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BIG things are happening in Disney World, which means we’re getting ready for a lot of change. Hollywood Studios We’re already seeing big changes in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as parts of DinoLand U.S.A. have closed to start making way for Pueblo Esperanza, a Tropical Americas-themed land. Magic Kingdom will soon be closing Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America to make way for a new Cars expansion in Frontierland. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Muppets Courtyard will be closing soon to make way for a new Monsters, Inc. land. That means that everything IN Muppets Courtyard will also close, including one iconic restaurant. The first thing set to close in Muppets Courtyard is Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, which we’ve previously said is sorta’ like Hollywood Studios’ version of Olive Garden. The restaurant will be closing on May 11th, meaning your last chance to dine here will be on May 10th. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Mama Melrose’s will be the first of closures in Muppets Courtyard. Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will close on June 7th, while all of Muppets Courtyard will be closed off with construction walls on June 8th. Yep, it’s really happening, and we’ll have to say goodbye to the Muppets in Hollywood Studios SOON. Muppet*Vision 3D The new Monsters, Inc. land will bring a NEW ride to Hollywood Studios, which will be based on the door chase sequence in the film. It will also be the first suspended roller coaster in Disney World. ©Disney Disney has not yet revealed an opening date for the new land, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney, Did You Think We Were Going to Miss This Glaring Announcement in the Monsters, Inc Concept Art? 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 Was Mama Melrose’s a must-do restaurant for you? Let us know in the comments! The post An Iconic Disney World Restaurant Is Permanently CLOSING in 15 Days first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the dawn of a new day for theme parks. With technology advancing and parks expanding, it’s no wonder many people are so interested in themed entertainment. ©Disney Universal’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe, is about to open and is already getting rave reviews, and the company has also announced plans to build new theme parks in the United Kingdom and Frisco, Texas. But, Frisco isn’t the only city in Texas that might be getting a new theme park… According to KTRK, a new study from the University of Houston revealed what sort of entertainment options residents want, and experts say it could entice investors to make it happen. In the past, Houston has had entertainment options like Astroworld, plus professional sports like the WNBA and hockey. Yay sports! But, the new survey shows that Houston residents want those entertainment options to come back. It shows 57% want an NHL team, 60% want a Houston WNBA team, and the most popular response was that people wanted a theme park. “Back when I was younger, we had Astroworld,” Miguel Garcia said. “Now that my kids are growing, I would like to see the same thing.” via Google “A large proportion, more than half, say they would go once a year,” Mark Jones, Rice University Baker Institute Fellow in Political Science, explained. “If you go down to parents with children under the age of 18, 40% said they would go twice a year, if not more.” International Theme Park Services founder Dennis Spiegel says he’s not surprised by these results — and that they may cause investors to look a bit closer at Houston as a theme park destination. He says he knows of groups eyeing Houston right now. ©Universal | Kids Resort “If you’re going to build one, you want to put it in the market that can facilitate and serve it, and Houston is one of those remaining markets,” Speigel said. Of course, nothing has officially been planned or announced as of yet — but it does bode well for the theme park industry and its growth. We’ve also previously reported that Universal was building a kids-oriented theme park in Frisco, Texas, so it sounds like Texas might be making waves when it comes to new theme park entertainment. ©Universal | UK Theme Park In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more updates about potential new theme parks in Texas and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest theme park updates and more! Universal Just Dropped 7 NEW Announcements About Its Texas Theme Park 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 Would you go to a theme park in Houston, Texas? Tell us in the comments. The post Experts Reveal ANOTHER Theme Park Could Be Coming to Texas first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Magic Kingdom is a park full of whimsy, iconic attractions, and hundreds of souvenirs that are so tempting. But honestly, you might regret buying some of them almost immediately. Let’s go shopping! We’re in the parks almost every single day, and we’ve both seen people buy things they’ve regretted immediately and also bought things ourselves that we wish we had never done. We asked our team for some stories of the times they made an impulse purchase they shook their heads at later, so learn from our mistakes — don’t do this on your trip! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. First up on the list may surprise you, but we’ve had MANY members of our team regret buying a Poncho from the parks, both when it did end up raining, but especially when it didn’t. Beware the plastic poncho!! Here’s the thing: Disney World ponchos aren’t very great quality. Will they get the job done? Sure, in a way, but they’re also very likely to rip and tear, and then you just spent all this money on something you can’t reuse. Not to mention that many people feel suffocated in them on hot, humid days in the parks (which, let’s be honest, is a large part of the year). Instead, we recommend buying a poncho online or at a store back home before your trip! They’re not the greatest Our favorite poncho to take to the parks are the FROGG TOGG ponchos. They have a little bag that will carry your wet poncho and they are super good quality. On top of that, they are way cheaper than the ones in the parks! Frogg Toggs Poncho Second, we have something that many people love, but when you think about it, they’re just not practical — BALLOONS! Balloons can be found in 3/4 Disney World parks, plus Disney Springs, but you’ll never find them in Animal Kingdom as they can be a danger to the animals’ health. Disney World Balloons These are adorable, especially with all their different designs, but if you’re trying to carry it around all day and you don’t have a stroller to tie it to (and even if you do, sometimes they get VERY annoying to deal with), you’re going to have nowhere to put it on rides, and that’s just a disaster. If you’re going to grab one, we recommend buying it at the end of the day and then keeping it in your hotel room for the duration of your trip. Balloons on Main Street If you do buy a balloon, just know that you can ask for it to be deflated at the Disney Store at MCO so you can take it home with you! Then you can get it inflated again once you are home. Next up, face paint is super cute and can be something fun to do for kids (and kids at heart!) but there’s one time when we really think it’s far from worth it — on a hot day. Rock Your Face Not only will you be sweating a ton, but you should ALSO be reapplying your sunscreen, and that will 100% smudge all that face paint. If you keep your receipt, you can get free touch-ups all day, but let’s be honest — on a hot day, you’re not going to want to return to a face paint stand three times throughout a day that’s full of other activities. Face Paint in EPCOT This one may shock you, but a few of our team members feel strongly that eating lunch or dinner in Magic Kingdom is something they regret every time! Why, you may ask? Well, you’re steps away from the Monorail, which in turn can take you to three resorts that have way better dining experiences. Disney’s Contemporary Resort You’ve got tons of quick service and table service restaurants available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, AND Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and our whole team is in agreement that essentially any option at any of those three is a better choice than dining somewhere in Magic Kingdom. So if you’re looking for a meal that will really impress you, this is where to go! Grand Floridian Resort Finally, this goes for all Disney World parks, but buying a Bottled Water is something we’ve only done a handful of times and regret it no matter what. Staying hydrated is extremely important, but there are also FREE cups of water you can get at each quick service location, and that’s what we recommend using to keep yourself good throughout the day. Bring a reusable water bottle from home, and boom, you’re golden! Some of this water can taste a bit yucky, so we like to use the water bottle refill stations located around the parks. We have found that the water from those locations tends to taste a bit better! Did someone say free water? We’re always here to help you make sure you have the best trip possible, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest tips and tricks! These 10 Tricks Will Change the Way You Do Magic Kingdom 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 else would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 Things I Regret Impulse Buying in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, is opening in less than a month (!!!), and we’ve been collecting all the details for you so you can have the most epic day ever (pun intended). Epic Universe Universal just dropped a MAJOR detail we’ve been anxiously awaiting for the first day of opening — and beyond! The park hours for Epic Universe have been released and will operate from 9 AM to 9 PM on May 22nd, opening day. That’s twelve whole hours of incredible fun. Ice Dragon at Isle of Berk For the entire month of May, Epic will be open from 9 AM to 9 PM. The park hasn’t revealed what the hours will look like for the rest of the year, but this gives us a pretty good idea of what Universal is planning. Celestial Park Early Park Admission for those staying at a Universal hotel will get you into the park at 8 AM, but not on opening day, May 22nd. No Early Park Admission will be available that day according to the calendar, but it will be available for the rest of the month. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry Not every attraction will be available during Early Park Entry, but Epic has some fun rides to kick off your morning, including: Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge Yoshi’s Adventure Mine-Cart Maddness Stardust Racers You’ll want to head straight to Super Nintendo World to make the most of your morning! This is a great way to grab a few extra rides before they’re open to the general public. Super Nintendo World Everyone else will have to wait a little longer, but during annual passholder previews, guests are let into the park after security and ticket checks, to do some shopping at the main stores and queue up in front of your dream portal. This might change when the park is officially open, so make sure to stay up to date with Disney Food Blog, where we’ll be there on opening day to provide you with all the details you need. Dark Universe Portal We know which portal we’ll be heading to soon, but tell us in the comments which one you’ll start your morning with. Keep following Disney Food Blog for all of your theme park news! FULL LIST of Ticket Prices for Universal’s NEW Epic Universe Park Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you planning a trip to Epic Universe? Let us know what you’re most excited about in the comments! The post CONFIRMED: Epic Universe Releases Opening Day Park Hours first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Here at DFB, we know a thing or two about Disney World. And, I personally happen to know a thing or two about drinking at EPCOT. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to do. EPCOT Some might consider me the resident expert on imbibing here at DFB (okay, or maybe I’m just the loudest about it), which is why I feel particularly qualified to tell you about the latest problem plaguing EPCOT — barflies. One World Showcase pavilion tends to attract them more than most, and we need to talk about it. Few World Showcase spots are as essential to Drinking Around the World as the Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom Pavilion. While the Rose & Crown Dining Room features seated table service with your typical British fare, the Pub is home to iconic beers, flights, cocktails, whiskies, and a full bar. I mean, who wouldn’t want to stop for a pint at the pub when Drinking Around the World in EPCOT? Rose and Crown Pub The problem is that this place is SO popular that you’ll often see a mob of people crowded out front, waiting to get in for a drink — the barflies. And, if you see me in this group — no, you didn’t. In all seriousness, though, it can get a little chaotic trying to grab a drink from Rose & Crown on particularly crowded days. Rarely, Disney will set up stanchions out front to create an orderly line, but once you step through those doors — BAM! It’s like you’ve stepped into a crowded British pub. Don’t expect a line; expect to have to elbow your way up to the bar like you’re in college again. It gets crowded in here! This can create quite a crowd of folks that get in the way of people trying to pass by the pub and to the rest of the park, causing a bit of a backup. It all just adds to the experience, though! But, if you don’t want to fight your way through the crowd for a drink, you can find a selection of the same items (not all of them, though) at the Rose & Crown Beer Cart located just out front and to the left of the Pub. Beer Cart And, if you’re heading to Disney World anytime soon, keep in mind that the Rose & Crown Pub is currently undergoing a multi-month refurbishment, so you won’t get to experience the typical barfly problem — or the pub itself. Instead, a temporary bar has been set up along the World Showcase Lagoon. A reopening date has not been announced for the pub, but we’ll keep an eye out! Cheers! We’ll be on the lookout for more updates you need to know from Disney World. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news! The SECRET To Getting Your Money’s Worth When Drinking Around the World 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 Do you like Drinking Around the World at EPCOT? Tell us in the comments. The post “Barflies” Are Causing Chaos in EPCOT, and We Need to Talk About It first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have been to Universal Orlando’s new theme park Epic Universe and we LOVED IT. Okay, so it does live up to the Epic name, but what about the food? Because you KNOW we’re all about the food. Epic Universe We recently stopped by Pizza Moon in Celestial Park to check out the vibes, as well as the food, so come with us while we dine over the (pizza) moon. Atmosphere Pizza Moon is set in an early 1990s Victorian theater that has been turned into an eatery. It’s located in Celestial Park (hence the whole celestial name). Pizza Moon As you can see, the theme on the outside is a little quirky, as is the inside. You’ve got cardboard cutout-like scene decorations like you might find in an old Victorian theater. Cool theming Be sure to take a look around because this really is a unique dining joint. We love it But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?! Menu As you may have guessed, Pizza Moon is all about PIZZA. And you’ll find all kinds of interesting pizza concoctions here inspired by space. Eats First up, we grabbed the Space Cowboy for $18.99, made with BBQ sauce, rotisserie chicken, pickled red onion, Castelvetrano olives, and BBQ potato chips. Yes, potato chips on a pizza, and WHY DIDN’T WE THINK OF THAT? But the thing here is that this pizza is just trying maybe a little too hard. We appreciate the effort to do something unique, but this is VERY barbecue. We also thought the pickled red onion added an additional flavor, but it didn’t cut through all that sweet barbecue flavor, which was overwhelming at times. Space Cowboy The pizza crust has a nice crust with a char on the bottom of it. The potato chips add a fun crunch, but at this point, it’s just SO much MORE barbecue flavor. So we’re torn on this pizza, but at the same time, we ate the whole thing…and then wondered why. We also had the Brownie Eclipse for $11.99. It’s a warm gooey brownie with Nutella, toasted marshmallows, and crushed OREO. If you have a sweet tooth, this might be the PERFECT snack for you. It’s got that whole half-baked brownie texture with the ooey gooey middle. Brownie Eclipse But y’all, this brownie is RICH, so you might want to share (or not). The flavors work great together, though, and well, it’s a chocolate lovers dream. Nosh or Not Shoot for the Pizza Moon if… You want to try something different. This is pizza, but with a twist, and we appreciate that Pizza Moon is being adventurous with throwing ingredients together. You want a quick meal. This is a quick service dining spot, so you’ll be fed pretty quickly. You have a sweet tooth. Seriously, if you love sweets, the Brownie Eclipse alone is worth stopping by. Stay away from the Pizza Moon if… You have picky eaters. Although this is pizza, it is pizza that’s been reimagined in some unique ways that picky eaters might not appreciate. You want a table service dining experience. This is a quick service dining spot so you’re not going to get the same kind of service you would at a table service restaurant. You don’t like or want pizza. Although the pizza here is unique, it’s still served on a pizza crust. Overall We’re torn about the Space Cowboy pizza we had here, but we think barbecue lovers might just devour it. The dessert, though, was fantastic, and we’d come back again just for that. There are a variety of unique pizzas to choose from, so this is definitely theme park fare taken up a notch, and we appreciate that. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more! REVIEW: I’m an Icing Fiend, So This Is the First Thing I’m Eating at Dark Universe in Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Pizza Moon Restaurant at Universal's Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

SeaWorld Orlando has pushed back the debut of its Arctic-based flying theater ride by about a week. Expedition Odyssey will make its public debut on May 9, instead of May 1 as originally announced. Previews for annual passholders, originally set to begin this Saturday have been rescheduled to dates beginning May 1, according to email sent from the theme park to its passholders. The new big-screen attraction, which is taking over the former Wild Arctic simulator space, will have an attached animal exhibit that will open to the general public on May 1, according to the email to passholders. Expedition Odyssey will virtually transport visitors through glaciers, over the tundra and into the depths of the Arctic Ocean. The footage, which will be seen on on a curved screen 50 feet in diameter, includes looks at orcas, beluga whales, polar bears, seals and walruses. The scenes were filmed in three separate two-week excursions. The new attraction will have a 39-inch height requirement for passengers. The revised passholder previews will be held for platinum cardholders on May 1-2, then platinum and gold level on May 3-4, then added on silver passes on May 5-6. Previews for all passholders will extend into May 7-8 before the May 9 grand opening. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

