Disney's 2018 Movie Schedule

Hi there! This weekend Disney's first 2018 release is making headlines with its massive box office opening and critical acclaim of Black Panther. It seems to be a promising year for Disney, as this is only the beginning of its blockbuster releases. Let's take a look at what is to come!

A Wrinkle in Time (March 10th, 2018)

 

I first saw a sneak peak of this movie at the D23 Expo 2017 and I have been excited ever since. Oprah and the rest of the cast appeared on stage to present the sneak peek to the D23 audience, and everyone in the giant auditorium lost their minds for Oprah. I think movie audiences will have similar reactions when she is on screens everywhere in March.

Avengers: Infinity War (May 4, 2018)

 

The past ten years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe culminate in this movie. I cannot wait for this cinematic event! Black Panther has been such a success already, I expect audiences to be hungry for a lot more Marvel.

Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 25, 2018)

 

 

After Lucasfilm's first successful solo movie, Rogue One, I have had high hopes for this Han Solo prequel. Plus, a movie that includes the Mother of Dragons, Emilia Clarke, is destined to be a hit.

The Incredibles 2 (June 15, 2018)

 

Growing up, The Incredibles was my favorite movie. I am super excited for this sequel!

Ant-Man and The Wasp (July 6, 2018)

 

Because of the creative promotional campaign for the first movie, I have giant expectations for more fun posters in anticipation of this sequel. And, I cannot wait to see The Wasp get more of the spotlight in this film!

Christopher Robin (August 3, 2018)

 

I am looking forward to a new twist on the source material of Winnie the Pooh, with Pooh and the gang leaving the Hundred Acre Woods to join Christopher Robin in the real world!

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (November 2, 2018)

Will this movie become the next holiday classic? I am intrigued to see how Disney interprets this story many of us all know and love.

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (November 21, 2018)

 

When Wreck-It Ralph 2 was first announced, I had neutral feelings. But, then at the 2017 D23 Expo, I saw a sneak peek, and my excitement skyrocketed through the roof. We watched a scene where Vanellope von Schweetz visits all the Disney Princesses in the same room, with many of the original voice actors like Mandy Moore and Ming Na Wen reprising their roles. I don't want to spoil too much about this scene, but it has made this movie one of my most anticipated this year.

Mary Poppins Returns (December 25, 2018)

 

I have faith Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda will make this a movie to remember. I hope this sequel lives up to the iconic original movie!

2018 looks like a big year for Disney! Comment below what movies you are most excited for!

- Michael

Disney Photopass Tips: Pop-Out Pics

Hi Disney fans! One of the best parts about visiting a Disney theme park are the pictures. There are so many insta-worthy shots on both coasts, at Disney World and Disneyland. One pose that will get everyone involuntarily saying "awwww" is what I like to call the "Pop-Out Pic".

Here is my family popping out from behind Stitch!

On an Adventures by Disney trip in Southern California, one of the families in our tour group started doing this pose at every Character Meet and Greet. The cuteness level of this picture is off the charts, so my family adopted it into our portfolio of poses. We take this picture with every character that comes our way!

I hope you all give this photo a try. If you post your images, feel free to tag @foodiefindersnyc with #PopOutPic

See ya real soon!

-Michael

Yatai - Long Island Restaurant Review

Yatai - Mineola, NY - Long Island Restaurant Review

There is often that one charming dish coaxing your taste buds to return soon. But, there is not often a restaurant that offers an entire menu of such foods that keep you on the edge of your seat for more. Yatai is a model restaurant for what one would hope to find in casual Asian dining, with high quality authentic food, a modern and comfortable shop atmosphere, and gracious hospitality in the front and back of the house.

I can honestly say that there are too many excellent choices to enjoy in one sitting. Below, I have listed in order my personal favorites; however, you cannot go wrong with any of these options.

• Chicken Meatball Banh Mi Sandwich

• Fried Chicken Sandwich

• Spicy Vegetable Ramen (Special)

• Asian Burger

• Long Life Noodles

• Japanese Fried Chicken Appetizer

• Dragon Tail BBQ Pork Appetizer

Additionally, the Fuji-Apple Potato Salad is a must-try. This unique blend of corn, apples, and pickled carrots elevate this from your standard potato salad. Lastly, the That Tea with Bubbles is an outstanding complement to all this great food.

-Mike

Unraveling the Eye Motif Mystery of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney Studios and LucasFilm

Hello Disney fans! As one among many Star Wars fans tirelessly re-watching all the latest trailers in anticipation for December 18, I have come across an intriguing reoccurring theme in the marketing material. I have compiled all the posters and videos that suggest the symbolic importance of eyes in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as this might even give important hints toward the plot of the upcoming movie!

To start, we see this Star Wars TV Spot blatantly focus on this eye motif, as the narrator says:

"I have lived long enough to see the same eyes in different people. I see your eyes. I know your eyes"

The female character narrating this trailer is a new character, Maz Kanata, played by Lupita Nyong'o. She is an enigmatic creature that we have yet to learn much about; However, Director J.J. Abrams told Entertainment Weekly, "I had this pitch about these goggles that she wore. Her eyes are an important aspect of her character, and you'll see how it plays out." Nyong’o adds, "As an actor for films, your eyes are a lot of the way you communicate anyway, so it was definitely a gift to have that be the means to her magic as a motion-capture character.” A close look at the film's theatrical poster shows off Kanata''s eyes shrouded by the aforementioned goggles.

In addition, the recently released character posters, as shown below, display all the main characters with one eye covered by his or her weapon of choice. The new and old Star Wars generations are represented, reinforcing the ideas mentioned in the above trailer.

Moreover, in a humorous SNL skit, there is a very subtle hint to the importance of eyes, mentioned by John Boyega, who will be playing Finn in the film. Go to the 2:10 mark in this video to see Boyega suggest the idea of controlling the force with ones eyes.

The symbolism of eyes doesn't seem to come as much of a surprise when considering J.J. Abrams is behind all of it. In his very popular TV show Lost, eyes were a reoccurring theme that followed through from the pilot episode up until the series finale.

The focus on this Star Wars eye motif in this promotional material seems to hint that eyes may have a large role to play in the 7th installment of this movie collection. Even thinking about the films title, "The Force Awakens", creates the imagery of waking up, and opening ones eyes is quite important when one awakens. With less than two weeks until this highly anticipated premiere, the eyes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is definitely something to watch for!

-Mike

Out of Town Eats: Johnson City - The Village Diner

While in the Binghamton area, I had a incredible breakfast at The Village Diner. Don't let the outside deceive you because this little restaurant is a culinary powerhouse. They make the classics, and they do them right.

                                 

The pumpkin pancakes are awesome. With such an intense pumpkin flavor, you can taste Autumn is just around the corner. 

The french toast breakfast sandwich is another great option. The sweet syrup and toast with the savory eggs and ham was a delicious combination.

Lastly, we ordered the very special chicken and waffles. This exclusive item is no longer on the menu, but we were lucky enough to see someone else order it. I could not tell you why this was removed from the menu because this dish was the star of the meal, (and as the half eaten picture shows, it was so good it was nearly gone by the time I took my camera out.). I highly recommend ordering the chicken and waffles, and make sure you drown it in syrup and hot sauce!

There is no doubt about it - The Village Diner is a must-dine restaurant for a true breakfast lover. Happy eating!

-Mike

Out of Town Eats: Ithaca - Cornell Dairy Bar

On a recent trip to Ithaca, I stopped by Cornell Dairy Bar. I love this ice cream shop for the amount of care put into the product. From cow to container, the ice cream is entirely made locally. As a bonus for students, the Cornell Dairy Bar is located within Cornell University at Stocking Hall. 

The ice cream is super creamy and very flavorful. My favorite flavor is the Sweet CORNell, which is a corn based ice cream with salted caramel swirled throughout.

If you are in the area, definitely give the Cornell Dairy Bar a try!

-Mike

What to Expect from Pandora: The Land of Avatar

Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Food and Attraction Information and Speculation

Change is coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom in the next couple of years. Additions are being made to enhance the theme park experience, especially at night, through a new nighttime spectacular (and don't be surprised if you see a dragon or two pop up here in the Rivers of Light show), a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris, and the highly anticipated Pandora: The Land of Avatar. This Avatar Land is a big undertaking, however Disney has yet to reveal all the details on this expansion. Here is what seems likely to be true so far:

Main Attraction (E-Ticket) - "Flight of Passage" (rumor)
This rumored 3D Flight Simulator is expected to give guests the experience of riding the mythical Banshee creature.While not the exact same technology, this ride resembles that of Soarin'.

Other Attraction (C-Ticket) - unnamed boat ride (rumor)
This speculated boat ride will take riders on a journey through the wildlife of Pandora, including a variety of bio-luminescent plants and animatronic Na'vi

Various Shops
If you know Disney, there is sure to be a gift shop or two in this new land. The number and nature of these shops are unknown.

Quick Service Restaurant
There has been no information on what food will be found in Avatar Land, but there are rumors of a quick service shop in the plans. I have no idea what type of food this mythical cuisine specializes in, but it would be cool if this was a molecular gastronomy restaurant. Disney World has never taken on this style of food before, but I think this strange, inexplicable world of Pandora is a great place to start.

In addition to the concept art included above, Disney has released three videos on this expansion.

While no attractions have been confirmed, the land itself looks incredible. Who wouldn't be excited for real-life floating mountains!

Now for the rest of this post I will be providing some fun speculation. Nothing below is confirmed by Disney or supported by existing rumors, but purely my own ideas - and in the spirit of Disney, I'm hoping these dreams come true.

As I previously mentioned, there are rumors of a quick service restaurant opening, but I am hoping for a full service restaurant instead. A molecular gastronomy restaurant could work as a quick service meal, but I think it would translate better as a sit-down meal.

In addition, Pandora is going to be a very exciting place to visit and I think such a heavily themed land is in need of a tour. Similar to the existing Wild Africa Trek tour, this adventure would take guests on paths through Pandora especially designed for the tour. This intimate interaction can end with a private picnic style meal, preferably in a secluded area that overlooks the magnificent waterfalls shown in the concept art. An experience like this would be unforgettable.

Lastly, I know that rumors are pointing toward the fact that there will be two new rides coming, but I believe there may be more. 3 more movies are guaranteed to come from this franchise, and that will bring audiences to experience more of Pandora. It is possible Disney is planning to add onto The Land of Avatar with rides based off of the upcoming films. Since no real details have been announced, we won't know for now. But, the D23 Expo is just around the corner, and we are sure to expect some more information soon.

-Mike