There’s a lot of celebrating going on, but I’m celebrating because today, November 17, is my husand Noe’s birthday. Happy birthday, honey! If I could give you anything, I’d ask Bob Iger to buy SEGA and build you a NiGHTS Into Dreams indoor coaster. XOXOX.

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

Season of the Force Opensseason of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

As of yesterday, Star Wars Season of the Force is now open at Disneyland Park!

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch
If it’s a Star Wars story, it begins with the famous crawl, right?

Star Wars Launch Bay has taken over the lower level of the Carousel building (formerly Innoventions, America Sings, and Carousel of Progress before that) and is wowing those who have been there so far. I can’t wait to get a peek myself. Alice and I are going to try to get a look later this week.

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

Star Wars: Path of the Jedi is a cinematic overview of the Star Wars saga; it’s a great primer for newbies and a fond look back for veterans. Great refresher, I’m guessing, for right before you go into Launch Bay.season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

There’s also a new adventure in Star Tours:The Adventures Continue, which I always mistakenly call “The Adventure Continues”. You’ll get to see a new scene inspired by the upcoming Star Wars film. season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

 

Hyperspace Mountain a Hypersize Hit

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

Is “Hypersize” even a word? If not, let’s make it a thing!

I have yet to experience any of the Season of the Force goodness, but even some of the hardcore Disney disdainers on my feed are seriously raving about Hyperspace Mountain. People are saying that they should leave it that way forever, because it’s just THAT good. Maybe they should have killed the sub lagoon after all and put Star Wars Land over thataway instead. I know, blasphemy. But California and water and upkeep and real estate and building stuff on top of it and stuff. You know?

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

Opening Dec. 8, Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple enhances this popular show with new characters and a new villain. Did we see said villain at the D23 EXPO? We’ll find out soon!

But let’s get to the important stuff:

The Food

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch
Jedi Order Chicken Sandwich. Made from actual Jedi Chicken*.

*Not made from actual Jedi Chicken. They kept telling the cooks that they weren’t the chickens they were looking for. Dusty had one and said it was delicious! Yes, those are fried green beans and pickled onions on top.

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch
Satisfy your Dark Side with the First Order Specialty Burger. It’s spicy and has a black bun.
season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch
Dark Side Chicken Curry Specialty Pizza. Just like we used to get from Pizza Hut. In Japan. Don’t knock it, it’s good!
season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch
They call this “Darth Tamale”. There is no joke nor pun in any universe that I can think of to top that. Let’s give them a hand!

And now for the really REALLY important part: Dessert!

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch
“Darth by Chocolate” and “The Pastry Menace”. (weeps) These are my people!

 

From The Department of My Bad:

World of Color Dining Clarification

I was pointed toward a post at the Disney Parks Blog that lays out the deets on the dining situation a couple of Fabanistas were asking about the other day. Anyway, if you”re NOT dining, you go to the Fastpass area, tell the CM which one you want to see, and, this is important, when the CM tells you which bank of machines to go to, GO TO THOSE FASTPASS MACHINES and use them. If you’re doing the dining thing, tell the reservations CM on the phone.

‘WORLD OF COLOR – WINTER DREAMS’ (ANAHEIM, Calif.) – “World of Color - Winter Dreams,” the holiday version of the “World of Color” nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure Park, adds even more merriment to Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, which runs from Nov. 13, 2015 through Jan. 6, 2016. Hosted by Olaf the snowman from Disney’s “Frozen,” the “World of Color - Winter Dreams” show features classic winter scenes from beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar films. Also during the holiday season at Disney California Adventure, guests will enjoy “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!,” a celebration of Latino culture and seasonal traditions. This year, the Diamond Celebration adds even more sparkle to the festive entertainment with “Paint the Night” parade and the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular. (Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland Resort)

Another Look at Skippers’ Canteen

We’ll make a quick hyper-jump to Walt Disney World and look at the new Jungle Cruise themed restaurant going into Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom. Jealous yet?

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

Love those chandeliers. And now we know what happened to Rosita.

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

At Walt Disney World, the Jungle Cruise goes through a treasure-filled temple. Inside, are these three monkeys, doing, well, THIS.

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

Check out the red and green lights, the matching balconies, and some other cool touches.

season of the force, Fab News Season of the Force Ready to Launch

A completely ordinary chandelier. Nothing to see here.

And this is a…video

We hope to see more soon!

Here I Am, Rock Me Like A-Candy_Canes

It’s almost CANDY CANE time at Disneyland! I admit, I’ve never had one because of my famed trouble with that whole getting up early thing. But if you are not deathly allergic to getting up early, there’s a good chance you might be able to get your paws on one.

They tell you to not queue up early outside the gates for a Candy Cane wristband. Also, walk, do not run, to your first destination for the day. Which we totally, totally do. Most people are at the gates about 30-45 minutes before the gates open, but there are a few ways that you can be inside the park and on Main Street, USA before said gates open to the general public.

Extra Magic Hours: Stay in a Disney-owned hotel or one of the Good Neighbor Hotels that is running an Extra Magic promo, and make sure that the Extra Magic day jives with Candy Cane day, or you’re going to be standing in line for toffee or divinity, which, while also delicious, do not carry the bragging cache that nabbing a CANDY CANE does.

Plaza Inn: This only works at Disneyland Park, obviously. there is no restaurant at DCA that opens before park hours. Try to get the first reservation of the day for Plaza Inn and finish breakfast before gates open,

Candy Palace at Disneyland Park

  • Friday, November 27
  • Tuesday, December 1
  • Friday, December 4 
  • Sunday, December 6
  • Tuesday, December 8 
  • Friday, December 11
  • Sunday, December 13 
  • Tuesday, December 15 
  • Friday, December 18 
  • Thursday, December 24 

Trolley Treats at Disney California Adventure

  • Saturday, November 28
  • Monday, November 30
  • Saturday, December 5
  • Monday, December 7
  • Wednesday, December 9
  • Saturday, December 12
  • Monday, December 14
  • Wednesday, December 16
  • Saturday, December 19
  • Friday, December 25

The Muppets Picked Up

A few of my friends and personal heroes work on The Muppets, so I was thrilled to find out that it got picked up, and a little concerned that it’s being re-tooled. I hope it doesn’t lose its edge. So far, no chance of that. Chelsea Handler is tonight’s guest star in the ep “Too Hot to Handler”:

Scooter books his long time TV crush, Chelsea Handler, who really heats things up both on ‘Up Late’ and in Scooter’s personal life. Meanwhile, Fozzie wants to take it to the next level with Becky but when Kermit and Denise go on a double date with them, Kermit discovers that Becky might have a few skeletons in her closet.

RIKI LINDHOME, FOZZIE BEAR, DENISE, KERMIT THE FROG

That’s it for now. On Thursday, we’re going to get small with a review of the blu-ray of Ant-Man and look at some stuff going on at Walt Disney World, and see if we can catch Santa Claus in Critter Country.

If you want to reach me I’m on Twitter, on Facebook, and also available at [email protected] . If you’d like to support Fab News, I’d appreciate it. You can pledge a dollar or more a month through Patreon or you can make a one-time donation of a dollar or more through Square. Just click on the banners below. Thanks!

Shelly Valladolid
Shelly Valladolid, aka Fab, has been writing about Disney and theme parks for about two decades. She has written for various fan and pop culture sites, Disney Magazine and OCRegister.com and participated in several books, including Passporter's Disneyland and Southern California and Disney World Dreams. She was co-founder and president of the Orlando, Florida chapter of the NFFC (now Disneyana Fan Club). She taught a class on theme park history at a Southern California University. She is creator and co-owner of Jim Hill Media, one of the creators of MousePlanet and was a consultant on MSNBC, The Motley Fool and others about Disney and various media matters. She was a Heel wrestling manager on TV and a voice artist on the radio in Honolulu, HI, where she grew up. She has a blog and a podcast with her daughter, Mission:Breakout Obsessive Alice Hill. She and her husband, MiceChat columnist Noe Valladolid, live in Southern California with Alice.