Haunting Imagery from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

It’s that spooky time of year again, with Halloween just in sight like a full moon peaking out from a foggy night sky. To help set the mood, we dug up production and concept images—some frighteningly rare—from the Disney classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The film, narrated by the famous crooner Bing Crosby, is the animated adaptation of Washington Irving’s story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It follows the gangly schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, who has a strong belief in superstitions. On Halloween night, after being spooked by a tale of the Headless Horseman, Ichabod’s lonely ride home becomes increasingly frightening until it culminates with a ghastly encounter at the bridge with the terrifying phantom and leaves Ichabod mysteriously missing the next morning.

We hope you enjoy the haunting imagery, and on Halloween night, if you come across any bridges, be sure to keep a watchful eye out for a dark headless figure riding a ghostly steed…

Concept promotional art for The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Storyboard for the sequence of Ichabod Crane trying to court Katrina van Tassel.

A cell of Ichabod Crane being worked on by an Ink and Paint artist.

Katrina van Tassel and Ichabod Crane dancing.

Ichabod Crane on his frightening journey home.

Ichabod Crane encounters the Headless Horseman.

Zootopia’s Voice Cast Revealed—Plus More in News Briefs

Big Zootopia Voice Cast News!

We have to wait just a couple more months for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next big adventure, Zootopia—but today’s exciting news is sure to tide us over! Joining previously announced voice cast members Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), and Grammy® winner Shakira are a slew of most excellent additions including Oscar® winners Octavia Spencer (The Help) and J.K. Simmons (Whiplash); Luther star Idris Elba; comedy legend Tommy Chong; Alan Tudyk (Firefly), providing a voice for his fourth Disney animated film; Marcel the Shell creator Jenny Slate; and character-actors-extraordinaire Bonnie Hunt (Cars) and Don Lake (Best in Show).

Directed by Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), Zootopia takes place in a modern mammal metropolis—where animals from every environment live together. It’s a place where, no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie cop Judy Hopps (voice of Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with fast-talking, scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (voice of Bateman) to solve the mystery. Look for Zootopia in theaters this March!

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 6
VIP Studio Experience with Disney Legend Andreas Deja
November 7
D23 Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives
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
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.

Parks
September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
September 25, 28, 30; October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015 at Disneyland
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
Television
November 30
It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Chris Rock Returns to The Oscars® on ABC

The 88th Academy Awards® will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 28, 2016, on ABC—and comedian/actor/all-around hilarious fellow Chris Rock will be back as host. Rock previously hosted the Oscars back in 2005.

Known around the world for his groundbreaking stand-up comedy, Rock has won four Emmy® Awards for his comedy series and specials, and has enjoyed success as an actor, writer, producer, and director for film, stage, and television; in fact, he recently directed Amy Schumer’s critically acclaimed comedy special Live at the Apollo for HBO.

Mark your calendars for Chris Rock and the 88th Academy Awards, live from the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, on February 28.

Sheriff Callie’s Wild West Gallops Back to Disney Channel This November

“Leapin’ lassos!” She’s back, y’all: Season Two of Disney Junior’s animated Western series Sheriff Callie’s Wild West—starring Mandy Moore as the voice of Sheriff Callie—debuts this Sunday, November 1, at 8 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel! The all-star guest voice cast includes comedian Keegan-Michael Key (Tomorrowland) as a card shark rooster named Phineas Foolery; music legends Iggy Pop and Henry Rollins as the Silverado Brothers, a pair of skating ermine silver thieves; and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Chris Isaak as singing horse bandit Johnny Strum. Plus, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea reprises his role as the Milk Bandit, a wildcat set on stealing all of the milk in Nice and Friendly Corners.

In the season premiere, titled “The Good, The Bad & the Yo-Yo / Boots or Consequences,” a yo-yo twirling bandit comes to town and learns an important lesson about forgiveness; later, Callie imparts some words of wisdom to Toby (voice of Jessica DiCicco, Gravity Falls) about returning things to their rightful owners. Sheriff Callie’s Wild West also stars Lucas Grabeel (Switched at Birth) and Mo Collins (Parks and Recreation).

