Costco to Offer California Adventure-Only Annual Pass, 2016 Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House, and More

Costco to Offer Disney California Adventure-Only Annual Pass:

It has been revealed that Costco will begin offering a Disney California Adventure-only Annual Pass to its customers. The DCA-only pass will only be available at Costco and will cost $329.99 beginning September 1. The pass will be good for one year of admission to Disney California Adventure on select days. Here are some details on the pass:

• Guests also receive a collector’s pin with purchase.
• Guests using the pass get up to 10% merchandise and food & beverage discounts at Disney California Adventure Park only (restrictions apply).
• It is valid for one year from first use and first use must occur on or before Dec. 1, 2016.
• Blockout dates for 2016 include: 9/3, 9/4, 11/11, 11/24-11/26, 12/17, 12/19-12/31.
• Blockout dates for 2017 include: 1/1-1/2, 2/18-2/19, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8-4/9, 4/14-4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/26-5/28, 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/1-7/4, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 9/2-9/3, 11/10-11/11, 11/23-11/25.
• It can be upgraded for an additional fee to a Disney Deluxe Passport, Disney Signature Passport, Disney Signature Plus Passport or Disney Premier Passport only.
• Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Source: WDW News Today

2016 Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House First Look:

With Halloween around the corner, today we got our first look at the 2016 Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House that will appear at Disneyland. Gingerbread houses have been appearing in the ballroom scene of Haunted Mansion Holiday for the last 15 years. 

This year's will consist of 200 lbs. of gingerbread, 200 lbs. of powdered sugar, 4 gallons of egg whites, 1 gallon of lemon juice, 50 lbs. of fondant, and 1/3 pound of glitter. This year's theme will be inspired by Sally, one of our favorite residents of Halloween Town, from "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas."

The Disney Parks Blog had this to say on the reveal:

“The whole structure has been cobbled and stitched together from other different gingerbread houses and treats,” says Tim Wollweber, Associate Art Director for Disney Parks, who designed this year’s house. “But it appears that sometime during the house’s construction, a gingerbread ghoul was entombed! Apparently he’s eager to sew himself up inside – much like another mansion graveyard ghoul you’ve probably seen.”

Are you excited to see this year's Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House?

"Monsters Inc." as Told by Disney Tsum Tsum"

We of course have seen our favorite Disney and Pixar films as told by emoji. Today, we got a special treat in seeing "Monsters Inc." not told by emoji but by Disney Tsum Tsum. So check it out:

Knock, knock! 🚪 #MonstersInc As Told By Tsum Tsum is here for a roarin’ fun time. #TsumTsumTuesdayhttps://t.co/GkjhYrz8Wr

— Disney (@Disney) August 23, 2016

Three New Food Kiosks Joining the Disney Springs Line-Up; 'Force Awakens' Tsum Tsum's Arriving June 21

Three New Food Kiosks Joining the Disney Springs Line-Up:

Three new food kiosks will be joining the Disney Springs line-up that will bring diverse cuisines and plenty of options will be opening very soon. The three new kiosks are Aristocrepes, Daily Poutine, and B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co.

Taste a variety of crepes at Aristocrepes including:

• Beef with horseradish cream, red onion, baby spinach, and sharp cheddar
• Vegetarian with pickled beets, goat cheese, candied pecans, and baby greens
• Turkey with Brie, dried cranberries, and Dijon spread
• Smoked salmon with cream cheese, capers, onion, and 'everything bagel' topping
• S'mores crepe with marshmallow cream, chocolate sauce, and graham cracker crumbs
• Banana with Nutella and salted caramel
• Key Lime Cheesecake with white chocolate and chiffon crouton
• Strawberries Romanoff with Chantilly cream and strawberries

You can pair your crepes with wine on tap, beer, or even hard alcohol sodas (Not Your Father's Hard Root Beer and Henry's Hard Orange Soda). There are non-alcoholic beverages as well including Frozen Joffrey's Frappe Mocha and hot cocoa.

The Daily Poutine will bring the Canadian classic thick-cut French Fries with four different toppings. They include: Classic, with beef poutine gravy and cheddar cheese curds; Latin with fried yucca, black beans, pulled pork, and quest fresco, Italian with Bocconcino mozzarella and Bolognese sauce; and French with mushroom cream sauce and Gruyere cheese. Pair you Poutine fries with draft beer, sangria, lemonade, or fountain soda.

B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co. will include artisan sausages that include:

• The Three Little Pigs - a trio of sausages each with different toppings: Reuben, bacon-wrapped with black bean salsa and chili cheese; Portuguese sausage with pickled vegetable slaw and chili mustard
• Sweet Hot Sausage - peppers, onions, and marinara
• Bavarian Sausage sandwich - a mini meterwerst with braised red cabbage, spicy brown mustard on a pretzel roll
• Italian Veggie Sausage - peppers, onions, and marinara

Cool off with a draft beer or fountain soda. B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co. and The Daily Poutine will open along with the Disney Springs Town Center on May 15. Aristocrepes will open on May 22.

