Author: Francine Brokaw

‘The Morning Show’ returns to portray one doomsday scenario of a legacy media giant in the digital age

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Inspired by Brian Stetler’s 2013 nonfiction book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV about the cutthroat politics of morning television, Apple TV+ The Morning Show examines on- and off-camera drama and specific culture behind a network broadcast morning news program.

Its 2019 debut season was concerned mostly with the infighting between ‘America’s Sweetheart’ Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), a spitfire crusader field reporter from Texas who happened to be at the right place at the right time. After unmasking Alex’s former co-anchor, Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell), as a serial sexual predator, the show explored the repercussions for his victims as well as for those at UBA who ignored, enabled, or colluded in his despicable behavior. It ended with Alex and Bradley making explosive on-air revelations about UBA’s sexually toxic work environment. 

Set in the first three months of 2020, the second season (2021) dealt with the aftermath of Mitch’s dismissal, the changes wrought by #MeToo movement on UBA, and a wrongful-death suit filed against the network by a victim’s family. In the midst of a once-in-a-century Covid-19 pandemic, the reckoning was coming for many of the characters, but the show zeroed in on Alex’s epic freakouts triggered by obsessional fears of being canceled for her complicity with the disgraced co-anchor. When she was quarantined, she had all the time in the world to reflect on how fame, power, and privilege had corrupted her.

The highly-anticipated third season mirrors an unprecedented and profound sea change developing in the TV industry in the digital age. It asks the pressing question: Should a billionaire with an outsized aversion to the press be handed keys to a legacy media company at a time when truth matters more than ever? Who’s going to be a savior of UBA? Or a champion of the free press?

On the verge of financial ruin as a result of investing big bucks on its streaming service, UBA CEO Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup) seeks out Hyperion CEO Paul Marks (John Hamm), a narcissistic billionaire with a God complex à la Elon Musk, to negotiate the sale of the network. Titanic’s Captain Cory is the kind of captain who would be the first to abandon ship leaving his crew and passengers behind, but he is confident that he can outsmart the corporate bully. Paul is a deep-pocketed disruptor/predator with abundant resources who wants to change or entirely displace UBA with innovative technologies and make the old way of doing business obsolete. Those who attempt to expose or challenge his autocratic management style will be silenced, period. Cut from the same cloth, the two egomaniacs engage in back-stabbing power plays.

Since her on-camera talent future is bleak (might be replaced by AI), Alex believes she can shake things up if only the network pays her dues. Her ambition and drive to lead UBA to a better future puts her on a collision course with Machiavellian CEO Cory. On top of that, romantic entanglements among star-crossed quartet breed conflicts, resentments, and complications and invite passive-aggressive retaliation. Is Alex capable of speaking truth to power?

Things are going well for Bradley; she is now anchoring the evening news, wins a journalism award for her January 6 iPhone reporting, and moves into a huge apartment. However, her deep-rooted rescuer/fixer habit of overprotecting her ‘family’ frequently brings about calamities from within and without with ripple effects felt in the love triangle among Bradley, Your Day America (YDA) anchor-reporter Laura Peterson (Julianna Margulies), and Cory who loves ‘in his own way.’

No TV show has ever been this unflinchingly and brutally honest about the current predicament the legacy media faces. Although I enjoyed a hostile takeover and boardroom drama à la Succession, it is a little too close to home for this digital immigrant who turned her TV addiction/passion to profession two decades ago — the Second Golden Age of Television. 

The writing has been on the wall for the old system for quite some time, but the final nail in the coffin for me was a TV industry veteran’s prediction that in the near future there will be Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and one other  platform (possibly NBCUniversal, Warners, and Paramount combined) about a month ago. The digital natives might roll their eyes and utter “Yeah whatever,” but this existential crisis is all too real for a dying breed who grew up watching linear television — Broadcasting and Cable TV — where content is delivered according to a predetermined schedule to all viewers at the same time.

Trust me I’m not one of those Chicken Littles telling you the sky is falling. I know for sure the end is nigh! I wish the show carries a disclaimer about the disturbing acquisition scenario informing “WARNING: This is not a drill.” Unfortunately, the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic is going down fast and there’s nothing I can do about it, but to grieve the greatest loss of my life.

The 10-episode third season of The Morning Show returns on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through November 8, 2023.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

Disneyland celebrates Halloween 2023

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Time flies. It seems like just last month we were talking about Halloween festivities and food at Disneyland but guess what? It’s that time again. It’s time to celebrate the ghosts and goblins throughout the park.

The entire park is decorated with pumpkins, orange, black, and all things Halloween. Check out Mickey and Minnie’s costumes this year.

Also, the Haunted Mansion is decked out once again for the holiday. And the Gingerbread House is magnificent.

The merchandise this year is incredible. With sippers, popcorn buckets, shirts, and more, there are plenty of items to select and once you bring them home they will add some fun to your own Halloween decorations. We all know decorating for the season is fun, and with these new items, your house or Halloween party will be spruced up and spiced up with the Disney characters.

Food is something the chefs at Disneyland excel at and this year is no exception. There are plenty of savory as well as sweet offerings. And everything is designed to look as good as it tastes.

 

Check out the amazing caramel apples. Take a bite…if you dare. Remember what happened to Snow White when she bit into the poison apple. But even though these apples might look dangerous, they are perfectly edible and also delicious.

As Arielle Harris explains, the chefs at the park took extra care when decorating their goodies.
A special hearse popcorn bucket represent the theme from The Haunted Mansion, And look at the adorable sipper featuring Minnie dressed up as a witch ready to cast a spell (albeit a happy one) on everyone who sees her.

In the video below, Arielle takes us through the food and merchandise at Disneyland for Halloween 2023. Boo!

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Disney California Adventure celebrates Halloween time 2023

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


For many people Halloween is more fun and exciting than Christmas. The holiday has grown in popularity over the last decades, and the folks at the Disneyland Resort have been keeping up with that trend. Every year the festivities – and food – get better and better. This year there are so many fun things to do, see, experience, and taste during the season.

Keep your eyes open for some little surprises throughout the park. Dante (from Coco) is there, and over in Cars Land all of Radiator Springs is decked out for the holiday. Check out little Mater’s costume for the season. 

Upon entering the park guests immediately see the headless horseman, plus there entirety of Disney California Adventure has tricks and treats for guests.

So, if you are a halloween lover, or just enjoy all the fun and festivities, and again I will mention the food, it’s that time of year once again to head over to Disney California Adventure. And when you’re there, please say hello to little Miguel for me. He’s absolutely adorable. 

 

 

 

In the video below Disneyland Resort Cast Member Arielle Harris describes the food and merchandise  (and there are plenty of new and cute items) available this Halloween 2023 season at Disney California Adventure. This is no time to count calories. There are too many tasty treats in which to indulge.

Then Esteban Valerio explains about the fun and excitement generated by the hit movie Coco. There is a tree of life where guests can write messages to their loved ones or friends. And in keeping with the Coco theme, there are mariachi bands and a musical tribute to the story complete with little Miguel.

Finally, experience the sights and sounds celebrating Coco.

Happy Halloween everyone.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Three Days of the Condor’ with updated bonus from Kino Lorber

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Based on the book Six Days of the Condor by James Grady (published in 1974), the film Three Days of the Condor (1975) stars Robert Redford as Joe Turner, Faye Dunaway as Kathy, Cliff Robertson as Higgins, Max von Sydow as Joubert, John Houseman and Addison Powell. This top notch cast adds to the intense story that has thrilled viewers for decades. 

The story revolves around one man, Joe Turner, who has a seemingly benign job reading books published in various countries, analyzing the contents for national secrets, and reporting back to his bosses at the CIA. Sounds like a great job for those of us who love to read. But reading can be dangerous, as Turner discovers.

One day he returns from lunch to find everyone in the office has been murdered. This leads him to phone “The Major” who instructs CIA agents what to do in case of trouble. The Major instructs Turner, whose code name is Condor, to keep a low profile, leave the area, and report back in a few hours. Then he will receive instructions about “bringing him in” so he is not a target of whomever killed everyone in the office. It was a fluke that he was away when the murders occurred.

The day, to say the least, is filled with stress and anxiety. What had they uncovered through reading the books? What secrets were lurking in their reports to the main office? 

Turner is not confident the CIA has his best interests at heart when he is almost killed when trying to come in from the cold via another agent. He takes off and through happenstance finds a woman (Kathy) who is an easy prey. He kidnaps her and after awhile they bond and begin working together to find out what in the world happened, is happening, and what did he uncover that is so dangerous?

While they are putting the pieces of the puzzle together, Turner and Higgins, a high-ranking CIA official, begin to discover a secret within the agency. Who can they trust? 

Enter Joubert, a paid assassin. But is this man going to kill Turner now that he has finally located him? 

The show is non-stop thrills as the reason for the murders unfolds. Remember, this was filmed in the mid 1970s so think back to what was happening at that time. And it also has repercussions for today’s world as well.

From Kino Lorber the new Blu-ray disc as well as the new 4K + Blu-ray set include an all new audio commentary by film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson.

Other bonus features look at the director Sydney Pollack  who admits he does not like the anxiety of making movies so he spreads out his projects to give himself a rest between films. Another featurette is with both Pollack and Redford who discuss their collaboration on the film and how they changed the characters as well as the main plot of the original story. They took the bare bones of the book and reconstructed the layers to fit their ideas of what the story should be.  

Three Days of the Condor is rated R.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring Home ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

He’s back for his last (hopefully) adventure. Indiana Jones has been an electrifying hero for decades, ever since he appeared in the first film Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark in 1981.  Since then he has gone on to other incredible and daring adventures including Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). It’s about time this octogenarian hang up his hat for good. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny sets the scene for his final adventure, one which he hesitantly undertakes with his Goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) who at first is on the side of evil, but thanks to the kind heart of Indy, turns to see the light.

The story is a bit weak as the majority of the film is one chase after another. Whether in cars, trains, motorcycles, on foot, in other kinds of transportation, on horse, and in planes, there always seems to be a chase going on. So why are these people always chasing each other?

It started back during the last days of WWII when the Nazis came across a valuable piece of history. They found what was considered to be half of Archimedes’ invention that sought out wormholes in time. (Think: Stargate) Now it was up to Helena, Indy, and their young companion Teddy (Ethan Isidore) to put together clues to locate the other piece of the device. (Think: National Treasure)

While traversing through Africa and Italy, with the Nazis on their tails, Indy, Helena, and Teddy put the clues together to find where the missing piece of the artifact lies. And lo and behold, they do. What else would you expect from Indiana Jones?

The story does not stop there. With the Nazis on the same path, and with bigger guns, they ultimately take over the machine. But what are their intentions once they learn how to control the time fissures? Where will they go and what evil damage will they create?

That’s for viewers to discover. 

John Rhys-Davies, Antonio Banderas and Karen Allen make have brief appearances. With Indy’s body aging – and failing – at times he is incredible for someone with a broken down body, but at the end it is evident he cannot hold out any longer. Time has ravaged his body so he is permanently in retirement.  

The film is now available on Digital for your home entertainment.

Bonus features are many “making of” features about how the filmmaker recreated various locations, the stunts, the characters, etc. 

Fans of Indiana Jones will want this final film to complete their collection.

photos: ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

Kids Care lunchboxes bring inspiration to lunchtime

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

It’s that time of year…again. The kids are going back to school. That means many parents will be packing lunches. Why not make lunchtime a little brighter than usual this year? The Kids Care selection of insulated soft lunchboxes are adorned with colorful front covers and encouraging messages.

“It’s a good day for a good day” is the option I selected to test for this review. It is a black soft-sided lunchbox with a bright pink cover. Happy faces and flowers add to the insightful words of encouragement. After all, isn’t today a good day to make it a good day? I think so. The handle is sturdy and the zipper encircles the entire top. Just fill it, zip it and it’s closed until it’s time for lunch. 

Besides the box, inspirational and empowering cards are available to add to the lunch. Parents can add their own messages to the backs of the cards. 

While the cards are primarily designed to inspire kids at school, they are also good to use at home. Pick out one encouraging card each day and place on the table at breakfast. Or kids can adorn their rooms with some of the cards. They are colorful and wise. And if your child happens to be small, how about reminding him or her, “You are never too small to make a difference.”  And if a child is starting a new school, give them the card, “Just be yourself. Let people see the real imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird beautiful and magical person that you are.” And why not remind your child (or yourself for that matter) to “Stay positive.”

Many of the selections (and the cards) are geared to girls, however boys can also take heart with some of the cards. After all, we all need a bit of encouragement.

The company was designed primarily for young girls so check out their website for more items. There is a section devoted specifically for teens. The website has information about the company, why it was created, and the various projects and items available from the site.

The inspirational pack of cards lists for $14.99. The lunchboxes range from $21.99 – $24.99.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home the monsters of ‘Hotel Transylvania: Transformania’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 


They’re back for a fourth feature film. The monsters of Hotel Transylvania (2012), Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015), and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) return with a cute new story in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022) and all of these films are available for home viewing. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania can be purchased alone in either a DVD or a Blu-ray combo pack, or the entire set of four can be purchased in one DVD set. All choices have bonus features and Digital codes. 