New Jessica Jones Trailer: Open for Business

Private investigator Jessica Jones is just trying to make a living, after a failed attempt at and a tragic ending to—well—being a super hero. Her Alias Investigations office is now open for business in a brand-new trailer for Marvel’s Jessica Jones, above. The Netflix series premieres on Friday, November 20.
Jessica Jones stars Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), Mike Colter (The Good Wife), Rachael Taylor (Grey’s Anatomy), and David Tennant (Doctor Who).

Disney and Make-A-Wish Celebrate 100,000 Wishes

As Cinderella said, a dream is a wish your heart makes—and the Make-A-Wish Foundation has made dreams come true for countless children around the United States since 1980. Last week, Make-A-Wish held their annual Evening of Excellence awards ceremony at Disneyland Park in Anaheim and celebrated its whopping 100,000th Disney wish—marking a historic milestone in the organization’s 35-year relationship with The Walt Disney Company.

Additionally, during the ceremony—emceed by Girl Meets World star Ben Savage—Disney was honored by Make-A-Wish with two prestigious awards. Chris Connelly, host of ESPN’s My Wish series (highlighting athletes and their wish-fulfillment activities), accepted the Douglas Kiker Award on behalf of the network; the honor recognizes individuals and media organizations in entertainment for their extraordinary efforts to bring Make-A-Wish stories to the public. Plus, Disney Channel received the Chris Greicius Celebrity award, which praises its dedication to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Nearly 8,000 Disney wishes are granted every single year, including experiences at Disney Parks, trips on Disney Cruise Line, and visits to TV and movie sets.

Disney Gif: Now on Android

Android users of the world, rejoice! Disney Interactive has released an Android version of Disney Gif—an app that lets users send gifs and emojis of their favorite stories and characters via text, email, and other messaging and social platforms. Featuring content from Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney•Pixar, ABC, and Disney Parks, the app truly has a little something for everyone! More than 1,000 gifs are now live, and many more are added regularly (so keep an eye out for new additions in the app’s “featured” section).

That’s not all: In honor of Halloween, Disney Gif is serving up some special spooky moments, including gifs of your favorite Disney villains! Some are live now, and more treats will be added throughout the week.

Play Ball! Latin Baseball Festival at Walt Disney World

The World Series is already starting here in the States, but there’s amazing baseball still to come in late November—provided you’re in and around the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando (and who doesn’t want to be?). The Latin Baseball Festival, featuring two Robert Clemente Professional Baseball League teams from our neighbors in Puerto Rico, is set to be much more than just a three-game series (at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex) from November 20 to 22; it’ll truly be a multi-cultural affair!

Before each game at Champion Stadium between the Cangrejeros de Santurce and the Indios de Mayaguez, there’ll be a delightful “festival” atmosphere inside (and outside) the ballpark—filled with Latin-inspired entertainment and activities including fabulous music, food, beverages, and vendors, as well as a post-game jam after the Saturday, November 21, game.

This is the first time Roberto Clemente League teams are playing regular-season games within the continental United States—so get your tickets while you still can! Head over to LatinBaseballFestival.com for more information.

The Legend of Disneyland’s Halloween Tree

If you’ve ever visited Disneyland Park, you may have noticed the tall tree in front of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland… a stately oak reaching up to the sky while keeping watch over the passers-by below. Every Halloween since 2007, this tree gets a very special makeover—and it’s all because of one of America’s most prolific (and celebrated) writers.

“I’m glad I’m going to be a permanent part of the spirit of Halloween at Disneyland.”

Ray Bradbury, the famed author behind classic novels like Fahrenheit 451, has a long history with The Walt Disney Company. In fact, his deep-rooted fascination with Halloween began as a child after watching a Disney cartoon: the 1929 Silly Symphony short The Skeleton Dance. Decades later, in 1964, Bradbury and Walt Disney met and became friends and collaborators, joining forces on several projects at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, including Spaceship Earth at Epcot. Bradbury also wrote the screenplays for two Disney films based on his work: Something Wicked This Way Comes in 1983 and The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit in 1999.

The author celebrated his love of Halloween with his 1972 novel The Halloween Tree, which chronicles the adventures of a group of trick-or-treaters who learn about the origins of the holiday while searching for a missing friend. For years, Bradbury dreamt of having a Halloween tree at Disneyland—and on All Hallows Eve 2007, the 35th anniversary of the novel, that wish came true! The Frontierland oak was given a glimmering makeover, complete with twinkling orange lights and hand-painted jack-o’-lanterns hanging from its branches. “I belong here in Disneyland,” said Bradbury at the tree’s dedication ceremony, “ever since I came here 50 years ago. I’m glad I’m going to be a permanent part of the spirit of Halloween at Disneyland.” A plaque at the base of the tree commemorates the night’s celebration.

