Disney News

Category: Disney

  • Dress Up Your Holiday Hot Cocoa Disney Style

    Dress Up Your Holiday Hot Cocoa Disney Style

    When it seem like Queen Elsa herself is trying her hardest to show up Jack Frost and you can’t seem to escape the chill in the air, there’s nothing better than cozying up and sharing a warm drink with the ones you love.  Just in time for this holiday season, here are three magical hot chocolate recipes featuring delectable delights all served in the perfect Disney Store Mug. Dig out the marshmallows, shake up the cream, and get ready to brew some hot cocoa the Disney way!

    Star Wars: The Dark Side of Hot Chocolate

    You won’t find rebel scum anywhere near this Imperial Scout Trooper Mug or this Stormtrooper Mug with a crack squadron of marshmallow TIE fighters on patrol. Being bad sure tastes ever so good.

    1. Use icing to adhere thin chocolate wafer cookies and marshmallows to create bite-size TIE fighters.

    2. Split a full size cookie and use a toothpick to etch a matching trooper helmet design.

    3. Succumb to the dark side by making your favorite dark hot chocolate recipe.

    4. Add finishing touches including a dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of dark chocolate, and a burst of star sprinkles with cookie crumbs. Remember to send your troopers and TIE fighters out on patrol.

    Icy Blue Frozen Hot Chocolate

    If you can’t beat the cold, you might as well join it. This frozen hot chocolate recipe flips traditional hot cocoa on its head. You’ll have Queen Elsa Proud and wanting to join you.

    1.  Chill your Elsa Glass Mug and Anna Glass Mug in the freezer.
    2. While you wait, bake snowflake sugar cookies and pipe snowflake detail with white icing.
    3. Make your favorite white hot chocolate recipe, then add a drop of turquoise food coloring. After it cools, blend with ice.
    4. Pull your Frozen mugs out of the freezer and pour in the iced cocoa.
    5. Add a mountain of whipped cream capped with an icy blast of sprinkles, iridescent edible glitter, and snowflake cookies. The cold never bothered you anyway!

    “it’s a small world”: International Confetti Hot Cocoa

    ¡Delicioso! Läcker! Délicieuse! If you like your cocoa to warm not only your tummy, but also your heart, the “it’s a small world” mug is perfect for you. Just add a little international flavor!

    1. Find a new-to-you international hot chocolate recipe such as chai, Mayan, or Italian.

    2. Top it with a snowy-white glob of whipped cream, then add rainbow marshmallows and confetti sprinkles.

    3. Garnish with toothpick flags from countries around the world. It’s a small world after all!

    A Mug for Every Cocoa

    Whether you like your cocoa hot, cold, plain or overflowing with added goodies, Disney Store’s selection of themed mugs makes it easy to find one to warm up with. That means everyone on your couch can find the perfect mug and still have enough left for a matching blanket. What a perfect way to spend those cozy chilly holiday nights.

     

  • Disney Parks & Resorts Honored for Allergy-Friendly Food Options

    Disney Parks & Resorts Honored for Allergy-Friendly Food Options

    Disney’s dining experience is out of this world, and they go above and beyond to make sure they have options for people of all dietary needs. Earlier this month, the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) recognized Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as an industry leader in providing safe, quality dining experiences to guests with allergies and special diets at the 20th annual Food Allergy Ball in New York City.

    “It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by FARE for our efforts to make our dining experiences enjoyable for all our Guests,” said Mandy Bond, Director of Food & Beverage Strategies and Standards, who accepted the award on behalf of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We truly appreciate having FARE as a partner to educate and inform us as we evolve our allergy efforts and resources so we can continue to deliver excellent offerings for our guests with food allergies.”

    Disney Fare Award

    Disney Parks is proud to serve up magical meals for every guest, whether they are enjoying a five-star dining experience or a quick-service option. Each year, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts serves more than 700,000 meals at over 650 Disney dining locations to guests with food allergies and special diets. Guests from all over the world, including those with food allergies, can dine with confidence at Disney dining locations across our Parks and Resorts with allergy-friendly menus and snack options, as well as easy to note special dietary needs during the booking and ordering process.

    Disney Dining

    FARE works to improve the health and quality of life for the 15 million Americans with food allergies and gives them hope through research and treatment options.

  • Tickets Are Now On Sale for Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire Immersive Hyper-Reality Experience

    Tickets Are Now On Sale for Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire Immersive Hyper-Reality Experience

    Tickets are now available for a new hyper-reality experience, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire by ILMxLAB and The VOID, an offering that will debut at Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort December 16, and at Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort, January 5, 2018.

    Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire will transport guests deep into the Star Wars universe, walking freely and untethered throughout the multisensory experience with friends and family. In groups of four, teams will go undercover as stormtroopers to capture Imperial intelligence vital to the budding rebellion’s survival.

    Free Poster with Star Wars: The Last Jedi Tickets
    “We are so excited about this magical collaboration between three boundary-pushing companies in the burgeoning out-of-home VR entertainment sector,” says Curtis Hickman, co-founder and chief creative officer at The VOID. “We can’t wait to share the experience of hyper-reality with everyone.”

    Guests can experience the excitement of hyper-reality today with this first look at Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire below.

    “People have longed for a chance to step into the Star Wars universe and this incredible new hyper-reality experience will allow them to do just that in a totally unique way,” notes Vicki Dobbs Beck, executive in charge, ILMxLAB. “It’s a group experience that evokes the senses in bold new ways.

    About The VOID
    By combining physical sets with real-time interactive effects, The VOID allows guests to step beyond reality, engaging all senses in new and unimaginable hyper-realistic worlds. In July 2016, The VOID opened its first public experience at Madame Tussauds New York. In 2017, The VOID expanded with locations at The Rec Room in Toronto, The Beach in Dubai, and at the company’s headquarters in the greater Salt Lake City area. The VOID was also chosen to participate in the acclaimed Disney Accelerator program during the summer of 2017.

    For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.thevoid.com.

    About ILMxLAB
    Founded in 2015, ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s Immersive Entertainment division, combines compelling storytelling, technological innovation and world-class production to create truly impactful, immersive entertainment experiences. ILMxLAB develops experiences for virtual reality, augmented/mixed reality, real-time cinema, theme park entertainment and narrative-based experiences for future platforms.

  • Whoopi Goldberg to Host Freeform’s ‘Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic’

    Whoopi Goldberg to Host Freeform’s ‘Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic’

    Freeform, Disney’s young adult television and streaming network, recently announce that Academy Award-winning actress and “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg will host its upcoming holiday special “Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic.”

    Premiering DEC. 18 at 8:00 p.m. EST, with special co-hosts Disney Channel’s “Descendants” star and Hollywood Records/Republic Records recording artist Sofia Carson and “Dancing with the Stars” winner and Hollywood Records recording artist Jordan Fisher, the festive one-hour event will reveal how the holiday magic and spirit come to life as the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks and resort hotels are transformed into winter wonderlands filled with seasonal attractions, joyful entertainment, festive décor and special treats that make every day feel like a holiday. The spirit of the season shines even brighter in these magical places where families share traditions and make memories together.

    “As a longtime friend of Mickey, there’s no place I’d rather spend the holidays than at the Happiest Place on Earth,” said Whoopi Goldberg. “To see the incredible work that goes into turning the parks into a winter wonderland is truly magical, and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

    From the executive producers of the “Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings” series, Ann Lewis Roberts, Simon Lythgoe and Jenny Daly, viewers will meet the dedicated team of Disney cast members and Santa’s helpers, who meticulously plan, design, build and bring to life wondrous Christmas trees, life-size gingerbread houses and much more!

    “Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic,” hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, will air during Freeform’s annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming event. Now in its 21st year of bringing holiday cheer to viewers, Freeform’s 25 continuous days of holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family runs from DEC. 1–25, and viewers can ring in the season with festive specials, classic holiday movies and returning favorites.

  • Coach Store at Disney Springs Opens Today

    Coach Store at Disney Springs Opens Today

    Coach fans have been patiently awaiting the opening of a new retail location at Walt Disney World and today that patience paid off. That’s right! The Coach store at Disney Springs is now open.

    Disney Springs took to their twitter account today to announce their newest retail addition.

    Coach is a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle collections for women and men. Product offerings include bags, small leather goods, footwear, ready-to-wear, outerwear, watches, weekend and travel accessories, scarves, sunwear, fragrance, jewelry, and related accessories.

    Coach will offer a selection of accessories and leather goods for both women and men, presumably including their very popular Disney collection. Coach and Disney have worked together in the past to create various lines of bags and accessories, so many Disney enthusiasts are extremely excited to see the new store showing up at Disney Springs.

    The store is located in Town Center, where the recently closed Vince Camuto store was near MAC Cosmetics. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10am to 11pm and on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 11:30pm.

  • Disney Parks Are Among The ‘Most Instagrammed Locations’ In 2017

    Disney Parks Are Among The ‘Most Instagrammed Locations’ In 2017

    Instagram has announced their “Top 10 Most-Instagrammed Locations” around the globe for 2017 – and four Disney Parks have made the list.

    The Happiest Place on Earth – Disneyland park – earned the title of the #1 Most Instagrammed Location in 2017. Three other Disney theme parks also ranked in the top ten, with Tokyo Disneyland coming in at #5, Magic Kingdom Park landing at #6, and Disney California Adventure park earning the #9 spot.

    And this isn’t the first time Disney Parks has landed at the top of Instagram’s list. In 2016, “Disney Properties” ranked #1 as Instagram’s most photographed location around the world.

    New to Instagram? Following official Disney Parks Instagram accounts – Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and the Disney Parks Blog – is a great way to start.

  • ‘Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic’ Airs December 11 on Freeform

    ‘Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic’ Airs December 11 on Freeform

    Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” is in full swing and if you love wedding your going to want to ‘save the date’ for this special. Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings is returning to Freeform for a brand new TV special highlighting gorgeous holiday weddings at Disney Parks.

    Tune in to see unforgettable celebrations during the most spirited time of the year. Hosted by Stephen “tWitch” Boss, resident DJ for “The Ellen Show” and Allison Holker, “Dancing With the Stars” pro, this one-hour special follows two couples as they plan their dream weddings and make their way down the aisle.

    Disney Wedding

    New York couple, Dominique and Joe say “I Do” with a winter wonderland wedding at Walt Disney World Resort.

    Their large Italian families are coming together to watch as the couple begins their happily ever after. Be a guest at their heartfelt ceremony at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion followed by a Frozen-inspired reception at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Ballrooms. You won’t want to miss their surprise musical performance in the Italy Pavilion in Epcot!

    Airing during Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” event, you’ll see holiday wedding magic come to life. Mark your calendar for December 11th at 8/7c

  • Moana Comes to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

    Moana Comes to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

    Moana’s travels the ocean, but her latest landing spot is Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. Starting today, guests can visit with the Disney heroine during a new premium experience!

    During “Kakamora Chaos with Moana” at Aunty’s Beach House, Moana is eager to learn more about her new friends, especially the games they play.

    During the interactive 90-minute experience, young guests will learn to play children’s games from Hawai’i, as well as a game from Moana’s home island of Motunui: the Kakamora Relay!

    There are other fun ways to see Moana during her visits to Aulani Resort. Guests can join Moana and Aulani Resort’s beloved storyteller “Uncle” as they share the importance of the canoe—or wa‘a—during Kahakai Canoe Racing. The interactive activity concludes after building a canoe model and racing in the lagoon!

    In the evenings, resort guests may choose to wind down around the fire pit as Moana and Uncle recount tales of adventure during Mo‘olelo Firepit Storytelling.

    Guests attending the the resort’s KA WA‘A lū‘au will also be delighted when Moana makes a special appearance during the lively pre-show, which pays homage to the incredible journey the Hawaiian people made across the ocean.

  • Disney on Broadway Line-Up Announced for 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Arts

    Disney on Broadway Line-Up Announced for 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Arts

    The Epcot International Festival of the Arts will returns for the second year in a row.  Celebrating all things art – performing, visual and culinary – from January 12 – February 19 – with festivities running seven days a week and Disney On Broadway performances happening each weekend (Fridays through Mondays) in 2018.

    Last year, the Disney On Broadway series was a highlight of the festival for many guests. We’re happy to share a first look at the lineup of Broadway artists set to take the America Gardens Theatre stage this year.

    • January 12-15 and 19-22: Kara Lindsay (NEW!) and Kevin Massey, who will perform songs from “Tarzan,” “Aladdin,” “Newsies” and “Frozen.”
    • January 26-29 and February 2-5: Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White, who will perform songs from “Tarzan,” “The Lion King,” “Aida,” “Aladdin,” and “The Little Mermaid.”
    • February 9-12 and 16-19: Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland, who will perform songs from “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Tarzan,” “Mary Poppins,” “Newsies” and “Frozen.”

    All Disney on Broadway shows are included in theme park admission and will take place Fridays through Mondays at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.

    One of the best ways to experience Disney on Broadway is through a dining package. Guests can book a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, and later enjoy priority seating at the show.

    After a successful year one in 2017, the festival is coming back better than ever.

    In addition to the broadway line up the festival will have so much more.  This year guests will experience world-class cuisine, remarkable visual art and an extraordinary lineup of live entertainment. Introduce your inner aficionado to an exciting extravaganza brimming with phenomenal artists, gourmet fare, musical performances, stage productions and other amazing acts. We’ve rolled everything you love about the arts into one spectacular festival.

    The festival features:

    • Seminars and workshops from top Disney, local and nationally-renowned artists including classes on drawing animation, photography and the art of making topiaries – just to name a few
    • More than a half a dozen specially-created food studios offering a wealth of “artistic” culinary delights
    • A host of performing artists that build on Epcot’s already stellar lineup of authentic performers
    • And, my favorite, the Disney on Broadway series featuring performers from some of the best Disney Theatrical productions

    Dinner and a Show
    Another returning favorite is our Disney on Broadway Dining Packages, where you can maximize your experience at the Festival with a meal at one of the participating Epcot restaurants and priority seating for our Disney on Broadway concert series.

    Guests can book a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, and later be followed by a phenomenal Disney on Broadway inspired concert – select dates from January 12 – February 19, 2018. The concert series will feature pairings of Disney on Broadway stars, singing favorite songs from award-winning Broadway shows. When you reserve a Disney on Broadway Dining Package, you’ll be able to relax at your meal with friends and family and rest assured that your priority seats are waiting for you for the 5:30, 6:45 or 8 p.m. concert.

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, 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!

  • AERIAL PHOTOS: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Construction Update at Hollywood Studios

    AERIAL PHOTOS: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Construction Update at Hollywood Studios

    Construction is forcefully underway on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the Back Lot area of Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. The now demolished area that used to make up the Streets of America, the Back Lot Tour, and the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt show which was closed to make way for Star Wars.

    Most of the construction can’t be seen by guests, so aerial pics really give some perspective on what progress is being made on the transformation of Batuu, a planet on the edge of the Star Wars galaxy.

    Cast members were excited to see the new land coming to life recently celebrated a major construction milestone with the signing of a support beam that’ll top out the new land. The beam that’ll eventually be part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – a 14-acre remote outpost that will transport guests to a galaxy far, far away.

    Galaxy's Edge Construction
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    Here we can see some rock forms at the new hillside isolating Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Note also dirt piled up and inside the section next to the concrete of the Grand Avenue tunnel.

    Galaxy's Edge Construction
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    Here is the current state of the separation and tunnel between Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Grand Avenue. At right, note that construction walls are down at the new backstage gate.

    Galaxy's Edge Construction
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    Peering into the Millennium Falcon ride. There are two more turntables under the roof at left.

    The land will be split into two sections; one for the First Order and one for the Resistance/Rebels. The First Order side is the side closest to the newly renamed Grand Avenue area that many believe will be used as a holding area for those waiting to enter Galaxy’s Edge.

    After crossing through a tunnel into the new land guests will encounter the more urban decay style First Order area with a large, possibly multi-level restaurant, in the middle of it. The central feature of the First Order area will be a massive trackless ride, currently known as “Battle Escape.”

    Coming out of the merchant’s alley area guests enter into the Rebel side of the land. This more lushly landscaped area will feature the 100-foot wide Millennium Falcon that will be near the entrance of the Millennium Falcon ride where groups of six guests can pilot the Falcon in a simulator experience.

    Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland park in 2019. The new land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is just one element of the multi-year transformation of the park, which also includes Toy Story Land, set to open in the summer of 2018.