40 Things I Love About Star Wars

In honor of the major milestone on May 25, 2017 of the 40^th Anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope, I decided this week to run down a list of 40 things I love about the Star Wars franchise.

Note: these are in a random order pretty much off the top of my head as they occurred to me aside from the final number one choice!

 

40. Kylo Ren’s temper tantrums – EPIC, but duck!

 

39. Darth Maul – such a bold colorful character created randomly in the middle of the prequel chaos. He was the Boba Fett of the prequel trilogy and I still wish we had seen him more in films.

 

38. Poe Dameron / Cassian Andor – I would like to take this time to personally thank the casting directors for giving us Oscar Isaac and Diego Luna. That is all.

 

37. General Leia – for all the girls who grew up wanting to be Princess Leia… and then became the women who want to grow up to be General Leia, Carrie Fisher is owed a great debt of gratitude.

 

36. Getting to see actors from the prequel series and the original series in the sequel series and standalones. Yay for continuity!

 

35. Wicket. Yes, the space teddy bears were probably not the best idea in retrospect. But still… cuddly Wicket.

 

34. Getting to make your own custom Star Wars action figure with your own face on it at various Disney Star Wars events via D-Tech Me. Everything. REALLY hoping this comes to the new Star Wars Lands as a regular offering.

 

33. And along with that – the “Build Your Own” stops at both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios where you can build your own light saber, droid (ala R2-D2) and newly introduced protocol droids (ala C-3PO).

 

32. The dearly missed Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. No, I never went to one, but I always enjoyed reading about them and would have loved to attend even once.

 

31. Hugging Chewbacca at the Launch Bay at either Disneyland Park or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you have not been hugged by a Wookiee, your life is incomplete. Sorry. 

The Bands Are Back in Town… This Summer at Tomorrowland Terrace!

 

Awkward rock family photo featuring: Tomasina and the boys!

In lieu of the nighttime Marvel Dance Party entertainment option many were expecting for the Summer of Heroes at Disney California Adventure (which has turned out instead to be a daily interactive show stop for the little ones ala DJ’s Dance ‘n Drive) – the happy news many of us had hoped for has come true:

The bands are returning to Tomorrowland Terrace for the summer!

Weekends from May 26^th to August 20^th will once again be filled with the sound of live rock and pop music at the classic Disneyland Park venue and the fans couldn’t be happier!

Set times are scheduled for: 7:30 PM, 8:35 PM, 10:00 PM, and 10:45 PM (as always, subject to change)

Returning bands include two of my favorites: The 80z All-Starz and TOMASINA – along with some new to the location such as Grilled Cheese Soundwich who drew big crowds in Downtown Disney over the past few months!

So far, these are the dates scheduled:

Happy Mother’s Day to Disney Moms Everywhere!

You’re Incredible!

Although every mom who visits the Disney Parks & Resorts can be considered a Disney Mom (as can those who are fans of the Mouse from afar), for this Mother’s Day, I wanted to salute some moms FROM Disney as seen at the Disneyland Resort!

Strolling through Disneyland Park this past week, I realized one can spot a few Disney Moms at the various attractions there.

For example, I took a ride on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh out in Critter Country and noticed Kanga trying to keep Roo out of trouble!

Kanga and Roo

I also went climbing through Tarzan’s Treehouse in Adventureland where I spotted not only Kala and Tarzan…

Mousertainment Music: Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and the Mission: BREAKOUT! Soundtracks

I’m not going to see the new Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 movie until tomorrow, but I know that one major thing I’m looking forward to is seeing how the soundtrack will integrate into the story. And I have complete faith in director James Gunn and Marvel to make musical and cinematic magic once again!

I think it’s safe to say that the original “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” soundtrack was at least half the reason that the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie was such a hit. Baby Groot dancing may have been the other half of its success – which is no doubt why he seems to be front and center in the advertising for the sequel!

Taking a look back to the first soundtrack, I can scan this list and off the top of my head sing or hum most of them:

            Awesome Mix Vol. 1:

1. “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede
2. “Go All the Way” by The Raspberries
3. “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum
4. “Moonage Daydream” by David Bowie
5. “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” by Elvin Bishop
6. “I’m Not in Love” by 10cc
7. “I Want You Back” by Jackson 5
8. “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone
9. “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways
10. “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes
11. “O-O-H Child” by The Five Stairsteps
12. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

The second soundtrack isn’t quite as obvious for me – although there are several songs on there I do love. However, I expect to recognize most of them when I hear them playing during the movie: