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Remember those good ol’ days at Disney World? ©Orlando Weekly When you ask any Disney World fan about their favorite memories, you’ll most likely hear about classic rides, magical characters, and unforgettable experiences. But what about the things that used to be normal at Disney World in the past that would seem downright BIZARRE today? To that point, we wanted to get your thoughts on some of the things you’d never believe used to be normal in Disney World! We reached out to our followers on Facebook to ask: “What old Disney World trends, rides, or experiences just sound BIZARRE when you look back on them now?” We had quite a few people leave their opinions in the comments! What do you think? Now, let’s dive into the top responses! It’s Tough to be a Bug Yep, you read that right. “It’s Tough to be a Bug” hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows for everyone. Apparently, this 3D show scared the living daylights out of quite a few little (and maybe not-so-little) parkgoers! Let’s have a look at your responses: “It’s a bugs life show(it’s tough to be a bug) still traumatized to this day. I mean really what the h*** was that?” “worked there for a year, soooo many people departed it traumatized!” “I know I hated that thing, and it scared the c*** out of my son when he was little! I think they could put something better in there!” “Every time we see this, I do my best villain cackle because parents don’t realize how scary it is for kiddos! Wicked, I know, but I can’t help it! I feel so sorry for the littles that are screaming in fear. I’m so sad it is going, but can’t wait for Zootopia!” It’s Tough To Be a Bug As you can see, this ride has been infamous for leaving a lasting impression…but not necessarily a good one. ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter Ready for this one?! Enter the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. This attraction aimed to be a genuinely scary experience and featured a rogue alien escaping its confinement. Apparently, it succeeded a little too well, leaving both kids and adults traumatized. Let’s have a look at your responses: “I don’t remember the name but that alien escaping 4D show. Scared me as a kid! Hearing the Alien breathe down my back” “I hated that attraction!! It was traumatizing and I have never done stitch’s escape because of the alien terrorestrial ride!” “this was a terrifying attraction. And I was an adult! ” “ExtraTERRORestrial. I’m so sad I never got to experience it even tho I would’ve HATED it.” Alien Encounter ©Disney This attraction sounds like it was something straight out of a horror movie. While some regret missing out, many are happy this ride is a relic of the past. Ride Tickets Do you remember those booklets filled with A, B, C, D, and E tickets? To the uninitiated, they may seem like a strange relic now, but they were once the way Disney managed ride lines. Let’s have a look at one of your responses: “Ride tickets. Every hour or so you had to go to a ticket booth to take more rides, even though you had three or four ‘A’ tickets left in your book.The only thing I miss from the tickets was the Jungle Cruise Skipper saying “This is an ‘E’ ticket attraction, ‘E’ as in Euripides, and that’s what you do. Euripides tickets out of the book and give them to me.” Ride Tickets We’re not saying that the current system at Disney World is perfect (*AHEM* Genie+), but could you imagine having the hassle of having to trek to a ticket booth every hour or so? Genie+ Speaking of Genie+, it’s a hot topic. The concept of having to pay extra on top of your park ticket to access a system of shorter wait times is a definite point of contention. Let’s have a look at your responses: “Genie+ is the most bizarre. Purchase a ticket to get in the park, then you still need to purchase genie+ and tickets for each ride you want to guarantee a ride on… and and competing to ride a ride using the virtual queues system. Too expensive anymore. Seems like we’re back to the A-E ride ticket system.!!! Bizarre!!!!” Genie+ As you can see, some see the current system as similar to the old ticket system, which makes us wonder if Genie+ be another bizarre memory we laugh about in the future? Those were just some of your thoughts on some of the things you’d never believe used to be normal in Disney World, and we’d love to find out more from you! Until then, keep it right here for all the latest Disney news! And follow us on Facebook to join in on the next discussion. Disney Adults Are Revealing the Park Hacks They Didn’t Learn Until NOW 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 some of the things you’d never believe used to be normal in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! The post You'd Never Believe These Things Used To Be NORMAL in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have some great news for D23 Members! ©Disney D23 is Disney’s official fan club. While there’s a free membership option that comes with a few perks, you can also pay for a D23 Gold Membership for access to special events, merchandise, discounts, and more. If you’re heading to Disney World soon as a D23 member, there are some new discounts you don’t want to miss! D23 Gold Members can save up to 20% off their stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel! ©Disney The deal extends to Walt Disney World’s Swan Hotel and Swan Reserve, too! That means D23 Gold Members can save up to 20% on their hotel stay, expiring April 30th, 2025. You can book the deal over the phone by calling 1-800-227-1500 or redeem your offer online. ©Disney Over at Coronado Springs Resort, D23 Gold Members can save up to 10% off their meal at Maya Grill, expiring April 15th, 2025. ©Disney During our last visit to Maya Grill, we tried the Queso Fundido, Birria Lamb Enchiladas, and the Chicken Mole. Read our full review HERE. Queso Fundido You’ve got just under a year to take advantage of these deals, so keep them in mind while you’re working on planning your next trip! Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney World news! Get our full guide to planning your Disney World trip here! 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 discount are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments! The post NEW Disney World Hotel Discounts Revealed for D23 Gold Members first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers out there! Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Being a Mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world, and that can be increased tenfold when you’re on a Disney World vacation. Tensions can run high as the temperatures climb, rides will close and mess up your plans for the day, and you’re trying to make sure everyone has the best vacation they can. We found something that can make one part of your vacation easier though, so don’t pass by this the next time you’re in Magic Kingdom! If your child has ever begged for a big old Disney World lollipop (you know, the kind with the rainbow swirl, oozing with sticky sugar and food coloring), only to take approximately five licks before being done, then you NEED to see what we found in Magic Kingdom recently. Those lollipops aren’t cheap, after all, and we hate to toss them after just a few minutes. Lollipop at Main Street Confectionery Disney thinks of EVERYTHING! Check out this Lollipop Saver we found in Magic Kingdom! You can get it for $10.99 at The Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. Lollipop Saver This plastic container can be put around any lollipop 4 oz. or smaller! It’ll keep your bag from getting all sticky while you wait for your little one to want it again — and also keep you from wasting money. Plus, it’s reusable! This is SUPER helpful! And with its shape, it can fit a few different-shaped 4 oz lollipops, too! This souvenir is what we like to call a major game changer, so if you’re traveling with someone who adores lollipops, be sure you pick up one of these to rescue those sweets! Main Street USA Speaking of sweets, there are a TON of great treats at the Main Street Confectionery next door. We recently tried a seasonal popcorn snack — read the full review HERE! Freeze dried Skittles rice crispy treat If you go into this shop with a little one, be prepared. You may LITERALLY see what it’s like to be a kid in a candy store. A Word of WARNING About Disney World’s Newest Snack Looking for more recent Magic Kingdom news? We’ve got you covered! More Magic Kingdom News! DON’T FREAK OUT — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Just Took a MAJOR Step Towards Opening!Why We’re Worried About One MISSING Part of the Haunted Mansion in Disney World3 Disney World Rides Will Be Closed for Refurbishment in May 2024LAST CALL For Beignets At Magic Kingdom! REVIEW: Disney Keeps Putting Skittles on Cake but This Time It Really WORKS! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! This is our ULTIMATE guide for going to Magic Kingdom in 2024! 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 other souvenir has been a lifesaver for you and your family? Tell us in the comments! The post This Is Every Mom’s FAVORITE New Souvenir in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve all done it: who among us has NOT stood in a long line at Starbucks at Disney World? China Pavilion at EPCOT Whether we’re visiting Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom, Trolley Car Cafe in Hollywood Studios, Connections Cafe in EPCOT, or Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom, sometimes we just need our Starbucks fix. In the summer, we like to go for a Starbucks Refresher, and recently, we even tried one of the NEW menu additions, the Summer-Berry Starbucks Refresher. Well, we now know where to get something almost IDENTICAL WITHOUT the long line. So, a little background. When we tried the new Summer-Berry Starbucks Refresher, we thought it tasted a lot like Berry Kool-Aid or even sort of like a Jolly Rancher, and we LOVED it. Summer Berry Refresher Well, we just found a DUPE in the most unexpected place — the China Pavilion at EPCOT. We were checking out some new merchandise at House of Good Fortune and came across a Mixed Berries Black Tea Drink with Pomegranate Popping Boba in a can. We just HAD to try it out! Mixed Berries Black Tea Y’all — this tastes JUST like the Summer Berry Refresher. It’s got that Kool-Aid or Jolly Rancher berry flavor, but then the finish is slightly herbal from the tea, but the tea flavor isn’t overwhelming. So it’s like the Starbucks drink, but you also get a hint of tea, which gives us a hit of caffeine! So it serves as a great afternoon pick-me-up, too. A Starbucks dupe! The downside is that this isn’t served on ice, but it’s easy to walk up to the refrigerator in the store, grab a can, check out quickly, and drink it while it’s still cold. It’s located in the back of the shop, which also has a check-out where there is rarely a line. Really, our only complaint is that the boba is a little squishier because it’s been in the liquid longer inside the can, but it’s so nice to be able to grab a quick drink when we’re walking through the China Pavilion. Boba So basically, if you want fresh boba, go to Starbucks and stand in line. If you just want a refreshing caffeinated drink, go to the China Pavilion. Stay tuned to DFB for more. WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! Ultimate Guide To The Best Snacks At 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 Are you a fan of Starbucks’ new refresher drink? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments! The post Wait. This Secret EPCOT China Pavilion Treat Tastes Oddly Similar to a Popular New Starbucks Drink 🤨 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

