We’re Halfway to Halloween: Celebrate All Year Long with These 15 Frightfully Fun Products!

By Harrison Miao

Ready to revel in the glory of All Hallows’ Eve? It’s never too soon! Embrace the haunting mood of the Halfway to Halloween season—a time of sweet delights and spine-tingling frights, offering the perfect pretext to honor the spirit of Halloween.

Dive into all the eerie excitement with these 15 frightfully fun goodies—a perfect fit for your early Halloween festivities.

On the left, an image of the Bitty Pop! Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 4-Pack Series 1, 2, and 3. On the right, the back of the box, picturing all the Bitty POPs available.

Bitty Pop! Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 4-Pack Series by Funko
Your favorite Pops! have been shrunk into Bitty Pops! Expand your Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas collection with this assortment of Bitty Pop! figures featuring your most beloved Halloween Town residents!

A triptych image featuring several looks at the Our Universe Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Varsity Jacket.

Our Universe Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Varsity Jacket by Her Universe
Show some Halloween Town spirit with this cozy and stylish varsity jacket, perfect for any Halfway to Halloween festivity! From Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, this jacket features Jack Skellington, everyone’s favorite “Pumpkin King,” embroidered across the chest; fuzzy bone patches; and another Jack in a coffin embroidered on the back.

On the left, an image of the Disney Villains Collection: Scar, Ursula, and Cruella De Vil Plush; on the right, the Disney Villainous Introduction to Evil (D100 Edition) game.

Disney Villains Collection: Scar, Ursula, and Cruella De Vil Plush by Just Play
Halfway to Halloween is the perfect time to commemorate some of Disney’s most beloved characters: the Disney Villains! Each collectible plush doll in this limited series features premium materials and includes a Disney certificate of authenticity. The Disney Villains Plush Collection is available now, exclusively on Amazon.

Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil by Ravensburger
This Halfway to Halloween, take on the role of your favorite Disney Villain and strive to achieve your own devious objective in this card game of schemes and strategy. Discover your unique abilities while thwarting your opponents with twists of fate. Who will triumph in this epic contest of sinister power? Play as Disney’s Maleficent, Captain Hook, Ursula, or Prince John. Each Villain boasts thematic cards and strategies inspired by the films you love. Villain Guides and video instructions help you start playing in minutes.

A triptych of images featuring three books (from left to right): Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Earnshaw; Witches Run Amok by Shannon Carlin; and Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas by Megan Shepherd.

Explore spine-chilling, haunting, and imaginative worlds with these frightfully fun books…

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Earnshaw
Can Sally discover what it means to be true to herself and save the town she’s learned to call home, or will her future turn into her worst, well… nightmare?

Witches Run Amok by Shannon Carlin
Coming August 13, don’t miss the oral history of Disney’s Hocus Pocus. This book is a love letter to Hocus Pocus’ millions of devoted fans—and a fascinating read for anyone who wants to understand how the 1993 movie became a pop culture phenomenon.

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas by Megan Shepherd
Celebrate the holiday classic with this stunning collectible novelization, adapted by New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd.

A triptych of images featuring, from left to right, a Jack Skellington and Sally Ear Headband for Adults; a Jack Skellington Plush; and a Jack Skellington figurine.

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington and Sally Ear Headband by Disney Store
Finding the ultimate Halloween accessory is in the cards with this Jack Skellington and Sally Ear Headband. The ‘‘star-crossed lovers’’ from the Tim Burton film are presented as tarot cards on this faux leather ear headband featuring sequins and a starry night pattern. We see a happy Halloween in your future!

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Plush by Disney Store
Make no bones about it: This Jack Skellington plush is the most dapper of Halloween toys. At 26 inches tall, Jack looks like he stepped out of classic stop-motion animated film—ready to make it the cheeriest season ever.

Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Figure by Disney Store
Who better to get the haunting season in gear than the “Pumpkin King”? Riding his snowmobile sleigh, he makes the ultimate centerpiece for your Halloween décor, all inspired by Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.

A Halloween-inspired image from Disney Emoji Blitz. A field of jack-o-lanterns and pumpkins are seen, with one Mickey jack-o-lantern in the middle. Nearby, a Minnie Mouse emoji and a Dale emoji are seen dressed up in Halloween costumes, holding trick or treat bags. There are spooky silhouetted trees around the pumpkins; to the upper right, a small graveyard can be seen, and in the back of the entire image is a large yellow moon.

Grab your GHOUL-friends for a Halfway to Halloween extravaganza! Play Disney Emoji Blitz for Halloween fun all year long! Download on the App Store here.

Director Wes Ball Takes Us to His Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

By the D23 Team

Fans of Planet of the Apes movies are in for an unforgettable journey when 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes debuts in theaters on Friday, May 10. Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the epic franchise, setting this film several generations after the reign of Caesar, the ape leader whose journey was traced in the hit films Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).

At the start of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it’s clear that apes are now the dominant species on the planet, while humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader, Proximus Caesar, builds his empire, a young ape named Noa undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Recently, D23 was lucky enough to sit down with Ball and a number of other journalists as the director shared clips of some of the most incredible and imaginative moments from the upcoming movie. When Ball entered the room, everyone could feel his excitement—it was contagious! We were all drawn in, as if watching the opening sequence of one of his films.

“We’re still in that same world” from the previous trilogy, Ball explained. “We’re still in that universe, and we see what has survived. Whole buildings are dissolving away. I love the idea of a world—our world—that is disappearing.” As for Caesar, Ball said, viewers will wonder “what has happened to his stories, his legacy, his teachings?”

In a scene from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the chimpanzee Noa (played by Owen Teague) stands with his left arm held out, where an eagle is landing on his gloved hand. They are outside in a green landscape that stretches out behind them, out of focus.

Wasting no time, Ball took us through a moment of a few chimpanzee brothers bonding over their Eagle Tribe’s rite of passage. The visual detail on the chimpanzees was incredible; the way their emotions came through their eyes and body language alone is a testament to the amount of time Ball spent working with the actors. That included several weeks of training with a movement coach before filming began, as well as a visit by Andy Serkis, who schooled the cast on what he’d learned playing Caesar in the previous three movies.

“You’re walking around in this silly-looking [performance-capture] suit, and you [feel like you] look ridiculous,” Ball recounted, channeling the actors’ initial anxiety. Serkis helped them to understand “how you just get past that and just be—just do it. Be authentic. I think it was a real journey for all the [performers] at first.”

Ball shared how well the cast and crew bonded together as the performers got comfortable in the performance-capture suits. In fact, the actors became so intertwined with their characters, Ball said, that they would have fun messing with him in between sets, just like real life chimpanzees having fun with their favorite caregiver.

In a scene from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, three chimpanzees are seen in the distance, climbing up a series of logs that lead up a steep slope. Some kind of ruin is visible overhead, with more ruins in the distance, all covered in vibrant green plant life.

Next, as Ball took us through some of the different landscapes featured in the movie—which was shot in Australia, largely on location—it became evident that he brought a considerable amount of beauty to this post-apocalyptic world. The realistic landscapes “create a different look for this movie,” Ball said. “It’s a lush, beautiful world that underneath is haunted with the remains of our existence.”

Viewers familiar with his previous work (the Maze Runner trilogy, Ruin) will get a fresh take on a post-apocalyptic world, this one filled with lush, vibrant lands that surround Noa as he ventures forth from his home.

Circumstances, Ball teased, “pull him on this grand adventure, and we reveal these bigger stories as our young character, Noa, goes off and learns about Caesar”—and so much more. “At the core of these movies really is, can apes and humans live together? That’s ultimately what it comes down to. We’re trying to be a thinking person’s movie as well as entertaining.”

In a scene from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the gorilla Proximus Caesar (played by Kevin Durand) stands with his back to the camera on some kind of elevated platform as he speaks to many dozens of his ape subjects, visible far below him in an arena-like space with a sandy surface. Proximus wears a crown with three spikes and what appears to be a leather mantle across his back and shoulders. A few red banners are visible here and there.

Lastly, of course, Ball had to end our day with a line from Proximus Caesar, “What a wonderful day!”—already a familiar catch phrase from the movie’s trailers.

What a wonderful day we had, indeed. Count on us to be there on Day 1 to watch this incredible movie. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be in theaters beginning on Friday, May 10, 2024, available in IMAX®, Dolby Cinema®, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens. Tickets are now on sale wherever movie tickets are sold online.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is directed by Wes Ball and stars Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. The film is written by Josh Friedman, based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. The producers are Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick Jr., Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Jason Reed, with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping serving as executive producers.

QUIZ: Which X-Men ’97 Character Said This Quote?

To me, my X-Men ’97 fans!

With the season finale of Marvel Animation’s hit series slated to stream Wednesday, May 15, on Disney+, we’re putting humans and mutants alike to the ultimate test. Can you correctly match the quote to the character? Take the quiz below to prove your mettle, bub!

"We want to help mutants—even arrogant yuppies like you."

Correct! Wrong!

"Scary enough for you, bub?"

Correct! Wrong!

"I have wondered what it would be like to be human. It is a tempting daydream."

Correct! Wrong!

"Be wary. Be vigilant. Tragedy lures with fortune first."

Correct! Wrong!

"Time for an exorcism, punks!"

Correct! Wrong!

"My next life will be mine."

Correct! Wrong!

"I lie because the truth is we're nothing like you. Thank God, because it's the only reason you people are still alive."

Correct! Wrong!

"My love for you is the one thing I remember amid this pain and insanity."

Correct! Wrong!

"You light up everything you touch, but never me."

Magneto (voiced by Matthew Waterson), Gambit (voiced by AJ LoCascio), and Rogue (voiced by Lenore Zann) pilot the Blackbird in Marvel Animation's X-Men '97.
Correct! Wrong!

"Never cared much for roulette."

Correct! Wrong!

"Perhaps the Professor's vision for the future was too nearsighted, and begging for your tolerance was our first mistake."

Correct! Wrong!

"Our merry band of muties have been selling the world a very big lie—and so have I."

Correct! Wrong!

"Blood is blood. Family is a choice."

Correct! Wrong!

QUIZ: Which X-Men '97 Character Said This Quote?
Better luck next time! Perhaps you need more practice in the Danger Room?
So close! But as Storm can attest, the winds of fortune are always changing.
Well done! Even Beast is jealous of your intellect.

Disneyland Resort Announces Dates for 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash

By the D23 Team

May marks the halfway point to Halloween, so it’s appropriate that Disneyland Resort just shared the dates for the 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party, which will be offered on 27 select nights at Disney California Adventure Park—more nights than ever before!

At this separately ticketed, after-hours event, guests of all ages can enjoy immersive treat trails, unique character sightings, special entertainment, themed merchandise, exclusive food and beverages, and so much more… available onlyduring Oogie Boogie Bash nights. Plus, Oogie Boogie Bash guests can enjoy Disney California Adventure Park three hours before the party begins, as well as unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party.

Tickets will go on sale soon—but for now, mark those calendars: the dates for the party are:

  • Sunday, August 25
  • Tuesday, August 27
  • Thursday, August 29
  • Tuesday, September 3
  • Tuesday, September 10
  • Thursday, September 12
  • Sunday, September 15
  • Tuesday, September 17
  • Thursday, September 19
  • Sunday, September 22
  • Tuesday, September 24
  • Thursday, September 26
  • Sunday, September 29
  • Tuesday, October 1
  • Thursday, October 3
  • Sunday, October 6
  • Tuesday, October 8
  • Thursday, October 10
  • Sunday, October 13
  • Tuesday, October 15
  • Thursday, October 17
  • Sunday, October 20
  • Tuesday, October 22
  • Thursday, October 24
  • Sunday, October 27
  • Tuesday, October 29
  • Thursday, October 31—Halloween night!

Check out the Disney Parks Blog for more Halfway to Halloween details, and stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks about when Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party tickets will be available. Start planning those frightfully fun outfits now!

15% off Your Bill at Naples Ristorante, Downtown Disney, CA

Naples Ristorante
Where: Downtown Disney
What: 15% Off Your Final Bill
Expires: April 15, 2025

The authentic soul of Southern Italy in the heart of Downtown Disney, Naples Ristorante provides a fun, casual environment in which to enjoy delicious thin-crust pizzas and a full menu of regional Italian specialties!

With spacious patio dining, refreshing wines and spirits and a special menu for younger guests, Naples is the perfect destination for celebrating with family and friends.

D23 Gold Members can save 15% on their bill, excluding alcoholic beverages, when dining at Naples Ristorante in Downtown Disney, Anaheim.

To redeem your offer in-person, please show proof of D23 Gold Membership. It must be presented prior to payment to receive the discount.

NOTE
Offer valid for current D23 Gold Members only. This discount cannot be combined with any other offers. Discount is valid for entire party dining with the D23 Gold Member with one check. Not valid on any contracted special events or banquets. Discount does not apply to alcoholic beverages. Offer expires 4/15/2025.

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Access Your D23 Benefits Anytime, Anywhere
With the D23 Fan Club app, your membership card is just a few taps away.
Access your benefits from your phone!

2024 Collector Set

Get More Disney With D23 Gold Membership
Enjoy exclusive discounts and access to special events and merch.
Also includes our quarterly publication and annual Collector Set.

BECOME A GOLD MEMBER

New Products to Celebrate May the 4th

By Jennifer Chalifoux

May the 4th is upon us, and we’re kicking off this annual fan-favorite Star Wars holiday with new products celebrating the Star Wars galaxy!

Check out the latest from the LEGO® Group, a redesigned TIE Interceptor building set. This new LEGO Ultimate Collector Series addition will be a hit for any Star Wars fan—measuring 13 inches tall, 16 inches long, and 13 inches wide, with 1,931 LEGO bricks!

The LEGO Group has also released new sets to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the LEGO Star Wars collaboration, including a Droideka building set, Mos Espa Podrace Diorama building set, Brickheadz building sets featuring characters from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and more. Plus, a brand-new coffee-table book detailing the 25-year LEGO Star Wars journey to-date—The Force of Creativity—will be available July 1. There’s even more May the 4th fun to be had for Builders in LEGO Fortnite, thanks to an upcoming collaboration! Fans are advised to “keep their sights to the stars,” with new LEGO Star Wars content arriving in the game beginning today. Play now!

Left – Star Wars The Black Series Super Battle Droid from Hasbro on black background. Middle – Rendering of the Star Wars Retro Collection Episode II & Episode III Multipack from Hasbro. Right – Star Wars The Vintage Collection X-wing Pilot 4-Pack from Hasbro on black gradient background.

Hasbro has just announced new figures from The Black Series, The Retro Collection, and The Vintage Collection! Featuring new sculpts inspired by fan-favorite characters and droids, the lineup includes The Black Series Super Battle Droid, The Retro Collection Star Wars Episode II and Episode III multifigure packs, The Vintage Collection X-wing Pilot four-pack, and more. They will be available tomorrow, May 4, and make a perfect addition to any fan’s collection!

Left – Star Wars Dark Side Trio Coffee Collection from Joffrey’s Coffee on a black background. Middle - Star Wars TruMoo Blue Milk from Dairy Farmers of America on a white background. Right – Star Wars Dark Side Hot Sauce from TRUFF bottle and packaging in a fiery display.

Coffee enthusiasts and Star Wars fans can empower their day with the new Star Wars Dark Side Trio Coffee Collection from Joffrey’s Coffee. Included in the trio gift box are the Dare to Resist Blend, Dark Side Blend, and Double Saber Blend—each grounded in 11 oz. packages and ready for brewing!

Like to add a little milk to your coffee? How about some blue milk?

Star Wars TruMoo Blue Milk is now available at select retailers in most major markets from Dairy Farmers of America! This vanilla-flavored blue milk is inspired by the beverage first introduced in Star Wars: A New Hope and featured in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Also available now, white milk from various DFA regional brands and TruMoo chocolate milk with out-of-this-world Star Wars branding. To learn more about the new Star Wars TruMoo Blue Milk, including interactive trivia, crafts, recipes, and where to find TruMoo Blue Milk products near you, visit starwarsmilk.com.

Keep your tastebuds soaring with a new Star Wars Dark Side Hot Sauce from TRUFF. The brand’s hottest sauce yet, this meticulously crafted blend has a symphony of flavors that intertwine the fiery essence of ghost peppers with the opulent notes of black winter truffles. The sauce is available now for a limited time.

It’s the perfect time to decorate your living space with new Star Wars plushies, collectibles, and homeware!

Standing Darth Vader Hologram Bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop on a white background. Middle – Star Wars Return of the Jedi Nik Sant 1/6 Scale Mini-Bust collectible from Gentle Giant, Ltd on a rendered background. Right – Princess Leia Geeki Tikis Mug on a white background.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is debuting its newest cuddly friend and most fearsome villain: the Darth Vader Hologram Bear. With hologram paw pads, a signature helmet and cape inspired by Darth Vader, this teddy bear is a tribute to one of the most iconic villains of all time! If you’re looking for something to decorate shelf space in your living room or home office, you will love the Star Wars Return of the Jedi Nik Sant 1/6 Scale Mini-Bust collectible from Gentle Giant, Ltd. This new 6-inch mini-bust is detailed in its sculpting and painting and is the latest in the brand’s Star Wars portfolio. It will be available for preorder beginning May 4, at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET.

And if you’re looking to dress up your bookshelf or bar top, look no further! The special-edition artist series Princess Leia Geeki Tikis Mug might be the galaxy’s finest collectible. This stunning ceramic 24-oz mug is limited to only 500 pieces and is available with special release pricing for May the 4th only.

Moving on to apparel, UNIQLO has just released an exciting T-shirt collection designed by Kosuke Kawamura, themed to classic Star Warsart. The Star Wars: Remastered collection inspired by Star Wars characters and scenes features six different short-sleeve styles. You can shop the collection now in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

Looking for the best accessories to pair with your new wardrobe? We have just what you’re looking for.

Top Left – Padmé Dangle Earrings from Girl’s Crew on model. Top Middle – Death Star Necklace from RockLove in necklace box. Top Right – Gray imprinted Star Wars-inspired ring from Enso Rings on a white background. Bottom Left – Jar Jar Binks-inspired socks from STANCE on white background. Bottom Middle – Mace Windu sunglasses from DIFF Eyewear and special logo pin on purple gradient background. Bottom Right – Collection of Star Wars-inspired eyeglass frames from Pair Eyewear on black background.

Get ready for a night out—or a screening of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace!—with the Padmé Dangle Earrings from Girl’s Crew. This stunning set has a matching Padmé Ring. Channel your inner Dark Side any day of the week with the Death Star Necklace from RockLove.

You’ll also love the Jump to Lightspeed and Millennium Falcon Star Wars-inspired rings from Enso Rings, both featuring a unique and flexible design for ultra-comfort throughout the day. Plus, STANCE is celebrating 25 years of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace with a new sock collection. Among my favorites are the Jar Jar Crew Socks for adults and kids. 

The epic style of Jedi Master Mace Windu is bringing a super sleek and eternally cool look to DIFF Eyewear’s newest Star Wars-inspired glasses. The new pair of Mace Windu shades commemorates the Jedi Master’s iconic blade color with purple lenses, while the frame is inspired by the steel color of a Lightsaber hilt.

 Plus, Pair Eyewear also recently debuted a new collection of eyeglasses featuring Star Wars-inspired designs! The Stormtrooper Scenic Split Top Frame highlights the iconic stormtrooper black-and-white color palette from top to bottom, with stormtrooper icons to top off the front design of the frame!

Top – Star Wars Outlaws video game rendering. Bottom left – Star Wars: The High Republic: The Lightsaber Collection from Insight Editions cover art. Bottom right – Star Wars: The High Republic: Beware the Nameless cover art.

Set between the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, gamers and Star Wars fans alike can soon experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game. In Star Wars Outlaws, explore distinct planets across the galaxy—both iconic and new! Risk it all as Kay Vess, an emerging scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Star Wars Outlaws is coming August 30, 2024, so preorder your copy today!

Spark creativity and dive into the Star Wars galaxy with new books coming soon. In the new Star Wars: The High Republic: The Lightsaber Collection from Insight Editions, readers can discover more than 50 lightsabers from the golden age of the Jedi—with designs and illustrations in a photorealistic manner for the first time ever! In a new tale, Star Wars: The High Republic: Beware the Nameless, the fearsome Nihil continue to spread chaos inside the Occlusion Zone with the help of the mysterious creatures called the Nameless, that feed on the Force itself.

Did you know, the slimy sound of Jabba the Hutt’s movements was made mainly with recordings of hands being run through a bowl of mac and cheese? Learn this and more incredible facts about Star Wars in the upcoming Weird But True! Star Wars from Nat Geo Kids. 

For the latest news, visit StarWars.com.

May the Force be with you!

10% Off at Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio, Downtown Disney, CA

Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio
Where: Downtown Disney
What: 10% Off Your Bill
Expires: April 15, 2025

Spice up your life at the newly reimagined Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio in Downtown Disney, and enjoy contemporary coastal cuisine, live jazz entertainment, and good vibes!

D23 Gold Members can receive a 10% discount on all food items available for dine-in guests and at Beignets Expressed, from Monday – Friday before 4:00 p.m.

To redeem your offer in-person, please follow the instructions below:

Please present proof of D23 Gold Membership at the time of transaction to receive the discount.

NOTE
Offer only available Monday – Friday before 4:00 p.m. (excluding alcohol, gratuity and tax. $50.00 max discount allowed. Not valid on special events, weekend, or major holidays). Valid at Downtown Disney location only. Proof of D23 Gold Membership must be presented prior to payment to receive the discount.

2024 D23 Fan App

Access Your D23 Benefits Anytime, Anywhere
With the D23 Fan Club app, your membership card is just a few taps away.
Access your benefits from your phone!

2024 Collector Set

Get More Disney With D23 Gold Membership
Enjoy exclusive discounts and access to special events and merch.
Also includes our quarterly publication and annual Collector Set.

BECOME A GOLD MEMBER

Every Way to Celebrate May the 4th with Fortnite

By Jocelyn Buhlman

May the 4th is just around the corner, and with it comes the promise of Star Wars once again making the lightspeed jump into Fortnite for limited-time fun. Whether you’re hopping on the Battle Bus or building a village in LEGO® Fortnite,  there’s so many ways to play in Fortnite. Here’s all the ways you can celebrate during the Fortnite | Star Wars collaboration, from May 3 to May 14:

A Star Wars Island Arrives in LEGO Fortnite
Rebel and Imperial ships have crash-landed into LEGO Fortnite, which means players can explore the all-new Star Wars island, which will continue to be available in game after Fortnite | Star Wars 2024 ends! Help the Rebel troops survive and build up their village, craft new Star Wars items, explore new locations, and—of course—wield lightsabers! While aiding the Rebellion, make progress in the LEGO Pass: Rebel Adventurewhich has free and premium rewards based on Tatooine and Mos Eisley!

Plus, crash the crash site of the Empire’s Star Destroyer; but be warned—the Empire is trying to make your world their home. You can choose to destroy the Imperial camps, or keep them for yourself. The site will remain in LEGO Fortnite beyond v29.40, so you can admire (or destroy) the Star Destroyer whenever you like.

The new update also brings more LEGO Styles for past Outfits that haven’t gotten a LEGO style yet, including Star Wars Outfits like Darth Vader and The Mandalorian!

Chewbacca Joins Battle Royal
Next time you jump off the Battle Bus (after thanking the bus driver, of course), set your sights on the new Camp landmark to rescue Chewbacca! Our favorite Wookiee will join players in battle with his trusty Bowcaster, and you can liberate your own Bowcaster from Imperial Chests at Stormtrooper roadblocks across the Island.

Plus: Check out new reward Quests and returning gameplay like the Darth Vader boss, Stormtrooper NPCs, E-11 Blasters, and more, available through May 14. Yes, that means you can swing Darth Vader’s Lightsaber once again… assuming you can defeat the mighty Sith Lord in battle! Battle Royale’s Star WarsQuests will be released in two phases: the first on May 3 and the second on May 7.

Fortnite Festival’s Own Hive of Scum and Villainy
Speaking of Fornite Festival… A stage inspired by Mos Eisley’s famous Cantina will be coming to FortniteFestival’s Jam Stage on May 3! Plus, complete Fortnite Festival’s Star Wars Quests to unlock a Battle Pass Level Up Reward and the Seven String Hallikset Guitar. These Quests go live May 3.

Make sure you’ve got the perfect intergalactic instruments for jamming to “Cantina Band,” with new items arriving in the item shop. “Ewok” and roll with the Endorian Drums, or become a Nalargonist with the Nalargon Keytar! Start your galactic grooves on May 3, when the “Cantina Band” Jam Track, Endorian Drums, and Nalargon Keytar will be in the Fortnite Shop with the release of v29.40.

Now THIS is Rocket Racing!
Star Wars Quests land in Rocket Racing on May 3, with more coming starting May 7. Inspired by one of Tatooine’s favorite (and most dangerous) pastimes, players can earn the podracing-inspired Energy Binders Trail and other rewards when completing the Quests. With v29.40, players will be able to earn separate rewards like Anakin’s Podracer Decal and the Darth Maul Decal when completing Quests.

Galactic Goodies in the Item Shop
Add some extra Star Wars swagger to your next game with the new Lando Calrissian, Dagobah Luke, and AWR Trooper Outfits. All three outfits include a LEGO Style, so your Star Wars adventures can continue in LEGO Fortnite. Hitting the road? Make your machine Mando-inspired with the Beskar Car Body, which also grants the car for Rocket League players. For those of you looking for the ultimate track to jam to in FortniteFestival, we’ve got great news: the “Mad About Me” (a.k.a. “Cantina Band”) Jam Track will be available for purchase throughout the event!

Missed out on previously Star Wars Outfits? A large selection will return during the event, including Han Solo, Leia Organa, Finn, Kylo Ren, and Rey!

Virtual Gallery: The Early Years of Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Like the name “Disney,” there is inherent magic in the word “Hollywood.” It represents a cache of cultural nostalgia for the movies we love. When the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park opened at Walt Disney World on May 1, 1989, its dedication plaque described the park’s Hollywood experience as “a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic.” The resulting park history has become one part memory lane, one part dream factory, and one part starring role for every guest who finds themselves immersed in the mythology of Hollywood, the moviemaking process, or the worlds of their favorite television shows and films.

Upon its debut, the park unveiled an impressive roster of new and unique attractions but could also legitimately boast of being a real production facility supported by state-of-the-art soundstages, an expansive backlot, and a functioning animation studio. Disney films of the era were also heralded and promoted throughout the park, oftentimes by way of special costume and prop exhibits, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and celebrity appearances which helped to further tie the in-park experience to its Hollywood roots.

In 2008, the park officially changed its name to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, reflecting a new direction—away from actual production and a behind-the-scenes focus to wholly immersing guests in their favorite TV and film experiences through new and exciting attractions and environments. Still, the park perfectly retains its fantasy aura of classic Hollywood seemingly filled with stars, sky-tracing klieg lights, and cement handprints, successfully creating a nostalgia for “a Hollywood that never was and always will be.”

To celebrate Disney’s Hollywood Studios on its 35th anniversary, the Walt Disney Archives proudly presents a virtual gallery of iconic merchandise, ephemera, and props that chronicle the park’s early years, including its Grand Opening Spectacular weekend (April 28 to May 1, 1989):

Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Special “Sneak Preview” Guide, 1987
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Guide Book, 1989
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park “World Premiere Night” Invitation, 1989
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park “Earffel Tower” Postcard, ca. 1989
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Commemorative Child Ticket No. 1, ca. 1989
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Souvenir License Plate, ca. 1989
Grand Opening Promotional Button Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park 1989
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Souvenir Baseball Cap, ca. 1989
“Indiana Jones” Audio-Animatronics® Costume Fedora, The Great Movie Ride [1989–2017]
Star Tours Starspeeder Model made by Industrial Light & Magic, ca. 1987

Opening text adapted from A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of the Most Magical Place on Earth (2021) by Disney archivists Kevin M. Kern and Steven Vagnini and Disney author/historian Tim O’Day, now available from Disney Editions.

D23 Exclusive: Three New Variant Covers for Marvel’s Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime

By the D23 Team

What happens when the world’s wealthiest duck teams up with Marvel Comics? It’s a legendary pairing that means one thing for certain: comic fans are in for a treat! For the first time ever, Scrooge McDuck is getting his very own Marvel Comics one-shot, Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime #1, helmed by prolific Marvel writer Jason Aaron—known for penning some of the X-Men and Avengers’ most iconic stories. Aaron is teaming up with established Scrooge artists to bring together the world of Uncle Scrooge with the hallmarks of Marvel Comics storytelling.

Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 sees Scrooge embark on a time-honored Marvel adventure as he explores the Multiverse to stop a twisted alternate Scrooge from becoming the all-powerful and incomprehensibly rich Scrooge-Above-All! Along the way, the story will introduce exciting new takes on the iconic tycoon with a heart of gold and feature appearances by Scrooge’s nephew, Donald Duck; grandnephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie; and a supporting cast of characters, including Gyro Gearloose.

The comic hits stands June 19, but you can get a taste of the action now with a first look at three variant covers for the comic, created by artists Pepe Larraz, Skottie Young, and Frank Miller.

Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 variant cover illustrated by Skottie Young
Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 variant cover illustrated by Pepe Larraz
Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 variant cover illustrated by Frank Miller

Learn more about this historic collaboration at Marvel.com, and look for Uncle $crooge and The Infinity Dime #1 at your local comic book shops in June!

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