The Winchester Mystery House has been around for nearly 100 years and is a must-see experience if you are in the San Jose area. New this year for the Halloween season is several options – including a family-friendly attraction! Beginning select nights September 10th through All Hallows Eve Night October 31st, you can experience an opportunity to explore the Winchester Mystery House in a whole new way. The Lost in the House Tour will take you on a theatrical paranormal investigation where you will be joined by an investigator as your tour guide.
According to the Winchester Mystery House “For the 98 years that the house has been open to the public, it has hosted paranormal investigators, mediums and even master magicians who came looking for proof of the paranormal. During the Lost In The House Tour, brave guests will be guided through the dark & dizzying hallways of the Winchester Estate in search of answers for themselves. Will they find them. or will they too be lost in the house?” Are you curious about more? Tickets for this tour are on sale now and are expected to sell out.
The Lost in the House Tour is not the only event coming this Halloween season. All new this year will be the Jack O’ Lantern Trail featuring amazing scenes and decorations made entirely of pumpkins – real and artificial. There will also be nightly carvings happening so you may want to visit more than once to see it all! The ticket for this trail is included in the Lost in the House Tour or it can be purchased as a separate event for those who may not feel comfortable inside the house at night.
The Winchester House will also light up at night in a new way with a projection mapping show on the front façade. This 8-minute show will project some of the spirits of the House including Sarah Pardee Winchester (heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune). The cutting-edge show will play multiple times throughout the night and is sure to be something visually stunning.
But wait – There’s even more!
For an additional fee, you can attend Sarah’s Attic Shooting Gallery, Axe Throwing at the Stables, as well as the all-new Houdini’s Spirited Escape. While the Axe Throwing is subject to closure due to weather, it is a fun experience for parties of 1-5 individuals to try their hand at throwing an ax at a target. Sarah’s Attic Shooting Gallery features classic arcade games and of course a shooting gallery with 38 different targets – one for each year of the House’s construction.
Last but certainly not least is the brand new experience of Houdini’s Spirited Escape – the escape room. If you have done an escape room before, you may know what to expect but this exciting escape will leave you wondering if this was magic or the spirits. There will also be some fall-flavored foods including apple cider available for purchase.
As we all know, the Covid-19 pandemic kept Halloween from entertaining us in 2020 so we are very excited to see the return of some of our favorite haunts. One of our favorite entertainment experiences takes place at Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights! This event is scheduled to return select nights September 9th – Halloween Night October 31st this year. To say we are DYING to see this is an understatement.
We were invited to attend Midsummer Scream – Awaken the Spirits at the Pasadena Convention Center, where we were treated to a sneak peek of this year’s offerings for Halloween Horror Nights (HHN). Our host was none other than the Creative Director of HHN, John Murdy. While not too much was revealed, we did get an in-depth discussion of one of the newest mazes to come to Hollywood – Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein LIVES. This maze (or house for all of you on the East Coast) will be featured on the Parisian Street on the Upper Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood and will be one of the 5 announced mazes for the event this year.
The others include The Exorcist, The Curse of Pandora’s Box, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House. We also learned of a new Scare Zone and the return of a fan favorite – only available at Universal Studios Hollywood!
John took us through a detailed account of the new maze all about one of his favorite female monsters while reminding us all “The Monster always LIVES”. While this maze will differ from the one in Orlando for 2020, (and returning this year at Orlando’s HHN), there are some similar scenes, sights, and smells we are told. The goal of this maze is to immerse you in the finale of the Bride of Frankenstein movie where we last left off.
The setting of this maze is influenced by the classic tale and we will enter this maze through a large book featuring all-new artwork. John described this entrance as the precursor for what was to see as each scene would feature a new chapter and with each new chapter, a twist we may not expect!
WARNING – SPOILERS AHEAD!
The Prologue: Something Survived
The end of the Bride of Frankenstein film ends with the castle crumbling around Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride. This scene will feature the Bride trying to rescue the monster from the rubble of the castle by lifting a beam of burning wood. She screams in agony “Deeeaaaaaaaaaad” and we move into the next chapter of our story.
Chapter 1: Saving the Monster
The Bride is being stalked by 3 shadowy figures while carrying the body of her loved one through the woods towards an unknown location. It is revealed the 3 figures are actually the Brides of Dracula coming for the Monster and his Bride. Make sure you look for the distinct differences between all three of the Brides of Dracula, according to John. They will each feature a special identification or marking. The Bride of Frankenstein is able to evade these creatures by retreating to our next location.
Chapter 2: The Hunted becomes the Hunter
After evading the Brides of Dracula (possibly by using you as bait) she finds herself in the Blind Man’s Cottage from the original Frankenstein movie. This cottage has long been abandoned but you’ll notice a familiar object is missing from the wall: a cross. This cross is now being handled by the Bride to fend off the Brides of Dracula.
This prop was described by John as a cross on fire with embers emitting from it. The rest of the cottage will have signs of the fire as well. The Bride is now a Vampire Huntress and will make sure to end the lives of the other Brides – or maybe harvest the blood of the vampires to bring The Monster back to life.
