From our Friends at D23
The big holiday is almost upon us! Just a few more sleeps, as Bob Cratchit (played by Kermit the Frog) might sing in The Muppet Christmas Carol… We hope you’ll be surrounded by friends and family—and copious amounts of delicious eats and treats—all weekend long… but should you need some respite, there’s a plethora of fun and frolic to be watched from around the worlds of Disney. Merry merry!
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One—Thursday, December 21, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC (check local listings), next day on Hulu
Ready to jingle around the clock? (Or at least around your living room?) iHeartMedia has been celebrating the holiday season across the nation with its annual iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One, the season’s iconic live music event—capturing all the music and holiday spirit on iHeartRadio stations across America and the iHeartRadio app… and now, in tonight’s ABC special! (Streaming next day on Hulu, so don’t fret if you’re out last-minute shopping tonight.) Look for performances by this year’s biggest artists, including Olivia Rodrigo, Usher, Nicki Minaj, SZA, Niall Horan, OneRepublic, AJR, Sabrina Carpenter, Miguel, Jelly Roll, Big Time Rush, NCT DREAM, Flo Rida, and a special appearance by none other than Cher!
LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special—now streaming on Disney+
In this Disney+ special that premiered in 2020, as her friends prep for a Life Day holiday celebration, Rey (voiced by Helen Sadler) journeys with BB-8 on a quest to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force at a mysterious Jedi Temple. There, she embarks on a cross-timeline adventure through beloved moments in Star Wars history—coming into contact with iconic heroes and villains from all eras of the saga. But will she make it back in time for the Life Day feast? Also featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Rose, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian.
Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special—now streaming on Disney+
Mickey Mouse and the gang celebrate the holidays in this special Christmas episode from 2016. Donald Duck decides to stay home instead of migrating somewhere warmer. To commemorate the occasion, Mickey hopes to make Donald’s first Christmas the greatest ever… but in the meantime, Donald starts not feeling well—and the gang realizes he’s got to get to warmer climes. Can they still have a memorable holiday after all?
Mickey’s Christmas Carol—now streaming on Disney+
In this now-classic 1983 animated short, directed by Disney Legend Burny Mattinson, Charles Dickens’ well-known Christmas tale is retold with Uncle Scrooge McDuck taking the role of Ebenezer Scrooge; Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit; Goofy as Jacob Marley’s ghost; Donald Duck as nephew Fred; and so many more. This delightful short, which aired annually on NBC for years, was even nominated for an Academy Award®!
Arendelle Castle Yule Log Cut Paper Edition—now streaming on Disney+
Hand-crafted from paper art by Brittney Lee, acclaimed visual development artist on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen and Frozen 2, this hearthside scene sets a warm and inviting mood. Stylized cut-out paper flames combine with imaginative visual effects (including a touch of snow provided by Elsa!) and silhouetted images of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven are sure to add to the mirth and merriment at your holiday festivities. D23 was lucky enough to chat with Lee when this Yule Log first debuted in 2021; check it out by clicking here.
