Meet New Star Wars Characters Soon at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park

May 27, 2022June 1, 2022

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Star Wars Celebration 2022 is bustling full of aliens, rebels, and the occasional droid, all coming together at the Anaheim Convention Center to celebration the iconic franchise that has shaped so many of our hearts and minds. Across the way from the convention center is Disneyland Resort—and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. So, naturally the Happiest Place on Earth is top-of-mind for many of the fans enjoying their out-of-this-world weekend at Star Wars Celebration. Luckily for them (and any Disney Parks fan!), Star Wars Celebration hosted the “From a Galaxy Far, Far Away to a Disney Park Near You” panel today to share some exciting new developments about Star Wars at Disney Parks.

One of the stand-out moments of any Star Wars: Galaxy Edge visit is getting to meet your favorite characters—and more will be arriving at the land tomorrow! The legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand will soon stake a claim in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park, starting May 28. Keep a sharp eye out for these two troublemakers hiding in the shadows around Black Spire outpost.

If you were enthralled watching watching Boba Fett reinvent himself on the Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett, alongside Fennec Shand, you’ll be excited to see a new part of their journey! The duo is full of surprises as they navigate the galaxy’s underworld on the sands of Tatooine—and now you’ll get to experience a previously untold part of their story that takes them to the planet Batuu and Black Spire Outpost, a destination long familiar with bounty hunters and even more colorful characters.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: “When do we get to meet Grogu?!” The adorable child who stole our hearts from the first two seasons of The Mandalorian will be headed to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at a later date, along with Din Djarin—a.k.a the Mandalorian! To bide your time until you can meet this fan-favorite duo, keep up with Mando, Grogu, and their journey together with the first two seasons of The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, Star Wars storytelling has experienced a galactic expansion to include many new characters and stories across a wide range of settings. Now, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is likewise expanding the stories guests can encounter when visiting. Having been designed from the outset to connect with a broad range of Star Wars storytelling, Black Spire Outpost has played a role in many of these stories stretching over thousands of years. And while, up to now, most of those story connections have been shared through media and publishing, you’ll soon have an opportunity to connect with those stories with the immersive detail and authenticity that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was designed to deliver.

Disney Parks is committed to the long history of Batuu and the collection of amazing characters who inhabit the outpost, including legacy characters and original characters. With the ever-expanding galaxy of the Star Wars universe, we as visitors may be able to experience different stories throughout Star Wars history—but the characters on Batuu cannot. They will remain in their specific story and timeline and won’t intersect with other characters or stories that would not be appropriate for their time and place.

Stay tuned to D23.com for more news about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as it breaks, and may the Force be with you on your next adventure!

Sivako! Rise to the Challenge and Find These Hidden Details in Pandora – The World of Avatar

May 27, 2022May 30, 2022

By Sarah Sterling

We can hardly believe it has been five years since Pandora – The World of Avatar first opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests have been enjoying the beautiful Valley of Mo’ara since 2017 and experiencing one-of-a-kind attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey. In honor of this land’s quinquennial, we invite you to participate in a scavenger hunt for some of the more elusive hidden details within Pandora!

1. Wait, that’s not a waterfall?
The floating mountains of Pandora are truly something to behold. These rocks and the large mountain range that loom over you as you enter the Avatar Flight of Passage queue are dotted with numerous lush waterfalls…most of which are real. Far in the back of the mountains are a few fake waterfalls created by painted and textured spinning wheels. These wheels give the impression that there are large falls all the way at the top of the mountain range where it would have been difficult to create real water features large enough to be seen by guests. The next time you are in Pandora – The World of Avatar, see if you can distinguish the fake waterfalls from the real ones!

2. The real-life Jackie Ogden
During the Avatar Flight of Passage pre-show, we meet Dr. Jackie Ogden from the Pandora Conservation Initiative. Ogden prepares us for our Iknimaya (a Na’vi rite of passage) and gives a brief overview of what has happened on Pandora since the events of the 2009 film, Avatar. Did you know that this fictional Dr. Ogden is a tribute to the real-life Dr. Jackie Ogden who worked for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for 19 years? She most notably served as the Vice President of Animals, Science, and Environment at Walt Disney World Resort! Thanks to Dr. Ogden, Disney Parks and Resorts became widely recognized for their work in animal care, conservation, and environmental sustainability.

3. A repurposed mess hall
In Avatar, the RDA (Resources Development Administration) travels to Pandora to find the highly valuable “unobtanium” and causes damage to the planet through their unethical mining practices. As explained on Avatar Flight of Passage, it has been over a generation since these events took place and the planet is still recovering! RDA’s impact on Pandora is shown in discreet ways all over the land. Satu’li Canteen itself is a repurposed RDA mess hall taken over by Alpha Centauri Expeditions. In the check-out queue for this restaurant, you can spot photos of the original RDA mess hall on the wall. Satu’li Canteen maintains the same half-dome shape of the mess hall but has been overgrown with native vegetation and transformed into a wonderful tribute to Pandoran culture!

4. WDI-ID’s!
Disney Imagineers often leave hidden Easter eggs in their projects and Pandora – The World of Avatar is no exception! Over at Pongu Pongu, you’ll notice that there are dozens of leftover RDA nametags hanging from the ceiling. These nametags show the names and photos of RDA officials and, if you look closely, you can spot one tag featuring former-Imagineer Joe Rohde! Rohde was the creative executive behind all of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including Pandora – The World of Avatar.

5. Whose handprints?
Another fun detail left behind by Joe Rohde and some of the creative team behind the Avatar film franchise are these red handprints in the exit of Avatar Flight of Passage. As you leave the attraction, you can spot three handprints on a wall. Each print has a set of initials next to them. They stand for Joe Rohde (J.R.), James Cameron (J.C.) and Jon Landau (J.L.). James Cameron was the director of Avatar (2009), and Jon Landau was the film’s producer.

6. Happy birthday, James Cameron
In the queue for Avatar Flight of Passage, guests can spot another nod to director James Cameron. Before you enter the forest section of the queue, there is a rusted metal wall featuring the business name “JC Shoring.” “JC” clearly stands for “James Cameron,” but it doesn’t end there. Below, you can see the numbers “08.016.54,”a reference to Cameron’s birthday, August 16, 1954.

7. Required reading
The laboratory room is one of the most interesting parts of the Avatar Flight of Passage queue – there is so much to look at! Don’t be too distracted by the humongous Avatar in a flotation tank – there are some unique references to Avatar and the people who inspired Disney’s Animal Kingdom to be found! On a shelf next to a baseball, you can find Jane Goodall’s book, Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey. Goodall was heavily involved in the creation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and assisted Disney with their conservation efforts. She even awarded The Walt Disney Company the Jane Goodall Global Leadership Award in 2011. Another, this time fictional, book that can be spotted in this room is Dr. Grace Augustine’s textbook, Pandoran Botany. Played by Sigourney Weaver in Avatar (2009), Grace Augustine is known for being an expert on Pandoran ecology. This book is a nod to her role in the story of the land.

Have you noticed these unique references and details within Pandora – The World of Avatar? Keep this list handy on your next visit and see how many you can find! This addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been delighting and entertaining guests for five years and we can’t wait for many more years of thrilling experiences with the Na’vi! Keep reading D23.com for more details on your favorite Disney Parks and Resorts.

Disney Junior’s Eureka! Adds Stars to Voice Cast—Plus More in News Briefs

May 27, 2022May 26, 2022

By Courtney Potter

Starry Voice Cast Set for Disney Junior’s Eureka!

There’s a sure-to-be-adorable new animated series coming soon to Disney Junior (and to Disney+)—and its voice cast is chock full of stars from stage, screen, and music!

Set in the fantastical prehistoric world of Rocky Falls, Eureka! centers on Eureka, a young inventor who is way ahead of her time. She designs inventions and contraptions in the hopes of making the world a better place and moving her prehistoric community into a more modern era. Emmy Award^®-winning actress Loretta Devine, drummer Sheila E., and renowned ballet dancer and New York Times best-selling author Misty Copeland have joined the cast of the Disney Branded Television series as Eureka’s grandmother, Wanda; Yurt, a traveling musician; and Rockanne, a dance teacher, respectively.

Rounding out the Eureka! voice cast are Kai Zen as Pepper, Devin Trey Campbell as Barry, Fred Tatasciore as Murphy, Cree Summer as Verna, Kevin Michael Richardson as Dima, Aydrea Walden as Olive and Groopy, Connor Andrade as Clod, Cade Tropeano as Bog, Madigan Kacmar as Julia, Vivienne Rutherford as Lark, Judah Howery as twins Spruce and Cypress Stoneland, Dee Bradley Baker as Ptero, and André Sogliuzzo as Link. Also joining recurring guest roles are Ellie Kemper as the school librarian, Chee; Jack McBrayer as a pet kanga bird; Ryan Michelle Bathé as Barry’s mom, Sierra; and Wendell Pierce as Barry’s father, Cliff.

The series is set to premiere Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior. An initial batch of episodes will also premiere the same day on on-demand platforms and streaming on Disney+.

And here’s a cool bit of info about the series: Christiana “Chee” McGuigan, a science educator who has worked at the California Science Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, serves as its very own science education consultant! Plus, Dr. Knatokie Ford, a biomedical scientist, social entrepreneur, and former senior policy advisor for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, advised on the original series development. And that’s not all: Engineering experts from Disney’s world-renowned Imagineering team advised on the early development of Eureka’s inventions. Don’t miss all the inventive fun!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm^®

Well, it’s hard to believe, but Memorial Day weekend is here—and we hope you find some time for rest and relaxation… unless your plans include a ride on the just-debuted Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction at EPCOT, in which case, brace yourself! But no matter where you are, enjoy some tuneful, adventurous Guardians fun on Disney+; check out the season finale of The Owl House on Saturday; and so much more.

New Trailer for Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder

Earlier this week, Marvel Studios shared a new trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder, revealing new details about the God of Thunder’s latest adventure—including a trek to Olympus where Zeus (Russell Crowe) reigns supreme.

The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced—a search for self-discovery. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who—to Thor’s surprise—inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

Directed by Waititi and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum, Thor: Love and Thunder opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, July 8.

Disneyland Paris’ Marvel Avengers Campus to Welcome New Recruits This July

The next generation of heroes will assemble across the pond later this summer when Marvel Avengers Campus opens at Disneyland Paris! Get all the details on this entirely reimagined universe—opening as part of the resort’s 30th Anniversary celebration—right here at D23.com.

First Look at Disney+’s Family Reboot

The good folks over at Disney+ recently debuted the trailer for the upcoming Original series Family Reboot. Executive produced by Live with Kelly and Ryan’s Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Julian P. Hobbs, and Elli Hakami, the six-part series follows real families as they take a one-of-a-kind journey to reconnect.

In Family Reboot, cameras follow families that have become so busy with their individual lives that they’ve lost touch with one another. In each episode, a family leaves their busy schedules, devices, and distractions behind for a week-long journey led by a Family Reboot guide focused on reconnecting and rebuilding their familial bonds. They leave the journey completely “rebooted”—more connected, happier, and ready to take on their busy lives at home again, but with an entirely new outlook.

Look for the series beginning Friday, June 15, exclusively on the streaming service.

**ICYMI: Disney+ Orders Season 4 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series—and Shares a Special Look at Season 3!**

Last week’s big National Streaming Day saw a slew of big announcements—including the fact that Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is returning for a fourth season! But that wasn’t all… We were also treated to a fun first look at season three; check out the clip, and read up on all that fantabulous Wildcat news, by clicking here.

A Chef on a Mission: We Feed People Highlights the Work of José Andrés and World Central Kitchen

May 27, 2022May 26, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

“People sometimes will say, ‘José, you can’t take care of an emergency thinking of only one plate at a time.’ And I say, ‘I’m sorry, let me prove you wrong,’” says award-winning chef and acclaimed restauranteur JoséAndrés.

Andrés founded World Central Kitchen in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake once he realized the food distributed to disaster victims was unappetizing Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) packs. With the philosophy “one plate at a time,” he recruited fellow chefs—including those in areas struck by disaster—to help with hunger relief by cooking delicious hot meals and ready-to-go items like sandwiches that can be mass-created and easily distributed. Since the organization’s inception, he’s been proving doubters wrong: From Haiti, Puerto Rico, and North Carolina, to Madagascar and the Navajo Nation, WCK has provided aid in the middle of situations where few thought they could. And now, Oscar^Ⓡ-winning director Ron Howard chronicles the humanitarian work of Andrés and WCK in the film We Feed People from National Geographic Films, premiering Friday, May 27, exclusively on Disney+.

“One thing that is so inspiring about José’s approach is how he empowers people; he doesn’t simply ‘show up,’” says Howard. “He has always had a sense that food was a wonderful way for people to have an experience, as well as a great medium of expression for himself.” Howard adds he was inspired by Andrés’ commitment to volunteerism after his rousing speech at the United Nations. With more crises occurring daily due to climate change, Howard felt now more than ever that Andrés’ story should be told to the masses.

We Feed People follows WCK’s evolution, from Andrés’ initial idea to rally chefs together amid catastrophe to becoming one of the premier organizations in the disaster relief sector. The 90-minute documentary film highlights the high and lows of volunteerism—local governments lacking necessities for their constituents; volunteers’ (including Andrés) experiencing exhaustion from working nonstop, going from crisis to crisis; and so much more. Most importantly, the chef notes the documentary shows the need to prioritize food for communities worldwide.

“I believe that food is a universal human right,” says Andrés. “We need a better use of the funds from the government organizations that are deployed. Everyone in Congress knows we need less red tape.

“But even on a national level in America, how do we make sure that the federal entities that are supposed to be helping Americans in emergencies do it more efficiently and not simply grow the bureaucracy? We need to make food a national security issue.”

Over the last 12 years, WCK has grown—yet so have the number of fires and other disasters per year thanks to the current climate emergency. Andrés adds that the number of hungry people in the world has grown exponentially despite global organizations, including WCK, putting in the work. No one’s mission, including WCK, is nowhere near complete. “We are all still unsuccessful—because even with all of the money put into poverty and hunger and into NGOs, the number of impoverished and hungry keeps growing,” he continues. “And one hungry person is too many.”

Andrés hopes the release of We Feed People inspires viewers to look for ways to help in their own communities—whether that’s joining forces with WCK, or using their own skillsets to, say, advance education; or work on forest management to combat the effects of climate change—as well as during crises worldwide. “I hope it dawns on audiences the way that it dawned on me as we told the story that this is the face of hunger,” he says. “It’s not an insurmountable problem. And it is irresponsible not to face it.”

We Feed People exclusively streams on Disney+ beginning May 27.

All the Incredible News from the Lucasfilm Showcase at Star Wars Celebration

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Not that long ago at a convention center relatively nearby…

Star Wars fans gathered today to kick off the first day of Star Wars Celebration, the out-of-this-world convention celebrating all things a galaxy far, far away. When the doors of the Anaheim Convention Center opened, attendees dressed as Jedi and Sith—or just as really huge Star Wars fans—hit the show floor for the first of four days intergalactic excitement. Those especially Force-attuned—or just savvy about schedules—headed to the Celebration Stage for Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase, where they hoped to hear breaking news about the most anticipated television series and films in the outer rim.

Panel host (and upcoming Mousequerade judge at D23 Expo) Yvette Nicole Brown took the stage to introduce an emotional and epic sizzle reel celebrating the Star Wars galaxy, which was followed by a live performance of the best-known musical piece from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, “The Duel of the Fates.” As the music ended, two familiar figures walked onstage to a standing ovation from the crowd…

Obi-Wan Kenobi

“Hello there.” He can barely be heard above the cheers, but Ewan McGregor—Obi-Wan Kenobi himself—greeted the crowd, accompanied by none other than Hayden Christiansen.

“We are back!” Christensen announced triumphantly, kicking off the panel’s Obi-Wan Kenobi section. The two were joined on stage by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, series director Deborah Chow, and actors Moses Ingram and Rupert Friend.

While the crew had no new footage to share of the hotly anticipated series (coming to Disney+ TOMORROW!), they did have a special surprise for the audience—all attendees were invited to the premiere screening of the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi that night!

“We may have been apart, but we felt your presence,” Kennedy told the crowd—truly, everyone onstage and in attendance was more excited than ever to be at a Star Wars Celebration three years in the making.

McGregor thanked the fans for their support of the Star Wars prequels through the years. “That’s meant an enormous amount,” McGregor said, attributing the creation of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series to the fans’ fervent support.

With a glowing lightsaber salute from the front row, the Obi-Wan Kenobi crew departed, making way for the team behind another highly anticipated series…

The poster for Disney+’s Andor, featuring a black and white illustration of Cassian Andor looking over his shoulder.

Andor

Kennedy and Brown remained on stage for the first big reveal of the day—the all-new logo for Andor, which will be premiering on Disney+ on August 31!

With the newly-revealed logo emblazoned on the screen, the cast and crew of Andor took to the stage: Diego Luna, show runner Tony Gilroy, series executive producer Sanne Wohlenberg, and Genevie O’Reilly.

As to why this series is so important, Kennedy explained, “I think what’s remarkable is the sacrifice Cassian Andor makes for the galaxy.”

For Luna, this moment was a dream come true. “It feels amazing! Today, everything feels amazing!” he exclaimed. “I love what he represents,” Luna added. “This is the story that has the most to do for us. It’s about what we can do.”

Luna wasn’t the only one happy to reprise their character. O’Reilly, who in her own words first played Mon Mothma “nearly 17 years ago,” was ecstatic for a chance to bring her character back into the Star Wars galaxy. “It’s such a gift to come back to this role,” she told the crowd.

As this series doesn’t debut tomorrow like Obi-Wan Kenobi, there were some surprises and reveals in store during the panel! The audience got to hear a snippet of the new music for the series, learn that the series will debut with two episodes on the same night, and that the already-confirmed season two “walks you into Rogue One,” according to showrunner Gilroy.

Oh, yeah… And they may have shared a little something from the show itself. Check out the teaser trailer here:

The new, original series from Lucasfilm takes place prior to the events of Rogue One and launches exclusively on Disney+ August 31. We can’t wait to tune in!

After such an exciting teaser, what could possibly be next? As this is the Lucasfilm showcase and not just the Star Wars showcase, a twist was in store! The next series to be presented would be…

Warrick Davis as Willow Ufgood, standing in a forest and holding an intricately-carved wooden staff. He is mid-speech, talking to someone offscreen

Willow

The dream team of Jonathan Kasdan and Ron Howard, reuniting after Solo: A Star Wars Story, took to the stage to bring us into the world of Willow once again! Howard told the audience that he’s been asked about a sequel to Willow for years—including by Kasdan himself.

To share more about the series, the legendary Warrick Davis was greeted by a standing ovation as he walked onstage. Describing Willow as “something I’ve always wanted to do—it was a dream,” Davis added, “Making that little movie was one of the best experiences in my life, and I’ve been in Star Wars!”

Next, we got to meet more of the cast—Joanne Whalley returning as the sword-wielding Shorsha, plus three new heroines: Ruby Cruz as Kit, Shorsha’s daughter; Ellie Bamber as Dove, a kitchen maid; and Erin Kellyman as Jade, a knight-in-training and Kit’s best friend.

The series, which is set 20 years (or 250 moons) after the original film, will also feature Davis’ daughter portraying Willow’s own daughter.

With everyone on stage, it was only right to show off the all-new trailer for the series!

Willow will premiere November 30, 2022, exclusively on Disney+.

As the Willow crew cleared the stage, Kennedy returned… wearing a certain iconic cowboy hat.

Ahsoka

Of course, she was introducing none other than Dave Filoni—along with Jon Favreau—to let fans know that Ahoska will be premiering on Disney+ in 2023. While Rosario Dawson couldn’t be at Star Wars Celebration, she had a good reason—she was on set filming Ahoska! She greeted fans in a video message, in full Ahsoka costume.

With Favreau and Filoni on stage, they couldn’t just stop with Ahsoka. Next, they brought out Katee Sackhoff to introduce…

The Mandalorian Season Three

Bo-Katan Kryze is back with “unfinished business” in the new season, Sackoff revealed—but that wasn’t all! Exclusive to Star Wars Celebration, a special teaser trailer was revealed for the series, along with the announcement that the new season will debut in 2023.

Favereau and Filoni still had more to share—this time about an all-new series that Spider-Man: Far From Home’s Jon Watts and Chris Ford pitched:

A headshot of Jude Law, a serious expression on his face. To his right is the orange and white logo for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Watts and Ford shared concept art for their all-new series, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, which follows a group of 10-year-old kids who get lost in the Star Wars galaxy, trying to find their way home. Not much is known about this series yet, besides the assertation that it’s “not a kids’ show” and that it’s set some time after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Oh… and they revealed that Jude Law will be starring!

“Are we being mysterious enough?” Ford asked. While they didn’t have much more to share about this intriguing series, they did announce that it will also debut on Disney+ next year.

Happy Birthday, John Williams!

Star Wars wouldn’t be the same without the epic music created by legendary composer John Williams. Since the beginning, his score was there to transport us to distant planets and unknown spaceships. As Kennedy put it, “John Williams has created the score to our lives.” To celebrate the composer’s 90th birthday, Williams himself came out and the crowd was on their feet in an instant.

Williams debuted, live for the audience, an all-new theme for Obi-Wan Kenobi, joined by an orchestra. If that moment wasn’t breathtaking enough, he then led the orchestra in the “The Raider’s March” from Indiana Jones.

Almost as though summoned by the music, Harrison Ford strutted onto stage to the shock and awe of the audience. In an emotional speech, Ford congratulated Williams and said, “That music follows me everywhere I go, and you know what? I’m happy about it.” He called Williams a “wonderful, wonderful talent that we’re blessed with, all of us.”

His heartfelt words were already enough, but this is the Lucasfilm Studios showcase, after all… So, he also shared that the next Indiana Jones film is almost complete!

Indiana Jones stands silhouetted in profile, with golden light shinning down on him.

With Williams returning to compose the score, the next Indiana Jones film will hit theaters on June 30, 2023. Ford said he’s “really proud of the movie that we made.”

After all the thrilling news, (and the promise of an ACTION-PACKED 2023!) Williams ended by conducting the “Imperial March” to the awe-struck crowd.

We can’t wait to see all the new Lucasfilm series and movies announced during the Lucasfilm Studios Showcase! Stay tuned to D23.com for more Star Wars news as it breaks.

Best Bites to Celebrate National Burger Day at Disney

May 26, 2022

By Nicole Cantore

Attention burger afficionados! National Burger Day is this weekend and Disney Parks and Resorts have some incredible options that are not to be missed. This important foodie day falls on May 28 and we’re here to help you have a bun-derful time by telling you where to find some of the best burgers at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

Are you looking for some entertainment to go along with your snacking on this special day? Lucky for you, “The Bob’s Burgers Movie”, released today, is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy^®-winning series. If you’re a fan, you simply must see what happens to your favorite characters after a ruptured water main creates a sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers.

We won’t keep you and your tastebuds waiting any longer. Get your appetite ready because it’s burger time!

If you find yourself at Disneyland Park and feel urge to cheese-the-day, don’t worry, because this park has got you covered. Hungry Bear Restaurant has the Chili Mac Cheeseburger. This one doesn’t mess around with 1/3 lb angus chuck patty with homestyle chili, mac & cheese bites, American cheese, and fried onions. For a plant-based option inspired by a tale as old as time, Red Rose Taverne has the Beast Breakfast Burger, a 1/3 lb angus patty, bacon-orange marmalade, egg, and arugula on a toasted bun served with potato bites.

Get ready for a bun-in-a-million experience at Disney California Adventure Park. Drop into Smokejumpers Grill to try the Payload Burger featuring two angus beef patties, smoked provolone, bacon, lettuce, onion rings, and chipotle BBQ sauce served with crinkle-cut fries or onion rings – yum! Over at Lamplight Lounge, the Pastrami-spiced Impossible Burger is a great option with a seasoned patty, dairy-free American cheese, pastrami-spiced pineapple, house-made pickles, and mustard aioli on toasted focaccia.

The hotels at Disneyland Resort are also working hard to meat your burger standards. Embrace the beauty of California at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where the Craftsman Grill has the Mediterranean Wagyu Burger. This dish sits an American wagyu patty, tzatziki sauce, and a red onion-feta salad upon an herb bun with your choice of seasonal fruit or za’atar fries. At the Disneyland Hotel, you’ll find the yummy Angus 1/2 lb Hawaiian Cheeseburger served with sweet potato fries for a little bit of a tropical flare.

The Downtown Disney District is also a great spot to stop for some foodie fun tomorrow. At Black Tap Burgers & Shakes, the intense Wagyu Steakhouse Burger has wagyu beef, pepper jack cheese, bacon, crispy onions, A1 sauce, and a roasted garlic mayo – perfectly made for burger lovers. Over at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, for just May 28, get a little flavor from the South with the Bourbon Street BTLA Burger made up of certified angus beef, applewood smoked bacon, fried green tomatoes, baby arugula, avocado, smoked gouda cheese, and a sweet onion spread served with a spicy remoulade slaw. What a combo!

Time for the East Coast! Magic Kingdom Park has more than a few burgers to enjoy, two of which include The Main Street Burger found at The Plaza Restaurant and the 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. The Main Street Burger doesn’t mess around with a 7-ounce all-beef patty topped with cheddar, house-made bacon, lettuce, tomato, a sunny-side-up egg, beer-battered onion ring, and roasted poblano-mayonnaise served upon a flour-dusted Kaiser bun! The 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger is a classic with a flame-broiled 1/3 lb angus burger with bacon, American cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a brioche bun with a side of your choice. For an added bonus, you can enjoy the lovely tunes of Sonny Eclipse while you eat.

If you find yourself in EPCOT for National Burger Day, check out Regal Eagle and the Barbecue Jackfruit Burger. This delicious plant-based burger is topped off with barbecue jackfruit and lets you pick from a variety of sides like creamy coleslaw, seasoned French fries, and the house-made pickles. If you haven’t had a chance to go to the new Connections Eatery, then the French Bistro Burger is for you! This dish features a gourmet burger blend, caramelized onions, bacon, brie, mushroom, and Dijon mayonnaise perfectly combined on a toasted brioche bun. Lettuce at it!

Next up – Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ ABC Commissary has the California Burger, which is made up of a grilled plant-based burger, grilled portobello mushroom, cashew-mozzarella, garlic-tomato “aioli,” nut-free pesto, lettuce, and tomato. Whether you eat plant-based all the time or not, this burger is packed with flavor!

Restaurantosaurus at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has a couple burgers for you to try. The 1/3 lb Bacon Cheeseburger is your classic cheeseburger topped with lettuce and tomato and served with a true burger staple – french fries. Also at this spot is the Impossible™ Spicy Southwestern Burger. This dish features a plant-based burger patty, “pepper jack,” chipotle sauce, lettuce, and tomato. These are some dino-mite options for National Burger Day!

If you’ve been to D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs, you may want to take another visit because starting tomorrow, May 28, it will be getting a revamp of flavor. Rediscover the enhanced dishes on the menu, like the Classic Cheeseburger with two pressed signature-blend patties – yes, two patties – with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a pickle topped off with the signature 1921 sauce. Or try the Barbecue Burger, also featuring two pressed signature-blend patties, pepperoni, fried mozzarella, tomato sauce, and lettuce situated upon a parmesan tomato herb bun. These new burgers are truly bunderful!

The resorts at Walt Disney World are not messing around with their burger game. These chefs have assembled some truly next-level dishes, all featuring a grilled signature-blend burger and brioche bun that can’t be missed.

Disney’s All-Star Movies’ Intermission Food Court has the Showstopper Burger, and the name is quite fitting. It has a bacon-onion jam, cheddar, provolone, jalapeño, and crispy onions situated on a toasted brioche bun. At the World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, you’ll find the Bleus Burger with blue cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, and garlic aïoli atop that toasted brioche bun. Rounding up Disney’s All-Star Resorts, is the Bases Loaded Burger from the End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. This dish also features a grilled signature-blend burger with fresh mozzarella, basil aioli, arugula, and tomato – how tasty!

At Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Landscape of Flavors is expanding your palette with the Benedict Burger with bacon, pimento cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

For some island vibes, Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort perfectly combines a toasted coconut curry aioli, lime jalapeño jam, fried tostones, and arugula into a savory, tropical treat with the Swashbuckler Burger. Classic flavors are here with the Poppin’ Pimento Burger at Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. This burger features that grilled signature-blend burger topped with bacon, pimento cheese, lettuce, and tomato for a fad that never goes out of style.

Take a little trip down to Louisiana and see what Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter has for you. Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory has the Baton Rouge Burger topped with fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, spicy remoulade, and bacon. You and your tastebuds will feel just like you’re in New Orleans with this one. You don’t have to go all the way down the bayou for some Southern flavors, just over to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside where the Riverside Mill Food Court is serving up the Bayou Amber Ale Burger. This burger is topped with spicy shredded prime rib and an amber ale cheese sauce sandwiched between a toasted brioche bun.

Lasty for Walt Disney World Resort, The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has quite the item to enjoy for this special day – the Mac & Cheese Burger from The Chuck Wagon. This dish is the best of both worlds with an angus cheeseburger and friend mac & cheese, smoked gouda, and Carolina mustard barbecue sauce. Meat your heart out!

If you’re enjoying a beachside getaway at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort on National Burger Day, make sure you drop into Wind & Waves Grill for their Vero Beach Signature Burger. This plate is signature for a reason with sweet barbeque pork, bacon jam, sriracha coleslaw, beer-battered onion ring, and a fried egg on unique “turtle” bun. It’ll let your tastebuds set sail.

I hope you’re as excited for National Burger Day as we are. Happy eating and enjoy all these delicious dishes from coast to coast!

(Note: All offerings are subject to change.)

8 Epic Stories from the Cast and Crew of Obi-Wan Kenobi

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Filming had finished for the day on the set of The Mandalorian, but the magic of Star Wars was only beginning. The crew—a Mos Eisley Cantina’s worth of passionate Star Wars fans—waited, silently, almost as if they had all collectively sensed a disturbance in the Force. And then, he stepped out, for the first time in almost 10 years: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“I walked into the dressing room and there was a sort of Obi-Wan-ish costume hanging up in the wardrobe that The Mandalorian’s wardrobe department had put together,” Ewan McGregor recalled. In his makeshift Jedi master robes, the actor walked out and greeted the cast and crew. “The set was crazy, because there’s so many Star Wars fans in the crew, which was a new experience for me,” he said. In that moment, everyone felt as if they were Luke Skywalker finally seeing Old Ben come out of hiding. Ewan McGregor was back in the Star Wars galaxy

Practically since the credits rolled on Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, fans have been begging for a continuation on Obi-Wan’s story, filling in from where Revenge of the Sith ends and Star Wars: A New Hope begins. When the news of Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series broke at D23 Expo 2019, fans everywhere rejoiced—and this week, they’ll finally be able to see Obi-Wan’s next steps in a galaxy far, far away.

Last week, McGregor, Mose Igram (Reva), and director Deborah Chow sat down to answer our grand inquisitions on the hotly anticipated series. Through the power of the Force… and, OK, mostly through their insightful answers, we were able to gather the most stellar facts and stories that they shared.

1. It took some practice for Ewan McGregor to do “the voice.”
Since he first told Luke to “use the Force,” Obi-Wan’s voice has been embedded in the minds of Star Wars fans everywhere—so, naturally there was a lot of pressure on McGregor to nail the proper voice of his character, especially since he was bridging the gap between his original performance and Alec Guinness’ Oscar®-nominated one. “I was doing a sort of vague English accent,” McGregor explained, “and it wasn’t really Obi-Wan’s voice at all. And I thought, Oh dear, that’s not very good. Luckily, we had months before we actually started shooting. So, I went back and did some homework with Alec Guinness and what I’d done before, in the original [prequel] films. Playing him felt totally like he’d always been there ready to come out any minute. But just his voice needed a bit of work.”

2. Moses Ingram was drawn to the “dangerous” nature of the series.
Newcomer Ingram plays Inquisitor Reva, an imposing figure working alongside Darth Vader himself. “It’s fun to be bad,” she said with a laugh. As one of the series’ baddies, the aspect of the script that pulled her in the most was how it was “dangerous.”

“That was the thing that attracted me the most,” she explained, “realizing that it was edgy and fun and cool—I couldn’t say no. I mean, it’s Star Wars.” She was surprised by the tone of the script. “From what I knew of Star Wars, I didn’t realize it was that dangerous,” Ingram added. “It felt dangerous, what I was reading—and I was like, ‘Oh, I like this. I’m into this.’”

3. Ewan McGregor took inspiration from the “twinkle” in Alec Guinness’ eye.
For the series, McGregor was faced with an all-new challenge: bridging the gap between his own performance from the prequel films and Guinness’ performance originating the character in the original trilogy. “It all comes from Alec Guinness,” he explained. “Alec Guinness had this wit behind his eyes all the time. He had a twinkle in his eyes. I always try and think of him.”

One thing that helped—McGregor was no longer a plucky padawan himself. “Being closer to Alec Guinness in age was interesting,” he said. “We find Alec Guinness’ Obi-Wan as a solitary figure. He’s living in the desert alone, I suppose, and my Obi-Wan now is just a bit closer to his.”

4. Reuniting with Hayden Christensen felt like no time had passed at all.
The only people more excited than the fans to see Obi-Wan and Anakin together onscreen again were the actors behind the characters! “I mean, we just were so close when we made Episode II and III,” McGregor remembered of his time with Christensen. Once the prequels wrapped, the duo fell out of contact—so the Obi-Wan Kenobi series was the perfect excuse for the close friends to reunite. “It was really peculiar,” he explained. “When we were acting together, it was really like some sort of time warp. Looking across at him on set was like the last 17 years didn’t happen at all, you know?”

5. Yes, Ewan McGregor is still making the lightsaber noises.
While Christensen and McGregor were having a reunion years in the making, Ingram was a newcomer on set. Luckily for her, she had an epic way to bond with her costars: Lightsaber training! “It was a nice way to get to know each other,” McGregor explained. “We started months before the shoot together in the fight gym. Our fight styles are very different, as they should be. So, I was over on one side doing my choreography and [Ingram was] on the other side, and we’d sort of try not to clash into each other. It was fun, though.”

After McGregor let slip that he had trouble not making lightsaber sound effects during fight scenes in the prequels, everyone wants to know: Is he still making the noises?

“Everyone knows that you do it now,” Ingram teased him.

“It’s impossible not to,” McGregor insisted. “And if you’re not making them, you’re doing it in your head.”

6. There was an epic, new way to set the tone on set.
Ingram couldn’t confirm if she heard McGregor making his infamous lightsaber noises on set, because Chow had an ingenious way of making sure the cast felt like they were properly in a galaxy far, far away. “We did play a lot of music when we did the action scenes, so the rest of us didn’t know if you guys were doing [lightsaber noises],” Chow explained. “The big reason we did it is because the music obviously it brings the emotional component. And what John Williams has done has been so inextricably tied—it is Star Wars. If we put it on, all of a sudden I see Moses go like two inches taller and everybody responds to it.”

“It was sick!” Ingram agreed. “We’d be stepping off the ship and the music would swell and you’re just feeling like you’re 10 feet tall. It’s very, very cool.”

7. Deborah Chow was excited to explore Obi-Wan’s character.
For most fans, thinking about Star Wars brings up the stories centered around the Skywalker family. For Chow, Obi-Wan Kenobi presented a different opportunity. “I was the most excited about getting the opportunity to do a character-driven story,” she explained, comparing it to films like Logan, centered around a singular character. With six episodes on the horizon, we’re going to get a lot of time with Obi-Wan. “You take one character out of a big franchise and then you really have the time to go a lot deeper with the character. To me, it seemed really exciting to get to do that in Star Wars.”

8. The trio revealed their favorite Star Wars media.
For McGregor, there’s only one movie that could be his favorite: “A New Hope,” he said, “because it’s the one the one that changed my life, I suppose, in many ways.” Without the film that started it all, there would be no Obi-Wan Kenobi. But, that’s not the only reason it’s his favorite. “As a kid watching that movie—and when I hear the words Star Wars—I always think of C-3PO and R2-D2 going through the desert, through the sand. That’s the first image.”

Ingram couldn’t help but pick the Star Wars series that is changing her life: “I’m going to cheat and say Obi-Wan Kenobi,” she said, “because it’s attached to now so many moments and memories in my life—similar to A New Hope for [McGregor].”

Chow cited a film that she not only loves, but that helped inspired her own Star Wars work: “One I think is really interesting, visually, is Rogue One. I was really looking a lot at the atmospheric sense in that and in a lot of the visuals in that [film]—which was pretty awesome.”

The first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi stream on Disney+ this Friday, May 27.

Venturing Inside National Geographic’s Explorer: The Deepest Cave

May 26, 2022May 24, 2022

By Zach Johnson

Into the unknown he goes...

Renowned cave explorer Bill Stone is determined to reach the unexplored depths of Cheve Cave in Mexico—but such an expedition is like climbing Mount Everest in reverse! The one-hour special Explorer: The Deepest Cave, premiering Monday, May 30, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic (and streaming this summer on Disney+), follows Stone and his dedicated team as they push the boundaries of what is possible. Together, they attempt one of the greatest feats of exploration: to set a new world record by reaching the bottom of what is thought to be the deepest cave in the world.

Deep in the uncharted depths of Cheve Cave, the expedition team must navigate through over 12 miles of unexplored tight, twisting passages—sometimes in complete darkness, where one mistake can be fatal. During the dangerous and highly technical adventure, Stone and his team are also trying to map everything they see to create traditional 2D maps and CGI 3D models that are relative to the surface topography.

Team members inside Cheve Cave organize packs, which contain all their food and gear while staying inside Cheve Cave.

For the three-month underground journey in the longest active subterranean push duration ever, Stone enlists a team of 69 elite cavers from nine different countries, including expert cavers Victor Bravo, Sonia Dudziak, Gilly Elor, Corey Hackley, and Sean Lewis. “They’re all technically qualified and multidisciplinary,” Stone says. “You don’t get there if you aren’t. But the other thing is, these people didn’t get there by accident. These are the kinds of people whose smiles get bigger the more remote from humanity they get. These are the kinds of people who would be completely, utterly comfortable sitting at the bottom of Shackleton crater on the moon—I have no doubt.”

“We are super curious about what’s in there,” confirms cave explorer Bev Shade. “It’s so exciting to be the first person into a chamber or a passage. And a lot of what we enjoy is the incredible teamwork required to make it all happen.” Indeed, director Pablo Durana says, “I was really amazed, because these aren’t professional athletes. These aren’t people who are getting paid to go into the cave. These are people who have an obvious, shared passion. They dedicate a huge part of their lives to these experiences. It was really incredible to witness—and to, at one point, be a part of that.”

Lest anyone think otherwise, Stone admits fear is always a factor. “When you’re up there, you have to suppress fear. Having a little bit of it is good, but you need focus and control to stay alive,” he says. “It’s a recognition and a willful suppression of fear that allows you to go forward—because of your training, because of your experience.”

Team members inside Cheve Cave examine a massive borehole.

This expedition, however, presents brand-new challenges, which result in brand-new fears. “A lot of other expeditions I’ve been on, I always had this thought in the back of my mind: ‘I’ve got my little inReach^®[satellite communicator], so a helicopter can find me,’” Durana recalls. “It’s really different in the cave; there’s no support. For me, it was a little bit scary. It was my very first cave. The first couple of days, it’s known territory, and you travel lightly and carefully. But the fear heightened a little bit when we were going into virgin territory, because that’s when the rocks can be more unstable. You really have to be aware of your environment in a way that I’ve never been aware of before. It is a little scary, but I think you have to keep your composure, understand what you’re doing, and know your limits, because there could be some things you decide you just don’t feel comfortable doing. I think it’s important to recognize that.”

Of course, the team went in as prepared as possible. Throughout their expedition, safety remained everyone’s utmost concern. “There is no rescue organization in the world that could actually retrieve somebody from the bottom of this cave,” Stone explains. “They don’t train for this kind of thing. There’s no fire rescue, no mountain rescue, anything like that. We basically design the team for self-rescue capability from the start—and that has been one of the tenants of these expeditions for decades now.”

Without spoiling how Explorer: The Deepest Cave ends, there’s no slowing down Stone. “I was 68 years old during the expedition,” he says. “Expeditions keep you in incredible shape... As far as I’m concerned, I aim to be on expeditions when I’m 100!”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022

By Andie Hagemann

Cancel your other plans because the content coming to your TV (and assorted streaming devices) this weekend is jam-packed with thrilling galactic adventures and heartwarming classics. In celebration of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening at Walt Disney World Resort, binge both Guardians of the Galaxy films. Meanwhile, the Day of Unity is finally here in Saturday’s season finale of The Owl House, and don’t miss Lilo & Stitch, airing later that day. On Sunday, watch the live-action adaption of The Jungle Book and High School Musical 2!

Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2—Available on Disney+
With new family-thrill coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening this weekend at EPCOT, assemble your own ragtag crew for a Guardians of the Galaxy double feature! In the first film, space ravager Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is forced to evade a group of ruthless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by the evil Ronan (Lee Pace). To escape Ronan, Quill teams ups with four misfits: Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). However, once he discovers the orb’s powers, he rallies the crew to save the universe. The sequel finds Peter and his fellow Guardians hired to protect the Sovereign, a powerful alien race from invaders. After it’s revealed Rocket has stolen the items they were instructed to guard, the Sovereign unleashes its army in search of vengeance. Meanwhile, Peter’s mysterious origins are revealed. Disney Legend Kurt Russell stars as Ego in this action-packed adventure.

The Owl House—Saturday, May 28, at 9 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
The second season concludes with the long-awaited Day of Unity. Will everything go according to Emperor Belos’ plan or will Luz (voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles) be transported back to the human side?

Lilo & Stitch—Saturday, May 28, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
The heartwarming animated classic follows a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo (voiced by Daveigh Chase), who adopts what she assumes is just an ugly dog. Lilo names the ambiguous creature Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders), and he instantly becomes the perfect companion… except for the fact that he’s actually a mischievous genetic experiment who escaped from an alien planet! While Stitch evades the crew tasked to retrieve him, he bonds with Lilo and becomes the best friend she’s always wanted.

The Jungle Book (2016)—Sunday, May 29, at 10:15 a.m. ET/PT, on Freeform
Directed by Disney Legend Jon Favreau, the live-action adaptation of the Disney classic follows Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a young boy raised by a family of wolves since birth. Mowgli is forced to leave the only home he’s ever known after a threat from the ferocious tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba). A panther named Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley) and Baloo (voiced by Bill Murray), a free-spirited bear, look after Mowgli as they embark on an epic journey, meeting a slew of animals along the way.

High School Musical 2—Sunday, May 29, at 5 p.m. ET/PT, on Disney Channel
What time is it? Summertime! Well… almost. The East High kids are ready for fun in the sun. However, they’re all broke. Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) persuades her family’s country club to hire Troy (Zac Efron), and the basketball star hilariously brings along the entire Wildcat crew, Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) included, to be his coworkers.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

May 26, 2022

As a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, you know your magic! This week we’re putting your Star Wars knowledge to the test, to see if you are the ultimate Disney fan.

In Star Wars: A New Hope, what animal call does Obi-Wan Kenobi mimic to scare off the Tusken Raiders attacking Luke?

A Bantha

A Krayt Dragon

A Dewback

A Kaadu

Correct! Wrong!

Before rescuing Luke from the Tusken Raiders, Obi-Wan mimics the call of (B) a Krayt Dragon to frighten the raiders away.

Are You a Disney Expert? Try This Week’s Trivia Challenge!

You are the ultimate Disney fan!

Looks like you are a Disney expert! Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Thursday. We’ll see you next week for your chance to uphold your title as the ultimate Disney fan!

Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!

Thank you for participating in this week’s Trivia Thursday! These questions are tricky, so don’t stop swimming yet. We’ll see you next week for your chance to earn the title of the ultimate Disney fan!