Disney Channel

40-Foot Tall “Waffle-Inator” From Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel Debuts at D23 Expo

26 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Here’s the latest announcement from the D23 Expo schedule, a special experience for Phineas and Ferb (and Dr. Doofenshmirtz!) Read on below:

Dr. Doofenshmirtz is primed to take over Disney’s D23 Expo…and the Tri-State Area with his most wacky “-inator” yet — “The Waffle-inator” — a spectacular 40-foot high interactive game, combining physical and digital worlds — and simulated waffles — in an epic showdown to free Agent P from the clutches of Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Kids, tweens and families can hop aboard and wield the life-size invention to play “The Phineas and Ferb Waffle-inator Challenge,” over three days at Disney’s D23 Expo, the ultimate event for Disney fans, at the Anaheim Convention CenterFRIDAY, AUGUST 9–SUNDAY, AUGUST 11.

The Waffle-inator is depicted in “Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel,” the highly anticipated event episode of the #1 animated series for kids and tweens, premiering FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel and SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 (10:00 a.m. ET/PT) on Disney XD. In the storyline, Phineas and Ferb, team up with the Marvel Super Heroes to help them regain their powers and defeat Marvel Super Villains and Dr. Doofenshmirtz, in an epic battle of good versus evil, where the dastardly delicious device “The Waffle-inator” comes into play.

Stars from Marvel Universe – Adrian Pasdar, Drake Bell, Fred Tatasciore, Roger Craig Smith, Bumper Robinson and Laura Bailey – will join the line-up of stars across Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior who will meet fans at Disney’s D23 Expo, including “Teen Beach Movie,” “Phineas and Ferb,” “Shake It Up,” “Jessie,” “Gravity Falls,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Liv and Maddie,” “Kickin’ It,” “Dog With A Blog,” “Lab Rats,” “Crash & Bernstein,” “Wander Over Yonder” and “Sofia the First.” Fans can also catch live performances from Hollywood Records’ recording artists Bridgit Mendler and R5 featuring Ross Lynch, and meet favorite characters Princess Sofia (“Sofia the First”), Doc McStuffins, Jake (“Jake and the Never Land Pirates”), Spider-Man and Iron Man.

Popular radio personalities Ernie D, Morgan & Maddy, Jake and Candice from Radio Disney will join in the fun with prizes and activities to entertain Disney fans of all ages.

To play the “The Phineas and Ferb Waffle-inator Challenge,” fans are invited to man one of four colorful, full-scale “Waffe-inators” to unleash flying foam waffles and to move Phineas and Ferb up a towering screen, while outmaneuvering Dr. Doof’s evil creations, to free a trapped Agent P before time runs out. “The Phineas and Ferb Waffle-inator Challenge” will be located in the Grand Plaza near the D23 Expo entrance for fans to enjoy Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets to the D23 Expo are available at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 Expo, including the Disney Legends Ceremony, and can be purchased for single days or for the full three days of festivities. Admission is $47 for a one-day adult ticket and $37 for children 3-12. Three-day passes are $136 for adults and $106 for children. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will receive a discount for up to four admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 Expo for themselves and their guests.

Disney Interactive launches new Mickey Video App and Website!

11 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Mickey got his start in 1928 with the cartoon short “Steamboat Willie” – and now he’s starring in an all new short-form series of 19 comedy cartoons, titled “Mickey Mouse” which are now live on both Disney.com’s new Mickey & Friends website and Disney’s new Mickey Video app, available for iOS devices on the App Store . The new site and app give fans direct access to the new shorts and additional Mickey Mouse extras on all of their favorite platforms and devices.

After premiering on Disney Channel, each “Mickey Mouse” short streams on the new Mickey & Friends website, which is the digital home of Mickey Mouse and a comprehensive gateway to all Mickey games, videos and content on Disney.com. Upon debut, the shorts will also be immediately available in the new Mickey Video app.

The first four episodes, including “Croissant de Triomphe” set in Paris and “No Service” set in Santa Monica are live now. And to watch upcoming episodes of “Mickey Mouse” shorts:

· Download the Mickey Video app for FREE from the App Store: http://bit.ly/MickeyVideoApp
· Visit the official Mickey & Friends portal on Disney.com at: Mickey.Disney.com

You can also get a behind the scenes look at the making of “Mickey Mouse” with Disney Insider’s “Making a New Generation of Mickey Mouse Cartoons,” which delves into the inspiration of the cartoons with the series’ executive producer and legendary animator Paul Rudish.

“Teen Beach Movie” Beach Party Makes Waves at Typhoon Lagoon

1 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Now through September 1st, Typhoon Lagoon guests will get an extra splash of summer as the Teen Beach Movie Beach Party makes its way to the shore of the park’s wave pool. Expect a water balloon toss, hula hooping and more with a DJ providing the tunes. This Limited Time Magic event will happen a few times throughout the day so check for times in the park.

I got to experience the Beach Party on a special day. Three Disney Channel stars from the movie were there to surprise guests! I really enjoyed interviewing Garrett Clayton, Chrissie Fit and Kent Boyd and getting to know them a little better before Teen Beach Movie debuts on the Disney Channel on July 19th.

Garrett Clayton, who plays Tanner, has such an exciting story behind getting his role. He got the call that he was cast in the movie while working at a restaurant. Garrett had also auditioned for another role he was waiting to hear back about and the news went something like “you’re not going to be a cheerleader but you are going to be a surfer.” I asked about the big hair in the movie and Garrett was all for it. His friends once jokingly referred to him as a Ken doll.

You may already know Kent Boyd from his success on So You Think You Can Dance in 2010. It was totally adorable when I asked him about Teen Beach Movie merchandise and “how you feel about having your face possibly on–” and he excitedly blurted out “cake!” and laughed. I was thinking more along the lines of backpacks and lunch boxes but a cake would be way cooler. He thinks it’s fun and noted that his sister grew up with that with High School Musical. Boyd said “I think it’s an honor.” He later noted “I think it would be really weird to be on a bed spread.”

“The shock of it was crazy but I didn’t have a lot of time to live in it because I had to get on a plane the next day and go to Puerto Rico” Chrissie Fit told me about being cast as Chee Chee. Puerto Rico is where the movie was filmed. Chrissie is from Miami, Florida and grew up coming to Walt Disney World with her family.

I talked about the Disney Parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney World, with all three of them. “There’s so much history at Disneyland but Disney World is really a world” said Garrett. When I asked Kent if he preferred Space Mountain or Splash Mountain we ended up talking about these attractions on both coasts. How fun.

Since the Starbucks on Main Street just opened (and we here at Zannaland love Starbucks!) I thought it would be fun to ask the cast what their go-to drink is —

Garrett: Iced black coffee

Kent: Iced Chair latte with soy milk

Chrissie: White Mocha Frappucino

…

Big thanks to Nicole Siscaretti for covering this event for Zannaland and getting us the scoop on the Teen Beach Movie Beach Party going on now at Typhoon Lagoon, and to the stars of the movie for taking time to speak to us. If you are headed there this summer, get ready for extra fun! Be sure to watch Teen Beach Movie on the Disney Channel, premiering July 19.

Nicole Siscaretti Teen Beach Movie — Stars Garrett Clayton and Kent Boyd with Nicole (who is recovering from a theme park pyrotechnic fall-out and rockin’ a band-aid while it heals!)

Disney Interactive Delivers “Best of Disney” to Fans’ Homes with New App for Xbox 360

27 June 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Recently Disney Interactive launched the new Disney app for Xbox 360, delivering new and original digital video to homes in the U.S. Featuring original web series, classic animated shorts, clips from Disney shows and the latest Disney movie trailers, the new app lets users access the best Disney content from across the web. The Disney app for Xbox 360 furthers Disney Interactive’s goal to bring quality Disney videos and experiences across all platforms and devices.

With Disney on Xbox 360, fans can look forward to:
· Episodes of the popular web series, Disney Where’s My Water? Presents Swampy’s Underground Adventures

· Classic shorts starring Mickey Mouse and friends

· Music videos, clips and trailers from Disney Channel, Disney XD and The Walt Disney Studios

· Future series and programming from Disney Interactive’s upcoming slate of original video

Disney for Xbox 360 is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace.

D23 Expo 2013 Costume Contest and More Expo Info

25 June 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

When I came out to California for 2011’s D23 Expo, seeing fellow attendees in costume was one of the best parts! I love that D23 is now holding an official costume contest celebrating fans creativity! Here are all the details:

Since the first D23 Expo in 2009, fans have shown their passion for Disney by dressing up as their favorite and most beloved Disney characters while attending the one-of-a-kind event at the Anaheim Convention Center. This year, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club celebrates that excitement and enthusiasm with the first À La Mode Costume Contest, which will take place Friday, August 9 at 2:30 p.m. in Stage 23.

À La Mode, named after The Incredibles’ couture genius Edna Mode, is the first competition of its kind to showcase fans’ creativity through costumes inspired by all things Disney, including Motion Pictures (Animation, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm); Parks & Resorts; Consumer Products; Media Networks (including Disney Channel, ABC, and ESPN); and Interactive.

Five collectible trophies—specially designed for the À La Mode Costume Contest—will be awarded to the most magical costumes in the following categories: Original Design (or inspired by…), Re-creation, Craftsmanship, Young Fan, and Best in Show.

The contest will be two (2) hours in length, and, therefore, the number of entrants is limited. Guests interested in participating MUST complete an entry from, available now at D23Expo.com. Closing date for entry is July 21. Not all applications for entry will be accepted. Applications will be evaluated on the merits of quality and quantity and selected at the producers’ discretion.

In Addition, D23 recently announced the Disney Channel stars that will be present during the 2013 Expo:

On FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, in celebration of “Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel,” a special-one hour telecast featuring an epic teaming of characters from two hugely popular Disney and Marvel franchises, fans can meet the stars and characters including Phineas, Ferb, Agent P, Spider-Man and Iron Man. The unforgettable special premieres this summer on Disney Channel.
On SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, bikers and surfers unite on the dance floor of the Disney Channel booth for the ultimate beach ball bouncing, high-spirited ‘Surf Crazy’ fan dance with stars from Disney’s “Teen Beach Movie,” an exuberant song, sand and surf fest, premiering July 19 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel.
On SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 in the Disney Channel booth, Disney Junior fans of all ages are invited to meet beloved characters from top-rated preschool series “Sofia the First,” “Doc McStuffins” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” and enjoy a special sneak-peek screening of new Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts in Stage 28.

Popular radio personalities from Radio Disney, the 24-hour contemporary hits radio network and the only radio broadcaster for kids and families, will join in the fun every day, along with the Radio Disney Road Crew, for interactive entertainment, fun prizes and the hottest music from kids’ favorite artists.

Tickets for the D23 Expo are $57 for a one-day adult admission and $47 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $50 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available for both D23 Members and the general public, and D23 Members can save as much as $84 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for members and general admission, visit D23Expo.com.

About D23 Expo 2013

The D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, and theme parks. For the latest D23 Expo 2013 news, visit D23Expo.com. To be part of the D23 Expo conversation, make sure to follow @DisneyD23 and tag your tweets with #D23Expo.

Sneak Peek at Sofia the First in the Disney Christmas Parade and In the Parks Too!

20 December 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The Sofia The First character will make her Disney Parks debut in the 29th Annual “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” airing nationwide on Christmas Day, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., ET; check local listings) on the ABC Television Network. It was also recently announced that Sofia will be joining the Disney Junior – Live on Stage! show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure in early 2013 – joining Doc McStuffins as a new addition.

Disney’s first little girl princess, Sofia was introduced in the music-filled animated television movie “Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess” which debuted on November 18, 2012 and became the #1 cable telecast of all time in Kids 2-5 and Girls 2-5, and the #1 preschool cable TV telecast ever in Total Viewers and Women 18-49. A “Sofia the First” television series which continues Sofia’s journey as she learns how to adjust to royal life, premieres FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 on Disney Channel (9:30-10:00 a.m., ET/PT) and Disney Junior (5:30-6:00 p.m., ET/PT).

An All-star Cast Brings Sofia the First to Life on Disney Junior November 18

22 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I’ve been talking about Sofia the First for a while now, since we were first teased about her arrival back at Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration in 2011. Now the time is near and the more I read about Sofia the First, the more excited I get.

First, it’s a fun and unique concept, putting an ordinary girl into a royal environment where now she must learn how to “be a princess” and all that title entails. It reminds me a bit of the Cinderella 2 story, where we follow Cinderella trying to actually fit in with the castle life. And speaking of Cinderella, she’ll be making some appearances in the show, as will the three fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and some other familiar faces too!

Next, there are some great names in acting and voice talent on the show – I think I’m most excited about Tim Gunn, who will voice Baileywick, the butler. Just hearing his voice on the commercial makes me giddy. In addition, the lovely Ashley Eckstein of Star Wars Weekends and Star Wars Clone Wars fame will voice the Bluebird. Disney Legend Russi Taylor, voice of Minnie Mouse, along with Barbara Dirickson and Tress MacNeille (Daisy Duck), bring Fauna, Flora and Merryweather, respectively, to life. Other voices include: Ariel Winter (“Modern Family”) as Sofia; Sara Ramirez (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Queen Miranda; Wayne Brady (“Let’s Make A Deal”) as Clover; Darcy Rose Byrnes (“Desperate Housewives”) as Amber; Zach Callison (“Land of the Lost”) as James; Travis Willingham (“Ultimate Spider-Man”) as King Roland II; Jess Harnell (“Doc McStuffins”) as Cedric and Jennifer Hale as Cinderella.

Finally, it will be exciting to have an official Disney princess who we watch develop and grow before our eyes. Aimed of course at the 2-7 year-old set watching Disney Junior, it will be interesting to have a princess who that age group can really relate to. I wonder if we’ll see Princess Sofia within the Parks like we do with Jake from the Jake and the Neverland Pirates series. I could definitely see her roaming around New Fantasyland, for example, but I would understand if they decide to keep her in the Studios because of the TV series. In any event, it looks like a great addition to the Disney Junior family. Here is some more official info on Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess:

Sofia’s royal adventure begins as she prepares to move into the castle with her mom, starting a new family with her step-father, King Roland II, and step-siblings, Amber and James. Helping Sofia in her journey are the three headmistresses of Royal Prep Academy – Fauna, Flora and Merryweather (the beloved fairies seen in Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty”) and royal steward, Baileywick, as well as a group of cute woodland creatures led by a wise-talking rabbit, Clover. Sofia soon discovers that looking like a princess isn’t all that difficult, but displaying honesty, loyalty, courage, independence, compassion and grace is what makes one truly royal.

Created for kids age 2-7 and their families, the stories of “Sofia the First” communicate positive messages and life lessons that are applicable to young children. While she lives in a captivating world of castles, wizards and flying horses, Sofia remains a relatable peer-to-peer princess who is experiencing many of the same social situations as young viewers at home including learning how to fit in, making new friends and mastering new skills.

Events across multiple platforms will mark the debut of “Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess” beginning Wednesday September 19 with the launch of the DisneyJunior.com/Sofia website featuring an introductory character gallery (I just checked this out with my almost 4-year-old and he loved it). On Friday, November 2, the site will expand to include a fully immersive experience where kids can create and personalize their own prince or princess avatars. A digital EP featuring five songs from the movie will be available on iTunes and other online retailers beginning Tuesday, November 13. A live simulcast on WATCH Disney Channel and mobile VOD for AT&T and Sprint customers will be presented in conjunction with the movie premiere on Sunday, November 18. The movie will also be available the following day on WATCH Disney Junior, Disney Junior On Demand and DisneyJunior.com.

What do you think about Sofia the First? You can watch the trailer for the show at the above DisneyJunior site if you haven’t seen it on TV with your little ones already. I know where I’ll be November 18!

First Sneak Peek at Sofia the First on Disney Junior

13 June 2012 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

We’ve been patiently waiting for Sofia the First to appear on Disney Junior since first hearing about her at the 2011 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Having a daughter named Sophia, we were particularly excited for this new show. Now thanks to Entertainment Tonight, we can see a clip of Sofia in her first episode.

Source: Entertainment Tonight Online

June 13, 2012

Exclusive Peek: ‘Modern Family’ Star Gets Animated

By David Weiner

Modern Family star Ariel Winter is getting animated for the new Disney Junior princess series Sofia the First, and we have an exclusive first look!

Sofia the First centers on a young girl whose life changes dramatically when her mom marries the king and she is suddenly whisked off to live in a castle. There, she must learn what it’s like to be a true princess.

Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez lends her voice to Sofia’s mom, Queen Miranda, while Wayne Brady (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) plays one of the cute woodland creatures who hangs around the castle and Project Runway guru Tim Gunn voices Baileywick, the castle’s royal steward

Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, and General Manager of Disney Junior Worldwide revealed the trailer during the Las Vegas Licensing Expo earlier this week. Sofia the First debuts this fall as a primetime television movie on Disney Channel, followed by the series premiere in early 2013.

Tim Gunn Joins Disney Junior in Sofia the First Movie and Series

13 December 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

We first learned of Disney Junior’s upcoming series Sofia the First back in March at Disney’s Social Media Moms conference. I was particularly excited since my daughter’s name is Sophia. More news is now out about Sofia the First – a movie will premier in 2012, with the series starting in 2013. An all-star cast provide the voices for this new set of stories.

Here’s the latest press release below:

Disney will introduce a little girl princess to its celebrated legacy of princess fairytales in an animated television movie and series, “Sofia the First,” premiering in fall 2012 and spring 2013 respectively, on Disney Channel and Disney Junior channels around the world. While Disney princess fairytales have been enchanting audiences for more than 70 years, this is the first time a series has centered around a princess as a little girl. The stories are designed to communicate positive messages and life lessons that are applicable to preschool-aged children. The series and movie are productions of Disney Television Animation.

“Sofia the First” stories are set in the storybook world of young Sofia who starts out life as a regular girl. But when her mom marries the king, she is whisked off to a glamorous, but sometimes confusing, castle world of royalty, pomp and new step-siblings, Amber and James. “Sofia the First” will include appearances by Fauna, Flora and Merryweather (fairies seen in Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty”) as the headmistresses of Royal Prep, the academy that Sofia, along with other princes and princesses, attends. Special event appearances will be made by classic characters including Cinderella and other Disney Princesses.

In announcing the series, Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide, said, “In Sofia, we have a ‘peer to peer princess,’ a relatable girl experiencing the same social issues as our young viewers – learning how to fit in, making new friends, conquering new skills and building sibling relationships.” She continued, “Although Sofia will have plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes, our stories will show Sofia, and our viewers, that what makes a real princess is what’s inside, not what’s outside. That the inner character of kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty and grace make you special, not the dress you wear.”

Providing the voice of Sofia is Ariel Winter (ABC’s “Modern Family”). Also highlighting the voice cast is Sara Ramirez (ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy”) as Queen Miranda; Wayne Brady (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?) as Clover, a wise-talking Rabbit; and Tim Gunn (ABC’s “The Revolution,” “Project Runway”) as Baileywick, the family’s Royal Steward. The actors providing the voices of King Roland, Amber and James will be announced soon.

The series was developed by Craig Gerber (“Pixie Hollow Games”) who also wrote the movie. Jamie Mitchell (“Special Agent Oso”) serves as both Executive Producer and Director on the series. Gerber is Co-Executive Producer and serves as the Story Editor.

Will your little one be watching Sofia the First? I’m excited to see where the series goes. Sofia’s pretty cute too, she sort of sounds like she could be Cinderella’s sister.

Lemonade Mouth Extended Edition DVD-Summertime Fun for All

3 June 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

When I received a review copy of the Lemonade Mouth Extended Edition DVD in the mail, my 10 year-old daughter had already watched it a few times on the Disney Channel. That didn’t stop her excitement when she saw the DVD and when I asked her if she wanted to watch it, she shouted “UH, YEAH!!!”. So we did just that.

Be Heard. Be Strong. Be Proud

It’s time to turn up the music and have some fun with an all-new Disney Original Movie, starring Bridget Mendler and Adam Hicks and introducing ten awesome new songs.

When five ragtag freshmen first meet in detention, it seems they have nothing in common. But, through music, they form an unbreakable bond and discover they have the makings of the greatest high school garage band in history! In the face of incredible odds, Olivia, Stella, Wen, Mohini, and Charlie find they can make a real difference when they learn to lean on each other and let go of everything holding back their dreams.

That’s the synopsis of the movie, so I wasn’t sure what I was in for, having grown up with now-classic John Hughes films. Buuut…I actually liked it too! It’s easy to want to rally against a character as evil as Principal Brenigen, who, in his quest to bring in more money for the school has focused all of his efforts and funding on sports, banishes all other extra-curricular activities to the basement.

On the first day of school, Stella gets detention for standing up for her own creativity and gains entrance into this underground lair of frustrated kids. Stella plays guitar and, after bonding over the organic lemonade sold in a vending machine outside the detention room, connects with other musician-outcasts to form the band Lemonade Mouth.

lemonade mouth cast — The cast of Lemonade Mouth with the other star - Mel's Lemonade!

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows from that point on. The kids must then battle their way to the top against the “cool kids” band, Mudslide Crush. I won’t give away the ending, but it didn’t really end in the predictable way, another thing that made me appreciate the movie. By the last song, I was dancing around the living room with my daughter (sorry, no pics of that) and was genuinely glad we’d watched it together. The message here is one of determination, individuality and strength, without being sickeningly sweet. These kids have real problems and real family issues, which makes them much more identifiable to the average tween or teen watching.

Just like my daughter’s favorite song below, “More Than a Band” – Lemonade Mouth is more than just another Disney Channel musical movie.

As school is getting out for the summer, this DVD is a great choice to keep kids entertained and motivated – maybe even start a band! 😉

The highly-anticipated 2-Disc DVD + Digitial Copy features an exclusive extended music scene that you can only get on the extended edition DVD release. Check out the DVD and Soundtrack on mp3 below: