Great Grapes: The Disney Family of Wines

September 15, 2016September 20, 2016

By Nicole Nalty

We love all things Disney for so many reasons, not the least of which are the creativity and careful thought that go into each attraction, film, TV episode—the list goes on and on! At Disney Parks, even a glass of wine tells a story—as only Disney can. The Disney Family of Wines is a carefully curated wine list featuring vineyards that have a connection to Disney’s past, present, or future. You can find a selection of these wines at many restaurants throughout Disney Parks & Resorts, including Carthay Circle Restaurant and Alfresco Tasting Terrace at the Disneyland Resort, and Grand Floridian Café and Be Our Guest Restaurant at Walt Disney World Resort. Read on to see how each vineyard’s branches tie to The Walt Disney Company.

Fess Parker Winery—Disney Legend Fess Parker is best known for his role as Davy Crockett on the Disneyland television series. Fess Parker was one of the first guests inside Disneyland park, so it’s fitting that his wine is served at the Disneyland Resort.

MacMurray Ranch—The first Disney Legend, Fred MacMurray, is best remembered as Professor Ned Brainard in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and Son of Flubber (1963). Fred MacMurray also starred in Disney’s first live-action comedy, The Shaggy Dog (1959).

GoGi Wines—Kurt Russell has starred in 12 Disney films (including Follow Me, Boys!, starring fellow Disney Legend and winemaker, Fred MacMurray), so the Disney Legend is no stranger to the Disney family. All of GoGi’s wines are wonderful, but we love that the winery’s chardonnay is named after Kurt’s partner, Goldie Hawn.

Silverado Vineyards—It makes perfect sense that Silverado Vineyards is included in the Disney Family of Wines, seeing as its owners are part of the Disney family! The late Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, and her husband and former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Ron Miller, debuted Silverado Vineyards’ first vintage in 1981.

Lasseter Family Winery—John Lasseter knows a lot about great storytelling! As Chief Creative Officer of both the Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Lasseter is one of the brilliant brains behind some of our favorite films, and now, our favorite wines!

Frank Family Vineyards—Rich Frank held multiple roles within The Walt Disney Company, including chairman of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications and president of The Walt Disney Studios, before founding the Frank Family Vineyards.

Chappellet Winery—The sister of Frank G. Wells, president of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until his untimely death in 1994, owns this wonderful winery.

Skywalker Vineyards—Thirsty, you are? It should be no surprise that Disney Legend George Lucas is the genius behind these grapes.

Five Fascinating Facts From Beauty and the Beast’s Animators

September 15, 2016October 6, 2016

By Courtney Potter

We here at D23 love Beauty and the Beast! And what’s not to enjoy, right? The charming love story; the fantastic music; the colorful, memorable (not to mention technologically advanced) animation… But just when we thought we knew all there was to know about Belle, Beast, Gaston, and all their cohorts, we were privy to a recent, very special conversation with several Beauty animators—including Glen Keane, Andreas Deja, and Mark Henn.

Lucky for us, from that conversation came a slew of fascinating (and little-known) facts about the film. Read on for some trivia tidbits that are sure to impress your fellow Beauty and the Beast fans!

1. Character inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places.

Andreas Deja took animated inspiration for the Beauty and the Beast character he was charged with creating—Gaston—from another Disney classic, though it’s not one you’d expect. “There was a villain that was handsome—in a ‘cartoony’ way, but really well drawn—in the ‘Brom Bones’ section of Disney’s 1949 short The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” he explains. “And when I re-watched that footage, I thought, ‘Boy—physically, there’s something there… There’s a lot of weight there. I like the way the anatomy’s drawn. It’s simple, but it reads.’ So I studied that character quite a bit.” And as for Gaston’s “swagger,” Deja looked no further than some Los Angeles-area gyms! “You go and you workout and you look at these guys checking themselves in the mirror,” recalls Andreas, “doing this kind of ‘Yeah, looking good’ [routine]. It’s all in there… It’s actually real. That character is real—or at least, that aspect to him is real.”

2. The impact of Beauty and the Beast’s Best Picture Oscar® nomination—the first for any animated film—was not lost on its animators…

It was truly a life-altering moment—not just for Walt Disney Animation, but for the animators themselves. “It had been a while since animation really was in its ‘heyday,’” admits Keane. “And now, Beauty and the Beast was all over—on the cover of cereal boxes and whatnot… And to have that final kind of authoritative stamp of approval by the Academy—to have it nominated for Best Picture—it really meant a lot to all of us, as a team.”

Henn agrees, adding, “I think that it was just a validation [that] we take these films very seriously… we have a lot of fun doing it, but the art form—this whole thing about Disney animation is something that’s very near and dear to our hearts. And to finally have that kind of validation from an outside, well-respected entity like the Academy… it was just nice to finally have that recognition.” And despite the fact that the film didn’t win that year, Henn is still appreciative of the experience. “I’m sorry we didn’t win,” he explains, “but on the other hand, I’m not too disappointed—because I felt like I think we can do better, you know? Because we’re always looking ahead…

3. Even animators need to blow off some steam!

Animators are often under a fair amount of pressure—making sure things are done in a timely fashion, and adhering to a strict filmmaking schedule. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t time for a little fun. As Keane recalls: “I brought in a big slingshot one day. It was one of these big things where you had two people on either side hold it. And Beauty and the Beast was set up [in such a way] that the production was in one big room… there were offices on the sides, but a lot of people were out [in cubicles] in the middle. And so we started buying these chocolate donuts that were in the vending machine and putting them in the slingshot! We found that if you fired them, you could actually stick ’em on the wall all the way across the [room]. It wasn’t very popular because food started breaking apart in flight and landing on people’s drawings and everything.”

4. Disney’s past absolutely influenced Beauty and the Beast.

Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men” were the company’s core group of early animators—the Disney Legends responsible for such iconic films as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland. Were they an influence on Beauty’s animators? “Well, the simple answer is yes,” Henn admits. “Eric Larson was our primary mentor throughout probably the first half a dozen years of our career… and Andreas had the opportunity to work with Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.” “They were still around,” Deja continues. “They weren’t working at the studio anymore. In those days, I think seven of them were still around… Frank and Ollie were coming for lectures once in a while. Ward Kimball doing the same thing… ”

Keane remembers, “My mentor started off as Eric Larson, because everybody would go into his bullpen—where he was the most patient, gentle teacher possible… His explanations were so clear and simple. You would walk in and you just had this swirling cloud of confusion [about] how to animate something. And there’s all these principles, and it’s just all a mess. Eric would get in and just sit down at his desk and put your drawings there and then he would start to draw little red lines. A simple art of movement. And [he’d] grab two drawings out of your, maybe, 35 confusing ones and say ‘There’s something in this’… They gave you training wheels so that you couldn’t fail. They would do enough of the work and let you fill in. And it was just an absolute incredible gift.”

5. Disney characters impact audiences around the world… in sometimes surprising ways!

“A few years ago, I found out that a friend of a friend of mine, who lives in France, was a young actor who was motivated to become one based on [seeing] Gaston [in Beauty and the Beast],” explains Deja. “He saw the film when he was a kid and he had sort of this obsession with that character. So he ended up playing Gaston in Paris on stage! I went and saw it. He did a really fantastic job too… And not only that, but he’s also got a small part in the live-action version that’s coming out next year. He’s not playing Gaston, but he has got a part in it. So, you [never know] what an impact your character might have on somebody… ”

Don’t forget: Keep an eye on D23’s Fanniversary page all month long for more fantastic Beauty and the Beast fun!

For more with Mark, Andreas, and Glen, check out the Fall 2016 issue of Disney twenty-three, available exclusively to D23 Gold Members.

Beauty and the Beast Coloring Pages

September 15, 2016May 28, 2020

Enjoy these two coloring pages from Disney Princess: Art of Coloring!

Click here to download.

Disneyland Resort Gets Merry This November—Plus More in News Briefs

September 14, 2016

By Courtney Potter

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort: Beginning November 10!

We know—school’s just started, and Halloween is still over a month away. But that doesn’t mean we can’t start planning some winter-ific fun. Case in point: Mark those calendars for Holidays at the Disneyland Resort! That “most wonderful time of the year” returns to the Happiest Place on Earth beginning November 10 and running through January 8.

At Disney California Adventure Park (DCA), guests will find the all-new nighttime spectacular, World of Color—Season of Light. This sparkling winter fantasy will combine classic holiday songs with memorable moments from all your favorite Disney animated films to create an experience filled to the brim with magic. Meanwhile, the Festival of Holidays will invite families to delight in diverse cultural celebrations—including the popular Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, as well as the global sounds of special guest musical groups. Look for delectable, internationally inspired food and beverage at 14 themed festival marketplaces; plus, Princess Elena of Avalor will make her big Disneyland Resort debut during Festival of Holidays—and after Holidays at the Disneyland Resort concludes, she’ll remain at DCA to continue visiting with guests!

’Tis the season for returning favorites over at Disneyland Park—including Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, where magical snowfall moments will once again add to the enchantment of the Believe … in Holiday Magic fireworks. Also returning for Holidays at the Disneyland Resort this year will be A Christmas Fantasy parade, it’s a small world Holiday, and Haunted Mansion Holiday. And if you’re looking for a visit with good ol’ Santa Claus himself, he’ll be setting up shop at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in DCA and in Critter Country inside Disneyland.

Stay tuned for more merry messages about Holidays at the Disneyland Resort in the coming weeks…

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
September 17
Be Our Guest as Fanniversary Celebrates Beauty and the Beast Across the Country
September 23
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Bill Sullivan
September 24
D23 Presents Bedknobs and Broomsticks: 45 Bewitching Years (Florida)
October 5
D23’s Sip & Scream
October 5
D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience: A Midnight Soirée at the Tower of Terror
October 8
D23’s Age of Believing: 45 Years of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (California)
November 19–20
D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
Studios
September 23, 2016
Queen of Katwe opens in theaters
November 4, 2016
Doctor Strange opens in theaters
November 23, 2016
Moana opens in theaters
December 16, 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters

Parks
September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30; October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort
September 23, 26, 28, 30
October 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort
September 2–October 29 (Friday and Saturday Nights, plus October 31)
Club Villain, special ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
September 14–November 14, 2016
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
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
Television
September 18
68th Emmy® Awards broadcast on ABC at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
October 3
Milo Murphy’s Law premieres on Disney XD at 8 p.m. EDT

Casting News for Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time

It’s an epic science fantasy story, and it’s finally coming to the big screen! Award-winning director Ava DuVernay is getting ready to helm Disney’s upcoming adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time… and after an extensive search, Walt Disney Studios just announced that 13-year-old Storm Reid will play the lead role of Meg Murry in the film.

Storm’s first theatrical film role was in the Oscar®-winning 12 Years a Slave; she’s also appeared in American Girl: Lea to the Rescue and Sleight, and will be seen in actress Judy Greer’s directorial debut, A Happening of Monumental Proportions (costarring Allison Janney, Common, and Bradley Whitford), next year.

The adorable teen actress joins an already ridiculously stellar cast, including Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit, and Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who. Jennifer Lee (Frozen) will write the screenplay for the film, which has an expected 2018 release date.

Disney Stickers Now Available for iMessage

With Apple’s iOS 10 now pushing to an iPhone near you, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media has launched the adorable new Disney Stickers—a series of sticker packs that enable iMessage users to enhance their communications with cuter-than-cute Disney characters and props! Users will be able to craft their own unique iMessage stories through animated stickers featuring characters and art from beloved Disney stories… wanna jazz up that vacation photo with a sticker fro Lilo & Stitch? You got it! How ‘bout sharing your excitement about upcoming weekend fun with a sticker of Joy from Inside Out? She’s there too! From animated classics to Disney•Pixar and Star Wars, Disney Stickers convey everyday emotions and expressions that are better said with visuals than words.

Each Disney Stickers pack includes 21 stickers and costs $1.99 per pack—and they’re now available for download globally in most countries through the App Store for iMessage. New packs featuring additional characters and art will launch throughout the year!

A Look at New Poster Art for Disney’s Moana

We’re heading tantalizingly closer to the big debut of Disney’s Moana… are you checking off the days on your calendar like we are? (We wouldn’t be surprised; who doesn’t want to meet Moana, Maui, adorable sidekick pig Pua, and that kooky rooster Heihei?) Just yesterday, Dwayne Johnson (voice of Maui) took to Instagram to reveal the latest poster art for the film—check it out, above!

