Latest news with #Mickey-shaped
Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
A Kamalaless confab in the shadows of Disneyland
Presented by California Environmental Voters DEM DERBY — California Democrats will gather in Anaheim this weekend to hold their largest meeting since native daughter Kamala Harris faceplanted in the presidential race and Donald Trump returned to besieging them from Washington. Harris' decision of whether to run for governor or president for a third time will hang over the 4,000 party faithful in attendance — but she's not expected to be among them. Only a vestige of her failed run, ex-running mate Tim Walz, is scheduled to be in the building. He'll rally the troops Saturday but is unlikely to have time for a ride on the tea cups at nearby Disneyland, as he's also headlining the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention on the same day. Let's hope Harris' would-be competitors in the governor's race aren't fiending for a Mickey-shaped pretzel, because they'll be busy stumping as if delegates aren't waiting to see if the former vice president gets in the race. Other would-be 2028 contenders will be around. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker is slated to speak, ideally for fewer than the 25 hours he recently spent filibustering on the Senate floor. And Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach is scheduled to take a break from his House Oversight bid to party with Planned Parenthood Friday night (DJ not yet announced). The party won't vote on endorsements this weekend, but candidates down the ballot in the lieutenant governor's and treasurer's race are descending on the city to promote their runs. Math problem: This initial phase of the endorsement fight will be especially critical for the governor's field — particularly if Harris doesn't get in — and the race remains as crowded. Candidates would need more than a majority of delegates to back them to get the party nod, though California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks did not rule that out in an interview. 'They may or may not get 60 percent,' Hicks said. 'You know, in 2018 many folks didn't think that Gavin Newsom would get the endorsement.' The Kamala in the room: Hicks went to great lengths to praise his party's 'deep bench,' rattling off candidates in the field, but agreed Harris will be on attendees' minds. 'A former Attorney General, Senator, Vice President, and presidential candidate from California is certainly going to loom large, especially when everyone has had some interaction with her, has probably worked, certainly worked hard for her, and worked hard for her recently,' Hicks said. 'The decision is for her to make in the coming weeks and months.' GOOD MORNING. Happy Friday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. CAMPAIGN YEAR(S) FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: A Democratic candidate to succeed Assemblymember Mike Gipson is excavating one of her opponent's left-leaning tweets on policing and oil in a bid to erode the challenger's labor bona fides and consolidate union support. Compton school board member Ayanna Davis' campaign has launched a website chock full of social media posts from progressive candidate Fatima Iqbal-Zubair in which Iqbal-Zubair expressed support for the Defund the Police movement in the wake of George Floyd's murder and called for divestment from oil companies. The campaign is also planning to blast out a memo full of opposition research to convention-going party delegates in the Assembly district in play this morning. 'Ban police associations. End qualified immunity. Prosecute cops,' Iqbal-Zubair wrote in a 2021 post featured on the site. The open race for Assembly District 65 is already shaping up to be a tough Dem-on-Dem contest. Davis and Iqbal-Zubair — the chair of the state party's progressive caucus and a legislative affairs staffer for California Environmental Voters who has challenged Gipson in the past — are also joined in the race by another Democrat, Myla Rahman, the district director for state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas. Gipson is term-limited and running for the California Board of Equalization next year. Labor support was key for Gipson in locking down the seat in the past and could be critical in the heavily Democratic district again this cycle. Iqbal-Zubair in an interview said her values haven't changed but that 'it's important to preserve all union jobs in my district, that includes the jobs in the refineries at the ports.' 'Policing and prisons: There's union members in there that have good jobs,' she elaborated. Iqbal-Zubair bemoaned environmental pollution and police violence disproportionately affecting people of color in her Los Angeles-area district. She cast clean energy jobs as an opportunity to maintain union ranks while offsetting the effects of climate change. And she called for more social service workers to work in the criminal justice system. 'The whole underpinning of my campaign is undoing the systemic harms in the district,' Iqbal-Zubair told Playbook. 'Public safety is a huge part of that, obviously, because, if you ask community members in my district, they haven't had systems that have helped them feel safe.' TRADE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC — State Attorney General Rob Bonta joined Democratic officials across the country who took a victory lap after a pair of federal court rulings struck down Trump's tariffs. But, the AG cautioned, economic turmoil over Trump's see-sawing tariffs is likely not over. 