Does Christopher Robin have a post credits scene? After Marvel popularized the concept of a surprise scene after the credits, seemingly every major studio release has followed suit. And while they’re typically reserved for superhero movies and action blockbusters, you may be surprised to learn that the new live-action Winnie the Pooh film, Christopher Robin, also has one.

Warning: Some plot spoilers appear later in the post

In the brief sequence that follows the end credits, Winnie the Pooh and his friends, including Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore, dance together on a beach while an old man sits at a piano and plays a song called “Busy Doing Nothing.” While the film doesn’t outright state who the old man is, his identity is an easter egg all of its own.

This sequence ties into the film’s central narrative, which involves an adult Christopher Robin (played by Ewan McGregor) struggling to raise a family and maintain his job as a low-level executive at a luggage company. Winnie the Pooh and the rest of the gang re-enter Christopher’s life, in an attempt to remind him of what’s truly meaningful in his life.

The film ends with Christopher saving the company from going out of business by convincing his bosses that average working people should be given paid vacations, so that they will need to purchase luggage. The post credits scene is meant as an affirmation of everything that Christopher learned from Winnie the Pooh throughout the film; namely, friends and family are what are most important. As for the old man at the piano, he’s none other than legendary Disney composer Richard M. Sherman.

Richard, along with his brother Robert, wrote the music for some of the studio’s most beloved hits. Some of their most notable work includes The Jungle Book, The Aritstocats, and Sword In the Stone. They’re also responsible for the Enchanted Tiki Room music and the World of Color theme that plays at Disney’s various theme parks. They appeared as characters in the 2014 drama Saving Mr. Banks, which is based on the making of Mary Poppins, and they were portrayed by B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman.

Naturally, the Sherman brothers also wrote music for the original Winnie the Pooh cartoons, including the titular theme and “The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers.” Robert was not able to appear in the post credits scene along his brother, as he passed away in 2012.

In a 1996 interview with Performing Songwriter, the Sherman brothers told how they created the proper music for animated characters. “Many times, they do give you sketches,” Richard said. “We don’t know what their voices are but we do know the physical precepts. Like with Winnie the Pooh, we knew he was a little stuffed Teddy Bear and we knew that Tigger was a stuffed tiger that bounced around a lot. So you could sort of feel them.”

“They have feelings,” he continued. “They have emotions, they have heart, they love, they’re afraid. They’re just as real to us as if we were writing for a live actor.” Robert elaborated, saying: “We don’t think of them as little stuffed Teddy Bears, we think of them as personalities. We write for them the same as we write for anybody.”

Five Disney princesses are back on the big screen this fall. Disney and AMC have teamed up to showcase five movies at participating theaters in 45 states. The Dream Big, Princess series runs September 14 through October 18. Each movie will play for one week only.

You can find a movie theater near you by clicking here.

The Disney Movies and The Dates They’re Being Shown

• September 14-20: Beauty and the Beast (2017 version starring Emma Watson)

• September 21-27: The Princess and the Frog

• September 28 – October 4: Tangled

• October 5-11: Moana

• October 12-18: Cinderella (2015 version starring Lily James and Cate Blanchett)

The Dream Big, Princess Campaign Launched in 2016 With the Goal of Inspiring Young Disney Fans to Set Big Goals

Disney first launched Dream Big, Princess in 2016. The next year, it debuted a special photography campaign. The goal was to highlight girls and women doing inspiring things. According to the Disney Parks blog, the first photos featured people such as: Malala Yousafzai, the youngest speaker ever at the United Nations; the founder of the first all-women cycling team in Bamiyan, Afghanistan; and a teenage author who wrote a book on coding for children.

As part of the photography campaign series, fans were encouraged to post their own pictures along with the hashtag #DreamBigPrincess. With each “like” on social media, Disney donated $1 to the Girl Up foundation. It took only five days for Disney to reach its $1 million donation goal.

Girl Up is part of the United Nations foundation. According to its website the mission is to support “comprehensive programs that give adolescent girls in developing countries an equal chance for education, health, social and economic opportunities, and a life free from violence.”

Dreaming Big in 2018: Disney’s Next Mission Was to Inspire Young, Female Filmmakers in Order to Raise Money for Underprivileged Girls

Dream Big, Princess has another $1 million donation project in the works. Disney selected 21 girls and women across 13 countries to produce short films. The filmmakers were instructed to create movies about the women in their lives who inspire them and push them to pursue their dreams.

Each film will be shared on Disney’s social media pages. Again, for each “like,” Disney will donate $1 to the Girl Up foundation, with a total possible donation of $1 million. The first movie will be posted on October 10, with the campaign running through November 20. Disney will stop counting “likes” after that date.

Hurricane Michael is currently about 20 miles southwest of Cuba and is moving due north at 7 miles per hour. As it moves into the warm gulf waters, the storm is expected to intensify to a Category 3 hurricane, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to Florida’s panhandle when it makes landfall sometime on Wednesday, October 10.

Walt Disney World Resort is located in Orlando, Florida, and is currently not under any kind of storm watch or warning. As you can see on the map below, the city of Orlando sits outside the tropical storm watch area.

Tuesday Will Be the Rainiest Day of the Week

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Walt Disney World has not released any kind of statement about the hurricane or closures to its parks. The area isn’t expected to be any worse off than a typical summer day, with a slight increase in precipitation possible thanks to the outer bands of the storm.

On Tuesday, there’s an 80 percent chance of rain throughout most of the day, but by 7 p.m., there should be partly cloudy skies. On Wednesday, the weather is back to “normal,” with a chance of a passing thundershower around 4 p.m.

Higher Than Normal Crowds Are Possible at Disney Parks This Week

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As Hurricane Michael sits off the west coast of Florida and makes its way toward Tallahassee, many in the panhandle have chosen to evacuate. It’s possible that many of those people will be heading to Orlando to escape the storm so crowds at the parks may be higher than normal. This isn’t all that unusual during hurricane season. In fact, evacuees during Hurricane Florence escaped to Disney World before the storm rocked the Carolinas last month, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Those who have not evacuated have been told to prepare for the worst as the storm doesn’t appear to be slowing any.

“Families should take the opportunity TODAY to make sure they have three days of food and water, as well as all needed medications. EVERY FAMILY must be prepared. We can rebuild your home, but we cannot rebuild your life,” Florida Governor Rick Scott tweeted on Monday.

READ NEXT: Will Hurricane Michael Hit Orlando, Florida?

Will Smith has Disney fans abuzz about the upcoming live-action version of Aladdin. The actor has shared the first poster for the movie, which is scheduled to hit theaters May 24, 2019.

Smith plays the Genie in the new film. He has yet to show the world what he looks like in the blue makeup. But he alluded to the makeover when he shared the poster on Instagram. The caption reads, “LEMME OUT!! 🧞 Can’t wait for y’all to see Me BLUE! :-) #aladdin”

Here’s what you need to know.

1. Fans Are Eager to See Will Smith’s Portrayal of Genie, But Disney is Keeping That Secret in the Lamp For Now

Robin Williams first brought the Genie to life in the 1992 animated version. When it was announced that Will Smith would portray the magical character in the live-action version, Smith said he would not try to imitate Williams’ timeless role. Variety has described Smith’s Genie as incorporating some “Fresh Prince” and “Hitch” personality into it.

An earlier teaser trailer for the movie did not include the Genie in it, further increasing fans’ curiosity about how Will Smith will look in blue makeup. Another trailer was released October 11. It gave fans a glimpse of the Cave of Wonders, but again did not reveal Will Smith’s Genie. For now, fans will just have to keep on waiting.

2. Canadian Actor Mena Massoud Will Bring the Title Character to Life

GettyMena Massoud attends the premiere of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” at the Battleship Iowa on August 31, 2018 in San Pedro, California.

27-year-old Mena Massoud landed the coveted role of “Aladdin.” Massoud was born in Egypt but was raised in Ontario, Canada, according to his page on IMDB. His bio states that when he’s not acting, he enjoys playing basketball and horseback riding.

Most recently, Massoud appeared in “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.” He plays CIA analyst Tarek Kassar. Massoud described his character on Twitter as “best dressed at the office” and that Jack Ryan depends on Kassar to help him identify the criminals that he needs to fight.

Massoud got his start in Hollywood with a guest role on an episode of the CW series “Nikita.” His role was that of a terrorist that the title character has to stop. His other credits include roles on “Open Heart” on Teen Nick and the Canadian series “Saving Hope.”

“Aladdin” will be his biggest role to date. Disney first announced their decision to cast Massoud in 2017. He expressed his appreciation for the role on Twitter, writing, “So honored & grateful for the opportunity to help bring this magical story to life once again. Let’s get to work!”

3. British Actress Naomi Grace Scott Will Play Jasmine

The role of Jasmine is being played by none other than the Pink Ranger! Naomi Grace Scott played Kimberly Hart in the 2017 “Power Rangers” film. But Scott will soon be known for much more than that.

In addition to being cast as Jasmine, movie fans will soon see Scott in the “Charlie’s Angels” remake alongside Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska and Elizabeth Banks. The film is scheduled to be released in 2019 as well, so it’s shaping up to be an exciting year for Scott.

“Aladdin” will be Scott’s second role within the Disney family. In 2009, she played “Megan” in the Disney Channel UK series “Life Bites.”

Naomi Scott is 25 years old and was raised in Hounslow, a suburb of London, England. According to her IMDB profile, she is of English and Indian heritage. Her mother is Gujarati Indian from Uganda.

4. Marwan Kenzari Will Portray Villain Jafar

GettyActor Marwan Kenzari attends the Screening Of Netflix’s “The Angel” at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on September 13, 2018 in Hollywood, California.

Marwan Kenzari is the film’s villain, Jafar. He is a 35-year-old actor from the Netherlands.

He attracted acclaim in 2014 after appearing in the crime drama “Wolf.” Kenzari played the character “Majid,” a man who tries to make a name for himself as a professional fighter after spending time in prison.

At the same time that he’s trying to to stay away from his old criminal life, the character also deals with trying to help two brothers: an older one dying of an illness, and a younger brother who Majid is trying to lead down a better path. In an interview, Kenzari described the complex character as being “like an animal trying to deal with his instincts. He has to work with what he’s got. He’s stuck in between these two worlds; wolves make a hierarchy and this guy was in prison so he knows that life. There are many cultural elements in this film.”

Kenzari’s other film credits include 2017’s “The Mummy” alongside Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe. He also was cast as the title character in Netflix’s “The Angel,” based on a true story. He played Ashraf Marwan, the son-in-law of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. Marwan spied for Israel during the Yom Kippur War in the 1970s.

5. Navid Negahban Plays Jasmine’s Lovable Father, the Sultan

GettyNavid Negahban attends the premiere of FXX’s “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” Season 13 at Regency Bruin Theatre on September 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

Fans of “Homeland” will do a double-take when they see the Sultan appear onscreen– it’s none other than Navid Negahban. The Iranian-born actor starred as Abu Nazir of al-Qaeda in the hit Showtime series.

Negahban was praised for his role in the 2014 blockbuster “American Sniper.” He played an Iraqi citizen who helped the snipers find their targets. His lengthy list of acting credits includes “American Assassin,” “Sand Castle,” and the TV series “Mistresses,” and “Legion.”

Negahban spoke with Kayhan Life, a digital magazine focused on Iran and Iranian citizens, about his upcoming role as the Sultan. He praised the film’s director. “This is going to be such an exciting and fun film. The cast and crew are wonderful people. I very much enjoyed working with Guy Ritchie. He created an environment free of ego on the set, where the actors felt safe and open. Then he challenged you to take your character a step further. He allowed you to explore and move beyond the page and bring your own essence to the performance.”

To see the full cast of Aladdin, click here.

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At the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida, the Holiday season has already begun. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Hollywood Studios’ debuted its “Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam” nighttime show on November 6, and Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise ride has been a “Jingle Cruise” Holiday twist. Decorations are already up in the parks, and Toy Story Land (one of Disney World’s newest attractions) is celebrating its first Holiday season with Toy Story themed-festive decorations and new Holiday music.

On November 8, the season “officially” begins with the first “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” of the year. It will be accompanied by the ceremonial lighting of Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom, called “A Frozen Holiday Wish,” which featuring Elsa, Anna, and Olaf from Disney’s hit movie Frozen. While the castle lighting happens nightly in the park during the holiday season (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a “select night” ticket), The Walt Disney World Resort will be livestreaming it on their Disney Parks Blog tomorrow at 6:10pm EST.

If you’re not on vacation in the “Happiest Place on Earth” tomorrow, you and your family can still join in the festivities by visiting the Disney Parks Blog at 6:10pm, where they will offer a link to livestream the event from your home. They are also encouraging visitors to “share some of your best Disney holiday vacation photos” on Twitter with the hashtag “#DisneyParksLIVE.” About the Frozen-themed show, the blog says:

In the park’s nightly castle lighting show, “A Frozen Holiday Wish,” royal sisters Anna and Elsa join their friends Olaf and Kristoff for some holiday fun. Queen Elsa decides to use her incredible powers to present a gift to everyone in the kingdom by transforming Cinderella Castle into a shimmering ice palace, perfect for the holiday season. Trust me, this must-see show will give you chills!

For an idea of what to expect, below is a guest-made video of 2016’s “A Frozen Holiday Wish:”

The Holiday season brings with it a surge of visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort parks. Longer vacations from school and work make it easier to take your family to the “Happiest Place on Earth,” and the resort offers Holiday Package specials to entice those crowds. With Holiday gifts and the spirit of family feasting in mind, many shops and food spots in the parks and resorts stock themed treats and memorabilia.

In addition to this special Holiday rate and new seasonal foods and merchandise, the resort celebrates the season by transforming into a winter wonderland covered in Disney magic. Disney Characters get wintry outfit changes, Cinderella’s castle in Magic Kingdom is lit by Frozen‘s Elsa, and “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” is offered as an after-hours event on select nights (at an added price). In addition to the usual Holiday updates to the park, here are some of the new attractions you can expect to enjoy if you visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida between now and January:

Toy Story Land Holiday Update

Where: Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Land, which opened in Disney’s Hollywood Studios this past summer, will be celebrating its first Holiday season with a festive makeover. The Disney Parks blog released a first look of the newly-decorated space, which features “oversized cranberry-and-popcorn garland, an oversized Hamm sugar cookie, Green Alien ornaments, cardboard antlers on Rex and an Angel Kitty ornament and more.” They also revealed that several rides have been updated with Holiday music, and fan-favorite characters will be sporting Holiday-themed attire.

Holiday Cookie Stroll & L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen

Where: Epcot
The International Festival of the Holidays (November 18 – December 30) features global holiday cuisine throughout the World Showcase portion of Epcot. This year, they have added a new holiday-themed kitchen, L’Chaim!, which features “features traditional Jewish dishes such as Pastrami on Rye, Chicken and Matzo Ball Soup, Egg Cream, and more.”

The “Passport to Holiday Treats & Sweets” encourages you to “collect” (read: eat) various Holiday cookies throughout the World Showcase. Once you purchase five cookies (you get a stamp in your “passport” for each), you are entitled to a “complimentary completer cookie.” Some of the cookies available this year include peppermint sugar cookie, red and green chocolate chip cookie, and a gold chocolate chip cookie.

A full list of all of the Holiday foods offered at Epcot during the season can be found on the Disney Parks blog.

Diwali Celebration With Characters From Up

Where: Animal Kingdom
This year, Animal Kingdom will be celebrating India’s Festival of Lights, Diwali, with the help of favorite characters from the movie Up. Though Diwali is November 8, the holiday will be celebrated as part of the park’s new UP! A Great Bird Adventure show, which features real exotic birds and their handlers.

Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party

Where: Magic Kingdom (Town Square)
Accompanying “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” this year is an ad-on event that costs $99/per person (this does not include the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket that you also need in order to participate). With that ticket, you are offered sweet and savory treats, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and special reserved seating for the “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade.”

The Disney Parks Blog says “you can pop in and out at your leisure and indulge in savory hors d’oeuvres including a selection of artisanal meats and cheeses as well as Tony’s famous meatballs, mini hand-tossed pizzas, boursin-stuffed artichoke and more! And if you’re wanting to satisfy that sweet tooth, then you can snack on pumpkin tartlets, Yule Logs, cannoli, Christmas cookies, and red velvet cupcakes.” The event goes from From 9:30pm-12:30am on select nights; 12:30am is later than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party runs, so that’s even more time in the park.

Christmas Tree Trail

Where: Disney Springs
Walt Disney World’s hub for shopping, dining, and late-night activity features holiday decor and merchandise along with the rest of the resort (the World of Disney superstore is a great place to do your Holiday shopping). Unique to Disney Springs is their Christmas Tree Trail, which invites you to tour 27 Christmas trees, each uniquely decorated with a Disney theme. Some of this year’s trees are inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, Mary Poppins, and Star Wars.

Note that Disney Springs is not a Disney park – you do not need a ticket for admission.

A Cappella Holiday Music

Where: Magic Kingdom (Tomorrowland)
According to Space Coast Daily, the futuristic “land” in Disney’s Magic Kingdom will feature a new a cappella group. They will be serenading guests with Holiday songs “in between performances of ‘A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas.'”

IllumiNations Holiday Finale

Where: Epcot
It was recently announced that IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will conclude in Summer 2019, which means that this season will be the last Holiday-themed grand finale for the Epcot fireworks show.

During a 2018 County Music Awards commercial break, Disney debuted the first official trailer for their 2019 live-action remake of the animated classic, Dumbo.. Walt Disney Studios teased the release earlier in the day on Twitter, saying “Get your first look at the brand-new trailer for #Dumbo during the CMA’s tonight at 8|7c on @ABCNetwork!”

The poster featured in the tweet is also a new release to publicize the upcoming movie. Dumbo joins the list of Disney-animated-movies-made-live-action, following the successful remakes of The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast; it’s scheduled to be released the same year as the studio’s much-anticipated, star-studded The Lion King.

After it aired on ABC, Disney released the video of the full trailer on their Twitter page, and uploaded the video to Youtube. Watch the trailer below:

The 2 minutes and 20 second trailer begins with newcomers Finley Hobbins and Nico Parker, who play Colin Farell’s Holt Farrier’s children, sneaking into the tent to meet “baby Jumbo.” After a sweet exchange, the baby elephant inhales a feather and sneezes. His sneeze sends him into the air, and the children realize the elephant can fly. The trailer continues, establishing the circus setting of the film, with the flying elephant as its main attraction.

Then, the trailer tugs at viewers’ heartstrings by teasing the scene when Dumbo is separated from his mom, and struggles to continue without her. Holt’s children assure the baby elephant “we’re gonna bring your mama home.” As the drama continues, and the movie proves itself as a story about family, both animal and human, the footage is intercut with the words “When all seems lost, find your courage.”

The Tim Burton movie, which stars Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Eva Green, opens in theaters on March 29, 2019.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is open on Thanksgiving Day 2018. All four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — will all be operating under regular hours.

Park Hours Can Be Found on the My Disney Experience App

On Thursday, November 22, Magic Kingdom park will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Epcot will open at 9 a.m. and will close at 9:30 p.m., with an hour of “Extra Magic” available for on-site resort guests starting at 8 a.m. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open from 9 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Disney’s Animal Kingdom park will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For those looking to enjoy some fun in the sun at a water park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park is currently closed for refurbishment.

Disney fans looking to get some shopping done can head over to Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney). Many shops and restaurants open at 10 a.m. (some restaurants will open a bit later for lunch and/or dinner). Things will start winding down just after 11 p.m. with stores and restaurants locking up at midnight.

Disney World Is Already Decorated for Christmas

Those heading to Walt Disney World hoping to celebrate Turkey Day with pumpkins and cornucopias will be fresh out of luck as the WDW theme parks are already decorated for the Christmas holiday. On the night of October 31, Disney World changes over their fall decor — colored leaves and Mickey pumpkins — to become a winter wonderland. Cinderella Castle has been drenched in stunning lights, Mickey Mouse wreaths hang on the light posts all the way down Main Street U.S.A., and you will undoubtedly hear Christmas carols playing as you stroll from ride to ride (or from store to store).

All Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving

Additionally, all restaurants on Disney property will be open and reservations can be made on Disney’s website or through the My Disney Experience app.

“Thanksgiving at Disney World brings in extra crowds, which means restaurant queues will also be extra long. You’ll save time waiting in line for food if you eat during off-peak times. Eat an early breakfast and have an early lunch at 11 a.m.,” reports Undercover Tourist.

On November 22, Walt Disney Studios released the first official teaser trailer for their remake of the Disney classic, The Lion King. The video broke a record for Disney; EW reported that the teaser got 224.6 million views in its first 24 hours online. The film’s anticipated release date is February 22, 2019, and has an all-star cast including Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogan, and James Earl Jones (who voiced Mufasa in the original movie, as well).

Although the trailer makes it clear that the movie is CGI-animated, many have been referring to it as a “live-action” remake since it was first announced that Disney planned to produce it. News outlets and Disney fans took to social media to react to the trailer and express their excitement over the “live-action” film. The error is likely attributed to the fact that the use of CGI creates a much more lifelike animation; relative to the original animated film, the graphics certainly appear more “real.”

Nevertheless, many Twitter users took the opportunity to poke fun and point out that the new Lion King movie is about as “live-action” as the original.

Some took out their frustration (not only with the “live-action” misnomer but with the entire idea of a remake) with popular gifs from 1994’s original The Lion King.

One user pointed out that the hyper-realistic CGI is about as “live-action” as a film about wild animals was ever going to get, “as if training thousands of wild animals and filming them having conversations is just some normal, doable s—.”

Featuring Polynesian culture and a diverse cast of characters, Moana quickly became a favorite among Disney fans. The list below features 11 of the best Moana toys available right now:

To celebrate the new year, Walt Disney World and Disneyland have released a new collection of merchandise and menu items in a color they’re calling “Purple Potion.” The Instagrammable sweets and products can be found in various locations around the resort, and are meant to complement the release of the new “Potion Purple Mouse Ear headbands.”

According to Disney Parks Blog, the treats and merchandise were available in Walt Disney World starting January 7, and in Disneyland as of January 11. The new color is a celebration of the 2019 new year, and no “end date” has been announced for these items.

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They’ve created a number of vibrant purple cupcakes in unique flavors, including a purple swirl vanilla cupcake stuffed with cotton candy topped with cotton candy buttercream, chocolate glitter ears, and shimmer chocolate crispy pearls, which can be found in the food courts at Port Orleans, and a purple Minnie Mouse cupcake with ruffled frosting at Captain Cooks in the Polynesian Resort. The most intricately decorated cupcake option, however, is the African Violet Cupcake, found in The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The cupcake is decorated with sugar violet flowers and leaves and is a vanilla cupcake with berry medley preserves topped with chocolate buttercream.

Courtesy of Disney Parks

Following in the footsteps of Disney’s “Rose Gold” churro is the Purple Churro, coated in purple sugar. You can find it in Critter Country in Disneyland Park.

