Disney Parks Experiences We Can’t Wait For in 2015

The New Year will bring a whole new slate of fun and unforgettable experiences to Disney Parks around the world. Here’s what’s coming to The Happiest Place on Earth and beyond in 2015:

Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration — The dazzling yearlong celebration will launch Spring 2015, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store to salute 60 years of magic.

Frozen Fun at Disney California Adventure — The new experience featuring magical adventures with characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ blockbuster film is now open at Disney California Adventure. You can meet Anna and Elsa at “Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome” inside the Disney Animation building, join Frozen friends and the royal historians of Arendelle during For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, play in the snow and meet Olaf the snowman at “Olaf’s Snow Fest!” and chill out at “Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party.”

New Name, New Additions to Disney’s Polynesian at Walt Disney World Resort — As part of a sweeping re-imagining, Disney’s Polynesian Resort has returned to its original, 1971 opening day name: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. But that’s not the only thing we’re excited about in 2015. Changes include a new food and beverage experience opening for guests in 2015: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto—opening in the spring and based on the popular themed lounge at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Trader Sam’s will welcome explorers to a mystical and tropical oasis featuring a lounge area with handcrafted tiki cocktails served in souvenir mugs, paired with Polynesia-inspired small plates. You can now also find the Pineapple Lanai kiosk, which serves the world-famous Dole Whip soft serve and floats, along with a menu makeover at Capt. Cook’s quick-service restaurant. In addition, Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows will feature 20 Disney Vacation Club (DVC) bungalows on Seven Seas Lagoon and 360 Deluxe Studios. The DVC Bungalows will be the first of this type of accommodation at Disney, sleep up to eight guests, and feature a plunge pool where guests can enjoy views of fireworks over Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon.

New Africa Marketplace Coming Spring 2015 to Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Imagine the colors, scents, savory tastes, and boundless activity of a village marketplace in Africa. That sensory scene is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom with a spring 2015 opening planned for Africa Marketplace—a new shopping and dining option for park-goers in Harambe, the village anchoring the Africa section of the park. One highlight of the new space will be Harambe Marketplace, a new quick-service food and beverage location offering street-inspired dishes from walk-up windows. The new space also will open up a new pathway from Africa to Bradley Falls and the Asia section of the park. Together with the new Harambe Theatre housing The Festival of the Lion King, the addition of Africa Marketplace will double the size of the original Harambe Village. Paired with previously announced projects throughout the park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing the largest expansion in its history.

Star Wars Weekends Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios — The Force returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 15, 2015 as Star Wars Weekends combines the fun and adventure of the Star Wars film franchise with the magic of Disney Parks. The 2015 event will feature Star Wars characters roaming the theme park for meet-and-greet opportunities, star conversations with Star Wars celebrities, a Star Wars motorcade through the park, interactive activities, exclusive merchandise, and more. Star Wars Weekends will be held every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) from May 15–June 14. For more information visit DisneyWorld.com/StarWars.

Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy Comes to Tokyo Disney Resort — Now through March 20, 2015, guests at Tokyo Disney Resort will find opportunities to experience the beautiful world of Frozen at Tokyo Disneyland Park at Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy. Guests can enjoy the winter season in a lovely world of ice and snow created by Elsa’s magical power, and the nighttime entertainment Once Upon a Time will be presented in a special version that features new scenes based on Disney’s Frozen. During the day, Anna and Elsa will also make an appearance and greet guests along the parade route to the music of “Let It Go.” Around the Park, guests will find special menus and nearly 25 different types of special merchandise, as well as decorations of snow and ice crystals that are reminiscent of the film’s atmosphere.

Go to Norway with Disney Cruise Line — In summer 2015, Disney Cruise Line is charting a magical new course for northern Europe—exploring for the first time the Norwegian fjords and Iceland. Plus, Disney Cruise Line is returning to the Baltic for all-new itineraries, including sailings from Copenhagen, Denmark to St. Petersburg, Russia. Cruises to the Mediterranean, Alaska, Caribbean, and Bahamas also are included in the summer lineup. More details on 2015 itineraries can be found on the Itineraries and Ports for 2015 section of DisneyCruise.com.

Expanded Collection of Premium Culinary Offerings at Remy — Adult guests aboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy can enjoy new premium culinary experiences and menus in Remy, one of Disney Cruise Line’s fine dining specialty restaurants. The expanded collection of offerings in the French-inspired Remy includes a unique tasting opportunity, a decadent dessert experience, a seasonal truffle menu, and special caviar selections.

Travel to Tuscany and Spain with Adventures by Disney — In 2015, travelers can explore iconic landscapes and exquisite Italian culture on a mouth-watering Tuscan culinary adventure, and to add even more excitement, guests can journey through the hidden treasures of Barcelona, Seville, and Marbella with the new Spain itinerary.

Disney Cruise Line Will Be Home to Land of Frozen This Summer — Disney Cruise Line announced some very cool experiences that will be coming to their ships this summer. Select Disney Magic and Disney Wonder sailings to Europe and Alaska will feature a day of frozen fun that includes a deck party, “Freezing the Night Away with Anna, Elsa, and Friends.” On board the Disney Magic, guests can enjoy an original production, Disney Dreams… An Enchanted Classic, featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and a lineup of beloved Disney characters and popular songs that will include, of course, “Let It Go.” Olaf will meet guests on board all four Disney ships, and the Disney Magic will be venturing to the land that inspired Arendelle, Norway. All of these experiences will kick off at one of Olaf’s favorite times of year, “In Summer.”

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Dates Announced — Mark your calendars! The beloved, annual culinary event launches September 25 and runs through November 16 this year, 53 days of sweet and savory tapas-sized dishes and beverages, plus tasting seminars, culinary demos, signature dining experiences, live entertainment, and more.

Garden Rocks Concert Series at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival — Eleven pop bands with hits spanning several decades will play the Garden Rocks Concert Series at the 22nd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 4 to May 17. The Garden Rocks Concert Series debuts in 2015 to span a broader range of decades and popular artists. Several acts will join the festival lineup this year, including En Vogue, Little River Band, Jon Secada, Pablo Cruise, and Taylor Dayne.

New Dining Options at Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort — STK Orlando, a modern steakhouse mixed with the ambiance of a sleek lounge, is the latest in a string of restaurants that have announced new locations planned for Disney Springs. This will be one of the largest STK locations in the world, occupying 14,000 square feet in a two-story building. Morimoto Asia and THE BOATHOUSE will also open their doors in 2015.

New Characters for Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) and Dates and Lineups for Epcot Festivals

Disney Infinity Lives Up to its Name with New Characters and Toy Box Game Packs

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “infinity” as “the quality of having no limits or end,” and we’re grateful that our friends at Disney Interactive take the name Disney Infinity to heart. Three of Marvel’s most notorious villains have just become available for game play, thanks to the addition of Green Goblin (Spider-Man‘s arch-nemesis), Ronan, and Yondu (both from Guardians of the Galaxy).

And in other exciting Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) news, fans can now purchase Toy Box Game Packs separate from the Starter Packs. A Marvel Toy Box Game Pack includes Assault on Asgard and Escape from the Kyln, while the Disney Toy Box Game Pack comes with Brave Forest Siege and Stitch’s Tropical Rescue. Both Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) Toy Box Game Packs are available at participating retailers worldwide, and deliver new structured gameplay modes where up to four players can engage in new adventures using any character from across the Disney Infinity universe.

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
February 8
101 Dalmatians: An Afternoon in the “Spot”-light
August 14-16, 2015
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California
Television
February 6
Miles from Tomorrowland premieres on Disney Channel at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT
February 13
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero premieres on Disney XD and Disney Channel at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT

Parks
March 4–May 17
22nd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
May 15–June 14
Star Wars Weekends Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Studios
February 20
McFarland, USA opens in theaters.
March 13
Cinderella opens in theaters.
April 17
Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom opens in theaters.
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.

Stop and Smell the Flowers—and Hear the Music—at Epcot This Spring

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival feels even more festive with the announcement of an all-star musical lineup for the Garden Rocks Concert Series. Performances will take place at America Gardens Theatre every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the duration of the Flower & Garden Festival, with show times at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. Check out the Disney Parks Blog for the full list of performers—Gin Blossoms kick off the Garden Rocks Concert Series with performances March 6–8 while Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone appear the final weekend, May 15–17.

Disney Films Receive 9 Oscar^® Nominations

The 87th Academy Awards^® will be handed out on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, and we’ll be watching to see which Disney films are honored. Disney films have received nine nominations, including Best Animated Feature (Big Hero 6), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Meryl Streep, Into the Woods), and Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy). To see the full list of nominees, visit Oscar.com.

Watch a New Trailer for McFarland, USA

We can point to so many sports-themed Disney movies that we’ve loved over the years: The Mighty Ducks, Cool Runnings, last year’s Million Dollar Arm… And we’re super excited about the newest film to follow in that tradition: McFarland, USA. The film is based on the true story of an economically challenged California town and its cross-country team, coached by Jim White (played in the film by Kevin Costner). We’ll be running to the nearest movie theater when it opens February 20!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Dates Announced

One of the best parts about going on vacation is indulging—or maybe even overindulging—with exotic foods and beverages, isn’t it? Well, Epcot has announced the dates for the 2015 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, so that you can now schedule a vacation that’s packed with epicurean indulgence from start to finish. The 53-day long festival runs from September 25 through November 16, and will once again include a wide variety of tapas-sized dishes and beverages, tasting seminars, demonstrations, and more.

A New Interactive Queue at Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom Park

When there’s a smile in your heart, there’s no better time to start… We’ve gotten a smile in our hearts every time we’ve experienced Peter Pan’s Flight, but that smile is about to grow a little wider. The Disney Parks Blog shared a sneak peek at the attraction’s new interactive queue that will soon debut at Magic Kingdom Park, in which guests will be able to watch Tinker Bell fly, see their own shadows come to life on the nursery walls, and—best of all—get a sprinkling of pixie dust before they journey off to Never Land.

Disney Parks Blog Takes Us Behind the Scenes at Disneyland Resort

Our friends at the Disney Parks Blog provided a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a new commercial for Frozen Fun at the Disneyland Resort, showing a glimpse of what went into creating the 30-second spot in which many of our favorite Audio-Animatronics^® Disneyland residents welcome Anna, Elsa, and their friends with a special rendition of “For the First Time in Forever.” Enjoy!

Space Mountain Celebrates 40 Years of Intergalactic Adventure

Do you remember the first time you rode Space Mountain?

—how exhilarating it felt to be soaring through outer space, with stars so close you could almost touch them and having a sense that you’d left Earth behind to journey somewhere only astronauts had gone before?

Forty years ago today, January 15, 1975, guests at Walt Disney World in Orlando were Space Mountain‘s inaugural travelers. The attraction opened with fireworks, astronauts of both the NASA variety and the Disney variety, along with a 2,000-piece marching band that Jim Christensen, director of Disneyland’s music department, had just four hours before the ceremony to organize.

The spectacular opening also marked the Official Dedication of Tomorrowland, already home to Star Jets, which had opened on November 28, 1974, and Magic Carpet ‘Round the World (as a new version of America the Beautiful was being finalized). The Carousel of Progress also made its Walt Disney World debut on January 15, after being moved from Disneyland; and Mission to Mars (replacing Flight to the Moon) and the WEDway PeopleMover would follow that summer.

A photo from the dedication ceremony; in addition to Mickey Mouse, fans may notice Card Walker (then-Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Walt Disney Productions) catching the attention of Dick Nunis (Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World and Disneyland), along with representatives of sponsor RCA and 1975 Walt Disney World Ambassador Suzy O’Hara.

A rarely seen model of the Star Corridor, which guests passed through on their way to the Alpha and Omega Space Port areas where they boarded their shuttles.

Originally, guests concluded their trip to the outer reaches of the galaxy with a trip to the future, by way of RCA’s Home of Future Living, which was offered at Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain until a major re-theming of the attraction in 1985. As these rare photos of the post-show’s model illustrate, the experience demonstrated how new technologies would affect the lives of the average family years into the future.

Not unlike Horizons, which would open at EPCOT Center in 1983, the Home of Future Living imagined technological innovations—that looks like a precursor to a smartphone in the teenage daughter’s hand, doesn’t it?—while keeping all the relatable “people details.”

This was a model of the entertainment room, where even in the future, a gripping football team will continue to bring families together.

The thrills and wonder of Space Mountain will also continue to bring families together. We celebrate the attraction’s 40th anniversary at Walt Disney World, and quote the attraction’s original theme song as we say, “Here’s to the future!”

How to Get Your Workout at Disneyland

Disney Films Receive Nine Oscar Nominations

With the Oscar® telecast coming up this Sunday, pop culture junkies and office comrades around the country are passing around ballots to try to guess who will win on the big night.

D23 is all about giving a voice to the fans, so we decided, “To heck with guessing!"—we're going to let you vote!

Thanks for voting! See who won below.

Best Critter in a Supporting Role

Gus, Cinderella
Emile, Ratatouille
Meeko, Pocahontas
WINNER- Pascal, Tangled
Thumper, Bambi

Best Costume for a Ball or Special Occasion

Anna in her coronation dress, Frozen
Aurora in her magical pink and blue gown, Sleeping Beauty
WINNER- Cinderella in her ball gown, Cinderella
Charlotte in her masquerade ball gown, The Princess and the Frog
Giselle in her wedding gown, Enchanted

Best Special Effects by a Villain

Chernabog, Fantasia
Dr. Facilier, The Princess and the Frog
Judge Doom, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Yokai, Big Hero 6
WINNER- Maleficent, Sleeping Beauty

Best Act of Bravery by a Hero in a Leading Role

Carl rescuing Russell and Kevin, Up
Hercules fighting the hydra, Hercules
Merida vowing to save her mother, Brave
WINNER- Mulan volunteering to fight on behalf of her father, Mulan
Quasimodo helping Esmeralda escape, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Best Song Sung by a Leading Character About Their Hopes and Dreams

Disney Legend Howard Ashman called this the “I Want" song, where the main character sings about what they want, usually one of the first three songs in a classic fairytale musical.
“Almost There," The Princess and the Frog
“Belle," Beauty and the Beast
“Out There," The Hunchback of Notre Dame
WINNER- “Part of Your World," The Little Mermaid
“Someday My Prince Will Come," Snow White

Best Scenic Design of a Castle

WINNER- The Beast's Castle, Beauty and the Beast
King Candy's Castle, Wreck-It Ralph
The Palace of Agrabah, Aladdin
Rapunzel's Castle, Tangled
Sleeping Beauty Castle, Sleeping Beauty

The Oscars air February 22 on ABC.

Check out our Oscars study guide on Pinterest before you watch the telecast ►

Watch the New Age of Ultron Trailer & Preview Cinderella at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Watch the New Age of Ultron Trailer

They’re back! The Avengers are back!

Well, they might not officially be back until May 1, when Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters, but Marvel has released a new trailer that shows all of our favorite Super Heroes doing what they do best. Check out the video above, and here’s the official scoop on the film from Marvel:

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision. Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963.

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
August 14-16, 2015
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California
Television
January 18
K.C. Undercover premieres on Disney Channel at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT
February 6
Miles from Tomorrowland premieres on Disney Channel at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT

**See a Sneak Peek at Cinderella On Screen and See Her Coach In Person**

Cinderella opens in theaters exactly two months from today, and we’re having a hard time waiting. Luckily, Disney fans who find themselves at Walt Disney World’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios, starting January 17, can see an exclusive preview of the film at the park’s ABC Sound Studio. And that’s not all—beginning February 1, 2015, the film’s golden coach will be on display outside the movie theater façade on Streets of America. And while we don’t think the coach will turn back into a pumpkin, don’t delay because you’ll only be able to see it in person until April 11, 2015.

Star Wars Celebration News is Cause for Celebration

We love hearing any piece of news about Star Wars Celebration (April 16–19, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center)—it makes the event feel not so far, far away. Lucasfilm announced last week that Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith will make its 3-D debut during the event—which will no doubt also present opportunities to catch up on the other Star Wars films in advance of The Force Awakens‘ debut on December 18, 2015.

The Force is strong in 2015!

Disney Channel Announces New Adventures

If you grew up in the ’80s you probably have fond memories of the feature film Adventures in Babysitting. And if you’ve watched Disney Channel lately, you’ve probably already become a fan of Sabrina Carpenter of Girl Meets World. Disney Channel has announced that Sabrina will star alongside Sofia Carson (from the upcoming Disney’s Descendants) in Further Adventures in Babysitting, inspired by the classic teen film. And Girl Meets World fans can also look forward to watching the series’ Rowan Blanchard team up with Paris Berelc (Mighty Med) for the Disney Channel Original Movie Invisible Sister. Both of these movies are scheduled to begin production this spring.

Put a Pin in This One

We love Disney Pins for so many reasons. They’re souvenirs… We can wear them… We can trade them. And one of the best things about them is that every year brings a new assortment to add to our collection. The Disney Parks Blog gave us a preview of some of the new pins we can look forward to in 2015. New for this year is a “Best Friends” collection—perfect for sharing with a favorite fellow collector—and we’re also especially excited about the return of the “Piece of Disney History” collection of limited-edition pins that contain pieces of actual attractions, shows, or parades from Disney Parks. And you can always find out more about new and upcoming pins at DisneyPins.com.

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Now On Sale

With winter in full force, our minds keep drifting to something tropical—Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Sales for this newest Disney Vacation Club Resort began January 12 for current Disney Vacation Club Members, and they start February 9 for all guests. The first phase is scheduled to open April and will include Bora Bora Bungalows, two-bedroom accommodations that sleep up to eight guests each; as well as connecting Deluxe Studio. Visit the Disney Parks Blog for more information.

Marvel Entertainment and ESPN Films Team Up

One of the main reasons we think Marvel Super Heroes are so awesome is that they seem so real. And top athletes are probably as close to Super Heroes as most of us mere mortals get. A new feature-length documentary, 1 of 1—Genesis, explores the connections between Marvel’s mightiest Super Heroes and the world’s greatest athletes, and also ponders the question of whether top athletes are born or created. The documentary is currently available on Digital HD through select digital retailers. And this summer, Marvel Entertainment and ESPN Films will launch the short film series 1 of 1—Origins on SportsCenter and across ESPN’s digital platforms simultaneously. Each short film will spotlight a single athlete and his or her “origin story.” Both 1 of 1—Genesis and 1 of 1—Origins will feature interviews with athletes like Danica Patrick, Tony Hawk, and Colin Kaepernick, as well as experts and Marvel luminaries. Visit Marvel.com for more details.

Tsum-thing Special on Tuesdays at Disney Store

How adorable are the Disney Tsum Tsums? They’re so adorable that we’ve already collected the Mickey and Friends collection, the Pooh and Pals Collection, the Toy Story collection, and we still want more! To our great joy, Disney Store has launched #TsumTsumTuesday; on the first Tuesday of each month, a new plush collection will be revealed. The collection debuting in January is 101 Dalmatians, and mark your calendar for February 3 to be among the first to see the next collection. We’re sure it will be tsum-thing special!

D23 Gold and Silver Members can save 15% at Disney Store! Get your discount ►

When Mickey’s Career Turned a Page

January 13, 2015November 7, 2016

It’s hard to imagine a world without an international icon as widely adored as Mickey Mouse. While the first series of Mickey cartoons brought instant fame to the cheerful personality in the late 1920s, it would take even more to elevate the new character on the block to his status as an enduring cultural symbol.

Enter the 1930s, when more than 100 Mickey shorts hit theaters, licensed Mickey products become the newest sensation in character merchandising, and upward of a million children gathered at local Mickey Mouse Clubs across the U.S. But just as important was Mickey’s first entry into families’ homes on a day-to-day basis via the Mickey Mouse comic strip, which made its debut 85 years ago today.

The popular Mickey cartoons piqued the interest of J.V. Connelly of King Features Syndicate, who proposed the release of a Mickey Mouse comic strip as early as June 1929. The Disney Studio soon went to work on extending Mickey’s adventures onto the pages of newspapers, with Walt Disney writing the stories and Ub Iwerks creating the drawings.

Mickey becomes inspired to build an airplane in the first Mickey Mouse comic strip, first distributed Monday, January 13, 1930.

The first comic strip arrived on January 13, 1930 and, incidentally, followed a similar storyline to the first Mickey cartoon produced—Plane Crazy (1928), which Ub had animated all by himself. In the strip, our ambitious hero is again inspired by Charles Lindbergh to pursue the building of his own airplane. (How could anything go wrong with that idea?)

After drawing the first 24 strips, Ub’s responsibilities were given to inker Win Smith. By May, aspiring in-between artist Floyd Gottfredson had taken over the comic strip, and he would continue the series until his retirement 45 years later!

“Floyd played a major role in getting Disney’s new character, Mickey Mouse, known throughout the world by producing Mickey’s daily comic strip,” recalls Walt Disney Archives founder and Disney Legend Dave Smith. “Of the early Disney employees I met, Floyd was probably the greatest gentleman of them all.”

By the summer of 1930, the comic strip appeared in up to 40 newspapers across nearly two-dozen countries, helping to usher in Mickey’s golden age and establish the mouse as the foundation and universally recognized symbol of the Disney organization.

Browse the rest of the first week of the Mickey Mouse comic strip below:

Make Your Disney Fan Resolutions for 2015

This week we asked D23 Members what Disney resolutions they have for the New Year, and found out that a lot of you have big goals!

Amber wants to dine at Club 33 at Disneyland.

Dennis from Boras, Sweden wants to finish eight Disney books, buy Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition), and save up for a trip to Disneyland.

Ruud from Rotterdam, Netherlands is excited to celebrate Halloween at Walt Disney World Resort!

Jakob from Tampa, Florida wants to improve his art skills so that he can be a Disney animator someday!

Miriah from Easton, Pennsylvania set the goal of finishing the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 5K and 10K runs, and still be standing on her own two feet!

Kristin from Long Beach, California is going to visit Disneyland Resort at least 100 times!

Matthew is going to watch the entire Star Wars saga in one week before The Force Awakens comes out.

Sarah from Brookhaven, Mississippi is going to try to ride every attraction at Magic Kingdom Park in one day in March.

Derek from Seattle, Washington can’t wait to go to D23 Expo 2015, his first D23 Expo! We’re excited to see you there, Derek!

Denise from Denver, CO plans to visit The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

Good luck with all of your resolutions, and make sure to share them with us as you achieve your Disney goals! We love seeing your photos on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Happy New Year!

Resolutions Disney Characters Might Consider Making for 2016

Happy New Year from D23!

We’ve enjoyed learning about D23 Members’ New Year’s Resolutions, some of which are pretty ambitious and inspiring! That got us thinking about some of our favorite Disney characters, and we couldn’t help but ponder some resolutions they might consider making in 2016.

Donald Duck—Take anger management classes. Donald can always be depended on to say what’s on his mind, but he’s been known to cause some mayhem with his quick temper from time to time. Maybe Timon and Pumba could teach him a little Hakuna Matata?

Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians)—Switch to faux fur. Faux is all the rage this season, and let’s face it, if there’s one thing you know about, it’s rage.

Gaston (Beauty and the Beast)—Consider a little less excess. Instead of eating five dozen eggs, maybe think about a three-egg omelet with some veggies? How about one set of antlers for decorating, tastefully placed? It must be exhausting to love yourself that much. You’ve got that swell cleft in your chin—work with that, and forget about the rest.

Elsa (Frozen)—Take Olaf to the tropics. We already know she has a warm heart, but after so much work defending her kingdom and learning to control her powers, we feel it’s time for a nice Caribbean vacation. May we suggest a Disney Cruise? And please take Olaf—we’re sure he’d like to see a place where it’s summer year-round!

Dory (Finding Nemo)—Keep a journal. We’ve all made resolutions to start a blog or keep a diary, but Dory is a Disney character that could really benefit from it. Imagine how much easier her life would be if she could look back at what she did yesterday! We can see it now: “January 9, 2016—Just kept swimming, just kept swimming…”

Charlotte (The Princess and the Frog)—Learn to cook. Charlotte won’t be able to depend on Tiana for “man-catching beignets” forever! And besides, a girl can only survive for so long on PB&J and frozen dinners (trust us, we’ve tried).

Sebastian (The Little Mermaid)—Take it easy once in a while! It’s obviously a huge responsibility to be an advisor to King Triton, but Sebastian needs to learn to relax before he turns into a steamed crab! Maybe a few days of pampering in Prince Eric’s castle would do him some good (as long as the chef’s not around).

Statler and Waldorf (Muppets)—Try to look on the bright side! You guys may not think Fozzie’s comedy routines are funny, but we’re sure you can find something to like about them. Hey, at least it’s not Miss Piggy up there, right? And if his jokes put you to sleep, be grateful you got a good nap out of it.

Oogie Boogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas)—Give Valentine’s Day a try. Based on the Sandy Claws kidnapping incident, it’s clear that Oogie Boogie needs to visit a holiday that’s more focused on love and less focused on being scary. We suggest Valentine’s Day, and maybe a quick stop at Christmastown to apologize on the way back home.

Disney’s Other “Practically Perfect” Nanny Returns for a Fourth Season of Jessie

Disney Channel’s hit series Jessie stars Debby Ryan as a young girl who’s left Texas to pursue big dreams in New York City, while working as a nanny to the Ross family and their four kids, Emma, Ravi, Luke, and Zuri.

The show returns for its fourth season this Friday, January 9 (8:30 p.m. ET/PT) with an episode that has the Ross kids convinced that Jessie is headed to Africa to rekindle her relationship with her ex-fiancé, Brooks. In an effort to stop her, the kids make the trip to Africa and quickly find themselves on a wild adventure.

D23 sat down with the cast in the Ross family’s screening room soon after their special appearance on an episode of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warrior—as animated versions of themselves. We talked to them about what other animated Disney movies or TV shows they’d like to appear in, as well as about what a certain other iconic Disney nanny might make of their characters.

D23: You recently had the seemingly once-in-a-lifetime experience of being animated for an episode of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warrior. If you could be animated again for any other Disney movie or TV show, which one would it be, and why?
Karan Brar (Ravi): You know what I think is cool? They have the little Mickey Mouse shorts. I think those are hilarious—I think I’d stick myself in there. Who doesn’t want to hang out with Mickey Mouse?

Cameron Boyce (Luke): The Jungle Book. Mowgli and I would be besties!

Skai Jackson (Zuri): I would like to be in Snow White. Or even Cinderella, to maybe be one of Cinderella’s friends and be a princess. That would be pretty cool!

Peyton List (Emma): I just learned recently that Snow White was one of the first Disney movies to be nominated for an Academy Award^® and that would be so cool, to be a part of that as something—as any one of the voices. But my favorite Disney movie will always be The Little Mermaid, just because that was my favorite when I was little. I grew up with that one.

Debby Ryan (Jessie): I would love to work background in The Lion King. I’d just love to be wandering the savanna; like maybe holding a map and wearing a fanny pack. Just in the back of some scene. I think that would be epic. And no one talks about it. It would be great. It would be like, “Well, she wandered away…”

D23: Jessie and Mary Poppins are probably the two most famous nannies in the world of Disney. What do you think Mary Poppins would make of your character?
Cameron Boyce: Julie Andrews was really pretty. Luke would probably crush on Mary Poppins just as hard as he does Jessie! Mary Poppins is probably a lot more strict than Jessie… Luke might actually learn some manners or bathe every once in a while.

Karan Brar: I think Mary Poppins might be very intimidating when you first meet her. But Ravi gets geeky, and I think sometimes he gets a little bit insecure about that. But I think Mary Poppins would encourage him to go out there and be himself, because he’s already a respectful kid and he’s also very curious. I think Mary Poppins would just encourage that!

Skai Jackson: I think Mary Poppins actually would have a hard time with Zuri, because Zuri can be really sassy. But I think that she would eventually get used to Zuri and have fun taking her on adventures, which would be pretty cool.

Peyton List: All of the kids kind of give a little sass to Jessie. We always joke about it, but I think that Mary Poppins would be like, “Uh-uh—not going to happen!” I feel like she’s a little bit more proper. I think she would definitely make us eat more vegetables. Although she did say that just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…

D23: What might Jessie learn from Mary Poppins?
Debby Ryan: Jessie could use one of those bags, for sure! I feel like I never have enough hands for all of the things that I need to carry. I think that there’s a certain no-nonsense quality about Mary Poppins, that people trust that she has their best interests in mind. So even if she says to do something like “Take this medicine,” or whatever it is that people wouldn’t necessarily want to do, people know that she has such conviction in wanting the best for them.

Disney Infinity Lives Up to its Name with New Characters and Toy Box Game Packs

Save the Date!

Stop and Smell the Flowers—and Hear the Music—at Epcot This Spring

Disney Films Receive 9 Oscar® Nominations

Watch a New Trailer for McFarland, USA

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Dates Announced

A New Interactive Queue at Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom Park

Disney Parks Blog Takes Us Behind the Scenes at Disneyland Resort

Best Critter in a Supporting Role

Best Costume for a Ball or Special Occasion

Best Special Effects by a Villain

Best Act of Bravery by a Hero in a Leading Role

Best Song Sung by a Leading Character About Their Hopes and Dreams

Best Scenic Design of a Castle

Watch the New Age of Ultron Trailer

Save the Date!

See a Sneak Peek at Cinderella On Screen and See Her Coach In Person

Star Wars Celebration News is Cause for Celebration

Disney Channel Announces New Adventures

Put a Pin in This One

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Now On Sale

Marvel Entertainment and ESPN Films Team Up

Tsum-thing Special on Tuesdays at Disney Store

Mickey becomes inspired to build an airplane in the first Mickey Mouse comic strip, first distributed Monday, January 13, 1930.

This week we asked D23 Members what Disney resolutions they have for the New Year, and found out that a lot of you have big goals!

Disney Channel’s hit series Jessie stars Debby Ryan as a young girl who’s left Texas to pursue big dreams in New York City, while working as a nanny to the Ross family and their four kids, Emma, Ravi, Luke, and Zuri.

Disney Films Receive 9 Oscar^® Nominations

**See a Sneak Peek at Cinderella On Screen and See Her Coach In Person**