Follow a day in the life of R2-D2 at Star Wars Celebration as he poses for photos, explores the show floor, and even meets a look-alike!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Who’s the Most Swingin’ Disney Monkey?
In honor of Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom opening in theaters this weekend, we want to know which Disney primate is the king of the jungle (no offense to Mufasa and Simba).
THE SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED
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!
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!
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).
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.”
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!
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?)
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!
A Magic Carpet Ride
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!
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: Now Blooming
The 22nd Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicked off on March 4—and it’ll be delighting visitors all Spring long! This year’s installment of Epcot’s tribute to everything fresh and fascinating will feature all-new topiaries themed after one of Disney’s biggest animated hits, almost a dozen outdoor kitchens, special weekend festivities sure to engage gardening fans and families alike, a slew of the hottest pop music acts spanning several decades, and plants and blossoms galore. And it’s all included in the price of Epcot admission, now through May 17!
At the park’s World Showcase Plaza, Frozen comes to spectacular life with Disney’s first-ever “Anna” and “Elsa” topiaries, appearing in a garden scene from the Oscar®-winning film’s finale. Other expertly crafted topiaries—shaped like Snow White, Bambi, Chip ’n’ Dale, Peter Pan, and (of course) Mickey Mouse—dot the park, as do amazing children’s play gardens featuring state-of-the-art climbing equipment and all kinds of fun, hands-on activities. The best part? Everything comes to illuminated life at night… so stick around “after dark” for even more fun!
Ten new gardens are making their Flower & Garden Festival debut—including a pepper garden, a “healing and health” garden featuring ancient medicinal plants, a garden themed after the works of Shakespeare, and a Southwest desert garden “ecosystem.” Additionally, guests can follow the story of the Monarch butterfly as it journeys across the American continent at the “Butterflies on the Go” exhibit at Future World.
Food lovers will swoon over the fresh flavors of the 11 Outdoor Kitchens sprinkled throughout the park. The new Botanas Botánico Outdoor Kitchen—between France and Morocco pavilions—will showcase tasty treats like Venezuelan “cachapas” (sweet yellow corn pancakes) and seafood ceviche, as well as a new La Tizana non-alcoholic punch finished with fresh fruit. For the third festival in a row, guests can have their complimentary “Garden Passports” stamped as they stroll the World Showcase promenade, tasting all the spring-inspired small plates and beverages and learning how the ingredients are grown. (Keep an eye out for cooking demonstrations at 3 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through May 17 at the entrance to World Showcase.)
But it’s during the weekends that the Flower & Garden Festival really comes to life. Earth Day sprouts throughout Epcot the weekend of April 17, featuring Disney Animal Kingdom specialists and a sand sculpture celebrating the release of Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom—and “Florida Fresh Weekend” (April 24–26) highlights the bounty of plants that thrive in Epcot’s home state. But don’t forget your dancing shoes: The festival’s new “Garden Rocks” Concert Series debuts this year with pop music performances spanning more decades than ever before! From now through the festival’s end, catch the feel-good disco delights of the Village People (April 10–12), the pop stylings of singers John Secada (April 17–19), and Taylor Dayne (May 1–3), an appearance by rockers Little River Band (May 8–10), and much more! Check out the festival’s “Fun Fresh Weekend” guide for more info.
Sure, there’s awesome music and delicious food… but Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival is most importantly a veritable floral frolic. Dozens of Disney-crafted towers and beds of rich-hued blooms—with literally tens of thousands of plants and flowers—will pepper the park’s landscape. Join the fun today, and don’t forget to take a little time to smell the roses!