Category: The Kingdom Insider

We finally have another Disney movie based on a popular Disney Parks attraction coming our way! Live-action movies based on Disney Princesses have been popular with Disney over the years, and once in a while, a movie based on an attraction pops up (the last one being the “Haunted Mansion” and, before that, “Jungle Cruise”). This week, Deadline reported that Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec (Citadel) have been tapped to script a live-action Space Mountain movie for Disney! Jonathan Eirich will produce for Rideback alongside Joby Harold (who completed a previous draft of the script) and Tory Tunnell for Safehouse, with Rideback’s Ryan Halprin is exec producing. Space Mountain was the world’s first indoor, fully enclosed roller coaster. It was designed by Imagineer John Hench and Walt Disney Imagineering; its concept originated in the 1960s during the space race era, with Walt Disney himself expressing interest in creating a space-themed attraction. After the attraction was successfully launched at Disneyland, Space Mountain quickly became a significant attraction in other Disney parks worldwide, including Walt Disney World in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. While we all are wondering how they are going to make a movie based on this space-tacular attraction, we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out because the plot of the film is under wraps! Are you ready to book your Disney vacation? Leave all the details to our friends at Academy Travel Agency & let one of their Disney experts take it

Jumbeaux’s Sweets onboard the Disney Treasure is a fanciful new dessert destination set to debut onboard the ship later this year! How does a space go from concept to reality? It’s all in the details, and we know Disney knows how to go the distance! Jumbeaux’s Sweets draws inspiration from “Zootopia,” and is just one example of how Disney Imagineers are collaborating with Disney Animation to turn beloved Disney stories into real-life experiences at sea onboard the Disney Treasure. Per the Disney Parks Blog, from the precise shade of bubblegum pink-striped wallpaper to the vintage-style light fixtures, each décor element inside Jumbeaux’s Sweets was thoughtfully chosen by Imagineers to transport future Disney Cruise Line guests into the colorful world of Zootopia. The venue’s central design feature will be an eye-catching statue of the film’s unlikely crime-solving duo, Officer Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. The statue-building process began with sketched designs and a collaboration between Imagineers and the Walt Disney Animation team to create a one-of-a-kind digital model of the piece. The precise measurements from the digital model were used to cast the statue in bronze. Finally, the statue was transported to Florida to be painted. Jay Abruzzese can be seen adding the finishing touches to both characters. Soon, the statue will be ready to be installed inside Jumbeaux’s Sweets and complete the vision that Imagineers had long dreamed of for the venue. Are you ready to book your Disney vacation? Leave all the details to our friends at

Mark your calendars: The 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE takes place at Walt Disney World Aug. 29 through Nov. 23! As many of you know, there’s always something to celebrate in the neighborhoods of EPCOT, from nature and discovery to culture and cuisine. And while the park has so much to offer every day, here are a few things you won’t want to miss at this year’s festival. Global Marketplaces Of course, it wouldn’t be the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival without the FOOD! Foodie fans can look forward to so many mouthwatering returning favorites. Once again you can indulge in Belgian Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream or Warm Chocolate Ganache at the Belgium Global Marketplace. In Germany, say “guten tag” to Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce, while just over the mountain, The Alps will feature Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake, and Meringues. Looking for tropical flavors that will whisk you away to paradise? Passionfruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts will breeze back in the Hawai’i Marketplace! Say Roquefort! (Or Gruyere or Gouda if you prefer.) That’s right – Emile’s Fromage Montage also returns in 2024. This fun food stroll encourages guests to sample a variety of delicious cheeses served in inventive ways. Purchase any five cheese dishes from the official Global Marketplaces list in your Festival Passport and make sure to collect a stamp for each dish purchased. Once

Are you ready to join the Resistance? During Season of the Force at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Park, all ages are invited to pick up a map and participate in an epic game! There’s no extra fee to participate; when you complete the mission, you will get a special prize. There is a limit of one map per Guest (one keepsake per map), and maps are valid for redemption through June 6, 2024, or while supplies last. Here’s the backstory to the game… During the reign of the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance set up a makeshift way-stop on Batuu. To avoid detection, they devised a code system using letters inscribed on old supply cylinders, which were hidden among junk piles, scrapyards, and other locations. The letters formed a word that was given to a trusted contact. Today, the Resistance continues to use these coded cylinders to test the skills of new recruits. How It Works Head to The Star Trader in Tomorrowland to pick up a map and start your mission. Travel to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and seek out six coded cylinders hidden throughout Black Spire Outpost. Using the map, take note of the symbols inscribed on each cylinder. Journey back to Tomorrowland, locate the decoder signs, and use the symbols to decipher the letters. Decrypt your mission’s code word using the decoded letters. Report to The Star Trader and present your completed map and code word to receive a special keepsake commemorating

Are you looking to make your Disneyland vacation even more magical with a touch of luxury? For some next-level enchantment, we present the Crown Collection. The Crown Collection is a thoughtfully curated suite of personalized services and offerings at the Disneyland Resort. Guests may experience legendary hospitality through a lens of luxury. It’s enchantment of the highest caliber — a world of enjoyment, tailored to each guest. Here are four Crown Collection offerings you can book that will take your vacation to the next level: VIP Tours Your guests will embark on a fun day at the parks as a personal guide designs a customized day just for them. Guests can enjoy reserved viewing for select entertainment and hassle-free planning, as well as expedited access to favorite Disneyland Resort attractions via the Lightning Lane entrance—including popular attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers. Premium Dining At our premium dining locations, guests will savor a wide selection of cuisines from award-winning members of the culinary world. Inside our theme parks, guests can dine at the classic Hollywood hotspot of Carthay Circle Restaurant, or be completely immersed in the French Quarter-inspired Blue Bayou Restaurant. For a truly unforgettable evening, book your clients a seating at Napa Rose where they will savor fresh, innovative California fare created by the award-winning Chef Andrew Sutton. Guided Tours When you join our Guided Tours, you discover hidden gems

What do Princess Tiana and Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans have in common? Well, a lot more than you might think — and not just because both stories start down in New Orleans. Legendary chef Leah Chase, former owner and operator of Dooky Chase’s, had a vision to give back to her community in ways that she knew best, good cooking and making an inclusive space for all. Through her creativity and determination, she transformed what once was a sandwich shop in Tremé into one of the first African American fine dining establishments in the country in Dooky Chase’s. It was this story that served as one of the inspirations for the character of Princess Tiana in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog,” and later in the development of the upcoming attraction by Walt Disney Imagineering – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The story begins in 1941 when Dooky Chase’s Restaurant opened its doors for the first time as a family-run po’boy stand. Founded by Emily and Dooky Chase Sr., the store was opened with the intention of providing good food to the New Orleans community, but later became so much more. In 1946, Leah married Dooky Chase Jr., and saw the up-and-coming restaurant as a playground for innovation. Starting out as a cook, Leah slowly infused her family’s famous Creole recipes into the menu and helped grow the po’boy stand into the famous sit-down restaurant it is today. With her influence, Dooky Chase’s has attracted

Reservations open April 30 for two fan-favorite guided tours at Disneyland! Cultivating the Magic Guided Tour How Magic Grows Be immersed in storytelling at Disneyland Park where every little detail, including landscaping, helps to create a living storybook. Explore the magic that comes from plants and flowers which play a key role in storytelling, as they traditionally have at The Walt Disney Company—from the beanstalk that Mickey climbs to the Enchanted Rose that loses petals one by one. The Botanical Story From the moment you pass through the Main Entrance at Disneyland Park, begin your journey into the theme park’s living storybook. Be welcomed by the Mickey Floral, and then walk through Town Square, where you’re greeted by cheerful flower beds and hanging baskets full of brightly colored flowers. Stop at the Central Plaza, commonly referred to as “The Hub.” From here, be guided through the beckoning west of Frontierland, the fairytale kingdom of Fantasyland, the imagined future of Tomorrowland and the wilds of Adventureland—which is not only home to many exotic plants, but also to the Jungle Cruise attraction. Take a Ride on the Jungle Cruise Get ready for a wealth of stories! Every plant you’re going to encounter along your journey was chosen for its own particular tale. Your tour guide will unearth their stories—as you travel from the misty Amazon River of South America to the African Velt and other fascinating destinations, overflowing with beauty. Enjoy a Special Keepsake A memento to remember your tour

Magic Kingdom Park is about to get even more colorful as the installation of Smellephants on Parade presented by Scentsy has begun at Storybook Circus. Guests visiting the land will go on a brand-new, interactive search-and-sniff experience, perfect for noses of all ages! And today, I’m excited to share an exclusive first look as the first Smellephant has arrived in Storybook Circus! When entering Storybook Circus, guests will stumble upon a casting call posted by Timothy Q. Mouse, seeking out a “Whiff-sistant” to join Dumbo’s newest act. At the ticket booth in front of Big Top Souvenirs, a cast member will provide guests with an illustrated map of the land and a sticker sheet to guide them in their first task as a Whiff-sistant. And the task is simple: find all eight Smellephant statues scattered around Storybook Circus, using the stickers and map to track their progress. The first of these colorful pachyderms has made its debut and appears to be sporting a guise we can get behind, reminiscent of one of our favorite circus snacks – Popcorn! As others arrive, guests will encounter additional circus-themed Smellephants, featuring fragrances provided by Scentsy, like Churro, Cotton Candy and more! This complimentary and voluntary experience will be available to guests of all ages next month. And while the Smellephants will be scattered throughout the Storybook Circus area, guests with sensitive sniffers are still welcome and able to enjoy this fun-filled land. What do you think, Whiff-sistants?

Have you ever been on a National Geographic Private Jet Expedition? First off, if you have, lucky you, and secondly, we have a deal to share with you! For a limited time, past Private Jet Guests can save a total of $5,000 per person on select 2025 National Geographic Expeditions Private Jet departures. This offer is available on the following 2025 departures and must be booked by July 31, 2024: Around the World by Private Jet January 26, 2025 February 23, 2025 March 6 & 23, 2025 September 28, 2025 October 30, 2025 Oceans and Islands of the World by Private Jet April 21, 2025 Australia and New Zealand by Private Jet May 1, 2025 Wildlife and Wonders of Africa by Private Jet May 2, 2025 The Silk Road by Private Jet May 21, 2025 Cultural Crossroads of the World by Private Jet May 29, 2025 A Northern Odyssey: Around the World by Private Jet June 23, 2025 Important FYIs Offer is for new Guests who complete a booking by July 31, 2024, and all Guests with current bookings Returning Guests must have traveled on another Private Jet departure between September 2022 and June 2024 Offer may be combinable with Travelers who