovery. There are large “Puffball” plants, blue and round, like their name; and the spiny, arcing Flaska Reclinata, which reacts to guests’ touch; there are flowers that seem to be Pandora’s answer to the tulip; and there are flowers that resemble nothing you’ve ever seen on earth. Zsolt Hormay, the Imagineer tasked with “placemaking,” revealed that there are living, “real” earthbound plants alongside manmade Pandoran foliage, including handmade vines that it took a team of 60 artisans to complete. Stefan Hellwig, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering, also pointed out that there are trees and plants that have been “damaged” by large animals like Thanators and apex predators, just one example of the amazing detail that’s on display in Pandora.

Small details, like direhorse and Na’vi footprints that guests will notice beneath their feet here and there, are intriguing and, in some cases, even entertaining. A tree and rock formation with several flat surfaces that almost cry out for you to drum upon is intended for you to do just that! Guests are encouraged to bang on these drums, and at night, cause them to illuminate. Imagineer Steven Fortunato, who talked to us about the audio elements of Pandora, details, “When you engage with one of these drums or instruments, you not only hear the sound that you make here, but also the responses and sounds of other Na’vi celebrations that have gone before you, to greater enhance your sense of connection to this place.” At times, live performers will also engage with guests to create a musical spectacle that further immerses them into the rich local environment.

As you follow the river further into Pandora, you turn a corner and get your first full view of the Floating Mountains, and your breath is truly taken away. Photos simply can’t do justice to the scale and size of the mountains—you need to see them in person to appreciate what a wonder of design and Imagineering they truly are. Like all things in Pandora, the vista seems to change as the day goes on. Hellwig notes, “[The sun] goes around the mountains and at night there’s this beautiful silhouette of the Floating Mountains against the sky. It’s really quite gorgeous.”

As you take in the abundance of beautiful things found in Pandora, you might notice something that’s absent: marquees and signs. In a nod to Na’vi culture, attractions are marked with hand-woven totems. A totem that represents the Shaman of Songs has been placed outside Na’vi River Journey, while a hand-woven representation of a flying banshee welcomes guests to Flight of Passage. Hellwig says, “It’s important that [Pandora] feel like a natural place and not have these big printed marquees everywhere that would take [guests] out of that world.”

It’s safe to say that you will never have the same experience twice at Pandora. The land feels alive, and changes constantly over the course of the day. But there is no change as dramatic as the one you see when you return to Pandora at night, when the bioluminescent forest comes to life. To give us an impression of what the land will be like when it opens, Walt Disney Imagineering Portfolio Creative Executive Joe Rohde and Avatar Producer Jon Landau previewed the bioluminescence for us, and it’s like nothing you’ve experienced before. “Every exotic plant is hooked up to the bioluminescent system,” Landau informs us, and that extends to the Floating Mountains, the river, and even the ground beneath your feet, which positively glows after dark. Guests will be able to influence the bioluminescence at the drum area, and they’ll marvel as they notice how the light is affected by animals—unseen, but their presence quite palpable nonetheless—as they travel through the forest.

Rohde noted also, “If you’re really, really paying attention, you’ll notice that the whole sound environment has altered. You’re hearing different kinds of animal sounds… And the experience of the entire land will be quite different [at night].” The sounds change over the course of the evening, and guests will be able to hear the animals—and the plant life—reacting to each other. Landau states, “It’s the evolution of a night on Pandora. The sounds will complement the complete evolution.”

Rohde stresses that the entire land will appear to be alive and moving after the sun goes down, but he adds, “We want to also have quiet places where you can just tuck away and enjoy it for what it is, as well.”

Guests will almost certainly feel an overwhelming sense of awe as they cross the bridge into Pandora for the first time by day, and at night, Rohde suspects that will evolve into a sense of wonder. Landau reminds us that the Avatar film began and ended with the character Jake Sulley opening his eyes. “I’m hoping that when people come here and come to Pandora, their eyes will be opened and they will look at our world a little bit differently when they go back across the bridge.”

What We Know About Star-Lord’s Father in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

May 3, 2017

By Jim Frye

Star-Lord is back, and this time he’s got daddy issues. Biiiiiiiiig daddy issues.

Picking up where Guardians of the Galaxy left off, Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the action-packed, irreverent, epic space adventures of Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt, and his gang of eccentric characters as they patrol and protect the universe. And even though the original film could have been considered a risky move at the time because of its lack of name recognition, it proved a breakout success, becoming 2014’s highest-grossing film of the summer, instantly making Pratt one of the most recognizable—and likeable—actors on the planet.

That’s a hard act follow—which is where dad comes in. “I knew where I wanted the story to go before the first film was out in theaters,” says writer/director James Gunn. “But the one thing I had to figure out was if I was going to tell the story of Peter Quill and his father as Volume 2—which I thought was the big reveal—or save it for a later time. Ultimately I decided that it was the best story and went with it.”

What do we know about Peter’s father? Marvel Studios President and Producer Kevin Feige gives some hints: “When we started turning the wheels on a sequel, there were some very obvious clues at the end of the first film where the storyline could go. Peter talks about his father. Nova Prime (played by Glenn Close) tells us something very ancient, very unusual. Yondu tells us that he purposefully did not deliver Peter to his father. So James went back and started to work on where that would take us in a storyline. And it takes us to a place where we meet the Guardians, only a few months after the events of [the first] Guardians.”

Casting Ego was no easy task, either, but Marvel ultimately went with an actor who has quite a bit of name recognition, especially to Disney fans. “In the case of Ego, Quill’s father, it’s a very unique character,” Feige says. “You want the audience to have the same sort of rush as Peter does when he learns who it is. So when you have Disney Legend, film icon Kurt Russell step out of that ship and announce himself to Peter, it was a chill-inducing moment. And that’s why you get Kurt Russell.”

For his part, Disney Legend Kurt Russell was more than happy to return to Marvel—and Disney. “After I read the script, I watched the first movie,” Russell says. “I remember that six or seven minutes into the movie, Chris Pratt is walking along. Then the music starts up, and he kicks off one of those alien rats or whatever they were. And I immediately liked the movie. I liked the atmosphere. And I liked his character.”

He continues, “Then as I watched it unfold, I got it. I read the script again and began to look at it and understand what was being asked. I started looking forward to it because I thought it was going to be an interesting project. There was a father/son relationship here that I thought was very relatable and very interesting that 20, 30 or even 40 years from now will sustain more than just the entertainment value of what the viewer is watching.”

Describing where we find Peter in the new story, Gunn says, “As you know, the first Guardians of the Galaxy is about Peter’s relationship to his mother and coming to terms with that. The second movie is about Peter Quill’s relationship to his father and his other fatherly figures. Yondu is obviously a fatherly figure to him. And then he meets his actual father, Ego, played by Kurt Russell, who is in a lot of ways everything he wanted. He is coming to terms with things and with his feelings of abandonment, how he feels about his real father’s life, which is very different from his own.”

But who, exactly, is Peter’s father, and where’s he been all this time? Gunn explains: “Ego is an intergalactic adventurer in his own way who has gone to many different worlds and many different planets and had his own kind of adventures, not dissimilar to what the Guardians have gone through. He also has been looking for his son for a very long time and he wants a relationship with him in the same way that Peter wants a relationship with his father because it fills this giant void that he’s had in his heart his whole life. Since he was a child, Peter has carried around a photograph in his pocket of David Hasselhoff, who he told the other kids at school was his dad. Yondu, of course, was supposed to deliver Quill to Ego and didn’t, for some reason, and audiences are going to see the reveal behind that mystery.”

Pratt offers insight on the importance of Peter’s quest to find his true parentage. “Quill is desperate to know who his dad is and dreamed his whole life that his dad was somebody special, somebody important, somebody cool,” he says. “So when Quill finally meets his bigger-than-life father, who’s been searching for him, it fills this giant void that he’s had in his heart his whole life.”

Over the course of the film, Quill finds himself reexamining his relationship with Yondu, as well. “Of course, he’s always looked at Yondu, who abducted him, as being the guy who threatened to eat him or was hard on him,” Pratt says. “But he learns through the course of this film that the relationship is more of a father/son dynamic than he could’ve ever expected to get from anyone else.”

