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Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink takes shape at the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in this time-lapse video! Come to Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink and the Downtown Disney Winter Village...From:Disney ParksViews:373163ratingsTime:00:59More inTravel & Events

There’s more gingerbread in store for you at Walt Disney World now that the season is in full swing! Let’s take a look at a couple of the most anticipated displays of the holidays… Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread HouseThe Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is open for the season! Grand Floridian Gingerbread House 2014 Grand Floridian Gingerbread House 2014 Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Gingerbread House began celebrating its 16th year. Grand Floridian Gingerbread House operating hours It’s always fun to see the massive ingredients list! Gingerbread House ingredients Open daily for the remainder of the year from 10 am to 10 pm (though it will likely close early on New Years Eve), the unique thing about the Grand Floridian’s gingerbread display is that it is a fully functioning snack stop, with Cast Members serving up gingerbread and other sweet treats through this cheerful window. Treat window The traditional Gingerbread Shingles return, along with some other familiar seasonal treats like Peppermint Bark and boxes of Stollen Bread (with a printed history of the traditional German treat attached). GF gingerbread shingle Stollen Bread and Peppermint Bark Mickey Pop The beautifully detailed Gingerbread Ornaments are probably my favorite things to look at. Large Gingerbread Ornament Mickey Gingerbread Ornament Red Velvet Cupcakes are available alongside White Chocolate Snowmen. White Chocolate Snowman and Red Velvet Cupcake Gluten-free choices include Gingerbread Men, but also Ginger Chocolate-Chip Bread, Cinnamon Toastie Bread, and Brownie Bites. Gingerbread Men And if you had any doubt whether the cast of “Frozen” could be found at the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House, too, then doubt no more! You can find Anna and Olaf Chocolate-covered Cookie Pops, Olaf Dark Chocolate Snow Globe Ornaments, Elsa White Chocolate Pops, and large Elsa Gingerbread Ornaments. Anna and Olaf Cookie Sandwich Pops Olaf Dark Chocolate Snow Globe Ornament Elsa White Chocolate Pops Large Elsa Gingerbread Ornament The sisters even got a spot on the House this year… Gingerbread House window You can see the full list of available treats here, along with prices. Just click the image below to enlarge. Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Treat Menu — click to enlarge Disney’s Beach Club Resort Gingerbread CarouselMeanwhile, over at the Beach Club, they were putting the very final touches on the Gingerbread Carousel during my visit. I guess you could say it was a Carousel in Progress. (Bah-DUM-pah! Thanks, folks… I’ll be here all week!) Creating the Gingerbread Carousel Though the chefs were busy at work decorating the display, the main cast of characters was well in place: Fleet, Splendor, Mistletoe, and Snowball! Fleet Splendor Mistletoe Snowball And it was pretty fun seeing some behind-the-scenes magic taking place. Final touches on the Carousel Here’s something good to know about the Beach Club: most of the annual gingerbread displays have the snacks right there at the display, similar to the Grand Floridian above, or the Contemporary Resort’s display. There are gingerbread snacks at the Beach Club, but they are found in the Beach Club Marketplace, the resort’s Quick Service location (which is also the gift shop). Beach Club Marketplace It’s there you’ll find Gingerbread Shingles, this time decorated with the Yacht & Beach Club logo, or Disney Vacation Club logo (for the Beach Club Villas). Yacht & Beach Club Gingerbread Shingle Stollen Bread can be found here as well. Stollen Bread Here are some examples of the cute gingerbread houses that you can purchase at a few of the resort displays. Gingerbread House Gingerbread House Gingerbread Houses Mickey Butter Cookies and Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies are here, too. Mickey Butter Cookie and Gingerbread Snowflake Cookie Unique to the Beach Club are some of the characters you’ll find on their Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pops, like Ariel, reflecting the resort’s nautical theme. Ariel Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pops And here’s a guy you don’t see nearly enough of ‘round the holidays… Captain Hook! Captain Hook Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pops Tinkerbell and Olaf (What? No way! ) round out the batches. Tinkerbell Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pops Olaf Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pops I grabbed an Ariel Cookie Sandwich Pop to give it a go. Pretty cute, right? Ariel Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pop Ariel Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pop And it’s pretty much exactly what the name tells you: a chocolate and cream sandwich cookie covered with a thick layer of white chocolate. And I do mean thick — a little white chocolate goes a loooong way. It was so rich that I found this little treat to be a lot more filling than I expected. Ariel Chocolate-covered Cookie Sandwich Pop inside Be prepared to ring in the holiday sugar rush with one of these! And so it’s gingerbread all over the place here at Disney World… but let’s not forget to polish off what’s left of all that turkey in the meantime . Here’s hoping you had a very happy Thanksgiving, and a terrific start to the holiday season! Which Gingerbread treat would you like to pick up at the resort displays this year? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts: Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House2014 Gingerbread House Displays at Walt Disney WorldNews: Gingerbread House at Disneyland’s Grand Californian Debuting November 27thView the full article

The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the newest addition to the growing Disney Vacation Club portfolio at Walt Disney World Resort, offers Victorian elegance close to Magic...From:Disney ParksViews:907580ratingsTime:01:14More inTravel & Events

Ho Ho Ho! We’ve been offering you awesome savings on some of our most popular DFB Guides this weekend — but we aren’t finished yet! In honor of Cyber Monday, we’re bringing you another irresistible sale, just in time for your Disney Trip Planning and Gift Giving Needs! The DFB Guide & Snacks Bundle — 1/2 Off for Cyber MondayWe kicked off our holiday savings with a special 1/2 off deal on our most popular e-book, the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World. Use Promo Code TURKEYLEG to secure this great deal. And on Black Friday, we offered you everything — The Everything Bundle, that is — for 1/2 off! You can STILL take advantage of these savings with Promo Code Everything50 at checkout! Today, we’re bringing you great savings on our most popular combination of DFB Guides, the DFB Guide & Snacks Bundle. Normally, we offer this collection at an already low cost — nearly 40% off of the combined cover prices. But in honor of this, the biggest day of the year for online shopping, we’re saving you even more by offering you 1/2 off the Bundle price! In order to take advantage of these special, limited time savings, just use Promo Code Monday14! Our DFB Guide & Snacks Bundle includes all of the following: A Pre-Order of The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 Edition, Due Out Early Next Year — AND the 2014 Edition for FREE as an immediate downloadThe DFB Guide to Magic Kingdom SnacksThe DFB Guide to Epcot SnacksThe DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios SnacksWith this Bundle of e-books, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips to plan the best Disney World vacation ever. And with our handy e-book format, you can download the Guides to all of your electronic devices and take them with you wherever you go! Sample Page from the DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Snacks And don’t forget — pre-ordering the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 Edition, means that you’ll receive the 2014 Edition for free! That’s five great books for less than $20.00. Give Them the Gift of Disney Knowledge with Our DFB Guide Gift CertificatesIf you’d like to give this great deal as a gift to your Disney-loving friends and family, we have you covered there, too! Check out our line of DFB Guide Gift Certificates, available for our most popular Guides and Bundles! And you can enjoy the same great savings on the DFB Guide & Snacks Bundle Gift Certificate that we’re offering above! Just use Promo Code Monday14 and enjoy major savings on the Bundle when you give it as a gift! The DFB Snacks Bundle Gift Certificate We’ll only have this offer for a limited time, so be sure to take advantage of it before it’s gone! Give — and get! — the gift of great Disney Planning advice this Holiday Season. With our 100% money back guarantee that you’ll be satisfied, you have nothing to lose! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts: Disney Food Blog Cyber Monday Deals!!DFB Disney Dining Guide Independence Weekend Sale!DFB Black Friday Sale: Our Best Deal Ever!View the full article

The construction walls are down at long last, and Food Truck Park is open in Downtown Disney’s West Side! Learn About:Downtown Disney Food Trucks Downtown DisneyDisney World Restaurants Nestled between Bongos Cuban Cafe and the West Side Starbucks, Food Truck Park provides a home base for the four Disney Food Trucks. The cuisine of each food truck reflects that of a Disney Park, with Superstar Catering representing Hollywood Studios, and Namaste Cafe for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. World Showcase of Flavors bring tastes from Epcot’s annual International Food & Wine Festival to Disney guests year round, while Fantasy Fare features dishes from “Magic Kingdoms Around the World,” most notably the Hand-dipped Corn Dogs in honor of Disneyland. Originally slated to open this past summer, Food Truck Park is open at last! Entrance to Food Truck Park AtmosphereThe actuality of Food Truck Park differs somewhat from the original artistic renderings. Food Truck Park concept art The elevated structure that serves as a de facto entrance to the area was anticipated to provide raised seating that guests would reach via a glass elevator. Elevated structure What has come to pass (at least, at this point in time) is a bit more low-key, but still an attractive and open space providing nice waterfront views nonetheless. Food Truck Park Food Truck Park Food Truck Park Waterfront views View of Characters in Flight Balloon Standing tables abound, along with more traditional tables and chairs for those wishing to linger and relax awhile. Standing tables Standing table Tables with seating There are two cool bonuses, I think, that come along with this dedicated space for the food trucks. First, let’s say you were hoping to try the Dipping Safari at Namaste Cafe. Instead of searching high and low all over Downtown Disney for Namaste Cafe, your chance of locating it easily in a specific spot just got a lot higher. Superstar Catering and Namaste Cafe Of course, there is caveat to that statement: the trucks are mobile ;), and therefore still have the potential to be used in other areas — not only in Downtown Disney, but across Disney World. (For instance, while All Star Music’s Intermission Food Court has been undergoing a refurbishment, the Food Trucks have been used at that resort as an additional resource for meal options, including breakfast.) Even so, chances for finding a specific truck or dish have been raised significantly. For a reminder of the offerings, here are the current menus for the trucks: Disney Food Truck Menus — click to enlarge Second, it furthers the opportunity for Disney to partner with some local food trucks. On the day of my visit, I was happy to see that the fun Yum Yum Cupcake Truck was operating alongside three of the four Disney Food Trucks. (You may have come across Yum Yum at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex on occasion as well). The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck This past June, Downtown Disney hosted the “Trucks on the Town” event, featuring not only the four Disney Trucks, but also ten local truck eateries. It will definitely be interesting to see if other local trucks are hosted here in the future, since it’s a pretty cool opportunity for partnership. As was the case with the trucks previously, the operating hours of Food Truck Park will vary based on anticipated crowd levels at Downtown Disney, opening at either 1 pm or 4 pm most days. Closing time will remain consistent at 11 pm. The Disney Food Trucks accept the Disney Dining Plan. EatsNow, I couldn’t be surrounded by four food trucks and just walk away without a bite ;). I hadn’t had a chance to sample the current Superstar Catering menu, which was revamped earlier this summer from it’s original meatball sandwich variety concept. Superstar Catering is the truck which represents eats from Hollywood Studios, and I think the current menu is in better keeping with the park, featuring a Margherita Flatbread and Turkey Sausage Meatball Sub (nods to Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano), and the dish I chose: the Slow-cooked Pot Roast Sandwich (in honor of all the comfort food goodness at 50s Prime Time Cafe). Superstar Catering menu The Slow-cooked Pot Roast Sandwich is a generous (and I do mean generous — be sure to grab a fork!) serving of pot roast topped with caramelized onions and two slices of provolone cheese on a roll, served with a side of house made potato chips. Slow-cooked Pot Roast Sandwich Slow-cooked Pot Roast Sandwich First things first: the pot roast — it was great. Super tender and the good kind of stringy, with just enough gravy to provide an extra burst of beefy flavor without turning the sandwich into a sloppy mess. Pot Roast inside sandwich The provolone cheese and caramelized onions provided a philly-cheesteak twist on this comfort food classic, with the melted cheese serving as a great, gooey companion to the pot roast. Pot Roast and melted Provolone The roll, which I thought might be crusty and crumbly, was surprisingly soft. But the truth is that this sandwich was so huge that it was a bit hard to tackle, so I ended up eating the pot roast mostly on its own, and enjoying much of the gravy-infused bread after, like a dinner roll. I really enjoyed it, but due to the heartiness of the pot roast in combination with the rich cheese, I would opt to share this one in the future. OverallThe Disney Food Trucks made their debut almost exactly one year ago, and in that time they’ve showcased some tasty meals that provide hot food options in a grab-and-go fashion. Being scattered across Downtown Disney, though, they didn’t have much of a “place” — while that can certainly be taken in a literal sense , I mean it more in terms of establishing a developed identity in the Disney dining scene. Food Truck Park seems to have to the potential to provide some of that, while still offering the flexibility of sending the trucks out to other locations and also the chance to work with some local businesses. In any case, it’s great to see some of the construction walls come down at last as one of the first steps towards Downtown Disney’s ultimate transition into Disney Springs! Will you be visiting Food Truck Park in a future visit to Downtown Disney? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts: “Trucks on the Town” Food Truck Event Coming to Disney World’s Downtown Disney on June 21st!News! “Food Truck Park” Coming to Disney World’s Downtown Disney in Summer 2014News and Photo Tour! Starbucks at Downtown Disney’s West Side Is Now OpenView the full article

With Thanksgiving behind us, we’ll be diving into even more holiday goodies at Walt Disney World and Disneyland!! Autumn Cheesecake Of course, we just have to look one more time at some of the Fall treats that added colorful and tasty options to the bakery cases. One of our favorite stops recently — The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. We sampled two Autumn desserts, Check out the Chocolate Pecan Tart and Pumpkin Cheesecake! Visit the links below for more delicious tidbits! Disney Food NewsL’Artisan des Glaces in Epcot’s France pavilion is now offering a peppermint macaron ice cream sandwich with gingerbread ice cream.We have some delicious Fall treats for you from The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge!Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland debuted a new gingerbread house for this holiday season!Check out the new Big Hero 6 Teriyaki Street Dog and Coconut Milk Tea at Disneyland’s Award Wieners! Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including restaurant closures, and more! We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go. DFB Reader FindsIf you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or from Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday! After our Thanksgiving feasts, it’s time to look at some healthier options at Disney. First up, Cucumber Wraps aboard the Disney Fantasy courtesy of our Facebook Friend Narda. Cucumber Wraps Or how about some delicious fruit from ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World. Salwa, our Facebook Friend, sent in this photo. Yum! Fruit at ‘Ohana Have you enjoyed a favorite find? Send in your Disney food photos! DFB Black Friday Weekend SALE!When it came time to offer you something truly special for our Black Friday Sale, we couldn’t think of anything better…than giving you everything. Disney Food Blog Guidebooks And that’s why we’re announcing that, for this weekend, you can purchase the DFB Everything Bundle for 1/2 off the already deeply discounted price! Just enter code Everything50 at the check-out. What does the Everything Bundle include? The name says it all — Everything! When you purchase the DFB Everything Bundle, you get all of the following DFB Guides: A Pre-Order of The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 Edition, Due Out Early Next Year — AND the 2014 Edition for FREE as an immediate downloadThe 2014 DFB Guide to Magic Kingdom SnacksThe 2014 DFB Guide to Epcot SnacksThe 2014 DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios SnacksA Pre-Order of the 2015 DFB Guide to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and the 2014 Edition for FREE as an immediate downloadThe 2014 DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World HolidaysDFB Dining AdventuresThat’s every single book in our collection of critically-acclaimed DFB Guides. And with these handy, e-book format guides at your fingertips, there’s nothing that you won’t know about food at Walt Disney World! The DFB Everything Bundle is already a terrific bargain at 40% off the individual prices of the books. But for this weekend, you can pick up the entire collection for 1/2 off the regular Bundle price. That’s nine books for less than $30.00! To take advantage of this amazing deal, just enter Promo Code Everything50 at checkout! With a 100% 30-day, money-back guarantee on all of our guides, you have nothing to lose! Thanks for your support of the DFB!Apple to Apples Disney version On to the Round-Up!Mickey Fix gears up for family night with a Disney Apples to Apples game. Beware the poison apple! Walt Disney World for Grown Ups announces the opening of the Downtown Disney Food Truck Park. Part of the Disney Springs expansion in Orlando! (We’ll have a review Monday!) Gorillas Don’t Blog highlights Cafe Orleans in Disneyland. Great pictures from 1976! Daveland takes a vintage look at The French Market in Disneyland. AllEars spotlights Disney matchbooks from the 1970s and 1980s. Love the restaurants like Rose & Crown that are depicted! Disney Parks Blog showcases the amazing chefs at Hong Kong Disneyland. We love how they take food as art to a whole new level! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts: Disney Food Post Round-Up: November 23, 2014Disney Food Post Round-Up: November 2, 2014Disney Food Post Round-Up: November 16, 2014View the full article

Well, we’ve officially arrived at the busiest season of the year, as we sit nestled right between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Still in need of some great gift ideas? If so, our friends at MickeyFix.com likely have just the thing for the Disney fan in your life (or the one in your mirror ). In fact, they spend all year scoping out the most fun Disney finds around… Take a look! While nothing exactly replicates the feeling of eating popcorn on Main Street, U.S.A., this Mickey Popcorn Popper may well provide the next best thing! Mickey Mouse Popcorn Popper And ditto for this Classic Mickey Waffle Iron, for those days you don’t happen to wake up at Pop Century or Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker This Disney Sketchbook Serveware features Mickey Mugs, Minnie Mugs, a serving bowl, and a platter available for individual purchase. They’re so reasonably priced that you could get the whole kit and caboodle for one person, or divide it among several recipients. It’s a gift and a drawing lesson all in one! Disney Sketchbook Platter Here’s a few points for us for mentioning something as healthy as apples in a post … Did you know there is a Disney version of the Apples to Apples Card Game, perfect for playing with the kiddos? Apple to Apples Disney version But we’ve gotta get some starches in, too, while we’re at it. And the Captain America Potato Head does the trick just fine… Captain America Potato Head Sure, there’s the famous Siren Mermaid found at Disney Starbucks locations like Main Street Bakery, Fountain View, and Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, but Disney fans often have a different Little Mermaid spring to mind. How about paying tribute to her with this Little Mermaid Ariel and Flounder Tee? Ariel and Flounder T-shirt It’s GO TIME, people. So game on… and Happy Shopping! Do any of these items fit the Disney fan in your life? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts: Disney Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Great Gift Ideas!Disney Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Disney Mug-a-Palooza!Disney Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Star Wars Kitchen GoodiesView the full article

One of our favorite sweet spots year-round is L’Artisan des Glaces in Epcot’s France pavilion at Walt Disney World. Learn About:L'Artisan des Glaces Epcot RestaurantsDisney World Restaurants They’re always dreaming up awesome new treats that incorporate their fresher-than-fresh ice cream and sorbets. With decadent eats throughout the year (Ice Cream Martini!!) and specialty items for holidays, L’Artisan continually surprises us with house-made ice cream concoctions. And now for the 2014 holidays, L’Artisan has unveiled a new Peppermint Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich! This lovely treat is made with their very own peppermint ice cream. Holiday Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwich And don’t forget to indulge in their gingerbread ice cream this season as well — part of Epcot’s Holidays Around the World! Is L’Artisan des Glaces on your list of must-stop places while in Epcot? Let us know your favorite treats in the comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts: Review: NEW Vanilla Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich at L’Artisan des Glaces in Epcot’s FranceFirst Look! Pumpkin Spice Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich Debuts in Epcot’s FranceReview: New Chocolate Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich at L’Artisan des Glaces in EpcotView the full article

Teen-Directed Film ‘Sock’ Takes Disney Side To Theaters Disney's Yellow Shoes is sharing the second of 3 short films as a part of the “Direct Your Disney Side” project, which is titled “Sock” by Jack Vinetz. How do you show your Disney Side?...From:Disney ParksViews:4545122ratingsTime:01:31More inTravel & Events View the full article

Our Learn to Draw animation series continues this week with a lesson on how to draw one of our newest Disney sidekicks – Baymax from “Big Hero 6!” Come draw your favorite Disney characters:...From:Disney ParksViews:6814148ratingsTime:14:33More inTravel & Events

Whew! I hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving Day yesterday! But today feels kind of like a sit-around-the-house-and-plan-a-Disney-trip kind of day, so it’s time to carry on the holiday weekend with a little more celebrating… . Check out our biggest DFB Guide Discount EVER! The DFB Everything Bundle — Half Off This WeekendWhen it came time to offer you something truly special for our Black Friday Sale, we couldn’t think of anything better…than giving you everything. Disney Food Blog Guidebooks And that’s why we’re announcing that, for this weekend, you can purchase the DFB Everything Bundle for 1/2 off the already deeply discounted price! Just enter code Everything50 at the check-out. What does the Everything Bundle include? The name says it all — Everything! When you purchase the DFB Everything Bundle, you get all of the following DFB Guides: A Pre-Order of The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 Edition, Due Out Early Next Year — AND the 2014 Edition for FREE as an immediate downloadThe 2014 DFB Guide to Magic Kingdom SnacksThe 2014 DFB Guide to Epcot SnacksThe 2014 DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios SnacksA Pre-Order of the 2015 DFB Guide to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and the 2014 Edition for FREE as an immediate downloadThe 2014 DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World HolidaysDFB Dining AdventuresThat’s every single book in our collection of critically-acclaimed DFB Guides. And with these handy, e-book format guides at your fingertips, there’s nothing that you won’t know about food at Walt Disney World! Holiday Guide! The DFB Everything Bundle is already a terrific bargain at 40% off the individual prices of the books. But for this weekend, you can pick up the entire collection for 1/2 off the regular Bundle price. That’s nine books for less than $30.00! To take advantage of this amazing deal, just enter Promo Code Everything50 at checkout! Want to Be Super Popular With All of Your Disney-Loving Friends and Family This Season? Give Them the Everything Bundle as a Gift!Giving the gift of Disney food knowledge has never been easier than it is with our DFB Guide Gift Certificates. And right now, you can also enjoy the same half off deal on our Everything Bundle Gift Certificate! Just enter Promo Code Everything50 at checkout! DFB Everything Bundle Gift Certificate Yep — today’s a plan-a-Disney-trip kind of day. Sounds just about perfect. ;-D So what are you waiting for? Start clicking away and take care of everyone on your shopping list while enjoying your turkey leftovers, and without the hassle of fighting the crowds! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts: Memorial Day Sale! DFB Disney World Dining Guidebook Discounts — Limited Time!Father’s Day Sale! DFB Disney World Dining Guidebook Discounts — Limited Time!Bundles of Savings: Epcot Food and Wine Festival Midpoint Sale!View the full article

See how Disneyland Resort Hotel Programs Coordinator Dave Lay and his team leads hotel guests through these one-of-a-kind activities in this “Every Role a Starring Role!” http://di.sn/qvo...From:Disney ParksViews:579391ratingsTime:02:21More inTravel & Events

Each year, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, Disney cast members donate canned food to Community Action Partnership Orange County --the food drive has amounted to nearly 15000 pounds of food...From:Disney ParksViews:188315ratingsTime:00:16More inTravel & Events

Since 1955, Disney Parks and Resorts have been places where guests can create memorable experiences with their friends and families. Immersive dining experiences have become an integral part of the storytelling and guest experience. Disney chefs across the world create meals for guests with careful attention to detail. The talented chefs at Hong Kong Disneyland have recently proven themselves to be international culinary leaders. The wide range of dishes prepared by Hong Kong Disneyland chefs showcase their diverse culinary talents. They are able to cook delicious American meals, South Asian cuisine and even Halal-certified and vegetarian options. The chefs at the award-winning Crystal Lotus restaurant in the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel can even create dishes from four major culinary regions of China: Sichuan, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong. The chefs at Hong Kong Disneyland have boosted the resort’s reputation for its culinary excellence. A team of chefs led by Hong Kong Disneyland won the world-renowned Salon Culinaire Mondial last year. This western cuisine competition is held every six years in Basel, Switzerland and measures culinary art at the topmost level. Also, two young chefs from Hong Kong Disneyland won the 2013 International Young Chef Challenge in Korea. Not only do these chefs cook excellent meals at the park, they use their time and culinary talent to serve people in the community. Through a partnership with Hong Kong’s leading hunger relief charity, Foodlink, the Hong Kong Disneyland chefs donate surplus food to those in need. Since the program began in December 2013, Hong Kong Disneyland has collected more than 11 tons of safe-to-eat excess food from its hotel and restaurants. Chefs volunteer their personal time and use surplus ingredients to make delicious meals which are then delivered to underserved children and families in nearby communities in Hong Kong each week. We are thrilled to have such talented chefs at Hong Kong Disneyland! Learn More About The Talented Hong Kong Disneyland Chefs by Pam Brandon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott repeatedly thwarted Florida's open-records law by discussing state business on a private Gmail account and not releasing the records to the public, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. View the full article

Recently, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) was thrilled to announce its 2014 grant recipients. With this announcement DWCF surpassed $25 million awarded to nonprofits working to conserve wildlife and connect kids and families with nature. As we enter a season full of thanks and giving for many, we want to take a moment to thank you! Matched by Disney, your contributions to DWCF at Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club, are directly contributing to protecting animals and their habitats, and helping children all over the world have nature experiences. Not only do we thank you, the grant recipients thank you as well. Here are a few notes from recipients expressing gratitude for the conservation efforts made possible by your contributions. The Marine Mammal Center: Mahalo!!! This is such wonderful news – especially as we just celebrated the opening and blessing of the new Hawaiian monk seal hospital and were joined by 150 members of the community, government, funders, and volunteers in Kona last week. And as we just sent off the first four young Hawaiian monk seal patients healthy back to the ocean – before our facility was built these four seals would have been left with no hope of survival. It is an exciting time of hope and possibility in the recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal. Thank you so much for your support! Project: Hawaiian Monk Seal Healthcare Project The Purple Martin Conservation Association: This is most wonderful news and on behalf of our purple martin conservation team we express our deep thanks for your support of our project. We look forward to working together with Disney to make important progress in the conservation of declining populations of purple martins. Project: Connecting Songbird Conservation Across Hemispheres SAVE THE FROGS!: This is amazing news! Thank you so much to you all and to Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund for your support of our amphibian conservation programs in West Africa. Project: Saving Ghana’s Endangered Squeaker Frog The Jane Goodall Institute: Thank you so much for this wonderful news. Having Disney’s support of the Jane Goodall Institute and our Mandrill Reintroduction Project is greatly appreciated. Releasing rehabilitated mandrills back into the wild is so important, not only for the individuals themselves, but also for the surrounding ecosystem. They are important contributors to their local biodiversity and their presence has a positive spillover effect on other threatened wildlife. Again, thank you to everyone at Disney for your support. Project: Release of Wild Born Mandrills Sea to Shore Alliance: Thank you so much to all of you at DWCF for this fantastic news! We are extremely honored to be funded for the seventh year in a row, and we know our African manatee collaborators, whose projects benefit so greatly from your grants, are very grateful as well. We look forward to sharing more news and photos with you soon. Project: African Manatee Research and Conservation Every $1 in guest donations is matched by The Walt Disney Company and awarded to nonprofits to support conservation projects around the world. By contributing to the DWCF, guests are making a meaningful difference in conserving species all over the world. To see more projects visit Disney.com/conservation and click on the Google Earth application. Happy Holidays! Special Edition Wildlife Wednesday: What Are We Thankful For? You! – Thank You for Contributing to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund! by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D.: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

A winter storm, dumping snow and sleet across the Northeast today, may cause major delays for folks flying in and out of Orlando International Airport on one of the busiest travel days of the year. View the full article

Forty-four people were arrested during a second, calmer night of demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri, after a grand jury declined to indict a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager in August, police said early on Wednesday. View the full article

Today, we have a real treat for you. It’s time to highlight a special dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse. Learn About: Yachtsman SteakhouseDisney World RestaurantsThis signature dining spot, located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, offers up a full array of classic steakhouse fare. But you’ll also find innovative dishes with an emphasis on using seasonal ingredients. While we often find our favorites still on the menu during a visit, we can always count on some surprises. We had the pleasure of dining there with some friends on a recent trip, and I just had to share with you a glimpse of our special meal. 32 Ounce Porterhouse for Two at Yachtsman SteakhouseI always enjoy a visit to Yachtsman Steakhouse. (Check out this dinner review of a full meal we enjoyed here recently.) While the atmosphere isn’t particularly inspired, we’ve had some truly amazing meals here! A quick look at the menu will show you what I mean about the combination of steakhouse-classics-meets-seasonally-inspired fare. And notice the emphasis on Charcuterie — something we’re seeing in other signature restaurants like California Grill as well. Menu — Click to Enlarge But even though it’s tough to make a choice from all of those steaks, we were after just one thing: the 32 Ounce Porterhouse for Two. After we placed our order, we were surprised with an Amuse Bouche — this Savory Mickey Waffle! This had to be just about the most adorable started to a meal, ever. The Sweet Potato Waffle was delicious, and I loved all of the little touches on the plate. An Amuse Bouche Featuring a Savory Mickey Waffle Soon, however, we were ready to dig into the main course — that beautiful Porterhouse! It’s presented tableside already cut into pieces. I thought this was a great touch, and made sharing a much neater situation. You can see that the meat was cooked to the medium rare temperature that we requested. In fact, it was a little on the rare side. The dry-aging process lends complexity and depth to the flavor and makes the meat very tender. The steak comes with plenty more to share as well, including the Trio of Classic Steakhouse Sides: creamed spinach, mushrooms, and onions. 32 Ounce Porterhouse for Two with Trio of Classic Steakhouse Sides And I couldn’t help but order the killer Potato Gratin…because I super needed more food, right? Potatoes and a combination of Parmigiano-Reggiano and Gruyere Cheeses. You just can’t turn that down. Potato Gratin Basically, this is a family-style meal of the highest caliber for two people. And the Garlic Butter! How have I not mentioned it yet? Of course, it lent incredible richness and flavor to the dish. This whole deal won’t likely do any favors for your cholesterol levels, but it sure will wow the rest of you. A Closer Look at the Trio of Classic Steakhouse Sides With its steep price tag, it is a bit of a splurge…but I’d say it’s well in line with the other menu items here. And it’s a great way to go if you and your dining partner are of one mind when it comes to ordering! (On the other hand, ordering two different things means lots more variety…) What do you think of sharing the 32 Ounce Porterhouse for Two? Leave a comment and tell us if you’d enjoy this classic steakhouse meal! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: Review: Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club ResortNew Entrees Debut at Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club ResortGuest Review: Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort View the full article

Members of the College Football Playoff selection committee debated the merits of Florida State's performance so far this season, but feel the Seminoles deserves to remain among the top four teams in the latest rankings. View the full article

A Coast Guard plane touched down in Orlando at dusk Tuesday, hauling a cargo of the world's rarest sea turtles, rescued by volunteers from the lethally chilly waters and beaches of Cape Cod Bay. View the full article

What do you get when you combine Christmas lights and neon lights? The holidays in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park! Radiator Springs is aglow with the twinkle of the season as residents have decorated their businesses along Route 66. Showing that you don’t have to be fancy to be festive, even Mater’s junkyard sparkles. And across the street, Sarge puts the spirit in the season with a patriotic display that guarantees fireworks every night. Luigi’s Casa della Tires and Ramone’s House of Body Art shine against the beautiful backdrop of Ornament Valley. What is your favorite holiday display in Cars Land? Holidays Shine Bright in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park by Erin Glover: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

It's time to give thanks for all the things that make Central Florida such a great place to live. View the full article

When paramedics found 3-year-old Charlie Brame at her Orlando home Sunday, she had bruises on her back and head, signs of sexual abuse and she could barely breathe. View the full article

Apopka will block several roads Wednesday afternoon to make way for the funeral procession of longtime Mayor John Land. View the full article