By D23 Team
Whether your Valentine lives in a galaxy far, far away or coasts the E.A.C., we have a valentine for every Disney fan you hold near and dear to your heart. Click the link underneath each card to download your favorite ones!
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By Nicole Nalty
Disney Cruise Line invites you to be their guest with Beauty and the Beast, a brand-new musical production inspired by Disney’s live-action adaptation of the animated classic. Starting November 6, guests aboard the Disney Dream can experience the enchanting fairytale like never before, as the new production seamlessly weaves the romance, adventure, and magic of the live-action film with the powerful nostalgia of the beloved animated feature.
Something there that wasn’t there before
Taking the stage in the Walt Disney Theatre, Beauty and the Beast will tell the classic story through a new lens, with the help of a music box. Created by set designer Jason Sherwood (Paint Your Wagon, Frozen, A Musical Spectacular) and video designer Aaron Rhyne (Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, Broadway’s Anastasia), this scenic motif will flawlessly guide audiences through the tale as old as time, from Belle’s little town to Beast’s castle.
They can sing, they can dance
The musical production will feature two new songs created for the live-action film by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice: “How Does a Moment Last Forever” and “Days in the Sun.” The two songs will stand alone from the film versions with brand-new arrangements and orchestrations by Matt Castle and Frank Galgano (Into the Woods). And, of course, iconic songs that first appeared in the animated film, including “Belle,” “Something There,” and “Beauty and the Beast” will be revamped to fit the new show, and showstoppers “Gaston” and “Be Our Guest” will continue to do just that in production numbers. In fact, “Be Our Guest” has been completely re-imagined for the stage show––we can’t wait to feast our eyes on this new adaptation!
Charming characters
What would Beauty and the Beast be without its enchanted (and enchanting!) objects? Favorite characters like Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts will take the stage in an all-new way, thanks to a special blend of costuming and puppetry from costume designer Sarah Cubbage (Broadway’s Skylight) and puppet designer Lake Simon (Etiquette Unraveled).
Beauty and the Beast is led by director and choreographer Connor Gallagher (Tangled: The Musical, Found), who collaborated with writer Sara Wodsworth (Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, Broadway’s In Transit) and an amazing team, including four-time Tony® Award-nominated Japhy Weideman to amaze audiences aboard the Disney Dream.
You can find out more about this spectacular new show or book your vacation at disneycruise.com.
By D23 Team
Whether you’ve already found your prince(ss) charming or you’re still wishing upon a star for true love’s first kiss, there’s something magical about a Disney happily ever after. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked you to share your Disney proposal stories with us:
1. On Top of the World
“I proposed to my partner at the Top of the World lounge at Bay Lake Tower while watching the Wishes fireworks. We come to Walt Disney World frequently and to pop the question at a place that means so much to us both made this an extra special memory. Everyone applauded when he said yes!”—Michael Sferro
2. Out-of-this-Galaxy Engagement
“[We got engaged] right in front of Chewbacca! Magical! We have known each other since we were 5 years old in Kindergarten! Forty years later we got engaged at the Happiest Place on Earth!”—Melodie Bond
3. Surprise at Sleeping Beauty Castle
“It was our two-year anniversary as a couple and we decided to spend the day together at Disneyland. He kept telling me we were going to be late for something and I thought he might propose! He completely tricked me and took me to Carnation Cafe and told me that was my surprise. It was cute, but I was expecting something very different! After we finished breakfast, he told me he had one more surprise for me. He takes me to Sleeping Beauty Castle and I see my whole family standing in front! Still thinking the proposal thing was out the window, and [concluding that] spending the day at Disneyland with my family was the surprise, I ran up and hugged everyone. As I turned around he was on one knee! We will be married two years in April.”—Desiree Swift Cortes
4. Under the Sea Engagement
“We got engaged at Coral Reef Restaurant in Epcot on September 1, 2005. I am a scuba diver and loved the idea of having dinner next to a huge aquarium. A scuba diver swam down next to our table and started tapping on the glass and pointing at me. He unrolled a sign and put it on the glass and it said ‘Kristen—Will you marry me? Love, Ryan.’ I was in disbelief! I turned to look at Ryan across the table and he was on his knee next to me with a ring! The whole restaurant stopped and cheered––another guest even drew a picture of the event and gave it to us as a gift! The whole night was magical.”—Kristen Cabot Brady
5. An Enchanting Evening
“This past October, my partner asked me to marry her at Walt Disney World. We always talked about getting engaged, but she surprised me during a last-minute trip for Halloween. I adore everything Disney, but I really love Beauty and the Beast so we went dressed as Belle and Beast for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We had reservations at Be Our Guest Restaurant and the dinner was phenomenal. After dinner, we met Beast. I took my picture with Beast and turned to leave the room in excitement when the cast members had to tell me to turn around. She told me she had this speech planned, but all she could say was ‘Will you marry me?’ and all I could do was nod! The entire room erupted into cheers and applause! My fiancé and I have never felt so accepted and welcomed publicly as a couple as we did that night. The cast members were amazing and the guests were so kind. This was truly a magical night and Disney is our happy place.”—Trishia Wajda
6. A Newsworthy Engagement
“We went to see Newsies on Broadway during our first trip to New York City. During curtain call, my husband snuck off to the bathroom to change into a Newsies-inspired outfit, then surprised me with a tour of the set after the show! He took me up on the stage and pulled out a newspaper with a headline that read ‘Will You Marry Me’ as he got down on one knee. It was absolutely perfect!”—Amber Heimbegner
7. The Ultimate Scavenger Hunt
“I set up a scavenger hunt throughout all four parks with an invitation to Sara from Mickey to follow the clues. After a day of visiting each park at Walt Disney World, we both made a wish at Cinderella Wishing Well. After the park closed, I asked Sara to make my wish come true in front of Cinderella Castle–and the PhotoPass photographer helped make it an even more magical memory! This winter, we’ll be enjoying a land and sea honeymoon at Walt Disney World and on a Disney Cruise. Thanks for the most excellent memories! Our trips to Walt Disney World have brought us closer together—something sorely needed during a five-year long-distance relationship!”—Tim Rooney
8. Parasol Proposal
“I commissioned my proposal to be written on a parasol in New Orleans Square. It was Valentine’s Day, so my girlfriend didn’t think twice about a trip to the parks, and even less of the fact that I wore a blazer. (It was a little warm, but it was the only thing that hid the ring box). I had gotten my parents, her parents, and her best friend into the park, to film the big reveal, and there were some close calls––we must have walked past my now mother-in law twice, and thankfully my girlfriend didn’t notice. When the time came, everything went perfectly and it was a beautiful moment, captured on video with applause and happy tears. After, we celebrated at Café Orleans. To this day, I really don’t think I could organize anything that detailed again, but it was worth it. The cast member at the parasol stand told me, to their knowledge, no one had ever proposed in that way before. We do love to make magic.”—Tucker Knowlton Boyes
9. Forever Young
“On our first trip together to Walt Disney World, on the very last day, my fella and I went to meet Peter Pan. Drew asked for Peter’s permission to grow up. Peter insisted this was a bad, BAD idea and he forbade it. Drew carefully explained that if he couldn’t grow up a little bit, then he couldn’t get married. Peter hesitated, then amended his statement to say that he would allow Drew to have his own Wendy. Drew got down on one knee and asked me to be his Wendy, and I said yes. We decided to never grow up together!”—Aly Mierzejewski
10. Wishes Come True
“I took my wife (girlfriend at the time) to Disneyland one evening for the ‘perfect date.’ We had dinner together at the Blue Bayou Restaurant, enjoyed the fireworks spectacular, and then watched Fantasmic! from our priority seats. When Fantasmic! ended, I took her to Snow White Grotto, where we both tossed a coin into the wishing well. ‘Want to know what I wished for?’ I asked. ‘The only thing that would make this night more magical.’ I then got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. We have been happily married for more than five years now.”—Kevin Lemley
By Nicole Nalty
Fans of Freaky Friday, rejoice! Whether you’ve been a fan since the publication of Mary Rodger’s 1972 novel or the debut of the 1977 feature adaptation, or if you discovered the hilarious hijinks with the release of the 1995 television movie or the 2003 feature film, get ready to celebrate the story in a whole new way with a brand-new musical based on the classic story. While we eagerly await its arrival in La Jolla (join us for a performance and special post-show chat!), our friends at Disney Music are giving us a first listen at one of the songs created for the musical!
“No More Fear,” sung by Emma Hunton as Katherine, the mother, in her daughter Ellie’s body, (freaky, right?) is a pivotal moment for Katherine to inspire her daughter to be bold and move through life without fear.
Take a listen below and pre-order the album here. Digital Redemption is available Feb 10 and Physical CD is available March 17.
By Courtney Potter
Super Bowl Hero James White Visits Walt Disney World
Can you believe it’s been a full 30 years since the first Super Bowl-winning football player celebrated his team’s victory with a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resorts? The tradition started back in 1987, just after Super Bowl XXI, and now all kinds of achievements—in sports and beyond—are memorialized with a trip to visit Mickey Mouse and his pals…
Naturally, this year is no different: James White, a New England Patriots running back and one of the heroes of Super Bowl LI this past Sunday, was honored with a colorful, celebration-filled parade on Monday down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park! Park guests and NFL fans alike lined the street as James smiled and waved from a float he shared with Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney characters. After all that Main Street, U.S.A. fanfare, James posed for photos and even enjoyed some fun time in the park—including a trip on the popular Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Congrats to James and his teammates!
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives February 10, 2017 Lunch with a Disney Legend: Dave Smith February 11, 2017 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Tangled in Florida February 19, 2017 D23 Member Night at Freaky Friday at La Jolla Playhouse March 8, 2017 Exclusive D23 Beauty and the Beast Advanced Screening and Luncheon April 10, 2017 D23 Members Invited to “Eat Like Walt” at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival July 14-16, 2017 D23 Expo 2017 Studios February 16, 18 and 22, 2017 Newsies in select movie theaters March 17, 2017 Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters April 21, 2017 Born in China opens in theaters 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 |
Parks January 13–February 20, 2017 Epcot International Festival of the Arts January 20–February 5, 2017 Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure park March 10–April 16, 2017 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival August 31-November 13, 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival 2019 Star Wars-Themed Lands Opening at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Television February 26, 2017 The Oscars® are broadcast on ABC March 10, 2017 Tangled Before Ever After premieres on Disney Channel at 8 p.m. ET March 24, 2017 Tangled: The Series premieres on Disney Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET |
New Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Teaser Trailer
If you happened to be watching the “Big Game” this past Sunday (and eating copious amounts of delicious snack foods, because that’s clearly part of the fun), you may have noticed there were several very cool, brand-new teaser trailers (from Disney and Marvel) that premiered during the broadcast. Case in point: An extended first look at Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2! (If you missed it the first time ‘round, check it out above.)
Our favorite ragtag team of vagabond heroes—Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), and Drax (Dave Bautista)—is back and better than ever… and they’re joined by Yondu (Michael Rooker) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), as they continue to hurtle around the universe—this time trying to unlock the mystery of Star-Lord’s parentage.
Ready to go “running in the shadows” with the Guardians? You’ll have to wait til May 5… but if this teaser is any indication, it’ll be so worth it.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Extended Trailer Debuts
Honestly, Sunday’s game was an embarrassment of cinematic riches—besides the Guardians sneak, we also caught a glimpse of the next installment in the Pirates adventure… Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tale No Tales. In case you had to refill your chips and guac during this particular commercial break, take a gander at the trailer, above.
Johnny Depp returns as everyone’s favorite antihero, Captain Jack Sparrow—and as per usual, the good cap’n is in a heap of trouble… a cadre of deadly ghost sailors (led by the terrifying Captain Salazar, played by Javier Bardem) have escaped from the Devil’s Triangle, and they’re bent on killing every pirate at sea—especially Jack! His only hope of survival lies in the fabled Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy partnership with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. Ultimately, Captain Jack must reverse his string of ill fortune and face down one of the most formidable foes he’s ever encountered.
The fifth film in the franchise also stars Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa, Golshifteh Farahani (Body of Lies) as sea-witch Shansa, and, yes—Orlando Bloom as Will Turner. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales sails into theaters on May 26!
Beauty and the Beast to Celebrate Opening Night with Nationwide Events
We’re just a few short weeks from the debut of Walt Disney Studios’ live-action retelling of Beauty and the Beast—and to celebrate, they’ve just scheduled some fantastic special opening night events for BATB fans around the country on Thursday, March 16. The events—at around 600 locations nationwide—will take place ahead of the 7 p.m. showings at theaters with IMAX®, Dolby Cinema®, and other select premium large formats. Fans will not only get the opportunity to be among the first to experience the highly anticipated film, but they’ll also get to see some exclusive behind-the-scenes on-screen content… plus, it’ll be the only chance for in-theater audiences to see Ariana Grande and John Legend’s music video for their big new “Beauty and the Beast” duet!
