The 20 Best Songs You Didn’t Know Were Disney Songs

March 1, 2017January 30, 2018

By Jeffrey Epstein

With Awards season just behind us, we are left in the blissful wake of waves and waves of lists. Best movies. Best TV shows. Best movies that were once TV shows. We have even seen a few lists of Best Disney Songs. While we could debate all day about the merits of “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Part of Your World,” we felt like it would be more fun to go for some unlikely favorites. The best Disney songs… that you may not think of as “Disney.” These songs might not conjure images of castles and pixie dust when you hear them, but they are all gems.

To create the list, we set ourselves some parameters:

Songs could not be obviously identified with Disney. So you have to let it go, if you thought that song would be on here.
Songs needed to be written when the production entity was part of Disney. That means the theme from “Happy Days” and “Rainbow Connection” weren’t eligible.
Songs can’t have existed prior to appearing in the Disney film. So no “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”
The list had to be totally subjective.

So here we go—in no particular order. Love them? Feel like we forgot something? Let us know on Facebook.

“Immortals” (Big Hero 6)
Artist: Fall Out Boy

The indie band gave additional street cred to the big 2014 movie with this powerhouse anthem. “The idea of this kid stepping up on behalf of his brother is what inspired the song’s title, ‘Immortals,’” says the band’s Patrick Stump. “Your victories aren’t exclusively yours, so the fact that all of these people are coming together to help him get to the finish line is really exciting.”

“Little Wonders” (Meet the Robinsons)
Artist: Rob Thomas

Released in 2007, this heartwarming song peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was covered by Savannah Outen on Disneymania 7.

“When Can I See You Again” (Wreck-It Ralph)
Artist: Owl City

“I felt like it was really challenging to try to live up to the Disney legacy,” Owl City’s Adam Young told AOL about writing the pop-synth confection for the 2012 film. “I had a blast.” An adapted version of the song was used for Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland’s Paint the Night Parade.

“Because You Loved Me” (Up Close & Personal)
Artist: Celine Dion

This Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single from 1996, penned by hit-maker Diane Warren and produced by David Foster, went on to win a Grammy® Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television. It was also nominated for an Oscar® and Golden Globe Award.

“Can’t Fight the Moonlight” (Coyote Ugly)
Artist: LeAnn Rimes

This boot-stomping hit from 2000 is another Disney hit written by Diane Warren. It was recorded by LeAnn Rimes, who provided the singing voice for Piper Perabo’s character in the film. It hit No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to become Australia’s best-selling single of 2001.

“Sooner or Later” (Dick Tracy)
Artist: Madonna
When people think of Madonna, they naturally think of Disney. Well… at least in this case. As Breathless Mahoney in 1990’s Dick Tracy, the pop icon belted out this Stephen Sondheim-penned song—and she did it again in 1991 on stage at the Oscars® when the song won an Academy Award® as well.

“King of Wishful Thinking” (Pretty Woman)
Artist: Go West

This catchy tune landed on the No. 8 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Go West’s biggest hit. It appeared on the film’s 1990 soundtrack and later on Go West’s 1992 album Indian Summer.

“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” (Armageddon)
Artist: Aerosmith

This chart-smasher (another Diane Warren success!) hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 when it came out in 1998. Despite the band having been together for decades, it remains Aerosmith’s only No. 1 single.

“Breakaway” (Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement)
Artist: Kelly Clarkson

This song spent an incredible 46 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 when it was released with the film’s soundtrack in 2004. It was originally going to be recorded by Avril Lavigne (who still has a writing credit), but she changed her mind and handed it off to then-up-and-coming artist Clarkson.

“The Climb” (Hannah Montana: The Movie)
Artist: Miley Cyrus

When Disney brought Hannah Montana to the big screen in 2009, it was critical for Miley Cyrus to have an unforgettable song. “The Climb,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, picked up a prize for Best Song from a Movie at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. Cyrus also performed the song to a standing room-only crowd at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009.

“True to Your Heart” (Mulan)
Artists: Stevie Wonder and 98º

Music legend Stevie Wonder teamed up with popular boy band 98º to record this danceable song for the closing credits of the 1998 film. Raven-Simoné’s cover of the tune would go on to appear on the soundtrack of the Disney-produced/Miramax-distributed 2004 film Ella Enchanted.

