It’s a tradition that started back in 1987 when New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms was the first to say, “I’m Going to Disney World” after winning the Super Bowl. Over the years, many of the game’s greatest players have followed in those footsteps, visiting either Walt Disney World or Disneyland. This year, Seattle Seahawks running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker will join quarterback Sam Darnold for a celebratory visit to Disneyland. Here’s the latest!
Seahawks Players to Celebrate Super Bowl Win at Disneyland
After guiding the Seattle Seahawks to a triumphant victory on Sunday, Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Sam Darnold capped off the night at Levi’s Stadium outside San Francisco by turning toward the cameras and delivering the iconic phrase that for decades has defined Super Bowl glory — “We’re Going to Disneyland!”
Moments after the final whistle, Walker and Darnold made the proclamation in front of thousands of jubilant Seahawks fans. Disney camera crews captured the excitement for our cherished Super Bowl commercial, now airing across social media and TV in English and Spanish.
Now the excitement shifts to Disneyland Resort in Southern California, which is currently celebrating 70 years of The Happiest Place on Earth. Guests can look forward to an incredible day tomorrow, Monday, February 9, as Kenneth Walker III and Sam Darnold take center stage, enjoying attractions and unforgettable moments with beloved Disney characters.
The festivities will culminate in a celebratory cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park, during which thousands of cheering fans can catch a glimpse of the champion players.
This year marks the start of a historic year for Disney’s ESPN, which will host its first-ever Super Bowl next year with Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027. To celebrate, ESPN will have special coverage from Disneyland Park as part of a 24-hour event called “The Handoff”.
On Monday, February 9th, ESPN will have a set in Town Square at the foot of Main Street, U.S.A., within Disneyland Park. First Take with Stephen A. Smith, multiple editions of SportsCenter, NFL Live, and a second episode of Super Bowl Live will originate from within the park. ESPN will also welcome and honor running back Kenneth Walker from the Super Bowl LX winning Seattle Seahawks.
Not only will Super Bowl LXI be ESPN’s first, but it will also be the 40th year of the iconic “I’m Going to Disney World” moment from 1987.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
The Disneyland Resort has announced that some new (classic) characters will be coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge soon. This move will continue the abandonment of the strictly established timeline for the land when it first opened back in 2019. When Galaxy’s Edge first debuted, Imagineers said that the timeline of the land sits between Episodes 8 and 9. Imagineering has already started to create some space between that strict timeline. And now, even more classic characters are coming soon.
Darth Vader, Han Solo & More Coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Timeline Further Abandoned
We’ll start with the announcement from Disneyland, followed by some thoughts. Here’s what Disneyland said:
We have a good feeling about this. Disneyland Resort is unlocking the timeline at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the biggest way yet.
Fans know that Batuu has played a role in the history of the galaxy for hundreds of years on the Outer Rim. Beginning April 29, 2026, visitors will be invited to immerse themselves in different points of the Star Wars saga inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park as they never have before with characters and storylines that capture the heart of what draws guests to this galaxy far, far away. These exciting updates to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will enable visitors to experience even more of the eras of Star Wars.
New storylines will be brought to life on Batuu, spanning multiple eras of the planet’s rich history. These updates will enable you to experience the Galactic Civil War and New Republic, as well as the Age of the Resistance and First Order.
Black Spire Outpost will roll back in time several decades, thoughtfully introducing beloved characters from across the Star Wars timeline, new props and graphics in some areas, musical selections from Star Wars film scores throughout the land and more. Each era will be brought to life with the same care and attention to detail that the land was originally designed with, masterfully weaving together stories from across time and space in one location.
Cue “The Imperial March.” Darth Vader’s search for Luke Skywalker will bring him to Batuu. This Sith Lord will be joined by Imperial Stormtroopers, and as they seek the elusive Jedi, they may find hints of the Force around the outpost.
Leia Organa and Han Solo will be reunited with Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca amid the rocky spires.
Luke Skywalker will roam the outpost seeking knowledge of the Force and artifacts related to lightsaber building, kyber crystals, and more.
Leia Organa may be spotted near the Millennium Falcon, where she’ll recruit travelers and locals to help keep Luke safe.
Han Solo also will linger around his prized ship, tempted by the local cantina.
The forested area on the outskirts of Black Spire Outpost will continue to represent a time inspired by the Age of the Resistance. You may find Rey around this Resistance camp, and if you’re bold enough, become a hero yourself in a climactic battle with the First Order aboard Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
As Batuu’s history is represented with new storylines, you may notice some updates to buildings and shops throughout the land.
First Order Cargo will transform into Black Spire Surplus, a military salvage operation offering artifacts from across the history of the galaxy, including Imperial and Rebel items from the Galactic Civil War.
As antiquities shops often do, Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will display a different array of one-of-a-kind items from its past. The curiosities and artifacts in his shop certainly change with the times.
An earlier generation of the Mubo family will operate Droid Depot, where they will be prototyping the BB style of droid. You’ll still have the opportunity to purchase and create your own droid companion at this shop.
In his search for information on lightsabers and the Force, Luke Skywalker will be interested in meeting with Savi. You may continue to have the opportunity to purchase and build your own lightsaber under the guidance of Savi’s Gatherers.
This isn’t the first time that Disney has abandoned the strict timeline for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Disney fans will recall back in May 2022 when Disney first announced that they will be introducing characters from throughout Batuu’s history, not just characters that would’ve been there between Episodes 8 and 9. Here’s what Disney said nearly four years ago:
We are committed to the long history of Batuu and the collection of amazing characters who inhabit the outpost including our legacy characters and original characters and know that we will feel the same about new and future characters from the ever-expanding galaxy of Star Wars storytelling. While we as visitors may be able to experience different stories throughout Star Wars history, the characters on Batuu can not. They will remain in their specific story and timeline and won’t intersect with other characters or stories that would not be appropriate for them.
Ultimately, this is going to result in more guests meeting more of the characters that they’re familiar with. This is going to be a win for guests, and we can only hope that something similar will happen with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios – especially with the closure of the Star Wars Launch Bay.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Walt Disney Imagineering has shared a video showcasing the installation and behind-the-scenes work to bring a first-of-its-kind large-scale 3D printed prop to the Jungle Cruise attraction. The video takes place at Disneyland, showing crews installing an outrigger canoe on the Jungle Cruise attraction. What makes this prop special is that it is a large-scale, 3D printed prop – a first for Walt Disney Imagineering.
First Large-Scale 3D Printed Prop Installed in Jungle Cruise
Walt Disney Imagineering shared the video below, saying that “large-scale fabrication using 3D printing is just one way Imagineers are innovating to continue to tell immersive stories in our parks”. Imagineers note that while this is the first large-scale 3D printed prop to make it into the Disney theme parks, it won’t be the last. Here’s a look at the installation, followed by some background on the process and how Disney is able to bring these large-scale props to life.
First and foremost, the creation of this prop was not done 100% in-house at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney is being very transparent about that. Instead, the prop is a result of not only a partnership, but an investment by Disney into a company called Haddy. Here’s how Disney describes Haddy:
Haddy is an AI-powered industrial 3D printing factory for large-scale objects. Its creations are fully recyclable and can meet architectural code requirements at-scale for theme parks, set design, retail, hospitality, home, and more.
The video says that this is the first time that Walt Disney Imagineering has 3D printed a prop to permanently live in one of Disney’s attractions. I’m a little bit skeptical of that claim on the surface without a scale modifier, but it very well could be the first large-scale 3D printed prop to be installed on a ride.
Imagineering is exploring large-format additive manufacturing, or large 3D printing. The boat itself was designed within the Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development division, sent to Haddy for the printing of the boat. Imagineers said that they took the old boat, did a 3D scan of it, had it printed, and then finished the boat with details from a photo taken in the 1960s.
Haddy CEO Jay Rogers says that Haddy has changed the game, allowing 3D printing to move out of the prototype role and into a functional role within theme parks and beyond. Rogers says that Haddy’s process creates items that are reliable, less expensive, faster to develop, and replicable in any theme park, all over the world.
While Haddy started out as a furniture company, The Walt Disney Company invested in Haddy last year as part of its Disney Accelerator. Disney says that they were able to invest in Haddy and level up their processes to make them consistent with the level of quality Disney expects.
Now in its 11th year, the Disney Accelerator continues Disney’s legacy of creative and technological leadership by engaging pioneering companies and visionary founders from around the world.
The program is an illustration of the many ways Disney invests in innovation, offering a unique opportunity for select emerging companies who are at the cutting-edge in their fields and that align with Disney’s vision for the future of entertainment. Participating companies receive investment capital, as well as the opportunity to explore collaborations with leaders across The Walt Disney Company. Since 2014, more than 60 global companies have come through Disney Accelerator, including Epic Games, Eleven Labs, Kahoot!, Attentive, StatusPro, AudioShake, and many more.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
The Disneyland Resort has announced that a new show featuring the mega-popular character Bluey will debut in March 2026. The new show is called Bluey’s Best Day Ever! and it will be presented in the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park. Here are the full details!
New Bluey Show Coming to Disneyland
Beginning March 22, 2026, and continuing through the year, “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” at the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland park will celebrate the heart and humor of the critically acclaimed Disney+ animated series, Bluey.
This immersive, family-friendly celebration will transform the Fantasyland Theatre into the grounds of Bluey’s school, where you can join the fun of Bluey’s best day ever. Throughout the day, Bluey and her sister Bingo will appear live on stage, joining a troupe of comedic actors and musicians. Together, they will bring to life the popular music and games emblematic of beloved Bluey episodes, inspiring young families and guests of all ages to participate.
From entertaining live musical show moments that seamlessly segue into iconic games like Keepy Uppy, to interactive adventures in a life-sized Gnome Village and Fairy Garden, it’s a special time when play is welcomed and memories are created by all. You can step into the fair at Bluey’s school with the Grannies, Chattermax, Unicorse and delight in select themed fave foods at Troubadour Tavern, inspired by the animated series.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Disneyland has announced that it will soon be adding Rapunzel’s Tower to the Storybook Land Canal Boats attraction as part of the resort’s 70th Anniversary celebrations. The addition joins the picturesque realm of miniature homes, villages, and castles from favorite fairytales in this classic Disneyland ride. You’ll find Rapunzel’s Tower between the Patchwork Quilt and Toad Hall when the attraction reopens this winter. Here’s the announcement and concept art!
Rapunzel’s Tower Coming to Storybook Land Canal Boats
As shown in newly released concept art, the slender tower is marked by a shingled turret and several windows high above the ground. A meticulously cared for selection of flora completes the scene, creating a lush green oasis among the boulders surrounding Rapunzel’s home.
Beyond the tower, multiplewanted posters seeking Flynn Rider dot the stone wall, and even in miniature, they still couldn’t get Flynn’s nose right. In fact, each poster has a different depiction of Flynn’s most difficult-to-capture feature.
A secluded dock with a boat inspired by the one from the film will sit at the edge of the water further down the canal. The dock is framed by a trail of twinkling lights winding up a trellis on the bridge, where the Casey Jr. Circus Train rumbles along.
As you float by this scene during the day, you’ll hear a charming arrangement of “When Will My Life Begin?” escaping from Rapunzel’s Tower, recalling afternoons of puzzles, darts and baking. Once dusk falls, “I See the Light” will play as you drift along the canal and watch the winking lights, reminiscent of the lanterns Rapunzel and Flynn Rider gazed at from their boat in the film.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
The holidays return to the Disneyland Resort on November 14th, and Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and some of their friends will have new costumes to celebrate the 70th Anniversary. Disneyland released more info this morning, along with concept art of the new costumes. Here’s a first look!
New Costumes for Mickey, Minnie & Friends | Disneyland Holiday Season
Each year, the Disneyland Resort transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland, where joy and tradition come to life around every corner. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, the upbeat Disney Festival of Holidays and Disney ¡Viva Navidad! return on Nov. 14, 2025, and continue through Jan. 7, 2026. If you’re dreaming of dazzling shows, ornate décor and unforgettable experiences that stir the senses and warm the heart, you’re in for a treat.
During the holiday season, some Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration entertainment will continue to sparkle, so we hope you’ll celebrate the happiness we make together all season long. And you better not pout — Santa often stops around the resort to listen to your Christmas wishes, making appearances at both theme parks and the three Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
As you stroll into Disneyland park, you may spot Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and some of their friends in sparkling new outfits. These designs are a “holiday spin” on their clothing from the 70th Celebration. Shimmering greens, reds and golds steal the show, with 70th nods throughout.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Well, the opening of Disneyland didn’t go smoothly 70 years ago, and neither has opening day for the all-new Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic. The show, Walt Disney – A Magical Life, has been interrupted multiple times per day today, its debut day. A new video posted to Instagram shows the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic breaking down as it attempts to walk forward.
Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic Breaks at Disneyland
In the video below, we can see the controversial Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic break down after standing up from leaning on his desk. As Walt goes to take a step forward, the movement comes to a jarring halt, with the entire Audio-Animatronic figure oscillating a bit from the sudden stop. The show lighting is dimmed immediately, along with the audio. Walt’s mouth continues to move as a groan can be heard from the audience. As the curtain closes on Walt, Cast Members begin to issue instructions for guests to leave the theater.
The Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic has been controversial for a number of reasons. When it was announced, the fan community discussed whether or not a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic should even be made. Imagineering said that they have no record of Walt ever saying that he didn’t want to be made into an Audio-Animatronic. Disney even got the blessing from (most) of Walt’s descendants.
With most of that controversy dying down, a new round of controversy started back up recently once the first photos of the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic surfaced online. Many fans said that the Audio-Animatronic didn’t look like Walt. In-person reactions from invited media were nicer.
Today was the first day that guests were able to view the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, which debuted alongside the 70th Anniversary celebrations.
For more on the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, check out our earlier coverage below!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Disneyland has shared a first look at the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic coming to Disneyland this week. The all-new Audio-Animatronic is the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic and it will debut to the public on July 17th as part of Walt Disney – A Magical Life. Here’s the announcement!
Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is about to make its debut at the Main Street Opera House theater at Disneyland this Thursday, July 17, 2025. Our Imagineering team is putting the finishing touches on the show and attraction, the realization of many years of passion and planning.
The 70th anniversary of Disneyland park offered us a great opportunity to remind guests of Walt Disney’s incredible story — told in his own words — in both film and through the magic of Audio-Animatronics, the art form he pioneered.
After exploring the lobby exhibits, you’ll step into the theater to view “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” The show begins with a film adaptation of “One Man’s Dream,” narrated by Walt himself, which follows his life from early endeavors through his dreams for the future.
The finale of the show will raise the curtain on the first Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney ever created. Guests will discover him in a re-creation of his office at the Studio, where he’ll share a few stories and thoughts on his career and philosophy. Taken from recordings spanning decades, Walt’s words were seamlessly blended to create these “great moments” for the performance.
Of course, creating an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney is an enormous responsibility, and one our Imagineering team took very seriously through extensive research and innovation … similar perhaps to the efforts Walt and his team took in creating the original figure of Abraham Lincoln decades ago.
From capturing the twinkle in his eyes to his expressive hands and eyebrows, the team pioneered numerous artistic and technological innovations to create the most lifelike performance of an Audio-Animatronics figure possible.
Did you know?
Walt Disney Imagineering has put in more than seven years of work on this project, though creating a Walt figure has been an idea within Imagineering for years – decades, even.
The film “One Man’s Dream” leads from Walt’s early endeavors to the bright lights of Los Angeles and beyond. This beloved cinematic journey will be uniquely adapted for “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.”
The attraction features the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure and tells the incredible story of his life through historical footage and audio recordings featuring Walt’s own words.
Several historical sources featuring dialogue of Walt, spoken by him, are blended seamlessly to create the inspiring performance of the Audio-Animatronics figure.
Walt’s attire was carefully researched including his suit, shoes, tie and rings.
Imagineers are pushing the art form and technology of Audio-Animatronics storytelling in every way possible to capture Walt’s likeness and mannerisms.
The creative team chose the approximate time period of 1963 when determining Walt’s appearance.
The office that appears in the attraction is inspired by Walt’s actual office in Burbank, similar to the office set developed for Walt’s many television appearances.
Walt Disney Imagineering redesigned the stage inside the theater to accommodate a rotating turntable allowing for both “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” and “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” to play in rotation.
For the first time, the Main Street Opera House will feature a new marquee with two titles, displaying in the center “Opera House now featuring two dramatic theater presentations!” with A Magical Life above Walt Disney’s name on the left, and to the right, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Latest Audio-Animatronics Technology
The Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney is the most lifelike figure that Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created. The team achieved many innovations never done before in a humanoid figure, such as:
Achieving a ‘twinkle in the eye’
The first ‘lean to stand’ motion for an all-electric figure
Realistic skin through new methods
Imagineering studied muscle structure and the nuances of speaking and gesturing such as how the mouth falls when the figure is speaking, as well as the very Walt mannerisms and movements including the way Walt used his hands.
The technological leaps to achieve these far-reaching ambitions were called “moonshots” within the team that innovated them.
“Evolution of a Dream”
Inside the lobby of the Main Street Opera House, an all-new gallery experience titled “Evolution of a Dream” will display images, artifacts and art – some never before seen – that show Disneyland before, during and after Walt’s dream became a reality. Included will be pencil drawings and other concept artwork featuring preliminary plans for Disneyland.
Walt Disney Imagineering and the Walt Disney Archives have curated relics and memorabilia from the early stages of Disneyland including vintage merchandise, correspondence and more.
The Walt Disney Family Museum has selected more than 30 artifacts for these experiences in the lobby, including original items from Walt’s private apartment which have never been publicly exhibited at Disneyland Park before. These artifacts will be on loan from the museum.
A special exhibit about the story and history of Audio-Animatronics technology will feature original and replica figures dating back to Walt Disney Imagineering’s earliest development of the technology. Attractions featured include Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean and more.
In a heartfelt pre-show tribute video to “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” called “Memories of Walt,” those who worked alongside Walt Disney—and those inspired by his vision—share personal stories and reflections about Walt Disney. Through touching anecdotes and behind-the-scenes memories, they offer a rare glimpse into Walt’s character, and the man behind the magic. These intimate recollections reveal his relentless curiosity, hands-on leadership and unwavering belief in creativity and people.
At the conclusion of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” as guests leave the theater, they’ll experience another new exhibit showcasing cast members at work through the years, as well as a stunning new mural paying tribute to Disneyland history, including entertainment and attractions, plus what’s to come.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Lillian Disney, wife of Walt Disney, was honored with a window on Main Street USA at Disneyland today, just days before the 70th Anniversary of the park. Receiving a window at a Disney theme park remains one of the highest honors at The Walt Disney Company. Here’s the announcement from Disneyland, and a look at the window.
Lillian Disney Main Street USA Window
Lillian Disney’s window can be found next to the Disney Showcase, overlooking Town Square in the northeast corner of the plaza. Here’s a look at the second-story window.
The window was dedicated at a private ceremony this morning. Today marks the 100th anniversary of Walt and Lillian’s wedding.
The balcony is adorned with a colorful array of flowers, a painting, and musical instruments.
The window reads:
Lilly’s Bountiful Blooms Flowers & Fancies Lillian Bounds Disney Inspiring Worlds of Color and Happiness
A unique window overlooking Town Square along Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., pays tribute to Lillian Disney and her contributions to the theme park her husband, Walt Disney, opened on July 17, 1955. The window was unveiled in a private ceremony on July 13, 2025, the 100th anniversary of Walt and Lillian Disney’s wedding. The tradition of honoring individuals with a personalized decorative window on Main Street, U.S.A., was started by Walt Disney and has continued at Disney Parks worldwide. It remains one of the highest honors at The Walt Disney Company.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
The Disneyland Resort has rolled out new dining search updates to its website, giving guests even more control over finding the right restaurant option. The update was first spotted by ThemeParkIQ. The update greatly improves dining availability information, offers a more granular time of day search, and more! In this article, we’ll take a look at the changes.
Dining Availability Calendar
Disney has wisely leveraged its theme park reservation calendar to now display dining availability for individual restaurants. In our screenshot below, you can see availability for the Blue Bayou Restaurant by date. A green dot indicates that there is availability, whereas the greyed-out circle indicates that no reservations are available.
Time Slider for Granular Searching
Another update made to the dining search page for the Disneyland website is a slider that allows you to pick a more specific time range for your dining reservation search. Previously, you would either by able to pick “all day” availability, or “morning”, “afternoon”, or “evening”. Now, you can pick specific hours that you’d like to search.
Date Range Searching
This is a feature that has been available for individual restaurants, but I’m not sure that it has previously been available for multiple restaurants at a time. Now, if you choose a date range and you don’t choose a specific restaurant, you will be presented with all relevant restaurants that match the date range and any other search criteria you may have entered.
More Obvious Location Filtering
I’m not sure if this was previously present before the updates, but you’ll be able to filter by location quite easily. While more granular filtering options are available under the “Filter” button, Disneyland has moved some of the top-level locations to the top of the page to allow guests to narrow their search even more.
The end result of these updates is more control and more relevant info at the fingertips of guests. This is a wonderful update that has built upon the already wonderful March 2024 update to the dining search system.
As of publish time, the dining search upgrades made to the Disneyland website are not available on the Walt Disney World website. It is unclear if the upgrades made to the Disneyland site will be integrated into the Walt Disney World website.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Guests enjoying the Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite yesterday were treated to an extra-special surprise when Diego Luna, star of the Disney+ Star Wars series Andor made a surprise appearance. Here’s the announcement from Disney, along with some photos!
