Every Way You Can Celebrate Black History Month at Disney Parks

February 10, 2023February 15, 2023

By Jessica Benda

Celebrate Soulfully is a year-round initiative to highlight Black culture throughout Disney Parks—but the celebration is bigger than ever during February! Black History Month brings a boatload of special-edition art, performances, music, and food to numerous locations on both coasts... With so much ground to cover, we’ve created our very own roadmap in order to enjoy as many year-round and limited-time offerings celebrating Black History Month as possible!

Disneyland Resort

A new video in the Main Street Opera House lobby highlights the relationship between abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln, recollecting their work together against slavery. Narrated by Disney Legend Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, the installation features expert testimonials as well as Douglass’ family. A bust and portrait of Douglass sits near a bust and portrait of Lincoln, with a framed copy of a U.S. Department of the Interior letter recognizing Douglass as a free man. The video debuted on February 1 just outside Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln as a collaboration between National Geographic’s Yellow Border Team, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

“Celebrate Gospel” takes over Fantasyland Theater in an over-a-decade-old tradition. The special event runs two Saturdays from 2:30 to 7 p.m. PT, and guests are welcome to stay as long as they like. On Saturday, February 18, recording artist Jekalyn Carr takes the stage with special guest singer-songwriter Melvin Crispell III and a cappella group Sacred Groove. Then on Saturday, February 25, Grammy® Award-winning singer and radio host Erica Campbell is joined by special guest DOE and powerhouse vocal ensemble The Singers of Soul. Local community choirs will lend their talents on both weekends.

A photo of Tale of the Lion King, where six performers sing toward the audience. They wear traditional African-inspired clothing, with a brilliant yellow backdrop behind them. Silhouettes like giraffes, zebras, vines, and leaves adorn the backdrop, which shines in a half-circle like the rising sun.

The Fantasyland Theater is also home to Tale of the Lion King, a 24-minute stage show that showcases live music and dance inspired by the classic animated film’s cultural roots. The production runs on select days, and a schedule can be found here. Afterward, head to Troubadour Tavern next door for African-inspired cuisine, including special limited-time “Celebrate Gospel” eats.

At Disneyana, artists Ryan Riller and Larissa Marantz will be featured in showcases and signings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on Saturday, February 25.

Nestled in New Orleans Square, Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets is perfectly fitted to The Princess and the Frog. As per the seamstress’ style, the shop offers apparel and home goods with plenty of nods to the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. Bonus: Tiana, Naveen, and Dr. Facilier sometimes roam nearby!

Across the way at Disney California Adventure Park, beloved Black Super Heroes roam Avengers Campus. Black Panther and Captain America Sam Wilson greet recruits, while the Dora Milaje lead training sessions. And beginning in mid-February at Hollywood Land, you might meet 13-year-old super-genius Moon Girl from the Disney Branded Television and Disney+ series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.

Soulful singer Dime and her jazz quintet are the best band on Buena Vista Street, performing hits from the 1920s and ’30s. Five & Dime plays daily, and showtimes can be found here.

Downtown Disney District and Disneyland Resort Hotels

Under the high ceilings of the Great Hall of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, we see the backs of three performers. The one closest to the camera plays the piano, while another strums the cello and one blows the trumpet.

The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage will host live bands on February evenings—primarily featuring R&B, reggae, funk, Motown, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel. Among the performers are LALA Brass, Forward Motion Band, and The Rhythm & Blues Brothas. On select days, the party kicks off early with gospel performances by Sacred Groove and The Singers of Soul in the afternoon. The music continues in the Great Hall of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa with live jazz on February evenings.

There’s no shortage of art either: Lovepop will feature two cards designed in collaboration with artist Anthony Conley for Black History Month. Meanwhile, artists Riller and Marantz will continue showcases and signings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT at the WonderGround Gallery pop-up location in the Downtown Disney District on Sunday, February 26. Plus, at the Disneyland Hotel, overnight guests can paint an animation cel with artwork from the animated film The Princess and the Frog.

Black-owned food trucks Wings ‘N Waffles and College Boy Cheesesteaks serve delicious chicken and waffle combinations and Philly cheesesteaks near the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage through Sunday, March 5. Over at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, try a special Peach Pie Old Fashioned cocktail. Find a detailed list of other limited-time food offerings throughout Disneyland Resort here.

Walt Disney World Resort

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has arrived, and as usual, it’s a celebration of cultural creativity. Among the artists featured are Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, founders of CreativeSoul photography, who crafted reimagined dolls of classic Disney Princesses through Afrocentric designs.

The Disney on Broadway Concert Series will feature several Black Broadway performers from Saturday, February 4 through Sunday, February 19 at the America Garden Theatre at EPCOT. Taking the stage are L. Steven Taylor and Kissy Simmons of The Lion King and Michael James Scott of Aladdin, on select dates. A performance schedule can be found here.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park offers a bounty of authentic African art, music, and clothing at Mombasa Marketplace. Be sure to catch the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe dance, drum, and perform; and for more music, groove at a Caribbean street party with Viva Gaia Street Band.

A black and white photo of Floyd Norman, who looks up from his half-done drawing of Donald Duck at the camera. He wears a white, long-sleeved shirt and glasses.

Disney Legend Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator, is honored at the Conservation Station: Sketch a Disney character during this hands-on experience, then find out how Norman used real-life animals as inspiration for beloved characters.

Magic Shots—special effects for your photos—are available throughout the parks. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a Disney PhotoPass photographer can enhance your photo with The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder; meanwhile, Princess Tiana, dressed in a new ensemble, jumps in as a Magic Shot at Magic Kingdom Park.

You’ll find a slew of delicious food debuts across Walt Disney World, including Tiana’s Mardi Gras Shake at Hollywood Scoops at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Shrimp & Grits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom... find a full food guide here.

Disney Springs

Stroll through Disney Springs Art Walk: A Canvas of Expression to enjoy colorful, diverse expressions of art, including those from Everett Spruill and David Anthony Geary. Additionally, two Black artists will paint their work live during Black History Month: Ernest Shaw works from Friday, February 10, to Wednesday, February 15, while Nneka Jones paints from Sunday, February 12, to Monday, February 20.

At the Art of Disney’s Disney Animation Spotlight, find displays celebrating Black animators that brought beloved films to life. Among them are tributes to animators Marshall Toomey and Ron Husband; storyboard artist Carole Holliday; and Walt Disney Animation Studios visual effects supervisor Marlon West.

While live Motown always plays at Disney Springs on Monday nights, Black musicians will now play on all three main Disney Springs stages on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights in February.

It’s Almost Superb Owl Sunday! Here Are Seven of Disney’s Most Memorable

February 10, 2023

By Jessica Benda

With a certain sports event approaching on Sunday, we’re honoring our own superb owls that fly through Disney stories. These airborne friends have been with Disney since its first feature film (a brief appearance startling Snow White in the forest) and continue to evolve. Disney’s owls are loyal protectors, silly pals, and intelligent leaders. We don’t know how well they’d fare in sports, but they certainly know how to tell a tale.

Happy Superb Owl Sunday!

Sleeping Beauty’s Owl
We don’t know his name, we don’t know his backstory, but we do know that he deserves a spot in this roundup. In Sleeping Beauty, an owl waltzes around an idyllic forest with Princess Aurora, looking dashing in Prince Phillip’s red hat and cloak. Along with rabbits and squirrels, he roams the fairytale forest and keeps Aurora company while she lives with the three good fairies. His playful attitude and good nature make him an ideal companion for any princess. Prince Phillip may have cut in on the dance and won Aurora’s heart, but this owl won ours.

Professor Owl
Looking dapper in a blue blazer and black spectacles, Professor Owl knows how to lead a classroom. He’s most known for the Disney short cartoon Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953) and Adventures in Music: Melody (1953), the first cartoon filmed in 3D. Not only does he have a degree—or whatever teaching credential is required for woodland creatures—but he’s also musically inclined, as shown by his involvement in Disney’s Sing-Along Songs (launched in 1986).

Archimedes
While he’s not Archimedes the ancient Greek mathematician, Archimedes the owl isn’t far off in terms of brainpower. Brilliant but high-strung, Archimedes is a feathered encyclopedia with a side of sarcasm. In TheSword and the Stone, Merlin’s pet owl is fond of Wart (aka young Arthur), though he doesn’t like to admit it. He’s also one of the few owls capable of talking to humans. We wonder whether Merlin’s magic had anything to do with that.

Friend Owl
Friend Owl warns of a dangerous, terrifying threat in the forest: romance. In Bambi, he spends most of his screen time explaining to the fawn and his friends the dangers of becoming “twitterpated.” In human terms: falling in love. As is the habit of adolescents, Bambi and his friends do it anyway, but you can’t blame Friend Owl for trying. He doesn’t hold any hard feelings either, as he’s thrilled to meet Bambi and Faline’s newborn fawns later in the film.

Owl
Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure abounds with animal companions of all kinds, but few are as steadfast as Owl (except maybe Maximus). Cassandra’s “eye in the sky” spends much of his time perched on her shoulder, but he also aids in battle, delivers messages, and gives great advice using only his facial expressions. Cass may not be the most original at naming her animal companions, but she certainly knows how to pick them.

Milori’s Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl faithfully carries its rider through frigid air, often a blur of white feathers soaring through the Winter Woods. It first appears in Secret of the Wings, the fourth film in the Tinker Bell series, where it lingers by Lord Milori’s side. After Milori’s wing was broken, an irreversible injury, the loyal Snowy Owl became his new wings as they watched over the Winter Woods together. While Milori may rule the snowy realm, the Snowy Owl is the flight behind the fairy.

Owl
The Hundred Acre Wood brims with oak trees, but only one holds a tree house between its branches. Winnie the Pooh often finds Owl cozied up at home, always up to offer (questionable) advice and a cup of tea. The good-natured flyer loves to tell a wild story or five, and he’s always collecting more tales of his own adventures with Piglet, Tigger, and his friends. Perhaps the most famous Disney owl, he is loved by many more children than just Christopher Robin.

Answering Import-ANT Questions About Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

February 10, 2023May 1, 2023

By Zach Johnson

Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania finds Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) enjoying life as a couple who also happen to be Super Heroes. For the first time forever, Scott’s daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), and Hope’s parents, Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), are part of their day-to-day lives. While Cassie shares her family’s passion for science and technology, her curiosity sucks them into a vast subatomic world: the Quantum Realm! With Scott and Cassie pulled in one direction, and Hope, Janet, and Hank in another, they are lost in a world at war with no idea how or if they’ll ever find their way home again. Before it opens in theaters on Friday, February 17, producer Stephen Broussard answers D23’s import-ANT questions about the movie that will kick off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

D23: Scott wrote a memoir, Look Out for the Little Guy!, and thanks to Ms. Marvel, we learned he was a guest on a podcast, This Powered Life, where he talked about the events of Avengers: Endgame. What makes him their spokesperson? Does this indicate he is going to take a more prominent leadership role within the Avengers?
Stephen Broussard (SB): I think what makes him the authority—and what’s been unique about Scott Lang and the MCU—is that he’s the everyman. He not a Norse god or an elite billionaire or a scientist. He’s had this man-on-the-street point of view. The backstory we worked out for how his memoir came together and why he should be the official stenographer is that an everyman should be the one to tell the masses: “This is what you should know about what happened during the events of Infinity War and Endgame.” In a lot of ways, it’s the public record of it and why the larger universe is aware of this—why people like Kamala Khan [Ms. Marvel’s Iman Vellani] even know what happened. We’re actually publishing the entire book, coming out in September, that expands on that idea and on the wisdom that Scott conveys through his years of being a Super Hero. It will offer an even deeper dive for those who want to know about what Scott has to say about his time as Ant-Man.

Cassie Lang, played by Kathryn Newton, and Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd, are crouched over the edge of a wall. Newton is wearing a gray T-shirt and has her hair in a ponytail. Rudd is wearing a red, black, and silver Ant-Man suit.

D23: Since Scott is an everyman, why pit him against Kang the Conqueror, the most powerful being in the Multiverse? Considering he takes a more down-to-earth approach to being a Super Hero, what led to creating that juxtaposition between him and Kang?
SB: You’re putting your finger on something that we talked about very early on, and that’s what was appealing to us—the unexpected nature of it. The Ant-Man movies have been essentially stories about dysfunctional families. They’ve been smaller-stakes, smaller-scale San Francisco crime movies—and they’re awesome! I’m so proud of those first two movies. For this, we liked the idea of uprooting that dynamic and making it a completely different kind of movie, where the people you might least expect to go up against Kang suddenly find themselves as the only people who are going up against Kang. That’s in addition to all the family problems they have, plus the things left unsaid that get them to the Quantum Realm in the first place. They’re dealing with all this internal struggle while facing the greatest threat currently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is embodied to perfection by Jonathan Majors, who is a force of nature. He is genuinely frightening, and the gravitas he brings to this version… [is] very different from the character we saw in Loki. What’s so exciting about Jonathan is seeing how many layers he can pull out.

D23: Fans got a glimpse of what one version of Kang was like in Loki with He Who Remains. But this Kang is very different. He feels threatening from the get-go, which you don’t always get with the villain. How did you make him feel different?
SB: I was also an executive producer on Loki, so I was around when the earliest conversations about casting Jonathan were happening, and I straddled both projects. One of the exciting things about this particular villain that seems to stand apart, that feels very fresh, is that there are multiple versions of him. You may not necessarily know which version you’re going to get. If you’re going to do that, you need an actor with incredible range and incredible ability. We knew we would be getting an actor like that in Jonathan. He played He Who Remains as a person who maybe lost his marbles a little bit, being by himself at the end of time, who was pulling the strings of the known universe by himself. He was a little bit more out there—a little bit more flamboyant and in your face. This version of Kang is different. Jonathan used this phrase in early conversations: “No moves wasted.” That’s what he kept saying. There was a confidence, an assuredness to everything he does, because he knows he’s the strongest, the baddest, and the smartest. He’s five steps ahead of you. He could crush you with one flick of his fingers. It’s embodied in how he moves. There’s a stillness and a certainty to his performance. That, to me, is way more frightening than if someone is screaming or jumping off the walls, because that confidence has to come from somewhere. What’s he capable of? I, for one, am excited to see what he does next.

D23: You touched on the family dynamics that will be explored in this film. How are Cassie and Scott making up for lost time after he was stuck in the Quantum Realm?
SB: Our characters have been through a lot over the course of these movies, and certain characters in this family are ready for a breather—and they’ve probably earned it. Scott helped save the world in the events of Endgame with the Avengers. He’s made some choices in his life, like being stuck in the Quantum Realm, that separated him from his daughter. At the beginning of the film, when he’s promoting this memoir, there’s a sense that he wants to kick back, enjoy life, and be there for his family—not rush to the next crisis. The complication is that this moment is coinciding with his daughter coming of age. She’s not a little girl anymore. She’s a young woman with her own ideas about the world and how it should work and what justice looks like. In a lot of ways, that echoes feelings Scott has and who Scott was and the choices he made that got him taken away from her in the first place. There’s a deep understanding of where this inclination is coming from with her, but with a sense of protection; no father wants to see his daughter get in trouble or go to jail. So, maybe Scott still sees Cassie as his 12-year-old daughter—but she’s not anymore.

D23: With Janet back for the first time in 30 years, her family has a lot to unpack...
SB: Hope and Hank—they finally got her back! She was gone for all those years, so there’s a feeling of, “Let’s take the win. Let’s be a family together.” But Janet has secrets she’s never shared, and those chickens will come home to roost. All these external factors complicate the notion that the race is won, that the fight is over. Because one of the themes of the film is: “That’s life.” We all have to keep going. It’s never over. The fight’s never done. Growth never stops. I like being able to zoom in on these themes, like family and growth, among this weirdo Quantum Realm adventure involving aliens, Kang, warships... and creatures without holes!

D23: How does Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania set up the rest of Phase 5?
SB: The obvious answer to that is Kang. Kang Dynasty is the title of the next Avengers film [opening in theaters on May 2, 2025], and he is taking center stage. He is going to reshape the narrative and the events of the MCU going forward, which is very exciting to us. The Ant-Man movies have always been smaller stories; they’ve been called “palate cleansers” before, which is a term that I understand and we sometimes bristle at a little bit, in a good-natured way. But one of the things we asked ourselves is: “What if he is more than that? What if he is absolutely central to the entire MCU going forward?” The MCU turns on the events of this film. It’s exciting for Ant-Man to take center stage after being a huge part of the storytelling so far, with the events in Endgame and Civil War. He’s always been there; he’s been in every major event. Looking back, it makes all the sense in the world that he’s the pivot point for where it’s heading next. I’m excited for people to see where that is.

Everything to Watch Before Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

February 9, 2023May 1, 2023

By Zach Johnson

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is comprised of nearly 40 films, series, and specials—and it’s only getting bigger. Opening exclusively in theaters on Friday, February 17, Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania will kick off Phase 5 of the MCU and find the titular Super Heroes, played by Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, squaring off against the Avengers’ biggest threat yet: Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). They won’t face him alone, however, as Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), and Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) are also trapped in the Quantum Realm. But, after being pulled in different directions and lost in a warring world, they have no idea how—or even if—they’ll ever make it back home.

Before Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania arrives in theaters, D23 has curated a “brilli-ANT” watch guide to prepare fans for the new fast-paced, big screen adventure!

In a scene from Ant-Man, Scott Lang wears a red and black Ant-Man suit with silver details. He is riding on the back of a giant ant, which is standing on a rusty nail.

Ant-Man (2015)
The beloved comic book character makes a giant impression with his MCU debut. In the comedy action-adventure, directed by Peyton Reed, master thief Scott Lang (Rudd) learns to embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Hank, protect the tech behind the Ant-Man suit that gives its wearer the ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Scott helps Hank and his daughter, Hope (Lilly), plan and pull off a heist (an “ant-filtration,” if you will) in order to save the world.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Avengers... disassemble? Following a tragic accident involving Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the world’s leaders convene to create a new system of accountability. This decision divides the Avengers into two factions: one led by Captain America (Chris Evans), which favors autonomy, and one led by Iron Man (Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr.), which supports government oversight. Although Ant-Man sides with Captain America, his involvement puts him at risk of being incarcerated once again.

A close-up from Ant-Man and The Wasp shows The Wasp wearing a helmet.

Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)
Well, well... if it isn’t the consequences of Scott’s own actions! As he struggles to balance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man—while on house arrest, mind you—Scott is confronted by Hope and Hank with an urgent new mission. Unable to resist the urge to help the proverbial little guy, Scott once again puts on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as they join forces to uncover secrets from the past.

In a scene from Avengers: Endgame, Smart Hulk, Rocket Raccoon, and War Machine emerge from the rubble in the foreground. In the background, Ant-Man has turned into Giant-Man. Even while crouching, he towers over the other Super Heroes.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)
After going on a smash and grab, Thanos (Josh Brolin) acquired all six Infinity Stones and snapped his fingers, wiping out half the world’s population in an instant. Ant-Man was presumed to be among those lost... except, he wasn’t! In fact, he’d been lost in the Quantum Realm for five years (although to him, it felt like five hours). His return turned out to be the key that helped the remaining heroes move forward, come together, restore order and harmony to the universe, and bring their loved ones back.

Loki (Season 1) (2021)
After being apprehended by the Time Variance Authority (TVA), a bureaucratic organization that exists outside of time and space and monitors the timeline, the mercurial villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and one of his variants, Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), make it all the way to the Citadel at the End of Time, where they meet He Who Remains (Majors). There, they discover that he founded and ruled the TVA to preserve the Sacred Timeline in order to prevent the return of his variant counterparts.

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Share Your Love—Wherever You Are—with these Downloadable E-Cards

February 9, 2023March 27, 2023

This Valentine’s Day, amplify your love with the power of Disney magic! No matter where you are—or what decade you want to draw from—these e-cards can make this Valentine’s Day one to remember! Choose your favorite couple from Disney’s 100-year history and download or print to share with your loved ones!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

How ABC’s The Parent Test Keeps Things Real

February 9, 2023

By Zach Johnson

Is there a right way to parent?

That’s the question at the center of The Parent Test, a new ABC series (airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT and streaming next day on Hulu) that explores a range of distinctively different parenting styles. Each week, families are put under the microscope in a new parenting stress test, then share their learnings with one other. Host Ali Wentworth and parenting expert Dr. Adolph Brown (aka Doc Brown) moderate conversations between parents who sometimes have conflicting opinions about how to raise their families—but who all share the common goal of raising happy, healthy kids.

“It’s not a surprising lesson, but one of the things that doing this show has reaffirmed for me is that every parent—no matter what style they have—loves their children,” Wentworth, herself a mother of two, tells D23. “If I could say anything to parents, I would say this: Love your children. What I mean by that is express it, be present with them, hug them, tell them you love them—all of those things. Because, at the end of the day, that is the foundation for having a truly great connection with your children.” Brown adds, “I would piggyback on that by saying not only love them, but make sure that they know there’s nothing they could ever do to make you stop loving them.”

According to Wentworth, The Parent Test has been not only eye-opening for the participants, but for the viewers, too. “In doing this show, I noticed that children know more than you think,” she says. “They’re incredibly instinctual. When we put the kids in some challenges, they were not as naïve as we thought. Sometimes, as parents, we forget. We might assume they don’t know things—when, in fact, they’re pretty smart.”

Wentworth highlights the episode “Stranger Danger” as one example of how the series made her rethink the ways in which she prepared for own kids for life in the real world. “It’s a scary topic. I got emotional doing the episode because I believe that we need to be educators as parents, and I think that we have to scaffold our children with the understanding that there are dangers out in the world,” she says. “I had that talk with my own daughters when they were young, because I never wanted something to happen. It’s just an emotional subject in general, because nobody ever wants to have to think: ‘What if this happened to my kid?’ And we found that our parents in the audience had a very strong reaction to it, which brought up my own strong reaction.”

In tonight’s episode, “Limits & Boundaries,” the Strict, High Achievement, and Free-Range families return to the hot seat for a new set of challenges that test the kids’ abilities to function without their parents. No matter how they perform, Brown—a father of eight children and a clinical psychologist with three decades of experience—is heedful that there is no “one” way to parent. However, he notes, there are better approaches than others—and even those may need to be updated over time. “Whatever style you choose, make sure it incorporates fun, which is an authentic part of learning,” Brown tells D23. “Being fair basically means rearing the child you have—not the one you wish you had. Be firm. That means having consistency, structure, limits, and boundaries in a child’s life, which helps that child feel safe. And be flexible. Recognize that as your child grows and changes, so will you. So, whatever style you have may need to adjust.”

The Parent Test season finale airs Thursday, February 16, on ABC and streams the following day on Hulu.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

February 9, 2023

By Andie Hagemann

Are you ready for some football? Before the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs take the field on Sunday for the NFL’s 2022 season finale, binge five of our favorite football moments from Disney. From animated appearances by superstar athletes to heartwarming and inspiring true stories, we’ve assembled the ultimate watchlist for your viewing pleasure.

Goofy: How to Play Football—Available to Stream on Disney+
Do you need to brush up on your football knowledge? Look no further because Goofy has you covered! In this animated short from 1944, Goofy (voiced by Disney Legend Pinto Colvig) teaches viewers how to play football rather goofily. Goofy plays all the positions on both teams, demonstrating the sport with varying results, including having problems with the head coach and the goal post. Sports broadcasting pioneer Frank Bull narrates the short, adding his signature reporting style and football expertise.

Remember the Titans—Available to Stream on Disney+
In 1971, high school football is everything to the city of Alexandria, Virginia. When the local school board integrates an all-Black school with an all-white school, two very different football coaches and their teams are put to the test. Denzel Washington plays Herman Boone, a young Black coach hired as the new head football coach of T.C. Williams High replacing longtime coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton). As the pair learn how to work together, they find they have much more than football in common. The coaches team up to mold a group of angry, unfocused boys into a dynamic, winning team, and responsible young men. The film also stars Donald Faison, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Ethan Suplee, Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Gosling, Kip Pardue, Nicole Ari Parker, Kate Bosworth, Craig Kirkwood, and Earl Poitier.

The Simpsons (Season 16, Episode 8)—Available to Stream on Disney+
In the episode titled, “Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass,” Ned Flanders (voiced by Harry Shearer) films a video of Homer Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) dancing— which goes viral on the Internet. Impressed by the sensational dance moves, top athletes Tom Brady, LeBron James, Michelle Kwan, Yao Ming, and Warren Sapp enlist Homer’s help to create celebration dances for them. Meanwhile, Ned is so outraged by Homer’s celebrity that he makes his own movie. Brady, James, Kwan, Yao, and Sapp all guest star in the episode as themselves.

Invincible—Available to Stream on Disney+
Based on a true story, the film follows Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a 30-year-old substitute teacher and bartender who is down on his luck in both his personal and professional life. However, when the Philadelphia Eagles’ new head coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) announces that he will hold open tryouts for the team, Papale reluctantly decides to chase a lifelong dream. The film also stars Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rispoli, Kevin Conway, Kirk Acevedo, Dov Davidoff, Michael Kelly, Turron Kofi Alleyne, and Nicoye Banks.

Family Guy (Season 4, Episode 20)—Sunday, February 12, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on FX and Available to Stream on Hulu
From one improbable professional football player to another, the episode titled “Patriot Games” follows Peter Griffin (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) and his unlikely journey to the NFL. Peter meets NFL quarterback Tom Brady at his high school reunion and impresses the star with a football-like run to the washroom, tackling everyone in his path. Brady then recruits Peter to play for the New England Patriots, but Peter soon realizes that being a professional athlete is a lot harder than it looks. The episode features the voices of guest stars Brady, Troy Brown, Bob Costas, Carol Channing, and Jay Leno as themselves, along with series regulars MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, and Patrick Warburton. This episode is intended for mature audiences only.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

February 9, 2023June 1, 2023

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your Ant Man knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

What is the name of Scott Lang’s startup security company in Ant-Man and The Wasp?

Scott’s Security

Tiny But Mighty

Wasp Sting

X-CON

Correct! Wrong!

In Ant-Man and The Wasp, Scott Lang’s startup security company is named X-CON.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

You are the ultimate Disney fan!

Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!

Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!

Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Challenge! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!

Disney D23 Rewind—Week of February 6

February 8, 2023March 15, 2023

By Courtney Potter

**New Series Saturdays Premiering on Disney Channel March 24**

The good folks at Disney Branded Television just announced the launch of its newest Disney Channel series Saturdays, premiering on Friday, March 24. Take a gander at the teaser for the show, below.

Saturdays—premiering at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes weekly—is a coming-of-age comedy that only takes place on the very best day of the week... Saturday! The series follows 14-year-old Paris Johnson (Danielle Jalade) and her best friends Simone (Daria Johns) and Ari (Peyton Basnight), who hone their roller-skating skills on the cool parquet floor of Saturdays, a local skating rink in Chicago. Together they form the We-B-Girlz skate crew; they’re determined to show (and prove) they have the hottest skate routines on the planet, and that they’re worthy to become Goldens, the top skaters in the Windy City.

Additionally, Secrets of Sulphur Springs is returning for a third season. The popular adventure-filled mystery series centers around Griffin Campbell (Preston Oliver) and his family, who move into a hotel with a paranormal past, and kicks off the evening of March 24 with two new episodes starting at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Both series will stream on Disney+ shortly after.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm^®

Get ready for more football this Sunday than you can shake a buffalo wing at by binge-watching five favorite football moments from around the worlds of Disney. Animated athlete appearances... inspiring true stories... check out our watchlist, order that pizza, and enjoy all the gridiron action!

A promo image of Moon Girl from Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur at Disney California Adventure Park. She’s standing in front of a brick building stoop and is wearing black and turquoise platform boots, a yellow shorts romper with purple accents, red gloves, turquoise goggles, and a yellow and turquoise helmet.

Moon Girl Merriment Arrives at Disney California Adventure Park

Big news from our friends at Disneyland Resort (courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog): For a limited time beginning on Wednesday, February 15, at Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure Park, you can see and interact with Moon Girl from the latest Disney series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which premieres on Friday, February 10, on Disney Channel and Wednesday, February 15, on Disney+.

The series follows the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl) and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur, whom she accidentally brings into present-day New York City. The duo works together to protect New York City’s Lower East Side from danger.

When Moon Girl lands at Disney California Adventure on February 15, guests can catch her in a special one-day-only entertainment celebration—including a cavalcade on Hollywood Blvd, and a stage show on the Hollywood Backlot Stage. But don’t fret: She’ll stick around for a little while! Make sure to keep an eye out for her if you find yourself at Disneyland Resort in the near future...

**All-New Adventure Game Disney Illusion Island Available to Pre-Order**

Get ready to join Mickey Mouse and friends for a magical adventure in the all-new immersive video game, Disney Illusion Island, which will debut exclusively on Nintendo Switch on Friday, July 28—and is now available for pre-order! Check out the action in the trailer, above.

Play solo or grab up to three friends to embark on the 2D adventure from Disney Games, in collaboration with Dlala Studios. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy set off on a perilous quest to explore the colorfully hand-crafted yet mysterious island of Monoth in an escapade to recover three magical tomes—powerful books used to protect the island. Players will discover rich biomes and meet intriguing characters, all while listening to an original orchestral score.

“Words cannot express how excited we are for players to embrace the Dlala-spin on this brand-new experience for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy,” AJ Grand-Scrutton, lead developer at Dlala Studios, recently said. “It’s been an incredible honor working on this title, and we hope that Nintendo Switch players and Disney fans worldwide love playing it as much as we’ve loved creating it.”

Disney Illusion Island is available for pre-order in Nintendo eShop and at retail stores for $39.99.

An image from Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. From left to right, Lys, Kai, and Nubs are seen holding lightsabers during a training sequence.

**Disney+, Disney Junior, and Lucasfilm Announce Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Premiere Date**

Disney+, Disney Junior, and Lucasfilm have announced that Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures—the first Star Wars series developed with preschoolers in mind—will premiere on Disney+ and Disney Junior on Thursday, May 4, Star Wars Day. Set during The High Republic era, the animated series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force; explore the galaxy; help citizens and creatures in need; and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda.

“Star Wars transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters,” said Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, who executive produces the series. “When developing Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, the first Star Wars series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a ‘youngling’s’ first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the Star Wars galaxy.”

All-New Storyline Revealed from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

After the success of Tiana’s Palace, Tiana’s hard-earned restaurant, the entrepreneur set her sights on another goal: a salt mine!

Our pals at Disney Parks Blog revealed the details of Tiana’s endeavor, which will unfold in the attraction Tiana’s Bayou Adventure—set to open at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in 2024. Within this all-new experience, inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ The Princess and the Frog, Tiana has transformed an aging salt mine into a beloved brand, Tiana’s Foods... reviving the land to grow delicious vegetables, herbs, and spices. But she didn’t stop there—she’s also created a line of original hot sauces.

An artist rendering for the logo of Tiana’s Foods Hot Sauce, which is part of the storyline for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, coming soon to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. The logo says “Tiana’s Foods Original Hot Sauce, Est. 1927” and features two red peppers at center.

Tiana wants to thank her community for their support by throwing a fantastic party during Mardi Gras season, but one ingredient is missing. She’s invited guests to help her find it, along with familiar friends from the animated film like Eudora, Naveen, and Louis.

In the attraction queue, guests will learn more about Tiana’s Foods—then they’ll set sail and explore the refurbished salt mine, complete with a boutique farm and a working and teaching kitchen. The company’s facilities have been spruced up with vibrant local art, and beignets are being loaded into crates for the upcoming celebration. Our favorite cook has crafted a treasured community, working with others to teach gardening and cooking to kids and inspiring women to run successful businesses. Now, if only she can find that ingredient...

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Hong Kong Disneyland Gives Behind-the-Scenes Look at World of Frozen

In the animated film Frozen (2013), the once-closed realm of Arendelle finally throws open its gates—and it’ll do so again when World of Frozen debuts at Hong Kong Disneyland later this year! The good folks at Disney Parks Blog also recently shared some cool behind-the-scenes drone footage (seen above) of the land’s work in progress.

World of Frozen will feature sure-to-be-incredible attractions—including the new coaster Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs—as well as a quick-service restaurant and merchandise outlets. Iconic landmarks in the making can be seen throughout; the clock tower, fountains, and Arendelle village will welcome guests toward the land’s entrance, and Elsa’s nearly finished ice palace can be seen tucked in the North Mountain.

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Meanwhile, Frozen Ever After—which also has a home at Walt Disney World Resort—will feature Audio-Animatronics^® figures that lean into ever-evolving technology. Take a first look at Elsa, above, who Imagineers brought to life through dynamic facial expressions and body movements.

Stay tuned for more World of Frozen news as it becomes available...

In an image from The Mandalorian, Mando is seen pointing towards The Child—later revealed to be Grogu—in his floating carriage; Grogu is pointing back. Both are backlit by the light streaming through a doorway behind them.

The Mandalorian to Make Broadcast Debut Ahead of Season 3 Premiere

Prepare for The Mandalorian Season 3 by watching the episode that started it all: The first, memorable episode of Season 1 will make its broadcast debut across three networks on Friday, February 24. “Chapter 1: The Mandalorian” airs on ABC, Freeform, and FX simultaneously at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The special airing paves the way for the Season 3 premiere, which debuts on Disney+ Wednesday, March 1. Set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, the show focuses on title character Din Djarin and his continuing journey with Grogu as he meets old allies and makes new enemies.

The eight-episode Season 3 stars Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Amy Sedaris, Emily Swallow, and Giancarlo Esposito. The directors include Rick Famuyiwa, Rachel Morrison, Lee Isaac Chung, Carl Weathers, Peter Ramsey, and Bryce Dallas Howard.

The first two seasons are now streaming on Disney+.

Limited Series Great Expectations Premieres Exclusively on Hulu This March

Fans of amazing Victorian storytelling, take heed: The first two episodes of FX’s limited series Great Expectations will premiere Sunday, March 26, exclusively on Hulu. Steven Knight’s six-part series adapts the classic Charles Dickens coming-of-age story, which follows young orphan Pip as he navigates the true cost of a greater life.

Great Expectations is produced in association with the BBC, which will air the series in the UK. Internationally, it will be available to stream on Star+ in Latin America and on Disney+ under the Star banner at an unannounced later date.

The series stars Olivia Coleman as Miss Havisham, Fionn Whitehead as Pip, and Shalom Brune-Franklin as Estella. Also featured are Johnny Harris, Hayley Squires, Owen McDonnell, Trystan Gravelle, Laurie Ogden, Rudi Dharmalingam, Tom Sweet, Chloe Lea, and Matt Berry. Knight serves as writer and executive producer alongside fellow executive producers Tom Hardy, Ridley Scott, Dean Baker, David W. Zucker, and Kate Crowe.

A Little Love Note from D23

February 8, 2023

By Analise Warner

D23 wants to share a little love note with the Ultimate Disney Fans this Valentine’s Day… a musical love note that is! Hear the love this Valentine’s Day with all your favorite Disney songs wrapped with care. Whether you are ready to groove with your galentine or sway with your significant other, love is an open door with the Disney Love Songs playlist from Disney Music Group. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more!