Brad Kaye, Creative Entertainment art director at Disneyland Resort, helped decorate that very first Halloween Tree. “As a fan of [Bradbury’s] books, it was really an honor,” he explained recently. “For the first year, [Walt Disney Imagineers] Tony Baxter, Kim Irvine, and I sat in front of the Golden Horseshoe late one night and ‘magic-markered’ all the pumpkins. In the years following, park enhancement has done a wonderful job of keeping it up in all its Halloween glory.” Additionally, versions of the Halloween Tree can now be seen during the Halloween season on all four Disney Cruise Line ships.

Bradbury visited the tree his several more times before his passing in 2012. Today, the Halloween Tree delights Disneyland guests of all ages as part of the park’s Halloween Time décor, and honors Bradbury’s illustrious contributions to The Walt Disney Company.

Pumpkin Kings: Cool Disney Carvings by Fans

D23 Members are a truly creative bunch—and at Halloween, imaginations get especially “spooktacular.” So we asked to see your best Disney-inspired pumpkins… and boy, did you deliver like Jack Skellington on Halloween night! Here are some of those frightfully fun Disney pumpkin carvings, made by fans from around the country. Trick or treat!

Ellie from Huber Heights, Ohio, brought a Frozen chill to her incredibly detailed Olaf the snowman pumpkin, and takes us “under the sea” with her homage to The Little Mermaid’s Ariel.

Everyone hail the Pumpkin King! Destiny in Salt Lake City, Utah, went for a true Halloween(town) theme with her smiling Jack Skellington pumpkin.

Destiny from Portland, Oregon, crafted these Mickey and Minnie Mouse carvings. A lovely All Hallows Eve tribute to two animated legends… bet they look especially good lit up at night!

OooOOOooh! EmiLee from (Disneyland Resort-adjacent) Anaheim, California, brought a little Toy Story fun to her Halloween decorations this year with an Alien-inspired pumpkin.

Nothing like seeing this smiling face staring at you in the dark! Justin in Pensacola, Florida, brings Alice in Wonderland’s Cheshire Cat to enigmatic life with this Halloween pumpkin.

Kelli from Phoenix, Arizona, lets the good times roll with her intricate pumpkin featuring Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.

Animated characters get the carving treatment from Lisa in San Bernadino, California—pixelated videogame hero Wreck-it Ralph, and Ariel from The Little Mermaid (complete with realistic-looking water).

Meredith from Montgomery, Alabama, brought big Disney magic to her pumpkins. Check out her two elaborate Fantasia-themed carvings: Sorcerer Mickey and devilish Chernabog!

It’s a fairy-tale happy ending for Nate in West Dundee, Illionois, as his Cinderella and Prince Charming pumpkin “carriage” rides off into the Halloween sunset.

No Disney-on-Halloween celebration is complete without the Hitchhiking Ghosts from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion attraction! Thanks to Rachael in Studio City, California, for giving them a lift.

Avengers are sure to assemble at Robin’s doorstep in Anthem, Arizona, to take a look at her Marvel-inspired pumpkin.

New Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: New Trailer, New Excitement!

Can you feel it? The buzz is building! We’re just about two months away from the official release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Disney and Lucasfilm celebrated by premiering a brand-new trailer during this week’s Monday Night Football game on ESPN. Just in case you couldn’t tune in, check out the trailer—linked above—post haste!

Need a bit more amazing news to satisfy that ever-growing Star Wars hunger? (Don’t worry, we totally get it.) Well, here it is: Tickets for the film just went on sale, for showings across the globe! Get ’em while they’re hot! And if that isn’t galactic enough, many theaters in the U.S. and Canada are holding all-day Star Wars marathons on December 17, leading up to The Force Awakens’ premiere at midnight on December 18. Find out where Droids and Jedis alike can watch all seven Star Wars episodes by rocketing over to visit our friends at StarWars.com.

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
October 25
Haunted Gingerbread House Building Workshop
November 6
VIP Studio Experience with Disney Legend Andreas Deja
November 7
D23 Day at the Walt Disney Studios and Archives
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
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.

Celebrating Friendship with The Good Dinosaur

Woody and Buzz… Joy and Sadness… Carl and Russell… Disney•Pixar has brought us some truly iconic friendships over the last 20 years. And there’s a new duo on the horizon: Arlo the Apatosaurus and his human BFF, Spot, from The Good Dinosaur.

Disney•Pixar celebrates two decades of animated allies with this new The Good Dinosaur featurette, above. It’s a friendship born of an intriguing idea: What if an asteroid never hit Earth, and dinosaurs never became extinct? We’ll see more of Arlo and Spot’s life-changing friendship when The Good Dinosaur hits theaters this Thanksgiving.

Disney’s Descendants Meet & Greet Fans at Disneyland Resort

Hot on the heels of the announcement that Disney’s Descendants sequel is in the pipeline, much of the cast—as well as director Kenny Ortega—took Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort by good-versus-evil storm for a colorful fan celebration on Saturday, October 17.

Disney’s Descendants stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, and Sofia Carson joined Kenny at the Downtown Disney stage for Q&As and several dance-and-sing-alongs (including a tutorial for the film’s popular pop single, “Rotten to the Core”). Fans were asked to dress up in their Isle of the Lost or Auradon-inspired best, and several Descendants devotees were even invited up on stage for photos with the cast.

Look for the sequel to Disney’s Descendants on Disney Channel in 2017!

Catch a First Look at The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

“It is time!” Ready to meet brave (and adorable) Kion? The second son of Simba and Nala, and his mighty crew of animal pals, star in this brand-new trailer (above) for The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar—a television movie event premiering Sunday, November 22 at 7 p.m. on Disney Channel.

Join Kion as he takes on the leadership of the Lion Guard and assembles the best and the brightest—who happen to be his closest friends—to help maintain the Pride Lands and keep the “Circle of Life” intact. But Kion himself must learn the power of his roar before a genuine and lasting peace can unfold…

Star Wars: Force for Change Joins Forces with Target

Star Wars: Force For Change is the global charitable initiative that harnesses the strength of Star Wars and its fandom to make a positive impact around the world. And there’s big news in the initiative’s universe: Next year, Target will join Disney and Star Wars: Force for Change to recruit more schools for the UNICEF Kid Power program, which promotes activity through fun competition. Cool fitness bands sync with the free Kid Power companion app—and by going on missions through the app, users learn about new cultures and earn points for completing challenges. The best part? Those points unlock food packets that UNICEF delivers to severely malnourished children around the globe.

As part of the partnership with Target, schools will receive Kid Power bands for their students, classroom tablets for syncing and tracking progress, and standards-based curriculum and content on malnutrition and global citizenship for keeping students engaged and inspired! Ultimately, the program hopes to save lives abroad while also encouraging American kids to become more active.

Want one of your own? Target is now the exclusive retailer of the Kid Power bands, and they’ll be available for pre-order at Target.com on November 29. “Do good, you can!”

Sanjay’s Super Team: First Clip

A new Disney•Pixar film means a new Pixar Animation Studios short! (It’s double the fun, right?) In Sanjay’s Super Team, artist Sanjay Patel uses his own experience to tell the story of a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop culture comes into conflict with his father’s traditions. Sanjay is transfixed by the world of cartoons and comics, while his father tries to draw him into the traditions of his Hindu practice. Boredom (and reluctance) quickly turns into an awe-inspiring adventure as Sanjay embarks on a journey he never imagined.

Get a sneak peek into Sanjay’s world with this debut clip, above. And look for Sanjay and all his epic exploits when Sanjay’s Super Team debuts with The Good Dinosaur on November 25.

Spider-Man Arrives at Disneyland Park This November

Our spidey sense is positively a-tingle with the news that Spider-Man will be making his Disneyland Resort debut at a heroic new character greeting location inside Super Hero HQ—the West Coast home base of some of the greatest heroes in the universe! Located in the Tomorrowland Expo Center at Disneyland Park, Super Hero HQ is the place to go to meet your favorite super heroes… and maybe discover the super hero in yourself. You can tour Treasures of Asgard; virtually suit up as Iron Man and check out the Hall of Armor at Iron Man Tech (presented by Stark Industries, of course); play some of the latest games in the Game Center; and even pick up some Super Hero gear to take with you on your journey home.

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man when Super Hero HQ opens on November 16!

New Narrators Bring Holiday Sparkle to 2015 Candlelight Processional

Walt Disney World’s Candlelight Processional, held every holiday season at Epcot, is a fan favorite; part of the park’s Holidays Around the World celebration, stars from stage and screen join the Walt Disney World Orchestra and an amazing massed choir to present a dramatic re-telling of the Christmas story. This year’s event runs from November 27 through December 30—and Epcot just announced the full roster of narrators for 2015.

Joining previously announced luminaries like Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris (both repeat Candlelight participants) are Grey’s Anatomy star Chandra Wilson, former The View cohost Meredith Vieira, Lost alum Daniel Dae Kim, Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer, and recording artist Amy Grant.

For more info on Holidays Around the World at Epcot, and the Candlelight Processional (including how to make reservations for a delightful Processional dinner package), head over to DisneyWorld.com/holidays.

Disney Ghosts: Our Frightful Favorites

The crypt doors are creaking and the tombstones are quaking, which only means one thing … grim-grinning ghosts are soon to socialize! With Halloween just around the corner, we went hunting for all manner of Disney ghosts, ghouls, and goblins. But these particular spirits are not-so-scary—they’re more likely to make you laugh, or even offer good advice.

Our dearly departed faves include the newest member of the “999 Happy Haunts” Club, some revered Chinese ancestors, and Jack Skellington’s loyal pup. Did your favorite silly spectre make our list?

Gusteau from Ratatouille

In the world of 2007’s Ratatouille, Auguste Gusteau and his five-star restaurant were once the toast of Paris—that is, until Anton Ego (France’s top food critic) had his way in the press. Brokenhearted, Gusteau died shortly thereafter. But his spirit lives on, both as Remy’s conscience and Linguini’s culinary “guardian angel.”

The Hatbox Ghost at the Haunted Mansion
The Hatbox Ghost was one of Haunted Mansion’s original “999 Happy Haunts”—but he mysteriously disappeared just as the attraction opened at Disneyland Park in 1969. Thankfully, the reclusive spectre recently rematerialized (just in time for the park’s Diamond Celebration). He’s currently decked out in his wintery best for Haunted Mansion Holiday!

Jacob and Robert Marley from A Muppet Christmas Carol

Leave it to The Muppets to take Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge’s ghostly former business partner, and turn him into a pair of persnickety hecklers! In A Muppet Christmas Carol, Jacob and Robert come from beyond to warn Ebenezer about his greedy ways.

The Fa Family Ancestors from Mulan

Made up of various deceased relatives from Fa Zhou’s family, the Ancestors are spirits tasked with looking after Mulan once she decides to impersonate a soldier and fight the Huns in her father’s stead. They are keepers of ancient wisdom, but they also know how to throw a pretty great party! Side note: Best to keep them away from energetic little dragons.

Lonesome Ghosts

In this 1937 cartoon, a few overconfident spirits hire “professional” (read: bumbling) ghost-exterminators Mickey, Donald, and Goofy to try and get rid of them, hoping for a little fun in the process. Shockingly, the trio succeeds—by scaring the ghosts out of the house! Lonesome Ghosts is especially noteworthy for its use of a special transparent paint created by Disney animators.

The Hitchhiking Ghosts from The Haunted Mansion

You can’t blame us for including several of Haunted Mansion’s happy haunts on our list! The Hitchhiking Ghosts have delighted fans at Disney Parks across the world for decades.

Zero from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington’s trusty ghost dog from the 1993 stop-motion animation film has floppy ears (reminiscent of Pluto, if you ask us) and a body made from what looks like a single white sheet. His biggest triumph? Leading Jack’s sleigh through thick fog—via his glowing jack o’ lantern nose—to deliver presents across Halloween Town.

Chernabog’s Minions in Fantasia’s “Night on Bald Mountain”

OK, so this one’s just a little scary. In one of the more dramatic sequences in 1940’s Fantasia, the giant demon Chernabog emerges from Bald Mountain to summon all manner of demons from a nearby village graveyard. Almost as soon as they appear, he throws them into a fiery pit! Ultimately, Chernabog himself is overcome once the sun rises.

Ma and Pa Duskerton from Gravity Falls

These two ghostly senior citizens once owned the town’s Dusk 2 Dawn convenience store, and they hated the local teenagers so much that they tried banning them from their establishment. That probably wasn’t the best idea, as the teens retaliated by playing loud rap music with “shocking” lyrics… causing the pair double heart attacks!

“The Seven Ghosts” Mickey Mouse Comic

Mickey had his hands full with supernatural shenanigans during a story arc in the super-popular Mickey Mouse newspaper comic strip, originally published from August 10 through November 28, 1936. Written by Floyd Gottfredson, it was later reprinted in the first issue of the Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse comic book from Gladstone Publishing.

Blackbeard’s Ghost

Disney Legend Dean Jones starred in this 1968 Walt Disney Pictures adventure as Steve Walker, a track coach who moves to a seaside town and inadvertently summons the ghost of notorious pirate Captain Blackbeard (Peter Ustinov). Hijinks ensue, but good ol’ Blackbeard earns his desired eternal rest by helping Steve coach his track team to victory, outwit some gangsters, and even get the girl.

Thackery Binx from Hocus Pocus

Let’s face it: Hocus Pocus is a treasure trove of supernatural Disney fun! Out of all the fantastic characters, we decided to give some love to Thackery Binx—the adorable 17th century farmboy-turned-black-cat who helps Max, Dani, and Allison defeat the Sanderson Sisters in present-day Salem. Towards the end of the film, Thackery turns back into a human apparition and reunites with his long-deceased sister, Emily.

Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket) from Mickey’s Christmas Carol

Jiminy Cricket was the perfect Disney choice to play the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1983 short film. The jovial insect takes Ebenezer Scrooge (portrayed here by Scrooge McDuck) on a tour through his past—explaining how Scrooge’s growing love of money led him to break his fiancée Isabelle’s heart.

ABC Family’s “13 Nights of Halloween” Schedule for October 2015

NOTE: To see the 2016 line-up, click here.

Second to umpteen rides through Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Resort, nothing puts us in the Halloween spirit better than grabbing a handful (or six) of candy corn and curling up on the couch to watch our favorite frightening films. For the 17th year, our friends at ABC Family have gathered a smattering of our most beloved ghosts, witches and wizards, corpses, monsters, and more to help us count down to All Hallows’ Eve.

To help schedule your DVR recordings or viewing parties accordingly, here is the full schedule of this year’s “13 Nights of Halloween,” which runs October 19 to 31 2015.

Monday, October 19
9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus

Tuesday, October 20
6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus
9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT Stitchers—All New Halloween Special

Wednesday, October 21
7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT The Addams Family
9 p.m ET/8 p.m. CT Addams Family Values

Thursday, October 22
8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT The Hunger Games

Friday, October 23
8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT Sleepy Hollow—Network Television Premiere

Saturday, October 24
8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT DisneyŸPixar’s Monsters University
11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT DisneyŸPixar’s Toy Story OF TERROR!
11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus

Sunday, October 25
6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT DisneyŸPixar’s Toy Story OF TERROR!
7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT DisneyŸPixar’s Monsters University
9:45 p.m. ET/8:45 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus

Monday, October 26
9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT DisneyŸPixar’s Toy Story OF TERROR!
9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tuesday, October 27
7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT DisneyŸPixar’s Toy Story OF TERROR!
9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus

Wednesday, October 28
6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus
8:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. CT Dark Shadows

Thursday, October 29
7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT The Addams Family
9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT Addams Family Values

Friday, October 30
6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus
8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT Poltergeist

Saturday, October 31
5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT Hocus Pocus
11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT Sleepy Hollow

Schedule subject to change. Please check abcfamily.com or your local listings.

Rebel Rebel—Star Wars Rebels’ Talent Talks Season 2

Star Wars fans have been waiting a long time for a new big-screen installment of the Saga, and most fans already know where they’re going to be on December 18, when The Force Awakens opens in theaters. Lucky for us fans, Star Wars Rebels’ executive producer Dave Filoni loves that far, far away galaxy as much as we do—and Disney XD’s hit animated series has become a must-watch for Star Wars fans of all ages. Star Wars Rebels’ sophomore season officially premieres October 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD, and D23 was recently lucky enough to speak with Filoni and members of the series’ stellar voice cast about what lies ahead.

Kids who grew up watching The Clone Wars will be seeing two familiar faces this season, through Ahsoka’s continued involvement with the crew of The Ghost and with the surprise arrival of Captain Rex. Filoni admits that the Star Wars Rebels writers discussed introducing these characters to the series sooner but it didn’t feel right until now. “Their story had to serve the story of the Rebels. I couldn’t just haphazardly bring them in because I liked them,” Filoni explains. The first season of Star Wars Rebels was about establishing the “family”: reluctant master Kanan, skilled pilot Hera, artist/weapons expert Sabine, the curmudgeonly Zeb, and, of course, padawan Ezra. But, Filoni admits, “Once you know them and you understand their character dynamics, to sit there and suddenly you’re around the table and you go, ‘Oh wow, I wonder what Kanan would think of Rex.’ And you realize, he probably wouldn’t think much of Rex.” Filoni is well aware, though, that Captain Rex has some passionate fans—as does Kanan—so this dynamic was filled with tremendous potential to explore this season.

Making the transition from The Clone Wars to Star Wars Rebels hasn’t exactly been seamless for the actress who provides Ahsoka’s voice, Ashley Eckstein, since the character is so different now. “We worked on Clone Wars for seven years and I was the Ezra of Clone Wars,” she points out, adding, “I automatically want to be snippy and sarcastic and I would say there’s often times I have to do a couple more takes to get into Rebels Ahsoka… I almost channel Obi Wan. She’s more of the master now.”

Ahsoka, Filoni says, helps with the increased stakes our heroes are facing in Season 2 with the arrival on scene of Darth Vader himself. “If you want to have Vader in Rebels, you can’t just bring him into it. Because he’s going to crush them,” Filoni states, honestly. “[Ahsoka] had much more training [than Kanan] from Anakin Skywalker directly—one of the greatest of all Jedi—from Obi Wan Kenobi, from Yoda, so she brings that lineage to the Rebels, but with a perspective that’s, ‘Yeah, that didn’t work for me. I walked away from it.’”

While Ahsoka brings the wisdom of her experience to helping Ezra and the crew, Kanan brings… improvisational skills? His portrayer, Freddie Prinze Jr., jokes that Kanan and Ezra’s relationship is more brotherly than Anakin and Ahsoka’s relationship was on The Clone Wars because “he doesn’t know how to be a master. He was on the run at the age that he finds Ezra, so he’s making it up as he goes. You certainly see him try to commit to the role of master and sometimes he looks like an idiot because he doesn’t know what it’s like—fake it till you make it!” But Prinze is quick to point out that Kanan’s conversation with Master Yoda in Season 1 was a turning point for the character. “From that moment on, it’s like anything. Once you’re not afraid to fail, then you rarely fail. And once he’s not afraid of being a master, he becomes a pretty good master.”

And this season Kanan will also face challenges posed to him by Hera though the couple’s romance is largely implied. “I think it’s more what’s said without words than what you’ll see with bantering and affection,” Hera’s portrayer, Vanessa Marshall, says. “I’m begging him to go from our small structure into a bigger, militaristic structure, which he detests. I think the ask is bigger for Hera, and the fact that he follows through and does is a demonstration of his love.”

Speaking of love within the Star Wars universe, the actor who provides Captain Rex’s voice, Dee Bradley Baker, might have voiced more characters in Star Wars than any other actor in the world, Prinze jokes. “I count every clone. Every one of them gets counted,” Baker laughs. “This is something I’ve loved since I was a kid,” he professes. “I always show a picture of the Jawa costume my parents made for me the Halloween after A New Hope was released in 1977. To be involved in something that you really loved deeply as a kid, to be in it, is living a dream.”

Many fans of Star Wars Rebels will see some of their dreams come true this season when they see backstories revealed for the characters they’ve come to love. We’ll learn more about Hera, whose father was an important revolutionary, and about Sabine, who has a mysterious history on her home planet of Mandalore. Even droid Chopper gets a backstory this time around, Filoni teases, but he adds, “Chopper is the only one that doesn’t arc. He was a jerk at the beginning and he’s still pretty much a jerk.”

Star Wars Rebels has continued the tradition of the Saga, but Prinze is quick to point out, “I don’t think it’s a modern twist on Star Wars. I feel like it’s a throwback to the original trilogy, in the look and the style and the vibe. The older movies are what inspires my performance.”

The Force remains strong in Star Wars Rebels. Watch it, we will!

Disney Infinity 3.0 Fan’s Dream-Come-True-Sweepstakes

Overview
D23 Members are invited to enter for the chance to win a Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack – now featuring characters, stories and worlds from Star Wars™ – along with four Disney Infinity Figures and Toy Box Expansion Games!

To Enter
The Disney Infinity 3.0 Fan’s Dream-Come-True-Sweepstakes is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!

Details
Winner will be notified via email within 48 hours after the end of the Sweepstakes. Click here for complete legal rules.

More Information
Great adventures and great characters join forces to create endless play possibilities with Disney Infinity 3.0 – and D23 wants to put you in the heart of its newest set of adventures and make your Disney Infinity dreams come true!

D23 Members are invited to enter for the chance to win a Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack – complete with Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Video Game, Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Base, two Star Wars ™ figures (Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker), a Star Wars ™Twilight of the Republic Play Set Piece and one Web Code Card – along with Toy Box Expansion Games and four figures (Sadness, Disgust, and Fear from Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out, and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse)!

Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition now welcomes Star Wars™ to the ever-growing collection of Marvel, Disney and Disney/Pixar characters, stories and worlds. Together new heroes can join forces with characters from previous editions and embark on adventures as big as your imagination in the Toy Box!

NOTE:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes begins at 10 a.m. PT on 10/14/15 and ends at 10 a.m. PT on 10/30/15. Open to residents of the U.S. including DC, ages 18 and older (or the age of majority in state of primary residence, whichever is older). Must be an active D23 Member prior to date of entry. Only one entry allowed per D23 Member. For full details on entry requirements, odds of winning, prize limitations and conditions click here for official rules.

Steakhouse 55’s Warm Apple Butter Cake

Whether it’s an apple on a teacher’s desk at the start of a school year or a family outing to a nearby orchard to pick apples, there’s something about the fall season that just makes us think about apples! Disneyland Hotel’s Steakhouse 55 offers a dessert that will put excellent use to apples that you’ve just picked… or bought at your local grocer or farmer’s market—Warm Apple Butter Cake. Our friends at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are featuring this recipe in their new cookbook, Even More Delicious Disney Desserts, and we think you’ll enjoy making it as much as guests of the Disneyland Resort enjoy eating it.

So how ’bout them apples?

Steakhouse 55’s Warm Apple Butter Cake
With an “Old Hollywood” ambience and black-and-white photos of stars lining the walls, Steakhouse 55 celebrates an era when fine dining was de rigeur. Baked in ramekins with each cake topped with warm caramelized apples, caramel glaze, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s a classic sweet ending.

Ingredients

Makes 15 individual cakes

Caramelized Apples
2 whole Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon sugar

Jack Daniels Caramel Glaze
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 tablespoon Jack Daniels bourbon
1 cups heavy cream

Apple Butter Cake
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
8 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 1/2 cups plus 1 teaspoon buttermilk
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Dried apple slices, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

For caramelized apples:

Cut apples into thin slices.
Melt butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat; add apples and sugar.
Cook apples until golden and softened. Set aside to cool.

For Jack Daniels caramel glaze:

Combine brown sugar and butter in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir continuously until sugar dissolves.
Simmer over medium heat without stirring or touching pan, until mixture is thick and dark amber in color, about 10 minutes.
Remove pan from heat. Carefully whisk in bourbon and heavy cream. Mixture will bubble vigorously and release very hot steam.
Pour caramel into a bowl to cool; set aside.

For cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 15 (3/4-cup-capacity) ramekins; set aside.
Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
Whisk together sugar, eggs and egg yolks, and melted butter in a separate large bowl, until well combined.
Combine buttermilk and almond extract in a small bowl; set aside.
Fold a third of flour mixture into egg mixture. Stir in half of buttermilk mixture. Fold in another third of flour mixture, then add remaining buttermilk mixture. Fold in remaining flour mixture.
Ladle 1/2 cup cake batter into prepared ramekins. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center of cakes comes out clean.

To serve:

While cakes are warm, carefully remove from ramekins onto a serving plate.
Divide caramelized apples among tops of cakes. Spoon Jack Daniels Glaze over top of apples and cake.
Serve with vanilla ice cream and garnish with dried apple slices, if desired.

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Ingredients

Preparation

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: