Black Spire Outpost, part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland park, has made its in-universe on-screen debut.

Black Spire Outpost’s On-Screen Debut

The Outpost was featured in two episodes of “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,” part of the latest release batch. Though this is the first time Black Spire Outpost has been on-screen, “Star Wars: Galaxy of Creatures” technically featured Batuu for the first time in the episode “Porgs.” SF-R3 visits the Batuu Wilds to try to teach tricks to a murder of Porgs. No recognizable landmarks (other than the spires) can be seen.

Black Spire Outpost On-Screen vs. In Park

Timeline

“Young Jedi Adventures” takes place during the High Republic Era — hundreds of years before the timeline of Galaxy’s Edge, which takes place during the New Republic Era, amid the events of the Sequel Trilogy, specifically between “Episode 8: The Last Jedi” and “Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker.”

The timeline places Galaxy’s Edge in 34 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin, which is the defeat of the Empire at the end of “Episode 6: Return of the Jedi”). “Young Jedi Adventures” takes place in approximately 232 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin). Several season 1 episodes are confirmed to occur in 232 BBY, though the exact date for the Batuu episodes has not been confirmed. (The Star Wars universe has many in-universe calendar systems and dating methods, but for the sake of simplicity, we are using the system used in official Disney reference publications).

This places the Batuu on screen and the Batuu guests can visit at Disney Parks 266 years apart, and era-appropriate differences are depicted.

The first appearance is in season 1, episode 22, in the segment “The Tale of the Short Spire.” It has the most screen time in Black Spire Outpost of the two episodes, though both reveal new information about Batuu.

Black Spire Outpost

In the 266 years between “Young Jedi Adventures” and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Black Spire Outpost has collected a layer of grime. The park land also includes more technology — like wires draped from building to building — that isn’t present in the time of “Young Jedi Adventures.”

In “Young Jedi Adventures,” the Outpost buildings look shiny and new. They are still mostly gray and beige, but some have colorful rooftops that are faded in Galaxy’s Edge.

Many of the buildings in this shot don’t exist by the time of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. They’ve been replaced with locations like Savi’s Workshop and Ronto Roasters. They have the same round style, however.

Blue, red, and purple banners hang throughout the Outpost in the show. Similar banners hang in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge but are dirty and tattered.

Spaceport

Docking Bay 5

The episode’s antagonist parks his ship in Docking Bay 5, the in-park location for the Millennium Falcon. Bakkar Spire can be seen in a wide shot.

He accesses the roof of his ship by a catwalk similar to the one found at Black Spire Station.

The Station, where Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge characters often appear, doesn’t appear to exist yet.

In the second episode featuring Batuu (episode 23, “The Caves of Batuu”), the Jedi practice lightsaber moves in an empty Docking Bay 5.

The building of Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is visible behind some trees in a few shots.

Merchant Row

The white building with a gray rooftop in the above shot is Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. The titular Black Spire is located next to Dok’s but isn’t visible — or is absent due to an error.

Here’s what Dok-Ondar’s and the Black Spire look like in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

The villain seeks to cut down the spires of Batuu. Before the Jedi and locals can stop his droids, they cut the top off one spire in Black Spire Outpost.

This is the spire closest to the Milk Stand, which is intact in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. So maybe the Jedi used the Force to put the broken piece back.

Cantina

The entrance to Oga’s Cantina is visible in the background when the Jedi fight off the bad guy’s droids. It has a distinct entrance archway but lacks Oga’s lettering or decorations.

The location is referred to as a cantina in “Young Jedi Adventures,” but it must have been run by someone other than Oga, who wouldn’t be born for over 200 years.

Docking Bay 9

Docking Bay 9 in-park is home to the First Order. In the episode, the platform where Kylo Ren’s TIE Echelon sits is empty and the area has a little market stand selling fruit.

In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a First Order banner hangs over the square archway, which has gates that remain closed. The nearby trees have also been removed.

The Milk Stand

The Milk Stand appears prominently in several scenes. This contradicts the existing lore, as “The Black Spire Outpost Cookbook” states that the stand was founded by Bubo Wamba, who wouldn’t be alive for about another 200 years.

In the show, the stand has a red fabric canopy. The show doesn’t include the many wires and orbs around the stand.

A humanoid is seen behind the counter and around the stand several times, though it’s unclear if he is the owner/operator of the stand in this era. A jug resembling the Bubo Wamba Family Farms Novelty Drink Vessel can be seen, though the design lacks the farm’s text logo.

Both green Thala Siren milk and blue Bantha milk are seen.

Here are the two real-life souvenir cups with green and blue milk inside.

Just like many visitors, these droids don’t like blue or green milk.

Beyond the Outpost

We get another look at the Batuu Jedi Temple, first seen in the VR video game “Tales From Galaxy’s Edge.” From the game, we know the Temple will be closed in 232, meaning the Jedi seen there in the show are some of the last to study at the research facility.

Unknown Wilds

In the second episode, Master Drow and Kai venture into the Batuu Wilds, an undeveloped forest area of the planet near Black Spire Outpost.

Force Vision Cave

They visit a cave strong with the Force. There are crumbling walls and columns around the cave entrance — maybe part of the same ancient ruins where the Resistance have made their base in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is available to watch on Disney+.

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The post Black Spire Outpost From Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Makes On-Screen Debut appeared first on WDW News Today.

We are “Go Left” people in EPCOT’s World Showcase — yep, we’re heading straight to Mexico when we’re planning on drinking around the world (or if we’re just planning to get some of our favorite drinks).

Mexico pavilion in EPCOT

That means our first stop will be at La Cava del Tequila to order up one of our favorite drinks there, except we just discovered that one of those favorite drinks is GONE. Now, we don’t mean to panic because some NEW drinks have also been introduced. Okay, before we start hyperventilating, we’ll tell you what’s going on.

We were recently checking Disney World menu updates and changes when we noticed something interesting…okay, not interesting, SCARY. Our beloved El Diablo at La Cava del Tequila was removed from the menu. This spicy drink made with tequila, lime juice, agave, and a cucumber-jalapeño juice with a colorful hibiscus salt rim has been a favorite of ours since 2020. We hope it’s not gone forever…but it’s certainly gone for now.

El Diablo

Like we said, though, there were quite a few other changes here, too. That includes a change with another favorite drink of ours, the La Cava Avocado Margarita. It’s no longer on the menu, either. HOWEVER, it’s not REALLY gone. Whew. You’ll see it listed under a new drink on the menu, the Dos Hombres Avocado. The new drink is the avocado margarita made with Dos Hombres mezcal, melon-orange liqueur, fresh avocado, lime juice, and a hibiscus salt rim for $19.50. 

However, the description for the NEW margarita includes wordage that says you can still order the Avocado Margarita made with Tromba blanco teqiula for $17.50. Disney had us scared there for a sec.

The La Cava Avocado margarita

So what else is new at La Cava? Two more drinks, the Piña Loca and El Negroni were removed from the menu. We also had a few ingredients changes and price increases on a few drinks:

• The Wild One description changed from “Teremana blanco tequila, mango-passion fruit purée, Ancho Verde chile liqueur, lime juice, applejack and ginger cordial, black ant salt rim” to “Centinela blanco tequila, Alma Finca orange liqueur, ginger rum, corn passion fruit cordial, lime juice, Dos Hombres mezcal, grenadine and hibiscus salt rim” and price changed from $17 to $18
• Blood Orange description changed from “Ambhar blanco tequila, orange liqueur, sweet-tart mix of blood orange, hint of rum and vanilla, Tajín chile-lime powder rim” to “Tromba blanco tequila, blood orange vodka, gin, LeJay black currant liqueur, Dos Hombres mezcal and Tajín chile-lime powder rim” and price changed from $17 to $18.50

Blood Orange Margarita

However, in addition to the Dos Hombres Avocado, some NEW specialty cocktails were added to the menu,  (so now we have something to get excited about):

• ADDED: The Cucumber — Tromba blanco tequila, fresh cucumber and lime juice, vodka, Abasolo corn whiskey, Rhubarb bitters, and Tajín chile-lime powder rim for $17. Make it Spicy $2.00
• ADDED: Corn Old Fashioned — Abasolo corn whiskey, ilegal reposado mezcal La Cava barrel, Ten to One dark rum, Lost Irish whiskey, Nixta corn liqueur, Roaming Man rye bourbon and Mole bitters for $22
• ADDED: La Paloma — Lalo blanco tequila, Fever Tree grapefruit soda, fresh lime, Dos Hombres mezcal, and Tajín chile-lime powder rim for $19
• ADDED: Malumita — Contraluz reposado cristalino mezcal, pineapple juice, Ancho Reyes chile Poblano liqueur, ginger-peach cordial, Italicus and tortilla ash rim for $27

La Cava del Tequila

So if you visit La Cava del Tequila soon, you might notice some things have changed, but we hope this gives you a heads up so you can plan your next drink order.

Stay tuned to DFB for more!

5 Major Changes Coming to Disney World in June

What do you think of these changes? Will you miss the El Diablo? What are you looking forward to trying? Let us know in the comments!

The post NEWS: HUGE Menu Changes at Our Favorite Disney Bar — See What’s NEW at La Cava Del Tequila in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney’s timeshare service, where you can purchase points and then use those points to stay at Disney properties around the globe.

DVC Welcome Center in Disney Springs

Being a DVC member comes with a whole ton of perks you can get, including discounts on food and merchandise, and access to the most exclusive spaces and hottest clubs at Disney World (okay, we’re kidding about that last part). But one of those spaces is about to CLOSE temporarily!

The Disney Vacation Club Lounge in EPCOT will be temporarily closed for a scheduled refurbishment soon! The closure begins on June 2nd, 2024, and will last through July 13th, 2024. You’ll find this somewhat hidden members-only lounge above Journey Into Imagination with Figment at EPCOT.

DVC Lounge in EPCOT

During that time, there will be a temporary DVC lounge location set up at the Odyssey Pavilion in EPCOT. The Odyssey Pavilion is currently being used as festival space, but without a festival at the park during those 6 weeks, it’s likely that it will be exclusively open for DVC members.

The Odyssey Pavilion

Disney seems to have planned this refurbishment of the DVC lounge to be in between festivals so that the Odyssey pavilion is available as the replacement lounge. From May 28th through August 28th, there will be no festival in EPCOT (since the Flower & Garden Festival ends on May 27th and Food & Wine doesn’t start until August 29th).

We haven’t heard any more details, but the normal DVC lounge location is usually open from 11AM to 6PM, and we’re expecting the one in the Odyssey to be the same.

DVC lounge in EPCOT

Make sure you bring your membership card and photo ID when you visit since they will probably be required to check in at the lounge. Members are usually allowed to bring a few guests with them to the lounge. At the current lounge, each Member can bring up to four guests (or the number of guests on their Resort reservation).

Disney shared that the Odyssey Lounge will have complimentary snacks and beverages, along with additional items available for purchase. We’ll let you know when Disney announces more about this temporary lounge! You can find the Odyssey Pavilion located past Test Track on the way to the World Showcase. Keep an eye out for the little bridge you need to cross to get to it.

Inside the Odyssey Pavilion during a festival

Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog as we continue to bring you the latest news from Disney World and more!

Click Here to Learn More About Disney Vacation Club!

The post REMINDER: An Exclusive Lounge in EPCOT Is Temporarily Closing in ONE WEEK first appeared on the disney food blog.

We get SO excited about new food in Disney World!

Animal Kingdom Lodge

We had a blast hanging out recently at Disney’s H2O Glow Night Event at Typhoon Lagoon and trying some new food. But we recently discovered some new food hiding out at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we felt it was necessary to leave the parks and go try it out. So join us as we head to The Mara for some new sweet treats — and a new drink!

The Mara is the quick service location at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. You’ll often find fun seasonal treats here, but sometimes, the desserts change out, too. Well, the first thing we noticed was that our beloved Nyala Brownie had been removed from the menu. This is the Peanut Butter Brownie we’ve been raving about FOR YEARS. We hope it will turn back up…eventually.

Goodbye, Nyala Brownie

For now, though, a new brownie has taken its place: the Coffee and Coconut Brownie, which costs $4.99. Yes, it looks like Mickey! It’s a brownie topped with coffee buttercream dipped in chocolate-coconut ganache. Okay, Disney, you’ve got our attention. But is it a worthy successor to the Nyala brownie?

Coffee and Coconut Brownie

The answer is “YES!” If you’re not a coffee person, you can avoid the coffee beans on top because you don’t otherwise get much of a coffee flavor. We tasted more of a hint of coconut, but not so much to overpower the brownie. The brownie itself is very moist, and that’s helped with the chocolate and mousse on top. We could eat ten of these! It’s decadent and chocolatey.

So good

We also picked up The Mara Cupcake for $6.29. It’s a yellow cupcake with a POG (passion fruit, orange, and guava) filling and vanilla and guava buttercream icing. If you’re a POG juice lover like us, you may think this sounds pretty amazing right? Well, we were disappointed because this ended up being a basic Disney cupcake. Then you get to the middle with that filling…and the texture is grainy with an offputting taste. How SAD!

The Mara Cupcake

The frosting is just regular frosting dyed green, so your mouth and fingers will also probably turn green as you’re eating it. The cupcake was moist, though, and if you just want a basic cupcake, this could be perfect for you. For us, well, we expected more. The filling was a total miss.

A little bit of POG filling?

Next up is the Sunflower Cake for $5.99, which is described as a marbled chocolate and vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream and chocolate chips. As you can see, it’s quite pretty. But then we found out that this cake wasn’t exactly as described.

Sunflower Cake

Inside, we didn’t see any kind of marbling, and the flavor was not vanilla. It actually tasted like carrot cake to us, so we’re not sure what’s going on here. The cake itself is very moist and rich, but if you get this thinking you’re getting a marbled chocolate and vanilla cake, you could be a little shocked. The chocolate chips on top don’t do much but add some crunchy texture. But yeah, this cake is not how it’s described, so beware.

Where’s the marbling?

Finally, we had to try a new drink. Okay, it’s a POG drink. We’ve already had one POG thing let us down, but what about the Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Frozen Slushy for $6.29? YAY — it’s really good because it tastes like POG juice. It’s also very refreshing, especially on a hot day. But it will also melt really fast on a hot day (however, it’s still good all melted).

POG slush

Now, this drink is very sweet, so some might think it’s TOO sweet, but if you love POG juice (which is also sweet), you’ll appreciate this one.

So, should you head to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for snacks? Well, why not? If you already have a reservation for Boma, for example, why not pop by The Mara and at least pick up the brownie for later? You can even grab some Zebra Domes, too.

Stay tuned to DFB for more.

REVIEW: Did This New Steak Just REDEEM a Declining Disney World Restaurant?

What’s your favorite snack at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge? Let us know in the comments!

The post REVIEW: Is This Really Happening? A POG Juice Treat Just Broke Our Hearts in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

See that little orange gal? That’s Anxiety. She’s joining Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust in Disney’s upcoming Inside Out 2 movie this summer. And if Riley’s Anxiety is anything like the kind in our heads, we have a feeling this story is going to be interesting, to say the least.

©Disney

Inside Out 2 premiers in theaters on June 14th, 2024. Between all the teaser trailers and NEW sneak peek we got to see in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we are counting down the days until the new movie comes out. Oh, and if you didn’t know, you can watch an exclusive preview of the movie at Disney World right now! Wanna see how?

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is hosting a limited-time sneak peek of Inside Out 2 at the Walt Disney Presents theater. And when we say “sneak peek,” we’re not just talking about the same old trailer you can see online. No, this was a REAL preview of the movie!

How FUN!

We won’t spoil it for you, but we will tell you that the sneak peek has us VERY intrigued to see where the story goes. This experience is completely free — all you have to do is head over to the Walt Disney Presents theater!

This is such a fun thing to do!

It’s located just outside the entrance to Toy Story Land. Look for the big, gorgeous neon sign, and you’ll know you’re in the right place. Oh, and while you’re in the area, you can meet Ariel, too!

Look for this sign!

The Walt Disney Presents building is actually a total hidden gem. Currently, there’s an accompanying Inside Out 2 exhibit outside the theater with all kinds of concept art, models, and facts about the film.

We love this kind of thing!

This is such a great spot to escape the heat and learn about the behind-the-scenes work it takes to make a movie!

This was interesting to see!

Don’t skip this unassuming little spot in Hollywood Studios. As you may be able to see in our photos, this location isn’t very crowded most of the time, so if you need a break from the chaos outside, you can pop in here!

Highly recommend!

Don’t forget — Inside Out 2 is coming to theaters SOON! Watch the trailer below.

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

NEWS: We’ve Been Waiting for This CHANGE To Hit Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Confectionery (And We Love It!)

Who’s your favorite character? Let us know in the comments!

The post The Best NEW Part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Is Hiding in the LEAST Popular Part of the Park, and I’m Ready To Debate This Fact first appeared on the disney food blog.

August 2024 is shaping up to be a MASSIVE month for Disney.

D23

D23 2024: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be held this year on August 9th through the 11th in Anaheim, California, and we are incredibly eager to attend! The fan expo draws crowds from all over the world and features appearances from Disney execs, celebrities, Imagineers, and more as the company dishes on upcoming entertainment, theme park developments, and more. This event sheds a ton of light on Disney’s plans and, with Disneyland Resort’s expansion already in its infancy, we’re curious to learn more about a different expansion at Disney World.

One of the major questions we’ve been seeing from Disney fans all over the world is, “What’s going on with Magic Kingdom’s expansion?”

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

Right now, we’re circling Saturday, August 10th, 2024 at 7PM on our calendars, as that’s the Disney Experiences Showcase at Honda Center. This D23 event is when we’re expecting to hear MAJOR parks news. Covering every single Disney Park, Disney Parks Chair Josh D’Amaro will lead this event and it’s likely he’ll give us some big reveals. We’re hoping one of those big reveals is what comes next with Magic Kingdom’s proposed expansion.

Possible Land Expansion in Magic Kingdom ©Disney

In April, Disney confirmed filing a permit for its Magic Kingdom expansion, so at the very least we know this expansion is tangible and in the works. In the past, Disney gave a few updates about the plans, including possible Coco, Encanto, and/or Disney Villains-themed lands and attractions coming to Magic Kingdom. We’ve even heard the expansion called “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” because it will likely take place behind the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

While the specifics have yet to be confirmed, we’re hoping to get some juicy details in August. Disney executive Bruce Vaughn has teased that the expansion plans for Magic Kingdom are the “largest ever” and on a similar scale to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Pandora – The World of Avatar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Disney hasn’t confirmed the land themes yet, but it has tossed around some attraction ideas. Two years ago at this event, the idea of Encanto coming to Magic Kingdom was publicly brought up. Chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios Jennifer Lee said, “What if you could walk into the Madrigals’ casita…What if Mirabel is your guide…What if you could step up to a door and discover your own magical gift?” While certainly tantalizing, rumors have picked up that Encanto will actually be part of a different expansion at Animal Kingdom instead.

Expansion plan with designated markers

More expansion clues were found earlier this year when some possible details were discovered in the 2023 Reedy Creek Improvement District’s long-term land use plan. The plan outlined changes from its last land use plan in 2020 and included a new designation for “marginally unsuitable” land — land, such as wetlands, that has constraints for development. In the 2023, over 1,700 acres of land fit that description.

©RCID

Disney World would need permits from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that allow construction in those areas to develop marginally unsuitable land. Not-so-subtly, the area north of Frontierland in Magic Kingdom — the same area where expansion would likely happen — has been declared marginally unsuitable.

©RCID

While that may seem like a bad thing, it’s actually a vast improvement. Previously, the area was labeled “land considered unavailable for development.” It seems now the land, with approval from the District, is permitted to pursue development.

Possible Villain Land Expansion Coming to Magic Kingdom

All of these permits and speculations tie into Disney’s planned $60 billion towards the Parks, Experiences, and Products sector of the company over the next decade. Included in that commitment, of course, is the Magic Kingdom expansion. While we’re still largely in the speculation stage, Disney can move fast when it wants to and we’re hoping that means D’Amaro and company give us some concrete details about the future of Magic Kingdom when they speak in Anaheim in August.

Josh D’Amaro at Destination D23, 2023 ©Disney

We’ll be covering D23 2024: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event live in August and will be sure to give you all the latest breaking news. In the meantime, stay tuned here at DFB for the latest Disney Parks news, tips, reviews, and more!

Did Disney Quietly REMOVE Something from the Magic Kingdom Expansion Plans?

What news are you hoping to hear at this year’s D23 Expo? Let us know in the comments!

The post Disney Will Make BIG Announcements in August and Fans Are Desperately Pleading for This To Be One of Them first appeared on the disney food blog.

Bard the droid has arrived at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland to present the “Fire of the Rising Moons” fireworks show. The show has been running since early April, but Bard didn’t make his debut until Friday, May 24.

Bard in ‘Fire of the Rising Moons’

Bard is a modified R1-series droid. Guests can see him all day on a platform above the Black Spire Outpost Spaceport, to the right of the Millennium Falcon. Since “Fire of the Rising Moons” began, the narrator Tohan Ledge (a.k.a. the Lore-weaver) has referenced Bard.

Now, Bard lights up and moves slightly during the Lore-weaver’s introduction, with smoke blowing around him. Ostensibly, it is Bard who is playing the Lore-weaver’s message and presenting the fireworks spectacular.

Introducing the celebration is Tohan Lege, the storyteller known as the Lore-weaver. Pursued by those in power who would silence his voice, Tohan adopted Black Spire as his home and wrote of its colorful history and the fiery spirit at its heart. His droid, who he fondly called Bard, allows us to hear the Lore-weaver in his own words, each night as Black Spire celebrates the Fire of the Rising Moons.

He met and spoke to anyone he could, and began to record its history. To ensure that the stories would endure, Tohan found an old astromech droid left behind at the Depot. The mechanics helped him get it working with scrap parts and luck. Tohan called the droid Bard, and together they recorded the Lore-weaver’s stories, until there were no more to tell.

“Fire of the Rising Moons” description

Bard doesn’t do much else but his presence helps the intro make sense and adds to the land’s lore. See “Fire of the Rising Moons” with Bard in our video below.

“Fire of the Rising Moons” is an alternate view of the main Disneyland fireworks show. Instead of seeing the standard show in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle or elsewhere in the park, guests can view it in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with “Star Wars” music. When “Fire of the Rising Moons” debuted, it synched with “Wondrous Journeys.” The version currently running is synched with “Together Forever — A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular.” “Fire of the Rising Moons” will continue to change with other Disneyland nighttime spectaculars.

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

The post VIDEO: Bard Droid Added to ‘Fire of the Rising Moons’ in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland appeared first on WDW News Today.