Kick Off The Holidays With A Parade

“It all started with the Mickey Mouse balloon,” Bill muses.

“We’ve had a great relationship ever since. The magic between Disney and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has spanned the decades.”

“In the spirit of full disclosure,” Bill Schermerhorn, Macy’s Creative Director, starts, “I should tell you that I am a card-carrying member of D23.” So begins our discussion with Bill, who for more than three decades, has been responsible for bringing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the streets of New York each Thanksgiving. “It’s the job you get once in a lifetime,” he says with a chuckle.

Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck celebrate the first anniversary of Walt Disney World at the parade in 1972.

More than 80 years after Macy’s first parade—originally called the Macy’s Christmas Parade and later the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Christmas Parade—the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is known as the “official” kickoff to the holiday season. And with more than 50 million viewers across the country and the more than 3.5 million spectators who line up along the streets of New York City each year, the three-hour spectacle is nothing short of a national icon.

Mickey Mouse balloon used in the 1934 Macy's Santa Clause Parade — Disney’s tradition of participating in the parade began in 1934—when it was still known as the Macy’s Santa Clause Parade.

According to Bill, his Official Disney Fan Club membership makes perfect sense, as Disney and Macy’s can be considered somewhat of a match made in heaven. “Both Macy’s and Disney believe in high-quality family entertainment,” explains Bill. “It’s a dream come true that we can work together.”

Disney got in on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Christmas Parade action 10 years after the first one hit the streets. “It all started with the Mickey Mouse balloon,” Bill muses about Disney’s entry. “We’ve had a great relationship ever since. The magic between Disney and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has spanned the ages.” Pluto, the Big Bad Wolf, and the Little Pig balloons also debuted that same year.

Bandleader Mickey balloon had the honor of leading the first parade in the new millennium, the year 2000.

In the decades that followed, Disney continued to pop up in the annual parade with balloons, floats, and special guests entertaining parade attendees and at-home viewers across the country. Some of Disney’s most noteworthy Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade moments include the introduction of an updated Mickey balloon in 1973 and the inclusion of a Santa Goofy balloon in 1993.

Sailor Mickey in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — Sailor Mickey debuted in the parade in 2009.

But Bill has his own favorite Disney parade moment. “My favorite was not that long ago when we had LeAnn Rimes perform on the showboat float, and we also had several Disney characters on that float with her,” Bill recalls. “What was also great about that moment is that we included children dressed up as their favorite Disney characters. For instance, we had Peter Pan with a little boy dressed as Peter Pan. It was a very special moment that only Disney could do in a Macy’s parade.”

You will have to tune in on Thanksgiving Day to see B.—and all of Disney’s parade participants—in action during this year’s annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. As Bill puts it, “You never know where you’ll find a Disney character.”

Happy Thanksgiving From D23

Thank you for being a D23 Member!

In celebration of this special time of year, we pulled this special treat from the Walt Disney Archives to share with all of you.

This charming Thanksgiving-themed evocation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs appeared for the first time in November 1951 to help promote the 1952 re-release of the Disney masterpiece in theaters across the country. The classic film bowed late in 1937 and was released again during World War II to help raise revenue for the Studio, which had experienced a slowdown because of the global conflict. The decision to bring the “fairest one of all” back to the big screen was so popular that it began a tradition of re-releasing Disney animated features every seven to 10 years. In total, Snow White has been released in theaters nine times since making its debut.

We look forward to celebrating the holidays with you on D23.com and kicking off our D23 Days of Christmas campaign, starting December 1.

ABC Family’s #PopUpSanta Surprise Giveaways Sweeping the Nation

On ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA), ABC Family announced the network’s ownership of Pop Up Santa (#PopUpSanta), the giveaway craze that launched on November 11 that has been sweeping the nation with holiday cheer.

ABC Family also surprised GMA fans gathered in Times Square with special Pop Up Santa gifts to celebrate the network’s annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming event, which starts December 1. The massive Pop Up Santa initiative features more than 50 local giveaways, surprising lucky passersby with items such as gift cards, cozy accessories to fight the winter cold and even brand-new bicycles. Talent from several of ABC Family’s hit series will surprise fans with products and prizes in fun and festive ways.

Local Pop Up Santa events will continue through December 9 in cities across the United States. ABC Family also debuted today the official Pop Up Santa experience (PopUpSanta.tv), a digital companion to the on-air initiative that allows fans to win Pop Up Santa items even if they do not live in the selected cities. The social experience includes daily Pop Up Santa videos and exclusive content, Disney Store gift baskets, red bicycles, ugly Christmas sweaters, Disney On Ice prize packs and $500 gift cards. Fans are encouraged to spread the cheer and bring Pop Up Santa to life in their own towns by creating their own holiday surprises and submitting photos and videos through the Pop Up Santa social experience.

Pop Up Santa also includes special Disney synergy events with the Country Music Awards, Disney on Ice and the Disney Store that will be featured on-air throughout the “25 Days of Christmas” programming event. Earlier this month, Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale surprised one lucky fan and her family in Nashville with tickets to the CMA Country Christmas celebration and a chance to watch Lucy rehearse for the show. CMA Country Christmas airs on ABC Monday, December 1 (8–10 p.m. ET). Also this month, ABC Family fans were presented with a special after-hours surprise at a Disney Store in Montebello, California, where they were challenged with gathering as many toys as they could in an allotted time with the help of ABC Family stars Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry), Aisha Dee and Haley Ramm (Chasing Life). The network then donated a matching monetary gift to Toys for Tots based on all of the toys gathered at the event. The holiday joy continues when ABC Family brings some warmth to Disney On Ice presents Frozen, Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. ABC Family is reuniting a special military family on the ice. The family will get the amazing opportunity to participate in a special private pre-show skating party with characters from Disney On Ice presents Frozen and front row seats for the show.

Now in its 17th year, “25 Days of Christmas” is the biggest seasonal programming event on cable and the network’s highest-rated period of the year, reaching nearly 100 million people in 2013. During the annual event, ABC Family airs 25 continuous days of holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family, adding up to over 300 hours of programming. The event includes traditional holiday film favorites and specials and holiday-themed episodes of ABC Family original series. “25 Days of Christmas” kicks off December 1 on ABC Family and runs through December 25.

ABC to Air Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years Hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson

In celebration of Disney Theatrical Productions’ 20 years on Broadway, the ABC Television Network will air Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years, airing Sunday, December 14 at 7 p.m. ET and hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson, star of ABC’s Modern Family. This one-hour special, produced by Lincoln Square Productions, takes viewers on a journey through 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. The special features new commentary and revealing anecdotes by the stars and theatre professionals about the creation and long runs of these beloved titles.

Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years also features music from the Disney on Broadway catalog, including special musical performances from Sir Elton John, Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen (ABC’s Nashville), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Adam Jacobs (Aladdin).

For the first time, viewers have unprecedented access to the fast pace and high stakes world of Broadway. Cameras are backstage during an actual performance of Aladdin during the show-stopping production number “Friend Like Me.” Composer Lebo M leads the ensemble of The Lion King in a special rehearsal, celebrating the show’s South African roots and themes that are the very heart of this landmark musical. The cast of the North American tour of Newsies takes viewers on the road as the tour prepares for its official opening night in Philadelphia, as they “carry the banner” of this unlikely Disney smash hit musical.

See our Destination D Carousel of Progress Presentation

Last month, we live streamed our Carousel of Progress panel from Destination D: Attraction Rewind. If you couldn’t tune in and watch, here’s the full panel for you to watch from home. Enjoy this look back at 50 years of “a great big beautiful tomorrow.”

The Walt Disney Family Museum Presents All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt’s Trains

The Lilly Belle, as seen in the main galleries at The Walt Disney Family Museum.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is pleased to present All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt’s Trains, on view from November 13, 2014 through February 9, 2015. This comprehensive exhibition explores the influence that railroading had on Walt Disney’s life and work. It also tells the story of how his railroading legacy lives on to this day in Disney films and theme parks around the world. Including more than 200 artifacts, firsthand accounts, archival videos, images of Walt and his trains, and actual model trains running throughout the show, All Aboard highlights how Walt’s passion for trains developed long before manifesting itself in Disney short cartoons, feature films, and in Walt’s personal life at home.

Walt Disney with the Lilly Belle steam train in 1951, located at his home in Holmby Hills, California.

Guest curator Michael Campbell, president of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society, constructed the exhibition to reflect Walt’s railroad journey as told through multiple chapters: Lighting the Fire, Building Steam, Gaining Speed, Full Throttle, Switching Tracks, Branching Out, A Grand Circle Tour Around The World, and Coming Full Circle. The exhibition’s conclusion reminds us that, even over a century later, Walt’s railroading influence remains as a vibrant and relevant force.

In the early 1900s, trains weren’t just a means of transportation; they were a lifeline and critical to the development of the United States. Walt’s father Elias, along with his Uncle Mike, worked on the railroad. This instigated Walt’s fascination of railroading. One of Walt’s earliest jobs was as a news butcher for a few months in 1916, selling magazines and snacks on the Missouri Pacific, Kansas City Southern, and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroads. About this experience, Walt said: “My railroad career was brief, exciting, and unprofitable.” Little did he know that a number of his later successes would involve railroading, in both his personal and professional lives.

Walt Disney's Lilly Belle assembly drawing — Carolwood Pacific Railroad’s Lilly Belle assembly drawing.

During a cross-country rail trip to New York in early 1928, Walt not only lost his cartoon star Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, but also half of his animation staff to his film distributor. Before boarding the return train to California, Walt sent his brother Roy a telegram: “Don’t worry, everything OK.” On the train home, Walt contemplated a new character—a mouse, which he named Mortimer. His wife Lillian had a different idea, and, with their collaboration on a name, Mickey Mouse was born.

Mickey Mouse in a steam train cab from the 1929 short Mickey's Choo-Choo. — Mickey Mouse in a steam train cab from the 1929 short Mickey’s Choo-Choo.

After Mickey’s debut in Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928, he would star with a train in the 1929 short Mickey’s Choo-Choo. Trains would also make appearances in future Disney shorts and films, either as plot devices or as characters of their own—with The Brave Engineer (1950) and Casey Jr. from the 1941 classic Dumbo. In the move to live-action films, it was inevitable that the Studios began featuring more trains, including the ones seen in So Dear to My Heart and The Great Locomotive Chase. Around this time, Walt also fulfilled a long-time desire: He bought and built a tabletop model train layout in his office suite, running it whenever he had a spare moment. He enjoyed showing it off to visitors, including some of his own animators who were train buffs themselves.

Walt Disney riding the E.P. Ripley on the Disneyland Railroad in 1955.

In July of 1948, Walt boarded a train to attend the Chicago Railroad Fair. In addition to being invited to participate in the “Wheels-a-Rolling” pageant—where classic trains paraded by—Walt was deeply moved by the recreation of the funeral train for the president he most admired: Abraham Lincoln. Also, after visiting the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan on his way back to California, Walt was impressed and inspired by the attractions of this park, which included a 4-4-0 locomotive that pulled guests around the estate. When he returned home, Walt constructed his own steam engine—a 1/8th scale model, that he named the Lilly Belle in honor of his wife Lillian. This train circled on a half-mile track, looping around his home in Holmby Hills. Also at this time, he began documenting ideas for a “Mickey Mouse Park,” a family park he would build that would include a railroad station.

Walt was undeniably a great storyteller. So it came as no surprise when he used railroading as a tool to fully immerse his audience in stories planted throughout his Magic Kingdom: Disneyland. In all of the Park’s lands, locomotives served a greater purpose than just transportation. They were also essential elements to the story, responsible for helping guests imagine themselves part of an American train voyage at the turn of the 20th Century.

Walt Disney riding on his Carolwood Pacific train around The Walt Disney Studios in 1951.

The journey of this exhibition doesn’t start and end with just Walt, though. All Aboard also explores the interest and passion for railroading of Walt’s friends and staff, including two of Walt’s “Nine Old Men,” animators Ward Kimball and Ollie Johnston. Notably, Kimball was the first private owner of a full-sized steam locomotive, and Johnston’s railroading hobby was latent until he stumbled upon the miniature train Walt was building in his office. Showcased alongside the animators are WED Enterprises’ Imagineers—”Imagination Engineers”—Roger Broggie and Bob Gurr, whose creative locomotives helped Walt transport his guests throughout Disneyland, and later, the Magic Kingdom Park in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney on Kalamazoo handcar — Walt on Kalamazoo handcar.

Finally, All Aboard will reveal how Walt’s railroad legacy continues today. Guests will learn how Disney theme parks and films continue to honor trains and railroading, from recent creations to those that have yet to be imagined.

Five Celebrity Moments That Made D23 Fanniversary Celebration 2014 Extra Special

For the third year in a row, D23 will hit the road with D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration presented by Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection, visiting cities across the U.S. to commemorate dozens of magical Disney milestones celebrating landmark anniversaries this year. We’ve pulled together five of our favorite celebrity moments from this year’s show. Enjoy!

The 1964-65 New York World’s Fair attraction “it’s a small world” brought together the artistry of Disney’s most talented designers at the time. Mary Blair added a simple elegance to the attraction’s overall look and details, and Alice Davis created the ornate costumes for the dolls. Collaborating with Mary Blair, Alice researched, designed, and supervised the creation of more than 150 highly detailed costumes for the Audio-Animatronics children of the world.

Walt Disney Television Animation, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in November 2014, had its first big success with the Disney Afternoon. To tell you how it all came about we tracked down one of the first writers assigned to Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears and The Wuzzles—the start of what would soon become Disney Afternoon television programming.

The year 2014 marks the 35^th anniversary of The Muppet Movie. This was the first Muppet feature film and audiences learned how the Muppet family came together and moved to Hollywood. Here to tell you more about this storied life in Hollywood is none other than Kermit the Frog.

Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The inspiration for Big Thunder Mountain and the specific canyon that is based on has a pretty interesting back-story. To tell you all about it, we went to the home of a famous Disney Imagineering Legend to hear more.

We all know Marvel for its blockbuster movies like The Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, and many others, but those characters have a deep history that started 75 years ago, when their business was comic books. And to take a look at the entire Marvel Universe, we talked to a man whose name has become synonymous with some of the most iconic superheroes that leapt off of comic book pages and onto the silver screens of Hollywood.

A Celebration of Disney Trains

November 20, 2014March 27, 2018

This rarely seen photo shows Disney animator Ollie Johnston’s Marie E. steam train as it arrives at the New Orleans Station of the Disneyland Railroad to surprise the Disney Legend.
On May 10, 2005 at 7 a.m., a ceremony took place before Disneyland opened for the day. On the occasion of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary, about 100 people gathered at the New Orleans Station of the Disneyland Railroad to honor animator and Disney Legend Ollie Johnston, one of Walt’s Nine Old Men, for how he inspired Walt Disney with his love of trains. Ollie inspired Walt to build his backyard railroad, the Carolwood Pacific Railroad. Walt’s love of giving people rides on this little steam train in his backyard eventually led to the building of Disneyland.

After the speeches that early May morning, Ollie was presented with a plaque from the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society. Then everyone heard a toot of a steam whistle and up pulled a gleaming steam train. Ollie at first thought it was a Disneyland engine, then his son Ken leaned down and said, “Dad, that is your engine.” Ollie then realized it was his beloved Marie E. and he started to cry. And then so did everyone else.

I then told Ollie that the Marie E. needed a real engineer to drive it around Disneyland and asked if he would like to do it. “Boy, would I!!” was his answer. He climbed up into the cab of the Marie E. with the help of the amazing Disneyland Railroad crew and they strapped him in with seatbelts borrowed from one of the old Matterhorn bobsleds.

At 94 years old, Ollie expertly engineered his Marie E.—the only outside train ever run on the rails of Disneyland—three times around Disneyland to the cheers of everyone there.

It was said that of all of the yearlong events celebrating Disneyland’s 50th anniversary, the morning of May 10 was by far the most special.

—John Lasseter

This memory told by John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, recalls a very special moment in Disney train history. It’s one of many train tales being celebrated in All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt’s Trains, a new exhibit at The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, California. On view through February 9, 2015, this comprehensive exhibition explores the influence that railroading had on Walt Disney’s life and work. It also tells the story of how his railroading legacy lives on to this day in Disney films and theme parks around the world.

*The All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt’s Trains* exhibition explores Walt Disney’s passion for trains and the influence and impact railroading had throughout his career.

The arc of this exhibition doesn’t start and end with just Walt, though. All Aboard explores the interest and passion for railroading of Walt’s friends and staff, including Ollie Johnston. The Disney Legend was able to make his Disney railroad dreams come true at Disneyland before he passed away in 2008.

A New Cinderella Trailer, Inside Out, and Much More

Have a Ball Watching a New Trailer for Cinderella

We’re officially counting the hours, waiting for the clock to strike 12. But we’re not waiting for our coach to turn back into a pumpkin, we’re eagerly awaiting the release of Cinderella, which opens in theaters on March 13, 2015.

A new trailer debuted this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, and we have it for you to watch, above. There’s a Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter)! A handsome and charming prince (Richard Madden)! And, of course, Cinderella herself (played by Lily James) in a beautiful blue gown that will no doubt inspire countless Halloween costumes next fall. Best of all, the trailer answers the question that has nagged at folks for as long as there has been a Cinderella: Yes, glass slippers can be comfortable.

Save the Date!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
November 22-23
Destination D: Attraction Rewind at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World
Fall 2014-2015
D23 Member Nights at Newsies—On Tour
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).

Turn Yourself Inside Out—One Emotion at a Time

Each day this week, Disney•Pixar is releasing a new character video from Inside Out, the upcoming animated film that chronicles the lives of the emotions that live in Headquarters, the control center inside an 11-year-old girl’s head. On Monday, we met Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith):

Monday brought us Sadness (Phyllis Smith):

Tuesday brought us Disgust (Mindy Kaling):

And today we’ve seen Anger (Lewis Black) in action:

“Excitement” isn’t a character in Inside Out, but it’s for sure the emotion that’s taking over the Headquarters in our minds here at D23! Inside Out opens in theaters June 19, 2015 and in the meantime, we’re going to do everything we can to keep our Excitement, Impatience, and Enthusiasm in balance from now until then.

Enjoy Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy on Blu-ray Soon—It’s Educational!

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is now available on 3D Digital and Digital HD—and it’s coming to 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and On-Demand on December 9. Yes, you can watch the movie again and again. Sure, you’ll laugh at the gag clip and you’ll love watching the deleted scene. But believe it or not, you will learn something you didn’t know before: how to speak “I am Groot” in 15 different languages. Check out the video above for a sneak peek!

Into the Woods Soundtrack Will Be Released Before the Film Opens

Into the Woods—the film—opens in theaters December 25, 2014. The film’s soundtrack is set for release December 16, 2014. That gives you nine days—nine—to try to master the songs from the film, which is based on the musical stage production by legendary eight-time Tony®, Grammy®, and Oscar®-winning composter and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and Tony Award winner James Lapine. The two-disc Into the Woods Deluxe Edition also includes the film’s score.

New Merchandise and Collectibles from a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars fans can get excited about a number of new items that are available for purchase. The Disney Style blog featured a collection of Darth Vader jewelry for those who lean toward the dark side, as well as an R2-D2 collection for Rebel Alliance supporters. The collections are from Her Universe.

For Star Wars fans who would rather show their allegiance to the force via play rather than via accessorizing, this holiday season Disney Store is featuring Star Wars merchandise for the first time. This month, Disney Store launched a series of exclusively-designed die cast vehicles inspired by the original Star Wars saga. The collection includes the Darth Vader TIE fighter, X-Wing Fighter, and Speeder Bike. Each perfect replica of the iconic films’ vehicles boasts movable parts (like wheels that roll and landing gear that drops). Deluxe die cast—including the Millennium Falcon—are also available.

And there’s one more Star Wars item that was unveiled this week that can only be found at one location: the finish line of a race taking place during the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon weekend, January 15–18 at the Disneyland Resort. Finisher medals feature many of your favorite Star Wars characters, and half marathon finishers might think their medallion reminds them of the Medal of Bravery awarded to Luke Skywalker and Han Solo at the end of Episode IV. Runners, may the force be with you!

MagicBands Get Infinite-ly More Magical

Have you dreamed of bringing the Disney Parks to your Disney Infinity Toy Box? Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced last week at The Walt Disney Company’s Mobile Product Showcase that plans are underway to incorporate the MagicBand into the Disney Infinity experience. Guests will be able to place a MagicBand over the Disney Infinity base, which then unlocks the it’s a small world download. Visit D23.com to learn more about this and the other announcements from the event. ►

See Concept Art for Shanghai Disney Resort Hotels and Disneytown

We’re always super excited to get an early look at anything new that’s on its way to Disney Parks and Resorts, and the concept art released last week for two hotels at Shanghai Disney Resort didn’t disappoint. To see all of the art and also learn about Disneytown, visit D23.com. ►

Disney Announces Disney Infinity and MagicBand Team Up, Plus Imagicademy And Disney Technology Updates At Mobile Product Showcase

Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger and leaders from across The Walt Disney Company revealed new updates on interactive technology from Disney Consumer Products, ABC, Walt Disney Studios, ESPN, Disney Parks, Maker Studios and Disney Interactive in a mobile showcase event at the Walt Disney Studios on Friday, November 14.

Here’s a recap on some of the biggest announcements:

Walt Disney Parks And Resorts

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced plans to incorporate the MagicBand into the gaming experience of Disney Infinity. MagicBands will unlock an it’s a small world experience. Worn on the wrist, the MagicBand is the key to unlocking the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation, connecting guests to all the choices they make online at MyDisneyExperience.com.

The MagicBand serves as park admission, access to FastPass+ experiences and Disney PhotoPass photo association—all rolled into one. For Walt Disney Resort hotel guests, it also serves as a room key and optional payment method. One touch of the MagicBand and the colorful Mickey-shaped readers deliver guests’ selected experiences.

Guests unlock the download of it’s a small world for their Toy Box by placing a MagicBand over the Disney Infinity Base. The Base will detect the presence of a MagicBand, and then will instantly unlock the “it’s a small world” download with no online connectivity required. Additionally, you’ll be able to enchant other players with the iconic music from the it’s a small world attraction in the background. Once you’ve created a saved game, you will always have access to the new content.

Disney Interactive

Jimmy Pitaro, president, Disney Interactive, discussed Disney Interactive’s role in rebuilding Disney.com with its responsive design for mobile, which has resulted in significant traffic increases across mobile and web. Disney Interactive is also the No. 6 mobile games publisher worldwide.

A mobile version of Disney Infinity 2.0 for iOS was announced. The app is built using Metal, which offers significantly higher performance and console-quality graphics. The app includes multi-player functionality and will be available on iPhone for the first time this year.

ESPN

John Kosner, executive vice president, Digital and Print Media, ESPN, and Ryan Spoon, senior vice president, Digital Product Management, ESPN, outlined how the ESPN Digital team has utilized mobile to turn the tremendous value of live sports into outstanding growth and category leadership.

In 2015, ESPN’s industry leading SportsCenter app will change its name to ESPN, so that the company’s No. 1 website, No. 1 mobile website and No. 1 mobile app will all have the same name. In time for the Super Bowl, ESPN will combine its native application and web development into one personalized experience.

On April 1, 2015—the 20th anniversary of ESPN.com—ESPN will officially launch the new ESPN.com in the U.S. and U.K.

Disney/ABC Television Group

Albert Cheng, executive vice president and chief product officer, Digital Media, Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG), shared data and key learnings from their recently relaunched WATCH services.

Across DATG’s five networks (ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD), the WATCH apps have been downloaded more than 50,000,000 times, on 40 different devices and, on average, viewers watch 20,000,000 hours of content a month on WATCH.

For the new Social Lens feature on WATCH ABC, the most activity is currently taking place on Scandal, Once Upon a Time, How To Get Away with Murder, Black-ish and Modern Family. The new FastShare feature on WATCH ABC is currently enabled on Scandal, Modern Family, Black-ish, The Goldbergs, The Middle and Nashville. So far, the most shared clips are from Scandal and Black-ish.

DATG also announced that it will deliver another slate of Disney Junior Appisodes next year, including the first ever appisode for Sheriff Callie’s Wild West and the network’s new show Miles from Tomorrowland.

The Walt Disney Studios

Jamie Voris, chief technology officer, The Walt Disney Studios, gave an overview of Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), and announced that it has now partnered with Walmart’s VUDU digital video service as a participating retailer.

DMA will be available through VUDU beginning November 18. You can now access their Disney digital movie collections on all VUDU-enabled devices including set-top boxes, gaming systems and smart TVs; on iOS devices via iTunes and on Android devices through the recently announced partnership with Google Play, as well as through the Disney Movies Anywhere website.

Maker Studios

Maker Studios discussed its Maker Axis platform, which allows for custom video hub creation across a vast network of creators. Ryan Lissack, chief technology officer, Maker Studios, spoke about the more than 10 video hubs launched both with responsive web destinations and native mobile apps on iPhone, iPad and Android.

The Maker Axis platform allows for growing scale through efficiencies in hub creative and streamlined end-to-end process automation. Now independent creators can create their own video hub apps and mobile-friendly websites in a matter of minutes.

Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) discussed its focus on meeting the needs of consumers on mobile devices through the convergence of play, storytelling and learning. Andrew Sugerman, executive vice president, Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW), announced its position as the No. 1 publisher of Kids Apps in 2014.

DPW unveiled its plan to launch an entirely new learning brand, Disney Imagicademy, which is designed to meet the needs of parents and address an existing gap in the marketplace. More details will come at an event in New York on December 4, 2014.