Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with These Rising Disney Stars

By Sarah Sterling

L’chaim! It’s officially Jewish American Heritage month and to celebrate we have created a watchlist featuring some of Disney’s promising young stars who are also Jewish! From high school drama club to 17th century Salem, these actors are representing the Jewish community with pride and each one is a mensch (the Yiddish word for “a good person”)! Here are shows and movies you can stream this month featuring these young, talented, Jewish stars:

Milo Manheim – Prom Pact
Disney’s latest Original Movie, Prom Pact, follows Mandy Yang (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her best friend, Ben Plunkett (Manheim), as they navigate the stress and anxiety of getting into college and finding dates to senior prom. Manheim’s character is charming and goofy, solidifying him as one of Disney’s most popular recurring stars, because Prom Pact is far from his first appearance on Disney Channel or Disney+! You can stream Prom Pact now on Disney+, as well as Manheim’s previous projects including ZOMBIES, ZOMBIES 2, ZOMBIES 3, and Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.!

Milo Manheim and Peyton Elizabeth Lee sit side by side in a dark movie theater. They are both dressed in 80’s style formal attire. Milo has on a blue suit jacket patterned with gold detail. His hair is styled in an 80’s jheri curl and he has a silver bolo around his neck. Elizabeth is wearing a bedazzled pink sweetheart-neck dress, matching pink gloves, and costume jewelry accessories. They are both staring ahead at the screen in front of them and eating popcorn.

Sky Katz – Raven’s Home
Actress and musical artist Sky Katz is best known for her scene-stealing role on Raven’s Home, the award-winning spin-off to one of Disney Channel’s most beloved series, That’s So Raven. Katz played Tess O’Malley, best friend to Raven’s daughter Nia Baxter-Carter. You can hear some of her rap skills in the Raven’s Home Season 2 episode, “Raven’s Home: Remix,” but Katz also performed on the Kim Possible (2019) soundtrack in “Party With Me.” See more of Katz by streaming Raven’s Home on Disney+!

Navia Robinson, Sky Katz, and Issac Ryan Brown stand together in a promo shot for Raven’s Home. The trio are in front of a technicolor brick wall, all smiling at the camera. Navia is wearing an olive green jacket over a blue and white striped shirt with white pants. Sky is wearing a camo patterned shirt and black track pants. Issac has on a denim jacket, red shirt, and black camo pants. He has his arms outstretched with jazz hands.

Joshua Rush – Andi Mack

While Joshua Rush can be seen and heard in multiple Disney productions, including Gravity Falls, Family Guy, The Lion Guard, and Star vs. The Forces of Evil, he is best known for his role as Cyrus Goodman on Disney Channel’s Andi Mack. Cyrus was a monumental character in Disney history being the first main character on a Disney show to come out as gay, but the character is also Jewish, becoming a bar mitzvah in Season 2, episode 13 “Cyrus’ Bash-Mitzvah” and inviting his friends to sit shiva for his grandmother (a Jewish mourning practice) in Season 3, episode 8, “One in a Minyan.” Celebrate the range of experiences that Rush provided viewers as Cyrus by streaming Andi Mack on Disney+.

A screenshot from Andi Mack featuring Joshua Rush, Sofia Wylie, and Peyton Elizabeth Lee cheering their lemonades at a diner. Most of the cast is facing inward at each other, obscuring their faces, but Joshua can be seen clearly, smiling as he holds up his drink. The setting looks like a classic 50’s style diner with leather seats. Behind the cast you can see a suburban downtown street out of the restaurant’s window.

Juju Brener – Hocus Pocus 2
Juju Brener is already an accomplished actress at the ripe age of 11! Appearing in a variety of television shows, video games, and short films, Disney fans will recognize her from Disney+’s record-breaking sequel, Hocus Pocus 2! When Hocus Pocus 2 debuted in Fall 2022, it quickly became the most streamed movie in Disney+ history, proving that the Sanderson Sisters are still able to put a spell on viewers. Some of the most memorable scenes in this sinister sequel focus on the young Sanderson Sisters back in 1653 and feature Juju as little Sarah Sanderson. Bringing just as much naivety and humor as Sarah Jessica Parker’s adult version of the character, Juju adorably exemplifies how Sarah has always been a loving and devoted sister with a knack for wicked tricks. No need to wait for Halloween — we’ll be streaming Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+ all year-round!

A scene from Hocus Pocus 2 featuring Taylor Henderson, Nina Kitchen, and Juju Brener as the young Sanderson Sisters. The three girls stand in the dark outside, peering down at Winifred’s iconic one-eyed spellbook. The trio are dressed in traditional 17th century costumes and are looking at the book in Taylor’s hands with worried and excited expressions.

Larry Saperstein – High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Talented stage actor, singer, and production designer Larry Saperstein is well known as Big Red on the hit Disney+ show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Starting off as Ricky’s drama club-averse best friend, Saperstein brought so much heart to the role that Big Red quickly became a fan favorite. We’ve seen the character go from reluctant tech crew member to a tap-dancing romantic lead and we can’t wait to see what’s next for him in Season 4 of the series. Saperstein brings diversity to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on and off-screen through his Jewish heritage and by being one of many cast members who identify as queer and portray a character who is also queer. Celebrate Jewish bisexual icon Larry Saperstein with a High School Musical: The Musical: The Series rewatch this month!

Larry Saperstein sits on a leather chair in front of Julia Lester, smiling up at her with adoration in his eyes. He is wearing a blue suit jacket with golden and brown autumn leaves all over it. A friendship bracelet can be seen on his left wrist and his red hair is styled casually. You can see Julia Lester from the back, and she is wearing her Belle costume from the Beauty and the Beast musical they are performing in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Julia Lester – High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Another Jewish actor from the LGBTQIA+ community starring in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is Julia Lester who plays Ashlynn. Lester is a supremely talented artist (we are still belting “Wondering” from Season 1 in the car) and has moved audiences with her genuine performance as Ashlynn. We’ve followed the character through first romances, gaining confidence and landing the lead in the school play, and coming out in the most recent season of the show. You can hear Julia discuss her family’s Jewish traditions in High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, also available to stream now on Disney+!

Julia Lester as Ashlynn in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. This photo is from a scene where Ashlynn is portraying Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Julia is onstage in a blue peasant dress and short brown boots. She has a brace around her left wrist and hand, indicating the character has an injury. The background behind her shows the exterior walls of a castle with some plants and trees. 

Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month on Video Calls

By Sam Polczynski

D23 supports Jewish American Heritage Month which is an annual recognition and celebration of the amazing achievements and contributions that the Jewish community has made to the United States.

We encourage you to show your support for the Jewish American community this May while connecting with loved ones near and far by downloading this background now!

 

A Magical Look at the Making of The Little Mermaid

By Alison Stateman

In just a couple weeks, the live-action reimagining of the Oscar®-winning animated classic The Little Mermaid will debut exclusively in movie theaters nationwide. The highly anticipated film, helmed by Oscar-nominated director and producer Rob Marshall, brings to stunning life the beloved story of Ariel (Halle Bailey), a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for life outside of her underwater kingdom. In the new film, the youngest daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem)—and his most defiant daughter—visits the surface world, where she falls for Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), setting in motion a romance that will change both of their worlds.

Like the animated classic, the new live-action film is based on the 1837 fairy tale from Hans Christian Andersen. David Magee (Finding Neverland) wrote the screenplay for the new film, which expands and enhances the tale about a girl who feels displaced and sees her life differently than those around her.

To celebrate the film’s upcoming release on May 26, Bailey, Bardem, and Hauer-King were joined by fellow cast members Melissa McCarthy (Ursula), Daveed Diggs (Sebastian), Awkwafina (Scuttle), Jacob Tremblay (Flounder), and Noma Dumezweni (The Queen)—alongside Marshall, producer John DeLuca, and Oscar-winning composer and Disney Legend Alan Menken—at a press conference where they gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the epic film.

Among the “seaworthy” highlights:

Ariel (Halle Bailey) sits with her back toward the camera, wearing a blue corseted dress, with her long red-hair flowing down her back, as she gazes at Prince Eric’s castle in the distance in a scene from The Little Mermaid.

More Music!
The original The Little Mermaid boasted an Oscar-winning soundtrack with music by Menken and lyrics by late Disney Legend Howard Ashman. Before the current film, Menken had already reimagined several of his scores for live-action and stage versions of Disney animated films, including his subsequent collaborations with Ashman, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. For the new live-action reimagining, Marshall enlisted celebrated Broadway and film composer Lin-Manuel Miranda to work with Menken on lyrics. The result is a score that boasts new arrangements of the original score and three new songs.

Menken said he was delighted to collaborate with a creative team that was on his “bucket list” of people to work with.

“Rob and John, David McGee, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and I got together and went through how the story was being adapted by David, how the structure is and where are the potential spots [for new music]. It’s as simple as that,” Menken explained. “Those decision are made, first of all, by character, by moment, but also by the sequence of a score, what’s needed at a certain moment and what.”

Additions to the score include a power ballad for Prince Eric, called “Wild Uncharted Waters,” following the moment he is told he can’t go back out to sea to search for the girl who saved him; an additional song for Ariel, “For the First Time” chronicling her first experience on land, which moves from excitement to her first experience with heartbreak; and a duet between Sebastian and Scuttle, called “The Scuttlebutt,” that Menken said was a “surprise gift from Lin.”

He said, “I gave him a Caribbean tune and Lin sort of did a rap over it that was so perfect, that used the music, but it had this rhythmic pulse to it. It was just pure Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Said Marshall, “It’s surprising when you think about it—in the animated film, Ariel had one song. The great thing about working with Alan is that he’s so open.”

King Triton (Javier Bardem) addresses his daughter Ariel, whose back is toward the camera, in his underwater kingdom in a scene from the live-action The Little Mermaid.

A Deep Connection
Bailey (grown-ish) was primarily known for being part of the Grammy®-nominated R&B duo Chloe x Halle before being cast as Ariel in her feature film debut.

She was the very first actor Marshall, DeLuca, and Menken auditioned for the role. “The first thing she did is, she came in and sang for us. She sang that song,” Marshall recalled, referring to Ariel’s ballad “Part of Your World.”

“And I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I just thought, ‘She’s so deeply connected to what she’s singing about. It’s so emotional. It’s so beautiful.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, we’ve been doing this for 5 minutes, have we found Ariel?’ And we had, but we didn’t know that,” he said. “Then we saw hundreds of other actors after that, and Halle kept coming back in. We saw every ethnicity; we saw everybody. And she claimed role.”

Bardem, best-known for his chilling Oscar-winning performance in “No Country for Old Men,” said it was easy to tap into his paternal role with the relative newcomer. “I just fell for her. She has this thing where you just can’t help but love her unconditionally and honestly. It was just easy for us to connect… and I was always mesmerized by the quality of her as a performer, let alone the singing.” As an actress, he added, Bailey had “courage, going to the places she had to go. That was amazing.”

Of course, not everyone in the cast had the prior vocal experience of Bailey and Daveed Diggs, who won a Tony Award® for his dual portrayal of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Miranda’s famed hip-hop stage musical Hamilton.

“We love working with actors who are new to musicals, because they approach it from the right place,” Marshall said. “They’re singing as the character, and they’re bringing that scene to life through song.”

DeLuca added, “It’s such new territory, and they all wanted to sing. Even Awkwafina—she raps… [and she] had this kind of scared, excited feeling about singing. And Melissa… when I would ask her to do things, we’d just be playing in the studio and then she’d say, ‘That came out of me?’” 

A Family Affair
For Bailey, being away from her sister—whom she calls her best friend—was one of the hardest parts of the filming, which was done on location in Sardinia, off the coast of Italy, and at Pinewood Studios outside of London. Then, throughout the process of working on the film, the cast started to feel like family.

These people are just—I feel like they’re my family, and they’re so talented and have inspired me for so long… and I’m just happy to be surrounded by them,” Bailey said.

Unlike on traditional voice-acting projects, where actors work on their parts separately, for The Little Mermaidthe cast got to work on their scenes together. This was in part due to the extensive, weeks-long rehearsal process that the film required to help ground the actors before filming began. “We were all together for quite some time at the studio in England, and we got to know each other so well,” Tremblay said. “And that definitely helped with the voice work. It was a privilege that we all got to be together and do our scenes together.”

Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) is seen in profile in her underwater grotto as she plots how to ensnare Ariel.

