We’re Snow Excited About This Frozen News—Plus More in News Briefs

Frozen News that Gives Us Chills

Today, Disney announced the coolest news we’ve heard in a little while: Frozen is coming to Broadway! In spring 2018, the all-new show will take its place on New York’s Great White Way, where Aladdin and The Lion King have already been hits with theatergoers and critics alike. The pre-Broadway engagement will kick off August 2017.

Award-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez are providing music for the theatrical show and the story will be based on a book by Jennifer Lee, who wrote Frozen, the film. The show is to be directed by Tony® Award winner Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher, Mozart in the Jungle) and will be choreographed by Peter Darling (Billy Elliot, Matilda).

And if that isn’t the greatest thing you’ve heard for, well, the first time in forever, you’ll be able to enjoy another new Frozen experience in the comfort of your own home. We also learned today that an all-new Frozen holiday special is slated to air Holiday 2017 on ABC. Our Arandelle favorites—Olaf, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Sven (and the actors who voiced them!)—will be on hand for the special, which will be directed by Emmy®-winning directors Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton (Prep & Landing) and produced by Oscar® winner Roy Conli (Big Hero 6).

Stay tuned to D23.com in the coming months for more information about both of these special events worth melting for.

Mark your calendar with upcoming Disney events

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
February 20
D23’s Adventure in Wonderland
February 20
D23 Shopping Day at Mickey’s of Glendale
March 3
Have a Wild Time with Zootopia
March 4
D23 Presents Walt Disney’s Chicago
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
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
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, 2016
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
June 16, 2016
Shanghai Disney Resort to open
Television
February 14
Frozen airs on Disney Channel at 7 p.m. ET/PT
February 14
Struck in the Middle Previews on Disney Channel at 8:45 p.m. ET/PT
February 15
Gravity Falls series finale airs on Disney XD at 7 p.m. ET/PT
February 21
The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60 airs on ABC from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
February 28
The Oscars® will be presented live on ABC beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
May 1
Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards airs on Disney Channel from 7–9 p.m. EST

780x463-news-briefs-february-8-2016_2

Super Bowl Champ Celebrates at Disneyland Resort

Football fans (and let’s be honest, delicious-finger-food fans) the world over watched Super Bowl 50 yesterday—and it was truly a game for the record books. Case in point: Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning celebrated not only his second Super Bowl win, but also his whopping 200th win as a starter. And where does one go to celebrate such huge milestones? Why, the Happiest Place on Earth, of course!

After declaring, “I’m going to Disneyland!”, at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, on Sunday evening, Peyton traveled to Disneyland Resort on Monday to take part in a champion’s parade down Main Street, U.S.A. The quarterback smiled and waved to fans as he rode on a float with his family in an unforgettable, picture-perfect moment.

Peyton joins an illustrious roster of sports superstars who’ve celebrated wins and special occasions at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resorts—including fellow NFL legends Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Tom Brady, and NBA heroes Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

780x463-news-briefs-february-8-2016_3

Doc McStuffins Welcomes Special Guest Voices for Season Four

When “the Doc is in” for Season Four of Disney Junior’s Doc McStuffins, she’ll be joined by a just-announced line-up of guest stars who will be lending their voices to the Peabody and NAACP Image Award-winning animated series. Anthony Anderson (black-ish), Molly Ringwald (Sixteen Candles), Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy), Gabourey Sidibe (Empire) and Vanessa Williams (The Good Wife) will all voice guest roles on the animated series about a little girl who aspires to be a doctor like her mom and runs a clinic for stuffed animals and toys out of her backyard playhouse. They’ll be joining previously announced guest star Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges.

For the new season, slated to debut this summer, Doc and her toy friends will be magically transported to a make-believe town, made up entirely of toys, where Doc serves as chief resident of the Toy Hospital. Sounds like a lot of fun for Doc—and for her fans!

Lab Rats: Elite Force Coming to Disney XD in March

They’re getting ready to save the world! Lab Rats: Elite Force, the new spin-off series from Lab Rats: Bionic Island and Mighty Med, is set to debut on Wednesday, March 2, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD.

Lab Rats: Elite Force is set in a bustling metropolis after the Mighty Med hospital is destroyed by a band of unknown super-villains. New team members Kaz (Bradley Steven Perry), Oliver (Jake Short) and Skylar (Paris Berelc) join forces with Chase (William Brent) and Bree (Kelli Berglund) to form a powerful elite force that combines bionic heroes and superheroes. Together, they vow to track down the villains and keep the world safe! Booboo Stewart (Descendants) and Ryan Potter (voice of Hiro in Big Hero 6) guest star in the premiere episode as teenage shape-shifters Roman and Riker, respectively.

Looking for a lil’ sneak peek at all the action? Take a look at the new promo, above. And here’s some even cooler news: If you wanna see the premiere episode early, check it out starting February 29 on both Video on Demand (VOD) and WATCH Disney XD.

780x463-news-briefs-february-8-2016_4b

Stars Explore a Journey to the Oscars in New ABC Special

Some of today’s hottest actors and directors reflect on the defining moments of their careers in Journey to the Oscars, premiering Sunday, February 21, on ABC. Hosted by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, the one-hour special features emotional, in-depth interviews with some of the most notable 2016 Oscar® nominees, including Sylvester Stallone (Creed), Brie Larson (Room), and Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), plus The Martian director Sir Ridley Scott and star Matt Damon.

Ever wanted to find out the turning point that took Bryan Cranston from soap operas and TV commercials to Breaking Bad? Or whether Sly Stallone really feels like Creed is his “comeback”? Tune in for all this, and more, when Journey to the Oscars debuts on February 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

New Trailer for The Jungle Book

Following its TV debut during the big Super Bowl game on Sunday, the new trailer for Disney’s The Jungle Book is now online! The action-adventure—which blends live-action with photo-realistic CGI animation—roars into theaters this April!

Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), The Jungle Book follows man-cub Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi) as he embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he’s forced to abandon the only home he’s ever known. The film also features the dulcet tones of Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Walken, and Ben Kingsley.

780x463-news-briefs-february-8-2016_5

“Weird Al” Yankovic Lends Voice to Disney XD’s Milo Murphy’s Law

Musical satirist and Grammy Award®-winner “Weird Al” Yankovic (of “Eat It” and “Tacky” fame) is coming to your TV! He’ll voice the title role in Disney XD’s Milo Murphy’s Law, a brand-new animated comedy series from Phineas and Ferb creators/executive producers Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh. Premiering this fall, Milo Murphy’s Law will introduce audiences to Milo, the (fictional) great-great-great-great grandson of the Murphy’s Law namesake. “Weird Al” will also sing the opening theme song and—throughout the series—perform original songs as his character!

Milo, as we’ll come to find out, is the personification of Murphy’s Law, where anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Suffering from Extreme Hereditary Murphy’s Law condition (EHML), young Milo always looks to make the best of the cards he’s been dealt—and his endless optimism and enthusiasm can turn any catastrophe into a wild adventure! Joining “Weird Al” is a bevy of stars, including Christian Slater (Mr. Robot, Heathers), Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty), Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), Sabrina Carpenter (Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World) and Mekai Curtis (Disney XD’s Kirby Buckets). Keep a (careful!) eye out for premiere dates and more info soon…

New Trailer and New Emojis for Captain America: Civil War

Before the big game on Sunday, Marvel released a brand-new look at Captain America: Civil War, which is set to storm your local cineplex on May 6. (If you missed the trailer, check it out, above!) In celebration, custom Twitter emojis showcasing “Team Cap” and “Team Iron Man” have now been revealed… and they’re totally awesome.

As part of a unique Twitter campaign, 11 new character emojis are now available—and fans are encouraged to Tweet using #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan to declare their allegiance to their favorite Marvel characters. Additionally, fans can create their own super team using the Captain America emojis and #TeamCapSweepstakes or #TeamIronManSweepstakes for a chance to win a walk-on role in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War—Part I. Now that is a prize!

780x463-news-briefs-february-8-2016_6

GARAGE Magazine Celebrates Marvel with Five Unique Covers

Speaking of Marvel, GARAGE Magazine—a biannual print publication that brings to life original, ambitious collaborative projects across contemporary art and fashion—has assembled some of their own Avengers… in supermodel form. Produced in creative collaboration with Marvel Entertainment, GARAGE’s five unique covers (on newsstands globally this Thursday, February 11) feature supermodels styled as some of Marvel’s most popular super heroes. Using the cutting-edge GARAGE Mag mobile app, readers can also scan each of the covers to see these leading ladies come to life as 3-D digital “comic book” animations. Covergirls include Adriana Lima as She-Hulk, Karlie Kloss as Black Widow, and Lexi Boling as Captain Marvel.

For more info on the covers, and to learn how to access the digital animations, visit GarageMag.com.

Five Fascinating Facts—Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway

On Friday, March 18, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members are invited to Lunch with a Disney Legend: Charlie Ridgway in the American Adventure Parlor at Epcot. During the special event, guests can enjoy a three-course luncheon with Charlie and ask him about his 40 years as a Disney press agent, creating more than 150 memorable press events at locations around the globe.

To learn more about Charlie, here are five fascinating facts about his career at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts:

780x463-article-Charlie-Ridgway-Facts_1

  1. Charlie began work at Disneyland before he was even hired as a Cast Member.

Charlie first promoted Disneyland as a news reporter during the park’s construction, authoring some of the first articles written about the Magic Kingdom in any of the major metropolitan newspapers! He also covered the opening day ceremonies on July 17, 1955. Charlie officially joined the Disneyland publicity staff in 1963, with an office inside the Main Street, U.S.A. police station.

780x463-article-Charlie-Ridgway-Facts_2

  1. Charlie helped make the Pirates of the Caribbean opening ceremony a swashbuckling adventure to remember.

Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t quite ready for guests when the New Orleans Square press event took place in 1966. So the following year, Charlie and his team were tasked to organize an even grander event along the Rivers of America. With members of the press aboard, the Sailing Ship Columbia was overtaken with rascally pirates, captained by Disneyland comic Wally Boag. Amid the pillaging and plundering—and sword fights!—the press was later led to the attraction, where they watched pirates storm the entrance and first experienced one of the most beloved attractions in Disney park history.

780x463-article-Charlie-Ridgway-Facts_3

  1. To celebrate Donald Duck’s 50th birthday in 1984, Charlie hatched a brilliant idea.

After learning about the only way to train a troupe of Peking ducks to follow Donald Duck all around the Magic Kingdom, Charlie arranged for Donald to introduce himself to the 50 ducklings at birth. Moving from their Miami, Florida hatchery to Walt Disney World, the ducks formed a very strong attachment to their “mother,” following Donald across the park in one of the most unique Disney PR stunts ever put on. And, as a highlight for guests, Donald Duck’s 50th Birthday Parade culminated in a float hosting the puckish ducks, who donned specially-created birthday hats. Who couldn’t remember this Magic Kingdom celebration?

780x463-article-Charlie-Ridgway-Facts_4

  1. Charlie directed the photography of some of the most beloved Disney park images of all time.

From staging the last photograph of Walt at Disneyland to directing the October 15, 1971 LIFE magazine cover showcasing the entire Magic Kingdom Cast, Charlie’s efforts have found their way into countless newspapers, journals, books, and photo prints. Charlie’s publicity work surrounding the openings of EPCOT Center, Disney-MGM Studios, Disneyland Paris, and other parks around the globe have been nothing short of legendary.

780x463-article-Charlie-Ridgway-Facts_5

  1. In 2013, “Charles Ridgway Day” was announced in a U.S. city.

On the occasion of Charlie’s 90th birthday, Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer proclaimed July 26 as Charles Ridgway Day! The honor is one of many received by Charlie, including his induction as a Disney Legend in 1999.

These are just five fascinating facts about Charlie’s incredible career with The Walt Disney Company. Learn more about Charlie’s amazing accomplishments at Lunch with a Disney Legend: Charlie Ridgway on March 18, 2016. For more information and tickets, click here.

Chicken Gumbo from New Orleans Square

From “down in New Orleans” (Square) at the Disneyland Resort, enjoy this rich, flavorful stew with chicken, andouille sausage, and tasso ham served with Louisiana rice.

Serves 4

Cajun spice
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon seasoning salt
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Cajun Rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon diced white onion
1 tablespoon diced red bell pepper
1 cup medium-grain white rice
1 3/4 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon Cajun spice

Chicken Gumbo
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 pound skinless boneless chicken thighs, diced
1/2 cup diced Tasso ham
1/2 cup diced Andouille sausage
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Cajun spice
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup sliced okra
1/4 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped green onions, for garnish

For Cajun spice:
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

For Cajun rice:

  1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add onion and bell pepper; sauté 3 minutes, or until translucent.
  3. Add rice, stirring to coat in oil. Toast rice, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Add vegetable stock, stir, then add Cajun spice, stirring well.
  5. Cover pan and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until liquid is completely absorbed.
  6. Fluff with a fork before serving.

For chicken gumbo:

  1. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken, Tasso, and Andouille and cook until golden brown, 5 minutes. Add garlic, stirring to combine. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  2. Remove meat from pot with a slotted spoon, reserving fat in pot. Place meat on a large plate and set aside.
  3. Add flour to fat in pot, whisking to combine. Cook until mixture turns golden, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in Cajun spice.
  4. Return meat to pot, stirring well to combine. Slowly add stock, whisking vigorously after each addition until mixture is smooth.
  5. Add okra and tomatoes. Simmer, stirring frequently, until okra is tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
  6. Ladle gumbo into bowls and top with a large spoonful of rice. Garnish with chopped green onions.

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

Disney California (Culinary) Adventure—15 Food Faves

From the rustic beauty of Grizzly Peak Recreation Area and a wildly wet journey on Grizzly River Run to the breezy Boardwalk of Paradise Pier and a thrilling spin on California Screamin’, so many favorite experiences can only be had at Disney California Adventure—which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this week!

But Disney California Adventure (DCA) isn’t just a proverbial feast for the senses—it’s a literal feast! From the frozen delights at Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream, near the DCA entrance, to the carnival-inspired classics at the Corn Dog Castle on Paradise Pier—and everything in between—the park offers an astounding variety of foods that range from gourmet to just good ol’ grub. In honor of DCA’s milestone, and after conducting some exhaustive epicurean research, we managed to narrow our list of favorites to just 15.

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_1

Favorite Appetizer: Cove Bar’s Lobster Nachos
A well-kept secret turned fan favorite, the lobster nachos are a must-do in DCA and just might be the perfect shareable mid-day snack. Not a shellfish fan? Not a problem! Chicken may be substituted for the lobster.
PRO-TIP: Grab a seat a few hours before World of Color for a unique view of the nighttime spectacular!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_2

Favorite Food On-the-Go: Corn Dog Castle’s Hot-Link Corn Dog
There are other places at the Disneyland Resort where you can experience a classic corn dog, but the Hot-Link iteration is only available at Corn Dog Castle. The kick that comes from the spice paired with the savory-sweet of the batter would make it a match made in heaven, even if it weren’t cooked and served on a stick for your convenience.
PRO-TIP: Corn dogs are a popular indulgence—head over to Paradise Pier just before lunchtime to miss the rush!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_3

Favorite Non-Alcoholic Drink: Cozy Cone Motel’s Red’s Apple Freeze
This is delicious and easy to grab and go. It’s non-dairy (a plus for the lactose-intolerant!), made with 100-percent apple juice, marshmallow syrup, and nondairy passionfruit-mango foam. There may be nothing more refreshing on a warm California afternoon.
PRO-TIP: Order one at dusk and enjoy the “Sha-Boom” lighting moment when the neon lights turn on in Cars Land.

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_4

Favorite Alcoholic Beverage: Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge’s Carthay Manhattan
This is a smooth classic drink that will take you back to the early 1900s while you relax in the cool elegance of the Carthay Circle Lounge. Fun fact: The drink is served over a single large sphere of ice that’s fun to watch the bartenders make with a little Disney magic… and a really awesome machine.
PRO TIP: You can order this drink in the lounge or restaurant, but we suggest that you check in early for your dinner reservation and enjoy this signature cocktail while you wait.

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_5

Favorite Celebratory Meal: Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge’s Thick-Cut Pork Chop
The toppings and preparation change seasonally, but the pork chop is available all year long and has been an iconic menu item since 2012.
PRO-TIP: Start your meal with the Carthay Signature Fried Biscuits!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_6

Favorite Full-Service Meal: Wine Country Trattoria’s Shrimp Scampi
Light and full of flavor, this pasta is paired perfectly with a glass of Pinot Grigio.
PRO-TIP: You get to pick your pasta! We recommend the fettucine, but you can also choose campanelle or spaghetti!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_7

Favorite Lighter-Option Meal: Paradise Garden Grill’s Lemon-Oregano Chicken Skewer
This is a great light option with great value, as well. In addition to the grilled skewer, you get rice pilaf, cucumber salad, pita bread, and your choice of sauce. The choice of sauce is a great feature: It allows the repeat eater to try new combinations, and it allows the picky eater to find just the right combination! Never tried it? Start with the Tzatziki sauce for a fresh-tasting and delicious flavor.
PRO-TIP: The carb-conscious can replace the rice pilaf with an additional helping of cucumber salad.

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_8

Favorite Vegetarian Meal: Lucky Fortune Cookery’s Asian Rice Bowl with Tofu
For those looking for a savory vegetarian meal, this is the place to go. Opt for tofu and then select from the variety of available sauces: Spicy Korean, Thai Coconut Curry, Mandarin Orange, and Teriyaki.
PRO-TIP: Edamame and fresh mango slices are available as side dishes if you’re looking to eat more fruits and veggies.

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_9

Favorite Meal in a Bread Bowl: Pacific Wharf Café’s Chinese Chicken Salad
We love a great Chinese Chicken wrap or sandwich, but add too many extras and you end up with a mess on your hands—literally. But put all of the fixings in a bread bowl, and you’ve solved that problem and maybe ordered the best lunch you’ll have all day.
PRO-TIP: Ask for dressing on the side for some delicious dipping sauce for your bread!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_10

Favorite Comfort Food: Flo’s V8 Café Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich
Cruise down Route 66 for some good old-fashioned comfort food—the Roast Beef & Cheddar sandwich is a hearty meal served with caramelized onions and horseradish aioli on a garlic chive bun, with a side of signature cole slaw.
PRO-TIP: Grab your sandwich and eat on the outside patio—the Cadillac Range is beautiful at sunset!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_11

Favorite Dessert (at Full-Service Restaurant): Wine Country Trattoria’s Tiramisu
Finish your meal with the Wine Country Tiramisu—layers of espresso and liqueur-soaked ladyfingers, sweetened Italian mascarpone, and shaved Ghirardelli chocolate.
PRO-TIP: Can’t commit? Order the three-course World of Color prix fixe menu, and get an assortment of desserts that includes the tiramisu (and also features the Ghirardelli Chocolate Caramel Panna Cotta.

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_12

Favorite Dessert (On-the-Go): Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream’s Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Bars
Customize your hand-dipped ice cream bar with chocolate or vanilla bean ice cream (or mixed berry sorbet), have it dipped in milk or dark chocolate, and topped with your choice of chocolate chip morsels, confetti Mickeys, blue raspberry bursts, rainbow sprinkles, or try them all with “The Whole Herd!”
PRO-TIP: Keep an eye out for seasonal flavors like the ever-popular mango bar with Chamoy and Tajin!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_13

Favorite Lighter Dessert Option: Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop’s Raspberry Smoothie
If you want to indulge a little less, or you’re in the mood for something that refreshes, or you’re simply just not feeling the ice cream, try Ghirardelli’s Raspberry Smoothie. It’s made with raspberry sorbet, club soda, and strawberries and it’s absolutely delicious.
PRO-TIP: Don’t forget to grab a sweet chocolate square sample on your way in to Ghirardelli!

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_14

Favorite Take-Home Treat: Pacific Wharf Café’s Mickey-Shaped Sourdough Bread
Fact: Everything tastes better when it’s shaped like Mickey. Fact: The bread has an incredibly satisfying crunchy outer shell with a soft and fluffy inside. Fact: It’s versatile, makes for great sandwiches and tastes great paired with a hot soup.
PRO-TIP: If you forgot to pick some up while you were on Pacific Wharf, you can also purchase some right near the park entrance at Mortimer’s Market.

780x463-dca-15-fav-food-spots_15

Favorite Breakfast: Cozy Cone Motel’s Bacon Scramble Cone
There’s no better way to start getting your kicks on Route 66! The cone functions like a bagel—an extremely delicious bagel that’s shaped like a cone, all the better to hold the delicious fillings!
PRO-TIP: If you’re vegetarian, this breakfast can be prepared without the bacon!

Disney California Adventure Celebrates Real-Life Landmarks

For 15 years, Disney California Adventure Park has made it possible to experience the flair of beloved California locations, past and present. They’re not mere duplicates, but idealizations of the meaning—and feelings—they bring to life.

“Like Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park, our designs are romanticized,” says Ray Spencer, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “We take the essence of the buildings and various elements that make up their personalities. We highlight certain things, like colors and textures, so their essences stand out.”

The park entrance is modeled after the fabled Pan-Pacific Auditorium. Designed by Welton Becket—one of Walt Disney’s personal friends—the massive venue presented the likes of Leopold Stokowski (four years before the release of Walt Disney’s Fantasia) and Elvis Presley. This “streamline moderne”-style entrance was first re-created at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida—just three weeks before the original building was destroyed by fire—and became the Disney California Adventure entrance in 2011.

780x463-dca-iconic-locations-with-real-world-counterparts_1

The Buena Vista Street structures tell a chronological story, both inside and out. “When you enter the park, the buildings are a bit smaller and more neighborhood-like,” Spencer explains. “A five-and-dime store, gas station, chamber of commerce—these suggest being on the outskirts of town. As the Red Car Trolley takes you under the bridge, you’re downtown, at the department store, restaurant and theater. It’s subtle, but that was the thought behind how the buildings are arranged.”

780x463-dca-iconic-locations-with-real-world-counterparts_2

The focal point in this journey is also a pivotal point in Disney history. The Carthay Circle Restaurant is inspired by the Hollywood theater of the same name. It was the glittering, glamorous location of the premiere of Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (just released on a stunning new Blu-ray combo pack, by the way). Snow White’s success changed the world of entertainment—and all the worlds of Disney.

780x463-dca-iconic-locations-with-real-world-counterparts_6

The Hyperion Theater, in the park’s Hollywood Land section, was inspired by the Los Angeles Theater. Its construction in the early ’30s was funded in part by one of Walt Disney’s childhood idols, Charlie Chaplin, who opened City Lights at the theater. The original still stands in L.A.’s Broadway theater district, but with the exception of special events, it stands vacant. At its Disney California Adventure counterpart, a new musical adaptation of Disney’s Frozen will open later this year.

“All of the Los Angeles buildings that inspired the Hollywood Land facades can still be seen today,” Spencer explains. “Whereas none of the buildings represented on Buena Vista Street still exist today.”

780x463-dca-iconic-locations-with-real-world-counterparts_5

In addition to specific California buildings, the facades and accents throughout the park suggest indigenous architecture, such as Mission Revival style for the Wine Country Trattoria and Blue Sky Cellar, and “textile block” patterns created by Frank Lloyd Wright that is captured in the look of the restroom area in Hollywood Land.

780x463-dca-iconic-locations-with-real-world-counterparts_3

The park also sparkles with “buena vistas” beyond the brick and mortar of Los Angeles, from bustling towns to natural landscapes. There’s Route 66, which inspired the look of Cars Land, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Monterey’s Cannery Row, upon which Pacific Wharf was based, and more. But perhaps most magically for Disney fans like us, the storied California that greeted an optimistic young Walt Disney when he arrived with “a suitcase and a dream” will live on at Disney California Adventure Park. Nice to know.

John Lasseter Reflects on 30 Years of Pixar

In 1986 John Lasseter made a decision that would not only forever change his life, but also the face of animation. He was working at Lucasfilm in the Computer Graphics Group when owner George Lucas decided to sell the division to Steve Jobs. He was given a choice, stay with Lucasfilm and work at Lucas’ visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, or take a chance on the offshoot. Even though John had tremendous admiration for George Lucas and his work on the Star Wars films, the decision was a simple one. “I went with the new company,” John recalls. “There was no question—it was going to be something really special.” That something special was Pixar and under John and Ed Catmull’s leadership it would revolutionize the art form of animation with its groundbreaking computer technology.

780x463-pixar-30th-anniversary_1

This month, Pixar—the studio that masterminded modern animated classics such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Wall•E, last year’s Inside Out, and, of course, the film that started it all, Toy Story—celebrates its 30th anniversary. In honor of this incredible milestone, John takes D23 on an exclusive stroll down memory lane and talks about some of his own personal highlights from the last 30 years.

780x463-pixar-30th-anniversary_2

“Ed had a dream to do an animated feature film with computer animation one day, and that’s why I was there,” John says about his longtime collaborator and Pixar co-founder’s influence. “I loved animation but I was so excited about the idea of doing computer animation. We knew that it could be something great in the feature film world.” Great, indeed. Over the past three decades, Pixar has produced some of the most beloved, critically acclaimed, and hilarious films of all time, raking in nearly $10 billion at the box office and picking up 15 Academy Awards®—and a whopping 55 Oscar® nominations, in total—along the way.

780x463-pixar-30th-anniversary_3

But before Pixar was breaking records at the box office, it was breaking ground as a technology company. The invention of the Pixar Image Computer, which was capable of producing higher-resolution images, and other advancements in motion blur, complex flexible characters, and hand-painted textures were rapidly changing the look of animation. Short films such as John’s directorial debut, Luxo Jr., and Tin Toy, which was the first computer-animated film to receive an Oscar for Best Animated Short in 1988, were starting to get people’s attention. Then in 1989, the company released its RenderMan software, which would go on to become the industry standard for computer graphics in film.

780x463-pixar-30th-anniversary_4

Perhaps the biggest turning point in Pixar’s history came in 1991. Disney and Pixar announced plans to make and distribute the first-ever feature-length computer animated film. “It was as we started developing Toy Story in 1991 and working towards its release in 1995, when we really saw that the future of Pixar is as an animation studio,” John points out. “And so right after Toy Story came out, Steve took Pixar public as Pixar Animation Studios. I felt very proud of that, that Steve came around from hardware and software to seeing the potential and the value and how cool doing computer animation could be. And he really bet the whole company on that.”

780x463-pixar-30th-anniversary_5

The decision paid off in spades for Pixar and audiences. Can any of us imagine a world without Woody, Buzz, and the gang, or Lightning McQueen and Mater? What about those wonderfully weird monsters Mike and Sully? All these characters and so many more have become part of the fabric of our lives, and a beloved part of Disney experiences, too. Spend a day at any Disney park around the world or on a Disney cruise ship and you’re bound to bump into one of your favorite Pixar characters. “I took my family to Walt Disney World right after Toy Story had come out,” John remembers fondly. “I heard they were doing a small parade with Toy Story characters. To have our characters there represented in such a big way and have them come alive was really, really special.”

The same trip provided John with yet another unforgettable moment. “We were flying back from Orlando and as we were getting off the plane there was a little boy with his mom standing there at the gate waiting for his dad and he was holding a Woody doll. My sons, who were little at the time, go, ‘Dad, Dad, look!’ [That trip] was the first time I’d seen a character—I had created—outside of our studio or at Disneyland or Disney World. And the look of pride and excitement that he had to show his dad this toy of his was really special. And I realized at that moment, that character didn’t belong to me anymore. It belonged to him.”

780x463-pixar-30th-anniversary_6

John thinks about that moment often. He says it’s why Pixar keeps doing what they do—creating heartfelt films about the shared human experience. This summer’s hugely anticipated Finding Dory and the studio’s slate of upcoming films, which includes Cars 3, Coco, Toy Story 4, and The Incredibles 2, will certainly provide us the belly laughs and tug-at-our-heartstrings moments we’ve come to expect from Pixar. “When I think of the highlights of 30 years, those are the kinds of moments [I remember], because it really means that you’ve touched people, you’ve created a character that really entertained someone or really touched someone to where it’s now a part of their life. It’s a part of their family. That’s really what makes a Pixar film. I think that’s it. It’s that love of technology, that love of great storytelling, and that love of deeply entertaining the audience of all ages. And that all comes together so each movie is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”

We couldn’t agree more. Congratulations on 30 years, Pixar!

To watch an exclusive video with John Lasseter talking more about Pixar’s 30th, visit TheWaltDisneyCompany.com.

Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree: Did You Know?

By Jim Fanning

The wrong sort of bees and a very tight squeeze give Pooh Bear a bit of a bother in Walt Disney’s Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), the first of the beguiling animated featurettes to introduce the huggable bear of very little brain to the big screen. We asked Disney historian Jim Fanning to “think-think-think” of a Pooh-rade of fun facts fans might not know about Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, which was released on February 4, 1966.

780x463-winnie-the-pooh-and-the-honey-tree-50th-look-back_1

Disney Daughter Delivers Pooh-lightful Inspiration
Walt discovered the Winnie the Pooh books thanks to his book-loving daughter, Diane Disney Miller. “Dad would hear me laughing alone in my room and come in to see what I was laughing at,” Diane later recalled. “It was usually the gentle, whimsical humor of A. A. Milne’s Pooh stories. I read them over and over, and then many years later to my children, and now to my grandchildren.” Walt sought the screen rights as early as 1937, and continued to pursue this Pooh-ticular property over the years, but it wasn’t until June 1961 that he acquired the rights. Interestingly, it was NBC that held the rights from the early 1940s. In 1947, NBC aired a live-action special called A Day in the Life of Christopher Robin, and in 1960, just before Disney obtained the rights (and right before Walt joined NBC as a new home for his weekly TV show), a puppet version was presented on NBC’s Shirley Temple Theatre.

780x463-winnie-the-pooh-and-the-honey-tree-50th-look-back_2

The Shermans Got By With a Little Help From a Pooh Friend
When Walt assigned A.A. Milne’s Pooh stories to Disney Legends Richard and Robert Sherman in 1963, the songwriting siblings found the delicate charm a creative challenge. For insight, they turned to British-born Tony Walton, who was then designing costumes for Mary Poppins (1964). “He spent several hours with us explaining how important the Pooh stories were to him while he was growing up,” remembered Richard. “He identified with pudgy Pooh, who always came out on top.” Suddenly, the Shermans saw the wonder and wisdom behind the Winnie the Pooh whimsy. The original books are sprinkled with Pooh’s songs, called “hums.” “They weren’t really songs,” Richard observed. “They were like little feathers in the breeze, so we wanted to get that feel in our songs—that if Milne had written a song, he most likely would have written it that way. We wanted to be Milnesque but it had to be Disney, too.”

780x463-winnie-the-pooh-and-the-honey-tree-50th-look-back_3

Pooh Illustrations Offer Inspiration
Walt wanted his animation team to not only preserve the whimsy of Milne’s prose but also the artistic style of Ernest H. Shepard’s delightful drawings—so the onscreen character designs sprang from the pen-and-ink perfection of the Pooh-sonalities as drawn by the famed illustrator. As Milne created the stories based on the stuffed animals of his son, the real Christopher Robin, so Shepard based his illustrations on the boy’s real toys. But Shepard actually modeled his drawings of the little boy after his own son, Graham, while Pooh was drawn to look like Graham’s teddy bear, Growler. “Growler was the original teddy, a great big yellow bear,” revealed the illustrator. “He lost his growl quickly, of course, from being pressed so much.” No where is the Shepard charm more lovingly preserved onscreen than in the “100 Aker Wood” endpaper map that opens the animated story—a map that in the Pooh book is labeled, “Drawn by Me [meaning Christopher Robin] and Mr. Shepard Helpd.”

780x463-winnie-the-pooh-and-the-honey-tree-50th-look-back_4

The Voice Of Kaa Was Cast Because Of Pooh
Disney Legend Sterling Holloway was voicing Winnie the Pooh when Walt Disney asked the voice artist to take a crack at Kaa for The Jungle Book (1967). “Walt was such a stickler for voices,” the actor recalled. “He said, ‘When you finish with what you’re doing today with Winnie the Pooh, fiddle around [and] see what you can do with the snake. I can’t get the right voice.’” Though Sterling gave auditory life to many a Disney character (including Kaa), Pooh Bear is by far his most famous vocal role. “I had no problem with Pooh’s voice,” he said. “It was born with the first word I spoke. I saw what Pooh was like and what I’d like him to be, and I tried to make him that way—sincere, lovable… always hungry, always trying. Pooh would never hurt anyone or know a word of hate. He was unselfish, giving.”

780x463-winnie-the-pooh-and-the-honey-tree-50th-look-back_5

Two Favorite Pooh-lebrities Had A Delayed Debut  
Piglet and Tigger may be two of the most beloved Pooh characters, but aside from their appearance as toys in the live-action prelude and Piglet’s mention in the “Winnie the Pooh” theme song, these Pooh superstars are not seen in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. The first featurette was drawn from Milne’s Winnie the Pooh chapters “in which” Pooh climbs the honey tree and gets stuck in Rabbit’s front door. Piglet doesn’t pop up until the third chapter while Tigger doesn’t bounce in until the follow-up volume, The House at Pooh Corner—so Walt and his team didn’t include the timid pig and the boisterous tiger until the Oscar®-winning Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968). Some pre-Blustery Day merchandise, including books and recordings, featured a prototype Piglet and a toothy Tigger complete with lion’s mane.

780x463-winnie-the-pooh-and-the-honey-tree-50th-look-back_6

Walt Loved Winnie the Pooh, Top to Bottom
Sterling Holloway felt that Pooh was Walt’s favorite character—and the prolific producer enjoyed contributing his own ideas in story meetings to give the Milne material that special Disney touch. When reading the story in which Pooh is stuck in a very tight place (namely, in Rabbit’s rabbit-hole front door), Walt wondered what Rabbit did with a teddy bear’s bottom in the middle of his living room wall. Building on the Shepard drawing of Rabbit hanging towels on Pooh’s legs, Walt developed a whole series of sight gags in which Rabbit turns Pooh’s protruding posterior into everything from a hunting trophy to an armchair. “I think,” said Walt, “it might be my funniest scene in the picture.”

780x463-winnie-the-pooh-and-the-honey-tree-50th-look-back_7

From Feature to Featurette (And Back Again)
At first Walt planned a full-length Pooh feature. “In 1965,” the Shermans wrote years later, “we had completed songs for about two-thirds of the story when Walt stunned everyone by announcing… he intended to ‘platform’ Winnie the Pooh into three separate featurettes.” The great showman felt that the Milne stories were not as well known in the U.S. as in Europe so he decided on Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree as an introduction to the “silly old bear.” Even though the following featurettes were released after Walt’s passing, much of them had been developed under Walt’s direction in 1963–1965. The three featurettes were linked by new animation in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), fulfilling Walt’s original vision for a Pooh feature.

23 Favorite Pixar Supporting Characters

Buzz and Woody. Dory. Merida. Joy and Sadness. They’re some of the most iconic characters in Disney•Pixar (not to mention animation) history, and they’re known the world over. As we celebrate the amazing 30-year history of Pixar Animation Studios, we thought we’d take a moment to praise some of our favorite supporting characters from Pixar’s 16 feature films.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_1

Rex from Toy Story
Sure, he looks ferocious—but this plastic Tyrannosaurus Rex is a professional worrier, with a perpetually upset stomach and a penchant for anxiety. Luckily, with the help of Buzz Lightyear and his other toy pals, he finds his “roar.”

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_2

Heimlich from a bug’s life
This adorable little caterpillar was a clown for P.T. Flea’s circus… but let’s be honest, he spends most of his time eating. A brave and true friend, Heimlich ultimately gets his wish and transforms into a butterfly (with very small wings).

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_3

Wheezy from Toy Story 2
Wheezy the Penguin was one of Andy’s favorite toys until his squeaker broke—and after that fateful day, he was relegated to a dusty bedroom shelf. He’s eventually discovered by Woody and is repaired to his former glory, complete with suave singing voice (provided by Robert Goulet).

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_4

George Sanderson from Monsters, Inc.
One of Mike and Sulley’s best friends on Scarefloor F, George accidentally violates Child Detection Agency’s Code 2319 (“contact with a human child”) and is shaved and scrubbed to remove any evidence of human contact. Later, he finds success on the CDA’s new Laugh Floor… and don’t worry, his fur grows back.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_5

Bruce from Finding Nemo
“Fish are friends, not food!” Bruce the Great White Shark works hard to keep from becoming a “mindless eating machine.” Despite his carnivorous instincts, he’s eventually able to help Dory and Marlin escape an explosive fate.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_6

Jacques from Finding Nemo
This little French-accented shrimp is tasked with keeping the dentist’s fish tank clean. He also mans the “Ring of Fire” on Mount Wannahockaloogie. He is a shrimp of few words, but gets along with his fellow tank dwellers.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_7

Edna Mode from The Incredibles
“I never look back darling, it distracts from the now.” An icon in her own right, don’t let Edna Mode’s small stature fool you—she’s a force to be reckoned with. Edna is pulled out of retirement to patch up Mr. Incredible’s (Bob Parr) super suit, but being the visionary designer that she is, creates brand new suits for the entire family—sans capes, of course.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_8

Frozone from The Incredibles
Speaking of super suits, this guy sure has a talent for losing his! Frozone (also known as Lucius Best) is one of Mr. Incredible’s icest—oops—nicest friends with a pretty chill power. Known for skipping out on dates for the “derring-do,” Frozone’s always looking out for the greater good.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_9

Fillmore from Cars
The resident hippie of Radiator Springs, Fillmore’s all about keeping it natural—much to the dismay of his neighbor, Sarge. This 1960 Volkswagen bus is a big believer in individuality and expresses himself through ‘body’ art and blaring Jimi Hendrix.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_10

Red from Cars
You might associate fire trucks with blaring engines and bright lights, but Red is proof that you shouldn’t judge a truck by its color. This shy and simple vehicle spends most of his time watering the flowers in Radiator Springs, but tread lightly—this is one emotional engine that has a tendency to burst into tears.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_11

Emile from Ratatouille
We’ve all felt it: the feeling when you’re so hungry, it doesn’t matter what you eat, you just need to eat NOW. Imagine feeling that way all the time and you’ve got our furry friend, Emile. At first, Remy’s older brother doesn’t understand Remy’s devotion to cuisine, but later he helps his brother serve up a delicious dish of ratatouille to the ultimate food critic—and, in turn, learns how to savor the flavors himself.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_12

Colette Tatou from Ratatouille
“Oh, symphony of crackle. Only great bread sounds this way.” Being the only female cook in Gusteau’s kitchen is tough enough, but when Chef Skinner appears to take a liking to the newcomer cook, Linguini, no one can blame Colette for getting a little bit upset. This hard-working, assertive, and talented cook soon discovers the truth behind the humble, if not foolish, Linguini and his little friend Remy; remembers Gusteau’s motto, “Anyone can cook”; and decides to help them keep the restaurant from falling into the ownership of the egotistical Chef Skinner.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_13

M-O from WALL•E
The adorable cleaner everyone wishes they had for themselves. This diminutive robot (whose name stands for Microbe Obliterator) is programmed to clean anything deemed a foreign contaminant on The Axiom. M-O is obsessed with his goal of keeping the ship clean, even frantically trying to clean his own face after WALL•E teasingly smudges dirt on it. He goes to great lengths to track down and clean WALL•E. Along the way they become friends, and M-O helps WALL•E save the little surviving plant and bring it back to Earth.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_14

Dug from Up
“My name is Dug. I have just met you, and I love you!” As soon as we met this fun-loving dog, we fell in love. Due to a special collar that translates his thoughts into speech, Dug is able to communicate with basic cute phrases. His owner, Charles Muntz, tasks Dug with finding a large bird—SQUIRREL!—but upon encountering Carl and Russell, Dug decides that he loves Carl and that Carl is his new owner. Dug does his best to help them escape Muntz, even braving the top dog, Alpha, and the dreaded cone of shame!

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_15

Mr. Pricklepants from Toy Story 3 
Ever had a friend who always tried to “play the part”? Well, this charming lederhosen-wearing hedgehog, better known as “Baron Von Shush” by Bonnie’s toys, fancies himself a thespian and is always “trying to stay in character.” He warns Woody about how dangerous Lotso is and helps him get back to Sunnyside Daycare. Mr. Pricklepants may look prickly, but deep down he’s plump and fuzzy.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_16

Peas-in-a-Pod from Toy Story 3
Peatey, Peatrice, and Peanelope are the “peafect” trio in Bonnie’s collection. Known for their expertise for identifying real cowboys, this pod of peas pesters the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the Wild West because he doesn’t have his hat. They are also experts on the whereabouts of Bonnie, especially on details regarding her Hawaiian Vacation.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_17

Guido from Cars 2
This little Italian forklift is the backbone for Casa Della Tires. As Luigi’s assistant and best friend, this dynamic duo is the biggest Ferrari-racing fans in Carbueretor County. Despite knowing only a few English words other than “pit stop,” he joins Team Lightning McQueen for the World Grand Prix for his turbo-changed tire changing abilities. His wish of seeing some Ferraris just might come true, too!

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_18

The Witch from Brave
Referred to as the Crafty Wood Carver, this seemingly harmless and eccentric elderly woman specializes in the whittling of wooden bear trinkets, figurines, and curios. However, the brave Merida quickly discovers that this mysterious crone is more than meets the eye. While she might offer a magical solution to change one’s fate, it will more than likely be haphazard and come with an obscure riddle.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_19

Ms. Sheri Squibbles from Monsters University 
Ms. Squibbles is a loving single parent who encourages, accommodates, and, more so, coddles her son, Scott “Squishy” Squibbles. She is the best mom in Monstropolis, as she cooks, does his laundry, and even acts as house mom when he has friends over to play fraternity. A drive with Ms. Squibbles may include listening to her favorite death metal tunes.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_20

Art from Monsters University
The new-age philosophy major at Monsters University defies arch-etype: he’s a total free spirit, extremely predictable, and as flexible as they come—and we mean that in both the physical and metaphysical sense!

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_21

Fear from Inside Out
Something might be said for conquering one’s fears, but the Fear who lives inside Riley’s head in Inside Out is actually a pretty good guy to have around. There’s really nothing that Fear doesn’t find at least a little dangerous, so he’s happy to let Joy control the console most of the time. But it’s nice knowing that he’ll intervene in times of true crisis—like broccoli on a slice of perfectly delicious pizza.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_22

Rainbow Unicorn from Inside Out
Imagine the most fabulous performer you can… A superstar of such magnitude that you might be rendered speechless in her presence… Such is the effect that Rainbow Unicorn has on Joy when she, Sadness, and Bing Bong encounter her in Dream Productions. It’s easy to see why: the rainbow hair, the lavender eyes, the mythic nature of being a unicorn! We’re thinking her epic performance in Fairy Dream Adventure, Part 7 could only be matched by a follow-up to her showdown with Jangles the Clown.

780x463-23-fav-pixar-supporting-characters_23

Forrest Woodbush, aka the Pet Collector, from The Good Dinosaur
Some people are dog people, some folks like cats, and some people bring the whole menagerie home with them. The Good Dinosaur’s Forrest Woodbush takes that to a whole other level—literally—keeping his trove of treasured beasts on horns that surround his head. But given that all of his pets are tasked with protecting Forrest Woodbush from dangers and nuisances, like mosquitoes and “unrealistic goals,” we think he might be on to something. He’s disappointed to miss out on adding Spot to his collection, but we’re pulling for him to reunite with favorite pet, songbird Debbie, so that she can warble him through this latest crisis.

Radio Disney Music Awards Set—Plus More in News Briefs

Radio Disney Music Awards: This April on Disney Channel

Mark those calendars, set those DVRs, and get ready to rock! The 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA)—music’s biggest event for families—is officially set for Saturday, April 30, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Now in its fourth year, the RDMA will feature more performances than ever before, combining music’s biggest with tomorrow’s rising stars. The special two-hour telecast, Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards, will be presented Sunday, May 1, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST on Disney Channel here in the U.S.; once it’s aired in the States, it’ll be shown in another 159 countries! Highlights from the show will also be available on Radio Disney, the Radio Disney App, the WATCH Disney Channel app, and RadioDisney.com.

Radio Disney “ARDY” statuettes, as voted on by fans around the world, will be awarded in categories covering all manner of musical genres… stay tuned to RadioDisney.com for your opportunity to vote, coming soon!

Mark your calendar with upcoming Disney events

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
February 20
D23’s Adventure in Wonderland

February 20
D23 Shopping Day at Mickey’s of Glendale

March 18
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Charlie Ridgway

March 19
D23’s Very Important Date: 65 Years of Alice in Wonderland—Florida

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
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
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, 2016
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
June 16, 2016
Shanghai Disney Resort to open
Television
February 14
Frozen airs on Disney Channel at 7 p.m. ET/PT
February 14
Struck in the Middle Previews on Disney Channel at 8:45 p.m. ET/PT
February 15
Gravity Falls series finale airs on Disney XD at 7 p.m. ET/PT
February 21
The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60 airs on ABC from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
February 28
The Oscars® will be presented live on ABC beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
May 1
Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards airs on Disney Channel from 7–9 p.m. EST

780x463-news-briefs-february-2-2016_2

Star Wars Tsum Tsum Coming February 16

Cute, cuddly, and from a galaxy far, far away? Sign us up! Just yesterday, Disney Store unveiled its Star Wars Tsum Tsum collection—featuring characters from A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi!

The new Tsum Tsum will, as usual, come in three sizes: mini, medium, and large. Characters represented in the collection include Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Han Solo, R2-D2, Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, Yoda, C-3P0, an Ewok, and a Stormtrooper. And like the classic Disney and Marvel Tsum Tsum characters currently available, this first Star Wars collection will serve as an “evergreen” assortment that will live on as future assortments are introduced. (Yup, there’s more to come!) The collection will be launched exclusively at Disney Store locations—both in-store and online—in the U.S. (plus Japan and Europe) on February 16.

780x463-news-briefs-february-2-2016_3

New Kitchens at 2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Two new Outdoor Kitchens are coming to this year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which will bloom in 2016 for a record 90 days.

The La Isla Fresca kitchen will take Epcot guests to the Caribbean for authentic dishes including Jamaican braised beef with pigeon peas and rice; spicy jerk chicken or grouper with mango salsa; and an amazing “Tres Leches” cake with guava puree. Meanwhile, the Cider House kitchen will offer its own spin on tastes from the United Kingdom, including a field greens salad with greens harvested from Epcot’s The Land Pavilion, heirloom apples, Stilton cheese, and dried blueberries; and pear cider-brined shredded corned beef with braised cabbage and pears in a Branston (that’s a famous British food brand) dressing. Both kitchens will balance their treats with themed beverages.

They’ll join 11 other diverse kitchens—plus an unbelievable array of colorful garden delights—when the 23rd annual festival kicks off on March 2. For more info, check out EpcotInSpring.com.

780x463-news-briefs-february-2-2016_4

“Be Inspired” Celebrates Black History Month with Cameron Boyce

Cameron Boyce, star of Disney XD’s Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything and Disney’s Descendants, has a very special connection to a very meaningful piece of American history. Cameron’s grandmother, Jo Ann Allen Boyce, was one of the “Clinton 12”—the first African-American students to integrate a public school in the South in 1956… and to celebrate Black History Month, a special “Be Inspired” segment (airing this month on both Disney Channel and Disney XD) follows Cameron, Jo Ann, and the rest of their family on a trip back to Clinton, Tennessee.

The “Be Inspired” cameras captured the family making their first visit together to a monument featuring 12 life-size sculptures of Jo Ann and her fellow history-makers at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton. “I’ve always known [my Nana] is incredible and now, everyone else will know too,” says Cameron.

The Force is with Star Wars Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line

Jedis and Padawans alike are reveling in Disney Cruise Line’s new Star Wars Day at Sea, a special day-long celebration occurring now through April during select Western Caribbean cruises aboard the Disney Fantasy.

Star Wars Day at Sea combines the power of the Force and the magic of Disney—for a truly galactic experience! The day includes a Star Wars-themed deck party (complete with fireworks); a shipboard version of the Jedi Training Academy; meet-and-greets with characters like Darth Vader and Chewbacca; themed food and beverage offerings; guest speakers; and even screenings of Star Wars films! For a sneak peak at all the fun, check out this brand-new video from our friends at DCL, above.

780x463-news-briefs-february-2-2016_5

MECH-X4 Brings Sci-Fi Fun to Disney XD

A new live-action sci-fi comedy adventure is coming to Disney XD! MECH-X4 (formerly known as MTX!) will center on a heroic team of teenagers who take on the responsibility of controlling a giant robot in order to protect their city from danger. Sounds pretty cool, right?

The series stars newcomer Nathaniel James Potvin as Ryan Walker, a freshman at Bay City High who has technopathy—the amazing ability to control technology with his mind. His talent mysteriously awakens MECH-X4, a giant 120-foot robot built by an elusive genius-in-hiding (Kamran Lucas) in order to defend their town against impending doom. Ryan recruits his two best friends and his older brother (Raymond Cham, Teen Beach 2) to help him operate MECH-X4. When monsters suddenly begin to descend upon their city, the team must quickly learn to work together in order to pilot the robot… it’s their only hope of saving their town, and ultimately the world, from mass destruction. Look for Nathaniel and his friends to bring MECH-X4 to your TV screens this fall!

780x463-news-briefs-february-2-2016_6

Aladdin the Musical to Launch U.S. Tour in 2017

If you haven’t been able to make it to New York City (or the U.K., or Australia, or Japan) to see Aladdin the Musical, fret not! Disney Theatrical Productions recently announced that the show will launch its first-ever North American tour in Chicago next year. The 12-week engagement begins performances at Broadway in Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, and plays through Sunday, July 2, 2017.

Future engagements and casting information will be announced in the coming months. Keep an eye on AladdinTheMusical.com/tour for more information.

A Stunt-tacular Time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The adventures of everyone’s favorite archaeologist and lovable scoundrel, Indiana Jones, have enthralled the world for 35 years… and it’s been almost three decades since The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular first delighted audiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you’ve never seen this amazing, thrill-a-minute show, it features stunts based on the film franchise, all performed live—including whip tricks, sword fights, explosions, and more!

Our friends over at the Disney Parks Blog recently headed backstage for a very special look at what goes into making the Stunt Spectacular so, well, spectacular. Watch all the behind-the-scenes excitement in the video, above.

Oswald Historian Lauds Debut of Lost Short Hungry Hoboes

Thanks to the discovery of the lost Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short Hungry Hoboes in a private London vault in 2011 and its subsequent digital restoration, fans are finally getting a chance to see the silent animated classic for the first time.

Originally released in 1928, Hungry Hoboes is No. 20 of 26 Oswald shorts created by Walt Disney and famed animator Ub Iwerks. Movie journalist Tim Lammers talked with animation historian David Gerstein about the cartoon, which can be unlocked with the digital purchase of the new Walt Disney Signature Collection release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (online now at DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com; on Blu-ray Feb. 2).

780w-463h_020116_oswald-hungry-hobos-short-q-and-a

Tim Lammers: They may have similar physical characteristics, but what otherwise separates Mickey Mouse from Oswald?

David Gerstein: The two of them are rather different. I’ve read interviews with Ub Iwerks where he talks about how Walt wanted Mickey to be more of a Douglas Fairbanks kind of character—more of a genuine hero. Oswald has an enormous ego and consciously wants to think of himself as clever, lucky, and charming. He’s the first guy on the block to puff out his chest, but he’s also the first to get cold feet. He often has to bluff and outsmart the enemy, and you get the impression once in a while that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is just what he likes to be known as—lucky. But in reality, Oswald’s luck is very bad.

TL: What is different about Hungry Hoboes in comparison to other Oswald shorts?

DG: It might be the rudest and the rowdiest of all of the Oswald cartoons that have surfaced to date. Oswald is a ne’er-do-well who is on the run from the law, and he’s actually pals with Peg-Leg Pete, who is usually his enemy. They don’t exactly get along and they’re squabbling pals like you’ve never seen. When you watch the cartoon, you’ll see Pete is the kind of pal who will light your butt on fire and use the flame to fry an egg. Nevertheless, Pete does reach out to grab Oswald and hoist him to safety when they’re running from the sheriff, so there’s a little bit of love to lose.

TL: How does Hungry Hoboes reflect the comedy of its era?

DG: It’s a cartoon of wild, split-second escapes and has lots of classic, early Disney fun with farm animals. Animals are bent out of shape, distorted, squeezed, and squashed to produce noise and music. It’s a rowdy, outrageous cartoon in the tradition of the live-action two-reel comedies at the time. There’s a little bit of Laurel and Hardy to the camaraderie between Oswald and Pete.

TL: What kind of synergy does Hungry Hoboes have with its animated counterparts?

DG: If you look at Hungry Hoboes together with earlier Oswald, Disney, and other silent cartoons of the period, you’ll see that Hungry Hoboes is an amazing exercise in personality animation that at its time was almost unbeaten. A lot of us fans of classic, silent cartoons love vintage characters like Colonel Heeza Liar and Felix the Cat, who definitely emote to the audience. Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks made their characters with the same sort of sensibilities, but with a more nuanced and relatively realistic form of rubbery, smooth motion. There’s just this feeling of, “We can create an emotive character in the same way, but add an extra dimension of believability to him. We’re going to try to push the envelope and do something a little bit new with a little more personality.”