Stop and Spot the Roses at Disney Parks Around the World

By Nicole Nalty

Cinderella’s slipper. Minnie’s bow. Woody’s hat. The characters we know and love are so recognizable in part because of their iconic, well, icons, and the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast is no exception. In the 1991 film, Beast’s rose symbolizes a passage of time, as petal after petal fall off the flower as Beast and his staff move closer and closer to being cursed forever.

The enchanted rose has come to symbolize the classic film just as much as its beloved characters, which is why it’s no surprise that guests can find the flower blooming throughout Disney Parks around the world. Read on to see where you can find this sweet symbol—and let us know on Facebook and Twitter if we missed your favorite flower!

Be Our Guest Restaurant

Be Our Guest Restaurant—Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort
The restaurant themed to Beast’s castle is a treasure trove of roses! Before entering the restaurant, take a look at the castle’s crest. Once seated for a magical meal, keep an eye out for an extraordinary napkin. You can even see the actual enchanted rose in the castle’s west wing, if you dare to enter, that is…

Sorcerer's Workshop

Sorcerer’s Workshop in Disney Animation Building—Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Resort
Not on the East Coast? You can see the enchanted rose in Beast’s library in the Disney Animation Building as you “read up” on which Disney character you are most like, and watch as the library transforms from its cursed form in to a stunning study.

The Royal Theatre

The Royal Theatre—Disneyland
Welcome to the theatre, the famous Royal Theatre! Nestled away in Disneyland’s charming Fantasy Faire, players take the stage to recount some of Disney’s most famous fairy tales, including one very special tale as old as time. As you take your seats underneath an open-air tent, look towards the top of the stage for a crest featuring the red rose.

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel—Tokyo Disney Resort
The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel invites you to be their guest in one of its Beauty and the Beast themed guest rooms. The rose rests on each headboard in these character-inspired rooms.

Paint the Night Hong Kong Disneyland

Paint the Night—Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Park
While it may be hard to notice anything but the bright, beautiful Belle as she floats down Main Street, U.S.A. during Paint the Night, it’s definitely hard to miss this larger-than-life rose.

Tip: Paint the Night is glowing away from Disneyland after September 5, but if you’re wondering when we can do this again, the parade will return on select nights during the 2016 holiday season.

All-New Halloween Parade at Disneyland Park—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Trick or Treat: New Frightfully Fun Parade Coming to Disneyland Park

There’s something special brewing for this year’s Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Park! The all-new Frightfully Fun Parade will offer all manner of thrills and chills, featuring a bevy of spooky spirits from deep in the New Orleans Bayou, the kooky world of Halloweentown, and much more!

The arrival of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow will herald the parade; he carries a flickering jack-o’-lantern as a warning to all and sundry… you never know who might be lurking just around the corner! The Frightfully Fun Parade will feature Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas; a slew of grim, grinning ghosts from inside Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion attraction; Dr. Facilier and his Shadow Men from The Princess and the Frog; and a host of your favorite Disney Villains, including Jafar, the Evil Queen, and Cruella de Vil!

The parade will be presented exclusively during Mickey’s Halloween Party—a separately ticketed event—at Disneyland Park, on 17 eerie evenings from September 23 through October 31. Get all the spine-chilling details here!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
September 2
Fanniversary: Celebrating 25 Years of Beauty and the Beast Kicks Off at the El Capitan Theatre
September 10 and 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

Last Chance to Catch Forgetful Blue Tang on the Big Screen

Movie fans’ favorite forgetful blue tang Dory is making an encore appearance in more than 2,900 theaters nationwide this Labor Day weekend. Finding Dory returns to theaters Sept. 2, inviting moviegoers to revisit the adventure with clownfish Marlin and Nemo, septopus Hank, whale shark Destiny and beluga whale Bailey as they team up to help Dory reunite with her long-lost parents.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Celebrate Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure Park

It’s true—the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is checking out of Disney California Adventure Park this coming January… but that still leaves you a few more months for some hair-raising fun! And you’re in luck, because the Disneyland Resort is kicking off a big salute to the attraction, just in time for Halloween!

Each evening from September 9 through October 31 (during the big Halloween Time celebrations), beginning after twilight, Disney California Adventure park guests will be treated to “Late Check-Out”—where you’ll experience the Tower of Terror attraction as you never have before… in complete darkness! Plus, guests will find commemorative merchandise—as well as special food and beverage items—throughout the celebration. You’ll also get the chance to picture yourself “checking out” with a special photo location in front of the Hollywood Tower Hotel marquee, complete with vintage luggage and other nods to the landmark’s story and the glitz and glamor of a bustling young movie town. And look for some special performances by Buena Vista Street’s very Silver Lake Sisters.

Don’t miss out on all the spooktacular fun—it all begins Friday, September 9!

Are You “Team Thor”? See What the Avenger’s Been Up To…

Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War is now available for digital download—and it comes to Blu-ray® and DVD on September 5. Plus, the newest Thor adventure, Thor: Ragnarok (once again starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki), is currently filming in Australia for a November 3, 2017 release. To add to this embarrassment of Avengers riches, we’re also getting a look into what exactly Thor’s been up to in the months between that insane Civil War and, well, today…

Team Thor premiered at this year’s Comic Con International, and features a Bermuda shorts-wearing Thor; his new “normal” roommate Darryl; his attempts at living a mundane life in Australia (complete with some community service at a local school); and even a coffee date with Bruce “The Hulk” Banner (Mark Ruffalo) himself. (Note: In case you’ve been trying to reach Thor, it looks like it’s best to use email.) Check out the truly hilarious clip, above.

Pretty Little Liars

Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars to Air Series Finale Next Season

It’s truly the end of an era… After seven years, Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars (PLL) will wrap up with an assuredly epic two-hour series finale in 2017. (The days of A’s torments really are over, huh?) Several stars from the show, including Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, and Shay Mitchell, helped series creator I. Marlene King announce the news during a live Facebook event on August 29.

The final season will continue to be filled with homecomings and reunions, bringing back old characters as it has already done in the first half of the season. Plus, there’s a wedding in store for one of the Liars! To conclude the series, the Season 7 finale will be a two-hour, drama-filled television event.

Perhaps the biggest news of all for PLL fans is series creator King has something new up her sleeve! The final 10 episodes of Season 7, airing in April 2017, will be followed by the premiere of her new show, Famous In Love starring Bella Thorne.

Disney pins

Collect ’Em All! New Pins at Disney Parks

We here at D23 love a good Disney pin. Collecting them is never boring, as there are a ridiculous number to choose from; they’re all beautiful and well-designed; trading them is an absolute blast; and there are always new designs on the horizon! (It’s truly a “win/win” kind of hobby, if you ask us.) Case in point: A huge assortment of new pins is coming to Disney Parks in the next two months! Guests will soon find several new limited-edition pins; for the Disney Duets collection, look for the Aladdin and Jafar pin in August, and the Ariel and Ursula pin in late September. The Disney Love Letter pin featuring Roger and Jessica Rabbit will be found in early September, and the Mickey and Minnie Mouse pin will be released in late September.

Guests will also find two new Piece of Disney History pins—Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Resort, and Dumbo The Flying Elephant at Walt Disney World Resort. Plus, a bunch of new “Hidden Mickey” pins are coming to Disney Parks in late fall. Which ones are you looking forward to acquiring?

The Lodge

Disney Channel to Premiere The Lodge This Fall

Talk about “going international”… Disney Channel is gearing up for the premiere of a brand-new serialized mystery/drama, The Lodge, this fall. Inspired by the popular Disney Channel Israel series North Star (a Disney Channel/Yes Production), The Lodge was produced on location in Northern Ireland and will premiere on Friday, September 23, on Disney Channels in the United Kingdom and Canada, and on Monday, October 17 (at 5 p.m. EDT), on Disney Channel in the U.S. (where episodes will also be available to view the same day on the Disney Channel app and VOD platforms).

Filmed on location in Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland, the story introduces us to 15-year-old Skye, who—after the loss of her mother—returns with her father to North Star Lodge, the family-owned country hotel where her mother was raised years ago. Looking for a fresh start, Skye forges friendships with the locals who live and work there… but when she learns her father is planning to sell the lodge that holds so many treasured memories, she’s determined to find a way to change his mind. Now, she must lean on her newfound friends to help, although all may not be as it seems.

The Lodge stars Sophie Simnett, Jade Alleyne, Thomas Doherty (who will also appear in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 2), Luke Newton, Jayden Revri, Joshua Sinclair-Evans, and Bethan Wright—and will include nine original songs integral to the story’s central kid-empowering theme of “believe in yourself.”

Tune in for the tune-filled intrigue this October!

6 Amazing Behind-the-Scenes Photos of Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks

By Courtney Potter

Bedknobs and Broomsticks reunited the creative team behind Disney’s blockbuster Mary Poppins—including director Robert Stevenson; producer and writer Bill Walsh; co-writer Don DaGradi; art director Peter Ellenshaw; special effects technician Eustace Lycett; and the award-winning songwriting team of Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman. Based on characters from a novel by Mary Norton, the film follows eccentric spinster and amateur witch Eglantine Price, played by Angela Lansbury, as she hopes to use her newfound magical know-how to help England win the war against Nazi Germany. Along the way, we meet three London children (played by newcomers Ian Weighill, Roy Snart, and Cindy O’Callaghan) who’ve been evacuated from war-torn London and put into Eglantine’s care, as well as her amusing, albeit totally bogus, professor Emelius Browne (Mary PoppinsDavid Tomlinson). Together, this unlikely “family” ventures into London’s colorful Portobello Road, travels beneath the “beautiful briny sea,” meets the lion king of the Lost Isle of Naboombu, and finally defeats invading German commandos by raising a ghostly army of historical armor.

All that “Substitutiary Locomotion” took a lot of technical sorcery to bring to life! The film employed an amazing technique—the sodium-screen vapor process—that was the precursor to today’s “green screen” technology. First developed at The Walt Disney Studios by famed animator Ub Iwerks, the technique allowed filmmakers to combine live action with animation… as well as combine several layers of live action, in order to create special effects never before seen on the silver screen. Thanks to the good folks at the Walt Disney Archives, D23 can help uncover some of the mysteries behind Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ use of the sodium-screen vapor process to film some of its most iconic scenes. Check out the exclusive images, below, showing the fully live-action scenes—as they were originally shot—alongside the final film frame.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks behind the scenes

Cast members Angela Lansbury, Ian Weighill, Roy Snart, and Cindy O’Callaghan, traveling on the bed with the magic-infused bedknob! The yellow screen behind them allows filmmakers to shoot images on a special three-strip Technicolor film camera; inside, a prism would remove all the sodium light, leaving only the main image. That image could then be put into all manner of situations, both live-action and animated. Although the screen appeared yellow on set, photographs often show an orange color, since still photo cameras couldn’t pick up the intense yellow.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks behind the scenes

Here, the bed has landed on the Lost Isle of Naboombu, which was entirely animated—and featured all manner of talking animals!

Bedknobs and Broomsticks behind the scenes

On Naboombu, Emelius is roped into refereeing a very strange soccer game… and in this image, you can see how stand-ins—human and non-human alike—filled in for the eventual animated images.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks behind the scenes

Eglantine and the children are looking on as Emelius tries to bring decorum to the Naboombu soccer game. The yellow screen behind them allowed the animators easier access to fill in their surroundings…

Bedknobs and Broomsticks behind the scenes

David Tomlinson’s Emelius is lifted up by a string in the first photo… but eventually, the string becomes the lion king’s hand!

Bedknobs and Broomsticks behind the scenes

Once Eglantine manages to perfect her “Substitutiary Locomotion” spell—causing all the armor in her small coastal town’s museum to come to life and face the Nazis—she takes to the air to make sure her army is winning.

ABC Announces Season 23 Dancing with the Stars Cast

By Nicole Nalty

Get ready to put on your dancing shoes! ABC’s Dancing with the Stars returns September 12 at 8 p.m. ET with the return of some of your favorite professional dancers and an all-new superstar celebrity cast. Read on to figure out who you’ll be rooting for this season.

Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy—Gymnast Laurie Hernandez recently went for the gold during the 2016 Olympic Games and now she’s going for the silver—the silver mirror ball trophy, that is! We wonder if this member of the Final Five will make it to the Dancing with the Stars finals?

Ryan Lochte and Cheryl Burke—Laurie’s not the only Olympian in this year’s cast! Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte will trade the swimming pool for the samba on the upcoming season.

Calvin Johnson Jr. and Lindsay Arnold

Calvin Johnson Jr. and Lindsay Arnold—The former wide receiver is the next pro football player to take the Dancing with the Stars stage.

Jake T. Austin and Jenna Johnson

Jake T. Austin and Jenna Johnson—We were bewitched by Jake T. Austin on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, and we’re sure The Fosters star will be just as magical on the dance floor.

James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess—Will the Canadian race car driver make it to the finish line?

Amber Rose and Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Amber Rose and Maksim Chmerkovskiy—Will the model and black-ish guest star be the belle of the ballroom?

Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko—The actress and singer is about to become a triple threat on the upcoming season.

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Allison Holker

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Allison Holker—The musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer will become a song AND dance man on Dancing with the Stars.

Marilu Henner and Derek Hough

Marilu Henner and Derek Hough—After starring in more than thirty films, six Broadway shows, and two classic sitcoms, actress Marilu Henner is ready to take on her next starring role—on the dance floor.

Maureen McCormick and Artem Chigvintsev

Maureen McCormick and Artem Chigvintsev—This season of Dancing with the Stars will be all about “Maureen, Maureen, Maureen” when The Brady Bunch star takes the stage.

Vanilla Ice (Robert Van Winkle) and Witney Carson—Will the rapper turned real estate expert glide his way to the top?

Rick Perry and Emma Slater

Rick Perry and Emma Slater—The former Texas governor is hoping to be the “lone star” left on the dance floor.

Terra Jolé and Sasha Farber

Terra Jolé and Sasha Farber—There’s no rest for the Little Women: LA star! Terra just welcomed her second child on August 1, but we have no doubt that this mom is ready to mamba!

9 Disney Must-Dos Before the End of Summer

By Nicole Nalty

While you may be fighting the back-to-school blues, there’s still some summer left to celebrate! Make time to enjoy these Disney-related must-dos before autumn falls.

Disneyland Forever

Dazzle at the Disneyland Resort
The 60th anniversary celebration of the Disneyland Resort comes to a close on September 5, so you still have (a little) time to see the Diamond Celebration dazzle throughout Disneyland park, Disney California Adventure park, and the Downtown Disney District. Fan-favorites Paint the Night, Disneyland Forever fireworks, and World of Color—Celebrate! will light up the night for the last time on September 5 (TIP: Paint the Night will return on select nights during the holiday season–all is merry and bright, indeed!). Make sure to see the stunning Diamond Celebration décor, and pick up some anniversary merchandise and tasty treats along the way!

Main Street Electrical Parade

Enjoy the Main Street Electrical Parade
Fans of Disneyland’s nighttime spectaculars, rejoice! The Main Street Electrical Parade will return to Disneyland park in early 2017. For those of you on the East Coast, make sure to experience this electrifying spectacular before the parade’s final performance on October 9.

The Jungle Book

See Something Wild
The Jungle Book (2016) is heading back to select IMAX locations for a limited time, now through September 1. Beat the heat and enjoy this stunning story one last time before it becomes available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and On-Demand August 30.

Pete's Dragon

Get Fired Up
Pete’s Dragon, an imaginative and innovative retelling of the 1977 film, is a must-see for any Disney fan. A Jungle Book and Pete’s Dragon double feature sounds absolutely refreshing on a hot summer day!

Haunted Mansion book

Restful Reading
Throw one of these Disney books (like this eerily adorable Haunted Mansion picture book) in your beach bag for some light, delightful reading.

BBQ ribs

Get Grilling
Use this BBQ sauce recipe from Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Flame Tree Barbecue to spice up your summer supper.

Disney Springs drink

Sip in Disney Springs
Celebrate summer with a taste of Disney Springs—settle in for some R&R with this cocktail recipe from Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar.

ABC app

TV Time
Catch up on all of your favorite ABC shows before the new season with the ABC app!

Disney backpack

Back-to-School Shopping
If summer simply must come to an end, bring a little Disney magic to school each day! You “otter” give DisneyStore.com a look. Don’t be forgetful like Dory–D23 Members receive a 15% discount on purchases of $65 or more.

D23 Celebrates Five Years of Hawaiian Magic at Aulani!

By Tyler Slater

Today marks the fifth anniversary of Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa on the beautiful island of O‘ahu in Hawai‘i. To commemorate this momentous occasion, D23 invited members to a week-long, once-in-a-lifetime celebration during Aloha Aulani. See the entire recap of the event’s incredible experiences—including a behind-the-scenes look at Moana and intimate chat with Joe Rohde—here!

D23 Members pose with Hyrum Osmond and Auli’i Cravalho

In honor of today’s anniversary, below is a gallery of photos that highlight the beautiful resort and the amazing time we had last week.

D23 Members pose for a group shot

Happy fifth anniversary, Aulani!

Flame Tree BBQ Sauce

Make your barbecue meals wildly delicious with the BBQ sauce from Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

Makes 1 cup

INGREDIENTS
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons onion powder
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 25 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. Use immediately or store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version. All recipes are the property of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., and may not be reproduced without express permission.

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes

If you’ve been to Be Our Guest restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park, you might be familiar with the decadent and delicious triple chocolate cupcake. Bring this fan-favorite home with a recipe straight from the restaurant!

Makes 12 cupcakes

CUPCAKES
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream

SIMPLE SYRUP
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
2 cups heavy cream
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup espresso
4 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons sugar

CHOCOLATE GANACHE
12 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream

FOR CUPCAKES:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.
2. Sift cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside. Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl; beat with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating until each is completely incorporated before adding the next. Beat in vanilla extract.
3. With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour mixture and sour cream, beginning and ending with flour.
4. Pour batter into cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes.
5. Cool in pan 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

FOR SIMPLE SYRUP:
Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan over high heat; bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and cool completely.

FOR CHOCOLATE MOUSSE:

1. Heat 3/4 cup cream in a small saucepan until hot. Whisk together egg yolks and sugar, in a medium bowl until well combined; add hot cream to egg yolk mixture in a slow stream, whisking until combined.
2. Transfer mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly, about 4 to 5 minutes. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; stir in espresso.
3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring frequently until melted. Whisk chocolate into egg yolk mixture until smooth. Refrigerate until very cold.
4. Beat remaining 1 1/4 cups cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until medium-stiff peaks form.
5. Whisk 1/4 of whipped cream into chocolate custard to lighten mixture, then fold in remaining cream gently until completely combined but still light.

FOR CHOCOLATE GANACHE:

1. Place chocolate in a medium heat-safe bowl.
2. Heat cream in a small saucepan until hot (do not boil). Pour cream over chocolate and stir until chocolate melts.
3. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

TO ASSEMBLE:

1. Cut out centers of cupcakes using a paring knife held at a 45 degree angle, cutting in a circle, to create a cone shape. Remove cupcake centers, set aside.
2. Brush top of cupcakes with simple syrup or spoon it over top to heavily moisten.
3. Fill cupcake centers with chocolate mousse. Place cut out cupcake center on top of chocolate mousse, with point of cupcake center facing up. (Refrigerate any remaining mousse, tightly covered, up to 3 to 4 days.)
4. Pipe chocolate ganache on top of cupcakes starting at the outer edges, slowly moving in and up to the top.

This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version. All recipes are the property of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., and may not be reproduced without express permission.

Take the “First Ride of the Day” at a Disney Park

By Courtney Potter

Taking a trip to a Disney Park is a truly memorable experience. There are the mind-blowing attractions, the tune-filled shows, the nighttime fireworks spectaculars, and all that delicious food! But the excitement doesn’t actually start there… sometimes, it starts before you’ve even stepped foot inside a park!

“It’s very exciting, because you see the kids’ eyes light up.

Have you ever thought about that very “first ride” you take once you’ve arrived at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort? We’re talking about the tram, the Monorail, the bus, and even the watercraft that transport you to the front (or sometimes the middle!) of the various parks and resort hotels. Those trips—especially the ones first thing in the morning—can be quite magical, too. D23 wondered what it’s like to facilitate those “first rides of the day,” and reached out to Cast Members for the inside scoop.

Monorail

The Monorail
Perhaps the most famous mode of “first-ride-of-the-day” transportation, on both coasts, is the Monorail. Disneyland Resort’s version opened on June 14, 1959, and was the first daily operating monorail in the entire country! At first, it only traveled around Tomorrowland—but in 1961, it was extended out to the Disneyland Hotel. Over at Walt Disney World, a Monorail transportation system (larger in scale than its Anaheim counterpart) opened on October 1, 1971, connecting the main Transportation and Ticket Center at the parking lot with several of the hotels and Magic Kingdom Park.

It’s at Walt Disney World that we caught up with Alpha Bellamy, who has worked for Disney for 32 years, and on the Monorails for more than two decades. “The Monorail itself is the most popular ride at Disney,” says Alpha. “When it comes to kids [especially], the first thing they want to see is that Monorail… When we’re transferring our guests first thing in the morning, there’s that element of surprise—where they go right through [the middle of] the Contemporary Resort, leaving the Transportation Center, [and they] get that first look at the Cinderella Castle as we’re leaving the Contemporary… ” The excitement doesn’t end with that first enchanting vision on the horizon—far from it! As Alpha explains, “Once we drop off the guests, then the real magic starts—because if they’re here first thing in the morning, [the characters] have a show right there at the front of the park!”

Speaking of “first thing in the morning,” Alpha and the other members of the Monorails team often help kick off a family’s big day at Walt Disney World with a little something extra. The team will identify a particularly enthusiastic bunch waiting for that very first Monorail, and “we’ll walk them up our ‘unload’ side—so they [don’t] have to wait in line,” he says. “[We’ll] have a few balloons, some monorail stickers for the kids… We [also] have what you call trading cards; these cards have different trivia [facts] about the Monorails. [And] we’ll probably give them a couple FastPasses, for a couple of the popular rides in the Magic Kingdom—so they can feel that ‘magical moment’ before they [even] get on the Monorail… ” It’s no wonder Alpha has stayed with this particular mode of Disney Parks transport for 20 years: “The Monorail is still, to me, the coolest ride at Disney,” he admits.

Seven Seas Lagoon Ferry

Water Transportation at Walt Disney World Resort
A truly unique “first ride of the day” happens each morning (and every 15–30 minutes ’til well after sundown) at Walt Disney World Resort (WDW). Thanks to the large network of lakes and lagoons around the property, guests can connect to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios—as well as many resort hotels, and the Disney Springs entertainment area—via all manner of water transportation. You’ll find ferryboats, launches (otherwise known as “water taxis”), cruisers, and “party boats” (used for special nighttime activities like the Magic Kingdom’s “Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage”) offering up a relaxing cruise toward Disney fun.

Rob Tela—a veritable “jack of all trades” who’s worked for The Walt Disney Company since 1987—is currently a trainer and driver with WDW Watercraft Operations, based out of the Transportation and Ticket Center… and seeing guests (especially kids!) take that “first ride of the day” still thrills him. “The enthusiasm of the kids coming around the corner, coming out of the parking lot…” recalls Rob. “If you’re a people watcher and you sit here for any amount of time, trust me, it takes no time to see it: When we open up first thing in the morning, and all of a sudden they come around [and see] the sign that says ‘Ferryboats to Magic Kingdom,’ and then they see Cinderella Castle—and they say, ‘Oh my gosh. We’re finally here!’ I’ve seen adults tear up for that.”

Like Monorails, Rob and the Watercraft Operations team have a special “first family of the day” tradition. “We do something in the morning that we started about—oh, I want to say this was almost 18 years ago now,” he explains. “What we do is, we bring one of our launches over that would normally go to the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian Resort. We’ll pick out a family… [and we] take them across on their own private trip over to the Magic Kingdom. We’ll stop somewhere, usually in front of the [park], and take some extremely great pictures of the family and make that a ‘magical moment’ for them. Of course we have some accoutrements that we bring on, too; we have hats and balloons…” And the reason for all the fuss? “We started this because a lot of our guests don’t get the opportunity to stay on our property,” he says. “It’s kind of a personal bond that you make with the guests… It’s amazing what we can do.”

Disneyland tram

The Tram
Another iconic “first ride of the day” is the tram, which features prominently at both resorts. (You can’t think about the tram without hearing that recorded safety announcement, right?) Disneyland Resort’s Glenn Kobelski has been working as a tram driver and trainer, based out of the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure, for 14 years.  Here’s a fun tram fact to impress friends with: “If you stand one of the trams straight up and down next to the Matterhorn [inside Disneyland Park], the tram is higher,” explains Glenn. “The Matterhorn’s [147 feet], the tram is 170 feet!” Getting guests to the Resort first thing in the morning is one of his favorite aspects of the job. “It’s very exciting, because you see the kids’ eyes light up,” says Glenn. “It makes my heart warm to just talk with the guests, find out where they’re from. I always try to find a person coming from the farthest away, that day. And the farthest I’ve found so far is Zimbabwe!”

For many guests, Glenn continues, the tram is truly an “attraction” in and of itself—and there’s one “tram fan” that he’ll never forget. “This little boy, Mikey—he was terminally ill,” Glenn recalls. “He used to come in two or three times a week because he loved the trams, and all he did was just ride around on [them]… and then go home. I was talking to his parents one day and they told me all about it. I got special permission to take him out to where we park our trams and sit him in an empty tram in the driver’s seat, [and I] put my hat on him… He had all of his pictures taken, and [soon after] he ended up passing. His parents have those pictures, and they still come back once [a year] at the anniversary and look me up.”

Walt Disney World Bus

Buses at Walt Disney World Resort
If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World, you know about the buses; on the hottest of days, they offer some delightfully cool respite, all while transporting you around every corner of the property—from 45 minutes prior to park opening through one hour after closing (or even as late as 2 a.m., for Disney Springs and certain Resort hotels).

John Livengood has driven WDW buses (based out of Epcot) since 2005, and his early-morning routes are—as you might imagine—particularly memorable. “When we see [guests] in the morning, there’s a lot of anticipation, [even] a little bit of confusion,” John explains. “Of course, they’re just waking up and starting their day—[so] when they get on my bus, especially, I try to ease their mind, give them a little bit of a joke or an interesting conversation, just to ease them into the [experience].” In fact, those conversations have morphed into a whole new aspect of John’s job: “My managers have [now] allowed me to step away from the seat, and stand up and talk to the guests while another driver is driving… people are really enjoying it!”

Among John’s many unforgettable “first rides of the day” is a cache of young guests on Christmas Day, 2012. “I had a group of about 18 kids coming from All-Star Music [Resort],” he explains. “I do my normal routine: ‘Good morning; we’re on our way out!’ I give them some trivia… The kids really responded to me, and it was a good ride all the way in. They all enjoyed it… That, in itself, was a good day, [then] I came back from lunch and I was given an Epcot-to-Disney’s Hollywood Studios route. As I pulled in, it was the same 18 kids! [But] there was also a child in a wheelchair; the Make-A-Wish Foundation had a child [at Walt Disney World], and they were taking the child from Epcot over to Hollywood Studios… so I escort the child [on the bus], I talk with her and have a couple of laughs with her. As I’m going to load the 18 kids that I picked up earlier, as soon as they saw me [again], they lit up… Their chaperone walked up to me and told me that they were actually a choir; [she said] they’d had so much fun with me in the morning, that they wanted to repay that back to me… ”

John continues, “So they proceeded to sing Christmas carols from Epcot to Hollywood Studios! The little child that was in the chair—when she got on the bus, you could see that she was in pain. She was just not having the greatest day. [But then] these kids got on my bus and started singing, and you could literally see this girl light up… To me, that was one of the most touching times I’ve ever [had]. To watch it come full circle was amazing.”

The “first ride of the day” at a Disney Park can leave a lasting impression, and it’s something that John—and all the Cast Members D23 spoke with—doesn’t take for granted. “I’m given an opportunity here that I’ve never, ever known in my life and that’s to be myself… Every single person here takes a chance, every day, to express magic—[and] to try to give magic to at least one person a day. If 74,000 of us [employees at Walt Disney World] can reach one person a day, I think that’s a pretty amazing number.”

Get the Picture: Foolproof Tips from a Disney Photographer

We’re asking Disney photographers from around the world for their best tips and tricks in our new series, Get the Picture. From what time of day to shoot Cinderella Castle to interesting angles at Castaway Cay, learn how to create picture-perfect moments wherever you are! In this edition, we asked Walt Disney Archives Photo Editor and regular Disney twenty-three photo contributor—Ty Popko—for his tips on shooting at Disney parks, whether you’re using a phone or a professional camera. Here he shares his best—along with some fantastic examples of his work.

By Ty Popko

Do you want the photos you take on your next trip to a Disney park to stand out from the crowd? Remembering just a few simple tips can help you bring back truly special memories.

Radiator Springs Racers

When you take a photograph, all you are really doing is capturing the light of the moment. If you think about light before you take your next photo, it might help you see your scene in a new way. Interesting photos usually use light to focus your attention and use shadow to frame it.

Mark Twain

Light is best in the morning or evening when the shadows are long and beautiful. If the sun is directly above, try to find a nice shady spot under a tree or a castle entryway. Be creative and use your surroundings. Don’t be worried about gloomy skies. The cloud cover can help create an interesting, moody background with soft shadows.

Floral Mickey

While the Mickey Mouse flowerbeds at the entrance to Magic Kingdom and the drawbridge of the majestic Sleeping Beauty Castle are both iconic Disney parks photo locations, try to capture your next visit from a new angle. How about on the top of the train station stairs looking down on Main Street, U.S.A., or the view overlooking the Matterhorn and the lagoon while you wait to board at the Tomorrowland Monorail station?

Sully

Try to break free of too many posed photos and keep your camera at the ready for that joy of someone struggling to take that first bite into the candy apple, or Peter Pan sneaking up on your friend. These genuine moments of people being candid are harder to catch but are well worth the effort.

Owl in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle

When that beautiful Disney rose catches your eye or your favorite protocol droid is attempting to fix a star speeder, try to find a new perspective. Move left, right, above, below, zoom in, or zoom out—anything that might help you find a new angle to set your photo apart. Don’t just take the first shot you see. Keep moving until you find what feels right.

People like to see people. You can show your family and friends a million photos of all your favorite lands, but showing them photos of people will always spark their interest. It can be easily overlooked when you’re having fun capturing the world around you. Make a nice mix of both.

Disneyland Resort esplanade

Finally, don’t ask your friends and family to stare straight into the sunlight. Having people look away from the direction of the sun can help eliminate the squinting you see so often in family photos. It can sometimes add a great halo of light around the subject, which can also separate people or things from the background.

The great thing about photography is that all rules can be broken. Think of the Disney parks as enormous “sets” designed just for you. Capture all the light and life that takes place within its berms. Take your camera out the next time you’re at the parks and have fun creating memories you can share with your friends and family for years to come.

Have a question for our Disney photographers? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to check us out on Instagram for fun Disney photos.

See Ty’s complete gallery below.