A Return To The Classic Jurassic

Universal 

Jurassic World Rebirth is a return to the classic stories of the Jurassic Park series. Once again, a small group of people are on an island filled with new dinosaurs, trying to survive. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Jurassic World Rebirth.

Here's the official synopsis from Universal:

This action-packed new chapter sees an extraction team race to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility for the original Jurassic Park, inhabited by the worst of the worst that were left behind. 

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air within that tropical biosphere hold, in their DNA, the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

Scarlett Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure the genetic material. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized by marauding aquatic dinos, they all find themselves stranded on a forbidden island that had once housed an undisclosed research facility for Jurassic Park. There, in a terrain populated by dinosaurs of vastly different species, they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that has been hidden from the world for decades. 

Mahershala Ali is Duncan Kincaid, Zora’s most trusted team member, Jonathan Bailey plays paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis, Rupert Friend appears as Big Pharma representative Martin Krebs, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo plays Reuben Delgado, the father of the shipwrecked civilian family. Additional cast includes Luna Blaise, David Iacono and Audrina Miranda as Reuben’s family. The film also features, as members of Zora and Krebs’ crews, Philippine Velge, Bechir Sylvain and Ed Skrein. 

Jurassic World Rebirth arrives in theaters on July 2nd.

Stitch Is One Bad "Dog"

Disney

Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch looks so adorable! Stitch may be a cute, and fluffy, and wild, and dangerous "dog", but one I can't wait to watch.

Lilo & Stitch arrives in theaters on May 23rd.

Wednesday Is Back For More Creepy Kooky Fun

All images: Netflix

The first trailer for season 2 of Wednesday has arrived and it definitely looks mysterious and spooky.

Here's the official synopsis from Netflix:

Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), returns to prowl the Gothic halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await. This season, Wednesday must navigate family, friends and old adversaries, propelling her into another year of delightfully dark and kooky mayhem. Armed with her signature razor-sharp wit and deadpan charm, Wednesday is also plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery. 

This year, Wednesday is joined at school by a new member of the Addams family: her little brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez), who begins his own Nevermore journey. Their parents, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez Addams (Luis Guzmán), will also have an increased presence on campus — a rare new form of torture for the fiercely independent amateur sleuth.

Familiar favorites like Wednesday’s roommate Enid (Emma Myers), frenemy Bianca (Joy Sunday), barista by day and murderous Hyde by night Tyler (Hunter Doohan), Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) and, of course, Thing (Victor Dorobantu) are returning. They will be joined by a few new faces, such as Grandmama Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley) and Principal Dort (Steve Buscemi).

Part 1 of Season 2 of Wednesday arrives on Netflix on August 6th. Part 2 arrives on September 3rd.

Return of the King Quote

"There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."

-JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Roses

The roses in my garden are covered in blooms this year.

Star Wars Day Treats At Disney World

All images: Disney

May the 4th is just around the corner and the culinary team at Disney World have been hard at work creating delicious Star Wars themed treats to celebrate. Here are the sweets and treats you can look forward to finding this May.

Hollywood Studios 

Backlot Express

• Battle of Hoth Macaroon: Toasted coconut macaroon on a cookie decorated with buttercream, shredded coconut, and white chocolate ⭐️ ✨️
• Wookiee Cookie: Two oatmeal cookies with vanilla cream filling garnished with a milk chocolate sash on top ✨️

ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Fairfax Fare, PizzeRizzo and Rosie’s All-American Café

• Chosen One Cooler: Sweet-and-sour citrus limeade served with a Skywalker lightsaber swizzle stick (Also available with Patrón Silver Tequila) ⭐️🧋✨️
• Sith Lord Libation: Cherry limeade served with a Darth Vader lightsaber swizzle stick (Also available with Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Burbon) ⭐️🧋✨️

Anaheim Produce, Market and Cart on Grand Ave (Available May 4-5)

• Lightsaber Churro with chocolate sauce

Churro Cart near Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway ✨️

• Lightsaber Churro with chocolate sauce 

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

• Mythrol Orb: Crystal blue raspberry orb served with tart pineapple-passion fruit sauce and crunchy streusel ⭐️✨️
• Sliced Eopie Wrap: Roasted pork loin, capicola ham, spiced broccoli rabe, provolone, and red pepper mulsauce wrapped in pita bread drizzled with herb aïoli and served with yuca fries ⭐️✨️

Milk Stand

• Kessel Run Rations: Flaky pretzel croissants sprinkled with smoked sea salt and served with caramel-chocolate sauce ⭐️✨️

Cart near Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Cart near Milk Stand

• Mossberry Biscuit: Biscuit topped with ube and matcha icing, ube micro sponge cake, sprinkles, and dehydrated blueberries ✨️

Oga’s Cantina (Available May 4 through 31)

• The Mythosaur: Minute Maid Passion Fruit Orange and Guava Juice with a splash of lime juice topped with Appleton Estate 8 Year Reserve Rum, Goslings Black Seal Rum, and Blue Curaçao Liqueur (Served with Mythosaur Mug) ⭐️✨️

Milk Stand

• Coaxium Sipper: Includes blue milk or green milk at time of purchase ⭐️(Arriving Soon)

Souvenir Release Mobile Order Store across from the Milk Stand (Available May 4-5) 

• Death Star Bucket: Includes popcorn at time of purchase ⭐️
• Salvaged Clone Trooper Helmet: Includes popcorn at time of purchase ⭐️

Select Cart Locations throughout Hollywood Studios (Available beginning May 4)

• Death Star Bucket: Includes popcorn at time of purchase ⭐️
• Salvaged Clone Trooper Helmet: Includes popcorn at time of purchase ⭐️

Kat Saka’s Kettle (Available starting May 6)

• Death Star Bucket: Includes popcorn at time of purchase ⭐️
• Salvaged Clone Trooper Helmet: Includes popcorn at time of purchase ⭐️

ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Fairfax Fare, Main Entrance Cart, PizzeRizzo (Available starting May 4)

• Jawa Sipper: Includes choice of non-alcoholic fountain beverage at time of purchase ⭐️

Disney Springs

Amorette’s Patisserie

• Choose Your Side Petit Cake: Layers of vanilla and chocolate chiffon, cookies and cream mousse, and white and dark chocolate crispy pearls ⭐️🌟

The Ganachery

• Anakin’s Starfighter Chocolate Piñata: Dark chocolate shell filled with crunchy hazelnut “asteroid” ganache clusters ⭐️🌟
• Ahsoka Ganache Pop: Coconut pop covered in 65% dark chocolate ⭐️ (Available May 1-Sept. 31)
• Star Planets Ganache Bars: Ganache bars inspired by Star Wars planets, featuring the flavors of spicy cherry for Mustafar, ginger-sea buckthorn for Coruscant, yuzu-shiso for Endor, and salted ruby for Crait  ⭐️🌟

⭐️ - New

🧋 - Non-alcoholic

🌟 - Available May 1-31

✨️ - Available May 4-31

The Music of Unfairly Ever After

All images: Disney

A new Villain show is coming to Hollywood Studios this summer. Featuring three of Disney most popular Villains, Maleficent, Captain Hook, and Cruella de Vil, "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" will be a musical stage show where the Villains try to convince us that they're simply misunderstood. Let's take a behind-the-scenes look at the music of this new show.

It sounds fun, right? Here's the official description from Disney:

Behold a fiendishly funny and fantastical stage show starring iconic Disney villains… who are feeling unfairly treated.

Enter the realm of the Magic Mirror—where dozens of villains are trapped! They want the Mirror to reveal the truth: which villain has been treated the most unfairly of them all?

Watch as Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent present their cases on stage, persuading with wicked wisdom and wisecracks. Will you be swayed by their hijinks and humor?

It’s a spellbinding show with moving music and a most memorable finale—where you help decide who has been treated most unfairly.

"Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” will cast a spell over guests beginning May 27, 2025.

Andor Season 2 Has Begun

Lucasfilm

The final season of the Star Wars series Andor begins tonight. This season shows the rise of the Rebellion leading to the events of Rogue One and eventually, victory over the Empire. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at what we can expect in season 2.

The first three episodes of Andor arrive at 9PM Eastern on DisneyPlus.

Three new episodes will debut each Tuesday for a total of 12.

Thunderbolts* Final Trailer

All images: Marvel

The final trailer for Marvel’s Thunderbolts* is the most intense. They may not be heroes yet, and most of them have a lot of regrets, but they have one last shot at redemption.

Here's the official synopsis from Marvel: 

In "Thunderbolts*", Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

The cast also includes newcomers to the MCU — Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, and Wendell Edward Pierce.

Thunderbolts* arrives in theaters on May 2nd.

Hoppy Easter

Columbia Records

The First Easter Record For Children was a cherished favorite when I was a kid. It had songs sung by Rosemary Clooney, Art Carney, and Gene Autry. I was especially fond of this song, "Bunny on the Rainbow".

Hoppy Easter!

Tiki at Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace

I love the decor at the Polynesian Resort in Disney World. There's something interesting around every corner. There are also quite a few tiki statues. This one can be found by the Seven Seas Lagoon near Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace. 

The Fantastic 4: First Steps Trailer

The first full trailer for The Fantastic 4: First Steps has arrived and it looks marvelous. The retro look of this movie is truly fantastic! This trailer reveals more of the story as well as our first glimpse of the Silver Surfer and Galactus. 

Here's the official synopsis from Marvel: 

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" introduces Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

The action adventure also stars Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles.

The Fantastic 4: First Steps arrives in theaters on July 25th.

Meet "The Nurse"

BBC

The second season of the latest regeneration of Doctor Who has begun. And, once again, the Doctor has found himself a new companion. Meet Belinda Chandra, "The Nurse".

The first episode of season two of Doctor Who is available now on DisneyPlus.

New episodes will debut each Saturday.

Revenge of the Sith Returns

All images: Lucasfilm

How can 20 years have passed since we first saw Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader? To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the final film in the prequel trilogy, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is headed back to theaters. Here's the original trailer from 2005.

And here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm: 

Set a few years after the onset of the Clone Wars, Revenge of the Sith is the final film in the prequel trilogy, highlighting the fall of the noble Jedi Order, which forces a handful of survivors, including Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda, into hiding. In a time when the Jedi Knights have become generals leading a massive clone army in a galaxy-wide battle against the Separatists, the sinister Sith unveil a thousand-year-old plot to rule the galaxy. And as the Republic crumbles and the evil Galactic Empire rises from the ashes, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force to become Emperor Palpatine’s new apprentice — Darth Vader.

The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz as Yoda, Jimmy Smits, Peter Mayhew, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Temuera Morrison, Anthony Daniels, Silas Carson, and Kenny Baker, with Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu and Christopher Lee as Count Dooku.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith returns to theaters on April 25th.

Thunderbolts* Posters

All images: Marvel

A fantastic collection of new posters have been released for Marvel's Thunderbolts*. Above is the poster for Dolby, which includes a glimpse of "Bob", or is it Sentry... maybe The Void? Only time will tell.

The IMAX poster includes the Thunderbolts*, Bob, and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

The RealD poster features the reluctant future heroes... and Bob.

This ScreenX Poster makes the most of the asterisk on their team name.

The Fandango poster has two images for each character to represent their different sides.

And finally, the 4DX poster includes the new team of heroes (and Bob) in the asterisk.

Thunderbolts* arrives in theaters on May 2.

Midsomer Murders Quote

ITV

"The cleverest lies, Jones, are those we're already inclined to believe."

- DCI Tom Barnaby, Midsomer Murders

To Infinity... And Beyond!

Buzz Lightyear looks quite proud of himself as he stands guard over Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios. 

The Karate Kid For The Next Generation

All images: Sony

Karate Kid: Legends looks fantastic. The original Karate Kid was one of my favorite coming-of-age and learning to stand up for yourself movies as a kid. Karate Kid: Legends looks like an updated version of that story for a new generation.

Here's the official synopsis from Sony:

Karate Kid: Legends unites the iconic martial arts masters of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time to tell a completely new story full of action and heart. 

When kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) relocates to New York City with his mother to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. 

Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.

Karate Kid: Legends arrives in theaters on May 30th.

Andor - Do Or Die

All images: Lucasfilm

The final season of the Star Wars series Andor is nearly here. Now that Cassian Andor has joined the Rebellion, he will be tested and transformed into the hero he never wanted to be.

Here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm:

While Season 1 followed Cassian’s reluctant journey from cynical nobody to revolutionary volunteer, the long-awaited conclusion in Andor Season 2 will see the characters and their relationships intensify as the horizon of war draws near and Cassian becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound. 

Rife with political intrigue, danger, tension, and high stakes, the thrill is a prequel to "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", which portrayed a heroic band of rebels who steal the plans to the Empire’s weapon of mass destruction — the Death Star — setting the stage for the events of the original 1977 film, "Star Wars: A New Hope". Andor sets the clock back five years from the events of Rogue One to tell the story of the film’s hero, Cassian Andor, and his transformation into a rebel hero on his way to an epic destiny. 

Andor Season 2 stars Diego Luna (Cassian Andor), Stellan Skarsgård (Luthen Rael), Genevieve O’Reilly (Senator Mon Mothma), Denise Gough (Dedra Meero), Kyle Soller (Syril Karn), Adria Arjona (Bix Caleen), Faye Marsay (Vel Sartha) , Varada Sethu (Cinta Kaz), Elizabeth Dulau (Kleya Marki), Alan Tudyk (K-2SO), with Ben Mendelsohn (Director Orson Krennic), and Forest Whitaker (Saw Gerrera).

The first three episodes of Andor arrives on DisneyPlus on April 22nd.

Three new episodes will debut each Tuesday for a total of 12.

Introducing The Void

All images: Marvel

Marvel has released a new trailer introducing the villain from Thunderbolts*. "The Void" looks to be a somewhat mysterious character who turns people into shadows. Things are looking a bit darker for this team of not quite heroes.

Here's the official synopsis from Marvel:

In  Thunderbolts*,  Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

The cast also includes newcomers to the MCU — Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, and Wendell Edward Pierce.

Thunderbolts* arrives in theaters on May 2nd.

Mayhem Unleashed

All images: Disney

Disney's live-action action Lilo & Stitch looks just as delightful and madcap as the original. I can't wait to see it next month!

Here's the official synopsis from Disney:

"Lilo & Stitch" is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family. The film stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis, and introducing Maia Kealoha.

Lilo & Stitch arrives in theaters on May 23rd.

The Grid Has Entered Our World

All images: Disney

The first trailer for Disney's Tron: Ares has arrived and it looks intense. A program from the Grid has entered our world, with a little help from Kevin Flynn.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

Tron: Ares' follows a highly sophisticated program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with AI beings.

The cast includes Jared Leto as Ares, Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger, Greta Lee as Eve Kim, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cameron Monaghan, Sarah Desjardins, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, and Gillian Anderson.

Tron: Ares arrives in theaters on October 10th.

William Morris Quote

"The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life." 

- William Morris

Smellephants on Parade

Have you joined the search for the Smellephants on Parade? After picking up a map and stickers from a cast member in the circus area of Fantasyland, just look for these colorful elephants and give each one a sniff. The carnival inspired scents, which were created by Scentsy, smell surprisingly good.

There's 104 More Days Of Summer Vacation!

All images: Disney

They're baaaaaack! Those fun loving brothers, Phineas and Ferb, along with their parents, sister Candice, and friends Isabella, Baljeet, and Buford, are back for more wild and crazy adventures this summer. Alongside them, but off on his own daring escapades, is their pet platypus, Perry the Platypus, who works for Major Monogram of OWCA to take down the somewhat evil, but delightfully inept, Doctor Doofenschmirtz.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney:

In the new season, Phineas, Ferb, and the crew tackle another 104 days of summer, filled with exciting new adventures and some unforgettable milestones. The boys will break several world records, Candace will take her driver’s license test, and Perry will finally make a trip to the vet.

The first two episodes of Phineas and Ferb arrive on the Disney Channel & DisneyXD on June 5th. The first 10 episodes will be available on DisneyPlus on June 6th.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld

All images: Lucasfilm

A new series of six stories from the Star Wars Universe is headed to DisneyPlus next month. Tales of the Underworld will focus on two of the galaxy's most famous bounty hunters: Cad Bane and Asajj Ventress.

Here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm: 

Enter the galaxy’s dangerous underworld in this 6-episode journey through the experiences of two iconic villains. Former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is given a new chance at life and must go on the run with an unexpected new ally, while outlaw Cad Bane faces his past when he confronts an old friend, now a Marshal on the opposite side of the law.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld arrives on DisneyPlus on May the 4th.