‘Home Alone’ Star Listed in Critical Condition in a New York Hospital Ahead of Criminal Trial

A member of the cast of the iconic Home Alone holiday film franchise is reportedly hospitalized in New York. He is listed in critical condition.

Before 1990, holiday-themed family films were fairly predictable, and most of them involved a mission of some kind for which the goal was always the same: to “save” Christmas. But in 1990, things forever changed, thanks to a comedic Christmas-themed film called Home Alone.

Helmed by veteran director Chris Columbus, the film stars actress Catherine O’Hara alongside John Heard, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Candy, and newcomer Macaulay Culkin and his younger brother Keiran Culkin and tells the story of the McCallister family at Christmastime–and their unfortunate habit of accidentally leaving their youngest child, Kevin, behind as they jet off to celebrate Christmas in another state.

In both films, a sinister duo, the “Wet Bandits,” are hot on Kevin’s trail, and Home Alone 2 (1992) proves they do not learn from their past mistakes.

home alone

Two years after the release of Home Alone, a sequel debuted. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York generally followed the same premise, except that in the second film, Kevin finds himself separated from his family–but in a ritzy New York hotel.

In both films, Macaulay Culkin plays the role of Kevin McCallister, a small-for-his-age and extremely strong-willed child who not only regularly sasses his mother but also goes head-to-head with his older brother Buzz, played by actor Devin Ratray, numerous times.

In the more than 30 years that have transpired since the films debuted, the actors and actresses from the film have gone their separate ways–some of them adding exponentially to their acting careers, some have been faced with challenging medical issues, and some of them finding themselves in trouble with the law.

home alone

For Devin Ratray (Buzz McCallister), the past few years have not been his best, and this week, the attorney representing him in his upcoming domestic assault and strangulation case revealed that the actor has been hospitalized in New York and is currently listed in critical condition.

Details about the hospitalization and what led to it remain unclear at this time.

Jury selection in the case against Ratray was scheduled to begin in Oklahoma County District Court on Monday, but the case has been delayed by District Judge Kathryn Savage following news of Ratray’s medical condition.

Ratray is currently scheduled to attend a pre-trial hearing on February 21.

In late 2021, Ratray was charged with a felony count of domestic violence and battery by strangulation, as well as a misdemeanor count of domestic assault and battery. The charges stem from an incident involving his girlfriend at the time.

devin ratray home alone mugshot

According to court documents, in December 2021, while Ratray was in Oklahoma City for an engagement at the city’s Christmas Con event, he and his then-girlfriend visited Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse. While there, Ratray drank a “bottle of wine,” downed “several shots of alcohol,” and became “intoxicated.”

When the couple visited a second venue that evening, Ratray reportedly had ten additional shots of alcohol and was later approached by two female fans who asked for his autograph. The actor became enraged with his girlfriend when she didn’t charge the women for the autographs.

Per PopCulture, things escalated from there:

The pair continued to argue once they returned to their room at a nearby Hyatt hotel. The actor allegedly pushed his girlfriend onto a bed and used one hand to press it against her throat while he placed the other over her mouth. He also allegedly punched her in the face when she bit his hand. In the affidavit, an Oklahoma City police detective reported that “While strangling the victim, defendant stated the following: ‘This is how you die.’” The woman suffered bruising under her left eye, marks under her right eye, marks above the left side of her upper lip, a bruise on her chest, and a sore right arm, according to court records, per Oklahoma’s News 4.

Ratray’s attorney maintains the actor’s innocence.

No further details have been shared about the actor’s medical condition, and more information will be shared as it becomes available.

Walt Disney World Drops New Exclusive Magnet for Annual Passholders

There are many benefits to becoming an Annual Passholder at Walt Disney World! Discounts, constant park access, and a freebie here or there are all reasons why many Disney fans take the plunge and purchase Annual Passes.

Multiple times a year, Walt Disney World, sometimes in conjunction with popular festival offerings at EPCOT, will provide their beloved Annual Passholders with the opportunity to secure free magnets.

These magnets often feature lovable and memorable characters from Disney’s expansive catalog. They are highly sought after and have become a sort of subculture in themselves.

In recent years, Disney World Annual Passholder magnets have featured Mickey Mouse, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Orange Bird!

Since it’s been a few months since magnets have drawn the AP crowd back to EPCOT, where Disney World often distributes free gifts, it makes sense that a new magnet would be on the way soon. Well, the wait is over as today, Disney World gave guests a look at who’s coming! 

Per Walt Disney World:

hei hei annual passholder magnet

“Passholders—head to EPCOT from January 29 to February 23, 2024, to pick up the newest Annual Passholder magnet featuring Hei Hei from the Disney film, Moana. This Annual Passholder-exclusive item will be available at Creations Shop from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM—while supplies last.”

Important Information

  • To enter EPCOT, you will need valid admission and a theme park reservation for EPCOT on the same date (or you may visit EPCOT after 2:00 PM or on a good-to-go day without a theme park reservation). Theme park reservations are limited and are subject to availability. Blockout dates apply.
  • Each Passholder must be present and show their valid Annual Pass card, linked MagicBand, MagicBand+ or Disney MagicMobile pass, as well as a government-issued photo ID, to receive a magnet. Learn how to link your pass to your Disney account.
  • Limit one magnet per Passholder.
  • Available while supplies last.
  • Not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged magnets.

All offerings, operating hours and locations are subject to availability and change or cancellation without notice.

hei hei lounge waffle annual passholder magnet Walt disney world

In addition to the magnet, Annual Passholders can also enjoy a Hei Hei Liege Waffle at Connections Cafe in EPCOT.

“Savor a tasty treat inspired by a popular character from the Disney film Moana (2016).

From January 29 to February 23, 2024, delight in a liege waffle made with brioche dough, topped with pearl sugar, and a Hei Hei chocolate garnish—available for purchase at Connections Café in EPCOT.

Are you a Disney Annual Passholder looking to add some extra magic to your visit? Well, get ready to be excited because Walt Disney World has just unveiled its new Annual Passholder Magnet! This exclusive Hei Hei collectible is a must-have for any Disney fan, and it’s the perfect way to show off your Passholder pride.

Disney Cast Member Narrowly Escapes Kidnapping Attempt at Parking Lot Near EPCOT

A Disney World cast member narrowly escaped a perpetrator who attempted to kidnap her as she walked to her vehicle following the end of her shift at EPCOT.

Cast members at Disney Parks have some of the most important jobs in all of The Walt Disney Company. No, they don’t have a corner office in Burbank, California, and they don’t fulfill the roles of Disney’s CEO, CFO, or CCO. They are, however, responsible for making the magic real and tangible for guests of all ages who visit the Disney theme parks.

And at a company like Disney, making magic is probably the most important job there is.

disney castle pixie dust tinkerbell

Despite cast members’ focus on doing things to keep the magic alive for guests, there are still some guests who seem focused on being difficult and unruly, just for the sake of being . . . well, difficult and unruly. For some guests, it’s not enough to merely break the rules at Disney’s parks–they have to include belittling and disrespecting cast members in their repertoire.

And sometimes, things get even worse for cast members.

On Thursday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office officially released a report detailing an incident that occurred on the evening of July 3, 2023, between a Disney World cast member and a would-be kidnapper in a parking lot near EPCOT. Though some news outlets briefly reported on the incident in July, the official police report was not released to the public until this week.

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

According to the report, a female cast member who worked at EPCOT had just finished her shift and was walking to her vehicle, which was parked in a parking lot reserved for cast members only. But on the way to her car, an unknown man leaned out of the driver’s side window of a vehicle parked nearby.

According to investigators, the man grabbed the female cast member around her waist and pulled her into the window of his vehicle. The woman began screaming and then “elbowed him in the head” until he finally let her go. But the terrifying incident didn’t stop there.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office report states that after the man let go of the female cast member, he reportedly said to her, “It’s ok; just come to me, princess.”

parking lot

Despite the perpetrator’s statement to the cast member, he then sped off in his vehicle toward the exit of the parking lot as the cast member ran to her vehicle, according to detectives working on the case. After the incident, the woman contacted law enforcement officials, telling them that the man was driving a dark-colored sedan. She was unable, however, to see the license plate on the vehicle and could not give officers any information about the vehicle’s plates.

The incident took place just outside the range of Disney’s surveillance cameras, but security footage in the parking lot shows the sedan speeding through the lot just after 9:00 p.m. local time.

The cast member described the perpetrator as a bald male, possibly in his 40s or 50s. His identity is unknown at this time. More details and information about this case will be shared as it becomes available.

Tower of Terror “Level 13” Ride Variation Experience Available Through April 7

Disney’s Tower of Terror attraction will offer guests a new “Level 13” ride experience . . . if they dare.

Disney’s Tower of Terror attraction is one of the most thrilling ride experiences guests can have during their visit–and one of the most daring experiences ever developed by Walt Disney Imagineering.

Guest Stuck on Tower of Terror

So daring was the development of the ride that a considerable amount of work done toward the completion of the attraction involved creating and implementing systems inside the attraction that ensure guests don’t plunge to their deaths as part of the already creepy experience.

Formally called the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios inside the Walt Disney World Resort, the heart-pounding ride not only delivers on the thrills–it has a backstory that comes with all the chills.

tower of terror missing people on elevator

Since it first opened to guests on July 22, 1994, the Tower of Terror ride at Disney World has been a park staple, as well as one of the attractions at the top of thrill seekers’ must-ride list in the parks. The ride premise, along with the theming and props inside the queue, is so impressive that guests have little time to ponder the “terror” that awaits them aboard a haunted elevator that seems to have a mind of its own.

According to the story of the attraction, a freak lightning storm struck the Hollywood Tower Hotel, and a group of five individuals who had just boarded an elevator at the hotel disappeared and were never seen again.

tower of terror

The ride is so popular with guests that it can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tokyo DisneySea, and Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. It was formerly located at Disney California Adventure but was rethemed to create the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attraction at the park.

But the story behind the attraction changes at other Disney Parks.

At Tokyo DisneySea at Tokyo Disney Resort, for example, the story begins in New York in 1912 at the Tower of Terror Hotel. It got its name because of an awful incident in 1899 that resulted in the mysterious disappearance of the hotel’s owner.

Now, the New York City Preservation Society has just finished the work of restoring the infamous hotel. Tours of the structure have begun again. But what happens if tourists dare to ride the elevator to the topmost floor?

tower of terror tokyo disney sea

And now, Tokyo DisneySea has announced a brand-new “Level 13” ride experience at the Tower of Terror attraction, in which guests can experience even more drops and thrills.

From now through April 7, 2024, the Tower of Terror ride experience at Tokyo DisneySea will be very different. Guests can experience two different ride sequences and choose their favorite one.

From now through February 4, 2024, guests can experience the “Tower of Terror: Level 13” sequence during the ride, during which there are more thrills and more drops than ever before. From February 5 through March 6, 2024, guests will be subjected to the “Tower of Terror: Level 13 Shadow of Siriki” ride sequence, during which they’ll reportedly experience the “horror of the Siriki Utundu curse even more.”

tower of terror level 13 ride experience

Guests will be able to vote for their favorite ride sequence, and the ride sequence that guests will experience from March 7 through April 7, 2024, will be based on which sequence received the most votes from guests between now and March 6.

tokyo disney resort

Per Tokyo Disney Resort, voting details will be announced at a later date, and ride photos will not be taken during the ride sequence variation period.

It’s the lesser of two horrors. Which horror do you think you’d choose–Tower of Terror: Level 13 or Tower of Terror: Level 13 Shadow of Siriki?

Oscar-Nominated ‘Toy Story’ Actor Joins the Cast of Pixar’s ‘Inside Out 2’

An Oscar-nominated Toy Story actor has joined the cast of Pixar’s upcoming Inside Out 2 (2024).

News of a sequel to the 2015 Pixar film all about adolescent emotions has been swirling around for a while, but in September 2022, Pixar execs confirmed the second part of Riley’s story during the D23 Expo held in Anaheim, California.

inside out 2

It wasn’t long before fans learned that the five original emotions–Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger–will be part of the second film. Two of the original voice actors, however, will not return. Those include Mindy Kaling, the original voice of Disgust, and Bill Hader, the original voice of Fear.

Amy Poehler will return as the voice of Joy, Phyllis Smith will lend her trademark voice to Sadness, and Lewis Black will be back as Anger.

This week, news of another voice actor–this one from Pixar’s Toy Story 4–joining the cast is making the rounds.

According to Variety, June Squibb, whose voice brought life to the antique shop owner in Toy Story 4, will join the cast of Inside Out 2 in a role that is undisclosed at this time.

Toy Story 4's antique shop might have set a Pixar Easter egg record

Per CBR:

This marks the 94-year-old actor’s latest collaboration with Disney after voicing minor characters in 2018’s Ralph Breaks the Internet as Grandma Bertha and 2020’s Soul as Gerel. For her incredible performance in Alexander Payne’s 2013 comedy-drama Nebraska, Squibb earned multiple Best Supporting Actress nominations, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.

A new trailer for the film, which is set for a theatrical debut on June 14, 2024, dropped last week and gives fans slightly more insight into the movie–and even a glimpse at Riley as a teenager.

Fans can get wrapped up in all the emotions when Inside Out 2 hits theaters this summer.