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The music from Disney films has been making Disney fans’ hearts sing for decades, but today we announced a special event that you won’t want to miss at D23 EXPO 2015—Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration, hosted by Leonard Maltin.
Our friends at Disney Music Emporium have so much planned throughout D23 EXPO 2015, but the concert is the highlight. To ensure that as many guests are able to see the concert as possible, two 70-minute presentations have been announced for Sunday, August 16—one at 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m., both in Stage 23.
Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration will feature a 32-piece orchestra celebrating the Silly Symphony animated short films and their accompanying music, hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin. Fans will delight in watching selected Silly Symphony shorts from Disney’s archives while the music is performed live in synchronization with the picture, presented using high-quality, newly restored digital film masters. The music will be performed as it would have been recorded during those historic days at the Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue in the 1920s and ‘30s. This very special concert event will showcase the music of the Three Little Pigs, The Old Mill, and many other classics.
Throughout the three-day Expo, Disney Music Emporium—the online destination for collectible Disney music products—is creating a pop-up store on the show floor. During the event, the Emporium will feature album signings by composers and Grammy®-winning Disney music producers. Limited quantities of a wide assortment of music products, including Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection series, Star Wars: the Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels vinyl, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Master Score music sheet book, picture disc vinyl, plus lithographs and posters will be available. Additionally, visitors to the Disney Music Emporium will be able to pre-order the long-awaited TheSilly Symphony Collection box set, featuring the complete restored soundtracks from all 75 Silly Symphony shorts from 1929–1939, with over eight hours of music on 16 vinyl LPs.
To learn more about The Silly Symphony Collection and Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration, click here, and visit Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection for more information about the CDs that will be available in the Emporium. A limited quantity of lithographs for each title featuring the back cover artwork designed by Lorelay Bove (Visual Development Artist, Walt Disney Animation Studios) will be a gift with purchase.
With the purchase of select music products at the Disney Music Emporium, guests will be issued a wristband to secure a space for an album signing. Click here for a list of album signings and artist appearances at the Pavilion. We’ll see you at D23 EXPO 2015!
If there’s a character that can make almost any outfit look good, it’s undoubtedly Mickey Mouse. He’s been a tailor, a ghost hunter, a delivery boy, and everything in between.
Shanghai is China’s largest city . . . home to more than 24 million people! So it stands to reason that it would need the world’s largest Disney Store, right? On Wednesday, May 20, at 1:14 p.m. (an auspicious date/time “code” amongst the country’s social media-loving youth), Disney Store Shanghai opened in the city’s popular Lujiazui shopping district. The whopping 9,250-ft. location—which stands in the shadow of the city’s iconic Pearl Tower—has several unique features, like a 19-foot-tall “Disney Magic Kingdom Castle” in the middle of the store, as well as a Mickey-shaped roof covered with 8,000 twinkling lights. And like its sister stores all over the globe, it offers more Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm merchandise than you can shake a stick at. It’s a truly immersive experience, sure to tickle the Disney fancy of visitors and locals alike!
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
D23 and Walt Disney Archives May 29
VIP Studio Tour with Disney Legend Dave Smith June 6
Mickey’s of Glendale Orlando Shopping Event June 6
Let’s Get Together with The Parent Trap in Florida June 20
D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives August 14-16 D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California Studios June 19 Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava). July 17 Ant Man opens in theaters. December 18 Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
Parks May 15–June 14 Star Wars Weekends Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 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 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 June 9 73-hour-long Phineas and Ferb marathon kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD June 12 Phineas and Ferb, “Last Day of Summer” premieres at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD
Disney Infinity Community Builds Virtual Disneyland
Just in time for the Disneyland Diamond Celebration, the very cool (and obviously very talented) Disney Infinity community got together to create a brand-new Disneyland Toy Box! Players have been designing tons of virtual attractions for the game over the past few months, and some even teamed up to create the best ones possible. The winning designs—including Main Street, U.S.A., Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters—are now available to download, and you can get a sneak peek at ’em in the video above.
24 Hours of Disney, Coast to Coast!
Unless your name is Rip Van Winkle, you’ve been snoozing for the last few months, and this is your very first visit to D23.com, you probably know that Memorial Day Weekend saw the mega-huge, mega-awesome 24-hour kick-off to the Diamond Celebration at Disneyland Resort (as well as 24 straight hours of frolic at Walt Disney World Resort, celebrating their “Coolest Summer Ever”)! In case you couldn’t make the festivities, fret not: D23 had special correspondents at both parks—and you can see all their various shenanigans here!
Star Wars: Twilight of the Republic from Disney Infinity
The first of three Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Play Sets based on the world of Star Wars—called Star Wars: Twilight of the Republic—doesn’t hit store shelves ’til later in the year… but Disney Interactive is offering a peek at what’s to come, and it looks amazing! Set during the latter years of the Clone Wars, players can travel to four different locations and explore the worlds of Tatooine and Coruscant; they’ll battle droids in Geonosis; and they’ll even partake in an epic boss battle in Naboo. Along the way, they’ll use the Force (of course) and master their Lightsaber skills as they fight alongside Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda to save the Republic and defeat the Separatists. The only bad news is, we all have to wait until Fall 2015 to get our hands on it! The countdown begins…
A Boy, A Worm, and a Whole Lot of Fun
Future-Worm!, Disney XD’s short-form series about a 12-year-old boy who creates a time machine lunchbox and befriends a fearless worm from the future has made its debut. Today Disney XD premiered the first short, “No Anchovies!” on its YouTube Channel, and new shorts will premiere Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next two weeks. Andy Milonakis (Kroll Show) voices Danny, and James Adomian (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) provides the voice of Future Worm. Future-Worm! has it’s full-length series premiere in 2016. The show is created by Emmy®-winner Ryan Quincy (South Park).
Frozen Free Fall Frosts Over Facebook
Attention, Frozen fans! One of Disney Interactive’s most popular mobile games, Frozen Free Fall, is now available on Facebook! This cool “match-3” game will feature 195 fun and challenging levels and favorite characters from the film, including Anna, Elsa, and Olaf the snowman. Each character has a unique (and, dare we say, spectacular) power-up that can be used to help progress the game.
It’s the party of six-tenths of the century—the Disneyland Diamond Celebration! Sixty years in the making, the theme park that started it all is about to shine like never before. D23 has insider access and will be bringing you along for the ride, beginning tonight with our coverage of World of Color—Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Disney, continuing Thursday with a sneak peek at Paint the Night—All-New Electrical Parade and the brand-new Disneyland Forever fireworks spectacular, and staying up all night for the 24-hour party that kicks off at 6 a.m. PT on Friday, May 22, and doesn’t end until 6 a.m. PT the following day.
UPDATED Sunday, 10 a.m.: 24 Dazzling Hours at Disneyland Resort
UPDATED Saturday, 10 a.m.: The Celebration Continues Around the Clock!
After a day full of new entertainment, special treats, and shopping for lots of dazzling merchandise, D23 Members met up at 11 p.m. (or 23:00, if you’re using 24-hour time). For a group of people who had been awake and running around Disneyland Resort for 17 hours, our Members sure were excited to be there!
When 6 a.m. rolled around and it was time for our adventure to end, we were greeted by Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy, all up early and in their pajamas! Even though we had an incredible time, we have to admit— we were ready to be in our pajamas, too.
A special shout-out to all our friends who celebrated with us from Walt Disney World! We were lucky enough to have Walt Disney World Ambassador Caitlin Busscher as our correspondent for the day. To see all of Caitlin’s photos from the Coolest Summer Ever kickoff, check out our Twitter and Instagram pages!
Check back later today for a new video giving you a fan’s-eye-view of our 24-hour party!
UPDATED Friday, 1 p.m.: Oh, what a night!… And what a beautiful morning!
Last night we painted the night, and this morning we were up before dawn, all in the name of celebrating Disneyland forever!
Today marks the first day that guests of the Disneyland Resort will see the three new nighttime spectaculars, but we saw a special preview last night of the Paint the Night parade and Disneyland Forever fireworks and we were so amazed by what we saw that you can bet we’ll be watching again tonight. That’s right, we’re inside Disneyland for the 24-hour party, and we aren’t leaving until 6 a.m. tomorrow morning!
This was the scene at 6 a.m. this morning (as you’ll see from this video that our friends at the Disney Parks Blog posted). “Walk, don’t run: #Disneyland60 has officially begun!”
The party began with fireworks this morning, and speaking of fireworks, Disneyland Forever—the brand-new spectacular that will be featured nightly at Disneyland Park—features pyrotechnics, amazing special effects, and astounding projection-mapping technology.
The show is “street-to-sky,” with the buildings of Main Street, U.S.A., the Matterhorn, and the it’s a small world façade serving as part of the stage—in addition, of course, to the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle. And it’s not just candy for your eyes, it’s music to your ears since the show features two original songs, the Disneyland Forever theme, “Live the Magic,” and the closing song, “A Kiss Goodnight,” written by Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman.
Paint the Night—All-New Electrical Parade is, of course, the other new nighttime spectacular that we saw firsthand last night. Your favorite characters still make their way down Main Street, U.S.A., but in brilliant ways you’ve never seen them before, thanks to more than 1.5 million brilliant LED lights. Talk about illuminating! The lights are on the floats, they’re on the performers’ costumes—they’re even on Slinky Dog’s ears!
We’re posting images throughout the 24-hour party on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, so follow DisneyD23 until the celebration ends—and after, for a special recap video. The party is just getting started!
UPDATED Thursday, 10 a.m.: World of Color—Celebrate!… Why, don’t mind if we do!
Last night, D23 was lucky enough to see the premiere performance of the brand-new World of Color—Celebrate! before it makes its official debut for guests tomorrow, during the 24-hour party. This amazing display of lights, water, music, animation and innovations that took our breath away pays tribute to Walt Disney himself, and his dream of Disneyland.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek introduced the new show—with the show’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, and the show’s “leading mouse,” Mickey—saying, “We’re thrilled to commemorate 60 years of Disneyland with three new nighttime spectaulars, including a special World of Color show. Our new show salutes Walt Disney, a visionary who dreamed big and then made those dreams come true.”
Our friends at the Disney Parks Blog shared this video from last night, in which Neil Patrick Harris talks about being part of this new spectacular. Keep following D23 throughout the weekend, as we celebrate along with the Disneyland Resort!
Tomorrowland, the highly anticipated new film from director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol) rockets into theaters this Friday—and like any good mystery adventure, it’s keeping a lot of its most amazing secrets close to the vest. But here’s what we do know: A whip-smart teenager named Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) comes into possession of an unusual pin. Just by touching the pin, she’s transported to somewhere strange. Futuristic. Unlike anything she’s ever seen before, and filled with some of the best and brightest minds of the 20th (and 21st) century. As she tries to uncover the pin’s origin, she meets Frank Walker (Oscar® winner George Clooney), a former “boy-genius” who’s grown into an ornery, farm-bound recluse. Together, whether they like it or not, they embark on a dangerous mission—one that just may change the world as we know it.
On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney dedicated his newest themed land, Tomorrowland, at Disneyland.
It was golden time, when Walt—and most Americans, in fact—couldn’t help but imagine an optimistic future. But the public’s view of years-to-come seemed to shift somewhere in the 1970s, and it was this “darker” turn that intrigued the film’s co-writer and producer Damon Lindelof (Lost). As he started to formulate the story of Tomorrowland, he heard about a mysterious box found deep in the corridors of Walt Disney Imagineering. Initially labeled That Darn Cat (after the 1965 Disney film), that title was crossed out—and in its place was written “1952.” The box was a treasure trove of curiosities: futuristic models and blueprints, photographs, letters and all kinds of memorabilia related to both the development of Tomorrowland at the Park and the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair.
“I began to imagine that the contents of the box were a guide to a secret story that nobody knew,” Damon says.
“But if so, what would that story be? And the most obvious answer to me was that there really was a place called Tomorrowland that was not a theme park, but existed somewhere in the real world.” And you’re not mistaken: There are parallels between the world of Tomorrowland and one of Walt’s last projects—EPCOT, the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” “Walt Disney was really interested in the future,” Damon explains, “and all the possibility it could bring. It completely and totally fired up his creative imagination.”
Early in the process, both Brad and Damon (the pair penned the script from a story idea developed with executive producer Jeff Jensen) always imagined George Clooney in the role of cynical scientist Frank Walker—and wrote with him in mind. “From very early on we described Frank as ‘George Clooney-esque,'” Damon explains. “We crossed our fingers and did our best job of writing it, infusing Frank with a curmudgeonly humor and a heroic quality—all of which we think George embodies. And then we sent it off into the universe.” Thankfully, the in-demand actor saw something unique and signed on, calling Frank “a disenchanted grump who was a bit of a dreamer as a young boy.” Britt Robertson (Under the Dome) plays Casey Newton, a teenager with a love of science who still sees the world through optimistic eyes. “Casey has this drive to do big things and change the world,” Britt says, “and she wants the world to be a place that’s full of hope and inspiration, but she doesn’t know how to make it so.” Could Tomorrowland offer the kind of promise she’s been searching for?
Filmed literally all over the world—at locations that included Spain (at the space-age City of Arts and Sciences culture complex in Valencia), Canada, Cape Canaveral in Florida and the it’s a small world attraction right inside Disneyland—Tomorrowland promises to be a quintessential Disney film, full of inventive storytelling and state-of-the-art special effects.
Brad can’t wait for audiences to finally see the finished product: “The interesting thing about Tomorrowland is that it’s an intriguing idea, and it’s connected with Disney in a really interesting way,” he explains. “We’re getting a large canvas to paint on, because the very word ‘Tomorrowland’ is evocative; it evokes play, and it evokes promise.”
New York City… the “Big Apple.” They say if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere—and that’s literally true for Disney Cruise Line’s (DCL) newest sailings! The Disney Magic has returned to NYC for several fabulous Fall 2016 cruises to both the Bahamas (including visits to Walt Disney World and Castaway Cay) and Canada (a five-night sojourn with stops in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick). But that’s not all: For the first time, DCL will offer seven-night voyages from Miami to the Eastern and Western Caribbean (in addition to several shorter options), as well as several Bahamian and Mexican cruises departing from Galveston, Texas. Bookings for these amazing new itineraries open to the public today, Wednesday, May 20—and more details can be found on the “Itineraries and Ports for 2016” page of disneycruise.com.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
D23 and Walt Disney Archives May 29
VIP Studio Tour with Disney Legend Dave Smith June 6
Mickey’s of Glendale Orlando Shopping Event June 6
Let’s Get Together with The Parent Trap in Florida June 20
D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives August 14-16
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California Studios May 22 Tomorrowland opens in theaters. June 19 Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava). July 17 Ant Man opens in theaters. December 18 Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
Parks May 15–June 14 Star Wars Weekends Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. May 22–23 24-hour event kicking off Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration at Disneyland Resort May 22–23 24-hour event kicking off “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort 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 1Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park 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 June 9 73-hour-long Phineas and Ferb marathon kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD June 12 Phineas and Ferb, “Last Day of Summer” premieres at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD
New Retailers Spring Forth at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs
Exciting new tenants—including high-profile retailers like Zara and UNIQLO, as well as amazing dining options like Edison restaurant (inspired by The Edison lounge in Los Angeles) and Sprinkles Cupcakes—are among the latest to sign on as Downtown Disney continues its expansion into Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. A grand total of 13 new tenants were announced on Friday, May 15, and they join several new retailers and restaurants either already open or coming soon.
By the time it’s complete in 2016, Disney Springs will double the number of shops and restaurants currently found at Downtown Disney—and will grow to more than 1 million square feet. The complex will include four distinct, outdoor neighborhoods with a diverse mix of retailers and restaurant options. Definitely a little something for everyone!
Tokyo DisneySea Finds Nemo and Dory with New Attraction
A brand-new ride is coming to Tokyo DisneySea—and it dives right into the world of Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo and 2016’s Finding Dory!
The new indoor attraction, located at the park’s Port Discovery, will immerse guests in the briny sea of Marlin, Dory, Nemo, and all their underwater pals by using a unique ride system that seamlessly blends visuals from the films with a motion system. After boarding a submarine that “shrinks,” guests will explore a vast aquatic world from the same point of view as their favorite fishy friends! The production staff of Finding Dory (coming to theatres July 2016) will even take part in the creation of visuals for the ride… so you’ll truly feel like you’re a part of the movies!
Just keep swimming ‘til the new attraction premieres at Tokyo DisneySea in Spring 2017.
Take to the Skies with Grizzly Peak Airfield at Disney California Adventure Park
The next time you visit Disney California Adventure Park, make sure to check out the newly reimagined Grizzly Peak Airfield—formerly known as Condor Flats. The expansion offers guests new building exteriors, landscape features, and a whole lot more; additionally, pine trees will bring cool areas of shade, making guests feel like they’ve been transported to California’s High Sierras of the early 1960s.
The area’s new quick-service restaurant, Smokejumpers Grill, has been open since March 20—and it takes inspiration from the brave men and women who fight wildfires in California forests. In addition to a whole new look, the restaurant features an updated menu with tasty new items. That’s not all: Soarin’ Over California, one of the park’s most popular attractions, is once again open for flight!
Come in for a Grizzly Peak Airfield landing with this new video from our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering…
Star Wars: Force for Change Rockets Into Star Wars Weekends
“Ready, are you?” Starting May 15, Star Wars: Force for Change—Disney and Lucasfilm’s charitable initiative dedicated to finding solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges—comes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios during this summer’s Star Wars Weekends! Several retail locations will offer T-shirts for adults, women, and kids featuring a Stormtrooper from Star Wars: The Force Awakens… and they’re the very first items from the upcoming film to be released in the park! During the final weekend, June 12–14, fans can purchase a limited-edition Stormtrooper pin at Darth’s Mall, located near Streets of America across from Studio Catering Company. A full 25 percent of the retail sale price of this product will be donated to U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF Kid Power, a new program that uses the world’s first Wearable-For-Good bracelet to get youth physically active—all while providing lifesaving food packets to kids in need around the world.
A Stitch in (Virtual-Reality) Time with New ABC Family App
ABC Family is already one of the most social media savvy networks around—and with the debut of their latest procedural drama, Stitchers, they’re going one big step further! Starting today, ABC Family is offering Hack the Case, a brand-new smartphone app available from the Apple App store, the Google Play store, and on Stitchers.com.
Hack The Case places users right into the world of “stitching” through a virtual reality experience using 360-degree video. Similar to the new series, in which genius hacker Kirsten Clark (Emma Ishta) is “stitched” into the memories of the recently deceased in order to help solve their murders, the app challenges users to find out if they have what it takes to be a “stitcher,” too. Users will view multiple videos, collect clues, and attempt to crack the case… and those who succeed in solving it will be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win a trip to Los Angeles—where they’ll have an action figure created in their own image! Pretty cool, huh?
Stitchers premieres on Tuesday, June 2, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC Family.
Enchanting New Main Street, U.S.A. Windows for Diamond Celebration
The smells, the sounds, and the sights… there’s so much to love about Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park. And speaking of “sights,” there’ll soon be some new ones to behold—just in time for the park’s big Diamond Celebration, kicking off this week!
Since the early 1960s, scenes from Disney animated classics have been featured in the windows of Disneyland’s famous Emporium store. This year, in honor of the Diamond Celebration, these windows will be updated with exciting new technology and effects! There’ll be six Main Street Enchanted Windows in total; the first two, featuring the stories of Peter Pan and Cinderella, will be unveiled this month—followed by Frozen and The Princess and the Frog in July, and Toy Story and Aladdin in August.
Get the inside scoop on how these Enchanted Windows were created from John Gritz, Creative Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Let’s be honest—as soon as you name a movie Tomorrowland, Disney fans are going to want to see it. But when that movie is directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles), stars the iconic, Academy Award®-winning actor George Clooney, and has a screenplay written by Bird and Damon Lindelof (Lost)… well, “want” becomes “need.”
Tomorrowland stars Clooney as a now-disillusioned former boy-genius, Frank, who, along with Casey (Britt Robertson)—a bright, optimistic teen “bursting with scientific curiosity”—embarks on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” Those secrets won’t be revealed until the film opens this Friday, May 22. But in the meantime, we’ve put together this list of things Disney fans might not know about Tomorrowland and its talented team of filmmakers and actors.
Thinking Outside the Box:
According to the filmmakers, Tomorrowland‘s story was inspired by a box discovered in the Disney Studios archive, labeled “1952.” The box was filled with models, blueprints, photos, and letters pertaining to “Tomorrowland” and the 1964–65 World’s Fair. “I began to imagine that the contents of the box were a guide to a secret story that nobody knew,” Lindelof says. “But if so, what would that story be? And the most obvious answer to me was that there really was a place called ‘Tomorrowland’ that was not a theme park but existed somewhere in the real world.”
“small world”… Bigger Message:
You’ll see it’s a small world in Tomorrowland, and you’ll, of course, remember that the ride made its debut at the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair. But you might not be aware of the historical context in which the now-iconic attraction was introduced. “This was 1964, the world had just flirted with thermonuclear catastrophe as a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the song, ‘It’s a Small World’ was written in response to a world that had walked right up to the brink of nuclear war but had pulled back and was now pining to recognize that we don’t have to destroy ourselves. The lyrics—’It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears’—touched on that anxiety,” Lindelof explains. “Given how it just seems so cute and sentimental today, I found it fascinating that the ride was encoded with that real-world angst. There was a radical political message in there and a very idealistic one, too.”
Whiz Kids:
Raffey Cassidy, who plays Athena, learned a new skill while making Tomorrowland: “I didn’t know a thing about martial arts or fighting before this, and now I know the kicks and the punches and I’m starting to get more into it. I’m further on than just the basics—I got a yellow belt in mixed martial arts while I was in training.” And Thomas Robinson, who plays Young Frank, overcame a fear of heights to “fly” in a jet pack at 80 miles per hour in the film. Supervising stunt coordinator Robert Alonzo worked with Robinson on a trapeze and in a skydiving simulator until, as Alonzo says, “Thomas was just as good in the wind tunnel as he was walking.”
Mr. Incredible:
Brad Bird’s history with Disney dates back to a visit to the Disney Studios when he was 11 years old. Over the next three years, the aspiring animator finished a 15-minute animated film that garnered attention from Walt Disney Studios—and led to Bird being mentored by Milt Kahl, one of Walt’s legendary “Nine Old Men.”
Jet-Setting:
Be sure to check out how the jet pack evolves over the course of the film. The 1964 version just might remind you of a certain galaxy far, far away. The 2014 version is powered by Tesla energy, and is designed to be intuitive—hence the lack of handles. The jet pack is one of Brad Bird’s favorite props from the movie. He says, “There’s a 10-year-old kid that’s still alive in me to this day, so any chance to make a jet pack was fun.”
Magic Number:
The original title for the film was 1952, after the original label on the mysterious box that served as inspiration. The production filmed on location in Vancouver during what is typically the city’s rainy season. Making the set completely “weatherproof” was looking like an expensive, risky endeavor. Producer Jeffrey Chernov remembers, “I said, ‘All right, we’ll just have to be lucky.’ And, as luck would have it, Chernov explains, “Apparently it was the driest six winter weeks that Vancouver had experienced since 1952.” Coincidence—or something magical?
Blast From the Past:
When you see the bizarre memorabilia emporium owned by Hugo Gernsback (Keegan-Michael Key) and his wife, Ursula (Kathryn Hahn), keep in mind that you aren’t looking at just any old props. The film’s production designer, Scott Chambliss, explains, “Blast From the Past is an amalgam of the sci-fi comic book stores that director Brad Bird and I remember from our youth.” To ensure authenticity, set decorator Lin McDonald curated the collection of pieces over the span of months. Some were purchased, some were manufactured for the film, and some are originals—including several that Brad Bird brought from his own collection.
A Perfect “T”:
The prop Disney fans are most familiar with, from the trailers, is the Tomorrowland pin, which looks like a super-cool, futuristic “T.” Bird elaborates, “We looked at the letter T and realized that if you tweak it a little you can make it look like a jet pack with a tremendous amount of force coming out of both sides of the top of the T. So the T is sort of blasting off while behind it there’s the symbolism of a rising sun and that’s meant to say the future is coming and it’s going to be fun and bright.”
Tomorrowland is coming to a theater near you this week. And we have no doubt that fun and brightness are in store!
Bursting with D23 EXPO 2015-themed official merchandise and other specialty items from Disney Theme Park Merchandise, the Disney Dream Store returns with something magical for Disney fans of all ages. From Disney-inspired apparel, art and collectibles, accessories, books, and more, the Disney Dream Store is a Disney enthusiast’s dream come true. Highlights include:
Official D23 EXPO Merchandise:
Disney fans can take home a piece of the magic from this year’s Expo, with an assortment of official D23 EXPO 2015 merchandise including tees, fleece, baseball caps, novelty headwear, D-Tech, jewelry, drinkware, souvenirs, accessories, pins, and Vinylmation™. And for the first time, guests can bring home a selfie party-pack inspired by a few of our favorite Disney characters, as well as an “R4-D23” droid and Princess Kneesaa the Ewok plush. D23 EXPO Tip: Look for a specially themed Walt’s Kingdom collection.
Disney Theme Park Merchandise:
Showcasing some of its newest releases and exclusive offerings from ACME Archives Limited, ALEX AND ANI, Steve Adams, Dave Avanzino, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, David Bird, Britni Brault, Stephen Cargile, Bob Elias, Collector’s Choice, Disney Design Group, Disney Dream Collection, Disney Fine Art by Collectors Editions, Disney Parks│PANDORA, Dooney & Bourke, HARVEYS, Ink & Paint Artists, Rob Kaz, Daniel Killen, Jerrod Maruyama, Bridget McCarty, Miss Mindy, James Mulligan, Rick O’Brien, Robert Olszewski, Maggie Parr, Mike Peraza, Larry Nikolai, Precious Moments, Linda Rick, Tim Rogerson, Javier Soto, George Scribner, Sketch Artists, Michelle St.Laurent, Yakovetic, and more.
ALEX AND ANI will debut several new styles at D23 EXPO 2015. Fans can expect a variety of jewelry designs featuring everyone’s favorite, Mickey Mouse, and a very special “Celebrate” wrap.
Disney Dream Collection and D23 EXPO-Exclusive Jewelry: Guests can enjoy a sparkling selection of fine jewelry created for the Disneyland Resort Celebration.
HARVEYS: Created especially for D23 EXPO 2015, this new collection features historical “A, B, and C Ticket Media” on some of their most popular silhouettes.
Disney Dream Store Autograph Sessions: Disney fans will get the chance to meet some of their favorite authors, artists, Disney Legends, and other notable celebrities inside the Disney Dream Store. Autograph sessions will be posted daily via the D23 EXPO Mobile App (available later this summer) and daily at the Disney Dream Store.
Talk about a “Bella Notte” that’s an entire weekend long!
This June, D23 is bringing our popular Fanniversary event into the homes of members and Disney fans around the world with Fanniversary Home Edition.
This year’s inaugural home event celebrates the 60th anniversary of Disney’s classic canine love story Lady and the Tramp. Fans can join the fun by visiting D23.com/D23Fanniversary.
Starting May 29, guests can begin preparing for the party by downloading invitations, decorations, crafts, games, and even a traditional spaghetti and meatballs recipe provided by the talented chefs of The Chew.
Then from June 12–14 it’s time to party! Throughout the weekend, D23 will unveil new and classic content on D23.com about the animated favorite, including:
A new video featuring original artwork from the Animation Research Library
A series of the original “Scamp” comics
A gallery of Lady and the Tramp items from the Walt Disney Archives
Features full of fun facts about the film, including a piece by Disney music historian Randy Thornton looking at the development of the movie’s beloved songs
A story on Walt Disney’s own dogs and how they influenced some of his movies
Plus, fans are encouraged to join the conversation on D23’s social media using the hashtag #D23Fanniversary (follow “DisneyD23” on all platforms). One of the many downloadables will be a “selfie station” where fans can pose as the film’s canine couple enjoying a plate of pasta at Tony’s Restaurant, and then upload their shots on social media. Throughout the weekend, D23 also invites fans to post “Dogglegangers”—photos of their own pooches who look like the dynamic dogs from the film—and share stories of dogs they have adopted.
Fans are encouraged to watch the beloved film all weekend long. And for those who would like to watch as one big group, at 5 p.m. PDT on Saturday, June 13, D23 encourages fans around the world to hit “play” on their DVD, Blu-ray, or digital device to kick off the largest Lady and the Tramp viewing party ever. Follow on Twitter, as D23 will be live tweeting out fun facts, commentary, and questions for the audience.
Lady and the Tramp, which had its premiere on June 16, 1955, tells the story of Lady, a young cocker spaniel from a “respectable” home, who falls in love with Tramp, a mutt who lives in the railroad yards. The idea for the film came from a short story by Ward Greene entitled “Happy Dan, the Whistling Dog.” The film stars such voice talents as Barbara Luddy as Lady; Larry Roberts as Tramp; and Peggy Lee as Darling, the Siamese cats, and Peg, the show dog.
Prom is an exciting time for every high schooler, but for Disney fans it can be the first chance to dress up like a real-life princess! These D23 Members took it to the next level with prom dresses inspired by some of their favorite Disney characters.
Jace’s glittering bluish gown with icicle earrings to match makes her look like the (prom) Queen of Arendelle, Elsa!
Stef looks anything but poor and unfortunate in this sparkling purple dress—her inspiration was Ursula
Makenna decorated these Belle-inspires shoes herself. We love the rose accents and gold bows!
Andrea needed something fancy to wear to a formal event, so she created this gown inspired by Meg from Hercules.
To match Rapunzel’s look, Cara chose a purple dress and a floral hair accessory (plus Pascal, of course)!
Colleen says many of her friends and classmates told her she looked like Cinderella in this elegant, periwinkle gown.
The beautiful, iridescent green dress Lauren wore for prom is vintage! Combined with pearl accessories, it looks like something you’d see Ariel jumping, dancing, or strolling along the street in.
