New Look at Captain America: Civil War—Plus More in News Briefs

March 16, 2016

A Brand-New Peek into Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War

Are your “spidey senses” tingling? That’s no surprise, considering a new Captain America: Civil War trailer just burnt up the Internet! And unless you’ve been living in a Hydra fortress (and, if so, please consider switching sides), you’ve probably seen the new look at what starts tearing the Avengers apart, resulting in two distinct camps: #TeamCap (led by Steve Rogers) and #TeamIronMan (led by Tony Stark). And you’ve also probably gone onto Facebook or Twitter to talk about that very special glimpse of red and black towards the end of the trailer…

If you haven’t seen the clip yet, click the above link and watch—post haste! You won’t be disappointed. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, coming to a theater near you on May 6.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
March 18
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Charlie Ridgway
March 19
D23’s Very Important Date: 65 Years of Alice in Wonderland—Florida
April 8
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Don Iwerks
April 9
D23 Day at the Walt Disney Studios
April 20
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour in Portland, Oregon
June 8
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour in Salt Lake City, Utah
Studios
April 15
The Jungle Book opens in theaters.
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
Television
May 1
Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards airs on Disney Channel from 7–9 p.m. EST

Inside Look at Frozen – Live at the Hyperion at Disney California Adventure

If you’re an avid reader of D23.com’s News Briefs (and if so, yay!), you may remember last week’s snippet about the brand-new live stage show coming to Disney California Adventure… Frozen—Live at the Hyperion.

Luckily, the good folks over at the Disneyland Resort have brought us all a peek into the rehearsal process with a new behind-the-scenes video, above. Watch as Dana Harrel from Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment and show director Liesl Tommy (who directed the current Broadway hit Eclipsed starring Lupita Nyong’o) pull back the proverbial curtain for an early look at the production.

“Let It Go” with the cast of Frozen—Live at the Hyperion when it debuts at DCA on May 27!

Star Wars at SXSW: Stormtroopers A-Plenty and New Bonus Feature Clip

The Force is strong in Austin! To celebrate the premiere of “Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the SXSW Film Festival, The First Order TIE Fighter and a plethora of Stormtroopers landed in ATX—much to the delight of festivalgoers, who caught the invasion at the SouthBites Trailer Park food truck gathering this past weekend.

The new feature-length documentary—an amazing bonus feature on the upcoming Digital HD and Blu-ray Combo Pack—just debuted at the Paramount Theatre on Monday. Want a sneak peek? Check out the clip above, featuring footage from the very first Star Wars: The Force Awakens table read!

Bring Star Wars: The Force Awakens home when it debuts on Digital HD this April 1, and on Blu-ray® Combo Pack and DVD on April 5.

Marvel Announces Girls Reforming the Future Challenge

In Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, each hero is forced to choose a side in their fight to reform the future. Although the Avengers become divided, they remain united by the same goals: the commitment to safeguard humanity, protect the earth at all costs, and make the world better for future generations. To that end, Marvel Studios is launching the Girls Reforming the Future Challenge—aimed at engaging young women to further the Avengers’ goal of making the world a better place…

This program, supported by the Science & Entertainment Exchange from the National Academy of Sciences, seeks to inspire young girls to create positive global change for their generation and beyond through science and technology. The challenge invites girls ages 15 through 18 (in grades 10 through 12) across America to submit innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics)-based projects that have the potential to change the world. Each applicant will be asked to submit a short video demonstrating her project; five finalists will be selected to come to California and present their projects to a panel of experts, and one grand-prize winner will be selected to receive an internship with Marvel Studios!

For more information about the Girls Reforming the Future Challenge, visit CaptainAmericaChallenge.com. (FYI: The final date to submit a project is March 26. Good luck!)

On the Road Again: ABC’s Nashville Sets U.S. and International Tours

After sold-out tours across America in 2014 and ’15, the stars of ABC’s hit drama Nashville will once again take the show on the road this spring! The tour will feature cast members Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, and Charles Esten performing original music as well as songs from the show. Plus, Will Chase, Jonathan Jackson, and Aubrey Peeples will join the tour in select cities.

Additionally, the “Nashville in Concert” tour will also stage its first-ever international run in the United Kingdom with Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Charles Esten, and Sam Palladio performing. Tickets for both the U.S. tour and the U.K. dates go on sale this Friday, March 18! For more info, check out www.abc.com/nashvilletour.

Nashville returns with all original episodes beginning Wednesday, March 16, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, only on ABC.

Disneyland Resort Doubles #ShareYourEars Donation to Make-A-Wish®

Amazing news! The recent #ShareYourEars campaign—which saw Disneyland Resort pledging to donate $5 to Make-A-Wish® for every “ear photo” that fans shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, up to $1 million—was so successful, they’ve decided to double the donation! Disney Parks recently announced it would donate a whopping $2 million to Make-A-Wish in recognition of the huge outpouring of support for the campaign. An exclusive dazzled Ear Hat and two exclusive Disney experiences are part of a sweepstakes to raise additional funds—and proceeds from the sale of collectible 60th Anniversary Ear Hats sold at Disneyland also will go to Make-A-Wish.

The #ShareYourEars campaign was launched in February to honor the 100,000th Disney wish granted globally for Make-A-Wish (bringing hope and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions), as well as in celebration of Disneyland Resort’s 60th Anniversary. To find out more about the #ShareYourEars sweepstakes, and to see a plethora of fantastic “ear photos,” head over to www.ShareYourEars.org.

Star Wars Day at Sea Returns to Disney Cruise Line in ’17

Fans of Star Wars who also like to sail the ocean blue… take note: With the overwhelming excitement of cruisers to this year’s Star Wars Day at Sea aboard the Disney Fantasy, Disney Cruise Line recently announced the return of the day-long galactic celebration in 2017! Each sailing will feature a full day of Dark Side and Light Side shenanigans, including official appearances of Star Wars characters, a deck party complete with fireworks, Jedi training for kids, at-sea screenings of Star Wars films, unique food and beverage offerings, and exclusive merchandise.

Plus, the special Disney Fantasy sailings are expanding to both eastern and western Caribbean 7-night itineraries… but they’re only offered for a limited time on 15 sailings from early January 2017 through mid-April 2017 from Port Canaveral. Check your calendars and get to booking!

The Absent-Minded Professor: Did You Know?

March 16, 2016January 29, 2018

By Greg Ehrbar

On March 16, Walt Disney’s mega-hit comedy-fantasy The Absent-Minded Professor turns 55—but the laughter is ageless, from its high-flying Model T antics and gravity-defying basketball game to the its inventive script that moves deftly between all-out zaniness and wry political satire. Along with The Parent Trap, it was one of the five highest-grossing movies of 1961.

With Professor Brainard’s permission, we went digging through his messy file cabinets for flubberized factoids about this comic classic that you either never knew or—like the Professor—forgot about.

The Absent-Minded Professor completed the “blueprint” for Disney comedy-fantasies that began with 1959’s The Shaggy Dog and continued for decades to come, including the casting of familiar, beloved character actors (many of whom appear in subsequent films in similar or identical roles) and making a specific sport or other competition a key plot point. Even the setting of always financially struggling Medfield College was the backdrop for the film’s sequel, Son of Flubber, the 1997 Flubber remake, and the Kurt Russell trilogy: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Now You See Him, Now You Don’t, and The Strongest Man in the World. The Epcot attraction Journey Into Imagination with Figment contains several references to Flubber as well as a Medfield letterman’s jacket inside a computer room.

In The Disney Films, Leonard Maltin notes that Time magazine revealed the Disney special effects department’s formula for Flubber: “To one pound of salt water taffy add one heaping tablespoon polyurethane foam, one can crumbled yeast. Mix till smooth, allow to rise. Then pour into saucepan over one cup cracked rice mixed with one cup water. Add topping of molasses. Boil till it lifts lid and says ‘Qurlp.” (Kids, don’t try this at home.)
In addition to miniatures and film process screen effects, a full-sized Model T was refitted so it could “fly” with two people inside. In the book, The Disney Live-Action Productions, Second Unit Director Arthur J. Vitarelli told author John G. West that the car was lightened with aluminum fenders, a fiberglass crankcase, and foam rubber tires, then lifted by four powerful wires from a rectangular platform attached to a 150-foot crane.

Producer/writer Bill Walsh told author West that real-life Professor Julius Sumner Miller from El Camino College supervised the laboratory sequences and helped develop the concept of Flubber. When the Mickey Mouse Club was syndicated for TV in 1962 Professor Miller appeared in new features as “Professor Wonderful” and recorded a series of albums for Disneyland Records about famous inventors.

The Absent-Minded Professor predates another classic story about a vintage flying car: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was written by James Bond author Ian Fleming in 1964 and hit movie screens in 1968 (starring Dick Van Dyke with a classic Sherman Brothers score). There are coincidental visual similarities, particularly at the end of both films, in which the crazy inventors and their lady loves fly off in their respective fanciful flivvers.

Speaking of “the boys,” Richard and Robert Sherman made their big-screen songwriting debut with “The Medfield Fight Song” a.k.a. “The Absent-Minded Professor March.” A version of the song, produced by Tutti Camarata, appeared on a Disneyland Records Storyteller album based on the film, narrated by Sterling Holloway (voice of Pooh, Kaa, and the Cheshire Cat) with vocal effects by Sam Edwards, who appears in the movie briefly as a military technician.

Indiana Jones and the Most Amazing News!

March 15, 2016

Adventure… Excitement… Humor… Romance. These qualities are inextricably associated with Disney storytelling, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and they immediately come to mind when you think about another beloved movie franchise—Indiana Jones. The iconic hero first hit the big screen in 1981 in Raiders of the Lost Ark, portrayed by Harrison Ford and directed by Academy Award^®-winning director Steven Spielberg. His daring exploits continued in subsequent movies: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. And today The Walt Disney Studios announced that Indiana Jones will return to the big screen on July 19, 2019, for a fifth epic adventure in the blockbuster series! Steven Spielberg, who directed all four previous films, will helm the as-yet-untitled project with star Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role. Franchise veterans Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce.

“Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can’t wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “It’s rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven.”

Disney fans have embraced Indy since the opening of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, and the thrills have only become more, well, thrilling with the addition of Indiana Jones-themed attractions at Disney parks around the world.

Disneyland Paris was the first Disney park to translate the on-screen excitement to real-life exhilaration with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, which opened July 30, 1993. Some Disney fans might even remember that the ride ran backwards for a time, from April 1, 2000 until December 3, 2004! Guests of the Disneyland Resort began asking, “Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?” on March 3, 1995, with the opening of Indiana Jones Adventure in Adventureland; and Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull made its Tokyo DisneySea debut on September 4, 2001, in the Lost River Delta area.

The newest way that a Disney parks guest can channel his or her inner Indy is to take a break at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort. The bar opened in September 2015 and is named for Indy’s pilot and sidekick, Jock Lindsey. Since we didn’t have a lot of time to get to know Jock in Raiders of the Lost Ark—it was about a minute, according to our friends at the Disney Parks Blog—the talented folks from Walt Disney Imagineering developed a fun backstory that turned Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar into as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the taste buds.

More details will be announced later, and D23 will be bringing all the news your way as it breaks. So hang on to your fedora and keep an eye out for snakes—Indy will be back before you know it!

Disney Details: Cottage in the Glade

March 15, 2016March 11, 2016

Savor this scene of a stone cottage standing resolutely in the shade of tall trees, with hydrangea and lilies bending beautifully in the breeze. You can discover this gorgeous glade the next time you visit the Canadian Pavilion at Epcot, where you may be surprised to learn that what appears to be a cottage drawn straight form the pages of Thomas Hardy is really a structure for storing tools used by the landscaping department in the upkeep of this beautiful part of the park.

It’s all in the Disney Details!

You’ve Never Seen a Disney Clock Tower Like This Before

March 14, 2016

You watch the clock when you’re bored… or when you’re running late. But the Shanghai Disney Store recently debuted a brand-new clock tower that’s positively going to stop you in your tracks.

The Shanghai Disney Store was already pretty spectacular. It opened on May 20, 2015, in the city’s Lujiazui shopping district, and it’s the world’s largest Disney Store—with unique features that include a 19-foot-tall “Disney Magic Kingdom Castle” in the middle of the store and a Mickey-shaped roof sculpted with more than 8,000 LED lights. The store is home to a stunning landscaped plaza that has just become even more breathtaking with the addition of this new Glockenspiel-style clock tower.

You can easily lose track of time as you focus on all of the details that have been incorporated into the clock by the designers at Walt Disney Imagineering. The clock face of the 60-foot-tall tower might just remind you of an iconic timepiece you once wore—or still wear?—around your wrist.

At the base of the clock are statues of Mickey’s best buds—Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and Minnie Mouse.

Everywhere you look there’s something that makes you pause, from the visible gears and mechanisms to the beautiful lighting to our favorite touch, the Disney, Disney•Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters that emerge to greet guests on the hour and half hour—accompanied by melodious bells and musical shows.

“We hope the Shanghai Disney Store clock tower will become a new landmark for this great city, providing a preview of the magic that will soon arrive with the opening of Shanghai Disney resort,” Bob Weis, president, Walt Disney Imagineering, said.

“We are extremely proud that the Shanghai Disney Store is the first Disney Store in the world with an outdoor plaza and clock tower, which not only provides guests with a unique shopping and entertainment experience, but also serves as a perfect meeting location for friends and families,” added Ando Toru, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Store Asia, Disney Store Japan, and Disney Store China.

So make time now to watch this video and see this unbelievable clock in action, and to hear directly from Imagineers about creating one of Shanghai’s newest landmarks.

Doing the Math: Donald in Mathmagic Land

March 14, 2016May 21, 2024

As people around the globe celebrate Donald’s 90^th anniversary, D23 looks back at a Disney educational film that served its own spoonful of sugar to help the medicine (i.e. mathematics!) go down. Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959) remains one of the most popular and inspiring educational films in history, ingeniously presenting the world of math in captivating and thought-provoking ways. Enjoyed by tens of millions of viewers—from students in classrooms to patrons in cinemas—the featurette reveals the fascinating relationship between the oft-unpopular subject and the worlds of music, sports, nature, and beyond.

To help tell the story of Donald in Mathmagic Land, we’ve counted up a few interesting factors we thought you’d enjoy:

The Disney Studio helps solve a puzzling problem.

In the late 1950s, the Disney Studio embarked on a bold effort to approach a challenge facing classrooms: to build an appreciation of mathematics. For the star of their film, the staff needed to identify an entertaining personality with whom the audience could identify. It wasn’t long before the directors found their biggest critic of mathematics in-house: the irascible Donald Duck. (After all, if Donald could become interested in math, who couldn’t?!)

The film begins with our skeptical duck wandering through a mysterious land where numbers are the size of trees and birds take on strange geometric shapes. There, a mysterious voice—who identifies himself as the true Spirit of Adventure—informs Donald that he’s about to embark on a journey through the wonders of Mathmagic Land. Our protagonist is first sent back to ancient Greece, where he eavesdrops on a top-secret meeting of Pythagoreans (or, as Donald calls them, “eggheads”) and watches how math unlocks the secret to music (and spirited jam sessions). Donald soon takes on a variety of other roles—from a billiards player to Lewis Carroll’s Alice—discovering the important and surprising purposes that mathematics plays in our world. By the end of their adventure, Donald and the audience are inspired to learn how math will play a limitless role in scientific achievements of the future.

Adding a scientific expert to the equation.

While whimsical settings and imaginative scenarios were devised to engage Donald and his audience companions, the featurette needed to be “squarely rooted” in mathematical principles. The Disney Studio therefore sought the technical counsel of scientific expert and mathematician Dr. Heinz Haber, who joined as a special advisor on the production. Haber had previously consulted for (and starred in) the popular Disneyland episodes Man in Space (1955) and Our Friend the Atom (1957), which made complex visions of space travel and power sources accessible to television audiences.

A formula for success… and multiple releases!

“The cartoon is a good medium to stimulate interest,” Walt Disney once said. “It is an ideal medium for teaching… We have recently explained mathematics in a film and in that way excited public interest in this very important subject. Donald in Mathmagic Land stimulated interest in mathematics and turned out very well.”

First released theatrically—on a bill with 1959’s Darby O’Gill and the Little People—Donald in Mathmagic Land was so popular that it was also included in the very first episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, airing September 24, 1961, on NBC. Perhaps most importantly, the featurette was also made available to classrooms via filmstrip (and later VHS and DVD!), quickly becoming the most popular educational film ever released by the Walt Disney Educational Media Company.

Clarence Nash — Clarence “Ducky” Nash, the voice of Donald Duck

Each legend, artist, and staff member adds a unique angle.

Directed by Les Clark (who started at the Disney Studio back during the days of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit), Wolfgang Reitherman, Ham Luske, and Joshua Meador, Donald in Mathmagic Land emerged greater than the sum of its parts—which says a lot, considering the amount of talented artists (and future Disney Legends) who left their mark on the Disney production.

Opposite Clarence “Ducky” Nash—whose incomparable performance as Donald marked the character’s 125th theatrical release, to be precise—was another versatile voice artist and Disney Legend. Fans of the Haunted Mansion and Adventure Thru Inner Space attractions will instantly recognize Paul Frees as our narrator, the Spirit of Adventure, a role he recorded a decade before welcoming foolish mortals at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

And to bring the dramatic adventure to life on-screen, Studio artists employed the latest tricks of their trade, combining animation, live-action photography, color, and visual effects. From John Hench and Collin Campbell’s visual contributions to Buddy Baker’s mysterious musical score, the film still resonates today as a panorama of Disney showmanship at its finest.

Counting up the awards and honors.

Not only was Donald in Mathmagic Land nominated for an Academy Award® (in 1959, for best Documentary—Short Subject), but it also received recognitions for outstanding achievement. Among them were diplomas of merit from the 13th Edinburgh International Film Festival (1959) and Mexico Instituto De Cultura Cinematográfica (1962), as well as certificates from the Southern California Motion Picture Council (1959) and International Educational Film Festival of Ministry of Education (1976).

These represent just a fraction of the film’s many accolades. But perhaps the most important honor of all is the enduring appeal of and continued interest in Donald in Mathmagic Land. Today, nearly 60 years after its initial release, the timeless story remains as popular as ever, stimulating the minds of the young and young-at-heart well into the 21st century.

Seven Reasons to Love Being a D23 Gold Member

March 10, 2016

Can you believe D23 is celebrating its seventh anniversary? We’ve had so many magical moments over the past seven years and we’re looking forward to many, many more! In honor of our anniversary, we’ve rounded up our seven favorite things about being a D23 Gold Member (although we could have picked many more!):

Cross items off your Disney bucket list: In 2016, D23 Gold Members were the first to tour Walt Disney’s birthplace and one of the first groups to tour Walt Disney’s Office Suite—and it’s only March! D23 Gold Members have also toured the Walt Disney Studios lot, the Walt Disney Archives, and had lunch with several Disney Legends, including Kathryn Beaumont, Floyd Norman, Marty Sklar, and Bill Farmer.

Celebrate Disney favorites: Join D23 for celebrations of your favorite films, attractions, and shows! From a trip to The Parent Trap’s Camp Inch to Epcot’s 30th anniversary, celebrations have included surprise guests, special commemorative gifts, and more.

The more the merrier: D23 Gold Members can bring a friend to all D23 events, and D23 Gold Family Members can bring up to three guests to select events.

Disney twenty-three: The quarterly magazine is a stunning collectible full of exclusive stories about Disney’s past, present, and future.

Member Gift: The 2016 D23 Gold Member gift celebrates the opening of Walt Disney’s Office Suite with commemorative replications of real items from Walt’s office—it’s a must for any Disney fan!

Exclusive discounts: Save on shopping sprees at UNIQLO, SMS Audio, and Disney Store; enjoy dining discounts at Downtown Disney and Disney Springs; and sleep well with savings at multiple hotels near Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort—just to name a few!

An extra sprinkle of pixie dust: Keep an eye out for special surprises—like a holiday card signed by Disney Legends, or a pair of tickets to the latest Disney film!

Have we missed anything you love about being a D23 Gold Member?

Fan-Favorite Moments for D23’s Seventh Anniversary

March 10, 2016March 9, 2016

Happy Seventh anniversary, D23! As of today—March 10, 2016—it’s been seven fabulous years since The Official Disney Fan Club became a part of the Disney family, and we’ve asked fans to vote on their favorite moments throughout the history of D23. Whether it’s attending a classic movie screening event, receiving the beautiful Disney twenty-three publication in the mail, deciphering a wild scavenger hunt puzzle, or watching your favorite Disney hero become a Disney Legend at D23 EXPO, everyone has those moments that make their D23 Membership so special. Take a trip with us down memory lane and remember the top seven moments that have brought D23 so close to our hearts.

7. Bob Iger surprises audiences by honoring Johnny Depp with a Disney Legends Award at D23 EXPO 2015
To kick off the biggest D23 EXPO to date, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger inducted eight new Disney Legends in the new Hall D23, with special musical performances, moving tributes, and surprise celebrity appearances. But the biggest surprise came later in the show, when he announced that Johnny Depp would join the 2015 class. Bob introduced the superstar to the roar of the crowd, signaling the first of many exciting moments that would take place throughout the memorable weekend.

6. Idina Menzel sings “Let It Go” for the first time in public at D23 EXPO 2013
As one of the highlights of D23 EXPO 2013, Idina Menzel brought down the house with her immaculate performance of “Let It Go” at the conclusion of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ presentation in the D23 Arena. The performance marked the first time the Tony® Award-winning actress performed the soon-to-smash-records hit song in public.

5. D23’s EPCOT 30th Anniversary Celebration (2012)
In 2012, D23 Members and Epcot überfans celebrated the 30th anniversary of the park with panels, presentations, and virtual ride-through attraction experiences. More than 30 Disney Legends, Imagineers, archivists, and historians joined members inside the World ShowPlace Pavilion to present the most detailed look at the park evolution ever mounted by The Walt Disney Company!

4. D23 First Anniversary Parties at Disneyland and Walt Disney World (2010)
To celebrate the first anniversary of D23, members celebrated in private parties at both Disneyland Park in Anaheim and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. With fireworks shooting from Sleeping Beauty Castle, the party at Disneyland featured meeting opportunities with Disney characters and Disney Legends, while D23 Members on the east coast enjoyed a private dinner inside the Diamond Horseshoe and an after-hours experience in Fantasyland.

3. “Magic Journeys” Musical Finale at Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th (2011)
As the finale to Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th, D23 Members and their guests gathered at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for a flight of fancy through 40 years of Vacation Kingdom musical memories. More than 50 Disney performers past and present played favorite melodies, including the Kids of the Kingdom, Main Street Philharmonic, Encore! Choir and Band, and Disney Legend Richard Sherman—with a surprise appearance by Dreamfinder and Figment!

2. The Muppets sing “Rainbow Connection” at D23 EXPO 2009
Members in the D23 Arena erupted in applause throughout the inaugural D23 EXPO in 2009, especially as multiple surprise guests appeared on stage during The Walt Disney Studios’ presentation. To celebrate the announcement of their upcoming movie, the Muppets sailed on stage in a replica of the Mark Twain Riverboat to sing a few songs, ending with a stirring rendition of “Rainbow Connection.”

1. Disney Princesses perform at the Disney Legends Ceremony at D23 EXPO 2011
Taking the Disney Legends Ceremony to towering heights, newly inducted Disney Legends Paige O’Hara (voice of Belle), Lea Salonga (voice of Mulan), Anika Noni Rose (voice of Tiana), and Jodi Benson (voice of Ariel) performed beloved songs from their respective Disney animated classics. The audience roared with applause as all the inductees joined together for once-in-a-lifetime rendition of “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”

Can You Guess These Disney Middle Names?

March 9, 2016April 9, 2018

March 11 marks Middle Name Pride Day, a chance for those of us with middle names to shout ’em from the rooftops! No one can truly pinpoint how long middle (or “second”) names have existed in the English language—but we do know that the practice of putting a name between someone’s given (“first”) name and surname (“last”) has existed for several centuries. (Just take a look at some of Europe’s royal families for fun examples.) Some middle names have been passed down through generations; some are truly unique, like combinations of names or even made-up words!

Take a spin through the following photos of Disney icons and characters (both animated and live-action) and see if you can guess their middle name. The answers, and some trivia, are at the bottom of the page. Good luck! And don’t forget to head over to D23’s Facebook and Twitter to celebrate your own middle name…

1. Walter _____ Disney

2. Roy _____ Disney

3. Donald _____ Duck

4. J. _____ Toad

5. J. _____ Woodlore

6. J. _____ Foulfellow

7. J. _____ Hooter

8. Abraham _____ O’Malley

9. Horatio _____ Sebastian

10. Wendy _____ Darling

11. Ben _____ Gator

12. Nick _____ Wilde

ANSWERS:

1) Walter Elias Disney
Perhaps the most famous middle name in Disney history, “Elias” was Walt Disney’s father’s name. These days, it’s also recognizable as the moniker for the largest shopping location on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure.

2) Roy Oliver Disney
Roy O. Disney was one of Walt’s older brothers and co-founder of what’s today known as The Walt Disney Company. An unassuming financial whiz, he preferred to stay in the background while Walt became the public face of the Company. Roy is perhaps best known for spearheading, after Walt’s death, the building of Walt Disney World in Florida.

3) Donald Fauntleroy Duck
As revealed in the 1942 animated short Donald Gets Drafted, everyone’s favorite fiery-yet-funny duck does, indeed, have a middle name: Fauntleroy. (This might be based on his sailor hat, which is often seen as an accessory for old-timey “Little Lord Fauntleroy” suits.)

4) J. Thaddeus Toad (The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad)
Based on the book by Kenneth Grahame, the Wind in the Willows segment of the 1949 feature told the story of Mr. Toad—full name: J. Thaddeus Toad—whose love of speedy vehicles repeatedly got him into hot water. (Make sure you visit good ol’ Thaddeus at Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride inside Disneyland; it’s one of the park’s original “dark rides,” having opened July 17, 1955!)

5) J. Audubon Woodlore (Theatrical shorts and House of Mouse)
Otherwise known as the “Ranger,” J. Audubon Woodlore worked at Brownstone National Park and appeared in five animated shorts—alongside characters like Donald Duck and a hungry grizzly bear named Humphrey—beginning in 1954. Most recently, he was seen on ABC’s animated series House of Mouse.

6) J. Worthington Foulfellow (Pinocchio)
This one’s a little more challenging… you might remember him by his nickname: Honest John. In 1940’s Pinocchio, the sly fox and his cat sidekick, Gideon, concoct a get-rich-quick scheme that entails selling that poor wooden boy to evil puppeteer Stromboli.

7) J. Gander Hooter (Darkwing Duck)
We’re big Darkwing Duck fans around here—so we knew we had to include the director of super-secret spy organization S.H.U.S.H. (Bonus points if you realized his name is a play on former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.)

8) Abraham de Lacy Giuseppe Casey Thomas O’Malley (The Aristocats)
If you guessed all the middle names for this character correctly, color us impressed! This big name actually belongs to a little critter—namely, streetwise alley cat Thomas O’Malley from 1970’s The Aristocats. Guess you’ve got to have a lot of names to compete with an elegant kitty named Duchess, right?

9) Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian (The Little Mermaid)
Here’s another small fellow with a surprisingly long name… King Triton’s court composer Sebastian. The snapping sidekick from 1989’s The Little Mermaid must hate to fill out any kind of official paperwork; no wonder he’s so persnickety!

10) Wendy Moira Angela Darling (Peter Pan)
Wendy Darling proudly states her full name to Peter as she’s sewing his shadow back on. No word on where those middle names came from (her mother’s name is Mary)… but it is interesting to note that author J.M. Barrie is often credited with popularizing the first name “Wendy.”

11) Ben Ali Gator (Fantasia)
This guy’s middle name is a bit of a “no-brainer.” You might remember him as the leader of a horde of ballet-dancing alligators in the “Dance of the Hours” segment from 1940’s Fantasia, in which he cuts the proverbial rug with lovely Hyacinth Hippo.

12) Nick Piberius Wilde (Zootopia)
We couldn’t resist including con-fox Nick Wilde on our list! According to Zootopia director Byron Howard, “Piberius” is a play “Tiberius”… which, if you know your Star Trek, is Captain Kirk’s middle name.

First Look at New DuckTales—Plus More in News Briefs

March 9, 2016March 24, 2016

Every Day They’re Out There Makin’ (New) DuckTales!

Ready for more adventures in Duckburg? Then mark your calendars for the 2017 debut of a brand-new show based on the Emmy® Award-winning animated series DuckTales! Brought to you by Disney XD, the new series will once again star über-popular characters Scrooge McDuck, his grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and (of course!) Donald Duck.

We don’t know too much about the new show just yet—but we do have the very first image of the characters (above) as they set out to solve a mystery… or maybe rewrite history. “Woo-hoo!”

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

#TeamCap or #TeamIronMan? New Posters for Captain America: Civil War

It’s the question sweeping the nation, in advance of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War coming to theaters this May: Are you with #TeamCap, or are you loyal to #TeamIronMan?

In case you’re unfamiliar with the dilemma soon facing our favorite Super Heroes, the film finds Steve “Captain America” Rogers (Chris Evans) leading a newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in some big-time collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability—headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. This new “status quo” fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps: one led by good ol’ Cap (and his desire for the Avengers to remain free of political interference), and the other following Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) surprising decision to support government oversight.

Take a gander at these brand-new character posters—featuring Cap, Tony Stark, the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and even Ant-Man (Paul Rudd)—before picking a side… and make sure to catch Captain America: Civil War at a multiplex near you on May 6.

Dancing with the Stars: Season 22 Cast Revealed

We teased the Good Morning America announcement of the latest Dancing with the Stars cast in last week’s News Briefs… and the moment finally arrived! All 12 contestants—along with their professional partners—were just revealed in advance of Season 22’s premiere episode on Monday, March 21, at 8 p.m. PT/ET, only on ABC.

Celebrities ready to set the dance floor on fire include actresses Jodie Sweetin (Fuller House) and Mischa Barton (The O.C.); TV director and actress Kim Fields (The Facts of Life); NFL legends Doug Flutie, Von Miller, and Antonio Brown; TV personality Geraldo Rivera; Boyz II Men singer Wanya Morris; and America’s Next Top Model’s first deaf winner, Nyle DiMarco.

Who will take home the Mirrorball trophy? Stay tuned to find out…

Nominees Announced for Radio Disney Music Awards

Lovers of pop music, rejoice: All your favorites will be hitting the stage at the upcoming Radio Disney Music Awards! Among the artists vying for a coveted “ARDY” trophy are megastars Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, One Direction, and DNCE. Fans from all over the world are invited to vote for their faves in categories including “The Bestest—Song of the Year,” “The Buzz—Breakout Artist of the Year,” and “That’s My Jam—Best Anthem.” Make sure your voice is heard by heading over to Disney.com/RDMA, or Radio Disney on Facebook and Twitter, to vote. (Especially tech-savvy folks can also use the Radio Disney app or Google OneBox to cast their ballots.)

The Radio Disney Music Awards—music’s biggest event for families—are set for Sunday, April 30, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles… If you’re local to SoCal, you can even attend in person; check out AXS.com/RDMA for more info about tickets. But if you’re not a West Coaster, fear not: A special two-hour telecast premieres Sunday, May 1, at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on Disney Channel!

“Secrets of The Force Awakens” Doc to Premiere at SXSW

If you’re dying to know just what kind of movie magic went into creating Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you’ll be thrilled to know there’s an amazing documentary being included with the film’s upcoming Digital HD and Blu-ray Combo Pack release.

“Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” is an inside look at the making of the blockbuster, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers. The doc will have its world premiere on Monday, March 14, as part of the yearly South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ BAFTA Award–winning and Academy Award®–nominated visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett, Academy Award–nominated supervising sound editor Matthew Wood, and co-producer Michelle Rejwan will be on hand for a Q&A following the screening.

Look for Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere this April 1… and then on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on April 5. May the Force be with you, always.

New Shows Announced for Disney Junior & Disney XD

There are so many fun animated shows coming soon to both Disney Junior and Disney XD, we almost can’t keep track! Disney Junior has just begun production on two new animated series: Vampirina (inspired by Disney Publishing’s popular children’s book series Vampirina Ballerina and executive produced by Doc McStuffins creator Chris Nee); and Puppy Dog Tails (created by comedian/actor Harland Williams). Both shows are slated to premiere in 2017. Additionally, second seasons have been ordered for Disney Junior’s recent hit The Lion Guard and its adorable series for preschoolers, Goldie & Bear.

Over at Disney XD, Billy Dilley’s Super-Duper Subterranean Summer (the adventures of a science-obsessed seventh grader, brought to you by Emmy® Award-winning director Aaron Springer) will come to life in 2017; and comic book creators Chris and Shane Houghton will collaborate with former Gravity Falls director Rob Renzetti on Country Club, set to air in 2018. Plus, Star vs. The Forces of Evil has been picked up for a third season, and the ultra-wacky short-form comedy series Two More Eggs will return.

Plan your TV-watching hours accordingly, animation fans!

Frozen—Live at the Hyperion: Opening Soon at Disney California Adventure

Can you feel it? There’s a chill in the air… and that can only mean one thing: Frozen—Live at the Hyperion, the new musical adaptation of Disney’s mega-huge animated hit, will officially open at the Hyperion Theater inside Disney California Adventure this summer!

Bringing the stage production to life is a team that not only includes the best-of-the-best from Walt Disney Imagineering’s Creative Entertainment division, but also Broadway vets Chad Beguelin (Tony®-nominated lyricist of Disney’s Aladdin and The Wedding Singer); music supervisor and arranger Jason Michael Webb (The Color Purple); puppet designer Michael Curry (Tony winner for Disney’s The Lion King); and multi-award-winning theater director Liesl Tommy.

Expect elaborate costumes, amazing sets, stunning special effects, and truly show-stopping musical numbers when the new production opens on May 27!

A Brand-New Peek into Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War

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

Inside Look at Frozen – Live at the Hyperion at Disney California Adventure

Star Wars at SXSW: Stormtroopers A-Plenty and New Bonus Feature Clip

Marvel Announces Girls Reforming the Future Challenge

On the Road Again: ABC’s Nashville Sets U.S. and International Tours

Disneyland Resort Doubles #ShareYourEars Donation to Make-A-Wish®

Star Wars Day at Sea Returns to Disney Cruise Line in ’17

1. Walter _____ Disney

2. Roy _____ Disney

3. Donald _____ Duck

4. J. _____ Toad

5. J. _____ Woodlore

6. J. _____ Foulfellow

7. J. _____ Hooter

8. Abraham _____ O’Malley

9. Horatio _____ Sebastian

10. Wendy _____ Darling

11. Ben _____ Gator

12. Nick _____ Wilde

ANSWERS:

Every Day They’re Out There Makin’ (New) DuckTales!

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

#TeamCap or #TeamIronMan? New Posters for Captain America: Civil War

Dancing with the Stars: Season 22 Cast Revealed

Nominees Announced for Radio Disney Music Awards

“Secrets of The Force Awakens” Doc to Premiere at SXSW

New Shows Announced for Disney Junior & Disney XD

Frozen—Live at the Hyperion: Opening Soon at Disney California Adventure

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

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