Ballast Point Brewery and More Changes Coming to Downtown Disney District in Disneyland

Here's an update for our West Coast friends as San Diego-based Ballast Point Brewery will be coming to the Downtown Disney District in Disneyland among other changes coming to the district in 2018. 

Ballast Point pairs its high-quality, award-winning beers with an extensive menu of Southern California cuisine—salads, small plates, flatbreads and entrees featuring local, sustainable and seasonal ingredients. The space will house the first-ever on-site brewery, tasting room, kitchen and outdoor beer garden at Downtown Disney District. Construction is scheduled to begin soon, across from Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar.

This is on top of the already announced changes to coming to World of Disney in 2018 which you can read about here. Here are more exciting experiences coming to the Downtown Disney District in 2018:

• Splitsville Luxury Lanes will offer a unique combination of dining, drinks, bowling and entertainment. Opening on January 29.
• Disney Home will offer fans a variety of Disney-themed home goods. Opening in February 2018.
• Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria will undergo renovations to expand its outside patio with a new outside bar. Inside, three wood burning ovens will be installed to better meet guests’ demands for authentic Napoletana-style pizza pies. The restaurant will remain open throughout construction, which is slated to be completed in fall 2018.
• Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer will serve its award-winning burgers and signature CrazyShake™ milkshakes in a casual atmosphere. Opening later this year.

There are even more exciting updates coming in 2018 yet to be announced so stay tuned right here on It All Started With a Mouse for future updates. 

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Reimagined World of Disney Stores Coming to Both Coasts in 2018

As part of continued enhancements to guests’ shopping experiences at Disney Parks, the World of Disney store locations in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort and in Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort will be reimagined beginning in mid-February 2018.

When the interior redesign work is completed, guests will discover the products they love from Disney Parks in a dynamic and distinctly Disney retail environment. Work will be completed in phases throughout 2018, so guests can continue shopping in the World of Disney stores during construction.

At the shops in Town Center at Disney Springs, such as Ever After Jewelry Co. or The Disney Corner (opening in mid-February), will carry select merchandise while World of Disney undergoes renovations.

At the Downtown Disney District in California, World of Disney will remain open during the renovation. Additionally, Guests can find great shopping in the recently opened Dream Boutique, as well as the Disney Home store opening February 2018 in the former D-Street location.

Stay tuned for future updates on the reimagination of World of Disney at both Downtown Disney in Disneyland and Disney Springs in Walt Disney World in the coming months.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Three Disney Parks Holiday Specials Coming Your Way; Voice Cast Announced for Big Hero 6 Television Series

Three Disney Parks Holiday Specials Coming Your Way:

The holidays are officially upon us and this year Disney Parks is bring us three amazing holiday specials. This year instead of just enjoying the amazing Disney Parks parade on Christmas Day, we will get two more holiday specials beginning on November 24 (Thanksgiving Day) and November 25.  

Each of the specials will be shot at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland and will feature special musical performances and celebrity appearances. This years shows will be hosted by Emmy-Award winners Julianne and Derek Hough. Here is the schedule:

“The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” on ABC on Nov. 24, from 8-1 p.m. EST. Emmy Award-winners Julianne and Derek Hough will serve as hosts for this two-hour special from the Walt Disney World Resort, which will also feature “Descendants 2” star Sofia Carson, a duet by Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks, and a performance by Kelly Clarkson.

“Disney Parks Presents: A Descendants Magical Holiday Celebration” on Disney Channel on Nov. 25 from 8-9 p.m. EST. Musical performers include Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart, “Descendants 2” star China Anne McClain, Trisha Yearwood with Garth Brooks, and Kelly Clarkson. ABC stars and Disney Channel stars will also surprise philanthropic families around the country with once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort.

“The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration” on the ABC on Dec. 25, from 9-11 a.m. EST. Join holiday hosts Julianne and Derek Hough for a magical ride down Main Street and beyond for a celebration that brings together the beloved Christmas day parade with magical musical performances, surprise celebrity guests and heart-warming family stories. Musical performers on tap are Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, Sofia Carson and Jordan Fisher.

What do you think of the new format of the Disney Parks Holiday special?

Voice Cast Announced for Big Hero 6 Television Series:

Back in March, a Big Hero 6 television series was announced for Disney XD for 2017. Today, we found out who will be voicing the characters. Yes, many of the voices from the movie will be returning for the tv series. There are also some new voices coming to the show. Here they are:

Confirmed to be returning are Maya Rudolph (Aunt Cass), Jamie Chung (GoGo), Scott Adsit (Baymax), Alan Tudyk (Alistair Krei), Ryan Potter (Hiro), Genesis Rodriguez (Honey Lemon), David Shaughnessy (Heathcliff), Stan Lee (Fred's Dad). Wasabi and Fred will be voiced by Khary Payton (The Lion Guard) and Brooks Wheelan (Saturday Night Live) respectively. 

Also joining the cast will be Jennifer Lewis (black-ish) as Professor Granville, Andrew Scott (Sherlock) as the villain Obake, comedian Andy Richter as Globby, Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs) as Richardson Mole, John Ross Bowie (Speechless) as Mei, Diedrich Bader (American Housewife) as Bluff Dunder, Susan Sullivan (Castle) as Fred's Mother, and Haley Tju (Bella and the Bulldogs) as Karmi. 

The show will pick up right after the events of Big Hero 6. Hiro and the gang are ready to set out on high-tech adventures to protect San Fransokyo. When he isn't fighting scientifically enhanced villains, Hiro will be dealing with the trials and tribulations of college life at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology.  

I am so excited to see Baymax and the gang on Disney XD. This a major fist bump, Ba La La La. 

Disney Princesses Meet & Greet Coming to Disney Springs; New Birnbaum Disney World Guide Offers Pandora Ride Descriptions

Disney Princesses Meet & Greet Coming to Disney Springs:

Beginning this Saturday, October 1, guests visiting the World of Disney story in Disney Springs will have a chance to meet Cinderella and other Disney Princesses for a limited time. There will be surprise appearances each day from the likes of Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Tiana, or another surprise visit from another princess. There will no set times to meet the princesses but each visit will be treated as if you are at a royal reception. 

Entertainment Show Director Tom Vazzana told the Disney Parks Blog, “Cinderella had a wish for her and her fellow royal princesses to have a place to meet new friends. The Fairy Godmother was able to grant her this wish, and now, tucked away in a magical corner of World of Disney is a location befitting Cinderella’s request. A magical ‘royal hall’ was created complete with tapestries and images inspired by classic fairytales.”

With a Disney PhotoPass Photographer on hand, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. everyday from October 1 through November 1, guests will be greeted by a cast member will give them an approximate time to return for their personal royal reception. When guests return to the queue they will be moments away from meeting a Disney Princess.

New Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Guide Offers Description for Pandora Attractions:

Thanks to The Laughing Place for the discovery of the complete descriptions of the two new attractions hitting Disney's Animal Kingdom next year when Pandora - The World of Avatar opens. The two new attractions are the Na'vi River Journey and AVATAR Flight of Passage. Both attractions are set to open sometime in the latter half of 2017. Here are the descriptions:

Na’Vi River Journey (FP+)
A musical voyage into Pandora’s bioluminescent forest, this trip is as calm and family-friendly as they come. The adventure begins as guests board canoes and venture down a mysterious, sacred river hidden within the rainforest. The grandeur of Pandora is revealed as canoes float past exotic glowing plants and an array of amazing creatures, include native humanoids known as Na’vi. The journey culminates in an encounter with a Na’vi shaman, who has a deep connection to the life of Pandora and sends positive energy into the forest with her music. Na’vi River Journey is generally appreciated by guests of all ages (through timid tykes who are spooked by darkness may find parts of this expedition unsettling).

AVATAR Flight of Passage (FP+)
The crowning jewel of Animal Kingdom’s newest neighborhood, AVATAR Flight of Passage invites daredevils to take a scenic trip to Pandora on the backs of a flying Mountain Banshee. The intense journey takes place in a cutting-edge, simulator-like environment and offers much more than a thrill a minute. Guests are treated to a bird’s-eye view of all the sights, sounds, and smells of the majestic moon that the Na’vi call home.
A high-flying “E-Ticket” experience, Flight of Passage is a most realistic, immersive experience. It is not recommended for guests with motion sensitivity, heart conditions, fear of heights, or any other physical issues. This experience is quite popular, book a Fastpass+ assignment if you can. For height requirements, visit www.disneyworld.com.

More details on Pandora - The World of Avatar are slated to be revealed at the upcoming D23 event, Destination D: Amazing Adventures, being held at Disney's Contemporary Resort on November 19-20. James Cameron, Jon Landau, and Disney President of Parks & Resorts Bob Chapek are slated to be on hand. We may even here an opening date so stay tuned. 

"Through the Looking Glass" Final Trailer, New Disney LEGO Minifigures Coming, and More

"Alice Through the Looking Glass" Final Trailer Released:

The final "Alice Through the Looking Glass" trailer has been released for the sequel to "Alice in Wonderland" that is due out in theaters May 27. The trailer which begins with Alice in a mental hospital being diagnosed by a very twitchy doctor (Andrew Scott). Alice escapes then heads back to Wonderland with the help of Absolem (voiced by the late Alan Rickman). As the trailer goes on we see a cavalcade of different sequences as we see some of our favorite characters from Wonderland including the White Rabbit, White Queen, the Red Queen, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Mad Hatter, and more. 

Check out the trailer below:

New Disney LEGO Minifigures to Debut in May:

The Disney Parks Blog announced today that the LEGO store in Disney Springs will be releasing the first ever LEGO minifigures Disney Character collection. The series will be released in May and will be sold at both World of Disney and the LEGO Store at a suggested retail cost of $3.99. 

The first series shown in the picture above will consist of some of our favorite iconic Disney/Pixar characters including Mickey, Minnie, Peter Pan, the Genie, Maleficent, Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Incredible, and more. Which minifigure are you most interested in collecting?

Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire to Debut in June:

Dream Along with Mickey will be ending its run by the end of the week. We found out last month it would be replaced with Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire. The new show which will feature for the first time ever in a stage show characters from "Princess and the Frog" and "Tangled." Also appearing in the show will be Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" and a number of our favorite classic characters. Through a press release that Blog Mickey found the show is tentatively set to debut in June. No exact date has been set however. Here is the press release:

New Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire stage show Coming to Magic Kingdom Park (June 2016) — For the first time, modern Disney characters Tiana of “Princess and the Frog,” and Rapunzel of “Tangled,” co-star with Anna and Elsa of “Frozen,” and a host of classic characters in the new Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire. Performed on the grandest stage in the kingdom, the star-studded tale of friendship presents Mickey Mouse and his troupe of Merry Makers — Minnie Mouse, Donald, Daisy and Goofy – who invite 10 new friends from different animated worlds to join the celebration. This “timeless fairytale” of a show combines grand dance, fireworks and stunts with memorable music, an original song and special effects.

Who else is excited for the new Magic Kingdom stage show?

Force Friday Event at Disney Parks Now Free for All Guests and a Force Friday Preview:

Well everybody we are now just that much closer to "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and tomorrow even tonight will make us excited even more. That's right Force Friday is tomorrow and begins tonight at Midnight. Here is some news the previously announced Force Friday events at Disney Parks was a $50 hard-ticket event. Last night, it was announced that both events Once Upon a Toy in Disney World and World of Disney in Disneyland will now be free for all guests of all ages.

Guests who attend the midnight release event at either of the two locations will be the first to be able to purchase new Star Wars and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" themed merchandise. In addition to the two locations at Disney Parks will be releasing new merchandise only available in Disney Parks including apparel, pins, toys, retail MagicBands (only in Disney World), Vinylmation figures, and more. Purchase limits will apply. 

Force Friday Merchandise Preview:

Over the last day and a half, the Force Friday Global Unboxing event has been happening all over the world with a preview of what is being released tomorrow for tomorrow's big event. One of most popular preview's has been of the Sphero smartphone-controlled BB-8 that will sell for retail of $150. 

Here is the live unboxing of BB-8 and the new LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon that happened live on Good Morning America this morning:

Here is just some of the other toys that were previewed in the live global toy unboxing event that was streamed on the Star Wars YouTube channel. 

This is just some of what you will see at the midnight kickoff events happening at many retail locations all over the country. Who's excited for Force Friday, I know I am!

Star Wars and Youtube Join Forces For Force Friday; Disney World and Disneyland to Hold Force Friday Events

Force Friday is just over a week away and we will finally get to see the merchandise for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. (Hint: The merchandise looks amazing, trust me I've already seen some of it, since I work in retail.) Today, Star Wars and Disney and YouTube giant Maker Studios announced plans for a global live toy boxing event for Force Friday.

The event will unfold over 18 hours in 15 cities and 12 countries, where the event will see highlights from the epic merchandise revealed in a rolling New Year's Eve style celebrating "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" featuring Maker Studios' top digital stars. LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy said, "Star Wars toys have always played an important role in how our fans interact with the saga. They've inspired multiple generations to relive the experience of the movies and to create new adventures all their own. These spectacular Star Wars: The Force Awakens products will continue that tradition."

The event will kickoff in Sydney, Australia on the morning of September 3 here on the east coast and travel through Asia, Europe, Canada, North America, and South America where selections of the new line will debut at each location.

The Star Wars YouTube channel will host the live stream, which kicks off with the first unboxing in Sydney, Australia at 7:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 3 (5:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 2), with the grand finale at Lucasfilm in San Francisco at 8 a.m. PDT (11 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, Sept. 3. Each of the 15 locations will reveal a new product inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The event will feature many Maker Studio stars from families like Bratayley, life hack specialists such as ExpCaseros, gamers such as AlexBy11, and Star Wars fans from around the world like Chris Pirillo. Several countries will join the event live from YouTube Spaces in Berlin, Tokyo, and London, with Anthony Carboni and Andi Gutierrez hosting the event live from the YouTube Space in Los Angeles. Here is the full global list of stars for the event:

COUNTRY	CITY	MAKER TALENT	LOCAL TIME 9/3	EDT
Australia	Sydney	Bratayley	07:45	17:45 9/2
Japan	Tokyo	Einshine	11:00	22:00 9/2
Korea	Seoul	Dollastic	12:00	23:00 9/2
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Dante Basco	12:00	00:00 9/3
France	Paris	AyPierre	09:00	03:00 9/3
Spain	Madrid	AlexBy11	11:00	05:00 9/3
Germany	Berlin	Reyst	12:00	06:00 9/3
England	London	GamingBeaver	11:30	06:30 9/3
Brazil	Rio de Janeiro	Malena010102	08:30	07:30 9/3
USA	New York	EvanTubeHD	08:30	08:30 9/3
Canada	Toronto	Quill18	09:00	09:00 9/3
USA	Chicago	HobbyKidsTV	08:30	09:30 9/3
Mexico	Mexico City	ExpCaseros	09:30	10:30 9/3
USA	San Francisco	Chris Pirillo	08:00	11:00 9/3

Details Released For Force Friday Events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland:

Today, the Disney Parks Blog revealed that Walt Disney World and Disneyland would be having their own special merchandise ticketed-events for Force Friday beginning at 12:01 a.m. on September 4. It will take place at Once Upon a Toy in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney at Disneyland.

Tickets to the event will include:

• The opportunity to be among the first to purchase new merchandise from Star Wars and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," including Disney Theme Park merchandise exclusives and licensed products. Purchase limits will apply.
• Amenity Gift

Tickets to the event were available beginning today, September 26, at 2 p.m. EST/ 11 a.m. PST for $50/ person only available on www.DisneyParksMerchandise.com. Tickets are limited to availability and no discounts will be applied.