To celebrate the Disney100 anniversary, the Walt Disney Company partnered with LEGO to create some incredible new LEGO sets. All year long, LEGO and Disney 100 have slowly dropped information on the new sets. Releases include sets based on Encanto, Up, and many Minifigures.
Disney fans are thrilled with this collaboration and patiently await what Disney will drop next. The two newest sets from the LEGO and Disney 100 partnership have just been announced, and fans will love what they came up with.
Since the LEGO and Disney 100 collaboration began, the partners have been giving Disney fans many exciting new characters that have never been seen in LEGO form. With this new set, fans see more Disney characters in new and exciting ways. Two new LEGO sets have been announced; one celebrating Disney Villians and one celebrating sidekick duos.
The Disney Villians set will be a big crowd-pleaser for fans of Disney’s iconic evil characters. This set will come with real-world items made out of LEGOs, including the poison apple from Snow White, a pocket watch from Peter Pan, and a playing card from Alice in Wonderland. The set also comes with buildable VHS tapes and books. To top it all off, the Villians set comes with four exclusive Minifigures; the Wicked Queen from Snow White, Jafar in his Genie version from Aladdin, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. The set will cost $129.99.
The second set, Disney Duos, will honor four pairs of loveable Disney sidekicks in a buildable form. This set will cost $45 a couple. Included are Lumiere and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast, Percy and Meeko from Pocahontas, Nemo and Crush from Finding Nemo, and Hei-Hei and Pua from Moana.
No release date has been announced, but we hope to know more soon!
Disney is taking steps to move forward with the addition of a brand-new, long-awaited themed land inside Magic Kingdom.
For years, Disney World Guests have daydreamed about being part of Ursula’s world, taking on the monsters of the deep and playing silent apprentice to her evil underwater schemes. For some, the prospect of following Gaston around town as he guzzles beer and makes fun of people for reading and thinking has a certain draw to it. Other Parks Guests have wondered what it might be like to sneak into Maleficent’s domain–the Forbidden Mountain–as it “thunders with her wrath and frustration” about Sleeping Beauty having seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.
And just to clarify–no one has dreamed fondly of repelling down Rapunzel’s tower with Mother Gothel in tow, being in the palace when Jafar morphs into a King cobra, or helping the Evil Queen mix up a cocktail that will turn her into a 200-year-old beggar woman. Too evil. Just too much.
But according to at least one member of the Walt Disney Imagineering team, such daydreams and ponderings may soon give way to reality, as fans have made their wishes and wants known, and Disney is reportedly listening intently.
During the 2022 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, Guests were treated to every imaginable piece of Disney news available at the time. During the three-day event at the Anaheim Convention Center, Guests of the Expo also had the opportunity to learn more about The Walt Disney Company and its upcoming projects, and they were even among the first to have the opportunity to purchase limited-edition merchandise. Walt Disney’s newly-restored plane was even on display for fans to see.
The third and final day of the Expo, Sunday, September 11, 2022, marked the part of the Expo that was the most exciting, the most informative, and the most forward-looking for Disney Parks around the globe. During the Disney Parks panel that day, Chairman Josh D’Amaro welcomed excited fans to get an inside “ear” on plans for the parks–from Disney World and Disneyland to Shanghai Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
During D’Amaro’s presentation, members of the Walt Disney Imagineering team took to the stage to unveil some beautiful concept art that served to represent potential future developments in the parks, including a piece that depicted exciting additions at the Walt Disney World Resort to include new themed lands at Magic Kingdom inspired by Disney’s Encanto and Disney’s Moana, both of which received the massive audience’s approval. But the most thunderous applause was heard–and felt–when Imagineers teased the potential for a brand-new themed land, inspired by none other than Disney’s most evil villains.
Imagineer Chris Beatty revealed in an interview this week that the thunderous applause and excited response from the audience were noted by those onstage. Beatty says that the response really piqued the interest of those who were presenting the concept art during the D23 Expo Parks Panel.
“[The Villains Land concept] got pretty good applause,” Beatty said. “We took note of how loud the applause was when we announced that.” Beatty says that the intention of that segment of the Parks Panel was to show fans that creativity is still at the heart of all that’s done at Disney and inside Walt Disney Imagineering.
“We’re dreaming every day about what could be next at Walt Disney World,” Beatty explained. “We just wanted to give you a peek at some of the amazing things that could be coming. It’s changing every day. It’s exciting. I think Josh [D’Amaro] was really trying to get across that [the] spirit of creativity, of what could be next, of innovation, of the possibility of what could be is still alive and well at Disney and Imagineering.”
Beatty says that the presentation at the Expo was a stab at “dreaming about what could be” at Disney Parks, not an attempt to promise concrete plans for the parks–not yet, anyway.
But fans are hopeful that the development of preliminary plans and the creation of concept art for a land inspired by the evil villains in Disney’s most beloved films are signs of such a place becoming a reality in the very near future at Disney World. Why else would they “take note” of the audience’s response? Exactly.
The Walt Disney Company has always been a champion of imagination, and loves bringing everyone’s favorite Disney films, animations, and ideas to life.
Now, they’re considering bringing something that Disney fans and Park Guests have been asking for, for ages — an entirely Villain-themed land!
The Villains in the Disney Parks have always been a huge draw — with Guests loving to interact with Villainous face characters like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast (1991), Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty (1959), and Cruella De Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians / 101 Dalmations (1961).
Unfortunately, until now, Guests have only been able to meet and interact with these coveted Villains either at Halloween Events (like this mind-blowingly realistic Ernesto de la Cruz Meet N’ Greet at this year’s Oogie Boogie Bash) or around at their “heroes” or “good counterparts’” lands and areas within the Disney theme parks.
At this year’s D23 Expo held in California, Disney Parks Head Josh D’Amaro took to the stage to share several brand-new concepts that the Imagineering team are looking to put into action. D’Amaro brought out Chris Beatty and Jennifer Lee, and the Disney team opened up about what they’ve been cooking behind the scenes — and gave the crowd a sneak peek at a Villains land concept that they’ve been playing with.
After discussing the potential of a Coco and Encanto land that might be entwined together somehow over at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the gathered Disney team began talking about one of the strongest, most iconic and also beloved portions of the Disney canon — the Disney Villains — in all their maniacally evil glory!
This proposed “Villains Land” would be placed right behind Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom over in Orlando, Florida, tucked alongside or behind the bright, colorful world of Coco and Encanto.
They then shared this new concept art of a new Villains Land, and proposed the concept of:
Villains looming over Casita Madrigal, and what could be beyond Big Thunder Mountain.
This announcement was met with thunderous applause and much shouting from the assembled Disney Parks fans!
All of this would undoubtedly fill a missing void in the Disney Parks for an enhanced Villain experience — and is something that fans have been dying to see for years. The new concept images definitely look cool, and we’re excited to see where this delectably evil new Land over at the Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom might have in store for Disney Park Guests.
Guess what, Disneyland fans?! Disneyland After Dark events are returning to the Disneyland Resort in 2022! We’re thrilled to bring back Sweethearts’ Nite, Villains Nite and Star Wars Nite, offering more nights than ever before of each of these awesome limited-time, after-hours events!
For those who might need a refresher, Disneyland After Dark events take place after regular park hours and feature unique themes, fun festivities, special nighttime entertainment, access to most attractions* with reduced wait times and so much more! Guests will experience special offerings that are not typically available during a regular park visit.
With each separately ticketed Disneyland After Dark event, Guests get four hours of non-stop fun after the parks close to day Guests. Plus, they’ll get even more time to play during the three-hour pre-party mix-in at the same park as the event takes place in, which is included with each ticket!
Additionally, at each of these events, Guests receive unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos** taken during the party, plus commemorative keepsakes including a souvenir credential and event guide map, so they’ll have lots of fun ways to remember their Disneyland After Dark experience!
Here are the details for each of the upcoming themed nights:
Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite
Feb. 1, 3, 8, 10 and 14, 2022, at Disneyland Park
(Tickets on sale on Disneyland.com, beginning Dec. 9, 2021, no earlier than noon PT)
Sweethearts’ Nite will be hosted at Disneyland Park on five separate evenings in Feb. 2022. There’s sure to be heartfelt fun for everyone as Valentine’s Day is celebrated during Sweethearts’ Nite. Here’s some of what Guests can expect:
A special themed fireworks show
Projection effects on Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street, U.S.A.
A jazz ensemble aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat, plus other live entertainment, including a Royal Ball and a dance party with a DJ
Spot the most darling Disney couples, and take selfies with your favorites
Fun photo opportunities featuring romantic scenes from iconic Disney films
Lovely décor, along with food and beverage offerings around the park
Plus, early admission to Disneyland park starting at 5 p.m., no theme park reservation required
Disneyland After Dark: Villains Nite
March 8 and 10, 2022, at Disney California Adventure Park
(Tickets on sale on Disneyland.com, beginning Jan. 11, 2022)
At Villains Nite, Guests will get to party with some of Disney’s most mischievous misfits at Disney California Adventure Park. These wonderfully wicked events will take place on two separate evenings in March 2022, and include:
The Cauldron, a cunningly-crafted cabaret featuring a cast of villainous virtuosos showing off their talents through song and dance
Ursula’s Seaside Sing-a-long, where you can find your voice and sing along
The Underworld Dance Party, which allows you to bust a move at a dastardly DJ dance party in the Hollywood Backlot
Special photo backdrops, featuring scenes inspired by some favorite villains
Some of Disney’s famously nefarious fiends – or their henchmen – at special locations around the park
Delightfully decadent food and beverage offerings
Early admission to Disney California Adventure park beginning at 5 p.m., no theme park reservation required
Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite
May 3, 4 and 27, 2022, at Disneyland Park
(Tickets on sale on Disneyland.com, beginning Jan. 11, 2022)
Star Wars Nite will be the ultimate Star Wars extravaganza, packed with galactic fun on three separate nights at Disneyland Park in May 2022. Highlights of Star Wars Nite include:
An amazing pyrotechnical spectacle that will illuminate the skies with a Star Wars-themed fireworks show
March of the First Order, featuring Captain Phasma and her elite unit of Stormtroopers
A Galactic dance party
Sightings of various Star Wars characters throughout the evening
Star Wars-themed attractions, usually with shorter wait times
Star Wars-themed eats and treats, merchandise, photo opportunities, and more
Plus, early admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required
A new month brings us a brand new line of Wishables at Walt Disney World! And with the spooky season already in full swing, some of Disney’s most infamous baddies are stealing the spotlight.
This month’s collection is all about the Disney Villains. Like previous releases, the series consists of a mystery bag with one of four characters inside, as well as an open plush.
And as you may already know, the open Wishable features that ghostly rider of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman. Purchase limits are in effect for these Wishables, with guests restricted to two per item.
Headless Horseman Wishables Plush – $12.99
Villains Series Wishables Mystery Bag – $12.99
The mystery bag offers one of a quartet of sinister characters: Hades, Cruella de Vil, Scar, and Maleficent, each in that inimitable Wishables style.
