Hello Fabanistas and MiceChatters! I’m trying a different way of doing things, because stories have been piling up. I’m giving you the information as I get it, with my commentary following it, for the most part. Sometimes, though, I can’t help myself and I interrupt in the middle. Some stories are still completely my own. You really can tell the difference between a story in my voice and a press release, honest. Let me know what you think. I promise I’ll never just toss up press releases verbatim and let them sit there unattended. That’s what rss feeds are for. Besides, I’m far too opinionated to let anything go…right? So let’s take a look at about a third of Disney’s wonderful world!

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Disney Baby #WINnie the Pooh Weekly Sweeps

, Fab News: Fashion, Festivities, Creativity and Comics

Win some adorable baby items from the new Winnie the Pooh Collection from Hallmark. It’s easy to enter! Simply follow Disney Baby on Twitter, and retweet any of their Disney Baby #WINnie the Pooh Sweeps posts. That’s it! PLUS, if you go to the DisneyBaby.com website, (love this quote: “Great Gifts for the Little Character in Your Life”) there are two MORE sweepstakes, (just below “Featured Products”, they rotate with money-saving coupons for things your baby needs every day.) but enter quickly, because they are ending soon.

Official Rules

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

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Disney Collaborates with Four Chinese Designers to Launch New Fashion Collections Inspired by Minnie Mouse

Ji Cheng, Han Lulu, Cindy Soong and Makin Ma to Unveil Minnie-Inspired Designs at 2016 Shanghai Fashion Week

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Last month, Disney China announced a collaboration with four well-known, local designers to create new fashion collections inspired by global style icon, Minnie Mouse. The innovative designs from Ji Cheng, Han Lulu, Cindy Soong and Makin Ma debuted during Shanghai Fashion Week in April, highlighting Minnie Mouse’s timeless vitality with unique interpretations of her iconic polka dots and bow.

The epitome of timeless International style.
The epitome of timeless International style.

Since her 1928 debut alongside Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie, Minnie Mouse has had an impact on the fashion industry. Known for being feminine, elegant, passionate for life and versatile in style, Minnie has served as a muse for designers for decades and her footprint is seen across fashion weeks and runway shows in New York, London, Paris and Tokyo.

“Minnie Mouse is Disney’s fashion star,” said Allen Au-Yeung, VP of Product Creative, The Walt Disney Company Greater China. “Since Minnie’s inception her classic polka dots and red bow have always been on trend and continue to appeal to young adult females in China and around the world. Disney China is pleased to work with these renowned Chinese designers, whose creative interpretations of Minnie’s style will connect with young fashionistas in China.”

Designs include:

Ji Cheng: Warm and Comfortable Minnie Collection

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Widely recognized as China’s leading designer, Ji Cheng has a warm, comfortable and exquisite design style. She blends Chinese traditional embroidery with modern wit and hand-made texture.

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“Minnie possesses traits that young women admire, and she also has an iconic fashion style. In my eyes, Minnie is like a close girlfriend. My brand advocates positive energy and having a zest for life, which matches the spirit of Minnie perfectly.” – Ji Cheng

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Han Lulu: Lovely Light Evening Gown Inspired by Minnie

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Local designer Han Lulu has a strong female following with her elegant and contracted design philosophy. In this collection she uses simple but chic geometric figures and nostalgic patterns from 1950s and 1960s to create modern evening dresses inspired by Minnie and well-suited for metropolitan women in China today.

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“Minnie is a fun fashion icon for metropolitan women like me.” – Han Lulu

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Cindy Soong: Balance between Feminine and Casual

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Minnie Mouse’s personality and characteristics align with the brand promise of Cindy Soong, which encourages self-realization and self-exploration for young women. Drawing inspiration from Minnie’s positive attitude, Cindy Soong’s new collection features items suitable for different occasions in daily life.

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“Minnie has a lovely balance of independence and femininity.” – Cindy Soong

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Makin Ma: Lead The New Trend of Elegance

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Independent local designer Makin Jan Ma’s design style celebrates independence and individuality. Every piece of his design tells a story.

