The holidays may look a bit different this year and that is why Disney teamed up with award-winning Chef Roy Choi, known for his popular restaurants Kogi BBQ and Best Friend, and renowned pizzerias across the U.S. to launch Mickey & Friends(giving) – to offer six new takes on the traditional ‘pie.’
Disney and Chef Choi collaborated with his pals at Jon & Vinny’s in Los Angeles; Home Slice Pizza in Austin; Roberta’s Pizza in Bushwick and Williamsburg; Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia; and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix to create six specialty pizzas inspired by the Sensational Six friends. From an updated take on a classic pepperoni in honor of the True Original Mickey Mouse, to a spicy ingredient as a nod to Donald Duck’s feistiness, each pie embodies the characters’ distinct personalities and collectively tells a story of friendship.
Starting today, fans can pre-order the specialty pizzas which comes with a limited edition pizza box and custom Mickey & Friends(giving) stickers on disney.com/mickeyfriendsstaytrue. Pizzas will be available for local pickup or delivery on Nov. 21.
Exciting product collaborations and retail collections are now available with Williams Sonoma, American Eagle Outfitters, BaubleBar Target, Eggie, Box Lunch, and Instant Pot, with more to come next year!
Fans can also follow along with @shopDisney for updates and visit shopDisney.com for a variety of Mickey and Friends products this holiday season.
Mickey & Friends: Stay True campaign, will continue throughout the end of this year and into 2021. For more information, follow @MickeyTrueOriginal and #MickeyFriendsgiving #MickeyFriendsStayTrue and on Instagram.
An exciting line up of Disney Parks presenters will participate in five panels that are a part of the D23 Fantastic WorldsCelebration, a week of virtual events, articles and merchandise releases celebrating all the wonderful worlds of Disney taking place November 16 – 20 on D23.com.
Premiering at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Monday, November 16, Brad Schoeneberg, Tracie Alt and Cody Hampton from the Disney Parks Merchandise team explore the rich storytelling that goes into the exotic and authentic imports of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!
It’s all aboard at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 18, for a birthday celebration of everyone’s favorite pals, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse! Host Mark Daniel takes you on an inside a look at the wild and zany world of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with one of the attraction’s lead Imagineers, Kevin Rafferty. Then get a special look at the new Disney+ series “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” and hear from Bret Iwan, official voice of Mickey Mouse, as he shares a sneak peek of his designer Mickey Ears.
Once you decide you are going to Walt Disney World Resort, the fun really begins. The dreaming, planning and sharing of excitement takes on a magic of its own. At 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 19, join host and Walt Disney World Ambassador Stephen Lim as he talks with fellow planners sharing stories and secrets on creating a memorable vacation to The Most Magical Place on Earth and discover how a great big beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.
Premiering at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 19, host and Walt Disney World Ambassador, Marilyn West, is joined by Zach Riddley, Imagineering Portfolio Executive for Walt Disney World Resort and Melissa Valiquette, Vice President of EPCOT as they share about the Magic of Possibility at EPCOT and how this park is transforming today and building toward the future. You’ll also hear from Pixar’s Roger Gould and Harley Jessup along with Tom Fitzgerald from Walt Disney Imagineering about the making of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and what it takes to bring this animated favorite to life in the France pavilion.
Finally, as a D23 Gold Member Exclusive, Creating Fantastic Worlds: A Journey into Disney Worldbuilding premiers at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET. From San Fransokyo and Wakanda to Treasure Cove, Mustafar, and beyond, enjoy the ultimate conclusion to D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration as we bring together creative wizards from across the realms of Disney to share a collective look behind the magic in creating the worlds that we all love. Hosted by Justina Ireland, this all-star lineup of creative geniuses will include Paul Felix, Production Designer, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Noah Klocek, Production Designer, Pixar Animation Studios, Luc Mayrand, Creative Portfolio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, Ryan Meinerding, VP of Visual Development, Creative Director, Marvel Studios, Mark Miller, Executive Creative Producer, ILMxLAB and Andy Park , Director Visual Development, Marvel Studios. Gold Members can register here! Not a Gold Member? Learn more here.
Be sure to join D23: The Official Disney Fan Club for an exciting week of more virtual events, articles, and merchandise releases celebrating all the fantastic worlds of Disney by visiting D23.com, Facebook.com/DisneyD23, or YouTube.com/DisneyD23.
While it feels a little bittersweet as we mark the final episode in this phenomenal series, I’m so proud of our cast for giving viewers a peek behind the curtain to show how we care for animals and connect our guests to the magic of nature. You’ve seen our vet teams, aquarists, keepers and educators in action, but behind-the-scenes, our science, education and conservation teams are supporting the care of our animals every step of the way.
From studying which forms of enrichment activities each animal likes best, to monitoring hormonal levels in a pregnant female white rhino, our work is grounded in science so we can ensure we’re meeting the needs of each individual animal and giving them the very best care.
Check out what it was like for the team to learn white rhino Kendi was expecting a baby, which resulted in the birth of our now weeks-old male white rhino:
As you can see, science requires teamwork, and sometimes includes smelly situations. Animal keeper Jess is committed to her work, even when the task at hand requires rolling up her sleeves and digging in to collect samples.
All photos in this story were captured previously during filming for “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.”
Jess, and all our keepers, work closely with the science team, who have expertise in areas such as endocrinology, field research and behavioral science. In fact, many of our science and conservation team cast have PhDs in biology and conservation and regularly share their learnings with the zoological community around the world.
Their knowledge has been invaluable to our work with species survival plans at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. With our most recent rhino birth, Science Operations Director Dr. Mandi and Research Manager Dr. Shana closely watched Kendi’s hormone levels and how she was behaving before, during and after her pregnancy. Prior to working at Disney, both Dr. Mandi and Dr. Shana spent years teaching doctoral and masters students about biology. Dr. Mandi is a specialist in reproductive health, and Dr. Shana got a hands-on start early in her career as a veterinary technician before her path eventually brought her to Disney as a scientist, where she monitors hormones in our animals.
Science in the field also relies on great observational skills to ensure animals are thriving in their environments. A keen eye for details is exactly how the primate team discovered western lowland gorilla infant Grace needed a little extra help meeting her developmental milestones, such as climbing. So, they brought in the help of occupational therapists to evaluate Grace and suggest new training the team could do with her to build her muscles, coordination and confidence. Grace is now holding her own with the rest of the troop and getting stronger each day.
Want to see more behind-the-scenes sneak peeks from our scientists? You can hear from our research team in next week’s edition of #AskDrMark on Instagram (@DrMarkAtDisney). And be sure to download this week’s activity guide which allows you to capture and share your own wildlife story that takes place out in nature near you.
The holidays are here and we’re ready to share some jolly foodie cheer! There’s no denying that some of the best food comes out around the holiday season and that’s no exception at Disney Springs. With everything from quick, sweet bites at your favorite quick-service locations to delicious and indulgent dishes, desserts, and cocktails at our incredible restaurants, there’s a little bit of something for everyone’s taste buds. Ready to plan your culinary adventure? I’ve curated all the flavorful details for you and where to find them below:
Amorette’s Patisserie (All items available through Jan. 2)
Black Forest Parfait – Chocolate mousse with cherry cream and cherry liquor
Holiday Mickey Mousse – White chocolate mousse, dark chocolate with chocolate chiffon cake
Holiday Petit Cake – Almond Chiffon cake, Hazelnut Panna Cotta, Cherry jam, Chocolate pieces, and hazelnut liqueur
Mickey Santa Dome Cake – Large Dome Cake (Ask a Cast Member for available flavors.)
Peppermint Crème Brûlée – Chocolate Peppermint-infused custard with crushed peppermint, meringue and sable cookie
Spiced Yule Log – Red Velvet Chiffon with spiced cheesecake filling, Dark Chocolate Crisp Pearls, garnished with chocolate ganache, poinsettia, and a fondant reindeer
AristoCrepes
Cherry Jubilee Bubble Waffle – Cherry fruit filling and ice cream in a waffle (Available Dec. 1-Jan.3)
Sweet Potato Pie Bubble Waffle – Sweet potato waffle and ice cream topped with marshmallow fluff (Available through Dec. 1)
Eggnog Crepe – Eggnog custard in a crepe with pralines (Available Dec. 1 through Jan. 3)
Mickey Snow Globe Sipper Cup – Disney Annual Passholder exclusive novelty (Available while supplies last)
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ (Available Nov. 13-Dec. 31)
Pumpkin Bread Pudding – Warm, house-baked pumpkin bread in a rich custard topped with rich vanilla bean ice cream and finished with a golden spun sugar garnish
City Works Eatery & Pour House
1871 Chili – Angus steak, milk stout, pork, chipotle peppers, sour cream, red onions, served with a cornbread muffin
The Daily Poutine(Available through Jan. 3)
Gobbler Poutine – French fries with shredded turkey, gravy, and cheese curds
Mickey Santa Piñata – Dark chocolate piñata decorated like Mickey Santa filled with marshmallow treats
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop (All items available through Dec. 25)
Ghirardelli White Chocolate Caramel Steamer – Steamed milk, rich cocoa butter notes from the white chocolate caramel squares, classic caramel sauce, whipped cream, and a touch of sea salt.
Ghirardelli Peppermint Hot Cocoa – Peppermint with the decadence of Ghirardelli chocolate
Häagen-Dazs
Peppermint Bark Ice Cream – Rich white chocolate ice cream blended with crunchy chocolaty peppermint bark and peppermint pieces. (Available in a cone, cup or any handmade dessert through Jan. 15.)
Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar (All items available through Jan. 3)
Milk and Cookies by the Fireside – Butter cookies and coquito with rum
Child Cookies and Milk – Chocolate chip cookie and milk
C9 Light Deviled Eggs – Colored deviled eggs with shrimp, and caviar
Grandma’s Favorite Sliders – Venison sausage sliders, cranberry-bacon jam, and watercress on brioche bun
Papa Noel’s Churrasco – Flank steak with fried sweet plantains and spicy aji amarillo peanut sauce
Jock’s Holiday Nog – Cinnamon- and vanilla-flavored cream liqueur, vodka, hazelnut-flavored liqueur, and vanilla
Mistletoe Mule – Vodka, lime, and passion fruit topped with ginger beer
Very Berry Margarita – Tequila, coconut rum, cinnamon- and vanilla-flavored cream liqueur, and cranberry juice
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea
Celebrate this holiday season and warm up your heart and cup with Joffrey’s new line of blends including Disney’s Riviera Resort Blend and the 2020 Holiday Blend plus Campfire Mug Gift Set
Mac & Cheese (Disney Food Truck)
Fried Mac and Cheese – Crispy fried cheesy elbow macaroni with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese (Available through Jan. 3)
Marketplace Snacks
Jolly Holiday Float – Cranberry orange juice with vanilla ice cream
Olaf Pilsner Novelty Cup
Outdoor Vending Carts & Kiosks (Available through Jan. 3)
Feliz Navidad – Tequila, crème de cassis, apple juice, and lime juice
Claus-Mo – Vodka and orange-flavored triple sec liqueur mixed with cranberry juice
Mistletoe – Coconut rum, melon-flavored liqueur, blue curaçao liqueur mixed with Pineapple Juice and Orange Juice
Florida Yule – Vodka and orange juice topped with ginger beer
Winter Wonderland – Cinnamon whisky and cinnamon- and vanilla-flavored cream liqueur
Fireside Cider – Cinnamon whisky, vodka, and white cranberry juice
Mickey Christmas Tree Novelty Popcorn Bucket (Available while supplies last)
Peppermint Mickey Novelty Bottle Topper (Available while supplies last)
Mickey Jingle Bell Novelty Glow Cube (Available while supplies last)
The Polite Pig
Holiday Feast – Leave your Thanksgiving meal to The Polite Pig and order the Holiday Feast featuring your choice of main course, sides, and dessert. Call (407) 938-7444 to order. (Orders must be placed by Nov. 23 for pickup on Nov. 25 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Apple Cider Whiskey Sour – Hand-crafted special blend of rye, apple cider, sour mix, and bourbon with a sweet cinnamon sugar rim.
Splitsville (All items available Nov. 13-Dec. 31)
Grilled Chicken & Apple Flatbread – Maple apple butter, smoked gouda, and goat cheese topped with crisp diced apples, grilled chicken, red onion, bacon, and cilantro
Spiced Pear Spritzer – Fresh pear nectar, ginger liqueur, vodka, lemon juice and allspice topped with ginger ale and garnished with star anise
Sprinkles
Pumpkin Cupcake – Pumpkin cake laced with fragrant ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon, topped with sweet cinnamon cream cheese frosting rim (Available through Nov. 29)
Double Stuffed Oreo® Cupcake – Oreo® cookie crust, chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream filling, vanilla buttercream frosting with Oreo® crumble rim (Available through Nov. 22)
Cannoli Cupcake – Ricotta Pistachio Cake filled and frosted with mascarpone cream, topped with crushed cannoli shells, chopped chocolate chips, and chopped pistachios; finished with truffled chocolate ganache (Available Nov. 23-29)
Christmas Cookie Cupcake – Vanilla cake studded with red and green sprinkles topped with vanilla buttercream frosting with red and green sprinkles and a homemade sugar cookie coated in sprinkles (Available Nov. 27- Jan. 3)
Gingerbread Cupcake – Spiced ginger cake topped with cream cheese frosting and dusted with cinnamon sugar (Available Nov. 30-Dec. 27)
Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake – Belgian dark chocolate cake topped with bittersweet chocolate-peppermint frosting and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies (Available Nov. 30-Dec. 27)
Vivoli il Gelato
Tiramisù Push Pop – Tiramisù cream, cocoa powder, and cake soaked in coffee sauce
Cotton Candy Affogato – Choice of gelato paired with espresso, whipped cream, and cotton candy
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill (All items available through Dec. 31)
Heirloom Apple Salad – Local burrata, baby kale, pear butter, currants, ver jus
Fall Spiced Sangria – Apples, pears, cinnamon
Wine Bar George
Saganaki On Fire – Made with vlahotiri cheese and metaxa (a Greek spirit), this traditional dish from Greece is set on fire tableside and served with crostini
Hooten Young American Whiskey – Discovered by Master Sommelier George Miliotes – American whiskey with notes of maple, vanilla, ripe apple. and a long smooth finish. Available in the Hoot Cocktail, Wine Bar George Old Fashioned, or however you like to enjoy your whiskey.
I know we’re all anxiously awaiting the upcoming opening of Gideon’s Bakehouse! As a sneak peek, I’m excited to share two of their limited-time cookies that will be available through Dec. 31 when they open soon at Disney Springs:
Santa’s White Christmas Cookie – White Chocolate Chip Cookie filled with notes of Coconut, Sweet Caramel, Vanilla, and Nutty Flavors with freshly ground locally roasted coffee beans throughout. The cookie elves have also added the crunch of coarse sugar, the Gideon’s signature sea salt, and a pinch of Christmas glitter.
Cookie Vom Krampus Cookie – Deep, dark Triple Chocolate Velvet textured cookie filled with Andes Mint and available in its own special packaging.
Looking to enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal? A few of our table service restaurants are offering their own unique menus on Thanksgiving Day including: Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, City Works Eatery & Pour House, Paddlefish, Paradiso 27, Taste of the Americas, Planet Hollywood, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant, Terralina Crafted Italian, The Edison, and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill. Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made at disneysprings.com or opentable.com.
Remember to allow at least 60 minutes to reach your destination when traveling to Disney Springs and be sure to follow @disneysprings on social media for more delicious happenings across property.
Get ready to add Groot to your wishlist this holiday season! The flora colossus himself is now available in an all-new Interactive Groot action figure at shopDisney.com, Disney stores and select Disney Parks around the world. Our little Groot wants to put down some roots and be your companion this holiday!
This is no ordinary action figure… Interactive Groot responds to over 20 spoken words and phrases with sounds, music, movements, and of course, the signature “I am Groot!” Instead of me just explaining it, check out this video and see just how rad this little one is:
As you can see, we’re taking it retro in true Guardians of the Galaxy fashion! For those of you who want to groove to your own awesome mix tape, you’ll also want to get this all-new Bluetooth speaker, sold separately and inspired by the one that Groot plugs into during the opening scene of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!”
Both the Interactive Groot action figure and Bluetooth speaker are available now at shopDisney.com, Disney stores, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and coming soon to Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort! Before you go and add them to your wish lists, remember, “We are Groot!”