Courtesy of Disney Parks

One of the cutest and most photogenic “Potion Purple” offerings is the purple glove macaron, shaped like Mickey Mouse’s glove. It has blackberry and currant buttercream and a blackberry-currant jam center and can be found in Disneyland Park’s Jolly Holiday Bakery Café and Disney California Adventure Park at Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream/Fiddler and the Fifer & Practical Café.

For a complete list of the Potion Purple food and drink offerings, and where to find them, click here.

For a longer-lasting purple purchase, there are a number of new merchandise items to pair with the glittery Potion Purple ears. The Potion Purple Spirit Jersey is a popular choice; it features a sparkly “D” icon on the front and the Disney resort logo across the back. They are also selling a sparkly Loungefly Potion Purple Mini Backpack with Mouse ears, a “Vacation Mode” water bottle, and a purple Mickey phone case.

Using the hashtag “#PotionPurple,” many Disney-goers have been sharing their own photos with the purple products and snacks on social media. One happy guest shared a photo of the blackberry Minnie cake pop, praising its flavor and saying “I do not normally jump on all of these color bandwagons (rose gold, millenial pink, etc.) but POTION PURPLE WAS MADE FOR ME.” On @thewdwcouple’s Instagram, they shared a series of photos and review of all of the Potion Purple treats they tried.

If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California, keep an eye out for all of the Potion Purple goodies there for you to enjoy.

Disney has reinstated James Gunn to direct the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie after firing him from the film last July. Since then, Walt Disney Studios president Alan Horn met with Gunn multiple times and based on Gunn’s public apology and his response to the situation, Horn was convinced to reverse the decision and bring Gunn back to the project. Both Marvel and Gunn’s team have confirmed his return to the MCU, reports Deadline.

Gunn tweeted to confirm the news writing, “I am tremendously grateful to every person out there who has supported me over the past few months. I am always learning and will continue to work at being the best human being I can be. I deeply appreciate Disney’s decision and I am excited to continue making films that investigate the ties of love that bind us all. I have been, and continue to be incredibly humbled by your love and support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Love to you all.”

Why Was James Gunn Fired in the First Place?

Gunn was originally fired by Disney after alt-right journalists dug up and re-shared a series of old social media posts in which he made distasteful jokes about pedophilia, homophobia, and rape. Rather than taking a defensive stand on the decision, Gunn blamed himself and his poor judgment for the firing, not once lashing out at the corporate giant for cutting ties with him.

“My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative,” Gunn said in an official statement. “I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time.

“Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today,” said Gunn. “Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then.”

Prior to the actual firing, Gunn shared his thoughts about the resurfaced posts via this Twitter thread.

Disney and Marvel Had No One Else In Mind to Replace Gunn on the Project

In the months following Gunn’s absence, neither Marvel nor Disney considered any other director for Guardians of the Galaxy 3 despite rumors that Thor: Ragnarok‘s Taika Waititi might replace him. Waititi was quick to squash those rumors saying, “For me, those are James [Gunn]’s films. Going into something like that with his stamp all over his films would be like going into someone’s house and saying ‘Hey, I’m your new dad, and this is how we make peanut butter sandwiches now.’ It feels kind of awkward.”

Gunn’s Guardians cast will surely be pleased with the news. After his exit from the threequel, Chris Pratt, the leader of the Guardians squad, and the rest of the cast (including Zoey Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker, and Pom Klementieff) released a joint statement of support to Gunn on Instagram. Part of the statement read, “We were all shocked by his abrupt firing last week and have intentionally waited these ten days to respond in order to think, pray, listen, and discuss. Being in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies has been a great honor in each of our lives. We cannot let this moment pass without expressing our love, support, and gratitude for James. We are not here to defend his jokes of many years ago but rather to share our experience having spent many years together on set making Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2.”

Guardians 3 Will Have to Wait Until Gunn Finishes His Other Superhero Sequel

Prior to his firing, Gunn had completed work on a script that Marvel confirmed would be used for the third Guardians installment. While fans can only assume Marvel will move forward with that same script, it’s going to be a while for its story to leap from page to screen. Gunn’s latest gig as writer-director of the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel for Warner Bros. and DC will likely delay Guardians 3; however, Marvel Studios has agreed to wait to begin production until after Gunn completes Suicide Squad 2.

Disneyland Paris went on “lockdown” after numerous Twitter users reported hearing an explosion. The theme park, which is located in Marne-la-Vallée, France, a town less than 20 miles east of Paris, reportedly went into lockdown after 9 p.m. local time on March 23.

Nothing has been confirmed yet and details are scant, but it was reportedly a false alarm over a loud noise that came from a firecracker or firework.

Right before 11 p.m. local time, the all-clear was given by France’s Ministry of the Interior. The only injuries were from running crowds.

Some users on social media originally said they heard gunshots, others said they heard an explosion-like noise.

“There was a big crowd movement,” says Romain Goffinet, a Belgian told a French-based news outlet. “The terraces are deserted in the space of a few seconds. We were pushed to the shops. The security guards locked the doors and we were evacuated by the back shop. It was really panic. Many people were crying. We really wondered what was going on. I was with my son. The security guards then reported a false alarm, but the police presence is important on the site. There is also the army. For now, we are still evacuated but we do not know where we are going yet.”

Alleged witnesses said some buildings were evacuated, and others were put on lockdown. Video footage shared on Twitter shows panicked guests running.

A digital emergency management account urged users not to share “false information or unverified information.”

Dumbo, the live-action film by Tim Burton, hits theaters March 29. Dumbo stars Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green and Alan Arkin.

“The new Dumbo tells the story of a baby elephant who is pulled away from his mother to join a small circus with one-time horse-riding star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell). The drama carries well beyond Dumbo’s first triumphant circus flight, where the original movie ended, to explore the joys and perils of instant fame,” reports USA Today.

Dumbo is one of a Series of Disney Life Action Remakes

The Atlantic calls Dumbo possibly Tim Burton’s most complex protagonist in years.

Several historic, politically incorrect elements from the first Dumbo have been reworked or removed from Dumbo 2019, which is only loosely a remake of the 1941 original.

People, not animals, are the central cast to the remake.

“The elephant is actually a supporting player in a jumble of interrelated storylines about a dad (Colin Farrell) disappointing his children (Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins); a small business struggling in an industry dominated by a big business; and whatever we were supposed to take away from Eva Green’s role as a charismatic trapeze artist,” writes Angie Han for Mashable.

Not all critics are not reacting as warmly as one might expect to the floppy-eared baby elephant. The Wrap ranks it 4th best out of a list of 13 Disney live-action remakes of the studio’s classics. Aladdin, starring Will Smith as Genie, and The Lion King are both due to release later this year.

The Music of Dumbo Plays a Starring Role

Danny Elfman wrote the score for Dumbo. Elfman says working with Burton, who he has worked with on 16 other films, is more complicated than working with other directors.

“It’s always a kind of roundabout process of when we start the film, he’ll say very little about the music. We have a thing called a spotting session where we go through the whole film top to bottom and break it down into all the musical parts and give them all a name and a number.”

Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, who contributed the soundtrack Wake Up to 2009’s Where The Wild Things Are film, now contributes a new version of Baby Mine to Dumbo 2019. The song is a cover of the Betty Noyes version from the original animated feature of Dumbo (1941). The band is famous for its many members, and grew more for this recording as one of the sons of the married bandleaders, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, plays the triangle, Win and Will Butler’s mother plays harp, and their late grandfather makes a cameo on Sonovox for Baby Mine, reports Consequence of Sound.

Butler’s grandfather made the Sonovox, a device that transmits unusual vocal sounds, famous in the 1930s.

“There is a scene with a locomotive in the original Dumbo that uses an instrument called the Sonovox that my grandpa Alvino Rey made famous in the 1930s,” he said. “Every time I saw the film I thought it was him … “I will forever relate to the song thinking about the people I hold so dear that are so precious to me,” he said. “Listen for the cameo of my grandpa Alvino’s famous Sonovox at the end.”

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Eric Andre, actor and host of the comedic program “The Eric Andre Show” on the Adult Swim network, is the voice of Azizi in the live-action remake of Disney’s the “Lion King.”

Fans of the original animated version may find themselves struggling to remember the name Azizi from the 1994 film. You won’t be able to do; the name Azizi never appeared in the movie.

Azizi is one of the hyenas that runs around with Scar and attempts to hunt down young Simba and Nala. But in the original version, his name had a much more American sound to it: “Ed.”

Here’s what you need to know.

The Hyenas Were All Given African Names for the Live-Action Remake of the ‘Lion King’

The three main hyenas were named Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. In the 1994 animated movie, Whoopi Goldberg provided the voice for the Shenzi, the one female hyena. Cheech Marin was Banzai. Jim Cummings played Ed, the hyena that answers questions with a cackling laugh.

For the live-action version, Disney decided to swap out two of the hyenas' names for African names. Banzai is now Kamari. Ed is now Azizi.

"Azizi" appears to have multiple meanings in Swahili. According to IMDB, the name means "moonlight." But various "baby name” websites list different meanings such as mighty one; powerful; beloved; and precious.

Some fans were not thrilled with the idea of the name change. There was a Change.org petition to keep Banzai and Ed in the new Lion King movie, but the petition failed to gain traction.

Eric Andre is Best Known For His Late-Night Comedic Talk Show on Adult Swim

Eric Andre, 36, is best known for hosting his own late-night show on Adult Swim. The Eric Andre Show debuted in 2012 and ran for four seasons. He also was one of the show’s creators and co-writers in addition to being the host.

Andre played pranks on the set and conducted interviews with celebrities, both real and impersonated. Rolling Stone published a review of the program in 2014 with this description of the format: “A tumult of stunts and bits that plays like an 11-minute punk aria; a sharp rebuke to the forced politeness and feigned enthusiasm of mainstream TV talk shows; a test of endurance for former reality-TV and child stars; and a nightmarish funhouse that swallows everyone involved, cast and crew included.”

Andre told the Indie Wire in 2016 that he created the program based on his stream of thought, which can result in some pretty chaotic scenes. “It is like pure Id, the most creative freedom I’ll ever have. There are no rules. It can totally be as surreal or absurd or nonlinear as it wants. If you hooked a tube up to my brain and fed it into a television, it would be the show, for sure.”

Andre’s recent acting credits include the animated Netflix series “Disenchantment.” Andre provides the voice of Luci, a demon that says he wants to “get rid of all the diseases plaguing mankind and replace them with worse ones.” He follows Princess Tiabeanie around, like a best friend who is a terrible influence.

Andre also recently played the part of “Mike” in “Man Seeking Woman” on FXX. In 2014, he appeared on the CBS sitcom “Two Broke Girls” as Deke, the boyfriend of Max Black, played by Kat Dennings. You can see Andre’s full list of acting credits here.

‘The Lion King’ Debuts in Theaters on July 19

Disney released a new trailer for the upcoming “Lion King” on April 10, 2019. The movie was directed by Jon Favreau, who also directed the 2016 live-action remake of the “Jungle Book.”

The characters were brought to life with computer-generated imagery, or CGI. This has led some critics to question whether the movie can really be called “live-action.” But Screen Rant noted that “Lion King” was “filmed on a bluescreen stage,” which is part of what separates it from an animated film.

The “Lion King” will debut in theaters on July 19, 2019.

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Roblox is partnering with Disney to add an Avengers: Endgame-themed twist to the annual Egg Hunt, according to a press release sent to Heavy.

During the Roblox Egg Hunt 2019: Scrambled in Time, which starts today, players can find a total of 58 eggs hidden across over 40 games on the Roblox platform.

See Also: Best Avengers Endgame Toys

Players can start finding eggs at the special hub created just for the event, including six Avengers-themed eggs earned by solving puzzles within the hub. According to Roblox Chief Business Officer Craig Donato, players can use special powers in the hub to solve challenges and find the eggs. Finding all six eggs will award players with their very own Infinity Gauntlet they can put on their avatar. Players can find other Avengers-themed items for their avatar including Captain America’s shield, Black Widow’s electric batons and Captain Marvel’s mask and mohawk.

The Egg Hunt ends on May 6, 2019. Each egg players collect will unlock an exclusive reward they can keep even after the event is over.

Donato said that Avengers: Endgame was a perfect fit for Roblox not only because the Roblox platform allows Disney to reach a core demographic of moviegoers, but because the movie’s iconic characters make for good additions for the game’s customizable gear.

“On the Roblox platform we give players the ability to imagine and become whoever they want through customizable avatars, and bring that virtual identity with them on various adventures as they collaborate and connect with friends in the millions of experiences on our platform,” Donato said. “We knew our players would love to have branded items from Avengers: Endgame and the timing is perfect with our annual Egg Hunt 2019: Scrambled in Time event launching this week ahead of the movie’s premier next week!”

Avengers: Endgame is releasing April 26, 2019.

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Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, who co-founded the Walt Disney Company, recently put the CEO of her family’s company, Bob Iger, on public blast. In a series of tweets, the Disney heiress called his pay package, which totaled to $65.6 million in executive pay last year, to be an “insane” amount when there are workers at DisneyLand Park that can’t afford to feed their families.

This isn’t the first time Abigail has shaded Iger’s income, which according to Equilar, is 1,424 times more than the average Disney employee. While appearing on CNBC in March Abigail said, “Jesus Christ himself isn’t worth 500 times his median workers’ pay.”

Abigail, 59, who’s married to Pierre Hauser and the mother of four children, also works as a veteran documentary film producer. In 2015, she co-directed The Armor of Light, a doc exploring the need for America to re-examine their stance on gun laws. The outspoken philanthropist who’s film Pray the Devil Back to God won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, also serves as the President and CEO of Fork Films, and founded the non-profit, Peace is Loud.

Here’s what you need to know about Abigail Disney:

1. Abigail Has Been Married to Pierre Hauser for 31 Years

Abigail Disney, husband Pierre Hauser and their four children in 2008

The Disney heiress tied the knot with husband Peter Norman Hauser on October 8, 1988. The two met while studying at Yale University, and as announced in the New York Times, they were married at St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University.Together they have four children, Henry, Olivia, Charlotte, and Eamon.

Hauser, originally from San Francisco, works as an editor at Chelsea House, a publishing firm in New York City, and has produced a few documentary films with his wife’s company. He’s also an activist. With Abigail, he co-founded and is president of the Daphne Foundation, which helps funds programs dealing with the consequences of poverty in New York City and West Africa. He also works with the Flawless Foundation, is on the board of the North Star Fund, and the Roy Disney Family Foundation.

2. She Has a Net Worth of $500 Million

Abigail Disney

Born on January 24, 1960, according to Net Worth Post, Abigail has an estimated worth of $500 million based on data collect in 2017. A California native, Abigail attended college Yale University where she studied English Literature, before earning her Master’s at Stanford, and eventually, a PhD in Philosophy at Columbia University.

In addition to her family’s wealth, Abigail is a successful director and producer. While the company she founded Fork Films has produced a long list of documentary films, and in 2015, she debuted as a director and screenwriter on the movie The Armor of Light. The film premiered at Tribeca and went on to win the Best International Feature Documentary and the Special Award at the Traverse City Film Festival.

3. She Likes to Spend Money on Nice Dinners & Good Shoes, But That’s It

GettyAbigail Disney in 2018.

Abigail said, “I’m in a position to continue giving a lot of money away until the day I die. I really considered giving it all away at a certain point in my 20s, and I know people who did that. Now I’m glad I didn’t give it all away, because my money has grown. Now I’ve given away so much more than I inherited. And I’m so much smarter now. What I would’ve done in my 20s would have been great and nice, but I’m so much more effective now.”

When Abigail does splurge, she likes to go out to nice dinners, drink good wine and eat delicious food. She also cops to spending way too much money on a nice pair of shoes or handbag. “Luckily, I’m not a real-estate girl,” she said. “I don’t need a ranch and a ski resort and whatever else. And I don’t want a private jet because it hollows you out from the inside. So, I’m lucky that the things I love are really not expensive, considering. But to most normal people, what I spend on a really good dinner at a really good restaurant, that would be horrifying. They couldn’t even imagine spending that. So I wouldn’t pass muster with a lot of lefties, I have to say.”

4. Abigail Fights For Higher Taxes on the Rich

Honorary chair and co-founder of Level Forward, Abigail E. Disney speaks onstage.

This isn’t the first time the out the granddaughter of Disney’s co-founder has spoken on pay issues. A member of Patriotic Millionaires, she part of a group that actively supports higher taxes on the rich, which she voiced in the 2017 video for “Now This.”

In an interview with The Cut, Abigail confronts the fact that she’s grown up with more money than most people will ever see in their lifetime, however, she talks about how she’s given away nearly $71 million since she turned 21.

“[When] Michael Eisner came in and reinvigorated the [Disney] company, the stock price, which was basically my family’s entire net worth, was ten times, 20 times, 50 times what it had been when I was growing up. So all of the sudden, we went from being comfortable, upper-middle-class people to suddenly my dad had a private jet. That’s when I feel that my dad really lost his way in life. And that’s why I feel hyperconscious about what wealth does to people. I lived in one family as a child, and then I didn’t even recognize the family as I got older.”

5. Abigail Professes To Be the Opposite of Kim Kardashian

GettyAbigail Disney speaking at The Sundance Institute in 2018.

Growing up with such a famous last name has brought Abigail much wealth, but it’s also made it extremely difficult for her to find real friends, and has brought along a lot of self doubt. “Like, did Yale really say yes because I was that good, or did Yale say yes because of my last name? I’ll never know,” she said. “I’ve spent a lot of time earning things like post graduate degrees that make me feel legitimate. And those feelings have started to go away. But that’s outsourcing your sense of self. That is handing your self-esteem to the world to tell you whether or not you’re allowed to have any. And that’s a dangerous game.”

“I think that people who grow up in this kind of life go one of two ways,” Abigail said. “They either go the Kim Kardashian route, which is spending, spending, spending, completely absorbing the idea that, ‘Yes, you are that special,’ and wanting everyone to look at you. Or, and I know a lot of people who’ve gone this way — especially my women friends — you do the opposite. I wore shitty clothes around. I didn’t want anyone to know what I had but money is morally neutral. It does not, in and of itself, make you a bad person. It also does not, in and of itself, makes you a good person. You are who you are and the least important thing about you is what you have. That was not, “You haven’t earned it,” you know. So my philosophy is you try to earn it in reverse.”

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Patrick Spikes is a former Disney World employee who is accused of stealing and re-selling more than $7,000 in costumes and other memorabilia from the Orlando, Florida, theme park, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says.

Spikes founded BackDoorDisney to post online about his exploits as he explored backstage areas at the Walt Disney World parks. After the 24-year-old was arrested on felony grand theft charges on May 16, Spikes deleted his personal and Disney World-themed social media pages. Spikes had been under investigation for several months and news of the alleged thefts had spread throughout communities of Disney fans online.

In a statement, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said, “Spikes, 24, sits behind bars and faces charges of burglary, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property. He entered a restricted area of Disney, stole over $7,000 in items and resold them. Special thanks to the tireless efforts of our Sector 6 detectives.” Disney has not commented about the arrest.

Here’s what you need to know about Patrick Allen Spikes:

1. Spikes Is Accused of Using Underground Tunnels to Get Backstage at the Haunted Mansion Ride & Then of Selling Stolen Items Online for At Least $30,000

Patrick Spikes.

Patrick Spikes is accused of using employee-only underground tunnels at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to get into backstage areas, including the Haunted Mansion ride. Spikes was accompanied by his cousin while in the tunnels, according to a police report obtained by Heavy.

While investigating Spikes’ involvement in alleged thefts from the theme park, detectives from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office obtained search warrants for his phone and other electronic devices, according to court documents. Detectives said they found photos of “numerous pieces” of Disney property on his found, “almost all of which (were) later determined to be stolen.”

One photo showed a close up of a costume tag that read “A.A. Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion Fig. 32A.,” police said. A Disney investigator saw the photograph and found that the dress was reported as stolen from a locker inside the Haunted Mansion. The investigator told detectives it was assigned to animatronic figure 32A and was one of two rotated out for cleaning. The animatronic is in the ballroom scene of the Haunted Mansion.

According to financial records obtained by police, Spikes received $29,451.70 through Paypal from two people between July 2018 and September 2018. One man, who Heavy is not identifying because he is cooperating with the investigation and has not been charged, sent $8,890.21 to Spikes in July and August, according to police. He said he purchased multiple items from Spikes, including the Haunted Mansion dress. The man said Spikes told him the items were his personal belongings that he obtained from Disney with permission. Police said Spikes sold the man 18 items in total, all of which were stolen from Disney World over the course of several burglaries, according to court documents.

Police said in court documents that Spikes appeared to have made a fake employee ID for his cousin, Blaytin Taunton. A photograph on Spikes phone showed a Disney employee ID being made inside a printing machine. Police said the photo resembled Taunton and used the name “Jack D. Marrow.” Disney told detectives no such employee works at the park and the employee number used on the ID belonged to an ex-employee.

Police said the theft of the dress occurred on July 31, 2018. Spikes entered the Magic Kingdom using his employee ID, while his cousin entered using a ticket, just before 9 p.m. Spikes and his cousin took a photo together on Spikes’ phone in the “utilidoor” area of Magic Kingdom, which is the underground tunnel area for employees only.

“The tunnels allow access to different areas of the park, both guest and backstage areas. In the photo, Spikes is wearing a button down collard blue and white striped dress shirt with a Disney name tag. Taunton is wearing a black polo shirt usually worn by Disney stage crew personnel and a Disney name tag that says ‘Jose,'” according to police. “Taunton is not an employee of Disney World.”

According to police, Spikes and Taunton then took photos inside the Haunton MAnsion while it was open, but in a restricted area. “Disney records show that Spikes was not scheduled to work that day, was not paid for working that day and would not be permitted inside the attraction since that is not his job assignment, even if he was working,” police said in court documents.

Spikes later posted some of the photos online, according to police. Another photo on Spikes’ phone showed a woman, believed to be Taunton’s girlfriend, wearing the stolen Haunted Mansion dress and a tiara, according to court documents. Detectives said Spikes and his cousin also stole a jacket, trousers, a bodice, skirt, petticoat, a second skirt and a second bodice, a yellow wig, two male wigs and a tiara, valued at $7,216, while inside the Haunted Mansion in July 2018.

2. He Was Charged With Resisting an OFficer in 2018 During the Investigation Into the Theft of EPCOT’s ‘Buzzy’ Animatronic, Police Say

Patrick Spikes in his mugshot from his 2018 arrest.

Spikes was previously charged in December 2018 with misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence while detectives were investigating the theft of an animatronic from the EPCOT theme park, according to court documents. The charges were later dismissed.

According to the criminal complaint in that case, Spikes was being interviewed at an Orange County Sheriff’s office station as part of a grand theft investigation. During the interview, detectives “confronted” Spikes with photos taken from his cell phone in August 2018 that showed stolen merchandise from Disney World in his vehicle, according to the complaint.

“I had also developed information that the defendant made text messages claiming the stolen merchandise was sold for $8,000,” a detective wrote in the complaint. “I told the defendant to place his phone on the table in the interview room, with the intention of seizing it for a search warrant. The defendant placed his phone on the table, and a few moments later stated he was leaving and took his phone. I told him we were keeping his phone. Once I said this he grabbed the phone from the table and brought it to his waist area. The defendant was secured and the phone was removed.”

According to the complaint, Spikes was then detained while police searched his phone and home. Spikes complained that he was sick and felt like he was going to vomit and “began to make strained breathing noises and stated he couldn’t breath.” Spikes was given water and later taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

Police said in court documents filed after Spikes’ second arrest in May 2019 that in August 2018 clothing was stolen from an animatronic in the closed “Cranium Command” attraction at EPCOT, which had been closed for years and was set to be archived by Disney. Clothing was stolen, including a bomber jacket, large headphones and a green hat.

According to court documents, investigators also learned “the entire Buzzy animatronic was later stolen from the attraction.”

According to court documents, the alleged theft of the animatronic remains under investigation. It is not clear if Spikes remains the target of that investigation and whether he could face additional charges as that probe progresses. According to police, “Spikes denied any firsthand knowledge of the thefts, but provided vague information of people we could look into, but would not provide names or specifics. Spikes stated that he would contact us if he heard anything.”

Spikes could also be charged in further cases involving the sales of the 18 items to the man cooperating with the investigation. Police said further cases could be brought in connection to the 17 other items along with the dress, which is the only stolen item relevant to the case Spikes was charged with in May 2019.

3. Spikes Had Social Media Accounts, a YouTube Channel & a Podcast Under His ‘BackDoorDisney’ Brand

Patrick Spikes appeared to be trying to build a brand for his “behind the scenes” content on social media, YouTube and through a podcast, all using the name “BackDoorDisney.” Spikes did not appear to have a big following, but some of his photos and videos from the backstage areas of the Disney World parks spread in online Disney communities prior to his arrest. He also was interviewed by another Disney podcaster.

Spikes had already gained some notoriety in the Disney online community after his 2018 arrest because court documents revealed his possible involvement in the theft of the EPCOT animatronic. There was speculation about whether the animatronic had actually been stolen.

After his arrest on the theft charges, Spikes deleted the videos from his BackDoorDisney YouTube channel and took down his personal and BackDoorDisney social media pages, including Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Spikes’ BackDoorDisney accounts were investigated by Disney World employees, according to court documents. “Disney Security Investigators” were made aware of an employee named Patrick Spikes … who was taking pictures backstage while employed. During their internal investigation, they discovered that Spikes was developing an online social media presence to display these photos,” police said.

He posted a photo of the animatronic “Buzzy,” with clothing still attached in October 2018, according to court documents.

4. He Is a Florida Native & Studied at Full Sail University

Spikes is a Florida native and lives in Winter Garden, Florida.

It is not clear how long Spikes worked at Disney World or what his job with the company was. A now-deleted Linkedin profile shows that Spikes studied to work in the entertainment industry at Full Sail University.

Spikes’ cousin, Blaytin Taunton, has not yet been charged as part of the investigation, but police have said that the investigation into the thefts and re-selling of stolen property remains open and ongoing. Taunton is a 23-year-old Panama City, Florida, resident, according to online records. Taunton does not have any previous arrests in Orange County, according to court records.

5. Spikes Was Released From Jail on Bail & Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison if Convicted of the 3 Felony Charges He Faces

Patrick Allen Spikes was released from the Orange County Jail on bail after his May 16 arrest. A date for his first court hearing has not been set.

Spikes was charge with dealing in stolen property (trafficking), a second-degree felony, which is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison. He was also charged with burglary of an occupied structure and grand theft of $5,000 or more, which are both third-degree felonies. He faces up to 5 years in prison on each of those charges.

Spikes could not be reached for comment by Heavy. There is no attorney listed in court records who could comment on Spikes’ behalf.

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Though critically acclaimed and widely beloved, the 1992 animated feature “Aladdin” had some serious issues with stereotyping.

Disney wanted to avoid repeating these same problems in the live action version of “Aladdin,” which came out on May 24. So they sought advice from a Community Advisory Council comprised of Middle Eastern, South Asian and Muslim scholars, activists and creatives. I was asked to be a part of the group because of my expertise on representations of Arabs and Muslims in the U.S. media.

The fact that a major studio wants to hear from the community reflects Hollywood’s growing commitment to diversity.

But while the live action “Aladdin” does succeed in rectifying some aspects of Hollywood’s long history of stereotyping and whitewashing Middle Easterners, it still leaves much to be desired.

Magical genies and lecherous sheikhs

In his seminal 1978 book “Orientalism,” literature professor Edward Said argued that Western cultures historically stereotyped the Middle East to justify exerting control over it.

Orientalism in Hollywood has a long history. Early Hollywood films such as “The Sheik” and “Arabian Nights” portrayed the Middle East as a monolithic fantasy land – a magical desert filled with genies, flying carpets and rich men living in opulent palaces with their harem girls.

While these depictions were arguably silly and harmless, they flattened the differences among Middle Eastern cultures, while portraying the region as backwards and in need of civilizing by the West.

Then came a series of Middle Eastern conflicts and wars: the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, the Iran Hostage Crisis and the Gulf War. In American media, the exotic Middle East faded; replacing it were depictions of violence and ominous terrorists.

As media scholar Jack G. Shaheen observed, hundreds of Hollywood films over the last 50 years have linked Islam with holy war and terrorism, while depicting Muslims as either “hostile alien intruders” or “lecherous, oily sheikhs intent on using nuclear weapons.”

Cringeworthy moments in the original ‘Aladdin’

Against this backdrop, the Orientalism of Disney’s 1992 animated “Aladdin” wasn’t all that surprising.

The opening song lyrics described a land “Where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face” and declared, “It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home!”

When the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee protested the lyrics, Disney removed the reference to cutting off ears in the home video version but left in the descriptor “barbaric.”

Then there were the ways the characters were depicted. As many have noted, the bad Arabs are ugly and have foreign accents while the good Arabs – Aladdin and Jasmine – possess European features and white American accents.

The film also continued the tradition of erasing distinctions between Middle Eastern cultures. For example, Jasmine, who is supposed to be from Agrabah – originally Baghdad but fictionalized because of the Gulf War in 1991 – has an Indian-named tiger, Rajah.

Questionable progress

After 9/11, a spate of films emerged that rehashed many of the old terrorist tropes. But surprisingly, some positive representations of Middle Eastern and Muslim characters emerged.

In 2012, I published my book “Arabs and Muslims in the Media: Race and Representation after 9/11.” In it, I detail the strategies that writers and producers used after 9/11 to offset stereotyping.

The most common one involved including a patriotic Middle Eastern or Muslim American to counterbalance depictions as terrorists. In the TV drama, “Homeland,” for example, Fara Sherazi, an Iranian American Muslim CIA analyst, is killed by a Muslim terrorist, showing that “good” Muslim Americans are willing to die for the United States.

But this didn’t change the fact that Middle Easterners and Muslims were, by and large, portrayed as threats to the West. Adding a ‘good’ Middle Eastern character doesn’t do much to upend stereotypes when the vast majority are still appearing in stories about terrorism.

Another strategy also emerged: reverting to old Orientalist tropes of the exotic, romantic Middle East. Maybe writers and producers assumed that depicting the Middle East as exotic would be an improvement over associating it with terrorism.

The 2004 film “Hidalgo,” for example, tells the story of an American cowboy who travels to the Arabian desert in 1891 to participate in a horse race. In classic Orientalist fashion, he saves the rich sheik’s daughter from the sheik’s evil, power-hungry nephew.

The 2017 movie “Victoria and Abdul” depicts an unlikely friendship between Queen Victoria and her Indian-Muslim servant, Abdul Karim. While the film does critique the racism and Islamophobia of 19th-century England, it also infantilizes and exoticizes Abdul.

Nonetheless, some glaring problems persisted. Jake Gyllenhaal was cast in the lead role of “The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (2010), while Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton were cast in “Exodus: Gods and Kings” (2014) as Egyptian characters.

Why were white actors assuming these roles?

When challenged, producer Ridley Scott infamously said that he can’t “say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such. I’m just not going to get it financed.”

Does the new ‘Aladdin’ make strides?

Perhaps in a desire to avoid the mistakes of the past, Disney executives sought advice from cultural consultants like me.

There’s certainly some notable progress made in the live-action “Aladdin.”

Egyptian Canadian actor Mena Massoud plays Aladdin. Given the dearth of people of Middle Eastern descent in lead roles, the significance of casting Massoud cannot be overstated. And despite the fact that some white extras had their skin darkened during filming, Disney did cast actors of Middle Eastern descent in most of the main roles.

Casting Indian British actress Naomi Scott as Jasmine was controversial; many hoped to see an Arab or Middle Eastern actress in this role and wondered whether casting someone of Indian descent would simply reinforce notions of “Oriental” interchangeability. Nonetheless, the film does note that Jasmine’s mother is from another land.

The biggest problem with the 2019 “Aladdin” is that it perpetuates the trend of reverting to magical Orientalism – as if that’s a noteworthy improvement over terrorist portrayals. In truth, it’s not exactly a courageous move to trade explicit racism for cliched exoticism.

To be fair, “Aladdin” distinguishes itself from “Hidalgo” and other Orientalist films of this trend by not revolving around the experiences of a white protagonist.

However, once again, characters with American accents are the “good guys” while those with non-American accents are mostly, but not entirely, “bad.” And audiences today will be as hard pressed as those in 1992 – or 1922, for that matter – to identify any distinct Middle Eastern cultures beyond that of an overgeneralized “East.” Belly dancing and Bollywood dancing, turbans and keffiyehs, Iranian and Arab accents all appear in the film interchangeably.

Just as making positive tweaks within a story about terrorism doesn’t accomplish much, so does making positive tweaks within a story about the exotic East. Diversifying representations requires moving beyond these tired tropes and expanding the kinds of stories that are told.

“Aladdin,” of course, is a fantastical tale, so questions about representational accuracy might seem overblown. It is also a really fun movie in which Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Will Smith all shine in their roles. But over the last century, Hollywood has produced over 900 films that stereotype Arabs and Muslims – a relentless drumbeat of stereotypes that influences public opinion and policies.

If there were 900 films that didn’t portray Arabs, Iranians and Muslims as terrorists or revert to old Orientalist tropes, then films like “Aladdin” could be “just entertainment.”

Until then, we’ll just have to wait for the genie to let more nuanced and diverse portrayals out of the lamp.

By Evelyn Alsultany, Associate Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

A tornado warning was issued for Kissimee, Florida including Disney World until 5:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The statement said radar indicated the possibility of a tornado until 5:45 p.m. Pea-sized hail is also possible. The tornado warning effects a population of 212,772 people including 21 schools and one hospital.

The National Weather Service said, “Tornado Warning including Kissimmee FL, Doctor Phillips FL, Celebration FL until 5:45 PM EDT.”

Local meteorologists shared radar of the storm. Meterologist Casey Cloud wrote, “Central #FLwx Tornado Warning: Southwestern Orange and Northwestern Osceola Counties until 5:45PM. This includes Disney World.”

The National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida issued a statement at 5:13 p.m. It said a severe thunderstorm was moving east at 40 miles per hour from the Four Corners near Bay Lake. Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour were forecast, with a threat of damaged roofs, siding and trees. The warning included Orlando, Kissimmee, Saint Cloud, Bay Lake and Celebration.

There were no confirmed reports of a tornado.

A video was shared on Twitter of a severe storm over the Disney’s Animal Kingdom lodge.

See more photos and videos here.

Here’s what you need to know:

Tornado Warning Issued for Disney World and Surrounding Areas

The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued a statement. It said:

“The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
Southwestern Orange County in east central Florida…
Northwestern Osceola County in east central Florida…

* Until 600 PM EDT.

* At 513 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Four Corners,
or near Bay Lake, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

IMPACT…Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include…
Orlando, Kissimmee, Saint Cloud, Bay Lake and Celebration.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.”

The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued a special weather statement at 6:13 p.m., warning of strong thunderstorms in Orlando, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville and Oviedo.

The statement said:

“…SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SEMINOLE…
BREVARD…SOUTHEASTERN ORANGE…SOUTHEASTERN VOLUSIA AND OSCEOLA
COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM EDT…

At 613 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 10 miles north of Bethune Beach to 6 miles
northwest of Lone Cabbage Fish Camp to near Lake Kissimmee. Movement
was east at 40 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include…
Orlando, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville and Oviedo.”

A hazardous weather outlook was issued by the National Weather Service Wednesday morning. It warned of “frequent lightning and wind-driven torrential downpours of 1 to 2 inches” in a few storms. It said anyone who is outside in the area should be alert for storms rapidly approaching storms from the west. At the sound of thunder or the sight of threatening skies, the National Weather Service advised going inside.

The statement said:

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE…TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.THUNDERSTORM IMPACT…
A few showers and lightning storms will push off the Treasure
Coast late this morning. After a brief midday lull in activity,
showers and lightning storms will begin to form again early this
afternoon and become numerous during the mid and late afternoon.

Storms will move rapidly eastward today around 30 MPH, and will
be easily capable of producing wind gusts above 40 mph, with
isolated damaging wind gusts in excess of 55 mph possible in a
few storms. Frequent lightning and wind-driven torrential
downpours of 1 to 2 inches will also occur in a few storms.

If you are outdoors today, be alert to the potential for strong
storms rapidly approaching from the west. Move indoors to safety
at the first sign of threatening skies or if you hear thunder.

.MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT…
Due to the fast storm motion today, the threat for wind gusts at
or above 35 knots will be greater than in previous days on area
lakes, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the near shore Atlantic.
Move to safe harbor well in advance of storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
Storm coverage will be much lower from late week through the
weekend and into early next week compared to the last several
days. Any Florida thunderstorm can produce deadly cloud to ground
lightning, torrential downpours and gusty winds.

With lower coverage of storms expected, afternoon temperatures
and heat indices will rise, reaching between 100 and 105 degrees
the next few days, especially over the interior.

People Near Disney Received Alerts

People in the area of Kissimmee, Florida received an alert on their phones warning of a tornado. It said, “Tornado Warning in this area til 5:45 PM EDT. Take shelter now. Check local media. – NWS”

An alert from The Weather Channel also sent an alert to users in Orange County.

Some shared multiple alerts popping up on their phones.

Local meteorologists shared radar of the storm headed toward Disney World. Greg Dee, a meteorologist in Tampa, said the area south of downtown Orlando could be effected.

He later advised people to “take shelter immediately.”

Tourists Shared Videos, GIFs After Tornado Warning

People on social media shared videos and pictures after a tornado warning threatened to dampen vacations.

One person shared a video of a downpour outside.

Another person shared a photo of ominous-looking skies.

A group attending the HOSA International Leadership Conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando were told to take shelter in a restroom, calling the tornado warning one of their “unexpected new experiences.”

They weren’t the only ones who reported needing to take shelter.

One Hollywood Studios visitor wrote, “These two got extremely soaked riding Slinky Dog Dash in the rain just before a tornado warning came in. Another new adventure!”

Another person shared a gif of a cat hanging onto a tree, saying “that was an experience!”

Another said, “I’m pretty sure I brought all the tornado warnings to Disney World.”

A man from Texas tweeted his first thought when he saw a tornado warning near Disney.

Others shared photos of their Disney experience in ponchos.

“Tornado warning didn’t stop us from getting back on the Disney shuttles to go back to the parks & use our remaining fast passes,” one person wrote on Instagram. “Gotta love this Florida summer weather.”

Another person shared a video of the tornado warning experience.