New ‘Wish’ Attraction at EPCOT Is Turning Heads

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

When it comes to attractions, if you asked anyone visiting Walt Disney World which park is lacking, they’d probably say EPCOT. Although the universally beloved park is home to Spaceship Earth, fabulous food, and unique festivals, it’s lacking in the attractions department, at least regarding rides. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to see and do at EPCOT, and with new Disney films like Wish (2023) to influence the sights and sounds of the famous park, the 2024 International Flower and Garden Festival has seen a few new arrivals that are turning heads.

The festivals at EPCOT are some of the best offerings at Walt Disney World. The current offering is EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival. This annual event at Walt Disney World Resort celebrates the wonders of flora with breathtaking floral displays, enchanting gardens, and vibrant topiaries. Guests can explore the World Showcase, adorned with stunning blooms, and participate in horticultural workshops to learn gardening tips and tricks. The festival also features live music, delicious food offerings, and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. Don’t miss this magical springtime celebration at EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival.

Although you’ll find tons of fabulous food and drink around the World Showcase during the Flower and Garden festival, another huge draw is the amazing topiaries that pop up all over the park during the Spring celebration. Each one brings to life iconic characters and scenes from popular Disney offerings, typical of what you’d expect at Walt Disney World.

new wish topiary at epcot

This year’s festival edition is no different but brings a few new astonishing topiaries to EPCOT, including one that is beautifully bright, especially at night!

Ashley Carter posted recently to X, formerly Twitter, a fantastic shot of this new attraction at EPCOT, a Wish-inspired topiary that can be seen with Spaceship Earth lit up in the background.

If you haven’t seen it, Wish is a heartwarming, Walt Disney Animation Studios animated film that takes viewers on a magical adventure.

Although the film didn’t perform well in theatres during its release last year, the story, which features the voice talents of Ariana DeBose (Asha) and Chris Pine (King Magnifico), combines classic Walt Disney Animation Studios features in an attempt to bring the golden age of Disney animation back to life.

wish fails at the box office epcot

With fascinating characters like King Magnifico and Queen Amaya, Wish is a better movie than received initially, and its new topiary at the 2024 Flower and Garden Festival is a must-see, perfect for those Instagram photos, especially at night.

Although this particular topiary is turning heads, you’ll find many others as you venture around EPCOT and the World Showcase. Miquel from Coco, Elsa Anna, and other newcomers like Groot await guests at the 2024 International Flower and Garden Festival, one of the most highly anticipated events you’ll find in any of the four Disney Parks at Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney Releasing ‘Wish’ Songs Every Wednesday Until November 22, Tickets On Sale Now

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Walt Disney Animation Studios will release “This Wish” from their upcoming film “Wish” on Wednesday, October 18. They shared a clip of the song on X, embedded below.

“This Wish” is performed by Ariana DeBose as Asha. Disney will release a new song from “Wish” on every Wednesday until the film’s release on November 22, 2023.

Tickets are now on sale for “Wish.”

Wish

wish movie poster asha

“Wish” uses a mix of 2D and 3D animation as an homage to Disney’s animation history. It features original songs by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, and a score by David Metzger (“Tarzan,” “Frozen,” “Frozen II”).

It’s directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, from a script by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore. Buck and Lee previously directed both “Frozen” films. It will be Veerasunthorn feature directorial debut. It’s produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes.

Buck said of the film, “Our heroine, Asha, lives in Rosas, known as the kingdom of wishes. People come from everywhere to give their wishes to a magical king who promises to grant their deepest desires—someday. Only he can decide which wishes will come true and when.”

destination d23 asha wish

Asha will appear at Disney Parks after the film’s release. She made her live-action debut at Destination D23.

Veerasunthorn added, “We have been inspired by so many iconic films over Disney Animation’s 100 years, especially stories where we explore the power of someone with a wish, combined with the conviction to make that wish come true. Being able to honor that legacy with this incredible story and these amazing characters has been a joy for our entire team.”

Buck and Veerasunthorn said the film will feature many “legacy nods” to classic Disney films. “Wish” seeks to answer the question, “How did the wishing star upon which so many of our beloved characters wish come to be?”

20 minutes of “Wish” was played at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June. “Once Upon a Studio” also premiered at the festival, receiving a standing ovation. The animated short also uses a combination of 2D and 3D animation, along with live-action footage. Disney brought back more than 40 voice actors to reprise their roles and pulled from the archives to use dialogue from past actors like Robin Williams as the Genie. “Once Upon a Studio” will play in front of “Wish” when the movie opens in theaters.

Disney Unveils Official Movie Releases for the Rest of 2023

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+, Uncategorized

So far, 2023 hasn’t seen many theatrical releases from the House of Mouse. But not to worry—there’s plenty of good stuff on the way.

Disney recently unveiled their 11-movie release slate at this year’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas, which will fill out the remaining months of 2023. While some films will get a theatrical run, many others will be sent directly to Disney+ and Hulu.

The studio released Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February, which rang in the MCU’s Phase Five. Other movies like Disney+’s Chang Can Dunk (2023) and Prom Pact (2023) have already made their way to the little screen, leaving 11 more exciting releases that will span across the rest of the year—including some major blockbusters. Here’s what you can expect to see in the coming months:

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” – May 5

Perhaps one of Disney’s most highly-anticipated Marvel Studios collaborations to date, James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will see the titular team reuniting for one last ride—this time, to take down a dangerous new threat known as the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). The movie will mark the second instillation in the MCU’s Phase Five, and sees Chris Pratt (Star-Lord/Peter Quill), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Vin Diesel (Groot), Karen Gillan (Nebula), and Pom Klementieff (Mantis) reprising their roles alongside Iwuji and franchise newcomer Will Poulter (Adam Warlock).

“The Little Mermaid” – May 26

The latest in Disney Studios’ ongoing efforts to bring their animated classics to live action, the Halle Bailey-led The Little Mermaid swims into theaters next month—and anticipation is through the roof. A reimagined take on the original story of the same name, the film stars an A-list cast from the likes of Melissa McCarthy, who plays the infamously evil Ursula, Awkwafina as a gender-flipped Scuttle, Antonio Banderas as King Triton, and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, among others. Bailey’s goosebump-inducing take on “Part of Your World” is available on music streaming platforms now.

“The Boogeyman” – June 2

Originally set to premiere on Hulu, the latest Stephen King adaptation, The Boogeyman, will now get a summer theatrical release, promising haunts and horrors galore. The original short story follows a troubled man named Lester Billings, who believes that “The Boogeyman” is terrorizing him by killing all three of his children. In the upcoming movie, directed by Rob Savage, the plot will deviate slightly from the source material, focusing rather on Sadie Harper (Sophie Thatcher) and her little sister, Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair), still reeling from the unexpected death of their mother. Things get stranger when a desperate patient shows up at their house, begging for help from their psychiatrist father (David Dastmalchian).

“Elemental” – June 16

Pixar is going all-out for their upcoming collaboration with Disney, the animated Elemental. Directed by Peter Sohn, the film takes place in Element City, a place where anthropomorphic fire, water, land, and air residents live together. Things start to heat up when fire elemental Ember (Leah Lewis) is forced to form an unlikely relationship with water elemental Wade (Mamoudou Athie) in a world where “elements don’t mix.” Elemental will premiere early at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival ahead of its theatrical release on June 16.

Ember and Wade stand next to each other in Elemental.

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” – June 30

Perhaps the most anticipated project on Disney’s 2023 film slate, the final installment of the beloved Indiana Jones franchise is coming to theaters this summer. After a decades-long partnership with Disney and Lucasfilm, its star, Harrison Ford, will be hanging up his hat and bullwhip after Dial of Destiny. But there’s still plenty to be excited about, from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays Indy’s equally as adventurous goddaughter, to Mads Mikkelsen, who stars as the villainous ex-Naxi, Jürgen Voller. The James Mangold-directed movie is sure to be a fitting goodbye to such an iconic character, and will also premiere early at Cannes in May.

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

“Haunted Mansion” – July 28

Yet another Disney remake, 2023’s The Haunted Mansion will refresh the Halloween classic audiences were first introduced to nearly 20 years ago. Starring a truly impressive cast, from Owen Wilson, to Tiffany Haddish, to Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis, the film will see the ensemble of spiritual “experts” attempting to fight off strange, supernatural entities—with lots of laughs along the way.

Gabbie and Travis in Grand Hall Ballroom scene, Haunted Mansion movie

“A Haunting in Venice” – September 15

Based on Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mystery series, A Haunting in Venice will see Oscar nominated director Kenneth Branagh and a new cast consisting of Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, and Kyle Allen working together to solve a truly head-scratching murder-mystery. Distributed by 20th Century Studios, the movie is scheduled to be released this fall.

“The Creator” – September 29

Directed by Rogue One’s Gareth Edwards, the upcoming sci-fi action movie The Creator, has earned rave reviews after footage was screened at CinemaCon. Starring John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ralph Ineson, Allison Janney, and other talented performers, the movie is scheduled to be released this fall by 20th Century Studios.

“The Marvels” – November 10

Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson, WandaVision breakout star Teyonah Parris, and Ms. Marvel‘s Iman Vellani are teaming up for the MCU’s next major crossover event in The Marvels. Picking up sometime after the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), the story will follow the trio of superheroes as they try to figure out why their powers are interconnected with each other. The movie has been postponed and delayed several times by Marvel Studios, but after waiting patiently for the better part of a year, fans can finally look forward to seeing it in theaters this fall.

“Next Goal Wins” – November 17

The sports comedy Next Goal Wins has a very famous director attached to it: none other than Thor: Love and Thunder‘s Taika Waititi. Set to follow a football coach (Michael Fassbender) who tries to turn a fledgling footabll team into superstars, the movie is based on a real-life documentary of the same name. It arrives in theaters this November.

“Wish” – November 22

At CinemaCon, it was revealed that Chris Pine would lend his voice to Disney Animation’s Wish, a movie that will explore how the legend of the wishing star came to be. Pine will play King Magnifico alongside West Side Story‘s Ariana DeBose, who voices Asha. Set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, Asha, a witty and compassionate young woman, finds her plea answered by a far-off, cosmic force after wishing on a star. With the help of the cosmos, Asha sets off face on an adventure to stop the most formidable of foes in order to save her community.

Logo for WISH

First-Look at Disney’s New Hispanic Princess Asha in ‘Wish’ Trailer

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

The first official trailer for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new musical comedy Wish just dropped. Here’s everything you need to know.

The trailer starts out with Chris Pine’s voice-over as the character King Magnifico. Magnifico narrates, “Imagine a place where wishes come true – where your heart’s desire can become a reality.” The animation is a beautiful combination of watercolor hand-drawn art combined with CGI technology.

A sun rises over a kingdom of Spanish architecture and we get the first glimpse of our new Disney Princess! Princess Asha, voiced by Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, of the Kingdom of Rosas stands on a balcony with her goat friend, Valentino. Valentino gently blows a dandelion into the breeze. The movie’s theme, the power of wishes, is already apparent.

Princess Asha follows King Magnifico into a chamber that presumably holds wishes in blue floating orbs. King Magnifico says that all Asha needs to do is “Give your wish…to ME.” Wait what? This turned kind of sinister. Is Chris Pine the villain of this story?? Look at this extreme close up on his eyes!

Chris Pine King Magnifico Disney Wish November 22

A maniacal laugh echos as Asha runs…so yea, Chris Pine’s King Magnifico is definitely the antagonist in Wish. After this experience, Princess Asha makes a wish on a bright star and it falls right out of the sky! It sprinkles star dust on flowers and suddenly they move like humans. Valentino the goat eats some of the star dust, which then grants his wish – to be able to speak! His part is voiced by Disney frequent, Alan Tudyk.

Then we get our first listen to Ariana DeBose singing as Princess Asha in an original song created for the film. It sounds like a classic Disney “I want” song that talks about her confidence and empowerment to push on. The trailer mentions that this is a “story a century in the making.”

Check it out below!

Visually, Wish already promises to be magical and stunning. The directors are Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (Raya and the Last Dragon). Audiences can expect new songs by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer-songwriter-musician Benjamin Rice. Jennifer Lee (Frozen) writes and executive produces.

Wish make Princess Asha the second Hispanic Disney Princess, after the television character Princess Elena of Avalor, and the first of Disney’s major animated films.

The trailer concludes with DeBose’s Asha softly singing, “So I make this wish / to have something more for us than this.” Only in theaters this November 22!

Disney Movies Fans Are Most Looking Forward to In 2023

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+, Uncategorized

Via DisDining.com

It seems so hard to believe, but 2022 is now in the rearview mirror and the excitement and potential of 2023 are laid before our feet. I don’t know about you, but my 2023 definitely involves a lot of Disney! Trips to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, or any other Disney theme park are always memorable, but they are expensive. However, there’s another way to get your Disney fix that’s much cheaper. That’s right, we are talking about Disney movies!

2023 is going to be a big year for Disney films. Let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated Disney movies of the year!

The Little Mermaid

Release Date: May 26

Disney’s new live-action remake of one of its most classic tales may be THE most anticipated Disney movie of the year. The Little Mermaid live-action film will stick heavily to the original animated movie, but there will be unique additions. In the new movie, Prince Eric will have more character development, and his mother will be introduced. Disney Legend Alan Menken and Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda will also write new music.

The Little Mermaid will star Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Daveed Diggs as Sebastian.

The Little Mermaid

Peter Pan & Wendy

Release Date: March 10 (Disney+)

What makes this Disney movie great is that you can watch the premiere from the comfort of your own couch!

It’s been a while since Disney has given us a fresh, new look at the boy who never wanted to grow up. But, come this March, we will no longer be able to say that. At this time, we don’t know much about the story that Disney will tell with Peter Pan & Wendy. However, it will most likely be close to the original story that most of us know and love. Select Guests who attended Disney’s D23 Expo this past September were given an exclusive trailer, which featured the Lost Boys, a look at Peter Pan, with a closeout on the villainous Captain Hook.

Peter Pan & Wendy will star Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Anderson as Wendy, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Jim Gaffigan as Smee, and Jude Law as Captain Hook.

Peter Pan & Wendy

The Haunted Mansion

Release Date: August 11

Okay, I’ll admit it. I am most excited to see this movie, not only because of the phenomenal casting, but also to see if Disney can come back from the 2003 disaster version that starred Eddie Murphy. This new live-action remake will take place in New Orleans, where the spirits definitely love to come out to socialize. The Haunted Mansion will tell the story of a single mom, Gabbie, who moves into the old Southern mansion with her son. As you may have guessed, the mansion is haunted and Gabbie hires a priest, a historian, a tour guide, and a psychic to help her expel the spirits.

The Haunted Mansion will star Rosario Dawson as Gabbie, Chase Dillon as Gabbie’s son, Owen Wilson as Kent the priest, Danny DeVito as the historian, Tiffany Haddish as Harriet, and LaKeith Stanfield as Ben Matthias. There will also be some classic attraction characters thrown into the mix — Jamie Lee Curtis will play Madame Leota, and Jared Leto will play the Hatbox Ghost.

Elemental

Release Date: June 16

Much like Inside Out, Elemental will take viewers on a journey they have not been on before. This movie will tell the story of a land where the elements — Earth, Air, Fire, and Water — live together. As with many places, those who are alike tend to stick together, and one element group doesn’t really interact with the other elements. However, fiery Ember and go-with-the-flow Wade will soon realize that they have more in common than they ever would have imagined.

At this time, we don’t have much to share on casting news. All Disney has shared is that Wade will be voiced by Mamoudou Athie as Wade and Leah Lewis as Ember.

Elemental

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Release Date: June 30

This will most likely be the last time we see legendary actor Harrison Ford don his iconic fedora and take on the role of famed archaeologist Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones. Dial of Destiny will see Indy and his goddaughter, Helena, go up against Nazis once again, but this time during the height of the space race. However, this time, the U.S. government has hired former Nazis to help them beat the Soviet Union into space, as well as be the first country to land on the moon.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will star Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, Mads Mikkelsen as Jürgen Voller, Antonio Banderas as Renaldo, Toby Jones as Basil, and Johnathan Rhys-Davies as Sallah. Shia LaBoeuf will not return as Mutt Williams, but audiences will learn what happened to Indy’s son.

Wish

Release Date: November 22

This movie is the most recent announcement from Walt Disney Animation. Disney has not given us too many details on what story Wish will tell, but director Chris Buck has said that the film will be “Blending this beautiful, timeless watercolor style with 3D animation, ‘Wish’ has a look and feel all its own, unlike anything Disney Animation has created.” What we do know is that viewers will learn how the iconic wishing star came into existence.

As with Disney movies of the past, Wish will have a selfless hero, a ruthless villain, and a talking goat. Okay, so maybe it won’t be just like the Disney movies we have seen before. Not much casting information has been released, but we do know that Alan Tudyk will voice Valentino and Ariana DeBose will voice Asha.

Of course, if you are a Marvel fan, there will also be several movies released for you to love, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, and The Marvels.