Everything You Need to Know About Disney California Adventure’s Newest Attraction

April 28, 2017May 3, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

The Collector’s Fortress, home to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, has arrived at Disney California Adventure park! The new attraction will take you through Taneleer Tivan’s collection––where the collector keeps his newest acquisitions, the Guardians of the Galaxy––before launching you on a thrilling and chaotic ride to help Rocket Raccoon attempt to break the rest of the Guardians out of captivity. The creative team behind this brand-new experience took us on a behind-the-scenes tour, and we’re giving you a sneak peek at what’s inside this out-of-this-galaxy attraction before Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opens on May 27.

Look for Disney Details Throughout the Attraction

Marvel and Walt Disney Imagineering collaborated to create a story that begins the second you see the looming Collector’s Fortress. The structure “embodies the spirit of the collector,” Walt Disney Imagineering’s Danny Handke shared. “It’s weird, it’s bold, it’s grandiose,” and it’s arrogant, much like the Collector himself. The colors of the Fortress may feel familiar––the hues were inspired by tones in the Guardians of the Galaxy film and Marvel comic books. The fortress is completely different from the rest of Disney California Adventure park, but as Danny noted, “It’s a little disruptive, but that’s kind of the point. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.”

Something you may recognize is Tivan’s logo, displayed prominently on the building––the down arrow symbolizes the Collector’s mining colony on the planet Knowhere. Pipes crawl up and around the logo and the rest of the structure, signifying the immense amount of power within the fortress. Energy is a key player in Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, as it powers the giant generator that ensures all of the Collector’s prized possessions stay trapped in their cages. Which, of course, makes for a tricky situation if the power goes out, but more on that later…

Once you enter the fortress, Tivan’s collectibles are all around; some are even suspended in the air above you. There’s something for everyone to marvel over in the fortress. Fans of the film may notice familiar collectibles (we were excited to see Cosmo, the space dog), while other items may be more familiar to fans of the comic books, or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The team also created brand-new items exclusive to the attraction.

Get Ready to Rock, Again, and Again, and Again…

Once you’re seated on the attraction, hold on tight! You’ll immediately launch straight up. As Walt Disney Imagineering’s Estefania Harbuck explained, “This ride is about irreverent humor, it’s about these fun characters and unpredictability.” You’ll want to visit the Collector’s Fortress more than once, as there are multiple ride experiences; six to be exact. “They might see the Guardians in different situations, battling different characters,” Estefania shared. “There will be different responses by Rocket, by the ride system; you will feel it move differently.”

Tune in For a Super Soundtrack

Music is almost as important in Guardians of the Galaxy as any of its lovable characters, and the creative team behind Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! put careful thought into the score, songs, and sounds you’ll hear in the attraction. Tyler Bates, who wrote the original score for Guardians of the Galaxy, joined the team to create brand-new music for the attraction. Plus, you’ll hear one of six songs on each ride aboard Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!; find out which songs are on the attraction’s “mixtape” here.

Looking for Easter Eggs?

Marvel films are known for their Easter eggs, so, of course, you can expect a plethora of hidden references in Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! While our friends on the creative team wouldn’t give us too much info (“It’s more fun to figure it out yourself,” according to Marvel’s Brian Crosby), they did share that there’s an Easter egg for everyone—whether you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comic books, or Disney theme parks—everyone should have their eyes peeled on the new attraction. You never know what you might find!

A Group Effort

From the skippers on the Jungle Cruise to the butlers and maids at the Haunted Mansion, Disney has a long-standing history of making its cast members a part of an attraction’s story, and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is no exception. The cast members who guide you through your tour of the Collector’s Fortress have gone through extensive training to be the perfect hosts. That being said, they’re not too happy to be working for Tivan. As Operations Lead Thomas Casarez joked, “We’ve never done an attraction where we’re working for the villains!” The cast members you meet in the fortress are definitely walking on eggshells around their all-seeing overlord, but they’ve got a secret––they know Rocket has escaped and is trying to break out the rest of the Guardians. And, best of all, they want to help. Just don’t tell Tivan…

These cast members also played an important role in the development of the attraction. The cast had a chance to ride the attraction just a month and a half ago, and were encouraged to provide feedback to the creative team, who took their comments into consideration and even made some changes to the script and the ride movements based on the cast members’ feedback. After all, who knows better what Disney fans want than some of Disney’s biggest fans, its cast members!

See it all for yourself when Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opens at Disney California Adventure park May 27.

9 Out-of-this-Galaxy Stories About Marvel Studios’ Latest Film

April 27, 2017March 26, 2018

by Beth Deitchman

Humor and irreverence seem to accompany our favorite band of intergalactic misfits—the Guardians of the Galaxy—wherever they go. And we might say the same thing about the talented actors who play the eccentric heroes, returning to a movie theater near you on March 5 in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. We recently heard an “awesome mixtape” of stories from the cast and director James Gunn, including accounts of who the actors feared would be a scene-stealer, how the actors pass the time during the lengthy makeup process, and what Marvel newcomer Sylvester Stallone thinks of the Cinematic Universe he’s joined.

1. Super Heroes Became Super Friends

If you’ve ever been intimated by the thought of meeting one of your heroes, rest assured that Chris Pratt can relate, having worked with a number of screen icons—such as Kurt Russell, who plays Star-Lord’s dad, Ego, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. “You promise yourself you’re not going to do the thing where you geek out, but it’s a little inauthentic if you don’t,” shared Pratt, who says he got his geek-out out of the way soon after meeting Russell. “At that point, you move forward, and the one thing that I never would’ve imagined when I first moved to Hollywood is that you become somebody’s friend and somebody’s peer, rather than a fan.”

2. Making the Team

Disney Legend Kurt Russell may have a long history with The Walt Disney Studios, but he confessed that he felt like a rookie when he first joined the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cast. The onetime minor league baseball player admitted, “I feel like I do have a special relationship with Disney, but the truth of the matter is, every time you go to work you’ve got to make the team… You’re only as good as your last at-bat.” Russell, who knocks it out of the park as the mysterious Ego, added, “I was very, very fortunate that I ran into a team that has a terrific manager. He really knows his world and he also knows how to execute. He has cast these people perfectly.”

3. I Am Cute, er, that is, Groot!

Baby Groot’s antics in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 trailer have already made him a fan-favorite. Modern technology brings the character to life on screen, but he was represented on set by way of a maquette that was used as a reference point. James Gunn recalled, “We would have this adorable little statue standing there, and we’d have the scene and all this stuff would be going on. These guys would be acting their butts off and really putting their hearts and souls [into it]—and all of a sudden, Chris would look over at that little guy and go, ‘He’s going to steal the whole movie!’” Hmmm… we have an idea of what Baby Groot’s response to that might be…

4. Sister Act

Zoe Saldana and Karen Gillan play warring sisters Gamora and Nebula, and they detailed how it takes working together to convincingly portray two siblings tearing each other apart. “Zoe literally teaches me to fight while we’re doing it. She’ll be like, ‘Turn your head like this and you strangle someone like that—you’re going to look cool!’” Gillan laughed. Saldana added, “And Karen teaches me to just bring it!” It took about four hours in the makeup chair to transform the actresses into Gamora and Nebula, and they each used the time very differently. “I talk my team to death. I don’t shut up,” Saldana said, while Gillan likes having the quiet time at 2:30 a.m. to begin getting into her character.

5. Ain’t No Thing Like Sean Gunn, ’Cept Sean Gunn

Director James Gunn, Producer Kevin Feige, and the entire cast heralded the contribution of actor (and James Gunn’s brother) Sean Gunn, who does double duty as Rocket (voiced in the film by actor Bradley Cooper) and Kraglin, Yondu’s right-hand man. Sean provides the physical performance for Rocket, to give the actors something to work with—and the animators a reference as they bring the character to life. Feige stressed, “I can’t tell you how many times during the visual effects reviews James would say, ‘Go back to the plate,’ which means the original portion of photography with Sean to get little mannerisms of his eyes and his mouth.” Sean raised the bar in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, acting against himself in multiple scenes that featured both Rocket and Kraglin—sometimes in the same shot.

6. In Scoring Position

The soundtrack and music for Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has been almost as eagerly awaited as the film, and director James Gunn had portions of the score written long before cameras began rolling. Feige explained, “A year before we started filming, James shared the story and script with [composer] Tyler Bates, and Tyler started to write score suites… a couple of really moving pieces in the movie, so James could play it on set while they were filming. No other film that I am part of does that. It’s really unique.”

7. A Sly Approach

Screen legend Sylvester Stallone has brought to life two iconic heroes, Rocky and Rambo, but Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 marks the actor’s first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe—and he wasn’t familiar with the Guardians before joining the cast. “I grew up on a different set of Super Heroes, like Elastic Man and things like that,” he said, and he avoided reading the Marvel comics ahead of filming. “I wanted to go in there, clean slate, and just do what the director wanted done… I think kind of being naïve allows you to be directed in a direction they want you to go, without any preconceived ideas.”

8. Galactic Guffaws

Drax may be a destroyer, but the character has a robust, infectious laugh that could light up an entire galaxy. Dave Bautista, the actor who plays Drax, is far more soft-spoken and noted that James Gunn frequently urged him to project more. “The laugh came about just by complete accident,” Bautista recounted jovially. “I was laughing, and [Gunn] said, ‘Can you do it louder?’ And the louder I started laughing, the louder I could hear him laughing… The bigger it got, the louder he laughed, so I just kept going bigger and bigger until I lost my voice.”

9. Family Matters

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is ultimately about family, and director James Gunn considers it “a very personal film” that he hopes audiences can relate to—especially people who feel like they’re struggling to find a place where they belong. He confessed to feeling like an outsider when he was younger and shared, “By listening to music and watching movies [as a kid], I felt a little bit less alone, and I hope that’s what Guardians does for people… There are people all over the world that it touches, and that’s the most rewarding thing, by far, about making these movies.”

Meet the Author of Once Upon a Time: Regina Rising

April 26, 2017March 26, 2018

by Courtney Potter

Fans of ABC’s fanciful retelling of classic fairy tales, Once Upon a Time, have watched as Regina Mills (otherwise known as the Evil Queen) has morphed from Storybrooke’s ruthless mayor into a surprising ally and unexpected friend… all while (spoiler alert!) trying to reconcile the dark and light sides within her. If you’re anything like us, you’ve often wondered how Regina grew into her Evil Queen persona. Sure, we’ve had glimpses into Regina’s childhood on the show… but what about her teenage years? Thankfully, a new novel aims to answer that very question.

Written by Wendy Toliver, Once Upon a Time: Regina Rising follows the adventures of 16-year-old Regina—a girl very different from the woman known by fans of the series. She seeks romance, adventure, and approval. But getting approval from a mother like Cora is nearly impossible. For Regina, friendships have always been a rare commodity. Has Regina finally found a true friend? Or is it just another illusion? As Regina struggles to find her own identity and create her own destiny, she discovers that her fate might just be to become everything she despises.

D23 recently spoke with Wendy (who also wrote the first book in the Once Upon a Time series, Red’s Untold Tale) about what makes this new story so unique—and where it fits in the OUAT universe.

D23: Thanks for chatting with us, Wendy! First off, why do you think this is an important story to tell Once Upon a Time fans?

Wendy Toliver (WT): Regina is definitely a favorite of OUAT fans, who either love her—or love to hate her! The more we know about a character, the deeper understanding we have about the specific decisions—whether we deem them “good” or “bad”—she makes along her journey. We become invested in that character, and can’t wait for the next episode to air, or to turn the page in the book and find out what happens next. I hope Regina Rising offers a riveting look into the teen years of the Evil Queen.

D23: You’ve written a Once Upon a Time book before… What about Regina’s character made you interested in returning to this world?

WT: One of the many things I love about OUAT is how complex its characters are (kudos and respect to its creators, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, and the entire OUAT team!)… and no one, in my opinion, is more complicated than Regina. There is always something up her sleeve! One thing I see her longing for season after season is true friendship (even if she might not admit it), and so I decided to look back to her teen years to discover why she finds trusting people to be so difficult. In addition, I wanted to explore 16-year-old Regina’s relationships with her parents and the dynamics of her community. As a teenager, she still has much to experience and learn, but her cunning is at the ready—and I hope readers enjoy Regina Rising as much as I enjoyed writing it!

D23: We’ve seen some of Regina’s past before; where does that fit in to this particular story? What timeline are we looking into?

WT: Regina is 16 for this novel; however, like the series, there are several flashbacks, so you’ll get glimpses into her childhood as well. She rides horses with her father, but Daniel Colter has not yet come to work in their stables. She knows who the young Princess Snow is, but they haven’t officially met. Her sorceress mother, Cora, has magic, but Regina has not yet experienced it. [This story offers] a deeper understanding of Regina’s battle between her inner-hero and inner-villain.

D23: Hmm… intriguing! Will we see any of Regina’s other fairytale friends featured in the book?

WT: You sure will! In addition to Regina’s parents, Henry and Cora, and her beloved steed, Rocinante; you’ll see Snow White, Queen Eva, King Leopold, and a small “cameo” by Granny, to name a few. I’m excited to introduce some wonderful (and wonderfully dreadful) new characters, as well!

Once Upon a Time: Regina Rising is available now in a bookstore near you and at your favorite online retailer.

New Cars 3 Trailer and Disney Movies Aplenty—Plus More in News Briefs

April 26, 2017March 26, 2018

By Courtney Potter

This Just In: Release Dates for a Ton of Big Disney Films!

Wanna know when your next favorite Disney movie will be debut in a cineplex near you? Check out this hot-off-the-presses listing of release dates from The Walt Disney Studios. (We’re particularly excited about Frozen 2, the live-action The Lion King and Star Wars: Episode IX!)

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
April 26, 2017
D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Magic in Manhattan & More
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 WorldStudios
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
April 28, 2017
Sofia the First Returns for Season Four

Take to the Road with New Cars 3 Trailer

Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is taking to the track once more in Disney•Pixar’s Cars 3, zoomin’ to a theater near you on June 16. And for those of you rarin’ for a sneak peek at the film, check out this brand-new trailer!

Disney’s Descendants 2 Gets Huge Simulcast Premiere—This Summer

Super-fabulous news from our friends over at Disney Channel… In a totally cool (and unprecedented) programming event, the new Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 2 will premiere across five Disney|ABC networks on Friday, July 21, at 8 p.m. EDT. That means you’ll be able to join in the fun on Disney Channel, ABC, Disney XD, Freeform, and Lifetime! Amazing, right?

This “summer block party” celebrates the sequel to the fifth most watched movie in cable TV history! In Descendants 2, the Villain Kids (aka the VKs)—Mal (Dove Cameron), Evie (Sofia Carson), Carlos (Cameron Boyce), and Jay (Booboo Stewart)—continue to try to find their place in idyllic Auradon. But when the pressure to be royal becomes too much for Mal, she returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost… where her archenemy Uma (China Anne McClain), the daughter of Ursula, has taken her spot as self-proclaimed queen of the run-down town. Can the VKs (and their pal King Ben, played by Mitchell Hope) keep Uma from unleashing all the villains on the Isle of the Lost, once and for all? You’ll have to tune in on July 21, so mark those calendars!

Totally Tubular Tunes for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission BREAKOUT!

The first Guardians of the Galaxy was beloved not only for its awesome galactic adventures and irreverent humor, but also for its killer soundtrack. (And from what we can gather, the soundtrack to Vol. 2 is just as cool!) So it stands to reason the music for Disney California Adventure’s new Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission BREAKOUT! attraction would include a handful of delightful ditties from the ‘70s and ‘80s… and sure enough, it does.

Miami Children’s Museum Launches The Lion Guard Exhibit

Fans of Disney Junior’s The Lion Guard will have something big to roar about next year! Miami Children’s Museum will launch the first-ever museum exhibit based on The Lion Guard, a series that continues the storytelling of The Lion King and follows the adventures of Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, and his awesome, helpful friends as they unite to protect the Pride Lands. The exhibit will debut at Miami Children’s Museum in January 2018 for six months, and then travel to other children’s museums across the country through 2022.

Spotlighting important learning areas including social and self-development; problem solving; creative thinking; and arts & culture, this one-of-a-kind exhibit will bring The Lion Guard story to life for kids and their families. Through cool hands-on activities and interactive play, guests will be transported to the Pride Lands to discover the unique traits of each member of The Lion Guard team. For more on Kion and company’s Florida stop, visit www.MiamiChildrensMuseum.org… and stay tuned for more info on the exhibit’s travels as it becomes available.

D23’s Handy-Dandy Star Wars Celebration Rundown

In case you haven’t yet heard about all the amazing insanity that happened at the recent Star Wars Celebration Orlando, one of our very own D23 operatives was able to attend—and has provided us with a listing of his very favorite moments! Read all about it here.

Freeform’s Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger—Exciting New Trailer

We were already pretty hyped about Freeform’s foray into the Marvel universe, Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger… but with this new trailer, we’re positively a-tingle! Take a look for yourselves, above.

Debuting in early 2018, Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger is the story of Tandy Bowen (Olivia Holt) and Tyrone Johnson (Aubrey Joseph)—two teens from very different backgrounds who find themselves both awakened to (and tormented by) newly acquired superpowers which, mysteriously, are linked to one another; Tandy can emit light daggers, while Tyrone has the ability to engulf others in darkness. They quickly learn they are better together than apart, but their feelings for each other make their already complicated world even more challenging.

Classic Space Mountain to Return to Disneyland Park!

There are so many things to look forward to this summer at Disneyland Resort, and this recent announcement (from our friends at the Disney Parks Blog) just might be the cherry on top: Beginning June 1, just days after the attraction celebrates its 40th anniversary, the classic Space Mountain returns to Disneyland park! Are you ready to “initiate power transfer” once again?

Space Mountain first opened in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in 1975, and its West Coast sibling debuted two years later. Over the years, special “themed” versions (including Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Hyperspace Mountain) have thrilled guests… and its 180-foot edifice has become a truly iconic Disney image. if you’re planning on visiting Disneyland park this summer, brace yourself for some classic intergalactic adventure!

Meet Lou, the Star of Disney•Pixar’s Newest Short

April 26, 2017March 26, 2018

by Jim Frye

It’s another extra helping of Pixar.

When you go see Cars 3 in theaters this June, you’ll also be treated to Pixar’s latest short called Lou, about a school playground creature made out of lost-and-found toys. It bears a slight resemblance to classic Muppets characters, but definitely has a look all its own, comprised of baseballs, a red hoodie, and a few other goodies saved from the lost-and-found. That’s actually where the title comes from: The “L,” “O,” and the “U” from the words “Lost and Found” combine to make “Lou.”

From director Dave Mullins and producer Dana Murray, Lou is a heartwarming (as usual—it’s Pixar!) tale of a pile of lost-and-found toys that comes to life and confronts the schoolyard bully, J.J., who has been taking toys from his classmates. “Bullies always want something,” says Mullins, after a preview of the film at the main screening room at Pixar’s Emeryville studio. “There’s a reason they do what they do, so we wanted to explore that.”

Mullins admits that, yes, Lou is an off-the-wall idea. “What we originally pitched didn’t necessarily work well onscreen,” he says. “It’s definitely a story that can only be done with animation.” But that’s perfect, because Pixar seems to gravitate toward those “off-the-wall,” original ideas—Up, WALL•E, Inside Out, and Ratatouille come to mind, not to mention the shorts Day & Night, For the Birds, and One Man Band. Originality is Pixar’s stock and trade.

A quick walk around the Pixar Studio is like an immersion in storytelling and animation greatness, from the shelves of Oscars® and letters from fans, to the life-sized Incredibles family of figurines, or the wall-sized art from Cars 3. Everywhere you look, you’re reminded of the characters who built this campus, and the award-winning stories Pixar has told.

Speaking of story, Mullins talks about the time and effort that Pixar puts into each and every one of their films: “Pixar is never done with the story,” he says. “The story department is involved each step of the process—from the pitch, to the design, to development, it’s all about story.”

And this particular story is very close to Mullins, for two big reasons. Most obviously, it’s his first time directing a Pixar short. He’s served as an animator, animation supervisor, or assistant animator on a number of Disney and Pixar films, including The Good Dinosaur, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Inside Out, and even Fantasia 2000. But this is the first time he’s been in the driver’s seat.

The second reason is perhaps more personal: At the end of the film, Mullins adds the dedication “For Dad.” His dad, who shared his son’s love of films, died while Mullins was elbow-deep in production on Lou. It definitely adds even more heart to a deeply moving tale of compassion and friendship.

The six-minute Lou arrives in theaters—along with Cars 3—June 16.

Which Disney Characters Should Join the Guardians of the Galaxy?

April 26, 2017March 26, 2018

by Jocelyn Buhlman

If you’ve been keeping up with us on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, then you joined us in our live coverage of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 premiere on April 19 at the Dolby Theatre. We were thrilled to be out on the purple carpet, interviewing the large cast of characters from Marvel’s latest intergalactic romp. The Guardians have grown in members since the last movie, and new characters means new relationships and emotions to impact the action in a big way. Chris Pratt (Star-Lord) told us that the film is, “Surprisingly emotional! That’s definitely one of the threads; it’s really densely packed with comedy, drama, adventure, and action. It’ll move you.” We still have to wait until May 5th to experience it all for ourselves, so in the meantime, we looked to the growing cast of heroes and villains and wondered: With such an emotional, relationship-focused plot, how would other Disney characters affect the Marvel Cinematic Universe? We posed the question on the purple carpet, and here’s what real-life heroes of the Disney world have to say!

Buzz Lightyear would be a perfect team player

Miles Brown, the charming youngster known for his role of Jack Johnson on ABC’s black-ish, told us how a certain plastic spaceman could help out the Guardians: “I think he would be a good addition to the story. I think he’d fit in and help the team out, even though he doesn’t really have powers. He’d try to help the team out and he’d be ready to help fight battles no matter what, so I think he’d be a good addition to the group.”

Tiana could provide some princess power

Alyssa Jirrel, who plays Veracity from the new Disney XD sci-fi adventure MECH-X, had an answer for us right away: “Tiana from The Princess and the Frog,” she told us, “because she’s strong, powerful, and awesome, and I think she’d kick some butt right along with the rest of them.”

Thor would fit right in with the Guardians

When we saw Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi at the premiere, we knew we had to ask him how Thor would get along with the Guardians. Since Thor has a lot of experience with intergalactic mishaps, we knew he’d have a lot of experiences to share. Waititi told us, “Thor’s advice for the Guardians would be just lighten up and stop taking things so seriously! They’re obviously a very serious bunch of people who seem very stressed out, they seem very stressed. Thor’s advice would be just, ‘Look, we’re all going to live forever, so relax!’”

Wreck-It Ralph could wreck the baddies

Kamran Lucas (MECH-X4’s Harris) picked a character with some special powers. He asked us, “What if the Guardians got into trouble that they couldn’t get out of?” He knows just the guy to help them out: “Just bring my buddy Ralph and he’ll go ‘bam bam bam’ and boom! They’re out of trouble!”

Thumper could be the unexpected hero of the galaxy

As Yondu, the leader of the Ravagers, Michael Rooker is usually recognizable in head-to-toe blue body paint. At the red carpet, he was looking decidedly less blue, and he told us, “I look beautiful in and out of makeup! It’s meditative. I love all the makeup and I look forward to it every day whenever I go into work.”

Even when he isn’t blue, he still has a lot of insight into the Guardians of the Galaxy, and he told us which Disney character would be the best addition to the Guardians’ team: “Thumper! I’d put Thumper on the team because he is the kind of little character that can warn you when stuff’s about to happen! Thumper’s great.” The Guardians are practically a magnet for trouble, so we can see how having that cute little bunny around could keep them out of a tight situation.

What about the Bad Guys?

Michael Rooker wasn’t the only actor looking a little different on the premiere. Chris Sullivan, who plays the villainous Taserface in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, was looking more normal and less tasered while walking the purple carpet. He and Rooker actually shared a makeup trailer, and Sullivan told us, “Michael Rooker is a national treasure, and we had a lovely time.” He explained, “It was a dream come true. I couldn’t believe that it was happening every day, and it’s a nice way to start the morning.”

Of course, since he is playing a villain, Sullivan would naturally want to recruit Disney characters to help the bad guys instead of the Guardians. He told us how Disney characters impacted his villainous side, explaining, “Most Disney villains are a bag of jerks and have loud mouths, so they have all the traits that you need to play a villain.” He was inspired by another villain named for his distinctive face: “You have to channel a little Scar: a nice gruff voice and three and a half hours of face makeup—there you go!”

The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Parks and Resorts, and More Take the Biggest Stage at D23 Expo

April 26, 2017April 26, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

We recently shared that Disney Legend Alan Menken would perform a one-man concert (twice!) in Hall D23 at D23 Expo. Now, we’re excited to share the full schedule of amazing panels and presentations coming to our biggest D23 Expo stage, Hall D23. Take a look at the lineup below, and learn more about the ultimate Disney fan event here.

Friday, July 14

Disney Legends Awards Ceremony (10 a.m.)––Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger will kick off this year’s D23 Expo with the special ceremony that honors this year’s Disney Legends Award recipients. See the full list of 2017 honorees here.

Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios (2:30 p.m.)––See what the artists behind these two acclaimed animation studios are dreaming (and drawing) up. With such an exciting lineup of films––Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2, Coco, and The Incredibles 2, just to name a few––we’re sure this presentation will be full of surprises.

