News of layoffs come less than two weeks after Disney’s media networks segment rose 6 percent to $4.96 billion, with operating income up 8 percent to $1.86 billion. One of the company’s most consistently lucrative properties, ESPN has enjoyed increased affiliate revenue in 2013. Forbes recently called ESPN “the world’s most valuable media property,” estimating its worth at $40 billion. ESPN has 7,000 employees.

An ESPN insider said that ESPNU’s new late-night show UNITE will be canceled in July. The staff of the show found out today. Also, ESPN’s Denver Office in the Denver Tech Center was shut down yesterday.

cover photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid, photo: © ESPN

“Being in control of your destiny is better than being at the mercy of others,” said Christine M. McCarthy, Disney’s executive vice president for corporate real estate, sourcing and alliances, and the company’s treasurer.

At its Grand Central Creative Campus in Glendale, Disney has authorization through 2032 to build up to 3.2 million additional square feet in a 125-acre, light industrial compound. The campus already houses Disney Interactive and Walt Disney Imagineering. Growth in Glendale would most likely exclude movie and television operations. If approvals are granted, Disney is hoping to build as many as 12 soundstages on its 890-acre Golden Oak Ranch about 20 miles to the northwest. That would almost double the number of stages Disney currently has on its lot in Burbank, and nearby television-oriented facility.
Concept art of the proposed studios at Golden Oak.

In 2011 Disney and ABC Studios completed two state-of-the-art back lots at Golden Oak Ranch. The 42 storefront Urban District was constructed entirely with filmmakers in mind. Straight, horizontal rooflines make creating CGI backdrops simpler and the layout of the buildings makes shooting one style of architecture, while leaving another style out of the scene. In addition, the street can embody almost any time period or city, allowing a director to make his vision come to life whether it be 1920s Chicago or present day New York.

Along with the Urban District, Disney and ABC Studios constructed a Residential Street, consisting of 14 homes, each embodying a different architectural style on a curved road designed to allow the director to film only the houses they want, with the ability to leave the others out of view. Many of the houses have full backyards while all have full, manicured front yards ready to be dressed or filmed as-is. Architectural design of the homes is representative of both the East and West coasts, as well as many places in between.

artwork & photos: © Disney

Demi Lovato cover photo: © Hollywood Records, DWTS photo: Adam Taylor ABC

Leading the development of the series is a creative team of exceptional talent. Screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class,Sherlock Holmes, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is an executive producer on Star Wars Rebels and will write the premiere episode. He is joined by Dave Filoni as executive producer, who served as supervising director of the Emmy nominated Star Wars: The Clone Wars since 2008. Executive producer Greg Weisman brings with him a wealth of animation experience with credits such as Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Gargoyles.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, “The entire team at Lucasfilm has provided extraordinary creativity and innovation for over three decades, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the expansive and imaginative world of Star Wars to Disney XD’s viewers.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president, Lucasfilm. “I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars.”

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV — an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen.Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Star Wars Rebels will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation, featuring many of the key talents that made Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe will be the first to get an exclusive look at the new series. Casting will be announced at a later date. More information about this developing project will be found on StarWars.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/starwarsrebels.

Pablo Hidalgo talks with executive producer Dave Filoni about Lucasfilm’s highly-anticipated new animated series.

The first Oscar went to the song writing team of Allie Wrubel and Ray Gilbert for their song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

In recognition for his portrayal of the famous black storyteller Uncle Remus, James Baskett was given an Honorary Academy Award. This made him the very first African American male performer to receive an Oscar, and he was the first actor to win an Oscar for his role in a Disney feature film. He was also the voice of animated character Brer Fox.

Sadly less than 4 months later Mr. Baskett died of heart disease at the age of 44.

cover art and photo: © Disney

ESPN platforms will carry 12 conference title games with each winner receiving an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The schedule includes the entire ACC, BIG EAST, Missouri Valley Conference and SEC tournaments as well as contests from the America East, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt and West Coast.

Also ESPNU will televise the announcement of the 2013 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship field of 64 teams on Monday, May 27, at Noon ET. In addition to the expanded Regionals schedule, ESPN will continue to cover every Super Regional site (up to 24 games from eight sites) and all possible 17 games of the College World Series.

