Anna & Elsa’s Boutique Now Open at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District, and More in News Briefs

Anna & Elsa’s Boutique Makes its Downtown Disney Debut in Anaheim
Frozen fans ages 3–15 can now channel their inner Anna or Elsa—or Olaf, for that matter, at the newly opened Anna & Elsa’s Boutique at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort. Stylists, known as “Crystalizers” will help young guests with their transformation, by way of hair, makeup, and wardrobe options. There’s also plenty of Frozen-themed merchandise to take home, as well. Visit the Disney Parks Blog for full descriptions of the packages the boutique has to offer.

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Summer and Fall 2014
D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration
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).

Pixar Debuts Poster and Teaser Trailer for Inside Out
The film, which opens in theaters June 19, 2015, will introduce you to “the little voices inside your head.” And in the meantime, the trailer reacquaints you with some of the most moving moments from the Pixar movies you know and love.

Frozen‘s Jonathan Groff Among Epcot Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrators
It’s beginning to look a little bit like Christmas on the Disney Parks Blog, where they’ve announced most of the celebrity narrators for the annual Candlelight Processional at Epcot, the joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a glorious mass choir. In addition to Jonathan Groff (the voice of Kristoff in Frozen), voices will also include Disney Legend Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel from The Little Mermaid), Scandal‘s Joe Morton, and returning favorites Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris. Visit the Disney Parks Blog for all of the details.

Star Wars Rebels Renewed for Second Season
Star Wars Rebels debuts in its regular time slot on Disney XD on Monday, October 13 (9 p.m. ET/PT), but Disney Channel has already announced that the show will return for a second season. The show, already acclaimed by critics and fans, “is set in the era between the film’s prequel trilogy and original trilogy and is in a unique position to bridge the two both aesthetically and generationally. Honoring the past while moving boldly into the future, it features fantastic icons from Star Wars while introducing a new generation to the far corners of the galaxy, one full of exotic new creatures and characters.” Check out StarWars.com for the full story.

Disney Weddings Takes the Cake
Planning a Walt Disney World Resort wedding? Check out the video above, which showcases the latest technology Disney Weddings is using to create a wedding cake that you and your guests will never forget.

New Haunted Mansion-themed Merchandise Shop Now Open at Magic Kingdom
Memento Mori, your one-stop shop for Haunted Mansion-themed merchandise is now officially open at Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom Park. Do know before you go that there’s a six-item limit on merchandise any guest can purchase in a single day, and Magic Kingdom guests can buy the new Haunted Mansion open edition pins at both Memento Mori and at Cherry Tree Lane at the Marketplace Co-Op in Downtown Disney Marketplace. California guests and Disney fans will be able to find the Dooney & Bourke bags at Vault 28 in Downtown Disney District (where a two-item daily purchase limit per guest will apply).

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Offers Frozen Holiday Premium Package
Want to make your holiday visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios even “cooler”? From November 7–19, November 21–December 9, and December 11–January 4, 2015, guests can purchase the new Frozen Holiday Premium Package. Included in the purchase ($89 per adult and $59 per child ages 3–9) is reserved seating for a performance of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at the Premiere Theatre, reserved viewing of Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights along with a Frozen-themed dessert party, and a holiday-themed lithograph and Frozen pin. For more details or to order tickets, please call (407) 939-1854.

See the Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House Installation
Every year, Disneyland Park guests look forward to a new design for the gingerbread house that’s part of the annual holiday transformation for Haunted Mansion. Check out the Disney Parks Blog’s time-lapse video that takes you behind the scenes of the installation process.

Castaway Cay Challenge Finisher Medal Revealed
January 2015 marks the debut of the Castaway Cay Challenge, which will follow the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Hundreds of runners will embark on a four-night cruise on the Disney Dream and will run the Castaway Cay 5K to earn the inaugural finisher medal pictured above. Visit runDisney for details about the all of the races taking place in January.

Sleeping Beauty Diamond Edition Now Available on Blu-ray, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere

Finally releasing from the Disney Vault, Disney’s ultimate princess fairytale classic Sleeping Beauty is available for the first time on Diamond Edition Blu-ray, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere. Experience all of the pageantry and power of this wondrous tale on Blu-ray—and for the first time on Digital HD—with incredible high-definition picture, thrilling, soaring sound and all-new Diamond Edition special features that make this a must-own for every family’s classic collection.

. . . digitally restored picture and sound, a digital copy of the film, and a variety of magical new bonus features . . .

Creating the ultimate at-home viewing experience, Disney’s two-disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray Superset (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) contains digitally restored picture and sound, a digital copy of the film, and a variety of magical new bonus features, including “Once Upon A Parade,” in which Modern Family star Sarah Hyland tells us the tale of Walt Disney World’s new Festival of Fantasy Parade, “Art of Evil: Generations Of Disney Villains,” a legacy piece spotlighting Disney’s favorite villain animator and Maleficent creator Marc Davis, and “@DisneyAnimation: Artists in Motion,” in which Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee goes through the process of creating a three-dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper.

Additional all-new bonus features include never-before-seen deleted scenes “The Fair” (with deleted character, The Vulture), “The Curse is Fulfilled” and “Arrival Of Maleficent,” plus the Beauty-Oke sing-along to “Once Upon A Dream.”

. . . vibrant visuals were created by a team that included Milt Kahl and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men . . .

Sleeping Beauty tells the wondrous tale of a princess cursed by an evil fairy, protected by three loving fairies and, ultimately, saved by true love’s kiss. Featuring the voice talents of renowned opera singer Mary Costa as Sleeping Beauty and Disney stalwart Eleanor Audley as the evil fairy, Maleficent, the film’s vibrant visuals were created by a team that included Milt Kahl and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men and an Academy Award®-nominated score, 1959, adapted from the incandescent music of Peter Tchaikovsky. Sleeping Beauty is the 16th animated feature in the Disney animated features canon, and was the last animated feature produced by Walt Disney to be based upon a fairy tale. It is the 10th film released as part of Disney’s prestigious Blu-ray Diamond Collection.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Soundtrack Now Available

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day hits theaters October 10 with a soundtrack that includes an original end-credit song from The Vamps, plus original songs from two of the film’s stars and score by Christophe Beck (Frozen). The six-song EP by Walt Disney Records on is now available in the U.S.

British pop rock band The Vamps was called on to write and perform the end-credit song “Hurricane.” The group filmed a music video for the song that features a cameo by Bella Thorne, who stars as big brother Anthony’s uptight girlfriend Celia in the film.

He added a genuine life beat to the whole film

According to the director, Christophe Beck’s score sets the pace for the film. “Chris Beck loved the honesty in the film with regard to what it’s like to raise a family and how hectic that can get at times,” Miguel Arteta says. “He added a genuine life beat to the whole film. When the troubles for the family start, you can almost hear Chris’ score going ‘Oh no!’ It feels like honest mayhem in an incredibly fun way.”

Dylan Minnette, who plays Anthony in the film, teamed up with Braeden Lemasters to write the song “Surf Surf Don’t Drown,” which is performed by Minnette’s band The Narwhals and appears in the film as the family rushes to get sister Emily to her play.

Best Worst Day Ever

Kerris Dorsey, who portrays big sister Emily in Alexander, wrote and performed the song “Best Worst Day Ever” along with her sister Justine Dorsey. The song can be heard during the credits.

The EP track list follows:

“Hurricane,” written and performed by The Vamps
“Best Worst Day Ever,” written and performed by Kerris Dorsey and Justine Dorsey
“We Are The Ones (Own The World),” performed by Charles William
“Surf Surf Don’t Drown,” performed by The Narwhals
“Perfect World” performed by IDK & The Whatevs
Suite from Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Christophe Beck

New, Yet Familiar Faces Animate Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Park

Senior Art Director Brian Sandahl gives a sneak peek at the spruced-up singing pumpkins and “little” Sally’s makeover for Haunted Mansion Holiday‘s 14th season of frightful fun.

For the complete story, visit the Disney Parks Blog.

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.