“I’m Still Here (Jim’s Theme)” (Treasure Planet)
Artist: John Rzeznik

This 2002 alt-rock song was recorded by Rzenik—one of his earlier hits away from The Goo Goo Dolls. “It was easy to relate to Jim, you know? I felt a lot like that when I was his age,” said Rzeznik of the song which peaked at No. 10 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs chart.

“There You’ll Be” (Pearl Harbor)
Artist: Faith Hill

Diane Warren strikes for a fourth time on our list with this hit for Hill in the 2001 film. Pearl Harbor’s director, Michael Bay, directed the music video for the song, which was nominated for an Academy Award but lost out to fellow Disney contender “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters, Inc.

“Hello, Hello” (Gnomeo and Juliette)
Artist: Elton John

The Golden Globe-nominated single for this song from the 2011 animated film was released just by John, although in the film, it’s a duet between the Rocket Man and Lady Gaga.

“Never Knew I Needed” (The Princess and the Frog)
Artist: Ne-Yo

The R&B artist (who performed at D23 Expo 2015) wrote and recorded this song for the 2009 animated film.

“Whale of a Tale” (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)
Artist: Kirk Douglas

The song written for the 1954 film was performed by Kirk Douglas. It was co-written by Al Hoffman, who lent his songwriting skills to other Disney songs such as “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” and “The Unbirthday Song.”

“Ruthless People” (Ruthless People)
Artist: Mick Jagger
Rock legend Mick Jagger made it to No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the title track to this 1986 film. The song was actually written by three well-known musicians: Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates), Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics), and Jagger.

“Real Gone” (Cars)
Artist: Sheryl Crow

This country gem was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Song in a Movie in 2007. It was later covered by Billy Ray Cyrus for Disneymania 6 and by Honor Society for Disneymania 7.

“All for Love” (Three Musketeers)
Artists: Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting

Co-written by Adams for the 1993 film, the song managed to stay at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. Adams still performs the song in concert to this day, having fans this past January in Malaysia(!) sing along to the hit.

“Live to Rise” (The Avengers)
Artist: Soundgarden

Soundgarden may seem an unlikely fit for Disney, but their rock anthem for 2012’s The Avengers made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. “Writing a song for the Avengers film, it has to be lyrically not specific to the movie or the story, but it has to work with it,” Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell told The Hollywood Reporter. “It wasn’t so easy. But it turned out absolutely a Soundgarden song.”

Season 24 Dancing with the Stars Cast Revealed

March 1, 2017March 1, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

It’s almost time to take the floor! Dancing with the Stars returns for its 24th season on March 20, and its all-star cast was just announced on Good Morning America. Take a look at the legendary lineup below, and be sure to tune in for the show’s premiere March 20 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.

Bonner Bolton and Sharna Burgess
The professional bull rider and model is sure to have a wild time on the dance floor.

Charo and Keo Motsepe
Cuchi cuchi! The actress, singer, and musician cruised on ABC’s The Love Boat, once performed aboard the Disney Magic in 2011, and now is hoping for smooth sailing on Dancing with the Stars.

Chris Kattan and Witney Carson
While he may be best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, actor Chris Kattan is no stranger to the Disney family––Outside of his role as Bob on The Middle, Chris also voiced King Zongo on Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Here’s hoping he brings some of those A Night at the Roxbury moves to the dance floor.

David Ross and Lindsay Arnold
A two-time World Series Champion, professional baseball player David Ross is used to steep competition, and he’ll be facing it on the dance floor on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. Recently retired, you can now find David on ESPN as a TV Baseball analyst.

Erika Jayne and Gleb Savchenko
This real housewife of Beverly Hills trades her high heels for dancing shoes on the next season of Dancing with Stars.

Heather Morris and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
The Glee actress will put her dancing skills to the test on the next season of Dancing with the Stars, but this isn’t her first Disney dance––Heather was featured in Bedtime Stories and the ABC series Eli Stone.

Mr. T and Kym Herjavec
Mr. T famously challenged Rocky Balboa to a boxing title in Rocky III, and now this former member of The A Team has his eye on the mirror ball trophy. Eagle-eye Disney fans might remember his cameo appearances in House of Mouse (as an animated version of himself in the episode “House Ghosts”) and Inspector Gadget.

Nancy Kerrigan and Artem Chigvintsev
Olympian Nancy Kerrigan is no stranger to the stage—and now the figure skating champ is taking off her skates and trying the salsa!

Nick Viall and Peta Murgatroyd
The current Bachelor is trading roses for rumbas as the next Bachelor-turned-dancer, following in the footsteps of former Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars alumni Chris Soules and Sean Lowe. Nick may have taken four turns on The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and now The Bachelor to find love (assuming he has…we won’t know until the show’s finale March 13!), but we’re sure he’ll find his footing on the dance floor with ease.

Normani Kordei and Valentin Chmerkovskiy
The Fifth Harmony performer goes solo for a chance at the mirror ball trophy—Disney fans may have seen Normani with Fifth Harmony on Radio Disney’s N.B.T. or caught Fifth Harmony’s performance at the Radio Disney Music Awards just last year (they even performed at D23 Expo in 2013!).

Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater
He’s played pro ball with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Oakland Raiders, and the New York Giants, and now Rashad is giving ballroom dancing a try.

Simone Biles and Sasha Farber
After winning gold at the 2016 Olympics, Simone is prepping for the silver mirror ball trophy with a turn on Dancing with the Stars. Simone made headlines for her adoration of Zac Efron and, as avid High School Musical fans, we like her style—we’re all in this together, right?

Everything You Need to Know About Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

February 28, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is back! Blooming through Epcot from March 1 to May 29, this 90-day festival will feature terrific topiaries, delicious eats, awesome entertainers… need we say more? Read on to plan your visit to this year’s festival—we’re telling you right now, you’re going to need more than one day!

The Topiaries
Disney topiaries are truly spectacular, and the sculpted shrubbery never disappoints during Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Make sure to say “Bonjour!” to a brand-new Belle topiary in the France Pavilion. Joining a new generation of princess topiaries (Snow White, Anna, and Elsa made their debut last year), this topiary will have sculpted facial features. Enchanté! Speaking of Anna and Elsa, be sure to stop by their topiaries when the sun sets—Elsa’s snowy garden is designed to sparkle after dark. This year’s festival also marks the topiary debut of everyone’s favorite imaginary dragon, Figment. Each year we look forward to a new topiary garden at the entrance to World Showcase, and this year we’ll be greeted by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy, and Pluto in “Welcome Spring Fun, Food and Flowers,” a garden inspired by a vintage Walt Disney short film. Keep your eyes peeled as you make your way through the festival—there are nearly 100 topiaries!

The Eats
What would a festival at Epcot be without amazing eats? This year, two new kitchens—Northern Bloom and The Berry Basket––bring the grand total of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens to a whopping 15—you’re going to need more than one day to take it all in! Topping our list of must-eats? Macaron Chocolate Framboise from Fleur De Lys, Home-Made Falafel from Taste of Marrakesh, and Seared Scallops (pictured above) from Northern Bloom. Yum! Check out the full list of eats here.

The Beats
Garden Rocks, the festival’s weekend concert series, returns every Friday through Monday with a can’t-miss line-up of 1960s, ‘70s, ’80s, and ‘90s bands, like the Gin Blossoms (pictured above). “We’re so excited” for the three back-to-back weekends featuring The Pointer Sisters (see what we did there), Simple Plan, and the Plain White T’s, respectively. Check out the full line-up here. (P.S. You can reserve seating and dining for select weekends during the festival––see available dates here).

The Take-Home Treats
How cute are Minnie and Mickey in this Flower & Garden-exclusive design? Keep an eye out for that feisty Figment, too! Pin traders will be delighted by these limited-edition and limited-release options (we love the Mickey and Minnie-inspired butterflies). See the full spread here.

Will you be attending Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year? Be sure to use #FreshEpcot on your foodie and floral pics!

5 Fascinating Facts—Disney Legend Burny Mattinson

February 27, 2017June 18, 2018

By Steven Vagnini

“Animation is 75 percent thinking and 25 percent drawing,” Disney Legend and Walt Disney Animation Studios animation director Burny Mattinson once said. “Everything must be carefully thought out first. Our animators not only have to think like actors but have to figure out how to get that performance across on paper and on the screen. Our characters pause to think and connive. You can see it in their eyes.”

To achieve such a performance—conceived in the artist’s mind and brought forth from pencil to paper—requires exacting skill and patience, but also a deep passion for the animation process. The result is the spectacular illusion of life for which Disney animation has become so renowned—withstanding the changes of eras as each new generation discovers amazing tales, characters, and life lessons through the miracle of moving drawings.

Burny Mattinson and Vincent Price — Burny working with Vincent Price (Ratigan) in the recording studio for *The Great Mouse Detective* (1986)

Burny’s philosophy has shown forth in his work during his more than 60-year history with The Walt Disney Company. As we anticipate D23’s upcoming Lunch with a Disney Legend: Burny Mattinson on April 7, we present five fascinating facts about this legendary artist, animator, director, producer, and storyman whose contributions have ignited the imaginations of millions.

1. Burny grew up as a big Disney—and animation—fan.
At the tender age of 6, Burnett Mattinson entered the San Francisco Orpheum with his mother and experienced his first Disney picture on the big screen: Pinocchio (1940). The film had a profound impact on the young “Golden City” native, who soon found himself drawing original characters and dreaming of becoming an animator. “Ever since I saw that film, this was my dream—to work in this business,” Burny recalled years later. “So I worked every day, drawing.”

2. A bold visit to the Disney Studio launched Burny’s career.
Although he had no formal art training, Burny was determined to join the staff of The Walt Disney Studios after graduating from high school. One day, after his mother dropped him off at the Studio gate, Burny met with a security guard who became impressed with the 18-year-old’s portfolio. The guard immediately called Ken Seiling, the head of Personnel, who offered Burny an interview and, ultimately, a job as a traffic boy in the Studio mail room.

3. Burny was mentored by industry giants while climbing the rungs of the animation ladder.
After a six-month stint in the traffic department—which included stops at Walt Disney’s office wing every week—Burny became an in-betweener on Lady and the Tramp (1955) and, later, an assistant animator to one of the legendary Nine Old Men, Marc Davis, on Sleeping Beauty (1959) and One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). He then worked for 12 years under another renowned animator, Eric Larson, while mastering the animation of Ludwig Von Drake for Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1961) and contributing to such features as The Sword in the Stone (1963) and The Aristocats (1970). As the Nine Old Men began to retire, Burny completed an animation training program and became a key animator on Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974) before being recruited by Frank Thomas to work on storyboards for The Rescuers (1977). “Then Woolie Reitherman, who was a director, asked, ‘Would you stay [in the Story Department]?’” Burny later remembered. “And I said, ‘Ok!’ I started loving making the story because there is something very creative about it. It was never hard.”

Burny working on Mickey's Christmas Carol — Burny working on *Mickey’s Christmas Carol* (1983)

4. Burny’s recollection of a record album prompted Mickey’s return to the big screen after 30 years.
By the early 1980s, Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts were a thing of the past. In fact, Mickey’s last theatrical film, The Simple Things, was released on April 18, 1953. But Burny’s recollection of a 1974 Disneyland Records Christmas album prompted the storyman to pitch the idea for Mickey’s big return to theaters. He received the go-ahead from then-Walt Disney Productions President Ron Miller in May 1981, leading Burny to produce and direct the 1983 featurette Mickey’s Christmas Carol. With the film’s success, Burny reprised the role of director and producer for another mouse-related venture: The Great Mouse Detective (1986).

Burny Mattinson with Aladdin storyboards — Burny reviewing storyboard sketches for *Aladdin* (1992)

5. Burny holds major records in Disney animation history.
In more recent years, Burny has contributed to development and story on beloved films from Beauty and the Beast (1991) to Winnie the Pooh (2011). In 2013, just a few years after being honored as a Disney Legend, Burny celebrated his 60th year at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he holds the status of the team’s longest-serving staff member and the last full-time Walt Disney Studios employee who worked there during Walt’s time.

Every Disney Moment (and Win!) From the 2017 Oscars®

February 27, 2017April 19, 2021

By D23 Team

The Walt Disney Company took home four Oscars® during the 2017 Academy Awards, but those weren’t the only Disney highlights during the show! Read on for our favorite moments from the star-studded event.

O.J.: Made in America wins Best Documentary (Feature)
ESPN took home its first Oscar® in the Documentary (Feature) category for their multi-part series on O.J. Simpson.

Auli’i Cravalho and Lin-Manuel Miranda perform “How Far I’ll Go”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, voice of Maui in Moana, introduced the duo for their performance of the Oscar ®-nominated song “How Far I’ll Go,” with a special new prologue rapped by Lin-Manuel.

Piper wins Best Short Film (Animated)

Piper wins Best Short Film (Animated)
The adorable Disney•Pixar short that delighted audiences before Finding Dory took home the Oscar® for Best Short Film (Animated).

Zootopia wins Best Animated Feature

Zootopia wins Best Animated Feature
Anyone can be anything, including an Oscar® winner! This year’s Oscars brought Walt Disney Animation Studios a dual nomination in the Animated Feature category with both Moana and Zootopia receiving nominations. Zootopia co-directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore and producer Clark Spencer took the stage to celebrate the wild win. “Five years ago, we got this crazy idea of talking about humanity with talking animals in the hopes that when the film came out, it would make the world just a slightly better place,” Zootopia co-director Howard said in accepting the film’s Oscar. Fellow director Moore continued, “And we are so grateful to the audiences all over the world who embraced this film with this story of tolerance being more powerful than fear of the other.”

Jimmy Kimmel and Sunny Pawar reenact The Lion King

Jimmy Kimmel and Sunny Pawar reenact The Lion King
After a quick chat with the young Lion star, Sunny helped Jimmy announce the next air drop of sweets with this Rafiki-esque moment.

Felicity Jones and Riz Ahmed Take the Stage

Felicity Jones and Riz Ahmed Take the Stage
The stars of Rogue One were on hand to present the award for Best Visual Effects.

The Jungle Book wins Best Visual Effects

The Jungle Book wins Best Visual Effects
Disney was nominated three times in this category, with The Jungle Book and its stunning photorealistic animals and environments taking home the Oscar®.

Get Revved Up for an Exclusive First Look at the Poster Art of Cars

February 27, 2017

By Jocelyn Buhlman

While we continue racing toward the June 16 opening of the animated feature Cars 3, we’re taking a side trip into the immersive Cars universe via the upcoming book Poster Art of Cars: Collecting More Than a Hundred Posters and Graphics from Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering.

D23 has an exclusive look at some of the beautiful and detailed art inspired by the Cars movies, Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, and the Cars Toons series. If you’re longing for a drive through the world of Cars, check out some of these exclusive images, and be ready to start your engines when this book releases in May 2017!

Click each image below to get a closer look.

6 Degrees of Walt Disney—How The 2017 Oscar® Nominees Relate to Walt

February 23, 2017February 23, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

From live-action films to animated features, Walt Disney was a giant in the film industry (did you know he won 32 Academy Awards^®?), so it’s no surprise that even the stars of today can be connected to Mr. Disney. Take a look below and see how the 2017 Actor and Actress in a Leading Role nominees can be traced back to Walt, and make sure to watch the Academy Awards this Sunday, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC.

These Disney Academy Awards Aren’t Your Normal Oscars®

February 23, 2017April 19, 2021

By Becky Cline

On Oscar^® Sunday, February 26, Hollywood’s best and brightest will again gather at the Dolby Theatre for the 89th annual Academy Awards^®. Disney is nominated in six categories, with Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana and Zootopia both nominated for best Animated Feature Film—continuing the legacy of Walt Disney, who still holds the record for winning the most individual Academy Awards in history, with 32 to his credit, including many very special ones.

Walt holding two Academy Awards

Of course, the most well-known of Walt Disney’s “Oscars” is the Special Academy Award that was given to Walt Disney in 1939 to recognize the significance of his brilliant animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—“recognized as a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field for the motion picture cartoon.” That very special award was presented to Walt Disney by Shirley Temple, and features a full-size Oscar statuette and seven “dwarf-sized” miniature versions that accompany it. But most people don’t realize that there are even smaller Oscars that have been given out.

