Disney Worldbuilders Trailer & Poster

All images: Disney

Have you ever wondered how your favorite movie becomes a land in a Disney Park? In this documentary, Leslie Iwerks takes us behind-the-scenes with the filmmakers who created the stories that have become part of our world.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

In Disney Worldbuilders, a new feature-length documentary from filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, some of Disney’s most influential storytellers reflect on the memories, moments and creative breakthroughs that shaped their work, tracing how those stories come to life at Disney’s theme parks around the globe.

Their conversations reveal a creative practice that moves in every direction — where a story can inspire a place, and a place can then inspire the next story. It's a way of creating that dates back to Walt himself— a creative tradition that continues to shape every new story Disney tells.

Audiences have always experienced Disney as one connected universe. Disney Worldbuilders pulls back the curtain on the creative minds behind it, with candid conversations featuring Bob Iger, James Cameron, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Jennifer Lee, Pete Docter, Dave Filoni, Jared Bush and Josh D’Amaro. Together they reveal how stories like "Avatar", "Star Wars", the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pixar, and the worlds of "Frozen" and "Zootopia", become real places you never want to leave. 

Disney Worldbuilders arrives on DisneyPlus on August 20th.

Percy Jackson Season 3

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The first teaser for season 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has arrived and it looks just as fantastic as the first two seasons. This season will follow the events of book three of Rick Riordan's book series, "The Titan's Curse".

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

Percy Jackson is on a dangerous quest. Outrunning monsters and outwitting gods, he must journey across America to return Zeus’ master bolt and stop an all-out war. With the help of his quest mates Annabeth and Grover, Percy’s journey will lead him closer to the answers he seeks: how to fit into a world where he feels out of place, and find out who he’s destined to be.

Season 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians arrives on DisneyPlus on November 20th.

The first two seasons are available now.

Disney Worldbuilders

Disney

Have you ever wondered how your favorite Disney movie comes to life in a Disney Park? Leslie Iwerks' latest documentary, Disney Worldbuilders, goes behind-the-scenes with filmmakers to show how their worlds become real.

Disney Worldbuilders is set to debut at D23 on August 16th.

It then will head to DisneyPlus later in August.

Beauty And The Beast Art

Do you remember, back in the day, when you would order the latest Disney movie at the Disney Store just so that you could get the lithograph? Unfortunately, I didn't live near a Disney Store, so I missed out on the cool art. But, I was lucky enough to find three sets at my favorite second hand store today. This set is four prints from my favorite Disney animated movie, Beauty and the Beast.

"Where You Are" - Moana

Disney

Like the animated version, Disney's live-action Moana has fantastic music. This new version of "Where You Are" is delightful.

Moana arrives in theaters today, July 10th.

Welcome To Hexe, The World of Witches

Have you ever felt like you were a misfit in your own life? In Disney’s next animated movie, young Billie Doe feels that way, until she discovers something unexpected: a magical world where she just might fit in.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

The new trailer for "Hexed" introduces the impulsive and unconventional teenage girl Billie (Hailee Steinfeld) and her cautious mother, Alice (Rashida Jones). When Billie accidentally unleashes secret magical abilities, she’s hurtled out of suburbia and into a magical realm called Hexe, where she’s greeted by an enchanted feather quill pen, Ms. Quill (Tracy Ullman) and a magical journal, Elias Quire (Stephen Fry). As Billie’s spectacle-filled journey unfolds, she uncovers family mysteries that could change the magical world of witches forever.

Hexed arrives in theaters on November 25th.

"Along the Way" - Moana

Disney

Lin-Manuel Miranda has written a new song for Disney's live-action Moana. "Along the Way" is performed by Maui (Dwayne Johnson), and two Moanas: the original animated Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) and the new live-action Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia). The result is fantastic.

Moana arrives in theaters on July 10th.

Moana

All images: Disney

The final trailer for Disney's live-action Moana has arrived and it looks amazing. With each new trailer, we see a little more of the characters and special effects. Tamatoa looks incredible and sounds incredible as Jemaine Clement is back to voice the giant gold-hoarding crab.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

In Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.

Moana arrives in theaters on July 10th.

The Doomies

All images: Disney

A new supernatural animated series is headed to DisneyPlus. The Doomies follows two best friends who accidentally unleash the monsters of Subterra on their town. 

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

When best friends Bobby and Romy accidentally open a portal to evil, their tranquil coastal town transforms into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. As the ordinary teens navigate this extraordinary mystery, they face off against literal and inner monsters in this epic comedy that combines thrills, chills, and emotional spills.

The Doomies premieres on DisneyPlus on June 26th.

LEGO Main Street USA

My latest Disney LEGO set just arrived and I can't wait to put it together. The Main Street USA set has 16 minifigures and 3899 pieces. There's so much to look at!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe From Disney

Disney

Pineapple Upside Down Cake is such a classic dessert. It was created in the 1920s and used the recently developed canned pineapple in a baking style that had been around since the Middle Ages. The result is delicious. This version is the recipe that Disney uses at the Plaza Inn in Disneyland. 

Pineapple Upside Down Bundt Cake - Plaza Inn

Makes 12 servings

Topping

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 cups diced fresh or canned pineapple, drained

1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries

Grease 12 mini bundt or muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.

Stir brown sugar and melted butter together in a small bowl. Place 2 teaspoons of butter mixture in the bottom of each muffin cup.

Place 2 1/2 tablespoons diced pineapple and 2 teaspoons chopped maraschino cherries on top of butter mixture in each muffin cup. Set side.

Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup pineapple juice

whipped cream, for serving

12 maraschino cherries, for serving

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time until incorporated. Add vanilla and mix for 1 minute on medium speed.

Reduce speed to low. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and 1/2 of the pineapple juice. Repeat until all pineapple juice and flour are used.

Pour batter evenly over the diced pineapple and butter in muffin tins. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully flip muffin tin over to remove cakes. Top each cake with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Figment Cartoon Comes To Life

Disney

The "How Not To Draw" videos from Disney are a lot of fun. In this video, Figment comes to life to share a bit of his imagination. 

Whistle Stop - Robin Hood

Disney

The soundtrack from Disney's Robin Hood is still one of my favorites. There's just something delightful about the music from the animated film.

Go The Distance - Disney Ambient: Rain

Disney

The Disney Ambient: Rain album is surprisingly calming. The songs played on piano over the sound of gently falling rain is quite lovely. This song is "Go the Distance" from Hercules. 

Five additional songs are available on the Disney Music Vevo channel on YouTube.

100 Years of Winnie the Pooh

Disney

Can you believe that this year marks the 100th birthday of Winnie the Pooh? The honey loving bear and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood first appeared in a book by AA Milne in October 1926. Since then, the gentle tales of the "tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff" have enchanted children and adults alike.

Happy birthday, silly old bear!

Zootopia 2 on DisneyPlus

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Zootopia 2 is headed to DisneyPlus next week. Hopps and Wilde are back on the case for one zany and crazy adventure through the lands of Zootopia.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia’s history, rookie cops Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman) find their partnership isn’t as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo (voice of Idris Elba) orders them to join the Partners in Crisis counseling program. But it doesn’t take long for their partnership to be put to the ultimate test when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mystery tied to the arrival of a venomous snake in the animal metropolis. 

While “Zootopia 2” introduces Gary De’Snake (voice of Ke Huy Quan), Nibbles (voice of Fortune Feimster) and quokka therapist Dr. Fuzzby (voice of Quinta Brunson), the feature film also welcomes back a herd of characters who made their debut in “Zootopia.”

Zootopia 2 arrives on DisneyPlus on March 11th.

The Princess Diaries Quote

Disney

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all."

- Phillipe Renaldi, The Princess Diaries

Olaf Draws!

An exciting new experience is coming to Hollywood Studios in Disney World this summer. The current home of Star Wars: Launch Bay is going back to its roots as a home to art and animation. The revamped building will be topped by Mickey's sorcerer hat in a nod to the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in California. From special character Meet & Greets, to an art gallery that comes to life, and a playground indpired by Mary Blair's vision of Alice in Wonderland, there will be magic around every corner in "The Magic of Disney Animation". But the part I'm looking forward to most involves a certain talking snowman. 

Olaf Draws! will feature everyone's favorite magical snowman as an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure. Olaf invites guests into a space inspired by a scene in Once Upon A Studio where he took a little time to try out an Animator's desk. There will be sleigh-themed tables for kids and animator-style desks for the young at heart. And, with a little help from some legendary Disney Animation artists, Olaf and his new friends will learn to draw a Disney character. 

Pre-recorded artist videos will guide guests through the process of drawing classic and modern Disney characters. Sketching classes include:

• Mickey Mouse with Dan Abraham, director (Once Upon A Studio, Baymax!)
• Minnie Mouse, with Hyun Min Lee, animator (Frozen 2, The Princess and the Frog)
• Donald Duck, with Austin Traylor, animator (Once Upon A Studio, Moana 2)
• Genie, with Eric Goldberg, animator (Aladdin, Hercules)
• Moana, with Samantha Vilfort, story artist (Encanto, Zootopia 2)
• Stitch, with Fawn Veerasunthorn, director and head of story (Wish, Raya and the Last Dragon)
• Olaf, with Trent Correy, director (Once Upon A Studio, Frozen 3)
• Ursula, with Michael Woodside, animator (Big Hero 6, Encanto)
• Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard director, (Zootopia, Zootopia 2)

There's a lot to look forward to in "The Magic of Disney Animation". I can't wait to check it out when it opens in late summer.

Chocolate Stitch

Amaury Guichon

Amaury Guichon's latest Disney-inspired chocolate creation is an adorable Stitch on his surfboard. No matter how many times I watch him form characters out of chocolate, I'm always amazed to see them come to life.

Knowing What I Know Now - Wish

Disney

Disney's Wish has some of the best songs. 

Wish is available on DisneyPlus.