Moana, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog), stars newcomer Auli‘i Cravalho as an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. Also featuring Alan Tudyk, Jemaine Clement, and music from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa‘i, the film sails into theaters on November 23.

New Disney•Pixar Capsule Collection Now Available at Forever 21

Have a passion for fashion? Adore all things Disney•Pixar? You’re in serious luck! Well-known retailer Forever 21 recently launched a limited-edition Disney•Pixar capsule collection including women’s, men’s, and kid’s clothing and accessories! The 29-piece assortment celebrates classic characters from iconic Disney•Pixar animated films including Finding Dory, Monsters, Inc., and Toy Story—and it includes loungewear, beanies, bodysuits, bomber and denim jackets, cropped T-shirts, tote bags, sweaters, and sweatpants that feature portraits of all your fave characters alongside fun tongue-in-cheek phrases…

The collection was recently highlighted in an episode of Destination: Disney Style, the five-part original YouTube series that’s taking viewers around the globe to explore all the unique ways Disney characters are interpreted through fashion. Check out the Forever 21 clip, hosted by fashion blogger Lauren “LaurDIY” Riijimaki, here.

Disney Enchanted Tales Now Available on Mobile

Newsflash: There’s a fun, free new Disney mobile game… and it’s available now! Disney Enchanted Tales allows players to create their own custom kingdoms using fantastic landmarks and buildings from Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and Tangled—as well as interact with favorite Disney characters including Belle, Gaston, Anna, Prince Hans, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, and many more.

Disney Enchanted Tales lets players expand and build out their kingdoms by completing tasks and quests in order to earn new iconic landmarks, such as Belle’s Bookstore, The Beast’s Castle, Elsa’s Ice Palace, and Rapunzel’s Tower. New characters, outfits, and memorable story moments from additional Disney classics will unlock as players complete their story-based missions.

The game is free to play (with in-app purchases) and available for download now on the Apple App Store and Google Play; future updates will introduce more characters, landmarks, and items on a regular basis—so keep those digital eyes peeled…

LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Season 1: Coming Soon to DVD

Disney XD’s LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures recently announced that the show’s first season is coming to DVD and Blu-ray® for the very first time on December 6! For the uninitiated, LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures is set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and it follows a trio of siblings as they scour the galaxy for useful debris that they can use to build new vehicles of their own design.

The two-disc set features all 13 episodes from Season 1 of the animated series—as well as some fantastic bonus features, including “The Freemaker Adventures: Meet the Freemaker Family,” a fun collection of clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and cast interviews; and “Freemaker Salvage and Repair,” where you’ll visit the salvage shop as Rowan, Kordi, and Zander take you on a tour of the family business. In addition, each Blu-ray and DVD set includes six exclusive magnets. (Note to selves: Add this set to holiday wish list.)

Obsess Over Chess Throughout the Worlds of Disney

September 14, 2016September 20, 2016

By Jocelyn Buhlman

No pastime challenges the mind more than the strategy game of chess. Created in sixth-century India, chess soon spread all over the world, testing the intellects of players everywhere. Would you believe that the game spread so far that it even reached the wonderful worlds of Disney? You can watch knights and rooks move across the board in Queen of Katwe (starring Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo), when the film opens in theaters on September 23.

D23 searched far and wide, and we found these eight examples of characters who have tested their brains instead of their brawn:

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Wonderland is well known for its talking decks of cards, but did you know that chess pieces also come to life in Tim Burton’s live-action adaptation of Alice in Wonderland? While the Red Queen makes her army out of armored playing cards, the White Queen relies on an army of chess pieces instead, taking them to battle with Alice herself at the lead.

Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land (1959)

Chess’s influence isn’t just found in Wonderland, but also in Mathmagic Land, a true wonderland of mathematics that Donald Duck adventures through in an animated short. Donald used to think that math is for “eggheads,” but as he explores a life-sized chess set made of living chess pieces, he learns how sometimes math is just all fun and games!

Pirates of the Caribbean (Magic Kingdom)

Sometimes chess games can be so tough that they last for hours—but only one has lasted for so long that its players became skeletons! As you pass through the queue of Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for two pirates who were so stumped by their game of chess that they are still playing it in the afterlife. The gag, conceived by Imagineer Marc Davis, later found its way to Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.

Geri’s Game (1997)

No opponent is harder to play against then yourself—or at least that’s what it feels like watching Geri’s Game, Pixar’s animated short about a man locked in a heated game of chess against himself! Sharp-eyed fans can also find Geri in another Pixar film. When he’s not playing chess, you can find Geri as the toy repairman in Toy Story 2, and if you have a quick eye, you can spot some some chess pieces he keeps in his carrying case.

Aladdin (1992)

“I can’t believe it—I’m losing to a rug!” Genie may be shocked at Carpet’s chess skills, but we aren’t. In the Disney animated film Aladdin, the enchanted flying carpet, simply named “Carpet,” is always there to help out Aladdin, be it pointing the way to the magic lamp or helping woo the princess of Agrabah. With that much cleverness inside one carpet, it’s not wonder that Genie can’t keep up at chess!

Jungle Cruise (Disneyland)

When you ride on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland, you get to see the alleged “Eighth Wonder of the World” when you pass by the backside of water, but have you ever noticed the wonders you can see just from the ride’s queue? Amongst the decorations of safari gear and old radios, you can also spot a unique chess set made of shotgun shells and carved animals. No one is there to play the game, however; all the skippers are too busy lion around.

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

Chess became a galactic game when C-3PO played against Chewbacca in Dejarik, the version of chess played on a round table in Star Wars. The table shape isn’t the only difference in this holographic board game—the strategy is different, too. The focus was less on getting a checkmate and more on survival, as Han advised, “Let the Wookiee win.”

Queen of Katwe (2016)

The game of chess features prominently in many of Disney’s worlds, from Wonderland, to Mathmagicland, to the Millennium Falcon speeding through space. But sometimes the most magical games of chess can be found in the real world. Queen of Katwe, set in rural Uganda, tells the vibrant, true story of a young girl who becomes an international chess champion. Queen of Katwe opens in limited release on September 23, expanding September 30, 2016.

“Belle’s Blue Dress Nail” Art Design

September 14, 2016October 6, 2016

Get some style inspiration from the beautiful Belle with this charming nail design inspired by Belle’s beautiful blue dress!

Materials

Nail polish base coat
Blue nail polish
White nail polish
Nail polish top coat
Cotton swabs
Nail polish remover
Optional: nail art rhinestones

Directions

1. Apply base coat to your nails then apply two coats of blue nail polish.

2. Apply white nail polish with scalloped edges on the tips of your nails, then apply a top coat. Clean up edges with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.

3. Optional: Using white nail polish, carefully draw a bow on an accent nail and apply a blue rhinestone in the center of the bow.

“Be Our Guest” Chandelier

September 14, 2016October 6, 2016

No one will be gloomy or complaining with flatware this entertaining! Create your own enchanted space with this charming chandelier inspired by Beauty and the Beast.

Materials

3 embroidery hoops in different sizes (available online or at craft stores)
Hot glue gun
Gold-colored plastic utensils
Scissors
Gold-colored ribbon

Directions

1. Take the large embroidery hoop and affix utensil handles to the hoop’s outer lip until the entire circumference of the hoop is covered with utensils.

2. Do the same with the medium and small hoops.

3. Attach the hoops to each other (large at the top, medium in the middle, and small at the bottom) with gold ribbon to create a three-tier chandelier. (The length of the ribbons will depend on how big your utensils are.) Attach the large hoop to the medium one with gold ribbon, connecting the two hoops in at least three different points. Make sure to double-knot the ribbon on both hoops to ensure that they are well-secured to each other.

4. Repeat the step above, attaching the medium hoop to the small one in the same way.

5. Cut four strips of ribbon and tie one end of each strip of ribbon to the large hoop.

6. We suggest displaying the utensil chandelier one of two ways:

You can attach it to a real chandelier by tying the other end of the four ribbon strips in step 5 to the real chandelier.
You can use screw-in hangers attached to the ceiling and tie the utensil chandelier from these.

Make Your Own “Enchanted Rose” Pen

September 12, 2016March 26, 2018

By D23 Team

Beauty and the Beast opens with an ethereally animated prologue; in it, an unseen narrator explains how a beautiful enchantress, a handsome—albeit selfish—prince, and a mystical flower set in motion this “tale as old as time.”

The flower in question, an Enchanted Rose, has become a sort of symbol for Beauty and the Beast over the years—seen in Disney Parks around the world. Want your own Enchanted Rose? Our version doubles as a pen… which you can use at your very own Fanniversary party!

Supplies:

Red construction paper (6 sheets)
8.5 x 11-inch white printer paper (to print out templates)
Green tissue paper
Green floral tape (found at craft stores)
One (1) small red “pom pom” puff ball (found at craft stores)
Ballpoint pen
Scissors
Adhesive tape
Hot glue gun
Glue stick

OPTIONAL:

Stapler
Small silk leaves (found at craft stores)
Plastic “pearl” OR colored “gem” (found at craft stores)

Download and print out the Enchanted Rose template (Page 1) onto one sheet of white printer paper.

With your scissors, cut out the guide from the template. Then, use the guide to cut that same shape from your six pieces of red construction paper.

NOTE: If you don’t want to cut out one shape at a time, use the (optional) stapler to staple the guide shape (at its center) to three sheets of the construction paper, to help handle them better while cutting. Repeat for the other three sheets. Make sure to remove any staple(s) before moving on to the next step…

PROCESS CHECK! You should now have six (6) red “flower” patterns. Each shape within the pattern (as denoted by the lines on the template) represents a “petal.”

Using the template picture as a guide, take two of your flower patterns and cut a line from one inner edge to the center. Take another two flower patterns and cut out a single teardrop “petal.” Next, take another flower pattern and cut a two-teardrop petal. Finally, take your last flower pattern and cut it in in half. (See photo for example of each.)

PROCESS CHECK! From what you’ve just cut, here’s what you’ll need for the rose:

One (1) single petal
One (1) three-petal set
One (1) four-petal set
Two (2) five-petal sets
Two (2) full six-petal sets (with just a line cut into them)

You may have some leftover petals; don’t worry.

Take your single petal and roll it into a cone; use your adhesive tape to keep it closed. Next, take your three-petals set and fold the two outer petals inwards—with one over the other, lining them up to create a bigger cone. Use glue stick to glue the two outer petals together. (See photos for detail.)

Take your four-petal set and fold it in half first; then, fold the two (2) outer petals inward—with one over the other, lining them up to create an even larger cone. Use the glue stick to glue the two outer petals together.

Next, for each five-petal set, fold an outer petal inward (lining it up with the petal next to it), and continue the same fold with every petal—all the way around. Unfold each to reveal a “creased” sheet, then fold one outer petal over the other outer petal and use the glue stick to glue together into a cone.

For each six-petal set, repeat the same process—folding an outer petal inward (lining it up with the petal next to it), and continue the same fold with every petal all the way around. Unfold each to reveal a “creased” sheet, then fold one (1) outer petal over the other outer petal and use the glue stick to glue together into a cone.

Use the ballpoint pen to curl the round tops of each petal outward by wrapping the paper slightly around the pen. (See photos for detail.)

PROCESS CHECK! At this point, you should have:
One (1) single cone
One (1) cone with two full petals
One (1) cone with three full petals
Two (2) cones with four petals
Two (2) cones with five petals. (See photo for detail on each final petal set.)

With your hot glue gun, attach your small red “pom pom” puff ball to the top of your pen (not the ballpoint end). OPTIONAL: Instead of the “pom pom,” you could attach a glistening plastic “pearl” or even a shimmering colored “gem.” This will be the center of your Enchanted Rose. (See photo for detail.)

Stack your petal cones within themselves—the five-petal sets at the bottom—until you insert the final smallest “cone.” Thread the pen through all the petal sets, until they’re resting on the upper half of the pen. (If the pen doesn’t fit through the “points” of each petal cone, use your scissors to cut a slightly bigger hole.) (See photo for detail.)

NOTE: Any extra petals can be used to “fill out” the rose.

Cut six (6) 2-inch triangles (with a 1/2-inch base) from your green tissue paper; fold the outer corners of the base in to create a “leaf.” Line six of your “leaves” around the base of the flower and attach with the glue stick. (See photos for detail.)

Take the green floral tape and wrap it around the pen, starting at the top (around the edges of your green tissue “leaves”) and wrapping all the way down towards the bottom. Make sure not to cover up the writing/ballpoint end of your pen! NOTE: Use the (optional) silk leaves to add the “stalk” of your rose. (See photo for detail.)

Voila! You now have your own Enchanted Rose Pen!

NOTE: Cutting with sharp scissors—and any hot gluing—should be done by an adult.

5 Favorite New Eats from the 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

September 12, 2016September 9, 2016

By Rachel Bshero, Disney Parks Food & Beverage Marketing Communications Coordinator

For me, fall is the most magical time to visit Walt Disney World Resort. The season brings cooler temperatures, autumnal decorations, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and, of course, the event foodies wait for all year—the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Today I’m sharing my top five can’t-miss items with D23 Members—each one new to the 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Beer-braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes, Belgium
It may have replaced my beloved Potato Waffle with Braised Beef from last year’s festival, but this new item has earned its place on the menu. The tender, beer-braised beef falls apart beautifully over the creamy mashed potatoes, complimented with smoked Gouda.

Chicken and Dumplings, Farm Fresh
Looking for comfort food? This hearty stew features creamy chicken with fried potato dumplings, mushrooms, and spinach—fresh from the farm to your fork!

Loaded Greek “Nachos,” Greece
My mom is a vegetarian, so I’ve always loved trying new meatless dishes. I’m happy to say the Loaded Greek “Nachos” do not disappoint! Pita chips are topped with meatless sausage crumbles, lettuce, red onion, Kalamata olives, crumbled tofu, and vegan tzaztziki (made using cashews and almond milk). I think you’ll agree, this dish is a fun twist on a classic snack!

Ghiradelli Chocolate Raspberry Torte, Chocolate Studio
The Chocolate Studio marketplace is new for 2016, and so is this richly decadent torte. Made using delicious Ghiradelli chocolate for the chocolate custard and ganache, and topped with fresh raspberries—no chocolate-lover will want to miss this treat!

Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle, The CHEW Collective
Inspired by ABC’s Emmy®-award winning show The Chew, each item at The CHEW Collective features masterful techniques and modern technology to create extraordinary flavors. This dish is no exception—layers of rich peanut butter mousse and white chocolate mousse are topped with candied peanuts. YUM.

Happy eating, D23 Members!

How Classic Disney Characters Led Paige O’Hara to Discover Her Own Disney Destiny

September 12, 2016October 6, 2016

By William Keck

Most every little girl dreams of one day growing to be a Disney princess. But Paige O’Hara—the melodic voice behind Beauty and the Beast’s Belle, actually managed to make her Disney dream come true—and without an ounce of Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

How’d she do it? By drawing inspiration from classic Disney characters and working her ponytail off in grade school musical productions that led her all the way to the Broadway stage and beyond.

“I’ve always loved Disney,” says O’Hara, born Donna Paige Helmintoller. “When I saw Cinderella, I thought, ‘Wow, what an amazing job she has to be the voice of Cinderella.’ I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever do it.”

But it was another fairy-tale character who first inspired young Paige to gaze up toward the second star to the right. One of the many millions who had seen Broadway legend Mary Martin take flight as Peter Pan on a 1960 television special, O’Hara recalls being “totally mesmerized by her performance. I said, ‘I want to be like Mary,‘ and I didn‘t give up from that day forward!”

That was followed by another flight of fancy at age 8, when O’Hara’s parents took her to see Mary Poppins on the big screen. Says O’Hara, “I think Julie Andrews was [to me], like Belle is to some little girls today.”

The Ft. Lauderdale native’s first lead role came at age 9. Appropriately, she was cast as Cinderella. “That was a big turning point for me,” she says. “It gave me a lot more confidence.”

By age 12, O’Hara’s powerful singing voice was beginning to reveal itself. Selecting one of Martin’s Peter Pan show-stoppers, O’Hara performed “I Gotta Crow” for a local talent competition. The grand prize: $75, “which as a little kid was a big deal,” remembers O’Hara, who was awarded an honorable mention. “Of course I just copied Mary; that’s all I knew. And that was the beginning of the bug for me.”

Enrolled in the performing arts program at Nova High School in Davie, Florida, young Paige began studying voice with a former opera singer from the Metropolitan Opera of New York and won more leading roles in the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre. Finally, at age 17, O’Hara set her sights on Broadway and relocated to New York City. Each Saturday she would take in a Disney double feature at a revival house. “When I was very poor, it would be the one thing that would lift me up,” remembers O’Hara, who would also sneak in at intermission to the second act of Gypsy, starring her future teacup matchmaker, Angela Lansbury. “Eventually the ushers got to know me and they let me come in and see the whole play.”

Taking a cue from both Cinderella and Dick Van Dyke’s amiable Poppins chimney sweep, Bert, O’Hara supplemented the meager income she was earning as an actress by cleaning apartments and showcasing her artistic side on the city sidewalks. “I would paint at night, watercolors,” she says. “I would paint Disney characters as well as a lot of Judy Garland portraits, and I’d sell my little watercolors on the street. My favorite spot was 84th Street and Broadway. And that would pay my rent.”

One time, her protective older brother Mark came to visit and began crying the minute he entered her modest apartment.

“What are you crying about?” she asked Mark.

“You just… you’re living so poor and, you know, your jeans look horrible,” Mark told his kid sister.

“Excuse me,” O’Hara shot back. “I think my apartment is beautiful, and I love my jeans. And if you don’t like it, you can just leave right now.”

Cinderelly couldn’t have said it better herself.

Within a few years, O’Hara was cast in such Broadway productions as Show Boat with the legendary Donald O’Connor and as understudy to the lead in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Among those who caught one of her performances as Drood was Disney animator Mark Henn— who would supervise the animation of Belle, drawing significant inspiration from O’Hara.

“For whatever reason I kept the program as a souvenir,” recalls Henn, a Broadway enthusiast who also caught Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. “When they said Paige O’Hara was going to be Belle, I said, ‘Boy, I know that name.’”

Ultimately, it was a fish-tailed heroine who baited O’Hara in to audition for the role that would change her life forever. “I heard about the Beauty and the Beast auditions coming up,” O’Hara recalls. “And I had seen The Little Mermaid and absolutely like everyone else fell in love with it.” Dressed in what she calls her “lucky Belle blue” dress, O’Hara arrived for what would be the first of several auditions. One in the room who was already cheering for her: lyricist Howard Ashman, who’d seen her perform at Carnegie Hall. “I sang the Belle number (and) kept trying to alter my voice a little bit. They were all (saying), “We want your voice. Just your voice.’”

By the time her agent called to confirm she’d been chosen as Disney’s newest princess, O’Hara was already feeling like one, having received a marriage proposal the day before. This also happened to be her birthday week. “I was sort of on cloud nine,” says O’Hara (pictured above, left), who was named a Disney Legend at 2011’s D23 Expo alongside fellow Disney princesses Jodi Benson (pictured above, right) (Ariel), Lea Salonga (pictured above, left center) (singing voice of Jasmine and Mulan), Linda Larkin (Jasmine speaking voice) and Anika Noni Rose (pictured above, right center) (Tiana).

In the years following, O’Hara was given the opportunity to sing her Belle number at the Academy Awards in front of an audience that included Barbra Streisand, and perform with her sister princesses on Central Park’s Great Lawn for the 1995 premiere of Pocahontas, in New Orleans’ Super Dome to celebrate The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s 1996 arrival, at the 2005 opening of Hong Kong Disneyland and at the Hollywood Bowl. “Having the opportunity to play Belle was truly life changing,” she says with never-wavering gratitude.

But for O’Hara, the command performances most dear to her heart are the anonymous ones that take place in hospital rooms as part of her ongoing volunteer work with children’s charities. “They find out you’re Belle, and they kinda look at you strangely,” says O’Hara. “But then I say, ‘Okay, close your eyes; listen to this.’ And they’ll close their little eyes and I’ll say, ‘Gaston, you are positively primeval.’ Their eyes pop up and all of a sudden there’s no age anymore. It’s timeless and I’m Belle and it’s wonderful.”

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: