A New Encanto Trailer Is Here!

Disney

A new trailer for Disney's animated film Encanto has arrived and it looks like an amazing and beautiful adventure. Every member of the Madrigal family has been given the gift of magic, except for Mirabel. But when the magic begins to fail, it's up to Mirabel to save them all.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

Walt Disney Animation Studios' upcoming feature film “Encanto” tells the tale of the Madrigals, an extraordinary family who live in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. Each child has been blessed with a magic gift unique to them—each child except Mirabel. But when the family’s home is threatened, Mirabel may be their only hope. 

Encanto arrives in theaters on November 21.

What If... Ultron Won?

All images: Marvel

The latest episode of Marvel's What If...? arrived on DisneyPlus today. This time the question is "What If... Ultron Won?"

The final episode of season one of Marvel's What If...? arrives on DisneyPlus next Wednesday.

Hocus Pocus Dolls

Disney

Have you seen what's coming to shopDisney on October 4th? It's the Sanderson sisters as fashion dolls! Sarah, Winifred, and Mary Sanderson have never looked better. I'm sure these Hocus Pocus collectibles will sell out spookily fast.

The Muppets Invade The Haunted Mansion

Jim Henson Company

A full trailer for Muppets Haunted Mansion has arrived and it looks hilarious. I can't wait to see the Muppets first Halloween special.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney and Jim Henson Company:

“Muppets Haunted Mansion” takes place on Halloween night, when Gonzo is challenged to spend one very daring night in the most grim grinning place on Earth … the Haunted Mansion. This marks the Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special and features three new original songs, “Rest In Peace,” “Life Hereafter” and “Tie The Knot Tango,” a star-studded Muppets cast, celebrity guest stars and special appearances, and frightful fun for the entire family.

Muppets Haunted Mansion arrives on DisneyPlus on October 8.

Quote of the Week

Charlie Mackesy

"We aren't getting through," said the boy.

"Did we get through that last bit?" asked the horse.

"Yes," said the boy.

"Then we are getting through."

- Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse 

Photo of the Week

One of my favorite ghosts in the Haunted Mansion is one you don't really see. This poor fellow is eternally trapped in his own coffin crying "Let me out of here!"

Halloween Cat Treats?!

Every year, I buy my kitty some insane new Halloween toys. Usually, its catnip stuffed mice dressed in Halloween costumes or some devil wings for her to wear, which she absolutely hated, but I found rather hilarious. This year, I found some Halloween themed cat treats instead. Temptations has two new Halloween flavors: Tasty Human and Creepy Catnip. The Tasty Human sounds a little freaky, but it's just Chicken, Liver, and Beef flavor and the non-creepy catnip is one of her favorites, so I figured it was worth shot. These zany Temptations Treats are only available for a limited time. I found these at Target.

Marvel's What If...? Episode 7

Marvel

The latest episode of Marvel's animated series What If...? arrived on DisneyPlus yesterday. This week's title is "What If... Thor Were An Only Child?" It should be fun!

The first seven episodes of Marvel's What If...? are now on DisneyPlus. New episodes will debut each Wednesday. 

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe from Disney

Disney

I love the Fall and Halloween treats in the Disney Parks, especially the ones made with pumpkin. This recipe is for Pumpkin Muffins that were served at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café during Disneyland's Halloween Time.

Pumpkin Muffins

Muffins

1 cup cake flour

1 cup bread flour or all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon 

1 tsp nutmeg

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

1 15oz can pumpkin puree

1 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 375°F and line muffin pan with paper liners. Sift together both flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Beat together sugar and eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Blend in oil and pumpkin puree until mixture is smooth. 

Blend half of flour mixture into egg mixture until just combined. Scrape sides of bowl then stir in raisins. Add remaining flour mixture to batter, mixing until just combined. Scoop batter into prepared muffin pan, filling about 3/4 full.

Streusel

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp granulated sugar 

2 Tbsp packed dark brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pinch salt

1 Tbsp cold unsalted butter

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Mash butter with fork until mixture resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon streusel on each muffin.

Bake 18 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 325°F and bake 5 minutes more, or until golden brown.

As Long As I'm With You

Disney

Mickey and Minnie Mouse are so cute, especially when they sing together.

Duffy Bear Has A New Friend

Disney

Duffy the Disney Bear is an adorable character created specifically for the Disney parks. Over the last several years, he has acquired quite a few fun new friends to keep him company on his travels. First up was ShellieMay the bear who is Duffy's girlfriend. Then came CookieAnn the baking dog, StellaLou the dancing bunny, Gelatoni the artist cat, and 'Olu Mel the ukulele playing sea turtle. 

The latest friend is an adorable fox named LinaBell who loves solving mysteries. So cute!

Quote of the Week

Photo by Dan Tuffs

It is good to have an end to journey towards;

but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

- Ursula Le Guin, 

The Left Hand of Darkness

Photo of the Week

I went to a drive-in movie for the first time in years last night. The double feature was Goonies and Raiders of the Lost Ark, which happens to be one of the first movies I remember seeing in a drive-in theater many years ago.

It's Nearly Time For Hallowstream On DisneyPlus

All images: Disney

Disney has put together an amazing lineup of shows for Halloween this year. Movies like Hocus Pocus and Haunted Mansion, Disney Channel originals like the Halloweentown series, T'Witches, and Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire, Halloween episodes of favorite series like WandaVision and the Muppet Show, and a few Disney classics like "Lonesome Ghosts" and "Trick or Treat". And there are a few new specials, too, like Star Wars: Terrifying Tales, Muppets Haunted Mansion and a totally unexpected remake of Under Wraps.

I can't wait for October!

Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar Is Still Delightful

We had to make a trip to Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar in Disney Springs during our Disney World trip a few weeks ago. It's still Bean's favorite place to eat in Disney Springs and the atmosphere is always a delight. We tried a few new dishes this trip, the menu is ever evolving, and they were fantastic. 

The first two were inspired by Disney's Jungle Cruise. The Forbidden Eye Brazilian-style Skins were unexpectedly good. Each potato skin is filled with smoked sausage, sweet potato chunks, and a  four cheese blend, topped with a fried quail egg.

Feeding Frenzy is a hilarious and very tropical drink made of tequila, coconut rum, Curaçao, Sweet-and-Sour, and pineapple juice. It's supposed to come topped with candy fish, but they ran out that day. The did have the pineapple salsa and grenadine, which makes it truly disturbing looking, but delicious.

Then we had the Club Obi Wan Chicken Wings with Shanghai BBQ sauce. There were eight thoroughly sauced wings and they were fantastic. 

Bean's favorite dish is the giant Air Pirate's Pretzel, but this time we decided to try the Air Pirate's Cargo Loaded Pretzel. This ridiculously oversized soft pretzel comes with prosciutto, sliced brats, pepperoni, smoked cheddar, Black Diamond cheddar, pickles, spicy mustard, and beer cheese fondue. Everything about this dish was amazing!

Finally, it was time for something sweet. We couldn't resist ordering the Temple of Bacon. This dish is a collaboration between Jock Lindsey’s and the Ganachery. They start with thick cut, applewood smoked bacon, then dip it in milk and chipotle ganache. 

It tastes amazing and the presentation is not to be missed. It arrives under a dome filled with delicious smelling smoke that is removed at your table to reveal the Stonehenge like ring of bacon. So fun! I can't wait to see what intriguing dishes they'll have on my next trip.

Marvel's What If...? Mid-Season Trailer

Marvel

Marvel's What If...? has already taken on Captain Carter, T'Challa as Star-Lord, a Doctor Strange that followed a darker path, and zombies. It looks like the next episodes may cross some of these multiverse characters into one story.

Episode 6, What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?, is now available on DisneyPlus. New episodes debut each Wednesday. 

The First Hawkeye Trailer Has Arrived

All images: Marvel

The first trailer for Marvel's Hawkeye has arrived and it looks hilarious! Clint Barton just wants to spend Christmas with his family, but it seems his past is going to catch up with him.

I love that Steve Rogers has his own Broadway musical! Hawkeye arrives on DisneyPlus on November 24.

New episodes will debut each Wednesday. 

Disney KiteTails Is Coming To Animal Kingdom

Disney

This October 1, as part of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration, a new show is coming to the skies above Animal Kingdom. "Disney KiteTails" will soar above the Discovery River Theater several times daily. A team of performers on land and the lagoon will fly kites and oversized props representing characters from The Little Mermaid, a bug's life, Finding Nemo, Jungle Book, and The Lion King. 

Some of the kites are as large as 30 feet long and are inflated by moving through the air. Original arrangements of favorite Disney songs will accompany this fantastic display. It looks amazing.

Quote of the Week

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

- Emily Bronte, Fall, Leaves, Fall

Photo of the Week

The Pumpkin Mousse at the Trolley Car Café in Hollywood Studios is fantastic! It's a milk chocolate chai mousse surrounding a core of pumpkin bread  on a chocolate shortbread cookie. Delicious!

Grogu Is Coming To The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy's/Funko/Lucasfilm

One of my favorite traditions is spending Thanksgiving morning watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I love all of the Broadway performances, the bands, the floats, and especially the balloons.

Funko

Every year, Macy's adds a few new balloons to their lineup alongside favorites from previous years. This year, they're adding a new Star Wars balloon: the adorable Grogu from The Mandalorian as he appears as a Funko collectible. And he's chasing after the control knob! So cute!

Funko

To celebrate, Funko has created POPVinyl figure that match the new balloon. The new Grogu figures and several t-shirt and hoodie designs will be available from Funko.com and at Macy's flagship store in New York this November.

Funko

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs this November 25 at 9 AM Eastern Time.

This Time, One Question Really Changes Everything

Marvel

The latest episode of Marvel's What If...? has arrived on DisneyPlus and it's the most extreme twist yet. This weeks question is "What If... Zombies!?"

Things are looking a little dark for Bruce Banner! New episodes of Marvel's What If...? arrive each Wednesday on DisneyPlus. 

They're Baaaaack!

LEGO

LEGO has done it again. They've created another animated Star Wars short and it looks hilarious!

LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales arrives on DisneyPlus on October 1st. 

Haunted Mansion Gift Cards

I found the coolest new Haunted Mansion gift cards at Momento Mori in the Magic Kingdom. The lenticular cards each feature a famous ghost from the mansion. The first is Madame Leota's tombstone, and just like in the ride queue, her eyes open and close. The artwork makes her rather cute.

The second features the aging portrait of Master Gracey along with the wallpaper with spooky eyes. This artwork is a bit more realistic and a bit more sinister, too. They make a fun souvenir, once you've used them, and can be loaded with as little as $15 at time of purchase.

Favorite Bites At the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

There were several fantastic new dishes at this year's EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival alongside a few returning delights. These are a few of my favorites.

The Corned Beef Corner Route from Flavors of Fire is surprisingly delicious. The combination of potato chips and cheese cards topped with corned beef, pickled onions, and beer cheese fondue was perfectly seasoned and balanced. I will admit that I didn't eat the onions (I'm really not a fan), but my sister said they were delightful. 

The S’mores Whoopie Pie-lon, also from Flavors of Fire, is a chocolate, marshmallow, bacon lovers dream. The chefs use bacon grease in the smoked chocolate cake, which tempers the sweetness of the marshmallow and creates an unexpectedly fantastic dessert.

The Crispy Barbecue Pork Rinds with Pimento Cheese from the Swanky Saucy Swine were spicy and crunchy, with the best pimento cheese I've ever tasted. They were also seriously hot after I'd eaten a few. The heat really sneaks up on you, but they're really quite good.

The "Le Cellier" Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce from the Canada Marketplace is my favorite way to start the day at the Festival. The beef is tender and juicy and the wild mushrooms and truffle-butter sauce are the perfect accompaniment. This is a truly decadent dish.

The Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup, also from the Canada Marketplace, is Bean's sole reason for going to the Festival each year. It seems to be a neverending goal to eat as much of the soup as possible. I will say though, it is actually delicious. It's cheesy and bacony with the perfect combination of seasonings.

And finally, two beverages from Appleseed Orchard: the Frozen Apple Pie and the Appleblossom Sky. The Frozen Apple Pie is layers of apple pie filling, cinnamon apple slush and graham cracker crumbs. It's not too sweet, very apple-y, and utterly delicious. The Appleblossom Sky is a mixture of Fanta Apple, ginger beer, and apple brandy topped with mini marshmallows drizzled in applejack brandy barrel aged maple syrup. It was unexpectedly amazing. The maple syrup and marshmallows add just the right level of sweetness as counterpoint to the spice of the ginger beer. It's a very well rounded drink and it comes in the cutest plastic Moscow Mule style mug.

So there you have it: a few of my favorites from the 2021 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. Which ones are your favorites?

Quote of the Week

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Photo of the Week

It's just a bunch of Hocus Pocus! There's an amazing collection of Hocus Pocus merchandise at World of Disney in Disney Springs. I especially liked the Crocs and Binx pitchers.

What If...? Doctor Strange

All images: Marvel

The latest episode of Marvel's animated series What If...? is titled "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" 

New episodes of Marvel's What If...? arrive each Wednesday on DisneyPlus.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Arrives Tomorrow

Marvel

Tomorrow is the day Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrives in theaters. I can't wait! 

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

Fun at the Boo Bash

We had a blast at last night's Boo Bash, but now I'm exhausted. We did a lot of trick or treating, rode a few rides, and enjoyed the free popcorn, sodas, and water. It's amazing how much you can cram into three hours!