March came in like a very sheepish lion here in SoCal, which is nice, because as soon as I got over pneumonia, I came down with bronchitis. More bed rest, but I’m not going to let that keep me from spending time with you! Here’s a look at some of the news nuggets I’ve found from around the wonderful worlds of Disney!

Disneyland Resort

In an exciting development for foodies and lovers of the Disneyland Resort, the month-long Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will celebrate the lifestyle and springtime flavors of California with a blend of culinary experiences. The Festival begins Friday, April 1, and most events will take place Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 1 in Disney California Adventure Park.

Each weekend features numerous experiences including culinary demonstrations and lifestyle seminars, plus some ticketed events featuring celebrity chefs, as well as wine, beer and spirits seminars. At Festival Marketplaces, set up around the park, guests may sip and savor delicious flavors from throughout the state of California.Some events at the festival are included with admission to Disney California Adventure.  Signature events, requiring a reservation and a separate ticket, include Celebrity Kitchen with some of the biggest names in the culinary world, and beverage seminars featuring popular adult beverages in a relaxing setting at the Golden Vine Winery. Reservations for Celebrity Kitchen experiences and beverage seminars can be made at Disneyland.com/foodandwine.

Food is always part of the fun at Disney California Adventure. The park offers guests a range of dining options, from fast-casual fare to haute cuisine, with innovative dishes from award-winning chefs. Guests will find Mediterranean cuisine at Paradise Garden Grill, handmade treats at Candy Palace, fine dining and craft cocktails at Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge, plus vegetarian and gluten-free options at many locations.

Guests also enjoy the wonder and beauty of California in the park’s themed lands, including the welcoming Buena Vista Street, which transports guests to Southern California of the 1920s and 1930s, and the spectacular 12-acre Cars Land, inspired by the Radiator Springs setting of the Disney●Pixar movie “Cars.” The reimagined Grizzly Peak Airfield, inspired by the lush High Sierras of California, opened with its new look in 2015. Popular Disney California Adventure attractions include Radiator Springs Racers, the immersive Toy Story Mania, the California Screamin’ roller coaster and The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror.

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That’s Not All That’s Gnu…er, New!

Expect to see Zootopia’s Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps any minute now on Hollywood Boulevard in DCA and in the “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It!” street party at The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.  The official opening date for Luigi’s Rollicking Roadsters is March 7, so if you’re going there then, meander around the corner – there’s a pretty good chance they’ll be there.

Gaming

Star Wars Battlefront: Outer Rim Expansion has Jabba’s Palace, New Characters, Weapons and Skins

Greedo (Empire, blaster) and Nien Nunb (Rebels, badass precision targeting rifle). Gamesradar croons: “Speaking of shooting first, the expansion will add in a new Relby V-10 rifle and DT-12 blaster pistol, as well as Star Cards for the Scatter Gun, Dioxis Grenade, and Adrenaline Stim…It will also introduce a new mode called Extraction, in which Rebels must bring a key shipment back to their transport while under fire from Imperial forces.” 

This is Battlefront’s first paid expansion. Will players be getting their money’s worth? I think so. Shipments begin this summer.

New Characters and Power Discs Unveiled for Marvel Battlegrounds for Disney Infinity 3.0

Ant-Man, Black Panther, and Vision Join Roster of More Than 25 Playable Marvel Characters; New Line-Up Includes Costumes Inspired by Captain America: Civil War!

Disney Interactive yesterday unveiled new trailer, characters and Power Discs for the Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set launching for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition on March 15.

• Ant-Man, who shrinks to the size of an ant but increases his strength to pack a whopping punch
• Black Panther, the leader of Wakanda who defends his homeland with acrobatic skills and his legendary claws
• Vision, a brave and noble synthetic warrior who will fight to bring peace to the world

The new line-up of characters includes costumes inspired by the upcoming film “Captain America: Civil War,” releasing in theaters May 6, 2016.

Additionally, a new Marvel Battlegrounds-themed Power Disc Pack will be sold separately and contains:

• Cosmic Cube Blast – Unleash a powerful energy blast on nearby foes
• Darkhawk’s Blast – Blast obstacles with a powerful energy beam
• Nova Corps Strike – Call upon the Nova Corps to unleash a tactical strike from above
• Ghost Rider’s Motorcycle – Take a ride on the wild side with Ghost Rider’s flaming motorcycle

Developed by United Front Games, in partnership with Avalanche Software, Marvel Battlegrounds is the first Play Set to introduce four-player arcade brawler gameplay to Disney Infinity. Players engage in the ultimate rumble as Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains struggle to gain control of Wakanda’s most valuable resource, Vibranium. The ever-growing clash creates factions as the war stretches to the cosmic battlegrounds of space. Players can choose from more than 25 Marvel characters found inside Disney Infinity, and battle through 12 levels across eight dynamic arenas.

The Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set requires the latest Disney Infinity software update in order to play. Software updates require Internet connection.

The Walt Disney Studios

Star Wars VIII Filming Location Spoiler Here!

If this kind of thing is too spoilery for you, stop reading now. There is a photo of a set under construction that gives away what an area street looks like.

Okay?

Okay.

From The Dubrovnik Times:

(Translation dated Feb 22) The filming dates of the eighth episode of Star Wars are coming closer and already sets are being constructed in the historic Old City of Dubrovnik. On the Stradun, the main street that runs through the centre of Dubrovnik is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Europe, but how identifiable will it be in the new Star Wars movie? This souvenir shop of the Stradun is in the process of being transformed into a distant world.

From the look of this photo sent to us by a reader of The Dubrovnik Times it looks like Star Wars have kept the form of the facades. What far away planet will Dubrovnik be? As the sets get completed the rumours of Dubrovnik’s role will become clearer.

Walt Disney World

Speaking of Star Wars (and Other Disney Spectaculars)

“Starting in summer 2016, a new Star Wars fireworks show, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” will debut to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The nightly show will combine fireworks, pyrotechnics, special effects and video projections that will turn the nearby Chinese Theater and other buildings into the twin suns of Tatooine, a field of battle droids, the trench of the Death Star, Starkiller Base and other Star Wars destinations. The show also will feature a tower of fire and spotlight beams, creating massive lightsabers in the sky. (Disney/Lucasfilm).” (This is the one I told you a little bit about the day before it was announced. They still haven’t said anything about making the Chinese Theater look like opening day in 1977, though.)

The magic of nature after dark takes center stage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom when the all-new Rivers Of Light waterside show premieres April 22, Earth Day — marking the Walt Disney World theme park’s thrilling transformation from a day-into-nighttime experience.

“Disney’s Animal Kingdom is such a majestic and beautiful park,” said George A. Kalogridis, President of Walt Disney World Resort, “and to now show our guests original stories that reveal the magic of nature and bring this special park to life like never before — makes nighttime at Disney’s Animal Kingdom a can’t miss experience for Walt Disney World guests this summer.”

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will transition from a day-into-night theme park, aglow with wondrous new nighttime experiences and entertainment celebrating marvels in nature, epic storytelling, innovative effects, and a festive street party. Across the park, guests can experience long-time favorites such as Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, and Kali River Rapids with more time to enjoy them into the night.

“Rivers of Light”
After the sun sets, guests will gather waterside for the majestic nighttime jewel, “Rivers of Light.” This illuminating musical experience celebrates the magic of animals and humans and the natural world with a blend of performers, floating lanterns and theatrical animal imagery.

On the natural stage of Discovery River, guests will marvel as a timeless custom comes to life before their eyes in a stirring performance. The ceremony begins with the arrival of a pair of mystical hosts, two complimentary forces who come to the river bearing gifts of light. They set out from the shore on elaborate lantern vessels, engaging in a dramatic dance of water and light to summon the animal spirits. With these storytellers as guides, the wonders of “Rivers of Light” unfold, building to a magnificent finale with bursts of light as animal images soar to the heavens– signifying the ancient belief that when animals passed from one world to another they danced in the sky and became beautiful rivers of light, according to Michael Jung, Creative Portfolio Director, Walt Disney Imagineering.

To create “Rivers of Light,” Imagineers and Disney Creative Entertainment partnered with experts including award-winning master designer Michael Curry, whose Disney Parks contributions include “Finding Nemo: The Musical” and “Disney Festival of Fantasy parade.” Film composer Don L. Harper created the soaring musical score for the nighttime show which also includes an original song by noted composer Mark Mancina. Disney also collaborated with the award-winning filmmakers at Disneynature to bring never-before-seen footage, telling dramatic and compelling stories from the animal world to the show.

The Tree of Life Awakens
Nearby on Discovery Island the area will come alive each night with a celebration filled with music and dance. The theme park’s iconic Tree of Life will undergo extraordinary “awakenings” throughout the evening as the animal spirits are brought to life by magical fireflies that open a window into the body of the tree, revealing colorful stories of wonder and enchantment.

Kilimanjaro Safaris after Dark
Each evening, the popular Kilimanjaro Safaris daytime experience is artfully bathed in the look of sunset with special lighting allowing guests to explore and enjoy this attraction well into the night. During the expedition guests can now enjoy the wildlife at night, and may discover two new species: African wild dogs and hyenas.

Harambe Wildlife Parti/Discovery Island Carnivale
When the sun sets, the popular Village of Harambe will become a hot spot with the new Harambe Wildlife Parti. Here, “party animals” can dance alongside local street musicians and entertainers, partake in exotic foods and libations and explore the diverse wares of village artisans and merchants.   And the new Discovery Island Carnivale will captivate guests with lively music, spirited dance, vibrant costumes, and tasty culinary creations, spreading from one end of the island to the other.

Tiffins Signature Restaurant 
In addition to the masterful new entertainment offerings beginning this summer, guests will enjoy Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s newest eatery, Tiffins. Open for both lunch and dinner, this new signature dining experience will celebrate the art of traveling and include waterfront views from both indoor and outdoor seating areas. “Tiffin” is an Indian English word meaning midday meal or type of container used to carry food while traveling.

Spring Break Blockout Dates Lifted for Florida Resident Disney Select Ticket 

Not to be outdone by Disneyland’s locals-only deals this spring, The Vacation Kingdom of the World (it will always be that to me) is giving Florida residents a sweet deal for the duration of Spring Break:

Florida residents can enjoy a Walt Disney World Resort vacation during Spring Break now that blockout dates in March have been lifted for those with Florida Resident Disney Select tickets. While other blockout dates still apply, March 19 – April 1 are now available for those ticketholders.

During Spring Break, guests can savor the tastes of outdoor kitchens during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Or, their dark and light sides with encounters with Kylo Ren and Chewbacca at Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And, with the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen now accepting same-day reservations, guests can sample exotic flavors while visiting Magic Kingdom.

The Florida Resident Disney Select ticket pricing is $68 per day for a 3-day ticket (total price: $202), and $56 per day for 4-day ticket (total price: $223). It provides access to one theme park per day, includes FastPass+ and expires six months after first use or by December 17, 2017. Summer blockout dates apply. For terms and conditions, and more information about the Florida Resident Disney Select Ticket, visit Disneyworld.com/resident.

Thanks to my supporters and to DVCResaleMarket.com for sticking around for another month. They really are great folks. If you’re interested in learning about Disney Vacation Club and how it works, talk to Nick and his wonderful group of professionals there. You won’t be sorry.

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