Yondu is definitely one of the more colorful and memorable characters in the Guardians films. “It’s somewhat of a father/son relationship, where we don’t agree on things,” says Michael Rooker, who plays Yondu. “When the movie opens, they haven’t seen each other in a few months, so their relationship is very intense and conflicted, to say the least. They are constantly at each other’s throats. Of course, they find that there are deep-rooted feelings for one another that exist and eventually that comes out in our storyline. You discover that Yondu truly cares about this kid.”

Moms. Dads. Sisters. Family. It all makes Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 more than just a big adventure. It’s a big adventure with even a bigger heart. Come join this galactic family reunion in theaters May 5.

Captain Jack’s Surprise and Descendants 2’s New Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

May 3, 2017

By Courtney Potter

Johnny Depp surprises boatloads of Disneyland guests, and Epcot’s popular festival expands to 75 days… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!

Surprise! That Really Was Johnny Depp Inside Disneyland’s Pirates Attraction!

Can you imagine? Rounding the corner on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland Park and spying the Disney Legend-ary Johnny Depp—in full Captain Jack Sparrow regalia—as he interacts with each boatful of excited park guests? Well, that exact scenario played out for some very lucky visitors just a few short days ago… and we have video proof! Check out the fantastically fun clip, above.

It was a perfect way to celebrate the attraction’s recent 50th anniversary—as well as a “swashbucklingly” good reminder that Johnny’s latest big screen outing as good ol’ Cap’n Jack, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, sails into a theater near you on May 26. We’re getting our tri-cornered hat dry-cleaned for the occasion!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
May 12, 2017
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Marty Sklar in Florida
May 13, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl On the Lot
May 13, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Florida
May 19, 2017
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: An Afternoon Adventure to Pandora with Joe Rohde in Florida
May 20, 2017
D23 Invites Members to be Among the First to Explore Pandora—The World of Avatar
June 3, 2017
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: A Return to Walt’s Birthplace in Florida
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
October 1, 2017
D23’s Fanniversary Celebrates 35 Years of Epcot
October 1, 2017
A Progressive Dinner Celebrating 35 Years of Epcot
October 3, 2017
D23’s Sip and Stroll
Parks
March 1–May 29, 2017
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
May 27, 2017
Pandora—The World of Avatar opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
May 27, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy–Mission: BREAKOUT! opening at Disney California Adventure
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
2019
Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

Studios
May 5, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens in theaters
May 26, 2017
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales opens in theaters
June 16, 2017
Cars 3 opens in theaters
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
Television
July 21, 2017
Disney’s Descendants 2 debuts on Disney Channel, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime and ABC (8 p.m. ET)

Meet Pandora – The World of Avatar’s Na’vi Shaman of Songs

When Pandora – The World of Avatar opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on May 27, guests will be warmly welcomed by the Na’vi Shaman of Songs (a character with a strong connection to Pandora’s alluring music) on the new Na’vi River Journey attraction. Disney Parks Blog offered up a sneak peek at the amazingly complex Audio-Animatronics® figure last week; see her for yourself here.

Disney’s Descendants 2 Debuts Brand-New Trailer

Viewers of the recent Radio Disney Music Awards were not only rewarded with dynamite performances by the likes of Fitz & the Tantrums and Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho, as well as a totally cool Britney Spears medley (celebrating her well-deserved Icon Award) that featured a surprise appearance by her sister Jamie Lynn, but they also had the chance to see the very first trailer for Disney’s Descendants 2! In case you missed it (hey, it happens to the best of us), check it out above.

The sequel to the über-popular 2015 Disney Channel Original Movie, Descendants 2 follows Mal (Dove Cameron), Evie (Sofia Carson), Carlos (Cameron Boyce), Jay (Booboo Stewart), and Ben (Mitchell Hope) as they try to keep the newest Villain Kid—Ursula’s daughter Uma (China Anne McClain)—from bringing down the barrier between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon for good. Look for its huge five-network debut this July!

The Co-Host Search is Over: Ryan Seacrest Joins Live!

She’s the longtime co-host of Disney|ABC’s hit syndicated talk show, and he’s a veteran broadcaster with success in both radio and TV. It’s a match made in heaven! This past Monday morning, after a year-long search, Daytime Emmy® winner Kelly Ripa welcomed a brand-new—and permanent—co-host to Live with Kelly… Ryan Seacrest! Now called Live with Kelly and Ryan, the show will continue to welcome all manner of celebrity guests for an hour of mid-morning hilarity live from New York City.