Chapter 3: The Creation becomes The Creator
We now move forward in our story and the Bride of Frankenstein is attempting to reanimate her beloved Monster through transfusions of human and vampire blood. We see a church transformed into a laboratory filled with vials and jars of what we can only assume is fresh human blood as well as the fresh “kill” of one of the Vampires. Trying to piece together her loved one she knows she will need to find the rest of the Vampires.
Chapter 4: The Blood is Life
We now enter another area of the church/lab where the Bride has compiled more Vampires and other creatures to experiment on. The only issue is to keep them alive – they need blood! To feed their lust, the Bride needs to find humans to feed to them. You will walk through this feeding cage before heading into the next area of the story where somehow a second of the 3 Brides of Dacula is stabbed through the heart.
Chapter 5: Live Again!
We are in another portion of the lab and upgrades have been made throughout to assist with the vampire blood transfusions. Frankenstein’s Monster once again will be featured in this scene with some new modifications according to John. We will see his brain exposed and catheters where his bolts once were. all of this will be happening while the Bride frantically attempts to restore her loved one to live. The other fun fact from John is the Monster will be a stilt walker 8 feet tall! We will also hear the classic line “It’s Alive” – this time uttered by the Bride herself.
Chapter 6: The Monster Reborn
There is still one more vampire left. The Bride (and Monster?) hunt down the final remaining Bride of Dracula to end the torment and protect themselves. John didn’t want to ruin the ending for us but did let us know the third vampire will be finished. Although he did end with saying “The Monster ALWAYS Lives” so who really knows…
After you exit this maze, you will be entering the first announced Scare Zone for HHN Hollywood – Universal Monsters Silver Scream Queenz. This area will feature some of the famous women of the Universal Monsters including Anuk-Su-Namun from The Mummy Franchise, The She-Wolf of London, and Dracula’s Daughter. While we were told there will be two versions of each character throughout the Scare Zone meaning it will not be the same throughout the evening’s festivities.
The last announcement from John is one we all loved to hear – the return of the Terror Tram! This Universal Studios Hollywood exclusive is unlike any haunt experience you are used to. If you are familiar with the Studio Tour during the day, this will be similar except at one point you’ll have to get off the tram and find your way (fight your way?) back to the park. We know from previous HHN experience, we will be walking past the Bates Motel and the War of the Worlds set. No other details have been announced… yet. Stay tuned for more info as we get it!
Tickets are now on Sale for Universal Studios Hollywood “Halloween Horror Nights.” Kicking Off on Thursday, September 9, and Running Select Nights through Sunday, October 31. Click Here to Purchase Tickets.
Legoland is magical world of toy building blocks (photo by Greg Aragon)
It’s been two years since my last visit to Legoland and I couldn’t wait to get back to that magical world of toy building blocks. So when me and the family finally got our chance to revisit the theme park after its 13-month-long closure, we knew we were in for a memorable day of fun and adventure.
With more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions celebrating the iconic Lego toys, the park is an interactive, hands-on experience for families with children ages 2 – 12. The Resort is also home to SEA LIFE Aquarium, the world’s first LEGOLAND Water Park, and the brand new The Lego Movie World, an immersive new land based on the hit movies.
The two-acre Lego Movie World was designed after the two blockbuster movies The LEGO Movie and The LEGO MOVIE 2 The Second Part. The new attraction takes the movies to another dimension with an elaborate recreation of Bricksburg, complete with the flagship ride Emmet’s Flying Adventure, which is staged on a triple-decker flying couch. Kids of all ages can tap into this thrill-seeking virtual escape ride featuring cutting-edge technology, 180-degree turns, and flights above Middle Zealand, Cloud Cuckoo Land and Pirates Cove.
The Lego Movie World attraction takes Lego movies to another dimension
The expansive new world also includes Benny’s Play Ship, Unikitty’s Disco Drop, Queen Watevra’sCarouse, Build Watevra You Wa’Na Build zone, and a meet-and-greet with the films’ favorite characters at Emmet’s Super Suite. Additionally, the land boasts plenty of new restaurants such as a place called Everything is Ramen, where we devoured a delicious homemade ramen bowl. For dessert, we then tried a tasty crepe filled with Nutella at Cloud Cuckoo Crepes.
After experiencing The Lego Movie World, we entered MINILAND USA, where roughly 32.5 million Lego bricks have been turned into incredible mini-recreations of some of America’s most beloved locations. Highlights include the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the capitol building in Washington D.C., Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Grand Central Station in New York, the Las Vegas strip, and Griffith Park in Southern California.
MINILAND also includes a Star Wars section, featuring a floating Death Star and seven different LEGO Star War scenes, made of more than 1.5 million LEGO bricks, featuring one scene from each of the movies.
Miniland recreates some of America’s most beloved locations with legos (photo by Greg Aragon)
From MINILAND, we hopped on a helicopter ride called Sky Patrol that is perfect for toddlers. The ride has a control that allows you to fly up and down about 15 feet in the air, giving kids and their parents a great view of the park. Near here, we signed up our little one for his own driver’s license and he rode his tiny car by himself around a race track with other toddlers at Drivers School. This is a fun attraction for kids 3 – 5 years old.
Another fairly new adventure at the park is DUPLO Playtown, a colorful LEGO town geared towards children five and under. The area features more than ten whimsical playhouses with hands-on activities, slides, and interactive elements that encourage kids to use their imagination and creativity while playing. Children can explore a barn, fire station, grocery store, hospital, and maze complete with an interactive scarecrow.
A kiddie helicopter ride offers great views of the park (photo by Greg Aragon)Toddlers can race around a track at a driving school (photo by Greg Aragon)
One of the most colorful attractions at Legoland is the SEA LIFE aquarium, a multi-level aquarium with over 350 different species and more than 6,000 real creatures swimming around in 16 different interactive zones. There are jellyfish, octopi, seahorses, sharks, rays, a hand-on touching pool, and lots more. SEA LIFE Aquarium admission is an extra $25 with a LEGOLAND ticket.
Another fun attraction is Coastersaurus, a roller coaster that takes guests through a prehistoric jungle of LEGO brick dinosaurs. Riders circle around a 1,100-pound Brachiosaurus and whiz by a ten-foot-tall Parasaurolophus scavenging for food.
Other fun things to do include taking a tiny train ride, building your own lego creations in an interactive Imagination Zone, and Dig Those Dino, where kids can practice their paleontologist skills and dig for fossils in a large sandpit.
Kids can build their own legos in an Imagination Zone (photo by Greg Aragon)
The last time we visited the park we stayed at the park’s mystical Castle Hotel. The hotel features 250 LEGO Castle-themed rooms with your choice of Knights & Dragons, Royal Princess, or Magic Wizard.
The entire hotel is decorated just like a medieval castle and offers many surprises for kids. There are talking portraits and musical seats located throughout, the lobby has a giant “Lego pond,” and there is a new themed restaurant called Dragon’s Den Restaurant & Bar, where the hotel serves free breakfast for registered guests each morning.
All rooms come with a separate kids’ area with bunk beds and LEGO building tables, a treasure chest, and a scavenger hunt. They also boast a big TV, comfortable bed, coffee maker, refrigerator, free WiFi, and a large bathroom with a shower and tub. Just outside the hotel is an Entertainment Courtyard with play zones for kids of all ages, and a pool area. But the hotel’s best feature is its location next to LEGOLAND’s main entrance. This was a great feature, as we were able to have breakfast and then stroll into the park within five minutes.
The Castle Hotel features themed rooms with a choice of Knights & Dragons, Royal Princess, or Magic Wizard (photo by Greg Aragon)
LEGOLAND California is located in Carlsbad, CA. For more information and current ticket prices, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call 760.918.LEGO.
Marvel Studios’ “What If…?” flips the script on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways. Creating a multiverse of infinite possibilities, “What If… ?” features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. Debuting exclusively on Disney+ on Aug. 11, 2021, “What If… ?” features the voice of Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher.
Marvel Studios’ first-ever animated series also features the voices of a host of stars who reprise their iconic roles in the MCU—though their characters’ journeys promise to be wildly unique. “It’s an anthology,” says executive producer Brad Winderbaum. “The Watcher introduces us each week to these alternate storylines— each a kind of cautionary tale in the spirit of ‘The Twilight Zone.’ We bounce around genres and tone—some episodes will be dramatic; some will be tragic or comedic.”
Marvel Studios veteran Bryan Andrews was called on to helm the series. “He’s boarded many of our major action sequences over the years,” says Winderbaum. “He’s an animation director and has been behind some of the best-animated shows, ‘Samurai Jack,’ ‘Sym-Bionic Titan’ and the original ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars.’
During a recent press conference, we learned more about this new Marvel series from Bryan Andrews (Director), AC Bradley (Head Writer), Brad Winderbaum (Exec. Producer), and Jeffrey Wright (voice of the “The Watcher”).
Q: What inspired “What If…?” and why is now the time to dive into an animated multiverse story like this, on Disney+?
Brad Winderbaum: I mean, it’s, to be honest, was a stroke of inspiration that happened on the drive home from work one day. And I found myself in my driveway just texting with Kevin Feige, back and forth, about what this show could be. And by the next day, the wheels were in motion and we were on our way to making this thing. And I think that and it was obvious from the beginning that it needed to be animated because of all the-of all the locations and sets and characters and elements from the MCU we were gonna revisit it, it had to kind of be in a medium that would allow us an infinite scope of whatever we could conceive of.
AC Bradley, the writer on that show, had come in to pitch for ‘Captain Marvel,’ which didn’t work out due to some other obligations, and producer Jonathan Schwartz recommended her for ‘What If…?’ We brought her in and she understood what we wanted to do immediately. She came back and pitched this emotional character-focused version of the Captain Carter story.
For Andrews, the opportunity allowed him to summon everything he knew about animation, the MCU and storytelling. “We’d get together and basically nerd out,” says the director. “We had an embarrassment of riches in terms of characters, storylines, twists—the sky’s the limit, really.”
Q: Jeffrey, I’m gonna turn to you. Your character, quite famous in the Marvel Comics lore. Introduce us to who you’re playing in “What If…?” and what his role is in-in the series overall.
Jeffrey Wright: Yeah, I’m, playin’ The Watcher, who is, described in his first appearance in Marvel Comics, I think it was in 1963, something like the most dramatic being in all the known universe. This is something like this.
He’s a fairly dramatic guy. He’s a fairly powerful guy. He’s kind of overseeing, the entire, MCU. He’s overseeing the multiverses, and he plays somewhat of a Rod Sterling role. Kind of narrating, kind of not. In some ways, as may be the biggest Marvel fan, there is. Watching all that transpires and dealing with, certain temptations to involve himself.
“The Watcher views humanity as simple, lowly, disgusting,” Bradley continues. “But at the same time, he’s fascinated by what he’s seeing. And the more he sees, the more his understanding of humanity evolves.”
Bryan Andrews: It’s like, you never know what you’re gonna get, you know. You might get an episode that’s a comedy, you might get an episode that’s kind of dramatic and serious, like, super emotional, full of action. Brad, myself, Kevin, Victoria, it’s like, we all love cinema. We all love movie-we love everything in it, whether it, you know, all the genres. And this gave us an opportunity to apply a little taste of a variety of genres into the Marvel cinematic universe, you know what I mean? So, one can maybe go a little bit darker.
About What If…?
Inspired by Marvel Comics’ “What If…?” comic book anthology series, which debuted in 1977, the new animated series introduces new scenarios based on characters from the vast world of the MCU, which launched in 2008 with “Iron Man.” “That gave us a broader brush to paint with, so to speak,” says Andrews. “It’s immediate in to a massive audience, many of whom aren’t familiar with the comics, but just loved the movies.”
According to Andrews, the look of the series is illustrative. “We reached back in time and looked at classic American illustrators,” says the director. “There’s a certain kind of heroic, hyper-realized, super-idealized look that feels iconic. There’s a style to it but it’s not pushed or cartoony.”
“What If… ?” features the voices of more than 50 MCU cast members who reprise their roles, including Andy Serkis, Angela Bassett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Benicio Del Toro, Bradley Whitford, Carrie Coon, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Sullivan, Clancy Brown, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Danai Gurira, David Dastmalchian, Djimon Hounsou, Dominic Cooper, Don Cheadle, Emily VanCamp, Evangeline Lilly, Frank Grillo, Georges St-Pierre, Hayley Atwell, Jaimie Alexander, Jeff Goldblum, Jeremy Renner, John Kani, Jon Favreau, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Kat Dennings, Kurt Russell, Leslie Bibb, Mark Ruffalo, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Douglas, Michael Rooker, Natalie Portman, Neal McDonough, Ophelia Lovibond, Paul Bettany, Paul Rudd, Rachel House, Rachel McAdams, Samuel L. Jackson, Sean Gunn, Sebastian Stan, Seth Green, Stanley Tucci, Taika Waititi, Tilda Swinton, Toby Jones, Tom Hiddleston and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor.
As Marvel Studios’ first-ever animated series, “What If…?” ventures into uncharted territory. “What struck me was how limitless animation is,” says executive producer Brad Winderbaum. “You have to determine your artistic code and set parameters early.”
Filmmakers rooted the look of the series in classic American illustration, leaning into renowned artists like J.C. Leyendecker, a pioneer known for his iconic ads and magazine covers including The Saturday Evening Post. “Leyendecker inspired Norman Rockwell,” says director Bryan Andrews, who also looked at artists including Tom Lovell and Mead Schaeffer, the latter whose family actually posed as models for Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post illustrations.
“Their work included a lot of mood and atmosphere. Disney’s ‘Lady and the Tramp’ was also something we looked at because there’s not a lot of harsh line work—it’s always beautifully painted.”
Ultimately, the team developed a specific and unique style that embraced their reference material, as well as that within the Marvel world.
There is so much excitement happening right now at the Disneyland Resort – from exploring the all-new Super Hero-themed land of Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park to living out your own Star Wars™ story in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. Plus, fireworks are back with Mickey’s Mix Magic, all three of our Disneyland Resort hotels have reopened, and there’s lots of great dining, shopping and entertainment throughout the Downtown Disney District, too.
The fans and Legacy Passholders have been eagerly waiting to hear how to visit the theme parks in new and frequent ways; and visiting in a manner that is designed for today’s Guests that also fits their individual needs. Disney is excited to share the next evolution of the Disneyland Resort Annual Pass program, which was informed and shaped by extensive consumer research and feedback from guests and fans.
Introducing the Magic Key program, a new, Guest-centric offering that will deliver choice, flexibility and value for park admission, special access to unique experiences, valuable saving opportunities and so much more. There will be four options of Magic Key passes, to provide guests and their families with choices that fit various needs and lifestyle preferences for how they wish to visit the Disneyland Resort.
Here’s a brief overview of the various Magic Key passes with more information on Disneyland.com:
Magic Key Theme Park Reservation System
The theme park reservation system is a cornerstone component of the Magic Key program as part of our efforts to help provide a great experience for all of our guests. Magic Key holders will make advanced reservations to enjoy Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure park on available dates, and be able to hold a certain number of upcoming reservations (depending on the pass type).
Additional Offerings and Benefits
Magic Key holders will have access to an array of special offerings and many features that we know our guests will love, such as valuable saving opportunities for merchandise and food & beverage. Throughout the year, they may also be able to enjoy special benefits such as a dedicated dining experience and custom menu items at the Magic Key terrace, special offerings at our festivals just for Magic Keyholders, a Magic Keyholder celebration month, plus other unique surprises!
What’s more, we will be introducing an all-new Magic Key portal on the Disneyland app to more deeply engage directly with our community of Magic Key holders in the future.
Be Among the First
For a limited time, we will celebrate the charter members that become Magic Key holders within the first 66 days (as we celebrate 66 years of Disneyland Resort). These Guests will receive a special welcome package that will include unique items such as a premium branded pin, celebratory button, magnet, and more! Plus, Magic Key holders who enter Disneyland park will also be celebrated with access to a limited-time experience at Starcade in Tomorrowland (which begins on Sept. 1), where they can enjoy charging stations, a special photo opportunity, and other fun surprises.
Purchasing a Magic Key Pass
Starting August 25, 2021 (no earlier than 10 a.m. PT), Guests will be able to purchase their preferred Magic Key pass type. Their first opportunity to “unlock” a visit to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure park with a theme park reservation will be that same day!
A monthly payment plan exclusively for California residents* will be offered—which continues to be a priority for our Guests of Disneyland Resort. Magic Key passes start as low as $399 or $19/month for 12 months**** (for Southern California residents, and after down payment).
Guests will be able to purchase and manage their Magic Key pass through Disneyland.com and the Disneyland app, where they will be able to access an interactive admission calendar for their pass type to view reservation availability and book their theme park reservations.
Extraordinary Time to Visit
This is an extraordinary time at Disneyland Resort; favorite attractions, beloved entertainment, festive foods and characters galore bring joy to our Guests every day. Plus, favorite seasonal traditions, like Halloween Time, will return to Disneyland Resort Sept. 3 through Oct. 31, special festivals will be enjoyed throughout the year, and we’ll have even more to share with you, soon. And with all that, we’re thrilled to introduce our Guests to the new Magic Key program, beginning August 25!
And for those wondering about Walt Disney World Annual Passes, new pass sales will become available in time for the start of the 50th-anniversary celebration! Walt Disney World Resort will be sharing additional information and details later this month, so be sure to stay tuned for more.
Theme park reservations and valid passes for the same park on the same date are required for park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability, public health orders, and applicable pass blackout dates, and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park. Additionally, park reservations may not be available on select holidays for certain theme parks. Pass types may be limited in quantity, and may not be available for purchase or renewal at any time.
Current Magic Key pass prices are subject to change. A Pass excludes separately priced activities and events, and does not guarantee access to any experience, attraction or offering or to park entry. Subject to Magic Key Terms and Conditions which can be found at Disneyland.com/MagicKeyTerms. Information, including blackout dates, benefits, and prices, is subject to change and cancellation without notice.
Some pass benefits and features may not be available during periods of limited capacity. Park experiences and offerings may have been modified and are subject to limited availability or even closure. Please check disneytraveltradeinfo.com/dlr for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.
*Monthly payments option valid only for California Residents, 18 years or older with valid ID, and living in ZIP Codes 90000–96199. Twelve (12) monthly payments based on the remaining balance after one-time down payment on the date of Passport purchase. 0% APR. Subject to restrictions, including a retail installment agreement, and change without notice.
** The number of theme park reservations that may be held at a time during a specific booking window is dependent on pass type and is subject to availability and other rules and restrictions, including excessive “no-show” rules.
*** Magic Keyholder must present their valid pass prior to purchases to receive any applicable benefits or discounts. Benefits/discounts are subject to restrictions and exclusions and are determined solely by Disney or the store/location owner.
****Based on purchase of the Imagine Key pass, which is available only to Southern California residents living in ZIP Codes 90000-93599. Monthly payment amount is based on remaining balance after a one-time down payment on date of Passport purchase of $179. Twelve (12) monthly payments and 0% APR apply. Subject to restrictions, including a retail installment agreement, and change without notice.
† Parking benefit is valid for parking, or for discounted parking, for one (1) standard vehicle only at pay-on entry lots at the Disneyland® Resort. Discounted parking must be purchased at the parking lot. Oversized vehicles, preferred parking spaces and valet services are not included in this parking benefit and will require an additional fee. Parking is not guaranteed and is subject to capacity and applicable Pass blackout dates.
Disney’s Jungle Cruise debuted at #1 this weekend, opening to an estimated total of more than $90M globally, including $34.2M in domestic box office, $27.6M in the international box office, and over $30M in Disney+ Premier Access consumer spend globally.
“Jungle Cruise is the perfect summer adventure film, bringing a beloved theme park attraction to both the big screen and living rooms in a way that only Disney can. We remain focused on offering consumer choice during these unprecedented times, and it is clear that fans and families value the ability to make decisions on how they prefer to enjoy Disney’s best-in-class storytelling.”
About Jungle Cruise
Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Disney’s Jungle Cruise is an adventure-filled, rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.
Jaume Collet-Serra directs the film, which stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez and Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti. The producers are John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment; Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia of Seven Bucks Productions; and Beau Flynn of Flynn Picture Co., with Scott Sheldon and Doug Merrifield serving as executive producers. The story is by John Norville & Josh Goldstein and Glenn Ficarra & John Requa, and the screenplay is by Michael Green and Glenn Ficarra & John Requa.
Join Marvel producer Kevin Feige, stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina, and director Destin Daniel Cretton as they explore Shang-Chi’s backstory and his connection to the Ten Rings in “Destiny” a new, exciting, action-packed featurette for Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings.”
Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng. “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and produced by Kevin Feige and Jonathan Schwartz, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Charles Newirth serving as executive producers.
Shang-Chi’s journey is told with stunning visuals, the MCU’s signature spectacle and displays of mind-blowing action, along with the talents of a diverse, stellar cast and a relatable story.
From Disney comes “Jungle Cruise,” a rollicking thrill ride down the mighty and untamed Amazon inspired by the classic Disney theme- park attraction, and starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. With gruff, wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) at the helm of the La Quila, his ramshackle-but-charming boat, the adventure of a lifetime is about to begin!
During a recent press conference, we heard from Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall, and Edgar Ramirez.
When presented with the project, Dwayne Johnson said yes immediately, he commented “It was really good and immediately saw the potential of the opportunity.” “And that opportunity was to take a beloved and iconic Disney ride, since 1955 when the park opened. This was, Walt Disney’s baby. There were a lot of elements that I felt comfortable with saying yes, I will come on board, I’ll partner with you guys, and we will develop this thing” he added.
“‘Jungle Cruise’ is about adventure and about life, and living a full life,” says Dwayne Johnson, who is also a producer on the film. “And being aware of that and breaking through barriers by doing things beyond what people think are your limits. ‘Jungle Cruise’ is an adventure: it’s fun, it’s magical, it’s mystical, it’s dangerous, it’s exciting.”
The Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland park has been thrilling visitors since it first opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. The attraction’s popularity led to its inclusion as one of the opening day attractions at the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in 1971, and Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. In 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland featured a modified version—Jungle River Cruise—as one of their opening day attractions as well.
The tone of the attraction was more serious when it opened, on the first day Disneyland Park welcomed guests in 1955. The river has changed course through the years and additions included the elephant bathing pool, gorillas in the safari camp, and a new piranha scene.
“From the beginning, we wanted to ensure that every element of the Jungle Cruise attraction—the spirit and great reverence that we have for it and Walt—are in the movie,” remarks Johnson. “We’ve worked closely with the tremendously talented team of Disney Imagineers to make sure that we are servicing all these memorable moments and integrating them into this epic adventure. This is what makes this project so very special. It’s been years in the making to pay homage to this wonderful piece of Disneyland history and we’re very, very excited about making a great movie that honors and respects the Jungle Cruise ride.”
When asked: What was it like seeing yourself for the first time? Because, without spoilers, you have a fantastic look in this film. Johnson responded with, Iconic. Edgar Ramirez said, “I mean it, I was-I was-I was very happy. I was very happy that those snakes weren’t anywhere near me during the shoot.” He added “I’m super-afraid of snakes, and we encountered some of them when we’re shooting in Atlanta, you know. ‘Cause, we were-I mean, we shot in real locations and we dressed them to look like the Amazon. It’s incredible. I come from an Amazonian country, and I saw the movie for the first time at the premiere.”
Producer Hiram Garcia weighs in, “Jaume just has this unbelievable perspective on the material. Not only is he extremely talented and a true artist who gets down to the nitty-gritty of character and story details but he’s also able to take a step back and just look at everything as a whole, reevaluate any situation and adjust. He’s such an unbelievable collaborator.”
For Dwayne Johnson, Collet-Serra’s vision and “unique sense of what this movie should be” was paramount. “He comes from a very unique and special cadre of Spanish directors who not only have an incredible work ethic and a great visual aesthetic but can tell stories through their camera work,” explains Johnson. “When you think of all the elements that a Jungle Cruise movie brings to the table, it’s essential to have this kind of artist leading the charge.”
For Collet-Serra, his work with the filmmakers commenced with a definitive tone in mind. “The Jungle Cruise ride is beloved by many people, not only because it’s been there for a long time but because it’s one of the only rides that the whole family can enjoy together,” says Collet-Serra. “You can bring a baby and you can bring your grandma so, in a way, we wanted to make a film that reflected that. A film that the whole family could enjoy together. So, that was the starting point for us.”
Transporting fans to an exciting new world while simultaneously bringing the Jungle Cruise experience to life were the essential building blocks for “Jungle Cruise,” the film. Lush, exotic film locations and imaginative, fantastical production design balanced by detailed period costumes were critical for the filmmakers to deliver a practically executed live-action version of what they loved most about Disney’s famed attraction.
Almost every aspect of that mandate was encompassed by Collet-Serra’s creative brain trust of production designer Jean-Vincent Puzos, Oscar®-nominated costume designer Paco Delgado and cinematographer Flavio Labiano. Visual effects supervisors Jake Morrison and Jim Berney layered in mind-blowing CGI to compliment the action and supernatural components.
“This movie takes place in the early 1900s in the Amazon jungle, so we wanted to make a movie that was vibrant, full of color and rich,” remarks Collet-Serra. “It’s hard to make a movie in the actual Amazon, so we had to bring those colors and those textures to our stage, and the only tools that we had were the production design and the costumes.”
To make sure they were representing the Amazon of the time period accurately, filmmakers researched the animals and flora. “We also had a cultural advisor throughout that made sure that everything was properly represented,” says Collet-Serra. “The Tupi language was spoken there many years ago, so we made our own version based on that old language to give our characters an added sense of reality.”
Equally important to the filmmakers when it came to creating epic film sets in Hawaii was their commitment to ensuring that the local wildlife and the surrounding environment were unharmed by their presence. The production worked closely with multiple environmental specialists to make sure that, upon completion of filming and removal of the sets, all areas used for filming were regraded and replanted with native greens, and any usable building materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity and other local island-based organizations.
Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” is now playing in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access.
It’s been 20 years since Clark Kent first arrived in Kansas, and in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the remarkable series, Smallville: The Complete Series20th Anniversary Edition will soar onto Blu-ray for the first time ever from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on October 19, 2021. This set for the ultimate fan features all 218 episodes along with over 28 hours of bonus features from all 10 incredible seasons, plus Digital Copy (US Only). Smallville: The Complete Series20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray is priced to own at $179.99 SRP ($209.99 in Canada) and will also be available on DVD for $154.99 SRP ($184.99 in Canada).
The groundbreaking, Emmy®-winning 10-season hit that redefined the origins of the world’s greatest super hero is all here – from Krypton refugee Kal-El’s arrival on Earth through his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s final steps toward embracing his destiny as the Man of Steel.
Relive a decade’s worth of thrills in fantastic adventures full of action, heart and humor in abundance, all anchored by the marvelous performance of Tom Welling at its center. Savor again the series’ thoughtful and imaginative integration and reinvention of the iconic characters of DC lore. And let your spirits be lifted up, up and away.
Starring Tom Welling as “Clark Kent,” Allison Mack as “Chloe Sullivan,” Kristin Kreuk as “Lana Lang,” Michael Rosenbaum as “Lex Luthor,” John Glover as “Lionel Luthor,” Erica Durance as “Lois Lane,” Annette O’Toole as “Martha Kent,” John Schneider as “Jonathan Kent,” Justin Hartley as “Oliver Queen,” Sam Jones III as “Pete Ross,” Cassidy Freeman as “Tess Mercer,” Aaron Ashmore as “Jimmy Olsen.”
Eric Johnson as “Whitney Fordman,” Laura Vandervoort as “Kara,” Callum Blue as “Zod,” Jensen Ackles as “Jason Teague” and Sam Witwer as “Davis Bloome,” Smallville has also featured many notable guest stars including Terence Stamp, James Marsters, Michael McKean, Ian Somerhalder, Jane Seymour, Brian Austin Green, Pam Grier, Helen Slater, Michael Ironside, Julian Sands, Tori Spelling, Rutger Hauer and Christopher Reeve.
Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Based on DC Comics characters, Smallville was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar. Its executive producers have included Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, James Marshall, Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Greg Beeman, Ken Horton and Tom Welling. The series is from Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television.
Smallville: The Complete Series20th Anniversary Edition
The set includes 2 DVD discs with over 28 hours of bonus features originally released on the Smallville Seasons 1-10 DVD sets.
MORE THAN 28 HOURS OF BONUS FEATURES
The Adventures of Superboy – The original 1961 pilot starring John Rockwell.
A Retrospective Look at the Series’ 10-Year Journey – An in-depth, season-by-season look at the creation of this landmark television series. Highlights include interviews with Tom Welling, Eric Durance, Michael Rosenbaum, Phil Morris, John Schneider and many more, as well as rare behind-the-scenes footage.
A Decade of Comic-Con Featurette
Paley Festival Featurette
Smallville’s 100th Episode: Making of a Milestone – An extended version of the original featurette included in the Season 5 set.
Secret Origin:The American Story of DC Comics – A feature length documentary chronicling DC’s 75 years of challenges, creativity, and triumph.
Audio Commentaries, Deleted and Extended Scenes,Gag Reels,Behind-the-scenes featurettes and much more from all 10 seasons!
DIGITAL
Smallville: The Complete Series is currently available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and others.
SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE SERIES 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Street Date: October 19, 2021
Order Due Date: September 07, 2021
Blu-ray Presented in 16×9 widescreen format
Running time: Approx. 154 Hours
Blu-ray Price: $179.99 SRP ($209.99 in Canada)
42-Discs (40 BD-50s + 2 DVD-9s for the Bonus Features)
“Dune” from Legendary Pictures and Warners Bros., is directed by Oscar nominee Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049”) comes to the big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal bestseller of the same name.
A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people.
As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
The film stars Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Call Me by Your Name,” “Little Women”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”), Oscar Isaac (the “Star Wars” franchise) Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Milk,” “Avengers: Infinity War”), Stellan Skarsgård (HBO’s “Chernobyl,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Avengers: Endgame”).
Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences,” “Lady Bird”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” HBO’s “Euphoria”), Chang Chen (“Mr. Long,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), David Dastmalchian (“Blade Runner 2049,” “The Dark Knight”), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Netflix’s “Sex Education”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), with Jason Momoa (“Aquaman,” HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Skyfall”).
Villeneuve directed “Dune” from a screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Villeneuve and Eric Roth based on the novel of the same name written by Frank Herbert. Villeneuve also produced the film with Mary Parent, Cale Boyter and Joe Caracciolo, Jr. The executive producers are Tanya Lapointe, Joshua Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert.
Behind the scenes, Villeneuve reteamed with two-time Oscar-nominated production designer Patrice Vermette (“Arrival,” “Sicario,” “The Young Victoria”), two-time Oscar-nominated editor Joe Walker (“Blade Runner 2049,” “Arrival,” “12 Years a Slave”), two-time Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert (“First Man,” “Blade Runner 2049”), and Oscar-winning special effects supervisor Gerd Nefzer (“Blade Runner 2049”).
He also collaborated for the first time with Oscar-nominated director of photography Greig Fraser (“Lion,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”); three-time Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West (“The Revenant,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Quills”) and costume designer Robert Morgan; and stunt coordinator Tom Struthers (“The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception”).
Oscar-winning and multiple Oscar-nominated composer Hans Zimmer (“Blade Runner 2049,” “Inception,” “Gladiator,” “The Lion King”) is creating the score.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present a Legendary Pictures Production, a Film by Denis Villeneuve, “Dune.” The film is slated to be released in select theaters in 2D and 3D and IMAX and on HBO Max on October 22, 2021 and will be available on HBO Max’s Ad-Free plan in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos (English Only) on supported devices for 31 days from the theatrical release.
The film has been rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images and suggestive material.
“Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood is back with a vengeance as tickets are now on sale with menacing fan-favorite mazes, “The Exorcist” and “The Curse of Pandora’s Box,” joining an unnerving line-up at Southern California’s intensely immersive Halloween event.
You can click here to purchase tickets, and due to popular demand, the event is expected to sell out. Event dates are: September 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 30 and October 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31.
This year, guests will be possessed by “The Exorcist” maze, often revered as the most terrifying movie of all time, as they live the tormented aberrations experienced by Regan and her determined mother.
Horror also re-emerges in ultraviolet with the addition of the original concept maze, “The Curse of Pandora’s Box.” Inspired by the most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology, this disturbing experience transports guests from the land of the living to the nightmarish netherworld of Hades where the demonic temptress Pandora serves as their guide.
Designed to taunt, terrorize and torment guests as they navigate the darkness from one frightening maze to another, “Halloween Horror Nights” also features the previously announced line-up with more mazes and experiences to be announced soon:
“The Haunting of Hill House,” based on Netflix’s critically-acclaimed supernatural thriller.
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” a chilling maze featuring a demented Leatherface and his unrelenting chainsaw.
“Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ cinematic monsters with an all-original story about one of the studio’s most infamous creatures.
Tickets are available at Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com. All tickets purchased online provide guests early admission with entry beginning at 6:00 p.m. each night of “Halloween Horror Nights.”
The following are the various “Halloween Horror Nights” tickets options available for purchase:
General Admission: single night ticket to the seasonal event
Universal Express™: admission to “Halloween Horror Nights” and one-time express access to each maze, ride and attraction
Universal Express™ Unlimited: admission to “Halloween Horror Nights” and unlimited express access to each maze, ride and attraction
Day to Night Ticket: after 2 pm access to all daytime attractions plus Halloween Horror Nights
Day to Night Ticket + Universal Express™: after 2 pm one-time express access to all daytime attractions plus Halloween Horror Nights
Click here for more information about each ticket type and for Terms and Conditions. Additional tickets will be available soon, including the premium R.I.P. Tour, Frequent Fear, and Ultimate Fear passes.
“Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror inspired by TV and film’s most compelling horror properties.
The event also comes to life at Universal Orlando Resort which celebrates 30 years of fear this year.
Disney+ has revealed the official trailer for “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life” premiering Wednesday, July 28. Comprised of three seven-minute stories, each episode follows two tiny troublemakers, Chip and Dale, trying to live the good life in a big city park while having giant-sized, sky-high adventures.
Nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale make the perfect odd couple: they’re best buddies and they drive each other nuts. In their perpetual pursuit of acorns, these ultimate underdogs are joined by Pluto, Butch and other iconic Disney characters as they face down bullies great and small.
Filled with laugh-out-loud cartoon comedy, wacky adventures and heartfelt storytelling, the 12-episode series will debut new episodes weekly on Disney+.
“Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life” is produced by Xilam Animation with Marc du Pontavice as Executive Producer/Producer and Jean Cayrol as Director. Vincent Artaud serves as the series composer.
Chapter 5: Live Again!
