9 Out of This World Facts about Star Tours’ Over 30 Years of Continued Adventures

January 9, 2017January 8, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

We’ve been jumping to lightspeed with Star Tours since the attraction opened in 1987, although nowadays we experience our galactic adventures through the updated Star Tours—The Adventures Continue. As we celebrate over 30 years of amazing adventures with this Disney attraction found in parks all over the world, D23 has rounded up some fun facts about the Endor Express and beyond!

A Familiar Flight Number
While your destination changes every time you ride Star Tours—The Adventures Continue, the flight number always remains the same: 1401. That number is a special shout-out by the Imagineers who designed the ride, since the street address for Walt Disney Imagineering is 1401! Even when the Imagineers are flying out of this world, they can always take a little bit of their home with them.

A Blast from the Past
Fans of the original version of Star Tours may recognize a familiar voice while they wait in the queue for Star Tours—The Adventures Continue. Sputtering out with a glitchy voice, “T-this is C-c-captain Rex,” and other notable quotes from his original run on Star Tours, everyone’s favorite first-time flier, Captain Rex, is boxed up in a crate labelled “DEFECTIVE,” waiting with other droids to be shipped to a new planet.

That’s not the only familiar thing you may hear, however. Throughout the ride’s different sequences, you may hear some familiar dialogue said by new characters: Coming upon the opportunity to complete a Death Star trench run, Captain Rex said “I’ve always wanted to do this!” and now C-3PO echoes that sentiment before entering a podrace. Keep your ears open as you experience the attraction, because you may soon find yourself yelling, “Brakes, brakes… Where are the brakes?!”

Still Getting Used to His Programming
Speaking of everyone’s favorite robotic pilot, poor Captain Rex never did manage to fly us to the moon of Endor in the original Star Tours. You might blame it on the little droid’s scatterbrained personality, or, if you ever looked closely at Rex while he was still captaining the original Endor Express, you might have noticed the big red pull-tab sticking out of his body that was labelled “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT.” I have a bad feeling about that…

Paging Egroeg Sacul…
While you are waiting in the Star Tours—The Adventures Continue queue and watching R2-D2 bicker with C-3PO, keep your ears open for the announcements. Egroeg Sacul and Mot Worrom are paged, the backwards names of George Lucas, creator of Star Wars, and Tom Morrow, the name of the host of various Disney attractions including Innoventions and Flight to the Moon. A land speeder with the license plate THX 1138 is also paged, referencing George Lucas’ very first film.

Inner Space in Outer Space
Before the original Star Tours at Disneyland was sending us to a galaxy far, far away, the ride building housed an attraction that had us explore a different kind of space. Adventure Thru Inner Space was a dark ride attraction that allowed guests to shrink down to the size of an atom and explore the inner workings of a snowflake! How were guests able to shrink down so tiny? Well, through the magic of the Mighty Microscope, of course! The giant, iconic microscope used to be the centerpiece of Adventure Thru Inner Space’s queue before R2-D2, C-3PO, and friends moved in. But don’t worry—the Mighty Microscope is still in the attraction! As you zoom through the Death Star in one of the possible endings for Star Tours—The Adventures Continue, look to your left as you exit the deadly space station to spot the Mighty Microscope in its new home. The Rebels must have managed to steal it from the Imperials, though, because in the original Star Tours, just as you were about to fly out of the eminence bay, you pass by the Mighty Microscope on your right hand side.

Packing Up Some Shout-Outs
If you’re looking for more shout-outs to your favorite Disneyland attractions, make sure to pay attention to what the droid G2-9T is scanning while he checks luggage in the attraction’s queue. All sorts of references are made on the scanner, from referencing the Storm Trooper TK421 (why isn’t he at his post?), to Madame Leota’s head, to Major and Minor Domo from the classic 3-D show Captain EO. While you’re waiting for your next trip on Star Tours, make sure to pay attention to what the droid scans, because you just might see a shout-out to your favorite Disney movie or attraction! Keep your eyes peeled for references to everything from Toy Story to The Black Hole to, of course, Adventure Thru Inner Space.

Do You Think Luke Ever Flew On Star Tours?
The events of the original Star Tours take you on a whirlwind experience of classic Star Wars moments, such as dodging an asteroid field and joining in on a trench run against the Death Star. Have you ever wondered if these events actually fit into the Star Wars story? Well, Star Tours as a company has actually been acknowledged in several episodes of the animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, including via a poster Easter egg in the episode “Lightsaber Lost.” And our favorite first-time pilot, Captain Rex, has a guest appearance on the animated TV show Star Wars Rebels (pictured above), in the episode “Droids in Distress.”

But just in case you wanted a full explanation for just how exactly Captain Rex’s silly adventures fit into Star Wars lore, StarWars.com has a detailed explanation of just how our favorite attraction fits into the galaxy far, far away.

No Longer Feathered, But Still Friends
The Mighty Microscope isn’t our only shout-out to attractions from Disneyland’s past. Two of the droids featured in the attraction’s queue, G2-9T and G2-4T, have been referred to as “Goose Droids,” and if you take a closer look, you may notice that they have robotic webbed feet and tails. That’s because before the two droids at Disneyland’s Star Tours were working in the droid room, they had a different job that involved more… singing?

In 1974, Disneyland introduced a musical revue attraction called America Sings to celebrate America’s bicentennial. Throughout the show’s four main acts, a quartet of singing geese sang songs from “I’ve Been Working On the Railroad” to “Singing in the Rain.” But, in 1987, two of those Audio-Animatronics^® singing geese took off their feathery costumes and decided to get into the travel business. Now you’ll see the geese scanning guests (voiced by Patrick Warburton, pictured above right—a familiar face to guests who ride Soarin’ Around the World) and checking bags for Star Tours—The Adventures Continue, although one of them still sings a familiar tune every once and a while. Keep your ears open while G2-9T scans your bags, because you may hear him sing, “I’ve been lookin’ at the saaaame bag, alllll the live long day!”

Sharp Eyes Will Spot These Ears
As you are standing in line for Star Tours—The Adventures Continue, you can watch silhouettes of various Star Tours workers and customers pass by a lighted window. Keep your eyes open for an astromech droid who rolls by the window, because when he stops and opens both his satellite dishes over his head, his outline forms the shape of a certain famous mouse! And make sure to look around the rest of the droid room as well, because in Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s versions of Star Tours, you can spot a smaller robot who casts another shadow with a famous set of round ears.

Exclusive: Newly Restored Version of Poor Papa a Highlight of Upcoming Pinocchio Blu-Ray Release

January 9, 2017November 30, 2022

By Max Lark

No Disney fan needs any additional motivation to add the new Walt Disney Signature Collection release of Pinocchio to their movie collection. The timeless story of a wooden puppet brought to life by the Blue Fairy—with the promise that he can become a real boy if he earns it—is one of the most beloved movies in the Disney canon and one of the most ambitious animated movies ever made. But there’s even more to check out when this classic tale arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on January 31 (Pinocchio arrives for the first time on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on January 10): A majestically restored print of Poor Papa (1927)—the first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon. It’s essential viewing for any fan of early Disney animation.

In 1927, while Walt was wrapping up the “Alice Comedies,” his distributor, Charles Mintz, brokered a deal with Universal for Walt to create a cartoon character. That new character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, would go on to star in 26 cartoons from the Disney studio. The series proved popular, and the character was the first to generate Disney merchandise—a candy bar, a stencil set, and a pin-back button!

Poor Papa was the first Oswald cartoon produced, but Mintz felt that Oswald looked “old” so the short was not released. The next Oswald short Walt and Ub produced, Trolley Troubles on September 5, 1927, debuted a redesigned younger version of Oswald. Given this second short’s positive critical reaction by the public, Universal and Mintz ultimately released Poor Papa on June 11, 1928. In this rather charming story, a bunch of storks bombard Oswald with bunnies until our hero figures out a way to thwart them.

The marvelous restoration is sourced from digital scans of a 16mm silent print that was made in 1930 for home use and discovered in the UK. This is one of three known surviving prints on this title.

Restoration was done in 2015 by Lowry Digital (a division of PrimeFocus Technologies) who have been entrusted with the restoration on many of Disney’s classic animation crown jewels.

Celebrate National Bird Day with our Favorite Feathered Friends

January 5, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

Whistle, chirp, or let out a cock-a-doodle-doo! It’s National Bird Day and, to celebrate, we’re letting some of our favorite birdies take center stage. What are you waiting for? Olé! Olé! It’s showtime!

Archimedes, The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Whoooo’s up first? Why, it’s Merlin’s feathered friend, Archimedes. This opinionated owl doesn’t tolerate any funny business, and his tolerance is tested time and time again with whimsical wizards and witches like Merlin and Madam Mim around. A talented (albeit impatient) tutor for Wart, we think we’d learn a lot in a lesson from Archimedes.

Darkwing Duck, Darkwing Duck (1991)
The terror that flaps in the night, the winged scourge that pecks at your nightmares… No appreciation of Disney’s feathered friends would be complete without the fearless Darkwing Duck. Voiced by the incomparable Jim Cummings, he’s known by day as ordinary citizen Drake Mallard, but by night, Darkwing Duck protects the city of St. Canard from bad guys and their villainous schemes. Let’s get dangerous!

The DuckTales gang, DuckTales (1987)
We’re big fans of DuckTales here at D23 (we’ve been known to let out a “Woo-oo!” here and there), so it was a no-brainer for Scrooge McDuck, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Launchpad, and the whole gang to be on our list. We loved the original show and we can’t wait for our friends to fly back to the small screen this summer.

Heihei, Moana (2016)
A newer addition to the Disney birdcage, Moana’s Heihei is the ultimate birdbrain. Voiced by Alan Tudyk (yes, really), the peculiar-looking rooster joins Moana on her journey to save her island, but unsurprisingly, is more of a hindrance than a helper along the way. While we wouldn’t necessarily put Heihei at the top of our list for intense ocean travel, we still think it would be a hoot to hang out with him.

Kevin, Up (2009)
Speaking of brightly colored but not-so-bright birds, we fell in love with Kevin the second he took his first bite out of Russell’s chocolate bar. Kevin has a hard time staying out of trouble, but ultimately is a fine friend for Russell, Carl, and Dug on their big adventure.

Iago, Aladdin (1992)
Ah, Iago… the bold, boisterous bird who also serves a silly sidekick to the evil Jafar. While Iago may not have the best intentions, it’s hard to hate such a hilarious henchman (henchbird?). Whatever you do, don’t ask him if Polly wants a cracker—the answer is no.

Lady Kluck, Robin Hood (1973)
While Lady Kluck is Maid Marian’s lady-in-waiting, she’s a leading lady in her own right. Fiery, feisty, and with an unparalleled skill for football, she’s a supportive friend to Maid Marian one minute, and barreling through a bunch of rhinos the next. Long live Lady Kluck!

Ludwig Von Drake, Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1961)
Eminent psychologist, renowned color expert, etymologist, and the most sought-after lecturer in the world, Ludwig Von Drake is without a doubt the brightest bird in this bunch––and he’ll tell you so, too! Professor Von Drake has taught us as much as any schoolteacher has since his debut in 1961. Originally voiced by the legendary Paul Frees, this quack-up character has had many starring moments throughout his career, some alongside Walt Disney himself! Good luck getting “The Spectrum Song” out of your head…

Orange Bird, Sunshine Tree Terrace (1971)
Moving from the screen to the parks, Magic Kingdom fans will be delighted to see this adorable addition on our list! The Orange Bird first flew to Magic Kingdom park in 1971, where guests could find him perched inside Sunshine Tree Terrace. Orange Bird is different from the birds on this list in many ways, but perhaps his most unique trait is his ability to communicate via orange thought clouds, rather than words. The Orange Bird flew south for quite a few winters but he made a triumphant return to Magic Kingdom in 2012.

José, Pierre, Michael, and Fritz, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room (1963)
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Orange Bird’s neighbors over at Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room! José, Pierre, Michael, and Fritz have all been clucking like a bunch of old hens since this iconic attraction opened at Disneyland park in 1963. Heralding from Mexico, Ireland, France, and Germany respectively, José, Michael, Pierre, and Fritz lead the room in rousing renditions of “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing” and “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room,” as other birds, flowers, and even tiki gods join in the party. But be careful when visiting these four, as the tiki gods tend to get angered by all the celebrating…

Sam Eagle, The Muppets
A tribute to all birds… but mostly Sam Eagle. A bald eagle, Sam gets a little red, white, and blue at times (well, mostly blue). Perhaps the most patriotic character in the Disney family, Sam is always searching for ways to educate the audience about the United States of America, usually to no avail. But, Sam Eagle fans will be happy to know that Sam leads the charge in The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History at Magic Kingdom park.

Scuttle, The Little Mermaid (1989)
Talk about an odd bird… Scuttle gives Ariel a bird’s-eye view of the human world through trinkets he’s collected on land. While Scuttle’s intentions are earnest, he’s not the best at identifying human thingamabobs—but can you really blame him? Even with all of the snarfblatts and dinglehoppers, Scuttle is the sweetest seagull you’d ever want to meet.

Zazu, The Lion King (1994)
You couldn’t find two birds of a feather less alike than Scuttle and Zazu. Zazu is incredibly smart and dedicated to supporting Mufasa as his right-hand bird. While Zazu is very prim and proper, he’s also known to deliver iconic one-liners here and there (“He’d make a very handsome throw rug!”). All Zazu’s zingers aside, the bird serves as a sort of Jiminy Cricket-esque character for young Simba as he navigates the dangers of the Pride Lands.

Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito, The Three Caballeros (1944)
We couldn’t talk about our favorite birds without mentioning these birds of a feather! The Three Caballeros first flew together in the 1944 film (although Donald Duck and José Carioca both appeared in Saludos Amigos in 1942) and are still fan favorites to this day. You can find the Three Caballeros on a “gran fiesta” in Epcot, and singing and sambaing in Disneyland’s it’s a small world. ¡Ay, caramba!

Celebrate the New Year With Your Favorite Disney Babies!

January 5, 2017

By Jocelyn Buhlman

As we ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old one, that change has classically been personified in the form of little Baby New Year, while the outgoing year is often depicted as an elderly man. Here at D23, we’re putting a Disney spin on the new year with some of our favorite—and cutest—Disney babies, to help us get excited for the new start promised with 2017! Read on to coo at the cartoon cuties, and make sure to check out the Disney Gif app for Apple and Android to see more moments from your favorite Disney films!

Bambi
This woodland prince is so deer to our hearts as he learns to befriend other young animals and master traversing through nature’s challenges—like walking on ice!

Dumbo
The little elephant who could fly straight into our hearts as a baby—and who can keep a dry eye when the classic lullaby “Baby Mine” is sung while Mrs. Jumbo comforts our precious pachyderm?

Kuzco
This little emperor has yet to learn his lesson about self-centeredness as a talking llama, but as a baby we can’t help but think that maybe it is all about this cute little future ruler.

Hercules
This demigod may be in competition with the rest of our list for the cutest baby ever, but one thing’s for sure: He’s definitely the strongest baby ever! And with tiny little Pegasus flying by his side, we know he’s the little hero our heart needs!

Jack Jack
We don’t even need to discover his superpowers to know that this incredible baby is super cute!

Puppies
With parents as fluffy and sweet as Lady and the Tramp, of course their pack of puppies would be just as cute! We can’t resist these little scamps and their fun-loving attitudes!

Simba
Now here’s a baby so cute that he’s the pride of the family! Simba would grow up to be the king of the savanna, but for now he’s just the king of the kittens (and our hearts!).

Tarzan
We’re wild about baby Tarzan, who may be too little to swing on vines but just the right size to swing into our hearts.

Rapunzel
Audiences everywhere fell in love with the golden-locked lost princess when baby Rapunzel giggled her way onto the screen.

Tod
Try to hold back your tears when thinking of The Fox and the Hound and instead think of baby Tod, rescued by kindly Widow Tweed and stealing our hearts by being too cute!

Get Inspired by These Disney “Fresh Starts”

January 4, 2017January 4, 2017

By Courtney Potter

Welcome to 2017—the perfect time to make new goals, to devise new dreams, and to celebrate new beginnings. In need of some New Year’s inspiration of your own? Look no further than your favorite Disney films! Countless characters have faced all manner of trials and tribulations before conquering adversity and stepping—often with a smile and a song!—into an uplifting future.

Everyone could use a little encouragement as we head into the next 360+ days… so D23 chose nine of our most cherished “fresh starts” from Disney movies. One thing to note: We figure the vast majority of you have seen all these flicks, and know how they end—but in the very off chance you haven’t, be advised that there are some spoilers ahead.

Do you have some favorite Disney-related new beginnings? Let us know over at Facebook and Twitter!

Tiana in The Princess and the Frog
Poor Tiana… all our selfless heroine ever wanted was to open her own restaurant. But then a selfish prince, a voodoo curse, and a very evil witch doctor got in the way! Thankfully, true love brought Tiana a second chance—and she eventually opened her lovely, upscale Tiana’s Palace, with a sincerely transformed Naveen by her side. When you follow your heart, you can never go wrong.

Riley and her Emotions in Inside Out
Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out is full of new beginnings. Riley’s big move across country—not to mention her (mis)adventures at an unfamiliar school—make her question whether running away might solve her problems. Thankfully, it’s Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear to the rescue! Working together, they help Riley reconnect with her parents and start life anew in San Francisco.

Nick Wilde in Zootopia
One of Disney’s latest entrants into the “fresh starts” camp, Nick Wilde was a wily, ne’er-do-well fox who believed he had to con his way into a successful life. But meeting optimistic bunny cop Judy Hopps changed all that—and by the finale of the 2016 film, Nick’s newfound love of solving mysteries and enforcing the law (instead of breaking it!) brought a badge to his chest and a best friend to his side. Taking chances can often lead to triumph.

The Banks family in Mary Poppins
“Winds in the east, mist comin’ in…” One could argue that Mary Poppins herself was a new beginning for the entire Banks clan—but it took her gently guiding each character, especially father George, back to what “family” truly means for the fresh start to really commence. (We’re pretty certain Mary Poppins has a carpetbag full of new beginnings for folks in need.)

Remy in Ratatouille
Another Disney film chockablock with reinvention, Ratatouille follows little Remy, who—initially due to his accidental separation from family—finds himself at his favorite chef’s Parisian restaurant. After boosting his new pal Linguini’s self confidence in the kitchen, Remy becomes a foodie force to be reckoned with. With drive and determination, dreams can come true!

Giselle in Enchanted
At first blush, Giselle is a prototypical princess—hoping to marry her charming Prince Edward and to live “happily ever after” in Andalasia. However, our Giselle is no shrinking violet; even after finding herself in scary, unpredictable New York City, and almost meeting an untimely end at hands of evil queen Narissa, she realizes her true “happily ever after” is with handsome (but decidedly more down-to-Earth) Robert.

Hiro in Big Hero 6
It’s fair to say the whole theme of Big Hero 6 is “endings and beginnings.” Not long after the film begins, young Hiro is suddenly faced with a huge life hurdle: figuring out a future without big brother Tadashi. But with Baymax by his side, Hiro finds a group of amazingly supportive friends. As he himself admits, “Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we planned. The good thing is, my brother wanted to help a lot of people… and that’s what we’re gonna do.”

Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy
Peter was a little boy when he was mysteriously whisked away into outer space. Now an adult, he believes conning his way through the universe (with a cool nickname and a groovy ’70s soundtrack) is the key to happiness… But after meeting—and finding some surprising common ground with—a few alien misfits, he realizes that keeping space safe is his true calling. (This “fresh start” is sure to carry over into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.)

Beast (and his castle staff) in Beauty and the Beast
A vain prince is cursed to live out his days as a gruff beast (with his entire staff enchanted into household objects) unless he can learn to love another… and to be loved in return. Enter Belle, our strong-willed heroine who refuses to see a book only by its cover. By the end of the film, everyone (well, except Gaston) has earned their “fresh start” with their truly indomitable spirit—and just a touch of joie de vivre.

17 Disney Kisses to Count Down to the New Year

December 29, 2016December 22, 2016

It’s almost time to count down to the new year! We’ve reflected on our favorite moments from 2016, figured out the guest list for an unbelievable New Year’s party… we’re ready to ring in 2017. But before the clock strikes 12, “aww” over some of the sweetest Disney smooches. We hope you have a happy new year! And make sure to check out the Disney Gif app, for Apple and Android, for more moments from your favorite Disney films.

Go Wild with 11 Disney “Party Animals”

December 29, 2016December 23, 2016

By Courtney Potter

“We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne…” Well, this is it: We’re about to say goodbye to 2016 and hello to a brand-new year. And like people around the country (and the globe), we’re ready to welcome 2017 with a good ol’ fashioned party—full of music, mirth, and merriment. Which got us to thinking… if we wanted to have a totally rockin’ New Year’s Eve celebration (or really, any kind of festivity), which Disney characters would be the most fun to invite?

There are so many awesome characters to choose from, we could’ve created this list about 12 times over. But we chose, in no particular order, the best of the best—the true Disney “party animals” (human, non-human, and everything in between!) who would bring laughter and joy to our next shindig. Did your favorite reveler make the list?

The Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland)
We’re starting our list with someone who is—quite possibly—the biggest “party animal” in Disney history. His life is a nonstop tea party, full of best friends (including the March Hare and Dormouse) and all manner of nonsensical cheer! He’s also a snappy dresser, with his bow tie and oversized top hat… We imagine he’d liven up any celebration he’s invited to.

Tigger (Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day)
He’s fun-loving, perpetually optimistic, and can brighten up even the darkest day. He’s Tigger—and the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is that he’s the only one! Despite his recklessness and penchant for mishaps, we’d happily invite him to our next bash. (He likes ice cream sundaes, so we’d suggest having plenty on hand.)

Baloo (The Jungle Book)
Baloo is a cuddly “jungle bum” with nary a care in the world… that is, until he meets Mowgli and wants to help protect him from Shere Khan. As such, we can deduce two important things: 1) He’d be a totally laid-back party guest who’s ready for a good time, and 2) He’d have our back no matter what. Plus, we’re sure he could lead a truly delightful sing-along.

The Three Caballeros
This trio of festive feathered friends—Donald Duck; José Carioca, a parrot; and Panchito, a Mexican charro rooster—fall under the no-brainer category for our “party animals” list. They absolutely love to have a good time… And we know they can dance—just take a gander at Donald’s fiery number with Aurora Miranda (sister of legendary Carmen Miranda) in the short film Baia!

Scat Cat (The Aristocats)
Need a band for your party? Scat Cat and his Alley Cats, from 1970’s The Aristocats, have a totally “hep” jazz sound that’s sure to get your guests groovin’. But Scat Cat’s more than just a talented musician; he helps rescue the beautiful Duchess and her kittens from Edgar (the nefarious butler who’s holding local cats for ransom) before getting adopted into a lovely home himself.

Kuzco (The Emperor’s New Groove)
In The Emperor’s New Groove, Kuzco (the teenage emperor of an Incan empire) started out as self-centered, greedy, and stubborn. But (spoiler alert!) his time spent as a llama—while managing to thwart Yzma’s plans to take over the empire—rendered him a more affable and fun-loving dude. If we invited him to our party, we think he’d be the one to bring a delicious seven-layer dip to share.

Uncle Albert (Mary Poppins)
For years and years, we’ve wished for a family member like Mary Poppins’ Uncle Albert—as portrayed by celebrated actor (and Disney Legend) Ed Wynn. Who wouldn’t want to soar into the sky, roaring with laughter? We’d have to give our fellow party guests a warning, though; Albert’s “condition” is pretty contagious, as evidenced by Bert’s guffaws halfway through “I Love to Laugh”!

The Muses (Hercules)
If your parties include gathering around the piano for a sing-along, don’t hesitate to invite the Muses from Hercules. These ladies (goddesses of the arts, of course!) seem eternally primed for a good time—they’re glamorously dressed, their harmonies are on point, and they’re ready to spill all the best stories.

Pub Thugs (Tangled)
This rowdy bunch, who’ve set up shop at The Snuggly Duckling, would be a hoot and a half at any bash. Sure, they look a little surly and rough around the edges—but they’re quick to open up about their dreams and aspirations… and they’re really great at putting together a full musical number on the fly (accompanied by Hook Hand on the piano, of course).

Joy (Inside Out)
She’s bubbly and kind, she finds the fun in any situation, and she’s always looking out for her friends. We have a feeling Joy likes a good party—especially one that includes tasty pizza, lacks any kind of broccoli whatsoever, and maybe (just maybe) features Riley’s dad rocking out to AC/DC’s “Back in Black” on air guitar.

Maui (Moana)
The mega-muscled costar of Moana is a recent addition to the Disney lexicon, and one of the biggest “party animals” on our list. (He can even shapeshift into an actual animal; how’s that for a party trick?) He’d certainly bring a cool “demigod” cachet to your next shindig… plus, he can carry a tune—and he’s up for any kind of adventure you could throw at him.