Saturday, July 15

The Walt Disney Studios Live-Action Films (10:30 a.m.)––The wonderful worlds of Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm come together to showcase their exciting slate of upcoming films. At D23 Expo 2015, we got our first glimpses at Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Beauty and the Beast, Doctor Strange, and more fan favorites… We can’t wait to see what’s on deck for this year’s presentation!

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (3 p.m.)––Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek will take the stage during this presentation to share what’s new and what’s next at Disney Parks and Resorts around the globe.

Sunday, July 16

A Whole New World of Alan Menken (1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.)––Celebrate the magic of Disney music with Disney Legend and eight-time Oscar^®-winner Alan Menken in his brand-new one-man show. Alan will perform his own music and tell tales from his storied career.

The Legends of NASCAR Rev Up Cars 3

April 26, 2017March 26, 2018

Cars 3 is going to be legendary!

Nobody does nostalgia like Pixar! First, they made us miss our childhood toys in Toy Story. Then they brought back fond (and frightful!) memories of growing up in Monsters Inc.; and they took us through a lifetime of love in Up. But it’s through Cars that they captured our love for small towns, afternoon drives, and “getting off the highway” to enjoy the journey.

Now, Cars 3 pulls those nostalgic heartstrings even more as Lightning McQueen meets up with The Legends of racing (literally!) with cars from the glory days of the sport. And to help make these animated legends resonate with audiences, Pixar based each of the characters on actual, real-world racers from the early days of racing—true legends.

Here’s the setup: As Lightning McQueen struggles to get back on top, he meets a group of characters who represent the roots of stock car racing—and provide a link to Lightning’s late coach and mentor, Doc Hudson. To really hone in on who these characters should be, members of the story team went to NASCAR’s Daytona 500 to soak up the atmosphere. “We found a wealth of information there that gave us a springboard to find these characters,” says screenwriter Mike Rich. “They show Lightning that racing can be a lifetime thing. It might change over time, but you adapt and learn to race differently. The love of racing has never left these legends.”

SMOKEY

The character of former Piston Cup team owner Smokey (voiced by Chris Cooper) was inspired by real-life legend Henry “Smokey” Yunick. A racer and designer in NASCAR’s early days, Yunick was best known as a mechanic, builder, and crew chief. He was twice named NASCAR mechanic of the year, and his teams won 57 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two championships in the early 1950s. Smokey’s Best Damn Garage in Town was an infamous part of Daytona Beach for four decades.

JUNIOR “MIDNIGHT” MOON

NASCAR legend Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson both inspired and lends his voice to the character Junior “Midnight” Moon. Johnson, who won 50 NASCAR races in the 1950s and 1960s, got his start in an unconventional way—making moonshine runs for his family business throughout the mountains of eastern North Carolina. The recipe was later shared with Piedmont Distillers and is sold under the label Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moon.

LOUISE “BARNSTORMER” NASH

The character Louise “Barnstormer” Nash (voiced by Margo Martindale) is based on the “First Lady of Racing,” Louise Smith. The gutsy Nash didn’t have an easy start as one of the first and only females in racing. She wasn’t provided a racing number, so she had to steal one to compete in her first race. But her fearless driving style soon won her the respect of every car she raced. In Cars 3, Nash took on the Fabulous Hudson Hornet in the early days of the Piston Cup, winning three back-to-back races. The real-life Louise Smith refused to just sit on the sidelines. Instead, she entered NASCAR—but ultimately rolled her family’s new Ford coupe in her first race. She went on to win 38 races during her seven-year career.

RIVER SCOTT

The character River Scott (voiced by Isiah Whitlock Jr.) was inspired by NASCAR’s Wendell Scott. In 1963, Wendell became the first African-American driver to win the Grand National Series at Jacksonville’s Speedway Park. He was posthumously inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015.

In addition to these racing legends, Pixar filmmakers infused Cars 3 with extra horsepower by recruiting a number of actual NASCAR greats. “We all love a good story,” says co-producer Andrea Warren. “We were so lucky to get to hear their stories, get a taste of what happens behind the scenes of racing. That connection really comes through in the way many of our characters interact.”

Chase Elliott provides the voice of Chase Racelott, Ryan Blaney voices Ryan “Inside” Laney, Daniel Suárez lends his voice to Danny Swervez, and Bubba Wallace voices Bubba Wheelhouse. Jeff Gordon is the voice of Jeff Gorvette, Richard Petty once again voices Strip “The King” Weathers, Kyle Petty steps in as the voice of Cal Weathers, and Ray Evernham lends his voice to Ray Reverham. FOX’s Darrell Waltrip returns as the voice of Darrell Cartrip, the network’s Shannon Spake provides the voice of Shannon Spokes, Humpy Wheeler returns as the voice of Tex Dinoco, and FOX Sports’ Mike Joy provides the voice of Mike Joyride.

Cars 3 races into theaters June 16.

Get Ready to Rock Out on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

April 25, 2017April 28, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

Guardians of the Galaxy is just as well known for its awesome music as it is for its irreverent comedy and lovable, quirky characters, and the brand-new attraction at Disney California Adventure park is no different. If you’ve been wondering which of the songs would be on the attraction’s awesome mix, wonder no more! We got the inside scoop from the folks behind the new attraction, opening May 27 at Disney California Adventure park.

John Dennis, executive creative director of music at Walt Disney Imagineering (how cool is that job?), told us about the process for coming up with the six songs you can hear during a rockin’ ride on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! John and his team used Star-Lord’s awesome mix as a starting point, and ended up testing out 100 different songs to find the right fit. The six chosen for the attraction are the perfect mix of fun and funky and help make each ride on the thrilling attraction a truly unique experience. Check out the “playlist” below and let us know which song you’re most excited to hear during your first ride on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

“I Want You Back” – The Jackson 5
“Hit Me With Your Best Shot” – Pat Benatar
“Give Up the Funk” – Parliament
“Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf
“Burning Love” – Elvis Presley
“Free Ride” – The Edgar Winter Group

Mark Your Calendars—Big Studio Releases are On Their Way!

April 25, 2017March 26, 2018

Are you ready to let it go over some out-of-this-galaxy news that makes you want to roar?

The Walt Disney Studios has just updated its release schedule—which means it’s time for Disney fans to update their calendars!

Some release dates are simply worth melting for… Frozen 2 has been scheduled to open on November 27, 2019. Development of the sequel to the blockbuster film from Walt Disney Animation Studios was announced in March 2015, with the Oscar®-winning team of directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and producer Peter Del Vecho returning to continue the adventures of the characters fans first fell in love with in 2012.

Lightspeed to May 24, 2019—the date on which Star Wars: Episode IX is now slated to open! Colin Trevorrow is directing the film that concludes the third trilogy of Star Wars movies that began with the 2015 opening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And if that date feels far, far away, fear not, for Star Wars: The Last Jedi is coming to a theater near you on December 15, 2017, and 2018 brings the untitled Han Solo Star Wars Story on May 25.

The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, will open in theaters on July 19, 2019. Actor James Earl Jones is reprising the role of Mufasa in the live-action reimagining of the Disney animated classic, and Donald Glover is voicing the adult Simba in the new film. The savanna and its amazing inhabitants will come to photorealistic life through technology that builds upon the innovative filmmaking audiences loved in Favreau’s adaptation of The Jungle Book.

Of course, those aren’t the only opening dates you’re going to want to circle in red. Take a look at this list for 2017 and 2018—and set those calendar alerts. There’s a lot of popcorn in your not-too-distant future, and there’s always room for surprises, too! Stay tuned to D23 for all of the updates about these films, and more to come in the future.

2017

May 5—Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

May 26—Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

June 16—Cars 3

November 3—Thor: Ragnarok

November 22—Coco

December 15—Star Wars: The Last Jedi

2018

February 16—Black Panther

March 9—A Wrinkle in Time

April 6—Magic Camp

May 4—Avengers: Infinity War

May 25—Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film

June 15—The Incredibles 2

July 6—Ant-Man and The Wasp

November 2—Mulan (Live-Action)

November 21—Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2

December 25—Mary Poppins Returns

This Just In: Release Dates for a Ton of Big Disney Films!

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

Take to the Road with New Cars 3 Trailer

Disney’s Descendants 2 Gets Huge Simulcast Premiere—This Summer

Totally Tubular Tunes for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission BREAKOUT!

Miami Children’s Museum Launches The Lion Guard Exhibit

D23’s Handy-Dandy Star Wars Celebration Rundown

Freeform’s Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger—Exciting New Trailer

Classic Space Mountain to Return to Disneyland Park!

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