Speaking of which… while he has indeed moved to NYC to co-host with Kelly, that doesn’t mean formerly Los Angeles-based Ryan won’t lend his dulcet tones to nationwide radio. In fact, he’ll continue hosting (and executive-producing) On Air with Ryan Seacrest from a brand-new iHeartRadio studio inside New York’s ABC7, where Live is taped each day. And that’s not all: Ryan will also continue to host E!’s Live from the Red Carpet award shows, as well as ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

Congrats, Ryan!

Behind-the-Scenes Fun from Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Can you hear that? The premiere of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is so close, the delicious drumbeat of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” is growing louder and louder… Looking for something to tide you over ‘til you head to your local cineplex for megatons of Guardians merriment on May 5? Take a look at D23’s rad rundown of enjoyable behind-the-scenes tidbits.

75 Days of Delicious: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Goes Big for ‘17

It’s one of the most popular food festivals in all of America, and it’s held under the watchful gaze of Spaceship Earth… it’s the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and for 2017, it’s stretching to a whopping 75 days! From August 31 through November 13, a record number of Marketplaces (35 in all) will tickle the taste buds of thousands of guests.

As in previous years, the Food & Wine Festival will feature celebrity chefs; hands-on culinary workshops and demos; the Party for the Senses (a very yummy, very entertaining way to end your day at the festival); and some of your favorite music artists at the popular “Eat to the Beat” concert series. Families will once again enjoy a Ratatouille-inspired scavenger hunt, as well as culinary demonstrations and dishes geared towards kids’ tastes. Plus, you can hang out with D23 at Sip and Stroll, a foodie phenomenon featuring D23-exclusive culinary and beverage demonstrations, a dessert reception during IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and more! Find out more and secure your spot here.

So start readying those appetites, and look for more info on the 22nd Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival as it becomes available in the coming months…

May the Force Be with Your Mobile Device—Star Wars: Puzzle Droids

Good news, Star Wars fans: A new casual puzzle game has just entered our universe, and it’s now available for download on the Apple App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore. Star Wars: Puzzle Droids is “match-3” adventure that invites players to tap into the holographic memory banks of favorite droid pal BB-8 for a truly epic Star Wars adventure. The journey features familiar scenes as well as previously untold moments, all via compelling gameplay and interactive puzzle boards; players can journey across Jakku and Takodana, and even take on the First Order alongside familiar faces including Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron.

Featuring more than 100 levels (wow!), Star Wars: Puzzle Droids is a free download (with in-app purchases) that is sure to add to this week’s big Star Wars Day/“May the Fourth” fun! Solve the puzzle, you will…

A Historic Sailing for the Disney Wonder

Talk about an extraordinary voyage! Just last week, the Disney Wonder became the very first passenger vessel to transit (that’s fancy boat talk for “passed through”) the Panama Canal’s new set of locks. The crossing was part of a 14-night voyage where guests were transported from Port Canaveral, Florida, to San Diego, California.
It’s the kind of thing that needs to be seen to be believed, so check out the cool video about the historic moment from our friends at Disney Cruise Line, above.

How to Have the Perfect Star Wars Day at Disney Parks

May 3, 2017

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Star Wars may take place in a galaxy far, far away, but you can absolutely enjoy a day of intergalactic adventures at places a little closer to home. Disneyland park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida both bring all the thrills, smiles, and epic lightsaber battles right into the magic of a Disney theme park. On the days when you need your healthy dose of Star Wars adventures, we have just the thing for you: our guide to a perfect Star Wars day, either at Disneyland or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disneyland:
Start off the day with a delicious meal from the Galactic Grill’s breakfast menu—there’s nothing like a big breakfast to energize your fight against the Dark Side.

Tomorrowland is the place to be for a Star Wars day at Disneyland. While it’s still early in the morning, head over to Hyperspace Mountain and jump to lightspeed in an epic battle against the First Order.

The Star Wars Launch Bay is your one-stop shop for everything Star Wars–related. Cute souvenirs? Check. Props and replicas from the movies? Check. Unique meet-and-greet opportunities with your favorite heroes and villains? Check!

