Disney kicks off another busy week as Disneyland Handcrafted premieres on Disney+ tomorrow, February 22. The documentary celebrates the craftsmanship and creative vision behind Disneyland, while a special featurette highlights director Leslie Iwerks and her deep Disney roots.
At the same time, Star Wars fans have plenty to talk about. Disney dropped a surprise teaser for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, and the reaction was immediate. The teaser sparked widespread discussion across the fan community, setting the tone for a big week in the Star Wars universe.
EPCOT Festival of the Arts Is Officially Open
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is officially underway, and Sam and Greg are both in the middle of the action. EPCOT is filled with art, music, and food studios as the festival comes to life across the park.
This year’s festival highlights include:
- The return of Once Upon a Stage inside CommuniCore Hall, featuring Disney on Broadway performances
- Festival merchandise, including the popular Figment popcorn bucket, now owned by both Sam and Greg
- Interactive scavenger hunts throughout EPCOT
Disney Lorcana Takes Over the Festival
One of the biggest surprises of the festival has been the overwhelming popularity of Disney Lorcana. While Sam focused on the artists and live performances, Greg tracked the explosion of Lorcana trading across EPCOT.
The Illumineer’s Lounge in Morocco has quickly become a central hub for completing cards, trading, and connecting with other fans. Greg breaks down what this surge in Lorcana activity means for Disney Parks and how it could shape future festival experiences.
DVC Moonlight Magic and Park Milestones
Away from EPCOT, Greg also reviewed DVC Moonlight Magic at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The event delivered exclusive access, low waits, and a noticeably chilly evening.
Elsewhere around Walt Disney World, several milestones and updates stood out:
- The Living Seas celebrates its 40th anniversary
- Annual Passholders received a new Zootopia-themed magnet
- Disney announced the Garden Rocks Concert Series lineup
Bringing Darth Vader into Galaxy’s Edge
A long-running fan question continues to surface: how do you bring Darth Vader into Galaxy’s Edge without breaking the land’s timeline? Disney’s answer arrives through storytelling.
The new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Echoes of the Empire comic series bridges eras, allowing iconic characters to appear while preserving the land’s narrative integrity. Greg explains why this approach works and why it opens new doors for Galaxy’s Edge storytelling.
All That and More with Sam & Greg Live
From Festival of the Arts highlights and Star Wars reveals to trading cards, magnets, and milestone anniversaries, it was another packed episode.
Join Sam and Greg every Wednesday for This Week at Walt Disney World LIVE, where Disney news, fandom, and fun come together each week.
