Beauty And The Beast Art

Do you remember, back in the day, when you would order the latest Disney movie at the Disney Store just so that you could get the lithograph? Unfortunately, I didn't live near a Disney Store, so I missed out on the cool art. But, I was lucky enough to find three sets at my favorite second hand store today. This set is four prints from my favorite Disney animated movie, Beauty and the Beast.

Avatar Skimwing Adventure LEGO

The Avatar movies are incredible. They are amazing stories about the Sully family and their trials and tribulations as they simply try to live on Pandora. LEGO made quite a few sets featuring the Sullys when Avatar: The Way Of Water was released. This set shows Jake Sully learning to ride a skimwing as Tonowari, the leader of the Metkayina Clan, looks on. All three Avatar movies, including the recently released Avatar: Fire and Ash, are available now on DisneyPlus. 

You Shall Not Pass!

LEGO book nooks are so cool. This one features the Balrog from the Mines of Moria facing off against Gandalf. Open, the Balrog can spread his wings. Closed, it fits onto a bookshelf. I'll be putting it between the books and movies of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I may have to add a light kit for an even more dramatic effect.

The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter LEGO

The LEGO sets from The Mandalorian are so fun. I recently acquired the N-1 Starfighter set from a few years ago. It has four minifigs: Din Djarin, Grogu, Peli Motto, and a tiny BD Droid. It's a great addition to my ever-growing Star Wars LEGO collection.

LEGO Main Street USA

My latest Disney LEGO set just arrived and I can't wait to put it together. The Main Street USA set has 16 minifigures and 3899 pieces. There's so much to look at!

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.

Coca Cola X Star Wars: Refresh Your Galaxy

All images: Coke/Lucasfilm

This summer, Coke wants to "Refresh Your Galaxy". Coca Cola and Star Wars makes for a surprisingly great collaboration. Here's Coke's fun tribute to the the Star Wars fandom.

Coke is also releasing 30 different Star Wars characters on cans and bottles. Three of the designs are exclusive to Disneyland and Disney World: Chewbacca, and First Order Stormtrooper, and the Mandalorian & Grogu. The remaining 27 will be available from various retailers around July 7th. 

Fans can also scan select bottles, cans, and even ads, to unlock an Augmented Reality experience. There, you can learn more about the character designs and even send your own hologram transmission. Just record your message and it will be transformed into a Star Wars-style hologram you can share with friends. So get ready to "Refresh Your Galaxy" this July.

New Candy Containers at Disney World

All images: Disney

Disney World's latest collectible candy container is rather unexpected. Inspired by the iconic designs of Main Street USA, the container is a mini replica trash can. The trash cans of Disney Parks have been popular with fans for years, so it was only a matter of time before they appeared as a candy or popcorn container. The Trash Cans feature swinging flaps on both sides and a flip-top lid.

The Trash Cans will be available later this month at the six bulk candy locations listed below. To purchase your own Main Street USA Trash Can, you'll need to select at least a 1/2 pound of candy, then grab your container and head to the register.

Here's where you can find this crazy collectible: 

• Magic Kingdom: Main Street Confectionery
• Animal Kingdom: Zuri’s Sweets Shop
• Disney Springs: Goofy’s Candy Company 
• Disney Springs: Disney’s Candy Cauldron
• BoardWalk Inn: Screen Door General Store
• The Campsites at Fort Wilderness: Meadow Trading Post

Samwise Gamgee Returns To The Shire

LEGO

A new Lord of the Rings LEGO set is making it's debut next week. To celebrate, Sean Astin returned to Middle-earth to tell us all about this new set: The Shire.

Like all the Lord of the Rings set,  The Shire is incredibly detailed (and incredibly expensive at $269.99), and includes 9 minifigures.

Here's the official description from LEGO: 

Journey to Middle-earth with the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire (10354) movie memorabilia set. Bursting with features that fans will adore, this intricate diorama captures the magic of Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday party and includes 9 movie characters: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie, Samwise, and Gandalf the Grey.

Recreate Bilbo’s hillside hobbit hole, complete with a round door and a richly furnished interior, including an entrance hall, study and parlor. Bring scenes to life with interactive functions. Transform a burning letter into The One Ring or make Bilbo vanish at the turn of a dial. Packed with movie details, from Gandalf’s horse and cart to the firework dragon and Party Tree, this set makes an enchanting display for the home or office.

The Shire will be released on April 5th, with early access for LEGO Insiders beginning on April 2nd.

The Polynesian Pearl At Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is my favorite lounge at Disney World. The theming is fantastic, the cast members are hilarious, and the food is delicious. And then there are the crazy drinks. Every drink at Trader Sam’s has a gimmick: from thunder and lightning (with just a quick spritz of rain), to squeaky hippos, to a magical pearl that arrives in a giant oyster, there's something fun at every turn. And many of the drinks come in souvenir containers. 

The Polynesian Pearl is my favorite souvenir drink. Most of the pearls are white, but once or twice a day (and on one extremely rare occasion, 3 in one hour with 2 arriving together), a black pearl appears, like magic.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is located in the Polynesian Resort.

Loungefly's The Skeleton Dance

All images: Loungefly

Loungefly has the spookiest new collection coming this August. Celebrating the 95th anniversary of the Disney Silly Symphonies short The Skeleton Dance, this four pieces set features glow in the dark skeletons. The Mini Backpack features a giant, posable skeleton on the front,

the four dancing skeletons on the back,

and an awesome skeleton and owl lining. The Mini Backpack is available for pre-order for $80.

The Crossbody Bag displays the four skeletons with dancing bodies on the front,

and the owl in the tree on the back. The strap features a line of bones and the bag is lined with the same skeleton and owl fabric as the Mini Backpack. The Crossbody Bag is available for pre-order for $65.

The Zip Around Wallet features the musical skeletons on the front,

and the owl in the tree on the back. It contains four credit card slots, an I.D. window, and a zippered pocket. The Zip Around Wallet is available for pre-order for $40.

And, finally, the Sliding Pin features a glowing skeleton that slides up and down behind a tombstone. The Sliding Pin, which is 3" tall, is available for pre-order for $20.

Disney Silhouettes

Disney

One of my favorite souvenirs at Disneyland and Disney World is the hand cut silhouettes. We used to buy one of the kiddo every year. Each silhouette is unique and shows changes in their hairstyle and features as they grew up. I would definitely recommend a silhouette as your next Disney souvenir. And if you'd like to see how one Disney artist cuts these delightful images at Disneyland, check out the video below.

Halfway To Halloween Disney Style

Disney

We're halfway to Halloween, so Disney has released a look at a few exciting things coming to Disneyland, Disney World, and the Disney Cruise Line this spooky season.  The new Haunted Mansion Parlor on the Disney Treasure looks ghoulishly delightful!

Which one are you most looking forward to?

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. 

Meet The Adorable Critter Band Of Tiana's Bayou Adventure

All images: Disney

Disney has released our first glimpse of the absolutely adorable critters that will soon arrive in Tiana's Bayou Adventure. This wild Zydeco band will play "Gonna Take You There" on their own special makeshift instruments. Are you ready to meet the members of the band?

Byhalia the Beaver – Byhalia doesn’t just build dams; she helps build musical instruments using natural materials from the bayou. As a strong-willed percussionist, it’s safe to say Byhalia is the heartbeat of the band, as well as a natural designer and engineer.

Rufus the Turtle – Rufus may be a turtle, but he’s quick to jump into rhythm with his harmonica. He’s also the first to join in on new adventures! He’s genuine and sincere but may come across as a little sarcastic at times with his habitual sighing. Rufus loves going on adventures with Apollo.

Apollo the Raccoon – Apollo loves transforming abandoned objects into works of musical art – like his squeezebox. He’s full of energy and storytelling, especially about the objects he finds in the bayou. He’s particularly close with Rufus and appreciates Rufus’ calm demeanor.

Gritty the Rabbit – Always willing to dig a little deeper to help others, Gritty plays the washboard (a found automobile license plate) with a high-energy flair. It’s the perfect instrument for someone who’s often overzealous and digs to relieve her nerves.

Timoléon the Otter – He’s the eldest of the band, but Timoléon’s fiddle-playing is inspired by all the ‘kids’ he spends his time around while in the bayou. When he’s not sawing out a jig, he’s famous for telling stories of days long ago about his explorations of every corner of the bayou.

Beau the Opossum – Seeing limitless possibilities, no one finds more wonder in the bayou and the sounds of zydeco music than Beau. All she knows is beauty, especially her own. You can find her plucking out the low notes with her upright gourd bass, which of course, involves some musical dexterity with her tail.

And as if they aren't cute enough as animatronic characters in the ride, three members of the band will soon be available as plushies as well. How to choose between Beau, Apollo, and Rufus? They're all so sweet. I can't wait to see this band jamming out in the ride, which opens at Disney World this summer and Disneyland later this year.