Celebrate Disney’s “Nine Old Men” with D23’s 2017 Gold Member Gift

December 28, 2016December 28, 2016

“I am in no sense of the word a great artist, not even a great animator,” Walt Disney once said. “I have always had [people] working for me whose skills were greater than my own.” In celebration of Walt’s great animators, D23 presents its 2017 Gold Member Gift: Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men.”

Les Clark, Marc Davis, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, Frank Thomas; this core group of animators earned their nickname from none other than Walt himself. Though the “Nine Old Men” is in reference to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s terming the U.S. Supreme Court justices, as in “nine old men, all too aged to recognize a new idea,” these animators were truly innovators—recognizing and putting into action new ideas, and bringing personalities to life through a craft that they helped create and continued to develop throughout their careers. The “Nine Old Men” are responsible for countless Disney characters, including Peter Pan (Milt Kahl), Maleficent (Marc Davis), and Jiminy Cricket (Ward Kimball).

D23 worked with the Walt Disney Archives and Disney Animation Research Library to curate 23 artifacts that honor the careers and legacies of the “Nine Old Men.” Included in the array of treasures are a behind-the-scenes studio production report marking Disney’s entry into weekly television, including episodes spotlighting the animators, a pinback button saluting Eric Larson on his 50th anniversary at Disney, the distinctive program from the 1989 ceremony inducting the “Nine Old Men” as Disney Legends, and faithfully replicated animation drawings actually penciled by the iconic animators. The gift is housed in a beautiful keepsake, a book-like box, perfect for display or safekeeping on your Disney bookshelf.

The gift, exclusively for D23 Gold Members, is available for Gold Members who join in or renew for 2017. For more information on membership, click here. Stay tuned––we’ll be taking a closer look at the wonderful work of these great animators in 2017.

Disney Things We’re Most Excited for in 2017

December 28, 2016January 3, 2017

By D23 Team

There’s so much good stuff in store for Disney in 2017! Take a look at the things we’re most excited for.

All The Movies You’ve Been Waiting For
2017 is going to be a magical year for all kinds of Disney movies you’ve been waiting to see. If you love animation, you’ll be on the edge of your seat when Cars 3 speeds into theaters in June, and you’ll be celebrating Dia de Los Muertos with Pixar Animation’s Coco, coming to theaters in November. Along with those new animated classics, revisit a favorite Disney classic when the tale as old as time gets a live-action twist when Beauty and the Beast premieres in March. If you prefer beasts that are more friendly than fierce, you’ll need to see Born in China in April to learn about the endangered animals of China.

We’ve all been obsessed with Baby Groot since he danced his way into our hearts in 2014, and now we can finally watch our favorite tiny, talking plant save the galaxy with his gang of unlikely heroes when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 zooms into theaters in May. If you need even more intergalactic, world-saving action, Thor: Ragnarok in November brings together Thor and the Hulk (and based on Doctor Strange‘s mid-credits scene, maybe even the Doctor himself!) to face off against intergalactic baddies both familiar and new. Of course, we can’t talk about fighting off bad guys in space without mentioning a certain movie about the war in the stars… We may have wait until December, but Star Wars: Episode VIII will finally reveal what happens next to our favorite characters from The Force Awakens.

D23 Events
In the world of D23 events, we’re excited to bring the magic of Disney across the country! Some events we look forward to in 2017 include celebrating some of the Disney Afternoon television favorites on the Studio lot, sailing the seas again during special screenings of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and commemorating 35 years of Epcot magic during D23’s annual Fanniversary celebration!

Of course, D23’s biggest event of the year will take place July 14–16, 2017, at the Anaheim Convention Center during the D23 Expo 2017! For three magical days, all of Disney’s wonderful worlds come together once again for once-in-a-lifetime live performances, star-studded presentations, exclusive collectibles, and more.

Disney Parks
What isn’t in store for Disney Parks and Resorts in 2017? From the opening of Pandora—The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, to the launch of Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure Park (both debuting in Summer 2017); from the awesome new Iron Man Experience that inaugurates a Marvel-themed area at Hong Kong Disneyland just a few weeks from now, to Disneyland Paris’ big 25th anniversary celebrations beginning this spring; and all the fan favorites returning to Disneyland Park (including the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Disneyland Railroad, and Rivers of America)… there’s newfangled Disney fun to be had all over the globe next year!

Disney Television
Return to the Isle of the Lost with Descendants 2—The sequel to the hit Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants will premiere in the summer of 2017, and we can hardly wait! Villain kids Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay are learning how to adjust to a less wicked way of life in the peaceful kingdom of Auradon, but what will happen when some new villain kids decide to stir up some trouble? Get ready to meet Uma (China Anne McClain), the daughter of Ursula; Harry Hook (Thomas Doherty), the son of Captain Hook; and Gil (Dylan Playfair), the son of Gaston. The new troublesome trio plan to release all the villains on the Isle of the Lost, and in order to stop them, Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay must return to their former home. We can hardly wait to see what kind of magic, mayhem, and musical numbers are in store in this continuation of one of our favorite DCOMs!

Tangled: The Series—We’ve been all tangled up in the romance of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider—or, we should say, Eugene—since the golden-tressed princess first whacked him with a frying pan in the feature film Tangled. Walt Disney Animation Studios gave us an extra helping of happily-ever-after when they gave us their 2012 short Tangled Ever After, and we’re beyond thrilled that Disney Television Animation is continuing the couple’s adventures in a new series debuting in 2017, which takes place between the end of the feature film and the start of the short. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi are lending their voices once again, and we can’t wait to see what happens as Rapunzel acquaints herself with her parents, her kingdom, and the people of Corona.

DuckTales—Not ponytails or cottontails, no, it’s DuckTales, one of our favorite Disney Afternoon series, now being reimagined for a 2017 debut on Disney XD! The new voice cast includes David Tennant (Dr. Who) as Scrooge McDuck; Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz, and Bobby Moynihan as Huey, Dewey, and Louie, respectively; Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack; Toks Olagundoye as Mrs. Beakley; and Kate Micucci as Webby Vanderquack. DuckTales is slated to premiere this summer—here’s hoping the time goes by in a duck blur!

Big Hero 6—The best films tend to leave you wanting more, and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6 was no exception. And, in a heroic move that Disney fans can surely appreciate, Disney XD is continuing the adventures of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro Hamada, everyone’s favorite inflatable health assistant, Baymax, and their friends in a brand-new animated series premiering later this year. The series will follow Hiro as he enters the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology and faces the challenges that come with starting a new school—and facing high-tech villains, as well!

Updated 01/03 at 5:15 p.m. PT.

Star Wars Actress Carrie Fisher Passes Away at 60

December 27, 2016March 26, 2018

By Jeffrey Epstein

Legendary actress Carrie Fisher passed away today at the age of 60, after having a heart attack on Friday, December 23. Fisher was best known to legions of fans as Princess Leia from the Star Wars saga.

“Carrie Fisher was one-of-a-kind, a true character who shared her talent and her truth with us all with her trademark wit and irreverence. Millions fell in love with her as the indomitable Princess Leia; she will always have a special place in the hearts of Star Wars fans as well as all of us who were lucky enough to know her personally. She will be sorely missed, and we join millions of fans and friends around the world who mourn her loss today,” said Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company.

“Carrie holds such a special place in the hearts of everyone at Lucasfilm—it is difficult to think of a world without her,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “She was Princess Leia to the world but a very special friend to all of us. She had an indomitable spirit, incredible wit, and a loving heart. Carrie also defined the female hero of our age over a generation ago. Her groundbreaking role as Princess Leia served as an inspiration of power and confidence for young girls everywhere. We will miss her dearly.”

Fisher, the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, made her film debut in 1975 in Shampoo and two years later took on the iconic role of Princess Leia, a role that would reshape the way women are portrayed on screen today—including characters such as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Jyn in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Fisher starred in films such as The Blues Brothers, The Man with One Red Shoe, Hannah and Her Sisters, and When Harry Met Sally. She was also a prolific writer, penning such books as Postcards from the Edge (later turned into film), Delusions of Grandma, Wishful Drinking, and this year’s The Princess Diarist, based on diaries she kept at the time she filmed 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope.

Fisher is survived by Reynolds and her daughter, Billie Lourd.