Tue, May 21

• 10 a.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 1 ESPN3
• 10:30 a.m. SEC Championship: Game 1 ESPN3 *
• 1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 2 ESPN3
• 2 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 2 ESPN3 *
• 5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 3 ESPN3
• 5:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 3 ESPN3 *
• 8 p.m. BIG EAST Home Run Derby ESPN3 *
• 8:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 4 ESPN3
• 9 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 4 ESPN3 *

Wed, May 22

• 10 a.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 5 ESPN3
• 10 a.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 1 ESPN3 *
• 10:30 a.m. SEC Championship: Game 5 ESPN3 *
• 11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 1 ESPN3 *
• 1 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 2 ESPN3 *
• 1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 6 ESPN3
• 2 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 6 ESPN3 *
• 3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 2 ESPN3 *
• 5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 7 ESPN3
• 5 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 3 ESPN3 *
• 5:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 7 ESPN3 *
• 7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 3 ESPN3 *
• 8 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 4 ESPN3 *
• 8:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 8 ESPN3
• 9 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 8 ESPN3 *

Thu, May 23

• 10 a.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 9 ESPN3
• 10 a.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 5 ESPN3 *
• 10:30 a.m. SEC Championship: Game 9 ESPN3 *
• 11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 4 ESPN3 *
• 1 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 6 ESPN3 *
• 1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 10 ESPN3
• 2 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 10 ESPN3 *
• 3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 5 ESPN3 *
• 5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 11 ESPN3
• 5 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 7 ESPN3 *
• 5:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 11 ESPN3 *
• 7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 6 ESPN3 *
• 8 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 8 ESPN3 *
• 8:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 12 ESPN3
• 9 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 12 ESPN3 *

Fri, May 24

• 11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 7 ESPN3 *
• 1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 13 ESPN3
• 3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 8 ESPN3 *
• 3 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 9 ESPN3 *
• 4 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 13 ESPN3 *
• 5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 14 ESPN3
• 6 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 10 ESPN3 *
• 7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 9 ESPN3 *
• 7:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 14 ESPN3 *
• 8 p.m. America East: Championship ESPN3

Sat, May 25

• 10 a.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 11 ESPN3 *
• 11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 10 ESPN3 *
• 1 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 15
• Dave Neal & Kyle Peterson ESPN3 & ESPNEWS
• 1 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 12 ESPN3 *
• 3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 11 ESPN3 *
• 4 p.m. Big South: Championship ESPN3
• 5 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 16
• Dave Neal & Kyle Peterson ESPN3 & ESPNEWS
• 5 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 13 ESPN3 * ^
• 6 p.m. Southland Conference: Championship ESPN3
• 7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 12 ESPN3 *
• 8 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Championship ESPN3 *
• 8 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 14 ESPN3 * ^
• 8 p.m. America East: Championship ESPN3 ^
• 10 p.m. West Coast Conference: Championship
• Roxy Bernstein & Mike Rooney ESPNU

Sun, May 26

• Noon BIG EAST Championship: Championship
• Clay Matvick & Chris Burke ESPNU
• 1 p.m. ACC Tournament: Championship
• Dari Nowkhah & Danny Graves ESPN2
• 1 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference: Championship ESPN3
• 2 p.m. Southern Conference: Championship ESPN3
• 2 p.m. Sun Belt Conference: Championship ESPN3 *
• 4:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Championship
• Dave Neal & Kyle Peterson ESPN2
• 4:30 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference: Championship ESPN3 ^

* Outermarket only; ** ESPNU will televise on May 20 at 9 p.m.; ^ If necessary

I had arrived earlier that day and was feeling a bit jet-lagged. Traveling 12 hours and being behind six time zones can take a bit out of you, so I ordered their “Coconut Elixer.” It is made from ZICO Coconut Water blended with Pineapple and Cranberry juice. It was quite refreshing and got me in the mood for some Caribbean fare.

To start with I ordered the Citrus-Poached Shrimp in a Tomato Salsa and crispy Plantains ($10.99). This appetizer was great. The Citrus-Poached Shrimp was very reminiscent of a chilled Spanish ceviche but packed with whole shrimp all the way to the bottom of the glass. The Plantains were batter fried tender but not greasy. They were fun to eat and complemented the shrimp and salsa. This was one of the best appetizers of the trip!

Next came my entree, Caribbean-braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs Slow-cooked in a Light Curry Sauce, Mashed Yucca, and Yukon Gold Potatoes ($24.99). One of the things that appealed to me when reviewing the menu was that this dish seemed to be the most “Caribbean” because of the curry. As you can see it looks really hearty with the Boneless Beef Short Ribs resting on the mashed Yucca and Potatoes. It is finished off with a broth of stewed onions, celery and carrots.