'He's pretty stubborn, he wants to do it how he wants and when he wants,' Bonta told Playbook. 'He's clearly, in our view, far overstepped his legal authority.' The Trump administration is appealing the decisions, which found the president unlawfully invoked emergency economic powers to unilaterally enact tariffs on dozens of countries without congressional approval. A federal appeals court temporarily reinstated Trump's sweeping 'reciprocal' tariffs while litigation plays out. California, led by Bonta and Newsom, was the first state to sue over Trump's taxes on imports. The state is still challenging his actions in a separate but related lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. 'These are our own arguments… included in court orders,' Bonta said of the two rulings. 'That's validating. Of course, we're interested in durable, permanent results.' SAN FRANCISCO PELOSI MANS UP — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week endorsed a San Francisco county party resolution urging Democrats to pay more attention to the well-being of men and boys — siding with moderate leaders who've sought to force Democrats to confront criticisms that the party isn't male friendly. Pelosi backed the measure at the SF Democratic County Central Committee's monthly meeting, albeit after a minor friendly amendment. Gary McCoy, Pelosi's proxy representative to the county party, said she shares the sentiment that Democrats 'need to do more' to reach out to men and boys and listen to their issues. Party leaders overwhelmingly approved the resolution. Emma Hare, a local Democratic county vice chair who wrote the resolution, said it's designed to spark an intraparty conversation about how to win back male voters who have flocked to Trump, including through efforts like universal paid parental leave for fathers, apprenticeship job programs and more behavioral health resources targeted at men. CLIMATE AND ENERGY EMISSIONS DISCOUNT — The state's latest quarterly sale of pollution permits to high-emitting companies went worse than it ever has since the pandemic, leaving the state with a third less revenue from the program this fiscal year than last. Read last night's California Climate for more on how questions around the future of California's signature cap-and-trade program are becoming budget problems. Top Talkers YER FIRED— Floyd Brown said on X today that he was fired yesterday by Richard Grenell, the presidential envoy for special missions, from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts one month after being recruited to be the center's vice president, POLITICO's Cheyenne Daniels reports. He theorizes that his firing may have had something to do with an inquiry from CNN, where they asked him about his 'past writings and statements about traditional marriage and homosexual influence in the @GOP.' 'The only explanation is the one given to me at the time of my firing,' he wrote ''Floyd, you must recant your belief in traditional marriage and your past statements on the topic, or you will be fired.' Needless to say, I refused to recant and was shown the door. My beliefs are much more common to Biblical Christianity.' APUSH LESSON— California Rep. Judy Chu says President Donald Trump's decision to revoke Chinese students' visas is 'xenophobic,' the Los Angeles Times reports. 'This is yet another example of the Trump administration targeting Chinese people instead of the Chinese government, assuming that every Chinese person is a pawn for the Chinese Communist Party,' Chu said. 'That is what xenophobia is all about, and it is reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act.' AROUND THE STATE — San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wants to cut about 1,400 city jobs as the city confronts a roughly $800 million budget deficit. (San Francisco Chronicle) — Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho wants to establish a registry for people convicted of fentanyl murders. (The Sacramento Bee) — Twelve people who were charged with crimes at a pro-Palestinian protest at Stanford's executive offices were arraigned in Santa Clara County. (The Mercury News) PLAYBOOKERS PEOPLE MOVES — John Goodwin was named vice president of global brand at Back Market. He was most recently at Ogilvy, Razorfish, Klaviyo and Patagonia. — Josué Estrada has just been named chief operating officer at the Center for AI Safety. He's a former COO at both Salesforce and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, now stepping into the AI safety space to help scale research and impact. — Stacey Geis, former deputy assistant administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has joined Crowell & Moring's environment, energy and natural resources and white collar and regulatory enforcement groups as senior counsel in its San Francisco office. — Chris Shimoda joined the Supply Chain Federation as strategic policy adviser. He will continue to operate his firm Shimoda Government Strategies which he opened in April 2025. BIRTHDAYS — POLITICO's Maggie Miller … songstress Idina Menzel … rapper Remy Ma BELATED B-DAY WISHES — Tami Grossglauser in the office of Assemblymember Rick Zbur You may have noticed that the lead-in to California Playbook, 'The Buzz,' has disappeared from your screen. After many years, we've decided it was time to retire it. We woke up today feeling a little lighter for it. Onward. WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Will Disney Abu Dhabi be indoors or outdoors?
We've got three words for you: Disney. Abu. Dhabi. The happiest place on Earth is making its Middle East debut and while our inner child is spinning in teacups with joy, one (very valid) grown-up question remains: will the Disney theme park be outdoors or indoors? Because, let's face it – as much as we love Mickey-shaped ice creams and singing Let It Go under the sun, Abu Dhabi's summer doesn't mess around. With temps soaring past 50°C, even Olaf might reconsider his eternal love for summer. So… what's the plan? Will Disney Abu Dhabi be outdoors or indoors? It's (sort of) outdoors – but also indoors. Basically, it's magic. The answer, like any good Disney plot twist, isn't so straightforward. According to Disney Parks boss Josh D'Amaro, the new Yas Island mega-project will be a hybrid, combining the best of indoor comfort with outdoor charm. They're being very ambitious, architecture, tech and water are all coming into play – which sounds like there might be a splash of Moana inspiration involved. Here's the kicker: the park is being built right up against the water. Think cool breezes, waterfront vistas and, who knows – maybe even an indoor-outdoor castle that literally lets the sea into the storyline. Miral Group CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi added that, like other Yas Island hits (hi, Warner Bros. World), Disney will be indoors, but he also called it the most advanced park in the Disney portfolio. So expect something completely new – and 100 percent air-conditioned. So, when can we go? Not tomorrow, unfortunately. With a timeline of up to two years for design and another four to six for construction, we're looking at a 2030 to 2032 opening. But we've waited 100 years for Disney to come to the UAE – what's a few more? Until then, we'll keep dreaming of those castle selfies, futuristic rides and Emirati-inspired storylines (yes, those are happening too). One thing's for sure – whether indoors, outdoors, or somewhere in between – Disney Abu Dhabi will be cooler than cool. Literally. All about Disney Abu Dhabi 7 things we know about the new Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi It's going to be magical – and massive This is when Disney Abu Dhabi is likely to open A Disney official has shared a rough timeline Three key ways the new Disney theme park will change Abu Dhabi A whole new world indeed
Time Out Abu Dhabi
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Three key ways the new Disney theme park will change Abu Dhabi
No flights. No visas. No long-haul journeys with cranky kids and snack-depleted backpacks. Disney is coming to Abu Dhabi – and the ripple effects are going to be massive. The announcement that the world's most famous theme park is setting up shop on Yas Island isn't just thrilling news for families and Disney diehards. It's a major power move that's about to shake up the property, tourism and business landscape across the capital. And while the opening date for Disney Abu Dhabi may be a while away, we can already anticipate how this new attraction will change the capital. Disney in Abu Dhabi: three key changes Real estate on the up Let's start with the obvious: real estate. If you own a slice of Yas Island already, congratulations – you're about to see your investment sparkle brighter than Cinderella's glass slipper. Experts are predicting a sharp uptick in property values and rental yields, especially for apartments and villas close to the park. And with more tourists, staff and staycationers flooding in, demand for both short- and long-term rentals is expected to skyrocket. Developers aren't wasting time either. Expect a surge of new luxury apartments, statement residences and landmark buildings springing up across the island. Yas was already hot property – just last year, Aldar's Yas Riva canal-front villas sold out in 24 hours – and with Disney entering the chat, things are set to go from sizzle to supernova. More jobs and more people The Disney effect won't stop at bricks and mortar. Thousands of jobs will be created to keep the magic running, meaning more people relocating to the island and nearby areas. And more people means more spending – in restaurants, shops, cafes and entertainment venues. Businesses across Abu Dhabi, particularly on Yas, should prepare for a serious uptick in foot traffic. Tourism boom Tourism? Also getting a happily-ever-after moment. While numbers have been steadily going up already over the past few years, a Disney theme park right on our doorstep will likely get UAE residents to ditch passport stamps for local staycations. Families from the GCC and beyond – from Africa to Russia and the Indian subcontinent – are likely to skip the visa process and make a beeline for Abu Dhabi instead. It's a win for local travel agents, hotels and anyone in the business of unforgettable weekends. Sure, the summer heat might keep those Mickey-shaped pretzels indoors, but come winter, Disney Abu Dhabi is expected to draw big crowds. Disney isn't just building a theme park. It's casting a spell on Abu Dhabi – and the whole region is about to feel the glow. More going on in Abu Dhabi Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year The 2025 concert line-up in Abu Dhabi just keeps getting better and better So many big names coming to the capital Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted 20 incredibly fun ways to explore Abu Dhabi after dark The city is at its most fascinating once the sun goes down
Buzz Feed
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
If You'd Describe Yourself As A Disney Adult, Here Are 26 Products You Just Might Want
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · We certainly can't let the kids have all the fun. 1. A fan favorite Simple Modern tumbler with a magical twist you can count on to convince yourself to drink more H2O on the go — reviewers love it for the way it fits in their cup holders and keeps their water super cold for long periods of time ✨. Promising review:"I freaking love this cup. I bought one for me and two people. We adore these cups. They keep your ice cold for 24 hours, plus they're easy to hold and clean. We got the Disney black Mickey ear design, and it's quality stuff. It fits in my car's cup holder easily too, 40 ounces." — Andres Avalos Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in eight styles). 2. A 3D foam dispenser you can attach to a foaming soap dispenser to create Mickey-shaped soap whenever you wash your hands. Instead of singing "Happy Birthday," you can happily hum, "Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E." The attachments are designed to work with Bath & Body Works soaps, Dial foaming soaps, or Method foaming soaps. Additionally, MouseDelights3D is a small business that sells an array of fun 3D-printed, Disney-inspired items! Promising review:"I love this item! It is really easy and fun!" — Ella Charlson Get it from MouseDelights3D on Etsy for $9.99 (available for three bottle types and in 20 colors). 3. A too-cute PopSocket phone grip featuring an expanding kickstand and a touch of Disney — a must-have for anyone who would enjoy adding a lil' extra magic to their phone without compromising on practicality. Promising review:"I freaking love this PopSocket! It's cute, made well, and adhered nicely to my case. It's exactly what I was looking for. The glitter looks nicely done as well." — abigail evans Get it from Amazon for $20+ (available in 23 styles). 4. A set of Minnie Mouse ear scrunchies for a Disney Adult whose head has personally suffered at the hands of an ear headband — these will get the job done, sans headache. Promising review: "I bought these at the last minute prior to a school trip to Disney. They came in a two-pack. I wore them EVERY DAY of the trip. They are so dang cute and durable. Standing in lines for the ride, almost EVERYONE asked me about them. They thought I bought them there, but surprisingly, NOT ONE shop at any of the Disney properties sold this. I sold one to someone in the line!" — Melissa Rae Get a two-pack from Amazon for $8.99 (available in 13 styles). 5. A graphic tee fit for a diva — you'll absolutely want to have it on hand for your next Girls' Night In. And is there a more fabulous duo than Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck? Certainly not. Promising review:"Bought this shirt to wear at Magic Kingdom. Loved the style and feel of it. I got an XL to have the oversized look. Definitely buy the shirt!!" — Courtney Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in men's sizes S–6XL and women's sizes XS–3XL and five colors). 6. A Monsters University cap inspired by the one young Mike Wazowski wears in the movie — apologies to your actual alma mater because this is likely the only one you'll be claiming as your own from here on out. I have owned this hat for years! I originally bought it in Walt Disney World, but it's become one of my favorite Disney items over the years. I typically wear it to the beach or when running errands. It has an adjustable back, so it'll fit anyone and everyone, but not a Velcro one, so it's not as noticeable. Big fan! Promising review:"My sister spent a pretty penny on her exact hat at Disneyland. I purchased mine here and it's identical! She actually wishes she would have known to purchase this item here instead of the 30 extra dollars there. Comfortable, sturdy, I always get compliments." — Destiny Get it from Amazon for $21.48. 7. Mickey Mouse knobs you can use to Disney-fy any (and every?) drawer or cabinet in your home — bring on The Magic! MagicalCreationsHM / Etsy Note: make sure you measure your current furniture to ensure you're buying the right size knobs! Cabinet pull sizes vary! MagicalCreationsHM is a small business that sells cute 3D-printed items. Get a single knob from MagicalCreationsHM on Etsy for $4 (available in eight colors and up to 10 knobs). 8. A boxed set of The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbooks, perfect for anyone who would basically give their kidney away if it meant being able to chow down on a Mickey-shaped pretzel right about now. Amazon This set comes with The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook, The Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook and The Unofficial Disney Parks Restaurants Cookbook. Promising review: "We like going to the Disney parks, and one of the things we try to do is figure out the different dishes we get at the sit-down restaurants. While most of them are pretty easy to figure out, some of them are not. These books help us go a long way to recreating some of our favorites. It's a fun read." — RocketTom Get it from Amazon for $35.06. For more recipes, check out The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book. 9. And/or Disney: Cooking With Magic: A Century of Recipes, a cookbook inspired by 100 years of Disney movies. The recipes will take you and your tastebuds on a magical journey from 1928 (Steamboat Willie!) all the way to 2023 (Wish!) and everything in between. BRB, need to go get all the ingredients for Tiana's "Big Daddy Beignets." Amazon Promising review:"A perfect gift for the Disney fan in your life! Very high quality pages showing recipes from Disney movies through the ages all the way up to 2023's Wish!" — J. R. Coutu Get it from Amazon for $25.99. 10. A Cinderella-inspired coffee blend for when you were out waaaaaay past the midnight curfew and need a pick-me-up to transform yourself from a pumpkin to a princess. Amazon Promising review:"I am blown away by the quality of this coffee! From the moment I received the package, the aroma was enticing — rich and full-bodied. As soon as I brewed my first cup, I could taste the difference. The flavors are robust and intense, just as described. It's like a flavor explosion in every sip! If you're a coffee lover looking for something that will wake up your taste buds in the best way possible, I highly recommend giving this coffee a try. It's definitely become my new favorite morning ritual!" — Yara Haddad Get it from Amazon for $17.99. 11. An adult coloring book starring Disney animals filled with intricate designs, so you can relax and listen to your favorite Disney songs while coloring in pages inspired by Disney's 100-year history. Amazon, Promising review:"I really love all the information included with each page and the inspiration from Walt Disney's own words." — panda Get it from Amazon for $12.28. 12. Or a villains version for anyone who likes to embrace their dark side once in a while — it's filled with the baddest of the bad Disney characters just waiting for you to color 'em in. I'm just itching to find the perfect blue for Hades' flaming hair. 🔥 Promising review:"I love the Disney Villains!! This coloring book is so worth the price. The pages are thick and the characters are drawn very well. I can't wait to get coloring!!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 13. The Story of Disney 100 Years of Wonder coffee table book — jam-packed with magical facts you won't be able but help to rattle off to anyone who crosses your path. I personally own *quite* a few Disney-themed decorative (although interesting!) books so if you're looking to stock up here's a few other suggestions: - Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts by Wolf Burchard - The Art and Flair of Mary Blair by John Canemaker - The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas - Poster Art of the Disney Parks by Daniel Hadnke and Vanessa Hunt - The Art of Pixar: The Complete Colorscripts from 25 Years of Feature Films by Pixar Get it from Amazon for $33.49 or from Bookshop (to support small businesses!) for $55.80. 14. A Mickey Mouse waffle maker you can count on to transport you back to the first time you piled your plate high as the sky with these babies at your favorite Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort. I have this exact waffle maker, and it really is an activity the entire household can enjoy! It's the closest I've ever gotten to recreating the delicious waffles from the Parks. You can read my personal review here. Promising review:"This waffle maker is the centerpiece of our whole kitchen, as we decided to do a Mickey theme! My kids love the waffles and it brings fun to breakfast every time we use it. I love that you can adjust the temperature and that it alerts you when the waffles are ready. Super easy to use and a must-have for any Disney fan!!! Do yourself a favor and add to your kitchen!!!" — MamaOfTwo1122 Get it from Amazon for $89.99 or shopDisney for $99.99. 15. A stunning 1,000-piece Hercules puzzle that'll leave you singing "I Can Go The Distance" as you work your way through piecing together scenes from Mount Olympus, the Underworld, and everything in between. Amazon If Hercules isn't your thing, check out some of these other stunning options inspired by Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and Moana (just to name a few). Get it from Amazon for $13.25. 16. A modern day retelling of Tangled you won't be able to put down — a perfect treat for fans of the 2010 film who would happily dive into anything themed around it. Promising review:"Pure Christina Lauren, a gifted collaboration by two gifted authors. Thank you. What did you do right? Everything. This book is a treasure, inspiring those of us who dare to doubt to know that life will always give us little openings if only we open our eyes and our senses and become willing to take great leaps of faith." — Ann George Get it from Amazon for $25.10. This book is one out of four "Meant to Be" novels that provide a fun, modern-day spin on the classic tales we know and love. Here is a quick synopsis of some of the other fun stories: - If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (the first of the series!), which is a retelling of Cinderella if she were a plus-sized contestant on a show similar to The Bachelor. - By the Book by Jasmine Guillory (my personal fave!), a version of Beauty and the Beast in which "Isabelle" is struggling to thrive in the publishing industry when she is sent to convince a "beastly" high-profile author to deliver his long-await manuscript. - Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova (which I just finished reading!) is the story of The Little Mermaid but also *totally* not — Ariel del Mar is a famous pop singer in a girl group formed by her sisters. She wants to live "in the real world," so when she meets Eric Reyes, an aspiring artist, she hides her identity and heads out on tour with his band. 17. A splurge-worthy nameplate necklace with a Disney twist to it that'll garner you all kinds of compliments the next time you're at The Parks. BaubleBar Check out their entire Disney collection while you're at it! I recently snagged their pearl accented Minnie Mouse ears and am obsessed. Get it from BaubleBar for $162+ (available in two sizes, styles and fonts). 18. A deck of Disney playing cards with intricate gold foil designs on 'em that'll make even your card shark pals who can't stand The House of Mouse will agree these are quite chic. Amazon Promising review:"So in love with these cards! Perfect gift for any Disney lover. The box they come in is nicely made and embossed, and the playing cards are very elegant looking. Bought two packs originally and loved them so much I ordered two more for gifts." — Kim Muchmore Get them from Amazon for $10.31 (available in four additional Disney styles). 19. Villainous, a must-have for all Disney fans who typically prefer the likes of Maleficent, Ursula, and Jafar. Hope you've got your evil laugh prepared. Amazon Promising review:"I love board games, particularly more adventurous and more adult ones, but getting my wife to play them with me is like pulling teeth. This one is very easy to learn but a challenge to master, which makes it accessible for those who are casual board gamers but enjoyable for the more hardcore enthusiast. Each play-through is different depending on what characters each player chooses, the strategy they apply, and the random draw of the cards. Can't wait until they release expansions with new villains." — Phil Get it from Amazon for $29.99. 20. Disney Princess–inspired nail stickers you can apply over your favorite polish for a more magical mani, but without the hassle of requesting fancy nail art from your manicurist. Magic Gloss is a woman-owned small business that sells Disney and pop culture–inspired nail stickers and accessories. I've tried out a bunch of different sets and can confirm they are super easy to apply and are high quality — they stay on as long as your mani! Orders typically ship in 5–7 business days, however you can upgrade to 2-day shipping for an additional fee. Get them from Magic Gloss for $15. 21. A set of LED lightsaber chopsticks to share with the Chewbacca to your Han Solo (and also happens to be who you get sushi with every Friday night). Promising review:"I purchased these for a friend's birthday present (he is a sushi waiter), and these are flippin' AMAZING. I ordered two sets by mistake, but I am totally keeping the second pair for another gift (or for myself!). These are sure to be great conversation pieces and attention-getters. Way to go!" — T. Redwood Get two pairs from Amazon for $11.97. 22. Tarot cards that'll infuse your next reading with a little *~Disney magic~* thanks to their Disney Villains theme — keep your eyes peeled for cards featuring Cruella de Vil, Ursula, Maleficent, and more classic anti-heroes. Amazon, Promising review:"I preordered these cards in January, and I admit that I actually cried tears of joy when they finally arrived. The cards are gorgeous, amazing quality, and the character choices are wonderfully clever. As a life-long Villains fan, this is everything I could have ever wanted and more in a Villains tarot set. Items like these are the kinds of merch that I'd wished existed when I was a kid, and am just so overjoyed to be able to have as an adult. Absolutely incredible!" — Briar Gray Get them from Amazon for $20.92. 23. A Pizza Planet tee to add some Disney magic to your Friday routine of ordering an extra large pie from your favorite local pizzeria. Amazon Promising review:"Bought this shirt for my teenage son and he loves it. He's a huge Toy Story fan so this was the perfect gift for him. Good quality and held up great after washing and drying in low in the dryer and still looks great several washes later. The print hasn't bubbled or peeled." — Miss Coco Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in men's sizes S–3XL and five colors). 24. A Mickey-shaped ring you'll be able to stack alongside your other baubles and keep your love of Disney on display as often as you please without getting "Team Mickey Mouse" tattooed on your forehead. Amazon Promising review:"I absolutely LOVE this ring! I've been wearing it every day since I received it in May, NO TARNISH! It is beautiful and sparkles! Fits true to size, and the price is incredible for the quality of this ring! If you're a huge Disney fan like myself, this is the perfect ring for you!" — Meri Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in sizes 6–10). 25. A hilariously accurate sticker that says "I like Disney and maybe three people," because the truth is the truth, alright? This sticker speaks to me. It's also available as a car decal! Wish Upon Magic is a woman-owned small business based in Arcadia, California. They make some of the most magical and adorable stickers and keychains I've ever seen. I have tooooons of their stickers all over my belongings. Obsessed. Get it from Wish Upon Magic's site or their Etsy shop for $3.70. 26. A fabulous belt with a buckle in the shape of the signature Disney "D" you'll likely start planning all of your outfits around. Amazon Promising review:"I loved this belt!!! I wore it to Disney last week and got loads of compliments. It added a little Disney magic to each of my outfits, and was a great little detail. This belt can be dressed up or dressed down depending on what it is paired with." — Brianna Regan Lewis Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in sizes XS–XL). Conjuring the mail truck to our door like: The Walt Disney Company
Los Angeles Times
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Fan favorite sweets and many new treats at Disney Food & Wine Festival
A Mickey-shaped macaron made with Snickers bar pieces is carefully piped with peanut butter ganache by Stephanie Yee, pastry sous chef at Disneyland Resort's central bakery. 'You can never have too much ganache,' Yee said during a cooking demonstration in Anaheim at the opening day of the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. The chocolate sweet returns each year for the Food & Wine Festival, which kicked off on Feb. 28 and runs through April 21. The annual event brings chef demonstrations, special entertainment and more than 100 food and beverage items to the park, inspired by the diverse cultures and fresh ingredients found in California. Some sips and bites are only available for a limited time during the festival, and the chocolate Mickey macaron is among the sweets guests look forward to each year. 'It's a fan favorite because it has a little bit of everything, it has chocolate, it has peanut butter, it has Snickers; it is balanced with sweet and salty,' said Yee. 'We can't help but bring it back for our guests.' Parkgoers can buy four-coupon or eight-coupon Sip & Savor passes to redeem for select food items or nonalcoholic beverages at festival marketplaces, like Garlic Kissed and Peppers Cali-Ente. An additional marketplace, Mercado de Antojos ('Market of Cravings' in English), is new this season, offering even more options for hungry visitors, like birria macaroni and cheese. Disneyland Resort chef Daniel Duke Brown was on hand to demonstrate the new pasta dish topped with the traditional Mexican-braised meat, finished with onion-cilantro sauce and tortilla bits for crunch. 'Some of the consomé gets folded into the cheese sauce, so you are going to have that flavor throughout the whole dish,' Brown said as he presented the finished plate, loaded with red-spiced meat for the audience to see. Other new dishes include corn chip chili pie, inspired by a popular snack made inside a corn chip bag. Disney's version features Impossible beef with a spicy cheese sauce, tomatoes, sliced jalapeños and sour cream. There are also creative beverages like a pickle whiskey sour cocktail, a callback to Disneyland's pickle lemonade that blends sweet and salty flavors for a lip-puckering sip. The Paradise Beer Garden offers flights of local brews, and Uncork California has cocktail and wine flights. Some dishes take inspiration from other Disney properties like musubi fried rice, an Aulani Resort-inspired steamed rice with egg, glazed spiced ham and furikake. Besides cooking demonstrations from Disneyland Resort cooks, chef-led culinary demonstrations from Orange County chefs and visiting celebrity chefs are scheduled for weekends throughout the festival. Chef Paul Cao from Irvine's Burnt Crumbs will cook up some fun on March 16 at 6 p.m., and chef Shachi Mehra from Anaheim's ADYA will spice things up on March 22 at 6 p.m. As part of the Golden State theme, the park also welcomes the return of Soarin' Over California, a hang-gliding ride focused on California landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Yosemite National Park. The stomp-style musical performance 'Cookin' with the Jammin' Chefs,' with performers using pots and pans to make music with Disney characters, also returns, and guests can enjoy live music at the Paradise Gardens Bandstand throughout the festival. Outside of California Adventure there are ways to get a taste of the fun too. At Hearthstone Lounge inside Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests can book 'A Walk on the Silverado Trail' experience with specialty wine and cuisine pairings. Or they can try the new Dinner and Scotch event, which features hors d'oeuvres and live music followed by an intimate, four-course dinner experience with scotch pairings. Great Maple Modern American Eatery located inside Pixar Place Hotel will offer a California wine country inspired special of red wine-braised short ribs, and at Downtown Disney, special limited time food specials are available at Ballast Point Brewing Co., Kayla's Cake, Parkside Market, Salt & Straw and Splitsville Luxury Lanes. Brown said the culinary team explores the local dining scene and confers with contemporaries to keep up on food trends and assure the festival offerings are new and exciting each year. 'We go out to eat ourselves, we go out and do the research, but we also talk to the guests and get their feedback. We also have other chefs in Southern California that we talk to and bounce ideas off of,' said Brown, although he maintains California's bounty of ingredients is always at the heart of the inspiration. 'One of the best things is just getting into that kitchen with our team of chefs, getting some ingredients in and just seeing what we come up with.' said Brown.
