Choux Fritters from Disneyland’s Royal Street Veranda

June 2, 2016June 3, 2016

Enjoy these mouth-watering Choux Fritters from Disneyland’s Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square.

Yield: 3 dozen fritters

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 cup boiling water
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
½ teaspoon salt
4 eggs
4 cups vegetable oil
Sugar

Method of Preparation

Combine butter, boiling water, flour, and salt in a saucepan over moderate heat. Beat vigorously until mixture leaves side of pan and forms a ball. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Spoon into a bowl mixer or food processor with a steel blade. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. When all the eggs have been added, mixture should hold its shape in a spoon.
Heat oil to 375°F. Dip a tablespoon first in hot oil, then in batter. Carefully drop a tablespoon of hot batter into the oil and cook until brown. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Sprinkle with sugar and serve hot.

Cook’s notes: The time it takes the fritter to brown in the hot oil depends on the size. Smaller fritters will take about 2 to 3 minutes.

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.

Rewind Back to Disneyland’s First Expansion!

June 1, 2016March 26, 2018

By Steven Vagnini

In 2015, Disney fans around the world began celebrating the diamond anniversary of Disneyland park and its original roster of attractions, from Jungle Cruise to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. We can’t believe that now, almost a year later, we’re already commemorating the 60th anniversary of Disneyland’s first “expansion”—a lineup of all-new adventures that would transport guests into fascinating realms and even introduce the “D ticket!”

These new experiences—premiering less than a year after the park’s opening in July 1955—illustrated Walt Disney’s philosophy that Disneyland was something he could “keep developing, keep plussing and adding to”… a place where new adventures were always on the horizon.

So join us as D23 takes a look way back at the park attractions that opened 60 years ago—in 1956!

Storybook Land Canal Boats

In June 1956, Storybook Land Canal Boats replaced Canal Boats of the World, a Fantasyland attraction that offered very little in the way of scenery during its two-month run in 1955. Now, guests could cruise past charming miniature scenes from Disney animated films in an excursion that still enchants passengers today. And fun fact: At one time, Imagineers planned for the addition of an impressive “Rock Candy Mountain” as part of the voyage. Once inside the mountain, guests would have found themselves transported to the land of Oz, where they awaited a birthday party for Dorothy! (For those of you with confused looks, at the time the Disney Studio owned the rights to many of the Oz books by L. Frank Baum.)

Rainbow Caverns Mine Train

Guests could first travel through Frontierland’s spectacular caverns holding colorful pools, waterfalls, and geysers on July 2, 1956. During the attraction’s development, scientific expert and consultant Heinz Haber reportedly told Imagineer Claude Coats that the colorful water effects could never work. Walt brought Claude up to the challenge by saying what’s now considered one of his most famous quotes: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” With inspiration from the True-Life Adventure films, Rainbow Caverns Mine Train would later transform into the elaborate Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland, and it would ultimately inspire scenes in the next mine train adventure: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Tom Sawyer Island Rafts

Although adventurers could cruise the Rivers of America via an authentic steam-powered sternwheeler in 1955, it wasn’t until June 16, 1956 that they could board a raft to explore Tom Sawyer Island. Inspiring later versions at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland, the original attraction featured such highlights as Fort Wilderness, the Suspension Ridge, Merry-Go-Round Rock, and even river fishin’—all inspired by the pages of Mark Twain’s classic novel. During the attraction’s dedication ceremonies, Missouri Governor Phil Donnelly requested California Governor Goodwin Knight to “take appropriate action which [would] cause the Tom Sawyer Island. . . to be deeded to the Sovereign State of Missouri—the only true and rightful possessor of any and all Tom Sawyer Islands in the world.” (To our knowledge, no action was ever taken by the State of California to de-annex this part of Anaheim.)

Indian War Canoes

Another original “D ticket” experience, the Indian War Canoes offered guests an additional means of exploring the picaresque Rivers of America starting July 4, 1956. Several years later, in 1971, the attraction was renamed Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes and was eventually reclassified as a Bear Country (now Critter Country) attraction. The canoes took their place in Disneyland history as the first attraction in which guests had to do all the work!

Astro-Jets

Although it didn’t receive the upgrade to “D ticket” status, the Astro-Jets added a sense of kinetic wonderment to the heart of Tomorrowland when it opened on March 24, 1956. Guests could make their jets rise and lower, a concept that carried on in later incarnations of the attraction: Tomorrowland Jets (1964–1966), Rocket Jets (1967–1997), and Astro Orbitor (1998–present). As Disney fans well know, the attraction has inspired other versions at Disney parks around the globe, including the League of Planets Astro Orbiter at Walt Disney World and the all-new Jet Packs at Shanghai Disneyland!

