Pirates & Princesses

Little Mermaid ride at California Adventure loses its scaffolding

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:45:44 GMT

After about two months under wraps, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure shows off a fresh coat of paint. Plus, Space Mountain closes for a day.

Ariel’s coming up for air.

The scrims and most of the scaffolding are gone from The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure, WDWNT reported on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The building had been wrapped up since August while crews worked on its exterior.

The good news for anyone with a Disneyland trip coming up: the ride itself stayed open the whole time. It “has remained open throughout the exterior refurbishment,” WDWNT said.

Want to see what’s inside before you go? Here’s a full ride-through from Theme Park Steve, filmed in October 2026:

What changed on the Little Mermaid ride building?

Mostly paint. WDWNT said the cream walls, bronze trim and blue columns look refreshed, and “there are no apparent design changes.” The work seems to be about wear and tear, not a new look.

WDWNT’s reporter found the scrims already gone during a visit on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The work isn’t totally finished, though. Construction walls are still up near the entrance, and scaffolding still covers the far end of the building over the covered outdoor queue.

Disneyland Resort hasn’t said anything publicly about the project, and we didn’t find an official end date.

How long was the Little Mermaid ride covered?

About two months. Scaffolding and scrims went up in August, WDWNT reported in September. Crews later swapped plain black scrims for themed ones printed to look like the facade, which kept the area from looking like a construction zone.

Back in September, guests could still walk in through gaps in the construction walls. “The ride is still open with gaps in the construction walls for guests to enter,” WDWNT wrote at the time.

What’s the history of this building?

It’s older than the ride. The building first housed Golden Dreams, a theater show about California history that closed in 2008. Disney tore down the theater but kept the facade, then added undersea details like seashells, mermaid musicians and a King Triton figure, according to WDWNT.

The facade takes its look from Bernard Maybeck’s Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Today the ride sits in Paradise Gardens Park.

This isn’t the facade’s first touch-up, either. WDWNT covered a new look for the entrance after an earlier refurbishment in May 2021.

When did Ariel’s Undersea Adventure open?

The ride officially opened on June 3, 2011, after a soft opening on May 26. Magic Kingdom got its own version, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, in New Fantasyland on Dec. 6, 2012.

Both rides use clamshell-shaped vehicles on a moving track, a system Disney calls an Omnimover. The California ride has 105 clamshells, including two that fit wheelchairs, according to Wikipedia. The ride runs about six and a half minutes and walks you through songs like “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and “Kiss the Girl.”

The California version got a refresh in 2014, when it closed from March 20 to May 10. Disney added new sea creatures, a blacklight look for the “Under the Sea” scene and real hair on the Ariel and Prince Eric figures.

The ride has no height requirement, according to Disneyland’s website, so it’s a good pick for little ones.

Is Space Mountain closing at Disneyland?

Just for one day. Space Mountain at Disneyland Park is scheduled to close on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, according to the park calendar on Disneyland’s website, WDWNT and Mickey Visit reported. It’s open on Nov. 9 and Nov. 11.

Disney hasn’t said why. “No other details have been shared,” WDWNT wrote. Dates can change, so check the Disneyland app the morning of your visit.

What else is closed at Disneyland in November?

“it’s a small world” closes on Friday, Oct. 30, so crews can put in its holiday overlay. It reopens on Friday, Nov. 13, according to WDWNT and Mickey Visit. That means it’s also closed on Nov. 10, the same day as Space Mountain.

If you’re planning a Nov. 10 visit, check the park calendar a few days out and build a backup list, since refurbishment dates can shift.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

WDWNT (Oct. 28 and Sept. 21), refurbishment details, building history and the Space Mountain closure
Mickey Visit (Oct. 28), Space Mountain and “it’s a small world” dates
Disneyland Resort, ride details and height requirement
Wikipedia, opening dates and ride history
Theme Park Steve, ride-through video

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.

Hexed maquettes at Hollywood Studios show Disney's three-eyed cat

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:30:50 GMT

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a sneak peek at Walt Disney Animation’s Hexed, with sculptures of Billie, her mom and a cat named Beef Roger before the Nov. 25 release.

Want an early look at Disney’s next big animated movie? You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving. You just need a ticket to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Character maquettes and concept art from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Hexed are on display inside The Magic of Disney Animation, and BlogMickey walked through the whole thing on Wednesday, Oct. 28. A maquette is a small sculpture animators use to see a character from every angle, and these three are the stars of the show.

The film opens only in theaters on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026, the day before Thanksgiving.

Here’s the official trailer from Walt Disney Animation Studios:

Where is the Hexed display at Hollywood Studios?

You’ll find it in the “coming soon” section of The Magic of Disney Animation, in a room just past Olaf Draws and before the gift shop, according to BlogMickey.

The space is part of the attraction’s production art gallery, which came back in early September, Laughing Place reported. The maquettes joined later. “Added since the gallery’s debut are some character maquettes from the film,” Laughing Place’s Luke Manning wrote on Sept. 26.

The display has been up for weeks. With the movie less than a month away, it’s a fun stop if you’re in the park this fall.

Which Hexed characters are on display?

Three maquettes, per BlogMickey and Laughing Place:

Billie Doe, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, striding forward in a flowing cape.
Alice Doe, Billie’s mom, voiced by Rashida Jones, arms crossed with her hair in a bun.
Beef Roger Crummchuk, voiced by Walton Goggins, a three-eyed cat sitting on a cauldron with a glass raised.

Yes, the cat is named Beef Roger. Yes, he has three eyes. We already love him.

BlogMickey also spotted four character plaques, including one for Bucket, an enchanted cauldron, plus a props case built around Elias Quire, a magical journal voiced by Stephen Fry.

What concept art from Hexed can you see?

Plenty. BlogMickey described an autumn-colored town under a castle, Alice and Billie crossing a vine bridge, a sheet of 14 numbered cauldrons and turnaround drawings of Beef Roger in a pink jacket. There are also animal designs, including a raven, a bat, an owl, frogs, an opossum and a raccoon.

You’ll see a color script and storyboards, too. Those are the planning sheets animators use to map out the mood and the shots of a film before the final animation.

How long will it stay? Nobody knows yet. “We don’t know yet how long Hexed will stay on display or which film comes next,” BlogMickey wrote.

Is there a Hexed photo op at Disney World?

There is. A new Hexed photo spot opened around Oct. 18 inside The Magic of Disney Animation, WDWNT reported. It shows three pointed arches framed by tree trunks, with a sun, a tree and a moon in gold on green tile.

It’s self-serve, so bring your own phone. “A Disney PhotoPass photographer was not stationed at the spot during our visit,” WDWNT noted.

What is Disney’s Hexed about?

Disney describes Billie as “a teenage girl who has always felt like she doesn’t quite belong” who “discovers she’s actually a witch.” She gets pulled into Hexe, a world of witches, and teams up with her mom to dig into family secrets.

The film comes from directors Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, with Josie Trinidad as co-director. Roy Conli and Yvett Merino produced it, and Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller wrote it.

Besides Steinfeld, Jones, Goggins and Fry, the voice cast includes Jodie Foster as Queen Celeste and Tracey Ullman as Ms. Quill.

What music is in Disney’s Hexed?

Steinfeld recorded a new version of The Cars’ 1984 hit “Magic” for the film, and it’s already out on streaming services. Kris Bowers, who scored The Wild Robot, wrote the score, BroadwayWorld reported.

When can you see Hexed in theaters?

Hexed opens exclusively in theaters on Nov. 25, 2026. Tickets are already on sale, and Walt Disney Animation Studios posted a new tickets-on-sale spot on Tuesday.

If you’re at Hollywood Studios before then, swing through The Magic of Disney Animation. It’s air-conditioned, it’s usually quiet, and now there’s a three-eyed cat waiting for you.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

BlogMickey (Oct. 28), display walk-through and quotes
Laughing Place (Sept. 26), maquettes, gallery details and release info
WDWNT (Oct. 18), Hexed photo op
Disney+ (Oct. 8), story description and voice cast
BroadwayWorld (Oct. 23), crew, music and score
Walt Disney Animation Studios, official trailer

SeaWorld Orlando manatee Southpaw thrives after losing a flipper

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:02:32 GMT

A manatee tangled in a crab trap near Titusville lost her right flipper, but SeaWorld Orlando says she’s eating, healing and could go home to the wild.

A manatee named Southpaw is getting a second shot at life at SeaWorld Orlando, and she’s doing it with one less flipper.

FOX 35 Orlando reported on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that the big girl is swimming and recovering at the park’s manatee rehab center after veterinary surgeons had to remove her right flipper. The cause was a familiar one in Florida waters: a crab trap line that wrapped around her and wouldn’t let go.

“They were able to remove that line,” Mallorie McCormack, a senior zoological specialist at SeaWorld, told the station.

Here’s FOX 35’s report from SeaWorld:

How was Southpaw the manatee rescued?

It started with a neighbor who paid attention. Terry Morse, who lives on the water near Titusville in Brevard County, spotted the manatee in the Indian River Lagoon and could tell something wasn’t right.

Morse and her husband watched the manatee for hours from their home before calling for help, FOX 35 reported in September. A commercial crab trap and its buoy were tangled around the animal, which made it hard for her to move and even to breathe.

“It was scary because I knew she was suffering, but I didn’t know how bad she was suffering,” Morse said at the time.

Rescuers reached her by boat and kayak, and she was taken to SeaWorld Orlando.

SeaWorld said she arrived on Aug. 27, according to FOX 35’s September report. The station’s Oct. 28 story credited Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers with bringing her in.

Why did SeaWorld have to amputate her flipper?

The trap line had done too much damage. WFTV reported in September that the injuries to her flipper were severe, and SeaWorld’s vet team decided it couldn’t be saved.

So surgeons removed her right pectoral flipper. That sounds scary, but manatees mostly steer with their flippers and push themselves forward with their big paddle tails. Plenty of manatees in Florida live with old injuries from boats and fishing gear.

At the time she arrived, Southpaw weighed more than 1,400 pounds, SeaWorld said in a statement to FOX 35. She got care around the clock in the first weeks.

“The good news is that she is healing well and has started eating,” a SeaWorld spokesperson said in September.

Will Southpaw be released back into the wild?

That’s the plan. FOX 35 reported that she’s expected to make a full recovery and be released. She’s on medicine, and her care team is watching to make sure she puts on weight.

No release date has been set. State wildlife officials get the final say on when a rehabbed manatee goes back into the water.

Morse, who started all this with a phone call, is thrilled. “I feel very honored to be a part of her, a little part of her journey back to a second chance,” she told FOX 35.

How many manatees has SeaWorld Orlando rescued?

A lot. SeaWorld said in an April 7, 2026, press release that its parks had rescued 1,081 manatees since 1976, and SeaWorld Orlando handled 1,078 of them. At that point, it had already rescued 21 manatees in 2026.

By late October, SeaWorld’s team had helped more than 30 manatees this year, according to FOX 35.

The park hit its 1,000th manatee rescue in March 2025. In 2024 alone, it rescued 61 manatees and returned 38 to the wild, FOX 35 reported then.

Can you see the manatees at SeaWorld Orlando?

You can. SeaWorld Orlando’s Manatee Rehabilitation Area is a working rescue center that the park opened up for “complimentary viewing to all park guests,” according to SeaWorld’s website. It has displays and rescue footage that explain what manatees face in the wild.

The park also sells guided behind-the-scenes tours of its rescue work. Just know that the animals you see might change from visit to visit, since the goal is always to send them home.

What should you do if you see a hurt manatee?

Morse’s advice is good for anyone on Florida’s waterways. “If it doesn’t look right, doesn’t look normal to you, then question it,” she said.

The FWC asks people to call its Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) if they see an injured, sick, tangled or dead manatee. Don’t try to pull off fishing line or rope yourself. Keep your distance, note where you are and wait for trained rescuers.

A few other easy habits help, too. Slow down in posted manatee zones, wear polarized sunglasses so you can spot them below the surface, and toss old fishing line in the right bins instead of leaving it behind.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

FOX 35 Orlando (Oct. 28 and Sept. 8), Southpaw’s rescue, recovery, quotes and video
WFTV (Sept. 11), flipper injury details
SeaWorld Orlando (April 7), rescue totals and Manatee Rehabilitation Area details
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Alert Hotline number

Barbara Barrie, Barney Miller's wife on ABC, dies at 95

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:44:33 GMT

The Oscar-nominated star of Breaking Away and ABC’s Barney Miller also voiced Hercules’ mom for Disney. She died Wednesday in Manhattan, her family said.

Barbara Barrie, the Oscar-nominated actress who played Liz Miller on ABC’s Barney Miller and the warm, worried mom in Breaking Away, has died. She was 95.

Barrie died on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at her home in Manhattan, according to Variety, which cited The New York Times. Her daughter, Jane Harnick, confirmed the death to the Times.

Barrie had received a terminal cancer diagnosis and chose a medically assisted death, the Times reported.

Her career ran more than 60 years, from a small part in Giant in 1956 to Broadway, network TV and a Disney animated classic.

Who was Barbara Barrie?

She was born Barbara Ann Berman on May 23, 1931, in Chicago, and grew up in Texas. She studied drama at the University of Texas and graduated in 1952, Variety reported.

Her Broadway debut came in The Wooden Dish in 1955. Film work followed. Her role in the 1964 drama One Potato, Two Potato earned her the best actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 1970 she originated the role of Sarah in Stephen Sondheim’s Company, which earned her a Tony nomination in 1971.

What did Barbara Barrie play on Barney Miller?

On ABC’s Barney Miller, Barrie played Elizabeth “Liz” Miller, the wife of Hal Linden’s patient precinct captain. While most of the show stayed inside the squad room, Liz gave Barney a life outside the job, and Barrie played her with dry warmth.

She appeared in 37 episodes from 1975 to 1978, according to her credits. The show itself ran on ABC until 1982 and became one of the network’s best-loved sitcoms.

Why was Breaking Away such a big deal for her?

In 1979’s Breaking Away, Barrie played Mrs. Stohler, the mother of a small-town Indiana teen obsessed with Italian bike racing. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

ABC turned the movie into a TV series in 1980, and Barrie came back as Mrs. Stohler. That return earned her an Emmy nomination in 1981.

More Emmy nominations followed for guest roles on Law & Order in 1992 and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2003.

What Disney roles did Barbara Barrie have?

Disney fans may know her voice without realizing it. In Disney’s 1997 animated film Hercules, Barrie voiced Alcmene, the kind farm woman who adopts baby Hercules and raises him alongside her husband, Amphitryon.

Years earlier, she appeared in Child of Glass, a 1978 Disney TV movie, as Emily Armsworth.

Later TV audiences knew her from Suddenly Susan, where she played the grandmother of Brooke Shields’ character from 1996 to 2000. She also played Harriet Benjamin on the TV version of Private Benjamin in 1981.

How did she help other cancer patients?

Barrie was treated for rectal cancer in the 1990s and chose to talk about it in public at a time when few people did. She wrote two books about the experience: Second Act: Life After Colostomy and Other Adventures in 1997 and Don’t Die of Embarrassment in 1999.

She also wrote children’s books, including Lone Star and Adam Zigzag.

In 2014, she said she had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, Variety reported. She kept working on stage after that, and her final stage role was in Significant Other.

What did Barbara Barrie say about acting?

On the PBS series How Art Changed Me, Barrie described why the stage mattered so much to her.

“I just think it’s connection between human beings,” she said. “You’re on the stage and they’re in the audience and you’re connecting.”

Who survives Barbara Barrie?

Barrie was married to Jay Harnick, the theater director who founded Theatreworks USA, from 1964 until his death in 2007. She is survived by her children, Jane and Aaron Harnick, and three granddaughters, according to Variety.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Variety (Oct. 28), death, family, early life and career details
Hello! (Oct. 28), daughter’s confirmation and PBS quote, via The New York Times
Wikipedia, Barney Miller, Disney and TV credits

Port Canaveral cruise ships rocked by rough seas and king tides

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:02:02 GMT

Pool water sloshed across decks and some Bahamas stops got shuffled as big swells hit Florida cruises this week. Here’s which ships were affected and what’s next.

If your cruise out of Port Canaveral felt more like a carnival ride this week, you weren’t imagining it.

Strong onshore winds and king tides churned up the Atlantic along Florida’s east coast, and ships sailing between Central Florida and the Bahamas felt every bit of it. FOX 35 Orlando reported on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that pool water spilled across open decks, water reached balconies far above the waterline and crews set out sickness bags in stairwells.

One passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas told the station he watched the pool turn into its own little ocean.

“That’s when I saw the tidal waves occurring inside the pool and the water being drained without anybody draining it,” said Matthew Gillespie. “We started swaying back and forth.”

“I’m on the 14th floor and I was getting wet out on my balcony,” Gillespie told FOX 35.

Here’s FOX 35’s report, with video from on board:

What caused the rough seas off Florida this week?

It wasn’t a hurricane. Meteorologists pinned it on a combo of king tides, which are the highest tides of the year, and gusty northeast winds pushing water toward shore.

“It’s a combination of king tides and strong winds pushing water toward shore,” Candace Campos, chief meteorologist at News 6 in Orlando, said on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The beaches took a beating too. WFTV reported surf of 6 to 10 feet along Volusia County on Monday, and Brevard County closed its beach access points on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Offshore, Cruise Fever said a strong coastal storm system sat off Florida and the Bahamas, with gale-force winds in the mix.

Which cruise ships changed their itineraries?

Cruise Fever counted at least eight ships with delays or changes around Florida as of Tuesday. Here’s what we could confirm:

Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean, Port Canaveral): flipped the order of its stops on its Oct. 24 to 29 sailing, visiting Nassau on Sunday, Oct. 25, and Perfect Day at CocoCay on Tuesday, Oct. 27, according to Cruise Hive.
Star of the Seas (Royal Caribbean, Port Canaveral): skipped CocoCay on Monday, Oct. 26, because of wind gusts up to 35 mph and spent the day at sea, per Cruise Fever. Guests got their excursion money back as onboard credit.
Utopia of the Seas (Royal Caribbean, Port Canaveral): Cruise Fever reported that the ship’s Oct. 26 sailing dropped Nassau and CocoCay and headed to Cozumel, Mexico, instead. Royal Caribbean hadn’t commented to FOX 35 by its deadline.
MSC Seashore (MSC, Port Canaveral): adjusted one port visit, FOX 35 said. The station didn’t name the port.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise (Port of Palm Beach): couldn’t get back on time because of high surf, which turned a four-night trip into five, according to Cruise Fever. Guests were offered a $50 future cruise credit or a free rebooking.

Royal Caribbean also sent two ships from New Jersey north instead, Cruise Fever reported. Oasis of the Seas went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Independence of the Seas went to Saint John, New Brunswick.

Were Disney Cruise Line ships affected?

We didn’t find any reports of Disney Cruise Line changes from this week’s weather. None of the Florida stories we checked mentioned a Disney ship, and we didn’t see any Disney itinerary notices as of Wednesday night.

Headed to Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay this weekend? Keep an eye on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and your email anyway.

When will the seas calm down?

Relief is on the way, slowly. “Our east coast beaches continue to be battered with strong wind gusts and coastal flooding thanks to King Tides,” News 6 meteorologist Jordan Patrick said Wednesday evening.

Expect beach gusts in the low 30s at times on Thursday, Oct. 29, plus more flooding around high tide. The king tides and onshore winds should start to ease Friday, with calmer winds Saturday.

What should you do if you’re sailing soon?

Gillespie’s advice was simple. “Be precautionary because these seas can hit you pretty rough,” he told FOX 35.

A few practical moves help:

Pack motion sickness meds or bands before you board.
Book excursions through the cruise line, since skipped-port refunds usually go back automatically.
Turn on alerts in your cruise line’s app. Itinerary changes show up there first.

Royal Caribbean told Harmony guests in an email that “being onboard is one of the safest places to be,” Cruise Hive reported. Big ships are built for this stuff, even if your stomach isn’t.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

FOX 35 Orlando (Oct. 28), Matthew Gillespie’s account, ship details and video
Cruise Fever (Oct. 27), the list of affected ships and itinerary changes
Cruise Hive (Oct. 24), Harmony of the Seas port swap and guest email
News 6 WKMG (Oct. 27 and Oct. 28), king tide explanation and forecast
WFTV (Oct. 26), surf heights and Brevard beach closures

CL in talks to sign with THEBLACKLABEL, reuniting with producer Teddy

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 06:45:42 GMT

2NE1 leader CL is in talks to sign an exclusive contract with THEBLACKLABEL, the label run by Teddy, the producer behind 2NE1’s biggest hits, Korean outlets report.

CL might be heading home, sort of. The 2NE1 leader is in talks to sign with THEBLACKLABEL, the label led by producer Teddy Park, according to Korean media reports on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

News1 broke the story as an exclusive. Hours later, the label confirmed talks to Ilgan Sports and Star News, saying it is discussing an exclusive contract with CL.

For longtime BlackJacks, as 2NE1 fans call themselves, that’s a big deal. Teddy wrote and produced a huge chunk of 2NE1’s catalog back in the YG Entertainment days.

What did THEBLACKLABEL say about CL?

The statement was short. A label representative told Ilgan Sports, “Ssiel-gwa jeonsok gyeyak chegyeol nonui jung,” which translates to “We are discussing signing an exclusive contract with CL.” Star News got the same answer.

So for now, it’s talks. Nobody has said when a contract might be signed, or what CL’s first project with the label would look like.

Is CL releasing new music in 2026?

Maybe. News1’s report says CL has already filmed a music video for a new single and that a comeback is expected, though neither label statement mentioned it.

If it happens, it’d be her first big solo release in a while. Her last full album, ALPHA, came out in October 2021, after the singles “Spicy” and “Lover Like Me,” per her discography.

So fans have been waiting about five years for a new CL era. Teddy’s involvement would make that wait feel a lot more worth it.

CL, whose real name is Lee Chae-rin, hasn’t been idle in the meantime. She even popped up in kids’ TV in 2022, voicing Sharki L on Nickelodeon’s Baby Shark’s Big Show!, per Wikipedia. It’s a long way from “The Baddest Female,” and we love that for her. A singer who can go from YG swagger to a cartoon shark has range.

Who is Teddy and what is THEBLACKLABEL?

Teddy is one of K-pop’s most famous producers. He shaped the sound of 2NE1 and other YG acts before building THEBLACKLABEL into its own label.

Today the roster includes Taeyang, Rose, Jeon Somi, Miyeon and ALL DAY PROJECT, according to Ilgan Sports and Star News. Rose signed with the label in 2024 for her solo work, per Soompi.

Adding CL would put another YG alum under Teddy, joining Taeyang from BIGBANG and Rose from BLACKPINK. That’s a lot of nostalgia in one building.

Why did CL leave YG Entertainment?

She didn’t renew. YG announced her departure on Nov. 8, 2019, after years with the company.

Since then, she’s worked through her own one-person agency, Very Cherry, according to Ilgan Sports and Star News. News1 said a move to THEBLACKLABEL would be her first real agency change in about seven years since leaving YG.

Did 2NE1 get back together?

Yes, and it was a lot of fun to watch. YG announced the 2NE1 reunion on July 22, 2024, for the group’s 15th anniversary.

The “Welcome Back” tour opened at Olympic Hall in Seoul on Oct. 4, 2024, and wrapped at KSPO Dome in Seoul on April 13, 2025. Along the way, the group drew more than 250,000 fans and grossed about $44 million, per Wikipedia’s tally.

The group also surprised everyone with a full-group Coachella appearance back in April 2022. In August 2025, Park Bom announced a break from 2NE1 activities, and we haven’t seen new group plans since.

What does this mean for 2NE1 fans?

Not much for the group right now, since nothing about 2NE1 is part of these talks. For CL herself, it could mean a real comeback with a big-name producer in her corner.

THEBLACKLABEL has a good track record of building solo stars, and Teddy knows CL’s voice better than almost anyone in the business. That’s a pretty good starting point.

We’ll update when the contract is official or when a release date drops. Until then, BlackJacks, keep “I Am the Best” on repeat.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

News1 (Oct. 28), first report and new single detail
Ilgan Sports (Oct. 28), label confirmation and roster
Star News (Oct. 28), label confirmation and Very Cherry background
Soompi (Oct. 28), English report; Rose signing background
Wikipedia, 2NE1 reunion tour dates, totals and CL discography
CL Official Channel (Sept. 29, 2021), “Lover Like Me” music video

Prada holiday 2026 ad taps a Disney animator for hand-drawn critters

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 06:29:32 GMT

Prada’s Drawing Prada holiday campaign pairs Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke with hand-drawn critters from John Pomeroy, the animator behind Pocahontas and The Secret of NIMH.

Somewhere, a mouse is stealing Sadie Sink’s shoes. And it was drawn with a pencil.

Prada‘s 2026 holiday campaign, “Drawing Prada: Animated by Hand,” mixes live action with old-school 2D animation, and the man leading the animation is John Pomeroy. If that name rings a bell, it’s because he’s worked on some of the most beloved cartoons of the last 50 years, from Disney to Don Bluth.

The campaign launched Tuesday, Oct. 27, according to WWD, which had the first look. Prada’s official video is already up on YouTube:

Who stars in the Prada holiday 2026 campaign?

The live-action side features Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Chen Haoyu, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Luther Ford, per WWD and Fashion Times. Sink and Hawke are both Stranger Things alumni, and Harrison Jr. has a Disney credit of his own as the voice of Taka, the future Scar, in Mufasa: The Lion King.

Glen Luchford photographed the campaign and directed the live action. Cartoon Brew says he matched his lighting and camera angles to the illustrated settings so the actors and the drawings feel like they share a room.

Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons are Prada’s creative directors. Ferdinando Verderi served as the campaign’s creative director, per Cartoon Brew and The Impression.

What happens in the Drawing Prada films?

A lot of furry mischief. WWD describes a “cynical fox, little mice, a snow lynx, rabbits, and bats” sharing winter scenes with the stars.

The mice go after Sink’s Prada shoes. The lynx stalks Chen’s Prada bag, and the rabbits and bats get into Ford’s leather accessories, according to WWD.

DesignRush adds that a drawn snowball smacks into a nylon backpack worn by Harrison Jr. It’s basically a Prada ad where the woodland creatures from Snow White got very into fashion.

Who is John Pomeroy?

Pomeroy started at Disney in 1973, working on Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too under legendary animator Frank Thomas, per Cartoon Brew. He also worked on Pete’s Dragon.

He later co-founded Don Bluth Productions with Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, Cartoon Brew reports. That studio’s films include The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail and The Land Before Time, according to Collater.al.

Pomeroy eventually came back to Disney. He supervised the animation of John Smith in Pocahontas and worked on Fantasia 2000, per Cartoon Brew and WWD.

What did John Pomeroy say about the Prada campaign?

He sounded thrilled. “It was an absolute honor to have Prada ask me to direct this series of 2D animated films for their 2026 holiday campaign,” Pomeroy told WWD.

“The merging of our two art forms took our combined creativity to the next level,” he added. In the behind-the-scenes film, he gets more personal: “I learned my craft with pencil and paper.”

He also said, per WWD, “There’s a very distinct and purposeful reason to do hand-drawn animation.” Lead animator Tom Bancroft told Cartoon Brew that Pomeroy “called the band back together.”

Why is hand-drawn animation a big deal right now?

Because there isn’t much of it left at the big studios. Disney’s own feature films have been computer-animated for years, and hand-drawn work mostly lives in shorts, indie films and the occasional ad.

That’s what makes this one fun for animation fans. It’s a luxury brand paying a team of 2D veterans to do things the slow way, frame by frame, with real pencils.

There’s also a behind-the-scenes film showing the artists at work, per WWD and Cartoon Brew. If you’ve ever wanted to watch a fox get drawn one line at a time, that’s your holiday viewing.

What Prada products are in the holiday ads?

Prada didn’t publish a full product list, but the outlets spotted plenty. DesignRush says the lynx eyes a Mini Avoir handbag and the mice inspect black-and-white dotted shoes.

The wider holiday collection includes technical outerwear, candy-striped pieces and knitwear for dressing up, per DesignRush. Fashion Times notes Hawke wears a red dress with a black Prada handbag.

None of it is cheap, of course. But the cartoon fox is free to look at.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

WWD (Oct. 27), first look, cast, creatures, products and Pomeroy quotes
Cartoon Brew (Oct. 28), animation team, Pomeroy career and Bancroft quote
Fashion Times (Oct. 27), cast and wardrobe details
The Impression (Oct. 27), creative credits
Collater.al (Oct. 27), Bluth studio filmography
DesignRush (Oct. 28), product and scene details
Prada (Oct. 27), official campaign video

Orlando airport: Allegiant, Sun Country move to Terminal A Oct. 29

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:15:36 GMT

Flying Allegiant or Sun Country into Orlando for a Disney or Universal trip? Starting Thursday, Oct. 29, both airlines check in and claim bags at MCO’s Terminal A.

If you’re flying Allegiant or Sun Country to Orlando this week, don’t follow your old habits at the airport. Starting Thursday, Oct. 29, both airlines are moving from Terminal B to Terminal A at Orlando International Airport.

The airport announced the switch on X on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and tagged both airlines. “Please plan accordingly & safe travels!” the post said.

That’s a small change on paper. But anybody who’s dragged a stroller, two car seats and a cranky toddler across MCO knows the wrong side of the building can feel like a whole extra park day.

Here’s a spring tour of Terminals A and B from Poko Traveler, so you know what you’re walking into:

Where do Allegiant and Sun Country check in at Orlando airport now?

Per the airport’s post, here’s the new setup starting Oct. 29:

Check-in: Level 3, Terminal A
Baggage claim: Level 2, Terminal A
Sun Country gates: 1-29
Allegiant gates: 30-59

WDW News Today was first to share the change, and it said both airlines currently run out of Terminal B. The airport didn’t give a reason for the move.

Is Terminal A the same building as Terminal B at MCO?

Yes, more or less. Terminals A and B are the two sides of MCO’s main terminal building, the older one with the hotel and the big atrium. Terminal C is the separate, newer terminal on the south side.

So you’re not going to a different building. You’re going to the other side of the same one, and that still matters when you’re picking a drop-off spot or telling your ride-share driver where to go.

The bigger risk is baggage claim. Level 2 of Terminal A is where your bags will show up, so head there when you land instead of drifting over to B out of habit.

Why does MCO keep changing things?

Orlando International is in the middle of a big makeover. The airport’s $6.9 billion Capital Improvement Program is paying for a lot of it, including new Gate Link trams.

The first of four new trams entered service on Oct. 2, serving Gates 100-129, per WDW News Today, which quoted the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. Each new tram carries up to 240 passengers, and the project costs $253 million.

GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle put it plainly back then: “we are building an airport for the future, and this Gate Link milestone brings that vision to life.” The airport has also said it plans a new baggage system for Terminals A and B by 2030.

How busy is Orlando International Airport?

Very. MCO handled 57,675,573 passengers in 2025, up from about 57.2 million in 2024, according to the airport’s July 28 press release.

That makes it the busiest airport in Florida and the seventh-busiest in the U.S., up from ninth the year before. It ranked 25th in the world.

“These numbers are reflective of Central Florida’s continued growth and global appeal,” Lyttle said in that release. Translation: a lot of people want to see the mouse, the wizard and the beach.

Are Allegiant and Sun Country the same airline now?

They’re still flying under separate names. Allegiant announced a deal in January to buy Sun Country for about $1.5 billion, according to WFTV.

At the time, WFTV reported the airlines would keep operating separately and there’d be “no immediate changes to flights, tickets, or scheduling.” Neither the airport nor the airlines tied this week’s terminal move to that deal.

Both are budget-friendly options for Disney and Universal fans coming in from smaller cities. Allegiant started flying out of MCO in 2024 after years of using Orlando Sanford, ClickOrlando reported in 2023.

What should Disney World guests do differently at MCO?

Check your airline before you leave home, and double-check the night before. Then tell your driver “Terminal A” if you’re on Allegiant or Sun Country after Oct. 29.

If you’re riding a resort shuttle or a car service, send them the change too. Drivers who’ve dropped off at B for months may not have gotten the memo yet.

And leave a few extra minutes. New signs, new check-in lines and a holiday travel season about to kick off are a recipe for a little confusion on the curb.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Orlando International Airport (Oct. 28), terminal move, check-in, baggage and gate details
WDW News Today (Oct. 28), first report; (Oct. 2), Gate Link tram details
Orlando International Airport (July 28), 2025 passenger numbers and rankings
WFTV (Jan. 12), Allegiant and Sun Country deal
ClickOrlando (Nov. 16, 2023), Allegiant’s move to MCO
Poko Traveler (March 24), MCO Terminals A and B tour video

Disney Cruise Line adds haptic vests and braille guides fleetwide

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:01:30 GMT

Deaf and hard-of-hearing guests can now feel the beat at Disney Cruise Line silent discos, and braille guidebooks with tactile maps are coming aboard every ship.

Silent discos are a funny thing. Everybody’s dancing to music only they can hear through headphones, and if you’re deaf or hard of hearing, you’ve been stuck watching the fun from the side.

Disney Cruise Line wants to fix that. The line announced on Tuesday, Oct. 27, that guests can now wear haptic vests at silent disco events on all of its ships, according to WDW News Today and the Disney Cruise Line Blog.

It’s also rolling out braille and tactile guidebooks across the fleet and at both of its private islands.

Here’s a full walk-through of the Disney Destiny from The Concrete Wanderer:

What are the new Disney Cruise Line haptic vests?

They’re wearable vests that turn sound into something you can feel. In Disney’s words, as quoted by WDW News Today, “These wearable devices turn music and sound effects into physical sensations.”

So the bass drop hits your back instead of your ears. The vests are “now available on all Disney Cruise Line ships at silent disco events,” per the announcement.

Disney didn’t say whether there’s a charge, and it didn’t name the company that makes them. Ask Guest Services on board.

What did Disney Cruise Line say about the accessibility upgrades?

Maura King, manager of accessibility at Disney Cruise Line, summed it up in a few short sentences. “Previously, a guest who is deaf or hard of hearing could see a silent disco happening around them. Now they can feel it,” King said.

She went on, “A guest who is blind or has low vision can understand the layout of a ship or an island.” That’s the second half of the news.

King also said accessibility is built into the Disney Cruise Line experience from ship design to onboard services, according to WDW News Today’s report.

Where can you get the braille and tactile guidebooks?

The new guidebooks include tactile maps and venue information for each ship and island. They’re “available fleetwide upon request, including at Guest Services, Disney Castaway Cay, and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point,” per the announcement.

That matters more than it sounds. A Wish-class ship is huge, with decks of restaurants, theaters and pools, and finding your way around is hard enough with a printed map in your hand.

The islands are a maze of their own. Lookout Cay on Eleuthera in the Bahamas is the newer of the two, and Castaway Cay has been a Disney stop for decades.

What other accessibility features does Disney Cruise Line have?

The new tools join a list Disney Cruise Line already offers. According to WDW News Today and the Disney Cruise Line Blog, that includes:

Accessible staterooms
Captioning on Funnel Vision, the big poolside screen
An accessible transfer at AquaMouse, the water coaster on Wish-class ships
Assistive listening systems
Sand wheelchairs and mobility mats at the islands
Excursions for guests with limited mobility

The line’s Special Services information also lists a kit for deaf and hard-of-hearing guests with a phone amplifier, a bed shaker and alert devices. That’s for your stateroom, so you know when someone’s at the door.

How do you request accessibility services on a Disney cruise?

Disney asks guests to fill out the Special Services request form in their online reservation before sailing. You can also call Special Services at (407) 566-3602.

Disney Cruise Line’s Special Services guide says to submit the form at least 30 days before your trip. That guide isn’t dated, so if you’re sailing soon, call anyway rather than assume you missed the window.

Not every guest is thrilled with every ship, to be fair. Commenters on the Disney Cruise Line Blog pointed to tight dining rooms and limited elevators on the Wish-class ships, so the work isn’t finished.

Which ships are in the Disney Cruise Line fleet?

Disney Cruise Line sails eight ships right now: the Disney Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy, Wish, Treasure, Destiny and Adventure, per Cruise Industry News. The Disney Adventure began sailing year-round from Singapore in 2026.

More are on the way. The Wish-class Disney Believe is due in 2027, a ship built with Oriental Land Co. will sail from Japan in 2029, and three more of a new class are planned through 2031.

That’s a lot of new decks to map in braille. At least now the line has a head start.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

WDW News Today (Oct. 27), announcement details, Disney wording and Maura King quotes
The Disney Cruise Line Blog (Oct. 27), King quote confirmation, existing features and reader feedback
Disney Cruise Line, Special Services guide and phone line
Cruise Industry News (April 10), current fleet and future ships
The Concrete Wanderer (Nov. 11, 2025), Disney Destiny walk-through video

Divine Rivals movie moves to Disney after Paramount deal lapses

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:23:36 GMT

Disney Live Action picked up Rebecca Ross’s bestselling fantasy romance Divine Rivals after Paramount’s rights lapsed. The producers stay on, and Disney is hunting for a new screenwriter.

BookTok, this one’s for you. Disney has picked up the film rights to “Divine Rivals,” Rebecca Ross’s bestselling fantasy romance, Deadline reported Oct. 27.

Disney Live Action is making it as a theatrical movie. Deadline called the deal part of Disney’s “further commitment to original franchise IP.”

The book had a movie deal before, at Paramount. That version stalled, the rights lapsed, and now the Mouse has them.

What is Divine Rivals about?

“Divine Rivals” came out in 2023. It’s the first book in Ross’s Letters of Enchantment series, followed by “Ruthless Vows” the same year.

The story follows two rival young journalists, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, who compete for the same newspaper job. A war between gods is tearing their world apart. Iris starts typing letters to her brother on the front lines, and the letters slip through a magical connection to Roman instead.

Deadline’s short version is two rival journalists who find love through a magical connection and face the depths of hell during a war among gods. Enemies to lovers, plus typewriters, plus a war. You can see why readers went for it.

How popular is the Divine Rivals book?

Very. According to Deadline, “Divine Rivals” has sold more than 1 million copies and spent 104 weeks on The New York Times young adult bestseller list.

The sequel, “Ruthless Vows,” spent 42 weeks on the list and sold more than 500,000 copies, Deadline reported. Ross has racked up 128 weeks on the Times list in all.

A lot of that came from BookTok, where enemies-to-lovers fantasy has been one of the hottest corners of the internet for years.

Hollywood has noticed. Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing” is being developed at Amazon MGM Studios, and studios have been chasing romantasy hits ever since. Disney grabbing “Divine Rivals” puts the Mouse squarely in that race.

It also fits Disney’s taste for stories with a strong heroine and a lot of heart. Iris is a writer first and a fighter second, which is a little different from the usual sword-swinging lead.

What happened to the Paramount Divine Rivals movie?

Paramount won the rights in a bidding war in June 2025, with Sofia Alvarez set to write the script, Deadline reported at the time. Alvarez wrote the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” movies for Netflix.

Then Skydance’s purchase of Paramount closed in August 2025, and a lot of projects got shuffled. The “Divine Rivals” rights eventually lapsed, and Disney picked them up.

There’s no screenwriter attached at Disney yet. The studio is looking for a new one, per Deadline.

Who is producing Disney’s Divine Rivals?

Two producers came over from the Paramount version. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who produced the “Transformers” movies, and Pouya Shahbazian are still on board, Deadline reported.

Ross and Stephen Shafer are executive producers. At Disney, Allison Erlikhman, senior vice president of production, is overseeing it and reports to Disney Live Action President Daria Cercek.

Disney hasn’t announced a director, a cast or a release date. This is the very start of the process.

The deal itself was worked out by Clare Reeth and Emily Dayton for Disney, Deadline reported. Ross is represented by Katherine Curtis of New Leaf Literary and Media, with Steve Younger of Myman Greenspan handling the film rights.

Is Divine Rivals coming to Disney+?

Deadline doesn’t say so. The report describes it as a feature for Disney Live Action, the same division behind the studio’s live-action theatrical releases. Disney+ isn’t mentioned.

Of course, most Disney movies end up on Disney+ after their theater run. So if it gets made, it’ll probably land there eventually.

When could the Divine Rivals movie come out?

Nobody knows yet, and it’ll be a while. With no writer, director or cast, a release date is probably years away.

Fans have waited this long, though. The book has been a bestseller for about three years now, and its movie has already survived one studio. Now it’s at the biggest studio in town.

If you haven’t read it, you’ve got time. Both books are out, and the duology is complete. That’s more than most fantasy fans can say about their favorite series.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Deadline (Oct. 27), the Disney deal, producers, sales and list figures
Deadline (June 2025), the Paramount deal and Sofia Alvarez
MickeyBlog (Oct. 28), summary of the Deadline report

EPCOT's light-up pavement is gone, replaced with concrete

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:53 GMT

Disney finished replacing EPCOT’s glowing light-up pavement in World Celebration Gardens with flecked concrete. The lights had warped, failed and turned into tripping hazards since 2023.

Remember the light-up sidewalk behind Spaceship Earth? It’s gone. Disney has finished replacing the glowing pavement strips at EPCOT’s World Celebration Gardens with concrete, Disney Food Blog reported Oct. 28.

The new pavement keeps the same curving design. It just doesn’t light up anymore.

“The layout survives even though the lighting does not,” BlogMickey wrote earlier this month.

Here’s Capture The Magic’s look at the change:

What was the EPCOT light-up pavement?

It was part of World Celebration Gardens, the open area behind Spaceship Earth that opened in December 2023 as part of EPCOT’s big makeover.

Light strips were set into the walkways, and together with a central planter they formed the EPCOT logo, WDWNT reported. The idea was for the lights to sync with Spaceship Earth’s nighttime lighting, called the Beacon of Magic.

When it worked, it looked great. The problem is it didn’t work for long.

The gardens themselves were a big part of EPCOT’s overhaul. Disney rebuilt the whole middle of the park around new green space, CommuniCore Hall and a new entrance fountain, and the glowing paths were meant to tie it all together after dark.

Why did Disney remove the EPCOT ground lights?

They kept breaking. Sections went dark or fell out of sync with Spaceship Earth, WDWNT reported. The plastic covers “warped and cracked” in the Florida heat.

Some strips popped up out of the ground, Disney Food Blog said, and areas had to be roped off as tripping hazards. At one point, crews screwed the covers down to keep them in place.

Disney hasn’t put out a statement on the change. But a light-up sidewalk that trips guests is a problem you can’t really ignore.

Florida is tough on anything outdoors. Sun, heat, heavy rain and thousands of strollers rolling over the same spot every day add up fast, and plastic covers set into a walkway take the worst of it.

When did Disney start filling in the EPCOT pavement?

Here’s the timeline, per BlogMickey:

December 2024: the lights were briefly fully working again
January 2025: strips were lifting again
June 2025: covers were screwed down
Aug. 11, 2026: construction barriers went up
Aug. 18, 2026: concrete replacement spotted
Oct. 8, 2026: the first section was finished

By Oct. 21, about a third of the lights were still in place on the southeast side, WDWNT reported. Disney Food Blog says the project is now done.

What does the new EPCOT pavement look like?

It’s light-colored concrete with sparkly flecks, according to WDWNT. “Light-colored paving now fills the trough that held the lighting strips,” BlogMickey wrote.

So during the day, you’ll see the same EPCOT logo shape in the ground. At night, there’s no glow.

WDWNT noted during the work that it was “messy where the concrete meets the remaining plastic light covers.” That should be cleaned up now that the last strips are gone. If you visited this summer and saw the area half fenced off, the walkways should be fully open again, with no more taped-off stretches to dodge.

Is Spaceship Earth still open?

Yes, the ride is still running. Guests have been using a side entrance for days, though, because water dripping off the sphere made the main walkway slippery, BlogMickey reported Oct. 22.

Crews also finished installing new exterior panels to complete a refresh of the sphere, WDWNT reported. And Disney announced a reimagining of the ride at D23 in August, but hasn’t given a closure date or details yet.

Will the Spaceship Earth lights still sync at night?

The Beacon of Magic lighting on the sphere itself is separate from the ground lights, so the big ball still glows at night. You just won’t get the matching light show on the ground around it.

It’s a small loss, but it’s one of those details EPCOT fans loved, especially for nighttime photos. When the strips worked, the ground lights pulsing along with the sphere made a pretty great backdrop. Now it’s another “remember when” for the park, right up there with the old fountain.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Disney Food Blog (Oct. 28), the finished replacement and the tripping hazards
BlogMickey (Oct. 8 and Oct. 22), timeline, new paving and Spaceship Earth entrance
WDWNT (Oct. 21), the logo design, failures and remaining lights
Capture The Magic (Aug. 2026), video

Aldi Advent calendars 2026: cheese, LEGO and Disney Princess Nov. 4

Derek Gibbs — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:37:00 GMT

Aldi’s 2026 Advent calendars hit stores Wednesday, Nov. 4, with a $16.99 cheese calendar, a Disney Princess Little People set, LEGO and a brand-new Aldi superfan box.

Mark your calendar for your calendar. Aldi‘s 2026 Advent calendar lineup lands in stores on Wednesday, Nov. 4, according to the chain’s upcoming Aldi Finds ad, as reported by Aldi Reviewer and Aisle of Shame.

Fans treat this drop a little like a holiday in itself. There’s a cheese calendar, kids’ toy calendars, pet calendars, beauty boxes, tea and, new this year, a calendar that’s basically a love letter to Aldi.

Disney fans get something too. A Fisher-Price Little People Disney Princess calendar is on the list at $26.99, per Aldi Reviewer.

When do the Aldi Advent calendars go on sale in 2026?

They arrive Wednesday, Nov. 4. Aldi Reviewer says that date lines up with National Advent Calendar Day, which falls on the first Wednesday in November.

Last year followed the same pattern. Aldi’s 2025 calendars went on sale Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, and Aldi’s site told shoppers to “snag some Aldi Advent and holiday calendars along with your go-to groceries,” per Florida Today.

These are Aldi Finds, so they’re in stores while supplies last. Aldi Reviewer says they’re stocked once a season and can’t be ordered online after they sell out.

What’s in the Aldi Finds Superfan Advent calendar?

The most on-brand newcomer is the Aldi Finds Superfan calendar, priced at $29.99. Aldi Reviewer says it’s packed with Aldi-branded goodies, including a snow globe, a Rubik’s Cube and a pouch.

Yes, you can count down to Christmas with a grocery store’s logo on everything. If you’ve ever owned an Aldi quarter keychain, this is your moment.

How much is the Aldi cheese Advent calendar?

The Emporium Selection cheese calendar is back at $16.99, the same as last year. It holds 24 imported cheeses, 12.7 ounces total, per Aldi Reviewer and Aisle of Shame.

That one tends to be the headliner. Last year Florida Today listed it at $16.99 too, so cheese lovers get a rare holiday with no price bump.

Chocolate fans have a cheap pick. The Choceur kids’ milk chocolate calendar is $1.99, and Kinder’s countdown calendar is $6.99, per Aldi Reviewer.

Which Aldi Advent calendars are for kids?

There’s a stack of them. Here are the toy calendars and prices Aldi Reviewer listed:

Fisher-Price Little People Disney Princess: $26.99
Fisher-Price Little People: $26.99
LEGO City (252 pieces): $34.99
LEGO Friends (211 pieces): $34.99
Squishmallows Micromallows, 12 days: $29.99
Monster Jam: $24.99
MrBeast Lab Swarms: $22.99
Mag Tech magnetic tiles: $14.99

Craft-loving kids get Merry Moments 12 Days of Crafts and 12 Days of Puzzles, both $9.99. There’s also a Creativity for Kids sensory play calendar for $14.99.

Are there Aldi Advent calendars for dogs and cats?

Yep. Aldi Reviewer lists two Heart to Tail calendars, one for dogs and one for cats, at $12.99 each, and a Pure Being dog calendar with 25 chicken treats for $7.99.

Your pet won’t understand Advent. Your pet will absolutely understand chicken, though, and that’s the whole point of a treat calendar.

What other new Aldi Advent calendars are there this year?

Aldi Reviewer flagged several new ones beyond the Superfan box:

12 Days of Lacura Beauty, $24.99, with a gua sha stone and a face mask
Visage 24 Days of Beauty, $24.99
Merry Moments Christmas Kitchen, $19.99, with kitchen tools
Barissimo 24 Nights of Tea (herbal and decaf), $7.99
Barissimo 24 Days of Tea (caffeinated), $7.99

The Kirkton House scented candle calendar is back at $34.99. Aisle of Shame’s list also mentions a Crofton baking calendar and a Moser Roth chocolate calendar, but without prices.

How many Aldi stores are there?

More every month, it seems. Aldi said in January it planned to open more than 180 new stores in 2026 and expected to have nearly 2,800 U.S. stores by the end of the year.

“One in three U.S. households shopped at ALDI this past year,” Aldi U.S. CEO Atty McGrath said in that January announcement. The chain calls itself America’s fastest-growing grocer.

So there’s probably one near you. Aldi Finds go out on Wednesdays, so plan a morning run on Nov. 4 if you’ve got your eye on the cheese or the Disney Princess box. Neither outlet said how many of each calendar stores will get.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Aldi Reviewer (Oct. 28), 2026 lineup, prices, new items and sale details
Aisle of Shame (Oct. 27), Nov. 4 date and price confirmation
Florida Today (Nov. 4, 2025), 2025 sale date and prices
Aldi (Jan. 12), store growth plans and Atty McGrath quote

Regal's Hunger Games popcorn bucket is a book tin, out Nov. 18

Derek Gibbs — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:30:44 GMT

Regal’s Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping popcorn bucket looks like a book, and it arrives Nov. 18 with a cup and a fleece blanket. The movie opens Nov. 20, with Jennifer Lawrence back.

The next must-have popcorn bucket is a book. Regal’s “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” Book Tin arrives Wednesday, Nov. 18, at select Regal theaters while supplies last, Attractions Magazine reported Oct. 28.

It’s a Regal exclusive. And yes, it comes with popcorn.

The drop lands two days before the movie opens, so collectors can grab one without fighting opening-night crowds.

The movie opens in theaters and IMAX on Friday, Nov. 20.

Here’s the official trailer from Lionsgate:

What does the Hunger Games Book Tin look like?

It’s shaped like a hardcover book. The cover shows the title with snake, bird and flower art, and the spine has florals, according to Attractions Magazine and Fantasy Land News.

The tin comes with a large popcorn. It’s built to be a shelf piece once the popcorn is gone, which is exactly the point.

Snakes and birds are a big deal in this story. The Snows love their snakes, and mockingjays are, well, the whole symbol of the series.

For fans who’ve read “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the flowers matter too. Without spoilers, plants and poison have a way of showing up in Panem.

What else is in Regal’s Hunger Games collection?

Regal has two more items, per Attractions Magazine:

A popcorn bucket and lidded cup combo with a straw
A fleece blanket

The cup has bird-and-snake art. Only the Book Tin has been confirmed as a Regal exclusive.

How much is the Hunger Games popcorn bucket?

Regal hasn’t announced prices yet. Expect them closer to opening day.

For comparison, Cinemark is selling a $40 XD Super Ticket for a Nov. 19 showing at 7 p.m. It includes a 130-ounce tin, a pin and a drink, Fantasy Land News and Parade reported.

When does Sunrise on the Reaping come out?

Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, in theaters and IMAX. Fantasy Land News also lists early screenings Nov. 18, the same day the Book Tin drops.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” is based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel. It’s set during the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada.

Is Jennifer Lawrence in Sunrise on the Reaping?

Yes. Lawrence confirmed she’s back as Katniss Everdeen on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Yahoo Entertainment reported Oct. 28. Josh Hutcherson returns as Peeta, and Woody Harrelson is back as the older Haymitch.

She called the experience “unbelievable” and “so emotional.” “Josh and I didn’t walk to the bathroom without our arms around each other, it was so beautiful,” she said.

Neither Lawrence nor Hutcherson shows up in the trailers. The Hollywood Reporter first reported their casting in December 2025.

So the people buying a Book Tin on Nov. 18 will get more than a prequel. They'll get a little bit of the original crew too, which is a big reason this one is expected to draw longtime fans.

Why are movie popcorn buckets such a big deal?

Because people collect them. Ever since the “Dune: Part Two” sandworm bucket went viral in 2024, theater chains have turned popcorn buckets into a sport. Some sell out in hours, and some end up on resale sites for way more than they cost.

A book-shaped tin for a book-based movie is a smart play. It’ll look good on a shelf next to the actual novels.

Regal has leaned into this trend over the last couple of years, with themed buckets for big releases. A Hunger Games prequel in the middle of the holiday movie rush is exactly the kind of release that gets one.

How do I get Regal’s Hunger Games Book Tin?

Head to a participating Regal theater starting Nov. 18. Regal hasn’t said whether you need a movie ticket to buy one, so check with your theater first. Neither Attractions Magazine nor Fantasy Land News listed which locations will carry it, so call ahead if you’re set on one.

Collectible buckets tend to go fast on opening weekend. If you want the tin more than you want a seat on opening night, an early-week stop at the concession stand might be the move. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Attractions Magazine (Oct. 28), the Book Tin, cup combo and blanket
Fantasy Land News (Oct. 28), early screenings and Cinemark’s Super Ticket
Parade, Cinemark Super Ticket details
Yahoo Entertainment (Oct. 28), Jennifer Lawrence’s quotes
Lionsgate Movies, official trailer

EPCOT Eat to the Beat swaps the Beach Boys for John Stamos

Derek Gibbs — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:22:36 GMT

The Beach Boys are off the 2026 Eat to the Beat lineup at EPCOT. John Stamos and the California Sound take their Nov. 11-12 shows at America Gardens Theatre instead.

The Beach Boys won’t be playing EPCOT this fall after all. Disney updated its 2026 Eat to the Beat concert lineup on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and the band’s Nov. 11-12 dates now belong to John Stamos and the California Sound.

That’s a familiar face in an unfamiliar spot. Stamos has been sitting in with the Beach Boys on and off since the 1980s, so fans who booked around the band won’t be getting a total stranger.

The change showed up first on the Disney Parks Blog’s full concert schedule. As of Wednesday afternoon, the main Walt Disney World events page still listed the Beach Boys for those two nights, so expect it to catch up soon.

Here’s the band with Stamos on that stage last November, from the Epcot Concerts channel:

Why did the Beach Boys drop out of Eat to the Beat?

Disney hasn’t said. WDW News Today reported that neither Disney nor the band has given a reason for the switch.

There is some public context, though. On Oct. 11, Stamos posted on Instagram that Mike Love, the band’s longtime frontman, “is facing serious health challenges,” as quoted by Best Classic Bands. Stamos called Love his “beloved friend” and “musical hero.”

In that same post, Stamos wrote, “We hope he’ll be doing what he loves for years to come, but we don’t know what the future holds.” Laughing Place tied Wednesday’s lineup change to Love’s health. Disney itself hasn’t connected the two, so we won’t guess past what’s been said.

Who is John Stamos and the California Sound?

Disney’s schedule doesn’t explain the name, and none of the outlets covering the swap did either. What we do know is the guy out front.

Stamos is best known as Uncle Jesse on Full House, which ran on ABC. He’s also a huge Disney fan who keeps popping up at Walt Disney World this year.

He was part of the grand opening of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier in 2026. And this very week, he showed up in a Disney video teasing the food for Jollywood Nights. Busy man.

In his Oct. 11 post, Stamos said he’s played alongside Love for 41 years. He’s never been an official member, but he’s been part of the touring family since the 1980s, per Laughing Place.

What is the rest of the 2026 Eat to the Beat lineup?

Here’s what’s left on the schedule, per the Disney Parks Blog:

Oct. 28-29: Bowling For Soup
Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Southbound
Nov. 2-3: Boyz II Men
Nov. 4-5: Big Head Todd and The Monsters (new)
Nov. 6-8: M-80’s
Nov. 9-10: Grace Potter (new)
Nov. 11-12: John Stamos and the California Sound
Nov. 13-16: The Hooligans

WDW News Today flagged Big Head Todd and The Monsters and Grace Potter as new additions, too.

When and where are the Eat to the Beat concerts at EPCOT?

Shows happen at America Gardens Theatre, the outdoor stage at The American Adventure pavilion in World Showcase. Disney’s events page lists three sets a night at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.

The concerts are included with EPCOT admission. Seating is first come, first served, and WDW News Today says lines for big names can form an hour before showtime.

Planning to catch Stamos? Get there early and bring water.

Can you still get a reserved seat for Eat to the Beat?

Yes, if you’re willing to pay for dinner. Disney sells a Concert Series Dining Package that pairs a meal at an EPCOT restaurant with a seat in a reserved section for that night’s show.

Bookings opened July 16, per the Disney Parks Blog. Availability for the Stamos nights wasn’t listed when we checked, so look in the My Disney Experience app or call Disney dining before you count on it.

When does the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival end?

The concerts wrap Nov. 16 with The Hooligans. The festival itself keeps going through Nov. 21, according to the Disney Parks Blog, so the food booths outlast the music by five days.

That’s a decent consolation prize. You can still eat your way around World Showcase and hear the guy who’s shared the Beach Boys’ stage for four decades.

Disney may post more lineup tweaks before the festival ends. We’ll keep an eye on the schedule.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Disney Parks Blog (Oct. 28), updated Eat to the Beat schedule and dining package details
Walt Disney World (Oct. 28), showtimes, venue and admission
WDW News Today (Oct. 28), first report of the swap and lineup additions
Laughing Place (Oct. 28), Stamos background and lineup context
Best Classic Bands (Oct. 11), Stamos Instagram statement on Mike Love
Epcot Concerts (Nov. 17, 2025), Beach Boys and John Stamos concert video

Disney experiences division lays off up to 200 employees including Imagineering

Geeky Sparkles — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:49:52 GMT

Disney Experiences, which runs Disney’s theme parks, cruise line and Aulani, is laying off 100 to 200 people, the Los Angeles Times reported. Imagineering is reportedly among the teams hit.

Disney’s latest round of layoffs has reached its theme parks, the area that D’Amaro ran before he became CEO earlier this year.

Disney Experiences, the division that runs the company’s theme parks, Disney Cruise Line and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, is laying off between 100 and 200 people, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday, Oct. 28. The Times cited a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Disney declined to comment, according to the Times.

Why is Disney laying off theme park employees?

The cuts come from a regular review of the division’s priorities, investments and project timelines, the Times’ source said. Disney has more parks projects in the works than ever before.

All affected employees were expected to be notified by the end of the day Wednesday.

Which Disney teams are affected by the layoffs?

The Times said the layoffs are limited to the Experiences division. Walt Disney Imagineering, the team that designs Disney’s parks and attractions, is reportedly among those hit, according to Laughing Place and WDW News Today. WDWNT also named Disney Live Entertainment.

Disney hasn’t confirmed which roles or locations are affected.

Will the layoffs delay new Disney World projects?

There’s no sign of that yet. Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro toured the construction of Monstropolis, Tropical Americas and Lakeshore Lodge this month, and all three are set to open at least partly in 2027, BlogMickey reported. Nothing in the Times’ report points to changes to those timelines.

Laughing Place noted Imagineering is also busy with the DisneylandForward expansion in Anaheim, a planned park in Abu Dhabi and new cruise ships.

How important are Disney’s theme parks to the company?

Very. The Experiences division brought in $36.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025 and more than 56% of Disney’s total operating income, according to the Times.

Disney executives said in August that “international visitation headwinds” at its U.S. parks had since “moderated,” the Times reported.

Has Disney had other layoffs in 2026?

Yes, several. Disney’s human resources and technology teams were affected by layoffs earlier this fall, and the company offered early retirement packages to some older workers this month, the Times reported. The Times said the new cuts aren’t related to those moves.

In April, D’Amaro confirmed layoffs in a memo shortly after he took over as CEO from Bob Iger, BlogMickey reported. The moves are part of D’Amaro’s push to sharpen Disney’s focus and react faster to a changing entertainment industry, according to the Times.

Is Disney the only entertainment company cutting jobs?

No. Hollywood is going through a wave of consolidation. Skydance, the new name for the combined Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, is also preparing for layoffs as it aims to cut $6 billion in costs over three years, the Times reported.

How many people work for Disney?

About 231,000 people at the end of fiscal 2025, including about 172,000 in the U.S., WDWNT reported. That means the parks cuts affect a small share of Disney’s workforce, though each job matters to the people and teams involved.

Will Disney’s parks layoffs impact guests?

Disney hasn’t said. The reported cuts are behind-the-scenes and project roles, and nothing in the reports suggests changes to park hours, shows or attractions guests can visit now.

When does Disney report earnings next?

Disney is set to report its fiscal 2026 results on Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to BlogMickey. Investors will be watching for updates on the parks business and any more cost cuts.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Hat Tips:

Los Angeles Times (Oct. 28, 2026), the layoff numbers, reason, notification timing, Disney’s response, financials and industry context
Laughing Place, Dirk Libbey (Oct. 28, 2026), the Imagineering report and project context
WDW News Today, Megan K (Oct. 28, 2026), the Disney Live Entertainment report and workforce figures
BlogMickey (Oct. 28, 2026), D’Amaro’s project tours, the April memo and the earnings date

Kathleen Kennedy will lead the LA28 Olympics ceremonies

Derek Gibbs — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:21:50 GMT

Former Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy is LA28’s new head of ceremonies and content, replacing Peter Rice, who just became Netflix’s chief content officer.

Kathleen Kennedy spent more than a decade running a galaxy far, far away. Her next job is a lot closer to home, and the audience might be even bigger.

The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games named Kennedy its head of ceremonies and content on Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which had the news first. She’ll help shape the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

She replaces Peter Rice, the former Walt Disney Television chairman who was just hired as Netflix’s chief content officer. Rice isn’t leaving the Olympics entirely, though, and we’ll get to that.

What will Kathleen Kennedy do for the LA28 Olympics?

The Hollywood Reporter describes the job as an executive producer role over the opening and closing ceremonies. Kennedy will work with Ben Winston, the ceremonies’ executive producer and creative director, and Scott Givens, executive producer of production.

Production support comes from FulFive, a new company formed by Fulwell Entertainment and FiveCurrents, per Deadline and THR. In other words, she’s walking into a team that’s already building.

LA28 chair Casey Wasserman didn’t hold back on the praise. “Kathleen is a legend. She is one of Hollywood’s all-time greats, with a rare gift for storytelling,” he said in a statement quoted by both outlets.

What did Kathleen Kennedy say about the Olympics job?

Kennedy said the Games have been part of her life for a long time. “The Olympics have been a touchstone in my life,” she said, as quoted by Deadline and THR.

She added, per THR, that she and her husband, producer Frank Marshall, “have attended virtually every games since Los Angeles in 1984.” Marshall has his own Olympic ties, too, after more than a decade on the U.S. Olympic Committee’s executive committee, according to THR.

She also gave her predecessor a nod. “Peter Rice has laid a terrific foundation, and I can’t wait to get to work with Ben Winston, our creative director,” Kennedy said in THR’s report.

Why did Peter Rice leave the LA28 ceremonies job?

Netflix happened. The streamer named Rice its chief content officer on Oct. 15, effective Oct. 26, replacing Bela Bajaria. He now oversees scripted and unscripted series, film and live events worldwide, per Netflix.

Rice isn’t cutting ties, though. Deadline and THR both report he’ll stay on as an executive producer of the opening and closing ceremonies while he works at Netflix.

Disney fans know Rice’s name. Before Netflix, he was chairman of Walt Disney Television and chairman of General Entertainment at The Walt Disney Company. So both the old boss and the new boss of LA28’s ceremonies have Disney roots.

When did Kathleen Kennedy leave Lucasfilm?

Kennedy stepped down as Lucasfilm president in January 2026. She’d led the studio for about 14 years, starting in 2012, the year Disney bought Lucasfilm.

Dave Filoni took over as president and chief creative officer, with Lynwen Brennan as co-president, according to Graphic Policy’s report at the time. Kennedy went back to producing films after that.

Her Star Wars run was a big one. It included Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Mandalorian and Andor, plus a lot of debate in fan circles that hasn’t exactly quieted down.

What else has Kathleen Kennedy produced?

Plenty, and long before Star Wars. Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Marshall.

THR’s list of her producing credits reads like a family movie night shelf: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones films, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, The Sixth Sense and Lincoln. Her films have earned 120 Oscar nominations and 25 wins, per THR.

There’s even an Olympic credit in there. She produced Olympic Glory, a short documentary about the 1998 Nagano Games, according to THR.

When are the LA28 opening and closing ceremonies?

The Olympic opening ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, and the closing ceremony for July 30, 2028. The Paralympic opening ceremony follows Aug. 15, with the Paralympic closing on Aug. 27 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

The ceremonies will use the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium, which goes by 2028 Stadium during the Games, per THR. NBCUniversal holds the U.S. broadcast rights, so you’ll be watching on NBC and Peacock, not ABC.

That gives Kennedy less than two years to pull off a show for a global audience. After juggling Jedi, dinosaurs and a lovable alien, she’s had some practice with big crowds.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

The Hollywood Reporter (Oct. 28), first report, title, quotes, career credits and ceremony dates
Deadline (Oct. 28), Wasserman and Kennedy quotes and Rice’s continuing role
Netflix (Oct. 15), Rice hire and Disney background
Variety (Oct. 28), confirmation of the appointment
Graphic Policy (Jan. 15), Kennedy’s Lucasfilm exit and successors

Burger King's Game Day Pretzel Burger bun hits Kroger Nov. 1

Derek Gibbs — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:01:38 GMT

The SuperPretzel soft pretzel bun from Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Burger is coming to Kroger freezers Nov. 1 for about $6 a box of four. Other grocery stores should follow.

Burger King’s best bun of the year is heading to the grocery store. SuperPretzel’s Bavarian Soft Pretzel Buns, the bun used on Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Burger, arrive at Kroger as soon as Nov. 1, Allrecipes reported Oct. 27.

They cost about $6 for a box of four, or roughly $1.50 a bun, per Allrecipes and Sporked.

Other stores should get them “eventually,” Allrecipes said, but nobody has named which ones yet.

Here’s a review of the Burger King burger that started it, from Joe is Hungry:

What are SuperPretzel Bavarian Soft Pretzel Buns?

They’re frozen, pre-baked pretzel buns. Each box has four 4-ounce buns, according to Allrecipes.

You thaw them and toast them, then build whatever burger or sandwich you want. They’d work for a turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving too, if you’re looking for a leftover upgrade. No boiling, no lye bath, no dough. Just a pretzel bun from the freezer aisle.

SuperPretzel is the soft pretzel brand from J&J Snack Foods, based in New Jersey, the same company behind Icee and Dippin’ Dots. Its frozen soft pretzels have been a freezer-aisle regular for a long time, so a burger bun is a natural next step.

What was Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Burger?

It’s part of Burger King’s Game Day menu, which hit participating U.S. restaurants Oct. 6, according to Flavorist.

The burger has a quarter-pound flame-grilled patty, American cheese, bacon, crispy onions and nacho cheese sauce on a SuperPretzel soft pretzel bun. The menu also brought back Chicken Fries with nacho cheese sauce.

Joe is Hungry listed the burger at $8.49 on its own and $13.29 for a medium combo. Burger King’s own prices vary by location.

Is the Burger King pretzel burger any good?

Sporked thought so. Its reviewer gave the burger a 9.5 out of 10 and called out the bun as the star.

That’s a big score for a fast food burger. With bacon, crispy onions and nacho cheese stacked on top, the bun has a lot of work to do, and Sporked’s reviewer thought it handled it.

When the grocery version was announced, Sporked’s advice was short: “Don’t sleep on these.”

Burger King hasn’t said whether the Game Day Pretzel Burger will stick around. Allrecipes noted it isn’t a permanent menu item. So the frozen buns might be the way to keep the pretzel burger alive at home once BK pulls it.

Where can I buy the SuperPretzel pretzel buns?

Kroger first, starting as soon as Nov. 1. Check your local store’s app for stock before you make the trip.

Sporked said the buns were in stores “around the country,” but Allrecipes only named Kroger. We’d bet on Kroger for now and watch for other chains later.

How do I make a Burger King-style pretzel burger at home?

Start with the bun. Thaw and toast it the way the box says.

Then copy the Burger King build, which Flavorist laid out: a quarter-pound beef patty, a slice of American cheese, bacon, crispy fried onions and warm nacho cheese sauce. Store-bought crispy onions and a jar of queso will get you close.

It won’t be flame-grilled unless you fire up the grill. But for a game day at home, it’s probably closer to the real thing than most copycat recipes.

If you want to go full stadium, add a side of soft pretzel bites and some extra nacho cheese for dipping. Nobody said game day was a light meal.

Will Burger King keep the pretzel bun?

No word yet. Burger King has been on a roll with limited menu items this year, and Sporked has praised the chain for putting in the work on its menu.

Pretzel buns have come and gone at a lot of chains over the years. Wendy’s famously had a Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger that fans begged to bring back after it left the menu. Having the same bun in the freezer aisle means fans don’t have to wait for the next comeback.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Allrecipes (Oct. 27), the bun, price, box size and Kroger date
Sporked (Oct. 8 and Oct. 28), the burger review and grocery launch
Flavorist (Oct. 27), the Game Day menu and burger build
Joe is Hungry (Oct. 10), review video and menu prices

Aulani deal: up to 35% off Disney's Hawaii resort next spring

Derek Gibbs — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:20:35 GMT

Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa is offering up to 35% off select spring 2027 stays of five nights or more, or up to 40% for Disney Visa Cardmembers. Book by Nov. 11 for a $150 credit.

Thinking about Hawaii next spring? Aulani, Disney’s resort on Oahu, is offering up to 35% off select stays from April 1 to May 27, 2027, according to the resort’s special offers page.

Disney Visa Cardmembers get a bigger cut, up to 40%. WDWNT reported the deal Oct. 27 and led with the 40% number, but that one is only for Disney Visa holders.

There’s a bonus for booking early too. More on that below.

Here’s a garden view room tour from The Joyce Adventures:

How much can I save at Aulani in spring 2027?

It depends on your dates and how long you stay. Here’s the breakdown from Disney’s offer pages, with the Disney Visa rate first and the regular rate after:

April 1 to May 7, 2027, five or more nights: 40% off, or 35% for everyone else
April 1 to May 7, 2027, four nights: 35% off, or 30%
May 8 to 27, 2027, five or more nights: 30% off, or 25%
May 8 to 27, 2027, four nights: 25% off, or 20%

You have to check out no later than May 28, 2027.

What are the rules for the Aulani discount?

The offer covers “select rooms and villas.” Suites and the three-bedroom Grand Villas are left out.

You can book up to two rooms per reservation, and your nights have to be in a row. To get the Disney Visa rate, you need to pay the deposit with a Disney Visa card.

WDWNT and Disney Fanatic said the offer can be booked through April 1, 2027. The official page we read clearly listed the Nov. 11 cutoff for the resort credit, so double-check the booking window when you reserve.

What is the Aulani $150 resort credit?

Book a stay of four or more nights between Oct. 27 and Nov. 11, 2026, and you get a $150 resort credit, per Disney’s page.

That can cover a dinner, some time at the spa or a few rounds of shave ice for the kids. That’s a decent reason to book sooner.

Where is Aulani?

Aulani sits at Ko Olina on the west side of Oahu, about 30 minutes from Honolulu’s airport without traffic. It opened Aug. 29, 2011.

The resort has 351 hotel rooms and 481 Disney Vacation Club villas on 21 acres. It has a lazy river, a snorkel lagoon, a kids’ club and character meet-and-greets, with Mickey and friends in island outfits.

It’s the only Disney resort in Hawaii, and it doesn’t come with a theme park. That’s the point. It’s a beach vacation with Disney touches.

Disney Vacation Club members can also book Aulani with points, which is a separate system from this cash discount. The offer here is for regular room and villa bookings paid in dollars.

Is anything filming at Aulani?

Possibly. WDWNT reported Oct. 26 that an unnamed “national television production” will use part of the Ko Olina beach from Jan. 23 to 28, 2027.

WDWNT guessed it could be “American Idol,” which has filmed at Aulani before, but nothing is confirmed. That’s in January, so it won’t affect spring travelers.

Is spring a good time to visit Aulani?

For a lot of families, yes. April and May fall between the busy winter holidays and the summer rush, and Hawaii’s weather is warm year-round.

The bigger discounts cover early April through May 7, so families with spring break in that window get the best price. If your kids are out in late May, you’ll still save, just a little less.

If you’re coming from the mainland, airfare is the other big piece of the budget. Spring fares to Honolulu are often lower than winter holiday fares, which helps the math.

Pair that with the resort credit if you book by Nov. 11, and a spring Aulani trip starts to look a lot more doable than a holiday-week one. Just watch the room category, since the cheapest rooms tend to go first when a sale like this hits.

Aulani isn’t cheap, even on sale. But 35% off a five-night stay is a real chunk of money, and the $150 credit makes it a little sweeter.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Disney Aulani, special offers pages, discount rates, dates and terms
WDWNT (Oct. 27), the spring offer and book-by date
Disney Fanatic (Oct. 27), the book-by date
WDWNT (Oct. 26), the January TV production
The Joyce Adventures (Feb. 28), Aulani room tour video

Wildwood box office: LAIKA film opens to $11.6 million

Derek Gibbs — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:01:19 GMT

LAIKA’s stop-motion Wildwood opened at No. 3 with $11.6 million, beating its tracking with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. But on a reported $100 million budget, it has a long way to go.

LAIKA’s “Wildwood” did better than expected in its first weekend. Whether that’s good enough is a different question.

The stop-motion fantasy opened to $11.6 million in the U.S. over Oct. 23 to 25.

That landed it at No. 3, according to Rotten Tomatoes’ weekend box office report and Fortune.

The opening beat pre-release tracking of $5 million to $10 million, SlashFilm reported. The catch is the budget, which SlashFilm and Rotten Tomatoes put at about $100 million. LAIKA hasn’t confirmed that number.

Here’s the official trailer from LAIKA:

What beat Wildwood at the box office?

DC’s “Clayface” took the weekend with about $24 million, per Fortune. A24’s “You Can See Everything” was second with $19.5 million in its second weekend.

“Wildwood” came in right behind them. “Street Fighter” was fourth with $8.6 million, and “Wicker” rounded out the top five with $5.7 million.

Disney fans, your studio wasn’t really in this fight. The biggest Disney-owned title on the chart was 20th Century Studios’ “Whalefall,” which sat at No. 8 with $3.2 million, per Rotten Tomatoes.

Screen Daily’s headline put the “Wildwood” global opening at about $15 million. Monday’s final numbers could nudge the domestic figure a little either way, since one early estimate had it at $12.3 million.

Is Wildwood a hit or a flop?

Too early to say, but the math is tough. A film that cost about $100 million usually needs to earn a lot more than that worldwide to break even once marketing is counted.

The reviews are on its side. “Wildwood” holds a 100% Tomatometer score, Rotten Tomatoes reported Oct. 26.

Good word of mouth can help an animated movie hang on through the holidays.

Competition is coming, though. Family audiences have a crowded few weeks ahead as the holiday movies roll in.

How does Wildwood compare to other LAIKA movies?

It’s in the middle of the pack. Rotten Tomatoes’ report lists LAIKA’s past domestic totals: “Coraline” earned more than $75 million, “ParaNorman” about $56 million, “The Boxtrolls” about $50 million and “Kubo and the Two Strings” about $49 million.

“Missing Link” is the one LAIKA would rather forget. It made $16.6 million in the U.S. on a budget of roughly $100 million.

It opened to just $5.9 million, per SlashFilm. “Wildwood” nearly doubled that opening.

So it’s not a “Missing Link” repeat. It’s also not “Coraline,” which is still LAIKA’s biggest hit.

What is Wildwood about?

The movie is based on the 2011 novel “Wildwood” by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. Meloy is the lead singer of The Decemberists, and Ellis, his wife, did the illustrations.

In the book, a girl named Prue goes into a forbidden forest outside Portland, Oregon, to rescue her baby brother after crows carry him off. LAIKA, which is based near Portland, kept that setting.

The film had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 11 before opening in U.S. theaters 12 days later.

Travis Knight, LAIKA’s president and CEO, directed it. He also directed “Kubo and the Two Strings” and Paramount’s “Bumblebee.” Chris Butler, who made “Missing Link,” wrote the screenplay.

Who is in the Wildwood voice cast?

It’s a stacked cast. Peyton Elizabeth Lee of Disney’s “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.” voices Prue.

Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine and Tom Waits also lend their voices, along with Richard E. Grant.

Fathom Entertainment distributes the film in the U.S., with FilmNation handling sales overseas, according to a January Business Wire release. Black Bear is releasing it in the UK.

That’s an unusual setup for an animated film this size. Fathom is better known for anniversary rereleases and event screenings than big new animated releases, which makes a No. 3 debut a pretty good showing for the company.

Is Wildwood OK for kids?

Parents, take note. “Wildwood” is rated PG-13, LAIKA’s first film with that rating. That’s a step up from the PG on “Coraline” and “Kubo.”

So it’s not quite a little-kid movie. For older kids who loved “Coraline,” though, it might be exactly their speed.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

Rotten Tomatoes (Oct. 26), weekend box office, Tomatometer and LAIKA totals
Fortune (Oct. 26), weekend chart
SlashFilm (Oct. 15), tracking, budget and Missing Link opening
Screen Daily (Oct. 26), global opening headline
Business Wire (Jan. 20), distribution
LAIKA Studios, official trailer

Disney World New Year's Eve fireworks: Happily Ever After sits out

Derek Gibbs — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:34:34 GMT

Magic Kingdom swaps Happily Ever After for Fantasy in the Sky on Dec. 30 and 31, with shows at 6:30 and 11:50 p.m. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios get their own New Year’s countdowns.

Disney World just set its New Year’s Eve 2026 fireworks lineup, and Magic Kingdom regulars will notice one big change. Happily Ever After is off the schedule on Dec. 30 and 31.

In its place, Magic Kingdom runs Fantasy in the Sky both nights, at 6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m., WDWMagic and Inside the Magic reported Oct. 28. That’s four shows over two nights.

Inside the Magic called it “a temporary holiday replacement rather than a permanent cancellation.” Happily Ever After should be back once the calendar flips to 2027, and the regular nightly schedule picks up from there.

Here’s last year’s New Year’s Eve Fantasy in the Sky, filmed by Aaron Thomas May:

What fireworks are at Magic Kingdom on New Year’s Eve?

Fantasy in the Sky is Disney World’s go-to New Year’s show. It’s a classic fireworks display set to Disney music over Cinderella Castle, without the castle projections that Happily Ever After uses.

Both Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 get two shows:

6:30 p.m.
11:50 p.m.

The early show is the family-friendly pick. If your kids are melting down by 8 p.m., you can still catch real fireworks and be back at the hotel before the late crowd shows up.

The 11:50 p.m. show is the countdown crowd. Expect Main Street to be packed well before then, and plan your bathroom break accordingly.

What about EPCOT and Hollywood Studios?

EPCOT moves its regular nighttime show up on Dec. 31. Luminous The Symphony of Us plays at 6:30 p.m., earlier than usual, according to Inside the Magic and Disney Fanatic.

Then at 11:54 p.m., EPCOT runs “Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration” over World Showcase.

Hollywood Studios has its own “New Year Countdown Fireworks” at 11:57 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Animal Kingdom doesn’t do fireworks, and no New Year’s Eve entertainment has been reported there. It closes at 6 p.m. that night.

What are Disney World’s New Year’s Eve 2026 park hours?

Here are the hours posted for Dec. 31, per WDWNT and MickeyBlog:

Magic Kingdom: 9 a.m. to midnight
EPCOT: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Hollywood Studios: 9 a.m. to midnight
Animal Kingdom: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Dec. 30, Magic Kingdom also runs 9 a.m. to midnight. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios close at 9 p.m., and Animal Kingdom gets Extended Evening Hours from 6 to 8 p.m. for eligible hotel guests.

Those hours will probably change. “Though these are the current posted hours, we expect them to be extended later,” WDWNT wrote. Magic Kingdom closed at 1 a.m. last New Year’s Eve, and an 11:50 p.m. show with a midnight close doesn’t leave much room.

Will Magic Kingdom fill up on New Year’s Eve?

It usually does. New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year at Magic Kingdom, and Disney has closed parks to new guests on busy nights before.

No capacity rules for 2026 have been posted yet. Inside the Magic mentioned only “potential capacity restrictions.”

If you want the late show, the safest move is to be inside the park early and stay put. Leaving for dinner at a resort and coming back at 10 p.m. is a gamble.

How can I see New Year’s fireworks without the crowds?

Pick the 6:30 p.m. show on Dec. 30. It’s the same Fantasy in the Sky, a full day before the big night.

Or watch from outside the parks. Plenty of guests see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from beaches at the monorail resorts. You won’t hear the music as well, but you’ll skip the crush on Main Street.

Early Entry is a half hour before opening for every Disney resort hotel guest, WDWNT noted. That doesn’t help at midnight, but it does help you get a few rides in before the holiday crowds arrive.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Hat Tips:

WDWMagic (Oct. 28), New Year’s Eve fireworks schedule
Inside the Magic (Oct. 28), Happily Ever After pause, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios shows
Disney Fanatic (Oct. 28), show times and dates
WDWNT (Oct. 21), Christmas and New Year’s Eve park hours
MickeyBlog (Oct. 21), park hours
Aaron Thomas May (Dec. 31, 2025), Fantasy in the Sky video