We’re All Kids At Star Wars Celebration

Okay, okay, let’s admit it—when we saw Han Solo say, “Chewie, we’re home,” in the brand-new teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was unveiled on Thursday at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, we all got a little gooey-eyed and crumbled into our 8-year-old selves, right? Of course we did—Star Wars is back, and it’s as amazing as we remember! The teaser is just the beginning of things your inner child can eat up at this four-day annual convention dedicated to everything from a galaxy “far, far away.” Here are just some of the things that got our attention on Day One:

 

Kids and families stopped to take photos with the once-fearsome “life-size” Rancor monster, from Return of the Jedi. Yes, it’s just a replica—but a very cool one! They even have a large bone that people can shove into its mouth.

photo of R2-D2 droids at the R2-D2 Builders group

Dozens of R2-D2 droids at the R2-D2 Builders group. In addition to all their R2s (and a few other droids), they built a semi-scale replica of the bottom of the Jawa Sandcrawler from the first film. Great for fan photos! And what’s interesting is that J.J. Abrams was so impressed with the work of some of the R2-D2 builders that he hired a couple of them for the film! How’s that for turning your fandom into your career?

Hearing J.J. Abrams say to the 5,000 fans in the arena: “Thank you to all of you. This is overwhelming. The first time I saw A New Hope was mind-blowing. I was 11 when it came out, which was a great age to have my mind blown… I never forget that feeling. That moment, it just transported me, it made me believe in another world that way. George Lucas’ brilliance had such heart and such hope. It was incredibly powerful—even at 11 years old.”

When Abrams said that he wanted to build as many real and practical sets as possible, instead of using only digital landscapes, the thunderous applause nearly shook the roof off the arena.

We even saw Bespin under construction. Sponsored by HASBRO, this booth lets fans help build a diorama of Cloud City (Bespin) from The Empire Strikes Back.

split photo showing conference goers dressed up as Captain America, Princess Leia, and various Storm Troopers

Sooooo much cosplay. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, cosplay is simply dressing up as your favorite character. Here at Celebration, the costumes are taken to the next level, especially the Stormtroopers, the Leias (some with hair buns, some with metal bikinis), and the throngs of Jedi. We even saw one Sorcerer Mickey sporting a blue Stormtrooper helmet in place of his normal pointy hat. And not to mix our franchises too much, but the Captain America Stormtrooper was pretty epic—although Cap would never work for the Emperor!

two photos of life-size figures of Chewbacca, Darth Maul from Star Wars movies on display

If you like LEGOs, then this is the place for you. In addition to the launch of brand new Star Wars-themed LEGO sets, there are also life-size replicas of Chewbacca, Darth Maul, Boba Fett, and even a full-sized Tie Fighter—all made from LEGOs.

One of the big draws of Celebration is the opportunity to meet, take a photo with, and get an autograph from your favorite stars from the films. Some of the actors on hand include Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca).

In the middle of the convention floor, costumed characters recreated the Mos Eisley Cantina scene, complete with Greedo, the bartender, Hammerhead, and a full-size set fashioned in loving detail to resemble the actual set from the 1977 film. This time, though, Greedo survived… Han wasn’t there (to shoot first).

photo of sign advertising Star Wars Jedi Training Academy Master the Ways of the Force

Of course, being that the Celebration is just across the street from The Happiest Place on Earth, it made sense that Disneyland sent over a few of its own Jedi to take the Jedi Training Academy on the road. A mainstay at both Disneyland in Anaheim and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, the Academy fit right in at Celebration, training young Padawans in the ways of the Force.

Besides the expansive floor, though, Star Wars Celebration boasts an impressive roster of seminars, such as “Ray Park: The Man, the Sith, the Legend,” (he played Darth Maul in Phantom Menace) and “Date With a Princess: Carrie Fisher.” Over the course of four days, dozens of seminars give fans the opportunity to plunge into the Star Wars universe deeper than ever before. Yep, it’s like kids on Christmas morning: so much to see, so much to unwrap, and so much to enjoy—but such a short time to do it!

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

This morning at Star Wars Celebration, writer/director/producer J.J. Abrams and the film’s producer, Kathleen Kennedy, brought the far, far away galaxy to nearby Anaheim, California—where they kicked off the Celebration by giving fans an exclusive look at a new teaser for Star Wars: The Force Awakens!

Cast members from the film were in attendance, including Star Wars Saga newcomers Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac, as well as veterans of the original saga Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, and Peter Mayhew. The talented team of filmmakers and actors shared a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming film and debuted a brand-new teaser trailer.

The Force was strong in Anaheim today, and will be throughout the weekend as Star Wars Celebration continues. And, of course, Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters all around the galaxy December 18, 2015!

After you’ve watched the new teaser—again and again, like we have—enjoy this gallery of new images from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And be sure to follow D23 throughout the weekend for more coverage of Star Wars Celebration!

Five Incredible Early Visions for Disneyland

As D23 Gold Members unwrap their 2015 member gift

––a replica of a historic portfolio used to sell the concept of Disneyland––

. . . we share a detailed look at some familiar and forgotten visions for the park, illustrated across the portfolio’s pages.

Some of the earliest concepts for Disneyland never quite made it off the drawing board. Such is the case for the “Duck Bumps” ride proposed for Fantasyland, pictured above. But notice the accompanying windmill ride; a similar attraction based on The Old Mill (1937) would open at Disneyland Paris some 40 years later!

sketch of early design for Disneyland

This early layout for Main Street, U.S.A. notes a proposed International Street (see bottom right), a concept that would later be incorporated into Walt’s vision for EPCOT (the city) and eventually realized as the World Showcase in 1982.

illustration of giant whale menacing rowboats

Look out––it’s Monstro! Years before the hungry whale swallowed guests in Storybook Land Canal Boats (1956), the sea creature was considered for his own water ride.

early sketch for Disneyland attraction Peter Pan's Flight

Still, some of the earliest ideas envisioned for Disneyland were realized quite closely to the original plans. Such was the case for this “Peter Pan fly-through,” known today as Peter Pan’s Flight.

painted illustration of proposed layout of Disneyland park

This magnificent piece––a uniquely painted version of Peter Ellenshaw’s layout of the park––features some unique differences from the park that would open in 1955, including a rocket ship in the heart of Tomorrowland and circus tent in the southeastern section of the property.

These are just five of the 37 individual pieces of art included in the portfolio! Learn more about the historic portfolio that was reproduced for D23 Members in this video featuring Disney Legend Dave Smith and Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline.

Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom Swings into Theaters

They’re cute. They’re inquisitive. They’re resourceful… And they’re about to become stars of the silver screen! On April 17—just in time for Earth Day on April 22—Disneynature invites you to tag along on its latest adventure, Monkey Kingdom. And the best part? For every ticket sold opening week (from April 17–23), Disneynature will make a donation to Conservation International to help protect monkeys and other endangered species in their natural habitats!

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Monkey Kingdom, narrated by actress Tina Fey (30 Rock), follows a troupe of toque macaque monkeys as they search for food, shelter, and even love through the exotic jungles of Sri Lanka. Co-directed by Disneynature alums Mark Linfield and Alastair Fothergill (Chimpanzee), the film rests on the adorable shoulders of 8-year-old Maya, a toque macaque with distinctive blonde hair and gumption to spare. Not quite a “leading lady” among her extended monkey family, Maya’s life changes forever when she becomes a mother; with baby Kip to care for, Maya does all she can to give her son the kind of upbringing that could help him lead his own troupe someday. Trouble is, she’s got to contend with the group’s leader, alpha-male Raja, as well as a trio of privileged female macaques nicknamed “the Sisterhood.” But when their home at Castle Rock—a picturesque granite formation intertwined with a majestic fig tree—is taken over by neighboring monkeys, it’s Maya who uses her “street smarts” and ingenuity to help her whole family relocate, leading them to fresh resources.

Filmed over the course of three years, Monkey Kingdom benefited from the expertise of Dr. Wolfgang Dittus—a researcher that co-director Mark Linfield first met during a trip to Sri Lanka early in his career. Dr. Dittus has been studying macaques for over 50 years, making his the longest-running monkey study of all time. The good doctor and his team provided the Monkey Kingdom crew with a wealth of knowledge that allowed them to recognize cues in the monkeys’ behavior—all the better to capture amazing, never-before-seen footage.

Maya’s extended family of toque macaque monkeys climbs one of the beautiful Buddhist ruins near their Castle Rock home in Sri Lanka.
Maya’s extended family of toque macaque monkeys climbs one of the beautiful Buddhist ruins near their Castle Rock home in Sri Lanka.

Since 2008, Disneynature has been celebrating the diversity of Earth’s ecosystem with films like Earth, Chimpanzee, and most recently, Bears. Through donations tied to all five of their films, Disneynature (through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund) has made a big impact—planting three million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest; protected 65,000 acres of savanna in Kenya; educating 60,000 school children about chimpanzee conservation; and even funding research and restoration grants in U.S. National Parks! With Monkey Kingdom, Disneynature is set to donate to Conservation International, an organization that empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature. A portion of the film’s opening-week ticket sales (plus a helping of sales from the film’s soundtrack single, “It’s Our World,” sung by The Voice alum Jacqui Lee) will help Conservation International’s endangered species programs across Cambodia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.

Be sure to catch Monkey Kingdom when it swings into a theater near you starting April 17!

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Disney Magic, Favorite Characters—and Even a Hidden Mickey—on This Week’s Dancing with the Stars

From the moment that Mickey and Minnie opened the doors of a (magic) kingdom, we knew that Dancing with the Stars’ “Disney Night” was going to be everything Disney fans hoped. Executive producer Rob Wade had assured D23 that the opening number was the toughest the production staff and dancers had ever attempted, and it turned out to be pretty spectacular—combining dancing, Disney parks characters, and animation, as we watched the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Tinker Bell, and even Dumbo all make their way into the ballroom to the tunes of “It’s a Small World” and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.” Cinderella and her Prince couldn’t help but get into the act, waltzing above the ballroom, next to the dancers’ make-up mirror.

For the next two hours, the nine remaining couples either embodied the characters they were dancing as—Was that Riker Lynch or Johnny Depp bringing Captain Jack Sparrow to life in “He’s A Pirate”?—or re-created the mood of the iconic movie and song they had chosen. Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigventsev’s elegant interpretation of “When You Wish Upon a Star” had us wishing that every week could be “Disney Night.” Here are some of our favorite moments from the episode—which even included a Hidden Mickey!

photo of Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani dancing together on stage
Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani

 

Suzanne and Tony knew when they began this dance that they were “in jeopardy” of being eliminated at the end of the night, but you would never have known it to see them move across the dance floor. Their performance of Peggy Lee’s “He’s a Tramp” began, naturally, in an Italian restaurant—at a table right next to Lady and Tramp and their iconic spaghetti.

photo of Kym Johnson as Mary Poppins floating over stage with open umbrella held in outstretched hand
Kym Johnson as Mary Poppins

 

The Dancing with the Stars ballroom suddenly felt like the rooftops of London when Kym Johnson “flew” in, dressed like Mary Poppins, to dance with her celebrity partner Robert Herjavec. The judges didn’t think their performance of “Step In Time” was a very jolly holiday, but we wanted to grab a broom and kick up our own heels.

photo of Patti LaBelle in long flowing gown singing on stage
Patti LaBelle

 

The twinkling stars on Patti LaBelle’s skirt at the start of “When You Wish Upon a Star” made for a truly magical moment, matched only by seeing Pinocchio and Geppetto, in scenes from the film, appearing on the dance floor as Patti and Artem Chigvintsev waltzed.

photo of Willow Shields and Mark Ballas dancing together on stage
Willow Shields and Mark Ballas

 

“Disney Night” incorporated all of the worlds of Disney, including some of the Studio’s live-action releases. Willow Shields and Mark Ballas danced an Alice in Wonderland-inspired foxtrot that could have been directed by Tim Burton himself.

photo of Chris Soules and Witney Carson dancing together on stage
Chris Soules and Witney Carson

 

Chris Soules came back from an injury to “go the distance” as Hercules in a quickstep with Witney Carson to the tune of “Zero to Hero” from Hercules.

photo of Noah Galloway suspended over stage on magic carpet
Noah Galloway

 

The breathtaking entrance from Noah Galloway via magic carpet, with Agrabah behind him, was a Disney film brought to magical life. He and Sharna Burgess danced a foxtrot to “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, truly making the ballroom “a wondrous place for you and me” by ending the dance atop an animated magic carpet.

photo of Riker Lynch and Allison Holker dancing together dressed as pirate and maiden
Riker Lynch and Allison Holker

 

This Paso Doble brought the audience in the ballroom to their feet. Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s interpretation of “He’s A Pirate” from Pirates of the Caribbean was thrilling—even before they ended with a blast from a cannon!

photo of six dancers on stage featuring Rumer Willis and Valentin Chmerkovskiy in elaborate costumes
Rumer Willis and Valentin Chmerkovskiy

 

Rumer Willis might have been dancing as Ursula, the sea witch we love to hate, but she and her partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy—both in full body makeup—were so committed to their characters, not to mention their samba, that we simply loved them. And so did the judges, who rewarded their performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” with high scores.

photo of Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough performing on stage
Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough

 

Frozen’s “Love Is An Open Door” served as the finale for the evening. Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough seemed to become Anna and Hans, and a little Disney magic helped turn the ballroom into the Arendelle royal palace. The number even featured a special guest as Olaf danced briefly across the judges’ table, on a relatively balmy Southern California evening.

041415_DWTS-Disney-Recap-feat-11

Executive producer Rob Wade had told us to be on the lookout for a special twist on the “10 Paddles” and this was probably, for Disney fans, the most wonderful surprise of the night. “Disney Night” was full of the things Disney fans love best: romance . . . magic . . . surprises . . . And, of course, a few Hidden Mickeys!

Banking with Character: Disney’s Own Financial Planners

With Tax Day just around the corner, we thought we’d take a moment to put down the abacus (people still use those, right?) and reflect on some of our most admired Disney “financial planners”… You know, those Disney characters who work their own special kind of magic on money. Pinch a few pennies with us—and see if your favorite made the list!

He’s probably the first Disney character we all associate with money… a savvy and shrewd businessman who accumulated his incredible wealth by being “tougher than the toughies and smarter than the smarties and making it square.” Donald’s rich uncle made his first appearance in a comic book in 1947!

still of Angus McBadger from animated movie The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Angus McBadger from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

 

Poor Angus was tasked with putting affairs in order for wealthy, if foolhardy, Mr. Toad. Seems our carefree amphibian friend found himself in a lot of debt, and it was up to Angus to save the monetary day!

still of Hamm from Toy Story surrounded by coins
Hamm from Toy Story

 

We don’t hear very much from little Hamm about money in the Toy Story films—but we have to imagine he’s pretty good at saving it. Every little kid should have a genuine piggy bank; there’s no better way to start accruing those quarters for a rainy day (or maybe to use for a special night out at Pizza Planet).

still from animated feature showing Sheriff of Nottingham
Sheriff of Nottingham

 

This is one person you might not want looking after your money. The sheriff is charged with collecting taxes for nasty Prince John, who’s determined to stop Robin Hood’s plan to “steal from the rich and give to the poor.”

still from the movie Mary Poppins featuring George Banks and Julie Andrews
George Banks from Mary Poppins

 

By all accounts, Mr. Banks is a money maven of the highest caliber; he works at a large London financial institution, and has made it his life’s work to accumulate and manage wealth. But his need of “precision and order” gets between him and the love of his family… Luckily, everyone’s favorite nanny comes to the rescue!

production still from The Happiest Millionaire featuring Anthony Biddle
Anthony Biddle from The Happiest Millionaire

 

He may be a tad eccentric, but he’s a self-made millionaire—so he must know a thing or two about money. Just steer clear of his 12 pet alligators! (Maybe they keep an eye on his money for him?)

production still showing Rumpelstiltskin - also Mr. Gold - from Once Upon a Time
Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold from Once Upon a Time

 

Mr. Gold is Storybrooke’s wealthiest resident—a pawnshop owner who became rich through (primarily underhanded) bargains with the town’s magical residents. But frankly, he’s easier to deal with than his alter ego Rumpelstiltskin, a sorcerer who can spin gold from straw. A nice retirement plan, sure, but one that comes with a price!

Dancing with the Stars . . . of Disney Animation!

Music . . .  dancing . . .  spectacular animation. These are things Disney fans have long loved and celebrated, both on the big screen and at Disney parks. But tonight on ABC (8–10:01 p.m. ET), Disney fans will be able to celebrate some of their favorite films from Walt Disney Animation Studios in a new way as the hit series Dancing with the Stars presents “Disney Night.”

Tonight’s episode marks the competition’s halfway point. And Dancing with the Stars’ executive producer Rob Wade told D23, “It’s going to be the very best of Disney music and animation, and it’s going to be a huge night.”

“Disney Night” will kickoff with an opening number—“The toughest we’ve ever done,” according to Wade—set to iconic Disney songs. And the couples won’t just be dancing with each other; they’ll be dancing and interacting with animated Disney characters. Disney animation will be incorporated into dance numbers throughout the night, making it appear to fans that a dancing couple is dancing with a Disney character.

Pulling off this ambitious feat on a live show has required a tremendous amount of rehearsal and technical planning. “We’re relying on camera shots being in exactly the right place and the dancers being in the right place,” Wade explains. Otherwise, he adds, “We could get into a situation where one of the celebrities is dancing on top of Pinocchio’s nose!” And because the show airs live, there’s no correcting this in post.

The dancers will be in costumes that reflect the characters they’re going to be, as they dance to the songs and sounds that Disney fans have heard and loved. Disney fans can look forward to Riker Lynch and Allison Holker dancing to “He’s a Pirate” from Pirates of the Caribbean, Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigvintsev dancing to “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio, and Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani providing fancy footwork to the tune of “He’s a Tramp” from Lady and the Tramp.

It’s no surprise that this episode has been nine months in the planning. The celebrities and dancers are as excited as we are. Wade says, “Everyone is taken back to their childhood. It’s the sort of thing that appeals to both young and old—it embodies the whole spirit of our show. Everyone is a Disney fan, aren’t they?”

Wade also offered a hint at something Disney fans can keep an eye out for during the show. “You should hope that the judges pull out a ‘10’ Paddle—there’s a nice twist on those!”

Beloved characters, Disney magic, and the promise of surprise—sounds like a perfect “10” to us!