Count down the days in style with this downloadable official 2023 calendar!
Start the New Year with Star Wars-Inspired Self Care, Courtesy of Ashley Eckstein
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Whether you’re a Jedi in a galaxy far, far away or a Star Wars fan a little bit closer on Earth, everyone needs time to take care of their mental health. Luke learned to find balance in the Force through Yoda... for us Earthlings, we can use YouTube—specifically, the Star Wars Mindful Matters series on the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel! As you make your resolutions for the new year and plan your 2023, we hope you’ll plan to take care of yourself, and thankfully the Star Wars Mindful Matters series is here to help.
Launched on May the 4th in 2022, Star Wars Mindful Matters was created by Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and beyond) and produced in collaboration with Citrone 33. Each of the five episodes is hosted by Eckstein, who guides viewers through exercises that better connect you to your mental health—and the Force. Sometimes that means practicing breathing techniques; other times it could be roaring like a Wookiee!
If this series is sounding like an out-of-this-world way to fulfill a new year’s resolution or two, read on to hear from Eckstein herself about the series and why it means so much to her:
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: How did you originally come up with the concept of the Star Wars Mindful Matter series?
Ashley Eckstein (AE): Star Wars Mindful Matters goes way back to when I first debuted as the voice of Ahsoka Tano in 2008. I started doing Star Wars Weekends at the [Disney] Parks and would do autograph signings every day and meet a ton of kids. The number one questions from kids was how they could be a Jedi, just like Ahsoka. We learned from the Star Wars story that training your mind is just as important as physically training your body. Jedi Master Yoda teaches us that a Jedi must have the deepest commitment; the most serious mind. Luke Skywalker teaches Rey that confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi. Each episode of Star Wars Mindful Matters is a lesson that we learn in Star Wars paired with a clinically based mindfulness exercise or lesson. I worked with the Lucasfilm Story Group to make sure that the lessons from Star Wars were accurate and truly based in the Star Wars story. Then I worked with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to make sure each exercise or lesson was clinically based, and I paired the two together.
D23: How do you go about creating an episode of Star Wars Mindful Matters? Do you start with the mental health exercise or the Star Wars connection first?
AE: It’s important to me that it starts with the story, because as fans, we really relate to these characters, and we really relate to the lessons from our favorite Disney stories. Then I work with the doctors and the child-life specialists to make sure we pair the right clinically based exercise with that moment and the lesson that you’re learning. The nice part is that all of these very, very important life lessons are already in the stories. We’re not making anything up.
D23: Do you have a favorite out of the exercises you’ve done so far for the series?
AE: My favorite is the Cave Challenge, because I’ve watched these scenes with Luke and Yoda training in Degobah, or Rey training with Luke on Ahch-to, over and over again, but for the longest time I didn’t realize that the cave represented their mind. When I made that connection, I realized that on a daily basis, I’m failing this Cave Challenge. I’m approaching certain things with fear and worry and doubt, and then I’m bringing that fear, worry, and doubt to my everyday life. The Cave Challenge helped me with Star Wars Mindful Matters because it was the first time that I ever wrote a script for Star Wars!
I was incredibly nervous and incredibly doubtful. I really had severe writer’s block. My doubt was so strong that I paralyzed myself with fear and I didn’t think that I could do it. So, I had to do the Cave Challenge for myself and then I also took some deep breaths, I calmed my mind, I got my mind to a place of peace and calm. Then I walked back into my cave with calm and peace and positivity. When I broke it down into small steps, and when I brought in a positive attitude, I was able to write all five scripts.
D23: Speaking to a specific video from the Star Wars Mindfulness Matters series, did you practice the roars you did in the Wookiee Roars video? Or did you come up with them in the moment?
AE: Okay, well here’s the whole story behind it. I couldn’t do a Wookiee roar. I put out a call to action on social media prior to filming the video, and I asked fans for their help, and they gave me some really, really good tips. I practiced for a couple of days and I still couldn’t do it. I had this kind of guttural thing that sounded more like a truck backing up!
When we went to film it, I said, “Look, I still can’t really do a Wookiee roar, so can we do something in post-production that enhances it a little bit?” That’s what I thought that we were going to do. So, I wasn’t really even trying, because I’m like, “Oh, it’s going be fixed in post-production.” Then Ian Bucknell, our director from Lucasfilm Home Video production, tells me afterwards, “Ashley, we’re going use them exactly as is.”
