Counting Down to ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas!

Trimming the tree… baking Christmas cookies… shopping for gifts. We love those holiday traditions, but we have another favorite—one that lets us kick back on the couch and watch some of our favorite classics from the big and small screen. Of course we’re talking about “25 Days of Christmas,” the gift ABC Family brings us every year—and will continue to bring us even after the network becomes Freeform in 2016. “25 Days of Christmas” begins on December 1, and we can hardly wait!

Our friends at ABC Family are as excited about “25 Days of Christmas” as we are—so excited that they’ve already kicked off their annual “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas.” This year’s “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” began Sunday, November 22, and runs through Monday, November 30. The lineup offers something for everyone in your family, from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story and Finding Nemo to all-new original specials Pretty Little Liars: 5 Years Forward and a brand-new holiday episode of Young & Hungry, “Young & Christmas.”

Here are some of the highlights we’ll be watching before and after our Turkey Day feasts:

Monday, November 23

4:30 p.m. ET—Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story
6:30 p.m. ET—Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 2
8:30 p.m. ET—Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo

Tuesday, November 24

8 p.m. ET—Pretty Little Liars: 5 Years Forward
9 p.m. ET—Young & Hungry—“Young & Christmas”

Wednesday, November 25

4:30 p.m. ET—Cinderella (1950)
6:30 p.m. ET—Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
8:30 p.m. ET—Disney•Pixar’s Ratatouille

Thursday, November 26

8:45 p.m. ET—Planes

Friday, November 27

3:30 p.m. ET—Tarzan

Saturday, November 28

6:30 p.m. ET—Disney•Pixar’s The Incredibles

Sunday, November 29

8 p.m. ET—Wreck-It Ralph

Monday, November 30

7 p.m. ET—Disney’s A Christmas Carol

Sanjay’s Super Team of Filmmakers

For the Birds. Partly Cloudy. The Blue Umbrella. Lava. One of the joys of seeing the latest film from Pixar Animation Studios is savoring another one of their innovative shorts—and with The Good Dinosaur, that tradition continues. In Sanjay’s Super Team, longtime Pixar animator (and accomplished artist in his own right) Sanjay Patel draws on his own experiences to tell the story of a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop culture conflicts head-on with his father’s traditions. Little Sanjay is captivated by the world of cartoons and comic books, while his dad tries—in vain—to engage him in the customs of his ancestral Hindu practice. But when Sanjay finds himself immersed in an awe-inspiring adventure like he’s never imagined, he returns with a new perspective that the pair can both embrace.

D23 recently spoke with first-time director Sanjay and Super Team producer Nicole Paradis Grindle about bringing this “mostly true” story to animated life. “I was really fired up to get this voice out there, to get the story out there,” Sanjay explains. “To be able to collaborate with [Chief Creative Officer, Pixar and Disney] John Lasseter and the team here at Pixar… to be able to communicate better with audiences, to expose them to a culture that they might not otherwise know anything about—I was fired up for that, for sure.” But getting Super Team to the screen took a somewhat circuitous route. “I’ve been at Pixar for 20 years,” Nicole says, “[and] Sanjay’s been here almost 20 years, too—but we never got a chance to work together. This [project] was refreshingly different—a different voice and a different perspective.” Sanjay’s colorful graphic novels (like The Little Book of Hindu Deities)—which he always kept separate from his Pixar work—led to a recent exhibition at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum; fellow Pixar artists caught the show and insisted he bring the work to Pixar’s in-house gallery. “John saw it and was blown away,” Nicole explains. “He said, ‘Sanjay, you need to make a movie here.’ It was really satisfying helping somebody who was so new to the director role—figuring out how to get his vision realized.”

“I have nothing but happy memories working with this crew,” Sanjay admits. “Working on a short film is a really special experience. You’re working with a small group of people who all get to wrap their arms around the entire filmmaking experience, as a team. John was a champion of this short—a champion of my story, a champion of my father’s story. And most importantly, a champion of me telling it honestly. I’m so grateful he had that confidence.”

The Great Circle of Life

Disney’s The Lion King… From the first sight of Mufasa on Pride Rock to Simba songfully declaring, “I just can’t wait to be king,” the film is a true classic in the Disney canon, beloved by Disney fans since its release in 1995.

Now Disney Junior aims to welcome a new generation of fans to the Pride Lands. The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar is a family movie event, premiering this Sunday, November 22 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel, that introduces Kion—Simba and Nala’s second-born cub—as he discovers his destiny: to lead the Lion Guard, a team of the Pride Lands’ fiercest, bravest, fastest, strongest, and keenest of sight.

The Lion Guard’s executive producer, Ford Riley (Special Agent Oso), wanted the new TV movie and series to feel like it was rooted in the story of The Lion King. He went back into the original film’s history and came up with the idea of a “Lion Guard” that’s tasked with protecting the Pride Lands. “I developed the idea that the Lion Guard goes back generations,” Riley explains. “Kion is the second-born. He’s not going to grow up to be the king—his duty is to be the leader of the Lion Guard.” Simba, Riley points out, didn’t have siblings who could have led the Lion Guard in his generation. And The Lion King’s iconic, infamous second-born cub, Scar, used his “power of the roar” to follow the path of evil.

While the story for The Lion Guard stems from the epic storytelling of the original animated classic feature, Riley found inspiration closer to home. He’d been approached by Disney Junior to develop a series that continues the adventures of the Pride Lands, and he was struck by the idea of an “imaginary super hero team” his son and his friends had created. Riley conceived of a Lion Guard comprised of different animals—not just lions. “It’s a very diverse group,” he notes. “Bunga, the honey badger, is the bravest. Fuli, the cheetah, is the fastest. Beshte, the hippo, is the strongest; and Ono, the egret, is the keenest of sight.”

The African savanna that Kion and his friends protect looks like the savanna Disney fans remember wildebeasts stampeding across. The Lion Guard’s director, Howy Parkins (Jake and the Never Land Pirates), says that in re-creating the movie’s look for television, “The backgrounds have to look like The Lion King. We were lucky we could get Barry Atkinson, who painted on The Lion King.” Parkins also credits the series’ production designer, Plamen Christov, for The Lion Guard’s rich, transportive visual style.

A team of Education and Science experts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom advises Riley and Parkins on every member of the Pride Lands population. “We want to play within the rules of nature,” Parkins says, so the Animal Kingdom group reads every script and advises on whether the characters act true to life. Some of the factoids they uncover inspire plot twists and add depth to the characters. Fuli, the cheetah, may be the Pride Lands’ fastest animal—but only in short bursts and in straight lines. Details like that, Riley and Parkins point out, create complications that make their jobs a little easier—not to mention more fun.

And while children of the ’90s embraced the worry-free concept of “Hakuna Matata,” Riley and Parkins have worked with Swahili expert Sarah Mirza to inspire new catchphrases. “Zuka Zama” is sure to become a playground mantra for kids—and a pep talk for adults—with its spirit that essentially translates to “pop up and dive in” According to Riley, “Ninety percent of our characters and their names are derived from Swahili words.”

Among those character names are two familiar ones: Mufasa and Pumbaa. Parkins and Riley were thrilled that James Earl Jones and Ernie Sabella have returned to bring their inimitable voices to the roles. Parkins adds that the film’s younger cast—which includes Max Charles as Kion, Joshua Rush as Bunga, Atticus Shaffer as Ono, Diamond White as Fuli, and Dusan Brown as Beshte, in addition to Rob Lowe and Gabrielle Union as Simba and Nala—“brings a lot of life to the show.” You can see the young actors showing that “Zuka Zama” spirit in this behind-the-scenes look at the recording process:

But, of course, a movie event based on The Lion King can’t just look like The Lion King. It has to sound like The Lion King,” Parkins stresses. He says that songwriter Beau Black (Miles from Tomorrowland) and composer Christopher Willis (Mickey Mouse) have created songs that make you stop and wonder if they were in the original movie. Willis read the movie script, Riley explains and, “Just reading it, he composed a suite of music that involved African chanting and heroic themes. Before we even had picture back, he’d created this sort of score.

“Most of the time [in television animation] we start with a little plant and we water it… and it starts to grow and you kind of gain your audience after you air,” Parkins says. “This… this is huge.”

Don Hahn, who produced the original feature film, admits that he and his fellow filmmakers had no idea while they were making The Lion King that it would turn into the worldwide phenomenon that has inspired theatrical shows, theme park experiences, and now a TV movie and series. “You’re so involved in making the movie that you just don’t see that,” Hahn says. “The story is based on Hamlet… it’s based on the Bible story of Joseph… in Africa… with Elton John… I mean, come on, it sounds ridiculous! It’s as ridiculous as rats in a kitchen for Ratatouille,” he laughs.

“But you know those movies work because they have a heart to them and they have a team of people that want to breathe life into those characters. It’s the same today,” Hahn adds. “We’re still talking about this today because there’s another team of people breathing life into these characters again. And for me, as a producer and a guy who was around for the original movie, that’s pretty thrilling.”

Giving Thanks for Our Favorite Disney Families

Thanksgiving is a time for family—and though that endearing term often refers to a traditional blood-related grouping of mom, dad and the kids, the fam that gathers for the feast can come in all sizes and shapes and configurations. For the Disney fanatic, D23 has cooked up a full menu of favorite Disney families for which we give thanks during this special season [or day].

King Stefan, the Queen, and Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty

Thanksgiving often means reunions, and surely King Stefan and his Queen must have given thanks when they, at last, reunited with their royal daughter, Aurora. The 16-year-old princess has been in hiding since infancy and now—awakened by love’s first kiss from the evil Maleficent’s spell—this fairy-tale family is together again, complete with a ready-made son-in-law-to-be in the heroic form of Prince Phillip.

The Parrs from The Incredibles

The Parrs seem like any other nuclear family in the neighborhood—but the neighbors don’t suspect that this family-next-door are actually super-powered crime fighters. Placed by the Superhero Relocation Program in the suburbs of Metroville, father Bob (Mr. Incredible), mother Helen (Elastigirl), daughter Violet (with the super power of invisibility), and son Dash (super speed) become embroiled in a super villain’s plot that means each member of family must use his or her individual gifts to work together as a team—exactly as a family should.

The Golden Girls

These aging but active women share a house in Miami, forming one of the most fascinating—and most hilarious—families ever. Bosom buddies Rose, Blanche and Dorothy, along with Dorothy’s feisty mother, Sophia, support each other in this all-female family, right down to occasionally getting on each others’ nerves. The funny, fond family bond of these independent but interconnected senior citizens inspires us to laugh and love a little more fully, especially at Thanksgiving.

Lady and Tramp

We found this rough-and-ready mutt and pedigreed pooch irresistible when they were courting (spaghetti, anyone?), but we love them even more in the final happily-ever-after scene when we they are happily married. (Could Tramp’s license also be considered a marriage license?) Cozily ensconced in Jim Dear and Darling’s house, Lady and Tramp’s adorable family consists of three little ladies and one little scamp—and this canine clan’s love expands to include faithful friends Jock and Trusty in the family photo.

The families of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Being in a family sometimes makes you feel as if you’re running around in circles, and maybe that partly accounts for the popularity of this classic show. Originally created for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair and starring 32 Audio-Animatronics^® figures, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress follows a typical American family through four generations of the past 100 years. Guests at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World Resort discover in this Tomorrowland attraction how the simple pleasures of family life can be enhanced by progress, no matter how dizzy things get.

The Robinsons from Meet the Robinsons

This delightfully eclectic clan is the epitome of an all-encompassing family. The Robinsons incorporate everyone from mom and dad Franny and Cornelius to Grandpa Bud and Grandma Lucille to zany aunts and wacky uncles. Even Carl the robot is a member of the family. They gladly embrace Lewis, the genius-IQ orphan from another era, though time-travelling Wilbur Robinson has his own time-twisting reasons for welcoming Lewis. We are thankful for this daffy dynasty’s eccentricity—doesn’t it empower your own creativity?—and, most of all, their inclusiveness.

The Taylors on Home Improvement

This TV family was a ratings winner, which seems only appropriate as Home Improvement was, at least in part, about TV. Tim Taylor hosts the DIY show Tool Time, but that doesn’t mean he’s Mr. Fix-it when it comes to the ups and downs of life at home with his wife, Jill, and their three sons. Despite his bravado and because of his bungling, Tim learns again and again (thanks at times to extended family member, philosophical neighbor Wilson) that family values, though not as handy as Binford Tools, patch things up every time.

Donald and his Nephews

Huey, Louie, and Dewey know how to both help and hinder their forever-frustrated uncle, Donald Duck. Though they have been known to embark on the occasional epic adventure, these identical triplets share an ordinary Duckburg house with their “Unca” Donald. He’s also an official single “dad,” for Donald’s income tax form, as seen in The New Spirit (1942), reveals that he legally adopted the sometimes troublemaking, sometimes troubleshooting trio.

Lilo and Stitch

A lonely little orphan girl, her older sister, and an outlaw alien known as Experiment 626 discover the meaning of ‘ohana—the Hawaiian concept of family that extends far beyond the immediate family. Stitch, as Lilo calls the alien, embraces ‘ohana as his own. This loving concept of community is expansive, so the two sisters and Stitch incorporate surfer dude David, the aliens Jumba and Pleakly, and the unlikely social worker Cobra Bubbles into their quirky little family.

Winnie the Pooh and Friends

The charming citizens of “the enchanted neighborhood where Christopher Robin plays” form a truly unique community, but their concern and care for each other make them a true family. Is it any surprise that the silly ole bear and his Hundred Acre Wood friends appeared in not one but two Thanksgiving shows, A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving and Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving? Naturally, the stories revolve around feasting and food, but when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we’re all a little like Pooh Bear, and stuff ourselves with more than fluff.

The Good Dinosaur: An Unforgettable Friendship

Sixty-five million years ago, a giant asteroid was on a collision course with Earth. The impact’s debris, most scientists agree, choked off the sun’s energy—throwing a proverbial wrench into the planet’s food chain and killing off gigantic dinosaurs that roamed its lands. But what if that asteroid missed our planet completely? It’s a thoroughly intriguing idea… and it’s the notion behind The Good Dinosaur, Disney•Pixar’s newest animated film.

With The Good Dinosaur, Pixar Animation Studios introduces us to an Apatosaurus named Arlo (voice of Raymond Ochoa), whose life is forever altered after a tragic accident. Young Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears—and what he is truly capable of—while searching for his family through harsh, mysterious landscapes, making an unlikely human friend (voice of Jack Bright) along the way. Joining the improbably duo is a host of gentle—and not-so-gentle—giants, voiced by the likes of Anna Paquin (True Blood), Sam Elliott (The Big Lebowski), Frances McDormand (Olive Kitteridge) and Jeffrey Wright (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1). D23 sat down to chat with The Good Dinosaur’s director, Peter Sohn, about bringing Arlo’s big adventures to the big screen.

The Good Dinosaur has always been about taking the classic “boy and his dog” story and flipping it on his ear. As Peter explains, “When I got a chance to pick up the movie and move forward with it, it [became] about trying to honor Bob [Peterson]’s original pitch… where the ‘boy’ is the dinosaur and the ‘dog’ is this little kid.” That small human, “Spot,” grows to understand Arlo—and winds up accompanying him through what’s become another of the film’s characters: nature itself. “The ‘survival’ aspect of the movie really was always there, since the beginning of this process,” Peter says. “So, how do you make a dinosaur feel like a boy? We really wanted it [to feel like] an 11-year-old boy stuck in the wilderness. That aspect of a ‘kid’ learning how to survive out there with the help of his ‘dog’ has become the movie.”

Fate, it seems, brought longtime Pixar animator Peter (directing his first feature-length project after helming the 2009 short Partly Cloudy) to The Good Dinosaur, a film (and a story) that mirrors his own life in ways both large and small. There’s the art of animation, a universal language that drew Peter and his family closer together. “We grew up in a grocery store in New York City,” Peter explains, “and if there was some money left over at the end of the week, our mom would take my brother and me to the movies. She loved American movies, but she grew up in Korea—so she would ask us questions in Korean, and I would sit there trying to translate as best as I could. I remember seeing Disney movies with her and not having to translate anything, it was so visually clear. Those movies affected me a great deal when I was a kid. There was something so universal to all of it that was so inspiring.”

Then there’s Arlo and his family (both blood and chosen)—sharing a bond not unlike the one between Peter and his fellow Pixar artists who worked on the film. “Growing up, I only found a couple other friends that could share my love for animation,” Peter says. “When I got to California, I found people who were the same, who believed it doesn’t matter what background you’re from or what language you speak. I’ve now been at Pixar for 15 years. This is going to sound like a cliché, but the people here—how they’ve put forward their talents [during the production of this film]—is very emotional for me. It’s been one of my favorite things about this whole process.”

Ultimately, Peter hopes Arlo and Spot’s story speaks to young and old alike. “We’ve been trying to make a world that is huge in scope, both beautiful and dangerous at the same time,” Peter points out. “Trying to find that duality in this film is something of a great challenge, [and] it’s something that we’re very proud of. For Arlo, he lived a life of fear—and finding a way to get through that is something that I hope my own son and daughter can one day appreciate. It’s about really understanding that there are ways to get through, and that love can be the answer.”

Set a Course for Season of the Force—Plus More in News Briefs

Light Speed to Season of the Force at Disneyland Resort

Can you believe it? We’re just about a month away (finally!) from Star Wars: The Force Awakens coming to that proverbial “theater near you”! Disneyland Park is getting into the spirit with Season of the Force, a set of brand-new themed experiences in Tomorrowland that just kicked off this past Monday, November 16.

Season of the Force will take guests to “a galaxy far, far away” with galactically special experiences, including Star Wars Launch Bay, a new area that offers opportunities to visit with favorite Star Wars characters, unique exhibits, and peeks at Star Wars: The Force Awakens; special “Dark Side” and “Light Side” character experiences; themed galleries; a very cool Star Wars Game Center (filled with park-exclusive Disney Infinity 3.0 Toy Box Levels); a Star Wars-themed Hyperspace Mountain; a brand-new scene in Star Tours—The Adventures Continue; and much, much more! So grab your Lightsaber and set a course for Disneyland Park, post haste…

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2015
D23 Member VIP Nights at The Lion King
December 4
Light Up the Season with D23
December 13
Holiday Gingerbread House Building Workshop
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
November 25
The Good Dinosaur opens in theaters.
December 18
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
January 29
The Finest Hours opens in theaters.
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
April 15
The Jungle Book opens in theaters.
May 27
Alice Through the Looking Glass opens in theaters.

Parks
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
January 16
Club Villain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Television
November 22
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar premieres on Disney Channel at 7 p.m. ET.
November 30
It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
December 12
The Wonderful World of Disney Presented by Target Brings You Mary Poppins airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Behind the Roar with The Lion Guard

Last week, the good folks at ABCNews.com premiered a most excellent behind-the-scenes look at Disney Channel’s upcoming The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar. Check out how the experts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom helped producers make sure the lions’ movements were as realistic as possible, and learn how examples of Swahili language are incorporated into each character’s personality. (Yes, you’ll definitely hear a couple well-placed “Hakuna matatas!”)

Visit the Pride Lands once more when The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar debuts on Disney Channel this Sunday, November 22… and stay tuned for the series premiere of The Lion Guard in early 2016!

Celebrate Dino Week with The Good Dinosaur

Have you ever imagined what Earth would look like had that asteroid not rendered dinosaurs extinct? Disney•Pixar has a few ideas; The Good Dinosaur, which follows an unlikely friendship between an Apatosaurus and a human, debuts in theaters on November 25—and lucky for us, the festivities are starting a bit early! Now through November 22, Disney.com is celebrating Dino Week. It’s full of exclusive clips from the movie, interviews with Disney•Pixar filmmakers, an interactive storybook and other fun activities, and even a chance to win a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with their “Single Moment” Sweepstakes.

Take a look at the dino-rific offerings here, and make sure to check out one of the exclusive clips—featuring Arlo and his kindly, supportive dad—above.

The Fashion Force Awakens for Charity

In honor of the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney Consumer Products and Bloomingdale’s are joining forces with a distinguished group of designers in a new fashion-meets-fundraising initiative called “Force 4 Fashion.” Taking inspiration from the film’s costume designer, Michael Kaplan, fashion favorites Cynthia Rowley, Diane von Furstenberg, Halston, Opening Ceremony, Rag & Bone, Todd Snyder, and more are each creating an outfit—to be auctioned for charity—that pays homage to characters from the new movie.

The designers’ looks will be revealed at a “Force 4 Fashion” launch event, presented by Kay Jewelers, in New York City on December 2 before going on display in Bloomingdale’s NYC flagship windows the following day. The outfits will then be auctioned off December 2 through 18 by Bloomingdale’s on CharityBuzz.com—with proceeds benefiting their holiday charity partner, Child Mind Institute, on behalf of Star Wars: Force For Change, a charitable initiative that empowers people to make a positive impact on the world around them.

Award-Winning Composer Takes on Zootopia

Michael Giacchino, composer for recent Disney•Pixar films Inside Out, Up, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille—as well as the live-action blockbusters Jurassic World and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol—marks his first-ever feature collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios for next year’s big-screen adventure Zootopia. The Oscar®-winning composer’s score for the film features a whopping 80-piece orchestra (under the baton of conductor Tim Simonec) and is now in the process of being recorded.

“In a world as vast as Zootopia, we needed someone who could deliver a score that can feel exotic and powerful, but also provide that same emotional intimacy,” says director Byron Howard. “We tell stories with images, Michael tells stories with music. Zootopia is a massive film with deep emotional themes running throughout the story, and Michael was the perfect choice to bring the music of this extraordinary animal world to life.”

See how rookie police officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) solves Zootopia’s biggest mystery with the help of con artist Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman) when Zootopia swings into theaters on March 4, 2016.

Happy Birthday, Mickey!

…Or, should we say, “_¡Feliz Cumpleaños!” Today, November 18, marks Mickey Mouse’s birthday and Disney Channel is debuting a new episode of the Emmy®-winning Mickey Mouse shorts in honor of our favorite mouse’s big day tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The episode is voiced entirely in Spanish—¡Qué bueno!—and features Danny Trejo (Machete) as a Piñata Boss who, along with his piñata crew, is determined to ruin Mickey’s birthday party. Mickey, his señorita, Minnie, and their friends must find a way to stop the piñatas from ruining the celebration. The short was directed and storyboarded by multiple Emmy winner Alonso Ramirez Ramos (who most recently won an individual achievement award for storyboarding on Gravity Falls), a Mexico City native.

ABC Family Gets in the Holiday Spirit with “Pop Up Santa” Events

ABC Family surprised the whole U.S. of A. last year with a sparkly holiday event called “Pop Up Santa,” which featured unexpected gifts and celebrity appearances across the country. This year, the network brings all-new pop-up fun to help usher in its “25 Days of Christmas” celebration!

“Pop Up Santa” has partnered with Reddi-whip to bring their “Share the Joy” Food Truck to several cities over the next few weeks. The campaign kicked off this past Saturday, November 14, as the “Share the Joy” Food Truck parked itself in front of Wollman Rink at New York City’s Central Park and offered delightful hot cocoa and other holiday treats to passersby. The truck will next appear at the Americana at Brand mall in Glendale, California, on Thursday, November 19, and then make its final stop at the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, November 21. Look for special surprises at each event!

Additionally, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and actress JoJo has lent her voice to a “Pop Up Santa” original song, which will make its big debut during “25 Days of Christmas.” Tune in for ABC Family’s “25 Days…” starting December 1—and you’ll be in the holiday spirit in no time!

Star Wars-Inspired Artwork Makes a Force for Change

Cool original artwork for auction and sale, and all for a good cause? Sign us up! From November 13 to 15, Lucasfilm partnered with Los Angeles’ Gallery 1988 and HP Inc. to present a Star Wars art exhibit featuring top professional and emerging contemporary artists. New and original pieces from the exhibit are now being auctioned off in the name of Star Wars: Force for Change through eBay for Charity, through November 23. And that’s not all: Prints of select originals by the professional artists will be available for purchase from eBay through December 12. (Talk about excellent holiday shopping!) All sales support UNICEF Kid Power, the world’s first Wearable-for-Good™, which gives kids the power to save lives.

Additionally, the five amateur winners of a recent two-month-long Art Awakens Fan Art Competition had their art showcased in the exhibit! The winners were chosen by a judging committee that included Disney, Lucasfilm, and Industrial Light & Magic luminaries, and were flown to Los Angeles to attend the VIP opening night gallery reception at Gallery 1988 on November 13. One winner was even awarded with a special “HP Technology Award” for their innovative use of technology to create their artwork.

Take a look at all the amazing Star Wars-inspired artwork here.

Disney Dinosaurs We Totally Dig

By Jim Fanning

The Good Dinosaur roars into movie theaters on Thanksgiving Day (November 25). But long before Disney•Pixar’s all-new animated feature was hatched, a herd of other good dinosaurs stomped their way into our hearts. You don’t need to be a paleontologist to know that these enormous reptiles rule. So come along on our Disney fanatic’s expedition as we dig up some fun facts on these sometimes fearsome, frequently endearing, always fascinating favorite dinosaurs.

Aladar from Dinosaur

When you’re the hero of a movie entitled Dinosaur, you’d better be ready to outshine the rest of the cretaceous cast (it took a team of 48 animators, 250 dedicated computer processors and another 300 desktop processors to bring this huge cast of CG giant reptiles to the screen)—and Aladar does not disappoint. This young Iguanodon—raised by a loving family of lemurs—is a natural leader. At 16 feet and four tons, Aladar is a big specimen—but his heart is even bigger, and his compassion for the weak is the attribute that promises this migrating group will safely reach the sacred Nesting Ground. No wonder this leading man—make that leading dinosaur—steals the heart of lovely Neera and the rest of the herd. We feel the same way.

Baby from Baby: Secret of The Lost Legend

When a modern-day scientist and her sportswriter husband discover a baby brontosaurus in the wilds of the Ivory Coast, the huggable hatchling steals this young couple’s hearts—and ours, too. Baby was designed and constructed by mechanical effects experts Ron Tantin and Isidoro Raponi, who needed a full year to plan and construct the dinosaur models seen onscreen. This action-adventure was not only inspired by actual scientific theories but also by another Disney film—so if lovable Baby reminds you of a certain big-eared pachyderm, it may not be a coincidence.

The “Rite of Spring” Dinosaurs from Fantasia

Upon hearing Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”, Walt responded, “This is marvelous! It would be perfect for prehistoric animals”—and thus the fantastical dinosaur stars of Fantasia were born. And there’s no question that the scene-stealers are the battling behemoths Tyrannosaurus rex and the Stegosaurus. But how best to animate the mammoth T. rex? Sequence director Bill Roberts told animation supervisor Woolie Reitherman to draw a twelve-story building in perspective, then convert it into a dinosaur and animate it. Woolie studied skeletal remains at museums, but scientific accuracy was set aside in favor of compelling showmanship, for, in reality, these two dinosaurs actually lived tens of millions years apart.

The Sinclair’s from Dinosaurs

Jim Henson Associates created the characters in this series covering the life of a prehistoric family, set in the year 60,000,003 B.C. In this “what if?” world, dinosaurs have evolved to become all-too-accurate suburbanites. That’s right: Earl (a megalosaurus) and Fran (an allosaurus) and their offspring (and let’s not forget grandma Ethyl) are a family of relatable reptiles who just happen to be dinosaurs. Audience fave Baby Sinclair demonstrates some aggressive dinosaur-type behavior by repeatedly battering his father with a frying pan. But as this precocious mini-dino says, “I’m the baby, gotta love me!”

Primeval World at Disneyland

Where can you encounter a whole cadre of prehistoric beasts—while riding an old-school steam train? Disneyland Park guests riding the Disneyland Railroad discover 46 prehistoric Audio-Animatronics® creatures in Primeval World. Included are pteranodons, edaphosaurus, the ostrich-appearing ornithomimuses, a group of towering brontosauruses eating in a swamp, a flock of pterodactyl, cute triceratops babies hatching from their eggs, and a battle between a Tyrannosaurus rex—at 22 feet, the T. rex is the tallest dinosaur figure—and a stegosaurus, inspired by Fantasia. Originally created for “Magic Skyway” attraction at the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, the Audio-Animatronics dinosaurs were saved from extinction when Walt moved them to his Magic Kingdom in 1966.

Tiny from Meet the Robinsons

Ever dreamed of having a dinosaur for a pet? Leave it to that zany family of the future, the Robinsons, to do just that with Tiny, a not-so-tiny Tyrannosaurus rex. At first, this ferocious-looking creature does his best to capture (if not devour) pre-teen time-traveler Lewis—but that’s only because this T. rex is under the power of the evil Bowler Hat Guy. Once freed, this toothsome critter becomes the Robinsons’ very own, very docile dinosaur. A real fan favorite, Tiny even makes a cameo in Wreck-It Ralph as a video game dinosaur in Game Central Station.

“Land of Long Ago” from the Mickey Mouse comic strip

While helping Professor Dustibones in his plan to bring a real, live dinosaur back from an uncharted island where prehistoric life still thrives, Mickey deals with everything from earthquakes to savage cave men. Luckily he also encounters a friendly group of brontosauruses (called by Goofy “whatchamasauruses”), especially Bronty, who saves adventurous Mouse from an attacking school of sea serpents. Originally published from December 23, 1940 through April 12, 1941, this dino-centric epic was written and drawn by Disney Legend Floyd Gottfredson.

Rex from the Toy Story films

What other T. rex can make his sharp set of teeth into a sweet almost shy smile? Neurotic plastic dinosaur Rex spends more time worrying, wringing his tiny paws, and avoiding confrontation than roaring—which is just as well because he’s self-conscious about how small his roar is. Rex’s caring nature and childlike innocence make him one of the most popular playthings in the Toy Story toy box.

The Museum Skeletons from One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing

No bones about it, the skeletal stars of this crazy caper cause prehistoric pandemonium when a determined army of British nannies sets out to protect top-secret microfilm hidden within. In order to save the dinosaur from enemy spies, they hijack the huge skeleton of an Apatosaurus from Natural History Museum and soon the bony beast is on the loose in London. Not one but two (regardless what the film’s title says) 75-foot-long dinosaur skeletons (the other is a Diplodocus skeleton) weighing several tons were created; the models took two weeks for art director Michael Stringer and six model-makers to construct.

The Carnotaurus from Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The signature attraction of Dinoland, U.S.A. transports guests back 65 million years to face the baddest of the dinosaur bad guys, the Carnotaurus. This scene-stealing antagonist—a new paleontological discovery in 1985—boasts large teeth and bull-like horns, signifying it on sight as an unmistakably dangerous predator. The Imagineers cast this dino-you-love-to hate in a reddish light to make him even more terrifying.

Arlo from The Good Dinosaur

We have to admit that our new favorite dinosaur is a good one. Yes, it’s that lovable green guy from The Good Dinosaur. An adorable Apatosaurus, Arlo finds he must confront his fear of… well, of everything; he falls into a river and finds himself swept hundreds of miles away from home. Starting out on his long journey home, Arlo develops a friendship with a human boy named Spot. This unlikely companion, who is almost as cute as Arlo, helps the insecure dinosaur realize he is capable of much more than he ever dreamed.

The Force is Strong at Disneyland This Holiday Season

Starting November 16, Jedi Knights, Padawans, Siths, and Dark Lords can join the light or the dark side in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park during Star Wars Season of the Force. In eager anticipation for the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the future Star Wars-themed land, guests can be fully immersed in a galaxy far, far away with new experiences, character meet-and-greets, themed food, and more this holiday season.

Space travelers won’t want to miss these five new experiences during Star Wars Season of the Force:

Hyperspace Mountain: Space Mountain has been reimagined as Hyperspace Mountain! Passengers are rocketed into an action-packed battle between Rebel X-wings and Imperial TIE fighters. This epic adventure includes new special effects and a new soundtrack inspired by the musical themes from the Star Wars films.

Star Wars Launch Bay: Celebrate the entire world of Star Wars in Star Wars Launch Bay, located in the newly renamed Tomorrowland Expo Center. Meet famous and infamous Star Wars characters, play the latest video games, pick up out-of-this-galaxy merchandise, explore treasured memorabilia, and authentic replicas and more in this new, interactive space.

Don’t miss the Launch Bay Theater, where fans will hear directly from the creative minds behind the Star Wars saga in a short video that includes exclusive interviews with the directors, writers, producers, and other key crew members who continue to bring the saga to life.

Star Wars: Path of the Jedi: “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi” connects iconic scenes from the saga in a new way to follow the journey of Luke Skywalker. Newcomers to the Star Wars film saga and dedicated fans won’t want to miss reliving these classic moments inside the Tomorrowland Theater.

Star Tours—The Adventures Continue: Travel to the planet of Jakku, a desert planet located in a remote section of the Outer Rim Territories, on a new Star Tours—The Adventures Continue flight. Keep an eye out for some new characters, too!

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple: Opening December 8, young Padawans can face Darth Vader and Seventh Sister Inquisitor, a new villain from the popular Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels in a newly reimagined Jedi Training experience.

Hungry, you are? Be sure to stop by Galactic Grill for an all-new menu—whether you choose the dark or light, it’s sure to be a delicious delight! The dark side features fiery flavors, like the Darth Tamale, while the Force is strong with appetizing eats like the First Order Specialty Burger on the light side.

In addition to Star Wars Season of the Force, Disneyland Resort guests can look forward to annual holiday favorites including: A Christmas Fantasy parade, it’s a small world Holiday, and World of Color—Winter Dreams. The Disneyland Resort continues to dazzle during the holiday season with popular new favorites Paint the Night parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks, and World of Color—Celebrate!

From all of us to all of you, may the Force with you and Happy Holidays!

Fantasia — A Visual Symphony

To celebrate the 75^th anniversary of Walt Disney’s classic animated film, Fantasia, we dug through the vault and gathered some amazingly beautiful concept art. You could say it’s a symphony for the eyes! Viewing these images is sure to orchestrate a deep sense of appreciation for the beauty of this classic, so sit back, relax, and enjoy some rare early images from each animated segment of the film.

Concept art from the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor animated segment.

Concept art from the Nutcracker Suite animated segment.

Concept art from The Sorcerer's Apprentice animated segment.

Concept art from The Rite of Spring animated segment.

Concept art from The Pastoral Symphony animated segment.

Concept art from the Dance of the Hours animated segment.

Concept art from the Night on Bald Mountain animated segment.

Just Keep Swimming with Finding Dory—Plus More in News Briefs

Dive In with the New Finding Dory Teaser Trailer

Thanks to Ellen DeGeneres and the fine folks over at EllenTube, we enjoyed an exclusive first look at the long-awaited sequel to Finding Nemo!

Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

Directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL•E) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer, WALL•E), the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy, and Diane Keaton.

Dory and her pals will swim into theaters on June 17, 2016.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2015
D23 Member VIP Nights at The Lion King
November 14
Pinocchio: 75 Years of a Disney Classic
November 14
Mickey’s of Glendale Orlando Shopping Event
December 4
Light Up the Season with D23
December 13
Holiday Gingerbread House Building Workshop
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
November 25
The Good Dinosaur opens in theaters.
December 18
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
January 29
The Finest Hours opens in theaters.
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
April 15
The Jungle Book opens in theaters.
May 27
Alice Through the Looking Glass opens in theaters.

Parks
September 25-November 16
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
January 16
Club Villain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Television
November 30
It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens—New TV Spot

Christmas comes early this year, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters in mid-December—and our brethren at Disney and Lucasfilm have been quenching our enthusiastic thirst these last few weeks with fun reveals. Case in point: the recent premiere of a brand-new TV spot! So many mind-spinning questions from its packed 45 seconds… Personally, we’re wondering just who’s behind the female voice that narrates the spot. Boy howdy, the anticipation is killing us!

Plus, several new character-driven posters—featuring the likes of Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Carrie Fisher as Leia, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and a look at a fully helmeted Kylo Ren—were unleashed on the public last week.

Do you have your tickets yet? We’ll see you at the multiplex on December 18!

First Look at Alice Through the Looking Glass

“We’re all mad here!” It’s been several years since we first saw the colorful, fantastical adventures of Lewis Carroll’s cherished heroine, Alice, through the eyes of the legendary director/producer Tim Burton—and come 2016, those exploits will continue with Alice Through the Looking Glass, directed by James Bobin. Check out the brand-new teaser trailer, above!

The film reunites the all-star cast from the 2010 blockbuster, as Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns from a long stint sailing the globe and delves again into the whimsical world of Underland… this time, traveling back in time in order to save her beloved Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). The Hatter, it seems, has lost his “Muchness”—so Mirana (Anne Hathaway) sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the chamber of the Grand Clock which powers all time. Returning to the past, she comes across friends—and enemies—at different points in their lives, and embarks on a perilous race to save the Hatter before time runs out. Alice Through the Looking Glass also stars Stephen Fry as the voice of the Cheshire Cat; Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts; and Alice newcomers Rhys Ifans and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Look for Alice’s adventures in theaters on May 27, 2016.

Manage Kids’ Screen Time with Circle by Disney

Looking for a unique—not to mention entertaining—way to oversee screen time for your children? Created in collaboration with Circle Media Inc., the new Circle with Disney is a device that totally reimagines how families use the Internet. Managed through a companion iOS app, Circle with Disney is a tool that helps parents stay informed about their kids’ online activities and limit screen time on every device in the home, including smart phones, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles.

Circle with Disney pairs with home Wi-Fi and gives parents the ability to filter content; set a “bedtime” for devices; and even completely pause the Internet. Each user’s profile and settings can be completely customized based on age and parents’ preferences. Additionally, through their partnership with Disney, Circle also provides families with a curated selection of Disney content including videos, blogs, gifs, emojis, music, games, characters, and more through a unique experience called MyCircle.

Circle with Disney is available now at meetcircle.com, and will soon be available through DisneyStore.com/circle (the app is already free to download).

Another Look at The Finest Hours

The upcoming Disney big-screen adventure, The Finest Hours, is the remarkable true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard—and we’ve got another look at the film, courtesy the latest trailer that just premiered during ABC’s Good Morning America.

On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path—including the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston that was literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern. As the senior officer on board, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and inspire the men to set aside their differences and work together to ride out one of the worst storms ever to hit the East Coast. Meanwhile, as word of the disaster reaches the mainland, Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders an operation to rescue the stranded sailors. Despite overwhelming odds, four men—led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine)—set out in a wooden lifeboat with an ill-equipped engine and little means of navigation, facing frigid temperatures, 60-foot high waves, and hurricane-force winds.

The Finest Hours sails into theaters on January 29.

It’s a Chocolate-Covered Holiday at Downtown Disney District

Take a spin through your holiday gift list… do you have a couple folks who like goodies of the chocolate persuasion? Then the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort has your back! As of last Tuesday, November 3, Ghirardelli has opened a seasonal holiday store right in the heart of the District, located next to the Disney Vacation Club Preview Center (across from Rainforest Café).

For the convenience of Downtown Disney District guests, the pop-up retail location offers a variety of gorgeous wrapped gifts, limited-edition Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark (yum!), classic bars and Squares, “pick-and-mix” chocolates, holiday novelties, and lots more.

Okay, who’s hungry?

New Star Wars Experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

It was the D23 EXPO 2015 announcement heard ’round the world: Amazing new Star Wars lands are coming to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. In advance of the actual themed lands, both resorts will be offering exclusive Star Wars experiences to guests on a daily basis… and our friends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida just announced some fantastic details!

Starting December 1, Star Wars Launch Bay will take guests into the Star Wars saga (and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens) with special exhibits and behind-the-scenes peeks, special merchandise, and even the chance to encounter Chewbacca and Darth Vader! Plus, Star Tours—The Adventures Continue will be home to a brand-new adventure inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens. During the opening months, the park will make sure everyone who rides Star Tours will experience the new adventure; after that, it will be up to the will of the Force! Check out an exclusive sneak peek at where the Starspeeder 1000 will be taking you, above.

That’s not all: Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, which will open in early December, is a reimagined Jedi Training experience that will take its young participants to the secret site of an ancient Jedi temple where they will face both Darth Vader and the mysterious Seventh Sister—a new villain from the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels.

Plan those trips now, you should.

Disneyland “Finds Adventure” with 2016 Rose Parade Float

The theme for the 2016 Rose Parade is “Find Your Adventure”—and what better way to celebrate than with a float highlighting the adventures you find around every corner at the Disneyland Resort?
Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration will come to life with a float honoring some of the most exciting experiences that await guests at the Happiest Place on Earth. At the heart of the float—which will wind its way through Pasadena, California, on the morning of January 1—is a sparkling recreation of Sleeping Beauty Castle, complete with Mickey and Minnie Mouse! Flanking the castle are two beloved tales currently delighting young and old at Disneyland Resort: the world of Frozen and the “galaxy far, far away” of Star Wars. Look for Elsa’s castle and Stormtroopers a-plenty!

Tune into ABC to see Disneyland Resort “float” down the parade route this New Year’s Day…

Disney and Star Wars Partner with Code.org for Hour of Code Campaign

In an effort to broaden participation in computer science—especially for kids all over the world—Code.org just unveiled a brand-new Star Wars-themed tutorial featuring Princess Leia, C-3PO, and R2-D2, as well as Rey and BB-8 from the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The online lesson kicks off the third annual global Hour of Code campaign, in honor of Computer Science Education Week, which begins December 7.

Thanks to Disney and Star Wars, students everywhere can learn to write code that allows them to create fun challenges and games using Star Wars characters. Participants will join forces with Rey to guide BB-8 through a space mission, then team up with Princess Leia to build their own game featuring R2-D2 or C-3PO. Students will also be able to play their completed games on smartphones, and share them with friends and family through a unique link.

This is the second year Disney has worked with Code.org on a coding tutorial featuring Disney characters. For more information, check out code.org/starwars.

Light Speed to Season of the Force at Disneyland Resort

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

Behind the Roar with The Lion Guard

Celebrate Dino Week with The Good Dinosaur

The Fashion Force Awakens for Charity

Award-Winning Composer Takes on Zootopia

Happy Birthday, Mickey!

ABC Family Gets in the Holiday Spirit with “Pop Up Santa” Events

Star Wars-Inspired Artwork Makes a Force for Change

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:

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