Category: Disney

  • Emily Blunt Goes for a Joy Ride in New ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Photo

    Emily Blunt Goes for a Joy Ride in New ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Photo

    A recently released new production photo from the upcoming sequel, Mary Poppins Returns, is practically perfect in every way. Just less than a year away from the film’s Christmas 2018 release date Mary Poppins fans are feeling supercalifragilisticexpialidocious about seeing the upcoming sequel.

    The production still, posted on Twitter, shows Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Emily Blunt having fun while on a joyride with Georgie (Joel Dawson). Blunt takes on Julie Andrews’ renowned role as the magical nanny Poppins, with Miranda playing Poppins’ lamplighter friend, Jack.

    Taking place 25 years after the events of the original Mary Poppins film, Mary Poppins Returns follows the adult children Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer). The sequel is set in 1930s London, which is the time period of the original novels by P.L. Travers.

    Michael is living with his three children (Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and Joel Dawson) and housekeeper Ellen (Julie Walters), in the house on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael has a personal loss, Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) comes back into the lives of the Banks family. She is joined by a street lamplighter named Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), and an eccentric cousin named Topsy (Meryl Streep). Dick Van Dyke will also play a role in the film as Mr. Dawes Jr., the chairman of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, which is now run by William Weatherall Wilkins (Colin Firth). Angela Lansbury is also in the cast as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins books. What an amazing cast!

    In March, Disney offered a first look at the anticipated musical, releasing a still of Blunt in character as Poppins standing outside the beloved Banks family home.
    Mary Poppins Returns

    Also starring in the sequel is Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Angela Lansbury. Directed by Rob Marshall the film and Marc Platt and John DeLuca are serving as producers. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have teamed up to compose original songs and an original score for the musical sequel.

    Mary Poppins Returns is set to hit theaters on Dec. 25, 2018.

  • Character Dining at Walt Disney World Complete List

    Character Dining at Walt Disney World Complete List

    Breakfast with Donald Duck, lunch with Mickey Mouse and dinner with the Disney princesses — that might comprise a perfect day for some young visitors to Walt Disney World Resort. Character Dining is one of the best ways to get to see some of your favorite characters.

    The lovable Disney characters get up close for photos and autographs at special dining experiences in the theme parks and resorts. Meals generally are buffet style, and every character promises a stop at each table.

    Here is a run down of the Character Dining Options you’ll find at

    In the Theme Parks

    Magic Kingdom

    Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Cinderella Castle, with Cinderella and friends; breakfast: 8-10:20 a.m., lunch noon-3 p.m., dinner 4 p.m. (closing varies with park closing).

    A Buffet With Character at The Crystal Palace, Winnie the Pooh and friends; breakfast 8-10:30 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner from 4 p.m.-closing.

    Epcot

    Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast at The Garden Grill Restaurant in The Land, with Mickey and friends; breakfast and lunch, and dinner from 4:30 p.m.-closing.

    Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway pavilion, with Belle, Snow White, Aurora, Ariel; breakfast from 8:30-10:10 a.m., lunch from 11:40 a.m.-2:50 p.m., dinner from 4:20-8:40 p.m. 

    Disney’s Hollywood Studios

    Playhouse Junior Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood & Vine featuring Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake and Handy Manny; breakfast from 8-11:20 a.m., lunch from 11:40 a.m.-2:25 p.m.

    Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine featuring Minnie Mouse and the gang dressed in each season’s best looks, dinner from 4 p.m. (closing varies with park closing)

    Disney’s Animal Kingdom

    Donald’s Safari Breakfast and Lunch at Tusker House Restaurant in Harambe, buffet with Donald Duck and friends, breakfast from 8-10:30 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

    In the Resort Hotels

    Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort with Mickey Mouse and friends, breakfast and dinner buffet daily, breakfast from 7-11:30 a.m.; brunch from 11:30-2:30 p.m.; dinner from 5-9:30 p.m.

    Beach Club Buffet at Disney’s Beach Club Resort with Beach Club Goofy and friends, daily at Cape May Café, from 7:30-11 a.m.

    Chef Mickey’s Fun Time Buffet daily at Disney’s Contemporary Resort with Mickey and his gang; breakfast from 7-11:30 a.m., dinner from 5-9:30 p.m.

    The Bon Voyage Breakfast is an all-new character dining experience at Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk, with appearances by adventurous royal couples from beloved Disney films. The celebration features popular characters from favorite Disney stories like “Tangled” or “The Little Mermaid.”

    1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, with Mary Poppins and friends; breakfast from 8-11:50 a.m.; dinner from 4-9 p.m.

    Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, “tea party” for children with Alice and the Mad Hatter from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Includes lunch.

    Disney’s Perfectly Princess Tea at Garden View Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, 10:30 a.m.-noon on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

    Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, dinner buffet with Cinderella and friends from 4:30-8:20 p.m. daily.

    `Ohana’s Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, family-style breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto, 7-11 a.m.

    Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue stars The Big Cheese himself, Mickey Mouse and friends at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, seasonal.

    If you need help booking your magical vacation and making sure you have all the best dining reservations, contact Travel Time with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!

  • Disney Donates $2 Million to Make-A-Wish for #ShareYourEars

    Disney Donates $2 Million to Make-A-Wish for #ShareYourEars

    Millions of Disney fans who took part in this year’s #ShareYourEars campaign over the holidays.

    Once again with all the Ear Photos shared Disney reached its goal of $1 million and for the second year in a row they have doubled their original donation to Make-A-Wish to $2 million.

    Disney Parks donated $5 to Make-A-Wish for each photo you shared on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram wearing “Mickey Ears” with the hashtag #ShareYourEars, which will help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses and their families around the world.

    Disney saw so many fun, silly, wacky, creative, festive Mickey Mouse Ear photos pour in from the far corners of the globe these past few weeks. Every year, nearly 9,000 Disney-related wishes are granted worldwide with Make-A-Wish, and with your support we can make even more happiness come true in the years to come.

  • ‘The Last Jedi’ Blasts Past $800 Million Worldwide Box Office

    ‘The Last Jedi’ Blasts Past $800 Million Worldwide Box Office

    The second weekend may have seen a dip in Star Wars: The Last Jedi earnings, but the force is still strong with this film. The newest instalment to the Star Wars saga is blasting past $800 Million at the box office worldwide.

    On Christmas Day the film earned approximately $27.5 million from North American theaters with the international release raking in $14.8 million more.

    The Last Jedi is now the third highest-grossing film of 2017 in the U.S. It’s currently lands just behind Wonder Woman and Beauty and the Beast. It should be noted that it has reached that third place ranking in less than two weeks.

    Already the 28th-highest of all time its 11-day domestic total is at $400 million, the film is poised to crack the $1 billion worldwide threshold for sure as it is set to open in China on Jan. 5.

    With $800 million worldwide at the end of Christmas, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” already ranks as the 71st-highest worldwide grosser of all time. It is also had the second highest opening day total bringing in $104 million. It’s the second highest opening day for a film in U.S. history and once again second only to “The Force Awakens”

    With many moviegoing folks on vacation for the holidays the film should finish 2017 strong. Despite recent criticisms, many film reviewers praised The Last Jedi as “the best since” Empire Strikes Back.

    Those believing that interest in Star Wars is on the decline “I find your lack of faith disturbing.” While The Last Jedi is below The Force Awakens totals it’s still far ahead of Rogue One numbers. The film’s plummeting audience score on Rotten Tomatoes has been a little suspect too with an alt-right group recently taking credit for using bots in a concerted attack against the Rian Johnson-directed movie.

    It really seems that much of the criticisms of the film are coming from a small minority of fans as the calls for The Last Jedi to be deleted from history seem to be landing in the silence of space. In the end the box office tells the story and right now these numbers are looking pretty good.

    Directed by Rian Johnson, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” picks up where “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” left off. It stars returning cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Andy Serkis. New stars include Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro.

  • Kim Kardashian Gets $100,000 Worth of Disney Stock For Christmas

    Kim Kardashian Gets $100,000 Worth of Disney Stock For Christmas

    Everyone loves to receive a little Disney magic for Christmas, but can you imagine getting $100,000 in Disney Stock under the tree?

    If you wanted to give someone a nice Disney related gift, I can’t think of a better stock-ing stuffer for Christmas.  Kim Kardashian was surprised by her husband, Kanye West with $100,000 worth of Disney Stock this Christmas and the reality TV star now actually owns a little piece Disney.

    Disney Stock

    She was also gifted a number of other blue chip stocks from Kanye, but the 920 shares of Disney by far stands out as the most magical!

    Sharing the news on her Instagram story, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, told her followers, “Okay, so for one of my Christmas presents from Kanye he gives me this little box with a Disney Mickey toy”.

    Disney Stock

    The toy just a little teaser to her actual gift as she revealed that the small Mickey Mouse wasn’t her only present.

    Kardashian West’s gave us a peak at her stock certificates including the one for The Walt Disney Company stating the reality star had received “a gift from her husband” of 920 shares to the company that is valued at approximately $100,000.

    While stocks might be an untraditional Christmas gift, it’s better than a sack of coal and Kardashian clearly loved her present from West because she captioned the video “best husband alert!”

    Kanye gifts Kim with stocks 💰 🎁 #kimkardashian

    A post shared by Kim Kardashian Snapchats 🍑 (@kimksnapchats) on

  • NEW: Mary Poppins Dooney & Bourke Bags Are Practically Perfect

    NEW: Mary Poppins Dooney & Bourke Bags Are Practically Perfect

    A practically perfect new Mary Poppins Dooney & Bourke bag popped in to shops around Disney Parks Friday. And first of all, “I would like to make one thing quite clear…”  I need this bag.

    The design features Mary with her iconic hat, scarf and umbrella on a light blue background. There are cute little flowers and bows on the print as well as proper penguins and the classic carousel horses.

    Dooney & Bourke has combined their elegant line of bags with Mary Poppins in the most delightful way. First off the Tote which retails for $268. It has two straps and plenty of room. As with all Dooney’s make sure you check the print placement to make sure you get a good cut.

    Mary Poppins Dooney and Bourke

    The Satchel is a medium-sized bag and it fully zips up.  This designs features Mary prominently on the front with London in the distance. It still has the other pattern on the sides and it retails for $298.

    Mary Poppins Dooney and Bourke

    Finally we have the Crossbody Wallet.  It’s a small a small bag with a strap that is perfect for when you are traveling light in the parks. Retail on this one is $178.

    Mary Poppins Dooney and Bourke

    The subtle yet classy designs are sure to be a hit and all the excitement has left many Dooney Collectors with their jaws wide open. Well, “Close your mouth please… We are not a codfish.”

    If you’re contemplating getting one “Why complicate things that are really quite simple?” You know you want one so go ahead and treat yourself.  Yes, we know you said you wouldn’t spend anymore until after Christmas, but “That’s a piecrust promise. Easily made, easily broken.”

    This is the perfect last-minute gift for every Mary Poppins lover. Your husband may think it is just another bag, however “Though we adore men individually, we agree that as a group they’re rather stupid.”  These bags will be in high demand so get yours while you still can. Just remember “Anything can happen if you let it.”

    This new collection can be found at Mousegear at Epcot and Uptown Jewelers at Magic Kingdom. You can also find them at Disney Springs at Marketplace Co-Op and Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories. No word yet on if or when these will be on the Shop Disney Parks App or at Shopdisney.com, but they did just arrive at the parks so keeping checking back and we’ll let you know when they show up.

     

  • Google Home Brings Disney Interactive Hands-Free Family Fun

    Google Home Brings Disney Interactive Hands-Free Family Fun

    Oh, boy! Gather up your pals for a Mickey Mouse Adventure on Google Home. Now you can invite Mickey Mouse right into your home!

    Help Mickey make all the choices as he navigates across a busy city to get to his magic show performance on time. Should he take a taxi or the subway? Ride a moped or surf the tunnels? Go left or right? If he makes it on time, you may even get to assist him in the magic show! The fun never stops with Mickey Mouse Adventure.

    To play with Mickey Mouse on Google Home, just say “Hey Google, play Mickey Mouse Adventure”. Check out the video below.

    Google Home is a Wi-Fi speaker that also works as a smarthome control centre and an assistant for the whole family. You can use it to playback entertainment throughout your entire home, effortlessly manage everyday tasks, and ask Google things you want to know.

    You can also play along with a “Cars Adventure,” feature with favorites Mater and Lightning McQueen.

    In Cars Adventure, players can play “drive-and-seek” through Radiator Springs with Lightning and Mater. The story can take you to either Flo’s V8 Cafe or Sarge’s Surplus Hut. Choices in this game are made through voice commands as with Mickey Mouse Adventure, and can lead to possibilities like racing with Cruz Ramirez, driving through Carburetor Canyon, or even tractor tipping!

    Yes it can set appointments for you and turn on your lights, but its got plenty of Disney Magic integrated into it perfect for the ultimate Disney Dork.  The speaker is great story teller too and it can now be asked to retell classic fairy tales, including “Snow White” and “Cinderella”.

    Children under 13 can also have their own personalized Google Assistant experience when they log in with their own account, powered by Family Link.

  • Disney Releases 2018 Movie Schedule

    Disney Releases 2018 Movie Schedule

    The Walt Disney Studio has released their release calendar for the coming year’s biggest blockbusters, including three Marvel movies and a Star Wars film.

  • Disney Staff Can Enter Your Room At Any Time With New Security Measures

    Disney Staff Can Enter Your Room At Any Time With New Security Measures

    Do you enjoy your privacy and not being disturbed when staying on Walt Disney World Property? Well those ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs that don many guests room doors to let the resort staff know that you want a little peace and quiet may be a thing of the past.

    According to a report by WDW News Today the ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs will be replaced with ‘Room Occupied’ signs.  The new signs are expected to show up at monorail resorts first and only serve to let cast members know that guest are in the room, but will not keep them from entering your room.

    Guests WILL be disturbed at some point because Disney will now require that your room be entered by resort staff at least once a day to “ensure guest safety”.  Even if you elect not to have Mousekeeping clean your room, they are still coming in.  In the most polite Disney way a cast member can of course…  Disney states that cast members will give reasonable notice prior to entering by knocking and announcing that they will enter according to the article.

    The is most likely a result of the recent security issues that have arisen in response to the incident that happened in a Las Vegas Hotel earlier in the year.  Like the Vegas Hotel, the Monorail resorts are quite tall and it makes sense to start with those resorts first.

    There is no public statement from Disney about the changes, but guests at Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Resorts should find notification of the changes in their room possibly as early as today.

    It shouldn’t be that much of a disruption as many guests will probably be off in the parks enjoying their day anyway and won’t even be in their rooms when they are checked. I’m also assuming this would be during reasonable hours. It’s really just a sign of the times we live in.

     

  • Why This Disney Heiress Wants You Mad

    Why This Disney Heiress Wants You Mad

    A tax bill passed recently and many people don’t really know what to make of it, but Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Walt Disney Company co-founder Roy O. Disney says she understands it and it should make you mad.

    NowThis put out a video on Wednesday, where the heiress explains how she is expected to get a huge tax cut on income she did nothing to earn.

    “This bill will give me this tax cut while also killing health insurance for over 13 million people,” Disney said. “It will let me pass over $20 million to my children, tax-free. And all my friends with private jets? They get a tax cut too.”

    Disney fears that the idea of social mobility, that kids from a poor family can achieve the American dream — as her grandfather Roy and great-uncle Walt, did — is quickly becoming unrealistic.

    “But I will be able to stay comfortably right where I am,” she said. “Does that strike you as fair?”

    Disney also references President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to “drain the swamp.”

    “Given how this bill was written, I think it’s looking a lot like a nightmare from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’” she said. “Have I made you angry yet? I really hope I’ve made you angry. You should be. No one who votes for this tax bill will be voting with your life in mind. But you will pay for it.”

    Disney said she was motivated to speak out against the bill because of the desire to advocate for the public good, above self-interest.

    “If democracy is just a bunch of people advocating for their own self-interest instead of the interests of the greater good, then we’re not a democracy, we’re anarchy,” Disney said. “We need to start voting and acting as citizens as though the common good matters more than our own personal well-being.”