What’s on Disney Plus in the Merriest Month – December 2022

As the holiday season goes into full swing, Disney+ will be bolstering its library with more episodes of some of the platform’s original TV series, a Christmas special from a beloved boy band, and an exclusive concert event at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. 

New episodes of current original series Raven’s House and The Owl House will premiere throughout December. Specials from National Geographic will explore the struggles occurring in the oceans with Shark vs. Tuna and Drain the Oceans. To the delight of many fans, the extended version of The Muppet Christmas Carol will also be making its debut to Disney+.

Original content will include a new animated adventure from the Night at the Museum film series, a TV series continuing the National Treasure film series, a Christmas special from the Backstreet Boys, Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl with the original voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-winning film, as well as new episodes of Willow and The Santa Clauses!

Let’s take a closer look at what’s coming up on Disney+ in December.

Friday, December 2

• Diary Of A Wimpy Kid – Rodrick Rules – Greg enters the next grade with his confidence and friendships intact, and an eye on the new girl in town, Holly Hills. But at home, Greg is still at war with his older brother, Rodrick. Their parents have handed down the toughest “punishment” imaginable: forcing the boys to spend quality time with each other.
• Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays – Superstar a cappella group Pentatonix needs inspiration for their annual holiday album. After getting locked in a mystical mailroom, a little Disney magic sends them on a whirlwind tour around the world, discovering holiday traditions and inspiration from Pentatonix fans across the globe.
• The Territory – Take a look into an immersive look at the tireless fight of the Amazon’s Indigenous Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by farmers and illegal settlers. 

• Akashinga: The Brave Ones – Single mothers, abandoned wives, and survivors of sexual and domestic violence enroll in an intense training selection to join rangers protecting elephants from poachers across Africa.
• Heroes of the Mediterranean – Marine biologist Manu San Félix witnessed the degradation the Mediterranean Sea has suffered over the last 30 years, and embarks on a journey across its waters to find solutions to the alarming situation and prevent more serious consequences.
• Patagonia Wings – Writer Sylvain Tesson accompanies the French High Mountain Military Group in their Patagonia expedition. United by the same love of mountaineering, they want to pay tribute to the Aéropostale’s heroes.

Wednesday, December 7

• Willow (Episode 2) – The series continues into December, and features a diverse international cast with Jonathan Kasdan, Ron Howard, Wendy Mericle, Kathleen Kennedy, and Michelle Rejwan serving as executive producers. An aspiring magician from a Nelwyn village and an infant girl are destined to unite the realms, and destroy an evil queen and banish the forces of darkness. Now, in a magical world where brownies, sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures flourish, the adventure continues, as an unlikely group of heroes set off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home.
• The Santa Clauses (Episode 5) – Scott is taken to the Yule-verse where he learns the truth about how he came to be Santa. Meanwhile things at the North Pole get worse as more elves disappear and Christmas spirit is all but destroyed. 
• The Mysterious Benedict Society (Season 2, Episode 8, Season Finale) – After escaping Dr. Curtain’s compound, the Society retreats to Number Two’s family home in Luxembourg, where she reconnects with her mother and siblings. 
• The Villains of Valley View (New Episodes) – When teenage supervillain Havoc stands up to the head of the League of Villains, her family members are forced to change their identities and relocate to a sleepy Texas suburb.
• Raven’s Home (2 New Episodes) – Single mother Raven Baxter raises her children along with her friend, Chelsea. Things take a turn when Raven’s son starts showing psychic abilities.

• Alice’s Wonderland Bakery (5 Episodes) – Alice embarks on magical recipe adventures with her best pals, who join her in the bakery to whip up whimsical cakes and treats for friends and neighbors with enchanted kitchen tools and ingredients to help them.
• Animal Fight Night (Seasons 1 through 6) – Watch unique footage of animals of the same species engaging in fatal fights to survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of the wilderness.
• Beyond Magic with DMC (Season 1) – Magician Drummond Money-Coutts travels across various international destinations showcasing his mastery through card play, cheating, and magic.
• Botswana (Season 1) – Explore the highlights of the wild in the fascinating country of Botswana. Filmed in HFR at 50 frames per second, the wildlife footage takes the viewer on an exhilarating safari to the Okavango Delta.

• Gigantosaurus (Season 3, 8 episodes) – Four curious young dinosaurs named Rocky, Bill, Tiny, and Mazu go on adventures while following their herd. Rocky is the courageous one, Bill is the most timid, Tiny is the smallest yet most playful, and Mazu is the most inquisitive.
• Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t! (Episode 8) – The summer training camp is over, and the fall tournament is near. The four members of the Kyoritsu sumo club are determined to win their first match. 

Thursday, December 8

• Solo Amor Y Mil Canciones – On the 10th anniversary of Violetta’s release, Tini gets together with her former castmates to celebrate, giving her fans an intimate, unique, and unforgettable show. 

December 9

• Idina Menzel: Which Way To The Stage? – Follow Tony Award-winning icon Idina Menzel on her path to realize a lifelong dream: headlining a concert at Madison Square Garden in her hometown of New York City.
• Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again – Nick Daley is following in his father’s footsteps as night watchman at the American Museum of Natural History. When the maniacal ruler Kahmunrah escapes, it is up to Nick to save the museum once and for all.
• CMA Country Christmas – The variety show returns for its 13th year. Filmed in Nashville, the special features some of country music’s most beloved artists coming together for an intimate night full of holiday classics.
• Retrograde – The final nine months of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan is documented from multiple perspectives. One of the last U.S. special operations forces units deployed there, a young Afghan general and his corps fighting to defend their homeland against all odds, the civilians desperately attempting to flee as the country collapses, and the Taliban take over. 

• The Muppet Christmas Carol (Extended Edition) – Tis the season for love, laughter and one of the most cherished stories of all time. Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all the hilarious Muppets in this merry, magical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Michael Caine gives a performance that’s anything but “bah, humbug!” as greedy, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge. 
• Area 51: The CIA’s Secret – U.S. military site Area 51 is the subject of wild speculation and conspiracy theories, and now insiders reveal what really goes on behind closed doors.
• Ocean’s Breath – Coral reefs are the greatest living organism of this planet, and are dying. Can a geologist and paleontologist, a robotic engineer and a marine biologist find the killer of an organism which does not follow the rhythms of human beings? 
• Shark vs. Tuna – Oceanic titans clash in the remote crystal-blue battlefields of Ascension Island, where the yellowfin tuna are often faster, fitter and bigger than the sharks, reaching well over 250 pounds.

Wednesday, December 14

• The Great Christmas Light Fight (Season 10) – Carter Oosterhouse and Taniya Nayak judge Christmas displays created by families across the country. Each episode features the holiday home transformations of four families that were selected through a nationwide search based on past elaborate Christmas light displays, choreography, and extravagant designs. 
• Willow (Episode 3)
• The Santa Clauses (Episode 6) – To save Christmas, the Calvins race against Simon to find the Santa coat. 

• National Treasure – Edge Of History (Episodes 1 & 2) – The Disney+ Original series is an expansion of the “National Treasure” movie franchise told from the point of view of a young heroine, Jess – a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer in search of answers about her family.
• Alaska’s Deadliest (Season 1) – Alaska’s deadliest thrive in one of America’s last wild frontiers.
• Broken Karaoke (Shorts) (Season 1, Episode 1) – Disney characters sing along to songs.
• Drain the Oceans (Season 5) – Maritime mysteries – old and new – come to life in this 10-episode series, combining scientific data and digital re-creations to reveal shipwrecks, treasures, and sunken cities on the bottom of lakes, seas and oceans around the world. 

• The Owl House (Season 3, Episode 1) – Self-assured teenager Luz stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm and befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and a tiny warrior, King. Despite not having magical abilities, Luz pursues her dream of becoming a witch by serving as Eda’s apprentice.
• Positive Energy (Season 1) – Former “Mythbusters” host Kari Byron and British TV personality Dallas Campbell presenting innovators around the world who are creating new ways to power the future. Revealed are visionary large- and small-scale projects aimed at finding clean, renewable, affordable energy, and the hosts even help create a new energy installation.
• Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t! (Episode 9) – Ryota trains hard for the upcoming tournament, with Honoka advising him. Natsuko and Arisa are deeply moved to see the team united. Honoka’s graduation is approaching, and the thought of parting ways with Ryota saddens her. 

• Eureka! – New Episodes – A young inventor designs contraptions in hopes of making the world a better place and moving her prehistoric community into a more modern era.

Thursday, December 15

• A Very Backstreet Holiday – The Backstreet Boys sing songs from their holiday album, along with classic hits, and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

Friday, December 16

• Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration – Live never-before-seen musical performances, brand-new sets, and breathtaking costumes will be featured in this special. Songs from the original animated classic will be performed in front of a live audience at Disney Studios.

• If These Walls Could Sing – The Disney Original Documentary gives exclusive access to the most famous and longest-running studio in the world, Abbey Road Studios. In this personal film of memory and discovery, director Mary McCartney guides viewers through nine decades to tell the stories of some of the studio’s most iconic recordings.
• “Le Pupille” – From writer and director, Alice Rohrwacher, and Academy Award-winning producer, Alfonso Cuarón, “Le Pupille” is a tale of innocence, greed and fantasy. This live-action short explores the desires, freedom, devotion, and anarchy that is capable of flowering in the minds of girls within the confines of a strict religious boarding school at Christmas.
• Heroes of the Long Road Home with Martha Raddatz – A behind-the-scenes look at how the `Long Road Home’ series tracked the twists and turns of the journey home from combat of the soldiers of the 2-5 Cavalry.
• Mafia Confidential – Sicilian Mafia boss Totò Riina, known as `the boss of bosses’ gets his comeuppance when he is finally arrested in Palermo, Italy, after living as a fugitive on the run for 23 years.

• Muppets Most Wanted (Sing-Along Version) – The Muppets set out on a global tour, performing in locations that include Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London. Just after they perform in Berlin, they find themselves involved in a jewel heist.
• Where Oceans Collide – Central America’s brutal beginning made a home for some of the most diverse wildlife in the world. 

Wednesday, December 21

• National Treasure – Edge Of History (Episode 3) – After Jess discovers her late mother’s involvement in the treasure hunt, Jess becomes even more determined to unravel the secrets her mother never told her about their past. 
• Willow (Episode 4) 
• Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t! (Episode 10) – The last team left in the tournament is Hokuto Gakuin, Kyoritsu’s long-time rival. Saki tells the guys that they can compete in the co-ed tournament with Honoka if they win. Meiritsukan has already made it to the co-ed tournament, allowing Honoka to go up against Mayu once again. 

• The Flagmakers – From National Geographic Documentary Films, Academy Award-winning director Cynthia Wade, award-winning director Sharon Liese and executive producer Giannis Antetokounmpo poses one of today’s most pressing questions: who is the American flag for? 
• Ancient X Files (Season 2, 5 episodes) – Experts attempt to explain a puzzling ancient artifact, identify the origin of an extraordinary legend, and establish the authenticity of a revered religious relic.
• Born in Africa (Season 1) – Follow the intimate daily life of five families living in the wild and discover how parents give their babies the best start possible in life.
• Danger Decoded (Season 1) – The interactive series takes Internet clips of actual disasters and challenges viewers to predict the outcomes. Episodes feature skydiving, air travel, and motoring events, and a computer generates three possible outcomes using statistics and clues from the videos. 
• Port Protection Alaska (Seasons 1 through 5) – People who push the limits of survival in the remote community of Port Protection in Alaska.

Friday, December 23

• From the Ashes – Communities across the country wrestle with the legacy of the coal industry, and what its future should be under the Trump Administration. 
• Jaguar Beach Battle – Jaguars on a Costa Rican beach hunt sea turtles, an unusual prey. Wildlife explorer and host Filipe DeAndrade documents the newly discovered predator-prey relationship that dates back millions of years.
• Little Giant – An elephant calf is born into a family trying to survive in The Maasai Mara. Lions, hippos, and even men interrupt their quest for survival.

Wednesday, December 28

• Generation X (Season 1) – National Geographic Channel dives into history on a quest to re-define Generation X. Each hour examines one major milestone of Generation X and then breaks it down to explore the political, cultural, and economic forces at play.
• Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl – Step into Casa Madrigal for an unprecedented concert spectacular as the original voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-winning “Encanto” reunites at the Hollywood Bowl. Starring Stephanie Beatriz (as Mirabel), Adassa (as Dolores), Carolina Gaitán (as Pepa), Jessica Darrow (as Luisa), Diane Guerrero (as Isabela), Mauro Castillo (as Félix), Angie Cepeda (as Julieta) and Olga Merediz (as Abuela Alma) and special guests, including legendary Colombian superstars and multiple Latin Grammy Winners Carlos Vives and Andrés Cepeda. 
• National Treasure: Edge Of History (Episode 4) – For the first time ever, Jess finds herself in a puzzle-solving slump when she can’t crack the clue. Her personal life isn’t any less confusing, as she tries to figure out if she and Liam have romantic feelings for each other. 
• Willow (Episode 5)

• Savage Kingdom (Seasons 1 through 4) – Clans of lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs clash against one another over limited resources in the African continent.
• Street Genius (Seasons 1 and 2) – Engineer Tim Shaw demonstrates experiments based on physics and engineering on the streets, and then invites the public to guess the outcomes of the experiments.
• Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks Showdown (Season 1) – New England anglers head south to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for the winter bluefin tuna season.

Friday, December 30

• Black Pharaohs: Sunken Treasures – For the first time ever, archaeologists dive inside underwater pyramid tombs to shed new light on the Nubian kingdom that ruled Egypt for 75 years.
• Generation YouTube – The history of the last decade is through the lens of the world’s most famous video-sharing site. Take a closer look at the creators of YouTube, the stars it gave birth to, and the countries whose fates it changed.

Let’s Hear From You

And that’s December in a nutshell. Let us know what items are on your watch list! 

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