Walt receiving an Academy Award for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Today, actors are nominated in each acting category, regardless of their age, but that wasn’t always so. In 1934, the Academy established the Academy Juvenile Award to recognize actors under the age of 18 for their “outstanding contributions to screen entertainment.” This Oscar statuette was as “pint-sized” as its recipients—standing only 7 inches tall (the full award is 13-1/2” high). Disney actor Bobby Driscoll was presented the award in 1950 for his performance in the Disney feature So Dear to My Heart (1949), as was Hayley Mills in 1960 for her tour de force performance as the title character in Pollyanna (1960).

And the Oscars actually get even smaller than that!

Each year, an Oscar winner is allowed to request a special 1-inch miniature 18-karat gold charm “Oscar” for each award that is won. The charms are one inch tall and are made by a Beverly Hills jeweler under exclusive license from the Academy. Each charm is engraved on the bottom with the name of the honoree, the film that it honors, and the year that the film was released.

Walt Disney holding his Oscar charm necklace

And as the record holder for Oscars… Walt Disney requested a lot of them. A photo taken in 1954 shows Walt holding up the 20 gold charms that he acquired from the Academy. His intention was to have them made into a necklace for his wife, Lillian, but when she told him she would prefer a bracelet, he had the ultimate Hollywood linked charm bracelet designed for her—a gift that she loved and proudly wore often. In her later years, Lilly gave the treasured bracelet to one of her granddaughters and today it can be seen on display at The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

Gold Oscar charms requested by Walt Disney

But Walt was not the only Disney Oscar winner to make a special bracelet for his love. After winning an Academy Award for Special Visual Effects in Mary Poppins in 1965, Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw acquired one of the gold Oscar charms and created a very unique and outstandingly beautiful bracelet for his own beloved wife, Bobbie. He took the single charm and created a 7 1/4” long bracelet by adding seven hand-painted framed miniatures—all versions of subjects that he had previously painted over the years in “normal size.”

Peter Ellenshaw's Oscar charms

According to son Harrison Ellenshaw, who shared this photo with D23, the links feature [from L-R] a seascape (in Hawaii or California); The Sea Cloud (a clipper ship); County Kerry, Ireland; a desert scene with the San Jacinto Mountains in background; the Ring of Kerry in Ireland; the Skellig Islands, also in Ireland; and a desert pool.

Over the years, other unique awards have been presented to Walt and additional Disney luminaries. In 1932, Walt Disney was presented with his very first Academy Award, for the 1931–32 Cartoon Short Subject for Flowers and Trees, but that was also the year that he received his first Special Award from the Academy–an Oscar for the creation of Mickey Mouse. Others soon followed.

Walt receiving the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award

In 1942, Walt was given the very prestigious Irving Thalberg Memorial Award, which is occasionally awarded to “Creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production.” Walt Disney was the youngest person ever to win it, and when legendary producer David O. Selznick presented the award to Walt, he was so overcome by the honor that he openly wept, saying, “I want to thank everybody here. This is a vote of confidence from the whole industry.” When Walt returned to his seat, Irving Thalberg’s widow, actress Norma Shearer, was so touched that she went over to Walt and gave him a little kiss.

In 1948, a special Honorary Award was given by the Academy to Disney actor James Baskett to honor his outstanding performance in Disney’s 1946 film Song of the South—for his “able and heartwarming characterization of Uncle Remus, friend and storyteller to the children of the world.”

And finally, there are the Special and Scientific/Technical Awards that have been given to the film wizards at The Walt Disney Company over the years. The first was given to Walt Disney Productions for the design and application to production of the Multiplane Camera in 1938, kicking off decades of amazing film technological achievements. The most recent are the two newest Disney Academy Awards given out just last week to Kiran Bhat, Michael Koperwas, Brian Cantwell, and Paige Warner for the design and development of the ILM facial performance-capture solving system and to Brian Whited for the design and development of the Meander drawing system at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

How Your Disney Cup of Coffee Can Help Peruvian Communities

February 23, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

Are you a fan of Joffrey’s Coffee? Your morning cup of joe at Disney theme parks just got sweeter thanks to a brand-new eco-friendly blend. Grown in Peru as part of Disney and Conservation International’s Alto Mayo forest project, this new high-quality, organic press-pot coffee will be available in select restaurants this month and will make its way to favorite table-service restaurants later this spring.

Alto Mayo is a protected forest in Peru that spans 450,000 acres––that’s twice the size of New York City! Disney collaborated with Conservation International to train local farmers in Peru on sustainable farming methods, among other efforts to reduce deforestation. Because of this, there is less of a need to expand farming areas, which decreases deforestation (Plus, the coffee’s really good!).

Here’s where you can find this new blend at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts this month (P.S. Don’t forget your D23 Discount!):

Walt Disney World Resort

Disneyland Resort

Do You Know All of Walt Disney’s Record-Breaking 32 Academy Awards®?

February 23, 2017March 26, 2018

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Walt Disney currently holds the world record for most Academy Awards® presented to any individual. As we enter Oscars® season, let’s take time to celebrate many of the unique awards Walt Disney has personally won for his groundbreaking work in film. And the Oscar® goes to…

Flowers and Trees (Cartoon Short Subject, 1931–32)
This Silly Symphony cartoon was made in color at Walt Disney’s insistance, and the effort paid off—not only with this first-ever award for Best Cartoon Short Subject, but with the ground-breaking use of Technicolor, which would become an industry standard.

Special Award to Walt Disney for the creation of Mickey Mouse (1932)
It all started with a mouse, and the Academy was duly impressed with what one little mouse managed to begin. For creating our favorite leader of the club, Walt Disney received his first Oscar statue.

Three Little Pigs (Cartoon Short Subject, 1932–33)
This little cartoon became so famous that it often ranked higher on theater marquees than the full-length film it accompanied. The popularity of this film, along with its strongly defined characters and its instantly classic song, secured Walt an award for Best Cartoon Short Subject.

The Tortoise and the Hare (Cartoon Production, 1934)
The Disney-fied retelling of a classic Aesop fable earned Walt an award for producing another wonderful Silly Symphony.

Three Orphan Kittens (Cartoon Production, 1935)
Charming the hearts of viewers (and Academy voters!) everywhere, this tale of three castaway kittens once again granted Walt an award for Cartoon Production.

The Country Cousin (Cartoon Short Subject, 1936)
Walt won the award for Cartoon Short Subject for his Silly Symphony about a country mouse learning the perils of city mouse life.

The Old Mill (Cartoon Short Subject, 1937) 
An animated short so groundbreaking it garnered Walt two Academy Awards, The Old Mill was a dramatic Silly Symphony short that used the multiplane camera for the first time ever

Top Technical Award to Walt Disney Productions for the design and application to production of the Multi-Plane Camera (1937)
The multiplane camera first used in The Old Mill changed animation forever by allowing for more depth and detail in every scene. For his studio to pioneer such a groundbreaking technology, Walt was recognized with a Top Technical Award.

Ferdinand the Bull (Cartoon Short Subject, 1938) 
Sweet and gentle Ferdinand first appeared in this Academy Award-winning short and was even voiced by Walt Disney himself!

Special Award to Walt Disney for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1939)
The Academy famously awarded Walt with a very special award, featuring one regular-sized Oscar and seven smaller ones. This award was presented to him to recognize Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as “a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field for the motion picture cartoon.”

The Ugly Duckling (Cartoon Short Subject, 1939)
Walt’s take on this classic children’s tale (and the very last Silly Symphony) earned an Academy Award for Best Cartoon Short Subject, giving the groundbreaking Silly Symphony series the send-off it deserved.

Irving Thalberg Memorial Award to Walt Disney for “the most consistent high quality of production achievement by an individual producer” (1942)
The reason we list Walt’s record-breaking wins as “Academy Awards” and not “Oscars” is because not all of Walt’s awards are Oscar statuettes. Take this win, for instance: Walt did not receive an Oscar statuette but instead a special award in the form of a bust of Irving Thalberg.

Special Technical Award for “outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia” (1942)
Fantasia has inspired generations of animators and artists with its innovative combination of animation and symphonic music, so it’s only natural that Walt received a special award for his inspiring use of sound in this Disney classic.

Lend a Paw (Cartoon Short Subject, 1941)
Depicting Pluto in a moral crisis over a cuddly kitten, this short that is full of classic and charming Disney antics won Walt another award for Best Cartoon Short Subject.

Der Fuehrer’s Face (Best Cartoon Short Subject, 1942–43)
This famous political cartoon depicts Donald Duck enduring a nightmare about the horrors of Nazi Germany and won an Academy Award for its timely, topical content.

Seal Island (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1948)
Seal Island is not only significant for Walt’s Oscar win, but also for being the very first Disney True-Life Adventure film, kicking off a tradition of films which is still carried on today with the Disneynature series.

In Beaver Valley (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1950)
Walt’s foray into nature films continues its success with this win for a short film depicting the lives of beavers in their natural community.

Nature’s Half Acre (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1951)
Notable for the film’s use of time-lapse photography, this win for Walt tells the amazing story of intricate ecosystems in the “grass-roots” world of insects.

Water Birds (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1952)
Walt wins again with this insightful film on the lives of water birds, covering everything from survival adaptations and courtships to feeding habits.

The Living Desert (Documentary Feature, 1953) 
A landmark film in factual filmmaking, this documentary on how even somewhere as dry and arid as the desert can still be teeming with life earned Walt his first win for Documentary Feature. The Living Desert was also the first film to be released by Disney’s own Buena Vista Distribution.

Bear Country (Two-Reel Short Subject, 1953)
This tale of the American black bear not only won Walt another one of his record-breaking Academy Awards, but also helped inspire Disneyland attractions, such as the True-Life Adventures-inspired Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland, which also featured sections themed to The Living Desert and Beaver Valley.

The Alaskan Eskimo (Documentary Short Subject, 1953)
Walt’s win with this film was both the first in his People and Places series and the first win in the category of Documentary Short Subject.

Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom (Cartoon Short Subject, 1953)
Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom is not just significant for being another of Walt’s wins, but also for being the first cartoon filmed in Cinemascope and featuring artist Eyvind Earle’s first work with Disney animation.

The Vanishing Prairie (Documentary Feature, 1954)
A team of 12 photographers helped make this story of buffalo, prairie dogs, and other critters become another winning True-Life Adventure film.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Achievement with Special Effects, 1954)
Jules Verne’s classic tale of undersea adventure was brought to spectacular life by The Walt Disney Studios, with special effects including a 50-foot-long hydraulic giant squid and a set for the submarine Nautilus that was later displayed at Disneyland. This whale of a tale won Walt a well-deserved Academy Award for special effects.

Men Against the Arctic (Documentary Short Subject, 1955)
Focusing on the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreakers in the Arctic, Walt won again with this entry in his People and Places series.

The Wetback Hound (Live-Action Short Subject, 1957; Walt Disney, Executive Producer; Larry Lansburgh, Producer)
This tale of a dog on the run not only won Walt an Academy Award, but also awards from the Southern California Motion Picture Council and the Berlin International Film Festival.

White Wilderness (Documentary Feature, 1958)
A dozen photographers spent three years in the Arctic to create this masterpiece that received another Best Documentary Feature award for Walt.

Grand Canyon (Live-Action Short Subject, 1958)
This beautiful film about the Grand Canyon not only gave Walt his 29th Academy Award, but also inspired the Grand Canyon diorama on The Disneyland Railroad.

Ama Girls (Documentary Short Subject, 1958; Walt Disney, Executive Producer; Ben Sharpsteen, Producer)
Following the life of an “Ama Girl,” or a Japanese diving girl who searches the seas for a type of seaweed called “Heaven Grass,” this film emphasized her stamina and skill. Ama Girls won Walt his last Documentary Short Subject Academy Award.

The Horse with the Flying Tail (Documentary Feature, 1960; Walt Disney, Executive Producer; Larry Lansburgh, Producer)
This heartwarming tale of Nautical, the star jumper of the U.S. Equestrian team, was originally made for television, but deemed good enough for theatrical release. It was so good, in fact, that Walt won his 31st Academy Award.

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Cartoon Short Subject, 1968; Walt Disney, Executive Producer)
This Disney classic was the last Oscar awarded to Walt specifically. He won posthumously for his work on this animated short about our favorite chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff.