This is definitely going on the naughty list. Were you excited to see the upcoming Disney+ / Disney Channel Original Movie Naughty Nine? Were you confused when Disney did not mention it at D23? Were you even more confused today when the Disney Branded TV press release for Fa-La-La Lidays made no mention of this film that wrapped filming April 2022?
It gives us no great pleasure to announce that we were informed today by a Disney publicist that The Naughty Nine will release holiday season 2023.
Why are they choosing to sit on this film that’s probably wrapped post-production for an entire year? Under Wraps 2 which premiered in October wrapped filming around the same time as The Naughty Nine. While no official release date was ever announced, this can certainly be counted as a delay. Holiday movies are regularly filmed and rewrapped in the first half of the year they release. Waiting to release the film until next Christmas (as opposed to this Christmas) is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Disney Channel’s Holiday celebrations this year are very lackluster. There is no “Disney Channel cast crossover special” in the vein of Disney Channel Holiday House Party (2020) [Now Streaming on Disney+] or Holidays Unwrapped (2019) [Now Streaming on DisneyNow with potential December 9th Disney+ release 🤫], no competition special like Holiday Magic Quest (2021) [Now Streaming on Disney+] and for the umpteenth year in a row the Christmas episodes of their series don’t include any crossovers either. Remember when they did those super exciting events, like Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas or Monstober Spooktacular Weekend 2015. Pepperidge Farm remembers.
We’ll provide the full Fa-La-La Lidiays lineup for Disney Branded TV below along with all the information we have on The Naughty Nine.
The Naughty Nine Details
The Naughty Nine is a holiday heist movie — think ‘Ocean’s 11’ at the North Pole — that follows fifth grader Andy, who has been a bit of a troublemaker this year. When Christmas morning rolls around and Andy gets stiffed by Santa, he realizes he’s on the “naughty list.” Feeling unfairly maligned, Andy pulls together a crack team of fellow “naughty listers” to execute an elaborate heist to get the presents he and the others feel they deserve. The determined ensemble includes Dulce, Andy’s best friend and archery expert; North Pole conspiracy theorist Lewis; daredevil “wheel woman” Ha-Yoon; animal whisperer Rose; master-of-disguise Jon Anthony; adorable charmer Albert; and Andy’s older sister, Laurel, a talented gymnast seeking to regain her confidence. Andy also enlists the help of Bruno, a disgruntled cargo pilot who claims to have witnessed Santa’s sleigh. However, in the process of finding their gifts, the gang begins to realize that Christmas is more about giving than taking.
The upcoming Disney holiday TV movie will feature Winslow Fegley, Camila Rodriguez, Anthony John Joo, Clara Stack, Imogen Cohen, Madilyn Kellam and Deric McCable. Executive producers are Suzanne Todd, Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas.
Disney Branded TV Fa-La-La Lidays Lineup
Oct. 27, 2022
DISNEY BRANDED TELEVISION PRESENTS CHEERFUL HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES, PREMIERING THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON ON DISNEY CHANNEL, DISNEY JUNIOR AND DISNEY XD
— New Stop-Motion Special ‘Mickey Saves Christmas’ Premieres Nov. 27 as a Simulcast on ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD —
Disney Branded Television, the leader in kids and family entertainment content, will present an abundance of cheerful and festive programming for the whole family to enjoy throughout the holiday season. Beginning FRIDAY, NOV. 25, through MONDAY, JAN. 2, Disney Channel’s Fa-la-la-lidays and Disney Junior’s Magical Holidays will serve as the hub for Disney Branded Television’s holiday-themed content, including the brand-new special “Mickey Saves Christmas” and holiday-themed episodes of “The Villains of Valley View,” “Raven’s Home,” “BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes,” “Big City Greens,” “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends,” “Puppy Dog Pals,” “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery,” “Eureka!” and new hit series “Firebuds,” which will include both a Hanukkah and Christmas story in its 22-minute holiday episode.
Presented as a simulcast on SUNDAY, NOV. 27, at 7:00 p.m. EST on ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD, “Mickey Saves Christmas” is a new stop-motion holiday special that follows Mickey, Minnie and their pals as they attempt to celebrate the perfect Christmas at their snowy cabin. However, when Pluto causes Santa to lose all the presents on his sleigh, the friends travel to the North Pole on a quest to save Christmas and find the true meaning of the holiday. The special is a collaboration between Disney and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, directed by David H. Brooks (“Ultra City Smiths”), with original music from songwriting team Laura Schein and Ben Zeadman (“Honor Society”). Real-life couple Brock Powell (Disney Channel’s “Hamster & Gretel”) and Camryn Grimes (“The Young and the Restless”) voice Santa and Mrs. Claus, respectively.
Also included as part of Disney Channel’s Fa-la-la-lidays programming event are holiday-themed episodes of hit series, including the following:
The Villains of Valley View “How the Villains Stole Christmas”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ November 23.
Friday, Dec. 2, at 8:00 p.m. EST on Disney Channel
Set in the past, Onyx issues an annual ruin Christmas challenge. The villain family breaks up into two teams to win it all but gets more than they bargained for.
BUNK’D: Learning the Ropes “Hauntin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ 2027ish 🙄
Friday, Dec. 2, at 8:30 p.m. EST on Disney Channel
While planning an over-the-top Christmas bash, Parker encounters several ghostly visitors who teach him the true meaning of the holiday.
Raven’s Home “A Country Cousin Christmas”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ December TBD
Friday, Dec. 2, at 9:00 p.m. EST on Disney Channel
Alice’s mom Betty Jane pays a surprise visit to the Baxter home for the holidays, but her insistence on celebrating things her way puts a damper on Raven’s Christmas cheer. Meanwhile, Booker, Ivy and Neil help Victor with a charity event at the Chill Grill.
Big City Greens “Virtually Christmas”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ TBD
Saturday, Dec. 3, at 9:00 a.m. EST on Disney Channel
Monday, Dec. 5, at 8:00 p.m. EST on Disney XD
In this half-hour special, when Cricket gets snowed in at the Remingtons’ on Christmas Eve, he attempts to recreate his family’s Christmas Eve traditions in a virtual reality video game. Alfonso Ribeiro (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) guest stars as a virtual reality video game character, Mr. Extras.
For preschoolers, parents and caregivers, special holiday-themed episodes of favorite Disney Junior series are premiering all season long as part of Disney Junior’s Magical Holidays, including the following:
Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends “Halted Holiday/Merry Spidey Christmas”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ November 30
Friday, Nov. 11, at 8:30 a.m. EST on Disney Channel
Friday, Nov. 11, at 12:30 p.m. EST on Disney Junior
“Halted Holiday” – When all roads to the city are blocked on Thanksgiving, Team Spidey works to clear up the traffic. Scott Porter (“Friday Night Lights”) guest stars as Gwen’s dad, George Stacy
“Merry Spidey Christmas” – Team Spidey uses their Glow Webs to save Christmas after baddies try to ruin it. Featuring the new original song “Merry Spidey Christmas,” written and performed by series’ songwriter/composer Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy).
Puppy Dog Pals “Wrap Party Pups/Fixing Santa’s Sleigh”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ November 23
Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7:00 p.m. EST on Disney Junior
“Wrap Party Pubs” – The pets go on a mission to find Grace’s gift before she needs to swap presents.
“Fixing Santa’s Sleigh” – When Santa’s sleigh breaks down mid-delivery, the pets make it their mission to fix it.
Firebuds “Hanukkah Hullabaloo/The Christmas Car-Sled Race”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ November 30
Monday, Nov. 28, at 7:00 p.m. EST on Disney Channel
Friday, Dec. 2, at 10:30 a.m. EST on Disney Junior
“Hanukkah Hullabaloo” – Bo gets carried away decorating his house for Hanukkah.
“The Christmas Car-Sled Race” – Bo enters a car-sled race to try to win his dad a Christmas present. Melissa Rauch (“The Big Bang Theory”) and Lou Diamond Phillips (“Elena of Avalor”) recur as Bo’s mom and dad, Beth and Bill Bayani, respectively.
Alice’s Wonderland Bakery “The Gingerbread Palace”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ TBD
Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7:00 p.m. EST on Disney Junior
Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:00 a.m. EST on Disney Channel
Alice and her friends build a gingerbread palace to host a Christmas dinner for all of Wonderland.
Eureka! “Jingle Bog Rock”
Editor’s Note: Streaming on Disney+ December TBD
Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7:00 p.m. EST on Disney Junior
Eureka invites Bog to perform with her band at Winterfest when she invents a new instrument that only he is able to play.
Drew Ryan is a film, TV, and Disney geek. He has degrees in English, Student Personnel Administration, and Library & Information Science from Lawrence University, Concordia University-Wisconsin, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Interested in the minutia and licensing of streaming service content, he is always publishing lists, suggestions, and advocating for Disney’s missing library to be added to Disney+. Drew subscribes to Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, and Paramount+. You can find him waxing nostalgic over classic Disney Channel or geeking out over Marvel, CW shows, & Disney on Twitter.
