Everything You Need to Know about Epcot’s Newest Festival

January 12, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

It has become an annual tradition for many Disney fans to attend the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. And now, fans can add another fantastic festival to their must-do list: the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. A celebration of visual, culinary, and performing arts, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts begins this Friday, January 13, and continues Fridays through Mondays until February 20. Read on to see what’s in store.

See the Stars
While the Epcot International Festival of the Arts will feature a variety of performing arts celebrating all kinds of genres and styles of music, we’re especially excited to see talent from Disney Theatrical Productions, like Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins on Broadway) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan on Broadway), come together to sing from the award winning songbook of Disney on Broadway. Performances will take place at the America Gardens Theatre stage at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. Friday through Monday during the festival. Click here for the full schedule of performers. For more information on all of the performances taking place during the festival, click here.

Exclusive Experiences
Try your hand at drawing, watercolor painting, calligraphy and more through Interactive Workshops offered exclusively at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. You can also dine at favorite Epcot restaurants and receive priority seating at the 8 p.m. performance of that night’s Disney on Broadway-inspired concert (Psst! You can book now by calling 407-WDW-DINE).

Culinary Works of Art
What would a festival at Epcot be without delicious eats? Explore an all-new culinary experience with foods that might just be too pretty to eat (At least take a picture first!). Eat your way through seven different food studios with a collection of artful eats and drinks––see a full list of all of the eats here.

Admire the Arts
Ooh and ah over amazing art from legendary artists Mary Blair and Herb Ryman, and listen as Disney artists host special seminars on their work. Plus, take a stroll around World Showcase to experience eight different exhibits inspired by Japan, Morocco, China, and more.

Will you be visiting the Epcot International Festival of the Arts? Be sure to use the hashtag #artfulepcot to share your insta-masterpieces!

Lightning Strikes in New Cars 3 Teaser—Plus More in News Briefs

January 11, 2017

By Courtney Potter

Lightning Strikes Again in New Cars 3 Teaser Trailer

It’s been almost six years since we last saw legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) race around the world (and take down the evil Professor Z) in Disney•Pixar’s Cars 2. But gas up and start your engines, because everyone’s favorite Piston Cup champ is back! Cars 3 will rev into our hearts this summer—and we just got an extended sneak peek at the film… take a gander, above.

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, Lightning is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo), with her own plan to win… plus inspiration from the late, great “Fabulous” Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that No. 95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

Directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist, Cars and Cars 2) and produced by Kevin Reher (A Bug’s Life, La Luna), Cars 3 cruises into theaters on June 16, 2017.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
January 14, 2017
The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23
January 19, 2017
D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience: The Magic of Disney Park Maps
February 4, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Tangled On the Lot
February 11, 2017
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Tangled in FloridaFebruary 19, 2017
D23 Member Night at Freaky Friday at La Jolla Playhouse
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
Studios
December 16, 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters
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

Parks
January 13–February 20, 2017
Epcot International Festival of the Arts
January 20, 2017
Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Disneyland park
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
Television
January 15, 2017
Mickey and the Roadster Racers Premieres at 9 and 9:25 a.m. ET on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
February 26, 2017
The Oscars® are broadcast on ABC

Disney MaxPass comes to Disneyland Resort

Get ready for a new way to enjoy attractions at Disneyland Resort! Disney MaxPass allows guests to make their experiences even more memorable with unlimited downloads of PhotoPass images and mobile booking and redemption of Disney FASTPASS through the Disneyland App. Disney MaxPass will be available for an introductory price of $10 a day, but Annual Passholders will be happy to know that Disney MaxPass will be available to purchase on a daily or yearly basis for current passholders. Disney FASTPASS at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks will still be available for guests, with two attractions joining the 14 already utilizing Disney FASTPASS –– Matterhorn Bobsleds and Toy Story Mania! Stay tuned for more details.

Sing-Along Version of Moana Coming to Theaters on January 27

There’s more adventure on the horizon for everyone’s favorite wayfinder and her demigod pal! Walt Disney Animation Studios is introducing an all-new, sing-along version of the hit, critically-acclaimed comedy-adventure Moana—and it’s coming to theaters nationwide on January 27. Prior to its roll-out across the U. S. of A., the sing-along version will premiere exclusively at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on January 20. Plus, the good news continues: The original theatrical version of the film will be available on digital platforms this February 21, and on Blu-ray™, DVD, and On Demand this March.

The sing-along version of Moana includes the full feature film with on-screen lyrics, so audiences can belt out the words to their favorite songs—such as the Golden Globe®-nominated “How Far I’ll Go,” written by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Moviegoers should check their local listings for showtimes and theaters… and just FYI: The sing-along run will vary by location, so don’t miss out!

Gorgeous New Beauty and the Beast TV Spot and Poster

We’re now fully ensconced in 2017, and that means we’ll soon be singing that “song as old as rhyme” when Beauty and the Beast—Disney’s live-action re-telling of the classic 1991 animated film—roars into theaters this spring. And during this past weekend’s Golden Globes broadcast, a brand-new TV spot debuted… featuring a sneak peek of Emma Watson singing “Belle”! Be our guest and check out the new clip, above.

But that’s not all—a new poster for the film (seen above) just debuted as well. It’s the very first time we’ve seen some of our favorite “enchanted objects” as their human counterparts, including Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, and Sir Ian McKellen as Cogsworth.

Beauty and the Beast waltzes into a cineplex near you on March 17!

Zootopia and ABC’s black-ish Win Golden Globes

Speaking of the Golden Globes, Disney was well represented during the primetime broadcast… First, Tracee Ellis Ross won Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series—Comedy or Musical for her hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of Dr. Rainbow “Bow” Johnson in ABC’s black-ish—and later in the evening, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2016 hit Zootopia took home the trophy for Best Animated Feature Film!

Catch new episodes of black-ish on Wednesday nights through January 18, on ABC… and bring Zootopia home on Blu-ray™, Digital HD, or Disney Movies Anywhere now.

Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival Returns

Epcot has hosted its Food & Wine Festival since 1995, which often left West Coast foodies hungering for their own version. Thankfully, their prayers were answered when Disney California Adventure (DCA) announced its own Food & Wine Festival a few years ago. After a short sojourn, the fest returned in 2016… and not surprisingly, it’s back this spring! The popular culinary celebration will delight DCA guests each day from March 10 through April 16, 2017.

Fans of delicious flavor are invited to celebrate some of the best of delicious California cuisine throughout the park—and there will be even more Festival Marketplaces to enjoy this year, plus enhanced Festival-inspired menus at existing restaurants and eateries, where guests can savor delicious eats from across the Golden State. Guests will enjoy culinary experiences created for the whole family, including a variety of food, beverage, and lifestyle seminars; cooking demonstrations; and all kinds of yummy presentations. Plus, look for appearances by celebrity chefs like Duff Goldman, Jamie Deen, Robert Irvine, Guy Fieri, and more!

Tickets for premium experiences will be available starting February 1—and more information on the entire fest is forthcoming, so keep your eyes (and your apples) peeled…

Disney and ABC’s Fifth Annual “Magic of Storytelling” Campaign

Reading truly is, as the saying goes, fundamental—and to that end, Disney and ABC have just kicked off their fifth annual “Magic of Storytelling” Campaign with a donation of up to a whopping 1 million books to First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books to educators and organizations serving children from low-income families.

The campaign, which lasts now through March 31, aims to inspire imagination, cultivate a lifelong love of reading in kids, and bring books to underserved communities across the country. Disney itself has, over the last 16 years, donated an incredible 57 million books to First Book!

During the “Magic of Storytelling” campaign, families are encouraged to put everything else down, pick up a book, and read (independently or together!) during the second annual nationwide Disney Reads Day on February 4. Families can do this at home by taking time to read their favorite books together, or by visiting a participating Disney Store, Barnes & Noble, or other retail location for story time, themed activities, and cool giveaways. You can also help by posting a “Shelfie”—a selfie photo with a favorite book, or in front of a bookshelf—on Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag “#MagicOfStorytelling”; for every “Shelfie” shared, Disney will donate a book to First Book!

For info on all the imaginative fun over these next few months, visit MagicOfStorytelling.com.

Take in The View from Disney’s Animal Kingdom—This Spring!

Ready to take a little time and enjoy The View… direct from Disney’s Animal Kingdom? We sure are! For the first time ever, ABC’s long-running daytime chat fest will be broadcast live from Walt Disney World Resort.

For five magical days this spring, co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Jedediah Bila, and Sunny Hostin will take up residence right in front of the “Tree of Life” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for scintillating conversations about the latest “Hot Topics”—as well as chats with some amazing celebrity guests. Plus, the co-hosts will experience the magic of all four Walt Disney World theme parks. (Previously, The View broadcast from The Walt Disney Studios in March 2009, and from Disneyland Resort in November 2013.)

Sounds cool, right? Well, what if we told you there’s a chance you could visit Walt Disney World Resort alongside the View crew? The View’s “Magic Is Endless” sweepstakes, presented by American Tourister, offers the chance for three lucky viewers to win grand-prize packages—including a trip for themselves and up to three guests each to stay at Walt Disney World Resort; attend a taping of The View at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; and receive a $500 Disney gift card. Fans can enter now through January 29… for more information and your chance to win, visit www.TheViewMagicIsEndlessSweepstakes.com.

Doc McStuffins Meets Winnie the Pooh on January 18

We here at D23 are big fans of the Hundred Acre Wood (and the adorable animals that live therein), so we’re all about celebrating National Winnie the Pooh Day on Wednesday, January 18. And it looks like our pals over at Doc McStuffins are similarly enamored of Pooh, Tigger, and all their friends: In a very special episode of Disney Junior’s Peabody Award-winning hit series, set to air on January 18 (at 7:30 p.m. EST), Doc and her toys will welcome Winnie the Pooh and friends to McStuffinsville.

The episode, “Into the Hundred Acre Wood!,” begins when Doc and the toys spot Pooh floating through the air, unable to get down. As they set out to rescue him, the wind magically transports them all to the Hundred Acre Wood—where Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore join Doc and the toys in the search for Pooh, in hopes of finding him in time for his favorite event of the year… the Honey Festival!

“Into the Hundred Acre Wood!” features two original songs, “Follow That Bear!” and “Think Heavy Thoughts,” both written and produced by Michelle Lewis, Kay Hanley, and Dan Petty. Winnie the Pooh also sings the series’ iconic song “I Feel Better.” So mark those calendars—and take a look at the episode’s trailer, above.

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.

Lightning Strikes Again in New Cars 3 Teaser Trailer

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

Disney MaxPass comes to Disneyland Resort

Sing-Along Version of Moana Coming to Theaters on January 27

Gorgeous New Beauty and the Beast TV Spot and Poster

Zootopia and ABC’s black-ish Win Golden Globes

Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival Returns

Disney and ABC’s Fifth Annual “Magic of Storytelling” Campaign

Take in The View from Disney’s Animal Kingdom—This Spring!

Doc McStuffins Meets Winnie the Pooh on January 18

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