#disneyelite

[disneyelite]

Disney's Animal Kingdom welcomes new babies.

A baby zebra and a baby colobus monkey have been born this month in Disney's Animal Kingdom as reported by the Disney Parks Blog.  Both are males and are doing well with their mothers. Animals can be seen at many Walt Disney World locations. Fish, manatees, and sea turtles can be visited at EPCOT in The Living Seas with Nemo.  You also can see horses, go horseback riding, or take a carriage rides at Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge.  Although currently the Tri-Circle Ranch is under renovations, they will be available in the spring of 2020. But Disney's Animal Kingdom is THE place to visit animals at WDW Resort. Besides the super popular Kilimanjaro Safaris, the walking trails of the Pagani Forest and the Maharajah Jungle Trek have a great collection of animals to visit.  Additionally, you can see other live animals in Discovery Island and at the UP!: A Great Bird Adventure show. For another great show, check out Festival of the Lion King. Animal Kingdom has a focus on conservation as well.  You can donate to the Disney Conservation Fund and get a button.  The whole Rafiki's Planet Watch area teaches about efforts we can do at home to help the environment and gets you face to face with new friends in the Affection Section petting area.  Additionally, through Disneynature, the Walt Disney Company goes through efforts to help and protect animals.   At Animal Kingdom, the Science and Animal Operations staff works hard to take care of the animals in the park and beyond. With that in mind, the baby zebra's birth was important because it was the first time that a Hartmann’s zebra foal was born at Animal Kingdom.  The species is vulnerable and having a baby born in a safe place is a great thing.  The baby is still not named, but his mom is Prima.  Currently, he and mom are backstage and he will be introduced to the other zebras before being set on the savannah in Kilimanjaro Safaris.  Look for the baby zebra soon when you visit the park. The baby monkey is an Angolan black-and-white colobus monkey to be precise and was born mid-month. His name is Douglas and his mom is Zahra.  You can see both Douglas and Zahra now at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. It is nice to see that more babies are being born at Animal Kingdom.  Last year a western lowland gorilla named Grace was born along with a Masai giraffe and Doppler, the eland born post Hurricane Dorian.  In 2018, Augustus, the Nile hippopotamus with an okapi and Amira the giraffe were all born.  Looking at the past two years, we can expect new babies being born at Animal Kingdom. This is not only cute, but good for the preservation of these animals for future generations. Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Read the full article

[disneyelite]

Disney on Broadway Concert Series

One of the highlights of Epcot’s Festival of the Arts event is the Disney on Broadway Concert Series. Not only does this production deliver stellar performances from some of our favorite Disney musicals, but it also features well-known and amazing artists who played these beloved characters on the Broadway stage itself. It’s like having a touch of New York City theater in your own backyard. Though in this case, it’s the Disney World theme parks. To start off its fourth year, Disney brought in two of its four-time veterans of the Epcot stage to open the event, Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White. Both starred in the Broadway adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King, which is now the third longest-running musical production, only behind theater greats Phantom of the Opera and Chicago.

Both Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White kicked off the show with “A Star is Born” from Hercules, which is the newest Disney musical to hit the stage. It was the perfect way to set the tone for an upbeat production of some of Disney’s greats, while also giving a tasteful plug to see the show. Kissy Simmons

Source: Disney Parks Blog Kissy Simmons was the first to showcase her amazing vocals with a solo from The Lion King written exclusively for the Broadway production. Kissy played Nala in the musical, a role initially held by Heather Headley, who also happens to be one of my absolute favorites. The song, “Shadowland,” is a powerful number that our warrior lioness sings after Scar primarily drives the pride lands into drought and famine. Nala knows the only way to ensure the survival of her people is to leave her home to find help. Below is the official lyric video posted by Disney on Broadway, which is sung by the original Nala, Heather Headley. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPJqaxkBRro The second song Kissy sang was from another musical starring Heather Headley and, like The Lion King, was written by Elton John and Tim Rice. Disney’s musical, Aida, tells the story of a Nubian princess who is taken captive by an Egyptian captain with who she later falls in love. Sound complicated? It gets worse. Not only is the handsome captain off-limits and engaged to the Egyptian princess Aida is a handmaiden to, but her father is also captured. The only way to set him free and protect her people is to betray the man she loves. This onslaught of tension gives rise to the musical number “Easy as Life,” which is yet another masterful tribute to the range and depth of Kissy’s voice. Alton Fitzgerald White

Source: Disney Parks Blog Not to be outdone by Kissy’s phenomenal performances, Alton also gives a nod to his time as Mufasa in the Lion King musical. As it stands, Alton has played this role over 4,000 times and is the longest-running Mufasa on Broadway, spanning over a decade on the show. His first solo was also a Lion King musical original, “They Live in You.” A version of this song later made its way into the opening of The Lion King II, which came out the year after the musical opened on Broadway. The song is performed by Mufasa during a heart-to-heart with Simba. He explains that the kings of the past offer guidance that continues long after they are gone. Below is the official lyric video posted by Disney on Broadway, which is sung by the original Mufasa, Samuel E. Wright. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JUvj9uIOts The second solo Alton sings in the Disney on Broadway Concert Series is a song from the Beauty and the Beast musical. The song, “If I Can’t Love Her,” is another Broadway original performed by the Beast (originally Terrence Mann), who honestly doesn’t get nearly enough singing time in the animated classic. The song depicts the Beast’s anguish over his love for Belle and his current cursed condition. It provides the character with even more depth than its animated counterpart and allows audiences to feel for the Beast’s plight truly. Alton’s deep, soulful voice executes the song perfectly and leaves audiences speechless.

The great thing about the Disney on Broadway Concert Series is you get to experience a whole new set of songs beyond the animated classics. While we love songs like “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and “Under the Sea,” the Broadway adaptations provide Disney fans with a whole new glimpse into the characters and stories we already know and love. The songs in each show are also specific to the singers. So where Kissy and Alton focused mainly on songs from The Lion King, as well as those from singers of a similar vocal range, performers like Adam Jacobs and Michael James Scott will likely sing songs from Disney’s Aladdin. The only way to know for sure is to come check it out for yourself. Be sure to also look out for new entertainment at Epcot and stop by Animal Kingdom to witness the majesty of the Festival of the Lion King Show. Either way, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the Epcot Festival of the Arts, which ends on February 24th along with its performances of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series. Read the full article

[disneyelite]

These Beignets Make You Mardi Gras Royalty

Everybody loves a soft, doughy beignet. Even if these little desserts weren't as sweet and satisfying as they are, there's still the fact to consider that they stand to make you Mardi Gras Royalty. Now, my "Princess and the Frog" fans will already know what I'm talking about, but if you're a little rusty on your Disney movie trivia, the film is set in Prohibition-era New Orleans. While the masses were (allegedly) deprived of their spirits and liquors for the time-being, that didn't stop this crowd from celebrating one of the most famous events of the year: Mardi Gras. The main characters in the film Tiana, Charlotte, and Big Daddy, all share a moment raving about Tiana's "man-catching beignets."

While she kneads and bakes her way to her dream of opening a new restaurant, her beignets steal the show for every dessert-lover in the audience. Later on in the film, Big Daddy is crowned King of Mardi Gras (again), and by default, Charlotte becomes Mardi Gras royalty--and is well on her way to actual royalty as well. I adore watching this beloved spin on a fairytale classic, but I couldn't help but feel jealous that I couldn't try the delicious beignets Tiana serves up throughout the film. I'm a sucker for anything made of dough and covered in powdered sugar, so you know I went searching for a real-life WDW remedy for my craving. Never one to disappoint, I found what I was looking for at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter. The cafeteria-style restaurant Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory offers 6 Mickey-shaped beignets accompanied by a dipping sauce of your choice: caramel, strawberry, or chicory coffee ganache.

I had the privilege of getting some of these little treats to-go a couple of months ago, and let me tell you, I was over the moon. They're moist and flavorful enough to not require a sauce, but dipping one of Mickey's ears into smooth caramel doesn't sound like a bad idea. Now, I haven't had the chance to go back for my beloved beignets since I turned 21, and I've since discovered a new must-try... At Scat Cat's Club also at the French Quarter Resort, they serve up boozy alternatives to my new favorite New Orleans treat. You can sample your delicious beignets with a syringe of your choice filling the fluffy dough with Kahlua, Bailey's, or RumChata. Just when I thought they couldn't get any better. And while I'm on the subject, if you're a fan of Disney foods themed after your favorite films, Moana fans definitely have to give the new Kakamora Coconut Dole Whip a try before they're gone. But I'll leave you to it now, to go try your must-have beignets. Whether you celebrate Mardi Gras every year, or you're new to this regional tradition, these delectable desserts will definitely make you feel like the royalty of the parade. Happy snacking! Read the full article

[ambushcomics]

We rebel. #rogueone #hasbroblackseries #disneyelite #segaprize https://www.instagram.com/p/BssfZDdh21ujySF5FwXi5r24NFy0SunmBnpw0A0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14u5z11o4d1tm

[toymigos-blog]

Also brand new #disneyelite #starwars droids released !! #starwars #disney #droids at $30 I’m going to pass and wait for markdowns #toymigos https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo5VxG4ldci/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15a6k7wolxafb

[nvrmoreworld]

"The belonging you seek is not behind you... it is ahead. I am no #Jedi, but I know #theForce. It moves through and surrounds every living thing. Close your eyes... Feel it... The light... it's always been there. It will guide you..." #MazKanata • • 🌟 #Happy40thStarWars #SW40 🌟 #OTKspring2017 #NvrmoreToyPics © #OhioToyKick #toy_photographers #toptoyphotos #toysaremydrug #wheretoysdwell #toyunion #ToyGroup_Alliance #toyartistry #toyboners #toycrewbuddies #toyslagram #toysaremydrug #toyphotography #excucollective #toyspotcollector #ohio #fairborn #ohioigers #ohiogram #ToyOutsiders #onesixthlegion #StarWars #DisneyElite #TheForceAwakens

[flightless-angel]

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What I've Been Looking For (Reprise) with @spidermer! #highschoolmusical #disney #hsm #disneyduet #disneyelite #smule