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“I am inspired by life, love and fantasy. With Minnie as my muse, I wanted to create something powerful yet elegant for today’s modern woman.” – Makin Ma

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Obviously, you won’t see people walking around Shanghai Disneyland wearing most of these – they are for the runway, and that’s pretty much it. It’s clothing as art, but it’s so much fun to see how imaginative these fashion designers can get. Now, let’s talk about some better Kylo Ren dresses…

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Winnie the Pooh and the Royal Birthday

Celebrating 90 years of two much-loved British icons…In a brand new short adventure: Winnie-the-Pooh and the Royal Birthday, Britain’s best-loved bear meets Her Majesty The Queen for the first time in an enchanting new illustrated adventure, narrated by Jim Broadbent.

“Bear,” announced Christopher Robin solemnly. “That hum is fit for a Queen. That hum shall be The Queen’s present. Owl shall write it out and you and I and Eeyore shall deliver it to Buckingham Palace. And Piglet must come too because London is a very big place indeed and even small animals, if they are very good friends, can make everything alright(sic).”

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To celebrate 90 years of two much-loved British icons, Winnie-the-Pooh and the Royal Birthday is released today as a brand new illustrated and audio adventure, narrated by Oscar winning actor Jim Broadbent and available for free at www.Disney.co.uk/WinnieRoyalBirthday.

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This brand new story has been specially written to celebrate the upcoming official 90th birthday celebrations of Her Majesty The Queen, and also Winnie-the-Pooh’s 90th anniversary, with October 2016 marking 90 years since his first publication and arrival in the Hundred Acre Wood.

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Featuring Pooh’s first ever meeting of the Royal Family, the tale beautifully presents the lovable bear and his friends embarking on an unforgettable journey from the Hundred Acre Wood to London with the wish of delivering their own thoughtful 90th birthday presents to The Queen.  Illustrations drawn in the classic E.H. Shepard style by Mark Burgess see the nation’s favourite bear and friends travelling through London on an open-top bus, taking in the sights including Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace guards, before a chance meeting with The Queen, which allows Pooh to present their birthday gifts.

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Looks better on a chair than as one, doesn’t he?

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Jim Broadbent, who narrated the audiobook of the new short adventure, says: “I have been a fan of Winnie-the-Pooh since I was a boy; in fact, I named my very first and much loved teddy ‘Pooh’ and that can only have been after the A. A. Milne character.  I’ve loved being part of this story to celebrate The Queen’s 90th birthday and Winnie-the-Pooh’s 90th anniversary; it’s been an honour to narrate such an iconic story and I want to wish both Her Majesty The Queen and Winnie-the-Pooh a very Happy 90th!”

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Winnie-the-Pooh has had previous links with Her Majesty The Queen, with The Duke and The Duchess of York being presented with a Christopher Robin china nursery set with hand-coloured pictures of Christopher Robin, Pooh and friends, as a gift for a young Princess Elizabeth, who is believed to have loved the Winnie-the-Pooh stories as a child.  The 1926 A. A. Milne book, Teddy Bear and the Other Songs from When We Were Very Young, was also dedicated to Princess Elizabeth upon her birth when it was published – though the new adventure is the first time the much-loved bear has ‘met’ Her Majesty in one of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. i-wh85d7W-L

Nicole Pearson, Creative Director at Egmont Publishing, comments, “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate The Queen’s birthday in the same year that marks Pooh’s 90th year in Hundred Acre Wood but with this lovely royal adventure. This is a celebration of two very British icons that have been part of our British heritage for 90 years.”

Mark Burgess (children's author)

About Mark Burgess

Illustrator Mark Burgess has illustrated countless classic children’s characters including Paddington Bear and Winnie-the-Pooh. Mark provided illustrations in the style of E. H. Shepard for the first authorised sequel to Winnie-the-Pooh, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, with stories by David Benedictus, published in October 2009. Additionally, Burgess has coloured and adapted the newer editions of various classic children’s books that were drawn by the late E. H. Shepard and Peggy Fortnum. Mark also works as a computer programmer, designs greetings cards, web sites, animations and special warm places for his cat to sleep. 

Jim Broadbent talks about recording the book:

This was an adorable surprise that popped up while I was working on Fab News; I love both classic Pooh and drive my husband crazy with paying attention to the Royal Family and British stuff. But it’s part of my heritage, on my dad’s side. On my mom’s, it’s Vlad Tepes, so he should count his blessings, shouldn’t he?

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Disney Crossy Road Gets Alice Through the Looking Glass Update

In the latest Disney Crossy Road update available today, players can travel to a new world based on Disney’s new film, Alice Through the Looking Glass.

With the update comes 25 new figurines, 18 from Alice Through the Looking Glass, including Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, and more! 7 characters are from the original worlds and are secret unlocks.

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The new world lets players hop through Time’s Castle complete with the 8-bit version of the film’s featured song, “White Rabbit.” Themed gameplay challenges and mechanics unique to “Underland” include environmental twists where players get in a chromosphere to launch ahead. Additionally, players can collect Time’s hourglasses to slow down “vehicles.”

An addition to the new update, Disney Crossy Road will launch “Daily Missions.” Players will receive three new quests a day. If players complete all three quests to earn one stamp, they will receive an exclusive figurine when all six stamps have been collected.

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Disney Crossy Road has reached over 13 million downloads to date, with over 30 billion in-game steps taken. The hit mobile game is available for free with in-app purchases on the App Store, Google Play Store, Windows Tore and Amazon Appstore.

So….did you get any of the secret unlocks? What are the characters? I’d have someone get the time slowdown thing for me so I could actually get somewhere in the game because I have no fast-twitch reflexes whatsoever.

Oh, speaking of the Alices:

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Alice Through the Looking Glass Characters Available Now for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition

MAY 24, 2016 – DISNEY INFINITY

Disney today announced that the Alice, Mad Hatter and Time characters inspired by the upcoming Walt Disney Studios film “Alice Through the Looking Glass” are available now for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition.

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Character highlights for the new figures include:

  • Alice – Underland’s most inquisitive explorer teams up with her friends for adventure. Her special moves include using a flamingo croquet mallet to fight enemies and ability to grow and shrink in size.
  • Mad Hatter – Underland’s maddest tea party host tosses hats to fend off unwanted guests. He uses his magical hat to spawn cakes and teapots, and he can also summon a tea party to battle enemies.
  • Time – Underland’s keeper of time can slow and stop time using his Chronosphere.

Alice, Mad Hatter and Time are available at retail stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $13.99 each.

I’m still deep, deep in denial about Disney Infinity not being infinite. I don’t want it to end. That’s not how infinity works!

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Creativity Days at the Walt Disney Birthplace

Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

The Center For Early Childhood Creativity And Innovation at The Walt Disney Birthplace presents this FREE community creativity event in honor of Roy O. Disney’s 123rd birthday! Here is what’s happening:

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THE BIG DRAW! 11:00 AM — NOON
Join us as we transform the sidewalks surrounding 
The Walt Disney Birthplace into a beautiful tapestry of color! Children of all ages will be invited to select their favorite colors of sidewalk chalk and show us all what inspires them.

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CREATION STATIONS! 11:00 AM — 2:00 PM
Arts and Crafts opportunities will be set up in front of The Walt Disney Birthplace where everyone can draw, create and play! Color a kite, paint a Creativity Stone, tie your dreams into the Creativit-Tree, and more!

WIN ONE OF 4 SCHWINN BIKES!
Enter a prize drawing to win one of 4 brand new bicycles generously donated by Schwinn (originally founded in Hermosa)! Children will be given a ticket to win for each activity they participate in during Creativity Days. Come early and enjoy everything for the best chance to cycle away on a brand new Schwinn!

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THE CREATIVI-TREE!

The highlight of the day will be the official planting of 
the Creativi-TREE, a living, ever-growing celebration of the hopes and dreams of all children who come to the Disney home. Children will be invited to paint “Creativity Stones” to be placed around the tree to nourish its spirit of creativity and innovation!

AND there will be live entertainment — featuring some of Chicago’s finest local talent — throughout the event, an assortment of food trucks serving delicious lunch items and snacks, and you’ll be able to purchase bottles of cool and delectable O-Zell Soda!

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All the coolest people drink O-Zell Soda.

O-Zell is the vintage, all-natural soft drink that Elias Disney — Walt Disney’s father — helped launch back in the early 1900s! Try some for yourself (all proceeds benefit the restoration of The Walt Disney Birthplace)! For more details on Creativity Days at the Walt Disney Birthplace and to register (remember, it’s FREE!), please visit:

creativitydays.eventzilla.net

, Fab News: Fashion, Festivities, Creativity and Comics

 

…oh, but that’s just the DAYTIME. Wait til you see what happens when the sun goes down!

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IT’S A JOLLY HOLIDAY IN CHICAGO WITH DYKE VAN DYKE

On May 10, 2016 in Uncategorized

We are delighted to announce a fantastic event starring the incomparable Dick Van Dyke, taking place in Chicago the last weekend of June. Please read below for all the exciting details!
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Sunday, June 26, 2016, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

The Dick Van Dyke Foundation and The Walt Disney Birthplace proudly present Dick Van Dyke in person at the historic Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove for one night only!

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The magic begins at 5:00 PM in one of America’s last true movie palaces: Chicago’s Tivoli Theatre, featuring a working Wurlitzer pipe organ!  Dick will speak and answer questions about his AMAZING career. And then the stage will come alive with a special performance!

You can also select a VIP Package which includes front-row seating at the event, a special signed collectible keepsake and a photo opportunity with Dick!

This is a once in a lifetime chance to see and be uplifted by one of the greatest singer/dancer/actors in American history!

It will be, in a word, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

For more details and to purchase your tickets, please visit:

dickvandykemagic.eventzilla.net

, Fab News: Fashion, Festivities, Creativity and Comics

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Tiana is a Queen!

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Sending warm wishes for a broken leg and anything but a frosty reception to the beautiful, talented actress, singer, dancer – you get the idea – Tiana Okoye, who will be queen of Arendelle and of millions of park-goers hearts, I’m sure, as she takes the lead as Elsa in “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion”, which makes its debut TODAY. I cannot wait to see it.

CaJSu69UsAAkVc6 CaIkYWBVAAAXoAI CaF17qTUMAAYHgx Tiana was in “Grease Live” as Neck Brace Girl, so she can do comedy and work on the fly, she can SING (check out her cabaret work on YouTube or better yet, just go see FLATH) and she can act, with stage and TV chops, most recently Silicon Valley. And she is old-school Disney Princess gorgeous and present-day Disney Princess smart and strong. Brokenest of legs to the whole cast and crew of the new show!

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Guests Can ‘Taste Epcot’ for Nine Extra Festival Days

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The annual Disney culinary tour of flavors from six continents will expand in 2016 with nine extra days of sipping and savoring at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 14-Nov. 14, 2016. The 2016 festival, presented by Chase at Walt Disney World Resort, will grow from 53 to 62 delicious days, add a new interactive culinary experience and debut new marketplace tastes from around the world.

Growing in scope each year since 1996 as one of America’s top food festivals, the Epcot event features inspired flavors at more than 30 global marketplaces.

This year, “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops at the Festival Center offer guests a chance to learn a variety of culinary skills from chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros. Nightly Eat to the Beat concerts kick up the energy with new musical acts covering a broad range of musical styles and eras including rock, pop and rhythm and blues. Even more Disney resort festival experiences are planned, with a new brunch, cooking school and other fresh culinary adventures.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Celebrates 20 Years of Flavors from Around the World

For a second year, global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer a wider range of taste sensations. Culinary icons like Cat Cora, Norman Van Aken, Masaharu Morimoto, Elizabeth Falkner, Buddy Valastro and Jamie Deen will entertain foodies and inspire their palates at new and returning premium events that include reimagined Party for the Senses grand tastings with new concepts and themes.

Festival guests can pair wines, beers and ciders with savory and sweet dishes as they stroll the World Showcase Promenade using their complimentary festival passports as a guide.

New marketplace menus debut and festival favorites return – Hard soda float, anyone? Guests can choose a favorite hard soda to mix with vanilla ice cream for a sweet treat at Desserts & Champagne marketplace. A savory vegan dish will debut at the Greece marketplace, and the popular Farm Fresh marketplace will showcase Florida’s bounty with new savory dishes.

Multiple new Eat to the Beat concert acts debut; fan favorites return to play 186 festival concerts, in all –Wang Chung (Everybody Have Fun Tonight!) will open the Eat to the Beat concert series Sept. 14-15. More new acts in the concert series lineup, including Delta Rae and Toad The Wet Sprocket – will rock their chart-topping tunes. Other popular acts, including Wilson Phillips, Boyz II Men and Jeffrey Osbourne, will return to the America Gardens Theatre stage this fall.

Celebrity chefs, wine experts and mixologists join the fun – Celebrities ranging from Rock Harper to master sommelier Andrea Robinson will share their food and beverage know-how during demos and premium events. At the new “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” workshops, guests will put expert advice to use whether mixing cocktails, decorating cakes or using herbs to kick up a dish’s flavor.

The popular Festival Private Label California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are back and available by the bottle or by the glass.

Delicious Desserts Tempt the Sweet Tooth

Ratatouille returns — Chef Remy of “Ratatouille” returns with his fun-for-the-family culinary scavenger hunt.

Festival Center cooks on all burners –Festival Center highlights will include the complimentary Back to Basics weekend series featuring epicurean tips and tricks from the pros, book and bottle signings and The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli and offering guest samples.

Rest and recharge at the Chase Lounge – Chase debit and credit card members –

including Disney Visa card members — will find complimentary non-alcoholic refreshments, a charging station and comfortable seating for a relaxing break at the Chase Lounge at American Adventure.

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Plan for a premium adventure:

  • Rockin’ Burger Block Party and Party for the Senses grand tasting events will showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips from eminent chefs and beverage experts plus new live entertainment.
  • New resort premium events to book will include a Grand Floridian brunch with a twist and a new cooking school experience.

Included with Epcot Admission:

Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Special Programming by Reservation:

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. When a reservation booking date is announced this summer, guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) and get details at epcotfoodfestival.com. Join the discussion on social media using #epcotfoodfestival.

I am totally going to Wang Chung that night.

Are you going? We’re going to do the Star Wars Celebration, stay the week, then do the first two days of the Food and Wine Festival, then split. Good idea?

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LOOK INSIDE MARVEL’S NEW STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS ADAPTATION

Yep, it’s a two-fer today. Why? Because I read the Marvel news today (Oh boy) and I’m all “NO NO NO CAP NO WAY NO HOW JUST NO.” That’s why. So let’s cheer me up with some Kylo Ren.

All images not finalized and subject to change!

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Well, I guess that answers my question about whether or not LST was a Jedi or not. I was sure he was gonna pull an Obi-Wan on Kylo Ren. Also, which one of those three Troopers is Michael Giacchino?

There are three more pages of this pre-release beauty to see at STARWARS.com. Check it out!

Okay, fine. Two pages:

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Oh Hux…you’re so jelly.

 

I have so much more to tell you, but this is running really long already, so it will have to wait til next time. I do want to say

Thank YOU!

Thanks to my Patreon Patrons and to Fab News’ sponsor, DVCResaleMarket.com

One of my Facebook friends learned that her DVC points are more valuable than her other timeshare points when trading with another company to stay at their resorts in an exchange program. Why? Because Disney Vacation Club is one of the highest-demand programs. When you buy in, your points retain or even gain value. If you want to know more about how this works, go to DVCResaleMarket.com and Nick Cotton or any member of his team will be more than happy to help you. They are patient and knowledgeable, with years of experience both inside and outside of Disney.

, Fab News: Fashion, Festivities, Creativity and Comics, Fab News: Fashion, Festivities, Creativity and Comics 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.When is Fab News posted? Find out with the Mouseaddict app!

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.