Once Upon a Wintertime Chocolate Dipped Cookies

December 2, 2016January 12, 2017

Cozy up with these frosty treats and a cup of hot cocoa.

Ingredients

White melting chocolate
Blue melting chocolate
Round chocolate crème-filled sandwich cookies
Optional: Snowflake-shaped candy sprinkles
Optional: White “pearl” candy sprinkles

Special Materials

Chocolate candy mold (made especially for round chocolate crème-filled sandwich cookies)—available online or at baking supply stores

Directions
1. Place 1 cup white chocolate and 4 pieces blue melting chocolate in a microwave-proof container and heat in the microwave 20 seconds at a time until melted. Mix melted chocolate together well, adding one piece of blue melting chocolate at a time until chocolate is desired shade of blue.
2. Pour two tablespoons of melted chocolate in each chocolate candy mold then place a cookie in each one. Pour chocolate on top of the cookie until it’s completely covered. Place mold in refrigerator and chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, allowing the chocolate to harden and cool.
If you don’t have access to a chocolate candy mold, you may also dunk the sandwich cookies in melted chocolate, coating it all over. Place cookies on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, allowing the chocolate to harden and cool.
3. Optional: Remove sandwich cookies and top with snowflake and white “pearl” candy sprinkles before serving.

The Magic Behind Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!

December 2, 2016January 10, 2017

By Jeffrey Epstein

Tom Vazzana wanted to create a new Disney holiday tradition—something that was, in his words “pop and fun and heartwarming and funny.” And with that, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios came to be. The new nighttime spectacular, which runs through December 31, brings to life the classic and contemporary characters Disney fans love, wrapped up with a Prep & Landing bow.

After planning to visit his friends in Orlando, Santa Claus disappears, and it’s up to elves Lanny and Wayne to save the day. Walt Disney World Entertainment Show Director Vazzana says he wanted the show to “span the generations… I really love the shorts from Prep & Landing. And then I thought, What do our parents love? And that was the heartwarming films they grew up with, and you’ll see that in the show. The third thing is…The niche audience—what do they love? And I truly believed there needs to be a story. So I decided that Santa has come to Orlando to say hello, and then we’re on a mission to find him.”

The colorful show uses more than 100 clips of Disney animation, as well as custom new pieces made by Walt Disney Animation Studios of the Prep & Landing team created just for Jingle BAM! Vazzana and his team worked closely to make sure all the effects—from the incredible, crisp projections on the Chinese Theatre to the eye-popping lasers and dazzling fireworks—were perfectly balanced to move the story forward with a rich score of holiday music. A 60-piece orchestra recorded for two weeks to make sure the sound was just right, and composers Danny Elfman and Michael Giacchino were on hand to help guide the way. “I was trying to do Christmas music, and I said, ‘Michael, how can we make The Little Drummer Boy sound like the Mission: Impossible theme?’ If you listen closely, when the elves come in, it’s The Little Drummer Boy done à la Michael Giacchino.”

And there’s much more for fans to love. Look for homages to the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights in the opening number. “We replicate a few of the images from Streets of America,” reveals Vazzana. “And there are hidden Mickeys.”

One of the scenes he wanted to include was the moment in The Princess and the Frog when Tiana and Naveen—as frogs—kiss, setting off a magical transformation. “I had a list of must-haves,” he notes, including Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, which plays an instrumental role in the show.

But his favorite moment is when Carl and Ellie from Up are shown dancing. “[It’s] on the lyric ‘through the years we all will be together…’” he says, with a smile. “I did that for my parents—and for myself.”

Explore the “Collector’s Edition” of The Walt Disney Film Archives: The Animated Films 1921 – 1968

December 2, 2016December 2, 2016

By Nicole Nalty

We’ve already pored over the pages of The Walt Disney Film Archives: The Animated Films 1921 – 1968. Highlighting films from the start of Walt Disney’s career to Walt’s final film, The Jungle Book, the book features never-before-seen imagery and gorgeous concept art from some of Disney’s most beloved animated features. Today we’re excited to share the definitive Collector’s Edition of this stunning book.

D23 Members are invited to purchase issues 10-100 right here.

Presented in a clamshell box, the book features a facsimile of color storyboards designed for “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sequence from the 1941 film Fantasia and a facsimile of five masterful cel setups from the classic Silly Symphonies cartoons. Produced with assistance from the Walt Disney Archives and Disney’s Animation Research Library, this special edition is limited to 2,500 copies.

And, as part of D23 Days of Christmas, you can enter for a chance to win a copy of the standard XL edition! Click here.

Go Inside Disney’s Inner Workings

December 1, 2016

By Courtney Potter

It’s a tradition almost 100 years in the making, and one that helps illustrate one of Walt Disney’s most famous quotes: “It was all started by a mouse.” Well before any of their animated feature films ever hit the silver screen, Walt and his brother Roy began spinning fanciful tales through the animated short. From Mickey’s first appearance in 1928’s Steamboat Willie to Pixar Animation Studios’ most recent short, Piper (debuting earlier this year with Finding Dory), this powerful animation heritage continues with Inner Workings—Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest short, which premiered on November 22 with their newest hit feature Moana.

Directed by story artist Leo Matsuda (Zootopia, Big Hero 6, Wreck-It Ralph) and produced by Sean Lurie (Moana, Zootopia), Inner Workings is the story of the internal struggle between a man’s pragmatic, logical side and his free-spirited, adventurous half. Created by a small team at Walt Disney Animation Studios in an adorably fast-paced style that blends CG and traditional hand-drawn animation, the short explores the importance of finding balance in daily life. Recently, D23 was lucky enough to sit down with the filmmakers for an “inner” look at bringing this colorful story to life.

Much of the short’s unique outlook is directly due to its creator; a native Brazilian of Japanese descent, Matsuda felt some struggle between the two sides of his personality. “I have a Japanese side in me that’s very disciplined and logical,” he says, “but I also have my Brazilian side—which loves Carnaval and parties. I feel I’m always in this tug-of-war between these two extremes in my life, and I think this short portrays a little bit of that.” Viewers of the short may even notice a resemblance between Matsuda and the short’s lead character, Paul—but it wasn’t intentional… at least initially. “At first, Paul was not the main character. He was just a ‘vessel’ for the short,” he explains. “I didn’t want him to be distracting, but then the crew would come to me, ‘Leo, what if he kind of looked like you a little bit?… [Ultimately], I thought, let me give it a try… I always show my fiancée everything, so I showed her. I remember her eyes widened, and she looked at me and the drawings and said, ‘You look just like Paul!’ I thought, well, I think she has a point. So I decided to go with this direction. It was some sort of coincidence, but it landed well.”

Inner Workings follows along as various parts of Paul’s bodily functions (including his heart, lungs, stomach, and brains) react to a not-so-typical day in his life. As a child, before the Internet made information instantaneously available, Matsuda was fascinated by his family’s set of Encyclopedia Britannica—“I’d order them and it was the greatest thing ever,” he admits—especially the pages dedicated to the human body. As he remembers, “It was the eighth volume, on biology. I would open the book and it’d have all these incredible extra pages—the human body—and you’d connect them and see how the systems inter-relate with each other and how they work. For me, that was just fascinating. That always stuck in my mind. I always wanted to do something with that.” Animating the organs themselves brought a few challenges. “Organs are kinda gross and disgusting,” jokes Matsuda. “We had to find a way to make them adorable. First, we tried actually a 2-D route. [We used] similar technology that was used in [WDAS shorts] Beast and Paperman, but it didn’t really work. Then we decided to look at real life. We decided to watch life in the aquarium; we looked at a lot of fish—because fish, they’re organic, but they are also beautiful… That opened up a whole new direction for us, and we were really happy with this path that we went down.”

As for the visions and dreams inside Paul’s brain, explains producer Lurie, “We were trying to figure out, ‘How do we depict what the brain is thinking in its own mind?’ Initially, we went with some complex CGI—but then we found that a more ‘graphical’ style actually seemed like it delivered the best humor and was the quickest ‘get.’ We wanted to make sure that we were conveying the idea of the story visually as much as possible.”

Mastuda was one of 73 hopefuls who pitched ideas to the Walt Disney Animation Studios Story Trust; the group was narrowed down to 10, then four, and Matsuda’s short was ultimately selected for production. “This short is special to me because it directly reflects a theme in my life that many people can relate to,” he explains. Continues Lurie, “The film’s lead character, Paul, realizes at a certain point that if he doesn’t live his life a little bit—taking some risks and following his heart—that he’s not going to be living life to its fullest. [But] he comes back to work, an idea which I credit Leo with. We’ve got to figure out how to find that balance in life, and I want to say that the crew that we worked with exemplified that. Leo and I had so much fun making this short—with just a small, incredibly talented group of people. It’s an honor to be able to work with such amazing talent at Disney Animation.”

Inner Workings is now playing around the country, ahead of Moana, in a cinema near you!

5 Things You Might Not Know About Moana

December 1, 2016December 1, 2016

By Nicole Nalty

We experienced a wave of emotions when we saw Moana the first time (and the second, and the third…). We fell in love with the characters (How cute is Pua?!), we’re still singing the songs, and taking in everything we can about the newest Disney film. We surfed the web (get it?) far and wide for things you may not know about Moana.

Mane-less Maui?
Early designs of Maui showed the demigod of the land and sea, protector of all, without his curly hair. That’s right! Maui was bald, just like his vocal counterpart, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But the Oceanic Story Trust advised filmmakers that although the legend of Maui varied, he was typically imagined with a full head of hair. Frankly, we can’t imagine him without it!

Always let your conscience be your guide
“Mini Maui” was one of our favorite characters in the film––even without a single line of dialogue! The two-dimensional tattoo of the demigod often demonstrated what we were thinking and ultimately led Maui to make the right decisions throughout his voyage across the ocean. While a majority of the film was created through computer animation, “Mini Maui” came to life using traditional hand-drawn techniques by animator Eric Goldberg and his team, and was compared to Jiminy Cricket, the loveable cricket conscience from Pinocchio.

Bird brain
Can you imagine Moana without Heihei? Originally, the rooster had a smarter, snarkier personality, which filmmakers didn’t feel was unique enough to the story. This version of Heihei almost got the rooster removed from the film, until a small group of story team members brainstormed the perfect way to keep him––just lower his IQ!

Look to the stars
The sky plays a big part in Moana, helping generations of wayfinders and our heroes, Maui and Moana, travel the ocean. To create the starry sky, filmmakers tasked astronomers to research which stars would’ve been visible in Pacific Island skies 2,000 years ago.

Word play
The shiny crustacean Tamatoa lives in the realm of monsters, Lalotai, located beneath the ocean’s floor. The name came from its uncommon locale: Lalo means “below” and tai means “the sea” in Proto Polynesian.

Molasses Glazed Ham with Cornmeal Crepes and Honey Butter

December 1, 2016November 30, 2018

This delicious ham, courtesy of our friends at The Chew, is the perfect dish for any celebration!

Servings: 8 to 10

Ingredients

Molasses Glazed Ham with Cornmeal Crepes and Honey Butter

7–9-pound smoked boneless ham
1/2 cup molasses
1 orange (zest and juice)
1 lemon (zest and juice)
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Cornmeal Crepes

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups whole milk
4 large eggs

Honey Butter

2 sticks unsalted butter
1/4 cup honey
salt (to taste)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.
2. Place ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Set aside.
3. For the Molasses Glaze: In a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, add the molasses, the zest and juice of the orange and lemon, brown sugar, orange liqueur, and Dijon mustard. Whisk to combine, let simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
4. Brush the remaining mustard over the ham. Then, brush the glaze over the ham and place in oven for about an hour, or until the ham is warmed through and the internal temperature registers to 140ºF. Continue to glaze every 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, make the crepes. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the milk and eggs until well combined. Place a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of butter to melt. Ladle 2 ounces of the crepe batter into the preheated pan, tilting it so that a thin layer is applied to the entire surface area. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the edges of the crepe are slightly browned and crisp. Using a rubber spatula, flip the crepe and cook the other side until lightly toasted. Remove to a plate and repeat the process to make crepes from the remaining batter.
6. For the honey butter: In a medium bowl, add the softened butter, honey, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine. Serve with the cornmeal crepes.
7. To serve, spread the butter over a crepe. Thinly slice the baked ham. Place ham inside the crepe. Fold and enjoy!

D23’s Ultimate Guide to Your Holiday Viewing—2016 Edition

December 1, 2016March 26, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

Are your halls decked? Is your tree trimmed? Forget about stringing the popcorn, and start making plans to curl up on your sofa with a big bowl for snacking while you watch the sometimes heartwarming, sometimes hilarious holiday programming airing on ABC, Disney Channel, and Freeform this month.

From cable’s biggest programming event of the year, Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas—in its 20th year for 2016—to special episodes of your favorite ABC and Disney Channel shows like black-ish and Elena of Avalor, all the way to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2017, D23 has you covered. Let it snow outside, because you have a ton of shows to enjoy inside!

Thursday, December 1
(3:30–6 p.m. EST) Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory—Freeform
(6–7:05 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(7:05–9:15 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(8–9 p.m. EST) A Charlie Brown Christmas—ABC (Includes a series of Christmas-themed animated stories based on the work of the legendary cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, spotlighting beloved PEANUTS characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and Sally.)
(9–11 p.m. EST) The Great American Baking Show—ABC
(9:15–11:20 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(11:20 p.m.–12:55 a.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform

Friday, December 2
(11 a.m.–12 p.m. EST) Jack Frost (1979)—Freeform
(12–2:30 p.m. EST) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory—Freeform
(2:30–3:35 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(3:35–5:10 p.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform
(5:10–7:15 p.m. EST) Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)—Freeform
(8–8:30 p.m. EST) Liv and Maddie: Cali Style: “Cali Christmas-A-Rooney”—Disney Channel
(8:30–9 p.m. EST) Girl Meets World: “Girl Meets a Christmas Maya”—Disney Channel
(9–9:30 p.m. EST) BUNK’D: “How the Griff Stole Christmas”—Disney Channel
(9:20–11:25 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(11:25 p.m.–2 a.m. EST) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—Freeform

Saturday, December 3
(7–8:30 a.m. EST) Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas—Freeform
(8:30–10 a.m. EST) Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas—Freeform
(10 a.m.–12 p.m. EST) Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish—Freeform
(12–2:05 p.m. EST) Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)—Freeform
(2:05–4:40 p.m. EST) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—Freeform
(4:40–6:45 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(6:45–8:50 p.m. EST) Arthur Christmas (2011)—Freeform
(8:50–10:55 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(10:55 p.m.–2 a.m. EST) The Holiday—Freeform

Sunday, December 4
(7–7:30 a.m. EST) ’Twas the Night Before Christmas—Freeform
(7:30–8 a.m. EST) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey—Freeform
(8–10:05 a.m. EST) Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish—Freeform
(10:05 a.m.–12:10 p.m. EST) Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July—Freeform
(12:10–2:20 p.m. EST) I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)—Freeform
(2:20–4:30 p.m. EST) Arthur Christmas (2011)—Freeform
(4:30–5:35 p.m. EST) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town—Freeform
(5:35–6:40 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(6:40–8:45 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(8–8:30 p.m. EST) K.C. Undercover: “Holly Holly Not So Jolly”—Disney Channel
(8:45–10:55 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(9–9:30 p.m. EST) Best Friends Whenever: “The Christmas Curse”—Disney Channel
(10:55 p.m.–12 a.m. EST) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town—Freeform

Monday, December 5
(4–5 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(5–7 p.m. EST) Jingle All the Way—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(8–10 p.m. EST) The Great Christmas Light Fight—ABC
(9–11 p.m. EST) Scrooged (1998)—Freeform
(12–2:00 a.m. EST) Snowglobe—Freeform

Tuesday, December 6
(5–7 p.m. EST) Scrooged (1998)—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(9–11 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) Snow—Freeform

Wednesday, December 7
(5–7 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(9–11 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) 12 Dates of Christmas—Freeform

Thursday, December 8
(3–5 p.m. EST) Holiday Joy—Network Television Premiere—Freeform
(5–7 p.m. EST) Deck the Halls—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(8–8:30 p.m. EST) Toy Story that Time Forgot—ABC
(8:30–9 p.m. EST) Shrek the Halls—ABC
(9–11 p.m. EST) Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)—Freeform
(12 a.m. EST) Holiday in Handcuffs—Freeform

Friday, December 9
(11–11:30 a.m. EST) Frosty’s Winter Wonderland—Freeform
(11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. EST) Holiday Joy—Freeform
(1:30–3:35 p.m. EST) Home Alone 3—Freeform
(3:35–5:40 p.m. EST) Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws—Freeform
(5:40–7:45 p.m. EST) The Search for Santa Paws—Freeform
(7:30–8 p.m. EST) Elena of Avalor: “Navidad”—Disney Channel
(8–8:30 p.m. EST) LEGO Disney Frozen Northern Lights—Disney Channel
(7:45–9:50 p.m. EST) Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups—Freeform Premiere
(8:30 p.m. EST) Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special—Disney Channel
(9:50–11:55 p.m. EST) Snow Buddies—Freeform Premiere
(11:55 p.m.–2 a.m. EST) Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July—Freeform

Saturday, December 10
(7–7:30 a.m. EST) Mickey’s Christmas Carol—Freeform
(7:30–9:30 a.m. EST) Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws—Freeform
(9:30–11:35 a.m. EST) The Search for Santa Paws—Freeform
(11:35 a.m.–1:40 p.m. EST) Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups—Freeform
(1:40–3:45 p.m. EST) Snow Buddies—Freeform
(3:45–5:45 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story—Freeform
(5:45–7:50 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 2—Freeform
(7:50–10:20 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 3—Freeform
(8–11 p.m. EST) Mary Poppins—ABC
(10:20–10:50 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story that Time Forgot—Freeform
(10:50 p.m.–12:55 a.m. EST) Arthur Christmas (2011)—Freeform
(12:55–2 a.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform

Sunday, December 11
(7–7:30 a.m. EST) The Little Drummer Boy (1968)—Freeform
(7:30–9:35 a.m. EST) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist—Freeform
(9:35–11:40 a.m. EST) A Dennis the Menace Christmas—Freeform
(11:40 a.m.–12:45 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(12:45–2:50 p.m. EST) Arthur Christmas (2011)—Freeform
(2:50–4:50 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story—Freeform
(4:50–6:55 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 2—Freeform
(6:55–9:25 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 3—Freeform
(8–10:04 p.m. EST) Frozen—ABC
(8 p.m. EST) Bizaardvark: “Agh, Humbug”
(9:25–9:55 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story that Time Forgot—Freeform
(9:55 p.m.–12 a.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform

Monday, December 12
(5:30–7 p.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(8–10 p.m. EST) The Great Christmas Light Fight—ABC
(9–11 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) Christmas Cupid—Freeform

Tuesday, December 13
(3–4:30 p.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform
(4:30–7 p.m. EST) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(8–8:30 EST) The Middle: “A Very Marry Christmas”—ABC
(8:30–9 p.m. EST) American Housewife: “Krampus Katie—ABC
(9–9:30 p.m. EST) Fresh Off the Boat: “Where are the Giggles?”—ABC
(9–11 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(9:30–10 p.m. EST) The Real O’Neals: “The Real Christmas”—ABC
(12–2 a.m. EST) Three Days (2001)—Freeform

Wednesday, December 14
(3–5 p.m. EST) Home Alone 3—Freeform
(5–7 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) Arthur Christmas (2011)—Freeform
(8–8:30 p.m. EST) The Goldbergs: “Han Ukkah Solo”—ABC
(8:30–9 p.m. EST) Speechless: “C-H-O-Choir”—ABC
(9–11 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(9:31–10 p.m. EST) black-ish: “Just Christmas, Baby”—ABC
(12–2 a.m. EST) Santa Baby—Freeform

Thursday, December 15
(7:30–9:30 a.m. EST) Holiday Joy—Freeform
(11 a.m.–1 p.m. EST) Snow Buddies—Freeform
(1–3 p.m. EST) Home Alone 3—Freeform
(3–5 p.m. EST) A Dennis the Menace Christmas—Freeform
(5–7 p.m. EST) Arthur Christmas—Freeform
(7–9 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(8–8:30 p.m. EST) Disney Prep & Landing—ABC
(8:30–9 p.m. EST) Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice—ABC
(9–11 p.m. EST) The Search for Santa Paws—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe—Freeform

Friday, December 16
(7–9:10 a.m. EST) A Dennis the Menace Christmas—Freeform
(9:10–11:15 a.m. EST) Jack Frost (1998)—Freeform
(11:15 a.m.–1:20 p.m. EST) The Search for Santa Paws—Freeform
(1:20–3:25 p.m. EST) Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups—Freeform
(3:25–5:30 p.m. EST) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist—Freeform
(5:30–7:35 p.m. EST) Jingle All the Way—Freeform
(7:35–9:45 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(8:31–9 p.m. EST) Dr. Ken: “A Park Family Christmas”—ABC
(9:45–11:55 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(11:55 p.m.–2 a.m. EST) Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)—Freeform

Saturday, December 17
(7–8 a.m. EST) Rudolph’s Shiny New Year—Freeform
(8–8:30 a.m. EST) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey—Freeform
(8:30–10:30 a.m. EST) Jingle All the Way—Freeform
(10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. EST) Happy Feet—Freeform
(1–2:35 p.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform
(2:35–4:40 p.m. EST) The Polar Express—Freeform
(4:40–6:50 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(6:50–9 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(8–9 p.m. EST) I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!—ABC
(9–11:30 p.m. EST) Disney’s Frozen—Freeform
(11:30 p.m.–2 a.m. EST) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—Freeform

Sunday, December 18
(7–9:30 a.m. EST) Happy Feet—Freeform
(9:30–11:30 a.m. EST) Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish—Freeform
(11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. EST) Mickey’s Christmas Carol—Freeform
(12–1:35 p.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform
(1:35–4:10 p.m. EST) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—Freeform
(4:10–4:40 p.m. EST) Disney’s Prep & Landing—Freeform
(4:40–5:10 p.m. EST) Disney’s Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice—Freeform
(5:10–7:20 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(7–11 p.m. EST) The Sound of Music—ABC
(7:20–9:50 p.m. EST) Disney’s Frozen—Freeform
(9:50 p.m.–12 a.m. EST) Elf—Freeform

Monday, December 19
(7–8:30 a.m. EST) Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas—Freeform
(8:30–10:30 a.m. EST) A Dennis the Menace Christmas—Freeform
(10:30 a.m.–12:35 p.m. EST) Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish—Freeform
(12:35–2:40 p.m. EST) Home Alone 3—Freeform
(2:40–4:45 p.m. EST) The Search for Santa Paws—Freeform
(4:45–6:50 p.m. EST) Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups—Freeform
(6:50–8:55 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(8–10 p.m. EST) The Great Christmas Light Fight—ABC
(8:55–11 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) Just Friends—Freeform Premiere

Tuesday, December 20
(7–9:10 a.m. EST) The Search for Santa Paws—Freeform
(9:10–11:15 a.m. EST) Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups—Freeform
(11:15 a.m.–1:25 p.m. EST) Home Alone 3—Freeform
(1:25–4:30 p.m. EST) The Holiday—Freeform
(4:30–5:35 p.m. EST) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town—Freeform
(5:35–6:40 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(6:40–8:50 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(8:50–11 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) Holidaze—Freeform

Wednesday, December 21
(7–9 a.m. EST) Snow Buddies—Freeform
(9–11:05 a.m. EST) Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws—Freeform
(11:05 a.m.–1:10 p.m. EST) Happy Feet Two—Freeform
(1:10–2:10 p.m. EST) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town—Freeform
(2:10–3:15 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(3:15–5:20 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004) —Freeform
(5:20–5:50 p.m. EST) Disney’s Prep & Landing—Freeform
(5:50–6:20 p.m. EST) Disney’s Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice—Freeform
(6:20–6:50 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot—Freeform
(6:50–8:55 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(8:55 p.m.–11 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) The Mistle-Tones—Freeform

Thursday, December 22
(7–9:30 a.m. EST) Happy Feet—Freeform
(9:30–11:30 a.m. EST) Happy Feet Two—Freeform
(11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. EST) The Little Drummer Boy (1968)—Freeform
(12–2:05 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(2:05–4:10 p.m. EST) Jack Frost (1998)—Freeform
(4:10–4:40 p.m. EST) Frosty’s Winter Wonderland—Freeform
(4:40–5:10 p.m. EST) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story that Time Forgot—Freeform
(5:10–6:45 p.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform
(6:45–8:55 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(8:55–11 p.m. EST) Jingle All the Way—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)—Freeform

Friday, December 23
(7–7:30 a.m. EST) Frosty’s Winter Wonderland—Freeform
(7:30–9:30 a.m. EST) Jack Frost (1998)—Freeform
(11 a.m.–1 p.m. EST) Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish—Freeform
(1–3 p.m. EST) Jingle All the Way—Freeform
(3–4:35 p.m. EST) Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—Freeform
(4:35–5:40 p.m. EST) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town—Freeform
(5:40–6:45 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(6:45–8:50 p.m. EST) Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)—Freeform
(8:50–11 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(12–2 a.m. EST) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist—Freeform

Saturday December 24
(7–8:05 a.m. EST) Jack Frost (1979)—Freeform
(8:05–9:40 a.m. EST) Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas—Freeform
(9:40–11:15 a.m. EST) Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas—Freeform
(11:15 a.m.–12:20 p.m. EST) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town—Freeform
(12:20–1:25 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(1:25–3:30 p.m. EST) Arthur Christmas (2011)—Freeform
(3:30–5:35 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(5:35–7:40 p.m. EST) The Santa Clause—Freeform
(7:40–9:45 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(9:45–11:55 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(11:55 p.m.–2 a.m. EST) Scrooged (1998) —Freeform

Sunday, December 25
(7–9:10 a.m. EST) The Search for Santa Paws—Freeform
(9–11 a.m. EST) Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration—ABC
(9:10–11:20 a.m. EST) Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws—Freeform
(11:20 a.m.–1:25 p.m. EST) Arthur Christmas (2011)—Freeform
(1:25–3:30 p.m. EST) The Polar Express (2004)—Freeform
(3:30–4:35 p.m. EST) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town—Freeform
(4:35–5:40 p.m. EST) The Year Without a Santa Claus—Freeform
(5:40–7:45 p.m. EST) Elf—Freeform
(7:45–9:55 p.m. EST) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—Freeform
(9:55 p.m.–12 a.m. EST) Scrooged (1998)—Freeform

Monday, December 26
(8–9 p.m. EST) Happy New Year, Charlie Brown—ABC: presented along with She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown
(9–11 p.m. EST) Rudolph’s Shiny New Year—ABC

Saturday, December 31
(8–11 p.m. EST, 11:30–2:13 a.m. EST) Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2017–ABC

Monday, January 2
(11 a.m.–1 p.m. EST, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. CST, 9–11 a.m. MST, 8–10 a.m. PST) The 128th Rose Parade Presented by Honda—ABC

Karen David Thrilled to be Part of Jasmine’s Whole New World in Once Upon a Time

November 30, 2016December 2, 2016

By Tim Lammers

Actress Karen David has no doubt led a fairy-tale existence over the last couple of years, having the rare opportunity to play not one but two princesses in two different ABC series. From 2015 until earlier this year, David played the lovable Princess Isabella on the musical comedy series Galavant, and this fall, she joined the smash fantasy drama Once Upon a Time (OUAT) as the legendary Princess Jasmine opposite Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz) as the newest characters to come to Storybrooke.

“Galavant was more about poking fun at the genre of fairy tales,” David said, laughing at the lighthearted nature of the series. “But certainly with Once Upon a Time, it’s like a childhood fairy tale dream come true. Every little girl has their choice of which Disney princesses they want to be and I had quite a few, and Jasmine was definitely up on the top of the list. As a kid you just dream and play princesses with your other girlfriends, and never in a million years did I dream of playing this iconic character. It’s an honor and something I don’t take lightly because I know that there are young girls out there who look up to Jasmine. I just hope that I’m doing justice to the character and they are all happy.”

The effervescent David recently spoke with D23.com about her opportunity to play Jasmine, her magic carpet-riding co-star and her Once Upon a Time experiences as the show prepares for its Winter Finale on December 4.

D23: Granted, the Aladdin storyline in Once Upon a Time isn’t a remake of the Disney animated classic, but do you feel some sort of sense of responsibility carrying the torch forward?
Karen David (KD): I feel a sense of responsibility, yes, and I also celebrate the fact that we’re exploring uncharted territory here with the Once twist that (creators) Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis and the amazing writing team have put together. I love the fact that they went right to the beginning of the relationship between Aladdin and Jasmine and how they met, yet we don’t know how their journey evolves. I really find it exciting not knowing what’s going to happen. Yes, we have this movie as this wonderful backdrop and everyone knows that classic story, but I love that we have these two iconic characters who are being put in the backdrop of Storybrooke. Now we get to see the dynamics of how they are with each other and other people not only in Agrabah, but in real life. I think that’s what makes the show so special and unique. You get to see iconic Disney characters and how they would be in everyday life.

D23: Did playing Princess Isabella on Galavant have an influence in your casting as Jasmine on Once Upon a Time?
KD: A lot of the fans of Galavant are also Once Upon a Time fans, so immediately when they started seeing pictures of me as Isabella, there was a quality about her that fans all said, “OK, hang on a second, Karen would make the perfect Jasmine”—so they went to social media and kept telling me that. They kept saying, “If there’s ever a live-action film or if it ever came to Once Upon a Time, would you want to play Jasmine?” Of course, my answer was, “Heck, yeah! I would love to.” I just never thought that serendipity would come to play so soon after. We all were a little brokenhearted when Galavant came to an end, but everything happens for a reason and timing could not have been more perfect. As soon as Galavant finished, the Jasmine role came up.

D23: What surprised you most about the role of Jasmine?
KD: What I find so wonderful and exciting in the storyline is how Jasmine deals with the challenges she faces. What’s so great about Once Upon a Time is that nothing is straightforward and perfect. When challenges and problems arise, it’s up to that character to rise to the challenge. Jasmine right now is being tested to the nines because she has to find another way of helping Agrabah and her people. Of course, she finds out that Aladdin has used the Shears of Destiny (to sever the path to becoming the Savior of Agrabah) and he no longer has his magic, so that’s a massive setback. Obviously, everything was riding on him because he was the Savior. So now, this is also a wonderful opportunity for Aladdin to rise to the challenge of finding other ways that he can help Jasmine and their quest for bringing down Jafar (Oded Fehr), and restoring peace and unity in Agrabah.

D23: You and Deniz work so incredibly well together. Did you two instantly feel the chemistry?
KD: Absolutely, but I’m also a romantic at heart and I love a great romantic story. Aladdin is such an iconic romantic story and I was so excited to jump right in. So, part of the chemistry that I hope I’m bringing comes from the adoration and excitement for the storyline itself. It’s also such a bonus when you get to work with someone like Deniz, who’s very funny, very cheeky and very playful, and we just have a lot of fun together on-set. I’m just happy that fans of the show can see that there’s this connection, chemistry and a special bond between us and it resonates on the screen.

D23: You have a wonderful musical background, which includes some singing on Galavant. Do you think you can talk Eddy and Adam into having you and Deniz perform A Whole New World at some point?
KD: When I first got the role of Jasmine, that’s the first thing I thought about—that it would be so wonderful to sing it because that’s their theme song! When you think of Aladdin, you think of “A Whole New World.” I know that a lot of fans would love a musical episode, so one can hope and dream. A lot of fans want Deniz and me to do a duet together, but Deniz insists that he doesn’t sing. I asked him if he’s being modest and he says, “No, no, no. I can’t sing.” I know Josh (Dallas) and Colin (O’Donoghue) have offered to sing, and Deniz can just open his mouth and pretend (laughs)!

D23: You clearly have a great rapport with fans on social media, and I see that they even refer to themselves as #Jasminians on Twitter. How did that come about?
KD: They picked the name when the news came out that I had joined the cast. They taught me the ways of OUAT fandom and said I had to name my group, like Lana (Parrilla), who has #EvilRegals, and Bex (Mader), who has #MyPretties. So, I put out a vote and said, “OK, guys, you can come up with a name” and they chose #Jasminians. (Laughs)

D23: I know you can’t talk specifics about the Winter Finale, other than that Jasmine is going to be a part of it. My guess for the episode is that fans will not be disappointed.
KD: There’s a lot that kicks off in the Winter Finale, as always. Put it this way, there isn’t a dull moment for any of the characters, and I think the fans are going to be very, very happy.

5 Things Moana and Star Wars Have in Common

November 30, 2016

By Jocelyn Buhlman

As the holiday season approaches, we’re all looking forward to heading to the movie theaters with our families to watch the movies we’ve been waiting all year to see. Walt Disney Animation Studios gives us an adventure on the high seas with Moana, in theaters now, and on December 16 we will discover a new story set in the Star Wars galaxy with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. But what do these two movies have in common (besides how excited we are to see both of them)? Keep reading to find out!

Alan Tudyk
What do a scatterbrained rooster and sarcastic imperial droid have in common? Could you believe that those silly squawks you hear in Moana come from the same mouth that voices repurposed enforcer droid K-2SO in Rogue One? Alan Tudyk is Disney’s resident vocalizing master bringing to life characters like Wreck it Ralph’s King Candy, Frozen’s The Duke of Weasleton, and Zootopia’s …Duke Weasleton. Continuing his legacy, Tudyk hits the high seas as Heihei in Moana and then journeys to a galaxy far, far away as K-2SO in Rogue One. Where will this man of many voices travel next?

Lin-Manuel Miranda
Chances are, you’ve been humming at least one of Grammy®-, Emmy®-, and Tony®-Award winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs this year. Yes, his smashing success on Broadway may be the music that first comes to mind when you hear his name, but that’s not the only time Miranda has delighted our ears with his music. Do you remember the first time you entered space pirate Maz Kanata’s palace in The Force Awakens? Credited as the band “Shag Kava,” Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote and peformed the songs “Dobra Doompa” and “Jabba Flow” with the help of the film’s own director, J.J. Abrams. If your taste in movies is focused more in this galaxy, then maybe the tune stuck in your head is one of the instant classic tracks from Disney’s newest animated films—Lin-Manuel Miranda helped compose the music along with Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina. From Star Wars to Moana, to his next opportunities, there’s no telling how far Miranda will go!

Skywalker Sound
The “whoosh” of a lightsaber. The growl of a wookiee. The beeps and whoops of a certain feisty R2 unit. You always think of certain iconic noises when you remember the sound effects of the Star Wars films. The sound effects masters behind those noises started off as a company called Sprocket Systems, but soon came to be known by a more familiar name: Skywalker Sound. They’ve brought sounds to life for movies, commercials, and even theme park attractions, and now you can hear their latest feats in Moana!

Temuera Morrison
This voice actor will have you hearing double, or triple, or maybe hearing a whole army of voices! Temuera Morrison acts for one as Chief Tui in Moana, but in the Star Wars films you’ll be hearing his voice—and seeing his face—again and again and again and again! Morrison brings to life the bounty hunter Jango Fett, and with him his many clones, such as Commander Cody and our favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett! Keep yours ears and eyes on the lookout for him in Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Girl Power
If you were asked to picture a girl with a rebellious spirit who goes on an amazing journey, who would you think of first? Maybe Rey, fighting the First Order and discovering her powers of the Force. Or perhaps you picture Moana, rediscovering her people’s love of wayfinding and voyaging to new islands. Maybe you’re still waiting to meet this rebel girl, like when Jyn Erso helps steal the Death Star plans during Rogue One, premiering on December 16. Or maybe you were thinking about all three rebel girls! These days, female heroines fill our stories and inspire us to look beyond the lives we have been told to live and instead find the true calling of our heart. And those stories go beyond what we see on the screen—both Moana and The Force Awakens feature girl power behind the scenes, with production teams headed by women. Osnat Shurer helps produce her first-ever full-length animated film with Moana, and Kathleen Kennedy keeps our galaxy full of rebel girls by not only acting as the head of Lucasfilm, but by serving as a producer on The Force Awakens. Where will our rebel girls go next?

Extended Look at Rogue One — Plus More in News Briefs

November 29, 2016

By Courtney Potter

Rogue One: New Extended Trailer, and Tickets Now On Sale!

Ready to “trust the Force”? We only have a few more weeks until Rogue One: A Star Wars Story finally rockets its way into the cinematic stratosphere. And there’s a brand-new, totally fantastic extended trailer to keep us on our Star Wars toes as we wait patiently ‘til December 16. Check it out, above!

Can’t wait to get your tickets? You’re in luck: Just this week, tickets for the film went on sale worldwide! And some of them come with cool perks; if you purchase a seat for an IMAX® showing at AMC Theaters on December 18, 25, or January 1, you’ll receive an exclusive Rogue One mini-poster. And if you get seats through Fandango, you’ll enter for a chance to win a sweepstakes for an amazing U-wing model—signed by Rogue One director Gareth Edwards himself.

See you at the movies, we will!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
December 4, 2016
Light Up the Season with D23
December 11, 2016
Holiday Gingerbread House Workshop at Downtown Disney
December 13, 2016
D23’s Disney Springs Holiday Celebration
December 13, 2016
D23’s Moonlight and Mistletoe Dinner
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
Studios
December 16, 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters
March 17, 2017
Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters
May 26, 2017
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
opens in theaters

Parks
November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29; December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort
November 10–January 8, 2017
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
November 11–January 8, 2017
Holidays at Disney Springs
August 31-November 13, 2017
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
Television
December 1-25, 2016
Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas
December 25, 2016
The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration, 9–11 a.m. on ABC

2017 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Dates Announced

Fans of delicious food and delectable wine, listen up! Your favorite event at Walt Disney World Resort has just been announced for 2017! Yes, mark those calendars: The 2017 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will take place from August 31 through November 13, with a whopping 75 days’ worth of culinary delights, celebrity chefs, amazing premium events, and enticing Eat to the Beat concerts contained therein.

If you’ve never been to an Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, you should really do yourself (and your taste buds) a favor and check it out. Take a gander at the kind of yummy eats you can expect here (each year brings even more flavor!)—and keep your eyes peeled on D23.com to find out more about our Sip & Stroll event for the 2017 Festival…

Live Twitter Q&A with Rogue One Cast and Filmmakers

Color us ecstatic for even more Rogue One news this week. Twitter just announced a collaboration with Disney and People magazine to exclusively live-stream a big Rogue One: A Star Wars Story event this Friday, December 2! The stream, hosted by People, will feature the debut of some fabulous never-before-seen content from Rogue One, followed by a Q&A with director Gareth Edwards, Lucasfilm President and producer Kathleen Kennedy, and cast members Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso), Diego Luna (Cassian Andor), Ben Mendelsohn (Orson Krennic), Alan Tudyk (K-2SO), and more!

The live coverage will start on Friday at 10 a.m. PT, streaming from a surprise, sure-to-be-amazing location. The stream will be available worldwide to Twitter users and guests alike—and can be found at RogueOne.twitter.com, in Twitter Moments, and through @StarWars and @people.

Wanna submit a question for the cast to answer during the event? Tweet your query with #AskRogueOne and keep those fingers crossed! Fans can also make some fun Star Wars Twitter emoji appear in their tweets by using the hashtags #RogueOne, #DeathStar, #StarWars, and #StarWarsRogueOne.

Learn New Skills with Disney’s Moana Hour of Code Tutorial

Ever wanted to learn how to code, and have fun doing it? Or have a kid in your life who’s interested in computers? Last week, Disney launched “Moana: Wayfinding with Code”—a very cool, not to mention free, online tutorial that offers up an introduction to the basics of computer science, featuring all your favorite characters from Disney’s newest hit Moana.

Created in collaboration with the good folks at Code.org, the “Moana: Wayfinding with Code” tutorial will be available in more than 180 countries and 23 languages, including Samoan Polynesian—giving kids (and adults) all over the world the opportunity to learn the basics of coding. This isn’t the first time Disney has helped folks learn how to code; over the past two years, the company has hosted two other “Hour of Code” tutorials, featuring characters from Frozen and Star Wars. In total, almost 40 million students have participated.

Visit Disney.com/HourofCode to learn more!

Disney Scores Big with Annie Award Nominations

You’ve heard of the Oscars® and the Golden Globes®, but did you know that television and film animation have their very own award? It’s called the Annie, and it’s been given out every year (since 1972) by the International Animated Film Society. This year’s Annie Awards nominations have just been announced, and—between Disney•Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Television Animation, and Marvel Studios—The Walt Disney Company has received an amazing 33 nominations combined! Zootopia took 11 nominations alone, with Moana, Finding Dory, The Jungle Book, Doctor Strange, and more securing nods of their own.

On the TV side, nominations went to six different Disney Television Animation shows, including Star Wars Rebels, Gravity Falls, and Milo Murphy’s Law. Visit our pals over at Oh My Disney for a full list of all the Disney-related nominees, and look for the winners to be announced in early February.