'Force Awakens' Tsum Tsum's Arriving June 21 at the Disney Store:

There has been an awakening with Disney Tsum Tsum's as the Disney Store announced today that the  "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" collections will be debuting at store's nationwide on June 21. For those who can't wait until June 21, Disney Store Japan will release the collection on May 4, 2016, the Star Wars Holiday, as part of a larger collection.

The collection will include a mini collection that includes: Rey, Rey with goggles, Kylo Ren, BB-8, Finn Stormtrooper, Finn in pilot jacket, Captain Phasma, Poe Dameron, and a First Order Stormtrooper. There will also be a big BB-8 Tsum Tsum and medium Tsum Tsum's that will include BB-8, Captain Phasma, and Kylo Ren. 

R2-D2 Previews Star Wars Land?, 'Jungle Book 2' Already in the Works, and More

R2-D2 Previews Star Wars Land?:

Last week, BB-8 was seen assumedly peeking at the beginning of construction of Star Wars Land at Disneyland. This week, the Disney Parks Blog asks what R2-D2 appears to be looking at? If you look closely it appears the droid seems to be peering from behind Streets of America as a crane can be seen in the distance. 

An announcement should be made in the coming days if not next week about the construction officially beginning. As I said last week, maybe just maybe we will finally get a presumed opening date for the new lands inside Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. Stay tuned.

"Jungle Book 2" Already in the Works:

"The Jungle Book" won't open in theaters until Friday, but it appears the sequel is already in the works. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is already finalizing details on the sequel of the live-action film. It is being reported that Jon Favreau and Justin Marks will return to direct and write the film. 

Favreau will also produce the film and Brigham Taylor who also helped produce the upcoming film will also return for the sequel.

"The Jungle Book" which hits theaters this Friday, April 15 has a celebrity voice cast which includes Bill Murray as Baloo, Idris Elba as Shere Khan, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, Scarlett Johansson as Kaa just to name a few of the all-star cast. Disney has been striking gold lately with making the live-action remakes of its animated classics like "Alice in Wonderland", "Maleficent", and "Cinderella" already being huge successes. Not to mention the sequel to 'Alice' in "Alice Through the Looking Glass" in May, the re-make of "Pete's Dragon" in August, and "Beauty and the Beast" due out in March 2017.

Haunted Mansion Tsum Tsum's Out this Friday at Disney Parks:

Haunted Mansion fans get excited cause this Disney Tsum Tsum collection is just for you. This Friday, April 15 a special new collection of our favorite ghosts will be coming to Disney Parks in 3-inch plush inspired by the classic attraction. 

The collection will feature Madam Leota, the bride, the hitchhiking ghosts, and even one resembling the hostesses who work at the attraction. That's not all that was announced as a new collection representing the attractions and characters from Fantasyland. This collection will be out this Summer. 

The Haunted Mansion Tsum Tsum collection will be available at these locations at Disney Parks:

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai‘i – Kalepa’s Store.

Disneyland Resort

• Downtown Disney District – World of Disney
• Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure Park – Tee, Hats & Tattoos
• Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland park – Gag Factory

Walt Disney World Resort

• Disney Springs Marketplace – Once Upon a Toy
• Shops at Orlando International Airport
• Magic Kingdom Park – Curtain Call Collectibles
• Epcot – ImageWorks
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Beverly Sunset
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures

Who's excited about our favorite ghost hosts coming to Disney Tsum Tsum?

Reservations Now Open for River Belle Terrace, 'The Force Awakens' Goes Lego, and More

Reservations Now Open for Table-Service Dining at River Belle Terrace:

River Belle Terrace has served home-style eats for more than 60 years at Disneyland, but now beginning February 10, the restaurant will re-open as a table-service location. It will serve your barbecue favorites, tasty sides, and so much more. 

Of course there are new menu items including new appetizers like the creamy pimento cheese dip with toasted bread and crispy celery, grilled and chilled shrimp with a house made BBQ sauce and lemon, and a house salad with arugula, apple, gorgonzola, dried cranberries, candied pecans, and an apple vinaigrette. 

Here is the rest of the menu as seen on the Disney Parks Blog:

"If you’re looking for a lighter entrée, try a salad topped with your choice of chicken, grilled shrimp, brisket or BBQ tofu. Whether you choose River Belle’s Chopped Salad with romaine lettuce, black beans, garbanzo beans, pickles, roasted corn, red bell pepper and tomatoes topped with fried onions served with a BBQ-ranch dressing or the Terrace Wedge with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, crumbled gorgonzola, garnished with pickled red onions and buttermilk-gorgonzola dressing, you can’t go wrong.

For the main attraction, Disneyland Resort chefs were inspired by barbecue tastes from up and down the Mississippi River. Look for tasty entrees like pork spare ribs, oven-roasted barbecue chicken, barbecue tofu, sustainable fish, oven-roasted sausage links and sandwiches featuring fried chicken, beef brisket or pulled pork. Each entree includes a side of River Belle Terrace’s signature baked beans as well as a choice of tangy coleslaw, seasoned tater bites, potato salad or seasonal vegetables. Kids will love the oven-roasted chicken, sustainable fish, BBQ ribs or mac ‘n cheese, each served with seasonal vegetables and fruit.

No Southern meal is complete without dessert. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the warm maple, apple and bacon bundt cake or butterscotch pudding parfait. For a twist on a classic dessert, try the fried cheesecake."

Reservations of course are now open and you can do so by visiting Disneyland.com/dine or by calling  714-781-DINE (3463).

"The Force Awakens" is Going Lego with New Video Game:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is coming to the LEGO Star Wars Franchise as fans can prepare to build and blast on June 28, 2016. The game will be released on Playstation 4 and Playstation 3 (with exclusive DLC content), Playstation Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, and Windows PC. Here is the full announcement along with the trailer for "LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens":

The Force — and bricks — are calling to you. LEGO #StarWars: #TheForceAwakens is coming: https://t.co/YTDhlFnkkzhttps://t.co/EtrLVEMh0N

— Star Wars (@starwars) February 2, 2016

CALLING ALL JEDI MASTERS AND MASTER BUILDERS: ANNOUNCING LEGO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
GET READY TO BUILD AND BLAST ON JUNE 28.

The Force — and the bricks — are calling to you.Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The LEGO Group, and Lucasfilm today announced LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a new entry in the No. 1 LEGO video game franchise, allowing players to experience all the action of the hit film combined with LEGO’s hallmark humor and visual style. Coming June 28, 2016, for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 (along with exclusive DLC), PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, and Windows PC, the game is set to be an essential experience for gamers and Star Wars fans alike. LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens will feature new gameplay mechanics to build, battle, and fly through the galaxy like never before, and also offer new story content exploring the time period between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, adding additional insight into the movie and its characters. Get a first look in the trailer below! 

We’re extremely proud of the LEGO Star Wars video games, truly an incredible franchise that has sold more than 33 million copies and helped ignite a passion for numerous fun-filled LEGO games enjoyed by countless fans around the world,” said Tom Stone, managing director, TT Games. “LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be bigger and better in every way, pushing the series forward with innovative new gameplay mechanics, while also exploring new parts of the universe that is sure to excite and delight both Star Wars fans and newcomers.”

“We are thrilled to be bringing back the LEGO Star Wars videogame franchise, which kicked off such a beloved series of LEGO titles more than a decade ago,” said Ada Duan, vice president, Digital Business & Franchise Management, Lucasfilm. “LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens allows players to experience the new film in a unique way that only TT Games can provide, combining signature humor with epic Star Wars action. With previously untold story content exploring new 

details about the movie and its characters, it’s a perfect fit for fans of all ages.”

The film’s cast of new and classic heroes and villains — including Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, Han Solo, Chewbacca, BB-8, Kylo Ren, General Hux, Captain Phasma, and more — await gamers, as do the movie’s exciting locales, such as Jakku and Starkiller Base. Among LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ many innovative gameplay enhancements are: the “Multi-Builds” system, where players can choose from multiple building options to advance the game; new blaster combat, in which players use surrounding environments to drive back the First Order during intense Blaster Battles; and high-speed flight gameplay through arena-based battles and dogfights in space, while gamers utilize a multitude of vehicles along the way, including the legendary Millennium Falcon. In addition, enemies can now build, too, allowing stormtroopers to support each other with reinforcements, air strikes, and heavy artillery, adding another layer of danger to the game.

Stay tuned to StarWars.com for more on LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and prepare to relive the latest installment of the Star Wars saga in a bricktastic way.

Star Wars Tsum Tsums Coming to Disney Store on February 16:

Tsum Tsum fans rejoice, your favorite Star Wars characters are finally going to be released on February 16. The collection will include your favorite characters from A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Characters being released are Boba Fett, R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Jabba the Hutt, Ewok, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia.  The collection will be launched both in-store and online in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

All 12 will be available via mini size. The Ewok, Chewbacca, Yoda, Darth Vader, and Stormtrooper will be available in medium size. While Jabba the Hutt and Chewbacca will be available in large size Tsum Tsums. 

Also with the launch of the Star Wars Collection on February 16, a new Star Wars, Disney, or Marvel Tsum Tsum collection will be released with a new #TsumTsumTuesday release cadence with releases on the first and third Tuesday of every month. 

Who's excited for Star Wars Tsum Tsums?

The Disney Store Shows Off What It's Bringing to the D23 EXPO

This year's D23 EXPO is only 3 weeks away and today the Disney Store showed off what new-collections and limited edition items they are bringing this year. At this year's expo, the Disney Store will have an over 3,000-square foot retail space for a Disney fan experience like no other. It will be located within the Disney Consumer Products pavilion. In addition to the new and exclusive merchandise not yet available to the public, fans will be able to meet and greet with the artists of the new collections. 

Fans will also be treated to the Disney Store's opening ceremony on Friday, August 14. During the opening ceremony, one special guest at the expo will be chosen to "unlock imagination" at 9 a.m. alongside some of Disney's most famous characters. Guests of the expo will get first look at the new collections including the next set of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection, a Limited Edition Doll Collection from ABC's Once Upon a Time,  Star Wars, Toy Story 20th Anniversary, and the newly minted Disney Tsum Tsum. 

Here is a sneak peak and highlights of the new collections coming to the D23 EXPO:

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection—Happily ever after meets happily evil in Disney Store’s newest series of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection being previewed at D23 EXPO. Featuring five sets of Limited Edition pairs, these collector doll sets were designed by Disney Store artists and carefully crafted to capture the beauty and romance of fairytale friends and foes.

Available for the first time at D23 EXPO, guests can pre-purchase the complete set of five Hero/Villain pairs prior to the general public pre-sale beginning online Monday, September 14.

Following the preview at D23 EXPO, the doll sets will be released and available for purchase in stores and online starting September 29, with a new pair released each week. Each set is limited to an edition of 6,000 globally and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

This line expands into a collection of apparel, mugs, journals, home décor, and more, available to the general public in stores and online on September 14.

Once Upon a Time—Continuing the ‘heroes and villains’ theme, Disney Store will introduce the Once Upon a Time Snow White and Evil Queen Doll Collection, available exclusively at D23 EXPO. Limited to an edition of 300, the doll collection, inspired by ABC Studios’ television series Once Upon a Time, brings to life the beauty, magic, and charm of the iconic fairytale characters from the show. Exclusively for guests who purchase the doll set at D23 EXPO, Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White) and Lana Parrilla (The Evil Queen) will be available for an autograph signing at the ABC booth on the D23 EXPO floor from 4–4:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 15. This special opportunity will be followed by the Once Upon a Time panel taking place in Stage 23 from 6–7 p.m.

Star Wars—Disney Store will launch an exclusive collection of Star Warsitems at D23 EXPO on Friday, August 14. The collection will feature apparel, collectibles, and toys, including the Star Wars Elite Series, a new line of highly articulated and detailed die cast action figures, representing characters from Star Wars Episodes I-VI. The action figures will be sold individually at Disney Store locations beginning later this year; however, D23 EXPO attendees have the opportunity to purchase the full set of Star Wars Elite Series action figures, which includes D23 EXPO-exclusive versions of R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Additionally at D23 EXPO, Disney Store will introduce Star Wars Legion Helmets, a series of eight vinyl collectible helmets inspired by the Star Wars Legion Helmet project launched in early 2014. Celebrating creativity and Star Wars, the project pulled together artists from across The Walt Disney Company, resulting in 300 Stormtrooper helmets being transformed into diverse pieces of art, which inspired these collectible recreations—epic additions to every Empire.

Toy Story 20th Anniversary—In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of DisneyPixar’s Toy Story, Disney Store gleaned art from the adored film’s archives to illustrate the evolution of the beloved characters, Buzz and Woody. Featuring toys, collectibles, apparel, and more, this collection will be released at the Disney Store shop at D23 EXPO on Friday, August 14.


Disney Tsum Tsum—All-new collections of everyone’s favorite stackable plush will be unveiled at D23 EXPO, with one releasing each day in limited quantities in mini, medium, and large sizes. In addition, limited-edition mini box series—exclusive to D23 EXPO—will be released along with each collection, and a Mickey Mouse Tsum Tsum mini vinyl figure will be available for $5 with any purchase, while supplies last.

The Disney Store's "Disney's 3D Print Studio" is also launching at this year's D23 EXPO. It offers fans the chance to personalize figures, including Marvel's Iron Man, with their likeness with the use of facial-scanning kiosks. The figures will come with special packaging exclusive to the D23 EXPO.

Also new this year will be StorePass which we talked about in yesterday's blog. StorePass will allow fans to get a better shopping experience with minimal wait times in line. StorePasses will be available at 10 a.m. on August 14 with limited availability. 

This year's D23 EXPO is just 3 weeks away beginning Friday, August 14 and ending on Sunday, August 16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.