New Products Inspired by Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Landing at Target

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Who’s up for a little shopping at Target? If you’re a Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge fan, we have some exciting news for you! Check out all the details and images below as shared by DisneyParksBlog about new merchandise landing at Target!

Inspired by the adventures of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort & Walt Disney World Resort, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Trading Outpost transports new Star Wars products directly to your galaxy with never-before-seen toys, stellar fashion and collectibles at a Target store near you, online at Target.com and on the Target app. 

Starting on Aug. 30, you’ll be able to continue your Star Wars story with Target and new toys, clothes, books, collectibles, and more, allowing you to rediscover your favorite moments of the Star Wars saga with friends and family at home.  

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge fans, this is what you’ve all been waiting for! Here’s a look at some of the products, now available for pre-order: 

First up is an all-new LEGO construction set of the Resistance I-TS Transport vehicle as seen in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. I don’t know about you, but this is one of my favorite parts of the attraction. The best part?  This set comes with LEGO Star Wars minifigures of Vi Moradi, Lieutenant Bek, Astromech Droid and GNK Power Droid so you can re-create your favorite moments and create new adventures at home as well! 

No trip to Batuu is complete without a visit to Oga’s Cantina to jam with DJ R-3X! Now you can add DJ R-3X to your Star Wars: The Black Series collection for a little Batuu flair! You’ll also want to pick up the First Order captain himself, Captain Cardinal with the latest Hasbro Star Wars: The Black Series figure. 

R5 Unit by Funko POP!

This IS the Droid you’re looking for! Funko POP! brings the R5 Unit from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life in this adorable all-new bobblehead.  

Hyperdrive BB Unit by Hasbro

Speaking of Droids, you’ll definitely want to add this Hyperdrive BB Unit by Hasbro to your collection! This Droid is RC-controlled and has expressive lights and sounds to interact with you and your families.  

3.75-inch scale replica of the Millennium Falcon

As part of the Hasbro Star Wars: The Vintage Collection, this 3.75-inch scale replica of the Millennium Falcon as seen outside of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run features Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge-inspired details and sounds. So, what are you waiting for?! Bring home the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, don’t worry we won’t tell Hondo Ohnaka! 

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu

New to Batuu or just want to get the inside scoop? You’ll love Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu. This guidebook includes a history of the outpost, recommendations on where to eat and what to do during your planetary trip, as well as insider tips on how to best navigate the local terrain and politics. 

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders Receive An Additional One Month Extension

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

It’s a good day to be a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder! Annual Passholders (including ourselves) are receiving an additional one month extension to their Annual Passes which can be spotted in your My Disney Experience App.

Recently, Disney released a reopening policy option with a deadline date of August 11, 2020 for Passholders to select between two options. Disney has already begun adding the promised additional month.

As shared on the Walt Disney World website:

Reopening Policy Options: We know that many Passholders are excited to get back to the magic—and we’re eager to see our cherished Passholders, too. We also recognize that Park reservations will change the way that many of our Passholders use their pass. With that in mind, we are offering these alternative options to manage your pass.

If you are an Annual Passholder that has paid in full, your options are:

  • Receive an additional one-month (30 days) extension to your pass (unless you choose to cancel your pass). This additional month will automatically be processed and visible in your My Disney Experience account over the coming weeks.
  • If you prefer, and in lieu of the one-month extension, you may choose to cancel your annual pass(es). Your pass will remain valid through August 11, 2020 and will be canceled effective August 12, 2020. You will be refunded for the remaining access days of your annual pass from July 11, 2020 through your pass expiration date (as extended, if applicable). Refunds to original form of payment can be expected by mid- to late September. Refunds may take up to an additional month to receive if original form of payment is not available. To request this option, contact V.I.PASSHOLDER Support at (407) 939-7277.

If you are an Annual Passholder on the monthly payment plan, your options are:

  • Receive an additional one-month (30 days) extension to your pass(es) (unless you choose to cancel your pass(es)). This additional month will automatically be processed and visible in your My Disney Experience account over the coming weeks.
  • If you prefer, and in lieu of the additional one-month extension, you may choose to cancel your annual pass(es). If you choose this option, monthly payments will be stopped starting August 12, 2020. Your pass(es) will remain valid through August 11, 2020 and will be canceled effective August 12, 2020. Any payments made between July 11, 2020 and August 11, 2020 will be retroactively refunded. If you made a payment between March 14, 2020 through April 4, 2020 that was not already refunded, that payment will also be retroactively refunded. Refunds to original form of payment can be expected by mid- to late September. Refunds may take up to an additional month to receive if original form of payment is not available. To request this option, contact V.I.PASSHOLDER Support at (407) 939-7277.

Now through August 11, 2020, call V.I.PASSHOLDER Support at 407-939-7277 to cancel your pass or for assistance on any individual concerns. Please note that once submitted, selections cannot be changed. Please note: We will email Annual Passholders these details in phases over the course of several hours beginning the afternoon of July 14.

Trailer Released for “The One and Only Ivan”, Now Premiering a Week Early on Disney+

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Big news from Disney+, as it has just been announced that “The One and Only Ivan” will be premiering on the network on August 14.

Back in July, Walt Disney Studios made the announcement that the upcoming fantasy movie, starring Bryan Cranston, Angelina Jolie and more, would be moving to a Disney+ release, giving August 21 as its date for debut. Now, the movie has been moved up a whole week to August 14, so excited fans will get to watch the heartwarming tale of Ivan the gorilla even sooner.

one and only ivan

A brand-new trailer was released for the movie, too! You can watch the trailer below:

Palmas Restaurant Group Lays Off Undisclosed Number of Employees From EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Epcot

Palmas Restaurant Group has announced that it has laid off an undisclosed number of employees from the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT’s World Showcase.

This decision impacts both hourly and salary employees at San Angel Inn Restaurant, La Cava del Tequila, La Cantina and La Hacienda Restaurant, all of which reside within the Mexico Pavilion.

Palmas Restaurant Group attributes the layoffs to the significant loss of revenue as a direct result of COVID-19 closures. The company has pledged to extend company-sponsored healthcare plans for these employees through July 31, and will give priority to union cast members when hiring resumes. The following statement was issued by Palmas Restaurant Group regarding the layoffs:

Due to extended closures and loss of business resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Palmas Restaurant Group found it necessary to layoff some of its hourly and managerial cast members. Those who participate in the company-sponsored group health plan will continue to have coverage through July 31. Union cast members will be prioritized in the event of a re-hire and will retain seniority for a period of one year.

This decision was not taken lightly. The company did everything in its power to avoid a layoff scenario, including extending paid furloughs and medical coverage for as long as was economically feasible despite the mandatory closure of restaurant operations. We are confident that business levels will one day return to pre-pandemic levels, although the timeline remains uncertain.

No NBA Players Have Tested Positive for COVID-19 Since July 13 Inside Walt Disney World “Bubble”

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

On July 13, the NBA and NBPA announced that two players had tested positive for COVID-19 and had returned home to isolate per CDC guidelines. Since then, all 346 players in the Walt Disney World “bubble” have been tested again and all tests came back negative.

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Of the 346 players tested for COVID-19 on the NBA campus since test results were last announced on July 13, zero have returned confirmed positive tests.

In the event that a player on the NBA campus returns a confirmed positive test in the future, he will be isolated until he is cleared for leaving isolation under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association.

NBA players within the Disney bubble are currently staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.