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Walt Disney World is rolling out a hotel-kids dining plan offer for 2026, and reservations for next year can be made as of Tuesday, the resort has announced. Visitors who stay at more than 25 Disney hotels will get a free dining plan for the kids. As usual, Disney defines kids as ages 3 to 9. As always with the Disney Dining Plan, everyone in the party (age 10 and older) must participate in the program to get the kids plan. Pricing varies with dates and length of stay. This plan may be used in conjunction with other offers that may appear for 2026, Disney says. The Disney Dining Plan is a prepaid program for on-property meals and snacks at select locations. Disney World is currently offering a kids half-price ticket for theme park visits between May 27 and Sept. 20 with certain hotel stays. This year, Disney is throwing in water-park admission on check-in day for its hotel guests, and that will power will be in place for summer 2026, too. Other continuing benefits for an on-property stay include early theme park entry, free parking, early access to dining and Lightning Lane reservations. 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

We’ll be totally honest…we’ve definitely shed our fair share of tears in Disney World. Cinderella Castle From sobbing on Main Street, U.S.A. during Happily Ever After to crying tears of sadness when it’s unfortunately time to head back home, we’re no strangers to breaking out the waterworks in the parks. And if you’re in need of a good cry and looking for a place in Magic Kingdom to let it loose, we’re sharing our best spots to cry in the park. Hall of Presidents First up, we’ve got the Hall of Presidents as a solid option. Twenty minutes in the dark with air conditioning and comfortable seats? It sounds like the perfect place to sob quietly in the back row! No one will hear you over the sound of a bald eagle screaming. (That doesn’t really happen, but those are kind of the vibes of this show.) The Hall of Presidents If you’ve got some feelings to let out, then it’s hard to find a better place to do that than a comfy, quiet theater show. Which brings us to our second choice. Carousel of Progress Carousel of Progress is also a great option for many of the same reasons as Hall of Presidents. The show is dark, lasts about 20 minutes, and the seats are comfy. It’s often hailed as a favorite spot for naptime, so why not add it to the list for shedding tears as well? Carousel of Progress The bonus here is that the theme song is super catchy, and you’ll probably feel a lot better by the time this show is over. That through-the-century charm gets us every time! Pinocchio Village Haus Balcony Did you know there’s upstairs seating in Pinocchio Village Haus? The restaurant has a balcony area that spans both indoors and outdoors, and the tables aren’t usually too packed. Pop a squat down in the back corner and you’ll have the perfect location to let those tears loose. Upstairs at Pinocchio The benefit to doing your sobbing here is that you can enjoy a snack while you cry. Grab a flatbread and drown your sorrows in carbs and cheese. Storybook Circus Tent Tucked away in the back of Storybook Circus is a large tent with plenty of seating, outlets for charging your phone, and plenty of shade. It’s a great spot to relax and take a break, and it’s usually not too crowded — making it an excellent location to have a good cry. Inside the Storybook Circus tent Plop down in one of those comfy chairs or take a seat at a picnic table and just enjoy yourself a 20-minute break to release your emotions. Parents often sit back here with their crying toddlers and babies, so you might not be the only one shedding some tears. Various Bathrooms And of course, we have the favorite crying location for many people on our team — the good ol’ bathrooms. Sometimes, when a Disney World vacation is overstimulating or you’re just having one of those days, the bathroom stall is the first place where you get a moment to yourself. Fantasyland Bathrooms If you’re hoping to get in a good sob sesh, it might be a good idea to find a quieter restroom where there are fewer people coming in and out. And of course, it’s probably good courtesy to not keep people waiting if there’s a line out the door. Tangled bathrooms in Fantasyland Hopefully, the only tears you’ll be crying during your vacation are happy ones! People often forget how stressful and overwhelming vacations can be, especially when there are so many details to plan (like in Disney World). But if you keep following here at DFB, we’ll give you all the tips to help keep your trip as stress-free as possible. Check out our video below to see why Disney World could be empty in 2025! Stay tuned to DFB for more news, updates, and anecdotes from Disney World. Click Here to See the Best Places to Cry 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 What’s your go-to cry spot in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post This Is the Best Place to Cry in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

BIG news, Disney fans! We have a NEW reason for you to book a trip to Disney World, and (spoiler alert) you can save some serious money thanks to this big announcement. Magic Kingdom Don’t worry — we won’t keep you in suspense. Ready to plan a new trip to Disney World? Check out the HUGE news that Disney just dropped! Free Disney Dining is BACK! Disney just announced that Free Disney Dining for kids is coming in 2026! Um…WHAT?! That’s HUGE! Magic Kingdom Starting on April 22nd, 2025, guests can start booking their 2026 vacations, and throughout 2026, kids can dine for free! When staying at one of the Disney World resorts, you can qualify for a free Disney dining package for kids aged 3-9 when you purchase a dining plan with your vacation package for other members of your party. Get ready to eat! This deal can be combined with other select special offers, so you can get even more savings! We can’t wait to dig in this summer on all of our favorite eats. This offer can be booked beginning on April 22nd and will be available for vacations through October 2026. Bookings for November and December 2026 will become available at a later date. Click here to learn about Disney’s free dining plan offer 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. There are tons of other deals right now for your Disney vacation! Starting on the 29th of April, 2025, United Kingdom and Ireland residents can get a FREE Dining Plan when they stay at a Disney World Resort hotel. The Hotel and Ticket package must be booked by November 5th, 2025. This deal is good for most stays throughout 2026, from January 7th to December 19th, 2026. Find complete details on the 2025 Free Dining Offer for UK and Ireland residents HERE. Disney is offering hotel and ticket packages that can save you up to $200 per night! This Stay, Play, and Save deal may be applied to stays at select Disney World resort hotels for 3-night, 2-day room and ticket packages. You can get these savings for packages from February 26th through June 30th, 2025, for rooms and tickets. Get more details HERE. This summer, you can save up to 30% on select Disney Resort hotel rooms when you stay longer for visits from August 1st through October 11th, 2025. Find more information HERE. Annual Passholders can score up to 40% off rooms for stays from June 1st to July 31st, 2025, or 35% off rooms from May 1st to May 31st, 2025. Find the details here. Annual Passholders and Florida Residents can save up to 30% off stays at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Disney World guests can save up to 25% on rooms for stays most nights from February 23rd to April 30th, 2025. Get all of the info HERE. In 2025, Disney World guests can save up to 30% on certain rooms at Disney World hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer. Staying less than 5 nights? There are other savings available for shorter stays! This offer is valid for most nights from May 1st to September 30th, 2025, and you can find complete information here. Check out more Disney Deals and Discounts As you can see, there are some SWEET deals out there right now! We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest deals, so sign up for our newsletter below to have the news delivered straight to your inbox. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. REVIEW: We Found Table Service Quality at Quick Service Prices at This Disney World Hotel Restaurant 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 planning a trip to Disney World this year? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: Kids Eat FREE At Disney World in 2026 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

These Disney restaurants are getting a makeover for 2025! Hi Mickey! It may look pretty different the next time you dine at a Disney resort! We’re looking at restaurants at BOTH Disney World and the Disneyland Resort that are going through changes — both significant and minor. We’ll be zeroing in on restaurants that have just opened or reopened, will be closing for refurbishment, or will be sadly closing permanently, so buckle up and check out these 14 restaurants that are changing in 2025! These restaurants are all changing to varying degrees, but we’ll let you know what to expect and when to expect it. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in! Disney World Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern — Magic Kingdom The new Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern in Adventureland is an upcoming lounge set to open later in 2025. ©Disney Disney is teasing that the lounge will offer a “first-of-its-kind experience [that] will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean.” Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano — Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney’s Hollywood Studios is making way for a new Monsters, Inc. Land and putting it where the current Muppets Courtyard is located. With that comes some inevitable closures. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in the Grand Avenue section of the park is closing permanently on May 11th, 2025, with the last days to experience the restaurant on May 10th. PizzaRizzo — Disney’s Hollywood Studios PizzaRizzo in Muppets Courtyard will also be a Monsters, Inc. Land casualty, as it is set to close permanently, as well, to make way for the new land. PizzaRizzo You can visit for the final time on June 7th, 2025, as it is set to close forever the very next day on June 8th. GEO-82 Lounge — EPCOT Spaceship Earth is getting its own lounge in EPCOT and we can’t wait! ©Disney Located behind the attraction, GEO-82 “is a nostalgic nod to Spaceship Earth—which opened in 1982. At GEO-82, you’ll be immersed in the storied history and enduring legacy of this timeless EPCOT icon,” per Disney. This adults-only lounge will serve “global flavors” in classic cocktails and small plates and is set to open in the late spring. Cake Bake Shop — Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Already opened at the BoardWalk, The Cake Bake Shop and Bakery are still fairly new additions to Disney World, and have made waves due to their fancy quality (and high prices). The Cake Bake Shop The Cake Bake Shop restaurant by Gwendolyn Rogers serves sweet and savory menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a table service setting. Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill — Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are getting a lengthy pool refurbishment with Stormalong Bay’s closure in 2025, which means a poolside bar will also be closed. Hurricane Hanna’s Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill will be closed from January 2025 through June 2025 for routine maintenance, but the nearby Beaches & Cream Soda Shop will remain open. Sebastian’s Bistro — Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Sebastian’s Bistro is a popular all-you-can-enjoy restaurant at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort that recently underwent a minor refurbishment. Sebastian’s Bistro After a week-long closure in March, the restaurant reopened with updated floors. Everything Pop Shopping and Dining — Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort was frustrating for the longest time because its food court — Everything Pop Shopping and Dining — was closed for the longest time after delays. Everything POP! After an 8-month closure, the food court FINALLY reopened in April 2025 with a brand-new window that offers coffee, cocktails, ice cream treats, and more! Whispering Canyon Cafe — Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Routine maintenance is common for rides and restaurants alike, and this restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is no exception. Whispering Canyon Whispering Canyon Cafe is a rowdy family restaurant offering plenty of fun, jokes, all-you-care-to-enjoy skillets, and Western fare. Unfortunately, it will experience a brief refurbishment from May 12th through May 21st, 2025. Disneyland Resort Jolly Holiday Bakery — Disneyland Park Disneyland had a longtime fan-favorite restaurant down for the count for quite some time, but it’s reopened with some changes! Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe The Jolly Holiday Bakery reopened on March 22nd, 2025 after a lengthy refurbishment with some tasty new menu offerings! Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree — Disneyland Park Staying at Disneyland Park, the Hungry Bear Restaurant got a makeover in 2024 and now has a new theme and menu! Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree Now themed after the Country Bears and renamed Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree, this popular restaurant serves delicious barbecue cuisine — a big improvement over its previous standard theme park fare — in a throwback setting. Napa Rose — Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa One of the most upscale restaurants at Disneyland, Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is undergoing a lengthy remodel in 2025. Napa Rose This iconic restaurant will be closed until the fall of 2025. When it reopens, it “will have a rustic elegance and will be a tapestry of California’s storied history of wine and winemaking, using natural textures such as reclaimed French oak flooring and columns (a type of wood used to make wine barrels), hand-pinged artisan metals, leathers, deep colors of cabernet, and an eye-catching chandelier inspired by California’s Mission grapevines,” per Disney. ©Disney We’re constantly keeping up with all the latest Disney dining updates, so stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog to stay in the know! Disney’s Iconic Napa Rose Restaurant Announces Multi-Month CLOSURE 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 any of these restaurant closures affect your next Disney trip? Let us know in the comments! The post 11 Disney Restaurants Will Have ALL NEW Looks in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Eat, Stay, and Play in 2026 Walt Disney World vacation bookings for 2026 will become available starting April 22. As a special offering for 2026, guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel will get a free dining plan for their kids (ages 3-9) when purchasing a dining plan with their package for others in their party (ages 10 and up). Disney Resort hotel guests may continue to enjoy early theme park entry, complimentary transportation, free parking, early access to dining reservations, and other perks. Looking ahead to everything you can do with your family during a Walt Disney World vacation next year? Well, you’re in luck, because beginning April 22, guests can start booking their 2026 vacations to Disney World with plenty of convenient and flexible options to choose from. It’s never too early to start thinking about your next trip, and 2026 is going to be a fantastic year to visit — especially for kids! How to Get Free Disney World Dining Plan for Kids (Ages 3-9) in 2026  Throughout all of 2026, guests staying at one of our more than 25 Disney Resort hotels will get a free dining plan for their kids (ages 3 to 9) when purchasing a dining plan as part of their package for the other members of their party (ages 10 and up). Dining plans can help you maximize your stay with added peace of mind, letting you enjoy some of the many dining locations we offer from meals to snacks and kid-friendly favorites.  The kids free dining plan offering can be combined with other select special offers, meaning you may still be eligible to take advantage of other deals we later roll out for 2026. 2026 Disney World Resort Perks  There’s nothing like a visit to Disney World. With so many attractions, entertainment offerings, dining, shopping and more across our four theme parks and beyond, staying at a Disney Resort hotel means being right inside the magic. With everything we offer, Walt Disney World remains the place to be for an ultimate multi-day vacation, a special occasion, or a day full of rides, food, and fun.  Get More Time at the Theme Parks  Continuing through 2026, Disney Resort hotel guests can enjoy more time in our theme parks with 30 minutes of early theme park entry every day, at every park.* That means getting a head start in the parks to check out some of your favorite attractions. Guests of our Disney Deluxe Resorts or Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts will also continue to have access to extended evening hours at select theme parks on certain days.   *Valid theme park admission required for entry.  Enjoy Free Transportation, Parking, and More  Disney Resort hotel guests continue to get access to other offerings and special perks that make vacation planning easier. Complimentary theme park transportation via monorail, boat, bus, and Disney Skyliner   Free standard parking at hotels, theme parks, and water parks   Early access to dining reservations and Lightning Lane for your entire stay, as well as advanced access to purchase tickets to select special events.   Coming back in summer 2026, Disney Resort hotel guests can get free water park admission on their check-in day (subject to availability). Additional details, including specific dates, will be shared at a later time.   Get Even More Magic at Your Disney Resort  Whether you’re taking a day off from the theme parks or simply want to relax at your hotel, there’s no shortage of activities all from the convenience of your hotel.   Guests can enjoy resort activities, themed pools, character dining, and surprise character visits. When you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, you’re staying as close as you can to the magic with everything you need. That includes the outstanding guest service and hospitality provided by our cast members. You can book your 2026 Disney World vacation starting April 22 for travel dates through October 2026. Please note that bookings for November and December 2026 will become available at a later date. Want to visit sooner? There are special offers available now for 2025 Disney Resort hotel stays and theme park tickets, including ways to save and enjoy limited-time fun this summer!   The post Free Disney World Dining Plan Offering for Kids Coming in 2026 appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

We are huge fans of Epic Universe, and it hasn’t even officially opened yet! Portal Entrance to Super Nintendo World Universal’s newest theme park officially opens on May 22nd, 2025, but we have gotten to head inside a few times thanks to previews for Cast Members and Annual Passholders. Now, after exploring the theme park a few times, we have a bit of a chaotic take on Super Nintendo World. See what you need to be aware of before heading into the video game world! We are in awe of Epic Universe! There is so much to see, do, and eat at Universal’s newest theme park. One thing we weren’t prepared for? How chaotic Super Nintendo World can be! SUPER NINTENDO WORLD This world takes you into your favorite videos like Mario Kart and Donkey Kong Country! We have really enjoyed the attractions, and we were pumped to meet characters like Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. This is, unfortunately, where things got a little wonky. Mario and Luigi! If we’re being really transparent, Super Nintendo World is overstimulating! Meeting the characters felt a bit intimidating for us, and the entire process felt more hectic than we’re used to. Compared to Disney character meet and greets, they cut off the line very early into the meet and greet time. They were still organized but there were a ton of Team Members trying to get the process to run as smoothly and quickly as possible. In short, it was chaotic. Princess Peach! It almost felt like we were meeting real celebrities (Mario and Luigi are real celebrities, but you know what we mean)! The entire meet and greet seemed like there were maybe too many cooks in the kitchen, making it overwhelming and quick. In addition to meeting Princess Peach and the plumber brothers, you can also spot Toad and Donkey Kong in the land. Donkey Kong Country We still really enjoyed this land in the new park, but it’s definitely something to be aware of! Because the park is still in previews, the way they handle character meet and greets could change once the park officially opens. If planning sounds overwhelming, too, let someone else do it for you! Small World Vacations is our long-time trusted travel partner, and for good reason! They take the stress out of planning, letting you enjoy your vacation even more! Best of all? They’re free of charge! Super Nintendo isn’t the only land where characters are going to see some long lines! You can also find characters in Dark Universe, Isle of Berk, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Toothless and Hiccup! We can’t wait to see what the crowds, lines, and wait times will look like once the park officially opens on May 22nd. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Universal news and updates. Read More About Universal’s Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> What land are you most excited to see in Epic Universe? Tell us in the comments! The post "It Was Over Stimulating!" The One Thing You NEED To Know Before Going To Super Nintendo World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Walt Disney Company is constantly changing! ©The Walt Disney Company There are theme park changes, new Disney Cruise Ships, and more. It’s a lot to keep up with, so we’re doing our weekly news round-up so you can find all of the biggest changes in one place. Let’s dive into this week’s updates! There is so much happening in the world of the Disney company, with most of this week’s changes happening in Disney World! Before we head to the theme parks, we’re going out to sea with major updates from Disney’s newest cruise ship, The Disney Destiny. ©Disney This week, we got a major preview of the Disney Destiny, and we’re honestly still recovering from all of the new info! Disney showed up the new merchandise coming to the ship, including new Spirit Jerseys, Minnie Ears, Loungefly backpacks, pins, Pandora charms, and so, so much more. New Disney Destiny merch! We also got to try a few bites and sips heading to the new ship, including items from Pride Lands: Fest of the Lion King, De Vil’s Piano Lounge, and The Sanctum. We were definitely wowed by the bites we checked out, but you can see all of our thoughts here! The preview for De Vil’s! We also got to see more about the brand new Disney Hercules musical headed to the ship. The concept art and the singing left us speechless and even more excited for the new show than we were already! ©Disney Not only did we get to learn more about the Broadway-style musical, but we also found out that “Shooting Star” will be making its theatrical debut! Alan Menken and David Zippel originally wrote the song for the movie, but it didn’t make it into the final cut. We even got to check out the artwork that guests will find in their staterooms, inspired by Fantasia, Mulan, Brave, and Hercules. ©Disney There was so much to see and do during this preview! We can’t wait to see more of this ship once it sets sail in November 20th, 2025. 3 Surprising Takeaways From Our First Look at Disney’s New Cruise Ship Over in Disney World, we got another sneak peek at the brand new Villains show coming to Hollywood Studios! The new show is called Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and features Captain Hook, Maleficent, and Cruella de Vil as the main baddies. ©Disney During this week’s sneak peek, we got to hear a bit of a brand-new song that was written for the show, and we couldn’t be more excited! Disney also gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how the song was created. During the video they released, it was also revealed that the Magic Mirror will even have its own song during the show. You can see the full behind-the-scenes video here! The show opens on May 27th, 2025. We can’t wait to see which villain will convince us that they were truly treated the most unfairly of all! See more about the new show here! Finally, we’re ending on a bit of a bittersweet note because Jellyrolls has officially closed its doors. The famous Dueling Piano Bar was located at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Resort for 30 years before it closed on April 19th, 2025. Jellyrolls The bar hosted a final farewell on its last night, where all current Jellyrolls players performed throughout the night! We are super sad to see this incredible late-night spot close however, they have hinted that this closure isn’t permanent. According to an Instagram post, the bar stated that it will be “making a move,” which means it might reopen outside of Disney World. Jellyrolls We are so sad to see such a staple gone, but can’t wait to see if it reopens somewhere nearby! Read More About Jellyrolls Here So there you have it! The big three of the week. Be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news and updates! The post Disney Made 3 Game-Changing Announcements This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As 2025 marches towards the summer season, there are still several MAJOR openings scheduled for Walt Disney World. Cinderella Castle From new shows and attractions to rides opening from refurbishments and newly themed lounges, the rest of the year is going to see some major happenings around the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” Zootopia: Better Zoogether: “Winter 2025” This new Animal Kingdom show, which is replacing the shuttered opening day attraction It’s Tough to Be A Bug, features Zootopia characters including Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and “will take guests on an adventure through different biomes seen in the film.” The film has been scheduled to open in “Winter 2025.” ©Disney Typhoon Lagoon: May 1st Typhoon Lagoon is scheduled to reopen from its regularly scheduled seasonal refurbishment beginning on May 1st. Additionally, while Blizzard Beach will close for a seasonal refurbishment that day, it will reopen on May 21st, and BOTH water parks will be open at the same time during the summer for the first time in years. Typhoon Lagoon Unfairly Ever After: May 27th The first of two new shows debuting at Hollywood Studios on May 27th, Unfairly Ever After is a “spellbinding show with moving music and a most memorable finale—where you help decide who has been treated most unfairly” amongst the Disney Villains. ©Disney The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure: May 27th The second new Hollywood Studios show is a reimagined interpretation of the park’s long-running Little Mermaid show. The new “fully reimagined show will take the audience to Ariel’s treasure trove, keeping the lively puppets, props, and scenery center stage. But new to this production, get ready to be dazzled with new digital puppetry and jaw-dropping effects. Plus, the addition of new-to-the-show songs!” ©Disney Geo-82: “Late Spring” Spring 2025 will also see the opening a new lounge themed to the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth attraction. Located behind the attraction in the space previously occupied by a sponsor lounge, the new lounge will carry the moniker Geo-82, a nod to the park’s opening year. ©Disney According to Disney, Geo-82 will allow you to “toast to a trip around EPCOT with innovative cocktails and globally influenced small plates while you take in spectacular park views” all while surrounding you “with iconic shapes and intricate structures inspired by the park’s instantly-recognizable icon. You’ll sit amid rich textures and warm, metallic tones that echo Spaceship Earth in an elegant and intimate setting.” The space is scheduled to open Later this year. Stormalong Bay: “June” The beloved pool complex that services the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will reopen in June following a 6-month refurbishment. Stormalong Bay Astro Orbiter: “Summer 2025” The Magic Kingdom’s newly rebuilt spinner attraction will open from a months-long refurbishment sometime this summer, and soar above Tomorrowland once again. Astro Orbiter construction Test Track: “Late Summer 2025” EPCOT’s Test Track has been closed for refurbishment since June of 2024 as Imagineering have been transforming the attraction into a third incarnation that promises to modernize the ride, while containing elements that harken back to the EPCOT classic World of Motion. The new version is scheduled to reopen in the late summer. Test Track construction Starlight Nighttime Parade: “Summer 2025” The Magic Kingdom’s new nighttime spectacular parade will feature “nostalgic Disney storytelling and glowing innovation, continuing the legacy of dazzling nighttime entertainment that holds a special place in the hearts of so many” and feature characters from “classic and new Walt Disney Animation Studios films like Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen, Moana” and more. It’s scheduled to open sometime in the summer. ©Disney Hall of Presidents: “Late 2005” After closing for its typical post-U.S. election refurbishment, the Hall of Presidents is scheduled to reopen late in the year, however, few details have been revealed. Hall of Presidents Pirates Lounge: “Late 2025” Geo-82 isn’t the only new lounge coming to Disney World this year. The Magic Kingdom will see a new space dedicated to Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland. The new lounge, where “pirates of all ages can gather to tell their tales”, is scheduled to open in late 2025. ©Disney The remainder of 2025 is looking to be a busy one at Walt Disney World. Stay tuned to DFB for more coverage of Disney World’s openings for the rest of the year. Former Disney World Cast Members Reveal 4 Reasons Lightning Lanes Are NOT Worth It 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 are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below. The post CONFIRMED: Every Opening Date Announced for Disney World in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re SO close to booking another trip back to Epic Universe, we can taste it…literally. Das Stakehouse We’ve attended a media event to check out the new park, plus we’ve been back for early previews of this EPIC new park. So speaking of taste, that means we’ve been trying out EVERY SINGLE restaurant we can get into at Universal Orlando’s new theme park. However, we may have just visited one restaurant that was so DARK, EERIE, and even a little GROSS that we may not return. Atmosphere So the idea is that this restaurant is an old inn-type place that’s been built over catacombs. Nope, not creepy at all. Das Stakehaus The concept is that this is a vampire hangout, giving you the perspective of the vampires themselves through paintings and architecture. Once you step inside, you’ll be greeted by one of the many familiars (yep, vampire servants) who will also serve you. Check with the familiar here Once you step inside Das Stakehaus, you’ve stepped into a very dark world. No, really, like it’s SUPER dark in here and we can’t see anything. But, hey, that’s the vibe, right? Our reporter actually said, “Das Stakehaus is the darkest restaurant I’ve ever done a review in.” It’s dark — figuratively and literally Of course, it’s not just physically dark, but the theme is pretty dark, too. Let’s just say the gang from What We Do In Do In The Shadows would feel very comfortable here. Everything is classic gothic vampire, including the artwork. Creepy art There are a lot of macabre details that you’ll want to check out if you’re into those horrifying details. BAT You’ll find plenty of seating inside with tables and chairs. Lots of seating The tables and chairs literally make you feel like you’re having dinner with Dracula (you know, like in that movie with Keanu Reeves and Gary Oldman? SO ON POINT). As far as theming goes, Das Stakehaus has nailed the vibe. THEMING, y’all By the way, everything here is mobile order. You sit at your table, scan the QR code there, order your food, and that’s it. Your food and drinks are brought out to you. BOOM. Easier than convincing a vampire to visit a blood bank (yes, sorry, but you’re just going to have to expect a lot of vampiric humor with this review). But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?! Menu The menu features burgers, kebabs, sandwiches, and more. But the food here is anything but boring because it all has a nice vampiric twist (what else would you expect?) So you’ll find dishes like Stakes, a Blood Orange Chicken Sandwich, Our Favorite Vegan Familiar’s Stuffed Cabbage, and Carved Staked Steak. So let’s sink our fangs into some food! Eats We started with the Darkmoor Black Wings for $15.99. These are Darkmoor spicy chili-dusted fried wings with smoked cheddar, charred scallions, pimento cornbread skull, and soy chili garlic sauce, served with a familiar slaw. Again, DEAD (or should we say UNDEAD?) on with the theming. Our reporter is not a big fan of wings, but knows a good wing regardless. These are NOT THAT. Darkmoor Black Wings These wings are fatty and lacking in meat, and then the meat you get doesn’t taste juicy or fresh. The sauce is pretty good, though, so we’ll give it that. Maybe if the wings were coated in it, they would’ve been better. The cornbread was interesting, sort of like a pimento cornbread with some peppers in it. The slaw was fresh, but weirdly enough, it didn’t have any dressing. Need more flavor The Carved Staked Steak for $23.99 comes with stakes in it…okay, they’re skewers, but you get the POINT, right? You get a carved strip steak, charred green onion mashed potatoes, roasted baby carrots, acorn squash, crispy maitake mushrooms with a bloody jus. At this point, we think maybe vampires shouldn’t be allowed near a restaurant because this wasn’t a great steak. It had very little flavor. Maybe it needed a touch of garlic? (Well, okay, we get why it didn’t have that.) As you can see, though, it’s served VERY red. Oh, the skewers say, “nostro arbitrio solous,” which translates to “at our discretion alone.” Um…okay? Carved Staked Steak The mashed potatoes tasted like something from the school cafeteria, and the veggies were overcooked and mushy. So, yeah, maybe these vampires need to give up their dreams of being restaurateurs. It’s practically bleeding We also tried Our Favorite Vegan Familiar’s Stuffed Cabbage for $16.99, made with Impossible stuffed cabbage, beet bucatini, in a bell pepper tomato sauce. Okay, so this is a nice combo of stuffed cabbage combined with pasta and mushrooms, some of our favorite things. However, it looks like a brain. No, really. Our Vegan Familiar’s Favorite Stuffed Cabbage This was a better dish, though, flavor-wise. The pasta tasted homemade and fresh. The tomato sauce offered a rich tomato flavor, but it could have used some salt, but the big bites of mushroom made up for the lack of flavor (again, vampires just don’t understand seasonings, y’all). But it still looks like we’re eating a brain in a bowl of blood, and we’re hoping we’re not going to start craving brains and end up like something from The Walking Dead. Pretty tasty for brains Okay, things are about to get WEIRD. For dessert, we had the Red Velvet Death for $6.99. We’ll just let you chew on the description: red velvet heart “beet” coffin cake with chocolate crumbs and puffed rice maggots. Yes, they thought that fake maggots would somehow make this appetizing. But we still took a BITE and we swear the cake tasted like something you might get at a grocery store when you’re craving red velvet cake and can’t get a good homemade one. It’s moist, but almost TOO much so. And the cream cheese frosting in the middle? Just…no. Red Velvet Death The “maggots” are Rice Krispies…but they were old and stale and they look entirely too much like maggots, and GROSS, y’all! This dessert seriously messed with our heads and not in a good way. Okay, now we’re grossed out a little And although we wanted to run away screaming at that point, we still had to try some drinks. Drinks To drink, we picked up the Reapers Reserve for $13. Okay, so this beer wasn’t bad. You can taste the cinnamon and the clove in it, but the clove is very strong and it overpowers it. However, when paired with the steak (stake?), it made the meat taste better. So it’s a good pairing with that meal. Reapers Reserve We also ordered the Monocane Mocktail for $7. Now, apparently, Monocane is a chemical name that was created for the 1933 The Invisible Man movie. It’s supposed to make you go mad — OH, GREAT. Instead, it’s like a tasty craft soda that reminded us of a Baja Blast from Taco Bell. Monocane Mocktail It’s sweet, syrupy, and it glows…we’re sure it’s fine to drink the whole thing. It’s not like it’s going to turn us invisible…we hope. Nosh or Not This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if… You love theming. We have to give this restaurant a 10 out of 10 for theming because the gothic vibe is SO strong here. Universal really put its love for its monster universe in this restaurant. You’re okay with bland food. Hey, we get it. Some people require bland diets, and we feel like this is a spot that could meet those requirements. You want a quick and easy meal. One thing we loved was how easy it was to order here by using mobile order and having it brought right to our table. You should skip this Disney World spot if… You have picky eaters in your party. We’re going to say that although the food here is bland, the presentation could put off some kids and picky eaters. We’re STILL not over the whole “maggot” thing. You want a table service restaurant experience. This is quick service, meaning you won’t get the kind of service you would get at a fancier table service establishment. You don’t like eating in the dark. The theme here is dark, as is the restaurant. Some folks don’t like eating in super dark restaurants, so you’ll want to stay away. Overall We’ll be honest, we are a little torn about Das Stakehouse. The monster and horror lover in us absolutely loved the theming of the restaurant and even the (sometimes gross) presentation of the food. Universal didn’t pull any punches with this one. HOWEVER, the lack of seasoning on so much of what we ate was disappointing, but then again, vampires can’t eat, so it makes sense? Full Spread Who knows, maybe the vampires in Darkmoor got bored and opened a restaurant just because. ©FX 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! REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Burning Blade Tavern at Universal’s Epic Universe 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 this restaurant before? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Das Stakehaus at Universal’s Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are travel trends making your airport experience miserable? Orlando International Airport Like many other aspects of our daily lives, there are plenty of trends out there for travel — and more specifically, for air travel. Whether it’s products to buy, tips for speeding through security, or hacks for getting the best prices on flights, travel trends come and go just like any other industry. But which trends are truly irritating? It can definitely be frustrating to have a bad travel experience when plane tickets cost so much these days! That’s why these problems can be extra annoying. Let’s see which “trends” were the most popular pet peeves. Bare Feet or Socks on the Plane One of the most common issues people shared is when other travelers take their shoes or socks off on the plane. This one isn’t as much of a recent trend — it has seemingly been a problem for YEARS. And guys, let’s all agree here that it’s weird to take off your shoes in public spaces. Southwest Cabin Unless you’re at a trampoline park or a bowling alley or you’re literally going through TSA at that moment, your shoes should stay ON when out and about — especially when everyone is trapped together, breathing the same air on a plane. Nobody wants to see your old socks or smell your feet. PLEASE. We’re begging you to keep the dogs in the cage. Now we know the rules are a bit different on long international flights, where slippers are often provided. But please wear socks or slippers when walking around — those bathroom floors CANNOT be clean enough for bare feet. Click Here to Learn About a Free Orlando Airport Perk! Trying to Pass Off Pets As Service Animals With an increase in service animals in recent years, one unfortunate trend our readers have seen is that people try to pass off untrained pets as trained service or emotional support animals. This can be a big problem when traveling if the animal isn’t trained, because it can be stressful for pets to deal with crowds in the airport and enclosed spaces on the plane. Frontier Airlines If we as humans have trouble navigating public spaces sometimes, just think how difficult it can be for our furry friends. And when unqualified service animals cause problems in public, it makes things even more difficult for people who have their animals professionally trained to be accepted. Unexpected Rules at the Orlando Airport — Click Here! Lining Up Before Your Group Is Called A term that has been coined recently is “gate lice” — used to describe people who swarm around the gate entrance before their boarding group is called. These people get in the way of others who are boarding first, and they tend to cause a lot of general chaos with the boarding process. Airport gates When you stand in front of the boarding zone, you block the way for people in first class, military members, families with small children, and those with accessibility needs who are trying to board early. And when it comes to planes with assigned seating, there’s really not much need to rush the boarding zone. We’ll get there eventually, guys. Learn More About “Gate Lice” Here! Airlines Nickel-and-Dime-ing Finally, the last trend our readers complained about was the nickel-and-dime-ing from airlines these days. It seems like everything is an extra fee, especially when it comes to budget airlines. Yes, your plane ticket may cost $99 initially, but then you pay extra for a carry-on, to choose your seat, to board priority, or to get snacks on board. Airport crowds in 2023 Add into those fees the high prices for joining airline rewards clubs, and it seems like there are SO many hidden costs for traveling. Can we just know the price upfront? Checking In! A lot of times, one of the worst things about traveling is dealing with other passengers’ strange behavior. When you’re going to a public space like the airport, remember to pack your patience! And if you’re traveling to Disney World soon, check out our video below to see the best travel tips. Stay tuned to DFB for more travel news, tips, and updates. We’ll keep you in the loop. Click Here to See Annoying Problems You’ll Encounter Traveling From the Orlando Airport to Disney World! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe What’s your airport pet peeve? Tell us in the comments! The post “People Treating Flying Like It's a Personal Vehicle.” Disney Adults Are Sharing the Popular Airport Trends They Can’t Stand first appeared on the disney food blog. 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Quick! What’s your favorite Star Wars planet? Is it the desert world of Tatooine? The beautiful planet Naboo? Maybe the chilly Hoth planet? Well, if you’re a fan of the iconic Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back film, you’ve come to the right place! Maybe you prefer Batuu? There’s a brand-new Star Wars collection available online now! New items include things like a Disney Loungefly backpack (which is gonna be POPULAR) and even some Minnie ears. Come with us to take a look! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Score a free trial of Amazon Prime by clicking the button below! Get the Hoth Loungefly Mini Backpack ©Disney Store We weren’t kidding when we said this is gonna be popular — it’s one of the COOLEST (get it?) new backpacks online! The front of the bag features embroidery of an AT-AT walker and snowspeeder, and the classic ice blue color palette is so fun. Add this to your cart before it’s gone! View on Disney Store This Hoth Ear Headband for Adults is EPIC! ©Disney Store Of COURSE you need the matching ears, too! These adorable Minnie ears feature that signature Snowspeeder embroidery on the front, along with an AT-AT walker. The ears are inspired by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, making this the perfect souvenir for classic Star Wars fans. View on Disney Store We love the Hoth Echo Base Baseball Jersey ©Disney Store New theme park outfit alert! Imagine wearing this for a summer park day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — it’s just what we need for a visit to Batuu. Here’s a fun little detail for you: the #80 on the back of this jersey commemorates The Empire Strikes Back‘s 45th Anniversary. The movie premiered in 1980! 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 a NEW Loungefly Bag (and Matching Minnie Ears!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Change has long been a constant at Disney’s theme parks, with new attractions replacing old ones being a decades-long tradition at this point. ©D23 Most of the time, these original attractions are removed forever, only to live on in the memory of fans and hazy Kodak prints. However, on occasion, the Imagineers working on the replacement rides will sneak in an easter egg or two to reference and pay homage to the attraction that came before. These are some of our favorite “Secret Shoutouts” scattered throughout Walt Disney World. Let’s start with the Magic Kingdom’s Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. As you’re heading into Owl’s house on this Fantasyland attraction, look to your left and you’ll notice a photo of Mr. Toad handing the deed for the attraction over to Owl. This is a tribute to the old and beloved Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride that was located in the same spot Pooh now occupies. Portrait of Mr. Toad in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Shifting over to EPCOT’s newest E-Ticket attraction, it makes sense that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has so many shoutouts to the former Ellen’s Energy Adventure/Universe of Energy ride, since this coaster is housed where this retired ride once resided. A column inside the ride features script written in the fictional Xandarian language. If you translate it to English, the top left says Ellen, the top right says Alex (as in Alex Trebek — who was also featured in the ride), the bottom left says E=MC squared, and the bottom right says dino. In addition, if you look closely at a set of ship schematics featured in the second pre-show room, at the bottom right, you can see the old Universe of Energy symbol. Can you see it? On the coaster itself, you can also hear a bit of what sounds like an electric guitar version of the old Universe of Energy theme song as the Guardians “fly” into space right at the start of the ride. Listen for when the Celestial says “What is that noise?“ just before the launch. Universe of Energy symbol The song isn’t the final reference, though. During the reverse launch, there’s another reference to some dialogue straight from Ellen’s Energy Adventure, which involved Ellen mishearing Bill Nye talking about the Big Bang. If you listen closely, you’ll hear Star-Lord say “Big Bang!” followed by Drax asking, “Ding dang?” ©Disney Moving into the World Showcase, in the final scene of Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, take a closer look at the puffins. These are the same puffins that were used in Frozen Ever After’s predecessor, Maelstrom! Maelstrom actually has another not-so-hidden reference at the nearby Royal Sommerhus as well. In the queue, you pass by a few woven tapestries. One features the famous “Disappear, disappear!” trolls seen on the old ride, too! Raise your hand if you miss Maelstrom Finally, we’re moving to Hollywood Studios. In the carnival scene of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, there’s a poster advertising an attraction called “The Great Moving Ride.” This is of course, a homage to the building’s former inhabitant, The Great Movie Ride! Runaway Railway These are only SOME of the Secret Shoutouts to classic and replaced attractions that Disney Imagineers have slipped into new rides and spaces at Walt Disney World. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney secrets! 17 Disney Rides That Will Be Closed in 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 Which of these Secret Shoutouts is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. The post 4 Secrets Imagineers Hid in Disney World Rides first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you looking for new shirts to wear on your upcoming trip to Disney World? Disney Shirts Well, if you hate compliments, this might not be the post for you, but if you want to be among the best-dressed at Disney World, you should keep reading! This is because we are about to share seven Disney shirts that will have everyone asking where you got it from. The best part? You can get them on Amazon right now! Let’s go shopping! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Score a free trial of Amazon Prime by clicking the button below! Get the Retro Mickey Mouse Shirt! ©Amazon This shirt features the main mouse, Mickey Mouse, along with some snacks and a park ticket! You can snag it in an array of different colors and sizes! View on Amazon This Mickey shirt is perfect for summer! ©Amazon Summer is right around the corner, and this shirt is great to wear to EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival. It features an outline of Mickey filled in with flowers, fruits, and butterflies! You can snag it in a variety of colors. View on Amazon We love this Sorcerer Mickey shirt! ©Amazon Are you a fan of Fantasia or Fantasmic in Hollywood Studios? This Sorcerer Mickey shirt features various sketches of Mickey as he transforms into this iconic role. View on Amazon Or, you can grab this Princess Jasmine shirt! ©Amazon Princess fans! You need this shirt! It features Princess Jasmine and is excellent for a day exploring Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom! Plus, this style of shirt is super trendy! View on Amazon Snag this Ink and Paint shirt! ©Amazon Can’t pick your favorite Disney movie or character? This shirt features so many Disney favorites like Tinker Bell, Mr. Toad, Dumbo, Bambi, and more! Plus, it comes in a bunch of different colors! View on Amazon Snag this Cinderella shirt here! ©Amazon This adorable shirt features four icons from the film Cinderella. There is her glass slipper, carriage, castle, and beautiful dress. This shirt is photo shoot-worthy, perfect for the next time you visit Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom! View on Amazon And finally, grab this Disney Villains shirt! ©Amazon If you’re headed to Hollywood Studios on May 27th, you’ll need this shirt to attend the debut of Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After on Sunset Boulevard. Plus, it is perfect to wear once Villains Land finally opens in Magic Kingdom. This shirt features Ursula, Hades, Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Jafar, and Yzma. 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 Hate Compliments, You Won't Want To Wear These 7 NEW Amazon Disney Tees first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome aboard! Disney Cruise Line just gave us a sneak peek of one of its newest cruise ships. ©Disney The Disney Adventure is setting sail in Singapore at the end of 2025 with 3- and 4-night voyages, and it has just reached a huge step in the construction process. The Disney Adventure has officially transitioned to open water for the Float Out ceremony. ©Disney It’s out of the shipyard harbor and will now feature the iconic Disney Cruise Line funnels and upper deck attractions. That includes Marvel Landing’s Ironcycle Test Run, Groot Galaxy Spin, and Pym Quantum Racers! ©Disney || Marvel Landing The classic yellow lifeboats need to be added, too. So much is already finished, yet so much more to come! Mickey is looking for ADVENTURE Captain Mickey and Minnie were at the Float Out ceremony, and they looked excited to welcome this new ship to the fleet. The ship is currently in Wismar, Germany, where it was built. The ceremony featured fireworks as the tugboat pulled the ship out of the building. ©Disney The Disney Adventure will feature an incredible range of entertainment, including a Duffy and friends show called “Duffy and The Friend Ship” and a pirate show that involves a battle with an ink-squirting giant squid, titled “Captain Jack Sparrow & The Siren Queen.” ©Disney Cruise Line On board there will also be the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for kids ages 3 to 12 and a Marvel Style Studios to turn guests of all ages into their favorite superheroes. It will also transform into an adults-only lounge offering bookable beverages. ©Disney Cruise Line We’re going to be bringing you all the details on the Disney Adventure while it continues construction and eventually starts its first sailing. Keep following Disney Food Blog for all the details to come. Everything you need to know about the Disney Destiny, Disney’s other newest cruise ship, setting sail in November! 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 Are you excited for the Disney Adventure to set sail? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. The post NEW DETAILS Revealed About Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship, the Disney Adventure first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you missed it, Star Wars Celebration Japan was held this weekend, and Disney dropped a TON of Star Wars news bombs. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run We learned that yes, Ryan Gosling is going to star in a Star Wars movie, Andor season two is going to be OFF the hook, Ahsoka season two is bringing back Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, and SO much more. However, we also got some details on a ride in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World and Disneyland. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is changing — and we just got even MORE details on those changes. Disney revealed some of the changes for the ride at last year’s SXSW conference. In honor of the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu movie on May 22nd, 2026, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will offer NEW experiences for those who ride it, beginning on that same date. ©Disney The ride will get a new storyline featuring both the Mandalorian and Grogu. The story goes like this: Hondo Ohnaka just found out about a deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and some pirates. There’s a bounty for their capture, so you’re going to “borrow” the Millennium Falcon and team up with Din Djarin and Grogu to track them down. But there’s more — you’ll also get to visit some NEW destinations on the ride, including Bespin… ©Disney …Tatooine… Tatooine on the new version of Smuggler’s Run ©Disney …and the ruins of the Death Star…WHOA. Death Star ruins on the new version of Smuggler’s Run ©Disney Here’s another scene from Tatooine. ©Disney Well, we’ve got NEW concept art with MORE destinations, including Coruscant. CORUSCANT, y’all. ©Disney You’ll even have a chance to fly through Beggar’s Canyon… ©Disney …and through the remains of a Krayt Dragon. ©Disney You’ll even be visiting a loading dock on Cloud City, where you might spot a VERY familiar ship from Star Tours also visiting. ©Disney There’s also a scene inside a Death Star launch bay near Endor. ©Disney But you’re probably wondering how you’re supposed to visit ALL those destinations in such a short time? Well, you won’t. BUT for the first time ever, you and your crew get to be in control of the destination. SAY WHAT? Yep! And forget the pilot position…folks are going to be SCRAMBLING to be an engineer on the new version of the ride because the engineer gets to communicate with Grogu through the new mission. Pilot shmilot! ©Disney So Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is about to get a lot more exciting on May 22nd, 2026. AND WE ARE HERE FOR IT. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Is Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Nite Worth the Cost? Here’s Everything We Did in One Night. 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 about these ride updates? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: Disney Confirms 3 BIG Changes to Star Wars Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Ride! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One fast food chain is starting to slack off, apparently. ©Foodbeast Taco Bell We all have our favorite fast food joints, but is it fair to say some are better than others? Well, one company recently did an in-depth study among several popular fast food chains and the results regarding the worst order accuracy were pretty shocking! Intouch Insight conducted its 24th Annual Drive-Thru Study, where it looked at several American fast food chains and compared them on things like order accuracy, service speed, food quality, portion sizes, and much more! McDonald’s The chains included in the study are as follows: Arby’s Burger King Carl’s Jr. / Hardees Chick-fil-A Dunkin’ KFC McDonald’s Raising Cane’s Taco Bell Wendy’s There is so much we could go over in this study, but the order accuracy results especially stood out, with a fan favorite falling bellow expectations. ©Taco Bell Unfortunately, Taco Bell finished LAST among the field in 2024 with 85% accuracy and a slight decrease from last year’s performance. That means for every 20 orders at Taco Bell, 3 were not accurate. Both Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s topped the list with 93% accuracy. ©Taco Bell The study takes into consideration drive-thru orders and notes that “when an inaccurate order is handed over to a customer, the chance of the error being addressed is low, as the customer is unlikely to return once leaving the drive-thru. While we have seen improvements year over year in order accuracy ratings, this year, we still see 11% of orders rated as inaccurate – in other words, 1 out of every 10 orders handed over in the drive-thru has something wrong.” ©Taco Bell According to the study, two of the top three inaccuracy areas showed improvement: “Requests for no ice in beverages were not fulfilled 27.7% of the time this year, down from 30% last year.” “Incorrect ingredients in the main entrée occurred 9% of the time, compared to 13.8% in 2023.” Who doesn’t love a Taco Bell freeze? Communication is key. Order accuracy was 15% higher when the speaker was clear and understandable, 12% higher when the speaker volume was loud enough to hear, and 7% higher when the shopper did not have to repeat their order, per the report. Clear communication and order displays are vital in the ordering process, and the study suggests that AI can improve order accuracy when integrated into the ordering process, highlighting its potential to enhance customer service quality. In fact, accuracy reached 95% when shoppers believed they were interacting with Voice-AI, compared to the overall study accuracy of 89%.” We’ve seen Taco Bell move toward this model in particular, but it still might be some time before it makes up the difference. ©Taco Bell The study notes that technological advances will ultimately create a more seamless experience, but brands will have the responsibility of ensuring accuracy while maintaining a “human touch” that leads to customer satisfaction. Does this study’s results surprise you? Share your thoughts in the comments below and continue to follow us right here at DFB for more food updates! All the Fast Food Restaurants Within 5 Miles of Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your favorite fast food chain? Let us know in the comments! The post The Fast Food Chain Most Likely To Screw Up Your Order in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to dining in Epic Universe, there are a LOT of options, and they’re all NEW! Want something quick and easy? You’ve got it! Want a bigger meal? No problem! You can find quick service and full table service restaurants in the park that are themed to various lands and areas, so if you’re looking for something unique, you’ve got it. Stunning views from Celestial Park We recently stopped by Atlantic in Celestial Park to see what was cookin’, and now we’re bringing you our FULL review to help you decide if this is a spot you’ll want to grab a reservation for on your trip! Atmosphere This restaurant features all-glass paneling that looks out into the rest of the park, offering stunning views from any seat. The Atlantic Restaurant Inside, you’ll find LOTS of blue decor with gold accents, and there are even panels on the ceiling that almost look like waves. Stunning! The restaurant is relatively small — not tiny, but not large either. You’ll find a bar closest to the entrance, and then the restaurant seating continues on the backside. Inside Note that this is a table-service restaurant, so you will need to make a reservation for this spot. As a table-service meal, it can sometimes consume a significant amount of time on your park day. We’re about to find out if it’s worth it to spend an hour-plus dining here, instead of exploring other areas of the park. Menu You’ll find lots of seafood options on this menu, and it’s not a large menu to begin with, so if you’ve got pickier eaters who also don’t eat fish or shellfish, this might be a tough restaurant for them. Menu The prices here are also pretty high, especially for the entrees, so you’ll really want to take a look at the menu ahead of time and make sure everyone in your party will find something they’ll be interested in eating. And now, onto the main event — the food! Eats First up, we grabbed the Sweet & Spicy Shrimp for $16. It’s listed on the menu with Crispy Shrimp, Chili Sauce, Micro Cilantro, and Sesame Seeds. This was very good when it came to taste, but we were disappointed in the size of the dish. We’re used to shrimp dishes being just a little bit larger, especially for $16, but these were perfectly crispy. We loved the Thai sweet chili sauce used, which gave it a bit of a kick, but it wasn’t anything unbearable. We’d get it again, but would love to see the price drop a dollar or two, or get a few more pieces of shrimp. Sweet & Spicy Shrimp We also grabbed the Sea Bass for $44. The dish comes with Carrot Mochi, Sugar Snap Peas, Lemongrass Broth, and Star Fruit. This dish tasted very fresh, and the lemongrass broth was our favorite part of this dish. Sea Bass The star fruit served with it was good, but it wasn’t anything spectacular, and that’s really where we stand with this dish. It’s not bad, it’s not fantastic, it’s just meh, and for $44, we really don’t think that’s worth it. A bite For dessert, we got the Landlubber’s Snickerdoodle Loot for $11. This is Snickerdoodle Cake with a Cookie Butter Ganache and Biscoff Sand. Not only was this adorable, but it was delicious, too! This is cake with cookie butter ganache, biscoff, and snickerdoodle, and all those flavors blended together so well to create a sweet treat that fits perfectly with the restaurant’s theme. Landlubber’s Snickerdoodle Loot Truly, we think the presentation here really stood out, and we would totally come back to grab this! Drinks To drink, we picked up the Northern Lights Martini for $17, which was fantastic! It’s made with Beluga Noble Vodka, Pallini limoncello, Ferrand Dry Curaçao, lemon juice, simple syrup, butterfly pea blossom ice sphere, and gold luster dust. Northern Lights Martini We loved the celestial vibe of this one, from the purple coloring and the gold dust, and while this drink wasn’t sweet, it was very refreshing. It wasn’t bitter or dry, and that butterfly pea blossom ice sphere really packs a punch in the best way. We would absolutely get it again! Nosh or Not This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if… You’re looking for gorgeous views of Celestial Park in an air-conditioned space You want a good cocktail inside the park in a place where you can sit back and chill You’re looking for a super cute dessert You should skip this Disney World spot if… You’re not a fan of seafood You’re looking for a quicker meal You prefer more specific theming, like those found in Dark Universe or Isle of Berk Overall Overall, we think this restaurant has nothing wrong with it in the slightest, but we do think the portion sizes could use a little work, and the pricing is higher than what we anticipated for the type of food you get. We’re looking forward to trying more on the menu here, and seeing how it continues to grow and change! Full Spread In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Epic Universe and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Universal news and more! REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Mead Hall at How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk in Epic Universe! Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you thinking of trying this restaurant out? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Come With Us to the NEW Atlantic Restaurant in Celestial Park at Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy Easter weekend to those who celebrate! To everyone else, happy spring! S’mores Cake Now we’ve already made our way around Disney World, trying out some Easter and spring snacks, along the way PLUS we’ve seen the Easter egg displays at the hotel. This week, we also revisited a snack in Magic Kingdom that is MUCH better now. And, as always, we’ve been keeping an eye on Disney World restaurant menus, and we’ve got some changes to share with you. Disney’s Hollywood Studios 50s Prime Time Cafe Appetizers REMOVED: Roasted Tomato Soup and Griddled Salmon Cake ADDED: Shrimp Cocktail — Served with Kale Salad and Cocktail Sauce for $16 Desserts REMOVED: Grasshopper Bar ADDED: Key Lime Bar — Tart Key Lime Filling over a Buttery Sugar Crust served with Raspberries and Raspberry Sauce for $9 ADDED: Neapolitan Bar — Two layers of Mousse, Vanilla, and Strawberry, layered over a Chocolate Cake Brownie served with Raspberry Sauce and Whipped Cream for $8.50 Kids’ Appetizers (à la carte) ADDED: Corn Chowder for $3.25 REMOVED: Creamy Tomato Soup 50’s Prime Time Cafe Disney’s Animal Kingdom Isle of Java Snacks REMOVED: Pumpkin Muffin Isle of Java Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside Scat Cat’s Club — Lounge Appetizers REMOVED: Gumbo Poutine, Shrimp Beignet Po’ Boy, and Spinach and Artichoke Scat Cat’s Club River Roost Lounge REMOVED: Spinach and Artichoke Dip River Roost Disney Springs The BOATHOUSE Market Fresh Fish Coriander Seared Yellowfin Tuna changed from $36 to $41 Pan-Roasted Corvina changed from $33.50 to $38 La Dolce Vita REMOVED: Passion Fruit Cheesecake ADDED: S’mores Baked Alaska — Graham Cracker Crust, Rocky Road Ice Cream, Toasted Marshmallows & Meringue, Milk Chocolate (serves 4) for $55 ADDED: Old Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake — Fresh Baked Biscuit, Vanilla Bean Soft Whipped Cream for $10 ADDED: Blackberry Cheesecake — Blackberry Compote, Chantilly Cream, Graham Crumble for $10 Kid’s Desserts ADDED: Strawberry Shortcake for $5 The BOATHOUSE The Basket at Wine Bar George Bites To Go Cheese & Meat Box description changed from “Cheddar / Manchego / Calabrese / Mortadella / fig preserve / honeycomb / mustard” to “two artisanal cheeses and two craft cheeses” REMOVED: Caramel Apple Oat Bar ADDED: House-Made Meatballs — triple cheese polenta / tomato sauce for $16 ADDED: Seasonal Inspirations — chef’s seasonal creations for Market Price Cocktails REMOVED: Something, Something Scotch, Lingering Dreams, Authored in Autumn, and Forbidden Zombie ADDED: For A Few Apples More — calvados / brut sidre / lemon for $16 ADDED: Spiced Olive Martini — spiced olive infused gin / dry vermouth for $16 ADDED: Scripted in Summer — rum / strawberry / rhubarb / yuzu for $18 ADDED: Literally, Everything Orange — Zucca / Aperol / Nonino / China China / Lemon for $18 ADDED: Final Notice — Yellow Chartreuse / gin / lemon / apricot for $18 The Basket at Wine Bar George Wine Bar George Small Plates Seasonal Salad description changed from “arcadian greens / Honeycrisp apple / apple cider vinaigrette / brioche croutons” to “arcadian greens / spinach / kale / seasonal fruit / basil vinaigrette / brioche croutons” REMOVED: Sweet Potato & Brussel Sprouts, Lumina Lamb Loin, and K4 Ranch Short Rib ADDED: Pork Belly — baby kale / carrot purée / Iberico lardo for $20 ADDED: Lamb Chops — crispy chickpeas / mustard / nước chấm / cilantro for $29 ADDED: Poached Chilean Sea Bass — spinach & cannellini bean purée / lemon foam for $30 Entrees REMOVED: Seared Porchetta Sandwich, Branzino Sandwich, and Pan Seared Porchetta Steak Grilled Ribeye description changed from “fondant potatoes / grilled asparagus / stilton au poivre” to “collard greens / fried corn bread / corn butter” and price changed from $59 to $56 Bell & Evans Braised Chicken description changed from “gnocchi / mushrooms/ spinach / cream sauce” to “poached potatoes / cauliflower / cippolini onions / fennel / cream reduction” ADDED: Spicy Chicken Po Boy — remoulade / shredded lettuce / fries for $18 ADDED: Bahn Mi — grilled pork belly / pâté / pickled carrots & daikon / cilantro / house chips for $19 Family Style Plates (serves two – four) Skirt Steak description changed from “caramelized celeriac & fennel / mushroom / tomato / kale / roasted potatoes / chimichurri” to “broccolini / garlic oil / roasted potatoes / chimichurri” Whole Greek Sea Bass description changed from “white bean ragout / roasted brussels sprouts / tomatoes / spring onions” to “white bean ragout / miso cauliflower / cippolini” Cocktails REMOVED: Something, Something Scotch, Lingering Dreams, Authored in Autumn, and Forbidden Zombie ADDED: For A Few Apples More — calvados / brut sidre / lemon for $16 ADDED: Spiced Olive Martini — spiced olive infused gin / dry vermouth for $16 ADDED: Scripted in Summer — rum / strawberry / rhubarb / yuzu for $18 ADDED: Literally, Everything Orange — Zucca / Aperol / Nonino / China China / Lemon for $18 ADDED: Final Notice — Yellow Chartreuse / gin / lemon / apricot for $18 Wine Bar George Disney World restaurant menus change ALL the time, but you can check menus on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app. We’ll also let you know when we spot changes, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. 11 Disney World Restaurants Where Big Groups Are No Problem 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 Has your favorite Disney World restaurant changed its menu recently? Sound off in the comments! The post ALERT! 7 Disney World Restaurant Menus Just Quietly Changed This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret that Disney World has some pretty amazing restaurants. Victoria & Albert’s We would know because we’ve eaten at every single one of them! But that’s not all — many of Disney World’s restaurants have won MAJOR awards. Several restaurants have been awarded recognition by the Michelin Guide and have even received Michelin Stars. This year, two Disney World restaurants have earned Michelin Stars — and we want to brag about them! Capa at the Four Seasons Orlando has won a Michelin Star! This isn’t the first time the restaurant has received a Michelin Star, though, but being awarded the Star again shows that it continues to showcase the kind of excellence that the Michelin guide likes to recognize. Capa Capa is located on the rooftop of Four Seasons Orlando (the hotel itself is on Disney World property). It’s a Spanish-influenced steakhouse that also offers fresh Florida seafood and small plates. The restaurant features an open kitchen, allowing you to watch its chefs at work, and offers amazing views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Pan con Tomate is a classic! The second Disney World restaurant receiving a Michelin Star for 2025 won’t come as a surprise to Disney World fans. It’s Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a restaurant that has received the Star before. The restaurant has offered signature dining for over 20 years in a lavish setting with a multi-course dining experience with carefully-thought-out menus. Victoria & Albert’s Victoria & Albert’s also holds the distinction as the first and ONLY restaurant owned and operated in a U.S. theme park EVER to hold a Michelin Star. Yep, that’s how special this restaurant is. We imagine that it will continue to receive the Michelin Star year after year for years to come. Stay tuned to DFB for more. With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. I’ve Eaten at Over 150 Disney World Restaurants — Here Are My Spiciest Takes 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 dined at either of these restaurants? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: TWO Disney World Restaurants Receive Michelin Star Awards first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is Lightning Lane RUINING your Disney World vacation? Dumbo Lightning Lane Disney World’s skip-the-line system is certainly not the easiest version of the theme park offering, with a plethora of rules, special booking times, price variations, and specific return windows. But some parts of the system are more complicated than others. We’re breaking down the Lightning Lane rules that might be hurting your Disney World experience. How Lightning Lanes Work Lightning Lane is the term for the special queue at select attractions where you can typically enjoy a faster wait time. In order to use the Lightning Lanes around Disney World, you’ll need to purchase one of three options: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, or Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival We’ve got a full guide on how Lightning Lanes work, but here’s the CliffsNotes. For Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you’ll pay up to $39 per person, per day to book return times for most rides/attractions in Disney World. You can make three selections before your visit, and then continue to book more Lightning Lane return times as you use them day-of. ©Disney For Lightning Lane Single Pass, you’ll pay a one-time fee per person to have Lightning Lane access to a single attraction. The list of Single Pass attractions are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Rise of the Resistance, and Flight of Passage. These are NOT included in Multi Pass, so you’ll need to pay for their Lightning Lane access individually to get a return time…unless you want to get the third option. TRON entrance The third Lightning Lane option is Premier Pass. This is the most expensive option, costing hundreds of dollars per person, with pricing varying depending on the park and the date. However, this is the simplest option to use — you just buy the pass for your chosen park and then use it to scan into any Lightning Lane at that park, any time of day. No reserving return times required. ©Disney These Lightning Lane offerings can save you a LOT of time in the parks, but they also come with some headache-inducing rules. Let’s break them down. Click Here to Get All the Details on Lightning Lane Premier Pass! Booking 7 Days in Advance for Hotel Guests Those staying at a Disney World Resort can purchase and book their Lightning Lane options 7 days before their stay. Booking becomes available at 7AM ET, which can be a pain if you live in a different time zone. And if you’re considering waiting until later in the day to book, you might want to think again, because some of those popular Lightning Lanes fill up FAST. Lightning Lane Multi Pass pamphlet Hotel guests can book for the entire length of their stay starting at 7 days, so that means that people getting to Disney World a few days ahead of you may have already claimed some of the Lightning Lane slots for Multi Pass or Single Pass that you desire (hotel stays can be up to 14 days). This means that you may need to use the same strategy you use for dining reservations — save the Lightning Lanes that are must-haves for the end of your trip. Lightning Lane If you were hoping to book Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and go to Magic Kingdom for your first park day, but you find that the Lightning Lane is unavailable already, then you might end up needing to rearrange your park days at the last minute. Thankfully, we’ve often been able to find availability for popular rides on the morning of our park visit, but for those who like to have plans set in advance, that last-minute searching is stressful. ©Disney Disney World used to offer the ability to book FastPasses 60 days in advance for hotel guests, so some people think that the 7-day rule is too late. Others dislike it because they don’t want to have to plan their day a week in advance — they’d rather decide what they’re doing the morning of. I’ve Tried Every Lightning Lane Hack in Disney World and These Are 2 That Work Every Time — Click Here! Booking 3 Days in Advance for Non-Hotel Guests If you’re not staying at a Disney World hotel, you’ll have to wait until 3 days before your visit to purchase and book your Lightning Lanes…and then you’ll have to do that daily for each day of your trip. So even if you’re already on vacation, you’ll be getting up at 7AM each time to make those selections. Lightning Lane With the 3-day booking window, you’re at a bit of a disadvantage. You’ll probably have slim pickings when it comes to the more popular Lightning Lane availability for Single Pass and Multi Pass, and some offerings may even be sold out if you’re visiting during a particularly busy time. These Are the Secrets to the Best Lightning Lane Game Plan! Some Rides Cost Extra We understand that Disney World offers Lightning Lane Multi Pass for people who don’t mind doing the work of booking rides, and then offers Lightning Lane Premier Pass for those who prefer the easy all-access pass. However, the offering that can sometimes be frustrating to people is the Lightning Lane Single Pass. Cosmic Rewind With Single Pass, you’re paying close to half the price you pay for Multi Pass (sometimes more), just to access the Lightning Lane for ONE ride. The Single Pass rides aren’t included in your Multi Pass purchase, and there’s not even a guarantee that you’ll get to use your Single Pass because sometimes those rides experience technical difficulties. 5 Ways to Avoid Paying for Lightning Lanes in Disney World — Click Here! Booking With Tiers And finally, we’ve got to talk about those pesky tiers for Lightning Lane Multi Pass. When you’re booking your Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections before your park viist, you’ll be able to choose 3 attractions for each park. But in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, there’s a stipulation for which attractions can be chosen. Remy’s In those parks, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass options are divided into two tiers: Tier 1 and Tier 2. When you book ahead, you’ll only be able to select ONE attraction from Tier 1, while choosing your other two attractions from Tier 2. (If you so desire, you could also make all three selections from Tier 2.) Once you get into the park and use your first Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the day, the tiers will disappear and you’ll be able to book whichever selections are available. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure This makes it a bit more challenging to ride EVERY popular ride in the parks, so you might have to craft a detailed game plan in order to tackle all the attractions on your list. Everything Included in Your Disney World Lightning Lane Multi Pass Purchase — Click Here! Disney World has changed its skip-the-line system many times now, and people have mixed feelings about each iteration. There will always be pros and cons. You just need to know the facts ahead of time so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to use the current system. So if you want to know more, make sure to check out our Lightning Lane tips and hacks video below. Stay tuned to DFB for ALL the updates and tips on Lightning Lanes in Disney World. Click Here for Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes in 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 Do you use Lightning Lanes when you go to Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Are These Lightning Lane Rules Destroying the Disney World Experience? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome Vikings! We’ve ventured into Epic Universe, where we’re enjoying the restaurants, snacks, and rides so you can have the best trip to Epic Universe ever, and we recently tried a new restaurant that we think you’re going to love. Isle of Berk We went to Mead Hall in How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk to see if this Viking food stop is worth visiting, and we’re bringing a full review straight to you. Do you want to have dinner with Vikings and dragons? Let’s find out! Atmosphere Mead Hall is Isle of Berk’s “main gathering place, a grand chamber where Vikings feast on meat, fish, sandwiches, and more.” Mead Hall When you enter through the massive double doors, you’ll see this dark room, and once you step inside, you realize that it’s a stone room that is so big that it will make you feel like a Viking. Inside Mead Hall Wood carvings on the sides of the dining room are covered in dragons, and there are tapestries hanging from the walls that tell more stories of the How to Train Your Dragon characters. The chandelier that hangs high above looks like it has real candles. Tapestries There’s even the Chief’s chair and tables you can sit at! The whole restaurant was dark and filled with air conditioning, making it a great place to hang out and rest before exploring the rest of the park. This restaurant continues to bring in the ancient vibes of the land, and you’ll feel like you entered How to Train Your Dragon and became a citizen of Berk. Where the Chief sits! Now that we’re sitting in this great hall, let’s check out the menu! Menu Mead Hall serves hearty meals like turkey wings, sausage links, and meatballs. There are a few other options like a harvest salad a vegan burker for other Vikings as well. Menu There’s a kids menu (or Little Dragon Riders as they call it in Berk) with mac and cheese, bugers, and chicken pops. Menu There are a few desserts which we’ll get into later, and a specialty beverage called Toothless Plasma Blast made with Powerade and stone fruit syrup. We loved seeing all of the draft beers on tap that you can order, too. Beyond the taps, there is canned beer, wine, hard seltzer, and of course, mead. Look how cool the taps are! There’s also a Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine for all of your soda choices. Freestyle Machines You can Mobile Order or head to the counter to place your order, but on the day we went, Mobile Ordering was the only option available. We sat at a table, placed our order on the Universal App, and then scanned the QR code on the table. QR Code on Table During our previews, the food came out quickly, but keep in mind that once the park opens, it might be different while they adjust to new crowd levels. We also noticed that the Wi-Fi was not very strong inside, so you might need to stand by the door or place your order before entering if you’re having issues. The counter We know where we’re sitting and what’s on the menu, let’s get into what you’ve been waiting for — the food! Eats We started with Berserkers Meatballs for $19.16. Berserkers Meatballs These are Swedish meatballs with onion gravy, lingonberry jam, and smashed root vegetables. If you love IKEA meatballs, you’ll love these. Actually, they’re even better than IKEA meatballs (we can’t believe we’re saying that either!). They’re salty but not in an overpowering way, and they pack a lot of flavor. Juicy on the inside The gravy was a great addition, and there was plenty of it on the plate to dip our meatballs in. The lingonberry jam added a sweet, fruity element that was also cold, which we loved on this otherwise warm plate. So much gravy A huge standout on this plate was the smashed root vegetables! We could tell they were real mashed potatoes that were super chunky and with a stunning herbaceous and savory taste. They were even better with the leftover gravy and jam! Root vegetables For dessert, we had Stormfly’s Catch of the Day for $7.99. Stormfly’s Catch of the Day Don’t worry — there’s no fish in this dish! It’s a chocolate mousse fish with cereal crumble. The presentation on this meal is so cute that you’ll want to grab your phone to snap a picture. Yum! It’s a very traditional chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate shell, and was sitting around a cereal similar to Fruity Pebbles. While the flavors aren’t insanely unique, we love it when there’s a reliable dessert with flavors we know we like. It’s also great for kids who know they like chocolate! Fluffy on the inside! With our meal, we ordered a classic drink we couldn’t resist! Drinks We ordered Gobber’s Mead for $14, of course! Gobber’s Mead This drink reminded us of sparkling grape juice in the best ways. It had great carbonation and a tart finish. We loved the sweetness that wasn’t overly strong. Mead at Mead Hall While this might not have been the best mead we’ve had, there is nothing more iconic than drinking mead at Mead Hall. Nosh or Not Eating at Mead Hall is a must if you… Are looking for hearty and filling meals Love How to Train Your Dragon and want to continue the themed experience Enjoy a cool, air-conditioned restaurant out of the chaos You might want to skip Mead Hall if you… Want lighter or smaller meals Don’t want to spend the time sitting in a restaurant when you can grab a snack and get to your next attraction Like sitting outside and watching the street atmosphere Overall Meal Hall did not disappoint at Isle of Berk! We loved our meatballs and dessert, and will definitely be heading back, ready to try the rest of the menu, or when we’re ready to cool down with some air conditioning. Our meal We’ve been spending as much time as we can inside Epic Universe to bring you all the insider details you need to know before you go. Keep following Disney Food Blog for everything Epic! REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Burning Blade Tavern at Universal’s Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Which land are you most excited about at Epic Universe? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Mead Hall at How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk in Epic Universe! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

BIG things are happening in Magic Kingdom, and not just because it’s Easter weekend. Magic Kingdom Nope, Magic Kingdom is getting ready for a brand-new Villains-themed land and a Cars expansion in Frontierland. Meanwhile, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is getting QUITE the overhaul (more on that in a bit), and a new nighttime parade will be coming to the park this summer. We just visited Magic Kingdom, and in one day, we spotted three NEW things we need to tell you about. Astro Orbiter Over in Tomorrowland, Astro Orbiter has been closed since January, and it seems to be getting a major refurbishment. The ride has actually been dismantled, with pieces of it being taken to an undisclosed location for an update. When we visited most recently, the ride seemed to be getting a fresh paint job to refresh its look. New paint As far as we can tell, the new paint looks like it’s going to take the ride back to its 2014 glory. We previously saw a permit to “provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction” on April 10th, so the ride is getting closer to being put back together and reopening. Some Magic Kingdom Rides Will Look a Bit More SPARKLY This Year Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s new track As we mentioned, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also currently closed for a massive refurbishment. Disney is replacing the track, and we got to see more new continuous sections of the new track, which are now visible. Let’s hope this means the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness will be a lot smoother when it reopens. More new track! So, when WILL Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopen? Well, Disney hasn’t said, but a new permit suggests the timeline is spring 2026. Character Surprise We stumbled on the MOST delightful character surprise EVER around the hub. We spotted the White Rabbit, along with some flowers and butterflies from Alice in Wonderland. They were all around the hub, and it was MAGIC. White Rabbit We spoke with a Cast Member and were told that Disney World is considering doing more of these surprise appearances. SO fun We loved the spontaneity of it, so we’re hoping we run into more character surprises in all the parks. The 7 Unspoken Rules Disney Adults NEED to Start Following When Meeting Characters 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. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. What’s Changing at Big Thunder Mountain While It’s Closed for a Year in 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 these changes? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 NEW Things We Just Spotted in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ready to be one of the first to see the BRAND NEW ship joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet? Spidey! We’ve got the inside scoop on the new dining, the staterooms, the VILLAINS, coming to the Disney Destiny later this year. Check out our video below: FIRST LOOK at Disney’s NEW Cruise Ship — Disney Destiny Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! 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 video? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: FIRST LOOK at Disney's NEW Cruise Ship -- Disney Destiny first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know the saying, “Rules are meant to be broken”? Yeah…that may be true but you really SHOULDN’T be breaking THESE Disney World rules. Cinderella Castle We talk all the time about unspoken rules and rules that are ok to be broken once in a while, but Disney World has some “written-in-stone” rules that are big no-nos to break — and not following them can lead to some serious consequences. Still, former Cast Members on the DFB team have seen it all, including guests consistently breaking several rules. Before we get into it, we have to remind you that these ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS. In fact, we’d like to deter anyone from breaking these rules, as doing so can be dangerous, harm the theme park-going experience, and/or create unpleasant results for guests around you. With that warning down, let’s get into the rules Cast Members constantly see guests break. No Running One of the most common rules guests break at Disney World is “no running”. Whether it’s kids playing around or grown adults running to make a reservation or take advantage of a low wait time, chances are you’ve seen guests running, as well. Main Street, U.S.A. Disney doesn’t allow running for safety reasons. As one of the most visited places on Earth, Disney World is often crowded and the potential for collisions is already high. If you’re running, it’s easy to get blindsided, trip, or run into someone or something. This rule is in effect to keep you and other guests safe, so please be sure to follow it. It gets crowded! If you are speed like Lightning McQueen and want to run at Disney World, there are designated jogging and running trails at the hotels or you could sign up for a runDisney event. No Flash Photography The next rule that’s constantly broken is “No Flash Photography”. Yehtta Instant Digital Camera Flash photography not generally allowed in Disneyland, especially in indoor settings like shows or dark rides. Disney implements this rule to not ruin the experience for other guests while maintaining the safety of any performers. The flash can also damage some light-sensitive materials in exhibits, such as artifacts. Additionally, photography of any kind may be prohibited due to copyright, meaning if you capture content and post it, you could be in some legal trouble. “No flash pictures…please.” There’s a time and a place for pictures, and if flash photography is banned, it’s just another excuse to live in the moment. Don’t Feed the Animals Look, we know the ducks, other birds, and animals at Disney World are super cute and you want to show them love by giving them something to snack on, but feeding wild animals is actually prohibited. Ducks! No, Disney doesn’t ban feeding the animals to be cruel to the animals. Instead, Disney’s looking out for their health and safety, as human food isn’t ideal for a wild animal’s diet and can end up seriously hurting them. On the flip side, If these animals get too reliant on humans feeding them, they could become too comfortable and too aggressive with guests. Disney World is doing its best to balance a natural ecosystem while creating a healthy guest experience. We love Disney ducks! It’s also worth mentioning that you shouldn’t grab or touch wild animals. While this may seem obvious, small children don’t know better and it’s up to adults to enforce animal-child safety should that ever be a concern. Disney Ducks having their own parade down Main Street, U.S.A. When you visit Disney World, do so with the understanding that you’re expected to follow ALL of Disney World’s rules. When it comes to safety and comfort, Disney is always trying to do right by its guests, so remember that these rules exist for a reason. As always, stay tuned right here at DFB for all kinds of Disney World tips, updates, reviews, and more! 7 Rules You Can ONLY Break in 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 If you could create Disney World rules, what would you add? Let us know in the comments! The post Former Disney World Cast Members Reveal The BIGGEST Rules Guests Continue To Break first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Reviewing new Disney food items is literally our job — it’s a tough one, but someone has to do it! Classic Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich We go to try many new menu items that Disney World releases to be able to share with YOU, our readers, if this is worth your time and money. Spring is here, and Disney added 6 new items around the parks and hotels, so we are sharing which ones you should grab and which ones you can probably avoid. Totally Orange Cone At Disney’s Pop Century at Everything POP, we recently tried the Totally Orange Cone for $6.49. It was a great creamsicle flavor. It has a nice vanilla flavor mixed with a tart orange flavor. The freeze-dried Skittles added a really interesting textural experiment by exploding in our mouths! It was a fun snack, and we loved how different it was from your run-of-the-mill vanilla or chocolate ice cream. If you like creamsicle, we say grab this one! Totally Orange Cone Cake Bar While we were there, we tried the Cake Bar for $6.29. This Orange Cake Bar was buttercream and Skittles freeze-dried candy on top. The icing is the main flavor with a bit of citrusy flavor to it. The cake itself was supposed to be orange flavored as well, but it was really lacking in that area. This one was disappointing and isn’t something we would go out of our way for. Cake Bar Pretzel Nuggets I will let you in on a secret: our team was so excited to try these! You’ll want to head to Block & Hans in the American Pavilion at EPCOT for these Pretzel Nuggets with Beer Cheese for $8.50. The pretzels are made with garlic butter, barbecue rub, and beer-cheese sauce. Yum, yum, and YUM! We’re happy to report that these are AMAZING. The pretzels are soft and chewy, but the beer cheese steals the show. Pretzel Nuggets with Beer Cheese S’mores Cake The Plaza Restaurant added a new dessert, the S’mores Cake for $10. This is a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, toasted graham cracker crumbs, and toasted marshmallow mousse. The dessert is rich and filling, but the is moist and dense enough to feel fudgy. This was delicious, and if you love very indulgent desserts, grab a friend and share this one! S’mores Cake Strawberry Shortcake If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know we LOVE Garden Grill at EPCOT. They just added a new Strawberry Shortcake dessert that is included in the family-style meal. The cake is very dense and almost a little dry. The strawberries are good, but we wish the syrup would help moisten the cake. It’s an ok dessert, but not enough to eat here for that reason alone — however, we love the food here, so there are more reasons to eat here! Strawberry Shortcake Apple Hand Pie Over at Fort Wilderness Resort at Trail’s End, we tried the Apple Hand Pie for $6.29. The dough is flaky, but a bit on the dry side. The filling has tender apples and a sweet cinnamon syrup. We were left wishing there was more filling to dough ratio. If you are staying at the resort, we say grab one if you love apple pies, however, it’s probably not worth a special trip over there for just this. Apple Hand Pie We love trying new items to tell you which items are worth it for your trip! For more Disney food reviews, follow DFB. Former Disney World Cast Members Reveal 4 Reasons Lightning Lanes Are NOT Worth It 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! What is your favorite Disney World snack? Tell us in the comments below. The post 6 New Menu Items Hit Disney World -- What to Try and What to Avoid first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article