Tickets for these Beauty and the Beast opening night fan events are on sale now and available through BeOurGuest.com/fan-events. For more information, including which theaters near you might be participating, visit BeOurGuest.com.
Psst! D23 Members are invited to attend an advance screening of the film––click here for details.
Freeform and Marvel Announce Cast for New Series Cloak & Dagger
Freeform is ready to enter the Marvel Universe in a big way with Cloak & Dagger, a live-action series based on two beloved Marvel comic book characters. Former Disney Channel star and Hollywood Records recording artist Olivia Holt will portray Tandy Bowen, a once-privileged little girl who watched as her family was destroyed by a disastrous storm that uprooted her life. Now in her late teens, an unexpected encounter with a boy named Tyrone Johnson sparks a life-changing event. Aubrey Joseph (Run All Night, The Night Of) will play Tyrone, who, as a young man wanted nothing more than to prove he was fearless… but when everything he held close was taken away, life taught him to be afraid. Now older and more sheltered, Tyrone closes himself off—until he meets a girl named Tandy, and his life changes forever.
Additional cast for Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger will be announced at a later date, so stay tuned for more info on the decidedly intriguing show as it becomes available.
New “Rebel” Teaser for Descendants 2
The sequel to Disney Channel’s über-successful original movie Descendants won’t grace our screens for a few months yet—but thankfully, we’ve been getting some exciting sneak peeks over the last few weeks. And here’s another one! Check out the new teaser video, subtitled “Rebel,” above.
Cool, right? We get to see Descendants 2’s new villains in action—namely, Uma (Ursula’s daughter), Harry Hook (Captain Hook’s son), and Gil (Gaston’s son). This time ‘round, Mal (Dove Cameron) returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost, where Uma (China Anne McClain) and the other Villain Kids are setting out to break the barrier between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon, and unleash all the villains imprisoned on the Isle, once and for all. Say it ain’t so!
Look for Descendants 2 this summer, only on Disney Channel.
Music Acts Set for Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival—the fabulously fragrant Walt Disney World event now in its 24th year—is only a few weeks away… and as in festivals past, a dizzying array of awesome music acts from the ‘60s through the ‘90s will be providing an exciting soundtrack. The “Garden Rocks” concert series brings your favorite stars from rock and pop history to the America Gardens Theatre; this year, there’s not only music all weekend long (Friday through Sunday), but every Monday, too!
This year’s line-up includes The Pointer Sisters (pictured above) (March 10 though 13); Night Ranger (March 24 through 27); Berlin featuring Terri Nunn (April 30 through May 1); and The Spinners (May 26 through 29). “Garden Rocks” concert performances are held each Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of the Festival; show times are at 5:30, 6:45, and 8 p.m. each night. The best news? Concerts are included with regular park admission to Epcot!
The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs from March 1 to May 29. For more info, visit epcotinspring.com.
By D23 Team
Recently, we gave you a first look at Disney Princess PleyBox, an all-new way to bring your favorite Disney Princess stories to life. This special subscription box brings the magic of Disney Princesses to your doorstep, and encourages an innovative new way to play—the PleyBox turns into a scene from the film and includes Princess figurines, fashion accessories, and more! Now we’re excited to unbox the very first Disney Princess PleyBox, celebrating one of our favorite princesses, Belle!
All of the magic is contained in this PleyBox—but the box itself is pretty magical, too! Once you’ve found all of the treasures inside, you can turn the box into a scene from the film. In this case, the PleyBox turns into Beast’s castle.
A box celebrating Belle wouldn’t be complete with a story! Pore through the pages of this mini magazine to read a story, do a puzzle, and find the instructions to build your castle.
How cute is this Belle tee? We love the contrast of Belle in black and white with the bright and colorful T-shirt.
Bring the tale as old as time to life with these enchanting figurines.
Princess play time is always better with a crown! This Belle-inspired crown has stunning gold detailing and is perfect for any princess.
Our eco-friendly box turned into a pretty enchanting castle, perfect for playtime with the new figurines.
Order your first PleyBox here––subscribers will receive a $5 off coupon for Beauty and the Beast in theatres March 17!
