Disneyland Paris has announced a brand-new seasonal outdoor terrace, Lounge Lightspeed, coming to Discoveryland from 31 May to 17 September 2025. Guests will be able to enjoy refreshing drinks or Star Wars-themed snacks before their journey “to a galaxy far, far away.”
According to the news article released on the Disneyland Paris news website, the lounge will have a capacity for 50 guests and will offer a unique view of the X-Wing, as well as the wider Discoveryland. The article goes on to say that the lounge will be directly linked to the attraction Star Tours: The Adventures Continues, and guests will be able to meet BDX droids, as well as other Star Wars characters.
It’s so refreshing to finally see some innovation and new ideas coming to Disneyland Paris! Discoveryland has for too long been at severe risk of becoming one of the blander areas of the Disneyland Park, so I’m very happy to hear of this new lounge, especially with it being Star Wars themed!
Looking at the concept art and images by DLP, it appears as if the lounge is going to be primarily based on the terrace area which sits above the Starport, underneath the large X-Wing model and next to the Star Tours: The Adventures Continues ride. Most recently, the Starport was being used as a Darth Vader character encounter, but looking at the digital DLP map, it appears as if this is no longer there (note, the Disney Photopass Service is still showing on the map there).
I do wonder if the Starport’s base will serve as the bar before guests take their drinks to the terrace. Of course, this is just speculation, but I’m keen to see how the lounge integrates with the Star Tours: The Adventures Continues experience and how Disney Imagineers utilise the existing space around the ride.
There’s no news yet on what to expect with the drinks or snack menus, but hopefully, this can match some of the unbelievable themed Star Wars offerings available at Galaxy’s Edge. The article does state that the lounge will be hosted by Coca-Cola – Wompa Cola anyone?
The only downside? Lounge Lightspeed is currently only planned as a seasonal offering. Here’s hoping it proves popular enough to become a permanent addition!
Live-action remakes are seemingly all the rage with Disney at the moment. Despite a host of mixed reviews over the last few years, Disney continues to give their films the live-action treatment.
At this point, it’s important to note that I am not at all opposed to live-action remakes. I think they can actually offer a really entertaining, fresh look at some of the classic Disney movies of old. One of my recent favourite live-action movies over the past few years is Cruella, and while it is more of a live-action prequel than a remake, it offers something new and entertaining, rather than simply a retelling of a story which no one really needs.
Unfortunately, the latter is precisely the case with 2025’s Snow White. In all honesty, there’s nothing particularly wrong with this live-action remake; it just doesn’t deliver anything new. It’s a straightforward retelling of the story, and sadly, that’s it. 2017’s Beauty and the Beast was also a direct retelling; however, it brought a level of charm and excitement to the story we all know and love, and this is where Snow White really fails to deliver.
At no point throughout the movie did I feel gripped or on the edge of my seat. There’s a hint of a darker undertone, particularly when focused on the Evil Queen’s tyrannical jealousy of Snow White; however, it always falls short and fails to strike a balance between a children’s movie and a more mature adventure. Despite a promising pace in the opening half hour, the film soon tails off. There were some scenes throughout the middle section that I wished would end quickly.
On a positive note, Rachel Zegler delivers a standout performance as Snow White. She brings fantastic depth to a character going through a very much coming-of-age journey, and I felt far more engaged whenever she was on screen. She is let down at times by some poor writing and dialogue, but I think it’s fair to say she has rightfully cemented her place as a Disney Princess.
The same cannot be said for Gal Gadot, however. Now, I’m not one to criticise actors or actresses (they do a hell of a job for our entertainment!), but her portrayal of the Evil Queen felt very wooden to me. Again, she is not helped by some terrible dialogue choices, but her entire delivery and on-screen persona fell very flat. It is worth noting that she more than looks the part – kudos to the costume department for that – it’s just a shame the performance doesn’t match.
