Dick Van Dyke Guest Stars As Goofy’s Grandpappy

Arrrgh, matey! Playful pirate Captain Goof-Beard will soon swashbuckle his way onto Disney Junior’s hit show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on October 10—buccaneer garb and all! Voicing the brand-new character is none other than actor, comedian, vocalist, and Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke, who stopped by the recording studio to sing some witty seafarer-inspired songs.

D23 was there to see the beloved actor in action—performing, laughing, and charming the room, of course—and to find out more about the new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse character from Goof-Beard himself.

D23: Can you tell us a little about the character you’re playing on an upcoming episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?
Dick Van Dyke: I get to play a pirate! I play Goofy’s grand-pappy. His name is Captain Goof-Beard. He’s very funny, just like Goofy.

D23: We got a chance to hear you record some of Captain Goof-Beard’s lines and songs. It was fantastic! What’s the experience been like for you thus far?
DVD: Thank you! It’s a lot of fun. I haven’t done this kind of voice-over thing. I’m anxious to see the finished product. I have great grandkids who watch the show.

D23: Is this something that comes naturally to you?
DVD: No! Not at all. It’s interesting to me because I’m not familiar with the process. This is only my second day on the job, so I’m beginning to learn more about it.

D23: What about this role appealed to you?
DVD: They just called me up and asked me if I wanted to be involved! Anything having to do with The Walt Disney Company, I’ll do, no matter what it is.

D23: What’s it like having the opportunity to influence yet another generation of Disney fans?
DVD: The funniest thing is I still get recognized by preschoolers from Mary Poppins. It’s amazing! We’re on our third generation with that movie. It just tickles me to death. I like to be a part of anything to do with Disney and children’s entertainment.

D23: Do you have any fun Disney props or memorabilia in your home from the many movies and shows you’ve worked on through the years?
DVD: I actually used to have the outfit Bert wore as a chimney sweeper in Mary Poppins. I gave it away to charity, though. I kind of regret it. [Laughing] I wish I still had it!

Be on the lookout for the delightful sea dog Captain Goof-Beard on Disney Junior’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!

Last Man Standing Returns Tonight on ABC

Tim Allen returns for a fourth season in Last Man Standing as Mike Baxter, who continues to be surrounded by forces seeking to challenge his ideas on just about everything in which he strongly believes.

Here’s the Kicker

The season premiere will feature two back-to-back episodes on Friday, October 3 (8–9 p.m. ET/PT) on the ABC Television Network. In the episode “Here’s the Kicker,” Mike is ecstatic when Eve is picked to be her high school’s first female kicker. But Vanessa feels high school football could be risky for their youngest daughter. Meanwhile, Eve wonders if her boyfriend, Justin, is more envious than enthusiastic about her achievement.

Dog With A Blog Cast Members Reveal Their Favorite Disney Dogs

In celebration of American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Dog Month and to give our Disney dog friends some special attention,

D23 is paying tribute to Disney dogs all October.

And now that Disney Channel’s Dog With a Blog is back for season three, we thought it would be the perfect time to pair up the stars of the show with their favorite Disney dogs. D23 asked the stars to name their favorites, and you know that old saying about pet owners resembling their dogs? Well, we think some of these Disney Channel stars’ personalities do, in fact, reflect our favorite characteristics of their chosen Disney dogs. But you be the judge!

Francesca Capaldi picked Lady from Lady and the Tramp as her favorite Disney dog — Francesca Capaldi picked Lady from Lady and the Tramp. We think this is perfect since she is a pretty little lady herself.

G Hannelius loves Chloe from Beverly Hills Chihuahua. They are both big stars with great style.

Regan Burns went for the Disney classic, Pluto. Maybe it’s because they both have such happy-go-lucky personalities.

Blake Michael says his favorite Disney dog is Tramp — Blake Michael says his favorite is Tramp. And while he is more of a dog person, he did once play the part of Mr. Tibbs, the cat, in an elementary school production of One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Beth Littleford is partial to Disney dog Dinah — Beth Littleford is partial to Dinah, since her pet dog in real life is a dachshund.

Stephen Full, the voice of Stan, says he is most like Goofy. We think it’s ironic that the cast member who plays a dog on Dog With a Blog picked the most human-like Disney dog out of them all!

Be sure to check out the Dog With a Blog “Howloween” episode premiering at 8 p.m. on October 2! When Ellen and Bennett overhear Stan talking, the kids go to great lengths to convince their parents the house is haunted, in order to help keep Stan’s secret.

See D23 Members’ Disney-Fan Doggies

Remi, from Modesto, California, lives with Cesilie Szabo.

We’ve kicked off American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Dog Month with a Pluto website-takeover and canine-themed articles, but it wouldn’t be complete without a look at all of the dogs that D23 Members hold near and dear to their hearts. Who knew that so many of your pets were Disney fans too?

Keep sharing your Disney-fan dogs with us on Facebook and Twitter! For inspiration, take a look at your fellow D23 Members’ furry friends.

D23 Member Dog Gilligan — Gilligan, from Portland, Oregon, lives with Sarah Bagley.

D23 Member Dog Bumble — Bumble, from Big Rapids, Michigan, lives with Alicia Erickson.

D23 Member Dog Manga — Manga, from Oswego, New York, lives with Kathy Nelson.

D23 Member Dog Eros — Eros, from Napa, California, lives with Nickole Iadarola.

D23 Member Dog Rascal — Rascal, from New York, New York, lives with Jou Ling Yee.

Disneyland First Annual Kids’ Amateur Dog Show

The year is 1958, and it’s the Disneyland First Annual Kids’ Amateur Dog Show,

. . . an event that would continue into the 1960s at the park. Sponsored by Ken-L-Ration-brand dog food, kids entered the Qualifying Kids’ Amateur Dog Shows throughout Orange County, California, with the hopes of being selected as a semi-finalist and getting the chance to go for a walk with his or her pup down Main Street, U.S.A.

After several trials and tests at Disneyland, the first place winner, which was decided out of the top performers from the 10 individual class categories and ranging from “Largest Dog” to “Prettiest Dog,” rode away with a new bicycle for their master and a special dog blanket. How did they decide which pup was to be named “Most Popular Dog”? By audience applause, of course!

It’s not surprising that that Disney partnered with Ken-L-Ration-brand dog food for the event.

The dog food brand was very popular at the time and made for some delicious prizes for pooch. Even the dogs and masters who did not get selected for the finals left with prizes such as Ken-L Club badges, Ken-L Club T-shirts, and an assortment of other Ken-L products.

In retrospect, one of the best parts of the show very well may have been the names of the dogs at the time. It clues you in to what people were naming their pets during the late ’50s. Some of the names of the dogs that competed were: Pepper (dalmatian), Laddie (mixed pointer), Freckles (springer), Sparky (fox terrier), Sugarfoot (Chihuahua), Mack Truck (mixed shepherd), Dottie McGowan (dalmatian), Kismet (pug), Rocky (toy fox terrier), Brownie (golden retriever), MacBeth (Great Dane), D’Artagnan (French bull), Coconino (French poodle), Taffy (cocker spaniel), Viking Taylor (cocker), Red Shadow (Irish setter), and Snow Queen (Samoyed). It sort of makes you wonder, had Frozen been released in the ’50s, would Snow Queen have instead been named Elsa?

Speaking of Frozen, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, a character from a popular radio and television series at the time, also appeared at the dog show. The television series in which he appeared followed him as he adventured into northern territories with his trusty pack of snow dogs. The Yukon King is pictured above with a bag full of Ken-L-Ration-brand dog food, no doubt the award this lucky boy received.

There was also a “Name the Puppy Contest” presided by Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. If your name was chosen, you were awarded “a genuine Alaskan malamute” dog. We suppose that this was so you could start your own pack of Alaskan snow dogs. For the second prize, “a pedigreed Cocker puppy,” as promotional material for the contest notes, “a friendly little dog and a great family favorite,” was given to the winner.

The dogs were put to the test at Disneyland in the Semi-Finals at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 1958, and the Finals, also at 2 p.m., the day after. Those dogs asked back for the Finals got to march in the 2:30 p.m. “Parade of Champions” on Main Street, U.S.A. The parade route started at the double gates next to the Opera House, went up Main Street, around the Plaza, down Main Street, around Town Square, and then they exited back through the double gates next to the Opera House. The Disneyland band provided music during the show of the dogs.

While we don’t have record of what the Disneyland band played, we would like to think they included Peggy Lee’s “He’s a Tramp” from Lady and the Tramp, Disney’s dog feature that was released just a few years earlier in 1955.

Bum, bum, bum, ruff!

101 Lucky Dogs Visit Magic Kingdom

Shih tzus, poodles, beagles—101 dogs in all—joined their owners and Disney dogs such as Pluto during the first-ever “A Disney Side Dog’s Day at Magic Kingdom” event on August 30, 2014. The tail-wagging morning featured a doggie dance party, a walk in the park through Cinderella Castle, a costume contest, green carpet, doggie treats, and more for the 101 lucky dogs—all before the park opened to guests. The event was part of Animal Planet’s America’s Cutest: Disney Side Howl-O-Ween TV special scheduled to premiere October 18.

Joined by her owner Mejay Aguerre, Lily, a 2-year-old Labrador-Catahoula, meets Dug, from the Disney-Pixar film <em>Up</em>.

A Snow White pug poses with her owner on the green carpet.

Disney Villain Cruella De Vil jokes around with Florida resident Yvonne Marchione and her dalmatian Lucy.

A Yorkie dressed as Mickey Mouse poses with his owner.

A dog and its owner show off their Disney Side dressed as the White Rabbit and Alice.

A pup dressed as Robin Hood joins his owner on a walk through Magic Kingdom.

A pup dressed as Disney Princess Belle poses on Main Street, U.S.A.

A pirate poodle poses with his owners on the green carpet.

Francisco Aguerre poses with his dog, "Lily," who has a Hidden Mickey-shaped spot on her back.

Actor John O'Hurley poses with Pluto and three Disney-dressed dogs.

“Monstober” Programming Event Returns to Disney Channel

October 2, 2014March 27, 2018

A month of Halloween-themed episodes of popular series will form a mega “Monstober,”

Disney Channel’s annual programming event for kids and families.

Beginning today, Thursday, October 2, Austin & Ally stars Raini Rodriguez and Calum Worthy return as “Monstober” hosts to deliver this year’s highlights, which include the premiere of the mystery-adventure special Evermoor, a one-hour episode of Phineas and Ferb, and an animated version of the Jessie cast in a crossover episode of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors. Disney Channel series Girl Meets World, Jessie, Dog With A Blog, Liv and Maddie, Austin & Ally and I Didn’t Do It, along with Disney Television Animation’s Mickey Mouse, Gravity Falls and Wander Over Yonder, will also premiere all-new episodes.

Disney Junior programming block will present new Halloween-themed episodes of the award-winning series Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins and Jake and the Never Land Pirates, beginning Friday, October 3.

Fan-favorite Halloween movies will air throughout the month, including Girl vs. Monster, Toy Story of TERROR!, The Little Vampire, Halloweentown, Twitches and the “Monstober” movie premieres of Wreck-It Ralph, Casper, The Pirate Fairy, Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? and more.

Disney XD will also host all-new Halloween-themed episodes of its popular animated and live-action shows, including Lab Rats, Mighty Med, The 7D, Marvel’s Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja and the upcoming new series Kirby Buckets, beginning Friday, October 17.

23 Disney Dogs That Will Make You Want To Adopt A Dog Of Your Own This Month

The playful puppy Scamp tugs at Jock’s holiday sweater in the film Lady and the Tramp.

From the heart-wrenching story of Old Yeller and the whimsical transformation tale of Shaggy Dog to their animated cousins such as the thunderous Bolt, the caregiving Nana from Peter Pan, and the beloved talking Dug from Up—squirrel!—Disney has litters of furry sidekicks and stars that have stayed loyally by our sides for decades. In celebration of American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Dog Month and to give our Disney dog friends some special attention, D23 is paying tribute to Disney dogs all October.

Stay tuned as we invite you to share photos of your canine companions on D23’s Twitter and Facebook pages and celebrate some of Disney’s most famous dogs. And if you don’t already have a four-legged friend at home, then get out there and adopt one!

Of course, probably the most famous Disney dog to come to mind is Mickey’s pal Pluto. One of his first on-screen appearances, where he was referred to as Rover, actually had him as Minnie’s pet. It wasn’t until the third cartoon where he received the name Pluto that his friendship with Mickey was forged in The Moose Hunt. Since then, Pluto has come to be everyone’s loyal friend, greeting us at theme parks and in cartoons, films, and on television. He’ll always be Mickey’s dog, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all take him for a walk every once in a while.

Speaking of taking a walk, we invite you to take a walk through these 23 dogs moments from Disney films, shorts, and television shows.

Pongo, Perdita, and Their 101 Pups (One Hundred and One Dalmatians)

Disney Paint the Night Debuts at Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland will dazzle guests with a totally new nighttime spectacular experience, Disney Paint the Night. The parade features seven original floats that contain more than 740,000 individual lights and will bring favorite Disney and Disney∙Pixar stories in magical, luminescent worlds to life every night.

Hong Kong Disneyland to Paint the Night This Fall ►

Disney Paint the Night is also the first-ever fully LED parade created by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

The creative team spent more than two years developing over 1,000 scenic and lighting designs.

The seven creative floats include Tinker Bell Opening Unit, Monsters, Inc. Unit, Cars Unit, The Little Mermaid Unit, Belle Candlelight Unit, Toy Story Unit, and the Mickey and Friends Finale Unit. The parade follows Mickey as he “paints the night” in dazzling Disney dreams of light with the scintillating powers of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust.

The vibrant lights are not only featured on the floats, but also on Disney characters, dancers and props. More than 80 cast members are involved in presenting Disney Paint the Night.

For its costumes, more than 25 outfits were designed especially for this parade. Each ensemble has its own very sophisticated system of lighting controls, and the talented Cosmetology team at Hong Kong Disneyland developed a new technique to create fiber-optic wigs that can be styled to create a beautiful glowing effect. The team also designed fiber-optic eyelashes that can change color.

During two show-stopping moments in the Disney Paint the Night parade, guests can “paint the night” with the all-new Mickey Magic Paint Brush, which changes the colors on select costumes at the touch of a button. The floats can also sync with the new collection of Made with Magic merchandise, which includes the Mickey Glow Mitt and Minnie Glow Bow, and the colors of each item change so guests can be a part of the parade.

The Park has also prepared a variety of specialty food and beverage options with a glowing and glittering theme to further complement this brilliant nighttime experience. And to further celebrate the vibrant spirit of Disney Paint the Night, guests can visit the Tomorrowland Bootique to be painted in colorful make-up before joining the parade or enjoying the Park’s all-new illuminated stage performances at the Tomorrowland Party Zone.

Disney Store Announces a New Limited Edition Sleeping Beauty Doll and More

Pink or Blue? Now You Can Have Both!

Back in July, Disney Store introduced a Limited Edition Sleeping Beauty doll clad in her signature pink gown. And now, thankfully, they’ve announced the upcoming release of a new Limited Edition Sleeping Beauty doll, dressed in her signature blue gown. Disney fans no longer have to agonize over the age-old question, “Pink or blue?” Disney Store will also release two additional Limited Edition Dolls: the gallant Prince Phillip and the wickedly iconic villain, Malificent. The dolls will be available in select North American Disney Stores, beginning Tuesday, October 7 and at DisneyStore.com beginning Wednesday, October 8. European Guests can find release information and pricing by visiting their local Disney Store Facebook page.

Save the Date!

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

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
October 11
From the Vaults: Sleeping Beauty
November 8
Walt Disney Studios and Archives Tour
November 11
The Hunchback of Notre Dame VIP Experience
November 22-23
Destination D: Attraction Rewind at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World
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
October 13
Star Wars Rebels premieres on Disney XD at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
October 20
Kirby Buckets debuts on Disney XD at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Parks
September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, and 28; and October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 31
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties at Magic Kingdom Park
September 26, 30; October 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, and 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort
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
October 10
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day opens in theaters.
November 7
Big Hero 6 opens in theaters.
December 25, 2014
Into the Woods opens in theaters.
March 13, 2015
Cinderella opens in theaters.
June 19, 2015
Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava).

Check Out the New Big Hero 6 Trailer–Plus See a Sneak Peek of the Film at Disneyland

The new trailer for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming Big Hero 6 shines a light on the special bond between prodigy Hiro Hamada and the adorable plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax. The action-packed comedy-adventure hits theaters November 7. And in the meantime, Disneyland Park guests can now, for a limited time, see an exclusive sneak peek of the film, presented in 4-D with special in-theater effects, at Tomorrowland’s Magic Eye Theater.

Danny Elfman Visits Haunted Mansion Holiday

Last week, the Disney Parks Blog featured Danny Elfman, composer of the soundtrack for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—as well as the singing voice for the movie’s Jack Skellington—recording a special reading for Haunted Mansion Holiday. This week they’ve shared a clip of Elfman speaking of his love for the attraction and his reaction to seeing the holiday-enhanced version for the first time.

See What the “Coolest” Princesses on Once Upon a Time are Wearing This Season

Disney Style took us into the Once Upon a Time costume department this week, and gave us an up-close look at the detail you’ll see on Anna and Elsa’s dresses this season on the show.

Disney Channel Kicks Off Monstober on October 2

Monstober—Disney Channel’s month-long Halloween fest—returns this year with Halloween-themed episodes of popular series and specials, running from October 2 through October 31. This year’s lineup includes a one-hour Phineas and Ferb episode, an animated version of the Jessie cast in a crossover episode of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors, and the premiere of the mystery-adventure special Evermoor. Austin & Ally stars Raini Rodriguez and Calum Worthy will serve as Monstober hosts again this year.

Aladdin‘s First International Product to Debut in Tokyo

Disney Theatrical Productions and Shiki Theatre Company have announced that the first international stage production of Disney’s Aladdin will make its debut in May 2015 at the Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in Tokyo, Japan. Visit D23.com to learn more.

It’s Another Boy at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed its second gorilla—in the past month—when a baby boy was born to mother Kashata and father Gino on September 3. Another male gorilla was born to Azizi and Gino on August 7. The newest arrival is the fifth baby gorilla born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom—the first occurred in 1997 before the park opened to the public—as part of a program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Their Species Survival Plan manages genetic diversity among species, and Disney also participates in AZA Species Survival Plans for elephants, cotton-top tamarins, and okapi.

Watch and Share With Next Generation of WATCH ABC Services

Disney/ABC Television Group has re-launched its WATCH ABC services with new social features. FastShare lets you share clips of your favorite shows while you watch, Social Lens helps you connect with friends via Facebook and Twitter while you’re viewing, and Multi-Cam will offer exclusive insider access during live events. The WATCH ABC app is available in the App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore.