There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Coming To The Carousel Of Progress

All images: Disney

The Carousel of Progress is one of the classic shows at Disney World. The attraction made its debut at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. It was a passion project of Walt Disney's that included a rotating theater and a song written by the Sherman brothers. The show included four scenes: the early 1900s, the 1920s, 1940s, and a futuristic finale. 

It arrived in the Magic Kingdom in 1975, where it included a different song, "The Best Time Of Your Life". Over the years, the scenes have been updated and altered, especially the final scene which is a vision of the future. The last major update was in 1994, when the original song was restored, so Imagineers have decided it's time for a major refresh. But don't worry: John, Sarah, and the rest of the family won't be going anywhere, just experiencing a new timeline.

The show will close on July 6th and reopen sometime in 2027. An entirely new opening scene will be added, based on the 1964 TV special "Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair". It will include an Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself. Imagineers have been recreating the room, filling it with props like a prototype Tiki Room bird and a doll from it's a small world.

Imagineers also plan to change the other scenes to reflect newer decades that guests may remember. 

• Act 1 1969 - The family is gathered around the TV to watch the moon landing.
• Act 2 1985 - It's Halloween and Sarah gets the chance to show off the new gadgets that make life easier while John hands out candy. Uncle Orville is still in the bathroom with "no privacy around here!"
• Act 3 1999 - The family is preparing for the new millennium on New Year's Eve and exploring that exciting new thing called the internet. Grandpa is already asleep and Grandma is watching wrestling. 
• Act 4 The Future - As always, this scene explores what the future may look like, with a robotic assistant and inspiration from the original sketches for the show.

It's going to be a long wait to experience this new version of the Carousel of Progress, but it sounds quite exciting. What new scene are you looking forward to most?

Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue

Andy's toys can be found throughout Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios. From Jessie and Rex on Slinky Dog Dash to this Buzz Lightyear near the Alien Swirling Saucers, there are familiar faces everywhere you look. 

Rizzo's Totally Authorized Tour

Disney

Rizzo the Rat is back to give us his own version of a tour of the newly reimagined Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (with a little help from Robin and Yolanda.) As you'd expect from Rizzo, there's something a little bit off about his "Totally Authorized Tour", but it's still quite fun.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is now open in Hollywood Studios at Disney World.

The Easter Eggs Of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

Disney

The newly reimagined Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is ready to rock. The queue, and ride, are filled with Easter Eggs from past Muppet movies, TV shows, and of course, Muppet Vision 3D. Join the Imagineers for a sneak peek of these Muppety touches while we wait for the ride to open next week.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets blasts off on May 26th.

The Mandalorian and Grogu At Disney World

All images: Disney

To celebrate the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, lots of fun new treats and collectibles are headed to Disney World on May 22nd. From blue cookies and backpack sippers to an all-new adventure on

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, there's something for everyone. First up, the food and foodie collectibles. (✨️ - New)

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios

Kat Saka’s Kettle

• Grogu Cookies: White chocolate-dipped macaron cookie with pineapple cream ✨️
• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

• Sweet-and-Spicy Puffer Pig Pasta: Flat noodles with pork belly, bok choy, sweet-and-spicy soy sauce, and hard boiled egg ✨️
• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Oga's Cantina

• Oga’s Obsession: Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, cotton candy flavor, and blueberry fruit juice-filled pearls with a bursting dried fruit mixture and gummy candy frogs

• Rodian Ration: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple Schnapps Liqueur, green apple, and Sprite with fruit juice-filled pearls and gummy candy frogs

• Spotchka: Hendrick’s Gin, honey syrup, Lillet Blanc Aperitif, lemon juice, and Bols Blue Curaçao​ Liqueur served in a jet chill glass

Hollywood Studios

ABC Commissary

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Backlot Express

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Fairfax Fare

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Ice Cold Hydraulics

• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️

Hollywood Hills Amphitheater Refreshments near Fantasmic

• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️
• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Select Popcorn Carts

• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️

Cart near the Main Entrance

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Disney Springs

The Ganachery 

• Beskar Ingot Pop: Dragon fruit ganache covered in 65% dark chocolate ✨️

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Din Djarin and Grogu join Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run for an exciting new adventure. Here's the official description from Disney:

In this new storyline, Hondo Ohnaka has caught wind of a high-stakes deal unfolding on the sands of Tatooine, where ex-Imperial officers have crossed paths with a ruthless band of pirates. With a hefty bounty on the line, you’ll take possession of the Millennium Falcon, join forces with Mando and Grogu, and launch into a daring pursuit across the stars.

Adding to the fun, each role introduces fresh gameplay moments, new interactions, and unexpected surprises along the way. A new interactive feature allows the engineer position to check in on Grogu throughout the mission, and make the pivotal planet choice that charts the course.

New collectibles such as toys, puzzles, water bottles and clothing will be available at multiple locations in the Parks and at Disney Springs: Tatooine Traders, Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay, Star Wars Galactic Outpost, or World of Disney.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu blasts into theaters this Friday, May 22nd.

Are You Ready To Rock?

All images: Disney

It's nearly time to experience the Muppet takeover of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios. The fun begins in the courtyard where there are Muppety touches everywhere you look. There's even a new spot for munchies: FØØD by Swedish Chef. The menu includes returning favorites alongside a few Muppet-inspired dishes.

Wocka Wocking Nachos - corn chips with queso blanco, tomatoes and just the right amount of guacamole

Churro Drumstick - twisted churro tossed in mixed berry sugar and topped with raspberry sauce and assorted sprinkles

Mayhem Soft-Serve Float - Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry with vanilla soft-serve topped with pink cotton candy

Pink Le-moi-nade - Minute Maid Premium Lemonade with guava and a sprinkle of pink shimmer

Pond Water Limeade - inspired by Kermit the Frog himself, it brings together Minute Maid Premium Limeade, green apple, and fruit juice-filled pearls

Other dishes include:

• Mini Corn Dogs served with chips
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Assorted Chips
• Vanilla, Chocolate, or Swirl Waffle Cone
• Frozen Floats with Coca-Cola or Barq’s Root Beer
• Fountain Sodas
• Frozen Blue Raspberry (Also available with Bacardi Superior Rum or Tito’s Handmade Vodka)

After you make your way through the Muppet-filled queue, you'll arrive at the recording studio where the Electric Mayhem are rocking out while Scooter is trying to get them to the concert on time. You'll board a Lengthy Immediate Motion Object (L.I.M.O.) created by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker and race across town to the sounds of the Electric Mayhem and a few of their friends. 

• Song 2 – The Electric Mayhem
• Born To Be Wild – The Electric Mayhem ft. Camilla the Chicken
• Love Rollercoaster – The Electric Mayhem ft. Jennifer Hudson & Questlove
• Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop) – The Electric Mayhem ft. Def Leppard
• Walking on Sunshine – The Electric Mayhem ft. Kelly Clarkson
• And maybe a few mystery bonus tracks

Of course, Statler and Waldorf will be on hand to do what they do best: heckle. 

The attraction photos have fun new frames featuring various Muppets. They will be available in the new Rock Around the Shop along with lots of fun Muppety merchandise.

There will be lots of Muppet T-shirtsT-shirts for those who want a bit more Muppets in every day. A Muppet water bottle features a bright, bold design. 

RSVLTS has designed a fun new button down shirt with a zany print. And there's a simple ball cap, too.

For Loungefly collectors, a guitar bag will soon be headed to the shop. Featuring several Muppets on the strap, its the perfect rockstar accessory. 

An awesome set of six stickers is great for decorating laptops, water bottles, or wherever you need a little more Muppet mania. The set features Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear, Statler and Waldorf, Animal playing the drums and a Rockin’ Muppets license plate.

Of course, there will be pins to collect, and a few fun magnets. Muppet drumsticks are a great souvenir for rocking to the beat wherever you go. A cool postcard and other knick-knacks will also be available.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is ready to rock on May 26th.

The Birdmobile of the Enchanted Tiki Room

The birds of Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in the Magic Kingdom are quite an exotic bunch. The showgirls on the Birdmobile are white cockatoos named Collette, Suzette, Mimi, Gigi, Fifi, and Josephine. Together with the other performers, they sing "Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing."

Living With The Land Ambience

Disney

This video is so soothing. It is an hour-long journey through Living With The Land at EPCOT.

I love riding Living With the Land. It's fun to see what changes have arrived in the greenhouses each trip.

It's The Wildest Ride In The Wilderness

Disney

Join Imagineers for a trip through the newly refreshed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Imagineers added new lighting and audio, refurbished over 20 figures in the town of Tumbleweed, and added new track and passenger trains for a smoother ride. Are you ready for the "Wildest Ride in the Wilderness"?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is now open in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.

Sleepy Loth Cat

There are so many amazing details in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This sleepy Loth Cat in the Creature Stall wags its tail and purrs while snoozing with a stuffed Porg. 

Orange-Cranberry Scone Recipe From Disney

Disney

Afternoon tea returned to the Grand Floridian last month. The Garden View Lounge - Tea Experience is a whimsical Alice in Wonderland inspired tea party filled with delightful teas and sweet and savory bites. Your meal begins with Orange-Cranberry Scones and Disney has shared the recipe so we can enjoy them at home.

Orange-Cranberry Scones

Makes 12 Scones

Soaked Fruit

zest of 1 orange

1/2 cup dried apricot, chopped

1/2 cup dried cranberries

3 Tbsp orange liqueur or orange juice

Combine orange zest, dried apricots, dried cranberries, and orange liqueur in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Cranberry-Orange Scones

3 Tbsp heavy cream

3 Tbsp crème fraîche

6 Tbdp sugar

2 cups cake flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup butter, at room temperature

Soaked Fruit

1 egg, beaten

2 tsp water

Whisk heavy cream, crème fraîche, and sugar together in a small bowl and set aside.

Sift cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Cut room temperature butter into small cubes and add to flour mixture. Mix with paddle attachment on low speed until coarse crumbs form. 

Add reserved cream mixture and mix on low speed until a rough dough forms and flour is no longer crumbly. Add Soaked Fruit with any remaining liquid and gently mix until dough is soft and starts to pull away from sides of the bowl. Do not overmix.

Place dough on a floured cutting board and shape into a 6×8-inch rectangle that is 1-inch thick. Cut into 2-inch squares and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Freeze for at least 30 minutes before preheating oven.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Set scones out of freezer while oven is preheating. Combine beaten egg and water in a small bowl. Brush on top of scones. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown.

May The 4th Treats At Disney World

All images: Disney

Star Wars Day is less than a week away. So, it must be time to discover what tasty treats and galactic sweets will be arriving at Disney World in time for May the 4th.

Hollywood Studios

Oga's Cantina

• Batuu Bites: Blue corn, barbecue, and curry spice chips with lotus root, green bean chips, and herb dip
• The Roaring Loth-Cat: Minute Maid Apple Juice, lemon, and cinnamon with Seagram’s Ginger Ale ⭐️🧋
• Three Suns Over Batuu: Minute Maid Premium Lemonade with hot honey, DOLE Pineapple Juice, mango, guava, and ginger ⭐️🧋
• Kamino Cooler Served in DJ R-3x Souvenir Mug: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur, passion fruit syrup, DOLE Pineapple Juice, and lime juice ⭐️
• Rechargeable Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Swizzle Stick - Served with Jabba Juice or Outer Rim
• Rechargeable Darth Vader Lightsaber Swizzle Stick - Served with Jabba Juice or Outer Rim

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

• Endorian Fried Chicken Tip-Yip: Crispy chicken served with house-made macaroni and roasted vegetables garnished with cauliflower leaf kimchi
• Shaak Pot Roast with Kublag Mash: Birria pot roast with turmeric-garlic mash and roasted carrots
• Sweet Puffer Pig Ribs with Portion Bread: Pork ribs brushed with tangy BBQ sauce and served with mac & cheese and sponge cake​
• Endorian Chicken Tip-Yip Salad: Guava BBQ chicken with avocado-jalapeño dressing, arugula, radish, romaine lettuce, cucumber, red onion, haricot vert, pineapple, and rice noodles
• Rechargeable Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Swizzle Stick - Served with Moof Juice or Takondana Quencher
• Rechargeable Darth Vader Lightsaber Swizzle Stick - Served with Moof Juice or Takondana Quencher

Kat Saka’s Kettle

• Jabba’s Sail Barge Bucket ⭐️

Milk Stand

• Pink Milk: Plant-based rice milk blend with sweet and fruity characteristics ⭐️🧋
• Pink Milk Cooler: Plant-based rice milk blend with sweet and fruity characteristics and Bacardi Superior Rum ⭐️

• Kerkoiden Blue Cake: Spiced vanilla shortbread cookie with ginger cream cheese icing ⭐️
• Bantha Sipper ⭐️

Ronto Roasters

• Keshian Spiced Chips: Lotus root chips tossed in cinnamon sugar

Beverage Carts in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

• Ettel Nuts: Assortment of sweet, spicy, and queso fundido nuts with chocolate candy rocks​ ⭐️

ABC Commissary

• Chosen One Cooler: A crisp, refreshing blend of Granny Smith apple with white cranberry and lime juices served with a green Rechargeable Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Swizzle Stick ⭐️🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka) 
• Sith Lord Libation: A flavorful combination of blood orange with white cranberry and lime juices served with a Rechargeable Darth Vader Lightsaber Swizzle Stick 🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka)
• Bantha Sipper ⭐️

Backlot Express 

• Your Chosen Path Cupcake: Cookies and cream cupcake, marshmallow buttercream, white chocolate X-Wing, and milk chocolate rocks. Inside the cupcake, a secret lightsaber color will reveal itself! ⭐️
• Wookiee Cookie: Two oatmeal cookies with vanilla cream filling garnished with a milk chocolate sash on top
• Chosen One Cooler: A crisp, refreshing blend of Granny Smith apple with white cranberry and lime juices served with a green Rechargeable Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Swizzle Stick ⭐️🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka) 
• Sith Lord Libation: A flavorful combination of blood orange with white cranberry and lime juices served with a Rechargeable Darth Vader Lightsaber Swizzle Stick 🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka)
• Bantha Sipper ⭐️

Fairfax Fare

• Bantha Sipper ⭐️

Hollywood Hills Amphitheater Refreshments near Fantasmic!

• Chosen One Cooler: A crisp, refreshing blend of Granny Smith apple with white cranberry and lime juices served with a green Rechargeable Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Swizzle Stick ⭐️🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka)
•  Sith Lord Libation: A flavorful combination of blood orange with white cranberry and lime juices served with a Rechargeable Darth Vader Lightsaber Swizzle Stick 🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka)
• Salvaged Protocol Droid Bucket ⭐️
• Bantha Sipper ⭐️

Ice Cold Hydraulics

• Salvaged Protocol Droid Bucket ⭐️

Rosie’s All-American Café

• Chosen One Cooler: A crisp, refreshing blend of Granny Smith apple with white cranberry and lime juices served with a green Rechargeable Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Swizzle Stick ⭐️🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka) 
• Sith Lord Libation: A flavorful combination of blood orange with white cranberry and lime juices served with a Rechargeable Darth Vader Lightsaber Swizzle Stick 🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka)

Outdoor Food Cart near the Main Entrance

• Bantha Sipper ⭐️

Popcorn Cart near Center Stage

• Salvaged Protocol Droid Bucket ⭐️

Snack Cart near Hollywood Boulevard

• Chosen One Cooler: A crisp, refreshing blend of Granny Smith apple with white cranberry and lime juices served with a green Rechargeable Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Swizzle Stick ⭐️🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka) 
• Sith Lord Libation: A flavorful combination of blood orange with white cranberry and lime juices served with a Rechargeable Darth Vader Lightsaber Swizzle Stick 🧋 (Also available with Absolut Citron Vodka)

Available Throughout the Park

• Lightsaber Churro served with chocolate sauce

Disney Springs

Amorette’s Patisserie

• Bright Suns Chocolate Mousse: Milk chocolate mousse, lemon curd, tangerine, and brown butter cake ⭐️

The Ganachery

• Across the Stars Ganache Bars: Ganache Bars inspired by Star Wars planets, featuring the flavors of corn and nuts for Kashyyyk, dragon fruit for Tatooine, spicy cherry for Mustafar, and mint-lime for Hoth ⭐️
• Millennium Falcon Chocolate Pop: Solid milk chocolate pop with crispy pearls

⭐️ - New

🧋 - Non-alcoholic

Duuuuude

"Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... And Beyond" is my favorite performance at Disney World. The Animal Kingdom show features giant puppets, like Crush, that are totally righteous.