7 Things We Can’t Wait to See in Captain America: Civil War

May 2, 2016May 3, 2016

By Jim Frye

This week, Marvel’s latest adventure, Captain America: Civil War, storms into theaters, re-teaming our favorite Marvel heroes to fight their most dangerous foes yet—each other. Staring Chris Evans as the title character Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, and Robert Downey Jr. as the never-at-a-loss-for-words Tony Stark, aka, Iron Man, this latest outing brings back directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who helmed Captain America: Winter Soldier, and who are also on board to direct Marvel’s climactic double-feature Infinity War story. And even though we just have a few days until the film opens, there are seven things we just can’t wait to see:

7. The Avengers back together. Fans love the Avengers. And not just a little bit. Together, the two Avengers films earned nearly $3 billion worldwide, proving they really are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Civil War might be Captain America’s story, but the entire lineup is along for the ride: Black Widow, Hawkeye, Scarlett Witch, Falcon—they’re all back, plus some new heroes, including…

6. Ant-Man joins the Avengers. Paul Rudd’s Ant Man is thrown into the mix this time, providing some of the funniest moments of the film, not to mention some of the most visually spectacular. Following up on his head-to-head faceoff with Falcon in last year’s Ant-Man film, Rudd’s hero is eager to join the team and show that he’s more than just a one-trick pony.

5. Iron Man fights Captain America. This is the main event, the big draw, the match-up we’re all here to see—after some tense exchanges in previous films, and a heartfelt disagreement in this one, the two de facto leaders of the Avengers clash ideals—and fists—in the battle of the year. They’re close friends and trusted allies, so they know each others’ weaknesses. Throw in Winter Soldier, Vision, and a certain web-slinger, and this battle escalates fast.

4. Brand-new villains—Crossbones and Zemo. It’s not a Super Hero showdown without super villains, and, in addition to their own internal fighting, this time our heroes face off against two of Marvel Comics’ most dangerous characters. Frank Grillo terrorizes as Crossbones, an assassin who holds a particularly deadly spot in the Captain America comics. And then there’s Daniel Bruhl’s mysterious Zemo, a villain who manages to cause untold damage to the team.

3. Some of the best action sequences of any Marvel film. The dynamic duo Russo brothers upped the action in Captain America: Winter Soldier by making it seem real, giving audiences the feeling of being in the room during the fights. When Cap threw a punch, the audience ducked. The brothers bring that same level of intensity to Civil War, infusing each action sequence with a visceral severity that keeps audiences nearly gasping for breath, such as the high-speed car chase in the tunnel, where we see the full fearsome abilities of one of the newest members of the team….

2. Black Panther. Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, owns each scene he’s in, demanding respect—and earning every bit of it. Seeking justice for a very personal and heinous attack, T’Challa’s alter ego, Black Panther, explodes on screen with claws that leave deep scratches on Captain America’s unbreakable shield. The ultimate hunter, whoever goes up against Black Panther is in for quite a fight.

1. Spider-Man! It’s the trailer that shattered the Internet, due in large part to the last-second appearance of the boy that Iron Man calls “Underoos.” When the Captain America: Civil War trailer hit—and racked up nearly 100 million views in its first 24 hours—it was Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland, who got many of the headlines. Appearing for the first time in a Marvel Studios production, everyone’s favorite web-head is shaping up to be one of the biggest draws of the film—and something we can’t wait to see!

And a bonus—Stan Lee! What’s a Marvel Studios film without the “Elder Statesman” himself? Stan “the Man” Lee has popped up in every one of the Studio’s films since Iron Man, and we can’t wait to see where he’s at this time.

We’ll see each of these things May 6 when Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War opens nationwide. What are you most excited about?

5 Reasons Why You Need to Watch the RDMAs This Weekend

April 28, 2016

By Beth Deitchman

From the very beginning, music has been an intrinsic part of why we love Disney—from Mickey Mouse whistling in Steamboat Willie, to the 2015 We Love Disney album, which featured top musicians performing some of our favorite Disney songs in new ways. The Radio Disney Music Awards represent another way Disney fans can celebrate music—with their families—enjoying performances from some of the biggest names in music today, along with tomorrow’s rising stars.

The awards will be presented live this Saturday, April 30, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. But fans around the country will be able to see all the action in a special two-hour telecast, Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards, airing Sunday, May 1 (7–9 p.m. ET) on Disney Channel. The show is guaranteed to be full of surprises and moments you won’t want to miss. Here are the five reasons we’re excited for music’s biggest event for families:

The chance to root for fellow Disney fans

Ariana Grande isn’t just one of the biggest names in pop music—she loves Disney so much that she celebrated her 21^st birthday at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park with her friends, family, and Cinderella! Ariana is already a four-time winner of the ARDY, and she’s nominated this year for her song “Focus”—recognized in the “Move!—Best Song to Dance To” category.

The return of favorite Disney stars

So many Disney fans remember Joe Jonas from one of our favorite Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) —Camp Rock (and Camp Rock 2: Final Jam, of course!)—and from the Disney Channel series JONAS, in which he starred alongside his brothers, Kevin and Nick. Now Joe will be performing at the RDMAs with his new band, DNCE—of the insanely catchy hit “Cake By the Ocean,” which is nominated, naturally, in the category “Stuck In Our Heads—Best Song to Lip Sync To.”

You’ve Determined the Winners

When a performer accepts an RDMA, they don’t thank an academy—they thank you, the fans, who have voted for them. And that fan-tastic support increases exponentially when the nominee is someone like acclaimed country music singer/songwriter Kelsea Ballerini (nominated in three categories, including “Radio Disney Country Favorite Artist”)—Radio Disney’s current “NBT” (Next Big Thing), a title also determined by voting fans.

(left to right) Emeraude Toubia, Katherine McNamara, Laura Marano, Sabrina Carpenter, Sofia Carson.

Presenters and Performers from Some of Our Favorite Series and Movies

Austin & Ally… Decendants… Girl Meets World… Shadowhunters… These are just a few of the series and DCOMs that will be represented on the Radio Disney Music Awards stage this weekend. Sofia Carson (Evie from Descendants) is performing her debut single, “Love is the Name” for the first time on TV at the 2016 RDMA. Laura Marano (Austin & Ally) marks the first broadcast of her debut single “Boombox.” Girl Meets World star Sabrina Carpenter (who also stars in the upcoming DCOM Adventures in Babysitting) is scheduled to perform her latest single, “Smoke and Fire,” while Shadowhunters stars Katherine McNamara (Clary) and Emeraude Toubia (Isabelle) are among the presenters for the stellar evening.

The RDMAs Also Celebrate Heroes

The awards that will be presented on Saturday aren’t just for music—Grammy®-winning singer/songwriter Gwen Stefani will be on hand to receive the 2016 RDMA ‘Hero’ Award for the positive impact she has on fans, inspiring them to do good. And two Radio Disney fans will have a well-earned moment in the spotlight when they receive the RDMA Heroes for Change Award, for their efforts to create a brighter tomorrow in their communities. Whitney Stewart, a 19-year-old Sarasota, Florida, native is a founder of SEED to SOIL, a high school group that educates students and parents about healthy lifestyles and sustainable agriculture. Braeden Mannering, 12, from Bear, Delaware, started his own nonprofit, Brae’s Brown Bags, which provides healthy food to homeless and low-income individuals in his community. He’s inspired thousands of volunteers and provided more than 6,000 “brown bags” of healthy food. We love that the RDMAs don’t just honor musical achievement, they recognize real-life heroes who are making a difference in other ways!

“April Showers Bring May Flowers”

April 28, 2016April 28, 2016

By Steven Vagnini

This spring, D23 invites fans to take an inside look at a few beloved rain-and-flower sequences for insight into these memorable moments in Disney animation. From feature films like Bambi and Alice in Wonderland to shorts like Ferdinand the Bull and Disney•Pixar’s The Blue Umbrella, the fan in all of us will learn a lot from the flowers… and the rain!

“Little April Shower”—Bambi (1942)

The origins of this memorable Disney rainstorm, brought to life musically by lyricist Larry Morey and composer Frank Churchill, can be traced to an early proposed forest sequence in which Bambi and his mother encounter the mysterious sound of wind humming through the leaves. The Studio staff evolved the idea, giving a voice to a gurgling brook and later to falling raindrops. Ultimately, to bring more entertainment and drama to the film, the story team decided to depict a powerful thunderstorm.
In their book Walt Disney’s Bambi: The Story and the Film (1990), Disney Legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston described how the the music of the sequence “mimicked falling raindrops that at first keep Bambi from his sleep and then provide a lullaby.”
To help inspire the look and feel of the April shower, the Disney staff studied snapshots taken by photographer and artist Maurice “Jake” Day, who was enlisted to shoot scenes of his Maine woods in a variety of weather conditions and seasons.

“The Rain, Rain, Rain Came Down, Down, Down”—Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)

Another particularly rainy scene—this one from Disney’s 1968 Winnie the Pooh featurette and, later, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)—would feature a memorable tune by songwriters Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman: “The Rain, Rain, Rain Came Down, Down, Down.”
The storyline for Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) was derived from chapter 9 of Winnie-the-Pooh, “In Which Piglet Is Entirely Surrounded by Water,” and other chapters of the Winnie the Pooh books by A. A. Milne.
Buddy Baker, who composed more than 200 pieces for Disney films, TV shows, and theme parks, scored the rainy sequence. Although he retired from the Studio in 1983, Buddy returned in the late 1990s to score the soundtrack to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction for Walt Disney World. As part of the attraction, guests hear the classic song in “The Floody Place,” where their Hunny Pot vehicles tilt and bob along rushing currents. To re-create the film’s music for the ride-through experience, Buddy referenced original music lead sheets from the 1960s. And here’s another fun musical fact: more than half of the players in the attraction’s 35-piece orchestra had performed for the original Winnie the Pooh films three decades earlier!

The Blue Umbrella (2013)

In this 2013 Disney•Pixar short, as the rain starts to fall, a city comes alive with the sounds of “dripping rain pipes, whistling awnings, and gurgling gutters.” Amid this bustling setting, audiences’ hearts melt as a pair of umbrellas falls in love.
The innovative short film originated in Pixar’s camera and staging department, as opposed to the animation or story departments. The storyline popped into the mind of director Saschka Unseld while spotting a broken umbrella on the side of a San Francisco street during a rainy day walk.
At one point, the production team envisioned the city serving the role of a “Greek Chorus,” initially signing to celebrate the rain and later performing songs of love and mourning.

And now, our discussion of showers gives way to some beautiful Disney flowers…

“All in the Golden Afternoon”—Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Some of the most memorable (and talkative) flowers in the Disney film canon come from the “Garden of Live Flowers” in the 1951 animated feature. There, dizzy daffodils, lazy daisies, and other beautiful blooms perform “All in the Golden Afternoon”—a song whose title was derived from the Lewis Carroll poem featured in his 1865 classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Studio artist Mary Blair used her unique color stylings to create a variety of concept pieces that would strongly influence the final look of the film and its characters. Among her many depictions of personified flowers was one that never made it into the final picture—crabgrass!
A variety of talented actors gave their voices to the flowers. English stage and film actress Doris Lloyd—who performed roles in more than 125 films, including a cameo part in Mary Poppins (1964)—provided the voice of the Rose. Other adult flowers were voiced by Lucille Bliss, legendary voice actress for countless animated roles (starting with Anastasia in 1950’s Cinderella). And ever wonder who voiced the adorable pansies? They were the children of Alice in Wonderland director Ham Luske. (One of his children—Tommy—would go on to give Michael Darling his voice in 1953’s Peter Pan.)

“The Nutcracker Suite”—Fantasia (1940)

To keep from getting too far into the weeds, let’s just say we see no nutcrackers in Fantasia’s “Nutcracker Suite.” Instead, the segment featuring Tchaikovsky’s music was envisioned by Walt and his staff as a ballet of nature in six scenes, including dances by troupes of blossoms, thistles, orchids, and milkweed.
In a 1939 story meeting, Walt expressed his abstract vision for the dancing plants and flowers: “It’s like something you see with your eyes half-closed. You almost imagine them. The leaves begin to look like they’re dancing, and the blossoms floating on the water begin to look like ballet girls in skirts.”
According to artist and historian John Culhane in Walt Disney’s Fantasia (1983), models for the dancing thistles were found in a parking lot near the Disney Studio and were evidently helpful during the film’s production!

Ferdinand the Bull (1938)

In this special cartoon, originally planned as a Silly Symphony, Ferdinand prefers to sit around and smell the flowers. The short was based on The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf—a best seller shortly after its release in 1936.
Besides enjoying the flowers, keep an eye (and ear) out for several cameos in the short. In the bullfight scene, several Disney Studio staff members are caricatured on-screen, including Walt Disney as the matador and Ward Kimball as the mozo de espadas. And listen closely: Animator Milt Kahl provided the voice of Ferdinand’s mother, while Ferdinand’s few lines were performed by Walt himself!
The song “Ferdinand the Bull” was composed by Albert Hay Malotte, with lyrics by Larry Morey. Malotte, who scored several popular Disney films of the era, is perhaps best known for writing “The Lord’s Prayer.” Meanwhile, Larry Morey is regarded in the Disney community for the classic songs he wrote for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), So Dear to My Heart (1949), and Bambi (1942)—including that “Little April Shower.”

D23’s Ultimate Countdown to Shanghai Disney Resort: Treasure Cove

April 28, 2016June 9, 2016

By Tyler Slater

“Ye come seeking adventure and salty old pirates, aye? Sure ye’ve come to the proper place.” Guests who venture into Treasure Cove at the Shanghai Disney Resort will discover the first pirate-themed land at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts! Created especially for Shanghai Disneyland, this land is home to a colorful crew of scoundrels always on the hunt for fun, action, adventure, and, of course, danger. D23’s Ultimate Countdown to Shanghai Disney Resort continues with a detailed look inside Treasure Cove—a land that features pirate frivolity, mayhem, and charming personality.

The story of Treasure Cove dates back to the 17th century, when piracy was a thriving enterprise in the Caribbean. In Disney lore, this Age of Piracy featured a band of seafaring rogues who chased after legendary treasure, fought monsters, and battled each other—always with a humorous outlook.

One of the most anticipated attractions at Shanghai Disneyland is Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure—a daring boat ride that will take guests on a spirited adventure with Captain Jack Sparrow to steal priceless treasure from Davy Jones. Using state-of-the-art technology, each vessel twists, turns, and steers in every direction – including backwards while navigating the treacherous waters in search of Davy Jones’ sunken plunder. As guests travel on, over and under the deep blue sea, they will cross paths with pirates, mermaids, and even the savage Kraken! Fans of the beloved Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at other Disney parks around the world will surely not want to miss the brand-new experience.

After abandoning their Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure Cove ship, guests can chart a course towards the elaborate and exciting stage production, Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular at the El Teatro Fandango. This show will make its global premiere at Shanghai Disneyland and will feature fantastic stunts and swordfights, spectacular scenery, and unforgettable visual effects. The action culminates in truly a one-of-a-kind sword fight that takes place suspended in the eye of a hurricane!

In true pirate fashion, guests can grab a paddle and explore shipwrecks, treasure caves, plantations, and forbidding jungles aboard Explorer Canoes. With the only propulsion coming from guests and their paddles, the ride is quiet and stealthy… but beware of onshore pirates shooting water cannons! There is no better way to discover not only Treasure Cove, but also its neighboring Disney land, Adventure Isle. Canoeing has been a popular tradition at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland for decades and will continue to delight guests of all ages at Shanghai Disneyland.

Guests can also explore Siren’s Revenge—an authentic pirate ship that has a boatload of rowdy pirate fun and some raucous pirate activities. While roaming the decks, guests will discover hands-on (or hooks-on) pirating activities, experiences and games. Younger pirates can make a splash at Shipwreck Shore—a water play area onboard the remains of a shipwrecked French galleon and the surrounding beach.

All pirates need a hearty meal and fortunately, Barbossa’s Bounty is one of the largest restaurants in all of Shanghai Disneyland. Run by Captain Barbossa himself, this quick service grog shop offers BBQ, seafood and vegetarian fare all prepared in a spectacular live show kitchen. Guests may choose the extraordinary experience of dining inside Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure!

With so much to loot to discover, guests will not want to miss a single detail at Treasure Cove. Is it June 16 yet?

