Happy T-REXmas

One of my favorite aspects of the Walt Disney Archives collection is the rich amount of material related to the Disney Studio’s early days, information which helps to shed light on how our very own studio’s “ghosts of Christmas past” interacted and what their “everyday life” was like.

One of the more enlightening in-house publications of olde (which were sometimes referred to as a “house organ”) is The Bulletin. While chronicling the daily issues and eccentricities of life on a bustling studio lot, the publication also features the sometimes over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek humor one would come to expect from the group who effortlessly brought a talking mouse and duck to magical life.

The holidays, of course, were no exception for such a chronicle. The excerpt in the image below comes from the December 23, 1939 issue of The Bulletin, and highlights just how outrageous holiday humor can be.

Disney T-Rex Dinosaur Santa Claus from The Bulletin

From all of us here in the Walt Disney Archives, to all of you at home, Happy Holidays!

Disneyland Resort Will Get Frozen This Winter and Much More in News Briefs for December 9, 2014

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Disneyland Resort Will Get Frozen This Winter…

When we think “winter,” we think “snow.” And when we think “snow,” we, of course, think Frozen—so we’re going to be spending a lot more time at the Disneyland Resort this winter, now that they’ve announced a slew of new Frozen experiences! Frozen Fun will open at Disney California Adventure beginning January 7, 2015, when For the First Time in Forever—A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration takes over the Muppet*Vision 3D theater in Hollywood Land. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff will be on hand for this fun and comedic interpretation of Arendelle’s history, and best of all, we get to “let it go” and sing along, too! Hollywood Land’s Stage 17 will be home to a winter wonderland—hosted by our favorite snowman—with Olaf’s Snow Fest. We don’t know if we’ll be able to buy carrots at Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, but we have a hunch it’ll our go-to store for just about everything else that Frozen fans might need. And this is just the tip of an Arendelle iceberg! For all of the new experiences (like Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party) and new additions (Arendelle will be a stop on the Storybook Land Canal Boats cruise!), visit the Disney Parks Blog.

 

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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
December 13, 2014
Disney’s Into the Woods Advance Screening
Through January 4, 2015
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
August 14-16, 2015
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California
Television
December 1–25
ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas”
December 14
Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years airs at 7 p.m. ET.
January 6
Marvel’sAgent Carter premieres on ABC at 9 p.m. ET		 Parks
November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, and 30; and December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 19
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties at Magic Kingdom Park
Studios
December 25
Into the Woods opens in theaters.
February 20, 2015
MacFarland, USA opens in theaters.
March 13, 2015
Cinderella opens in theaters.
April 17, 2015
Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom opens in theaters.
May 1, 2015
Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters.
May 22, 2015
Tomorrowland opens in theaters.
June 19, 2015
Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava).

 

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And Cinderella Is Getting Frozen Fever This Spring…

You could probably argue that we already have Frozen Fever, we’re so excited about a new adventure for Arendelle’s royal highnesses (and Kristoff and Olaf, too)! But the film, an all-new short directed by Frozen directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee—with an original song by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez—has been officially announced to open in theaters March 13, 2015, in front of Cinderella, the live-action feature from Walt Disney Studios. In the short from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give Anna the best birthday celebration ever, but Elsa’s icy powers may put more than just the party at risk. It might be Anna’s birthday, but we feel like we’re the ones who’ll be receiving a gift!

 

Disneynature Isn’t Just Monkey-ing Around

There are quite a few reasons why we’ll be lining up to see Monkey Kingdom. First of all, we can think of no more “Disney” way to celebrate Earth Day than to see Disneynature’s latest release, which follows in the tradition of Bears, African Cats, and Chimpanzee, to name but a few. Then there’s the fact that Disneynature will make a donation to Conservation International in honor of everyone who sees Monkey Kingdom opening week, to help protect monkeys and other endangered species in their natural habitats. But watch the trailer above and you’ll want to see Monkey Kingdom because Maya, the clever and blonde-bobbed monkey, and her infant son, Kip, are just so darned cute. The film opens in theaters on April 17, 2015.

 

Since the debut of the trailer for Cinderella, we’ve decided that our “happily-ever-after” will arrive on March 13, 2015, when the film opens in theaters. But in the meantime, we’re studying the character posters Walt Disney Studios released last week, which provide a closer look at the actors and their breathtaking costumes, designed for the film by Academy Award®-winning costume designer Sandy Powell. The butterflies on Cinderella’s gown… the funky florals worn by her stepmother and stepsisters… the Fairy Godmother and her magical white dress. The posters don’t leave us counting how many times the clock is striking so much as we’re counting how many days are still left until March 13.

 

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Star Wars Weekends Are Not So Far, Far Away

Sometimes it feels like an eternity until Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters, just over a year from now. But there is “a new hope” to make that year go by a little more quickly. Dates have been announced for 2015’s Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. The dates are as follows—Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays:

Weekend I: May 15–17, 2015
Weekend II: May 22–24, 2015
Weekend III: May 29–31, 2015
Weekend IV: June 5–7, 2015
Weekend V: June 12–14, 2015

Stay tuned to D23.com for more details as they’re announced this spring.

 

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Meet Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange officially has its star: Benedict Cumberbatch has been announced to play the title role of Doctor Stephen Strange, who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions. The film, which will be directed by Scott Derrickson with Jon Spaihts writing the screenplay, is scheduled for release November 4, 2016.

 

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Crystal Mickey Brings the Magic To Disney Infinity

The Disney Infinity Team is continuing to fill the game’s Toy Boxes with the characters we all know and love, and the newest addition is the character we know best of all: Mickey Mouse. Crystal Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey is playable in both Toy Box 2.0 and Toy Box 1.0, bringing the magic to the game with his magic bursts and spell-casting powers, and the figure is available at retailers nationwide.

 

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Watch Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years This Weekend

Disney Theatrical Productions is celebrating 20 years on Broadway with a special that looks back at the creation of Disney’s eight Broadway musicals: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King AIDA, Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Newsies, and Aladdin. And whether you’re a frequent Broadway denizen or seeing a Disney production on Broadway is still on your bucket list, you’ll love the behind-the-scenes access the special offers, including cameras showing you what it’s like backstage during an actual performance of Aladdin, a special rehearsal of The Lion King, and a glimpse at how Disney Theatrical takes the show on the road with the cast of the North American tour of Newsies. Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years is hosted by Modern Family‘s Jesse Tyler Ferguson—a Broadway vet himself—and airs Sunday, December 14 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Walt Disney Archives Christmas Countdown

The countdown has begun!

On December 1, the Walt Disney Archives “unwrapped” the first of 23 unique present boxes that are being displayed in the lobby of the Frank G. Wells Building on the Disney Studio lot.

Every day (until Christmas) a new holiday-related piece from the Archives collection will be revealed. Most of these very special 23 items have never been displayed by the Archives before. If you miss out on seeing the exhibit in person, check back here for a daily update!

Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Christmas Plush Toy
Day 1: Mickey Mouse Christmas plush manufactured by Applause toy company
Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol Crew Sweatshirt
Day 2: Mickey’s Christmas Carol crew sweatshirt
Tins of hard candy from Disneyland
Day 3: Tins of hard candy from Disneyland
Original Christmas card artwork for The Walt Disney Studios from 1965
Day 4: Original Christmas card artwork for The Walt Disney Studios from 1965, featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle with Mickey Mouse in the entrance
Character Christmas stockings from Good Luck Charlie
Day 5: Character Christmas stockings from the Good Luck Charlie cast, including Charlie, Grandpa, Grandma, Amy, Bob, Gabe, PJ, and Teddy
Photos of Disney Holiday Album Covers
Day 6: Holiday albums The Muppets’ “A Green and Red Christmas,” The Cheetah Girls’ “Cheetah-licious Christmas,” Disney Karaoke Series’ “Christmas Favorites,” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for Ernest Saves Christmas, and “Noel a Disneyland Paris”
Photos of Disney 45 rpm Record Covers
Day 7: An Adaption of Dickens’ Christmas Carol,” presented by the Popular Repertory Company, a 45 rpm record of “Walt Disney’s Original Chipmunks Chip and Dale with Clarice,” and four complete 45 rpm records of “Mickey Mouse’s Christmas Party”
Photos of 1934 Book Covers Inspired by Walt Disney's Silly Symponies
Day 8: Two 1934 books inspired by Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies, including Santa’s Workshop and The Night Before Christmas
Disney Inspired Grolier Christmas Ornaments
Day 9: Grolier Christmas ornaments, including Jiminy Cricket, Dopey, and Mickey Mouse
Christmas Sleigh Reins from The Chronicles of Narnia
Day 10: Father Christmas sleigh reins from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Disney Glow in the dark sweatshirt
Day 11: A 2002 glow-in-the-dark sweatshirt from the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) in Walt Disney World Resort
Minnie Mouse Artwork
Day 12: Artwork of Minnie Mouse wearing a Christmas Holiday costume
Walt Disney Nightmare Before Christmas Mouseketeer Hat
Day 13: Mickey Mouse ears hat themed to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Poster for Walt Disney's One Hour in Wonderland TV Show
Day 14: One Hour In Wonderland Coca-Cola poster
Miniature model of Disneyland Christmas Fantasy Parade
Day 15: Disneyland Christmas Fantasy Parade float model
Miniature model of a Muppet Christmas Carol village house
Day 16: A model of village houses from A Muppet Christmas Carol
Goofy Christmas Home Video Art
Day 17: Home Video art for Have Yourself A Goofy Little Christmas
Teddi Barra’s skis from Country Bear Christmas Special at Disneyland Park
Day 18: Teddi Barra’s skis from Country Bear Christmas Special at Disneyland Park
Scrooge maquette from Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Day 19: Scrooge maquette from Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Set of Christmas stockings, including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Dumbo
Day 20: Set of Christmas stockings, including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Dumbo
Large Pluto plush doll
Day 21: Large Pluto plush
Grolier limited-edition “Checking It Twice” collectibles
Day 22: Grolier limited-edition “Checking It Twice” collectibles, including a Christmas plate and figurine with Mickey, Goofy, and Donald Duck
A letter from Walt Disney to the world, written during the Korean War
Day 23: A letter from Walt Disney to the world, written during the Korean War

Remembering Danny Lee

Danny Lee was one of the most talented special-effects men in the history of the Disney Studio.

He worked on 47 Disney films, was nominated for an Academy Award® for his work on The Black Hole, and won an Academy Award for Best Effects, Best Special Effects for his innovative work on Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

From 1946–1969, Lee worked as an independent—working frequently with Disney but also traveling the world to work on such special effects-intensive films as It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World for United Artists and The Great Race for Warner Bros. Soon after beginning work on The Love Bug, Lee joined the Disney Studio, accepting a position as head of the special effects department. He masterminded mechanical effects—a specialty branch of effects work that involves rigging objects that move—a car, robot, airplane, spacecraft, Herbie the Volkswagen.

“It doesn’t get any easier no matter how long you’ve been in the business,” Lee once said. “With the Herbie films, each sequel tries to outdo the last. In our department the word “impossible” doesn’t exist.”

Some of the other classic Disney films Lee worked on are Swiss Family Robinson, Freaky Friday, The Shaggy D.A., and Pete’s Dragon. His final film for Disney was Dragonslayer in 1981.

“I remember watching Danny Lee on my lunch hour as he worked on effects shots for Disney films in the 1970s,” says Dave Smith, Walt Disney Archives founder and chief archivist emeritus. “It was such a treat to watch him direct the clothes and armor that magically came to life in Bedknobs and Broomsticks.”

D23 Member Patrick Johnson Shares His One-of-a-Kind Destination D: Attraction Rewind Experience

One of the Victorian-themed attractions from the never-built Discovery Bay.

D23 Member Patrick Johnson shares his Destination D: Attraction Rewind experience with caricatures of the presenters and attractions shown throughout the two-day event.

Participants at this year’s Destination D: Attraction Rewind were restricted from taking photos at the presentations because Imagineering shared many unpublished and unreleased images and videos, including some virtual ride-throughs of attractions that were never realized. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of WED/WDI and their work at the 1964 World’s Fair, and I love learning about Disney attractions that never came to be. I wanted to remember as much about the panels as possible.

Mickey’s of Glendale came to the rescue. I purchased Marty Sklar’s The Most Frightening Thing in the World, a hardcover spiral-bound sketchbook, and filled the pages (sometimes front and back) with more than 100 ballpoint pen sketches of the presentations. I drew caricatures of all the presenters and sketched of as many of the slides as I could.

Acting like a courtroom sketch artist was enjoyable, and it enriched my Destination D experience.

I loved drawing the various pavilions from the 1964 World’s Fair. Their graphic shapes and clean lines made them easy to capture with a few pen strokes. The most challenging work to draw was Tony Baxter’s presentation of Discovery Bay. The artwork was so rich and detailed, and there were so many slides. The moment I’d look down to sketch the Hyperion in its hangar, the slide would change to a Nautilus-themed restaurant or a whimsical dragon dangling from a large balloon.

D23 Member Patrick Johnson Sketch of Zorro and Mother Goose
Zorro and Mother Goose
D23 Member sketch of Exterior of the Dwarfs' house from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride.
Exterior of the Dwarfs’ house from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride.
D23 Member sketch of A never-realized themed attraction featuring a cast of singing birds and an erupting volcano designed for the Coca Cola pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair
A never-realized themed attraction featuring a cast of singing birds and an erupting volcano designed for the Coca Cola pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair.
D23 Member Patrick Johnson sketch of A never-realized themed attraction designed by Marc Davis and loosely based on the story of The Snow Queen
A never-realized themed attraction designed by Marc Davis and loosely based on the story of The Snow Queen. The ride made heavy use of air conditioning.
D23 member sketch of early Figment character
Early renderings of Figment had a much longer snout and really buggy eyes. It’s always fun to see where beloved characters begin.
D23 member sketch of Dinosaurs lurking in the swamps of the Ford pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair
Dinosaurs lurk in the swamps of the Ford pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair, before they made their way to Disneyland.
D23 member sketch of unused concepts of pavilions for the 1964 World's Fair
Even the unused concepts for the pavilions for the 1964 World’s Fair inspire a sense of wonder and promise for the future.
Sketch of Imagineer Gary Landrum
Imagineer Gary Landrum discusses the Carousel of Progress with Disney Legend Marty Sklar.
Sketch of Bob Gurr and Marty Sklar
Disney Legends Bob Gurr and Marty Sklar riff and ramble about Walt Disney’s contribution to the 1964 World’s Fair. Bob Gurr was nice enough to sign my unflattering sketch of him.
D23 member sketch of Minnie Mouse
Before she became a poodle trainer at Storybook Circus, Minnie was going to work with some much larger animals wearing a costume inspired by The Three Caballeros.
Sketch of attraction at Discovery Bay, the never-built expansion for Disneyland
One of the major attractions at Discovery Bay, the never-built expansion for Disneyland. The Hyperion would take guests to the fabled Island at the Top of the World.
Sketch of Rover from The Carousel of Progress
Rover from The Carousel of Progress listens to his technophile owner prattle on about General Electric.
Sketch of Skull Rock and Rainbow Caverns
Skull Rock and Rainbow Caverns are two lost treasures from Disneyland.
Sketch of Ron Logan
Ron Logan’s dry humor brought the house down as he described some of the most outrageous extravaganzas from Disney’s past, including the epic Skyleidoscope.
Sketch of light up float in Spectromagic parade
The carousel was one of the more ambitious light-up floats from Spectromagic, a beloved nighttime parade.
Sketch of Tony Baxter
Disney Legend Tony Baxter wowed the crowd with his vision of the unbuilt Discovery Bay, making us wish we could all go there.
Sketch of Tower of the Four Winds designed by Rolly Crump
Tower of the Four Winds, the marvelous, massive mobile designed by Rolly Crump that graced the entrance of it’s a small world, at the 1964 World’s Fair.

Patrick Johnson is a D23 Member, professional puppeteer and puppet builder, and the co-owner of Glendale, California-based puppet company Swazzle. Patrick was an additional Muppet performer for the Disney feature films The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted. He puppeteered on Disney XD’s Team Smithereen, The Pee-wee Herman Show, and a special holiday episode of The Simpsons featuring Katy Perry.

New Short Frozen Fever to Open in Theaters in Front of Cinderella

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new short Frozen Fever, which welcomes Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf back to the big screen, will open in theaters on March 13, 2015, in front of Disney’s Cinderella, a live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale.

Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and produced by Peter Del Vecho and Aimee Scribner, with an all-new original song by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez,

Frozen Fever marks the first project reuniting the Oscar®-winning original team from Disney’s “Frozen.”

In Frozen Fever, it’s Anna’s birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa’s icy powers may put more than just the party at risk.

A Two-Hour Premiere for Marvel’s Agent Carter, Disney & Turner Classic Movies Team Up, & Much More

Marvel’s Agent Carter Will Kick Off with a Two-Hour Premiere

It’s just a little more than a month until the debut of Marvel’s Agent Carter, right after the holidays. But we’ve gotten what we think is a Marvel-ous early holiday gift with the news that the seven-part television event will kick off with a two-hour debut, from 8–10 p.m. ET on January 6!

And, to tide you over, check out the teaser above. Of course we’ve seen glimpses of Agent Carter (played by Hayley Atwell) on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. this season, battling HYDRA like only a Marvel hero can, but this new video gives us a peek into what the secret agent’s daily life is like. Who knew that working for the “phone company” could be so exciting?

 

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
December 6, 2014
Honoring Diane Disney Miller at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round
December 6, 2014
Holiday Shopping Day at Mickey’s of Glendale
December 7, 2014
Holiday Gingerbread Houses at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
Through January 4, 2015
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
August 14-16, 2015
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California
Television
December 1–25
ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas”
December 2
Toy Story That Time Forgot premieres on ABC at 8 p.m. ET
January 6
Marvel’sAgent Carter premieres on ABC at 9 p.m. ET		 Parks
November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, and 30; and December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 19
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties at Magic Kingdom Park
Studios
December 25
Into the Woods opens in theaters.
February 20, 2015
MacFarland, USA opens in theaters.
March 13, 2015
Cinderella opens in theaters.
May 1, 2015
Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters.
May 22, 2015
Tomorrowland opens in theaters.
June 19, 2015
Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava).

 

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Turner Classic Movies and Disney Partner on WDW Attraction and Special Programming

We’re definitely in a holiday mood these days at D23. We’re having so much fun giving gifts through our D23 Days of Christmas, and we don’t mind admitting that we like being at the receiving end of gifts like the new partnership between Disney and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ attraction The Great Movie Ride‘s pre-show and finale are set to receive a refresh, curated by TCM, that will include a brand-new montage and a classic movie-themed photo op. And this collaboration will also allow viewers to enjoy classic Disney experiences at home with the launch of Treasures from the Disney Vault, “a recurring on-air showcase” that will present classic Disney films and programming. First up on December 21 (beginning at 8 p.m. ET) will be holiday and winter animated shorts, along with the 1941 feature The Reluctant Dragon, a compilation of Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier episodes, and more! To see the whole lineup and read all of the recently announced details, visit D23.com.

 

The Force Awakens! The Excitement Grows!

Speaking of gifts… You’ve probably already seen the teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Have you seen it more than once? Do you want to see it again, like we do? The film will no doubt be the ultimate Star Wars present when it hits theaters during next year’s holiday season, on December 18, 2015. But this year we’re content to watch the teaser—again and again.

 

Watch “Proud of Your Boy” from Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway

Disney on Broadway is also in the gift-giving mood! Last week they shared the video above, of Adam Jacobs, who plays Aladdin in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway, singing “Proud of Your Boy”—accompanied by composer Alan Menken. The song was originally written for the animated film but was ultimately cut—and is now part of the hit stage production. For more information on the production, visit AladdinTheMusical.com.

 

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Ho, ho, ho! ABC Family’s Pop Up Santa is Bringing Cheer Through December 9

ABC Family’s Pop Up Santa giveaway is continuing to bring gifts to people when they least expect it. In addition to local giveaways happening in cities across the U.S. (through December 9), fans can also visit PopUpSanta.tv until December 25 for exclusive content, daily Pop Up Santa videos, and more—including a schedule for each day’s lineup of ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas.

 

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Start Exploring the Marvel Universe with Marvel Unlimited

The Marvel Universe is vast—seventy-five years and 15,000 digital comics vast, to put it into perspective. Whether you’re new to the Marvel Universe and want to dive in and explore, or you’re a longtime Marvel comics reader who wants to share the love with friends and family, Marvel Unlimited is the perfect first stop on a Marvel journey. And this week only, if you enter the Promo Code MARVEL75 at Marvel Unlimited Checkout, your first month of a Marvel Unlimited monthly subscription is only 75 cents. With nine films coming in the Phase 3 timeline alone, there’s absolutely no time like the present to start learning about Marvel’s Civil War and to discover exactly who Dr. Strange is.

 

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Walt Disney World Resort Takes Gingerbread Houses to a Breathtaking Level

We love to celebrate the holidays with gingerbread houses! D23 Members enjoyed decorating spooky gingerbread houses for Halloween, and this Sunday, December 7, we’ll be back at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort creating winter wonderlands out of gumdrops and gingerbread once again. But to see some gingerbread creations that are truly spectacular, check out the photo gallery on the Disney Parks Blog for a collection that looks almost too pretty to eat.

 

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Medals Fit for a Princess

When you’re dressing like a princess, you might wear a tiara. But when you’re running like a princess, you’ll definitely find yourself wearing one of the medals recently unveiled for the races happening during the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, taking place February 19–22, 2015. All are inspired by Frozen—even the medal awarded to those completing the Glass Slipper Challenge has a familiar blue that we think Queen Elsa might favor. Do you want to run a half marathon? If you want to “let it go” for 13.1 miles—or even a 10K or a 5K—visit runDisney.com for information on upcoming race events.

Toy Story That Time Forgot Airs Tonight on ABC

The second Pixar Animation Studios special for television, Toy Story That Time Forgot, airs tonight, Tuesday, December 2 (8–8:30 p.m. ET) on ABC.

The special comes on the heels of the success of Toy Story OF TERROR!, which premiered to stellar ratings last October.

During a post-Christmas play date, the Toy Story gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turns out to be dangerously delusional. It’s all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie’s room in this Toy Story That Time Forgot.

The cast of Toy Story That Time Forgot includes Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, Kristen Schaal as Trixie, Kevin McKidd as Reptillus Maximus, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Joan Cusack as Jessie.

Tune in to ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas” Programming Event

ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas,” cable’s biggest programming event of the year, returns with 25 continuous days of holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family.

From December 1–25, viewers can ring in the holidays with new holiday episodes of original series, holiday specials and returning favorites.

This year, “25 Days of Christmas” will feature original holiday episodes of comedy series Melissa and Joey and Baby Daddy. And for the first time, holiday episodes of drama series Pretty Little Liars, The Fosters, Switched at Birth and Chasing Life will also make their debut during the week of December 8.

The holiday cheer continues with the network-television premiere of the delightful holiday movie Arthur Christmas, featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie and Jim Broadbent as Santa, on Saturday, December 6 (9–11 p.m. ET/PT) and the ABC Family debut of the new Christmas special Toy Story That Time Forgot on Sunday, December 7 (8–8:30 p.m. ET/PT).

On Sunday, December 21, the network will air a Rankin Bass holiday classics marathon, featuring such beloved programs as The Little Drummer Boy (1–1:30 p.m. ET/PT), Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (3–4 p.m. ET/PT) and The Year Without a Santa Claus (4–5 p.m. ET/PT). Other returning favorites include National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Monday, December 1, 6–8 p.m. ET/PT), Elf (Monday, December 1, 8–10 p.m. ET/PT) and a The Santa Clause double feature (begins Tuesday, December 2, 8 PM ET/PT).

This year, ABC Family is also surprising people across the country as Pop Up Santa! Check out what happened when the network’s stars surprised Disney Store guests at a recent Pop Up Santa event in the video above. Head to PopUpSanta.TV for more information.

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas Programming Highlights