Skyway

Another bygone, but certainly not forgotten, attraction to join Disneyland in 1956 was the Skyway, which offered spectacular views on an aerial journey between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Although the Skyway was not originally classified as a “D ticket” experience, it was upgraded to that level by June 1959, when the new “E ticket” was added. It was at that time that Matterhorn Bobsleds premiered and offered Skyway passengers an even more spectacular journey—past alpine passes and icy caverns, right through the mountain.

…and even more adventures!

Even more new experiences awaited guests in 1956. The iconic Omnibus first traveled down Main Street, U.S.A. and was added to the ticket books as an “A coupon” attraction. From February 19 until September 7, professor and wild animal trainer George Keller showed off fantastic felines in Keller’s Jungle Killers, after the Mickey Mouse Circus came to a close. And on July 23, Junior Autopia opened in Fantasyland. Tailored to youngsters, the attraction was destined for a short run; it would only last until December.

Do you have memories of these beloved attractions past and present?

Tiffins: Your New Favorite WDW Signature Dining Experience

June 1, 2016March 26, 2018

By Beth Deitchman

If you haven’t already, you’re about to add a new word to your vocabulary: Tiffins.

It’s an Indian word that has multiple meanings. A tiffin can be a light midday meal—and we may just start using the word in place of “lunch,” which feels kind of passé by comparison. A tiffin also refers to the container said meal is often carried in: usually a round, stackable metal lunchbox. But our favorite definition is the newest: Tiffins is Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s signature restaurant, which opened just this past weekend, and might just become your favorite, too.

The new fine-dining establishment takes its inspiration from travel, and the menu is a mixture of cuisines from different parts of the world and different cultures. Anthony DeLuca, Tiffins’ chef de cuisine, told D23 recently that Walt Disney Imagineers looked to the research trips they took while designing Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the elements guests will now find when they dine at the restaurant. According to Deluca, “They took notes, they took sketches and all those places they visited, we get to explore on the menu. So we could have something Asian, we could have something African, we could have something Moroccan. Food can be inspired by wherever they went.”

Mark Hoevenaars, the proprietor of Tiffins, explains that guests’ global experience begins at the front door. “When you walk into our main entrance, there’s this beautiful map of the world that is carved out of wood that instantly shows the theming of the restaurant, which is travel,” he says. Hoevenaars and the Disney’s Animal Kingdom team also see the restaurant as an experience for the eyes as much as for the tastebuds, so Tiffins functions as an art gallery in addition to serving as an amazing new restaurant. Tiffins is comprised of three different themed dining rooms: an Asian-inspired Trek Gallery, an African-inspired Safari Gallery, and an animal-inspired Grand Gallery. “In that way, we touch all of the different portions of the theming from the Walt Disney Imagineering and animal programs,” Hoevenaars points out.

The Tiffins menu offers something for everyone. “I think there’s definitely some stuff that’s going to be a little bit out there, but we have an audience here at Animal Kingdom that’s a little bit more adventurous, more free-spirited, to go out and try some stuff,” Hoevenaars says. Main courses include a Berber-spiced lamb chop with mustard greens, lentil stew, and mint chutney, an African-inspired dish; miso-glazed black cod with Forbidden Rice in steamed bok choy with turmeric sauce, which is Asian-inspired; and grilled head-on shrimp with tomatoes, roasted fennel, olives, and sea urchin butter sauce, which has a European sensibility. Tiffins will also serve a classic African black-eyed pea fritter called Akara, which Hoevenaars and DeLuca expect to be popular with guests. But, Hoevenaars confidently professes, “I think that regardless of what their selection will be on the menu, they’re going to be very pleasantly surprised.”

There’s even a dessert inspired by the tiffin itself: a three-tiered creation that will feature a chocolate ganache with multiple garnishes, another layer with an aromatic kaffir lime broth that lightly warms the chocolate, and a top layer that’s a microwave sponge cake—made using innovative techniques that help add a crunchy texture to the epicurean experience.

For younger travelers with palates that might not be as worldly as those of their parents, DeLuca assures, “We actually made sure that when we wrote the kids menu that it was a little less adventurous, that we can capture all of our audience. But there’s definitely enough of a mix where we think people will identify with something.”

Travelers who see themselves as “just passing through” will enjoy spending time at Nomads Lounge, which celebrates the travel of Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests. Hoevenaars is excited about one way that guests can be part of the travel theme—and support worthy causes at the same time. “We’ll have these hangtags for sale, which our guests can actually write their own adventures and their own travels on, and we’ll actually hang them in the bar. The proceeds of those hangtags will support Disney’s conservation efforts. We have a wide variety of different projects that we support here in Animal Kingdom we have a lot of folks that are working to protect wildlife and wild places—it’s really exciting to have a component that will actually help support that as well,” Hoevenaars says.

Tiffins and Nomads sit on the Discovery River, right by the bridge that will lead into what will be Pandora—The World of Avatar when it opens. At Nomads, guests can enjoy a beverage—either before their meal at Tiffins, or as a chance to relax and taste some of the street food-inspired small plates on the Nomads menu.

“In general, the restaurant is super exciting for me,” Hoevenaars stresses. “I think our theme and the ability of the chefs to really create dishes that are inspired by South African cuisine and Asian cuisine is awesome in itself. But then within those continents there are so many different influences and cultures, and we have the ability to do fusion and things like that. It’s really exciting to be working with these chefs to come up with dishes that are just going to truly blow people away.”

Mary Poppins Returns in 2018—Plus More in News Briefs

May 31, 2016September 18, 2018

By Courtney Potter

It’s Official! Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda to Star in Mary Poppins Returns

“Wind’s in the east, there’s a mist comin’ in… like somethin’ is brewin’—about to begin.” For the last few months, we’ve been teased with the possibility of an all-new Mary Poppins film from Walt Disney Studios—and now, it’s official! Mary Poppins Returns, to be directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall, will “step in time” onto a movie screen near you on Christmas Day (December 25), 2018.

Starring Emily Blunt (Disney’s Into the Woods) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (composer and star of Broadway’s Hamilton), Mary Poppins Returns will draw from the wealth of material in P.L. Travers’ seven additional novels that featured Mary Poppins. The film will take place in Depression-era London—when the books were originally written—and will follow a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks… who, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins (Blunt) following a personal loss. Through her unique magical skills, and with the aid of her street-lamplighter friend Jack (Miranda), she’ll help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives.

Just Keep Swimming with All-New Finding Nemo As Told By Emoji

Looking to get into the “swim” of things before Finding Dory dives into theaters on June 17? Our good pals over at Disney Interactive Media (read up on how the As Told By Emoji series is created here) have caught-and-released a new short to help you catch up! Finding Nemo As Told By Emoji follows emoji-fied versions of Dory, Nemo, Marlin, Crush, and all their fishy friends as they retell the story of Disney•Pixar’s 2003 film.

Additionally, on Thursday, June 16 (the day before the big premiere), Dory’s biggest fans will have an opportunity to see both movies back-to-back with “Dory After Dark”! More than 90 locations in North America will take part in this one-night-only event, when moviegoers will be treated to a late-night screening of Finding Nemo before joining a select few fans as the very first to see the much-anticipated new adventure. Guests will receive some fantastic Dory swag, and can even share their experience with custom Snapchat filters! Surf over to our friends at Oh My Disney to find out if “Dory After Dark” is happening in your area…

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
June 4
D23’s Afternoon in the Sea: Finding Nemo
June 8
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour in Salt Lake City, Utah
August 22-26
D23 Presents Aloha Aulani!
November 19-20
D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures
Studios
June 17
Finding Dory opens in theaters.
July 1
The BFG opens in theaters.
August 12
Pete’s Dragon opens in theaters.
November 23
Moana opens in theaters.
December 16
Rogue One opens in theaters.

Parks
June 16
Shanghai Disney Resort to open
June 17
Soarin’ Around the World Debuts at Disney California Adventure and at Epcot
September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30 and 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
November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29 and 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
June 24
Adventures in Babysitting Premieres on Disney Channel at 8 p.m. EDT

Get Creative with Disney Art Academy for Nintendo 3DS

Artists and Disney fans, listen up! There’s a new game for Nintendo 3DS, and it’s right up your alley… Disney Art Academy, available now, features a wide variety of tools that teach players to draw more than 80 Disney and Pixar characters in 2-D. By working through multiple easy-to-follow lessons, characters like Mickey Mouse, Nemo from Finding Nemo, Elsa from Frozen, Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, and Simba from The Lion King all come to life.

In Disney Art Academy, characters can be sketched or painted in a variety of ways; using art tools like pastels and paintbrushes, players can discover their “inner artist” and participate in lessons inspired by Disney art and animation. Each lesson guides players through a step-by-step progression to draw a single character. Find Disney Art Academy on sale now in stores; at the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS; and at Nintendo.com. Happy doodling!

Pretty Little Liars’ Season 7 Summer Premiere on June 20

The Liars are back—and it’s about to get seriously suspenseful up in here. The Season 7 summer premiere of Freeform’s hit original series Pretty Little Liars debuts on Tuesday, June 21, at 8 p.m. EDT. After Hanna’s shocking abduction by “Uber A,” the PLLs (and company) desperately race against the clock to save one of their own. But the only way to do it is… by handing over evidence of Charlotte’s real murderer to “Uber A”! Consequently, the girls must decide what lines they’re willing to cross—because once they do, there’s no turning back.

Fans can catch up on where the Liars left off with Freeform’s all-day marathon of Season 6, starting on June 21 at 11 a.m. EDT and running up to the premiere. Prepare to hashtag your way through summer!

Star vs. The Forces of Evil: The Battle Begins Anew This Summer!

Disney XD’s magically kooky, Annie Award®-nominated series Star vs. The Forces of Evil—starring The Middle’s Eden Sher as the voice of Star Butterfly, the awesome teen princess from another dimension—begins its second season on Monday, July 11, at 10:30 a.m. EDT on Disney XD and the Disney XD app.

Season 2 uncovers the mythology around Star’s Royal Magic Wand, her family history, and the powers she will someday fully possess. Additionally, Star and Marco’s adventures get even weirder as they are introduced to new magical characters. Look for guest stars including “Weird Al” Yankovic, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory), Zosia Mamet (Girls), and Nick Lachey (The Sing-Off); they’ll be joining regulars Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Jenny Slate (Zootopia), and Alan Tudyk (Trumbo). So mark your calendars… and also look for a series of eight Star original comics titled “Deep Trouble” to roll out in bookstores this fall!

New Look at Finding Dory… Plus “Just Keep Searching” on Google

Oh, it’s so tantalizingly close—the opening of Finding Dory in theaters! Dory, Marlin, Nemo, and pals head from their home base in Australia to the coast of California in the new film… and this most recent first-look clip follows along as they meet up with Crush, the sea turtle, for another bumpy ocean-current ride! Check it out, dudes.

Plus, here’s a fun tip: In a first-of-its-kind experiment with Google Search, anyone searching for Finding Dory on Google will be presented with new and exclusive content (videos, animated GIFs, images, etc.)—updated in real-time on both desktop and mobile. “Just Keep Searching” in these next few weeks; more content will be rolled out as we get closer to the film’s debut.

Go Inside The Jungle Book: Alive With Magic at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Just this past weekend, Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort debuted their newest show! The Jungle Book: Alive With Magic is a dazzling re-telling of the Rudyard Kipling story (including your favorite songs from both the original 1967 animated film and the recent Jon Favreau-directed hit), told through the lens of authentic Indian culture.

The Jungle Book: Alive With Magic plays several times each night, right on the riverfront at Discovery Island—but only for a limited time. Huge barges teeming with singers, Indian musicians, and colorful performers take to the waters and boost the tale with music and song. And that’s not all: Imagery from the 2016 blockbuster film is projected onto truly massive water screens right above the river. Sounds intriguing, right? Take a closer look with this recent behind-the-scenes video from Disney Parks, above.

Freeform Celebrates Father’s Day with “Funday” Marathon

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means summer is kicking into high gear! It also means Father’s Day is around the corner—so what better way to celebrate your beloved dad than bonding over some classic Disney movies? Freeform’s got just the ticket, with its weekend-long “Funday” Father’s Day marathon coming this June.

You and dear ol’ Dad (or the father-figure of your choosing) can check out films like The Princess and the Frog, Finding Nemo, Brave, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs throughout the weekend of Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19. So check your local listings, stake out your favorite seats on the couch, and get ready to spend some quality time together. Yay, dads!

“Reflections” from the Cast and Filmmakers of Alice Through the Looking Glass

May 31, 2016June 3, 2016

By Beth Deitchman

Have you gone “through the looking glass” yet to see Disney’s newest adventure for Alice, the Mad Hatter, and Underland’s other colorful denizens—the Red Queen, the White Queen, and a full spectrum of quirky characters?

Alice Through the Looking Glass, now playing at a theater near you, again stars Mia Wasikowska as Alice Kingsleigh, Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, and Sacha Baron Cohen as Time himself! In this outing, Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) has spent the past three years sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland. Reuniting with her friends the White Rabbit, Absolem, the White Queen, and the Cheshire Cat, Alice must save the Hatter and Underland itself, before time runs out. We took a little time recently at the movie’s Hollywood premiere and at press conferences for the film to talk to some of the cast and filmmakers about what’s new in Underland, about how their characters have evolved, and even about Walt Disney World roller coasters! Disney fans are in store for a true unbirthday treat!

Mia Wasikowska (Alice) on her other favorite Disney character of all time:

“I really like The Lion King, so I like all the characters in that.”

Wasikowska on how Alice has changed since we last saw her in Alice in Wonderland:

“She has a really strong sense of who she is in this film. I think she’s just spent two years as the captain of a ship so she very much knows who she is and she doesn’t let anybody question that for her.”

Director James Bobin on being “the new kid on the block” with the returning cast:

“It was great because they knew the characters. It was a new story, but we talked about what that meant for those characters. And often the story was explaining how they were before, which was very interesting for them—it was backstory, which was great. They were always incredibly welcoming—such fun to work with and very collaborative, and that’s what I love about movie-making. It was a huge team effort.”

Bobin on what’s different about Underland this time around:

“When I grew up I used to read Lewis Carroll and I remember the world being pretty much designed by a guy called John Tenniel, who was the original illustrator of the books. And I loved that world and wanted to bring more of that to this world—staying within Tim’s world that he created for that movie, but also trying to make it somewhat more historical and more Victorian in some way.”

Actress Anne Hathaway—the film’s White Queen—on how Colleen Atwood’s spectacular costume design helped her get into character:

“I thought that Colleen’s costume probably created my character. I had certain, kind of inchoate ideas about who she was, and then as soon as I put on that dress, I said, ‘Oh, she’s air.’ Then I started to think about the relationship between her and Helena [Bonham Carter, who portrays her character’s sister, the Red Queen] and I thought that if you have a family member who has a large personality and has a lot of emotions, you compensate by taking up less space. And so I thought, here’s somebody who’s literally turning herself into almost weightlessness—and yet it’s still so ornamented. So I just thought it was just very rich and very airy. And that’s how I kind of came up with my um, airhead.” [LAUGHS]

Owain Rhys Davies, who voices the Delivery Frog in the film, on the research that went into playing Disney’s newest film frog:

“I love Toad from Toad Hall [in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad]… The Princess and the Frog—I’ve watched it repeatedly. I’m an adult man—a grown man!—but I love Disney movies. Just being a part of this is an absolute joy and a pleasure. It’s a bit of a dream.”

Screenwriter Linda Woolverton on what’s been happening for Alice before she sails into action in Through the Looking Glass:

“I did a lot of research on China and trading in that period, and the rivers—I researched all the rivers, and I researched the pink dolphins. I researched a lot of the stuff that didn’t make it [into the final script]. So I know all the places she’s been and all the people she’s visited, so that was really fun for me.”

Woolverton’s “Fab 5” Disney heroines:

“I love Aurora. I love Belle. I love Nala. I love Maleficent—she’s a heroine! And I love Cinderella. I think they’re all so different—there’s no singular aspect about each of them. What’s wonderful about Disney is they never abandon the princess—they’re always exploring facets of ‘princessness’ through time. So the princesses that were created in the ’50s and early ’60s were symbols of the perfect woman for their time and that’s wonderful. And then because time moved on, women have different facets and Disney has explored those different eras and parts of us all through time.”

The film is—literally—about time. We asked one of the film’s producers, Suzanne Todd—a devoted Disney fan—what would she do if she only had more time?

“Of course I would go to Disney World—I’m crazy like that. But other things? I’d spend more time with my family and—oh, wait—I could take my family to Walt Disney World, so I’m sticking with Walt Disney World! I’d love to spend more time in the parks, because I work too much and I don’t spend enough time in the parks.”

Todd is such a fan of the Walt Disney World Resort that we asked for her “Fab 5” attractions from the resort! Here’s what she told us:

“In Florida we love the mountains, because I’m a roller coaster girl. I love Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. I love Space Mountain—which is different [at Walt Disney World] than it is in Anaheim. I love Expedition Everest. I love a little Big Thunder Mountain. Which one am I missing? Splash Mountain—but that’s not a roller coaster. If we’re really doing five roller coasters from Florida, I’m going Crush ‘n’ Gusher [at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park], because we don’t have Crush ‘n’ Gusher in Anaheim. I believe it’s the only water roller coaster in the world and it is an awesome, awesome ride that should not be missed when you visit Florida!”

Grilled Marinated Chicken Breasts with Watermelon Feta Salad

May 27, 2016June 3, 2016

Our friends at ABC’s The Chew serve up this scrumptious grilled chicken, perfect for the summer. The sweet watermelon is a great compliment to the savory chicken. Try it for yourself!

For more recipes, visit TheChew.com and tune in weekdays, 1p.m. ET |12 p.m. CT on ABC.

Servings: 6
2+ hr

Ingredients

For the Chicken:
6 bone-in (skin-on Chicken Breast Halves)
kosher Salt
1 cup Greek Yogurt
Grated Zest and juice of 1 Orange
1 tablespoon Coriander Seeds (toasted and ground)
2 teaspoons Cumin Seeds (toasted and ground)
2 teaspoons Chipotle Powder

For the Watermelon Feta Salad:
1/2 Small to Medium Seedless Watermelon (cubed)
1 cup Feta (crumbled)
1/4 cup Mint Leaves (torn)
3 Scallions (sliced)
1 clove garlic (grated or finely minced)
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
pepper (to taste)
3 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar

Step-By-Step Directions

For the Chicken: Rinse the chicken under cold water and pat dry. Season the breasts liberally with salt. In a gallon-sized zip-top bag, combine the yogurt, orange zest and juice, salt, coriander, cumin, and chipotle. Add the chicken, turn to coat, and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
Let the chicken come to room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling.
Meanwhile, heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium.
Remove the chicken from the bag, wiping off and discarding any excess marinade. Put the chicken on the grill skin-side-down and cover with the lid. Grill for 7 to 8 minutes, open the lid, and flip the bird. Put the lid back on and grill for 10 to 12 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 160F.
Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
For the Watermelon Feta Salad: Combine watermelon, mint, feta, garlic and scallions in a bowl. Whisk together the red wine vinegar and olive oil. Pour over salad, season with pepper and toss to coat.
Plate chicken with a side of watermelon feta salad and finish with a drizzle of olive oil for garnish.

Experience A Flurry of New Magic During Frozen—Live at the Hyperion

May 27, 2016May 27, 2016

By Tyler Slater

“For the first time in forever,” the magic and enchantment of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen comes to life with stunning special effects and outstanding talent during Frozen—Live at the Hyperion! This new live theatrical interpretation for the stage—now showing at Disney California Adventure park—immerses audiences in the beloved world of Frozen and takes everyone on the heartwarming journey of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven. Under the direction of Tony Award®-nominated director Liesl Tommy (Eclipsed), the show features elaborate costumes and sets, stunning special effects, and show-stopping numbers. This exceptionally large production features an opening cast and crew of more than 200, six full musical numbers, and a 2,220 square foot video wall, which all combine for an unforgettable experience.

Frozen—Live at the Hyperion is not simply a retelling but rather an adaptation that takes the essence of the adventures of Anna and Elsa and transforms it into a theatrical spectacular for the stage. Director Liesl Tommy explained, “I am approaching Frozen as I would any new work—to search the story for what resonates most emotionally, which is the story of the relationship between Anna and Elsa, their coming of age, and conquering their worst fears.” During the world premiere, Tommy expressed that the emotional center of Frozen is the metaphor of opening and closing doors in one’s life and understanding that truly, “love is an open door.”

Creative Entertainment Executive with Walt Disney Imagineering Dana Harrel shared, “This production is very emotional. We take our audiences to a place that we’ve never gone before, so the environment for this journey becomes vitally important to telling the story.” With this in mind, the scale of the Hyperion Theater means the theatrical effects in this production play a very large role. For example, it took approximately 45,000 square feet of custom-dyed fabric to create the “Aurora” curtain that envelops the interior of the theater. Also, an enormous turntable was installed on the stage to allow an elegant movement of set pieces from scene to scene and to accommodate Elsa’s breathtaking staircase of ice, which juts out over the audience. And, of course, the retelling of Frozen would not be complete without the falling of snow throughout the nearly 2,000-seat Hyperion Theater.

“We are using theatrical technology that simply wasn’t available when the theater opened in 2001, and some of it wasn’t even around five years ago,” explained the show’s producer Jennifer Magill. “This is especially true for the large amount of video projections.”

With the help of these of these cutting-edge special effects, guests visiting Arendelle can experience the tradition of outstanding live entertainment inside the Hyperion Theater at an entirely new level. The entire team of artists, designers, and performers have embraced Frozen—Live at the Hyperion as the first theatrical experience for many guests, especially children, and they made sure it will be an unforgettable experience for everyone visiting the Disneyland Resort.

The Ultimate Guide to Disney Channel’s DCOM Marathon

May 27, 2016June 3, 2016

By Nicole Nalty

While you may associate Memorial Day weekend with barbecues, pool parties, and fun in the sun, we’re spending this long weekend in our pajamas—and for good reason! In celebration of Adventures in Babysitting—the 100th Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM)—which premieres Friday, June 24, at 8 p.m. ET, Disney Channel is airing all 100 DCOMs throughout the month of June, beginning with a mega movie marathon this Memorial Day weekend! Check out the full line-up of films below:

Friday, May 27
10 a.m.—Disney’s Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama
11:20 a.m.—Read It and Weep
12:55 p.m.—Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
2:40 p.m.—Jump In!
4:15 p.m.—Lemonade Mouth
6:15 p.m.—Zapped
8 p.m.—High School Musical 2
9:55 p.m.—The Cheetah Girls 2
11:45 p.m.—Zenon the Zequel

Saturday, May 28
1:25 a.m.—Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge
2:55 a.m.—Twitches Too
4:25 a.m.—Alley Cats Strike!
6:25 a.m.—You Wish!
8:05 a.m.—The Proud Family Movie
9:50 a.m.—Quints
11:25 a.m.—Horse Sense
1:10 p.m.—Cow Belles
2:50 p.m.—Twitches
4:30 p.m.—The Even Stevens Movie
6:15 p.m.—Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
8 p.m.—Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
9:50 p.m.—Princess Protection Program
11:30 p.m.—The Cheetah Girls: One World

Sunday, May 29
1:05 a.m.—Zenon: Z3
2:40 a.m.—Halloweentown High
4:20 a.m.—The Thirteenth Year
6 a.m.—Right on Track
7:45 a.m.—Full-Court Miracle
9:35 a.m.—Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook-Off
11:20 a.m.—Brink!
1:10 p.m.—Double Teamed
2:55 p.m.—Rip Girls
4:35 p.m.—Motocrossed
6:20 p.m.—Cloud 9
8 p.m.—Teen Beach 2
9:55 p.m.—Bad Hair Day
11:40 p.m. How to Build a Better Boy

Monday, May 30
1:20 a.m.—Pixel Perfect
2:55 a.m.—The Other Me
4:30 a.m.—Genius
10 a.m.—Stuck in the Suburbs
11:30 a.m.—Halloweentown
1:05 p.m.—Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
2:55 p.m.—Smart House
4:25 p.m.—High School Musical
6:15 p.m.—Camp Rock
8 p.m.—Descendants
10:05 p.m.—Teen Beach Movie
11:55 p.m.—Cadet Kelly

Tuesday, May 31
1:50 a.m.—The Cheetah Girls
3:35 a.m.—Johnny Tsunami

Wednesday, June 1
12 a.m.—Return to Halloweentown
2 a.m.—Can of Worms

Thursday, June 2
12 a.m.—Going to the Mat
2 a.m.—Miracle in Lane 2

Friday, June 3
12 a.m.—The Suite Life Movie
2 a.m.—A Ring of Endless Light

Saturday, June 4
12 a.m.—Invisible Sister
2 a.m.—Now You See It

Sunday, June 5
12 a.m.—Girl vs. Monster
2 a.m.—Phantom of the Megaplex

Monday, June 6
12 a.m.—Tru Confessions
2 a.m.—Tiger Cruise

Tuesday, June 7
12 a.m.—Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire
2 a.m.—Under Wraps

Wednesday, June 8
12 a.m.—Den Brother
2 a.m.—Go Figure

Thursday, June 9
12 a.m.—Avalon High
2 a.m.—Jett Jackson: The Movie

Friday, June 10
12 a.m.—Minutemen
2 a.m.—Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension

Saturday, June 11
12 a.m.—The Poof Point
2 a.m.—Up, Up and Away

Sunday, June 12
12 a.m.—Life is Ruff
2 a.m.—Hounded

Monday, June 13
12 a.m.—Ready to Run
2 a.m.—The Jennie Project

Tuesday, June 14
12 a.m.—The Scream Team
2 a.m.—Don’t Look Under the Bed

Wednesday, June 15
12 a.m.—The Color of Friendship
2 a.m.—Buffalo Dreams

Thursday, June 16
12 a.m—Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!
2 a.m.—Hatching Pete

Friday, June 17
12 a.m.—The Ultimate Christmas Present
2 a.m.—Twas the Night

Saturday, June 18
12 a.m.—StarStruck
2 a.m.—Geek Charming

Sunday, June 19
12 a.m.—Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board
2 a.m.—Jumping Ship

Monday, June 20
12 a.m.—Dadnapped
2 a.m.—Get A Clue

Tuesday, June 21
12 a.m.—Let It Shine
2 a.m.—Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure

Wednesday, June 22
12 a.m.—The Luck of the Irish
2 a.m.—You Lucky Dog

Thursday, June 23
12 a.m.—Radio Rebel
2 a.m.—Frenemies

Friday, June 24
12 a.m.—Gotta Kick It Up!
2 a.m.—Stepsister From Planet Weird
8 p.m.—Adventures in Babysitting (100th DCOM)

Where in the small world Can You Find These Classic Creatures?

May 26, 2016June 3, 2016

By Nicole Nalty

It’s the song heard ’round the world—about the world! it’s a small world is celebrating its 50th year at Disneyland park and it’s not hard to see why: With stunning design by Mary Blair and Rolly Crump, music by the Sherman brothers, and character design and costume design by Marc Davis and Alice Davis, respectively, it’s no surprise that the classic attraction is a family favorite at Disney Parks around the world.

Think you’re a seasoned sailor of “the happiest cruise that ever sailed”? Cruise on and see if you can place these animated animals in their correct lands.

1. Don’t get a frog in your throat! Where can you find this reptile trio?

2. Where can you spot this striped specimen?

3. Hip-hip-hooray! Where can you find this fan favorite?

4. It’s okay to smile at this crocodile—once you find him!

5. This one’s black and white—do you know where to find this precious panda?

6. Water you waiting for? Guess where you can find this water buffalo!

7. BONUS ROUND: There’s a sneaky sea serpent that lives at it’s a small world—but you need to guess before you sea it!

Answers:

1. FROGS: These three hopped on over to the Middle East and Asian Holiday area.

2. TIGER: While he’s no Rajah, you can find this tiger near Aladdin and Jasmine in the Middle East and Asian Holiday area, just after a depiction of the Taj Mahal.

3. HIPPO: You can’t miss this hippo in Adventure in Africa—keep an eye out after saying “Hakuna Matata” to our pals Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba.

4. CROCODILE: This croc lives in a tropical hideaway towards the end of Pacific Islands Paradise, just before the journey into the Spirit of America.

5. PANDA: You can find this panda in the Middle East and Asian Holiday area, right before saying hello to Mulan and Mushu.

6. WATER BUFFALO: After you spot our panda pal, look across the way to find the water buffalo in the Middle East and Asian Holiday area.

7. BONUS ROUND: Did we fool you? You can find this slithery sea serpent just outside of it’s a small world, along with many other terrific topiaries.

D23’s Ultimate Countdown to Shanghai Disney Resort: Tomorrowland

By Tyler Slater

There’s a great big, beautiful Tomorrowland at Shanghai Disney Resort! Created especially for Shanghai Disneyland, this newly imagined land celebrates the hope, optimism, and potential for the future—themes from the original Disneyland—for a whole new culture. With just three weeks until the grand opening, D23’s Ultimate Countdown to Shanghai Disney Resort continues with a land that takes guests to infinity and beyond.

Disney fans around the world are counting down to the opening of one of the most thrilling and exciting attractions at any Disney park: TRON Lightcycle Power Run. Riding atop individual, two-wheeled Lightcycles, guests will be launched across a canopied section of track—the Upload Circuit—before diving high-speed into the Grid, a mysterious game world. Adrenaline-pumping music, lights, and 3-D graphics electrify a multi-sensory environment as “Programs” and “Users” speed, dip, and dive through digitized darkness on one of the fastest coaster attractions in Disney theme park history.

Shifting from the Grid to the Gamma Quadrant, guests can go from zero to Space Ranger hero aboard Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue. This interactive adventure is inspired by the Disney•Pixar Toy Story films as well as the popular Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin that premiered at Walt Disney World. At Shanghai Disneyland, the Evil Emperor Zurg is threatening to destroy the home planet of the Aliens so Buzz Lightyear calls out for more Space Rangers to help stop Star Command’s most wanted! The immersive, new storyline combined with a new, interactive targeting system will make this one of the most engaging attractions at a Disney park.

In a galaxy far, far away, Jedi, Sith, and Padawans will discover an experience that honors the Star Wars Saga inside the Star Wars Launch Bay. Iconic intergalactic set pieces, props, and memorabilia help to bring the Star Wars story to life, while guests of all ages can also encounter favorite characters like C-3PO and Darth Vader—and even take photos piloting the Millennium Falcon!

Elsewhere in the galaxy, young space travelers can video chat with none other than Experiment 626 himself during Stitch Encounter. With new humor and content for guests of Shanghai Disney Resort, everyone’s favorite blue cosmic alien engages in unrehearsed conversations, plays games, makes jokes, and takes guests for a spin around the galaxy.

Back in Tomorrowland, sky pilots strap in to individual Jet Packs and enjoy the thrill and wonder of flight. Two at a time, guests blast off on transportation of the future, controlling how high their Jet Pack goes. Walt Disney’s long affiliation with aviation dates back to the Astro Jets at Disneyland park from 1956 and now, 60 years later, his hope and optimism for the future continues to be expressed at Shanghai Disneyland!

Guests can break away from their travels on the upper concourse of Tomorrowland and enjoy Chinese and Western food at the Stargazer Grill. From the outdoor deck, guests will be able to see the Enchanted Storybook Castle and enjoy a variety of burgers at the largest restaurant in Shanghai Disneyland.

Stay tuned next week as D23’s Ultimate Countdown continues with the largest of all the lands in Shanghai Disneyland: Fantasyland.

Tour other areas of Shanghai Disney Resort here: