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Disney announces ambitious plans for Disneyland Resort

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Disney announces ambitious plans for Disneyland Resort

Massive expansion plans will bring new experiences and attractions to Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure in the coming years.

The second night of D23, Disney’s ultimate fan convention held every two years in Anaheim, focused on Disney Experiences, which includes theme parks, hotels and cruise ships.

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, hosted Saturday’s event at the Honda Center and revealed the entertainment giant’s plans for Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure, as well as Disney’s properties in Florida and across the globe.

In California, the biggest announcements included more concrete details about the new “Avatar”-inspired land, which was announced last year, but with little details revealed.

On Saturday, D’Amaro announced that the new land will be located at an undisclosed location at Disney California Adventure. Unlike the land already located in Orlando, which is inspired by the first film, the new California Avatar land will be inspired by the 2022 sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water,” as well as the upcoming third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Photos shared during Saturday night’s event indicated the land will include a water attraction.

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  • Journey further in the world of Pandora at Disney California Adventure! 🌿 This destination will draw inspiration from "Avatar: The Way of Water” and future Avatar films bringing Pandora to life in a brand-new way. (Disney Parks)
  • Journey further in the world of Pandora at Disney California Adventure! 🌿 This destination will draw inspiration from "Avatar: The Way of Water” and future Avatar films bringing Pandora to life in a brand-new way. (Disney Parks)

Another new addition to DCA will be the beloved Pixar film, “Coco.” It will be the first attraction inspired by the film to be added to a Disney park and Disney officials say it will utilize advanced audio-animatronics, modeling the experience after classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion.

Walt Disney himself will also make his return to Disneyland with a new audio-animatronic experience coming to the Main Street Opera House. Walt Disney: A Magical Life will feature an animatronic Walt and musical accompaniment. It will rotate shows with the existing “Great Conversations with Mr. Lincoln.”

D’Amaro said it’s long been a dream to create a Walt Disney animatronic, but said the company wanted to be patient until technology was able to catch up to their high expectations.

  • The first-ever attraction themed to Pixar's “Coco” is coming to Disney California Adventure. (Disney Parks)
  • Ernesto de la Cruz performed as park officials announced the first-ever attraction themed to Pixar's “Coco” is coming to Disney California Adventure. (Disney Parks)
  • The first-ever attraction themed to Pixar's “Coco” is coming to Disney California Adventure. (Disney Parks)
  • The first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic is coming to @Disneyland ! “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” will debut in 2025 inside the Main Street Opera House in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” (Disney Parks)

Many of the most anticipated announcements involved Marvel’s Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure.

In a shocking development, not one but two new attractions were announced on Saturday.

The first will be located in the large Avengers headquarters that takes up a large portion of the campus and has long been rumored as the eventual home of a big ticket attraction. The ride, Avengers: Infinity Defense, will transport riders to locations across the Marvel Universe, including New York City, the nation of Wakanda and Thor’s home planet of Asgard, as the Avengers battle King Thanos and attempt to foil his plans for universal chaos. Construction on this attraction will start next year.

The second new attraction to Avengers Campus, and the fourth overall for the land, is called Stark Flight Lab. The attraction’s plot centers around a testing lab for new Avengers equipment. Riders will be paired up with a hero of the Avengers as they fly around the shop. Each experience will be unique depending on which hero a rider ends up with.

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  • Avengers Campus at Disneyland will double in size with two brand new attractions. Get ready for Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab. (Disney Parks)
  • Avengers Campus at Disneyland will double in size with two brand new attractions. Get ready for Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab. (Disney Parks)

Disney CEO Bob Iger tested the new attraction alongside a familiar face: Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr. Disney announced that Downey will reprise his role as Tony Stark when the attraction opens to guests.

In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a new ride experience is currently in development for Star Wars: Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run. Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni said a new ride alternative inspired by the upcoming film, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” is in the works, powered by the Unreal Engine, the gaming engine developed by Epic Games.

Mando and Grogu will jump to lightspeed in a brand-new adventure coming to Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney Parks. (Disney Parks)
Mando and Grogu will jump to lightspeed in a brand-new adventure coming to Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney Parks. (Disney Parks)

And Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studio’s film, “The Princess and the Frog,” officially has an opening date at Disneyland. The attraction, which is already taking riders on a tour through the bayou at Walt Disney World, will officially roll out the welcome mat at Disney’s first park on Nov. 15.

  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure
  • Splash Mountain Disneyland
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure
  • With Princess Tiana, Walt Disney World president Jeff Vahle cheers employees during a "Thank You Fête" honoring cast members at a preview event for Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom in Bay Lake, Fla., Monday, June 10, 2024. The ride —redeveloped from the park's original Splash Mountain— officially opens to Disney guests on June 28. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

D23 takes place over the weekend from Aug. 9-11 at the Anaheim Convention Center and will be followed by star-studded ticketed presentations at the Honda Center.

Sunday is the convention’s final day and the evening event will be a ceremony to honor the latest crop of “Disney Legends,” including Harrison Ford, Kelly Ripa and Miley Cyrus.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Burglars ransack San Fernando restaurant, escaping with safe

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Burglars ransack San Fernando restaurant, escaping with safe

Surveillance video captured three masked intruders smashing their way into a San Fernando restaurant Saturday morning.

The group of burglars targeted Flor De Lima Farms, a restaurant located on the 1400 block of Truman Street at around 1:30 a.m.

The three suspects, seen carrying large burglary tools, broke into the restaurant and eventually escaped with a safe. They quickly entered an awaiting getaway car before the police arrived.

The restaurant owners said this is the third time they’ve been targeted in a single week. The first time, the suspects shattered a glass door and the second time, the front patio area was destroyed.

The restaurant’s manager, Alicia Acevedo, said the destructive crimes have left around $7,000 worth of damages and losses.

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  • Three burglars smashed their way into Flor De Lima Farms restaurant in San Fernando and escaped with a safe on August 10, 2024. (Flor De Lima Farms)
  • The getaway car awaiting the suspects outside Flor De Lima Farms restaurant in San Fernando on August 10, 2024. (Flor De Lima Farms)
  • Three burglars smashed their way into Flor De Lima Farms restaurant in San Fernando and escaped with a safe on August 10, 2024. (Flor De Lima Farms)
  • Three burglars smashed their way into Flor De Lima Farms restaurant in San Fernando and escaped with a safe on August 10, 2024. (Flor De Lima Farms)
  • Three burglars smashed their way into Flor De Lima Farms restaurant in San Fernando and escaped with a safe on August 10, 2024. (Flor De Lima Farms)

“We’re just a regular family, a small business trying to create a safe, comfortable and healthy environment but unfortunately, it’s almost become impossible for us,” Acevedo said.

Constant burglaries and vandalisms have continually plagued San Fernando and nearby Valley communities this summer. Both homes and businesses are being targeted, leaving many residents fearing for their safety.

“People are getting scared to be out,” Acevedo said. “I live around the area and you cannot walk outside anymore the way we used to. We used to be able to walk around the block. You will not do that anymore. There are people outside your doorway doing drugs in the middle of the day.”

Acevedo said she hopes to see an increase in police patrols and tougher punishments from law enforcement for burglary crimes.

In early August, a string of destructive burglaries targeted multiple small businesses on the 1200 block of Truman Street in San Fernando. In a bizarre twist, one shop owner even discovered an apology note from a thief.

Local business owners said they had met with the San Fernando police chief to address the crime wave and were working on solutions to deter future break-ins.

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Anyone who recognizes the suspects or has information on the theft can call the San Fernando Police Department at 818-898-1267.

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Los Angeles, Ca

What we learned about Disney's upcoming film and TV projects at D23

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What we learned about Disney's upcoming film and TV projects at D23

Disney’s three-day fan festival D23 entertained guests at the Anaheim Convention Center with interactive exhibits and unique activations, but the major announcements regarding the entertainment giant’s future plans took place Friday evening at the nearby Honda Center.

Night one of D23 featured a star-studded, three-hour presentation from Disney Entertainment, with never-before-seen production footage, advanced screenings of Disney trailers and, most exciting for many in attendance, the official reveals of some Disney projects that are in the pipeline.

Here is a breakdown of some of the biggest announcements Disney Entertainment made Friday night:

New Films

The biggest pop of the night came from the Disney Pixar segment of the show with Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter announcing that there will be a third installment of the Pixar classic “The Incredibles.” Docter said creator Brad Bird is currently developing the story.

Pixar CCO Pete Docter appears at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California on August 09, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Docter also announced the next original Pixar film that’s in the works, and showed a brief sizzle reel to hype up the crowd.

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“Hoppers” will premiere in the spring of 2026 and while details were limited, the loose plot involves a girl who body switches with a robot beaver — like Avatar if you replaced the Na’vi with… beavers. The film includes voice acting from Piper Curda, Jon Hamm and Saturday Night Live alum Bobby Moynihan, and will be directed by “We Bare Bears” creator Daniel Chong.

New Series

“Dream Productions,” a new animated series set in the world of Pixar’s “Inside Out” will premiere on Disney+ in 2025. The series follows the production crew responsible for creating Riley’s dreams, styled after a typical daily TV program.

The four-part series is set between the timeline of the first “Inside Out,” and the 2024 follow-up sequel, and features the voice talents of Paula Pell, Richard Ayoade and Maya Rudolph, with appearances from the original cast of Riley’s emotions.

Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, CEO appears at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California on August 09, 2024. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Disney)

Pixar’s first original series “Win or Lose,” headlined by the voice of Will Forte, will premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 6. The new series will focus on eight different characters, including “the insecure kids and their helicopter parents,” as well as their overwhelmed coach as they prepare for a championship softball game. 

National Geographic has partnered with magician and illusionist David Blaine for a new series called “Do Not Attempt,” in which the iconic performer travels the world to meet with like-minded individuals who push their minds and bodies to the limits, to discover how and why they do it. Blaine also mystified the entire crowd at the Honda Center by performing a mind-blowing card trick that left the audience speechless (and confused).

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Alan Bergman announced a new documentary series about the lives of monster truck drivers entitled “Monster Jam,” which Johnson’s production company will produce.

New Titles

The newest entry into the Avatar franchise will be called “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Director James Cameron, who made a rare appearance in support of the film, departing from New Zealand mid-production, announced that the third entry into the series will be “not what you’re expecting.”

The long-awaited sequel to “Freaky Friday” starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis will officially be titled “Freakier Friday,” and will continue the story of the film’s two protagonists 20 years after the events of the beloved 2003 film. Actor Chad Michael Murray will return, it was also announced.

The fifth installment of the “Toy Story” franchise will aptly be called “Toy Story 5.” The film will pick up with the old gang of Buzz, Jesse and friends and will feature a tale of “toys vs. tech,” focusing on modern kids and their preference for electronics.

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“Frozen” director Jennifer Lee announced that the next chapter of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ production will be a two-parter

First Looks

Pixar presented an in-depth look at its upcoming film “Elio,” starring kid actor Yonas Kibreab. Zoe Saldana, who was in attendance in support of the Avatar franchise, was also announced as a new member of the voice cast.

Star Wars fans were treated to trailers and sizzle reels for several highly anticipated properties, including season two of “Andor,” an extended look at the upcoming “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” and the original Disney+ series “Skeleton Crew,” streaming in December.

Marvel gave the crowd looks at the upcoming Disney+ series”Daredevil: Born Again,” “Agatha All Along,” and Iron Heart,” as well as an extended trailer for the next Captain America installment “Captain America: Brave New World.” The presentation also featured a short message from the cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” and a brief teaser for the long-awaited film.

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Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, Joe Locke, Patti LuPone, Ali Ahn, Kathryn Hahn, Sasheer Zamata, Debra Jo Rupp and Aubrey Plaza appear at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California on August 09, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Fans of the Disney+ original “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” were given a preview of season two.

The Rock and Auliʻi Cravalho previewed the upcoming sequel to “Moana,” the digital animation one, not the live-action adaptation.

Ginnifer Goodwin provided new information and a brief scene from “Zootopia 2,” and announced that Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan has been added to the cast.

A new logo for the live-action “Lilo and Stitch,” was shown and fans in attendance got to see the first look of the beloved Experiment 626 in his new digital animation form.

Disney Music

Disney provided new information about a number of planned stage productions, including “Hercules” which will debut at London’s West End in summer 2025.

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Following in the footsteps of 2020’s “Hamilton,” a stage production of “Frozen” will premiere as a feature on Disney+ in 2025.

Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson appear at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California on August 09, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson appear at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California on August 09, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

“The Greatest Showman,” which skyrocketed up the music charts during its unexpected smash success in movie theaters is now in development as a stage production.

The cast of “TRON: Ares” shared a brief clip of what to expect when the film premieres in October 2025, including the news that Nine Inch Nails would provide the soundtrack.

To close out the show, it was announced that the aforementioned “Hamilton” scribe Lin Manuel Miranda has penned the music for the upcoming “Mufasa: The Lion King,” and the writer, rapper, producer himself premiered a first look of a song from the film.

D23 is taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center from Friday through Sunday.

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Woman intentionally rams vehicle into Canoga Park taco shop

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Woman intentionally rams vehicle into Canoga Park taco shop

A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park Friday night.

Los Angeles police responded to the destructive scene at Taco Reyes near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Saticoy Street at around 7:15 p.m.

Witness video showed the female driver drove directly through the glass front entrance and into the dining area. She repeatedly rammed her vehicle against the inside wall as she switched between backing up her car and then quickly accelerating again.

Around 15 people were inside the restaurant at the time. The destructive scene drew a large crowd of bystanders across the street as the mayhem continued before police arrived.

Bailey Thompson works at the bar next door to the taco shop. The bar shares a wall with the restaurant that was repeatedly rammed by the suspect driver.

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  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (Citizen)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A woman was arrested after intentionally crashing her car into a taco shop in Canoga Park on August 9, 2024. (KTLA)

“I saw a woman in the handicap space [out front] honking incessantly and she was telling people to get out of the way and she hit the opening of the taqueria, backed up, hit it again and again,” Thompson recalled. “So, she gave time for people to get out of there, but once the car was inside, she kept backing up and ramming into different walls, in the kitchen and she rammed through the wall connecting to the bar so both [businesses] are pretty much in ruins.”

Another witness, who did not wish to be identified, recalled the chaotic ordeal as officers surrounded the taco shop.

“A couple of shots were eventually fired [by officers],” the witness said. “They went for the tires and then finally a police squad went up with a riot shield until they were able to get into physical contact and pull the suspect out of the car.”

The woman was eventually subdued and taken into custody by LAPD. No customers or workers were injured.

Although the motive behind the violent rampage remains unclear, the owner of Taco Reyes told KTLA the woman was a former employee who was recently fired from the shop.

They said the suspect had previously vandalized one of their taco trucks. She was arrested for that incident and held for two days before being released.

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The incident remains under investigation by police.

Late Friday night, family members were seen cleaning up the debris and boarding up the restaurant. The bar next door also remains closed as both businesses work to repair the substantial damage.

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