Disney Cruise Line Summer 2022 Itineraries just announced!

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March 18, 2021

Disney Cruise Line Summer 2022 Itineraries just announced!

Today Disney Cruise Line has just revealed their exciting line-up of itineraries and destinations for summer 2022! Highlights include new ports in Greece, Portugal, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and Dominica, plus first-ever summer sailings from Miami to the Bahamas.

“While we prepare for a return to sea just as soon as the time is right, we continue to look to the future and develop more cruising options for families,” said Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Cruise Line. “Offering this diverse new line-up of itineraries for the summer of 2022 shows our commitment to taking more guests to more destinations around the world as we plan for additional ships in the years ahead.”

Explorations in the Greek Isles, Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Beyond

In summer 2022, the Disney Magic’s grand tour of Europe begins with sailings through the Greek Isles and Mediterranean before heading to northern Europe for cruises to the Baltic, the British Isles, Iceland and the Norwegian fjords. Five new ports of call in Europe include Chania, Greece; Porto, Portugal; Riga, Latvia; Maloy, Norway; and Nynashamn, Sweden, near Stockholm.

Adventures in Alaska

The Disney Wonder will return to Alaska for the 2022 summer season to explore the region’s breathtaking natural vistas, glaciers and wildlife. Departing from Vancouver, Canada, most of these seven-night cruises will visit Dawes Glacier, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Two of the cruises will call on Icy Strait Point in place of Skagway.

First-Ever Summer Cruises from Miami

For the first time ever, you can sail out of Miami during the summer season, enjoying even more opportunities to visit Castaway Cay. Every cruise from Miami in the summer of 2022 features a stop at our private island paradise.

Tropical Vacations from Port Canaveral

Tropical vacations to the Caribbean and Bahamas continue aboard the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral near the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The ship will embark on an assortment of itineraries, including seven-night voyages, a special five-night sailing and an extended nine-night cruise. Each Disney Fantasy voyage features a visit to Castaway Cay.

Even More Magic Aboard the Disney Wish

As previously announced, the Disney Wish is scheduled to sail its maiden voyage in summer 2022. Information on itineraries and bookings for this ship will be released at a later date.

Pre-Cruise Escapes with Adventures by Disney

In summer 2022, Disney Cruise Line Guests can extend the magic of their cruise vacation in Europe with a pre-cruise escape in select cities from Adventures by Disney, a leader in family guided group vacations.

Booking Information

For those who are Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club Members, Disney Vacation Club Members and/or Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders, you may use the following early booking windows:

Platinum Castaway Club Members & Golden Oak: Bookings open March 22, 2021
Gold Castaway Club Members: Bookings open March 23, 2021
Silver Castaway Club Members, Disney Vacation Club Members and Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders: Bookings open March 24, 2021
Bookings open to all Guests on March 25, 2021.

Frozen Home Diffuser By Pura Brings Home The Enchantment

By

Danielle

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March 18, 2021

We’re always on the look out for new and fun Disney things to share! Recently we happened upon this Frozen Home Diffuser set from Pura. Pura is a smart home diffuser that is safe for children, and able to be controlled from anywhere in the home!

What really piqued my interest about the new Frozen fragrances though, is that they were created by Stephen Nilsen. Stephen Nilsen is a world-renowned perfumer and Disney fanatic. Who has crafted fragrances for iconic brands such as Donna Karan, Max Azria, and also Vera Wang. There are two fragrances available, Elsa and Anna inspired of course! Both come as part of the set, but each can be purchased separately as well.

Elsa Journeys to Ahtohallan is of course the one inspired by our favorite snow queen. Travel down the frozen river of memory to Ahtohallan with Glacial Element! This fragrance has a bright top of chilled sparkling lemon, blackberry nectar, and citrus zest that evokes the thrill of Elsa’s journey. Frozen vanilla, creamy blonde woods, and gentle iris bring the sweet, comforting feeling she finds at her journey’s end.

Frozen Home Diffuser By Pura Brings Home The Enchantment

Anna & Olaf in the Enchanted Forest is the second fragrance. Meander through misty fog in the Enchanted Forest, ruled by the elemental spirits earth, water, wind, snow and fire! Mossy woods and Tamarack trees are met by the alluring aroma of juniper berries and birch leaves for a truly multi-faceted sensorial experience of this dreamy forest. Fresh sage lingers in the crisp air along with the mysterious curse of Northuldran.

You can find the Frozen Diffuser Set, and fragrance refills online now at Trypura.com!

Super Nintendo World is Now Open at Universal Studios Japan

By

Chip

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March 18, 2021

Super Nintendo World is Now Open at Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan hosted the grand opening of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, bringing to life a themed and immersive land featuring Nintendo’s legendary worlds, characters and adventures where guests play inside their favorite Nintendo games.

Shigeru Miyamoto, Creator of Super Mario and J.L. Bonnier, President and CEO of Universal Studios Japan kicked off the festivities at Super Star Plaza. Popular Nintendo characters Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad, as well as SUPER NINTENDO WORLD team members, cheered on guests in the momentous grand opening of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.

Super Mario fans jumped in Mario’s iconic pose and cheered “WE ARE MARIO!” while festive confetti burst into the sky to commemorate the occasion.

Guests then made their way through the warp pipe entrance and into the new immersive land. The moment guests were transported from the warp pipe into Peach’s Castle, they were captivated and expressed their excitement by posing like Mario and taking photos.

Here is a video of the Grand Opening:

Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts Executives made the following statements:

Shigeru Miyamoto, Creator of Super Mario

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD brings the world of Mario games to life. The moment you enter the park, you will be amazed at how real everything feels. But that’s not all. The creative team at Universal has not only done a great job recreating the Mushroom Kingdom, but they have also made some amazing rides. For the Mario Kart ride in particular, the teams at Universal and Nintendo worked closely together to build something that’s never been seen before, by combining our extensive industry knowledge and utilizing cutting-edge technology. I am excited for fans of all ages to experience the world of Mario in all-new ways.

Tom Williams, Chairman & CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is the perfect blend of Nintendo games and theme park experiences, and brings the world of these incredibly popular games to life. This will surely amaze and delight not only fans of the park, but also Nintendo fans around the world. We look forward to sharing SUPER NINTENDO WORLD with our fans in Japan and bringing the experience to life at other Universal theme park destinations in the future.

Mark Woodbury, Vice Chairman, Universal Parks & Resorts & President, Universal Creative

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD brings the world of Nintendo to life in an incredibly special way and offers a wide range of activities made possible by innovative technologies and creativity unlike anything seen before! Our amazing partnership with Mr. Miyamoto means that many of his ideas are packed into every corner of this land for our fans to explore on their own.

J.L. Bonnier, President & CEO, Universal Studios Japan

Being Mario is no longer just a dream. At SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, you can do everything Mario does. This experience completely revolutionizes theme park entertainment. We are especially proud that Universal Studios Japan will be the first place in the world to feature SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, especially since Nintendo was created and brought to life here in Japan.

Here is a look around Super Nintendo World!

Guests Will Unleash Their Passion to Play at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD makes its debut as the first multi-level land at Universal Studios Japan, where Peach’s Castle and Bowser’s Castle tower over the area. It features rides and attractions themed after Mario Kart and Yoshi, as well as dining, shops and other experiences that can only be found at Universal Studios Japan. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD also provides guests with an all-new type of “Asobi” play experience where they will jump, punch ? Blocks and collect virtual coins. Guests can purchase a Power-Up Band in the land and sync it to their smartphones to track their score and compete with other park guests. At Key Challenge attractions around the land, guests can collect keys, gather character stamps and more using their entire bodies in dynamic activities. Families and friends will unleash their passion to play in the new SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.

The world’s first interactive Mario Kart theme park ride at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD immerses guests in the worlds of Nintendo. Guests will race through the iconic courses of Mario Kart with their favorite Nintendo characters and be transported into Nintendo worlds where they’re not just playing a game, they’re actually being immersed in it. They will steer into the Mushroom Kingdom and throw shells as they race to the finish line with Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach! Win or lose, every race is a brand-new, life-sized Mario Kart experience. Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge is brought to life through a powerful story and characters, advanced augmented reality technology, projection mapping, and screen projection combined with a physical set that recreates iconic environments in fantastic detail, only at Universal Studios Japan.

Josh D’Amaro says ‘April 30th can’t get here soon enough’

By

Chip

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March 18, 2021

Josh D'Amaro says 'April 30th can't get here soon enough'

Josh D’Amaro the Chairman of Disney Parks shared this super cute photo on his Instagram to celebrate the reopening of Disneyland on April 30th.

In case you missed it yesterday we shared the news that Disneyland & California Adventure would be reopening on April 30th!

You can read the full Disneyland Resort reopening details here.

He also shared a little Welcome Back photo with this message:

Exciting news today for our Disneyland Resort Cast, guests and community! April 30 can’t get here soon enough! #disneyland #reopening

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Josh D'Amaro (@joshdamaro)

Earlier this week Disneyland started to ‘Welcome Back’ Cast Members to prepare for the reopening at the end of April. More than 10,000 Cast Members are returning to work in the coming weeks.

Please note the plans to open Disneyland Resort are phased and subject to change, to align with guidance released from time to time by health authorities and appropriate government agencies. This guidance is fluid and applicable at any given time as community situations change. With that guidance, many factors will determine the timing of when offerings may be available, and the status of indoor and outdoor experiences.

Related – Full Details on Disneyland’s Reopening

To read all of the news on the reopening of the Disneyland Resort check out the links below:

Characters are part of the magic for the reopening of Disneyland

By

Sara

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March 18, 2021

Characters are part of the magic for the reopening of Disneyland

The theme parks at the Disneyland Resort are planning to reopen on April 30, 2021! When they do reopen, guests will still get to enjoy character experiences.

When Walt Disney World reopened, guests were still able to see characters but in a different way. Characters wave at and chat with guests from a distance as well as ride through the parks in character cavalcades.

Character meet & greets where you hug the character and get an autograph is now a thing of the past. But that doesn’t mean guests visiting Disneyland won’t get to see characters!

Disney shared the following information about characters returning to Disneyland when the parks reopen:

“From surprise appearances along Main Street, U.S.A., and Pixar Pier to playful interactions, characters from dozens of favorite Disney and Pixar stories will entertain and delight guests across both parks. Beloved characters will pop up in new ways and sometimes in unexpected places as they remain mindful of physical distancing.

At Disneyland, guests may see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse waving from the train station, or Disney Princesses such as Mulan appear at the Royal Theatre to wave and pose at a distance for guests taking selfies. At Disney California Adventure, Pixar pals may wave from the bandshell at Pixar Pier, and guests can share a laugh while taking photos with Mater and Lightning McQueen along Route 66 in Cars Land.

Certain experiences that draw large group gatherings—such as parades and nighttime spectaculars—will return at a later date.”

It seems like Disneyland will be going the same route that Walt Disney World took in regards to characters. All characters will “remain mindful of physical distancing” which means characters will most likely be greeting Guests from a distance, either from up above, on a vehicle like the ones on Main Street, or in an area that will be blocked off from foot traffic.

With the “A Touch of Disney” event beginning next week at Disney California Adventure, we can see how Disney plans to handle characters at Disneyland. Characters will be part of the ticketed event and we’ll get an idea of how characters will interact with guests once the parks reopen.

Will you be visiting Disneyland when it reopens next month? If you’d like to plan your trip, contact me today for a free, no-obligation quote!

Disney’s Animal Keepers throw birthday part for their Galapagos tortoises

By

Sara

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March 18, 2021

Disney's Animal Keepers throw birthday part for their Galapagos tortoises

Animal keepers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently celebrated the 9th birthday of their Galapagos tortoises.

Animal keepers teamed up with the Cast Members at the Animal Nutrition Center to make special birthday “cakes” for the tortoises.

The “cakes” were made of watermelon and prickly pear cactus. The tortoises seemed to really enjoy the tasty treats!

If you’d like to see these Galapagos tortoises, be on the lookout for them on Discovery Island in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney shares first look at Spaceship Earth lighting being added

By

Sara

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March 18, 2021

Disney shares first look at Spaceship Earth lighting being added

We previously shared that the park icons at the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks will be getting a new look for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration. Disney recently shared a first look at lighting being added to Spaceship Earth in Epcot.

Spaceship Earth’s new lighting will debut on October 1, 2021. The icon will be a Beacon of Magic during Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Imagineer Zach Riddley shared the following on Instagram.

“Our team at Imagineering has been hard at work innovating the design and technology for this poetic and inspirational lighting concept. And we’ve had to get quite ingenious in how we go about installing these new fixtures and all the high-tech systems so that they seamlessly integrate with the iconic profile of Spaceship Earth,” wrote Riddley.

Riddley also shared that the overnight team was test fitting the light fixtures onto Spaceship Earth before they begin installing them. When they do install the fixtures, it will happen from the top down!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zach Riddley (@thezachriddley)

We can’t wait to see Spaceship Earth in all its EARidescent glory this fall! Will you be there during the anniversary celebration?

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A post shared by Walt Disney Imagineering (@waltdisneyimagineering)

There is plenty of time to plan your Disney World vacation! Contact me today for a free, no-obligation quote.

Disneyland Cast Members will be able to experience the parks before reopening

By

Sara

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March 17, 2021

Disneyland Cast Members will be able to experience the parks before reopening

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are finally reopening! The parks are planning to open on April 30, 2021. Before that happens, Cast Members will get to experience the parks first.

Disneyland will have special park previews for Cast Members and other community members before the parks officially reopen. Here’s the announcement from Disney Parks Blog:

“In the days leading up to the public opening on April 30, Disneyland Resort will invite cast members and members of the local community to be the first theme park guests after more than a year of closure.”

We don’t have any other specifics regarding these special previews or who will be invited besides Cast Members. They will most likely be free events for those invited.

We are so excited that Disneyland is going to be reopening! Stay tuned to Chip & Co for more info.

Disneyland will only open for California Residents

By

Sara

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March 17, 2021

Disneyland will only open for California Residents

Disney announced today that the theme parks at the Disneyland Resort will be reopening on April 30! After being closed for over a year, magic is finally returning to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. There are some restrictions, however. One major restriction is the parks will only allow California residents to visit.

Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that requires all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and up. This system is similar to the one in place at Walt Disney World.

Theme park reservations will be limited and subject to availability and, until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks in line with current state guidelines. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon.

This restriction is disappointing for Disneyland fans that don’t live in California. However, a majority of Disneyland visitors are locals so I’m sure the capacity limits will be easily reached. Will you be visiting Disneyland when it reopens next month?

These Monsters Inc S’mores Will Have You Screaming For More!

By

Ana Leal

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March 17, 2021

Put a not so scary twist to this camping treat, Monsters Inc S’mores!

These s’mores are far from scary, in fact, they are super adorable! They feature a Mike Wazowski marshmallow and Boo’s door! Plus plenty of chocolate of course, they’ll definitely have you screaming for more.

So gather your family and spend a day making these cute s’mores, all you have to do is follow this easy recipe:

MONSTERS INC S’MORES

INGREDIENTS:

S’mores

Lime green, leaf green, pink, purple, royal blue, and yellow gel food coloring
2 cups of cold water
1 bag of jumbo marshmallows
1 (12oz) bag of white chocolate candy melts
2 packages of chocolate bars
1 box of graham crackers

Royal Icing

1 lb (1/2 bag) powdered sugar
1/4 cup of meringue powder
1 tbsp of vanilla extract
1/4 cup of warm water

Materials

Skewers
Wax paper
Piping bags
Piping tip (#2)
Kitchen scissors

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a small mixing bowl, start by combining 3 drops of the lime green food coloring into the cold water. Once the food coloring is dissolved and evenly dispersed, drop in the marshmallows to begin the dying process. They’ll take the color fairly quickly so after about 5 minutes, use of the skewers to adjust the marshmallows to ensure all sides are being evenly coated. After about 10 minutes, remove the marshmallows using the skewers, place them on wax paper, and allow them to dry overnight.
Once the marshmallows have fully dried, begin mixing the royal icing ingredients together. Then, separate your icing into 6 small bowls for each of the colors. Grab your white first and place it into a piping bag with the tip snipped about 1/4″.
With the white icing, make a dime-sized circle slightly above the midway point of your marshmallow for Mike’s eye. While that dries, mix 2 drops of leaf green food coloring into another icing bowl and spoon it into a piping back with the piping tip. Create Mike’s smile, making a half circle just below the eye.
Next, grab a third icing bowl and mix in 1 drop of leaf green and 1 drop of royal blue food coloring to create the color for Mike’s eye. Place this in another piping bag with the tip snipped on 1/8″ and pipe a round circle in the center of the white circle. Before the pupil dries completely, use your white icing again to create a small shine mark in the upper left side of the eye.
Next up, the horns! Grab the melting chocolates and pair of kitchen scissors. Begin shaping the horns by cutting off the edges of the chocolate to create triangular shapes. Once the horns are cut, use the white icing to dab on the ends of each of the horns. Place on either side of Mike’s head.
Now it’s time for the graham cracker doors! Start by melting down the remainder of your melting chocolates. Once completely melted, mix in 2 drops of pink food coloring. Next, use a butter knife to spread the chocolate evenly on your graham crackers. Allow the chocolate to fully harden for about 20 minutes.
While the chocolate is hardening, grab the remaining 3 bowl of icing and add food coloring to each so you have a bright pink, purple and yellow.
Place the purple and yellow icing into piping bags with the tips cut about 1/4″, and scoop the pink icing into a piping bag with a piping tip.

To create Boo’s door, start by piping 4 pink, vertical rectangles. Then, pipe flowers with the corresponding icing.

Now the best part! Stack your s’more nice and high. Start with a plain graham cracker as the base, add a layer of chocolate, pop on your Mike Wazowski marshmallows, and finish up with Boo’s graham cracker door. Continue for all the s’mores.

Enjoy while you watch Monsters Inc or Monsters University on Disney Plus!

Credit: Disney Family

Mighty Ducks Trilogy Is Now Streaming On Hulu And ESPN+ ahead of the premiere of Game Changers

By

Chip

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March 17, 2021

Mighty Ducks Trilogy Is Now Streaming On Hulu And ESPN+ ahead of the premiere of Game Changers

For a limited time, “The Mighty Ducks” Trilogy is now streaming on Hulu and ESPN+. Starting today, March 16, and continuing until May 28, Hulu and ESPN+ subscribers can watch the original three films and upgrade to The Disney Bundle to stream the new original series “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,” premiering March 26, only on Disney+. This marks the first time movies have been programmed across The Disney Bundle to support an original series premiere on one of the three streaming services.

In the 10-episode “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” season set in present day Minnesota, the Mighty Ducks have evolved from scrappy underdogs to an ultra-competitive, powerhouse youth hockey team. After 12-year-old Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) is unceremoniously cut from the Ducks, he and his mom, Alex (Lauren Graham), set out to build their own team of misfits to challenge the cutthroat, win-at-all-costs culture of youth sports today. With the help of Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), they rediscover the joys of playing just for love of the game.

The series features a talented new team of up-and-coming young actors including Brady Noon, Maxwell Simkins, Swayam Bhatia, Luke Islam, Kiefer O’Reilly, Taegen Burns, Bella Higginbotham, and DJ Watts.

“The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios. Steve Brill, the original creator, writer and executive producer of all three films, which spawned an NHL franchise, is back as co-creator and executive producer of the new series. Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa (“The King of Queens,” “13 Going On 30”) are co-creators and will serve as executive producers and showrunners. Michael Spiller serves as executive producer / director on the series, with James Griffiths serving as director/EP on the Pilot. Emilio Estevez is an executive producer and Lauren Graham is co-executive producer. George Heller and Brad Petrigala of Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Jon Avnet and Jordan Kerner also serve as non-writing executive producers.

Tonight, in support of the trilogy debut and upcoming series, ESPN+ will also feature live coverage of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks @ Colorado Avalanche game, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Meet the ‘Monsters At Work’ team in first look at the new Disney+ series

By

Chip

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March 17, 2021

Meet the 'Monsters At Work' team in first look at the new Disney+ series

Mindy Kaling has joined the cast of Disney+’s highly anticipated animated series “Monsters At Work.” Kaling will voice the role of Val Little, an enthusiastic member of the Monsters, Inc. Facilities Team (aka “MIFT”). Additionally, Bonnie Hunt will reprise her role as Ms. Flint, who was formerly in charge of training new Scarers at Monsters, Inc., but will now manage the department responsible for recruiting and training the funniest monsters to become Jokesters. “Monsters At Work” will begin streaming Friday, July 2, exclusively on Disney+.

Ben Feldman stars as the voice of Tylor Tuskmon in the series, which introduces new monster characters alongside returning favorites, including Mike Wazowski and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan, who will again be voiced by renowned actors Billy Crystal and John Goodman. Starring alongside Feldman and Kaling as part of the MIFT crew is Henry Winkler (“Happy Days”) as Fritz, the scatterbrained boss; Lucas Neff (“Raising Hope”) as Duncan, an opportunistic plumber; and Alanna Ubach (“Coco”) as Cutter, the officious rule follower. New character images were released today.

“Monsters At Work” takes place the day after the Monsters, Incorporated power plant started harvesting the laughter of children to fuel the city of Monstropolis, thanks to Mike and Sulley’s discovery that laughter generates ten times more energy than screams. It follows the story of Tylor Tuskmon, an eager young monster who graduated top of his class at Monsters University and always dreamed of becoming a Scarer until he lands a job at Monsters, Incorporated, and discovers that scaring is out and laughter is in. After Tylor is temporarily reassigned to the Monsters, Inc. Facilities Team (MIFT), he must work alongside a misfit bunch of mechanics while setting his sights on becoming a Jokester.

In addition to Crystal, Goodman and Hunt, returning cast members from the original movies include John Ratzenberger as Yeti and Tylor’s dad, Bernard, Jennifer Tilly as Celia Mae and Bob Peterson as Roze, twin sister to his original “Monsters, Inc.” character, Roz. Voicing additional characters are Stephen Stanton (“Star Wars Resistance”) as Smitty and Needleman, the bumbling custodial team at Monsters, Inc., and Aisha Tyler (“Archer”) as Tylor’s mom, Millie Tuskmon.

Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series was developed and is executive produced by Disney animation veteran Bobs Gannaway (“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Planes: Fire & Rescue”). Academy Award-nominated Sean Lurie (“Inner Workings”) is producer, and Kat Good (“Big Hero 6 The Series”) and Steve Anderson (“Meet the Robinsons”) serve as supervising directors. The late Rob Gibbs (“Monsters, Inc.”) also served as director on some of the earlier episodes.