For most people, rope-dropping a Disney World park means making a beeline for a popular ride. But in EPCOT, we’ve got a surprising spot at the top of our priority list! France Pavilion In Disney terminology “rope-dropping” means being at the park right when it opens. Usually, guests at the park for rope drop will use this time to head straight for one of the most popular rides, with the hope of getting in line before the wait times climb super high. But hear us out — in EPCOT, there’s a restaurant you might want to rope drop instead of an attraction! Yes, you might think we sound a little rogue telling you to rope-drop a restaurant in EPCOT when there are several great rides to get to first. Test Track, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Frozen Ever After make it a tough decision where to go right when you get in the park. But listen, there’s a secret place you’re not rope-dropping, but you should be. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Between the wide variety of restaurants around the World Showcase and the seasonal treats that are available at the food booths during festivals, there’s a TON of great food in EPCOT. But even with so many delicious options to choose from, we still have some favorite spots that stand out above the rest! Macaron Christmas Tree One of our go-to places in EPCOT is Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, a bakery in the France Pavilion that offers tons of both sweet and savory treats. Les Halles Les Halles has a huge selection of options, including fresh pastries, sandwiches, soups, and desserts. We recently tried the Patisserie a L’abricot! It’s a lightly toasted croissant that has a sweet and buttery inside with a sliced apricot on either side topped with powdered sugar. There are tons of delicious pastries at Les Halles, but this flakey and fruity croissant is a great option. Patisserie a L’abricot It’s also the home of one of the best “bang for your buck” snacks in Disney World — a whole baguette for less than $4! Baguette from Les Halles And while most of the World Showcase doesn’t open until 11AM, Les Halles is one of the few World Showcase locations that opens at the same time as the rest of EPCOT. That means it’s the perfect time to swing by to grab breakfast — those fresh pastries are calling our name! LOTS to Pick From Since much of the World Showcase is still closed at rope drop, lots of guests don’t even realize that Les Halles is open in the morning. So if you do rope drop this spot, you’ll probably get a WAY shorter line than if you visit later in the day! Mid-Day Les Halles Crowd! Between the super-low crowds and excellent breakfast options, Les Halles is one of our favorite underrated rope-dropping spots! Quiche Lorraine Check out a few of our recent reviews from Les Halles below! Ranking EVERY Menu Item at Les Halles in EPCOT REVIEW: There’s a NEW Treat at Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie in EPCOT! Review: I Ordered the CHEAPEST Meal in EPCOT — Here’s What I Loved About It As always, we’ll continue to share our favorite Disney World hacks to make your next vacation even more magical, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates! I Was a Disney World Cast Member, and I’m Revealing the SECRETS I Have Stored in My Phone 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 favorite spot to head for rope drop in EPCOT? Share with us in the comments! The post The One Restaurant You Need to Rope Drop in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, Disney, alright, already. We’ve been getting all these updates about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World…but we’re still reeling after a BIG announcement was possibly leaked EARLY. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the BIG new attraction opening SOON in Magic Kingdom. We’ve seen some of the INCREDIBLE animatronics that will be featured on the ride. We’ve even seen Imagineers testing the ride. But up until now, all we’ve known is that the ride is opening in summer 2024. Well, summer is here, and we think Disney could be revealing big news about the ride TONIGHT, May 12th. Disney has teased that it will be making a “special announcement” TONIGHT during Disney Night on American Idol on ABC at 8PM EST. The company added the special announcement will be coming “as we gear up to celebrate the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World.” ©Disney We also learned that Jennifer Lewis, aka Mama Odie, will be appearing on American Idol tonight to sing “Dig A Little Deeper.” Can it get more iconic than that? You’ll want to tune in to the show JUST for that appearance, right? Grammy winner Terrance Blanchard, who was a musician for both The Princess and the Frog and collaborator on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will be joining Lewis on stage with his trumpet. ©Disney The episode will kick off in Disneyland in California while the top five American Idol finalists head to Disney World to prepare for their Disney Night performances.to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to make memories and prepare for their Disney Night performances. ©Disney So, what’s the big announcement? Disney (likely accidentally) dropped the opening date for the ride this morning (we spotted a press release revealing a June 28th opening date — mark your calendars), so we’re not sure if this special announcement is related to that or something else. We are still waiting for early preview dates, too, so there are still plenty of details left to uncover. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue! Recently, we saw Disney World testing the on-ride photo for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, so we knew we were getting “closer and closer every day” to finally getting a chance to take a ride through the Louisiana Bayou with Tiana and friends. We are SO ready! Imagineers testing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure We’ll be keeping an eye out for that special announcement, so if you can’t tune into ABC tonight, be sure to follow DFB for more details and ALL the big Disney news. We Saw the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Animatronics IN PERSON — and We’ve Got SECRETS To Share! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be heading to Disney World to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure on opening day? Let us know in the comments! The post We’re Expecting Disney To Confirm Some BIG Tiana’s Bayou Adventure News TONIGHT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We still don’t have a lot of details about this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, but one thing we do know: We expect it to be VERY different this year. 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival For starters, Disney has moved the first date of the festival back to August 29th, which was around the time the festival started BEFORE 2020. However, we think this year’s festival is going to bring three BIG changes and we want to prepare you for those ahead of time because they will matter. CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza The biggest change coming to this year’s festival is CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, two new areas in EPCOT that have been constructed to act as additional venues for festivals. These venues will serve as a new “home base” for EPCOT’s festivals and live events. So what does that mean? ©Disney CommuniCore Plaza is an outdoor space with a stage, so we could see some festival entertainment here! CommuniCore Plaza ©Disney However, it’s the addition of CommuniCore Hall that could change things the most. It was built just FOR festival programming, meaning we might see the return of food demonstrations and seminars, including those with celebrity chefs. That could affect your pocketbook because some of those experiences do cost an additional fee. CommuniCore Hall — In Progress, April 2024 We also believe both of these spaces will act as a more centralized area for festival merchandise, including celebrity chef cookbooks. We still expect to see merchandise kiosks throughout World Showcase, but we expect there will be even more merchandise to spend money on this year. 13 Essentials for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival A Bigger Festival With these new additions, we expect this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival to be bigger than ever, with more locations and many more events. That means you might need to adjust your trip plans to stay longer in Disney World to spend several days just at the festival because there will be a lot to see and do. This year’s festival could be a lot bigger Of course, needing a longer trip could also mean spending more money on a trip or ditching visiting other parks and focusing your trip more on EPCOT. How Much Will a Day at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival REALLY Cost in 2024? More crowds Because this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is shorter than in previous years AND bigger, well, we expect to see each day of the festival be more crowded. That’s because there will be less time for you to do everything you want, especially when there will probably be more stuff TO DO this year. Expect crowds EVERY day of the festival With the longer festival, we’ll admit we enjoyed days when EPCOT wasn’t too busy, but we think every day of the festival this year could bring in a lot of people. So prepare for crowds if you’ll be visiting the festival. Disney Drastically SHORTENED the 2024 Food & Wine Festival, and We Think We Know Why So if you will be attending this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, you’ll have to keep in mind that it’s probably changing quite a bit this year. Of course, we’ll be giving you all our best tips and tricks on how best to navigate the festival, so stay tuned to DFB for more. The ONLY EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Guide You Need To Read in 2024 IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Insider Tips for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival What to Pack in Your Park Bag for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Food and Wine Festival 101 Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! So will you be attending the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival this year? What do you think of these big changes? Let us know in the comments! The post We Expect 3 Major Changes at the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, and They Matter More Than You Think first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We went INSIDE Tokyo Disney’s newest land – Fantasy Springs – and we’re bringing you along with us to be one of the first to experience this massive park expansion. Hey, Maximus! Brand new rides with jaw dropping ride tech, wildly immersive theming, and roast beef popcorn – you don’t want to miss this! Check out our video below: INSIDE Disney’s BRAND NEW Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disney  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 Disney 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 are you most excited about in the Fantasy Springs expansion? Let us know in the comments! The post DFB Video: INSIDE Disney's BRAND NEW Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, this is interesting. Model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the 2022 D23 Expo For MONTHS, we’ve been watching all of the progress happening in Magic Kingdom as Splash Mountain is transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. We’ve been watching for updates about the ride’s animatronics, eagerly awaiting the chance to smell beignets in the queue(!!), and sharing the latest news with you. Disney already announced that the ride would be opening in Magic Kingdom in the summer of 2024, but then we got a SURPRISE announcement. Disney shared a press release stating that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open in Magic Kingdom on June 28th, 2024. The news came early on the morning of May 12th, but here’s where things get interesting. Before dropping the press release, Disney teased a “special announcement as we gear up to celebrate the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World!” There’s a “Disney Night” episode of American Idol premiering May 12th at 8PM ET on ABC. ©Disney But shortly after sharing that press release with the opening date, Disney took down the announcement. So…did Disney accidentally reveal the opening date EARLY? The press release dateline reads “(TBA, 2024),” which leads us to believe that this was NOT ready for the public to see. Screen Shot of Press Release From Disney Press Website And here’s the “after” screenshot of the same page. Disney has announced things mistakenly before, and this is usually the process in place. Press Release Removed From Press Website So, I guess we’re gonna wait and see what’s announced on American Idol tonight and hope it’s the OFFICIAL official opening date! We’re Expecting Disney To Confirm Some BIG Tiana’s Bayou Adventure News TONIGHT Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a Princess and the Frog re-theme of Splash Mountain. The ride will pick up after the Princess and the Frog movie, where you will “join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.” ©Disney During the ride, look out for Princess Tiana in a NEW look, and you’ll see other characters, like Eudora, Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” the King and Queen of Maldonia, Prince Naveen, Louis, Mama Odie, and even Prince Ralphie (Naveen’s brother). ©Disney For more Tiana news, see our stories below: FIRST LOOK at NEW Tiana Animatronic for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure The ONE Thing That’ll SHOCK You About Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World Splash Mountain vs. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: HUGE Changes After One Year Disney Imagineer Comments on What Comes After the Drop at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure To learn more about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, click here! Stay tuned for more 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 Will you be at Magic Kingdom on the ride’s opening day? Tell us in the comments! The post BREAKING: Did Disney Just Announce The Tiana's Bayou Adventure Opening Date...By Mistake? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let me tell you something. I like to sleep in. I like soft beds, dark rooms, and warm drinks. Do you know what I don’t like? Alarm clocks. Crowds. Rushing around. General chaos. ESPECIALLY on vacation. But when you’re spending all that money on Magic Kingdom park tickets, is it really right to snooze through valuable park time? I’m not a morning person If you hate chaotic mornings in Magic Kingdom but still want to make the most of your time in Disney World, you’re not alone. Sure, lots of people love to rope-drop the parks at the crack of dawn, but not everyone enjoys a busy morning. What can you do instead? Plenty! (And none of it requires a 6AM alarm!) When you’re in a frantic rush to get to the bus stop in time to rope-drop Magic Kingdom, you might not have time to stop for breakfast. But take it from us. That is a CRIME! Disney has some really good breakfast options you might miss if you run out the door. 1900 Park Fare breakfast is elite Tonga Toast from Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, for example? Well worth your time! And good news — Capt. Cook’s serves breakfast until 11AM, so you have plenty of time to sleep in. Kona Cafe’s Tonga Toast with Strawberry Sauce But there are plenty of other spots we recommend for breakfast, too! Steakhouse 71 has an excellent breakfast, and after your meal, you can take a leisurely walk right over to the Magic Kingdom entrance. Yep, you read that right. WALK. It doesn’t get any easier than this, people. Why race to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train first thing in the morning when you can enjoy all this warm, savory food instead? This is vacationing in style. Just look at that spread! If you’re looking for food recommendations, we love Steakhouse 71’s Walt’s Prime Rib Hash, which is seared prime rib, fried potatoes, carmelized onions and peppers, and topped with a fried egg. This is the way to start your morning! REVIEW: We Found the Ultimate Disney World Breakfast for Picky Eaters OK, so maybe you’re not a breakfast person, either. Fair enough. You could always sleep in, hit the pool, and then travel to Magic Kingdom in the late afternoon. The good news about this plan is that the line for the bus to Magic Kingdom is typically SUPER short after the initial rush of rope-drop crowds passes through. Hippy Dippy Pool at Pop Century Plus, the pool is typically less crowded in the morning, so if you’re looking for some quiet time at the pool, go in the morning. Hey, we love those enthusiastic Cast Members in charge of pool activities, but sometimes, we just want to read our book by the pool in peace and quiet. Uzima Pool Speaking of peace and quiet, there’s another hangout spot we frequent during our mornings in Disney World. If you, like us, love a cozy cafe, look no further than Le Petit Cafe at Disney’s Riviera Resort. This place is the best! Le Petit Cafe Not only do they serve some great coffee and chai lattes, but there’s also a little lounge right next door with plenty of seating. Admittedly, we’re a little nervous about giving up this information (this is our go-to hangout spot!), but we can’t gatekeep it. Enjoy it, and thank us later! Pumpkin Napoleon Seriously, though, the Voyageurs’ Lounge next door is a great place to visit before you head off to the Magic Kingdom for a busy day at the park. It’s dark, quiet, and packed with vintage Disney details we could admire all day. Voyageurs’ Lounge OK, so we should probably talk about actually getting to Magic Kingdom, since you did pay for those park tickets. In our experience, the calmest, breeziest way to get to Magic Kingdom is via boat. We like the ferry boat since it is big, slow, and holds a lot of people. So pretty Unlike the monorail, which packs a lot of people in a small space, the ferry is open-air and gives you plenty of space to move about as you like. Remember, we like it niiiice and easy around here. This is a calm, relaxing way to start your morning. Trust us. Behold! Ideally, we recommend avoiding the Transportation and Ticket Center early in the morning altogether if you can. The crowds can be pretty intense around park opening, and being stuck in a long, cranky crowd of people at 7AM is NOT a very magical start to your day. Oh no! Will you miss out on super short Magic Kingdom wait times if you sleep in? Yes, probably. But is waking up early worth it? That’s up to you! Ultimately, we like to protect our peace with an easy morning. Those rides will still be there in a few hours, right? In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. 8 Places You Should NEVER Propose 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 How do you like to start your day in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post I Hate Chaotic Mornings in Magic Kingdom. Here's What I Do Instead. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tune in to Disney Night on ‘American Idol’ – Sunday on ABC.View the full article

It’s another one of those weeks when we’re almost overwhelmed by all of the new updates we got this week. Yes, it’s true. The Walt Disney Company had the second earnings call of the year, we got to check out some things over at Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, and more! Disney Springs Well, despite all the excitement happening elsewhere, I’m back again with another game of WHAT’S NEW AT DISNEY WORLD! Today, we’re going to hang out at one of my favorite spots in all of Disney World, and it doesn’t even require you to buy a park ticket. Yep, we’re talking about Disney Springs! Let’s head over to Disney’s shopping and entertainment district to see what’s new. A Margarita (!!!) Dole Whip The Swirls on the Water Dole Whip stand at Disney Springs is typically a BIG hit with us when we’re craving something sweet and looking for a way to cool off. We LOVED their last Dole Whip sampler, which was just released earlier this spring, so you can imagine our excitement when we saw they had CHANGED their menu once again. Three words: Dole Whip Marg! his restaurant kept a new spin on a classic that we’ve grown to love by switching up the flavors in the Dole Whip Sampler flight, adding a gorgeous Matcha Cone, and wait for it… a Dole Whip Margarita Float! Ok, looks like we’ve got your attention now so let’s dig into each of them! Dole Whip Margarita Float We’ll start with arguably the most interesting of the 3 treats — the Dole Whip Margarita Float. This treat is a combination of mango and lime swirled Dole whip flavors topped with chili-lime seasoning and diced mango floating in a cup with a lime-flavored margarita and garnished with a lime slice for $17! Everything about this float WORKS beautifully!It’s a head-turner for sure because of all the bright colors combined to bring this float to life. It’s refreshing and a blast of citrus to your taste buds. It tastes just like you would expect a lime and mango swirl of Dole Whip would, but it’s so much more too. Delicious and refreshing! The margarita here is definitely lime-flavored, though it isn’t terribly strong. As for the chili-lime seasoning, you’ll find that it adds a low-back-of-the-throat heat to your mouth which is enjoyable but not distracting. But we’re warning you not to slurp this one down too fast because there is a limit of 2 per person due to the alcohol found in the float. Click here to read the full review A Disney Springs Store is BACK We were strolling around Disney Springs, Disney World‘s shopping and dining district, the other day when we happened to notice one of our favorite summer stores had reopened from a brief refurbishment! Havaianas Havaianas is a cute shop that sells adorable sandals! The shop closed in the middle of April for a brief update, and it has now reopened. The store did not move, so you can still find it at The Landing in Disney Springs. However, the inside looked refreshed and full of cute options! It’s so bright! We don’t necessarily recommend wearing flip-flops in the parks since you do A LOT of walking (unless that’s what you prefer), but sandals like these make great pool, beach, and outing shoes! This is a fun store that reopened at the perfect time. How You Should Spend Your Money in Disney Springs A dish has CHANGED at The Boathouse Over the last decade, The Boathouse has become one of Disney Springs’ best known restaurants, a favorite among locals and tourist visitors alike. However, a recent reader email tipped us off to a big change to the restaurant’s menu. Boathouse As of last May, the restaurant offered an entry serving of two filet mignon sliders and a side of fries for $16.50. The meal served as one of the better values on property. However, a reader brought to our attention that that had changed. Boathouse According to their email – and a corresponding photo of the current menu – they sent us, “The filet sliders are now on the launch menu as an appetizer option. It comes with 3 sliders for $22. When I asked about it as a meal with the fries, I was recommend to order a side a fries ($10) to make it like the meal was before. I enjoyed this meal before as 2 sliders and a side of fries was a great portion and for less than $20 I believe.” The new menu, with the 3 slider appetizer. We checked with the Boathouse, and the restaurant confirmed that the sliders have been moved to the appetizer menu, with the side of fries replaced by a third steak slider.While it’s sad to see one of the best value meals on Disney property slip away, a third slider at least makes the dish more suitable as a shareable appetizer. NEW Menu Items Announced For a Popular Disney Springs Restaurant; And We Think You’re Gonna Like Them! Of course, that’s not all that happened! There are plenty of things that happen every single day at Disney World. Check out EVERYTHING by clicking through the links below! Our reporters and writers keep these pages updated with all the latest things that take place in the parks — from merchandise drops to new menu items. See for yourself! WHAT'S NEW AT DISNEY? Check out our daily updates on all the happenings around Disney World and Disneyland! Magic Kingdom EPCOT Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Disney Hotels Disney Springs Disneyland We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along so that you don’t miss a thing. Looking for more big Disney World news? Click here! 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 Disney Springs updates? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 NEW Things at Disney World That Don't Even Require a Park Ticket first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have fantastic news from Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Animal Kingdom We’re excited any time we hear about a new birth happening at the park because that means there are more residents to potentially see and say hello to when we visit. However, it’s extra special when the species with a new little one is as endangered as these guys are! Disney World has just shared that two months ago, one of their Addaxes, Juniper, gave birth to her son, Julien! He is the first male Addax calf born at Animal Kingdom. This birth is extra special because there are less than 100 addaxes left out in the wild, and just 180 in managed care across organizations accredited by the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). ©Disney Addaxes are a species of antelope known for their curly horns they’re born with. They’re so rare in fact, that seeing them on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the few places in the world you can see them outside the Saharan desert. ©Disney Julien’s birth, along with many others that have happened at Animal Kingdom just over the past year, is thanks to the AZA Species Survival Plans (SSP) and the incredible animal care teams at Animal Kingdom. We can’t wait to hear more about Juniper and Julien as they continue to grow closer as mother and son. If you want to see some of the new babies from the past several months, hop on Kilimanjaro Safaris to see the ones who have made their debut on the ride! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news! This is easily the BEST part of Animal Kingdom’s incoming expansion! 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 favorite animal to see at Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! The post A Baby Animal Was Just Born in Disney World and It Was a Massive Win for Science! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney recently made a big investment, but is it worth the cost? Disneyland Entrance Things are constantly changing in the Disney parks. From new attractions to updated policies and procedures, we keep an eye on all the latest updates from around the parks so we can keep you in the know for your next visit. One recent change we noticed came with a big price tag for Disney — but was it worth it? On a recent trip to Disney California Adventure, we noticed that the park had started testing its new turnstiles at the entrance. The new turnstiles are automated to open after a Cast Member scans and validates a theme park ticket. The update has also expanded the amount of available turnstiles and gates, plus it will make them both stroller and ADA-compliant. New turnstiles! The new turnstiles feature a screen with a barcode scanner below and a MagicBand+ tap point. Disney also removed the physical turnstiles from between the ticket scanners. But we did run into a few kinks in our first times using the new turnstiles. The first time our reporter went, he experienced some trouble with the mechanism that is supposed to take the guest’s photo and then let them in. A Cast Member nearby ended up scanning his ticket again without the machine. New turnstiles While our reporter didn’t have any issues with that process the next time he visited, he also noted that the turnstiles were not compatible with MagicBand+ on either visit. In general, our reporter preferred the old system for entering the park because it seems to be more efficient. However, this could change as testing progresses and Disney works out the bugs. New turnstile In all, the process for scanning in at the new turnstiles didn’t seem to be any quicker than with the previous turnstiles. However, we are glad to see that the new design does make the entrance more accessible, even if the technology itself doesn’t seem to be super impactful! We’ll continue to test out the new turnstiles to see if things change as they get more usage, so stay tuned to DFB for more updates! Now THIS Controversial Disney Hotel Change Is One We LOVE! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Have you used the new scanners? Share your experience in the comments! The post Disney Just Bought Million Ticket Scanners -- But Do They Actually Make Your Life Better? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Waits increased pretty much across the board at Walt Disney World this week. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train The major attractions at the magic Kingdom and EPCOT both saw quantifiable increases in average wait times over the first full week of May. Not to be outdone, Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage – the ride with the highest average wait time in the whole resort – leapt up close to 100 minutes. Take a look at this week’s average wait times — going from highest to lowest! Magic Kingdom Wait Times After seeing decreases last week, the Magic Kingdom’s “Big Four” (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Jungle Cruise) all saw wait times jump up this week. (NOTE: Since Tron Lightcycle/Run does not currently use a standby queue, it’s not included here.) Space Mountain Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — 67 minutes Peter Pan’s Flight — 53 minutes Space Mountain — 48 minutes Jungle Cruise — 46 minutes Haunted Mansion — 35 minutes Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — 31 minutes Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — 30 minutes You can hear the song can’t you? Enchanted Tales with Belle — 26 minutes Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — 25 minutes Pirates of the Caribbean — 24 minutes Astro Orbiter — 22 minutes “it’s a small world” — 18 minutes Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini — 16 minutes Barnstormer Mickey’s PhilharMagic — 15 minutes Liberty Square Riverboat — 14 minutes Dumbo the Flying Elephant — 13 minutes Tomorrowland Speedway — 12 minutes Enchanted Tiki Room — 11 minutes Magic Carpets of Aladdin — 11 minutes Mad Tea Party — 9 minutes Prince Charming Regal Carrousel — 9 minutes Carousel of Progress Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover — 8 minutes Tom Sawyer Island — 6 minutes Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse — 4 minutes Carousel of Progress — 4 minutes Hall of Presidents — 0 minutes Country Bear Jamboree — (This attraction has now closed for refurbishment — read all about the changes here) REMINDER: Magic Kingdom Fireworks Times Change SOON! EPCOT Wait Times Both Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure both saw increased this week, with the former nearing the 70 minute mark. (NOTE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind does not currently use a standby queue, it’s not included here.) EPCOT’s animatronics Frozen Ever After — 69 minutes Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — 68 minutes Test Track — 55 minutes Mission: SPACE — 37 minutes Soarin’ — 36 minutes Soarin’ Around the World is back Turtle Talk with Crush — 15 minutes Spaceship Earth — 14 minutes Journey into Imagination — 12 minutes The Seas with Nemo and Friends — 11 minutes Gran Fiesta Tour — 10 minutes Living with the Land — 10 minutes Imagination Pavilion Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. 13 Essentials for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Animal Kingdom Wait Times Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage trained its title of highest average weight time at the resort, increasing to an an average of 95 (!!) minutes, easily clearing the competition. Flight of Passage (Yep, it’s in there) Avatar Flight of Passage — 95 minutes Na’vi River Journey — 51 minutes Kali River Rapids — 38 minutes Expedition Everest — 35 minutes That’s our dino Kilimanjaro Safaris — 34 minutes Dinosaur — 19 minutes It’s Tough to Be a Bug — 10 minutes TriceraTop Spin — 7 minutes The Boneyard — 0 minutes Not To Be Dramatic, But This is The BEST Part of Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Expansion Hollywood Studios Wait Times Slink Dog Dash and Rise of the Resistance continue to duke it out for the title of highest average wait at Hollywood Studios. This week the former feel slightly, while the latter rose to close the gap to a minute. Slinky Dog Dash Slinky Dog Dash — 75 minutes Rise of the Resistance — 74 minutes Tower of Terror — 57 minutes Alien Swirling Saucers Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — 45 minutes Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — 52 minutes Toy Story Mania — 42 minutes Alien Swirling Saucers — 29 minutes Muppet Vision Entrance Walt Disney Presents — 16 minutes Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy — 14 minutes Star Tours — 11 minutes Muppet Vision 3D — 10 minutes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is currently closed for refurbishment and is set to reopen this summer. Getting EVACUATED on This Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ride is Kind of Cool and We Have the Pictures to Prove it! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! NEWS: A Disney World Hotel Restaurant Is Undergoing Refurbishment SOON! 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 How long would you wait for your favorite ride? Let us know in the comments below! The post Disney World's Biggest Ride is Averaging Waits Close to 100 Minutes! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Pixar Fest is happening NOW through August 4th at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and the all-new food booths are finally OPEN! Pixar Fest! This is the FIRST time Disneyland is bringing exclusive food booths to Pixar Fest and each booth is themed after popular Pixar films! And now that we’ve eaten all the new menu items and checked out the new drinks, it’s time to talk about what YOU should eat and drink on your visit! BEST of Pixar Fest 2024 All of the food items at this year’s Pixar Fest are NEW, so we’re gonna break it down by booths for you — telling you the best items to eat at each booth! Are you ready? Let’s dig in! Red Panda Bao from 4*Town Fav*4*ites inspired by “Turning Red” This booth is serving up a new bao bun dish, a dessert, and more! However, we liked the Red Panda Bao, which is a jumbo pork and vegetable stuffed bao with chile-garlic sauce for $9. Red Panda Bao The bao is cooked to perfection, and the sauce has a wonderful garlic flavor. However, it is spicy, so we’ll warn you about that. We really liked it, though! Read our full review of this booth here Gusteau Macaron at Gusteau’s To-Go Disneyland macarons are usually pretty good, but Gusteau’s Macaron even won over our reporter who doesn’t like macarons. This macaron is $7.75 and has a crème brûlée mousse with caramel center, as well as an image of the Chef himself. It’s one of the best macarons we’ve had. Gusteau Macaron It had a nice chewiness with the perfect combination of flavors. The center was nice and creamy. Pretty much everything a macaron could be and more. Read our full review of this booth Sea Monster Lemonade from Portorosso Pasta Inspired by Luca, the Sea Monster Lemonade for $$7.50 is made with lemonade, white grape juice, and peach syrup garnished with blue citrus mango jellies. First, it’s so much fun to drink, and the mango jellies are WAY better than popping pearls. Sea Monster Lemonade It has a lovely sweet and sour flavor with a light hint of peach throughout. It’s very refreshing, too. It’s nice to have good non-alcoholic options like this. Read our full review of this booth “Smoked Fire Wood” BBQ-spiced IMPOSSIBLE Chicken at Elemental Table Yes, a plant-based option has made its mark on us for our best of the fest list! The “Smoked Fire Wood” BBQ-spiced IMPOSSIBLE Chicken is made with hot mustard sauce, pickles, and charred onions for $8.50. Like Ember from Elemental, this packs some heat, but in a very good way. “Smoked Fire Wood” BBQ-spiced IMPOSSIBLE Chicken We also loved the combo of the mustard and the pickles. The BBQ flavor also comes through nicely. Read our full review of this booth Half Note Jazz Cake from The Spark The perfect red velvet cake doesn’t exis…okay, well, maybe it does. We fell in love with the Half Note Jazz Cake for $7.25. It is perfection — you’ve got a nice moist cake that simply melts in your mouth. Half Note Jazz Cake You’ve also got the perfect amount of cream cheese frosting that adds just the right amount of sweetness. Truly, everything about this case is just right (better, actually). We also loved the piano look of this cake. This is one dessert we’ll be coming back for! Read our full review of this booth And there you have it — the can’t-miss dishes and drinks from this year’s Pixar Fest food booths! The booths (and Pixar Fest) are open through August 4th so you have plenty of time to check out all the menus! Stay tuned for more fun from this year’s Pixar Fest at Disneyland! To see ALL the details about Pixar Fest 2024, CLICK HERE! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you making plans to attend this year’s Pixar Fest? Let us know in the comments! The post Everything You NEED To Eat and Drink at Disney’s 2024 Pixar Fest first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We finally have a countdown to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party This year, you’ll be able to experience this exclusive after-hours event on select nights starting on August 9th all the way through October 31st. Tickets cost between $119-$199 depending on which night you’re going, and while any day is usually a great day to experience some Disney magic, there are some days we highly recommend NOT going to this special experience. Whether this is due to higher crowd levels or more expensive ticket prices (which sometimes go hand in hand), these are the dates we recommend staying FAR away from. August 9th The first event of the year is bound to be teeming with crowds, as everyone wants to get the first look at the new merchandise, snacks, and more coming to the after-hours party. Main Street U.S.A. at night While pricing hasn’t been revealed for individual dates just yet (tickets go on sale for the public on May 15th!), we also have a sneaking suspicion this date may be more expensive than the other August dates due to it being the very first of the season. Most Expensive Dates (Expected to be October 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, & 29th) As the months pass and we get closer to Halloween, the pricing for the party will most likely start to creep toward the top of the price range. Typically, these are the Friday nights in October and the party right before Halloween. Happy Halloween! In this case, those dates fall on October 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, and 29th of this year. Again, we don’t have exact pricing just yet, but if you want to stay away from some of the most expensive dates of the event, this is NOT the time to go! Halloween And, of course, while it’s beyond fun to be in Disney World on Halloween, and especially experience their Halloween event on the actual day, this is not the day to go to avoid crowds or pay a cheaper price. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party This will undoubtedly be the most expensive date of the event, and will likely sell out the fastest, which means crowds will be LARGE. However, it also means that if you’re set on going ON Halloween, you’ll want to grab that ticket ASAP when they go on sale May 15th. Cast Members at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party The party will take place on select nights, starting at 7PM and running until midnight, with party guests able to enter the park as early as 4PM. Keep in mind that the party does not happen every night—only select nights between August 9th and October 31st. We personally can’t wait to hear more about this incredible event as we get closer to opening, and we’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB! 10 Signs You Should SKIP Micke’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World See EVERYTHING Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Has to Offer Get the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 9 Disney Halloween Items You Can Get at Target Right Now Photos AND Reviews: ALL the 2023 Fall and Halloween Treats in Disney World! DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide To Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe What date are you planning to go to the event this year? Tell us in the comments! The post FULL LIST of Dates To Avoid Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s face it, Disney World is practically dripping with romance! Cinderella Caste Cinderella’s Castle, fireworks lighting up the night sky, sharing a Dole Whip (Don’t judge! It’s true love!). The magic is so palpable that it’s practically begging you to pop the question. But hold your Mickey ears, lovebirds, because not every spot is a fairytale dream come true. Let’s go over a list of the absolute worst (or maybe the absolute funniest?) places to pop the question! Here are eight places you should definitely steer clear of if you want your proposal to be more fairy tale and less epic fail. During a Character Meet and Greet Sure, getting a hug from Mickey is a dream come true, but proposing while he’s mid-squeeze with your fiancé? Not so much. Mickey! Here’s another fun fact — Disney characters aren’t supposed to be in any proposal-related pictures (it’s against the rules!), so save the proposal for AFTER that Mickey hug. On a Ride While the g-forces might be strong on your favorite ride, it might not be the most romantic setting. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Can you imagine fumbling the ring while screaming “Will you…” while literally upside down? Unless your partner thrives on chaos (and potential nausea), go ahead and save the proposal for solid ground. Retrieving a lost diamond ring from a theme park roller coaster track is NOT the way to go. In Front of a Long Line As you know, sometimes the lines at Disney World can get pretty legendary. Trapping your partner between a sweaty family of eight and a grumpy teenager for an hour-long wait is not exactly setting the best mood. Long lines You’ll probably want to find a more relaxing spot where “happily ever after” doesn’t involve inching forward for the next 45 minutes. But don’t worry, we do have some GOOD ideas for you, too. Click below for our ultimate guide to proposing at Disney World! The Ultimate Guide To Proposing At Disney World for 2024 Nearby Loud Attractions Now, they might say “yes,” but will they hear you over the banshee wails coming from the nearby Expedition Everest coaster? Expedition Everest Maybe find a spot with a more romantic “soundtrack” (think fireworks, not terrified screams). In the Middle of a Parade Route Imagine your magical moment getting interrupted by a giant float shaped like Maleficent. Maleficent Dragon on Main Street, U.S.A. Unless your partner worships Maleficent, you might want to avoid the parade entirely and propose somewhere you can focus on each other, not the parade chaos. In a Busy Gift Shop Disney has some pretty awesome souvenirs, but a ring surrounded by Disney character plushes might not be the most memorable proposal. Unless you both happened to work in a Disney World gift shop and want to preserve the memory, we don’t recommend a crowded store as a proposal location. Crowds inside Creations Shop Like we said, unless your partner specifically requested it, you might want to find a more unique backdrop for your big question than a sea of Disney merch. Proposing At Disney World In 2024: Ideas, Tips & Advice At the Food Court Disney food is delicious and all, but a greasy hot dog and a proposal don’t exactly scream “romance.” Connections Eatery You’re going to want to find a more intimate setting for this special moment because the only thing worse than a lukewarm churro is a lukewarm “maybe.” Restrooms or Near Trash Cans (We Shouldn’t Even Have to Say This, But…) Okay, so this one’s a gimme. Let’s just all agree that happily ever after doesn’t start in the restroom or next to overflowing bins. A prime dining spot for many These are just a few of the places you should never propose at in Disney World! In the meantime, keep checking back in with us at DFB for the latest! Disney’s New VILLAIN Wedding Dresses Are Bold, Moody, and FABULOUS! 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 the places you would never propose at in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! The post 8 Places You Should NEVER Propose in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are celebrating all things Pixar now through August 4th at Pixar Fest! You can enjoy special parades, fireworks, characters, and all-new food booths! The booths are all inspired by Pixar films and you don’t want to miss them! The Spark Booth The Spark inspired by Soul is one of the six brand new booths at this year’s Pixar Fest, and if you’re a fan of soul food and beer, this is the booth for you! Let’s go check it out! Menu The Spark inspired by Soul menu is drink-heavy with just two food items — and the food and drinks are new for 2024! The Spark Menu You’ll find Supper Club Chicken & Potato Waffles, Half Note Jazz Cake, The Great Beyond, the SPARK-ler, and four beers you can purchase individually or try them all in a beer flight! Full Spread except for the beer First up you can check out the Supper Club Chicken & Potato Waffles for $8 with peach cobbler sauce and cinnamon-herb crumble. So, yes, this is an odd combo and some people didn’t seem to enjoy this. However, we think it’s worth trying. The chicken is like chicken nuggets, but the potato waffles are cooked perfectly (we just wish there were more). The crumble adds a nice crunch. We appreciate what Disney was going for here, but it’s too sweet for chicken. Supper Club Chicken & Potato Waffles And for dessert, a traditional red velvet cake named the Half Note Jazz Cake for $7.25. THIS is worth visiting this food booth for. It’s incredibly moist and melts in your mouth. You might think that red velvet cake needs a thick layer of cream cheese frosting, but let us tell you, this was perfect. The icing adds the perfect amount of sweetness. Plus, the keyboard icon is so adorable for this booth! We will be ordering this again, for sure. Half Note Jazz Cake Two drinks and four beers round out the Soul-inspired menu! First up we have The Great Beyond for $18.50 made with gin, maraschino liqueur, violet & blue curaçao syrups, lemon juice, and pear nectar topped with butterfly pea flower tea and garnished with a white orchid. The Great Beyond It’s pretty, that’s for sure, but we feel like we paid nearly $18 for a watered-down drink. We mean, it’s refreshing with a strong tea flavor, but it doesn’t have any kind of kick, although it does have a strong bitter and tart aftertaste. The Great Beyond Next is the SPARK-ler for $13.50 made with cotton candy & blue curaçao syrups, mango purée, and pineapple & lime juices garnished with a glow cube. SPARK-ler Why is this non-alcoholic drink almost $14? The glow cube, that’s why. However, we didn’t think the flavors really blended together at all. You can taste each one and it’s like eating a whole bag of Gushers at once. It’s not bad, but it’s tart and sweet, and there’s just way too much going on here. Maybe kids will like it! SPARK-ler And then, there’s the beer! You can sample them all in the Inspirational Flavors Flight for $18.50 or each individually. Dust Bowl Brewing Company Porch Punch Imperial Fruit IPA ($15.25) Ballast Point Brewing Company Grunion Pale Ale ($14.00) Bottle Logic Brewing Aurora Borealis Honeydew-Lime Hard Seltzer ($15.25) Garage Brewing Co Prickly Pear Hefeweizen ($15.25) Inspirational Flavors Flight Of course, we gave the flight a try! The Porch Punch didn’t have much hops or actual beer flavor. It’s fruity and tart with hints of a malty flavor with a pleasant fruity aftertaste. Like its name, though, it does pack a punch with 10.4% ABV! Porch Punch The Grunion Pale Ale tastes similar, but the fruity flavor isn’t as strong. This one is drier and more tart. We’d say it tastes more floral than fruity. Grunion Pale Ale The Honey Dew Line Hard Seltzer has a lovely sweet honeydew flavor. It’s like a sweet fruity soda. Although it’s pretty strong (8% ABV ), we couldn’t taste the alcohol. The aftertaste is also sweet and pleasant. Honeydew Lime Seltzer Finally, the Prickly Pear Hefeweizen has a strong pear odor, but it tastes nutty with hints of pear. So you’ve got a smooth fruity and nutty beer with a nutty aftertaste. Prickly Pear Hefeweizen Overall, these beers could please even non-beer drinkers. OVERALL The Spark inspired by Soul booth is probably not where you want to go for drinks, but we’ll be eating that cake every day while it’s still available. So maybe come for the cake and skip the drinks. Stay tuned for more fun from this year’s Pixar Fest at Disneyland! To see ALL the details about Pixar Fest 2024, CLICK HERE! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you making plans to attend this year’s Pixar Fest? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: The Spark Food Booth at Pixar Fest in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

UH-OH! It’s happening again. Things that were hardly a blip on your radar a few minutes ago are suddenly beyond irritating. That’s when it dawns on you: “Hmm… it’s been a while since I’ve eaten anything…” Yep! You’re HANGRY. And that means you need some Hanger Management! Hanger Management Booth Fortunately, fans at Disneyland Resort’s Pixar Fest have exactly that at the ready thanks to the Hanger Management Food Booth! It’s one of six brand-new food booths at Disney California Adventure that have hit the scene for this Pixar-themed summer celebration. These new booths join a whole lot of Pixar-inspired fun happening around the Resort including special character meet-and-greets, dance parties, the Better Together Pixar Pals Celebration Parade, and more! Menu As an all-new Pixar Fest Booth, Hanger Management presents a menu of all-new items inspired by the beloved Emotions from Pixar’s Inside Out. And it’s none other than Anger himself serving as the unofficial mascot for your HANGER! This booth is offering twists on a truly classic dish to take care of any necessary “Hanger Management.” Up for grabs here are Joyful Yellow Comforting Mac & Cheese, Angry Red Hot Mac & Cheese, and “Mood Swing” (a mix of both)! And the Mood Stabilizer Mule is available to wash down your chosen dish. Hanger Management Menu So… do the eats at Hanger Management offer JOY or DISGUST? Let’s find out! Eats Okay, so I’m going to say this right off: whenever I see a food menu full of nothing but Mac and Cheese, I’m already pretty hopeful. After all, who doesn’t love Mac and Cheese? Then again, some of the twists here may give you pause. We’re starting out with the Joyful Yellow Comforting Mac & Cheese for $8.50. This dish comes covered with “happy” cheesy puffs! It’s pretty much standard mac and cheese, but kids are going to love it. The cheesy puffs are also a lot of fun. Joyful Yellow Comforting Mac & Cheese On the other hand… the Angry Red Hot Mac & Cheese is also up for grabs for $8.50. Anger’s version incorporates spicy cheese crunch into the dish. The red one is…well… VERY red, and our esophagus was ON FIRE after eating this. It’s a LOT of heat. You might want to make sure you have some milk nearby to cool off your taste buds. Anger was NOT holding back when you created this dish. Angry Red Hot Mac & Cheese Can’t decide between the two? Try the Mood Swing for $9. This dish is a half portion each of the Joyful Yellow Comforting Mac & Cheese and the Angry Red Hot Mac & Cheese. We recommend getting this if you want to try the Angry Red Hot Mac & Cheese because, like we said, that red hot version is HOT. Drinks The Mood Stabilizer Mule for $17 is the drink of the house at Hanger Management. Bourbon, watermelon liqueur, candied orange & watermelon syrups, and orange & lime juices comprise this cocktail, and it’s topped with ginger beer and garnished with watermelon candies. Mood Stabilizer Mule We’re on the fence with the mule. We only got a hint of watermelon flavor, but the ginger is really strong. It’s not bad, but it’s also not great. It’s also possible that our taste buds were fried after eating the Angry Red Hot Mac & Cheese. If you don’t like ginger, you might not enjoy this. OVERALL Well, ANGER management could be needed for those who try the spicier Mac & Cheese here, but we really did like the regular Mac & Cheese. This booth will likely be a kid-pleaser for that joyful mac & cheese. We weren’t thrilled about the drink, though, and it wasn’t anything super memorable, but then again, maybe it’s because our taste buds were fried right before we drank it. Well, now that our hanger has been successfully managed, it’s time to step away from Hanger Management for the time being. But we’ve also checked out FIVE other Pixar Fest Food Booths, and you can find out everything you need to know about ALL the eats at Pixar Fest HERE! Click HERE to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the FUN at Pixar Fest! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you going to Disney California Adventure during Pixar Fest? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: The Hanger Management Food Booth at Pixar Fest in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you counting down the days until Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? It’s really not so scary! We don’t blame you if you’re stoked (we’re excited, too!!). There are just so many reasons to be hyped up for the party like all the treats, rides, and entertainment. But, have you thought about what you’re going to do the day after the party? Well, let’s talk about how the day after the party, we’ll be hitting up one park in particular. Let’s go! Before we talk about where we’re going to go afterward, let’s do a quick recap of what the Halloween party is! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Crowds Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is an extra-ticked event in Magic Kingdom. There are a TON of Halloween exclusives for the party like a Halloween parade (led by the Headless Horseman), trick-or-treating throughout the park, exclusive snacks, a not-so-spooky fireworks show, a Hocus Pocus-themed stage show, exclusive character meet and greets, and more. DATES ANNOUNCED for 2024 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle as the Sanderson Sisters Another perk of the party is that the capacity in the park is reduced, so you’ll see fewer people and shorter lines for rides! Keep in mind that not all the rides are open during the party, but a good amount of them are. FULL LIST of Rides That Will Be OPEN at the 2024 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the BEST, but let’s be real. It can wipe you out! Who wants to fight the crowds for rides at rope drop the next day? Not us! That’s why EPCOT is our go-to park for the day after. Here’s why: Relaxation Station EPCOT is more like a giant world fair than a high-speed thrill ride. Think strolling around different countries, soaking up the vibes, and trying yummy food (and maybe a drink or two!). Canada Pavilion It’s the perfect way to recharge after a night of costumes, candy, and spooky fun. It’s Okay to Sleep In Let’s face it, sleeping in a bit after the Halloween party sounds pretty amazing, and as an added bonus, there’s no need to set an alarm for EPCOT! EPCOT Unlike some parks, it doesn’t get crazy busy first thing in the morning. So, make sure to sleep in, grab some breakfast, and ease into your day. Your tired feet will thank you. Something for Everyone EPCOT really does have something for everyone — rides, shows, educational content, and more! EPCOT Do you want to go fast? Hit up Test Track! Do you want to learn a thing or two about produce? Ride Living With the Land! Basically, EPCOT is where you’re going to get the most bang for your buck (especially after paying for the Halloween party). EPCOT Those are just a couple of thoughts on why we’ll be visiting EPCOT the day after Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but now we want to hear from you! Until then, keep it right here at DFB for the latest Disney news! Click Here for ALL the Info on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World See EVERYTHING Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Has to Offer Get the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 9 Disney Halloween Items You Can Get at Target Right Now Photos AND Reviews: ALL the 2023 Fall and Halloween Treats in Disney World! DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide To Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Which Disney World park will you go to the day after Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Tell us all about it in the comments. The post The Only Disney Park We’ll Visit the Day After Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We know that Disney closes rides for refurbishment for good reasons. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Safety is paramount on theme park rides, so regular refurbishments to double-check everything is working properly are very important, plus, a little love and updating go a long way. But sometimes, we have to wonder just what they are doing that takes them SO long and why the ride is closed for many months. One Disney World ride has been closed for five months now, and we’re starting to wonder if there’s an end in sight. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster closed on January 8th, it won’t reopen until the summer of this year. When we glanced at the calendar, there were still no times available into the first week of July! Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Since Disney doesn’t put out the full calendar all at once, the first week of July is as far as we can see for now, and it appears it will be closed at least until then. Last year, when the ride closed around this time (on February 20th, to be exact), it reopened on May 26th. FULL Ride-Through of the NEWEST ‘Frozen’ Ride –It May Be Disney’s Best Ride EVER While we keep waiting for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to open, let’s take a look at what else will be closed the week of May 11th through May 18th! Magic Kingdom Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Splash Mountain is permanently closed — this ride is being renovated to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! The new ride will be themed to The Princess and the Frog. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure The ride in Disney World is set to open this summer. Now, we are starting to see some big signs that we’re getting close. New signs have been added to a couple of the stores near the ride! Critter Co-Op and Tiana’s General Store will be coming to Magic Kingdom. Critter Co-Op We have also seen Disney Imagineers test riding the ride! Now, that gets us super excited to see! If they’re riding it, that’s gotta mean it’s almost ready, right? Imagineers testing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Other subtle details have emerged such as a water lily on the new gate. The water lily is a nod to the movie the ride is inspired by. The queue is also starting to look really good, and we know there’s going to be a fun Mardi Gras celebration! A new lily in the queue And now that some of the walls have come down, you can see new details like this new sidewalk that has been exposed! Walls are down outside We recently learned lots of new information about this ride, including a hint that there will be Splash Mountain Easter Eggs throughout the attraction! Disney recently shared a look at new characters coming to the ride, but there has not been an opening day announced yet. We’ll be watching and listening as summer approaches! NEW Ride Testing UPDATE Spotted at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt… DFB Exclusive! …and a Tiana tee as well! Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store. Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store. Country Bear Jamboree Country Bear Jamboree closed on January 27th, 2024 for refurbishment. When we recently visited Magic Kingdom, we noticed that the sign for the show has now been covered up! Country Bear Jamboree Disney announced that a NEW show is coming to Country Bear Jamboree, with the bears learning an all-new act. The new show is set to open sometime this summer. With Country Bear Jamboree and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure closed, that leaves just Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Walt Disney World Railroad open in Frontierland. REMINDER: Magic Kingdom Fireworks Times Change SOON! Tomorrowland Terrace Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service restaurant that’s remained closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open. Tomorrowland Terrace Once in a while, you’ll see the dining room open as a rest area (and it’s still being used for the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties), but it’s usually all roped off and empty. Disney hasn’t announced when this spot could finally reopen, but we’ll be watching for updates. If you’re looking for a nice spot to work in Disney World, this could be it! Disney Just Added a NEW “Secret Door” in Magic Kingdom Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid Well, it’s official — Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed in Disney World. We had suspected this was the case for some time (as it hasn’t actually been open for a few years now), but now the permanent closure has been confirmed. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney is going to introduce a NEW show in this spot, though it will still be themed to the animated movie The Little Mermaid! The new show will be called “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” and is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024. ©Disney It will be a “fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic.” Vacation Fun Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie, is a show that takes place at the Mickey Shorts Theater at Echo Lake in Hollywood Studios. Vacation Fun As of April 29th, the show the show’s website stops showing times to view the production. Luckily, times begin popping back up on May 25th. It is likely Disney is just going to be tidying things up for a little while. We’ve seen other shows in Hollywood Studios get some attention recently, so perhaps Vacation Fun will be getting a little love. This Disney’s Hollywood Studios Cheese HACK Just Changed My LIFE EPCOT Restaurant Marrakesh Restaurant Marrakesh is still closed in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, and there’s no word yet on when it might reopen as a dining location. However, the restaurant kind of opened on May 1st. It will be functioning as an Annual Passholder lounge from May 1st through June 26th. Restaurant Marrakesh building Even though we’re still waiting for the full restaurant to reopen, Annual Passholders will be able to enjoy the air conditioning, charging stations, and complimentary food and beverages. There may even be opportunities to meet “special friends” throughout V.I.Passholder Days, according to Disney. We still don’t know if it is permanently closed or if it could reopen as a restaurant, but we’ll take what we can get. Is There a Way to Guarantee Getting a Certain Song on EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? We Found Out! Blizzard Beach Blizzard Beach had its last open day on March 16th, 2024 before it closed for refurbishment. Blizzard Beach has nine attractions that we won’t be able to enjoy this week. Blizzard Beach While Blizzard Beach closed, Typhoon Lagoon opened on March 17th, 2024. The two water parks often rotate off and on for being open. Disney has not given a timeline for this new closure or how long Typhoon Lagoon will be open. We’ll be watching for any updates, though! You’ll Suffer Without These 7 Essentials in Disney World This Summer Disney World Hotels Port Orleans French Quarter — Doubloon Pool Doubloon Pool underwent refurbishment for several months and finally reopened at the beginning of April. Doubloon Lagoon Pool However, on May 6th, the pool once again closed due to unexpected maintenance. Disney’s website now shows that it is closed for refurbishment once again with no reopening timeline listed. We’ll be watching for it to reopen once again! Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Click here to check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World. Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post This Disney World Ride Closure STILL Has No End in Sight first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re back with all the latest Disney news! Peter Pan’s Never Land We’re giving you an EXCLUSIVE first look inside the newest land at the Tokyo Disney Resort, dates have been announced for this year’s Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Disney has partnered with a competitor to offer a new streaming bundle. All of the latest theme park news is coming up right now on DFB Guide. By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png Let us know what you think about the latest Disney news in the comments below! The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Mickey's-Not-So-Scary Dates, INSIDE Disney's New Land Fantasy Springs & A LOT MORE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The NEW Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride is opening SOON in Disney World! Although we know it’ll open this summer, we’re still waiting for an official opening date (ahem…Disney, whenever you’re ready), but here’s the real question: Once the ride opens, how will you get on it? Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom Some rides at Disney World use virtual queues instead of standby lines, some offer Lightning Lanes with Genie+, others have Individual Lightning Lanes, and still more have just standby queues with no option to skip the line at all. It’s fair to say that getting on certain Disney World rides is COMPLICATED. So what will Tiana’s Bayou Adventure use? Standby line or virtual queue? Genie+, Individual Lightning Lane, or no skip-the-line option at all? Here’s what we know so far and what we’re predicting for when it opens. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is not really a brand-new ride. Instead, it’s a complete re-theme of the old Splash Mountain ride. So, we can speculate about what will happen when Tiana’s opens based on what usually happens with new rides combined with what Splash Mountain used to have back in the day (and by “back in the day” we mean…like a year and a half ago ). Tiana’s Bayou Adventure construction First, let me give you a quick overview of the new ride so that you know what we’re dealing with here (and whether or not you want to ride it in the first place!). Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is opening this summer (2024) in Disney World. The Splash Mountain ride has been closed for about a year and a half now for the refurbishment. The storyline of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place just after the movie The Princess and the Frog. Tiana has made her dream come true by opening a restaurant, and now she wants to say thank you to her community of supporters by hosting a big Mardi Gras party. But OH NO — she realizes she’s missing a key ingredient for the event and needs your help to find it! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney Guests join Tiana on an adventure through the bayou, where they’ll encounter familiar characters like Louis the alligator, Prince Naveen, Mama Odie, Eudora (Tiana’s mom), Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” the King and Queen of Maldonia, and Naveen’s younger brother, Prince Ralphie. ©Disney Tiana’s Bayou Adventure concept art There are also going to be some NEW characters, including a band of musical critters. ©Disney Of course there has to be some great music on the ride if it’s going to live up to the music in the film. The ride will feature a mix of songs from the movie and original music. One of the features that we’re MOST excited to experience is actually in the queue because Disney has promised that the smell of fresh beignets is going to be pumped into the queue as a nod to New Orleans and Tiana’s signature dish. Queue So are you convinced that you need to try out this new ride? Alright, good deal. Now, let’s talk about how you’ll get on it. Virtual Queue or Standby Line? There are only a couple of rides in Disney World that are currently using a virtual queue in place of a standby line: TRON Lightycycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. To get on those rides, you CAN’T wait in a normal, standby line. Instead, you must join the virtual queue on the app and wait to be called back when it’s your turn to ride. To learn HOW to join a virtual queue in Disney World, click HERE. Most new rides and attractions use a virtual queue when they first open in Disney World. Even the walk-through attraction Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana used a virtual queue for a couple of days once it opened in EPCOT. For that reason, we’re expecting Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to use a virtual queue for at least a little while when it opens. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure It’s possible that the virtual queue won’t last very long (it could even just be for the first week or so), but how long it lasts will likely depend on guest demand. Disney utilizes virtual queues to keep the wait time lower (so you’re not stuck waiting in a 5-hour line), but if not too many guests are joining the virtual queue, they might move it over to a standby line sooner rather than later. If you’re going to Disney World within the first couple of weeks of the ride opening, though, you can probably expect to use a virtual queue to get on. Individual Lightning Lane or Genie+? So here’s the more complicated question: Will Tiana’s Bayou Adventure be part of Genie+ or have an a la carte Lightning Lane? There are two different ways to skip the standby lines in Disney World. Lots of rides are part of Genie+, which you can purchase as a feature for any of the parks on the day of your visit. Using Genie+, you can reserve Lightning Lanes throughout the day, which means you’ll get to skip the standby lines. Lightning Lane at Expedition Everest Some of the most popular rides in Disney World, however, are NOT part of Genie+. Instead, their Lightning Lanes are available for purchase a la carte. You don’t have to buy Genie+ to buy Individual Lightning Lanes, and you don’t have to buy Individual Lightning Lanes to buy Genie+ — you can get either one, both, or neither. Here are the rides that have Individual Lightning Lanes in Disney World: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — Magic Kingdom TRON Lightcycle / Run — Magic Kingdom Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — EPCOT Avatar Flight of Passage — Disney’s Animal Kingdom Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — Disney’s Hollywood Studios You can buy Individual Lightning Lanes for up to two attractions per day. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel or at the Swan and Dolphin or Shades of Green Resort, you can buy Individual Lightning Lanes starting at 7AM on the day of your visit. Everyone else can start buying Individual Lightning Lanes at the park opening time. To learn how to use Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes, click HERE. There are a couple of reasons why the “Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane” question for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is more complicated than the virtual queue dilemma. One is that Splash Mountian was part of Genie+ — it didn’t have an a la carte Lightning Lane. It’s possible that will mean that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be part of Genie+, too. Splash Mountain Lightning Lane Another complication is that guests are limited to only TWO Individual Lightning Lanes per day, and there are already two rides with Individual Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run. If there are suddenly three options and the rule of only two per guest stands, then you’ll have to pick between the three and use either the standby line or virtual queue for the other one. TRON Lightcycle / Run So one option is that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will just be part of Genie+ when it opens, which would be a little bit surprising considering we’re expecting this to be a really popular ride and most of the popular rides have a la carte Lightning Lanes. However, this fits better into what previously happened with Genie+ in Magic Kingdom since Splash Mountain was part of Genie+. The other option is that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has an Individual Lightning Lane, in which case Disney might make Seven Dwarfs Mine Train part of Genie+, or just have three Individual Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom. ©Disney We’ll be there on the opening day of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to bring you all the details and info you need to get on the ride ASAP. Stay tuned to DFB for all the updates! Click here to learn more about the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride! 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 hoping to get on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when it opens? Let us know in the comments! The post Will Tiana's Bayou Adventure Have an Individual Lightning Lane When It Opens in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Disney Genie+ service has been divisive amongst park-goers since its introduction, and Cast Members also have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the service. Lightning Lane sign at Beauty and the Beast show The Disney Genie service was introduced after the pandemic as a replacement for the old FastPass+ system. The service includes a complimentary planning tool, along with the option to add two additional options. These options are the Genie+ service and purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes. Many Disney World fans have been vocal about their dislike of the new service, especially when comparing it to the old FastPass+ service, which was free and allowed you to book rides in advance of your trip. And while guests have been very divided over their opinions, Cast Members also feel a lot of the burden of this service. Cast Members on the frontline who are operating the attractions are the ones who often have to deal with a lot of the burden of this divisive service. A little throwback to FastPass+ Before we get too far, let’s explain a bit about what Genie+ is and how it works. Genie+ is a paid, add-on service that you can add to your park ticket for the day. It can be bought for one or multiple parks each day, and the prices will vary based on the demand. Busy days will see higher prices, while slow days will see cheaper prices. Once you have purchased Genie+, you will use the My Disney Experience app to book your Lightning Lanes. You will be able to book almost any attraction in the park, except for a few major rides that you will need to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane. Soarin’ Around The World entrance Each Lightning Lane that you book will have a certain return window, and when it is your time, you head to the attraction and scan in at the Lightning Lane entrance. The Lightning Lane provides a quicker line to experience the attraction, however, the only guarantee is that the line will be shorter than the standby line. It may be a five-minute line, or you may find yourself waiting upwards of 30 minutes if it is a particularly popular ride. While this service provides guests with an option to pay to skip the lines, it has also seen its fair share of critics. Now, let’s get to some of the frustrations of Genie+. ©Disney Those who are waiting in the stand-by line may have to see lots of Lightning Lane guests loading, or experience longer waits because of the Lightning Lane. As well, those in the Lightning Lane may feel as though their wait is too long, especially since they are now paying for this service. The Lightning Lane is also utilized by those with the Disability Access Service (DAS) and Rider Switches, and with the addition of those who purchased a Lightning Lane, the line can end up fairly busy. This can mean a longer wait for all parties involved, and while Disney tries to report wait times as accurately as possible, they are sometimes off. Cast Members often have to deal with upset guests who have been waiting a long time. The Cast Members are trying their best to be efficient and safe, while also following the ratios set for their attraction. It can be frustrating to end up waiting a long time, but sometimes that will be the case. Lightning Lane doesn’t guarantee you won’t have to wait. Another frustration is that when you book a Lightning Lane, you are given a specific window to return to the attraction. It is an hour-long window, and you can show up at any point during the window. However, sometimes things happen, and you may not make the window. Cast Members try their best to accommodate guests, but it is not always possible. The return times are there for a reason and are in place to help with line management. It can be frustrating to miss your window and be denied entry, but Cast Members are simply doing their jobs and trying to ensure the process is fair for everyone. Cast Members want you to have a good time. It is also possible that you may have selected a window, only for the ride to be down when you get there. This is something that is completely out of the Cast Members’ control. While definitely frustrating, the good news is that you will automatically receive a multi-experience pass that can either be used later in the day at the same attraction. Or you can view a list of additional attractions that the pass will work at. The multi-experience pass will allow you to tap through the Lightning Lane on one included attraction. You can wait for the original attraction to open again OR use it on a different attraction, not both. When an attraction does go down, you may notice a longer Lightning Lane wait once it reopens, as others will also be redeeming their Lightning Lane. Keep that in mind and be prepared to possibly wait longer. Sometimes attractions go down! While the service is still very divisive, understand that Cast Members are likely as frustrated by it as you are. They don’t have control over the Disney Genie+ service, and they also understand your frustrations. Cast Members are doing the best they can with what they have, while making sure everyone is being treated as fairly as possible, and trying to ensure guests have a magical trip. They are juggling a lot at once, so please be patient and kind. A great way to be prepared is to learn more about Genie+. We have lots of resources including this guide, as well as oodles of videos, like the one you can watch right here! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news and Disney World tips! Check out EVERYTHING you need to know about Genie+ and Lightning Lanes! 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 used Genie+ before? Let us know about your experience in the comments! The post Disney World Cast Members Have a Love-Hate Relationship With Genie+. Let's Talk About It. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article