Insider Access to Inside Out

Feeling a little angry and sad that you can’t see Inside Out until its release on June 19? Never fear, we’ve got a way for you to see the movie three days early that will have you jumping for joy!

Fathom Events and Disney are working together to present a special screening of “Insider Access to Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out” in hundreds of select U.S. movie theaters on Tuesday, June 16, live at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT and tape-delayed to 7 p.m. MT/PT/AK/HI. This one-night event will include a screening of the full-length feature Inside Out, plus the new Lava short, three days before the film’s official release on June 19. Audiences will also be treated to 15 minutes of exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from Pixar Animation Studios and a Q&A with director Pete Docter, producer Jonas Rivera, and the voice of Joy, Amy Poehler, live via satellite from their Australian tour.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Celebrating Disney Dollars: Currency with Character

May 6, 2015March 26, 2018

Although Disney “currency” has been available since the early 1930s––back when children could use “Mickey Mouse Cones” bills to get ice cream cones at local “Mickey Mouse Clubs”––none has been as popular as Disney Dollars, the official currency of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney Dollars currency was one of several creative projects spearheaded by Disney Legend Jack Lindquist, who was then developing unique marketing and entertainment concepts for Disney theme parks. “We figured that we’re bigger than a lot of small countries, why don’t we have our own currency?” Jack said. With that, The Walt Disney Company became one of the first private organizations to print its own money and have it accepted in theme parks like the U.S. Dollar.

The unique currency was first available at Disneyland on May 5, 1987, when four Anaheim motorcycle police officers ceremoniously escorted an armored truck to the park main entrance. Scrooge McDuck––Secretary of the Treasury, whose signature can be found on each bill––unloaded sacks of dollars at the ticket booths with news cameras on hand to capture all the action. Guest Dale Castillo was the first person to purchase the happiest currency on earth.

The original $1 Disney Dollar bill, featuring Mickey Mouse.

Disney Dollars became so popular that they were introduced at Walt Disney World five months later, on October 2. Originally, $1 and $5 denominations (featuring Mickey and Goofy, respectively) were offered. The $10 bill, featuring Minnie Mouse, was added in 1989, with a $50 bill featuring Mickey offered in 2005 for the 50^th anniversary of Disneyland.

And here’s a fun fact: Disney Dollars were the first currency to be four-color printed in the U.S.! It took more than 203 man-hours and hundreds of employees to engrave and create the original $1 and $5 notes.

Throughout the years, more than a dozen characters and unique designs have been featured on the bills, which are just as fun to collect as they are to use! Here is a collection of the bill designs from over the years:

The original $5 bill featuring Goofy, introduced in 1987.

The 1997 series $10 bill, featuring Simba and commemorating the 25^th anniversary of Walt Disney World.

The 2000 series $10 bill marked Donald Duck’s first appearance on the currency.

The 2001 $10 bill, part of a series of Disney Dollars celebrating the opening of Disney California Adventure.

The 2002 series $10 bill, featuring Tinker Bell and commemorating the 100 Years of Magic celebration.

The 2005 series’ all-new $50 bill featured Mickey Mouse in honor of the 50^th anniversary of Disneyland.

Chicken Little was featured on the $1 bill in 2005 in conjunction with his feature film debut.

The 2007 series featured Disney Princesses, such as Princess Aurora.

That same year, a Pirates of the Caribbean series of $1 bills led up to the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

The 2008 series of Disney Dollars celebrated Mickey’s 80^th anniversary.

Jump For Joy Inside Out Premiere Sweepstakes

OVERVIEW	TO ENTER	DETAILS
Enter for the chance to win two tickets to the red carpet premiere of Inside Out in Hollywood (accommodations and/or transportation between winner’s home and the premiere not included)!	Sweepstakes has ended.	Winner will be notified via email within 48 hours after the end of the sweepstakes. Click here for complete legal rules.

Inside Out is all about getting in touch with your emotions: Fear, Anger, Sadness, and Disgust, but if you win this sweepstakes, you’ll be feeling only one—Joy!

You can enter for the chance to win tickets for yourself and a guest to attend the premiere of Inside Out in Hollywood on June 8 (accommodations and/or transportation between winner’s home and the premiere not included). You’ll get to walk the red carpet, be one of the first to see the film, and maybe even see some movie stars!

Do you ever look at people and wonder what is going on inside their heads? Disney•Pixar’s original new film Inside Out ventures inside the mind to find out. Directed by Academy Award^® winner Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc., Up), produced by Jonas Rivera (Up), and featuring an original score by Michael Giacchino (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up), Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out opens in theaters on June 19, 2015.

NOTE: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes begins at 10 a.m. PT on 5/6/15 and ends at 10 a.m. PT on 5/15/15. Open to residents of the 50 U.S. including D.C., ages 18 and older. Only one entry allowed per person. There is only one prize available to be won. Winner must be able to attend the premiere, taking place on June 8, 2015. Prize does not include accommodations or transportation between winner’s home and the premiere. Click here for official rules, including full entry requirements and prize limitations.

Star Wars Comes to Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition—Plus More in News Briefs for May 5, 2015

The Force is Strong with Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition

With the new movie starting to peek over the horizon like Tatooine’s two suns, it’s a seriously good time to be a Star Wars fan… and that now goes for players of über-popular Disney Infinity, the best-selling hybrid toy/video game from Disney Interactive. The Star Wars universe will be joining its Disney, Disney•Pixar, and Marvel brethren this fall when Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition debuts!

The Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack promises to deliver kids (and adults!) tons of new content and more variety of gameplay than ever offered from Disney Infinity before. New items include three brand-new Star Wars Play Sets—one anchored in the timeline of Episodes I–III, the second during the original trilogy, and the third (available this winter) based on the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Additional new sets will include characters from the upcoming Disney•Pixar film Inside Out, as well as a Marvel Play Set “starring” Hulkbuster Iron Man, Ultron, and other super hero favorites. Fans can also enjoy an enhanced Toy Box with two new multiplayer Toy Box Expansion Games: Toy Box Speedway (a fun kart-racing adventure) and Toy Box Takeover (with more action than you can shake a stick at). And more figures of fan-favorite characters from across Disney will be introduced, including Mickey and Minnie, Sam Flynn and Quorra from Tron: Legacy, Mulan, and Frozen fave Olaf… among many others.

Look for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition to start hitting store shelves this fall, and click here to learn more.

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2014-2015
D23 Member Nights at Newsies—On Tour
May 9
The Parent Trap Party at Camp Inch
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
March 4–May 17
22nd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
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
TV
May 9
Doctor Who Debuts on Disney XD (9 p.m. ET/PT)

**Fight for Tomorrow with Casey and Athena**

The debut of Tomorrowland, Disney’s much-anticipated mystery adventure from the mad scientists behind Lost and The Incredibles, is only a few weeks away! To whet your visionary whistles, check out these new featurettes that are all about Casey (Britt Robertson) and Athena (Raffey Cassidy)—two young women on whose shoulders rests the very survival of humanity. Talk about pressure, right?

The film follows a jaded scientist and an optimistic teenager as they embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space…

Join the fight for the future when Tomorrowland hits theaters on May 22!

**Go Inside Out This Summer at Epcot**

Weve all wondered about it… what do the voices in your head actually look like? Are they weird? Cute? Creepy? Beards or no beards? Jaunty hats? Disney•Pixar aims to answer all these questions (and many more) when Inside Out comes to theaters on June 19! The newest animated film from Monsters, Inc. and Up director Pete Docter goes deep inside the mind of 11-year-old Riley and introduces us to the Emotions that guide her: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust. Based in Headquarters, the five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voiced by Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler)—whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy.

But if waiting ’til June 19 doesn’t float your boat (or the one belonging to those voices inside your own noggin)—and you’re heading down to Walt Disney World this summer—you can catch a sneak peek of Inside Out at the Imagination Pavilion inside Epcot starting May 30. The preview will feature some very cool in-theater special effects, and will also include an exclusive introduction from the filmmakers themselves…

For more Inside Out fun, make sure to check out the new “Emotion Garden” displayed as part of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, now through May 17.

Helmets Help Make a “Change” with Charity Auction

“Bid or bid not, there is no ‘try.’” Star Wars: Force For Change, a charitable initiative from Disney and Lucasfilm, has announced its latest campaign: teaming with eBay Giving Works to auction off a selection of plaster Stormtrooper helmet replicas, awesomely decorated by artists from around the globe. The 10-day auction kicked off on Monday, “May the 4th,” and bidders have the chance to compete for these one-of-a-kind helmets at a starting price of just $5.04.

Lucasfilm donated the helmets to U.S. Fund for UNICEF—which will receive 100 percent of the final auction sales price for each helmet. They’ll direct the funds to support UNICEF Kid Power, an innovative new program that uses the world’s first Wearable-For-Good bracelet to get kids active and provide lifesaving food packets to children in need the world over.

For more information, visit StarWars.com.

Frozen **Meets Science Fun with New Frozen: Early Science Apps**

Do your little ones love Frozen? Want to help them get ahead on all things science, in a totally fun way? On April 30, Disney Publishing Worldwide announced Frozen: Early Science—a series of apps based on early science principles, featuring favorite characters and stories from the award-winning animated hit Frozen.

The new series of apps is the latest offering from Disney Imagicademy, the company’s technology-driven learning initiative for families with children ages 3–8. The Frozen: Early Science apps are designed to reward observation, experimentation, and deduction—skills that experts agree are the “building blocks” of the scientific process. The Disney Imagicademy Frozen: Early Science apps provide children with five fun experiences that feature fundamental tools and concepts grounded in an early-sciences curriculum, including “Cooking Creations” and “Reindeer Care” (Phases of Matter and Life Science), “Growing Garden” (Botany), “Ice Structures” (Engineering Design), and “Forest Wilderness” (Ecosystems and Zoology).

If your kids can’t wait to learn from Anna and Elsa, don’t worry: The first Frozen: Early Science app is available now on the App Store, and three more Frozen: Early Science apps will launch by early summer!

Everyone’s Favorite Porcine Diva Receives Major Award

Miss Piggy… star of stage and screen… beloved around the globe… It’s hard to believe she hasn’t won every award ever, y’know? Luckily, the Brooklyn Museum is helping to remedy that by bestowing upon Miss Piggy the prestigious Sackler Center First Award on Thursday, June 4!

The Sackler Center First Awards honor women who are first in their fields—and they’ve chosen the glamorous, felt-covered actor, writer, and veritable “icon” for her more-than-40 years blazing feminist trails with determination and humor, and for her groundbreaking role inspiring generations all over the world. Previous award recipients include luminaries like former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, director Julie Taymor, and writer Toni Morrison.

The evening will feature a 20-minute video presentation chronicling Piggy’s career from her not-so-humble beginnings on The Muppet Show to her current iconic status, and fellow feminist hero Gloria Steinem will interview Piggy live on stage… but that’s not all: Kermit the Frog is scheduled to be in attendance, supporting his life-long love. “Moi is thrilled—but frankly, not surprised to be receiving this Sackler Center First Award,” Miss Piggy says. “It is truly wonderful to be celebrated and share this honor with fellow legends, role models, and pioneers of female fabulosity. We rock!”

Tokyo Disney Resort: More Fun in Store

“Chūmoku,” Disney fans! (That’s “attention” in Japanese.) Earlier this week, Oriental Land Company announced several new themes that are in development at Tokyo Disney Resort. The eighth port currently in development at Tokyo DisneySea Park will feature elements inspired by Scandinavia, and a portion of that area will be themed to Disney’s blockbuster Frozen. Two themed areas are also in development at Tokyo Disneyland’s Fantasyland: one inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and the other themed to Alice in Wonderland.

These new enhancements are part of the resort’s 10-year, 500 billion yen expansion plan, and is a result of the shared vision and amazing partnership between Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Oriental Land Company that’s been cultivated over the last few years. More info on all the great new experiences coming to Tokyo Disney Resort as it becomes available…

Star Wars: The Force Awakens—What We Know So Far

Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4^th be with you. Star Wars fans have been using this pun for years—as far back as 1979!—to celebrate their love and passion for the saga from a galaxy far, far away. A riff on the popular phrase, “May the force be with you,” May the 4^th has grown into a worldwide, grassroots tradition each year, with fans online and offline proclaiming it “Star Wars Day.” Plus, for the first time ever, you can spend the day watching every Star Wars movie thus far on Digital HD.

So what better day than today to discuss the things we know so far about the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, perhaps the most anticipated film in a decade? J.J. Abrams, director of the film, which opens December 18, is known for creating great characters, spectacle, and intense action, but he’s also the king of secrets. Which means, of course, getting information about the new film has been about as easy as breaking into Fort Knox! But from what we have been able to pull together from news reports—and from the awesome Star Wars Celebration this past month in Anaheim—here is what we know so far:

The film is set 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi, and many of our favorite characters from the original trilogy are back! Mark Hamill returns as Luke, Carrie Fisher as Leia, Harrison Ford as Han, Peter Mayhew as Chewie, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, and Kenny Baker as R2-D2.

Of course, there’s a cast of newcomers this time, too. They include Daisy Ridley as Rey, a scavenger on the desolate planet of Jakku; Oscar Isaac as Poe, the fighter pilot (Isaac says Poe is “the best friggin’ pilot in the galaxy.”); and John Boyega as Finn, who may or may not be a stormtrooper (although the trailer showed footage of him dressed in stormtrooper armor).

Then there’s the music—it wouldn’t be Star Wars without legendary Oscar^®-winning composer John Williams, who provided the musical score for all six previous Star Wars films, along with such classics as Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, and the original Superman. Williams is back to score The Force Awakens and contribute new music for the trilogy. And, for the first time ever, he’ll record the score in Los Angeles, as opposed to London’s Abbey Road, where he recorded the first six. As fans know, the iconic Star Wars music is so woven into the fabric of the film, that just the first few notes of the opening fanfare is enough to make us light up our plastic lightsabers in salute. His return is great news, indeed!

As for the look of the film, J.J. Abrams wanted to use many more practical sets and props, which meant building large-scale spaceships and sets. There will be CGI, of course, but just like the first film, J.J. says he wants audiences to believe that people actually are in this universe, and it’s real. Speaking of which, the new droid in this film, BB-8, is an actual, real thing. J.J. felt it was better for the actors to actually see BB-8 on set rather than just imagine his digital image. When BB-8 rolled across the stage at Star Wars Celebration, fans went nuts.

They also went nuts for the second trailer, which showed the hulking remains of a downed Star Destroyer, attacking TIE Fighters, and a lightsaber being passed from generation to generation—which is only fitting, considering The Force Awakens is, in a sense, the passing of the lightsaber from one generation to the next. It makes a person feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

“Chewie…we’re home.”

May The Fourth (For Change) Be With You!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens—New Teaser Unveiled at Star Wars Celebration!

Where Does “May the 4th” Come From?

May The Fourth (For Change) Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day!

Sometimes our love of all things Star Wars means long afternoons on the couch watching a marathon of all six films (and, of course, a little Star Wars Rebels). But at Star Wars Celebration last month, Star Wars: Force for Change and UNICEF proved that being a fan can get you up and moving. Watch the video to see how ducking under asteroids and dodging TIE fighters can help feed kids in need around the world!

Star Wars: Force for Change and UNICEF will be announcing other ways Star Wars fans can get involved throughout the year, leading up to the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December. To start, fans can visit StarWars.com/ForceforChange and unicefkidpower.org, to make a donation and receive updates on activities and ways to join us and become a #ForceforChange.

Girl Meets World Returns to Disney Channel May 11—And More in News Briefs

Taking on the World Again—New Season Begins May 11

Calling all Girl Meets World fans! You’ve been waiting patiently for the second season to start, and now it’s just around the corner… The continuing adventures of Riley Matthews (Rowan Blanchard) and all her John Quincy Adams Middle School cohorts kick off with five crazy new episodes over five days—starting on Monday, May 11, at 8:30 p.m. on Disney Channel!

The spinoff to the popular ’90s sitcom Boy Meets World stars Blanchard as the tween daughter of original lovebirds Corey (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) and finds her attending the very middle school where her father now teaches. Season 2 will not only catch back up with Riley, best friend Maya (Sabrina Carpenter) and perpetually smitten Farkle (Corey Fogelmanis)… but it’ll also feature some much-anticipated BMW reunions! Girl Meets World has already featured an appearance by Corey’s best friend Shawn (Rider Strong)—and, as seen in the show’s brand-new trailer above, he’ll be back for more fun and frolic alongside Mr. Feeney (William Daniels) himself! Also keep an eye out for Will Friedle as Corey’s big brother Eric, and the return of Corey and Topanga’s former English teacher Mr. Turner (Anthony Tyler Quinn).

Don’t miss the big “What in the World is Happening” Season Premiere on Monday, May 11—and then stay tuned for four more brand-new episodes each night through May 15! It’s truly an embarrassment of Girl Meets World riches…

Save the Date!

Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2014-2015
D23 Member Nights at Newsies—On Tour
May 9
The Parent Trap Party at Camp Inch
May 29
VIP Studio Tour with Disney Legend Dave Smith
June 20
D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives
August 14-16
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California
Studios
May 1
Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters.
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
March 4–May 17
22nd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
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
TV
April 28
Dancing with the Stars 10th Anniversary Special airs on ABC (8–9 p.m. ET/PT)
May 9
Doctor Who Debuts on Disney XD (9 p.m. ET/PT)

The Legacy Continues with Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Disneyland

Sure, Disneyland is filled to the brim with iconic images: the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, walking down Main Street, U.S.A. towards Sleeping Beauty Castle… but let’s not forget the music. It’s the evocative musical themes of the Disneyland Resort that make up the eighth release from Walt Disney Records’ “The Legacy Collection”—and just in time for Disneyland’s 60^th anniversary!

The three-disc The Legacy Collection Disneyland will be available exclusively at Disneyland Resort beginning on May 20, with a wider release set for August 21. The compilation explores the rich history behind songs and attractions past and present. Beginning with the recordings from the opening day of Disneyland in 1955, it guides the listener down Main Street, U.S.A. and through the greatest attractions, shows, and lands that exist today and those that are now only a “happy memory.” Discs One and Two cover lands including Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland, plus five songs from Disney California Adventure Park (DCA). Disc Three features an additional 12 songs from DCA, plus music from the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade and Fantasmic! And fans will love the extensive liner notes provided by Stacia Martin, a 37-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company and Disney historian. Don’t miss your chance to hear Disneyland’s musical history!

Meet the Next Generation of Villains in Disney Descendants

Ever found yourself wondering what happened to your favorite Disney villains once the heroes got their “happily ever after”? Well you’re in luck: Disney Channel is set to answer that very question with their original movie Disney Descendants, directed by Emmy^® winner Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, Newsies).

Wanna see what all the evil-esque fuss is about? Then take a gander at this brand-new trailer. Seems that all those villains we love to hate—including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Evil Queen and Sleeping Beauty’s Maleficent—have been relegated to a present-day, prison-like island, where they’ve raised their children without magic… but with plenty of mischief. In a nearby peaceful kingdom, the son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, natch) shocks his folks with his first proclamation: a chance at redemption for Carlos (Cruella De Vil’s son), Mal (Maleficent’s daughter), Evvie (the Evil Queen’s daughter), and Jay (Jafar’s son). They’re allowed into the kingdom to attend prep school with the kids of iconic Disney heroes like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Mulan. But now they face a big dilemma. Should they go into the “family business” and help their diabolical parentals regain power? Or is time to embrace their—dare we say—inner goodness?

Find out when Disney Descendants premieres this summer on Disney Channel!

Avengers Assemble at New York Stock Exchange

Don’t worry, investors of the world: There are Super Heroes looking after your money! Well, at least for one morning… On Friday, April 24, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) ventured to Wall Street to ring the famous “opening bell” at the New York Stock Exchange! Joining them were Marvel executives George Beliard, David Booinger, Irving de la Concha, Blake Garris, Nancy Lee, Michael Jerchower, Kate Hayes, Mark Plotkin, Doris Hernandez-Colon and Alex Gomez. You can watch the pair in action over at Marvel.com. (Thankfully, the real New York is still standing after their visit. The fictional one from the first Avengers? Not so much… )

Dress Like a Stylish Super Hero with New Avengers Fashion Collection

Fangirls, this one’s for you: In celebration of the release of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Her Universe—the popular “geek girl” apparel company—and Disney Consumer Products recently announced a new fashion line inspired by all your favorite heroes from the Avengers films! The “Marvel by Her Universe” collection will be available mid-May exclusively at select Hot Topic stores and hottopic.com, with an online pre-sale going on right now! The collection features designs by winners from the first-ever Her Universe “Geek Couture” Fashion Show held at last year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, where attendees Amy Beth Christenson and Andrew MacLaine took top honors with their amazing original creations. As part of their grand prize, Amy and Andrew were rewarded the opportunity to design an exclusive fashion collection with Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein. The six-piece line includes fashion-forward dresses and jackets, available in both regular and extended sizes. And that’s not all: From now through May 5, fans can post a photo of what they’ll be wearing to see Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron (tagging their pics #HTAvengersSweeps) to Instagram for a chance to win the entire collection! More info (and official rules) can be found at HotTopic.com. Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters on May 1!

Newsies on Tour: Exclusive Song from the “Refuge”

Our friends over at Disney Playlist premiered a very cool video last week as part of their “Playlist Sessions”… Did you know there’s a song from Newsies that you haven’t heard in the film, or even in the Broadway version of the show? This song, called “Letter From the Refuge,” was written by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman just for the touring production, and is sung by Crutchie, Jack Kelly’s lovable sidekick. At this point in the show, Crutchie has just been captured and is writing to Jack to detail his escape plan, and to remind the fellas to look out for each other. “Crutchie as a character would never be self-pitying, and he’s not used to writing letters, so that defined the pace and the tone of the song,” said Alan in a recent interview for Variety. “It’s tentative, emotional but guarded, with a sense of false bravado and a tenderness underneath.” Check out the clip above to see Zachary Sayle, who plays Crutchie in the touring cast of Newsies, sing “Letter From the Refuge” for Disney Playlist.

Get Your Tiki On at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto—Now Officially Open!

“Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!” The doors to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World officially opened on Monday, April 27, and not a moment too soon for tiki-heads across the nation! Sail on in for one of their famous drinks (like the Shrunken Zombie Head) available in fun collectible mugs. And don’t worry, the already-popular lounge is worth the wait; look for over 1,200 pieces of tiki-related memorabilia once inside, and get ready to have a tropically terrific time with the staff. The lounge is open daily from 4:30 p.m. until midnight (it’s “all ages” until 8 p.m.), and is located right off the main lobby of the hotel.

Surf’s Up with Teen Beach 2: Beach Party at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

Grab your surfboards and your suntan lotion! As part of Walt Disney World’s Coolest Summer Ever, a new summertime dance party inspired by Teen Beach 2 (the upcoming sequel to Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Party) is coming to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park. From May 22 through July 5, folks can join in the Beach Party at various times throughout day. The fun includes “bikers” and “surfers” who dance and play beach-themed games with guests as a DJ spins remixes of retro tunes. Taking over part of Typhoon Lagoon’s main beach area, guests of all ages can participate in relays on the sand; hula-hoop spinning; water balloon and beach ball tossing; and even some of the grooviest dance moves this side of Mt. Mayday!

And get ready to party at Typhoon Lagoon by watching this new clip from the music video for “Gotta Be Me,” a song from Teen Beach 2, which, of course, stars R5’s Ross Lynch and Maia Mitchell (ABC Family’s The Fosters) as surfing sweethearts Brady and Mack. The sequel is set a few months after the pair returns from a summer adventure that transported them into Brady’s favorite 1960s beach party movie, Wet Side Story—only now, they’re surprised to receive a real-world visit from Lela, Tanner, Butchy and all their other newfound surfer and biker buddies. Catch the Teen Beach 2 wave when it premieres on Disney Channel this summer!

The Doctor is In: Doc McStuffins Wins Peabody Award

Disney Junior’s popular Doc McStuffins has won the prestigious Peabody Award in the Children/Youth category. The award, which recognizes outstanding storytelling in electronic media, is honoring the animated series for its “disarming, inspiring” tales for children ages 2–7. The 2015 Peabody Awards Ceremony will take place May 31 in New York City. Doc McStuffins centers on 6-year-old Doc, who wants to be a doctor—just like her mom—and runs a clinic for stuffed animals and toys in her backyard playhouse. Created and executive-produced by Humanitas Prize and Emmy^® Award-winner Chris Nee, the series was just awarded an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children’s Program, and was also recently nominated for a NAMIC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications) and Emmy Award.

Director Joss Whedon and Cast Talk Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron

It’s no exaggeration to say that Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is, perhaps, the most eagerly anticipated Super-Hero film of all time. Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk, Hawkeye, Thor—the whole gang’s back for another save-the-world extravaganza, this time fighting against Ultron, a super-smart—and equally evil—robot that plans to save humanity from itself. Joining them this time are newcomers Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, along with a few other surprises. Ahead of the May 1 premiere, D23 had the opportunity to sit in on a rollicking, no-holds-barred conversation with the director, Joss Whedon, producer Kevin Feige, and the whole cast of Super Heroes… along with one super-suave villain.

On creating a sequel to the most successful comic-book movie of all time:

Joss Whedon: The thing that drew me back to the movie was, what are the little moments with these characters that I haven’t gotten to do yet? What conversations have they not had? Where do they live, how do I get inside their hearts? Those are the moments I write reams and reams of paper just thinking about. The tiniest part, that’s really the heart of my writing.

On the script:

Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man): I read Joss’ script and I said, ‘I think this is great.’ Ask Kevin [Feige, producer]. Kevin said, ‘You never say that. You don’t mean that.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I think it’s great. Let’s go shoot it.’ I thought it was a Swiss watch to begin with. Joss really created some great new situations for Tony (Stark) to be in, so rather than digging in my heels and trying to rewrite every scene, to make them even better, if possible, I just showed up and it turned out great.

On bringing Ultron, the killer robot, to life:

James Spader (Ultron): I don’t really have any idea at all what was going on, it happened so quickly. I was literally just trying to hold on and stay on the train. But I will say this—I arrived in London, and within the first half hour they put on this suit, and they put on all this gear, and within 15 minutes I was watching me move around a big room and watching Ultron, or at least a formative stage of Ultron, on a monitor in front of me. It started right there. The next day I was on the set shooting a scene with Scarlett (Johansson). That pace is where it was throughout the entire project. Luckily I had a meeting before that with Joss with a big meal and whole bunch of wine to figure out who this guy was.

On reading comics growing up:

Spader: Growing up, I didn’t have any comic books at all but my friend Will had a whole trunk full of them. And so comic books were like candy for me. I’d go over to his house for a sleepover and I’d be devouring anything I could get my hands on. Because the sleepover was going to be over and I was going to have to go back to my house and it was going to be… Kipling.

On Hawkeye’s bigger part in this film:

Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye): I speak in this movie, which is awesome. I’m part of the team, which is awesome. When I sat down with Joss and Kevin back in the day and talked about why I wanted to play Hawkeye… I understood Hawkeye in the sense that he’s a human, so I thought I’d tap into that and explore a little bit more of that.

Kevin Feige: As we were putting together the Phase 2 movies, Joss very much liked the idea—and we honed on that—that Hulk and Hawkeye would be two characters that hadn’t gotten much exposure, so he had very big plans for those characters in this one.

**On Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver) having worked together previously, in Godzilla:**

Olsen: I think it’s only a benefit. It’s kind of intimidating joining this group (the Avengers), so I got to do it with Aaron by my side.

Taylor-Johnson: It’s comforting to know, stepping on set with such a big ensemble, that I had someone to feel comfortable with.

On Black Widow’s role and future:

Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow): She realizes that her calling is a greater one—even though that’s not necessarily something she’s thrilled about—but that’s what is heroic about her… There are many different directions to go. Is she going to be able to withstand this huge weight that’s bearing down on her, or is she going to crack under it? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

When Last We Saw Our Heroes . . .

April 30, 2015March 26, 2018

On May 1, 2015, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes again assemble to face the foes that no single hero can handle alone. Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, brings together Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Captain America for another round of rock-’em, sock-’em robot. In this case, Ultron is said robot, intent on solving the world’s woes by wiping it clean of humans. It’s been three years and multiple movies later—where were all the Avengers when last we saw them?

IRON MAN
Marvel’s Iron Man 3 wrought big changes on Tony Stark’s life. His Malibu house crumbled into the Pacific Ocean during an attack, he threw away his RT, and is now reevaluating his role as Iron Man. For Robert Downey Jr., who plays Iron Man, the dynamics between The Avengers in the story was one of his favorite things about reprising one of the world’s most famous Super Heroes. “What I loved about this script was the further development of the complexities of the relationship between all the Avengers,” he says. “I loved that Thor has a beef with me and then eventually has to give in and say I’m right.” Nowhere are these character dynamics more apparent than the scene at the end of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 where Tony’s lying on a couch, as if he’s in a psychiatrist’s office, spilling his guts to his new best bud, Bruce Banner.

HULK
And speaking of Banner, the last we saw him was in that office, graciously suffering through Stark’s tales of personal woe, as any good friend would. But other than comradeship, why would Banner be hanging out with Stark? Because they share a similar thirst for scientific discovery. “Banner basically moved in with Tony Stark after he didn’t have anywhere to go at the end of the last Avengers,” explains Mark Ruffalo, who plays Banner. “He traveled around and he did his thing, but Stark took him in and there were a lot of mutually beneficial qualities that they get from each other. One of them is their understanding of science, and what Banner’s specialty is has been really well-augmented with what Tony’s been up to.”

THOR
After younger brother Loki tried to enslave the human race in the first Avengers film, Thor yanked him back up to Asgard to face mom, dad, and other life-threatening challenges. As the rightful heir to the throne, Thor could live in luxury ruling all of Asgard, but his affection for Jane and the rest of the humans convinces him to leave Asgard, renounce his kingship, and return to earth to protect those he loves. “Thor has decided to stay on and so we see a more grounded, earthly version of Thor than we have in the past,” says Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor. “It is nice because there are a few more opportunities to showcase some humor and see him in some casual gear instead of the red cape and armor that we always see him in.”

CAPTAIN AMERICA
Captain America is now running point for the team. Steve Rogers’ world came crashing down in big ways in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as S.H.I.E.L.D. itself dissolved after being infiltrated by the criminal organization known as Hydra, and the masked Winter Soldier struck at the heart of Captain America. According to Chris Evans, who plays Cap, “He is still searching for whether or not he can have a life outside of being Captain America. He’s been of service for so long, so trying to figure out what he would do without his uniform and S.H.I.E.L.D is a bit of a puzzle.”

BLACK WIDOW
Scarlett Johansson returns as fan favorite Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, fresh from Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which saw her fighting alongside Captain America to fend off the forces of Hydra, who managed to dismantle S.H.I.E.L.D. and send Black Widow, Captain America, and Nick Fury on the run. Although Black Widow’s personal life has seen little screen time, Johansson hopes that audiences will appreciate the new film’s direction: “We have our histories and we get to explore a little bit of that and I think the audience is going to absolutely love that.”

AGENT FURY
After the harrowing battle in Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, what became of Nick Fury, especially considering S.H.I.E.L.D. has been dismantled? “S.H.I.E.L.D.’s in disarray,” says Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Fury. “Everybody’s scattered to the wind so it is interesting to see how they bring us back together as we continue to do Avengers business. Fury is on the outside looking in, but still has his hand in there a little bit and the person I trust more than anybody on the planet is Natasha. It’s always been the case, so she is my eyes and ears.”

HAWKEYE
Last we saw Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner, he was chomping away on shawarma after the battle of New York. He hasn’t made any appearances in the subsequent films, so we’re to assume that… he went back for more shawarma, right? “Joss and I both really loved the character and we didn’t really ultimately get to explore him very much in the first film,” says Renner. “So it made me very happy when I saw Joss at a party and he said that we were going to find out a lot more about the character and what makes him tick.” Be watching for Hawkeye’s role to be beefed up in significant ways in the new film.

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