Hey Disney fans, we’ve got some more brand-new Loungeflys for you! The Lion King at EPCOT Loungefly just dropped a brand-new collection based on the Disney animated classic, The Lion King! A couple of the Loungefly items you can’t find anywhere else, outside of the Loungefly website. Let’s take a look at what got released! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Check out this Lion King Loungefly Backpack ©Loungefly We love this “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” Loungefly Backpack! The bag takes inspiration from the iconic scene from the Disney animated classic, The Lion King, where Simba sings about becoming king. We love the detail and the art style of the animals on this bag! Hey, and there’s Zazu as well. The design continues around the bag, as Mufasa and Sarabi are on the right pocket, and Simba is on the back. The inside of the bag has a Simba print pattern. Oh, we just can’t WAIT…to grab this bag! View Online Pair the bag with this Lion King Loungefly Card Holder ©Loungefly Pair the backpack with this “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” Loungefly Card Holder! The design was so perfect for the backpack, they had to do it twice — the two of them would make the perfect set. What we love about the card holder is that the scene is a tad different. If you haven’t spotted it, Simba and Nala appear at the top of the card holder! This will be perfect for payment cards, Disney Pass, and more. You need to check out the price for this thing! View Online We love this Lion King Loungefly Backpack ©Loungefly You need to check out this Hakuna Matata Grubs Loungefly Backpack! We’ll tell you what Hakuna Matata means — it means no worries about finding the perfect Disney day backpack (it’s right here)! We love the detail and design of this bag. It features your favorite duo, Timon and Pumba. It also has their not-so-delicious grub meal at the front of the bag. The bag has two side pockets and a main compartment. View Online Pair it with this Lion King Loungefly Wallet ©Loungefly We got another matching set coming your way. Pair this Hakuna Matata Loungefly Wallet with the bag! The wallet features Simba with his pals, Timon and Pumba. Both the wallet and backpack Hakuna Matata items are exclusive to the Loungefly website. You’ll only be able to find them there! The inside of the wallet features 11 card slots, so you’ll be able to carry everything you need. View Online We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post 4 New (and Retro) Disney Loungeflys Just Dropped Online! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you thought you couldn’t hydrate in style, Owala is here to change your mind. ©Owala Owala water bottles are known for their reliability and ability to keep drinks cool all day, but they’re also totally stylish. And with the launch of their new Disney Princess collection, these bottles go beyond function to become a standout accessory. Here’s a closer look at their latest designs now available on Amazon! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We’d go under the sea for this Ariel-inspired water bottle! ©Amazon Inspired by The Little Mermaid, this Ariel Owala is a nod to the mermaid herself, with green, purple, and red showcased on the design. Like all Owala FreeSip bottles, it’s built with a super handy spout you can sip upright or tilt back to take a bigger swig. The push-to-open lid keeps things clean on the go, and the carry loop even locks the lid in place, so it’s ready for whatever adventure you’re heading off to next. A treasure we know Ariel herself would love to add to her collection! Shop from Amazon Let the ultimate hydration begin with this Rapunzel Owala! ©Amazon The Rapunzel Owala is all about soft lavender tones and a golden accent, perfect for our fave long-haired princess. Made from 24-ounce insulated stainless steel, this bottle keeps your drinks cold for 24 hours. It’s perfect for tossing in your bag on a spontaneous adventure—no frying pan required. Shop from Amazon This Belle Owala is absolutely enchanting ©Amazon The Belle Owala captures the essence of elegance with its rich golden yellow hue and red accent color. The convenient carry loop makes it easy to take your bottle anywhere, whether it’s to the library or on an afternoon stroll. Shop from Amazon This Cinderella Owala is fit for royalty ©Amazon The Cinderella Owala is as magical as her transformation, with soft blues as a nod to her iconic dress. All Owala bottles are BPA and phthalate-free, ensuring your drink stays pure, and while the bottle itself is hand wash only, the lid is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Shop from Amazon This Moana Owala bottle is ready to join you on any adventure, no matter how far you go ©Amazon The Moana Owala captures the spirit of adventure with its vibrant design. The wide opening makes it easy to add ice and clean, while the cup holder-friendly base ensures it fits perfectly in your car or bag. Shop from Amazon This Tiana Owala will hydrate you through blue skies and sunshine ©Amazon The Tiana Owala is as vibrant and inspiring as the princess herself, with different shades of green featured in its design. Owala bottles have you covered with cold sips and a leakproof design that’s ready for any journey. Shop from Amazon We’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney merch collections, so stay tuned to us here on DFB! Like what you see? Check out more of our Disney must-haves on our Amazon Storefront! The post The New Disney Princess Owala Collection Is on Amazon Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes a single essential can save an entire Disney World vacation! Main Street, U.S.A. in Disney World Visiting Disney World requires some pretty thorough preparation. Having an essential items checklist is a must, and we make sure we check ours off before every visit. Having the right essentials is doubly important when the heat cranks up during the summer, as you start facing some severe repercussions of being unprepared. Fortunately, we’ve found an item that could be a lifesaver on a blistering hot day at Disney World. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. When it gets to be unbearably hot, few things provide more relief than a fan! We love this mini fan! This JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan is one of our favorite essential items for a plethora of reasons. It’s super portable thanks to its foldability, is USB rechargeable, and comes with a flashlight. Folded up — yes, it has little Mickey ears! The mornings can start out cooler, but it gets tricky later in the afternoon when it heats up, especially if you’re not anticipating it. Having this little pocket fan ready to go is a great way to adjust to the warmer temperature while continuing on with your Disney day. It even has a built-in flashlight It can also be a cost saver! Sometimes, when you have a fan like this, forgetting your chapstick back in your hotel room isn’t the end of the world, causing you to go out and buy more at the parks. Built-in charger We can’t stress enough how much having a little fan can make a difference during a hot Disney day. Take our word for it and come prepared with one of these little guys. You can pick this one up on Amazon! Buy on Amazon For more merch updates and Disney Parks tips, stay tuned right here at DFB! Looking for more Disney World essentials? Check out our Amazon storefront!The post This Is the Most Useful Disney Essential We've Seen in Forever first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Time to get your shopping on, because this is the week of ALDI finds to END all weeks of ALDI finds! ALDI ALDI went full Disney, folks! You need to check out this haul of Disney souvenirs and merchandise you can get at ALDI starting on April 30th for a great price! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. If you’re planning a Disney World trip, and you’re looking for Disney merch you can wear at an amazing price, you’ve come to the right place! We’re starting off by looking at some of the Disney hats ALDI has. You can see there are two themed after Minnie Mouse, one after Mickey Mouse, and a Minnie bucket hat. Great options as the summer months start to roll out! ©ALDI We also found this cute Mickey bucket hat — with MICKEY EARS! ©ALDI We don’t know if we’ve ever seen earrings for this cheap! These sets are adorable — they have silver Minnie and gold Mickey huggies. They also have Minnie and Mickey character head studs. ©ALDI Or, how about these earring sets? ALDI has even more Disney earrings — featuring Minnie Mouse heads and her bows, and Mickey heads and outlines (in both silver and gold). They topped off the jewelry with a gold Minnie Mouse necklace. You’re going to be dazzling at Disney World with these sets! ©ALDI We bet you didn’t think we’d be coming at you with cheap Mickey Ears at ALDI, well, here we are! Pinch us, cause $5 for Mickey Ears? We have to be dreaming! Check out some of the options they have — including Minnie Ears with her face printed over them, the same Minnie Ears in a tan color, floral Minnie Ears, and wired Minnie Ears with a crystal bow! ©ALDI Oh, but we’re not done! They also have gold-wired Minnie Ears with flowers, and just black Minnie Ears. ©ALDI You know, here at DFB, we love shoes for the parks! Well, we found some cute Disney shoe options for your kids’ next Disney day, and they are available at an amazing price. They’ve got Mickey and Minnie options — look how adorable they are! ©ALDI How about this cute Disney romper covered in Minnie Mouse faces! ©ALDI They might not be Loungefly, but these Disney bags are cute, stylish, and will carry all your essentials. They have bags inspired by both Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their pals! These would work perfectly for your next park day! ©ALDI We also found this leather backpack on Amazon for little ones. Check out this Minnie Mouse Polka Dot Backpack! This would work great for school, traveling, and carrying what you need at Disney World. We love the polka dot pattern on the front pouch, as well as the bag’s Mickey ears, and the cute Minnie bow! ©Amazon View on Amazon Check out these dresses we found at ALDI, perfect for looking stylish and comfy at the park. They look so soft! ©ALDI We also found these hybrid dresses, which again look so flowy and comfortable! ©ALDI We got more clothes for you. Seriously, though, how often do you find pants for this cheap? Check out these long and short jeggings, both light and dark blue colors! ©ALDI Or how about these short sets for little ones! These could honestly work for a matching fit or nighttime wear. ©ALDI How soft and comfy do these t-shirts look?! ©ALDI They got matching skorts to go along with the t-shirts, in both green and coconut! ©ALDI Or how about these shorts, featuring a tiny Mickey head on them. ALDI is killing it with the Disney merch! ©ALDI We love these heatless hair accessories to keep your hair nice and ready to go for your next Disney day. They come in a few different colors! ©ALDI And, we have more bucket hats for you. They have black, green, pink, and a garden print one. Again, we’re freaking out over the price all these are available at! ©ALDI Time to look at the home goods! Specifically, the DISNEY home goods — because they have a lot of options! Check out these mats featuring Mickey in his classic style. We love the welcome mat with Minnie kissing Mickey on the cheek. There’s also a towel set available. ©ALDI Speaking of mats, you’re going to love this Mickey Mouse Welcome Front Door Mat! Don’t be fooled, these aren’t two separate mats; they come in a 2-Pack! They both feature the classic style of Mickey Mouse, which is just so iconic. One of them says “Home” while the other says “Welcome”. They’re both so cute, good thing we don’t have to choose between the two! ©Amazon View on Amazon You can bring your Disney spirit to bed and get comfy with these Disney pillows. They have both Mickey and Minnie Mouse pillows! ©ALDI How about these Mickey Mouse planters! The planters have a Mickey head print, and come in Strawberry, Aqua, and Coconut colors. ©ALDI Get creative and challenge your brain with these puzzle books as well! ©ALDI We mentioned towels before, and we have more for you. These sets would look great in the bathroom, kitchen, room, you name it! We love the style of these, and they all come in 2-packs. The theme continues with merchandise featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse. ©ALDI Take a look at these stainless steel water bottles! One of the most important things at Disney World is to stay hydrated, and bringing your own water bottle helps you to do that. So we think these are great options — they’re affordable and Disney-themed! ©ALDI We have some more water bottle options, but these ones are 24-oz bottles. They come with a straw to help prevent spills, and are even cheaper than the option above! ©ALDI Speaking of water bottles, take a look at this Disney Princess Water Bottle featuring Ariel! Inspired by the Disney animated classic The Little Mermaid, this water bottle is perfect to show off your princess fandom when walking around the park. It’s available on Amazon for a great price! ©Amazon View on Amazon Rounding us out, we found some nice Disney wallets. We know we sound like a broken record at this point, but we’ll keep saying it — LOOK AT THE PRICES! It’s impossible to say no to this Disney merch, especially with their cute and unique Mickey designs! ©ALDI And, there’s this wallet as well! We found this Leather Wristlet Tech Wallet on Amazon and had to share it with you all. It features a close-up of Mickey’s face, and is honestly the wallet you would want as a Disney fan! ©Amazon View on Amazon Ok, one more thing — we couldn’t leave out the Mickey Mouse-shaped chicken nuggets! Like, c’mon, these are a must-have! ©ALDI We told you this was the ALDI week to end all ALDI weeks! Hopefully, you get the chance to get some of this great Disney merch at such a low price. We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post We're FREAKING OUT. Minnie Ears, Disney Backpacks, and MORE Are Coming to ALDI Next Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When you visit Disney World, do you stay at a Disney World hotel? Sure, you might save some money by staying at a hotel off-property, but you might just be missing out if you do. Beach Club Resort You see, staying at a Disney World hotel doesn’t just get you a prime spot for all the action (so to speak), but staying at a Disney World hotel also gets you perks you can’t get at most other hotels. We’ve taken a look at all the perks you’ll get when you stay at a Disney World hotel perk in 2026, so you can look at that and maybe decide that 2026 is the year you’ll stay in a Disney World hotel when you visit the parks. Here’s what staying in a Disney World hotel in 2026 will get you. Early Theme Park Entry If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you qualify to get Early Theme Park Entry. Basically, this means you can get into the theme parks 30 minutes before everyone else. During this time, you’ll be allowed to ride certain attractions, meaning you can get a jump on knocking some rides out of the way before everyone else is in the park. Early entry sign! Note that not every ride is open during Early Theme Park Entry — you can see a full list of rides open during this time here. Everything you need to know about Early Theme Park Entry Extended Evening Hours If you’re staying at a deluxe Disney World hotel, you also get access to Extended Evening Hours. On select nights, a Disney theme park is open for a few hours after its official closing time. This time is JUST for guests staying at deluxe hotels, so you’ll get some time in the parks with low crowds and low wait times. Extended evening hours in Animal Kingdom You can check which parks are open for extended evening hours on the Disney World calendar. Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests Free water park tickets In 2025, Disney revealed a NEW perk for all Disney World hotel guests. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you can get FREE water park tickets for either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon for the day you check in at your hotel. Blizzard Beach This is why we recommend packing a bathing suit and water park items in a bag that you have quick access to, so you can check-in to your hotel (if your room is ready) or store your bags at the hotel and head straight to the water park. Typhoon Lagoon vs. Blizzard Beach — Disney World Water Parks Showdown Free transportation and parking If you drive to Disney World and are staying at a Disney World hotel, you get free parking both at your hotel and at the theme parks. Free parking? Now that’s A PERK. Zurg parking lot at Magic Kingdom However, if you’re not driving or just don’t want to, you can also use Disney World’s extensive transportation system FOR FREE, which will get you to pretty much everywhere on property. This transportation network includes buses, boats, the Monorail, and the Skyliner. Learn more about Disney World’s transportation Early access to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass If you’ve got a room booked at a Disney World hotel for your trip, you can start booking your Lightning Lanes through Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass seven days before your trip (everyone else can book three days ahead of time). That will give you a leg up on getting those coveted Lightning Lanes for popular rides. Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane By comparison, those not staying at a Disney World hotel can only pre-book Lightning Lanes three days in advance. Everything you need to know about Lightning Lane Multi Pass in Disney World As you can see, staying at a Disney World hotel could pay off in ways you hadn’t thought of yet. But there’s another big perk of staying on property. Staying in a Disney World hotel means that you get to live inside the Disney bubble and away from the rest of the world for the length of your stay. Now, THAT’S what we call a vacation. Stay tuned to DFB for more. A Definitive Ranking of EVERY Disney World Hotel!  DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO When you stay at Disney World, do you book a Disney World hotel for the perks? Let us know in the comments! The post Every Disney World Hotel Perk Revealed for 2026 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

While a day at the Magic Kingdom may seem destined to be expensive, there are ways to enjoy a delicious meal at the “Most Magical Place on Earth” without breaking the bank. Main Street U.S.A. Train Station In fact, believe it or not, you can have a filling meal at the Magic Kingdom for LESS THAN $20! How, well it all depends on the right menu choices! Let’s start off at the Columbia Harbour House, the New England seafood restaurant located in Liberty Square. While many of the items on the menu come in at under $20, there are a couple that stand out to us as favorites. Columbia Harbour House For $14.79, you can get Maple-Glazed Salmon with green beans and rice. Maple-mustard glazed salmon If you’re sharing with someone else, or simply want to enjoy a rare deep-fried treat, there’s the $14.29 Trio Platter. This offering includes beer-battered shrimp, fried chicken, and beer-battered fish served with French fries and Hushpuppies! Trio Platter at Columbia Harbor House Finally, the restaurant also features a plant-based option for under $20 in the plant-based Crispy Mushroom Roll, which features cornmeal-fried mushrooms, plant-based spicy tartar sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and a pickle served with French fries and costs $13. Plant-based Mushroom Roll If you’re not feeling any of the Columbia Harbor House options, head over to the Plaza Restaurant instead. While most of the items on this turn-of-the-century-themed eater are over $20, one exception is the $17 Chipotle Barbecue Pork Sandwich, which features slow-cooked pulled pork with Coca-Cola Chipotle Barbecue Sauce and Coleslaw served on a toasted potato roll. Plaza While we’ve highlighted these options, there are still others scattered around the park on various menus. In addition, other tips we’d recommend to keep your Magic Kingdom food budget under $20 include ordering kids’ meal options and sticking to free water as your beverage. The new water cup design Each of these meals can get you through a day at the Magic Kingdom for LESS than $20! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney dining tips! We Reviewed the Cheapest Sit Down Dinner You Can Get in Magic Kingdom 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 budget your Magic Kingdom food plans? Let us know in the comments below. The post Eating at Magic Kingdom in Disney World on a Day first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney versus Universal — it’s been a hot debate for years and continues to be a hot debate today, especially with Epic Universe joining the lineup. Universal Studios Despite the projected earnings for Epic Universe in its first year being over one billion dollars, the rest of Universal’s theme park revenue doesn’t seem to be doing so hot. NBCUniversal recently held its first-quarter earnings call, and revenue for the parks was down. Comcast released its report on NBCUniversal’s first-quarter financial results, and according to the numbers, theme park revenue was down 5% to around $1.88 billion. The report attributed this to lower visitor attendance due to the Los Angeles wildfires. Universal Studios Hollywood Both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk closed during the January wildfires that devastated California, which most likely had an impact on the overall losses Universal saw in the theme park division during the first quarter. In addition to these losses, Comcast reported higher operating expenses this quarter, which included “around $100 million of pre-opening costs for Epic Universe ahead of the scheduled opening in May 2025.” It’s certainly no secret that Universal spared no expense to bring Epic Universe to life. Universal Studios Hollywood In a press release, Comcast stated, “Theme Parks remain on an incredible growth trajectory… We could not be more excited for the grand opening of Epic Universe in Orlando next month and our plans to bring a new world-class theme park to the UK.” Epic Universe Universal recently announced plans to bring a theme park to Bedford, UK, which is expected to open in 2031. While nothing has been confirmed, rumors have suggested the park could have lands featuring the Lord of the Rings, Paddington, and the James Bond franchise. ©Universal We’ll be on the lookout for more updates from Universal. In the meantime, stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest theme park news and more! Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you heading to a Universal park anytime soon? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: LA Wildfires Cause Universal Theme Park Revenue To Drop first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Snacking your way around Disney is about to get even more SWEETER! Disneyland Disneyland is home to some of the most iconic Disney snacks, and we love days when we can just wander around the park and eat until our hearts are content. But, with all the recent changes coming to Disneyland between the parks, excitement building for Disneyland’s 70th celebration, and a dramatic overhaul, we figured a few new eats wouldn’t be too far behind! Let’s take a look at everything Disney teased is on its way. If you’ve been dreaming of downing some new tasty treats around Disneyland soon, you may be getting the chance to do so even sooner than you originally thought. While there are lots of exciting things happening now and coming to Disneyland over the next few weeks, that hasn’t put the brakes on Disney introducing a few new drinks and eats to try around the park. Welcome to Disneyland! Disney just gave us a sneak peek of several treats and drinks that will be debuting on April 30th! Let’s have a closer look at the drinks they’ve teased we’ll find first. The new Watermelon Lemonade can be found at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. It’s served over ice and topped with lemon-flavored popping spheres and can also come available in a Jamboree Mason Jar Sipper. ©Disney There’s also a new Peach Lemonade with Peach Rings coming to Harbour Galley. This one is made of lemonade and peach purée, garnished with peach rings and rimmed with chile-lime seasoning. ©Disney A new Pineapple Agua Fresca will be available at Paradise Garden Grill… ©Disney …as well as a Fresh Pineapple Cocktail! This one’s made of tequila, agua fresca de piña, and a chile-lime-seasoned rim. ©Disney Little Red Wagon is where you can pick up the new Lychee-Strawberry Green Tea. This drink is made of green tea infused with lychee flavor and topped with strawberries, and looks like a splendid option for a refreshing drink! ©Disney There’s a Mango-Guava Iced Tea coming to the Cappuccino Cart… ©Disney …and the brand-new Passion Fruit Mint Julep over at Mint Julep Bar is made of passion fruit, mint, and a hint of lime. ©Disney To round out all of the new drinks, there’s also a Tiki Margarita you’ll find over at Hollywood Lounge, made of tequila and pineapple margarita. ©Disney There’s a sugar rush incoming to go along with all these new delicious drinks! You can pick up the S’mores Butter Cake Sundae from Red Rose Taverne. It’s made up of chocolate butter cake topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, graham cracker crumbs, and toasted marshmallow. ©Disney There’s a new Matcha Float coming soon to The Tropical Hideaway! It’ll be made of DOLE Whip Strawberry and Mango swirl, topped with white chocolate drizzle and toasted coconut. ©Disney A new Neapolitan Macaron made of chocolate macaron with vanilla bean buttercream and strawberry sauce will be available at Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream… ©Disney …a Raspberry Shake topped with whipped cream can be found at Smokejumpers Grill… ©Disney …and the Chocolate Gooey Brownie Cake made of chocolate brownie molten cake, chantilly cream, caramel, and chocolate sauce garnished with chocolate rice crisp will be waiting for you at Plaza Inn. ©Disney Over at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta, you’ll find the Tiramisu Parfait… ©Disney …Market House will become the home for the Butter Biscuit Cookie, which is a butter cookie with raspberry jam and white chocolate… ©Disney …and the Cookie Croissant (a flat croissant coated in sugar) will be available at Maurice’s Treats. ©Disney The Coconut Cheesecake, which is coconut cheesecake rolled in toasted coconut with coconut whipped cream, white chocolate pearls, and a Mickey decoration, will call Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe its new home when it arrives… ©Disney …the Mickey Mint Cookie Shake made of mint cookies and cream shake with whipped topping, sprinkles, crème-filled chocolate cookies, and red sugar rim will be calling your name at Schmoozies… ©Disney …and the Matterhorn Puff filled with cheesecake, lemon curd, and fresh blueberries, topped with white chocolate and snow sugar, you’ll find at Edelweiss Snacks. ©Disney To round out our long list of treats, the Mango Strawberry Chile-Lime Parfait made of mango mousse, vanilla cake, mango passion fruit compote, and strawberry chamoy chile-lime gelée will debut at Paradise Garden Grill… ©Disney …Pineapple-flavored Mickey-shaped Beignets dusted with pineapple powdered sugar can be ordered at Mint Julep Bar… ©Disney …Chocolate Cake with frosting… ©Disney …and Lemon-Raspberry Tiramisu made up of lemon tiramisu cream with layers of raspberry-soaked ladyfingers, lemon curd, and fresh raspberries finished with dried raspberry and chocolate decoration will both be available over at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe! ©Disney We seriously can’t stop looking at how stunning these treats are and dreaming of how much better they must taste. We’ll be out to try them out when they hit the parks, so be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog to see them soon! We’ve Got Good News and Bad News About a Popular Disney Parade  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 Which of these new treats are you most excited to try? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Just Announced 23 (!!!) New Treats Are Coming Next Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tucked away in Dark Universe is a small, easy-to-miss little shack known as De Lacey’s Cottage. If you’re looking for fine dining in Darkmoor Village, keep moving (it is a rather dilapidated-looking shack, after all), but for all you snackers who love a “hidden gem,” we might have stumbled on a new winner in Epic Universe. We love a “hole in the wall” restaurant, but this shack is really taking things to the next level We’ve been snacking our way through all kinds of universes at Epic Universe, but now, our journey has taken us to the place “where the original Frankenstein’s Monster once received sustenance and friendship.” Aww — how cute! These days, the story goes that snacks and “cool treats” are offered at De Lacey’s Cottage, including things like cinnamon bites, pretzels, and more. So — is the original Frankenstein’s Monster’s old hangout still worth visiting? Let’s find out! Behold! We have arrived at De Lacey’s Cottage — just in time for a little snack! Now, be warned. This place is a little difficult to find since it’s off the beaten path. There isn’t a whole lot of seating in the area, and we didn’t see much shade, so be prepared to eat and walk with your food here. Luckily, the snack options are handheld bites that are easy to transport. The menu currently features the Frank & Friends Pretzel served with cheese for $12.99 and the Warm Hearted Cinnamon Bites for $7.99. We also spotted a range of beverages, including things like Monster Energy Drinks (how fitting!), Powerade, and Canned Beers. Let’s see what we can get! We went for the Warm Hearted Cinnamon Roll Bites, which are warm cinnamon sugar donut bites with cream cheese icing and streusel — YUM! Sadly, these cinnamon bites are not stuffed with that sweet cream cheese icing, but luckily, the topping was pretty generous. The DFB team is very pro-icing, so give us alllll the sweet, gooey goodness. Warm Hearted Cinnamon Roll Bites Now, let’s talk specifics. These cinnamon roll bites were great! Were they the bestest, most showstopping cinnamon rolls we’ve ever had? No. But you really can’t go wrong with donut-like cinnamon balls and cream cheese. They’re served warm and fresh, so the cream cheese gets all melty and smooth. If you’ve got a picky eater in the group, this is an excellent option. Look at all that sugar! Our only complaint was the texture. Remember how we said the cream cheese melted onto our cinnamon bites? Well, that cinnamon sugar topping mixes in with the cream cheese, so you get kind of a rough, gritty texture when you take a bite. You can see pretty clearly in the photo that they do NOT skimp on the sugar topping, but the sugar was almost so concentrated on top of the cream cheese icing that it got a little grainy. But this did not impact the flavor — we still recommend these for anyone looking for a quick, easy sweet treat. Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Epic Universe trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. In the meantime, we’re trying allll the latest Epic Universe snacks, so stay tuned for more. REVIEW: Move Over, Butterbeer! We Tried a NEW ‘Harry Potter’ Drink in Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you going to give these a try? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: I’m an Icing Fiend, So This Is the First Thing I’m Eating at Dark Universe in Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Universal just EXTENDED annual passholder preview dates for Epic Universe! Since early previews debuted for Universal’s new Epic Universe park, fans have been flocking to purchase tickets to see the park before its official opening on May 22nd. Now that we’ve had a chance to look inside and try out the restaurants you find around the park, we’ve wanted even MORE time to experience it all. Now, Universal seems to be granting that wish for those who are eligible! If the previous dates for Epic Universe previews just didn’t work out for you, OR you’re like us and just want to keep visiting the park before it opens, Universal’s just opened up more days to do just that! ©Universal Universal quietly opened more availability to its annual passholders to purchase advance tickets to visit Epic Universe through May 19th. When Universal annual passholders were initially given dates to experience the park before regular day ticket visitors were able to, Universal’s original cutoff date for these previews was May 8th. That’s right — now there are 11 MORE days to visit Epic Universe before it opens! Epic Universe Several dates had already sold out, so this provides more passholders with an opportunity to visit early. We’ve been able to step inside its portals several times since these previews first opened to annual passholders and, most recently, included visitors purchasing tickets that are staying at a Universal Orlando hotel. Portal Entrance to Isle of Berk Checking the prices of these additional dates, it seems to have fallen in line with similar pricing to what we’ve already seen for these tickets. Most of the new dates are priced around $123 per person per day, with the newly added Saturdays as the highest at $131. Most of the park’s operating hours are listed for May 9th through the 14th from 10 AM-9 PM, with May 15th through the 19th from 9 AM- 8 PM. If you’re looking to get in on the fun early (or just want to grab another day inside Epic Universe early) AND you’re currently an active Universal Orlando annual passholder, preview tickets can be purchased in the Universal Orlando app or on the website. ©Universal You’ll need to make sure your annual passholder card number is linked inside the wallet of your app, and if you’re planning to purchase tickets for multiple passholders on the same transaction to attend on the same day, they’ll also need to be linked in the wallet of the person buying the tickets. Preview tickets are limited to 1 per passholder per preview date so this means you CAN purchase multiple dates if you wish. Don’t go away! We’ll be bringing you along with us as we visit Universal’s Epic Universe on its opening day (and before). Be sure to stay tuned with us at DFB for all the latest. Epic Universe Could Lead to MAJOR CHANGES at Universal Orlando’s Other Parks Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> The post BREAKING: Epic Universe EXTENDS Annual Passholder Previews Adding 11 NEW Dates first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Walt Disney knew that it took people to make dreams reality and cast members have been at the heart of carrying on Walt’s vision for nearly 70 years. One cast member who carries on Walt’s ideals of creating happiness in his own exceptional way is Antonio Viray. Working in attractions at Disney California Adventure park, Antonio’s personalized approach to guest service has helped him hit a major service milestone this month. Not only has Antonio received 700 Cast Compliments (735 now, to be exact!) for having fun and creating memorable moments with guests, but he has also become an online sensation for his signature magic making technique: dance. “As attractions cast members, we’re in direct contact with the guest. We’re the first impression for the guest.” Antonio continues, “I want to make sure when they step in front of me, that the smile will last until they leave the park.” Although Antonio has inspired others to recognize him for the joy he creates, he has never seen the videos that his dance moves have been featured in… until now. See Antonio’s reaction to all of the guest created videos when we revealed his true impact on those who have been fortunate to meet him. What’s Antonio’s secret? “I’m still a kid at heart,” Antonio smiles shyly. While explaining why it’s so important to him to go above and beyond to show off his dance moves at work and create happiness and laughter for others, Antonio shared, “It’s what our core values are – that’s what [Disney’s] service is all about. We’re here to help the guests and do the best we can do to make their stay here and visit memorable.” Antonio fist bumps guests in front of the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind attraction. Spreading Happiness Wherever He Goes Although Antonio calls Disneyland Resort his home, his imprint is worldwide. Achieving a Bachelor of Science in Tourism from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, and working in the hospitality industry in Dubai and Qatar for nearly a decade before starting at Disney, Antonio has built relationships with people from around the world. With his experience in guest service and hospitality allowing him to continue to do so in his current role at the resort, Antonio has dedicated his career to the magic of storytelling and creating moments of happiness for others, all while having a blast. “Wherever I am, I create magic…. That’s why most of my fellow cast members ask me ‘Antonio, where do you get your energy?’ Because… I don’t stop. I keep doing this the whole time, like Captain America. I can do this all day,” Antonio laughs. Antonio makes guests at Pixar Pier laugh with his dance moves. As fate would have it, Antonio just celebrated 18 magical years with Disneyland Resort. So, ahead of International Dance Day on April 29, we pay tribute to Antonio for being an inspiration to us all, one dance move at a time. To Antonio, along with the thousands of fun-loving cast members who inspire moments of laughter and joy every single day, thank you for your service in making dreams come true. A Cast Member’s Family Legacy at Disneyland Resort READ MORE Guide to the 70th Anniversary at Disneyland Resort READ MORE Meet Hank: Today’s Longest Serving Disney Cast Member  READ MORE The post Dancing Disneyland Resort Cast Member Inspires Happiness appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

One of Disney World’s busiest rides is ALMOST ready to restart its engine. Test Track construction EPCOT’s Test Track has been closed for refurbishment since June 2024, as Disney Imagineering transforms the attraction into a third incarnation. We’ve known since the D23 Ultimate Fan event last August that the attraction would be reopening sometime in the summer of 2025, and now things seem to be revving up. Work is progressing quickly on the new version of Test Track, which is scheduled to open at EPCOT in late summer. Stay tuned to DFB for further coverage of the opening. CONFIRMED: Every Opening Date Announced for Disney World in 2025 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited for the new Test Track? Let us know in the comments below. The post Test Track Set to Reopen in EPCOT This Summer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ever since opening day at Disneyland nearly 70 years ago, generations of families have been making memories with Disney that last a lifetime. And through the decades, we’ve always created new ways for guests to save on their vacations with us.  “There is nothing quite like a Disney vacation, and every family’s experience is uniquely their own,” said Eean K, a planDisney Panelist from Pennsylvania. “That’s why Disney creates options and choices at a variety of price-points. Disney parks on both coasts recently unveiled new offers and perks – making now a great time to plan your next unforgettable Disney trip.” Simply put, a Disney vacation offers unparalleled entertainment and attractions, paired with legendary customer service. That unique experience, alongside an offering of a wide variety of ticket, dining, and hotel options, has been key to welcoming the tens of millions of families who enjoy a visit to Disney every year. A World of Options at Walt Disney World Resort Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida announced a new deal for families. Guests can purchase a 3-day or longer kids (ages 3-9) standard ticket for 50% off. This deal is available for visits beginning May 27 through September 20, 2025. Additionally, a 3-day, 3-Park ticket is available for purchase starting at $89 per day ($267 total, plus tax) for visits, which started on April 6 and runs through September 22, 2025. This ticket is for admission to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (one theme park per day, not valid for admission to Magic Kingdom). Back by popular demand, guests can get a free dining plan with the purchase of a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day (or longer) package that includes a room at select Disney Resort hotels and a ticket with a Park Hopper option. This offer is for visits on select dates from June 29 through December 22, 2025.   Walt Disney World also provides a wide variety of ticket, dining, and hotel options, and promotional offers during the year to help families save on their vacations. Some current offers include:    As of January 1, 2025, guests who stay at a Walt Disney World resort hotel can enjoy water park admission on the day of their check-in — included in their stay.  There are a variety of resort hotel offers available right now, including saving up to 30% on select rooms when you stay longer, or Disney+ subscribers can save on select rooms – starting at $99 per night at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort – when staying two nights or longer most nights from June 29 to July 31, 2025. All hotel and ticket offers can be found here.  With four theme parks, more than 25 resort hotels, 200+ dining options, and even more to come, there is so much to discover in 2025 at Walt Disney World. This summer, Walt Disney World will be extra fun. Two new shows, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will both debut on May 27, 2025.  Plus, from May 27 through September 1, 2025, families should be on the lookout for limited-time experiences perfect for young kids in the theme parks, including kid zones featuring new activities and fun ways to interact with more Disney characters. There will be pop-up entertainment offerings, games, music, dancing and other adventures to help your little ones make those core Disney memories.   For example, over at Magic Kingdom, families can discover kid zones with added fun in Storybook Circus and in Tomorrowland with Stitch. And, following the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, families with young kids will be able to cool down while enjoying the ultimate game party and play space featuring none other than Goofy as he takes over CommuniCore Hall at EPCOT. Some of our characters will also be out in the park earlier than normal for Disney Resort hotel guests during their daily early theme park entry period (valid theme park admission required). What better way to rope drop than saying hello to some of your favorite Disney pals!  Click here to learn more about all the wonderful ways you can save on your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Disneyland Resort Deals & Offers Over on the other side of the country, The Walt Disney Company’s inaugural destination, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, also has valuable offers to choose from, including: Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration early booking hotel offer: By booking now through May 15, 2025, for travel dates from May 16 through September 26, 2025, guests can save up to 30% off select stays of four or more nights at Disneyland Resort Hotels. Disneyland Anniversary Ticket Offer: Guests can visit for as low as $100 per day with a special 4-Day, 1-Park per day ticket, for a total price of $400. Other ticket options such as a 3-Day, 1 Park per day ticket, upgrade to Park Hopper tickets and Lightning Lane Multi Pass add-on are also available. These tickets may be used consecutively or separately throughout the summer season. Valid for visitation May 16 through Aug. 14, 2025. Park reservations required. Summer 2025 hotel offers: For a limited time, guests can save up to 20% on select overnight stays at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort from May 16 through Aug. 14, 2025, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel. It’s a perfect time to visit Disneyland Resort. Beginning May 16, 2025, and continuing through summer 2026, the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration will honor seven decades of happiness and many moments of joy in the making. Guests will be able to “celebrate happy” with limited-time entertainment, specialty food and beverages, collectible merchandise, and more. Guests can also enjoy many recently debuted and new experiences, including new dining and shopping at the Downtown Disney District, the reimagined Pixar Place Hotel, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and more. Throughout the year, visit Disneyland.com/offers to learn more about all the wonderful ways you can save on your next Disneyland Resort vacation. Nothing Compares to a Disney Vacation Offers like a child’s ticket for as low as $50 at Disneyland, can make that first trip to Disney possible for many young families. And the memories they make are one-of-a-kind. In fact, a recent survey of 3,531 U.S. adults by Morning Consult, commissioned by the Walt Disney Company, revealed that a strong majority of families with children under five: Said nothing compares to a Disney vacation…  Said a visit to a Disney park gives memories that last a lifetime and can’t be replaced…  …And those who had visited Disneyland or Walt Disney World felt the vacation was worth the expense  Thanks to these promotional perks and offers, there’s never been a better time to plan a visit to a Disney resort. The post Disney Offers: Everything You Need to Know from a planDisney Panelist appeared first on Disney Experiences. View the full article

Meeting characters around the Disney parks and resorts is one of the BEST parts of the trip! Cruella de Vil looking fabulous And, you can even find some pretty rare characters hiding around, too — if you know where to look. A recent holiday brought some rare characters out from the woodwork at Disneyland, and we were lucky enough to meet one of the rarest of them all! While WALL-E isn’t a regular character you can meet at the Disney parks, this is just another example of how you never know who you might run into on your trip! Certain special events boast quite the lineup of rare Disney characters, like After Hours events and holiday parties. Plus, holidays typically bring out some of the best characters around! Hello there! We’ll be on the lookout for more updates from Pixar Place Hotel and Disneyland. In the meantime, stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more. We’ve Got Good News and Bad News About a Popular Disney Parade 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 met WALL-E at a Disney park before? Tell us in the comments. The post Dear Disney, We Are BEGGING for This RARE Character Meet and Greet To Become Permanent first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ahoy! We’ve gotten tons of Disney park updates lately, and now Disney Cruise Line has entered the chat with major news of their own! ©Disney If a Disney Cruise vacation has been on your wish list, this news might just launch it to the top. Here’s what’s making waves! For the first time ever, Marvel Day at Sea will be taking place during sailings from Galveston, Texas, aboard the Disney Magic, starting in January 2026. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of battling alongside Spider-Man, dancing with Captain America, or training with Wakandan warriors at sea, your heroic moment has arrived. These select 4- and 5-night sailings are packed with thrilling encounters, themed dining, exclusive merch, and action-packed entertainment for the whole family. Throughout the day, you’ll catch appearances from Marvel icons like: Spider-Man Captain Marvel Thor and Loki Black Panther Captain America © Disney During the event, you can step into the Marvel Universe with hands-on experiences. In the ship’s atrium, guests can join Okoye, the powerful General of the Dora Milaje, for Wakandan warrior training. And for the younger heroes in your crew, the Avengers Training Initiative offers kid-focused activities designed to help them test their super skills and train like a true Avenger. ©Disney Plus, don’t miss the classic Disney crew suiting up in super style during Mickey and Minnie’s Super Hero Celebration as well as a USO-style tribute show that’ll have you tapping your toes, along with a chance to see Captain America himself. And end the night with an epic multiverse mashup on the upper decks during Marvel Heroes Unite, a nighttime spectacular with stunts, fireworks, and special effects. Marvel Day at Sea ©Disney But that’s not all! Sailings out of Port Canaveral, Florida, are bringing the party back with the return of Pixar Day at Sea aboard the Disney Fantasy, also starting in January 2026. On select five-night sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida, your favorite Pixar stories come to life in a celebration packed with characters, music, food, and family fun. The day begins with the Hey Howdy Breakfast, a lively, musical morning featuring Woody, Jessie, and pals from Toy Story. When it’s time to cool off, Crush’s Totally Awesome Pool Party takes over the upper decks with dancing, games, and totally righteous vibes thanks to Crush and his Pixar Party Patrol. ©Disney Feeling fabulous? Strut your stuff in your best Pixar-themed fashion during Edna Mode’s Style on Parade. And for the foodies, the ship’s chefs will host a live cooking demonstration inspired by none other than Remy from Ratatouille, where you’ll see just how “anyone can cook.” The night ends with the high-energy Pixar Pals Celebration, a full-deck party under the stars where you’ll dance the night away with all your Pixar favorites. From sunrise to sunset, it’s a day of nonstop Pixar fun for the whole family. ©Disney We are so excited for these two epic events to take place on future sailings aboard the Disney Magic and the Disney Fantasy. For all the latest Disney news, stay tuned to us here on DFB! Do You Have to Dress Fancy for Dinner on Disney Cruises? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited for Marvel Day at Sea and Pixar Day at Sea? Let us know in the comments! The post 2 MAJOR Announcements for Disney Cruise Line 2026 Sailings first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I was a Disney World Cast Member for almost four years and am still an Annual Passholder who spends much of my free time at Disney World. As cliche as it sounds, the parks are my happy place. While I didn’t grow up going to Disney World, in the past six years, I have been hundreds of times. Magic Kingdom While my trips to Disney World may not be the same as those of someone traveling from elsewhere, I have still spent lots of time experiencing the Disney Parks. I am sharing some of the things that I wish you knew before going to Disney World! You don’t have to do EVERYTHING to have a great time. And I hate to break it to you, but there is no way you can do everything during your trip. I have been to Disney World hundreds of times, and I am still having new experiences. However, pick your top priorities and make sure you get those done. Everything else is icing on the cake! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Plan your days so you can hit your priorities, but don’t forget to have some time for relaxation and going with the flow. Sometimes, my favorite memories come when I don’t have any specific plans, and I just see where the park takes me. I Go to Disney World Every Day. Here Are My Top 5 Comfort Rides. You don’t have to spend LOTS of money to have a great trip. A Disney World vacation is expensive! There is really no way around it, but I think it truly is a magical trip. Of course, you will need to purchase a couple of things no matter what: transportation to and from Disney World, hotel, and park tickets. But you don’t have to book the fanciest meals, spend extra on Lightning Lane Passes, or book the nicest hotel room to have a great time. EPCOT You can always opt for quick service meals or bring your own food into the park. Depending on your plans, you likely won’t even spend that much time at your hotel, and you can always resort hop to other hotels to explore. You can prioritize rides and spend time exploring the parks versus feeling like you have to ride every attraction. As hard as it might be, you don’t have to spend hundreds on Disney merchandise either. I always enjoy giving myself a souvenir budget and hunting for the best souvenir to spend my money on. The 10 BEST Quick Service Restaurants in Magic Kingdom for 2025 There isn’t a “right” or “wrong” way to do Disney. Love getting up at 5am and spending all day at the parks? Great. Want to sleep in and only spend a few hours at the park? Wonderful. Don’t even want to go to the parks and just want to enjoy the hotel? Sounds good. A trip to Disney World should be a vacation, and that means doing things that you enjoy. Sure, it gets harder to balance lots of wants and desires if you are traveling with kids or a larger group, but don’t lose sight of the fact that Disney World should be a vacation. Hollywood Studios Too often, I would see families that were in such a rush to get things done that no one was having fun. Plan for your group, and also know that it is okay to adjust plans once you get to Disney World. Make sure you have at least time to eat, hydrate, and sleep. But don’t feel bad for adding in extra relaxation time, or even A LOT extra relaxation time. I’ve Tried Every Ride Hack in Disney World, And I’m Sharing the 3 That Work Every Time Cast Members want you to have the best vacation, so please be nice to them! Being a Cast Member isn’t all sunshine and roses, and while I loved my time as a Cast Member, I had my fair share of unpleasant experiences. Cast Members are not out to try to ruin your vacation; in fact, they all want to help you have the best vacation. But there are some things they can’t do or fix. Cast Members are the MAGIC! They would love to answer questions or point you in the right direction, and they also want to help make things right, but approaching Cast Members nicely and respectfully will go a long way. 3 Things Disney World Ride Cast Members Want To Tell You But Won’t Cause They’re Too Nice Encourage everyone to do a bit of research. I am not saying they have to spend hours and hours learning about every nook and cranny in Disney World, but encourage everyone in your family or group to at least learn a bit about what to expect and what there is to do. Have each person bring a few ideas of things they would really like to do to make sure everyone is enjoying their time. EPCOT You can sit down as a family and watch one of our YouTube videos – we have an ultimate guide video for each Disney World park! – to get a lay of the land and get everyone excited about the trip. For really young kiddos or kiddos you are trying to surprise, this may not be doable, but I have always felt that everyone enjoys their time more when they get to do things that really excite them. Disney’s Animal Kingdom The ULTIMATE Guide to Planning A Walt Disney World Vacation It can be easy to fall into a hole of learning every little detail and planning every second of your day, but I also think that can lead to burnout and everyone not having as fun of a time. If that works for your family, though, keep doing it! But, if you are planning a Disney World trip and are feeling overwhelmed, I really encourage you to take a step back and decide what is most important for your family and focus on that. Plus, we are here to help you every step of the way with guides, videos, and blog posts on every Disney World topic. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Or, if you want even more assistance with planning your Disney World vacation, reach out to Small World Vacations. They can’t wait to help you plan your vacation! The best part? Their services are completely free, and they have YEARS of experience planning Disney World vacations. They can help take some of the stress away and make sure you have the best vacation for your family. Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World tips, tricks, and news! I Broke ALL the Rules I Tell Disney Adults for One Day in Disney World…and I’m Lucky I Didn’t Crash Out 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 things that you wish you had known before you went to Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post I'm a Former Disney World Cast Member. Here Are 5 Things I Wish You Knew Before Going to Disney World. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Annual Passholders get a lot of nice perks — including discounts, complimentary magnets, free parking, park hopping, and more! Disney World Annual Pass Occasionally, Annual Passholders are able to relax and enjoy an EXCLUSIVE lounge just for them. It looks like Passholders are getting that perk once again for a limited time! Disney Passholders, get ready to relax in the comfort of a lounge exclusively for you! EPCOT will be home to the Passholder lounge as a part of the V.I.PASSHOLDER Summer Days. The lounge will be available for a limited time only, from May 14th to July 13th, 2025. EPCOT The lounge will be open from 11 AM to 7 PM daily within the date range (May 14th to July 13th), but times are subject to change. It will be located in the Morocco Pavilion, at Restaurant Marrakesh just like it was last year. Morocco Pavilion Annual Passholders will be able to enjoy a few things here, Disney listed that the highlights included: Chilling out in a not crowded air-conditioned area Complimentary snacks and water Mobile charging station Pickup a complimentary Passholder button Special Disney PhotoPass offering Restaurant Marakesh It’s important to note that the lounge is subject to availability on a first-come, first-served basis. When you go to take advantage of it, each Passholder will have to show their valid Annual Pass card, linked MagicBand, MagicBand+ or Disney MagicMobile pass, as well as a government-issued photo ID to enter the Passholder Lounge. Annual Passholder Lounge refreshments in EPCOT – 2024 It looks like Passholders will get to enjoy this lounge while they patiently wait for another lounge to open up in EPCOT. Although it’s not a Passholder exclusive, everyone is excited for the Spaceship Earth Lounge called GEO-82 — which doesn’t have an opening date yet, but is said to be available in late spring. ©Disney Spaceship Earth is so iconic — now it will be getting some more love as the new lounge will be inspired by the “stories, shapes, and enduring legacy” of Spaceship Earth. The lounge will be designed with lots of beautiful textures and metallic tones to replicate the iconic look of the staple of EPCOT! ©Disney The lounge will offer a great viewing experience of the firework show Luminous, and will be a nice place to relax during a busy Disney day. GEO 82 will be for adults 21 and older — families with little ones will have to plan accordingly if they intend to visit the new lounge. All in all, this place looks dazzling, and we can’t wait to sit back and relax in the lounge! EPCOT Annual Passholder lounges don’t come often enough, but we love it when they’re here! Hopefully, you take the time to enjoy it and relax, especially as the summer crowds start to come in! Be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for all the latest Disney news and updates! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be checking out the Annual Passholder lounge? Let us know in the comments! The post DATE ANNOUNCED: An Exclusive EPCOT Lounge Is Opening Next Month! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Summer is almost here, which means it’s time to start getting excited about summer eats at Disney World! Disney World Few things are more nostalgic than chowing down on some tasty snacks at the Disney Parks over the summer. It’s even better when the snacks are affordable! With summer coming up and the crowds coming in, we’re taking a look at some of our favorite Magic Kingdom lunches under $20 that hit just right — especially over the summer! When it comes to affordable Disney World eats, it’s hard to beat these! Ham and Gruyère Tart at Gaston’s Tavern Head over to Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom for some tasty American cuisine, such as the Ham and Gruyère Tart! Ham and Gruyere Tart This snack is VERY popular here at DFB and is made with crispy croissant dough topped with ham and gruyère and served with chips. That flaky crust! This flaky and oh-so-delicious snack will only set you back $9.49! A Corn Dog at Sleepy Hollow — Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom’s Sleepy Hollow is definitely known for its Mickey Waffles and funnel cakes, but few things embody summer quite like a corn dog! Golden fried perfection You can grab a Hand-dipped Corn Dog and House-made Chips for $11.49, and we absolutely recommend doing so! It comes with chips, too! A delicious meal that’s PERFECT for when you’re on the go, these corn dogs are reliable, fried to perfection, and are so tasty! Anything at Columbia Harbour House Columbia Harbour is easily one of the best quick-service restaurants at Magic Kingdom, and picking one item from the restaurant is a tough ask. Columbia Harbour House The menu offers lots of items inspired by New England seafood and more. Most of the items on the menu are under $15, but you can also get a Lobster Roll for $18.99 if you’re feeling like a big spender! Hushpuppies We are MASSIVE fans of the Hushpuppies here, which miraculously returned to the restaurant last summer. These glorious little balls of fried cornmeal come with the Trio Platter (Combination of Beer-battered Shrimp, Chicken, and Beer-battered Fish served with French Fries and Hushpuppies) for $14.29, or you can get six on their own for $4.99! Custom Popcorn Mix at Main Street Confectionery Main Street Confectionery is an old-fashioned candy shop packed with character-inspired candy apples and Mickey cereal treats. But one of our favorite summer snacks to get here is Custom Popcorn Mix! Snickers Popcorn Mix The Kernel Kitchen lets you create your own popcorn mix where you can select four popcorn flavors, add your favorite flavor chocolate drizzle, and add in a few candy mix-ins to create your perfect popcorn concoction! S’mores Popcorn Mix You’ll find seasonal tubs all year long, so check back again this summer to see what the under $20 snack looks like! Loaded Fries at The Plaza Restaurant You’ll find plenty of casual eats like burgers, sandwiches, and shakes at The Plaza Restaurant, but it’s a fun side that keeps us coming back for more. Plaza Loaded Fries For $15, you can get Loaded Fries, which are served with crispy fries, melted cheddar, bacon, green onion, and spicy sour cream! Plaza Loaded Fries These fries literally hit the spot and take the fry game to a whole new level. Fried Mozzarella and Garlic Bread at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant Head over to Tony’s Town Square in Main Street, U.S.A. for Italian food, a look at where Lady and the Tramp shared their first kiss, and two fan-favorite appetizers! We really dig the Fried Mozzarella with Spicy Creamy Tomato Sauce for $15 as well as the Tony’s Garlic Bread For The Table served with toasted ciabatta with roasted garlic butter and parmesan fonduta for $13. Cheesy, delicious, and worth the visit all on their own, you can’t go wrong with either of these apps! Bread Service Tony’s is also a great spot to watch the parade if you can get a table on the porch! Tony’s Town Square What did we leave off the list that you feel should have made it? Let us know and continue to follow us right here at DFB for more Disney food updates and tips! 12 of My Favorite Snacks Under $10, From a Former Disney World Cast Member Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What are your favorite Magic Kingdom snacks and lunches? Let us know in the comments! The post Where To Get a REALLY GOOD Lunch in Magic Kingdom for Under This Summer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article