Small World Dolls Make Adorable Funko POPs

All images: Funko

"It's a small world" is one of my favorite Disney rides. While the song can be a bit annoying if you ride too many times in a row, I love all of the little dolls from around the world. This July, Funko will release four new POPVinyl figures representing the adorable dolls. 

A Hawaiian girl doing the hula represents the United States. 

A Yeoman Warder, or Beefeater, represents England. 

A girl in a traditional kimono represents Japan. 

A girl wearing kitenge represents Kenya.

These Funko POPs are currently available for pre-order from Walmart and Target, but they're selling fast. They should be available in stores around mid-July.

Come Explore Portorosso with Pixar's Luca

Pixar

Pixar's Luca looks so adorable! Luca and his pal Alberto are definitely fish out of water.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney and Pixar: 

This summer, you’re invited to Portorosso. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film “Luca” is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

Luca arrives on DisneyPlus on June 18.

22 vs Earth Trailer

Pixar

It looks like 22 is getting up to no good in this new short.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney and Pixar:

Set before the events of Disney and Pixar’s Oscar-winning feature film “Soul,” 22 refuses to go to Earth, enlisting a gang of 5 other new souls in her attempt at rebellion. However, as her cohorts' activities lead to unexpected results, 22’s subversive plot may actually lead to a surprising revelation about the meaning of life.

22 vs Earth arrives on DisneyPlus on April 30.

Cruella's Got A New Look

Disney

She's "brilliant, bad, and a little bit mad." It looks like Cruella's origin story is going to be one wild ride.

Disney's Cruella arrives in theaters and on DisneyPlus Premiere Access on May 28.

Minnie Welcomes Spring

Disney

These Positively Minnie shorts are so adorable! This time, Minnie is welcoming Spring with a little gardening and a trip to the farmers market. 

Quote of the Week

Starry Night - Vincent van Gogh

For the great doesn’t happen through impulse alone, and is a succession of little things that are brought together.

- Vincent van Gogh

Photo of the Week

Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland Paris is both wonderfully familiar and delightfully unique. 

Tres Leches Cake Recipe From EPCOT

I love Tres Leche Cake. Its sweet and sticky and absolutely delicious. This Disney recipe is from the Jardin De Fiestas booth at the 2017 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. 

TRES LECHES CAKE

Makes 10-inch cake

Syrup

14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 cups coconut milk or evaporated milk

1/4 cup white rum

Mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Set aside.

Guava Sauce

8 ounces guava paste

1 cup warm water

Place guava paste in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Beat on low speed to break down paste, increasing speed if necessary. Slowly add warm water until sauce is thin enough to drizzle. Set aside.

Cake

1 1/2 cups pastry flour

2 Tbsp baking powder

8 large eggs, yolks and whites separated

1 cup sugar, divided

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Whipped cream, toasted coconut, for topping

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 10-inch cake pan and set aside.

Sift together flour and baking powder in a small mixing bowl. Place egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in bowl of stand mixer with wire whisk. Whip on high speed to thick, light ribbon stage. Remove from mixer, pour liquid into large mixing bowl and set aside. Clean bowl of mixer.

Place egg whites in bowl of stand mixer with wire whisk and beat until foamy. Add cream of tartar and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Whip on medium speed until whites are glossy and stiff, but not dry.

Fold one-third of egg whites into whipped egg yolks. Repeat until all egg whites are incorporated. Sprinkle one-third of sifted flour over batter and fold in. Repeat until all flour is incorporated. Pour into prepared cake pan and bake until golden brown and spongy, about 30 minutes.

Remove cake from oven and place pan on wire rack. Soak with syrup while cake is warm, repeating until cake is thoroughly saturated. Ice cooled cake with whipped cream. Sprinkle with coconut and drizzle guava sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

It's Earth Day, So Here's An Earth Friendly Knitting Pattern

I love knitting. I find it very calming. It helps me keep my stress level under control. I also love knitting things that are reusable. Dishcloths are one of my favorite things to make, and so are little scrubbies for washing my face. They are a great substitute for single use face wipes. In honor of Earth Day, here's my pattern for a simple cotton scrubbie.

Reusable Cotton Face Scrubbie

Supplies

• Worsted weight cotton yarn such as Peaches & Creme
• Size 6 (4mm) knitting needles
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Instructions

Cast on 15 stitches using the long tail cast on.

Row 1 - *K1, P1*, repeat * to * across row, ending with k1

Row 2 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 3 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 4 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 5 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 6 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 7 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 8 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 9 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 10 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 11 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 12 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 13 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 14 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 15 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 16 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 17 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 18 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Bind off knitwise. Weave in ends.

I throw these in the washer and dryer with my towels to clean them and they hold up quite well. I hope you enjoy making them as much as I do.

Please respect designers and copyright. Although this pattern is free for you to use, direct copying is strictly prohibited. If you would like to share the pattern, please Pin it, or share this page’s link. If you share this pattern, you must add this page’s link. While free, this pattern is for personal use only. Do not distribute, copy, or use for commercial purposes. 

Learn To Draw Pascal From Tangled

Disney

Ready for more Disney Learn to Draw fun? This video will teach you to draw Pascal, Rapunzel's chameleon sidekick. 

First Look At Shang-Chi and the Legend Of the Ten Rings

Marvel

The first teaser trailer and poster for Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has arrived. It looks like it's going to be one fantastic adventure. 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrives in theaters on September 3, 2021.

"Touch The Sky" - Brave

Disney

I needed something a little upbeat and inspirational to start off this week. So this "Touch the Sky" singalong from Brave seemed like the perfect choice.

Quote of the Week

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

- Oscar Wilde

Photo of the Week

Have you ever dared to join Captain Jack Sparrow's crew to search for the "Treasures of the Seven Seas"? It’s a fun Pirates of the Caribbean treasure hunt around Disney World's Adventureland. 

It's Time For More The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

Marvel

Are you ready for the next episode of Marvel's The Falcon and The Winter Soldier? Sam and Bucky just keep getting better and better.

Episode 5 of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is now available on DisneyPlus. 

Disneyland's King Arthur Carrousel Is Beautiful

No matter how old I am, I'll always love going for a ride on a carousel. On of my earliest Disney memories is of riding the King Arthur Carousel in Disneyland. Recently, Disney Imagineers took time during the parks closure to repaint and gild each of the 68 unique horses on this beloved attraction. The result is something beautiful. 

Disneyland is scheduled to reopen, to California residents only, on April 30.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Mid-Season Sneak Peek

All images: Marvel

So far, Marvel's The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is amazing. And this sneak peek looks like it's just going to keep getting better. 

And Marvel released another new character poster this week. This one features Dora Milaje warrior Ayo.

There are only two episodes of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier left. I can't wait to see how it ends!

The Updates To Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Look Amazing

Disneyland

The ghosts of the Haunted Mansion have been making some alterations while guests have been away. A few of these changes can be found outside the manor in the Pet Cemetery. And a few nods to the rides origins have been added inside. It seems the classic "April to December" has reappeared, with a fantastic new portrait. And the demon cat originally envisioned by Xavier Atencio has popped in as well.

Disneyland is scheduled to reopen on April 30, 2021.

"I've Got A Dream" - Tangled

Disney

Today seems like a good day for a little Tangled singalong. It should help to start the week off on a high note.

Quote of the Week

WETA

It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.

- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Photo of the Week

Pandora: The World of Avatar is so incredibly beautiful, both during the day and at night. This waterfall is in the queue for Flight of Passage.

Avengers Assemble At Disneyland This Summer

All images: Disney

The Avengers Campus, a new land in Disney’s California Adventure, will finally open this summer. It looks amazing! Guests arriving at Avengers Campus will be recruited to become the next generation of Super Heroes. The Campus is made up of several super hero inspired areas, each hosted by a different Avenger.

First up, the Worldwide Engineering Brigade, or WEB, is the place for innovators like Peter Parker to create new tech to help everyone become a Super Hero. It's also the home of WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, a new ride-through attraction featuring new technology that allows guests to put their web-slinging skills to the test alongside Spider-Man. 

The second ride is Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!, which replaced Tower of Terror in 2017. Guests help Rocket Raccoon break his fellow Guardians out of the Collector’s Fortress with the usual mayhem and music.

There will be several dining options throughout the Avengers Campus. Pym Test Kitchen is a science lab where the food and drinks tell a story. Here, Pym Technologies applies the growing and shrinking abilities of "Pym Particles" to food, with intriguing results. Here are a few of the dishes that may be served here.

Quantum Pretzel: a comically oversized soft pretzel with a cheddar mozzarella beer cheese sauce

Not So Little Chicken Sandwich: a giant chicken schnitzel on a potato slider bun topped with Sriracha and teriyaki citrus mayo and pickled cabbage slaw

Impossible Spoonful: an enormous vegan meatball served in an oversized ladle bowl with a tiny fork on top

PYM-ini: a mega-sandwich made up of salami,, provolone, ham, slaw, mustard, and giardiniera on focaccia served whole or by the slice with marinara sauce and salad

PB³ Superb Sandwich: peanut butter, banana, smoked bacon and strawberry jelly sandwich with a banana smoothie and potato tots

PB&J Flavor Lab: a DIY sandwich for kids to make with colorful "Pym Particle" bread and a container of peanut butter and jelly 

Candy Bar: dark chocolate with chocolate brownie, caramel, nougat and peanuts

Pingo Doce: "soda with a kick" from The Incredible Hulk featuring a hint of lime,vanilla, and "gamma radiation"

Proton PB&J Punch: Odwalla lemonade with strawberry and peanut butter flavors

Next door, an oversized beer can marks the Pym Tasting Lab, where adults can order a craft beer or one of the Pym Particle-infused cocktails and snacks, such as:

• Molecular Meltdown: a marshmallow milk stout with vanilla ice cream and mini marshmallows
• The Regulator: Golden Road Mango Cart Wheat Ale with Patron Silver, lime juice, and habanero-mango syrup 
• Snack Molecules: caramel popcorn, mini-pretzels, peanuts, and Sriracha or strawberry cheesecake-flavored popped sorghum

Other dining options include two food carts: the Shawarma Palace, an Avenger favorite, and Terran Treats, owned by Taneleer Tivan, the Collector. The Shawarma Palace will offer two wraps, both with creamy lemon tahini dipping sauce:

• New York's Tastiest: a chicken wrap with garlic sauce
• Impossible Victory Falafel: plant-based falafel wrap with hummus and cauliflower

Terran Treats will serve two desserts:

Sweet Spiral Ration Churros: brightly colored churro discs

Cosmic Cream Orbs: cream puffs filled with whipped raspberry cheesecake mousse

Throughout Avengers Campus, guests may run into both Super Heroes and Villains. Expect to see:

• Iron Man
• Captain Marvel
• Black Panther
• the Dora Milaje
• Black Widow
• Ant-Man and The Wasp
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Thor
• Loki
• Spider-Man swinging high above the park

In an ancient sanctum, Doctor Strange will offer training in the mystic arts and bring the area to life with powerful spells. And at night, the area will come to life with lights in many colors, creating a mystic glow.

And if toys and collectibles are what you seek, there will be two locations for shopping fun. The WEB Suppliers store is filled with the latest inventions, including interactive Spider-Bots like the ones in WEB SLINGERS. The Spider-Bots have eight articulated legs and a remote control to make them move forward or backward. Spider-Bots can be customized with tactical powers in the style of Super Heroes such as Black Panther, Iron Man, Black Widow, Ant-Man, and The Wasp. You can also purchase a specially-designed backpack to carry your Spider-Bot when not in use. Other collectibles include Spider-Man light goggles, a take-home spider web kit and Funko Pop! Spider-Man and Iron Man.

For even more collectibles, try the Campus Supply Pod. There you'll find official Avengers Campus gear, including hoodies and tees, headwear, drinkware and other Super Hero supplies.

Avengers Campus opens on June 4, 2021.

Cruella Really Is A DeVil

Disney

Cruella looks even more devilish than usual in this new trailer from Disney. I can't wait to see just how much trouble she can cause. 

Here's the official synopsis from Disney:

This May, the Devil Gets Her Due. Academy Award winner Emma Stone stars in Disney’s “Cruella,” an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by Oscar winner Emma Thompson. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella. 

Cruella arrives in theaters and on DisneyPlus Premiere Access on May 28.

Winnie The Pooh+LEGO=Adorable

All images: LEGO

Have you seen the latest LEGO inspired by Disney? It’s an adorable Winnie the Pooh scene featuring Pooh Bear's house in the big oak tree in the Hundred Acre Wood. The 1,265 piece set includes five character figures: Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore.

This set, which retails for $99.99, is available from the LEGO Stores in Downtown Disney and Disney Springs, and at LEGO.com.

This Loki Trailer Is Marvelous!

Marvel

After the sorrow of WandaVision and the seriousness of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki is the Marvel show we need. It looks like it's full of mischief, and fun, and a lot of Loki-style craziness, which should be just about perfect.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney and Marvel:

Watch Loki—the imperious God of Mischief—who, after absconding with the Tesseract, is a fish-out-of-water when he lands in a world of trouble with the bureaucratic TVA (Time Variance Authority). Marvel Studios’ “Loki” features the God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother’s shadow in a new series that takes place after the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Tom Hiddleston returns as the title character, joined by Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant.

Loki arrives on DisneyPlus on June 11.

Black Widow Final Trailer

Marvel

Let's try this again, shall we? Once again, we have a new release date for Marvel's Black Widow. And there's an intriguing new trailer, too.

Fingers crossed, Black Widow arrives in theaters and on DisneyPlus Premiere Access on July 9th.

Quote of the Week

Disney

I love the nostalgic myself. I hope we never lose some of the things of the past.

- Walt Disney

Photo of the Week

I miss fireworks shows! These were from the EPCOT Forever display in 2019.