Need to Know: San Diego yacht race, Disneyland innovation, SkyMiles benefit and more

Vintage yacht race

Edwardian steam yachts, built primarily between 1901 and 1910, are rare, and a race between two of these sleek vessels is even rarer. But at noon on May 15, that’s just what visitors in the San Diego area will see when the 1901 Cangarda and the 1904 Medea launch from Coronado’s Glorietta Bay, pass under the Coronado Bridge, steam past Shelter Island and finish at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. You can view the race from shore or aboard one of two boats: the tall ship Californian ($50 for adults, $30 for children) or the 1914 Pilot ($35 for adults, $25 for children). Info: Maritime Museum of San Diego, (619) 234-9153, https://www.sdmaritime.org.

—Mary Forgione

Mickey Mouse speaks

Disneyland is testing a groundbreaking Mickey Mouse meet-and-greet character that talks to visitors while posing for photos, according to Walt Disney Imagineering officials. The talking Mickey Mouse has been greeting visitors during unannounced and intermittent “play tests” in his cartoon-style house in Toontown, officials confirmed. After nearly 55 years of mute costumed characters at the Anaheim theme park, it’s equal parts jaw-dropping and off-putting to see Mickey’s eyes blink and mouth move as he greets visitors by name. Officials said if the tests proved successful, the new talking meet-and-greet characters would probably not show up in Disney parks for another few years.

—Brady MacDonald

Delta card benefit

Starting June 1, some members of Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles frequent-flier program will accrue more than miles. Cardholders who carry Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta SkyMiles credit cards issued by American Express will score a new privilege: a free first checked bag, Delta announced. This represents a $50 savings on a round-trip flight. Under this new benefit, the $25 first checked bag fee, charged each way, is waived for cardholders and up to eight others on the same reservation.

—Mary Forgione

Beastly pillows

So what if these stuffed-animal pillows are marketed for kids on the go? Some of us grown-ups would be delighted to rest our heads on the big, soft micro-bead-filled head of Hada the Hippo, Bing the Bumblebee or one of the many other colorful plush beasts and bugs. And who wouldn’t like to cuddle up in the fleece blanket stuffed into each creature’s squishy body? I figure the airlines won’t count my stuffed animal in my carry-on allowance, and just try taking away my security blanket. Machine washable and dryable. Zoobies stuffed animal pillow/blankets are $34 at (888) 966-2438, https://www.zoobies.com.

—Judi Dash