Once you get a picture with Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, or whichever character you’re destined to meet, it’s time to leave the Star Wars Launch Bay and plan for your out-of-this-galaxy lunch. Yay!

The Galactic Grill isn’t just unique for its Star Wars-themed cuisine (Will you be biting into a First Order Specialty Burger or the Jedi Order Chicken Sandwich?). It also hosts the stage for an adventure perfect for any future Jedi padawans in your life: Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.

This show allows your younglings to don a Jedi robe and train in the ways of the Force. But are they ready to face the ultimate test? They may have to fight a few famous Sith to defeat the Dark Side!

Of course, no Star Wars day at Disneyland is complete without riding on Star Tours — The Adventures Continue! This classic motion simulator attraction features unique combinations of adventures that make you the star! Will you be catching a cruise to Kashyyyk? Perhaps you will brave an encounter with the dreaded Death Star and the famed bounty hunter Boba Fett. You could even end up on Jakku, with Finn guiding you as you fly alongside the Millennium Falcon! No matter what your destination is, Star Tours — The Adventures Continue will make any fan feel like they’re one with the Force.

For an out-of-this-world dinner, why not pick up a pizza or pasta at Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port? This delicious diner now features new, Star Wars-themed dishes, such as the Forest of Endor Pasta.

While you’re digesting your dinner, take a seat at the Tomorrowland Theater for a screening of Star Wars: Path of the Jedi, the epic retelling of the Skywalker Saga leading up to the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Make sure to pick out a souvenir to commemorate your adventure at Star Trader. This Tomorrowland location overflows with everything a Star Wars fan could want, although we always have our eyes on those Ear Hats. Who will you be? BB-8, C-3PO, R2-D2, or Princess Leia? There’s a hat to celebrate all the fan-favorite characters from Star Wars.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
There’s plenty of Star Wars adventures to be had at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Your Star Wars day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios should start off with a jump to lightspeed on Star Tours — The Adventures Continue. Which planets will you visit? Can you deliver the Rebel Spy back to the Rebel Alliance? For this beloved attraction, you’re not just the star—you’re their only hope!

Once you’ve exited Star Tours — The Adventures Continue, take a moment to enjoy the scenery. The outside of this attraction features a replica AT-AT Walker and a Speeder Bike. Why not take a photo and pretend that you are part of the action?

Now that you’ve saved the galaxy once, it’s only natural to meet some more heroes! The Star Wars Launch Bay, besides featuring Star Wars exhibits, featurettes, and a cool Cantina set, gives you a chance to meet with heroes like Chewbacca and BB-8, or come face to face with the villainous Kylo Ren.

To teach your little ones the way of the Force, take them to Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple at Echo Lake. Once your younglings learn to use the Force against the likes of Darth Vader and the Seventh Sister, they’ll be ready to face any bad guy they meet!

You may be seeing a lot of bad guys at your next stop, too. Enjoy Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away, a new show with reenactments of some of your favorite Star Wars scenes, featuring Kylo Ren, Darth Maul, and a Stormtrooper march led by the fearsome Captain Phasma herself.

Once night falls, settle in for an amazing celebration with Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. While you enjoy this state-of-the-art spectacular––featuring unbelievable projection effects, lasers, pyrotechnics, and more in a dazzling array of colors and sounds––why not enjoy something sweet to eat? This show features a special dessert party package that lets you enjoy out-of-this-galaxy sweets, including Darth Vader cupcakes, as you take in the view.

To end your perfect day, make sure you stop by Tattooine Traders, your source for intergalactic commerce, where you can build your own custom lightsaber or take home your very own astromech droid. No matter what you choose, you know you’ll be telling the tales of your Star Wars adventures for a long, long time….

Surprise! That Really Was Johnny Depp Inside Disneyland’s Pirates Attraction!

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

Meet Pandora – The World of Avatar’s Na’vi Shaman of Songs

Disney’s Descendants 2 Debuts Brand-New Trailer

The Co-Host Search is Over: Ryan Seacrest Joins Live!

Behind-the-Scenes Fun from Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

75 Days of Delicious: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Goes Big for ‘17

May the Force Be with Your Mobile Device—Star Wars: Puzzle Droids

A Historic Sailing for the Disney Wonder

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