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania

In their newest movie, Drac, aka Dracula (voiced by Brian Hull) gathers his friends and family together to celebrate the 125th anniversary of his hotel. Little does anyone know that this is also his last as the owner. Drac plans on retiring and turning the hotel over to his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) and begrudgingly her husband Jonny (Adam Samberg). But after hearing the plans Jonny has to redo his pride and joy hotel, Drac concocts a lie informing Johnny that the hotel or any property cannot be owned by a human.

Jonny knows Mavis is excited about taking over the hotel, so he turns to Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan) for help to turn him into a monster. That will solve all their problems. At least that is what he thinks.

When things go awry, yes, Jonny becomes a monster, however many monsters, including Drac, become human. This sets off a whacky adventure as they all trek to South America in search of a special crystal that will return them to their original states.

With all the fun monster antics, quips, and relationships of the previous films, this movie takes viewers on another entertainment journey. But beyond all the cuteness of the film, there is a great lesson everyone can take away. That is to accept others for who they are. 

Among the others voicing the delightful animated characters are Kathryn Hahn, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Fran Drescher, and Keegan-Michael Key.

If you primarily view movies via digital, it might be a good idea to purchase the 4-movie combo pack to have the entire set of films, however if you already own the previous three, then the single movie is a good addition to your collection.

Besides this film where things get turned upside down, there are plenty of bonus features. There is a short where Drac tries to find a playmate for Tinkles the dog. Who – or what – will be a fun friend for the giant pooch? There are features about the film and a trivia game with Selena Gomez and Adam Samberg questioning each other about scenes from the past films. Test your own knowledge. How much do you know about all the films and the characters?

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is rated PG for some action and rude humor including cartoon nudity.  Each of the films in the series are also rated PG.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘The Inventor’ is as imaginative as Leonardo da Vinci

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Leonardo da Vinci is known for more than just being the artist who gave us the famous artwork of The Mona Lisa, The Vitruvian Man, and The Last Supper. His legacy is widespread with his achievements in engineering, science, architecture, art, and as a theorist. 

The Renaissance was a time of discovery and an explosion of art and da Vinci was in the center of it all. 

The Inventor is an animated film focusing on the final years of his life. It is stop-motion animation with intriguing visuals as Leonardo (voiced by Stephen Fry) unleashes his imagination to realms previously uncharted. The story begins with da Vinci’s relationship with the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. His ideas were beyond the mere ideology of God being the center of life. He wanted to explore more and set his mind free of the conventional ideas and ideals. What are we here for? What are we made of? What leads us in our lives? His curiosity was at odds with the church, so he went to France where his ideas and approaches to life could be untethered. With the help of French Princess Marguerite de Nevarre, da Vinci’s ideas sprouted into many achievements.

In France he continued to muse on the meaning of life. He explored the five senses and their conjunction into the common sense. Is the soul at the center of our beings? And where does it go when the body dies?

Da Vinci studied the human body in his search for more knowledge about life. His curiosity knew no bounds. His inventions in flying and other machines took the public by surprise. This was a man who was truly ahead of his time. Or…perhaps he was meant to be just where he was to force the future on the present. Whatever, Leonardo da Vinci was a man of talent, intelligence, curiosity, and bravery.

Director/Screenwriter Jim Capobianco said, “The Inventor focuses on legacy, how you choose to live your life and how those choices influence others—a theme with wide appeal and resonance for all audiences, especially kids.” He added, “Leonardo da Vinci’s ideals, intellect, craftsmanship, and artistry are the very qualities we want to model for our young people. But really, anyone can appreciate Leonardo. He is a true superhero, and he really existed!” 

Capobianco explained, “The Inventor was created with a combination of stop-motion puppet and hand drawn animation. Why stop-motion and not computer graphics? If any subject matter is right for the handcrafted filmmaking arts, it is a story about Leonardo da Vinci: an artist, craftsman, and inventor who worked with his hands. Stop-motion is the primary medium we used to recreate his warm, hand-hewn world, rather than force the cold precision of a computer to do the same. Leonard’s own story inspired us to take this artisan approach, and my collaborators and I could not resist the charm of building a Renaissance world in miniature and creating this story around it.”

The Inventor is a fun film which highlights the imagination and inventions and art of Leonardo da Vinci. The visuals are interesting to see as the story plays out. No, this is not a highly technical animated film. It is simple, which is the best way to show the amazing mind of da Vinci. It is truly an enjoyable little film.

The Inventor opens in theaters August 25, 2023. It is rated PG for some thematic elements and nude art images.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Photo credits: Curiosity Studio

‘Warrior King’ is an ancient Asian story now brought to American audiences

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Warrior King is a new animated fantasy based on the story of King Gesar. It takes place in a time of upheaval when clans were warring. The story has been passed down from generation to generation for a thousand years.

This film is interesting in many respects, however it is also very violent. His mother was about to give birth to this “divine child” however she was banished from the tribe after being accused of being responsible for the death of her husband, the leader of the clan. With the help of some magical critters, little Gesar was born and the clan welcomed back the new baby and his mother. 

This little baby is adorable and grows into a young boy who knows he is destined for greatness. He is always putting himself in danger however he considers himself a hero like his father and says, “Heroes don’t get scared” and he knows he is – or will be –  a great warrior. 

With demons, monsters, and evil forces threatening his family and his clan, he takes off on a heroic and dangerous journey to save his people. He is fulfilling his destiny.

One great lesson from this film is the advice given to the boy from his father in heaven above. He tells his son, “The more good deeds you do the stronger you will be.” 

This is a Tibetan story that is known in Asian however American audiences have probably never heard of King Gesar. The story is considered a literary classic in Central Asia.

According to factsanddetails.com, “The Gesar Epic of Tibet is regarded as the world’s second longest book in the world after the India epic The Mahabharata. It is a heroic tale created by the Tibetans from a collection of ancient legends, myths, verses, proverbs and various other folk cultures of Tibet. Originating via folk oral traditions, King Gesar was passed down from generation to generation orally in a combination of song and narration.”

This movie has some beautifully animated and colorful scenes, yet there is plenty of blood and gore, so keep that in mind when you consider your children’s reaction. 

This is a Chinese production with English dubbing. The film opens in theaters August 25, 2023.

Warrior King is rated PG-13.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Yummies for Halloween 2023 at Disneyland Resort

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The chefs at Disneyland Resort always come up with great offerings during events and holidays. This year for Halloween celebrations at the resort there are a number of interesting and delicious-looking treats. The list below only scratches the surface of what is being created for Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort 2023. Can you say “delicious?”

  • Ghostly double cheeseburger from Smokejumpers Grill: Double beef and soy chorizo burger with provolone, ghost pepper black bean spread, avocado crema, cabbage and pico de gallo served with crinkle-cut fries. (notice they include “ghost” pepper black bean spread) 
  • Mickey bat cookie from Market House: Shortbread bat cookie dipped in dark chocolate with a vampire Mickey face.
  • Rest in Chocolate sundae from Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor: Rocky Road ice cream buried in a chocolate-covered waffle cup with chocolate cookie crumbles and gummy worms topped with a chocolate tombstone.  
  • Te Kā Dog from Award Wieners: Sweet and spicy pulled pork with a fiery tropical chutney served on a toasted bun with Cuties mandarin oranges or filmstrip fries 
  • Halloween CrazyShake from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes: Chocolate milkshake with a vanilla frosted rim and candy corn topped with a ‘spider-web’ chocolate cupcake, orange and white twisty pop, orange rock candy, whipped cream, orange sprinkles and a chocolate drizzle. 

And especially designed for the holiday are Mickey Mouse skeleton buckets, Minnie Mouse: Hocus Pocus Halloween dress-up sippers, and iridescent black poison apple mugs. These will also be fun at your own Halloween party. But first you have to go to Disneyland’s celebration.

 

For more information about the delicacies you can enjoy while visiting Disneyland Resort this season, go to the Disney Eats Foodie Guide where all the items are listed, the dates they are available, and where you can purchase them. There is a variety of locations throughout the resort that have these special treats. It requires several trips to the resort to try them all. Recommendation – have different members of your party get different items and share them. That way you’ll all get a taste of many different treats to tantalize your taste buds.

Halloween has grown into a much anticipated time for Disneyland Resort guests. It seems like every year it gets bigger and even earlier. For many people Halloween is more enjoyable than Christmas at the resort. It is a holiday that had been ignored decades ago, but newer generations have taken it to heart and look forward to enjoying the special decor and treats at Disneyland Resort.

Enjoy the decorations and the delicacies, not to mention the overall fun at the parks, this Halloween time.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.