Chocolate Mickey Mouse

Amaury Guichon

Amaury Guichon makes the coolest sculptures entirely out of chocolate. This time, he's made Mickey Mouse sneaking a taste of a bowl full of chocolate.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway has a fantastic neon marquee. Mickey and Minnie wave as the flourishes at the top dance and change color. While I still miss the Great Movie Ride, this ride is actually pretty fun.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Disney

Gong hei fat choy! Happy Lunar New Year! 2025 is the Year of the Snake, a time for shedding negativity and celebrating transformation, renewal, and growth. Wishing you happiness, prosperity, and good fortune in the new year!

Mickey Topiary

On our last trip to Disney World, we decided to try out the Behind the Seeds tour at EPCOT. It was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the methods Disney uses to grow the plants in the greenhouses that are part of the Living With The Land ride. This Mickey topiary is a pepper plant and the oldest living plant in the greenhouses.

Minnie Topiary

Living With The Land is one of my favorite rides at EPCOT. I love seeing all of the new plants and planting techniques. And it's always fun to search for hidden Mickeys, or Minnies.

Character Headbands Are Coming To Disneyland

All images: Disney

Have you seen the latest Mickey Ears-style character headbands? They're adorable and a bit wild. Originally released in Hong Kong Disneyland, these customizable ears are making their way to Disneyland soon.

There are three steps to create your own unique headband:

1. Select a headband
2. Choose one or more mini plush accessories 
3. Secure the plush to the headband

And there are quite a few plush characters to choose from:

• Mickey Mouse 
• Minnie Mouse
• Donald Duck 
• Daisy Duck
• Chip
• Dale
• Winnie the Pooh
• Tigger
• Stitch
• Buzz Lightyear
• Little Green Alien
• Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear

The Create Your Own Headbands and separately sold mini plush accessories will soon be available at The The Mad Hatter on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff in Pixar Pier at California Adventure. 

Vintage Mickey Mugs

I love finding vintage Mickey Mouse collectibles. These milk glass mugs are my latest discovery. The Fantasia mug and the Steamboat Willie mugs are part of a Pepsi collection from the 1980s made by Anchor Hocking. The center mug features both Mickey and Minnie and was created by Federal Glass in the 1970s. So fun!

Mickey Mouse Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe From Disney

Disney

I love baking cookies. And peanut butter cookies are my absolute favorite so I can't wait to try this recipe for Mickey Mouse Peanut Butter Cookies from Disney.

Mickey Mouse Peanut Butter Cookie

Makes 12 Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar

2 tablespoons honey

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 eggs

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat light brown sugar, honey, peanut butter, eggs, butter, and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until fully incorporated. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1/4 cup chilled peanut butter cookie dough in 3 1/2 inch Mickey Mouse-shaped cookie cutter on prepared baking sheet and press dough to fill cutter. Carefully pick up cookie cutter and repeat with remaining dough, placing 6 cookies on each baking sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes, until edges begin to brown. Cool for 10 minutes on pans, then move to wire racks. Cool completely before frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

1 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup M&M’S Minis Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies

Beat butter and peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until fully combined. Add sifted powdered sugar and mix on medium speed until fully combined. Reduce speed to low and add heavy cream and vanilla extract until incorporated. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.

To Serve

Spread peanut butter frosting on each cookie. Sprinkle tops with M&M’S Minis Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies.

Happy 95th Birthday, Mickey!

Happy 95th Birthday, 

Mickey!

Photo of the Week

I love the giant Mickey pumpkin that appears each fall at Disney Springs.

Photo of the Week

I think it's time for Halloween to begin.

Mickey Goes Wild In Steamboat Silly

All images: Disney

That's a lot of Mickeys! The trailer for Disney's latest Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse cartoon looks really wild.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

Mickey Mouse and his friends must stop hundreds of old film reel versions of Mickey from wreaking havoc all over town.

Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly arrives on DisneyPlus on July 28th.

Steamboat Willie

Disney

With Disney celebrating its 100 anniversary this year, it's seems appropriate to share the animated short that made the company famous. "Steamboat Willie" was the first animated movie to feature synchronized sound. It revolutionized the industry and paved the way for all of the animated movies to come. While it may seem a little strange by modern standards, it introduced three of Disney's classic characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pete. While "Steamboat Willie" will only be 95 this year, it's definitely an important part of  Disney's history. So, without further ado, on with the show.

Disney 100 LEGO

All images: LEGO

LEGO has made some truly incredible Disney sets over the years. From princesses and castles to spaceships and pirates, there are Disney LEGO sets for everyone. This year, as part of the Disney 100 celebration, there will be even more LEGO to enjoy.

Here are a few of the sets you can find this spring at both LEGO and shopDisney. 

The Disney Celebration Train is an adorable, and affordable at $39.99, 200 piece set for kids age 4 and up. It features six minifigures: Mickey, Minnie, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Woody, and Moana, with train cars that look like parade floats. Mickey is the driving the train in the engine. Moana's island car has a hidden cave and slide. Peter Pan and Tink are riding along on a pirate ship. Woody has a turning stage on his "Woody's Roundup" float. Minnie is waiting at the station for the train to arrive. Instructions for this set are also available in the LEGO Builder app, with zoom and rotate tools to help kids visualize the model as they build. This set will be released on April 1.

The Disney 100th Celebration BrickHeadz feature four Disney firsts. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Disney's first character, Mickey Mouse as the first ever animated character, Snow White from the first Disney feature film, and Tinker Bell,  the first Disneyland mascot. This 501 piece set is for kids age 10 and up and sells for $39.99.

For Pixar fans, how about building Mr. Fredricksen's 'Up' House. This 598 piece set is perfect for kids age 9 and up. The set includes three minifigures: Carl Fredricksen, Russell, and Dug and a... SQUIRREL! From the balloons floating out the chimney, to the bright colors and furnished rooms, this is an adorable recreation of the iconic house. And don't forget Ellie's adventure book, because it's included, too. This set will be released on April 1.

And finally, if minifigures are more your speed, there's a new collection of Disney characters just for you. There are 18 figures in this collection and each comes packaged in its own blind bag, so it's a surprise which figure you receive.  The Disney 100 minifigures include:

• Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey
• Pinocchio
• Jiminy Cricket
• The Queen
• Stitch 626
• Pocahontas
• Cruella de Vil & Dalmatian puppy
• Miguel & Dante
• Ernesto de la Cruz
• Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
• Robin Hood
• Prince John
• Tiana
• Dr. Facilier
• Queen of Hearts
• Mulan
• Aurora
• Baymax

Each figure comes with a brickplate base and an accessory and sells for $4.99. These minifigures won't be available until May 1, but they're so cute they're worth the wait.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Disney

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway Queue Walkthrough

Disney

I love how creative the Disney Imagineers are when it comes to designing ride queues. The queue for Disneyland's latest ride, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, is a real delight. As you enter the El Capitoon Theatre, you discover that it is filled with an amazing assortment of all things Mickey. There are scenes and costumes from so many of my favorite Mickey Mouse movies and shorts. My favorite prop may be the "Lonesome Ghosts" dresser. I love how the ghost appears in the mirror and blows the propeller on the plane above him with his fireplace bellows.

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is now open in Disneyland.

Photo of the Week

Santa Mickey is so cute delivering a present to Minnie in Disneyland Paris.

Mickey And Friends LEGO Are Adorable

All images: LEGO

Have you seen the new LEGO sets featuring Mickey Mouse and friends? They are so adorable! The "Mickey and Friends Castle Defenders" set has 215 pieces and is suited to little ones age 4 and up. It has four minifigures, all in medieval fantasy dress: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. There's also a horse, a castle scene to build, and a hilarious little dragon. The set is currently available from LEGO and shopDisney for $54.99.

There's also the cutest camping set featuring Mickey and Minnie. "Mickey and Minnie's Camping Trip" has 103 pieces and is also for kids age 4 and up. It has three minifigures dressed for the outdoors: Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto. There's also a car and trailer to build along with sleeping bags and a fire for roasting marshmallows. This set is available for $24.99 from LEGO and shopDisney.

Funko's Funkoween POPs Are Spooktacular

All images: Funko

Funko has released a very large collection of new POPVinyl figures as part of their Funkoween: Halfway to Hallow's Eve celebration. These are a few of my favorites. Most are available for pre-order now. First up is a new Hocus Pocus scene. This time, my three favorite witches are performing "I put a spell on you." As with previous Hocus Pocus figures, this one is a Spirit Halloween Store exclusive. It should be available in early July.

Next up is a Hocus Pocus card game. I haven't played any of Funko's games yet, but they always look fun.

Mickey and his pals are dressed to Trick-Or-Treat in this adorable collection. Figures include:

• Mickey as a jack-o-lantern 
• Glow-in-the-dark Mickey is an Amazon exclusive
• Donald as a candy corn
• Minnie as a candy corn witch
• Goofy as a skeleton 
• Glow-in-the-dark Goofy is an Entertainment Earth exclusive

A new Disney Villains collection featuring six despicable villains will be a Hot Topic exclusive. The first known figure is Hades with Pain and Panic. All six will connect to form one giant scene.

And speaking of Villains, a new set of Villain Mystery Minis are being released as well. I love the Minis, both for their small size and hilarious expressions. This collection includes:

• Evil Queen 
• Evil Queen as the Old Hag
• Chernabog
• Lady Tremaine
• Queen of Hearts
• Captain Hook
• Maleficent 
• Cruella de Ville
• Ursula
• Jafar
• Hades
• Dr Facilier

All of these, and quite a few more, should be available by early August. Or, if you're afraid you’ll miss out, why not pre-order now.

The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse

Disney

Disney has made quite a few of these silly (and slightly peculiar) Mickey Mouse shorts in the last several years. They're pretty funny, if slightly odd, but I do really enjoy some of them. "Croissant de Triomphe" is quite hilarious. The latest release, The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse, features Mickey and his pals celebrating all things winter.

The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse arrives on DisneyPlus on February 18.