Lupita Nyong’o Shares Some Maz Love, Plus Emoji!

One of the complaints about The Force Awakens that I heard from someone was: I could tell that Rey wasn’t talking to anyone. She was just staring into space when she took that lightsaber. Um, no. Lupita Nyong’o was Right. There. I love that we’re at the point where actors can actually act CGI characters, not just voice a fully animated character interacting with live actors. I think it makes all the difference, but there is a lot of contention about the subject. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Also, check out this awesome Maz emoji:

So. Freakin'. Adorbs.
So. Freakin’. Adorbs.
So. Incredibly. Beautiful.
So. Incredibly. Beautiful.

It’s available in the Star Wars app, which is free and awesome. To download or learn more about the app, visit: http://strw.rs/SWAppMaz or Lupita’s Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/lupitanyongo/

And just in case I haven’t mentioned it SEVEN MILLION TIMES, Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives in Digital HD April 1st and Blu-ray & DVD April 5th.

Fab News is sponsored by my Patreon Patrons and DVCResaleMarket.com

MiceChat Readers Save at Anabella Hotel

The LOVELY Anabella Hotel in Anaheim offers MiceChat readers the best possible deals. But for Spring Break, you’ll also get a $50.00 Disney™ gift card with a two night stay exclusively for MiceChat readers. The deal is available until the end of March for travel through June 22nd, 2016. Call800.863.4888 and ask for the “MiceChat Spring Break offer with gift Card” for this great deal!

M_fountain_shot_6338

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Kicks Off in a Big Way

We attended the first day of Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival, got our cards, tried a LOT of different foods, and will be going back again and again between now and April 3rd. One of the BIG ways they celebrated was the World Boysenberry Pie Eating Championship, with a 4,000.00 purse and other prizes at stake.

Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo Knott's Berry Farm March 19 2016
Miki Sudo and Joey Chestnut

Knott's Boysenberry Festival Pie MLE Eating Contest 1

Knott's Boysenberry Festival MLE Pie Eating Contest 4

Knott's Boysenberry Festival MLE Pie Eating Contest 3

Knott's Boysenberry Festival MLE Pie Eating Contest 2

Joey Chestnut Winner Trophy  Knott's Berry Farm March 19 2016

Joey Chestnut Winner Knott's Berry Farm Pie March 19 2016

Joey Chestnut Winner Knott's Berry Farm March 19 2016

Joey Chestnut broke the world record he set last year (14 lbs in 8 minutes) by adding a half pound of boysenberry goodness to his record. Here are the results:

Knott’s Berry Farm World Boysenberry Pie-Eating Championship – in 8 minutes:

  1. Joey Chestnut 14.5 pounds (New World Record) $2,000 prize
  2. Steve Hendry 10.25 pounds $1,000 prize
  3. Miki Sudo 9.5 pounds $600  prize
  4. Michelle Lesco 9 pounds $300 prize
  5. Tie: Rich LeFevre + Justin Mi 8.5 pounds $100 prize – shared.

I prefer mine nice and slow, with a cup of coffee. Congratulations to the stalwart champions!

I’m going to go into intimate detail on Thursday, but so far, we like the wings the best. My mother in law really digs the Boysenberry wine, too. Alice likes the beer>cider, and she and Abuela love the alligator. I really loved the short ribs as well; Hastin was right about the meatballs – they’re fantastic. Tomorrow, I’m going to pick up a bottle of the soda and give it a try, and also a bottle of the syrup and try it out in my SodaStream to see what happens there. They changed the formula in their soda mixes and – I’m looking.

Wait, More Winning!

We had so much fun giving away tickets to Knott’s Boysenberry Festival last week that we are doing it again! You could win two free tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm, including tasting cards to the Boysenberry Festival. Just enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MiceChat Gumball Rally 10th Anniversary!

If you haven’t heard of the Gumball Rally before, you are missing out! The MiceChat Gumball Rally is a legendary event which happens annually at the Disneyland Resort. It is a full day adventure through Disneyland Park to see how many attractions you can ride in a single day. Yes, it’s amazing! You have to do this. Get your friends together in teams of 2 to 4 people and sign up before the tickets sell out!

03-21-16-ceb79425-a793-4

  • Compete in teams of 2, 3, or 4 people.
  • You don’t have to be a trivia buff, ride warrior, or theme park nerd to play. The game is designed to put everyone on a level playing field.
  • You can play at the speed that you like. Take it easy or tear through the park. It’s up to you.
  • For one low price you get the game and Awards Party, complete with entertainment and prizes. (admission into the parks is NOT included)
  • Prizes will be awarded for 1st – 10th place, Best Team Logo, Best Team Name, and Spirit of MiceChat Award. There are plenty of chances to win!
  • Plus, while you are waiting for the results, we’ll present you with great entertainment and prizes!
  • An all day race through Disneyland to see who can ride the most attractions in a single day . . . There is simply no better way to challenge yourself, what you think you know about Disneyland, and have a fantastic time with your family and friends (whether you win or not).

 For more information or to register for the event, CLICK HERE!

unnamed

Don’t miss the Pre-Rally Pasta Party on Friday May 13th.

Power-up for the race of your life. Fuel your Rally efforts with a carb loading dinner the night before the Rally and be among the first to see the Gumball Rally Trophy. Pasta Party attendees get the added benefit of being able to check in for the Rally a day early! Meet your fellow Rally participants and have a great meal, friendship and fun. Skip the Rally morning lines and sign up for the Pasta Party HERE:

MiceChat Gumball Rally 2016 Pasta Party Sign-Up

unnamed (1)

Just across the street from the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim Plaza Hotel offers a VERY special MiceChat Rate of $135 for MiceChat Gumball weekend.

To book, please call 714-772-5900 and ask for the special “MiceChat Rate”. Those staying at the hotel Saturday will receive complementary parking, a great perk for your MiceChat Gumball Rally weekend! Booking your stay at the Anaheim Plaza helps support the MiceChat Gumball Rally, which allows us to offer the Rally at our lowest possible rate for everyone.

Sign up now HERE

Gumball Rally Rules & Discussion on MiceChat HERE

Gumball-Rally-Castle-Photo

Star Wars Rebels Preview: The Mystery of Chopper Base

Oh, so much soapy goodness  very manly action-adventure: Kanan, Ezra and Ahsoka prepare to depart to unravel Vader’s secret, while the rebels find a way to fend off the predatory creatures that occupy the planet. This show might as well be injected straight into my veins. Binge-watch five episodes and tell me I’m wrong.

REB_IA_14733

REB_IA_14790

REB_IA_14826

REB_IA_14833

REB_IA_14853

REB_IA_14864

Follow @StarWars for the latest news on #StarWarsRebels, and check out StarWars.com  for more exciting news on the series.

Get Fab News Alerts on the MouseAddict App!

The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat now including Fab News, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com

Dancing With the Stars Returns

“Dancing with the Stars” is back with an all-new celebrity cast ready to hit the ballroom floor. The competition began with the two-hour season premiere, last night on the ABC Television Network. The premiere episode kicked off with an exciting and dynamic opening number, featuring all of the celebrities and dancers, along with returning head judge Len Goodman. The night continued with each couple dancing a cha cha, fox trot, jive, tango or quickstep, vying for America’s vote for the first time. (Photo ABC/Adam Taylor)

143006_0582-900x600

CARRIE ANN INABA, LEN GOODMAN, BRUNO TONIOLICARRIE ANN INABA, LEN GOODMAN, BRUNO TONIOLI

ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV, MISCHA BARTON
ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV, MISCHA BARTON
KIM FIELDS, SASHA FARBER
KIM FIELDS, SASHA FARBER

Win Monopoly Empire Edition!

index

 

 

 

Did you know that Saturday was World Monopoly Day? It’s true. The game turned 81 years young. And to celebrate, our dustysage is giving away the new Empire Edition of the game, which features famous brands such as Universal Parks & Resorts! All you need to do is enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank You!

Thanks to my Patreon Patrons and DVCResaleMarket.com for supporting Fab News – I really can’t do this without you. Also thank you to everyone who comments, tweets, Facebooks or emails. It all means a lot to me, truly.

DVCResaleMarket.com‘s knowledgeable sales team have over 75 combined years experience working with Disney Vacation Club, so they know the process of buying and selling DVC points intimately. Be informed before you make a decision about pre-paid vacations and learn the differences between timeshare, other “vacation club” memberships and Disney Vacation Club – and how DVC Resale Market can save you time and money when you do decide to make your move.

Star Wars, Fab News: Maz-Berries-Chopper Base and Are You Ready to Rally?Star Wars, Fab News: Maz-Berries-Chopper Base and Are You Ready to Rally? 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!

 
FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Sponsorship for this edition of Fab News was provided by DVC Resale Market.
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.