Category: The Kingdom Insider

“Next summer, guests will engage in loads of diabolical fun for kids, teens, and adults as part of Universal Orlando Resort’s newest attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. Developed in partnership between Universal’s award-winning creative team and the acclaimed filmmakers from Illumination, this interactive, blaster game experience will invite guests to put their villainous skills to the test as they compete against each other in a bid to join the ranks of the franchise’s most infamous supervillains. Villain-Con Minion Blast combines innovative screen technology, state-of-the-art gaming interactivity, and elaborate physical sets to create a one-of-a-kind, game-based adventure where guests encounter immersive environments, nefarious villains, and tons of mischievous Minions from Illumination’s films in a whole new way. The world-class attraction transports guests to Villain-Con – the biggest criminal convention on the planet – to take part in an epic competition to see if they have what it takes to become the newest member of The Vicious 6, a notorious group of supervillains from the hit film, “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” Guests who are up for the challenge will grab an interactive blaster and step onto a motion-based pathway to put their skills to the test. They’ll wind and glide through various scenes where they earn points by blasting a variety of items and causing as much mayhem and destruction as possible. It’s a unique, mischief-filled experience that’s so much fun, it’s a crime. Villain-Con Minion Blast will open in Summer 2023 at Universal Studios Florida within the new Minion Land

Available exclusively at Universal Parks across the globe, Ollivander’s new interactive wands have arrived at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! There will be 12 all-new wands  – plus an additional one that is exclusive to each destination – at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Beijing Resort. “Each original wand within the new assortment pairs a wood type with one of the three powerful cores preferred by master wandmaker Garrick Ollivander from the Harry Potter film series – unicorn hair, dragon heartstring, and phoenix feather – and comes with a first-ever “wand lore” insert that details the distinct properties of that specific wand and the attributes of its ideal owner. Guests can also use the new wands to cast spells and reveal magical surprises with the right incantation and a gentle flick of the wrist at select locations within the spectacularly themed lands.” – Universal Parls & Resorts The new collection also brings a unique wand to each Universal park that is exclusive to that destination and not available anywhere else, including: Red Oak & Unicorn Hair – Universal Beijing ResortCherry & Unicorn Hair – Universal Studios JapanWalnut & Dragon Heartstring – Universal Studios HollywoodLarch & Phoenix Feather – Universal Orlando ResortThe lineup of new interactive Ollivanders wands are available now at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Beijing Resort, and joins each park’s current selection of

We’re getting closer to going down the bayou with Tiana and friends as progress continues on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since the attraction was announced in 2020, Imagineers have been hard at work designing an immersive experience inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog” and the heart and culture of New Orleans. We’ve shared additional details and some sneak peeks since then at events such as ESSENCE Fest and D23 Expo 2022, demonstrating how our research brought us to New Orleans in an effort to remain authentic to the story’s setting. Today, I’m excited to give you a first look at a new scene and some of the brand-new characters we’re creating specifically for this attraction. In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, you’ll join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during Mardi Gras season as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans. This new scene is the thrilling moment you first drop into the bayou and encounter some friends both new and familiar. As you can see here, fireflies will light up the night and invite you deeper into the bayou … almost like they’re waving you forward. What you can’t tell from this rendering – so you’ll just have to trust me on this one – is that beautiful zydeco music will fill the air. Zydeco is a special blend of rhythm and blues that was born in Louisiana, and when you hear it, you’ll feel like you’ve truly stepped into Tiana’s

Southern California residents, this one’s for you! Disneyland Resort bringing back the Southern California resident ticket offer, where eligible guests may experience the magic of Disneyland park or Disney California Adventure park for as little as $73 per person, per day for a limited time with the purchase of a three-day, one-park per day weekday ticket, subject to park reservations. These tickets, which represent a great value, are on sale now for visits beginning Jan. 9 through May 25, 2023, and are valid weekdays.* In addition to this ticket offer, the three Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are offering special savings on standard and premium rooms for a limited time. Many exciting celebrations, festivals, shows and attractions are coming to the Disneyland Resort in early 2023, making it a fantastic time to visit The Happiest Place on Earth!  Put these on your “must-do” list! Lunar New Year – We’re ushering in good cheer for the Year of the Rabbit during Lunar New Year in Disney California Adventure park, Jan. 20-Feb. 15, 2023. This joyous celebration commemorates traditions of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures with Disney characters featuring Mulan, Mushu, Mickey and Minnie in their festive attire, plus “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,” two new culinary marketplaces (for a total of six), kid-friendly crafts, the Lucky Wishes Wall, and the return of “Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” presented prior to “World of Color.” Disney 100 Years of Wonder Celebration at Disneyland Resort – The Disneyland Resort will commemorate The Walt Disney

And queue the Universal theme song music! Universal Orlando made the exciting announcement this morning that their Great Movie Escape attraction will be opening on December 9 at Universal CityWalk! This is not just an escape room Insiders, this will be an Escape Adventure! From evading an apex predator in Jurassic World: Escape, to the time-traveling chaos of Back to the Future: OUTATIME, it’s no ordinary escape room that you have experienced before! This attraction will cost extra, and ticket pricing starts at $50 a person or $300 for a private room for up to 8 guests. Each themed experience at Universal’s Great Movie Escape will feature 8 detailed environments with activaties that are randomized (the solution can vary each time you visit), customizable depending on the party size and they are designed to adjust based on skill level and complexity. Long story short, this will be a completely immersive experience that will allow you to have your own adventure in each of these two epic movie worlds! Here is the official description for the Jurassic expereince: Guests are new geneticists at a secret lab on Isla Nublar, where they are undergoing training that includes the completion of various day-to-day tasks that range from feeding ferocious dinosaurs to splicing dinosaur DNA to create new genetic codes…until they learn an apex predator has broken free and now they must work together to avoid becoming its prey. Source: Universal  Source: UniversalHere is the official description for

Leaving a Disney vacation is hard. I just returned from Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, so I’m feeling all the typical withdrawal symptoms. I always deal with my post-Disney vacation blues in two ways: 1. by planning a return trip (usually before I’ve even left), and 2. plastering my souvenirs and trip photos everywhere after I’ve returned home. Today, I’m here to help you with that second coping mechanism! Posting vacation photos to social media is great for sharing, but I’m still old school: I also love decking my halls (plus all my other walls) with them. Walking through my home, I can journey back to all my favorite vacation spots. To help you find creative ways to bring the memories of magic into your home, Disney PhotoPass Service has collaborated with EZ Prints on customizable photo products. Magnets, mugs, ornaments, photo frames, photo books, coasters, wood prints, and more – there’s a wide range of Disney-themed products to fit your needs.  You can use your Disney PhotoPass photos when creating your products, or you can upload your own. These products are great gifts for all the Disney fans on your list. I got my sister one of the magnets a few years ago for Christmas. I know that sounds a bit anti-climactic, but when it shows a hilariously embarrassing photo of us taken onboard Space Mountain, it really

Good grief, we have some exciting news! Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has commissioned Ella Louise Allaire and Martin Lord Ferguson of the acclaimed Montreal-based production company Monlove to create All Systems Are Go, an original live, immersive educational entertainment experience to be presented at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, targeted to begin in spring 2023. It will feature beloved Peanuts characters including Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlie Brown, Sally, Linus, Lucy, Franklin and Schroeder. Who doesn’t love the good old Peanuts gang?! Monlove is transforming the visitor complex’s 300-seat Universe Theater for All Systems Are Go with Dolby Atmos sound, motorized scrims and more than 20 integrated laser projectors to enhance the project’s high-end immersive edutainment experience. The original and beloved score, composed by Allaire and Ferguson, will offer music in an eclectic mix of orchestral, contemporary, and jazz styles. Using augmented reality interactive technology, audience members will be able to use their smartphones to scan the environment to discover space elements and a music sequence. Just amazing! This will be a 20-minute experience that’s included with admission and offered daily. The attaction will feature the Peanuts gang appearing as four to five-foot-tall articulated characters operated by puppeteers. The characters will narrate the iconic history of NASA, the Artemis missions, and future plans in an educational and imaginatively enlightening way for the whole family. NASA’s Artemis missions will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.

Shut up! It’s been reported that a third “Princess Diaries” movie is in the works! The third film is in the very early stages of development. Shockingly, the cast has not yet been announced, so at this time, we have no idea if both Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway will be making their royal returns back into the story. Let’s be real, though, “Princess Diaries” just wouldn’t be the same, so they would have to cast both actresses, especially since both said they would love to return for a third movie, right?! In a previous interview in 2019 with Andy Cohen, Anne Hathaway confirmed there was a script out there and that she and Andrews would love to be part of it. “I want to do it,” Anne said at the time. “Julie wants to do it, Debra Martin Chase, our producer, wants to do it. We all really want it to happen.” The actress continued, “We don’t want to do it unless it’s perfect because we love it just as much as you guys love it. It’s as important to us as it is to you, and we don’t want to deliver anything until it’s ready. But we’re working on it.” Disney is working on the new film, with Supergirl’s Aadrita Mukerji writing the script, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sources told the outlet that the third movie would be a continuation of the beloved 2000s movies and not a new reboot (another sign that both Hathaway and Andrews would

Theme parks are always one step ahead when it comes to the holidays, so naturally, with Christmas being just a few weeks ago, New Years celebrations are being planned! Universal Studios Hollywood just made the announcement that their annual New Years Eve bash, EVE, will be returning this year, and the event promises to be the ultimate bash! You do not need to buy separate tickets to this event, as it is included with your theme park ticket or Platinum Annual Pass (Platinum Pass Members valid on 12/31/22 do not need a separate event ticket for admission to EVE). Fill your day with heart-pounding rides, shows and attractions, and then keep the thrills going into the night. Have fun and celebrate with multiple party areas featuring music, dancing, photo ops, drinks available for purchase, and a midnight countdown celebration with fireworks. VE Party Areas Dance the night away at multiple live entertainment areas. “Latin Beats” – Latin favorites near Jurassic World – The Ride “Electric New Year” – Electronic Dance Music at Springfield, U.S.A. “Rock the Night” – Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop tunes at Universal Plaza Source: Universal Fireworks Display Join family and friends for a special countdown celebration to midnight as you ring in the new year with fireworks from any of the multiple viewing locations. Key Viewing areas are located at: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Springfield, U.S.A Universal Plaza Lower Lot

I finally got to see “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” last weekend and, like many of you, I absolutely loved it. Action, humor, heart … I have to admit, I shed a few tears along the way. There were just so many emotional moments with some of my favorite characters. Speaking of favorite characters … following the film’s release, I am beyond excited to announce that the new Black Panther and Okoye, General of the Dora Milaje, will make their Disney Cruise Line debut exclusively during Marvel Day at Sea beginning in January! The iconic Wakandan warriors will join the largest assembly of Super Heroes and Villains from the Marvel universe aboard the Disney Dream. For the first time aboard one of our ships, you’ll get a chance to meet the newest protector of Wakanda with an all-new Black Panther heroic encounter! The Black Panther will also appear in “Heroes Unite”, the event’s signature nighttime spectacular featuring special effects, stunts and pyrotechnics. And if you’re ready to become a warrior ally of Wakanda, then you cannot miss the brand-new show featuring the fearsome general, Okoye. In the atrium, “Warriors of Wakanda” will have recruits train with the mighty Dora Milaje in an interactive experience for the whole family. Marvel Day at Sea is one action-packed day aboard a five-night sailing on the Disney Dream where you can interact with all your favorite Super Heroes and Villains through all-day entertainment, including heroic encounters, stage shows, film and TV screenings, unique merchandise, themed food and beverage offerings,