I found this dish very good but it was not in the “Caribbean” style I was expecting. There was no curry, not even a hint of it. Bemused, I told the manager (who just happened to walk by) that I couldn’t taste any curry. She acknowledged that they had to tone-down the original dish because some guests didn’t like it. I guess they turned it down to “0.” Go figure!

After eating all this heavy food I decided against ordering dessert, and headed back to my room for some much needed sleep. I did enjoy my visit, and if I return, I would definitely order the Citrus-Poached Shrimp again!

Morning at the Hub.

“Today we mark the completion of Hong Kong Disneyland’s current expansion project on a high note with the opening of Mystic Point. This one-of-a-kind themed area has never been seen in any of our Disney parks worldwide,” said Bill Ernest.“For the first time, guests can immerse themselves in a unique adventure of theatrical wonders that combines traditional storytelling with innovative technology and special effects. The ‘Mystic Magneto-Electric Carriage’ in Mystic Manor is by far the most sophisticated ride system in Disney’s history.

Other officiating guests included the Honorable Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr. Philip Yung, Commissioner for Tourism, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr. Andrew Kam, Managing Director, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort; Mr. Joe Lanzisero, Senior Vice President, Walt Disney Imagineering – Creative; and Mr. Danny Elfman, the Oscar-nominee and composer of the soundtrack of Mystic Point. The story of Mystic Point follows the adventures of eccentric explorer and art collector Lord Henry Mystic, who invites guests to board the Mystic Magneto-Electric Carriage for a tour of his private museum located within his Victorian manor. When Lord Henry’s companion, his monkey Albert, mischievously opens a newly acquired magical music box, the enchanted Music Dust within is released and, accompanied by a haunting tune created by renowned composer Danny Elfman, a mysterious journey begins.

Mystic Point is comprised of the iconic Mystic Manor, which features one of the most sophisticated ride systems ever built by Disney; a themed photo area called Garden of  Wonderswith mystifying 3D illusions; the Explorer’s Club Restaurant, which offers international cuisines ranging from Korean and Japanese to Halal food in exotic surroundings; The Archive Shop, where guests can purchase exclusive novelty items and collectibles; and the Mystic Point Freight Depot, where Lord Henry’s grandnephews share with guests stories from their adventures with Lord Henry.

With the addition of Toy Story Land in 2011, Grizzly Gulch in 2012 and Mystic Point this year, the size of Hong Kong Disneyland has increased by almost 25%, further enhancing its appeal with over 100 attractions, entertainment facilities and shows. Since April, the Park has arranged a series of preview days for more than 30,000 guests, including Magic Access members, trade partners, business partners, Cast Members and their families, media, bloggers and celebrities. The preliminary feedback from guests has been overwhelmingly positive, with many describing Mystic Point as a truly mysterious journey that is full of surprises. Guests were particularly intrigued by the Mystic Magneto-Electric Carriage, the dark ride within Mystic Manor, which blends beautiful visuals with fascinating special effects.

This HD video of Grizzly River at Disney’s California Adventure features 5 P.O.V. and runs 16 minutes.

About DbM Interludes: Disney by Mark (DbM) Interludes is a series of videos intended to relax the viewer with beautiful scenes from Disney’s Parks and Resorts. All videos are © Hickson Media

Maddie (Jessica Nash) is just like every other 14 year old – upbeat, fun and enthusiastic about everything in life (except maths homework!). Between her crush on Jake, her fun-loving best friends and her crushing and un-fun-loving amount of school work, Maddie always manages to put her best foot forward – with a little help from all the people in her head.

Ambition: Street-smart, self-assured and still basking in the glow of a year three cross country victory, Ambition (Ellie Gall) is the girl with a plan and the guts to go through with it. Dreams of stardom, popularity and success drive Ambition, and she drives Maddie to be confident and sassy. Despite her passion for winning though, Ambition always has Maddie’s best interests at heart.

Optimism: Optimism (Jordana Beatty) doesn’t just always find a silver lining – she’s not too sure there’s ever even a cloud. A sensitive, caring dreamer, Optimism won’t let any situation darken her sunny outlook on life. With a soft spot for unicorns and a weakness for romance, Optimism gives Maddie a sense of fun and her constant can-do attitude.

Doubt: Doubt (Miles Gibson) had fun once – it was terrible. Scientific, sometimes anxious and always sceptical, Doubt is a Worst Case Scenario Handbook with legs. Despite his negative outlook, he keeps Maddie grounded and has saved her from embarrassment more than once – although his kazoo and accordion playing embarrass Ambition quite enough already.

Show intro

Ep 20: Last episode of season 1. It is Valentine’s Day and Maddie has received a mystery gift. She discovers it is from Jake, but that he has also given the same gift to every girl in school. When all seems lost, a mystery bunch of flowers turn up at her door.

ESPN already airs all rounds of Wimbledon, including the finals, and much of the Australian Open, including its championship rounds, according to an ESPN spokesman. The ESPN cable channel carries some rounds of the French Open, although Comcast Corp’s NBC carries the finals. In a separate statement, Canada’s BCE Inc said its English- and French-language sports channels would have exclusive Canadian rights to the tournament, also for 11 years.

The U.S. Open tournament finals, and weekend play, has been carried by CBS since 1968. ESPN began televising 100 hours of early-round and second-week matches in 2009. Under the new ESPN agreement, with the United States Tennis Association, the New York-based U.S. Open will arrange its matches to mesh with ESPN’s schedule. Women’s semifinal matches will be played during prime time on Thursday and the men’s semifinals on Friday night, according to ESPN. The new schedule also puts the women’s final match on Saturday and the men’s on Sunday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

graphics: © UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION

On June 17, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will launch a massive reimagining of its D23.com website, opening up the wonderful worlds of Disney like never before to its members. The site will provide access to newly digitized content that delves deeply into The Walt Disney Company’s vault of material, past and present, along with exclusive glimpses of the future. The new gated content will be free to current D23 Members; plus D23 is launching a new free level of membership, which will include access to this incredible content. D23.com will continue to offer the latest Disney news free to all guests who visit the site. But D23 Members can unlock even more magic in each section by logging in and accessing content whenever a golden key is shown.

“We’re creating a unique destination that celebrates, in all respects, the essence of Disney,” says Steven Clark, head of D23. “We believe the new site will offer one of the most engaging Disney experiences yet — with even more to come in the future. We look forward to debuting the new D23.com to our current members as well as to new ones from around the world.”

The reimagined D23.com will feature exclusive celebrity interviews; vintage film clips; rarely seen artwork and photography; treasures from the Walt Disney Archives; behind-the-scenes previews of new movies and theme park attractions; and more.

Website highlights at launch will include:

• 23 Questions – We enhance our popular feature with audio interviews with Once Upon A Time star Ginnifer Goodwin, who reveals her Disney favorites — and what she’s looking forward to in the next season of the hit ABC show. Plus an exclusive with Phineas and Ferb’s popular “evil mastermind” Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz, who talks about his truly devious plans… and Christmas.

• D’scovered – Treasures unearthed by the Walt Disney Archives. In the coming weeks the Archives will share extremely rare imagery from the proposed Mickey Mouse Park, a concept which evolved into Disneyland; spine-tingling alternative dialogue for the Haunted Mansionpenned by Disney Legend X. Atencio; the illustrated story script for “The Karnival Kid,” the 1929 short in which Mickey Mouse first speaks; and a very special memento created for Walt by legendary artist Salvador Dalí.
• Disney A to Z – A complete and newly updated electronic version of the definitive Disney encyclopedia with more than 7,000 entries written by Dave Smith, founder and Chief Archivist Emeritus of the Walt Disney Archives.
• D23 Presents – A deeper dive into all parts of Disney from the opening of Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland to rarely seen footage of the former Disney Studio on Hyperion Avenue.
• Disney Legends and the Walt Disney Archives – Two new microsites; Disney Legends will provide a deeper look at those who’ve made significant contributions to the Disney legacy, and the Archives site will open up the doors of this venerable institution so D23 can share more of The Walt Disney Company’s expansive collections.

In addition, new departments and sections include: Weird Disney, looking at some of the more unusual and outrageous pieces of Disney’s past; Characters, profiling the most beloved characters from television, film and comics with concept art and complete biographies; The Quotable Walt Disney, a digitized version of the out-of-print book featuring some of Walt’s most enduring words; Ask a Legend, a video feature in which Disney Legends like Marty Sklar answer fans’ questions; First Look, which gives members a glimpse into what’s new and what’s next including Monsters University; Attraction Rewind, celebrating the beloved attractions of Disney’s past which once delighted theme park guests; and Muppetology, which opens up the Muppet-acular universe of our fuzzy friends. D23’s popular video series Armchair Archivist and Disney Geek will also return with all-new episodes.

And that’s just the beginning — on launch day, D23.com will reveal even more surprises.

D23 Free Membership will include:

• Members-Only Website Content: Access to all exclusive content on D23.com.
• Exclusive Merchandise: D23 offers its members access to exclusive, limited-edition merchandise and collectibles.
• Subscription to Weekly D23 FanFare E-newsletter with breaking news and special offers. (You may opt out of receiving FanFare after your first e-newsletter arrives.)
• Discounted tickets to the D23 Expo 2013: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

__________________________________

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (May 15, 2013) – Following brisk sales of homesites, Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort announced plans for its newest neighborhood, Marceline. Sale of the first 19 homesites will begin today.

As part of the Golden Oak community, Marceline residents will enjoy a lifestyle surrounded by the Walt Disney World Resort. This quiet, luxurious enclave is located in close proximity to Disney theme parks and recreation. Taking advantage of its natural setting, more than half of the Marceline homesites will offer water views and others will border on a nature preserve. Each homesite is approximately one-quarter acre in size and is within easy walking distance of Summerhouse, the private clubhouse for Golden Oak residents and their guests.

Marceline will showcase the same quality custom home building found throughout Golden Oak today, with residences drawing design and architectural inspiration from European and Caribbean influences. Buyers can select from three prestigious homebuilders to create custom homes ranging in size from approximately 3,800 to 4,500 square feet. Golden Oak homes start at $1.6 million. Prices, inclusive of homesite, in the Marceline neighborhood will start at $1.7 million. ”We’ve been delighted by the positive response over the past 24 months,” said Page Pierce, vice president of Disney Resort Real Estate Development. “Our first four Golden Oak neighborhoods are nearly sold out, so Marceline quite literally builds on that success.”

Marceline is named after the Missouri town where Walt Disney grew up in the early part of the 20th century. Memories from those formative years profoundly influenced creative directions he took throughout his life. Walt’s animation legacy has roots in Marceline, where he first picked up a pencil and sketchpad to try his hand at drawing. The new Golden Oak neighborhood pays homage to that history with a planned sculpture park that will feature enchanting life-size sculptures of characters from Walt’s animated masterpiece Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The sculptures are part of the exclusive Golden Oak “Disney Friends in Nature” sculpture series. Sophisticated interpretations of classic Disney animation will be found in parks and other common areas throughout the community.

“The sculpture series is just one example of subtle Disney touches artfully woven into the luxurious character of Golden Oak,” Pierce said. “Our Disney Imagineers poured their talents into creating a community that’s thoughtful in design, rich with details and home to a lifestyle like no other.” Marceline is just one of many new additions to Golden Oak. The recently opened Summerhouse, the private residential club facility, is the centerpiece of community activities and events. Reminiscent of a large Tuscan farmhouse, it offers delightful spaces for indoor and outdoor gatherings, a pool, fitness facilities with locker rooms, and a family game room. The Summerhouse restaurant and private lounge will debut later this year, offering dining in a casual, yet sophisticated environment.

Summerhouse is also home to Golden Oak Resident Services, the team that brings Disney’s guest-service culture directly to residents. Resident Services can arrange personal, residential and resort requests. Services include assistance with travel and private transportation arrangements, tickets for Disney theme parks and special events, private VIP tours, golf tee-times, dinner reservations, and planning parties. It’s like having a Fairy Godmother to handle every detail. Golden Oak residents can also take advantage of “Disney Connection” amenities. These special services include door-to-park transportation to select locations at Walt Disney World Resort, Extra Magic Hours (at one Walt Disney World Resort theme park each day to enjoy select attractions), merchandise delivery from most Walt Disney World retail locations and discounts at all Walt Disney World golf courses.

In this original storyline, Mickey and Minnie lead the audience on an exciting adventure that will have families rooting for their favorite pirate Jake and Disney’s first little girl princess Sofia. Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate and Princess Adventure begins with a special interactive pre-show featuring the loveable 6-year-old doctor to toys and stuffed animals, Doc McStuffins. Children and their parents will sing “The Check-Up Song” along with Doc as she provides tender love and care.

Audiences will then embark on a journey to the magical world of Enchancia, where Sofia, her step-siblings Amber and James, and the entire kingdom are preparing for the annual friendship festival. Sofia has the honor of delivering the perfect gift to her royal subjects at the celebration, and the one-and-only Cinderella visits the castle to help Sofia in her mission to find just the right present.