By Nicole Nalty
Great news for fans of a particular galaxy far, far away! Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger just announced that Star Wars-themed lands at Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be opening in 2019.
When these lands open, they will be the largest, single-themed land expansions ever at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Spanning 14-acres, these two lands broke ground in April 2016 and will bring Star Wars characters and their stories to life like never before. This brand-new planet, one of the last stops before wild space, is sure to be out-of-this-galaxy—we can’t wait to take control of the Millennium Falcon!
Stay tuned to D23 for more Disney news and updates.
By Nicole Nalty
Exciting news from the land of Pandora! Just moments ago on The Walt Disney Company Q1 FY17 Earnings call, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger shared that Pandora – The World of Avatar will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on May 27. We can’t wait to explore this new land when it opens just a few short months from now.
We’ve been following the creation of Pandora – The World of Avatar since it was announced in 2011, and even got a sneak peek at some of the amazing and innovative new ways the land will immerse guests at Destination D: Amazing Adventures. Explorers will marvel over the unbelievable floating mountains and bioluminescent plants, soar through the world of Pandora atop a Banshee on Avatar Flight of Passage, and sail through a bioluminescent rainforest on Na’vi River Journey. Weary travelers can quench their thirst at Pongu Pongu, or grab a bite at Satu’li Canteen, and souvenir shoppers can explore Windtraders for Na’vi cultural items, toys, science kits, and more.
We can’t wait to explore this brand new land! Stay tuned to D23 for more exciting Disney updates.
By Justin Arthur, Archivist, Walt Disney Archives
With the beginning of a new year comes a brand-new exhibit at the Walt Disney Archives. Inspired by one of the original thematic lands of Disneyland, the Archives’ Reading Room has been refreshed to celebrate Tomorrowland.
From Man in Space to the Millennium Falcon, The Walt Disney Company has long been inspired by stories of science fact and fiction. Tomorrowland celebrated this optimistic future, and continues to drive innovative storytelling at The Walt Disney Company today.
The Kem Weber-designed animator’s desk display has been dialed back to the mid-1950s, reminiscent of Ward Kimball’s desk while he was directing space exploration television shows like Man in Space, Man and the Moon, and Mars and Beyond. Not only were these programs influential in fueling American pop culture’s obsession with anything “Space Age,” but Man in Space, in particular, was shown by President Eisenhower to top brass at the Pentagon, becoming instrumental in pushing the space program forward. An original astronaut navigator costume used in the filming of 1955’s Man and the Moon is also displayed for the first time.
Around the room, visitors will now find props, attraction posters, and signs from Disney theme parks, including EPCOT Center’s Horizons, Captain EO, Star Tours, and even an original Rocket Jets sign from Disneyland. Additionally, robots, spacecraft, and artwork representing films from The Black Hole to TRON: Legacy are presented, along with some relics of Disney’s Audio-Animatronics® history. In the merchandise case, favorite products inspired by Walt Disney’s first sci-fi epic, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, sit alongside souvenirs from the early days of Epcot, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.
Employees of The Walt Disney Company may visit the Walt Disney Archives during regular weekday hours, and D23 Gold and Gold Family Members can visit the Archives exclusively through The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23.
Get a closer look at more of the exhibit below.
By D23 Team
In celebration of Lunar New Year, Shanghai Disney Resort and Shentong Group are celebrating the spring festival by introducing four new themed trains on the Shanghai Metro.
Greet the New Year and a New Disney Day
Customized both inside and out with decorations blending Chinese Lunar New Year customs with classic Disney elements, these special themed trains will offer guests a colorful beginning and end to their visits to Shanghai Disney Resort.
Exciting Exteriors
The trains’ red exteriors are wrapped with images of Disney characters dressed in traditional Chinese attire sending New Year greetings to the passengers.
Inspirational Interiors
Train interiors are decorated from top to bottom with Disney creativity presented in every detail.
When You Wish Upon a Ceiling
Ceilings are adorned with New Year wishes, while the beloved Disney characters greet guests throughout. Disney elements seamlessly integrate with traditional Chinese design, as illustrated by the Mickey head-shaped symbols of luck around the Enchanted Storybook Castle on each of the train’s doors.
A Decorated History
This is one of a series of decorated metro trains debuted by Shanghai Disney Resort and Shentong Group, following themed trains inspired by the magical Christmas season and the Mandarin production of The Lion King at Disneytown.