To continue D23’s Ultimate Countdown to Shanghai Disney Resort, take a look at these articles:

5 New Experiences We Can’t Wait for at Tokyo Disney Resort

April 27, 2016April 27, 2016

By Nicole Nalty

For the ultimate Disney fan, visiting every Disney park around the globe is at the top of most Disney bucket lists—and a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort is definitely a highlight. With their unique, thrilling attractions and charming, enchanting details, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea have a lot to offer—with much more on the way! Check out five new enhancements coming to the resort in the next four years:

Beauty and the Beast Area (tentative name)

Belle and Beast invite you to be their guest in this new area opening in Fantasyland, featuring Beast’s castle, Belle’s village, and a brand-new attraction exclusive to Tokyo Disneyland. Guests will board enchanted serving dishes and explore the mysterious castle with Belle and Beast on a romantic, musical journey to break the fateful spell—and fall in love, of course!
Spring 2020 (tentative)

Live Entertainment Theater (Theater name TBD)

Also opening in Fantasyland, Tokyo Disneyland will open its first full-scale indoor theater. The theater will seat about 1,500 guests and will host unique entertainment featuring some of our favorite Disney characters.
Spring 2020 (tentative)

Big Hero 6 Attraction (Attraction name TBD)

Speaking of some of our favorite Disney characters, a Big Hero 6-themed attraction will be landing in Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland, making this musical ‘whip ride’ the first Disney Parks attraction based on the hit film. We’re sure we’ll be satisfied with our care!
Spring 2020 (tentative)

Meet Minnie (Facility name TBD)

Spotted: A seriously chic meet-and-greet! Guests will meet Minnie Mouse as a fashion designer in her brand-new design studio located in Tokyo Disneyland’s Toontown. Talk about a picture-perfect moment!
Spring 2020 (tentative)

Soarin’ (tentative name)

Soarin’, a Disney Parks favorite, is flying into Mediterranean Harbor at Tokyo DisneySea. Guests will journey over famous landscapes of the world through original scenes and the newest visual images.
Fiscal year 2019 (tentative)

Which experience are you most excited for? Stay tuned for more updates from Disney Parks and Resorts around the globe!

Eat and Shop Your Way Around Disney Springs Like a Pro

April 27, 2016

By Beth Deitchman

There are at least three essentials every Disney fan knows are “must-brings” for a day at one of Disney’s parks and resorts: comfortable shoes, for navigating as much ground as possible over the course of the day, curiosity, and a game plan. The same holds true for Disney Springs.

Disney Springs—Walt Disney World Resort’s one-of-a-kind retail, dining, and entertainment experience—is designed to feel like a historic waterfront town with a rich, detailed backstory. Going by the date of the town’s 1950 Centennial—noted on a plaque in West Side’s Exposition Park—Disney Springs was originally established in 1850. The town is now divided into four distinct neighborhoods: Town Center—which will be open beginning May 15—boasts Mediterranean-inspired architecture influenced by the explorers who landed in Florida centuries ago. The Landing served as the town’s transportation hub on the waterfront and was the site of the town’s marina, bottling company, and train station. The Craftsman-style Marketplace dates back to the 1930s and 1940s in the Disney Springs backstory; and West Side is the most contemporary neighborhood in Disney Springs. Though Disney Springs is filled with an astounding number of places to eat, shop, or experience entertainment that ranges from a cineplex to Cirque du Soleil, it’s not a theme park, and it’s not a mall. Disney Springs is distinctly Disney—and completely unique!

But when Disney Springs offers so many options, where do you start? With a spring in our step, we started at the western end of Disney Springs, where La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil is based, and ate, drank, and shopped our way through the sunny Florida town until we reached the Rainforest—the Rainforest Café, that is. There’s so much to see and do at Disney Springs, please consider our crawl a mere jumping off point for your own Disney Springs adventure:

West Side

Bongo’s Cuban Café: Designed to be a recreation of a 1950s Havana nightclub, you can kick off your day with a mojito while sitting atop a barstool that’s a repurposed bongo drum. Fill up for your day with house specialties like Vaca Frita (seared shredded beef) or the award-winning Lechon (roasted pork). Owned by musicians Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Bongo’s offers live music and entertainment on weekend evenings if you feel like getting your salsa on.

Star Wars Galactic Outpost and Super Hero Headquarters: Right next to each other in West Side, these neighboring stores offer Super Hero must-haves and can’t-pass-up items from a galaxy far, far away.

Food Trucks at Exposition Park: For a taste of Disney Parks at Disney Springs, there are four food trucks—each themed to one of the Resort’s parks. Fantasy Fare presents chicken and waffles inspired by Magic Kingdom park (along with hand-dipped corn dogs from Disneyland Park). Superstar Catering lets you dine like a celebrity, Disney’s Hollywood Studios-style, with dishes like lobster mac and cheese. World Showcase of Flavors transports your taste buds to Epcot by way of pierogis, kielbasa, and gyros. And your appetite roars to life at the Namaste Café food truck, where you can order naan and samosas, butter chicken, or lamb kefta.

The Landing

STK: This modern steakhouse isn’t open yet, but when it does it will be one of the largest STK locations in the world, and the building is one example of how retailers and restaurants have embraced Disney Springs’ fascinating backstory. You might note that right outside the restaurant entrance are train tracks and part of a train turntable, which would once have been used to turn the trains around as they came and went from Disney Springs.

The Ganachery: Once the Disney Springs apothecary, the Ganachery is more than just a chocolate shop. It’s an experience for all of the senses, from the chandelier that’s made out of authentic copper pots and kettles used to make chocolate, to the chocolatier who greets you as you enter (and will tell you what to look for when you taste the chocolate), to the indescribably wonderful smell of the chocolate that’s being mixed and decorated in the store’s kitchen. The Ganachery’s slogan, “the cure for the common chocolate,” couldn’t be more apt.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar: Movie buffs might remember that Jock Lindsey was once Indiana Jones’ sidekick and pilot. And apparently, when Jock came upon Disney Springs, he couldn’t help but make the town his home—and he welcomed world travelers and locals alike to his new home base. Weary travelers will love sitting a spell in this exquisitely appointed watering hole eating snacks with names like, “Squid! Why’d It Have to Be Squid?” and Lao Che’s Revenge; and signature libations of both the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic varieties.

