All Activity

Not all Mickey-shaped snacks at Disney are created equal. Disneyland Entrance and Train Station Disneyland has seen a TON of changes and new eats lately. We’ve been multitasking lately by celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration AND trying out a few of the newest menu items. Now, it’s time to see if you should make this new snack a priority or skip it during your next Disney trip. Walking around Disneyland all day can work up an appetite, so we decided to take a stroll down New Orleans Square to see what we could scrounge up! New Orleans Square Our search for something savory during our visit led us to Royal Street Verandah, where we spotted a new snack we just had to get our hands on! Royal Street Verandah We decided to pick up the Buffalo Chicken Beignet Slider for $11.49! It’s made of fried chicken dipped in buffalo sauce and creamy slaw on a Mickey-shaped beignet. Buffalo Chicken Beignet Slider And while it might be cute to look at, that’s really where it stopped for us in appeal. Once we really got to dig into this slider, we quickly realized that a unique concept doesn’t always translate well in practice. The beignets are like Tiana’s standard beignets with no fluff, but the crust has the consistency of a bun. Our best guess is that Disney may have had to adjust the recipe slightly to accommodate the heavy sauce and creaminess of the slaw to keeping the entire slider together. It’s cute at least! As for how it tastes, well…the chicken was way overdone (maybe double-fried), and the buffalo sauce was probably the tastiest part. The sauce is your traditional spicy buffalo sauce with a bit of a kick! The slaw on the slider was almost flavorless, which was a bit disappointing as we found it to lean into the too creamy and saucy realm. It’s not all bad, though. The beignets had a nice sweetness to them, which on their own would have been great, but they’re quickly overpowered by the stronger taste of the buffalo sauce. From the looks of things around us, these sandwiches weren’t exactly flying off the shelf, either. Inside the slider We’re all for trying unique Disney foods, but this one was a bit of a miss for us this time around. WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! There’s plenty more Disney food to discover! Check out our most recent review at the link below, and be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for even more to come! REVIEW: 10/10 Recommend This NEW Caramel Treat in EPCOT!  Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which of Disneyland’s new eats are you most excited to try next? Leave your list for us in the comments below! The post REVIEW: Nope. Nope. NOPE! The One Mickey-Shaped Disney Snack You Might Want to AVOID first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Summer is kicking off at Shanghai Disney Resort! From seasonal décor to characters in all-new summer outfits and cool off activities, there’s plenty of ways to embrace the warmer days. All-New Character Summer Outfits Mickey and Friends are soaking up the summer sun at Shanghai Disney Resort in all-new looks! You can find them decked out in trendy hats, chic sunglasses and vibrant tropical fruit-inspired outfits. Mickey is pairing a bucket hat with flamingo sunglasses and an eye-catching polka-dot shirt, while Minnie Mouse is wearing a sun hat and a checkered dress with cherries. And of course, Duffy and his friends have prepared equally as cute voyage-inspired outfits! Not only is Duffy donning a sailor suit with an adorable whale vest, his friends are also wearing all-new looks inspired by sea creatures. ShellieMay has handcrafted her very own shell and starfish accessories to match her dress, StellaLou has dressed herself as a mermaid and LinaBell is rocking an adorable octopus skirt. Pixar-themed Experiences in Tomorrowland If you’re a fan of Pixar, Shanghai Disney Resort is the place for you this summer! Starting on June 27, Pixar Adventurous Journey will debut in Tomorrowland. This all-new walkthrough exhibition blends innovative Disney Storytelling with fun interactive elements across seven designed worlds inspired by Pixar Animation Studios films “Inside Out,” “Monsters, Inc,” “Finding Nemo,” “Turning Red,” “Coco,” “Up” and “Soul.” The fun doesn’t stop there, you might even have the chance to meet some of the most beloved Pixar characters, including Joy and Sadness, Red Panda Mei, Sulley, Carl Fredricksen, Bing Bong, Edna “E” Mode and more! And if you’re in need of a bite to eat, Stargazer Grill-Pixar Celebration has you covered with new eats from a Flamin’ Mad Burger & Friends inspired by “Inside Out” to “Turning Red”-themed Bouncy Bites Noodles and even an Eye-scream Melon Swirl that transports you into “Monsters, Inc.” Stitch Crash Lands in Tomorrowland It’s the summer of Stitch and he’s crashed landed at Shanghai Disney Resort! Starting on June 26, you’ll find Stitch Space Base, a photo area in Tomorrowland that blends Stitch’s chaos and charm all into one. Stitch, Lilo and Angel have also made their way to Galaxy Gathering, plus there’s themed shopping and dining experiences at Intergalactic Imports and Star Trail Snacks. Don’t worry if you feel like there’s not enough time this summer to enjoy all things Stitch! Starting this fall, an all-new interactive game zone, Galaxy Play Lab, is coming to Tomorrowland. Tinker Bell Makes Her Debut at Shanghai Disney Resort To start the summer and in celebration of Shanghai Disney Resort’s ninth anniversary, Tinker Bell is making her grand debut on June 16! For a limited time, you might stumble upon this magical fairy over in Fantasyland. Summer Activities to Cool Off For those looking to embrace the summer, you won’t want to miss out on the refreshing, water-themed shows taking place throughout the park! “Disney Duffy’s Splashing Pre-Parade” is the perfect way to get into the summer mood and “’Summer Blast’ Castle Show” promises splashing fun starting July 2. “Ralph Breaks the Dance Floor Summer Party,” “Backyard Splash Around,” “Disney Explorer Band” and summer versions of “The JAMMitors and Swabbie Fight” offer even more ways to enjoy the season. Plus, “The Rhythm of Adventure,” which invites you to explore the world of music from the cool comfort of Storehouse Stage is running from June 20 to August 24. All around the resort, you’ll also find cooling zones and dedicated kids-care facilities and services, as well as tents with AC. Summer Activities for Kids On June 16, Junior Explorers Camp will open with a complete transformation of the former Excavation Site at Camp Discover. This adventurous play area allows young guests to train and become true explorers of Adventure Isle. The area will be themed to three distinct zones of different natural environments: the ocean wonders of “Finding Nemo,” the cloud-high adventures of “Up” and the wild savanna of “The Lion King.” Summer Food and Beverage It wouldn’t be summer without themed eats to celebrate the season! This summer, the resort is rolling out all-new dishes from fruit-inspired pastries at CookieAnn Bakery to Spiral Snack’s Pineapple Shaved Ice at Snackin’ Kraken. And of course, there’s adorable Disney character-themed souvenirs you can’t miss, including the Disney LinaBell Souvenir Cup and the Mickey Mouse-themed sipper. Summer-themed Merchandise Three new merchandise collections are also making their debut this summer at Shanghai Disney Resort! For those who love a summer pool party, the 2025 Mickey and Friends Summer Vibes Collection might be your choice. If you prefer spending the warmer days on a beach, the 2025 Summer Duffy and Friends Ocean Party Collection could be your pick. And if you’d rather spend your vacation in a tropical destination, the 2025 Stitch and Angel Tropical Beach Collection has you covered. There’s just so many ways to enjoy the summer days this season at Shanghai Disney Resort! Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort Celebrates One Year READ MORE Duffy and Friends Celebrate 20 Years at Tokyo Disney Resort READ MORE Guide to the Hong Kong Disneyland 20th Anniversary Celebration READ MORE The post Summer Kicks Off at Shanghai Disney Resort appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

We are obsessed with Disney food (Who would have thought? It’s not like we call ourselves Disney Food Blog or anything ). We are constantly reviewing restaurants, and we are always on the lookout for new Disney food. EPCOT When we spot something new, you can bet your bottom dollar we will be giving it a try. We recently spotted a new treat in EPCOT, so we are stopping by Connections Cafe to try it out! The Caramel Macchiato Blondie has debuted at Connections Cafe, and, of course, we had to try it out. While it is just displayed as a Blondie, a Cast Member let us know that it is technically called a Caramel Macchiato Blondie. You can get this treat for $5.29. Connections Cafe is the Starbucks in EPCOT, and it is on the other side of Connections Eatery, so you can also grab your favorite drink while getting this sweet treat! Caramel Macchiato Blondie The treat has a blondie base and is topped with dulce de leche, a dollop of caramel, and a chocolate-covered coffee bean. While the blondie is supposed to be caramel and macchiato, we mostly got the caramel flavor, and didn’t taste much coffee flavor. The chocolate-covered coffee bean on top did provide a crunch of coffee flavor, but the blondie itself is mostly caramel-flavored. Caramel Macchiato Blondie The blondie base was sweet and fluffy. It was a bit dry and crumbly, but the caramel and custard topping helped a lot. On top of the base, there was a milky and creamy topping, followed by an ooey, gooey caramel topping. The milky, dulce de leche topping added a wonderful creaminess to the treat. We weren’t expecting that layer to be there at first, so it was a fun surprise when we broke open the blondie. Caramel Macchiato Blondie Overall, we really enjoyed this treat, and it is a decent size. You could split this with someone else, although we can confirm that it can also be devoured by one person (we may or may not have eaten this guy all in one sitting). We think it would be delicious alongside a coffee or tea, or just as a sweet pick-me-up during the day. If you are a fan of caramel, we think you are going to enjoy this treat! Caramel Macchiato Blondie WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney food news! We Reviewed Our 13 Favorite Snacks in EPCOT Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you tried the new Blondie at Connections Cafe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! The post REVIEW: 10/10 Recommend This NEW Caramel Treat in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A potentially deadly new insect species has arrived in the U.S… and we’re not sleeping anytime soon! U.S. Forestry Service Asian needle ants — yes, that’s really what they’re called, though their scientific name is actually Brachyponera chinensis — are originally native to areas in Japan and the Koreas. The species has been seen in America as far back as 1932, but has only recently started to “cause problems in North America after being relatively unnoticed for many years,” according to the U.S. Forest Service. The species has recently been spotted in several states, including Washington, Florida, Texas, and Mississippi. The Forest Service went on to tell CBS News that the Asian needle ants, which measure 0.2 inches in length, are dark brown or black at the end of the antennae, with lighter orange-brown legs, and are adept at hiding. The agency explained, ”Unlike many invasive species that tend to colonize areas in the wake of natural or human disturbance, Asian needle ants are capable of invading undisturbed forest areas where they nest under and within logs and other debris, under stones, and in leaf litter.” The species preys on other insects and are capable of displacing ant species that are critical for seed dispersal, according to the U.S. Forest Service, meaning that this “invasive species could have dramatic, long-term negative effects on forest understory.” Where’s Ant-Man when we need him? ©Marvel According to Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, the ant’s sting can also be life-threatening to humans, especially to those who are at greater risk of going into anaphylactic shock from an insect’s sting. According to Suiter, “It injects venom that can harm you. Its sting can be life-threatening.” He goes on to further say, “If you suffer from anaphylaxis, you should really know what this ant looks like, and it might be smart to carry an EpiPen.” The Forest Service advises citizens to be especially vigilant in areas with logs, rotting wood, or rocks where the ants can nest, and report sightings to the proper authorities. “Unfortunately, as with many invasive species, it appears Asian needle ants are here to stay,” the agency said in a statement. U.S. Forestry Service The potentially deadly Asian needle ant is appearing in greater and greater numbers in the U.S. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates. $2 Million Awarded in Hotel Bed Bug Lawsuit Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What would you do if you saw an Asian needle ant? Let us know in the comments below. The post New Fear Unlocked -- Asian Needle Ants! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, it’s almost time…Halloween Time will be arriving in Disneyland in a few months (yeah, we know, summer JUST started, but that’s how it is) and tickets go on sale for Oogie Boogie Bash SOON. Oogie Boogie at Oogie Boogie Bash Oogie Boogie Bash tickets go on sale to the general public on June 26th, and if you have ANY experience (or have heard the horror stories), you’ll know that it might be easier to nab tickets to a Taylor Swift concert than it is to get into Oogie Boogie Bash. Yes, it’s stressful. Yes, it’s hard. But there are a few things that can make the Oogie Boogie Bash ticket-buying experience a little easier, so we’re going to share them with you. So here’s the deal: Oogie Boogie Bash is a separate ticketed event that happens on select nights in Disney California Adventure. It’s also a limited ticket event, meaning only a certain number of tickets are available for each night of the party. Now, this is one of the most popular events in Disneyland, and if you’ve ever been to Oogie Boogie Bash, you’ll certainly understand why: not only do you get to go trick or treating, but you also get a fun Halloween-themed parade and get to see rare characters you’ll never see outside of the party. This is the seriously some of the most fun you can have in Disneyland. Agatha Harkness at Oogie Boogie Bash So here are our best tips to score coveted tickets to this event. Be ready to go when it’s “go” time Disney states that Oogie Boogie Bash tickets will go on sale no earlier than 9 AM PT to the general public on June 26th. Okay, here’s a little secret: we’ve seen tickets go on sale a minute or two before the stated time, so you’ll want to have the Oogie Boogie Bash page on the Disneyland website ready to go a little earlier and just keep hitting “Refresh” and be sure to use those fast reflexes to click on the “Buy Tickets” button the minute it shows up. Mother Gothel You’ll probably end up in a virtual queue, but the faster you can do all this, the better chance you have of scoring tickets. So practice those computer and clicking skills and BE READY. Choose less popular dates The closer you get to Halloween, the harder it will be to get Oogie Boogie Bash tickets. Save for the first night of the party, you’ll probably have better luck if you choose dates that aren’t so popular, especially those in the middle of the week. Frightfully Fun Parade Also, it’s a good idea to have a few dates in mind and be flexible so you can grab tickets for whichever date still has tickets available. Your best bet is to grab whatever date you can get and then plan your Disneyland trip around that, rather than the other way around. Buy an Inspire Magic Key If you happen to catch it when Magic Keys go back on sale, you could even consider buying an Inspire Magic Key, so you can get early access to tickets. Inspire Magic Key holders can buy Oogie Boogie Bash tickets as early as June 24th. However, all other Magic Key Holders can get tickets as early as June 25th. Oogie Boogie Bash Magic Key entrance Now, being a Magic Key Holder still doesn’t guarantee you a ticket, because ticket sales for Magic Key holders are also limited. But you get more shots at grabbing tickets by having a Magic Key. Have multiple people ready to buy tickets at the same time A good strategy is to have multiple people on the Disneyland website ready to buy tickets. Then whoever gets through the virtual queue first has the best shot of getting tickets for your entire party. Just coordinate with your family and friends to improve your chance at getting tickets. Villains Grove at Oogie Boogie Bash The odds dictate that the more people you have trying to get tickets for your party, the better chance one of them has at grabbing tickets before they’re all gone. Prepare for technical issues One thing you can almost count on for every Oogie Boogie Bash ticket sale is that the website will experience some kind of technical issue. Now, granted, the virtual queue system that was introduced a few years ago has made things a LITTLE better, but website crashes are still common occurrences. ©Disney You’ll want to be prepared for those issues and just keep checking. If it’s really bad, Disney might just pause ticket sales until a later date. Try in different browsers Something we also do is try buying tickets in different browsers. So if you normally use Google Chrome, try it in Chrome and another browser like Microsoft Edge or Safari. It also might not hurt to try accessing the ticket website in incognito mode. ©Disney Do we know why tickets are sometimes easier to get in certain browsers than others, when it seems so random? No, but we’ve still managed to score tickets from one browser over another. Pray to the Disney gods Finally, a lot of managing to get your hands on Disney tickets is in the hands of fate — and luck itself. So pray to whoever you pray to, light a candle, burn some sage, send some positive vibes into the universe, and cross those fingers in hopes that you’ll get Oogie Boogie Bash tickets before they’re gone. Hades at Oogie Boogie Bash In other words, GOOD LUCK, and may the Oogie Boogie odds be in your favor. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Everything CONFIRMED for Disney’s Oogie Boogie Bash in 2025 DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Will you be trying to get tickets to Oogie Boogie Bash this year? Let us know if you’ve got a strategy in the comments! The post 7 Tricks That Will Make Buying Oogie Boogie Bash Tickets 10X EASIER first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

According to Business Insider, Costco is bringing back an exclusive perk that could make your next shopping trip to Costco a bit quicker. Haven’t we all wished we could get a Lightning Lane to the check-out lanes at Costco? Well, specific Costco members will be able to take advantage of lower crowds and shorter lines with this perk. ©Costco Costco announced that Executive Members will soon be able to start shopping at the discount warehouse an hour earlier than standard members. This perk will be available beginning June 30th and will allow the highest-tier members to enter the store an hour before the store actually opens. It’s basically Early Entry at Costco! Executive Membership is the highest-tier membership available at Costco. While Executive Members used to have this perk, it was phased out in recent years. Now, it seems that this perk will be returning! A standard membership at Costco, called a Gold Star Membership, will cost you $65 per year. The Executive Membership is double the price, costing $130 per year. ©Costco Wholesale Currently, the Executive Membership will give you a few perks not included in the Gold Star Membership. You get an annual 2% reward on all eligible Costco purchases, up to $1,250 per year. Plus, you can take advantage of additional benefits and discounts on select Costco services. Disney Items at Costco And now, beginning June 30th, an additional perk will be added to that list when Executive Members can enjoy an extra hour of shopping before Gold Star members are allowed into the store. There will likely be fewer crowds to deal with, and we have a feeling the check-out lines will be much shorter than normal. ©Costco Wholesale You can find a lot of great deals at Costco, and you can often find deals on Disney Gift Cards to use for your Disney vacation and Disney merchandise. Occasionally, you will also be able to find deals on tickets to the parks! Recently, we spotted a deal on 3-Day, Park Hopper tickets for Disneyland Resort. The three-day tickets cost $449.99 and included a $30 Disney Dining Card, park-hopper add-on, and Lightning Lane Multi Pass. We have even spotted deals on Universal Annual Passes at Costco! A Disneyland ticket deal! Stay tuned to DFB for your Disney tips, tricks, and news! The REAL Reason Why People LOVE Costco Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be taking advantage of the extra shopping hour at Costco? Let us know in the comments! The post A NEW Perk Is Coming Soon to Costco! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney just dropped a BUNCH of big news updates on upcoming animation projects. ©Pixar | Disney Maybe there was something in the water this week, but Disney has released a litany of information about upcoming animated projects from Pixar, plus announced the newest iteration of one of its most popular children’s series this side of 2000. So buckle up, as we’ve gathered them all! The NEW Mr. Incredible? Back at the 2024 D23 Ultimate Fan Event, Disney confirmed that a third Incredibles film was being “developed” by series creator Brad Bird, though further details were sparse. Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Bird — who wrote and directed the 2004 original and its 2018 sequel, which have combined to gross nearly $2 billion in box office receipts — will only be writing the threequel, with Peter Sohn stepping in to direct. ©Disney Sohn is a longtime Pixar staple, having directed The Good Dinosaur and Elemental as well as working on a litany of other Pixar films in both a production capacity and as a voice actor. He’s also a longtime protege of Bird, having worked with the latter on every animated film he’s made, including both Incredibles films. ©Pixar The 2026/2027 Slate Remaining with Pixar, the studio made several splashes at the 2025 Annecy Animation Festival in France. Variety confirmed that Disney just shared a nearly half-hour preview of this summer’s Elio. ©Pixar Footage from both of the studios’ 2026 releases: Hopper and Toy Story 5, along with the confirmation that voice actress Joan Cusack was officially returning as the voice of Jessie in the latter. Below is a NEW preview of the Toy Story 5 movie, where the toys take on technology. ©Pixar NEWS: NEW Character CONFIRMED for ‘Toy Story 5’ Here’s a new look at the upcoming Hoppers film, too. ©Disney NEWS: Disney Announces a Brand-New Pixar Movie Is Coming in 2026! Plus, we were just treated to the announcement of a new film, Gatto, coming in 2027. From Luca director Enrico Casarosa, the feature will once again be set in his native Italy and follow a “black cat named Nero. Indebted to a feline mob boss, Nero finds himself forced to forge an unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose…” ©Pixar NEWS: Disney Just Announced a NEW Pixar Film for 2027 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is BACK! Finally, the company confirmed that the popular series aimed at preschoolers is getting a continuation entitled Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+. The show will feature many of the same creative team from the 2006-2016 original, including executive producer Rob LaDuca, art director Sy Thomas, and songwriter/composer Mike Himelstein. According to Disney, the series will incorporate “memorable components like the Mousekedoer, Mouseketools and Toodles” as well as introduce “new handy helping friend Little Helper and Duffy the Disney Bear, who will make surprise appearances. Other “plussed up” elements include the expansion of the Clubhouse with the Laughing Loft, a hilarious hangout zone, and the Wacky Tube, which gets Mickey and pals where they need to go in fun and silly ways. Minnie, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy will also each get their own personalized clubhouses, which will be revealed throughout the series. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ is set to premiere Monday, July 21st, at 9 AM on Disney Jr., with the first ten episodes available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets and Disney Jr. On Demand the next day, Tuesday, July 2nd. ©Disney Disney and Pixar dropped a litany of announcements about upcoming projects this week. Stay tuned to DFB for further information on these films and series. 4 Major Changes We’re Expecting for the 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these announcements are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below! The post 5 MAJOR Announcements Just Revealed! Disney Confirms Upcoming Sequels, Films, and MORE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, imagine this…close your eyes and think about walking by the Germany Pavilion in EPCOT. Now, if you’ve actually done this before, we bet you’re imagining that SMELL…that lovely smell of caramel wafting from Karamell-Küche. Yep, there’s a reason this caramel shop is ICONIC. Karamell- Kuche So, you’ll probably end up popping inside the shop for a snack, maybe something like that wonderful Werthers popcorn or some caramel squares. But right now, you can actually get a treat there that isn’t…well…it doesn’t have ANY caramel in it! Say what? Yeah, you can bet we had to stop by to check out that anomaly. You can now get your choice of two Mamba Cakes at Karamell-Küche. Okay, so maybe you’re wondering why there’s a non-caramel treat here. Well, Mamba is a candy made in Germany (and you might have spotted the candy inside the shop, too). So Karamell-Küche decided to pay tribute to this candy by making a cake (can’t argue with that logic). You can get two flavors: orange and strawberry lemon. We opted for the Mamba Strawberry Lemon Cake for $6.49. (Note that we don’t currently see these cakes on the official menu or on Mobile Order in the My Disney Experience app.) Mamba Strawberry Lemon Cake The cake itself is very dense and a little dry, but it’s filled with a creamy, fluffy frosting. The fruit flavors taste like candy, and by that, we mean they taste artificial, but we think that’s intentional. It’s like a cake flavored with candy. So it’s like eating a strawberry-lemon piece of candy as cake. It’s candy…in cake form. We’ll be honest, though, we are not fans of that fake flavor. If we wanted something that tastes like a Starburst, we’d just grab some Starburst. However, if you like that kind of flavor and want to try it in a cake, this could be for you. But there’s so much other yummy stuff at Karamell-Küche we’d prefer over this. Inside Stay tuned to DFB for more. WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! REVIEW: The Best Thing We Ate at This Disney Hotel Restaurant Was a HOT DOG Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think? Would you try this cake? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: A NEW Snack Just Landed in Our FAVORITE Place in the Germany Pavilion at EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s just say… if a suspicious number of Amazon packages start showing up at my doorstep with Mickey ears, pastel mugs, and the smell of watermelon wafting out before I even open the box — no, you didn’t. Loungefly bags are great park bags! I’m not saying I have a Disney souvenir problem. I’m just saying some of these things were way too cute (and practical) to pass up. Here are five Disney souvenirs I may or may not have bought recently—purely for “research,” of course. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Touchland & Disney Special Edition Hand Sanitizer + Mist Case ©Amazon Look, I know hand sanitizer isn’t usually the first thing you think of when you hear “Disney souvenir.” But hear me out: this Touchland collab is not your average sanitizer. This thing is skincare. It’s aromatherapy. It’s a fashion statement. It smells like wild watermelon, jasmine petals, and fuzzy peach—not a hospital hallway. The formula is actually hydrating (no crusty hands), and the mist format makes it feel way fancier than squeezing goop onto your palms. ©Amazon And the real star here? The Mickey Mouse mist case. It’s sleek, it’s got a metal keyring, and it literally turns a daily habit into a Disney moment. You will catch me casually sanitizing before my Dole Whip like it’s a runway moment. View on Amazon Owala Disney Princess FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle ©Amazon The Owala FreeSip is the GOAT of water bottles anyway, but now it’s Disney Princess-themed, so you better believe I’m staying hydrated like royalty. It has a built-in straw and a wide-mouth spout for when you’re feeling aggressive about your H2O intake. It also keeps your drinks cold for 24 hours, and the lid locks so it doesn’t randomly explode in your park bag. Honestly, if you’re walking around EPCOT in July, this thing is going to feel like a life-saving artifact. View on Amazon Maxie & Nova Theme Park Essentials Fanny Pack It comes with so many items! This thing is loaded: a collapsible water bottle (space-saving genius), a personal fan (USB-charged, no batteries), a cooling towel (essential in Florida humidity), a reusable straw (because paper straws… no), AND a poncho that hides inside a tiny sphere keychain? Come on. It’s water-resistant, has compartments for days, and looks pretty dang cute on top of it all. Whether you’re hitting rope drop or hopping on a cruise, this pack makes you look like the kind of person who knows what they’re doing. Even if you’re just here for the churros. View on Amazon Loungefly Disney Moana Mini Backpack ©Amazon Look, Loungefly knows what they’re doing. And when they throw Moana front and center—on a beach, no less—with swaying palm trees and rolling waves, I’m just supposed to not buy it? The detail is insane. We’ve got fringe, hidden moving pieces, printed lining, and appliqué elements that make this thing feel like a mini art piece. Plus, the size is perfect for a park day when you want to carry the essentials without feeling like a pack mule. View on Amazon Hallmark Disney 5-Sided Mug, 15 oz (It’s a Small World) ©Amazon OK. This one was pure impulse. I saw the mug, I saw the five sides, and my inner ‘It’s a Small World’ kid activated. The pastel geometric design is super cute without screaming “souvenir shop,” and the handle is that rare kind of quirky that actually works. It’s dishwasher-safe and holds 15 oz, which is code for “you can fill it with way more coffee than you probably should.” ©Amazon I now start every morning with a not-so-subtle nudge toward vacation planning. Highly recommend. View on Amazon We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post If You Saw Me Buying 5 of These Disney Souvenirs from Amazon, Shhhh 🤫 No You Didn't first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

“We’ve got ears, say CHEERS” with these Disney character glasses! JoyJolt Disney Mickey Mouse Squad Collection Tumblers We’re constantly on the hunt for stellar Disney merchandise, but that’s made all the better when we spot some of our favorite products on sale! While you normally have to wait for these favorites to ship to your home, we’ve recently seen them at a deep discount around our local home store, and you could score them too if you hurry! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. On a recent visit out to our local HomeGoods store, we stumbled upon an incredible find! JoyJolt has been making some of our favorite Disney character glasses in several collections for a while now, and until this point we’ve only seen them at Disney World in the parks or available online. ©The Business Journals But, times they are a-changin’ because we spotted these beauties at HomeGoods and you could save big on a set of your own (without having to deal with the shipping wait). ©JoyJolt Of course, we get it if your local HomeGoods doesn’t carry them yet or you just want to guarantee your set over going on a hunt for the find. That’s perfectly fine, Amazon still is our go to to score these great glasses and they’ll ship right out to you in a jiffy. Get the JoyJolt Disney glass set now! ©Amazon This set of stemless wine glasses has been a favorite of ours for a while. Each glass features an iconic Mickey and friends Disney characters in their full color designs. They’re fun to fill and watch the colorful drink envelope the whole glass which make them ideal for adults and kids alike to enjoy. View on Amazon We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post Why Every Disney Adult Is Running To HomeGoods Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One small world, one big troublemaker 💙#LiloAndStitch #Disneyland70 #Disneyland #DisneyParks #DisneyView the full article

The temptation must have been too great and/or the planets aligned. On Friday the 13th, Universal Orlando announced a Halloween Horror Nights haunted house featuring a “Friday the 13th” icon. The maze will be called Jason Universe. The event will “pay homage to the machete-wielding slasher in a horrifying haunted house that reawakens the legend,” reads a Universal news release. Among the sights that will be seen: summer camp, Jason’s cabin, a forest and other moments from the character’s “heinous homicidal career.” The first “Friday the 13th” film was released in 1980, followed by several Jason-driven sequels. Last year, a company named Horror Inc. announced it was launching a new round of entertainment options into its Jason Universe including games, immersive experiences, merchandise and other entertainment. Its key art is echoed in the Universal release, including the funky — some might note unlucky — “UN1V3RSE” styling of the logo. A Jason Universe house will also appear at the HHN event at Universal Studios Hollywood. Halloween Horror Nights begins at Universal Studios Florida theme park on Aug. 29. Single-night tickets and select extras are on sale. Jason Universe is the second of 10 houses to be announced. The first maze revealed was tied to “Fallout,” a videogame and Amazon Prime series. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

The Magic Kingdom’s new Pirates of the Caribbean-based lounge is almost here, as are the rules that will go along with it! ©Disney Late 2025 will see the debut of a new highly anticipated bar at the Magic Kingdom: The Beak and Barrel. According to Disney, the bar’s backstory will be that the bar was founded by the “legendary pirate rumrunner” Captain Meridian “Merry” Goldwyn, and her “talkative first mate” Rummy, an animatronic parrot who will “keep an eye on the place” from a roost atop the bar.” Since it’s based on one of Disney’s most iconic attractions, which gave birth to a billion-dollar movie franchise, the Beak and Barrel promises to be VERY popular with guests. Due to this, we expect a couple of rules to be in place when the establishment opens its doors later this year. Time Limit Similar to Hollywood Studios’ Star Wars-themed Oga’s Cantina, we would expect the Beak and Barrel will have a time limit of 45 minutes per party. Oga’s Cantina If this is the case, it will be an important rule to keep in mind for those who wish to explore the lounge’s two dining areas: The Mess: A large central space themed as a former mess hall for Spanish soldiers, The Mess features long tables that span the room, “allowing for pirates to gather ‘round and tell their own tales, while an imposing anchor covered in candles and dripping wax hangs high above.  A large bar anchors one side of the room, cobbled together from salvaged portions of a cursed shipwreck. At its center, the skull-shaped stern holds an impressive collection of grogs and brew. Guests may also spot the Enchanted Rum Bottle, which was gifted to Merry by the enchantress Tia Dalma and seemingly serves as the source of the tavern’s specialty brews, or Rummy hobbling along the bar’s ledge, greeting the patrons and keeping a close eye on the crew while Merry is away. “ ©Disney The Captain’s Quarters: Themed as the former living space of a Spanish Comandante, the luxurious Captain’s Quarters featuring intricate theming including “fine artwork and drapery” on the walls, much of which “hasn’t escaped slashing blades or burn marks over the years by rambunctious pirates” and group of five ships in a bottle sitting on the mantle mounted above the fireplace that are “rumored to represent pirates from every corner of the world banding together to defeat tyranny.” According to Disney, guests should “keep a weathered eye out, as these mysterious bottles have been known to come alive and engage in a fearsome battle.” ©Disney No To-Go Drinks Not only do we anticipate that the lounge will have a time limit, we’re also guessing that the Beak and Barrel won’t offer to-go drinks. In addition to speed of service issues, this also comes down to the restaurant’s location at the Magic Kingdom. As was once the case for all of Disney’s “castle parks” for decades, the Magic Kingdom did not offer alcohol. That changed in 2012 when wine and beer became available at table service restaurants, with mixed drinks joining in 2022, once again ONLY at table service restaurants. While we know The Beak and Barrel will offer “refreshing cocktails for Guests ages 21 and up,” Disney will likely make sure they stay within the lounge’s confines. ©Disney The Magic Kingdom’s new Pirates of the Caribbean-based lunge is almost here, as are the rules that will go along with it! Stay tuned to DFB for more on The Beak and Barrel. 5 Magic Kingdom Secrets Disney Doesn’t Want You to Know Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited for this new offering? Let us know in the comments below. The post 2 NEW RULES We Can Expect at Beak and Barrel in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Pixar has been releasing beloved films for as long as we can remember, and we’re SO ready to catch the newest Pixar movie, Elio, in theaters soon. ©Pixar | Disney Of course, we’ve got Toy Story 5 to look forward to, but these aren’t the only projects that Pixar currently has up its sleeves. According to Variety, DisneyPixar’s Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter, just released an ENTIRELY new list of upcoming projects, and one is a movie called Gatto, which is, yes, ABOUT A CAT. Disney and Pixar are currently attending France’s Annecy Animation Festival, and they’re using it as an opportunity to make some pretty big announcements, including revealing what Pixar’s next movie will be. Gatto is about a black cat named Nero who lives in Italy as he “begins to question whether he’s lived the right lives.” Nero’s tail loves music (okay, what is THAT about?) is indebted to a local feline mob boss, though, which complicates things. In the meantime, he also forges a friendship with a street artist who adopts him against his will. ©Pixar We’ve still got a bit of a wait for Gatto to hit theaters, though — it’s not expected to premiere until 2027. However, it will be directed by Enrico Casarosa and produced by Andrea Warren, who brought us the highly underrated Luca, another Pixar movie set in Italy. Pixar unveiled animation tests of the film, which so far has a hand-painted look, something different from what we’re used to from the studio. It’s unclear if this art style is just being used for the concept art, or if it will carry over to the actual film. Luca Float In the meantime, you can get your Pixar fix when Elio lands in theaters on June 20th. Stay tuned to DFB for more. ATTENTION PIXAR FANS: Mark Your Calendars for March 2026 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Just Announced a NEW Pixar Film for 2027 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Over the last 40+ years, EPCOT has experienced its fair share of massive changes, which have left some essentially abandoned areas of the park needing serious TLC. EPCOT Some of these spaces are completely abandoned, while others do house something… but they fall short of their former glory and/or their potential futures. Wonders of Life Wonders of Life opened to much fanfare at EPCOT in 1989. The pavilion, dedicated to health care, the human body, physical fitness, medicine, and nutrition, was initially a hit thanks to the advanced-for-the-time simulator attraction Body Wars and the popular Cranium Command show. However, as EPCOT evolved with the additions of Test Track, Mission Space, and Soarin’ in the late 90s and early 2000s, its popularity sagged. The Wonders of Life Pavilion The pavilion closed in 2007, and for the next decade was used as a temporary Festival Center during the park’s annual events. In 2019, Disney announced plans to turn the space into the new Play! Pavilion, which would be themed to be an “interactive futuristic city where guests would be able to interact with a variety of Disney characters.” At the time, planned attractions for Play! were announced to include an Animation Academy-like experience where Edna Mode teaches guests to draw, the Hotel Heist interactive game hosted by Zootopia’s Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, an Arcade, a Monorail Mark X, and a water balloon fight video game experience with various Disney characters. ©Wikipedia As with many projects during this period, work on the Play! Pavilion was paused. However, unlike much of the rest of EPCOT’s “reimagining”, work never resumed. In 2023, Disney confirmed that the space was being “reevaluated” and the former Wonders of Life has remained vacant since, a massive “black hole” ironically standing between two space-based attractions: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Mission Space. PLAY! Pavilion Odyssey Restaurant Located between the former Future World and World Showcase, Odyssey has held many roles over EPCOT’s lifespan. During the park’s first decade, the structure was home to The Odyssey Restaurant as well as a center for first aid, lost children, and baby services. The restaurant, which featured a performance stage, closed in 1994, and the building became a flexible private event space for the next two decades. The Odyssey Beginning in 2016, Odyssey was repurposed into a space for EPCOT’s festivals, currently serving as the home of Brew-Wing Lab during EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, Holiday Hearth Desserts during EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, Figment’s Imagination Station during EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, and The Citrus Blossom during EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Lots of seating! In addition, the pace has hosted temporary exhibitions on EPCOT ’s history and its late 2010s “reimagining.” However, while the space isn’t abandoned in the same model that Wonders of Life is, we can’t help but think that much more could be done with it. The Outpost Located between the World Showcase’s China and Italy Pavilions, the Outpost is an outlier area. It features themed rock work and a small snack bar, all of which seems somewhat temporary in nature… because it was. Refreshment Outpost Originally, the small setup was built the year after the park opened, and was meant to be a placeholder until the planned Equatorial Africa Pavilion was built. The issue? That pavilion was never built — and now likely never will be, thanks to a combination of Animal Kingdom’s existence as well as Disney’s reluctance to add to World Showcase. So, The Outpost stands as an anomaly, a small area, forever a preview to an abandoned project. ©Disney The Former Millennium Village/World Showplace Moving from the (former Future World to World Showcase, our next stop is the former Millennium Village located near the U.K. Pavilion. The centerpiece of the park’s Millennium Celebration, this purpose-built 60,000 square foot area housed exhibits — ranging from small presentations to elaborately themed environments, and even a virtual reality “ride” — showcasing countries that weren’t represented in World Showcase proper, including Brazil, Chile, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and others. ©shopDisney The Millennium Village opened in October of 1999 and became quite popular, so much so that many hoped the concept might become a permanent part of EPCOT after the celebrations ended. However, that wasn’t meant to be, as the village closed when the celebration ended in January of 2001. The structure is currently used during Food & Wine and other EPCOT festivals; however, for most of the year, it sits empty and vacant, taking up a World Showcase expansion pad. Germany’s Abandoned Attraction During EPCOT’s design, the Germany Pavilion was meant to include a boat ride attraction based on a cruise down the Rhine River. As described in Disney’s 1976 annual report, the then-scheduled-for-opening-day attraction was to be “… a cruise down Germany’s most famous rivers — the Rhine, the Tauber, the Ruhr, and the Isar. Detailed miniatures of famous landmarks will also be seen, including one of the Cologne Cathedral.” ©Disney The attraction was still on schedule to be built as EPCOT was under construction, to the point where the load/unload portion of the ride’s show building, as well as an entrance gate to the queue, was built at the back of the pavilion. However, budget issues led to the ride being postponed to EPCOT’s “phase 2.” As usual, when a project is pushed ahead in such a way, the attraction was eventually quietly cancelled, and the space still sits abandoned. The Imagination Pavilion Circling back to the World Showcase, we’ve arrived at our final destination: The Imagination Pavilion. While not technically physically abandoned, many would argue that the pavilion and its attractions were abandoned by Disney decades ago. Imagination Pavilion This wasn’t always the case, however. Beginning in 1983, the pavilion had been home to Journey Into Imagination, a tour de force attraction which starred the whimsical scientist Dreamfinder and his purple dragon assistant Figment. The omnimover dark ride took guests on an adventure through the concept of imagination, with the two lead characters as their guide, all set to the iconic song “One Little Spark”. The ride was complemented by a 3D film attraction. Initially, this was Magic Journeys, then the Michael Jackson-starring Captain EO, and finally Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Things changed in the late 1990s, when Disney closed the iconic attraction thanks to a new deal with then-sponsor Kodak, and it reopened as Journey into YOUR Imagination. The new ride replaced Dreamfinder and Figment with Eric Idle’s Honey, I Shrunk the Audience character Dr. Nigel Channing, and physically changed the ride, shortening the track and removing nearly all of its best-loved elements. Figment Reaction to the ride was so negative that Disney closed the attraction and haphazardly refurbished it into Journey Into Imagination With Figment, a light retheme that jammed Figment into the ride wherever possible. While slightly better than the version it replaced, the ride didn’t hold a candle to the original. For most of the last two decades, fans have clamored for the ride to be refurbished to something close to its former glory, yet Disney has let it sit as is. Meanwhile, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience was replaced by Captain EO (ironically, the film it had replaced over a decade earlier). After that comeback had run its course, the theater became home to a Pixar short film festival and has remained so for the last decade. Will it ever change? Even with EPCOT’s early 2020s “reimagining”, these areas of the park remain underutilized if not essentially abandoned. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the current state of Disney World. My Millennial Mind Is Literally on Fire After Learning That Disney World Used to Have… Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these areas would you most like to see Disney revitalize? Let us know in the comments below. The post 6 Abandoned Places in EPCOT in Desperate Need of Life first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Orlando commissioners recently debated ending after-midnight alcohol sales in the city’s downtown district in an effort to improve nightlife safety. Euphoria The city currently utilizes a permit system for after-midnight alcohol service, along with spending an extra $6 million on police downtown, according to the Orlando Business Journal. Most Orlando commissioners are not in favor of ending after-midnight alcohol service downtown, despite the city exploring options to improve nightlife safety. Meridian Bramble Commissioners Patty Sheehan, Bakari Burns, Tony Ortiz, and Shan Rose indicated they were against shutting down after-midnight service during a workshop on May 19th. However, Sheehan did say she thought businesses needed to do more to help control the environment downtown after the clock strikes midnight. Electron Commissioners Robert Stuart and Jim Gray indicated that they are in favor of stopping alcohol sales from midnight to 2 AM. Still, Gray also commented that he was open to other ideas on how to continue after-midnight sales safely. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said he wanted to hear from commissioners and stakeholders before deciding on what comes next for after-midnight alcohol service. Flora Southside The workshop presented the most recent statistics to commissioners as the city considers new options for controlling issues with “the perception of crime downtown.” The Orlando City Council has already put several initiatives in place, including a permit requirement for businesses that serve alcohol after midnight and opening Orange Avenue to vehicle traffic on weekend nights after closing the street for pedestrians in the past. Sparkling Cocktail Flight An after-midnight service permit is tied to a business’s capacity and is used to help fund extra police officers downtown. It led to a legal challenge from several downtown nightlife businesses against the city and Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith, which is currently ongoing. On average, Orlando has 81 to 131 police officers downtown on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Florida Beehive The city cites its cost for more police at $6 million, with the after-midnight permit providing $1.6 million toward those costs and the city’s community redevelopment agency paying the rest. City officials are determining how it might absorb these costs, since the current budget comes from a pilot program and will eventually shift to a general fund. Drinks! Rose spoke to OBJ after the meeting and said she wanted to look at universal security standards for businesses downtown, in addition to figuring out ways to spread the permit cost beyond the largest venues, and Burns agreed. “Several establishments have closed their doors with this after-midnight permit — they can’t afford it,” Rose said. The city has around 57 businesses with an active after-midnight permit. Blueberry Mochi Berliner Weisse and Neon Rainbows IPA Ortiz shared that he would like to see an increase in cameras downtown, with more technology like weapons detection cameras or thermal imaging to deter crime on city streets. City staff will be holding meetings with stakeholders in the next few weeks that will include conversations with businesses, workers, and residents in the area. Since the May 19th meeting was a workshop, there was no public comment period. Beringer Bros Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon As of now, this initiative is only geared toward downtown Orlando, and we don’t anticipate it will impact Disney World. We’ll be on the lookout for additional updates from this potential change. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for more news! UPDATE on the New Florida Bill That Could Impact Automatic Gratuity at Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this potential initiative? Let us know in the comments. The post A Potential New Permit Rule Could Impact Bars in Orlando first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Heads up, Disney fans — we FINALLY have a reopening date for a popular Adventureland attraction! Ready for an ADVENTURE? Disneyland has seen numerous changes lately, with returning entertainment and a brand-new special anniversary to celebrate. However, if you’ve felt like something has been missing (as in one of Disney’s staple attractions), you won’t have to wait much longer for it to return. There are very few things as disappointing as walking up to one of your favorite rides or attractions only to find it closed. From time to time, Disneyland needs to temporarily close an attraction for routine maintenance and take time to fix any necessary repairs. While that’s a bummer if it’s happening during your Disneyland trip, those routine closures are a necessary evil to keep things in good working order. But now, there’s one classic attraction that’s FINALLY removing its closed status. Look at the Castle! If you’ve been missing out on seeing the Enchanted Tiki Room birds and the rest of the glee club at Disneyland while it’s been temporarily closed, well…you’re in luck. Disney quietly updated its website to reveal a reopening date for the iconic attraction, and it’s not too far in the future! Enchanted Tiki Room You’ll be able to settle in and sing along with the birdies once again starting on July 3rd. During this relaxing attraction, you’ll be seated for a show featuring tropical birds, tiki gods, and colorful flowers that come to life in a swinging South Seas musical celebration. ©Disney It’s hard to believe, but the Audio-Animatronics technology that powers the show was introduced to the world when Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room debuted in 1963 at Disneyland. This groundbreaking technology paved the way for Disney animators to synchronize movement, audio and visual effects, which led to other classic attractions like “it’s a small world”, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion we now know and cherish today. Tiki Room But don’t expect everything in this show to look exactly as it did on its opening day. The Enchanted Tiki Room’s current show has been enhanced with a state-of-the-art show-control system, remastered audio, and energy-efficient lighting — while maintaining all the charm and wit of the original. Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. We’ll be glad to see such an iconic attraction reopen in Disney’s flagship park once again for everyone to enjoy. Don’t go anywhere! There’s plenty more Disney news, updates, changes, and more headed your way. We’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. These Disneyland 70th Anniversary Pins Are Selling Out FAST  Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite part of the show? Let us know in the comments!The post CONFIRMED: Disney Just Announced the Enchanted Tiki Room Attraction Is FINALLY Reopening After a Lengthy Closure first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is there anything that completes a Disney park outfit better than Minnie Mouse ears? Minnie Mouse! Whether you’re planning your next trip to a Disney park on the East Coast, West Coast, or abroad, there’s always a new pair calling your name. Lucky for us, Disney keeps the good ones coming, from sparkly statement pieces to tributes to your favorite characters. Let’s take a look at some of the newest Minnie Mouse ears you’ll want to grab before they disappear before your trip! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get the Figment Loungefly Minnie Ears! ©Disney Let your imagination shine with these Figment Loungefly Ear Headband. These are inspired by the popular EPCOT attraction and highlight a Disney fan favorite character — Figment. If you are a Figment fan or heading to EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival later this year, these are going to be very popular. View on Disney Store Celebrate Pride With These Mickey Mouse Ears ©Disney Celebrate Pride at the Disney parks with these 2025 Pride Mickey ears. The faux-leather ears are padded for comfort and trimmed in vibrant rainbow stardust, while the simulated leather band is built to last. The multicolor stardust accents on the ears really help this pair stand out. View on Disney Store We love these Americana Minnie Ears! ©Disney These Americana Minnie ears are an instant showstopper—perfect for Fourth of July celebrations, or whenever you’re feeling patriotic at the parks. One padded ear rocks bold red and white stripes, while the other shines in solid blue studded with crystal stars, all topped off with a crisp white bow edged in scalloped blue trim and a sparkly red knot. View on Disney Store Or, you can grab these Daisy Duck ears! ©Disney If you’re all about celebrating characters in style, these Daisy Duck 85th Anniversary ears are an absolute must-have. The metallic purple faux‑leather pops with embroidered daisies, giving off major Daisy diva energy, and we think she would approve. View on Disney Store Don’t forget to grab these gorgeous opalescent ears! ©Disney These Opalescent Sequin Minnie ears are magical—they literally change color as you move in the light, giving off dreamy vibes. The padded ears and velour-lined headband make them super comfy, even after a full day of park-hopping, and we love how the satin bow adds just the right touch of elegance. They’re stylish enough to elevate any park outfit while still feeling wearable enough for everyday Disney-themed fun. View on Disney Store Celebrate Disneyland’s 70th with these Minnie ears! ©Disney Celebrate Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary wearing Minnie’s sparkling ear headband with black sequinned mouse ears and rainbow-hued foam bow. A golden ”Disneyland 70” label plate is on the side, making these the perfect souvenir to grab ahead of your trip to Disneyland. View on Disney Store And the kids can join in on the fun too! ©Disney The kids can join in on the fun with this Mouseketeer ear hat celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary. The art on the hat has iridescent trim features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto, as well as the ”Disneyland 70th” logo, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Carthay Circle, and Incredicoaster. View on Disney Store Become a sorcerer yourself with this ear hat! ©Disney This ear hat is modeled after the magical Sorcerer’s Hat as seen in Walt Disney’s Fantasia. With embroidered text touting The Most Magical Place on Earth — it’s a glittering souvenir of your Walt Disney World visit. View on Disney Store And finally, these 70th anniversary Disneyland ears are worth celebrating! ©Disney You can grab these Disneyland 70th Minnie ears online before your trip! The pattern on the ears includes Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Clarabelle Cow, Chip ‘n Dale, and Sleeping Beauty Castle. You’ll find the ”Celebrate Happy–Disneyland 70” cameo at the bow center. View on Disney Store We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post Disney Just Released 9 New Minnie Ears Online first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Florida weather is like a game of roulette, and during hurricane season, the house always wins eventually. Magic Kingdom entrance the day after Hurricane Milton If you’re planning a Disney World trip between June and November, there’s a real chance you’ll have to deal with a tropical storm or even a full-on hurricane. And trust me, as someone who lives here and has done Disney during hurricane season more times than I can count, there are ways to plan smart and protect your vacation. These tips aren’t theoretical — they come straight from experience. Let’s get into it. Stay Flexible with Travel Dates First up, don’t lock your plans in stone. Hurricanes don’t care about your PTO calendar. If you’re flying into Orlando and a storm is threatening, there’s a solid chance your flight gets delayed or canceled. That’s frustrating, but it’s a lot less stressful if you’ve already built a little wiggle room into your schedule. Rainy day at Magic Kingdom Maybe that means planning your trip to end a couple of days before school starts, or clearing your work schedule on the back end just in case. A day or two of flexibility can mean the difference between a ruined vacation and a slightly delayed one that still happens. Budget for Contingencies Here’s the part nobody likes to think about: money. But if your flight gets canceled and you’re stuck in Orlando an extra night or two, you’ll need cash for food, lodging, and maybe even a rental car. The parks closed due to Hurricane Milton Airports don’t reopen the second the wind dies down — they wait until it’s 100% safe. That might take time. Set aside an emergency fund in your travel budget so you’re not scrambling if things go sideways. It’s not fun, but neither is sleeping in the airport. Book Direct Through Disney This one is non-negotiable during hurricane season. Disney’s Hurricane Policy is incredibly guest-friendly, but it only applies if you booked your room or package directly through Disney (or a travel agent who books through Disney systems). Disney’s Yacht Club Resort That policy lets you reschedule or cancel without penalties if a hurricane warning is issued for your home or Disney World within seven days of your arrival. If you booked through a third-party website like Priceline or Expedia, you’re playing by their rules, and their policies are usually way stricter. Rain And just to clear up confusion: we’re not talking about travel agents when we say “third party.” A travel agent uses Disney’s systems and gets you the same protections as booking directly. The apps and hotel booking sites? Not the same. During hurricane season, don’t gamble with your refund. Get Hurricane-Specific Travel Insurance Here’s a tip people often skip, and they regret it later. Regular travel insurance doesn’t always cover named storms unless you buy it before the storm exists. Flooding in Disney World Look for a policy that specifically includes hurricane-related trip cancellation and interruption. Travel agents can usually help you pick one that fits. Bonus: it’s often way cheaper than you think, and the peace of mind is worth every penny. Choose Your Hotel Strategically This might be the biggest tip of them all. All Disney resorts are hurricane safe structurally — but some are way better to be stuck in than others. Wilderness Lodge Deluxe resorts with indoor hallways and restaurants under the same roof are your best bet if you’re riding out a storm at Disney. You want to avoid running outside just to grab breakfast or get to the lobby. Some of our top picks include: Disney’s Contemporary Resort (main tower) Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (main building) Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Riviera Resort Swan and Dolphin These give you the ability to move around safely indoors and still enjoy some amenities. If you’re staying in a Value or Moderate resort with exterior-facing doors (think Pop Century, All-Star Resorts, Port Orleans, etc.), you might be stuck in your room longer and lose access to dining more quickly. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort If you really want to prep like a pro, look at booking a villa with a kitchen and laundry. That’s a huge quality-of-life boost if you’re staying indoors for 24+ hours. There’s a small kitchen area at Old Key West Stock your room ahead of time — shelf-stable snacks, bottled water, and non-perishable meals are key. Disney sometimes offers pre-packed Hurricane Meal Kits, but you usually have to pick them up from a central location, which might not be safe once the storm hits. We recommend using something like Kroger delivery before the storm to grab essentials. ©Disney And while you’re hunkering down, don’t forget entertainment. Download movies, pack games, bring books — whatever keeps you sane when the Wi-Fi gets spotty. Lastly, show some love to the Cast Members. Disney’s “ride-out” crews are literally staying on property, away from their families, to take care of guests. Kindness goes a long way. Pack Your Hurricane Tech Essentials Your phone is your lifeline during a hurricane — but only if it’s charged and properly set up. Before your trip, download these apps: Florida Storms – For real-time local weather alerts OCFL Alert – Orange County’s official emergency app My Disney Experience – Where Disney updates park closures and alerts Your airline’s app – So you’re the first to know about delays and cancellations INIU Portable Charger Bring at least one (ideally two) fully charged portable power banks with you. A good rule of thumb? Each should have at least 10,000mAh capacity. Power flickers are common, and you’ll want your phone alive and functional at all times. Know What’s Open (and What’s Not) During Rainy Weather Disney doesn’t shut down the whole park at the first drop of rain, but lightning and heavy storms will close most outdoor attractions. If your entire trip is built around riding Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or seeing Happily Ever After, hurricane season is risky. Rainy day in Magic Kingdom But if you’re more interested in the general experience — the food, atmosphere, indoor rides — a stormy day can actually be less crowded and more relaxed. Know your priorities and plan accordingly. Flexibility wins here, too. A rainy day in Disney World Hurricane season doesn’t mean you have to cancel your trip — but it does mean you need to plan smarter. As a Florida local and someone who’s done Disney in the middle of a storm, I can tell you that a little prep goes a long way. Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. Keep following Disney Food Blog for all the latest from Disney! NEW RULES For Hurricane Season in Disney World for 2025 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever been at Disney World during a hurricane? Let us know in the comments. The post 7 Hurricane Season Tips from a Disney World Expert Who Lives in Florida first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The roaming band of M3GANs is back on the streets of Universal Studios theme park. A group of identically dressed characters has been making multiple appearances daily in what appears to be a corporate promotion for “M3GAN 2.0,” a Universal Pictures release set for theaters on June 27. Of course, it’s a sequel to 2022’s “M3GAN,” a scifi horror flick. In the films, M3GAN is a human-like artficial-intellegence doll who develops a violent streak. The original film made more than $180 million at the box office worldwide. In the park, the M3GANs are more docile. They travel in a pack of six, but arrive individually, silently interacting with Universal Orlando guests as the Robyn song “Fembot” plays. Eventually they gather, flash mob style, at the intersection of the park’s Hollywood and Vine streets for a dance number to Britney Spears’ “Oops, I Did It Again.” In most cases, the sextet — dressed in tan jumpers and white tights — then breaks into two groups of three M3GANs for photo opportunities as “Lethal Woman” (by Dove Cameron) plays. A standing photo backdrop touting “M3GAN 2.0” also is nearby. “Universal, miss me?” it reads. Universal Studios visitors can pose for photos with the 'M3GAN' mob after performances. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)Times for the group appearances have not appeared on Universal’s published show schedules, although folks are gathering at the bottom of the hour in anticipation. The multiple M3GAN concept first appeared at Universal during 2023’s Halloween Horror Nights. The park recently started making announcements regarding 2025’s HHN, but “M3GAN” has not been among the details shared. A spinoff called “SOULM8TE” is scheduled to debut in January. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

Target’s having a HUGE BOGO sale on tons of books for a limited time! ‘Disney Adults’ by AJ Wolfe As Disney Fans, we love shopping at Target, and we love it even more when we can score what we want on sale. Target’s running a BOGO sale on select books, including a few notable Disney ones. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Now’s your chance to save BIG on Disney Adults by AJ Wolfe! At the Peoplemover! The Disney Food Blog founder’s first book will make its debut soon and you can score your own copy at a discount! View on Amazon This Disney Pixar Toy Story Little Golden Book boxed set is included in the deal, too! ©Target With five Little Golden Books together in one boxed set, this 30th Anniversary collection retells the stories of Toy Story through Toy Story 4 (including an extra adventure) and is perfect for young readers ages 2 to 5 as well as Disney fans and collectors of all ages! View on Amazon We love the Maps of The Disney Parks! Maps Book This deluxe Disney atlas is bursting with gorgeous park maps from around the work and across the six decades! This is a perfect addition to any Disney collector or historian’s personal library. View on Amazon Don’t forget the Disney Parks Little Golden Book Collection! ©Target Revisit some of Disney’s classic attractions in this collection of Little Golden Books! With four stories–it’s a small world, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Jungle Cruise–plus activities that are great to do while waiting in line and autograph pages, this is the perfect book collection to bring on your next trip to Disney or cherish at home! View on Amazon We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post The One Target Sale Disney Adults Don’t Want to Miss first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you ask us, any day that we get to try a new snack at Disney World is usually a pretty good day. Luckily, that happens pretty frequently. Epic Eats We recently stopped by Epic Eats at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to check out a NEW funnel cake on the menu — you know, for science. We’re basically scientists here at DFB, so allow us to bring you along as we do an experiment (okay, it’s a review, but just roll with me here). We picked up the new Caramel-Apple Pie Funnel Cake at Epic Eats for $8.49 to see if it was worth making a stop! Caramel-Apple Funnel Cake It’s a regular funnel cake topped with warm apple pie filling packed with cinnamon and soft apple bits, creamy vanilla soft serve on top, and a caramel drizzle to finish it off. How could this NOT be amazing? The apple pie filling has a ton of warm, cinnamon flavor that pairs so well with the apples. We didn’t taste much caramel in the filling, other than the caramel drizzle on top of the ice cream. A thing of beauty The funnel cake is well-cooked to where it’s crispy on the edges and soft on the inside, but as the ice cream and toppings melt, it does get a little mushy. This had very good flavor, and for the price, it’s hard to beat. We love that there’s another good flavor option lined up to try here, outside of the two they’ve had forever! A must-try We’ll be on the lookout for more new snacks to review at Disney World! In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more. Best Snacks to Try at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2025 Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you eaten any funnel cake at Epic Eats? Let us know in the comments. The post NEW FUNNEL CAKE ALERT! Is This Hollywood Studios Snack Worth Trying? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re OBSESSED with this Disney World essential, and you need to know about it! Magic Kingdom Storing your Mickey and Minnie headbands and Disney trip essentials is an important task during a vacation to “The Most Magical Place On Earth.” Fortunately, we’ve recently used an item that does just that at Disney World, and it’s seriously underrated. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Multi-Pocket Mouse Ears Travel case is available online on Amazon in the $20 range. We’ve been using it for a while now and we can’t recommend it enough! Ear Travel Case Made by Telawsfun, this bag is definitely worth the money! For being so affordable, it boasts surprisingly high quality. The chenille bag is 11″x11″x4.5″ and is deep without being bulky. Ear Travel Case The snaps and zippers are nice, and there is a great number of pockets for smaller-sized items. The bag itself fits up to 8 pairs of ears! If we had to change the bag, we’d probably add a bit more boning to it to make it sturdier, but overall, it definitely is spacious enough to fit ears and other souvenirs! This bag definitely makes packing easier and more uniform, so it gets two thumbs up from us — especially at that price! Ear Travel Case BUY ON AMAZON We’ll continue to keep you posted on all kinds of Disney packing tips and updates on essential items we use at Disney World, so stay tuned right here at DFB to stay in the know! Find more Disney World essentials on our Amazon storefront! The post We Discovered the Best Upgrade for Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to dining around Disney World and Orlando as a whole, you’ve got a TON of options. Want something quick and easy? You’ve got it. Something middle of the road and comforting? Yep, that too. And if you’re looking for something upscale and luxurious, you can find that as well. Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen I recently got the chance to check out Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress after they graciously invited DFB out. This Michelin-recommended restaurant serves up Florida-inspired dishes with fresh ingredients, all spearheaded by Celebrity Chef Richard Blais — and, spoiler alert: you’re going to want to book a table, ASAP. Atmosphere Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen is the first Florida restaurant by Celebrity Chef Richard Blais, the first winner of Bravo’s Top Chef All-Stars — he also currently co-stars on FOX’s Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsey and Nyesha Arrington. The restaurant is located tucked away in a quiet part of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, and you’ll know you’re almost there when you pass this beautiful mural by Orlando artist Kim Murphy. Four Flamingos The restaurant is a love letter to all things Florida, which is something I appreciated as a native of the Sunshine State, and as soon as you step inside, it feels like you’ve been transported to a beachside restaurant — despite being smack dab in the middle of Florida. It’s located just 10 minutes up the road from Disney Springs, making it a quick trip if you’re looking for something a little off the Disney path. Four Flamingos There’s a large open kitchen that lets you get a view of all the action… Open kitchen …and depending on when you visit, you might even get to meet Chef Blais. Me with Chef Blais! Four Flamingos is open from 5 to 10 PM nightly, with Happy Hour daily from 5 to 6 PM, and it’s been recommended by the Michelin Guide since 2022, which was the first year Orlando was included in the guide. It’s an excellent spot for locals and visitors alike. Our table But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?! Menu The menu at Four Flamingos is Florida-inspired, with a specific focus on Florida’s seasonal flavors, including citrus, fresh-caught surf, and fire-grilled turf. The menu here is constantly changing, with a commitment to sustainability and seasonality. You’ll find an extensive selection of raw & chilled items and light bites here… ©Four Flamingos …plus plenty of entrées, including a 16-ounce Neptune’s Cut Swordfish, whole fish and lobster, chicken, lamb, and beef dishes, and of course — plenty of seafood. ©Four Flamingos Desserts here are also inspired by Florida, and you’ll find an extensive cocktail menu and wine and beer list. And now, onto the main event — the food! Eats The meal started out with warm dinner rolls absolutely doused in butter and sprinkled with flaky salt — served with more butter on the side. The rolls were fluffy and moist with a sort of sweet Hawaiian roll situation going on, and the crust was nice and firm. Bread service Next up was an amuse-bouche, which is not something you’ll typically be served at the restaurant, but I’m including it in this review since it’s representative of other dishes on the menu — which is good, because it was probably one of my favorite bites of the night. It was a piece of ahi tuna seared in a black lime seasoning with a passionfruit sauce, and it was incredible. Amuse-bouche The tuna itself was seared perfectly — exactly how you want ahi to be if you’re not having it raw — and the black lime seasoning was such a complex flavor. It was sweet from the sugars in the lime while still having that bright pop of citrus you’d expect, and combined with the blackening seasonings, really created a unique experience. Amuse-bouche of seared ahi tuna To kick things off, I ordered the Caviar Taiyaki ($32), which is a cachapa pancake with Italian osetra, and sweet corn fraiche. Full disclosure: I do not particularly love caviar, but it’s having a moment right now, and my friend who came to dinner with me loves it — so I’m deferring to her for these notes. Caviar Taiyaki The pancake itself had a crispy outer layer with a warm, fluffy center. The sweet corn fraiche had the sweet nuttiness you’d expect from corn, and combined with the caviar, it was an unusual pairing that worked surprisingly well together. It was sweet and salty, and not a presentation you typically see with caviar, which made it especially memorable. A unique combination I was especially excited about the Oxtail & Foie Gras Empanada ($16), as I’d never seen the two paired together in one dish before — but man, am I glad I have now. The empanada dough was crispy and flaky and fell apart easily; it wasn’t doughy as it sometimes can be. The oxtail was incredibly tender and fell apart as you were eating it, and combined with the foie gras, made for an incredibly rich dish. Oxtail & Foie Gras Empanada Luckily, the empanada was served with a mango chutney on the side to help cut down some of that richness. The chutney was tropical, sweet, and added a bit of acidity, which paired well with the oxtail and foie gras. Mango chutney For entrées, I ordered the Filet Mignon ($56), which is served with Florida Gouda mashed potatoes, sangria au poivre, and fried mushrooms. This was truly one of the best steaks I’ve ever had in my life. I ordered mine medium rare, and it had that warm, red center and pink edges you’d expect to see, and my knife cut through it like butter. The steak itself was seasoned well, and the sangria au poivre sauce just took it to the next level. Filet Mignon Imagine a red wine demi glace, but with the citrus notes and acidity of sangria — now combine that with a peppery au poivre sauce. It was another complex combination that paired so well together, and the fried mushrooms were an excellent, earthy addition. But, you guys — those gouda mashed potatoes. I could write sonnets about them. I consider myself to be a mashed potato aficionado, and these were some of the best I’ve had. They were closer to a pommes purée than a chunky mash, but that Gouda really took these to the next level, and I will be dreaming of these for the foreseeable future. These mashed potatoes were SO good My friend ordered the Bluehouse Salmon ($42), which is blackened local salmon with grilled broccolini and yuzu remoulade. This was another hit — the salmon skin was crispy and the blackening seasoning was abundant. It wasn’t overcooked and remained perfectly tender. The yuzu remoulade was a great addition — it was bright and citrusy with a bit of a tang that really made the dish taste as fresh as it was. The grilled broccolini had excellent flavor from the well-executed charring. Bluehouse Salmon Don’t worry, there was somehow still room for dessert — and plenty of it. The Baked Florida ($18) is Four Flamingos’ take on Baked Alaska, and it’s one of their staple desserts.. It’s a frozen key lime pie with raspberry gelée and flambéed meringue, and it’s flambéed tableside. Baked Florida This was such a fun take on key lime pie — though it was a little hard to cut through with it being frozen. There was a strong rum flavor from being set on fire, but it balanced out with the tartness of the key lime and the creaminess of the meringue. The key lime was sweet and tart, and the raspberry complemented that well. A fun twist The Coconut ($16) was another recommendation from our server (who was wonderful!). It’s a chocolate shell filled with coconut mousse and pandan anglaise. This is a coconut lover’s dream dessert — it was SO tropical and lovely. The chocolate shell broke apart easily, and the coconut flavor was so strong in the frozen mousse. The Coconut The pandan anglaise did have a subtle, earthy, and grassy flavor that paired well with the coconut, but the flavor was so subtle that it was often overpowered by the coconut. Still, this was my favorite dessert of the two even though I was more excited about the Baked Florida! Drinks To drink, I ordered the Euphoria ($21), made with cardamom-infused Grey Goose, apricot liqueur, lime juice, apricot nectar, sage orange syrup, orange juice, and a citrus smoke bubble. When I tell you that this was one of the best, most balanced cocktails I’ve ever had in my life — I mean it. I could somehow taste each individual ingredient while they all joined together in a warmly spiced, sweet, citrusy melange of flavors that was a hit. It was subtly sweet, and I normally don’t like sweet drinks, but this was so subtle that I didn’t mind at all. Euphoria My friend let me taste her drink, the Raspberry Muerte ($20), which is made with raspberry purée, Cointreau, citrus salt, with jalapeño-infused Maestro Dobel tequila. This was like an elevated spicy margarita in the best way. The raspberry purée gave the drink a great texture and helped to cut right through the spice of the jalapeño — which did give a pretty good kick! There was also a bit of sweetness to help bring things together, but it wasn’t too sweet by any means. Raspberry Muerte I know, I know — should you make reservations at Four Flamingos? Nosh or Not This restaurant is a must-visit if… You’re looking for an upscale, Michelin-recommended restaurant near Disney World that doesn’t feel stuffy at all. You love seafood, complex flavors, and fresh ingredients. You’re celebrating and are looking to step off the beaten path on your Disney trip. You should skip this spot if… You’re traveling with picky eaters or kids who might not appreciate the elevated vibe and dishes here. You don’t have time for a full, sit-down meal. Overall I was expecting to be impressed by Four Flamingos based on all the hype about it — but it exceeded my expectations. Each dish was more interesting and complex than the last, which made for an exciting meal, bite after bite. If you’re looking for a new date night spot in Orlando or just want to do something different on your next trip to Disney World, consider stopping by Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen. Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more! The Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2025 Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you eaten at Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen before? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen for a review. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post REVIEW: This Is the PERFECT Example of Why You Should LEAVE the Disney Bubble first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Something NEW has just arrived for the newest Disney Cruise Line ship! ©Disney Now that we’ve had our chance to peek inside at what will await us onboard the Disney Adventure, we didn’t think we could be more excited to finally step onboard, but we might have been wrong! While Disney Cruise Line hurries to put the final touches on one of its newest ships, ready to set sail later this December, they’ve offered a first look at an exciting update that tells us things are moving full steam ahead! Ever since Disney Cruise Line announced the Disney Adventure would be joining their latest class of ships to set sail on the seas, we’ve swooned over its design. Later this year, the Disney Adventure will begin embarking on 3- or 4-night cruises, setting sail from Singapore. ©Disney || Marvel Landing While there will be LOTS of new experiences onboard the ship, like with a brand new Duffy and Friends Ship Show, Royal Society for Friendship and Tea, and even a MARVEL Style Studio, that doesn’t mean that signature Disney Cruise Line staples won’t be spotted around the ship! ©Disney Disney just released a first look at the Disney Adventure’s stern characters that will be displayed proudly affixed to the outside of the ship. Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie will set sail with you as you board the Disney Adventure for your next Disney Cruise Line excursion on this ship. ©Disney This is the latest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet to feature not one, but TWO iconic Disney characters on the ship’s stern. On other ships, both Mickey and Minnie have been a huge presence aboard the Disney Cruise Line ships, so it seems fitting that even from further away, you’ll get two of the best sea captains around to join you on your cruise. ©Disney If you’re looking to sail with the Disney Adventure once it begins its inaugural sailings in December. Disney Cruise Line is currently booking sailing itineraries for 3 and 4-night cruises through September 2026 now. We’ll be keeping a close watch over the Disney Adventure ship as it nears completion and readies itself to welcome some of its first voyagers. We’re bringing you ALL the latest Disney news, updates, and more right here at DFB! FULL TOUR of the Least Expensive Hotel in Disney World What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Explore Disney’s Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you planning your next Disney Cruise Line sailing aboard the Disney Adventure? Tell us in the comments below! The post FIRST LOOK: Disney's Newest Cruise Ship Just Took a HUGE Step! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article