New DuckTales Image Released, Living with the Land Moves Back to Tier 2 FastPass, and More

New DuckTales Image Released:

The new DuckTales series coming to Disney XD won't be out until next year, but excitement for the series is still sky high. This morning Disney Television Animation released a brand new image for the series that will of course bring back Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie and so many other beloved characters from the series.

The image was created by the production's art team, led by Matt Youngberg (Executive Producer) and Sean Jimenez (Art Director) will also appear on the back of DuckTales Cinestory Volume 1 comic book. It is a collectible edition that features a retelling of the first five episodes of the original DuckTales television series. The comic book is being released at the San Diego Comic-Con today and will become available in comic book stores nationwide, September 27.

While Youngberg will be executive producer, story editor and co-producer will be Francisco Angones (Wander Over Yonder). The DuckTales series will hit Disney XD in 2017. 

Living with the Land Moves Back to Tier 2 FastPass:

With the opening of Frozen Forever After in Norway, Living with the Land is moving back to a Tier 2 FastPass at Epcot. It had been a Tier 1 FastPass along with Soarin', Test Track and IllumiNations after Maelstrom had closed back in 2014. The Tier 2 attractions at Epcot are now as follows:

• Character Spot
• Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
• Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Living with the Land
• Mission: SPACE
• Spaceship Earth
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush

Graves Family Starts Foundation, Will Not Pursue Lawsuit of Disney:

We all mourned the loss of little Lane Graves after last month's horrific alligator attack Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Today, through a statement from his parents stating they will be creating a foundation in his name and will not pursue a lawsuit against Disney. Here is the full statement from Matt and Melissa Graves:

We continue to pray for the Graves family during this still horrible and difficult time. 

Watch Elena of Avalor Premiere for Exclusive Previews of Pete's Dragon, Beauty & the Beast, and More

The premiere of Disney's newest and first Latina Princess in "Elena of Avalor" is just days away from its premiere this Friday, July 22. First however, Disney will air one of its animated classics in "Frozen" at 5:15 p.m. During "Frozen" we will get a first look of the new animated short-series, LEGO Frozen Northern Lights, which premieres this fall in November on Disney Channel.

That's not all as we will get an exclusive first look at a scene from the upcoming release of the Disney's live action film in Disney's "Pete's Dragon" hitting theaters on August 12. There's more as we will get a look at a new trailer from Disney's live action remake of its animated classic, Beauty and the Beast, with narration from its star Emma Watson (Belle). "Beauty and the Beast" opens in theaters on March 17, 2017. 

Just last week we got our first teaser for the sequel to "Descendants" in "Descendants 2." We will be getting our first trailer for the Disney Channel Original Movie sequel that is set to premiere next year in Summer 2017. 

"Elena of Avalor" will premiere this Friday on Disney Channel at 7 p.m EST. The first episode will be available on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior app, Disney VOD platforms, and the Disney YouTube channel tomorrow, July 20th. Following the US debut of the new show, it will roll out in 163 countries on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior. 

Disney Hits Box Office Milestone in Record Time; The Polite Pig Opening in Disney Springs in Spring 2017

Disney Hits Box Office Milestone in Record Time:

Disney hit the $2 Billion mark at the domestic box office in the quickest time ever on Saturday. This isn't the only milestone as it hit the $5 billion globally on July 6, doing so faster than in 2015 when it didn't hit that mark until December 20. Disney films have already hit $3 billion internationally.

This is after its latest hit Pixar's "Finding Dory" has already hit $724 million globally ($445 million domestically) with it not even opening in some major markets such as the UK, Italy, and Germany. Other films helping Disney at the box office include: Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" ($1.15 billion #1 at the box office this year), #2 in Disney's "Zootopia" ($1.02 billion), and Disney's "The Jungle Book" ($938 million). These take four of the top five films domestically and four of the top six films globally released in 2016.

Those don't include Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" which took in $737 million in 2016 of its total $2.07 billion in the calendar year. All five films take a rating of 90% or higher on Rotten Tomotoes.

Disney is set to release several films for the rest of the year these include: Disney's Pete's Dragon (August 12), Queen of Katwe (September), Marvel's Doctor Strange (November 4), Disney Animation's Moana (November 23), and Lucasfilm's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16). 

The Polite Pig Opening in Disney Springs in Spring 2017:

The Polite Pig Restaurant will be opening in Town Center of Disney Springs in Spring 2017. The restaurant which has a sister restaurant, The Ravenous Pig, in Winter Springs, FL will bring a variety of wood-fired smoked and grilled items as well as an innovative beverage program that serves all drinks on tap, this includes locally-brewed Cask & Larder beer, wine, and cocktails. 

Here is more info on the owners and details on The Polite Pig released on the Disney Parks Blog:

"Owners and James Beard award nominees James and Julie Petrakis are partnering with James’ brother (who operates another popular Orlando-area eatery, Greens & Grille) to open the new restaurant, located in the Town Center neighborhood of Disney Springs. The 5,000-square-foot venue will be open daily for lunch and dinner, with seating for about 200 guests.
“As a locally-based restaurant group, it’s great to bring our new concept to Disney Springs where we’ll have the opportunity to showcase genuine Florida cuisine for guests from around the world,” James Petrakis said. “With so many talented chefs opening new restaurants at Disney Springs, we’re really excited to be part of a group helping Central Florida distinguish itself as a world-class culinary destination.”

Tune in for more information like an opening date for The Polite Pig in the future right here on It All Started With a Mouse.

Enjoy your Monday evening everyone. - John

Star Wars Rebels News from Celebration; First Teaser Released for "Descendants 2"

Star Wars Rebels News from Celebration:

If you aren't excited for Season 3 of Star Wars Rebels after yesterday's panel at Star Wars Celebration, than I'm not sure we could be friends..... just kidding. Anyways Season 3 won't begin until the fall, even though visitors to the panel yesterday saw the first two episodes, we learned so much. First, take a look at the trailer if you haven't seen it yet:



There have been so many questions left unanswered since the Season 2 finale including, "Does Ahsoka survive her battle with Vader?" The beloved character by many Star Wars fans was last seen stumbling into a cave after her fight, which many thought it was to her impending doom. Executive Producer Dave Filoni while not saying it was the last we'd see of Ahsoka, he did say this, "I'm not going to say exactly, though, but you might not have seen the end of Ahsoka Tano." (Big sigh of relief.)

So what else is in store for Season 3 of Rebels, well many of the characters have new looks and Kanan looks like a much wiser now, that he is blind. How about get ready for more Mandalorians as it was revealed that we will go deeper into Sabine's story, who is seen in a clip finally getting her jet pack and in the trailer seen wielding the legendary darksaber. Speaking of the darksaber, the last time we saw it was in the hands of Darth Maul.

Oh yes Maul, after his return in the Season 2 finale, the Old Master looks to continue his battle with Kanan on who will be the master of Ezra, who by the way looks like his training has advanced with whatever he's learned from them both the Jedi and Sith holocrons. He's definitely changed and seems to be darker than the first two seasons.

No, I'm not babbling on for the best part of the trailer. That part is the debut of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Star Wars Legends character, will be brought in to take care of the Ghost Crew. When I saw Thrawn in the trailer I almost jumped through the roof in excitement. Not to mention seeing a young Wedge Antilles as he defects the Empire and joins the Rebellion. Season 3 certainly has my excitement and I can't wait until the fall for the premiere. Here is the poster for Season 3:

First Teaser Released for "Descendants 2":

Get ready to visit under the sea in "Descendants 2." We got our first teaser for the sequel and it looks like a new Descendant kid from a Disney villain, and that evil villain is Ursula. Check out the first teaser for "Descendants 2" below:

"Descendants 2" is coming to a tv near you on Disney Channel.

Happy 61st Disneyland:

Photo Credit: The Walt Disney Archives

No I didn't forget. Happy 61st Birthday Disneyland!!!! It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the 60th. How could we forget Walt's words on opening day at Disneyland 61 years ago today: 

“To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” - Walt Disney

We must not forget after all these years, that Walt brought these parks to exactly what he said in his dedication of Disneyland that it would be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world. To this day that stands true. Of course we can't forget that it was "All Started by a Mouse."

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

John

Rogue One's New Poster and Celebration Reel Released at Celebration; PizzeRizzo is Now Official

Rogue One's New Poster and Celebration Reel Released at Star Wars Celebration:

Star Wars Celebration Europe kicked off with a bang today with the 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' panel. We have a new poster that shows the Death Star hovering over the sunny skies of the new beach world called Scarif. The poster which was given to each guest at the end of the panel. The new poster reads, "A Rebellion Built on Hope."

While a new trailer wasn't released we did get a behind-the-scenes look with a celebration reel. It is much like the "Force Awaken" reel we received at Celebration last year. It is amazing so check it out below:

For a complete recap on the "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" Panel from Star Wars Celebration check out StarWars.com. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" hits theaters December 16, 2016.

PizzeRizzo is Now Official for Hollywood Studios:

While this has been known for weeks, PizzeRizzo has been officially announced by Disney today. It will open this Fall in the new Muppets Courtyard section of Hollywood Studios (formerly Pizza Planet). Here are the details released on the Disney Parks Blog:

Rizzo The Rat owns and operates the pizzeria, where guests can grab a pizza pie and a cold drink. Enjoy a casual Italian-American dining experience in a whole new way, through the eyes of the lovable, wisecracking Muppet. 

Walt Disney Imagineering hid hints of Rizzo, his extended family and friends who have visited PizzeRizzo over the years throughout the two-story quick-service location. In addition to the expansive indoor and outdoor seating area, guests will be able to dine in a “cheesy” banquet room, or take five in a special booth designated just for Rizzo’s celebrity friends.

Stay tuned for an official opening date of PizzeRizzo. I am hoping it will be completed in time for when I visit in 65 days.

Happy Weekend Everyone,
John

New My Disney Experience Update to Include Directions; Club Villain to Return for Limited Time

New My Disney Experience Update to Include Walking Directions:

The next update on the My Disney Experience app will be coming soon and it will be somewhat of a major update. The new update will include a 'Get Directions' button that will allow guests to use their GPS on their phones to walk a route from attraction to attraction.

The new navigation feature will also extend to outside the parks that the guest would be currently in and provide directions across all of the Walt Disney World property including various transportation options. This was first reported by WDWMagic. What do you think of the new update coming to My Disney Experience?

Club Villain Returning to Hollywood Studios for Limited Time:

The very popular Club Villain will be returning to Hollywood Studios inside Sunset Showcase for a limited time beginning September 2. It will take place on Friday and Saturday nights through October 29th and also on Halloween night, October 31. The ticketed event will include fabulous performances, delicious food (voodoo sticky pig wings), bewitching cocktails, and enchanting encounters with some of our favorite Disney villains. 

If you forget what Club Villain is here is the description:

The mysterious Dr. Facilier will serve as host, welcoming his guests and “friends from the other side” into his parlor of mystical mishaps, with musical numbers and a wicked mix from his house DJ. Also stopping by to socialize will be several divas of evil: Maleficent, the Queen of Hearts, Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen. Guests can also enjoy complimentary drinks from the Potions Bar, savor culinary delights from New Orleans and beyond, mingle with the villains and dance the night away.

Club Villain will be hosted twice a night with starting times at 5:15 and 8:30 p.m. You can learn more about Club Villain or make reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).

Disney Parks Live "Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular" Live Stream; Throwback with ABC Live Stream Service

Disney Parks Live "Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular" Live Stream:

Did you enjoy Monday's live stream of "Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire" on the Disney Parks Blog? Earlier this month it was announced that they would be live streaming from the parks each Monday of July. This coming Monday on July 18, the Disney Parks Blog will be live streaming from Disney's Hollywood Studios for "Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular" fireworks show.

The spectacular is the next generation of Star Wars-themed fireworks shows for the park. “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” dazzles with new themed fireworks, lasers, special effects and video projections of iconic characters and scenes from the complete saga, all set to the unforgettable score of the film series.

The #DisneyParksLive stream will begin at 9:20 p.m. ET where the stream will begin minutes before the show where you will learn just how the show was created and designed by its creators. I know I'll be tuning into this live stream.

Throwback with Relaunched ABC Live Stream Service:

Are you missing some of your favorite shows that aired on ABC in the past? Well fear not as, ABC has relaunched its live stream service both on its app and online and you could watch some of those favorite tv shows of the past. Not only will you be able to enjoy 38 of the throwback shows on the live stream but also 7 new short-form original shows. 

It is launching under the new "ABCd" banner, the initiative got underway last year and now is official. The new "ABCd" short form originals were developed in house by ABC Comedy Development, ABC Daytime, and ABC Digital Media. There are 40 more additional series that will be rolling out in the coming months.

Here are the 7 ABCd series:

• “All My Gay Friends are Getting Married”: A celebration of gay marriage through the eyes of only mildly bitter single girl, Michelle Collins, who’s realizing that everyone is now getting married – except her.
• “Boondoogle”: After a life of obscurity, actor Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”) has finally made it big with a starring role in the hit series “Wingbot.” Now he and his “non-tourage” of best friends, Mel, Joel and Johnny, get to enjoy some of the perks of being a TV star. It’s time for these 40-something husbands and dads to cut loose – mostly on weekends and during reasonable hours. Starring Ty Burrell, Joel Spence, Mel Cowan and Johnny Meeks, all as themselves.
• “Forever 31”: Comedian Iliza Shlesinger and her friends struggle with the indignities of dead-end jobs, hangovers, dating, infidelity and all the rest of the absurdities of modern adulthood.  Created by and starring Shlesinger.
• Tastemade’s “Get Cookin’”: Sponsored by Hefty, three creators in the Tastemade network – Erwan Heussaff, Lazarus Lynch, Megan Mitchell – present techniques, tips and recipes to take their food game to the next level. The chefs also will tell personal stories behind these dishes, why they matter and why they should be the next things to devour.
• “I Can Find $3,000 In Your Home”: EBay millionaire Linda Lightman believes that everyone has at least 52 items totaling at least $3,000 in their homes. In this series, she travels to households across the country to find the treasure in their trash.
• “Newborn Moms”: Comedic series about life as a new parent struggling with sleepless nights, self doubt and swollen boobs. Created by Aurora Browne and Nadine Djoury, the series follows two moms, Rosie and Julia, as they reconcile the kind of mothers they thought they would be with the kind they actually are. Starring Browne (Rosie) and Djoury (Julia).
• “On The Record”: An intimate “story behind the song” experience where songwriters perform an acoustic version of the song and share the inspiration behind it. The interviews will reveal the song’s meaning, personal anecdotes of its evolution, and its impact on the artist’s life and career. The first installment in the series features Hollywood Records recording artist Shawn Hook discussing his hit singles “Wonderful Surprise,” “Million Ways” and “Sound of Your Heart.” Future artists include Fancy Hagood and Yuna

Now you may be wondering just what throwback shows which you will enjoy full seasons that will be live streamed. They are:

“8 Simple Rules,” “Benched,” “Betrayal,” “Body of Proof,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Commander in Chief,” “Detroit,” “Dinosaurs,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Ellen,” “Felicity,” “FlashForward,” “Happy Town,” “Hope and Faith,” “I Survived a Japanese Game Show,” “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” “The Knights of Prosperity,” “Less Than Perfect,” “Manhattan Love Story,” “Mixology,” “My Generation,” “My So-Called Life,” “The Neighbors,” “October Road,” “Off the Map,” “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” “Perception,” “Reaper,” “Red Band Society,” “The River,” “Samantha Who?,” “School House Rock,” “Secret Millionaire,” “Smart Guy,” “Sports Night,” “Trophy Wife,” “Ugly Betty” and “What About Brian?”

Who's excited for both the new sitcoms and the throwback shows coming to the ABC app and online? I know I am.