Morimoto: The fine dining restaurant blends Disney Springs history with modern Pan-Asian cuisine. Located in the former space of the Springs Bottling Company—their chandelier is made out of a former bottle conveyance system—Morimoto presents a dining experience courtesy of Iron Chef America’s Japanese master chef Masaharu Morimoto. Watch Peking Duck being carved, share sushi and sashimi with friends, and indulge in the Oreo Tempura dessert within this stunning space.

Tea Traders Café by Joffreys: For a tea-drinking experience that’s far from a simple spot of tea, visit Tea Traders Café, where you can find a beverage to suit whatever mood you’re in. Looking for refreshment? Try a Green Blackberry Jasmine Iced Tea or a Frozen Matcha. Something calming? Order from Tea Traders’ extensive collection of loose-leaf teas, or their Tea Smith Reserve menu for something more elegant. And if you’re feeling a little spirited, try one of Tea Traders’ Spirited Beverages, like the Tea Breeze or the Tea Toddy, which turns your anything-but-average cuppa into an adult drink.

The BOATHOUSE: This only-at-Disney Springs dining experience doesn’t just offer an unforgettable dining experience by the water with a stellar raw bar, premium steaks, and a family-sized S’mores Baked Alaska. Located at what once served as the Disney Springs marina, the BOATHOUSE presents a truly unforgettable experience on the water with features like Italian Water Taxi Tours and Amphicar excursions in vintage cars equipped to drive on land before entering the water with a splash before taking guests on a 20-minue tour of Disney Springs.

The Marketplace

Basin: Visit this all-natural bath, body, and hair care emporium and prepare to be wowed by Basin’s collection of bath salts, bath bombs, and body butters. But for a Disney-themed souvenir that’s truly different, pick up Basin’s “Mickey” fresh-sliced soap and remember your trip to Disney Springs long after you’ve returned home from the resort.

Dockside Margaritas: After stocking up on bath salts, it seems only fitting to enjoy a different (but just as wonderful!) kind of salt around the rim of a refreshing margarita. Dockside Margaritas serves up fresh margaritas, frozen beverages, wine, and beer right along the water and is the perfect place to relax while you plan the next leg of your adventure.

Marketplace Co-Op: The Co-op—which traces its history back to the earliest days of Disney Springs, when it served as an open-air structure where local citrus and produce farmers would sell their goods—brings together six unique boutiques under one roof. It’s a testing space for new Disney retail concepts so there’s always something new to see and buy, whether it’s art at the WonderGround Gallery, funky pillows and household items at Disney Centerpiece, or brand-new jewelry designs at Cherry Tree Lane.

Happy Hound: Why should human Disney fans have all the fun? Though your dog may be waiting for you at home, let your pampered pooch know you were thinking of him or her with a gift from this store that’s just for dogs, where their inventory ranges from custom collars to printed bandanas to squeaky toys that will make your own Pluto’s tail wag.

The Art of Disney: If you’re looking for a signature piece to display in your home, whether it’s a Disney painting, print, sketch, or figurine, you might want to consider capping your Disney Springs day with a stop at The Art of Disney to pick up an item that you’ll treasure for years to come. It’s also fun to watch artists draw sketches right before your eyes in the stop. This is, of course, how the Disney story began and makes for a perfect ending to your Disney Springs experience.

New Disney Movies A-Plenty—Plus More in News Briefs

April 27, 2016May 3, 2016

By Courtney Potter

Are You Ready? Tons of Disney Live Action Movies Announced!

With the mega-success of Disney’s The Jungle Book, our friends over at The Walt Disney Studios have just announced a veritable smorgasbord of Disney Live-Action films! While exact release dates are still being decided, we can give you a rundown of some of the projects you can look for in your local cineplex in the months and years to come…

The slate already includes Alice Through the Looking Glass (coming this May), Pete’s Dragon (premiering in August), and Beauty and the Beast (in March 2017)—but make sure to keep a sharp eye out for these exciting upcoming flicks:

Cruella, starring Emma Stone in the title role
A Wrinkle in Time, with Ava DuVernay (Selma) attached to direct
Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson (Disney’s upcoming Moana)
Dumbo, from director Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
A sequel to Mary Poppins, with director Rob Marshall (Chicago), starring Emily Blunt (Into the Woods) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Broadway’s Hamilton)
Maleficent 2, with Angelia Jolie set to return in the title role
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, from director Lasse Hallstrom (Chocolat)
The Jungle Book 2, with both director Jon Favreau and writer Justin Marks returning
A Tinker Bell project, with Reese Witherspoon set to star

So many amazing Disney films to look forward to… start popping that corn now!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
May 20
Mickey’s of Glendale • Orlando Shopping Event
May 21
Finding Nemo: D23 in the Big Blue World (Florida)
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
May 6
Captain America: Civil War opens in theaters.
May 27
Alice Through the Looking Glass opens in theaters.
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
March 2—May 30
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
April 1-May 1
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
June 16
Shanghai Disney Resort to open
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
May 1
Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards airs on Disney Channel from 7–9 p.m. EST
May 27
100th DCOM Celebration Kicks Off on Disney Channel at 10 a.m.
June 24
Adventures in Babysitting Premieres on Disney Channel at 8 p.m. EDT

Adventures in Babysitting: Disney Channel’s 100th Original Movie!

It’s hard to believe that Disney Channel has, in its 33-year history, created a whopping 100 Original Movies to entertain and delight generations of viewers. (Where do they get the time?!) To celebrate, that 100th movie—Adventures in Babysitting—will debut on Friday, June 24, at 8 p.m. EDT.

Starring Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) and Sofia Carson (Descendants), the film is a re-imagined take on the popular 1980s film of the same name. If you can’t wait ’til late June for all the fun, Adventures in Babysitting will be available one week in advance (on June 17) to verified users on the Disney Channel app and via VOD. Check out a brand-new trailer for the movie, above.

Also of note: The premiere of Adventures in Babysitting will be ushered in by an amazing “100th ‘DCOM’ Celebration”—a nostalgic programming event across Disney Channel, the Disney Channel App, and Video On Demand featuring every “DCOM” (that’s “Disney Channel Original Movie,” for those unfamiliar with the acronym) ever made! Our DVRs will be working overtime that week, that’s for sure…

Moana to Make Waves at Annecy International Animated Film Festival

Take heed, animation fans around the globe! Walt Disney Animation Studios will return to France’s acclaimed Annecy International Animated Film Festival with legendary filmmaking team Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog) to present a never-before-seen exclusive preview of their upcoming comedy-adventure film Moana. The directors will unveil new artwork and “work-in-progress” sequences from the film—as well as showcase the amazingly extensive research their team has conducted to bring authenticity to their most ambitious production to date.

Additionally, WDAS will also premiere an all-new short, Inner Workings, presented by director Leo Matsuda (story artist, Big Hero 6 and Wreck-It Ralph) and producer Sean Lurie. Inner Workings is the story of the internal struggle between a man’s pragmatic, logical side and his free-spirited, adventurous half.

Moana follows the adventures of a courageous teenager (newcomer Auli’i Cravalho) who—with help from demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson)—sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people. The film sweeps into theaters on November 23.

High School Musical 4: Open Casting Call in Anaheim, CA

Aspiring performers, listen up: Disney Channel is continuing its casting search for High School Musical 4 with an in-person open call audition on Sunday, May 15, at the Anaheim Convention Center (also home to the D23 Expo, of course!) in Southern California. Registration for the casting call for young actors, singers, and dancers (age 14 to 17) begins at 9 a.m. and runs through 12 noon; an application and a scene will be provided upon arrival to the audition, and applicants are asked to provide a photo or snapshot. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. More info can be found at www.DisneyChannel.com/opencall—but don’t forget: If you don’t live on the West Coast, HSM 4 will be accepting video audition submissions, via the Disney Applause App, through May 2.

High School Musical 4 will continue the story of High School Musical with a host of brand-new East High Wildcats and their cross-town school rivals, the West High Knights. Jeffrey Hornaday (Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie and Teen Beach 2) will direct and choreograph.

New 2017 Offerings from Adventures by Disney

Hoping to schedule an amazing vacation in 2017? Look no further than Adventures by Disney—who just announced a new European river cruise itinerary, in conjunction with luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways… as well as enhancements to trips in China and Australia.

The new Rhine River itinerary gives you the opportunity to explore the beauty of four different countries: France, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. The eight-day/seven-night voyage includes unique experiences, such as horseback riding in the Alsace Region of France, clog painting in Holland, and snow tubing at an indoor ski hall!

Guests will take it all in from AmaWaterways’ newest ship, the AmaKristina, custom built with families in mind.

With the June opening of Shanghai Disney Resort, ABD’s China itinerary has been reimagined to include a visit to this exciting new destination! In Australia, travelers will now enjoy time on the beautiful Gold Coast, including kayaking on Bryon Bay, whale and dolphin spotting, an excursion to Mt. Tamborine, and more. For more info, head over to AdventuresByDisney.com.

The Little Mermaid Adds Third Performance at Hollywood Bowl

Due to the insanely popular demand, the producers behind the upcoming concert performances of Disney’s The Little Mermaid have added a third show! Complete with a 71-piece live orchestra and a cast of stage, screen, and music stars, the “live-to-screen” concert will now be performed on Monday, June 6—as well as on the already-announced Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, dates.

While singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles (who recently made her Broadway-composer debut with Waitress) will play the title role for the first two shows, the original Ariel herself—Disney Legend Jodi Benson—will perform the role on June 6! She’ll be joined for that performance by Susan Egan (Belle in Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast) and Brad Kane (singing voice for Disney’s animated Aladdin)—as well as by previously revealed costars Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), John Stamos (Fuller House), Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect), and Darren Criss (Glee).

Making Musical Magic for DCA’s Frozen—Live at the Hyperion

Just about a month from now, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and all our favorite frosty characters will take the stage at Disney California Adventure in Frozen—Live at the Hyperion—an all-new stage show based on the animated blockbuster.

As the team gears up for their May 27 opening, musicians gathered in a Los Angeles recording studio to lay down the orchestral tracks for the show. In this new video from our pals at the Disney Parks Blog (above), musical director John Glaudini gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what’s goes into creating the soundtrack for this now-iconic story.

Countdown to Invictus Games 2016 Continues

Sports fans, take note: The Invictus Games Orlando 2016, taking place from May 8–12 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort, just announced that legendary actor (and go-to voiceover luminary) Morgan Freeman will be participating in the Opening Ceremony on May 8. He’ll be joining previously announced music stars James Blunt and Laura Wright, as well as some special surprise guests; additionally, the show will include an unprecedented number of military performances, including the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team. “Hoo-rah!”

The Closing Ceremony (on May 12) is also set to inspire the world with performances from international popstar Rachel Platten (who will perform the song of the Games and her No. 1 single, “Fight Song”); best-selling country group Rascal Flatts; former American Idol winner Phillip Phillips; and Florida native and Grammy®-nominated hip-hop artist Flo Rida. For a complete rundown of how to watch the Invictus Games on your TV (or mobile device)—including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies—check out InvictusGames2016.org/espn-broadcast-schedule/.

Disney Details: As Free as a Bird in 1901

April 26, 2016May 3, 2016

Admire this trio of Tiffany-style lamps that provide a wonderfully colorful glow inside the 1901 Lounge at Disney California Adventure. Named in honor of the year Walt Disney was born, the club inspires visitors to travel back eight decades in time and into the kind of cozy retreat Walt and his animators would sometimes repair to in the 1930s—a hushed pocket of calm, away from the hustle and bustle of the park. Sure, you need to be a card-carrying member of Club 33 to have access to this elegantly appointed lounge and to see for yourself the many details that bring the 1930s so realistically to life, but we thought it fair to feature these delightful parrots since most serious Disney fans would have seen them in photographs released around the time of the park’s grand reopening in the summer of 2012.

It’s all in the Disney Details!

Captain America: Civil War —What You Need to Know Before You See It

April 25, 2016May 3, 2016

By Jim Frye

A lot has happened in the Marvel Cinematic Universe these past eight years. In 2008, Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark created a suit of armor, starting a string of events that culminates with Captain America: Civil War, a Marvel Super Hero extravaganza on a giant scale—but also one of Marvel’s most intimate movies to date.

To understand the simmering tension that sets off the major confrontations in Civil War, it’s best to trace the through-story of Tony Stark/Iron Man and Steve Rogers/Captain America, which is what D23 does for you right here before the film opens in theaters on May 6. We track those storylines through the five essential films that lead up to Civil War. So buckle in—this is one exciting ride!

Iron Man (2008)
This is the blockbuster that started it all. Billionaire playboy Tony Stark creates and wears a super-powered iron suit that enables him to fight bad guys while at the same time keeping his injured heart beating. This film gives us a view of Tony’s chummy relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense, especially his buddy Rhodey, a high-ranking military officer who eventually gets an iron suit of his own. During the film’s end credits, mysterious Nick Fury—a commander in a far-reaching defense group called S.H.I.E.L.D, and played by Samuel L. Jackson—recruits Tony into a not-yet-formed new group called The Avengers.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Scrawny good guy Steve Rogers wants to join the military with his best pal Bucky to fight Hitler’s forces during the second World War, but because of Steve’s puny size, he’s rejected. An experimental drug changes all that, though, turning Steve into a muscle-bound super-soldier who becomes a symbol of American might and patriotism. During a particularly daring mission, Bucky seemingly falls to his death from a train and Steve’s plane crashes into the Arctic, where he freezes in the ice, only to be awakened 70 years later by none other than Nick Fury, who invites him to join the Avengers.

The Avengers (2012)
Serving as the completion of Marvel’s PHASE 1, The Avengers assembled all of Marvel’s heroes onto one team to fight a threat from outer space. The battle destroyed large swaths of New York City, but eventually the Avengers saved the Earth in what became the biggest super hero movie of all time—and they also ate shawarma.

Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014)
This next film really packed a punch and upended everything we thought we knew. Captain America: Winter Soldier is the film where Steve and Bucky’s story picks back up. Long thought dead from his fall from the train back in the 1940s, Bucky returns as an enhanced assassin, sent by the mysterious organization known as Hydra to help take down S.H.I.E.L.D. Bucky’s mind has been taken over by Hydra, so he doesn’t have a clear picture of what he’s doing. Steve is torn between his loyalty to his country and his devotion to his friend. Ultimately, S.H.I.E.L.D. is left in tatters, Bucky escapes, and Steve becomes determined to find his friend and bring him back around.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Trying to stave off any future attacks by interstellar invaders, Tony and Bruce Banner (the Hulk) create an artificial intelligence program to safeguard the planet. But something goes terribly wrong, transforming the program into Ultron, a robot determined to rid the world of humanity, thus ridding it of strife. The Avengers are eventually able to defeat Ultron, and create a new Avenger while doing it, The Vision. The fallout from the battle weighs heavily though. Which brings us right up to…

Captain America: Civil War (2016)
…Captain America: Civil War. Tony Stark feels immense guilt for creating Ultron and inflicting him on humankind. Steve Rogers just wants to do the right thing. But when an international governing body seeks to take control of the Avengers, Tony and Steve part ways, each one pursuing a different course of action: Tony thinks that accepting government oversight over the Avengers isn’t a terrible thing—especially considering the terrible loss of life because of the Battle of New York and the battle with Ultron. Steve, on the other hand, prefers independence—he feels as if the Avengers are doing the best job they can. Tensions rise. Friendships fracture. And Earth’s Mightiest Heroes go to war. A Civil War.

23 Questions with Alan Menken

April 23, 2016May 16, 2016

Every few seconds, a pastel-colored clamshell glides into a melodious room of spinning starfish, dancing crustaceans, and instrument-playing sea dwellers in Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid at Walt Disney World. More than 20 years after The Little Mermaid’s film release, timeless Alan Menken songs (“Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl,” to name just two) are still guiding guests through the young mermaid’s love story. That film’s soundtrack was the composer’s first undertaking at Disney, and since then he has added his flair to such sing-along animated favorites as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and, more recently, Tangled. From on-screen classics and Broadway stage hits to music heard at Disney park attractions, Alan’s iconic songs have become part of our world.

Alan’s diverse soundtrack canon is filled with such treasured songs as the hilarious “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin, the heart-wrenching ballad “If I Can’t Love Her” from Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast, and the No. 1 Billboard pop-chart smash “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. He also wrote original music for ABC’s Galavant, and will be providing the score for the upcoming Beauty and the Beast live-action film, which will include new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (The Lion King), as well as several new songs. It’s hard to say whether you would call Alan Menken a Hollywood, Broadway, or pop-music composer. He’s mastered them all. And one thing’s for sure: We’re glad he did.

D23: What was the first musical you composed?
Alan Menken: Howard Ashman and I wrote our first musical together in 1979. It was God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, and it was based on a book by Kurt Vonnegut. At that point in our lives, I was a struggling Off-Broadway composer. It got very nice reviews but didn’t run.

What show put you on the map as a composer?
A musical about a man-eating plant. And until we got the right tone, people thought we were out of our minds. Little Shop of Horrors just amazed us. It was this big green gold mine, and it opened Off-Broadway at the Orpheum and then toured all over… it was a fantastic success.

How did you eventually get involved with Disney?
I have Howard to thank for that. We had the assignment to make animated movie musicals that could sit on the shelf alongside Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Cinderella. It was a great turning point in my life. What really got me excited was that I was getting back together with Howard. So The Little Mermaid was our follow-up to Little Shop of Horrors. And it knocked us over with what a success it was.

Were you surprised when you won at the Oscars^®?
Yes, but it was tinged with sadness. I won an Oscar, and Howard and I won another. And he said, “I’m really happy tonight, but when we get back to New York, we really have to have a talk.” When we got back he said, “I’m sick, I’m HIV positive.” And it was a death sentence then. We wrote Beauty and the Beast under the shadow of his illness.

What was it like working on Beauty and the Beast?
It was an amazingly intense experience, and we had some wonderful times. There was an opening number that we wrote, and it was seven minutes long. It introduces the characters and has Belle walking through the town, and Howard said, “Are we crazy? We can’t send this out.” But finally we sent it. And of course they liked it.

Were any of the songs from Beauty and the Beast particularly challenging?
We worked really hard on “Beauty and the Beast.” It’s interesting how the simplest song takes the most time and is the hardest. We wrote this song and then we did two demos: a pop one and another that was much more theatrical.

Was Angela Lansbury excited to be a part of the film?
Well, we sent the wrong demo, the pop version, to Angela Lansbury and so she at first said, “no thank you. This is not for me.” But when we sent her the movie version, she really got what we trying to create.

What was it like working with Angela Lansbury in the studio?
Going to the RCA Studios with Angela Lansbury to record “Beauty and the Beast” was one of the greatest experiences of my life. She recorded it in one take.

Did you ever work on multiple features at the same time?
They were all intermingled. In between The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, we had started Aladdin.

Did the films ever change much during production?
We did a version of Aladdin that was very different from the one that ended up in the movie. Aladdin had a mother and he had these pals, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim. They were a street band of musicians.

Speaking of Aladdin, what was it like working with Robin Williams?
He was great, and he worked hard. He came in the studio and sang every note just the way I wanted. And then we set him free and let him improvise, and it was just craziness. Both “Friend Like Me” and “Prince Ali” were track after track of pure brilliance.

What was it like working with Tim Rice on Aladdin?
I was really afraid after Howard passed that my career was going to be over. But then Tim, who wrote Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, wrote a song for Aladdin that changed both our lives.

You are referring to “A Whole New World?”
Yes. I gave him a dummy lyric and a title: “The World at My Feet.” And Tim very wisely changed it—because “feet” in the ballad didn’t suit it—to “A Whole New World.” And we won two more Oscars. I was starting to think that this is how it works. You do a project and you get a pair of these things.

About that same time, you worked on the live-action film Newsies. What was that like?
I was offered to do a wonderful live-action musical about this newsboy strike. The movie only did 2.6 million at the box office, and it was a total failure. I remember having breakfast with Jeffrey Katzenberg and saying, “Well, we just have to do more ads.” He said, “Menken, I could take 10 million dollars and throw it up in the air right here on Doheny Blvd., and it would do just as much good.”

How did you feel when Newsies became a success on Broadway?
Well, I got a Razzie Award for the film, but then with the Broadway show, I got a Tony.

What was it like during the time that Disney was developing its Broadway presence, starting with Beauty and the Beast?
I had a little trepidation about this, but my fears were ungrounded. We had a great team and Tim Rice rode in to the rescue and helped finish the score that I started with Howard. And one of the benefits was that we got a song for the Beast finally: “If I Can’t Love Her.” And five years into the run, Toni Braxton came into the role, and Tim and I wrote a new song especially for her—which is very rare so far into a show’s run—called “A Change in Me.”

What was it like working with Stephen Schwartz, who is now famous for Wicked on Broadway?
He was big on research and so we had a song in Pocahontas that used the Native American language, but it was cut. It was called “In the Middle of the River.” But “Colors of the Wind” was a gorgeous ballad, and I won two more Oscars.

Are there any films that you worked on that never made it into theaters?
I was working on a prequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit called Who Discovered Roger Rabbit. This was my first project with Glenn Slater, who now, since then, I have worked with on so many projects. The style of the music in the film was supposed to be a tribute to old Hollywood music.

Enchanted was almost shelved, too, right?
Sometimes projects get funny twists and turns. They are green-lit and then they go back into development. Enchanted was a project like that. I wrote a song for a big opening number and then days before the recording, they pulled the plug on it. They were looking for someone to hire who could parody Alan Menken music. But they couldn’t find anyone, so thank god they hired Alan Menken. So I did a parody of Alan Menken.

You also wrote a song for the Disney park attraction Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage at Tokyo DisneySea.
Glenn Slater wrote it with me. One thing I learned about writing these songs for these rides was you have one room that meets up against another. You can’t add a key change because the music will clash as the boat is going through. So it is a skillset. I wrote “The Compass of Your Heart.”

Have you ever had a song change completely from your original idea?
“When Will My Life Begin” from Tangled is the same tune it’s always been, but the words changed quite a bit. The song that Glenn and I first wrote was called “What More Could I Ever Need” and was all about how Rapunzel feels completely complete in the tower; but of course she doesn’t know what is outside the tower. We wanted it to be this exuberance. We then decided that we wanted her to have more of a yearning.

How did it feel to become a Disney Legend in 2001?
It’s something that makes me extremely fortunate and grateful. I just want to be a person, like Disney fans, who loves the history of Disney, loves to contribute, and loves to be a part of it. I’m really glad people find what I do special.

Did you ever think that you would be such an important part of the Disney family?
I’ve loved the whole sensibility of the Disney Company since I was a child—the stories, the movies, and the books. It is so universal and so supremely American. I never dreamed I would be a part of it, much less an important part of it.