It ended up being perfect—because part of being mindful is just letting go of your fears of something not being perfect. And my Wookiee roars are not perfect, but for the majority of people doing this exercise, they’re not going have a perfect Wookiee roar. That’s part of the lesson, to let go of your fear of not being perfect and just letting it all out and being silly.
D23: How did you get involved with On Our Sleeves, the movement for children’s mental health, powered by the behavioral health experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital?
AE: I was on a book tour for my very first book that I ever wrote for Disney called It’s Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make it Happen. In the middle of this book tour, I was set to do a book signing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. They are the leaders in children’s mental health in our nation. In the middle of doing this book tour, I became a victim of cyber bullying. It was awful—it was extremely overwhelming. I showed up to this signing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, completely broken. I went to help the patients and their families, but really, I showed up in need of help. The hospital just wrapped their arms around me.
After about five days, we were able to get the cyber bullying under control. The biggest thing that concerned me was that I’m an adult going through this, and it really, really affected my mind. I don’t know how a kid would go through something like this and without the same support that I had. I pledged to be a voice for others from that day on. Oftentimes kids don’t know how to share their emotions.; they don’t know how to reach out and ask for help. That’s what’s been very important to me is to teach others the tools that they need for their mental health.
If there’s one lesson that I could share, and this is one thing that Ahsoka has really taught me, is that there’s always light, even in the darkest of times. Sometimes you just feel so consumed by darkness, but there’s always light. And sometimes you find it just by taking the smallest of steps.
D23: Why is teaching mindfulness important to you?
AE: Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. You can’t have one without the other—and one is not more important than the other. There’s been such a stigma surrounding mental health and there shouldn’t be—especially after the past years that we’ve been through. There’s not a single person that is untouched from the past three years. It’s all affected us in some way. We wanted to create a free resource for fans to be able to learn and benefit from this series.
Our goal is to be able to teach these very important life skills, but in a way where it’s accessible and safe and friendly for everyone. Sometimes I need the extra motivation. If I feel like I am training to be a Jedi—well, then that is so much more exciting! I’m just really hoping that by creating this free resource for all fans, that they will feel comfortable doing them. These are meant to be daily exercises that whenever you’re feeling nervous or worried or you just need to start your day on the right foot, that you’ll be able to turn to these exercises.
Ready to start training like a Jedi? You can watch all the videos in the Star Wars Mindful Matters series here.
5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®
By Andie Hagemann
From the gridiron to the galaxy, this weekend’s slate of content highlights wacky families and chosen families. On Saturday, The Game Plan airs on FX, and later that same day, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder makes its broadcast debut on Disney Channel. A special presentation of Freaky Friday airs Sunday on Freeform, while The Wonderful World of Disney returns with Beauty and the Beast on ABC, and Guardians of the Galaxy airs on FX that night.
The Game Plan—Saturday, January 7, at 8 a.m. ET/PT on FX
Professional football player Joe Kingman (Dwayne Johnson) has is all. He’s wealthy and carefree, and his team is bound for the playoffs. But Joe is tackled by the surprising news that he has an 8-year-old daughter. Now, he must learn how to balance his personal and professional lives as he tries to be the best father in the world to Peyton (Madison Pettis). The heartwarming film also stars Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut, Jamal Duff, Brian White, and Paige Turco.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder—Saturday, January 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
Ahead of the Season 2 premiere on Disney+ in February, the first season of the hit animated series will air all month long on Disney Channel and Disney XD, beginning this weekend with the first two episodes. Episode 1 follows Penny (voiced by Kyla Pratt) as her world is rocked following the arrival of two new kids in the neighborhood: Maya (voiced by Keke Palmer) and KG (voiced by Artist “A Boogie” Dubose). Penny dabbles as a social media influencer in Episode 2, but she soon realizes it’s not a picture-perfect life.
Freaky Friday (2003)—Sunday, January 8, at 6:50 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her teenage daughter, Anna (Lindsay Lohan), couldn’t be more different‑and they can’t stand it! After receiving mysterious fortunes at a Chinese restaurant, the two wake up the next day to discover that they have switched bodies. Unable to switch back, Tess and Anna are forced to act as each other until a solution can be found. The hilarious comedy also stars Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Lucille Soong, Harold Gould, Willie Garson, and Stephen Tobolowsky.
The Wonderful World of Disney: Beauty and the Beast (2017)—Sunday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The live-action retelling of the animated classic follows Belle (Emma Watson), a bright and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by the Beast (Dan Stevens) in his enchanted castle. Despite her reservations, she befriends the castle’s staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s grisly appearance and see the kind heart within. The star-studded cast includes Luke Evans as Gaston, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Disney Legend Josh Gad as Lefou, Ewan McGregor as Lumière, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)—Sunday, January 8, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on FX
Space ravager Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the target of ruthless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by the powerful Ronan (Lee Pace). To evade Ronan, Peter enlists the help of four misfits: Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). However, when Peter discovers the orb’s true power and the threat it poses, he must rally the ragtag group to save the universe.
Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!
As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your D23 knowledge to the test to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.
Where did the Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club” Milestone Statue make its first appearance?
Correct!
Wrong!
The Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club” Milestone Statue was first revealed to fans at D23 Expo 2022... and it’s now featured in our 2023 D23 Gold Member Collector Set!
Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!
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!
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!
Behind the Scenes with Disneyland Resort’s Holiday Toy Drummers
By Courtney Potter
The holidays at Disneyland Resort are truly a feast for the senses… with delicious treats to eat on; incredible decorations that are a sight to behold; and memorable performances in every corner of both parks. Case in point: The Holiday Toy Drummers at Disney California Adventure Park!
From now through January 8, 2023, you’ll find these merry musicians playing with percussive precision on their drums—supplied by Yamaha, the official supplier of musical instruments to the Disneyland Resort—multiple times a day near the Obelisk in Paradise Gardens Park. D23 recently had the good fortune of chatting with the show’s director, Linda Simmons, about what goes into creating such a holly, jolly presentation.
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: Hi Linda! Can you give us a bit of background about you, and about the Holiday Toy Drummers? How long have you worked on the show?
Linda Simmons (LS): I’m the show director and choreographer for the Disneyland Band, since its new version in 2015, and also the All-American College Band. The Holiday Toy Drummers actually started at Disneyland Park around 10 years ago, and I took over the Disney California Adventure version of it about five years ago. We really worked on the storytelling; I partnered with Glenn Kelman, who was the original show director; we worked together—it was quite extraordinary because we wanted to make it more choreographed, more staged, and give it a little bit more dimension… It’s just been such a collaborative experience—not only with myself, but with the creative directors and producers at Disneyland. We partnered together to fine-tune it, and make sure that it was an extraordinary offering.
D23: What’s the process for putting together each year’s show? Do you hold auditions? If so, what do you look for in a drummer?
LS: Well, we don’t hold auditions every year, if the people that we know we used the year before are all at the resort, and we have enough depth. But sometimes people get different jobs or different shows… This year, we did have an audition—and we auditioned new people, as well as asked that all of our cast who’d previously participated in Holiday Toy Drummers come to the callback… We have 16 people on our roster now, to cover both Holiday Toy Drummers and the drummers in Mickey’s Happy Holidays; that includes three new people, and a couple people who’d been gone for a while and came back.
We look for a lot of things: Personality and showmanship, for sure! And also the ability to do drum tricks and stick tricks. A lot of the Holiday Toy Drummers toured with Drum Corps International, [with famous groups including] the Cavaliers or Pacific Crest—they’re true “drum corps” people. So, it’s a different skill set—although it crosses over—than, say the Disneyland Band, where you’re working as a “kit” ensemble; the Holiday Toy Drummers have to have rudimentary skills as well as tricks, and really understand marching and movement. The whole show is completely staged and choreographed—and the rehearsal process is pretty grueling, over a six- to eight-day period.
D23: Do the pieces the drummers play change each year?
LS: No, the show is what we would call “baked”—it’s the same music from previous incarnations; but when I came in, I kind of tweaked it… so there’s a progression of the performance technique, in the acting choices as well.
D23: Is there someone who’s been with the Holiday Toy Drummers the longest?
LS: Alex Blake—he’s been with the group pretty much since the beginning. He has become the leader of the ensemble, so I really lean on him a lot to make sure that the drumming and the music stays consistent. He also creates the beats for the drummers in Mickey’s Happy Holidays, as well as Jammin’ Chefs. So he’s really become my partner-in-crime.
D23: Do you have a favorite part of the process? What about a challenge that you needed to meet, maybe in an interesting or unique way?
LS: Honestly, it’s always been so collaborative. Even from the very beginning… it was just one of those truly creative, magical times that don’t happen very often, but when they do you remember them forever.
And I would say, for sure, the biggest challenge was when we did it six feet apart [during some of the early COVID-19 restrictions]. The show has all this drum-on-drum interaction, and times where they’re tossing sticks. Last year, they had to be six feet apart—and we were on the Palisades stage, on a high stage, so we couldn’t do any hard stick tosses because if they dropped their sticks, they would land in the World of Color moat! Obviously, we had to adjust the show… but we made those concessions, and then this year we brought the full show back.
D23: Do you have a stand-out memory from your time with the show?
LS: That’s a daily occurrence! I love that the drummers are so committed to excellence. The show is consistent, and the show is always clean. And when I watch people watch it and say, “Oh my gosh, wow—that’s amazing!”, I couldn’t pick one time, because every time I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done together. And I’m proud of the support that I’ve had. You know, it’s never one person—it’s me, it’s my boss, it’s the producers, it’s the operations partners, it’s a partner like Yamaha… it’s all such a partnership, and I love that.
These drummers—they’re my guys! And we’ve been on lots of adventures together, creating the show and putting it back on its feet every year. It’s just joyful!
Behind the Scenes of SuperKitties, Disney Branded Television’s Purr-fect New Superhero Series
By Andie Hagemann
Brave, smart, strong, and kind—meet the fearsome feline foursome who are ready to pounce into action when cat-astrophe strikes.
From Disney Branded Television, the new animated series SuperKitties features four adorable kittens—Ginny, Sparks, Buddy, and Bitsy—with plenty of super skills and gadgets at their disposal to protect the city of Kittydale from a slew of villains.
“I’ve always loved cats and I’ve always loved superheroes,” series creator and executive producer Paula Rosenthal tells D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. “There are many shows that pay homage to one or the other, but I noticed there was a void to pay homage to both, and I was looking to do it in a way that was different.”
While ruminating the concept, Rosenthal watched dozens upon dozens of cat videos for inspiration in developing the humor and action of the core group of heroes. The videos also helped with creating villains who are still likable to viewers despite their devious actions.
The creation of SuperKitties also marks Rosenthal’s return to the Disney family, previously serving as an executive for Playhouse Disney. “I feel a little bit like a unicorn,” she shares with a laugh. “How many people can say that they’ve been on both sides of [the creative process]?” When the time came to pitch the show, there was no doubt Disney would be her first stop.
“From the beginning, it was always [this]: Being SuperKitties is what they do and being cats is who they are. I didn’t want to lose the cat-like behavior,” Rosenthal says, “but we wanted to tell these stories in a way that kids could see themselves as or aspire to be like these heroes we’re portraying.”
Each of the paw-some kittens possess a unique superpower. Ginny (voiced by Luca’s Emma Berman), the leader of the group, is a master at parkour. “When Ginny’s claws come out, she can jump and grab onto something, swing herself around, and leap from object to object,” Rosenthal says. Buddy (voiced by JeCobi Swain) can turn himself into a furball and knock things down, while his brother, Sparks (voiced by Cruz Flateau), is the brainiac who creates all the gadgets. The littlest cat, Bitsy (voiced by Pyper Braun), serves as the eyes of the audience. “She’s learning the way our audience will learn,” Rosenthal says. “She can go fast, and when she’s got her boots on, she can go with the speed of light.”
With so many different cat breeds, patterns, and markings to choose from, Rosenthal credits the collaboration with the creative team at Disney for the kittens’ purr-fect fur coats. “We wanted to keep them looking real and relatable, getting those beautiful colors and the combination of the eyes and the glitter in the eyes,” Rosenthal says. Unintentionally, Ginny bears a strong resemblance to Rosenthal’s very first cat, Daisy, a tabby with orange stripes.
SuperKitties features the recurring comedic villains Cat Burglar (voiced by Justin Guarini), Mr. Puppypaws (voiced by Aladdin on Broadway’s James Monroe Iglehart), Lab Rat (voiced by Ruth Pferdehirt), and Zsa-Zsa the cockatoo (voiced by Isabella Crovetti). “They all get into trouble trying to do something for themselves while unintentionally impacting the greater [city of] Kittydale,” Rosenthal says. In an upcoming episode, Cat Burglar lures animals with charms and gems into a faux mobile salon so he can make a bejeweled coat for his grandmother with the stolen items. But the SuperKitties teach Cat Burglar that stealing is wrong and encourage him to return the gems.
Rosenthal also teases an upcoming Christmas-themed episode—one of her favorite stories thus far—that features Cat Burglar. “You really get to see Cat Burglar’s heart,” she says. “It has beautiful music, incredible heart, an emotional journey, and great Christmas music—in addition to all the action and comedy.”
From the young to the young at heart, there’s something in SuperKitties for everyone. “It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s high energy, but most of all there are beautiful lessons to be told in how with a little kindness, bravery, and strength you can make your home a better place,” says Rosenthal.
SuperKitties premieres Wednesday, January 11, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT with a simulcast on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. An initial batch of episodes will be available to stream that same day on Disney+ and on-demand platforms.
5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week
By Andie Hagemann
New year, new spectacular titles coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this week! On Tuesday night, watch the The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds crossover event, followed by the series premiere of Will Trent, all airing on ABC. The second seasons of Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Star Wars: The Bad Batch launch Wednesday on Disney+, and that same day a new episode of Abbott Elementary airs on ABC.
The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds Crossover Event—Tuesday, January 3, from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT
The two-hour crossover event begins with the adrenaline-pumping midseason premiere of The Rookie. Detective Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) and her husband James (Arjay Smith) find themselves trapped in the middle of a bank robbery, which leads the entire team on a citywide manhunt. Meanwhile, Officers Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) finally go on their first date, but it isn’t free of drama.
The action continues with the midseason premiere of The Rookie: Feds, as a mysterious caller threatens to reveal a leaked list of undercover FBI agents if a prisoner isn’t released. After an exposed agent is wounded, the team identifies the caller and heads to the Port of Los Angeles to secure the prisoner’s release. Later, FBI rookie Simone (Niecy Nash-Betts) enlists Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) to help her remodel Cutty’s garage into a living space.
Will Trent—Tuesday, January 3, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
When a murder investigation reveals there is more to the story, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) enlists the keen instincts of Special Agent Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) to uncover the truth. Along the way, he reunites with a part of his past that helped shape him into the agent he is now. The all-new series also stars Erika Christensen, Iantha Richardson, and Jake McLaughlin.
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom—Wednesday, January 4, on Disney+
Prepare for hours of cuteness… because Season 2 of this beloved series will be available to binge on the streaming service beginning this week. The adorable Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom gives viewers a backstage pass to explore Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort. Discover how more than 5,000 remarkable animals spend their days, and meet the caretakers who help keep things running.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch—Wednesday, January 4, on Disney+
The hit series returns with its long-awaited second season. Set months after the events on Kamino, Season 2 follows the Bad Batch as they continue their journey navigating the Empire after the fall of the Republic. They will cross paths with friends and foes, both new and familiar, as they take on a variety of thrilling mercenary missions that will take them to unexpected and dangerous new places. Star Wars: The Bad Batch 2 stars Dee Bradley Baker as the voice of the Bad Batch and Michelle Ang as the voice of Omega. Returning guest stars include Rhea Perlman as Cid and Noshir Dalal as Vice Admiral Rampart, while Wanda Sykes will make her series debut as the voice of Phee Genoa. The first two episodes debut on the premiere date, followed by new episodes launching every Wednesday.
Abbott Elementary—Wednesday, January 4, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The hit series returns with a friendly competition between classrooms. Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) and Janine (Quinta Brunson)—and their classrooms—go head-to-head in a read-a-thon sponsored by a local pizza shop. Both teachers encourage their students to hit the books hard, but face a few unexpected challenges along the way. Meanwhile, Jacob (Chris Perfetti) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) team up to start a student-podcasting club.
Disney to Celebrate 100th Anniversary in 2023
By the D23 Team
The Walt Disney Company will mark its 100th anniversary in 2023, timed to its founding by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney on October 16, 1923. The year 2023 will celebrate the journey and storytelling of Disney’s creative visionaries across the decades, as well as the fans and families who have brought Disney into their hearts to create cherished memories during the past 100 years.
In 2023, Disney100 will introduce new experiences with beloved characters along with heartwarming new stories to delight audiences and guests around the world. There will also be a slate of exciting events around the globe to mark this milestone, including:
- At Disney Parks, 2023 will be full of surprises and new offerings. The festivities start January 27 at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, when guests will enjoy the grand opening of the new attraction Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and two all-new nighttime spectaculars—World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure Park and Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland Park—along with special entertainment, food, beverage, and merchandise offerings. Additionally, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, airing Saturday, December 31, on ABC, and ESPN’s broadcast of the 109th Rose Bowl Game on Monday, January 2, will both celebrate Disneyland as a home of Disney100. Later in 2023, the celebration will come to life at Walt Disney World Resort. International Disney Parks destinations will feature new offerings and surprises throughout the year, all leading up to the 100th anniversary of the company on October 16.
- Disney100: The Exhibition, opening February 18 at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a 15,000-square-foot exhibition that invites guests to step into their favorite Disney stories through innovative and immersive technology throughout 10 galleries. As part of the exhibition, the Walt Disney Archives is opening its vault of treasures, showcasing more than 250 of its “Crown Jewels,” rarely seen original artworks and artifacts, costumes and props, and other memorabilia. The exhibition is beginning a five-year journey that will make stops across the United States and throughout Europe, including Munich and London in 2023.
- In Europe, fans will have the opportunity to experience Disney stories and songs in new, interactive ways, including a multi-territory European Concert Tour, Disney100: The Concert, kicking off in April; and an immersive Wonder of Friendship experience, debuting in May.
- Comic-Con Experience (CCXP) 2022 in Brazil marked the beginning of The Walt Disney Company’s anniversary celebration in Latin America, which will continue in 2023. In addition, Disney100 in Concert, developed in Latin America, will kick off in Argentina’s Opera House (Teatro Colón) in February, following an 11-country symphonic LATAM tour, where beloved characters will participate in generating a unique ensemble of music, film, and dancing. Tickets for Disney100 in Concert at Teatro Colón are on sale now.
- Disney will also celebrate its biggest fans in special ways throughout Disney100, with exclusive events, sneak previews, and, in September, a Disney100-themed Destination D23 just for Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club at Walt Disney World Resort.
- On November 22, Walt Disney Animation Studios will debut Wish, an original animated story with all-new characters, plus original music by Julia Michaels. From the teams that created the Frozen films, Wish is inspired by the Studios’ legacy of storytelling and explores how the star that so many Disney characters wished upon came to be.
Some of the Disney100 celebration has already begun! Earlier this month, Walt Disney Animation Studios debuted an all-new Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short, officially bringing back the beloved character to celebrate the Company’s 100th anniversary. On December 12, the first offerings from the Disney100 Platinum Celebration Collection launched on shopDisney, including the iconic Mickey Mouse Ear Hat with a platinum touch, Sketchbook Ornaments with classic designs of fan-favorite characters, and exclusive Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse plush.
Disney is excited to honor its milestone birthday in 2023 by continuing to bring both new and timeless stories to life for the fans who have sparked the magic and wonder that is Disney since the company’s founding on October 16, 1923. There is much more to come, which Disney looks forward to sharing soon.
Every Disney Moment We’re Looking Forward to in 2023
We’ll admit it…. We’re pretty excited for 2023. Not only does it contain our FAVORITE number, but it also kicks off the celebration of 100 years of The Walt Disney Company! We have so much to look forward to from around the worlds of Disney this year that it might seem impossible to fit it all in one article—but we tried anyway!
Disney100
On October 16, 1923, Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio and changed the world forever. One hundred years later, we’re still carrying on the legacy of Walt’s dream—and creating new things beyond the bounds of what was possible a century ago. Of course, Disney can’t let this milestone pass quietly—we’re celebrating all year long with special events, exclusive merchandise, and highly anticipated entertainment. Disney100 will be the largest cross-company global celebration in the 100-year history of The Walt Disney Company.
Here are just some of the ways you can help ring in 100 years of Disney in 2023:
- See Mickey in his new “platinum” outfit
- A brand-new Walt Disney Studios logo introduction
- Disney100: The Exhibition
- New Disney100 merchandise, including a Platinum Collection, a Decades Collection, and all-new books
- A vinyl compilation highlighting Disney’s musical moments across film, television, and the Parks
You can read more about Disney100: The Exhibition here, and buy tickets here... and be sure to stay tuned throughout 2023 as more ways to celebrate Disney100 are announced!
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
There’s always a great, big beautiful tomorrow at Disney Parks, and 2023 is promising a positively platinum future! To ring in 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, Disney Parks across the globe are kicking off a spectacular celebration of Disney’s legacy—and it all begins on January 27 at Disneyland Resort, where you can look forward to Wondrous Journeys, an all-new fireworks spectacular at Disneyland Park, and World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure Park. Plus, the whole resort is going platinum with new decorations, merchandise, food, and even new costumes for Mickey Mouse and his friends!
As part of this 100th anniversary celebration at Disneyland, guests can look forward to the opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway on January 27 and the long-awaited return of the Magic Happens parade beginning February 24. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway first opened at Walt Disney World in 2020 and arrives at Disneyland Park to kick off not just the Disney100 celebration, but to usher in the reopening of Mickey’s Toontown on March 8! Guests of D23 Expo were able to get a sneak peek at what’s in store for the reimagined land, including Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard and CenTOONial Park.
Over on the East Coast, Walt Disney World Resort is taking guests into the Grid with the opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run, an attraction that lets you climb aboard your own Lightcycle and race against the Grid’s speediest Programs. The highly anticipated coaster has been a fan-favorite at Shanghai Disneyland and will open at Magic Kingdom Park in the spring. Something a little more ghoulishly delightful is materializing over in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square; as announced at D23 Expo 2022, the fan-favorite and extremely beloved Hatbox Ghost will make his home at Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion next year. And as if that wasn’t enough, one more fan-favorite is returning to Magic Kingdom—the Happily Ever After fireworks will once again light up the sky with an updated version of the show in 2023.
As EPCOT’s multi-year transformation continues, guests will start to see some new enhancements open in late 2023. The World Celebration neighborhood and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will offer guests new and exciting experiences, while Figment will return to appear live and spark guests’ imaginations.
Our friends overseas are also hard at work creating new magic for Disney fans to enjoy, including World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland. Opening in the second half of 2023, this Frozen-inspired land is the first of three to debut at international Disney parks. Over at Disneyland Paris, the park’s 30th anniversary will come to a grand finale with a new stage show, “Pixar: We Belong Together,” debuting late 2023 at Walt Disney Studios Park.
No matter if you live in California or Hong Kong or somewhere in between, there’s one new Disney Parks experience we’ll all be able to enjoy next year: A series of adorable shorts on Disney+ starring Duffy and friends! The six-episode, stop-motion animated series features all of Duffy’s friends, including the inquisitive new fox LinaBell. During the “World of Duffy & Friends” panel at D23 Expo 2022, guests got a sneak peek at some of the shorts—and they were riveted, “aww”-ing and “oh no”-ing as the adventures unfolded. Soon, you too can be captivated by the charming antics of Duffy and his cuddly crew!
Movies
Swimming onto the big screen in 2023 is the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, the spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Directed by Rob Marshall, the film also stars Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, and Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, along with Javier Bardem as King Triton and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
In the reimagining of the Oscar®-winning animated classic, Ariel—the youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant—longs to learn more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, she falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life—and her father’s crown—in jeopardy. The Little Mermaid opens exclusively in theaters on May 26.
Coming to Disney+ in Spring 2023, is Walt Disney Studios’ Peter Pan & Wendy—a live-action reimagining of the 1953 animated classic Peter Pan. Directed by David Lowery, the film stars Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Anderson as Wendy, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Alyssa Wapanâtahk as Tiger Lily, and Jude Law as Captain Hook.
The new film dives deeper into Wendy’s story as she joins the boy who refuses to grow up on a magical journey to Neverland and reveals the history behind Peter Pan’s rivalry with one of Disney’s infamous villains.
On August 11, embark on a ghostly adventure with Walt Disney Studios’ Haunted Mansion. Inspired by the classic Disney Parks attraction, the film follows a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. Directed by Justin Simien, who used to work at Disneyland Park, the film’s star-studded cast includes Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito, and Jamie Lee Curtis, to name a few.
Marvel Studios has three films lined up for 2023, starting with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on February 17, which kicks off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Peyton Reed, the cast includes Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, and Jonathan Majors.
The beloved band of misfits return with the premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on May 5. James Gunn writes and directs the film, which stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and Maria Bakalova.
On November 11, go higher, further, and faster when The Marvels premieres in theaters. The film, directed by Nia DaCosta, stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris.
On June 16, Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will release Elemental, introducing audiences to Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The story, directed by Peter Sohn, introduces Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis), a tough, quick-witted, and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade (voiced by Mamoudou Athie) challenges her beliefs about the world they live in.
Legendary hero archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) returns to the big screen in Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny on June 30. Starring along with Ford in the highly anticipated fifth installment of the franchise are Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Oliver Richters, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen. The film is directed by James Mangold.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming animated feature film Wish premieres November 22, exclusively in theaters. The epic animated musical, directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, is inspired by the studios’ legacy of films. The film is set in Rosas, the kingdom of wishes where wishes can literally come true. Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose) is a 17-year-old optimist with a sharp wit who cares endlessly about her community. In a moment of desperation, Asha makes an impassioned plea to the stars, which is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Wish also includes Disney Animation’s good-luck-charm Alan Tudyk as the voice of a goat named Valentino, and showstopping original songs penned by Julia Michaels.
Streaming Ahead
There’s so much incredible content to look forward to in the new year—where do we start?! Well, as committed Whovians, we’re especially excited for Doctor Who’s debut on Disney+ in late 2023. But before we go galivanting through time and space on the TARDIS, there’s so much else in store on the streaming service, such as Season 4 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, featuring a host of original trilogy stars; several sure-to-be-thrilling new series from Marvel Studios, including Secret Invasion, Echo, and Ironheart; a deeper look into a fan-favorite Star Wars character with the new Lucasfilm series Ahsoka; and—coming up soon!—the return of both The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (February 1) and Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian (March 1).
Over on Hulu, Only Murders in the Building will return for a third season of hilarity, and How I Met Your Father will continue exploring the meet-cute of the show’s titular narrator. On Freeform, the second half of grown-ish’s fifth season kicks off on January 18 as Junior continues in big sister Zoey’s footsteps, and the new series The Watchful Eye (debuting January 30) follows a young woman as she’s thrust into a world of old money and deadly secrets.
ABC welcome back A Million Little Things for its farewell season on February 8 (you can stream previous seasons on Hulu)... and there are several new series to look forward to—including Not Dead Yet (also premiering February 8), starring Gina Rodriguez as a broke and newly single self-described “disaster” who lands the only job she can find: writing obituaries.
On Disney Channel, the highly anticipated animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur chronicles the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex; look for it to debut on February 10. And Season 2 of Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom—debuting January 1 on Nat Geo, and then streaming on Disney+ January 4—will take another gander at the amazing animal care and conservation efforts across Walt Disney World Resort.
There’s truly something for everyone in 2023—so mark those calendars, and keep those eyes peeled...
5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®
By Andie Hagemann
As 2022 comes to a close, FX is counting down the start of the New Year with an epic Marvel movie marathon all weekend long. On Saturday, watch X2: X-Men United, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger. Then, catch Fantastic Four and Black Panther, both airing on Sunday. All these super titles are also available to stream on Disney+.
X2: X-Men United (2003)—Saturday, December 31, at 11 a.m. ET/PT on FX
After brainwashed mutant Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) attacks the President of the United States (Cotter Smith), former Army commander William Stryker (Brian Cox) launches an investigation into the attack—as well as the mansion and school owned by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). Magneto (Ian McKellen) escapes his plastic cell and partners with Xavier and the X-Men to combat their shared enemy. The film also stars Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn, and Shawn Ashmore, to name a few.
Thor (2011)—Saturday, December 31, at 2 p.m. ET/PT on FX
Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), king of the Norse gods, is next in line to inherit the throne of Asgard from his aging father. However, on the day that he is to be crowned, Thor reacts with brutality when the Frost Giants enter the palace in violation of their treaty. Odin punishes Thor and banishes him to Earth. Meanwhile, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor’s brother, plots mischief in Asgard—and Thor, stripped of his powers, faces his greatest threat. The star-studded cast also includes Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgard, and Renee Russo.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)—Saturday, December 31, at 4:30 p.m. ET/PT on FX
During World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) wants to do his part and join America’s armed forces, but the military rejects him due to his small stature. However, Rogers gets his chance when he’s accepted into an experimental program that turns him into a super soldier. Ultimately, this new “Captain America” joins forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) in the fight against the Nazi-backed HYDRA organization. The film also stars Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, and Stanley Tucci.
Fantastic Four (2015)—Sunday, January 1, at 7 a.m. ET/PT on FX
Upon transporting to an alternate universe, four young outsiders gain superhuman powers as they alter their physical form in shocking ways. Reed Richards (Miles Teller) becomes Mr. Fantastic, able to stretch and twist his body at will; Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell) gains immense strength as the Thing; Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan) becomes the Human Torch, able to control and project fire; and Sue Storm (Kate Mara) becomes the Invisible Woman. Together, the foursome must learn how to efficiently use their new powers to prevent Doctor Doom (Toby Kebbell) from destroying Earth.
Black Panther (2018)—Sunday, January 1, at 5 p.m. ET/PT on FX
After the death of his father, T’Challa (Disney Legend Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his place as king. However, when a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s title as king—and as Black Panther—gets tested as he’s drawn into a battle that puts Wakanda and the world at risk. To secure the safety of his people, T’Challa assembles his allies and unleashes the full power of Black Panther. Also starring in the hit film are Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, and Forest Whitaker.