What an incredible year for travel! This year our amazing STAR agents helped our clients to book over 1800 vacations to destinations across the Globe.
Read MoreDisney Villains: The Ones We Love to Hate
Maleficent is one of our most recognizable Disney villains!
Halloween is getting closer and will soon be front and center in the parks. The first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will be held on August 15th this year I want to talk villains… specifically Disney villains. I love villains! I have an incomplete tattoo sleeve of Disney villains to prove it. With 20-25 hours in a tattoo chair already and many more hours, this has become my passion. But why, you may be wondering. Let me tell you why…
If you don’t know already, villains are the bad guys in books, movies, and TV shows—the wicked, the cunning, the ones who make our stories dangerous! Villain characters, also known as antagonists, date back ages in writing and early film. If you look at some of the best movies, they have great villains. To fully appreciate the good guy, you really must hate the bad guy. And the more you hate the bad guy, the louder you cheer when the hero wins. Where there has been a strong Protagonist, there is almost always a strong Antagonist.
Villains make things better. Look at the Bible, one of our earliest forms of writing passed down by generations. We have David versus Goliath. David’s “hero” moment came in his ability to fell the giant known as Goliath. Or we can look at Robin Hood versus Prince John. Look at Diehard—who would Bruce Willis’ character, John McClane, be without the great Hans Gruber played by one of the greatest actors ever, Alan Rickman? Speaking of Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series… how could I not mention Harry Potter versus Voldemort? Villains make you love the Hero more.
I took a poll to find out what Disney villains people love the most. I asked the following questions:
Best Disney Villain?
Best Villain Sidekick?
Best Villain Song?
Most satisfying end to a Villain?
Best ‘Toxic’ trait?
I started off asking my fellow travel advisors at Upon a Star Travel… henceforth to be known as “The Stars.” The Stars overwhelmingly voted Maleficent as the best villain, and it wasn’t even close! The best sidekick was much closer. It was a tie between Mr. Smee and Lafou. Best song went to everyone's favorite underwater witch, Ursula with Poor Unfortunate Souls. The best demise of a villain belonged to Jafar who was pulled into a magic lamp and kicked into lava by his sidekick. Best toxic trait went to Maleficent for using dark magic and having a vengeful nature.
I also polled my friends and family AKA Facebook. All of the results were close to the same with one exception—the best sidekick award went to the Hyenas from The Lion King.
This has been fun to write and explore since I love villains. And Disney really knows how to do it right. Let’s plan your next vacation… maybe in October when Halloween will be a big focus in the park!
So let’s recap:
Everyone is wrong. Scar is the best villain!
Everyone is wrong, Be Prepared sung by Scar in The Lion King is the best song!
Plan to go see “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,” the new stage show now playing at Disney’s Hollywood Studio.
Disney needs to HURRY UP and open their planned Villain Land… ASAP.
Don’t forget, the Fall Halloween Season will take over the Walt Disney World resort in late August! See details on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party here.
Contact your favorite Upon a Star Agent for your party tickets and your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland Vacation Package!
Disneyland Resort Hotel Discounts for Spring 2025
Pool at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
From March 23 through May 15, 2025, you can save up to 20% on select rooms at a Disneyland Resort hotel this spring. This is valid for Sunday through Thursday nights.
Offer is valid for standard and premium level room types at the following Disneyland Resort hotels:
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa - Save up to 20%
Disneyland Hotel - Save up to 15%
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel - Save up to 20%
Book now through May 12, 2025, and travel must be complete by May 16.
Are you a Disney Visa Cardmember? You can save even more! On select premium rooms, you are eligible for the following discounts:
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa - Save up to 30%
Disneyland Hotel - Save up to 25%
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel - Save up to 30%
Your Disney Visa card will be required for the deposit.
Why should you visit Disneyland in Spring 2025? While it’s always a good time to visit, you can celebrate Star Wars: Season of the Force March 28-May 11, and you could be there for the start of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration which begins on May 16
Are you ready to book? Contact your favorite Upon a Star Travel Advisor or Contact Us for a Quote!
Artist Rendering
May the Force Be With You!
Disneyland Park opening date: May 31, 2019
Disney's Hollywood Studios opening date: August 29, 2019
At last! The day is here! We now have some details for the much anticipated opening of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge!
On opening day for phase one, your Clients will be able to live your own Star Wars story and take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, sample amazing galactic food and beverages, explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops and more.
And for phase two, opening later this year, will be Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined that will put guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance and will blur the lines between fantasy and reality. In light of tremendous demand, Disney made the decision to open the land in phases to allow Guests to sooner enjoy the one-of-a-kind experiences that make Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge so spectacular.
Guests planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park between May 31 and June 23, 2019 will need valid theme park admission and will be required to make a no-cost reservation, subject to availability, to access the land. Information on how to make a reservation will be available at a later date. Guests staying at one of the three DisneylandResort hotels during these dates will receive a designated reservation to access Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during their stay (one reservation per registered guest); valid theme park admission is required.
A reservation will not be offered or required to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at the Walt Disney World® Resort. And you should know that valid theme park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge after its opening on August 29, 2019. Capacity is limited. Additionally, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be open during Extra Magic Hours. During Extra Magic Hours Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can spend extra time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios enjoying select attractions. Details will also be available at a later date.
Contact your Upon a Star Agent to see this immersive land for yourself!
See it you must!
Pixar Fest at the Disneyland® Resort!
If you're anything like us here at Upon A Star, you simply adore Pixar! Just think of all the new classics - Toy Story, Up, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles -- and those are just a few! This is why we are so excited to share with you that for a limited time only, Disneyland Resort in California is doing a celebration -- all about Pixar! From April-September only, you can celebrate "Friendship & Beyond" at the Happiest Place on Earth!
Starting April 13, Pixar Fest will begin! The Paint the Night Parade is back with a brand new Incredibles-themed float. Of course, there will also be some of your favorite Cars characters involved in this magical nighttime event.
In addition, a mix of pyro-technics and projections all over Disneyland park will create a beautiful evening spectacular in the new Pixar-themed "Together Forever".
To make things even more exciting, June 23 marks the official opening of the newly re-branded Pixar Pier! Featuring Incredibles, Toy Story, and Pixar neighborhoods, this newly re-imagined space will be a delight for the whole family! We here are Upon A Star are super excited for the new "Incredicoaster" -- a new take on the California Screamin' track.
So are you ready for your Southern California Adventure? Find out why Disneyland truly is the happiest place on earth! Your Upon A Star Agent is here to help with expert advice. Contact us today for pricing and options!
More exciting news! Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks edition!
Yesterday we brought you news about the latest additions and changes at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Today, we are excited to announce the fun new happenings at the Disneyland Resort in California!
Four of our Upon A Star Agents have visited the Disneyland Resort in the past year, and though we didn't think we could love Disneyland any more than we already do, we think these new offerings are perfect additions!
First up - the much-loved Paint the Night parade is returning to Anaheim at Disney's California Adventure! With a new float!
In Pixar news, there will be a limited-time celebration taking place throughout the Disneyland Resort in 2018 called Pixar Fest. At Disneyland park, this celebration will feature a brand-new Pixar-themed fireworks spectacular, as well as the return of the Pixar Play Parade, which is moving from Disney's California Adventure to Disneyland.
As part of Pixar Fest, the area of Disney's California Adventure called Paradise Pier will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. Characters and stories from Inside Out, the Incredibles and Toy Story will be brought to life, and join the already-popular attractions there, like the California Screamin' roller coaster (my favorite)!
Also at Disney's California Adventure, the Guardians of the Galaxy will be joined by Spider-Man and the Avengers in what will become a completely immersive super hero universe at the park, creating a place where you can team up with your favorite super heroes like nowhere else!
These new stories will join the success of the very popular Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! attraction. I got to ride it on its opening day and it is so much fun!
Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure will be celebrating "Haul-o-ween", with special decorations around the town and costumes for the citizens of Cars Land.
And in Star Wars news, Star Wars Land: Galaxy's Edge, will open at Disneyland in 2019, before it opens in Orlando. This $1-billion project will include two attractions, a ride that lets guests fly the Millennium Falcon, and another that puts visitors in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. This is a 14-acre expansion that will also include interactions with favorite Star wars characters.
Contact one of the amazing Upon A Star Agents to find our more information and how you can plan a trip to Walt's first park, Disneyland, and the spectacular Disney's California Adventure!
Disneyland Summer of Heroes!
Marvel fans rejoice! Disneyland Resort has some great fun planned for their Summer of Heroes! For a limited time, qualifying packages will even receive a Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! Comic Book! Click here for additional details.
- Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! -- A brand new re-imagined attraction
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off with some of your favorite Guardians of the Galaxy!
- Avengers Training Initiative with Black Widow & Hawkeye
- Heroic Encounter with Black Widow
- Meet heroes Captain America and Spider-Man
- Great merchandise and collectibles
- MUCH MORE!
Now is a great time to take advantage of a Disneyland vacation package! Contact your Upon A Star Agent for details!
New Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!