One of the big controversies that surrounded Snow White prior to its release was the use of CGI to animate the infamous Seven Dwarfs, in their words, to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film.” I must admit, at first glance, I raised an eyebrow at the appearance of the CGI dwarfs; however, it didn’t take long for them to blend into the movie and for the characters to bring humour and charm to proceedings. Snow White does a great job of bringing out the varying personalities and characteristics of the dwarfs, and there are a few nods to the classic animations from the 1937 movie which fans of the original can certainly appreciate.
True to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 2025’s Snow White is also a musical, and for the most part, it’s fairly enjoyable. In particular, there are a few ‘sing at the top of your lungs’ songs which I think will prove to be popular, such as “Waiting on a Wish” and “Good Things Grow.” “Waiting on a Wish” is perfectly suited to Rachel Zegler’s vocal range and will no doubt be considered a classic Disney song for many years to come.
The Verdict
Despite a stellar performance from Rachel Zegler as the titular character, Snow White is sadly not the fairest live-action remake of them all – it’s a technically polished film that ultimately struggles to find its own voice.
The Lego Group and Disney continue to expand their longstanding relationship with a brand new wave of Lego Disney sets which are set to release this summer. We are in for a treat too as there are some fantastic sets releasing, with sets covering Toy Story, Princesses and even 101 Dalmatians! Check out the details of each set below.
I am a huge fan of this set! I think it’s a great tribute set for Toy Story’s 30th anniversary, encapsulating some of the charm of the first two Toy Story movies. The train itself really reminds me of the sort of train you’d see at a Disney park parade. Minifigure wise, it’s also really nice to get a Bo Peep minifigure in her dress from the early Toy Story films; previously, we’ve only had her refreshed Toy Story 4 look in the previous wave of sets. Plus, there’s a fantastic-looking Billy, Goat and Gruff print to accompany Bo Peep, which I think is a really nice touch.
Price-wise, $39.99/£34.99/€39.99 isn’t too bad in the scheme of things. Unfortunately, Disney sets often come at a premium compared to Lego’s own, but I think for the 4 minifigures, 3 army men, Billy, Goat and Gruff print, and the overall build, the price is justified.
It’s been a few years now since we’ve had a Toy Story set release, so it’s great to see that the Lego Toy Story license is continuing – does this also mean we will get sets when Toy Story 5 releases next year?!
This is another absolute standout set for me! Usually I don’t pick up any of the Princess sets (not a huge fan of the mini dolls, much more of a minifigure man!), however, I don’t think I can resist picking this set up!
Firstly, I think the castle itself is really impressive, with 5 different sections to the castle all being designed specifically for the 5 different princesses included in the set. From left to right, we have a water-themed tropical section for Moana, an Arabian-style castle for Jasmine, a standout tower at the centre of the set for Rapunzel, elements of traditional Chinese architecture for Mulan, and then finally another water section, this time focused on the ocean for Ariel. I feel that having these five different sections will help keep the build fun and also offer great play opportunity for younger builders.
However, the standout from this set for me is undoubtedly the pet mini-doll figures that accompany their Princess counterparts. We’ve seen some of the pet figures in various sets before; however, I believe this is the first time we have seen a Lego Mushu figure! Being a huge Mulan fan, this is definitely a day-one purchase! Whilst the retail price may be a little high to justify the Mushu figure alone, I think the set as a whole offers fair value for money and is perfect for Lego fans young and old.
This is the first of two 101 Dalmatians sets releasing as part of this summer 2025 wave, and it’s aimed at younger builders. However, despite the 6+ rating, I think this set is going to have huge appeal for Lego Disney fans of any age! Featuring brick-built figures of Lucky and Penny, plus a small TV with a nice little tribute to Thunderbolt from the original 101 Dalmatians movie, I think the build looks really smart overall. I do question the use of tan pieces on the underside of the two Dalmatians, as Dalmatians are typically white all over; however, this is only a minor concern I have. At a retail price of $24.99/£19.99/€24.99, I think this set is fantastic value – the only issue is I would want to buy 50 more sets to have 101 Dalmatians!
While I appreciate I’m not necessarily the target audience for this Minnie Mouse Pet Hotel Lego Set, the set overall just seems fairly lacklustre, particularly given the price. While there is some playability with the slide and there are some nice characters, Figaro and Creampuff in particular, I think the set is grossly overpriced. When you compare the price of this set to the Toy Story Celebration set, it’s a no-brainer which one to pick up, if you were given the choice!
Again, this is another set that doesn’t quite tick the boxes for me. Firstly, the build seems fairly lacking in my opinion – rather than focusing on both the Arendelle Castle and Ice Castle, focusing on one, slightly larger build would have been a better route to go down. I get the impression that Lego are almost going for a Polly Pocket style build with this set; however, I don’t think this translates very well to Lego.
This is reinforced with the strange-looking mini-doll figures in the set too. Now, I mentioned I am not a huge fan of the mini dolls anyway; however, in this set the large heads and small bodies just frankly look rather odd. I am impressed with the wide selection of characters in this set, however, particularly Honeymaren, who is a bit of a random yet welcome inclusion. Price-wise, I’d argue that this set is a little overpriced and would definitely wait for a sale if you were looking to pick this up.
With the upcoming live-action Lilo & Stitch film releasing later this month, it makes perfect sense that Lego are releasing more Lilo & Stitch sets, and finally, Angel gets the brick treatment! I think the build looks fantastic and really encapsulates the charm and sassiness that Angel exhibits in Lilo & Stitch: The Series. While I feel like the playability of this set will be fairly limited, I think Angel will make a fantastic display piece, particularly when accompanied by the existing Stitch set. At $64.99/£59.99/€64.99, I think this set is priced pretty reasonably.
The second of the 101 Dalmatians sets releasing this summer is this 101 Dalmatians Puppy Set, coming in at a whopping 1722 pieces. 1 Given the piece count, it’s no surprise that this set is marketed as 18+ (People under 17 can’t build big sets too?!). Of course, that comes with a hefty price tag. At $149.99/£129.99/€139.99, the set actually represents a fair price per piece, but it is still going to be an expensive purchase for any collector.
What helps to somewhat justify the price is the seemingly interchangeable nature of the set. It looks like there are several options to modify the puppy as you please: a red collar, blue collar, tongue in, tongue out, or perhaps one black eye to recreate everyone’s favourite puppy, Patch? Whilst definitely an expensive set, this is definitely one that I will be picking up.
Last but certainly not least is the brilliant Luxo Jr. set! I’m over the moon that the iconic Luxo Jr. lamp and Pixar ball have been made into a Lego set, and I’m equally happy with the very reasonable pricing. For a Pixar fan boy like myself, this is the ultimate display piece. What’s more, the fact that you can display it with Luxo Jr. crushing the Pixar ball is just the cherry on top! It is worth noting, however, that I do feel like the appeal of this set is going to be fairly limited; ultimately, it is just a lamp and ball, and it doesn’t have the universal appeal that a Mickey Mouse or Lion King set would have.
Overall, I’m very impressed with this wave of Lego Disney sets. It’s great to see some iconic movies like 101 Dalmatians getting some love, as well as Lego catering to both Disney and Pixar fans with varying display pieces. It’s looking like this summer is going to be an expensive one for me!
All these sets release on June 1st at Lego and other select retailers. Which sets are you most excited to pick up? Let me know in the comments below!
Following a fantastic start to the year, May 2025 is set to bring another exciting wave of content to Disney+! Highlights include the debut of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, the milestone 100th episode of Big City Greens, and the epic conclusion to Doctor Who Series 2. Here’s a look at everything coming to Disney+ this May.
Thursday, May 1
Rise Up, Sing Out (Shorts) (S2, 7 Episodes)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Friday, May 2
Genghis Khan: The Secret History of the Mongols (S1, 6 Episodes)
Saturday, May 3
Doctor Who (S2, Episode 4)
Sunday, May 4
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (Premiere – All Episodes Streaming)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge | Disneyland® Resort (Premiere)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance | Disneyland® Resort (Premiere)
Tuesday, May 6
Andor (S2, 3 New Episodes)
Wednesday, May 7
Broken Karaoke (S3, 2 Episodes)
Firebuds (S2, 2 Episodes)
Hamster & Gretel (S2, 12 Episodes)
Big City Greens (S4, 1 Episode – 100th Episode)
Friday, May 9
History’s Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning (S1, 8 Episodes)
The Toys That Built America (S3, 12 Episodes)
The UnXplained (S7, 6 Episodes)
WWE Rivals (S2, 10 Episodes)
WWE Rivals (S4, 6 Episodes)
Saturday, May 10
Doctor Who (S2, Episode 5)
Tuesday, May 13
Andor (Season 2 Finale)
Saturday, May 17
Doctor Who (S2, Episode 6)
Monday, May 19
Tucci in Italy (Premiere – All Episodes Streaming)
Tuesday, May 20
Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Pet Hotel (Season 1 Premiere, 5 Episodes)
Saturday, May 24
Doctor Who (S2, Episode 7)
Wednesday, May 28
Me & Winnie the Pooh (S2, 6 Episodes)
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh (S2, 5 Episodes)
Saturday, May 31
How Not to Draw (S3, 4 Episodes)
Doctor Who (Season 2 Finale)
While the movie selection might be a little lighter this month, I’m personally most excited to see how Season 2 of Andor plays out! But let me know in the comments, what are you most looking forward to streaming this May?
The Walt Disney Company has this week officially announced its intention to develop a seventh theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This expansion will see Disney partner with Miral, a prominent Abu Dhabi-based creator of immersive experiences.
The upcoming resort will be located on Yas Island, an established global destination for leisure and entertainment. This placement aims to attract a broad international audience, connecting travellers from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. The project intends to integrate Disney’s renowned storytelling, characters, and attractions with the distinct culture and environment of Abu Dhabi, including its shorelines and architecture.
Image Credit: Disney
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, commented on the collaboration, stating, “The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence. What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination—an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world.”
Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, highlighted the significance of this expansion: “As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati—an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world.”
Miral will oversee the development and construction of the resort, while Disney’s Imagineers will be responsible for the creative design and operational guidance to ensure a high-quality guest experience. Miral has a track record of developing family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, including popular attractions like Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and will manage the resort’s operations.
Image Credit: Disney
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, emphasized the innovative aspects of the project: “Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique—anchored by a beautiful waterfront—which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways. This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before.”
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, noted the strategic importance for Yas Island: “Bringing a Disney theme park resort to Yas Island marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island’s position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure.”
Upon completion, the resort will feature signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail options, all designed to celebrate both Disney’s legacy and Abu Dhabi’s cultural identity.
While specific details regarding the park’s layout, attractions, and opening timeline are yet to be announced, this development marks a significant expansion for The Walt Disney Company’s theme park portfolio. It signals a strategic move to tap into a new and growing global tourism market.
Personally I’m super excited about the prospect of a brand new Disney park opening up! Living in the UK, this will be the second closest Disney park for us Brits (after Paris) and I’m really eager to see how Disney and Miral collaborate to bring Disney Abu Dhabi to life. Disney’s partnership with Miral follows a well-established trend of collaborating with local experts in destination development and management, as seen with the Oriental Land Company for the Tokyo Disney Resort and with Miral’s track record of current entertainment destinations, I have full confidence that the park will be first class.
What are your initial thoughts on this new Disney venture? What kind of unique integrations of Disney and Emirati culture are you hoping to see? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Steamboat Charlie 