Exclusive "Jolly Roger" Funko Pop invades the Disney Parks

With this is the summer being the 50th celebration of the classic attraction at Disneyland, and the new Pirates of the Caribbean film, Funko has once again teamed up with Disney for an exclusive collectible under their POP! vinyl line.

The Jolly Roger (#258) was released on May 5th in select locations at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Shop Disney Parks app - but quickly sold out within hours. It's now slowly making its way back onto shelves so if you're headed to the parks and looking to add this little guy to your collection.. now's the time. No word yet on when/if he'll be available again for purchase online. 

On the back of the box you'll find this description; 

 ["Set sail on a swashbuckling voyage to a long-forgotten time and place when pirates wrought havoc on the high seas. 

On your treacherous voyage through the 17th century, you'll come face-to-face with the rowdy rogues who ruled many a seaport town under the watchful eye of "Jolly Roger"]

The figurine retails for $19.99 but for collectors like myself.. it's a priceless addition. 

Groot takes over the Disney Parks this summer.

Three words, that's all it took;

"I am groot."

It was that single line (repeated over and over) from the first Guardians of the Galaxy film that captured the attention of audiences everywhere and became an iconic catchphrase overnight. The world fell in love with Groot as an aduly, but when baby Groot appeared.. he stole everyones hearts and solidified his mark as the breakaway character.

Luckily for all of us, the folks over at the Disney Parks took notice (thanks guys & gals) and there's a whole lot of Groot coming your way this summer at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World.

Let's start off with California, and their "Summer of Heroes" campaign which kicks off May 27th.

The big deal with this is the reimagining of the "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" attraction into Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. The basics are this; The Tower of Terror is no more, its gone - along with all of it's theming. In it's place you'll find a fortress claimed by Taneleer Tivan, or as we remember him.. The Collector. His towering citadel holds the largest assemblage of fauna, relics and species from across the cosmos - and from the looks of this artwork released by Disney.. The Guardians have been procured as well.

Artistic renderings of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.                           Images courtesy of Disney

Now the attraction won't officially open until May 27th, so there's still loads of info about this attraction that's being floated around. Obviously it will use some of the same effects as Tower of Terror did, especially the coordinated drops in the elevator shaft - and some early reports are saying there's spectacularly crafted animatronic you'll encounter. Is this true? We'll have to wait a few more days. What we could begin to guess is that with the addition of this attraction, we'll start to see more Marvel characters making a presence beyond the meet & greets. 

Speaking of meet & greets, that brings us to the next part of this article. Once the Summer of Heroes begins at Disney California Adventure, guests will be able to encounter Star-Lord and Gamora during the Awesome Dance Off and for the first time ever, attempt to selfie with adult Groot. That lovable hunk of treebark will make his debut in all his grandeur and honestly.. it's probably going to be one of the coolest things you'll ever see, and characters you'll ever meet.

While Star-Lord & Gamora won't have the opportunity for individual meet & greet opportunities, they'll still be able to entertain guests during the Awesome Dance Off.   

Moving over to the east coast, Walt Disney World has also gotten in on the action by showing some love to the franchise. At Hollywood Studios there's a meet & greet already in place located inside One Man's Dream. It's there you'll find Baby Groot (from vol. 2) hanging out and interacting with Star-Lord. You read that right. Both characters have set up shop and appear together daily.

Now you can't have this amazing experience without walking away without a sweet souvenir, can you? Nope. Once again, the Disney Parks outdid themselves by offering this Baby Groot sipper cup. It has a removable lid, his arms move up and down when you walk, and it's pretty darn spectacular. This mug is currently only available at popcorn carts inside Hollywood Studios, and it's become a new "must have" item. 

This little guy also comes with your choice of beverage.

So if you're looking to amplify your fix on all things Guardians this summer, and have a love affair with Groot.. head on over to the Disney Parks on either coast. Sure the Disneyland Resort may have a new attraction and an epic Meet & Greet lineup (Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow - just to name a few) but Walt Disney World has baby Groot - and for now, that's an absolute dream come true for most of us out there. 

Sharing a Coke just became extra magical at the Disney Parks

We've all seen those random names on Coca-Cola bottles in beverage coolers across the country, and within the last few weeks, both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort have stepped into the customized name game. 

Guests can now find one of three exclusive #ShareaCoke expressions written across 20oz bottles of Classic Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coke Zero;

- Share a Coke on Main Street

- Share a Diet Coke at the Castle

- Share a Coke Zero on Space Mountain

Each expression is assigned to it's designated bottle, so you won't find "Main Street" on a Diet Coke bottle - or any other combinations. It's one of those what you see is what you get scenarios. 

Images courtesy of @disneylandaily & @crownedcyn on Instagram  

For right now it appears that these select 3 expressions are the only ones currently available. If there's more to come later on the year, I'll be sure to keep you updated .

Oswald greets Ortensia to the world of Disney Parks Merchandise

Long long ago before there ever was a Mickey & Minnie, the world had Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and his wife Ortensia the Cat. Now, you'll be able to take home this adorable couple and add them to your collection. Where the 9" Oswald plush toy has been available for quite some time, the Ortensia 9" plush toy has just recently become available.

The story of Oswald and the Disney Company is a tale for another time. Its history is long and complex, but I'll touch on that subject in another post later on. But for now, you can bring home yours today, both are available around the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland.

Reaching Further Than Ever Before

Setting sail for adventure!

Nobody ever said that growing up was easy. We all reach for success and we strive to be the very best at what we find ourselves most passionate about, but sometimes being an adult gets in the way. It's not exactly easy to find that pixie dust from the fairy tales where all you need is just a sprinkle and then... WHOOSH! You're speeding towards that second star twinkling to the right up in the night sky.

Here are the stepping stones I've pulled from my own Never Neverland, showcasing them for all the world to see. This is a part of my imagination that I'm so excited to share with anyone who is willing to listen, to watch and to feel the moments I'll be sharing. From my opinions to experiences and the passionate stories I've grown so very much in love with telling. This journey is one that can be celebrate by anyone who dares to dream and by filling their lives with excitement, laughter and inspiring hope. 

Here is where fantasy meets reality, combining the collective thoughts and imaginative tales of Disney through a unique style of digital storytelling. With my original focus of sharing moving moments through instagram posts, this blog is a growth spurt into a bigger universe. For years I've wanted to do something more and expand upon the history and relationship I share with all things Disney, Universal and themed entertainment as a whole. Theme parks have been a part of my life since I was a child, and as an adult I've grown to appreciate them for the details and stories they tell. Many of these details go unnoticed, and ignored because of their hidden meanings but for me.. it's all about the details. Maybe that's due to the past 15 years where my career in TV/Film production has driven and directed my attention span to notice continuity on a deeper level. With a shoebox under my bed packed with nights spent in hotel rooms from across the country, I'll also be sharing my reviews and travel experiences with the tips i've gathered from spending 7+ years of my adult life working/living/relaxing out of hotel rooms while on production gigs. I might know a thing or two, and what I know comes from those long days on set where all you want are the simple comforts that allow you to enjoy and appreciate a good night's rest in your temporary abode away from home.

With all that being said, I'd like to welcome you to this new adventure I'm embarking on, and hope you all enjoy the ride along with me. The theme parks and fanciful foods that fill my heart with imagination and hope are the collective happy thoughts allowing motivation to grow each day. All this stems from the inspiration of one man's dreams, where he believed that anything was possible as long as you believed in yourself. Find the courage to do the same, because imagination is out there.. go capture some. 

-STEVE-