Andor’s Diego Luna Visits ‘Star Wars Nite’ at Disneyland
To celebrate May the 4th, Diego Luna (Cassian Andor), star of the critically acclaimed Disney+ series Andor, surprised fans earlier today during a special cavalcade up Main Street, U.S.A., at the Disneyland Resort during the separately ticketed Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite. The cavalcade featured Stormtroopers and imperial officers from the 501st Legion, as well as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse bounding as beloved Star Wars droids, R2-D2 and BB-8, respectively.
Luna addressed the excited fans in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, reminiscing on his time as part of the Star Wars universe and highlighting the incredible reach of the franchise as well as the remarkable fans.
Guests were treated to a special projection show entitled, “Welcome to the Rebellion,” during which Sleeping Beauty Castle transformed into famous backdrops from across the galaxy. Beloved scenes and music from the Star Wars franchise came to life through innovative projection mapping intertwined with lighting effects, enthralling guests and transporting them to a galaxy far, far away.
For almost 50 years, the Star Wars franchise has captivated generations around the globe, creating a community of passionate, loyal, and one-of-a-kind fans who are always craving new ways to engage with the brand. Within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, fans can embark on their own Star Wars adventure through groundbreaking technology and immersive storytelling.
During Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite, guests were able to extend their fandom with special entertainment, merchandise, food and beverage, as well as rarely seen characters, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that is uniquely Disney.
From the original films that first captured the hearts of fans around the world, to the new series that expand the universe to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, the entire library of the Star Wars universe is available to stream exclusively on Disney+. The final season of Andor – the series starring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor – is now streaming. The season unfolds over 12 episodes broken down into four chapters of three episodes each, with a new chapter debuting each week.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Disneyland has announced that it will debut a new verse to the iconic “it’s a small world” song on July 17th. The new verse will be added to the attraction in honor of the late legendary composer Richard M. Sherman. This new verse is Sherman’s final contribution to Disney. Here’s the announcement from Disneyland:
New Verse Coming to “it’s a small world” at Disneyland
Inside the famed Main Street Cinema, you’ll get to see the story and impact of the famous songwriting duo, the Sherman brothers.
Here you can watch a heartwarming three-and-a-half minute film called “The Last Verse,” which celebrates the timeless connection and hope behind the Sherman brothers’ iconic song, “It’s a Small World.” Created for the song’s 60th anniversary, this film unveils a new verse written by legendary composer Richard M. Sherman in his final Disney contribution. In the spirit of the beloved song, viewers journey across the globe as the song is passed from person to person and generation to generation, culminating in the reveal of this heartfelt new verse:
“Mother earth unites us in heart and mind And the love we give makes us humankind Through our vast wondrous land When we stand hand in hand It’s a small world after all.”
Additionally, we are honored to share that we will be premiering this third and final verse in the “it’s a small world” attraction at Disneyland, beginning July 17.
There is no word on whether or not the new verse will also debut at Walt Disney World.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
In an update, Disneyland has announced that the grand opening of Walt Disney – A Magical Life, will be delayed until July 17th to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of Disneyland. Disney had previously announced a May 16th debut date for the show, which will feature the first-ever Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life Show Delayed Until July
With so much to enjoy prior to experiencing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” this attraction will now open alongside these new Main Street Opera House exhibits on July 17.
As you step into the theater, you’ll get to experience the incredible story of Walt Disney’s life. Through remastered footage and audio recordings, you’ll be taken on a cinematic journey that leads from Walt’s early endeavors to the bright lights of Los Angeles and beyond. And when the curtain rises, guests will be transported to Walt’s office. Through the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling that he helped pioneer, Walt will share some heartfelt stories and words of wisdom.
After its initial run, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will play in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”
The exit lobby will preview projects and moments of how Disneyland will continue to move forward, as well as showcase how it has done so for decades.
Imagineers are hard at work creating these experiences that will mark an incredible moment in 70 years of Disneyland history.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Disneyland has announced its Season of the Force offerings, and the seasonal event includes the first-ever Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge projection show. Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga will debut on March 28th, and it’ll take guests on a storytelling adventure across the galaxy. Here are the announced details and concept art!
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Projection Show
In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new nightly projection show “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga” will debut on March 28, taking guests on a storytelling adventure across the galaxy.
Stunning projection effects transform the spires of Batuu near the Millennium Falcon evoking memories of some of the greatest moments in galactic history as an iconic musical score, comprised of familiar themes heard throughout the films of the Skywalker saga, draws the audience into the legendary story of the Skywalkers.
There are no known plans to bring a projection show to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disneyland will continue with the Skywalker storyline by introducing Luke Skywalker to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for the first time ever.
Joining other familiar encounters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, for the first time, a shadowy visitor will appear on Batuu for a limited time. Wearing what seem to be Jedi robes, there are rumors it might be the legendary Luke Skywalker!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
The Disneyland Resort has announced that it will soon offer the “Heroes Ticket” to eligible California firefighters as well as eligible Los Angeles-based law enforcement personnel and emergency medical technicians who helped combat the LA fires in January 2025. Here’s the announcement.
Free Disneyland Tickets for California Firefighters
To show appreciation for the brave individuals who responded on the frontlines of the recent fires in Los Angeles, Disneyland Resort is announcing the Heroes Ticket, inviting them and a guest to experience a day of fun at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
“We are inspired by the endless dedication and contributions of the heroes who battled the fires that took place in the LA area, and our gratitude for their service is immeasurable,” said Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock. “We hope these heroes can enjoy a memorable day with a loved one at our parks, because they certainly deserve it.”
The Heroes Ticket, two complimentary One Day Park Hopper tickets, will be available to eligible California firefighters as well as eligible Los Angeles-based law enforcement personnel and emergency medical technicians who helped combat the LA fires in January 2025. The Heroes Ticket will also be available to eligible individuals from other departments that provided mutual aid assistance. The Heroes Ticket will be valid from May 5 – August 7, 2025, Mondays through Thursdays. A theme park reservation will be required and is subject to availability.
More detailed information, including eligibility and verification requirements, and how to register for this offer, will be communicated directly to qualifying fire, police and sheriff’s departments in April.
The Heroes Ticket is one of the many ways The Walt Disney Company is supporting relief efforts in the community:
A new Disney LA Strong t-shirt is available for purchase now on DisneyStore.com as a symbol of community support, and a reminder that together we have the strength to rebuild and heal. For each t-shirt sold in the U.S. through December 31, 2025, Disney will donate $25 to the American Red Cross to help people affected by the fires in California during 2025.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
The long-broken cannons have been fixed within Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park. The cannons broke shortly after the attraction opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios back in December 2019 and have not worked since. Disneyland confirmed that the cannons are working again, according to reporter Scott Gustin.
Rise of the Resistance Cannons Fixed
Back when Rise of the Resistance opened, it represented the culmination of every trick and technique that Walt Disney Imagineering had in its playbook. The ride utilizes trackless ride vehicles to whisk guests through a First Order ship as they escape the clutches of Kylo Ren.
While there are many standout moments within the attraction, one moment that was especially amazing was full-size cannons shooting at ships. The cannons danced in front of guests, allowing vehicles to pass by as they recoiled from the blaster fire. Unfortunately, the cannons broke shortly after the ride opened. To see the cannons in their full glory, check out our full experience ride through video below!
While the effect has been restored at Disneyland, there is no word if Walt Disney World will be restoring the effect anytime soon. The cannons were not working as recently as two days ago at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney World did not immediately return a request for comment.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Disneyland has shared a first look inside the all-new Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond Haunted Mansion gift shop. Disneyland said that the gift shop, which can be found near the exit to the attraction, will open today at Disneyland.
Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond Gift Shop
A ghostly retreat, so enter if you dare For apparel, accessories, plush and headwear. Where home goods lurk and collectibles drop, The perfect gift dwells in this very shop.
Good fortune is upon you! Step into the candlelit corridors of Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond for souvenirs and keepsakes inspired by the Haunted Mansion and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Disneyland has confirmed our November report that they will be adding projection effects to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Just over a week ago, we reported that Disneyland had filed permits for new projector installations, leading us to believe that projection mapping was coming to the Star Wars-themed land. In a press release announcing special events for the upcoming year, Disneyland confirmed that “new projection effects” were coming to the “Fire of the Rising Moons” fireworks show visible from within Galaxy’s Edge.
Projection Effects for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Season of the Force at Disneyland Park (March 28-May 11): “Fire of the Rising Moons” will perform nightly at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with epic, new projection effects and galactic music – enhanced with fireworks on select nights. Plus, Hyperspace Mountain will return to Tomorrowland, where you can hurtle through the galaxy and encounter TIE fighters along the way!
As you may know, “Fire of the Rising Moons” is a sort of 2-for-1 show. When Disneyland presents its nightly fireworks, Galaxy’s Edge has started to pipe in Star Wars-themed music to allow for a proper secondary viewing area from within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. As it turns out, the fireworks show is nicely positioned over the Millennium Falcon, making for a wonderful spot to view from.
Disneyland has also rolled out a fireworks package for the nearby Docking Bay 7 restaurant, offering dedicated viewing for the show. However, some nights there are no fireworks, either due to the fact that Disneyland doesn’t show fireworks 365 days per year, or due to winds at higher elevations. Enter: projection effects.
Projection effects will allow for the show to go on, and presumably, viewing packages to continue to be sold.
There are no announced plans to have any sort of projection mapping or nightly show within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at this time. We’d love to see a drone show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that leverages viewing areas from in front of the Chinese Theater and within Galaxy’s Edge, but perhaps that is a battle for another day.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
On May 16th, Walt Disney will once again stand and speak in Disneyland – this time, as an Audio-Animatronic. Walt Disney – A Magical Life will be a significant project for Walt Disney Imagineering as they take on the toughest Audio-Animatronic yet when trying to replicate Walt Disney himself. Imagineering has not offered a look at the Audio-Animatronic yet, and it’s unclear if they will or not, but the project has been ongoing for at least a year and a half so far.
According to a new report from the OC Register, the project has received the seal of approval from most of Walt Disney’s direct descendants, but not everyone is on board.
Walt’s Grandchildren Approve of New Audio-Animatronic
The Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic show was announced a few months ago at the D23 Expo in Anaheim. At the Expo, Disney Chairman Josh D’Amaro said that the new show will “bring together the past, the present, and the future of Disney storytelling.”
D’Amaro said that creating the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic has been whispered in the hallways of Imagineering for years, and perhaps decades, but now was the right time to do it. D’Amaro said that Imagineering had to “wait for innovation to catch up to ours dreams”. D’Amaro said that the new show would be a powerful experience, and a chance for guests to imagine what it would be like to be in Walt’s presence.
D’Amaro said that he took Walt Disney’s great-nephew, Roy P. Disney, to Walt Disney Imagineering to show off the progress that the team was making on the project.
Josh D’Amaro announces a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic at the 2024 D23 Expo
In the new report from the OC Register, a Disney spokesperson offered the following statement about the project:
Creating an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney is an enormous responsibility and one that we take incredibly seriously. We are bringing the same care, research and respect to Walt Disney as Walt himself did when he advanced the technology he pioneered by creating the Abraham Lincoln figure for the 1964 New York World’s Fair and ultimately ‘Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln’ at Disneyland Resort. We continue to push the artform and technology in every way possible to ensure that this tribute is done right.
Walt Disney will (sort of) share the stage with Mr. Lincoln has the Walt Disney show plays in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Furthermore, The Walt Disney Family Museum, which includes five of Walt’s grandchildren and three of his great-grandchildren, offered the following statement:
We are enthusiastic about, and grateful for, the company’s efforts to create this exciting new attraction that will allow people to experience Walt Disney, the man behind the magic.
Walt Disney Imagineering invited the WDFM Board out to view the project’s progress back in July 2023, and Walt’s grandson Chris Miller was impressed:
Their work to that point was stellar and they were very eager to be as accurate as possible in creating this.
We came away confident that this is the right group to take on this important project.
Walt Disney pioneered the use of Audio-Animatronics in his theme parks and beyond. His granddaughter thinks that Walt would’ve been fascinated by how far the technology has come and would’ve been enthusiastic about the project.
We believe that our grandfather would have been enthusiastic about the project and fascinated by the advancements of the audio-animatronics technology that was first developed during his days at WED (now Imagineering) — a technology that he was always passionate about.
That said, not all of Walt’s descendants are happy with the decision to create an Audio-Animatronic of him. Joanna Miller, Walt’s granddaughter, said that she thinks that the Audio-Animatronic is an imposter and that Imagineering is dehumanizing Walt.
The idea of a Robotic Grampa to give the public a feeling of who the living man was just makes no sense.
It would be an imposter. They are dehumanizing him. People are not replaceable.
Walt Disney himself reportedly didn’t want to be turned into an Audio-Animatronic. According to Joanna Miller, Matt McKim, a retired Imagineer and son of legendary Imagineer Sam McKim, said that Walt told Sam that he didn’t want to be turned into an Audio-Animatronic. Other former Imagineers reportedly echoed the sentiment.
That said, Audio-Animatronic technology was vastly different during Walt’s time than it is today. On May 16th, 2025, we’ll finally be able to see if Imagineering has created something that honors the legacy of Walt Disney or not.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
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