Adventures in Babysitting Hits the Streets TODAY

Join stars Sabrina Carpenter (“Girl Meets World”) and Sofia Carson (“Descendants”) as two competing babysitters that turn an ordinary night into a night NO ONE will forget in Disney Channel’s Original Movie Adventures in Babysitting on DVD TODAY! This new movie is based on the wildly popular film from the 1980’s by the same name and is sure to be a hit with kids and parents alike! This DVD also features exclusive hilarious bloopers!!!



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Life, Animated and Disney/Affinity Therapy

This one hits close to home, Fabanistas.

Owen Suskind spent his early years, from age three onward, non-verbal, but learned to communicate with other people through Disney films; this is actually a commonality I’ve noticed with quite a few of us on the spectrum. It doesn’t say if he’s on it, and I haven’t been able to screen it yet, but I’m dying to, because I see a lot of similarities between his story and those I see with myself, with friends who have traveled a similar journey, and even on the boards at WrongPlanet and other support sites. The Sundance-winning docu is based on his father Ron Suskind’s book of the same name.

But…haven’t you noticed that there sure are an awful lot of us here, in Disney’s World? There’s just something about the perfect balance between wonder, magic, dreams coming true, the only limit being your imagination, and perfect cleanliness and order, the optimistic visions of a streamlined, mechanized future, the compartmentalization of the spoke-and-hub or hourglass parks – that speaks to people on the spectrum.

But Neurotypicals like Disney, too, when they’re not confusing Minions (or Anastasia) for Disney characters. So, it can be a good communication bridge, a common ground. And that’s what happens here. That’s how Owen’s family gets through to him. I think that’s pretty cool, if Owen was into it. Looks like he was.

Owen’s case pretty much led to a widespread return of something called Affinity Therapy, something very, very good for people on the spectrum who have a strong special focus. Fortunately, it’s the treatment I got, and my mental wellness team helped me turn mine into something productive as well. You’re reading it.

Here’s a post on Affinity Therapy/Disney Therapy – it’s long and wordy but very informative.

 Disney’s Beauty and The Beast
on Digital HD Sept 6th & Blu-ray and DVD Sept 20th

Relive the magic and the music with four versions of the film
plus all-new bonus features!

Twenty-five years ago, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” broke ground as the first animated feature film to receive an Academy Award® nomination for best picture, and now this tale as old as time joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Sept. 6 on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere, and on Sept. 20 on Blu-ray™ and DVD. The beloved animated classic has truly stood the test of time and now a whole new generation of viewers are invited to be our guest and fall in love with this enchanting tale, its captivating characters and unforgettable, award-winning music score and original song, “Beauty and the Beast.”

The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition features four versions of “Beauty and the Beast.”  The Blu-ray release will include the original theatrical film; an extended version with the “Human Again” song sequence and a never-before-released on home entertainment sing-along version.  The original work-in-progress version will be available digitally and on Disney Movies Anywhere.

There is also a bunch of all-new bonus extras including a rare opportunity to gather around the piano with some of Disney’s greatest composers, including Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda as they sing and share how they’ve personally been inspired by the film’s award-winning music; a look at how Walt Disney himself sought to adapt this famous fairy tale; a nostalgic look back with Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle; behind-the-scenes access into the recording booth with the cast; and a sneak peek at Disney’s upcoming live-action re-telling of “Beauty and the Beast,” arriving in theaters in 2017.

Walt Disney Pictures’ magical animated classic “Beauty and the Beast” captures the magical journey of Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), an independent and intelligent, modern-day heroine who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of Robby Benson) in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

“Beauty and the Beast” was nominated for six Academy Awards® and was the first animated feature to receive an Academy Award® nomination for best picture. It won two Oscars®, including best song, by the renowned Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and best original score (Menken), as well as a Golden Globe Award® for best comedy/musical.

“Beauty and the Beast” was Disney’s first animated film adapted into a Broadway musical, which ran for 5,464 performances from 1994-2007 and has delighted more than 35 million people worldwide. On March 17, 2017, audiences will experience the thrilling retelling of the original tale through Disney’s live-action film, “Beauty and the Beast,” in which Emma Watson (“Harry Potter” films) plays Belle and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken returns to recreate his Academy Award®-winning music score.

Get Your Pet to the Grove for some Gaming Fun

EA Games is launching The Secret Life of Pets, a FREE match-3 mobile game (so addicting, aren’t they?) and they’re going to celebrate in a big way! Grab your pet and join EA Games in real life at The Grove in Los Angeles on June 29th from 11 AM PST to 5 PM PST for a day of My Dog and Me Match 3 games, prizes and more.

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In The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed players can expect to:

Tackle Challenging Puzzles

Match their way through New York with the charming guide Max revealing new puzzles, pets and moments along the way. Players will get to chase away pesky squirrels with Mel or dig up super-sized bones for Duke.

Embark on Pet Adventures

As players progress through the game and make their way to the top of the leaderboards, they’ll meet new pets including Chloe, who can’t be bothered unless there is food, Leonard, the posh punk poodle and Snowball, the insanely cute and also insane rabbit.

“We at EA are thrilled to work with Illumination Entertainment, the creators of the record-setting Despicable Me and Minions franchise, to bring you the official matching puzzle game for The Secret Life of Pets,” said Michelle Bizzarro, Game General Manger at EA. “Together, we set out to combine the features, functionality and challenge of a Match-3 game with the story-line and humor of an animated feature so you can interact with these insanely cute pets before and even after watching the film.”

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Reveal and Relish Pet Moments

Make the perfect match and unlock secret pet moments including releasing a flock of helpful (and beautiful) parakeets or triggering an exciting tile-exploding rainbow ball.

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Download The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed for free* now on the App Store or on Google Play.

Walt Disney World Guests are Invited to Celebrate
a Star-Spangled Fourth of July!

Guests can celebrate America’s birthday with a red, white and blue extravaganza at Walt Disney World Resort. There will be no shortage of nighttime fun, as fireworks will dance across the skies above the Florida vacation kingdom. Here’s a look a what’s in store:

Magic Kingdom

Fireworks light up the sky and illuminated image projections create a patriotic exterior on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  Spectacular fireworks displays with brilliant bursts of light coloring the night sky above the theme parks have been a Walt Disney World Resort entertainment specialty for decades. The July 4th fireworks typically are one of the most elaborate nighttime spectacles ever seen at a Disney theme park.  (David Roark, photographer)
Fireworks light up the sky and illuminated image projections create a patriotic exterior on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Spectacular fireworks displays with brilliant bursts of light coloring the night sky above the theme parks have been a Walt Disney World Resort entertainment specialty for decades. The July 4th fireworks typically are one of the most elaborate nighttime spectacles ever seen at a Disney theme park. (David Roark, photographer)

The celebration begins with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky,” July 3 and 4 at Magic Kingdom. The 14-minute fireworks spectacular rockets into the sky above Cinderella Castle at 9 p.m. both nights.

A red, white and blue fireworks spectacular illuminates the sky over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Spectacular fireworks displays with brilliant bursts of light coloring the night sky above the theme parks have been a Walt Disney World Resort entertainment specialty for decades. Magic Kingdom honors America each year with a Fourth of July celebration on July 3 and 4 with ÒDisneyÕs Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky,Ó which features dazzling comets and glittery bursts soaring to aÊ musical score produced in a concert band style.Ê (David Roark, photographer)
A red, white and blue fireworks spectacular illuminates the sky over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Spectacular fireworks displays with brilliant bursts of light coloring the night sky above the theme parks have been a Walt Disney World Resort entertainment specialty for decades.(David Roark, photographer)

The fireworks are set to an exciting musical score produced in a concert band style. This score was specifically created to stir a sense of pride in being American, show producers say, while at the same time, inviting guests from around the world to feel part of the celebration.

A red, white and blue fireworks spectacular illuminates the sky over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Spectacular fireworks displays with brilliant bursts of light coloring the night sky above the theme parks have been a Walt Disney World Resort entertainment specialty for decades. Magic Kingdom honors America each year with a Fourth of July celebration on July 3 and 4 with ÒDisneyÕs Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky,Ó which features dazzling comets and glittery bursts soaring to aÊ musical score produced in a concert band style.Ê (David Roark, photographer)
A red, white and blue fireworks spectacular illuminates the sky over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Spectacular fireworks displays with brilliant bursts of light coloring the night sky above the theme parks have been a Walt Disney World Resort entertainment specialty for decades.(David Roark, photographer)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Guests can enjoy the all-new “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks nightly, with the show beginning at a special time of 9:30 p.m. for the holiday weekend, July 3 and 4. The next generation of Star Wars-themed fireworks shows, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” dazzles with new themed fireworks, lasers, special effects and video projections of iconic characters and scenes from the complete saga, all set to the unforgettable score of the film series.

Guests visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios can experience "Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular," a dazzling Star Wars-themed fireworks show set to memorable Star Wars music from throughout the saga. The fireworks spectacular is featured nightly. Disney's Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. (Chloe Rice, photographer)
Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios can experience “Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular,” a dazzling Star Wars-themed fireworks show set to memorable Star Wars music from throughout the saga. The fireworks spectacular is featured nightly. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. (Chloe Rice, photographer)

Epcot

Guests visiting Epcot on July 4 will have the opportunity to meet some of their favorite Disney characters dressed in patriotic attire throughout the afternoon at the American Adventure Pavilion. Voices of Liberty, the eight-part a capella group, will have special performances at American Gardens Theatre at 12:30, 1:45 and 3 p.m. They also will perform inside the American Adventure Rotunda at 4:15 and 5 p.m. that day. Guests also will have the opportunity to catch the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps outside at 1, 2:15, 3:30, 4 and 4:45 p.m.

Beloved a cappella group Voices of Liberty performs outdoors twice per week, bringing a modern twist to a medley of American classics at the American Gardens Theatre stage at Epcot. Other days, the group performs for guests inside the American Adventure pavilion. Epcot is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Ryan Wendler, photographer)
Beloved a cappella group Voices of Liberty performs outdoors twice per week, bringing a modern twist to a medley of American classics at the American Gardens Theatre stage at Epcot. Other days, the group performs for guests inside the American Adventure pavilion. Epcot is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Ryan Wendler, photographer)

That evening, the spectacular fireworks and laser show “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” lights the night at 10 p.m. with a heart-pounding grand finale in a salute to America.

Additional Patriotic Entertainment

Other patriotic offerings that guests can enjoy year-round in the parks include indoor attractions that offer shows about the history of America, dining options and entertainment.

Guests at Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion will find various ways to explore America’s past and present with “We, The People,” a journey through pivotal moments in America’s history narrated by Audio-Animatronic figures of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, and “The Kinsey Collection,” an exhibit that showcases 400 years of African-American achievement through rare art, documents, books and artifacts.

At Magic Kingdom, The Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders gives guests an entertaining lesson in American history. Guests also can get a taste of traditional New England-inspired foods at Liberty Tree Tavern, a restaurant situated in a colonial-style inn that serves lunch and dinner daily. After nightfall, dancing patriots, a stately bald eagle, glittering lights and the patriotic music of the Main Street Electrical Parade all honor America as the parade’s stunning final float lights Main Street, U.S.A. nightly.


“Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” Show a New Hit

Performed on the grandest stage in the kingdom, the new show "Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire," presents Mickey Mouse and his troupe of Merry Makers - Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy - who invite 10 new friends from different animated worlds to join the celebration. This "timeless fairytale" of a show combines grand dance, fireworks and stunts with memorable music, an original song and special effects. (Ryan Wendler, photographer)
Performed on the grandest stage in the kingdom, the new show “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire,” presents Mickey Mouse and his troupe of Merry Makers – Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy – who invite 10 new friends from different animated worlds to join the celebration. This “timeless fairytale” of a show combines grand dance, fireworks and stunts with memorable music, an original song and special effects. (Ryan Wendler, photographer)

“Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” immerses guests in a 23-minute royal musical celebration on the Cinderella Castle stage at Magic Kingdom Park. Mickey Mouse and his pals unite in a tale of friendship featuring songs and characters from Disney’s contemporary classics “Princess and the Frog,” “Tangled” and “Frozen.”

“In ‘Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire,’ 15 Disney characters from different stories come together to showcase how diversity and the discoveries you make through friendships shape who you are,” said Show Director, Walt Disney World Entertainment, Tara Anderson.

Goofy brings Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen to add a little spice of New Orleans jazz to the party. Donald Duck invites some new friends he met at The Snuggly Duckling, and Daisy Duck introduces us to her guests, Rapunzel and Flynn. Finally, Mickey Mouse shares a surprise with Minnie Mouse, as he introduces her to Olaf, Princess Anna, and Queen Elsa, who tells Minnie not to wish to be like other people, to be herself, then sings “Let it Go.” The celebration culminates in a grand dance, marked by a magical daytime fireworks finale.

“Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” will be presented daily at 10:30a.m., 11:35a.m., 1:05p.m., 2:05p.m., 4:15p.m. and 5:15p.m.

I really like the new looks for Mickey and Minnie. They look more like the Ward Kimball-era cartoons. 

Thank You!

Thanks to the nice Patrons who go to Patreon.com/Fab and Patronize (Patreonize?) Fab News with a buck or more a month. It is truly, madly, deeply appreciated. Thanks also to Nick Cotton and his team at DVCResaleMarket.com for their monthly sponsorship of the column. I’m forever grateful; and to hubby Noe (pronounced like the guy with the ark) for making all those cute pics of my id at the top of every column.

 

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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.