You’ll Love These Printable Moana Coloring Pages

November 28, 2016May 28, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Now that you’ve watched the adventures of Moana and Maui on the big screen, we know you’re searching for more fun with these wonderful wayfinders. Well, now we can say “You’re welcome,” because D23 has the perfect activity for you: printable Moana coloring pages! Let your creative side shine through as you relive the magic of the movie in any color you choose. With the whole rainbow available to you, you never know how far your coloring will go!

Click here to download.

Teaser Trailer for Disney•Pixar’s Cars 3—Plus More in News Briefs

November 23, 2016

By Courtney Potter

Start Your Engines! New Teaser Trailer for Cars 3

Cars 2 hit the pavement of your local movie theater in 2011—and if you’re anything like us, you’ve been wondering what the charismatic Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) has been up to in the years since… thankfully, we don’t have too much longer to wait to find out! Cars 3 will race to a screen near you next summer. And to help tide us over, Disney•Pixar has just released a brand-new teaser trailer for the film, above.

This time ‘round, Lightning finds himself blindsided by a whole new generation of supersonic racers—and he’s suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back on the road again, Lightning will need the help of Cruz Ramirez, an eager young race technician with her own plan to return our hero to his former glory. And as you’d expect, there’s plenty of inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet… with a few unexpected turns along the way. Directed by original Cars story artist Brian Fee, Cars 3 starts its engines (in 3-D) on June 16, 2017!

022415_news-briefs-February-24-2015-feat-2

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
November 23, 2016
Moana opens in theaters
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
Television
November 24, 2016
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration, 8–10 p.m. ET on ABC
November 24, 2016
Freeform’s Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas begins
November 25, 2016
Disney Parks Presents: A Descendants Magical Holiday Celebration, 8–9 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
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

Exciting Announcements from Destination D: Amazing Adventures

If you visited D23.com at any point over the weekend, you may have noticed lots of fun coverage of our fabulous Destination D: Amazing Adventures event at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. (And for those of you who were there in person, thanks for making it so marvelous!) One of the most awesome aspects of the weekend? Tons of exciting announcements!

On Saturday, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek gave guests a construction update on Pandora – The World of Avatar… and shared that the new land is officially set to open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in summer 2017. During that same presentation, Walt Disney World’s new MagicBand 2 was unveiled; featuring a new design, the band will be able to link to My Disney Experience—serving as a theme park ticket, access to FastPass+ selections, a Disney PhotoPass card, and a room key for guests of the Walt Disney World Resort.

But that’s not all: Guests at Destination D: Amazing Adventures also learned how the new Star Wars-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will look “after dark,” and that a brand-new adventure is coming to the Star Tours—The Adventures Continue attraction! Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm teams are in production as we speak (err, type) to add a thrilling new mission to the attraction, based on elements from Star Wars Episode VIII.

Seeking a recap of D23’s Destination D: Amazing Adventures? Look no further! And don’t forget to visit our pals over at the Disney Parks Blog for more info on all of these exciting Parks and Resorts updates…

Angela Bassett Joins Marvel’s Black Panther

Marvel fans, listen up! We’ve just received word, via the good folks over at Marvel.com, that Academy Award® winner Angela Bassett has joined the cast of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther. Bassett, who currently co-stars on Fox’s American Horror Story, will play Ramonda, mother of T’Challa, aka Black Panther.

Directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed), Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman in the title role—alongside previously announced castmates Michael B. Jordan, Forest Whitaker, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, and Florence Kasumba. The film will leap into theaters on February 16, 2018.

Here’s Your Chance to Meet Moana!

In just a few short days, Moana will set sail for theaters around the country. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest film—with epic adventure, lots of hilarity, and tons of great music—follows a brave young woman and her new demigod pal as they set sail on an action-packed voyage.

Now, Moana herself is setting out on another journey—to visit with guests at Disney destinations around the world! Moana recently arrived at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, to greet resort guests and recount tales of her seaworthy adventures. And later in the month, she will make her way to Disneyland Park in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Don’t miss your chance to meet the master wayfinder herself at a Disney Park soon… and see Moana in theaters (in 3-D!) beginning November 23.

Go Inside Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with New Featurette

Oh, the anticipation! Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will finally come to a cinema near you on December 16; the first ever “stand-alone” Star Wars film, it follows a group of unlikely heroes as they band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star—the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This especially important event in the Star Wars timeline finds ordinary people choosing to do extraordinary things… and in doing so, they become part of something greater than themselves.

If you’re looking for something to whet the Star Wars whistle in these last few weeks before the film’s debut, you’re in luck: A fantastic new featurette just debuted! Check it out (above) and hear from director Gareth Edwards, as well as several of the film’s stars—including Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso) and Diego Luna (Cassian Andor).

Starbright Holidays Drone Show—Now Dazzling at Disney Springs

There is something so new, so cool, so special happening nightly at Disney Springs… you almost won’t believe your eyes! And it’s a first-of-its-kind show—not just for Disney Parks, but in the United States. The new holiday experience, Starbright Holidays—An Intel Collaboration, features 300 show drones illuminating the night sky in amazing formation.

Accompanied by an original Disney arrangement of classic holiday songs recorded by a full orchestra, the dazzling experience invites viewers to look up to sky and “wish upon a holiday star.” And it’s the very first time a drone show of this scale has ever been performed in the U.S.!

Check out a brief sample of the show—which takes place on the West Side of the Disney Springs waterfront—above… and if you’re visiting Walt Disney World Resort this holiday season, look for the show each night at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., from now through January 8.

Star vs. The Forces of Evil Gets Animated on Facebook Chat

Disney XD’s hit animated series, Star vs. The Forces of Evil, follows fiercely awesome teen princess Star Butterfly—who, after receiving an all-powerful magic wand for her 14th birthday, is sent by her Royal Parents to live with the Diaz family on Earth… bringing along her own unique inter-dimensional style to her new home. Just this week, creator and executive producer Daron Nefcy utilized some very cool software (Adobe Character Animator, to be exact) for a live Facebook Q&A. It was the first time this technology has been utilized for a live FB chat!

Daron answered questions from fans as show character STARFAN13, Star Butterfly’s biggest fan, as she was animated in real-time through the facial recognition software. And in case you missed the chat, don’t fret—check out the video, above. And look out for that “Jellybean Hallucination Mist”!

5 Reasons We’re Excited for the Hong Kong Disneyland Expansion

November 22, 2016

By Jocelyn Buhlman

The Disney Parks Blog just announced a multi-year expansion for Hong Kong Disneyland, spanning from 2018-2023, to bring more Disney magic to the resort. Here are five magical experiences at Hong Kong Disneyland to put on your bucket list. Are you already booking your plane ticket?

1. A Brand-New Marvel Experience
Get ready for your childhood dreams of super heroics to jump from the pages of comic books right into your life! On January 11, the Iron Man Experience kick- starts Hong Kong Disneyland’s Marvel-themed attractions. Following the Iron Man Experience, a Marvel-themed area will let you whirl through a reimagined Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and other thrilling attractions dedicated to Marvel’s amazing franchises!

2. Enter the World of Frozen
We all fell in love with the magic of Frozen, but now that magic comes to life in a brand-new Frozen-themed land that allows fans of all ages to experience the characters from the popular animated film in ways they never have before at any Disney park. Visit Anna and Elsa’s home of Arendelle, complete with themed dining, shopping, and entertainment.

3. Sleeping Beauty Castle Soars to New Heights
Sleeping Beauty Castle area will be completely transformed to set the stage for never-before-seen daytime and nighttime spectaculars and entertainment experiences.

4. Magical Transformations at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Alongside the newly transformed castle will be a brand-new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. The elegant salon is the magical way to be transformed into a real-life princess, with shimmering makeup, Disney Princess costumes, and other dazzling accessories. Ever wished to become a real-life princess? Your dreams can come true at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

5. Come Visit Moana’s Village Festival
We’re excited to meet Moana on the big screen soon, but even more excited to be able to meet her in person at Hong Kong Disneyland! Moana’s Village Festival is coming to Adventureland as a daytime stage show you can’t find anywhere else! You’ll even be able to meet the future chief herself in a special character experience right there in the village!

“We Know the Way” to the Moana Story Room

November 22, 2016

By Courtney Potter

It’s an animated adventure several years in the making, rooted in the oral histories of the people and cultures of the Pacific Islands. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 56th feature film, Moana, follows a brave, compassionate teenager and the tough-but-tender demigod she befriends, as they look to save her people and find their true calling in the process—all while traversing the crystal-blue ocean around them. Directed by the legendary team of Ron Clements and John Musker, the film combines beautiful animation (both CG and hand-drawn), Oceania-inspired music and song, and a story that is sure to resonate with audiences for years to come…

But how, exactly, was that story developed? Just as the storytelling culture of the Pacific Islands passed down the tales of demigod Maui and wayfinding through the generations, it was the film’s story team—along with the Oceanic Story Trust, a group of anthropologists, choreographers, master tattooists, linguists, master navigators and cultural advisors—that was tasked with passing down Moana’s story to filmgoers.

On a recent trip to Walt Disney Animation Studios, D23 sat down with Moana screenwriter Jared Bush (co-director/co-writer, Zootopia)—as well as Dave Pimentel, co-head of story with John Ripa, and story artists David Derrick and Sunmee Joh—for a unique peek into the film’s development.

On working at Walt Disney Animation Studios…
Jared Bush (JB): “Disney has a pretty awesome process—it’s super collaborative, and we all sit in this room, where we’re sitting today, trying to figure out how to make the characters really come to life, what kind of story we want to tell, finding universal themes and emotions.”

On the truly collaborative process of an animation story room…
JB: “One of the really cool things about being here is the collaborative nature—and unlike typical live-action screenwriting for me, this is a process where all of us sit around and try and figure out what the story is. I’ve only been on Moana for about a year; there are other writers that came on before me. Taika Waititi, who is currently directing Thor: Ragnarok—he was the first writer on Moana, along with Pamela Ribon and Jordan and Aaron Kandell, but the process is largely the same over the course of three to five years. We put together the movie, we figure out what story we want to tell, put those things on ‘beat boards’ [poster boards covered in index cards and sketches] like this… then the writer goes off to write all those things and then hands those off to story editors, [then] we all discuss it. Eventually, those things are all edited and we put it up into a screen and we [go through that process] about 12 times over a three- to five-year period.”

Dave Pimentel (DP): “Yes, this room—it is kind of like a ‘war room.’ I mean, after each screening, we all go at it; we fight for ideas, and it’s really neat because it’s really the best ideas that win. Over three or four days, however long we have to kind of restructure it, the best ideas always rise to the top. ”

David Derrick (DD): “You can imagine the emotional investment that happens in this kind of process, that all of us have this passion to fight for an idea. We interject and say, ‘Well that’s great, but what if we did this?’ We toss ideas back and forth around this table, and we end up with all these ‘beat boards’ that have the final decisions for moving forward.”

Sunmee Joh (SJ): “The story team is a group of individuals with different strengths, different talents, and we all come together to help make the story the best it can be; and even though each person goes off and does their own scene, we do come back together if we need to solve a problem.”

On writing the actual script for the film…
JB: “The screenwriter’s job is to stay ahead of the story team by about five hours. It’s a very fluid process; once I turn something in, it’s not like, ‘OK, here it is in stone.’ We continue to talk as [artists] continuing to draw. Things will change; dialogue will change. Many times I’ll ‘slug in’ [add in] dialogue that won’t be final, but will give the story artists what they need to know about the emotions of the characters and their motivations—the overall tone of the scene—and we’ll continue to adjust that.”

On what the “Head of Story” does for an animated feature…
DP: “I work with wonderful story artists. I work with Jared here, and the directors, and we get to oversee all the storyboards—and craft the shots and the acting and all that stuff before it goes to animation, and we do it all in digital drawing form. We do draw a little bit on paper; this room is usually super messy, with a bunch of sketches and treats and snacks that we’ll devour… “

On looking to one’s own ancestry for inspiration…
DD: “I am of Samoan heritage, some of my ancestors come from Samoa. Dave is a good friend of mine and when he found out he was going to be working on this film, he pulled me along. I immediately left what I was doing—it was at a different [company]—and came here because it was very personal to me. The first thing I did is, I went out to [the gravesite of] my first Samoan ancestor who came to America, and I did a rubbing of her gravesite. I had that above my desk every single day that I was working on [the film], as a reminder of why I’m making this, why I’m working so hard. It’s really to celebrate and honor a powerful culture.

“Polynesia is a world in general that has been misrepresented in the media—and [this team] has gone to great lengths. It inspired me to go on my own research trip, and I took my whole family to Samoa. While there, we learned the art of making ‘siapo,’ or tapa cloth, from all of the traditional plants and dyes—and all of that helped inform what we were doing, and I brought that back with a much deeper understanding of what the culture is like… ”

On “saving the chicken”…
SJ: “One problem we faced was trying to figure out how to save Heihei [Moana’s pet chicken]. He was a character from the very beginning, and he was in many versions of the story—but due to story changes, he somehow wound up on the chopping block… [Initially] he was sort of this macho, ‘big-wig’ character, kind of like the Chief’s watchdog; he always kept a close eye on Moana, watching her every move—and he was mean for no real reason. The team brainstormed and thought of different ways of incorporating him in a new way. It wasn’t enough to just change his character and make him dumber. We had to make him a complication for Moana to leave, add to the story.”

DP: “When Heihei was saved, we actually had a celebratory lunch where we brought in fried chicken for everybody. We had a chicken meal!”

Moana sails into cinemas around the country on November 23!

Set Sail for Fun with Printable Moana Activities!

November 22, 2016November 23, 2016

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Are you excited to hit the high seas with Moana? Over this holiday weekend as you and your family prepare to go see the movie for the first time (or second time, or third time, or fourth time…), get into the wayfinding spirit with these fun, printable activities.

Use your best navigational skills to help Moana sail through the maze to find the fearless demigod, Maui!
Click here to download.

Familiarize yourself with all of the movies cute, cuddly, and courageous characters in a matching game that will have you seeing double.
Click here to download.

You and your family will be in the Disney spirit all weekend long!

First Look at The Na’vi River Journey Shaman

Guests at Destination D were the first to hear that Pandora – The World of AVATAR will open summer 2017! While we (impatiently) wait for this unbelievable new land to open, we’re passing the time oohing and aahing over stunning new imagery and details released this weekend at Destination D.

In fact, just a few moments ago, Alpha Centauri Expeditions (A.C.E.) Founder Marshall Lamm joined legendary filmmaker James Cameron and Imagineer Joe Rohde to give Destination D guests a first look at what explorers can expect in Pandora. Marshall also introduced us to one of the inhabitants of Pandora via video (the world is 4.4 light years away from Planet Earth, after all!), the Shaman of Songs, which guests will meet during their Na’vi River Journey.

Take a look here:

No Strings Attached: Pinocchio is coming to Blu-ray in 2017

November 19, 2016

By Nicole Nalty

When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true! Just now during D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures, we announced the addition of Pinocchio to the Walt Disney Signature Collection. The iconic adventure of the lovable puppet-turned-real boy will come to vibrant new life for the first time on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on January 10, and on Blu-ray and DVD on January 31.

The release will include hours of classic bonus material along with brand-new features, including never-before-seen artwork, archival recordings of Walt during production, a feature documentary highlighting the evolution of women’s roles in Disney animation, and more. Destination D guests were the first to see the new trailer, which you can watch now:

Fans at Destination D also received an exclusive lithograph commemorating the release.

Stay tuned for more details on this exciting release!

3 Big Disney Parks Announcements You Need to Know About Right Now

November 19, 2016May 4, 2017

By Nicole Nalty

D23’s Destination D: Amazing Adventures kicked off with a conversation with Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. A lifelong Disney fan, it’s only appropriate that Bob shared some super exciting news about anticipated attractions and offerings coming to Disney theme parks.

MagicBand 2

You may have seen something magical on D23’s social media yesterday about MagicBand 2––Destination D guests are the first to experience the newest version of the innovative technology used throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Bob told D23 why it was so important for the new MagicBands to make their debut at this event, “Well, we have fans and we have super fans. And we owe it to our super fans to give them the best of the best and, when we can, be the first to try new things! It’s a privilege for us to launch something new and something as revolutionary as MagicBand 2 with our super fans.”

MagicBand 2 features a new design, making it even more customizable and versatile, while maintaining the same effortless convenience of the original MagicBand. Bob told D23 that when it comes to MagicBand 2, “the key word is personalization.” The MagicBand has evolved from a band to a versatile accessory: “The actual gem of the band can be popped out and potentially be put on a variety of merchandise,” Bob shared with us. So while you may enjoy wearing your MagicBand 2 as just that, you can customize your MagicBand 2 with exclusive Disney Parks merchandise to fit your personality and preferences. This new structure allows Disney theme parks to “create new, unique, personalized guest experiences,” Bob explained. MagicBand 2 will make its resort-wide debut soon, but we’re particularly partial to this exclusive Destination D design.

Pandora – The World of Avatar

Talk about an amazing adventure! Destination D guests were the first to learn that Pandora – The World of Avatar will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in summer 2017. The land is sure to be a highlight for all Disney fans, including Bob! When we asked him what new offering he is most excited to experience, Bob said, “everything in Pandora. From the placemaking to the two extraordinary attractions that will be in that land—both the Na’vi River tour as well as the Banshee attraction. These promise to set new high-watermarks for our experiential magic that we give our guests. And as a fan and as the Chairman of the Parks, I can’t wait to see this in real action.”

We can’t wait either! Pandora – The World of Avatar promises to be an unbelievably innovative land, from the bioluminescent forests to the two attractions. When we asked Bob for more details about the Banshee attraction, he shared that “it’s multi-sensory in a way that raises the bar higher than we’ve ever raised the bar before. There are elements of it that you will say are familiar, but the way things are integrated create a form of reality that we’ve not yet experienced.”

Bob also shared some never-before-seen images from the new land:

This bridge, located near Tiffins Restaurant, will be the entry point to Pandora – The World of Avatar.

Satu’li Canteen, featuring Na’vi art and cultural items, will be the main eatery in Pandora – The World of Avatar.

Explore Na’vi cultural items, toys, science kits and more at Windtraders.

Enjoy a special drink at Pongu Pongu, a beverage location as eclectic as its Expat owner.

Star Wars at Disney Parks

The creative minds at Walt Disney Imagineering are hard at work creating another world, or perhaps we should say a galaxy far, far, away…As Bob told D23, “We’re challenging ourselves to be as ambitious as possible with the development of the Star Wars-themed lands. We know the playbook in terms of how to make a ‘land’ and how to make an attraction. But incumbent with moving forward, is challenging ourselves to make it bigger and better than even sometimes we could have dreamed. I think the key word for me for the Star Wars lands that will distinguish them from everything else, with the unbelievable attractions we’re going to have, is the word ‘immersive.’” Disney fans feel that immersion when entering a land like Cars Land, but Bob feels the new Star Wars-themed lands will take that one step further: “Every element of that land will be in story.”

Destination D guests were the first to see what the Star Wars-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will look like at night in the stunning image seen above. A sharp-eyed Star Wars fan will notice the distinct details that will bring this land to life, including one of the signature attractions that lets you take the controls of the Millennium Falcon.

While we wait for this unbelievable land to arrive in this galaxy, Bob also shared that a new adventure will be added to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, based on elements of the upcoming Star Wars: Episode 8.

We’re just getting started here at Destination D! Stay tuned to our live updates here on D23.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (Disney.D23) for more amazing adventures.

Live from D23’s Destination D: Amazing Adventures

November 19, 2016December 5, 2016

We had so much fun at D23’s Destination D: Amazing Adventures! See some of the amazing adventures we had during our weekend at Walt Disney World Resort:

Ready for some amazing adventures? Follow along as we share live updates from D23’s Destination D: Amazing Adventures, taking place this weekend at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (Disney.D23) for more from this fan-favorite Disney weekend.

Friday, November 18

An Eventful Year
2017 will be a year full of many more amazing adventures for D23 Members! See which events you can’t miss here.

Get Ready for D23 Expo
D23 Expo 2017 is coming up quickly! Read more about the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired Design Challenge and the ever-popular Mousequerade, both taking place during next year’s D23 Expo.

Walt’s Great Adventures
Explore Walt Disney’s greatest adventures in an exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives exclusively for Destination D. See photos from this amazing exhibit here.

Saturday, November 19

A Conversation with Bob Chapek
Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts shared some exciting news about Disney theme parks around the world! Click here for updates on Pandora – The World of AVATAR, Star Wars-themed lands, and more!

A Look Back at Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures
Film producer Don Hahn and Becky Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives, took guests on a true-life adventure, sharing photos and clips from the Academy Award-winning series. Guests also saw a sneak peek at Born in China, Disney Nature’s next film, debuting on Earth Day 2017.

Talking Adventureland with Disney Legend Marty Sklar
Marty Sklar certainly has had a lot of adventures! The Disney Legend took guests on a visual tour of early concepts for one of the most iconic lands throughout Disney theme parks, Adventureland.

When You Wish Upon a Star…
Your dreams come true! The 1940 classic animated film Pinocchio is coming to Digital HD and Blu-ray – click here for details.

Disney Adventurelands Around the World
Disney Legend Tony Baxter and Imagineers Jason Grandt and Luc Mayrand shared what it’s like in the wilds of Adventureland at Disney theme parks around the world. Guests learned that Shanghai Disneyland originally had an Adventureland, but eventually became two adventure lands, Adventure Isle and Treasure Cove.

Tales from the Jungle Cruise
Once a skip, always a skip! Justin Arthur, Alex Grayman, Kevin Lively, Chris Merritt, Trevor Van Dahm, and Wyatt Winter took guests on a tour of the world famous Jungle Cruise, and they were the perfect guides! Each of these presenters got their start on the iconic attraction, either at Magic Kingdom park or Disneyland park. Guests were in for a pun ride as our guides shared stories from their time in the jungle. Kevin Lively and Wyatt Winter shared how the Jingle Cruise (now celebrating its fourth year) came to be. “The spirit of the Jingle Cruise is that the holidays are what you make of them,” Lively explained of the spirit of the holiday attraction. “Found objects” make up most of the decor – tires from Kilimanjaro Safaris, and even material from a Jungle Cruise skipper’s pants deck the halls of this jolly jungle. Alex Grayman spilled secrets from inside the Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom park, and all of Destination D was inducted into the Adventurer’s Club thanks to Dr. Albert Falls!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort 45th Anniversary
Destination D guests were swept away to a tropical hideaway, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Disney artists Casey Jones and Richard Terpstra, D23’s Steven Vagnini, and Disney Vacation Club’s Ryan March explored the South Pacific-themed getaway, from early concepts to a chat with the legendary Auntie Kau’i, a cast member from Pearl Bay, Oahu, who helped open the resort in 1971. Cultural representative Ku’ulei joined our friends to lead a hula lesson for the whole hall with music performed by Kalei and Kau’i.

Moana: Building a Legend
Screenwriter Jared Bush (Zootopia) took the stage to share secrets from Disney’s next animated film, Moana, diving into theatres next week. Destination D guests will see the film later tonight, so Jared’s presentation is the cherry on top of a sweet day!

Sunday, November 20

It All Started with a Map
Historians and co-authors Kevin Neary and Susan Neary kicked off Sunday’s adventures by mapping out their stunning book Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai. Kevin Neary and Susan Neary worked closely with the Walt Disney Archives and the Walt Disney Imagineering Art Library to curate this treasure trove of historic maps.

New Walt Disney World Adventures
Walt Disney World Resort Ambassadors Caitlin Busscher and Nathaniel Palma helped us celebrate the amazing adventures that are already delighting guests at Walt Disney World Resort. Entertainment Show Director Tom Vazzana truly entertained the crowd with director’s commentary on the unbelievable new spectacular, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! The show features all-new audio of “Oogie Boogie’s Song” from The Nightmare Before Christmas, and all-new animation of some of our favorite Disney characters from our friends at Disney Animation. Imagineer Wyatt Winter joined us again to chat about Frozen Ever After, a new innovative Epcot attraction based on the hit film Frozen. The Audio-Animatronics used in the attraction are the first to be fully electronic, Wyatt explained, and the original animators from the film returned to help bring these iconic characters to life.

Magic Journeys: 45 Years of Walt Disney World Adventures
Imagineers Jason Grandt and Alex Wright took guests on a journey through some of Walt Disney World’s most unique and fondly remembered adventures, from heading nowhere in particular on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (the Magic Kingdom attraction featured two tracks), to the high-flying adventure If You Had Wings.

Pandora – The World of AVATAR
Filmmaker James Cameron, Imagineer Joe Rohde, and A.C.E. Founder Marshall Lamm shared stories from their visits to Pandora, including amazing images that truly depict beauty of the land, and a video of the Shaman of Songs – click here for your first look.

The Art and Adventures of Marc Davis
Guests marveled at some never-before-seen Marc Davis art, as Imagineer Chris Merritt shared the stories behind the artwork. Chris Merritt is co-authoring a new book on the Disney Legend alongside Pete Docter. From familiar and beloved attractions to concepts that never came to be, Chris shared concepts spanning Marc’s storied career with WED Enterprises.

The Imagineering Adventure
Ever wonder what happened to the Audio-Animatronics in America Sings? Disney Legend Tony Baxter shared stories from his legendary career at Walt Disney Imagineering, including moving our animal friends from America Sings into Disneyland’s Splash Mountain. Along with D23’s Steven Vagnini, Tony discussed the three factors that drive the creation of new attractions: timing, park needs, and new technology. Speaking of new technology, Shanghai Disneyland Portfolio Creative Executive Luc Mayrand walked guests through Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, perhaps Walt Disney Imagineering’s most innovative attraction to date, which opened earlier this year at Shanghai Disneyland. To celebrate the new attraction, Imagineers gathered water from each Pirates attraction around the world to pour into the water of the Shanghai attraction before opening.

Guiding Animals Through Change
As Disney’s Animal Kingdom expands with brand-new experiences, Dr. Scott Terrell, Director, Animal and Science Operations, shared how his team has prepared animals for the changes in the park. The team has taken great measures to make sure the residents of Disney’s Animal Kingdom are taken care of with the addition of nighttime hours at the park. As a special surprise, Dr. Scott brought out two different animals from Disney’s Animal Kingdom: a stunning black vulture (which flew through the room!) and an adorable aardvark.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Evolving a New Species of Theme Park
Imagineer Joe Rohde took the stage again to share some of his adventures creating Disney’s Animal Kingdom and bringing Pandora – The World of AVATAR to life. Joe encouraged the audience to travel and embrace every experience – a philosophy that has helped Joe and his team create some of the most immersive areas in Disney theme parks.

Destination D guests finished off the weekend with a trip to Magic Kingdom and a ride on one of the park’s most iconic adventures – The Jingle Cruise!

Need Costume Inspiration for Mousequerade at D23 Expo?

November 18, 2016

In honor of the announcement that Mousequerade will return for D23 Expo 2017, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the marvelous costumes Disney fans displayed at the costume contests of previous D23 Expos.

Be warned, gazing at all this alluring attire may spark your cosplay fire!

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

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