Making It Real
To help ground the actors, Marshall rehearsed scenes in a way similar to how it is typically done for staged plays—getting the actors on their feet to map out scenes and run lines. For the live-action The Little Mermaid, DeLuca said it was crucial literally to start “on our feet, on the floor. Because then we had to teach all these stunt people. There were 10 to 20 stunt people that would take them through on these apparatuses. They had to know every line, every breath.”

Marshall added, “Sometimes I would say ‘action,’ they would say two lines, and I’d say ‘cut,’ and then we put them on another apparatus, on wires, and then go ‘action’ and then one line, ‘cut.’ It was literally like a mosaic.”

Recalling the process, Diggs said, “The way we worked on it wasn’t big. It really felt like we were kind of doing community theater. We were pushing boxes around to make sets and we got in this groove where it was like, it’s how you make art. We made something that we understood that everyone could wrap their arms around and that we really believed in and knew inside and out.”

Marshall, whose previous film musicals include Mary Poppins Returns and Into the Woods, said, “Movie musicals are a hybrid of theater and film, because you can’t just walk in and start singing. You have to learn the choreography; it is all a part of it. I always feel that my job as a director is to protect the actors, make them feel safe in a space where they can screw up and be terrible and then get better and not feel judged.”

He succeeded, with the cast including McCarthy raving about Marshall’s approach. “He sets up this world that is like why I fell in love with plays. It feels so small, and yet you know it’s this enormous thing,” McCarthy shared. “But it feels like if we all do our best, then maybe we can make a show—and it just becomes so personal. Everyone’s doing their best, and he’s just there, swaddled in cashmere, just quietly cheering everyone on, from the actors to the gorgeous camera moves. And the sound department is killing it—and look at the costumes! It’s an appreciation of every human and all the moving parts it takes to make a movie work. And having a cheerleader like that, I can’t even explain how fortunate I feel and all of us feel.”

D23-Exclusive The Muppets Mayhem Merchandise! Can You Picture That?

The D23 Team

Calling all Electric Mayhem groupies—the merch van has arrived! Get ready to rock out to the far-out new Disney+ Original series The Muppets Mayhem with this D23 Member-exclusive shopping opportunity of groove-tastic merchandise... made just for the ultimate Muppet fan by Mickey’s of Glendale, the Walt Disney Imagineering campus store!

This rhythmic collection features a variety of far-out finds, including Electric Mayhem Band tees, mugs, hats, and even pens inspired by Animal’s Drumsticks! Even more amazing products are on this pandemonium of a playlist:

On Saturday, May 13, at 7 a.m. PT, the collection will launch to all D23 Members—General and Gold!

Additional Details:

  • To access these links when they go live, make sure to be logged into your D23 Member Account and visit this page. A link will become available for access to these fabulous products as marked for Gold Members and General Members respectively.
  • These products do NOT ship internationally.
  • The sale available to all members on May 13 is for pre-ordering products, which are expected to ship within 3-4 weeks of purchase.
  • If you have not registered as a Gold Member by May 8, you may not have access to the FIRST ACCESS event for D23 Gold Members, opening May 10.

You fer sure don’t want to miss this... The Muppets Mayhem streams only on Disney+ starting Wednesday, May 10!

Not a D23 Gold Member? There's No Better Time to Join!

Disney D23 Rewind—Week of May 8

By Courtney Potter

In a promotional image for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at Walt Disney World Resort, a rock band is performing on a smoky stage, complete with a lead singer, a guitarist, and a drummer. Cool lighting is seen all around them. In the foreground, audience members are looking up at the stage.

Walt Disney World Resort Announces Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup

Yes, it’s true: The Eat to the Beat Concert Series will be bringing the heat to the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival starting Thursday, July 27. Our pals at the Disney Parks Blog recently revealed a first look at the lineup of artists bringing sizzling sounds to the America Gardens Theatre!

Fan favorites including Sheila E. and Hanson are ready to serve up hits once again, while festival newcomers Orianthi, Phillip Phillips, The Bacon Brothers, We The Kings, and more bring new flavor to this year’s menu of talent. Speaking of talent, local bands will take the stage Tuesday through Thursday, so guests can enjoy delicious eats and fun beats all week long! Check out the full list of announced artists below:

July 28-29: Orianthi (NEW)
July 30-31: For King & Country (NEW)
August 4-5: Southern Avenue
August 6-7: Tiffany
August 11-12: Ruben Studdard with Haley Reinhart
August 13-14: The Bacon Brothers (NEW)
August 18-21: Joey Fatone & Friends
August 25-26: Ayron Jones (NEW)
August 27-28: Phillip Phillips (NEW)
September 1-2: Baha Men
September 3-4: MercyMe
September 8-9: Ray Parker Jr.
September 10-11: TobyMac
September 15: Celebrity Latin Talent
September 16: Celebrity Latin Talent
September 17-18: Raul Acosta and Oro Solido (NEW)
September 22-23: Los Amigos Invisibles
September 24-25: 98°
September 29–October 2: Boyz II Men
October 6-7: Mark Wills
October 8-9: Sugar Ray
October 13-14: Hoobastank
October 15-16: Air Supply
October 20-21: Taylor Dayne
October 22-23: Billy Ocean
October 27-30: Hanson
November 3-4: We The Kings (NEW)
November 5-6: Sheila E.
November 10-11: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
November 12-13: 38 Special

Beginning Thursday, July 6, secure your spot for these performances with an Eat to the Beat Dining Package. Find out more by visiting TasteEPCOT.com. To experience the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, guests must have both valid admission and a park reservation for EPCOT on the same date.

In a promo image for “Disney Night” on ABC’s American Idol, contestants Colin Stough, Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle, Wé Ani, and Zachariah Smith stand around host Ryan Seacrest. The contestants are all wearing Mickey or Minnie ears, and everyone is smiling.

American Idol Reveals the Top 5’s “Disney Night” Songs

It’s been an amazing season thus far… and now, we’re just about to celebrate one of our favorite American Idolevents: “Disney Night”!

This Sunday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC, celebrate the magic of Disney as the Top 5 perform Disney classics live—and America votes for the Top 3. Plus, Sara Bareilles will open the show with a special rendition of “When You Wish Upon a Star”; Hollywood Records recording artist Sofia Carson will mentor the contestants at Disneyland Resort; and Halle Bailey will perform “Part of Your World” from the upcoming film The Little Mermaid, in theaters May 26.

The “Disney Night” performers and songs are:

  • Colin Stough – “Real Gone” (Cars) / “Nobody Knows” (Pete’s Dragon)
  • Iam Tongi – “Lava” (Lava) / “Father and Son” (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)
  • Megan Danielle – “Carried Me With You” (Onward) / “You Can’t Stop the Girl” (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil)
  • Wé Ani – “Into the Unknown” (Frozen 2) / “The Climb” (Hannah Montana: The Movie)
  • Zachariah Smith – “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” (The Lion King) / “Life Is a Highway” (Cars)

Watch episodes of American Idol on demand and on Hulu the day following their premieres.

Actor Ke Huy Quan and stands on a small stage at the White House, to the left of President Joe Biden, who is at a lectern holding a microphone; they are both smiling. Quan is clapping; to his left is a poster for Disney+’s American Born Chinese, and behind him is a golden curtain.

President Biden Hosts American Born Chinese Screening

With the premiere of American Born Chinese just over the horizon, President Joe Biden recently hosted a special screening of the Disney+ Original series as part of the largest Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month celebration at the White House, in partnership with The Asian American Foundation.

Academy Award-winning actor and series co-star Ke Huy Quan joined President Biden to kick off the event. “This is a show about that very crossroads—between storybook fantasy and real-world struggle,” Quan said. “It tells the tale of an immigrant family, with an American son, finding their way, forging their own path, and dealing with all the highs and lows of that difficult journey. It’s about the blending of cultures, influences, and values into a new American identity. And most of all… it’s about family.”

Also in attendance were stars Ben Wang, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, Jimmy Liu, and Sydney Taylor, as well as the series’ creative team: executive producer and author Gene Luen Yang, executive producer and director Destin Daniel Cretton, series creator and showrunner Kelvin Yu, and executive producers Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan, and Erin O’Malley. Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Alex Aiono, stars of the Disney+ Original series Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., were also among the many distinguished guests.

Biden commented on the evening, saying, “Nights like these are a reminder of the power of stories.” To see footage of Quan and Biden’s remarks, click here.

Look for American Born Chinese on Disney+ beginning May 24!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

As per usual, there’s a ton of fun content to check out this weekend from around the worlds of Disney. Kick off this lovely mid-May sojourn with a new episode of The Ghost and Molly McGee on Disney Channel and Disney XD; a special presentation of Brave on Freeform; an all-new episode of BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes on Disney Channel; and more where that came from 

An image, taken from below, of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, during the daytime.

Reservation and Other Updates from Walt Disney World Resort

Earlier this week, our friends at Walt Disney World Resort announced some big changes coming in 2024—including easing reservation requirements, bringing back dining plans, and simplifying the Genie+ experience.

Starting with park visits on January 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. When purchasing a ticket, guests simply select a start date for January 9, 2024, or later, complete the purchase, and they’ll be all set! Date-based tickets are the standard ticket option offered to guests; for other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required to continue managing attendance. To check which admission types require park reservations, visit DisneyWorld.com/ThemeParkReservations.

In addition, 2024 will bring select days on which Annual Passholders and Disney cast members may visit Walt Disney World theme parks without needing a park reservation. Once introduced, these “good-to-go” days will be rolled out by the resort on an ongoing basis. This will be in addition to the recent update that offers Passholders the opportunity to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Good-to-go days vary by park, and pass block-out dates and capacity limitations continue to apply as they do today.

But that’s not all: Two popular Disney dining plans will return as options for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package, starting with stays beginning January 9, 2024, which will open for bookings on May 31. And there will be new ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service (including individual Lightning Lane selections) before the day of a guest’s park visit.

To see more about these updates, check out the Disney Parks Blog—and stay tuned for more info!

Which “Musically Muppet” Member of The Electric Mayhem Are You?

By Peyton Liebler

Get ready to rock because Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem have gone from dreamin’ to streamin’, with their original series The Muppets Mayhem now available on Disney+! This sensational new show documents The Electric Mayhem as they set out to record their first album and change the course of music—FOREVER!

To commemorate the vivacious vibes The Electric Mayhem are putting out into the world (and our watchlists) we’re here to help you answer the most important question that has ever crossed your musically Muppet minds: Which member of the band are YOU?

We had a little help from the members of everyone’s favorite funky philharmonic, so bear with us if some of these questions contain just a dash of… mayhem.

It’s, like, totally magnificent outside. Where are you spending your splendiferous day?

Any great performer knows, you have look as good as you play. What’s the most important thing to keep in check when it comes to your exquisite appearance?

Time to get expeditiously existential: How would you describe the energy you exude when you hit that most ceremonious stage?

All eyes on you. What are you wearing to perform your prestidigitation at the first concert of your wildly wondrous world tour?

Since you’re an international sensation, you have an incredible fan base. What do you have to say to the adoring crowds of auditory afficionados that love your music?

What would you be doing if you weren’t playing those perfected pieces of rock and roll?

What advice would you give to someone trying to find their way to the spotlight?

What is your tool of tranquility? Your machine of magnetism? What inspired instrument are you playing?

Which “Musically Muppet” Member of The Electric Mayhem Are You?
Dr. Teeth

There’s truth in the TOOTH! You like to keep it shiny and surefire, tickling the ivories ’til they’re positively reeling with raucous laughter! You’re also a great friend and companion, approaching everything with love and—more importantly—the uncontainable power of rock ’n’ roll!
Sgt. Floyd Pepper

You’re a laid-back type, but you stick up for your bandmates at every opportunity. You like to be the one to form the foundation of a friendship, the same way your bass skills lay the foundation to any of your celebrated masterpieces.
Janice

You’re, like, a valuable treasure of a musician! You totally think that the world can be healed through music, and it’s, like, your destiny to solve any problem that comes your way. There’s no such thing as “too nice” to you, and total togetherness is the only way to go—fer sure.
Lips

Sometimes, you feel misunderstood. But your closest bandmates know that you’re the wisest of the bunch. You always speak the way you feel, and you are ready to trumpet your truth at the first opportunity!
Zoot

You aren’t the wordiest of the band, but when you say something, you speak from the soul. You’re connected to your music on every level, and just like the mighty saxophone, you’re smooth and spirited. It’s a match made in musical heaven.
Animal

Some say you’re a wildcard. Others might say a unit of pure chaos. But your band knows that’s what makes you the most special of the bunch! You’re a loyal friend, and you only know to dance to the beat of your own drum… DRUMS! DRUMS!

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your The Little Mermaid knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

Besides voicing Ariel, what Pixar heroine does Jodi Benson voice?

Correct! Wrong!

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!
You are the ultimate Disney fan!
Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!
Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!
Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!

Celebrate 35 Years of Willow with a Spellbinding Pin!

By Peyton Liebler

Seek the ways of the sorcerer with this magically inspired pin! Look back on 35 wondrous years of Willow with this D23-exclusive keepsake. A must-have accessory for any superfan of this hit film, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Inspired by Willow (1988): When young Willow Ufgood finds an abandoned baby girl, he learns she is destined to end the reign of the wicked Queen Bavmorda. Willow must protect the child and find a way to uncover the secrets of his mystical landscape in order to ensure safety and security for the future of his home. Since debuting in 1988, Willow has captured the hearts of fans worldwide, inspiring a legacy that includes a special series of the same name on Disney+.

Willow 35th Pin

D23-Exclusive Willow 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Pin
Venture into a mystical world unlike any other with this D23 Gold Member-exclusive pin! This pin is the most magical way to celebrate 35 years of Willow. Featuring the titular magician, Willow Ufgood, this pin is special for anyone looking to make a journey to discover what lies beneath the most mysterious of prophecies. Start your adventure and get this pin now!

Our D23-Exclusive Willow 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Pin,* offered in a limited edition of 750, is available to D23 Gold Members at 8 a.m. PST on shopDisney on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Not a D23 Gold Member?
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5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

By Andie Hagemann

From Halloween hijinks to a daring princess—and everything in between—don’t miss all the spectacular content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend. On Friday, Venom launches on Disney+. A new episode of The Ghost and Molly McGee premieres Saturday on Disney Channel and Disney XD, while The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen airs that same night on FXM. And on Sunday, don’t miss a special presentation of Brave on Freeform and an all-new episode of BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes on Disney Channel. 

In a scene from Venom, actors Reid Scott and Michelle Williams stand in a medical laboratory and talk to actor Tom Hardy.

Venom—Friday, May 12, on Disney+
Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a broken man after he loses everything, from his reporting job to his fiancée, Anne (Michelle Williams). Just when his life is at its lowest, he becomes host to an alien symbiote which results in extraordinary superpowers—transforming him into Venom. Will these powers be enough for this new lethal protector to defeat great evil forces, especially against the far stronger and more weaponized symbiote rival, Riot (Riz Ahmed)? The action-packed film—intended only for mature audiences—also stars Reid Scott, Jenny Slate, and Woody Harrelson.

In a scene from The Ghost and Molly McGee, a teenager stands inside a large pumpkin and looks at Molly McGee, who is dressed as a judge in a Halloween-themed episode.

The Ghost and Molly McGee—Saturday, May 13, at 8 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and Disney XD
A spooky new episode debuts this weekend, just in time to continue those Halfway to Halloween festivities. It’s Halloween time for the McGees, and Scratch (voiced by Dana Snyder) decides to invite real ghosts to the haunted house to bolster the fun! However, things get a little out of control when the Chens—the ghost-hunting neighbors—and a horde of Frightmares show up. Eek! The voice cast includes Ashley Burch, Michaela Dietz, Jordan Klepper, Sumalee Montano, Lara Jill Miller, Alan Lee, Sue Ann Pien, Stephanie Sheh, and Leonard Wu.

In a scene from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, actors Shane West as Sawyer and Sean Connery as Allan Quatermain stand side by side

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen—Saturday, May 13, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on FXM
A team of extraordinary figures culled from great adventure literature—Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), vampire Mina Harker from Dracula (Peta Wilson), the Invisible Man (Tony Curran), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng), an American secret service agent named Sawyer (Shane West), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), and Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend)—all boast legendary powers. Helmed by Quatermain, the figures team up to thwart the devious plans of The Phantom (Richard Roxburgh) with the world on the brink of war. The adventure film is also available to stream on Hulu.

In a scene from Brave, Merida, a teenage girl with red curly hair aims a bow and arrow as a crowd of people watches behind her.

Brave—Sunday, May 14, at 1:10 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is determined to carve her own path in life. The aspiring archer and impetuous daughter of Queen Elinor (voiced by Emma Thompson) makes a reckless choice, defying an age-old custom sacred to uproarious lords of the lands. However, her actions have consequences and in turn unleash chaos in the kingdom. To remedy her mistake, Merida must harness all of her skills to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late… and in the process, discover the meaning of true bravery. The voice cast also includes Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Craig Ferguson, John Ratzenberger, and Kevin McKidd.

Actors Israel Johnson, Alfred Lewis, Mallory James Mahoney, Shiloh Verrico, and Luke Busey gather around a campfire at night in a scene from BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes

BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes—Sunday, May 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
The hilarity continues at Camp Kikiwaka in this all-new episode. Camp yearbook superlatives are out, but not everyone is happy with their moniker—including Bill (Alfred Lewis), who spirals after he’s named “Most Changed.” Elsewhere, Winnie (Shiloh Verrico) is accused of causing a stampede, and Noah (Israel Johnson) asks Parker (Trevor Tordjman) and Megan (Grace Lu) to help him select his next acting role. The series also stars Miranda May, Mallory James Mahoney, and Luke Busey.

6 Times Halle Bailey Joined the Worlds of Disney

By Jessica Benda

By the time Halle Bailey journeyed under the sea, she already made several adventures into the worlds of Disney.

Bailey stars in Disney’s upcoming The Little Mermaid as Ariel, a spirited young mermaid who longs to breach the ocean’s surface. The lavish reimagining opens in theaters on Friday, May 26, but Bailey has been seen for a decade in Disney media. In celebration of her newest appearance, we’re reminiscing about her past ones.

Let It Shine (2012)
Bailey makes up half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, with her older sister, Chloe Bailey. Halle’s first Disney role was alongside Chloe in Disney Channel’s Let It Shine, a movie musical about a teenage rapper who hides his music from his family. Halle and Chloe didn’t have the same dilemma, as they took to the screen as two choir members.

Next Big Thing (2012)
In 2012, Halle and Chloe became reality competition royalty after being crowned on Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing. The singing contest brought 5–10 unsigned artists on for each season to perform and deliver interviews, and online polling determined the winner. In the fifth and final season before the show switched to a new format, the Bailey sisters’ stellar vocals won them victory and a performance on a Disney Channel series.

Austin & Ally (2013)
Said Disney Channel series was Austin & Ally, where Halle and Chloe performed “Unstoppable” in Season 2. In the episode “Moon Week & Mentors,” Austin and Ally are asked to be celebrity judges on America’s Top Talent, where they watch some stellar singers. Paralleling their real-life experience on Next Big Thing, Halle and Chloe took the stage for another top-notch performance.

A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
Disney’s whimsical take on Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel wouldn’t have been complete without a dazzling soundtrack. Chloe x Halle penned and performed “Warrior” specifically for the film, delivering an ethereal song that has endured throughout their careers. They later went on to perform the piece at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards!

In the series Grown-ish, Halle Bailey plays college student Sky. Sky sits at an outdoor table with some chips and smiles brightly. She wears a yellow T-shirt, hoop earrings, and a necklace.

grown-ish (2018-2022)
Halle and Chloe took their sisterhood to a new level when they played twins on ABC’s grown-ish. Halle played ambitious college student Sky Forster, a dedicated track athlete and even more dedicated sister. Halle spent three seasons as a main cast member before her character departed as a series regular at the end of Season 3. She continued as a recurring character for Season 4 before departing the series.

Ariel (Halle Bailey) emerges from the sea, propping herself up on a large rock formation as she sings about her longing to be part of the human world through the famed ballad “Part of Your World” in a scene from the live-action The Little Mermaid.

The Little Mermaid (2023)
Of all the Disney Princesses, it’s no surprise that Halle was chosen for the one known for her voice. She takes on a tail as Ariel in Disney’s reimagining of The Little Mermaid, which follows a mermaid who dreams of exploring the world above. When Ariel bargains her voice for human legs, she finally gets her chance. Halle captures the vivacious and playful spirit of Ariel—and she has no trouble with the soaring vocals either!

Be part of Halle’s world when The Little Mermaid lands in theaters on Friday, May 26.