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Here at Disney Food Blog, there’s nothing we love more than a massive bucket of Disney popcorn. But there’s something that makes it ten times better – a massive bucket of Disney popcorn in a Haunted Mansion bucket! ©Disney This brand-new Hatbox Ghost Bucket will launch in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure soon, exclusively for D23 celebrations. Here’s how to get this spooky bucket to be one happy haunt! The Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Bucket is a brand-new popcorn bucket modeled after the iconic Hatbox Ghost in both Disneyland and Disney World. It’s available for purchase for a limited time beginning on August 13th, while supplies last, so run to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure to get your hands on one! Hatbox Ghost in Disney World At Disneyland, you can grab the Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Bucket at: Harbour Galley Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree Popcorn at Frontierland Popcorn at New Orleans Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree Over at Disney California Adventure, the Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Bucket will be available at: Popcorn at Grizzly Peak Airfield Popcorn near Carthay Circle Restaurant Grizzly Peak popcorn cart There are a few rules for the Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Bucket. There is a limit of two Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Buckets per person, per transaction. Additionally, no discounts apply, even for Magic Key Holders. The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all of the new popcorn buckets coming to the Disney Parks. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney snack news! JUST ANNOUNCED: Haunted Mansion Holiday and MORE Coming to Disneyland for the Holiday Season 2026 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be getting the Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Bucket? Comment below! View the full article

When you think “pool bar,” even in Disney World, you’re probably thinking of food that tastes good when you’re starving after swimming for hours, but otherwise is a bit mediocre. Full spread from Bar Riva Bar Riva at Disney’s Riviera Resort is a pool bar that’s a bit more elevated than others, but does the menu match its decor? We decided it was time to find out, so we headed over there to grab some of the most popular eats on the menu. What we found wasn’t exactly what we expected, but there is ONE item available that we won’t be able to stop thinking about. Atmosphere Bar Riva is far from the typical “grab-and-go” pool bar scene you might be used to. It’s designed beautifully with Mediterranean-style blue-and-white décor, murals, and tile flooring that easily make you feel like you’re somewhere in Europe on vacation, not in Orlando, Florida. Bar Riva Bar Riva offers covered seating with table service, so there’s no need to worry about balancing a tray on your lap while you try to eat during your pool day. That’s already a big plus in our eyes! It’s stunning in here! It’s casual yet classy, making you feel like you’re in an elevated space without feeling underdressed in your bathing suit or cover-up. Menu Bar Riva’s menu feels more like something you’d find at a sit-down restaurant rather than a casual poolside spot, which is also what sets it apart. On the menu, you’ll find salads, pita, a burger, pasta, and even a seasonal pizza. ©Disney There are also shareables available, such as cheese and charcuterie, arancini, shrimp, and chicken strips. There are also plenty of options for the kids, which means picky eaters will be easy to please. ©Disney We can’t forget about dessert! While there are only three options on the menu, spoiler alert: one of these won’t be leaving our minds for a loooong time. ©Disney As for drinks, you’ll find a few fun non-alcoholic options, as well as multiple cocktails, frozen cocktails, sangria, and wine, as well as beer, hard cider, and seltzers. ©Disney Now it’s time for what we’ve all been waiting for — the eats! Drinks We grabbed the Coco di Paradiso for $16.50, which is Plantation Pineapple Rum, Aperol, Coconut, Pineapple, Lime, and Soda Water. Coco di Paradiso This drink wasn’t as sweet as we would have liked, and the alcohol flavor overall was stronger than we felt was necessary. The pineapple was fresh and soaked up a lot of the drink, which we enjoyed, since it had both the flavor of the drink and the sweetness of the pineapple when we took a bite, but that was the highlight. We probably wouldn’t get this one again. Eats We also snagged the Panzanella Salad for $13.79, which is made with Tomato, Burrata, Cucumber, Focaccia, and Red Wine Vinaigrette. Panzanella Salad The arugula was unfortunately very wilted, but the cucumber added a nice crunch to balance that. The salad itself was very savory and had a lot of pepper, which occasionally provided a little kick, but the sweetness from the tomatoes did give it a nice sweetness, balancing those salty and sweet flavors. A closer look The burrata was very creamy, which made it so you could almost dip your bites of salad or shrimp into it. While the shrimp was very tender and flavorful, the croutons were slightly soggy and had no crunch or flavor, which disappointed us. Overall, we weren’t impressed enough to get it again, but we didn’t dislike it entirely. Burrata We also grabbed the Seasonal Pizza for $17.49, which has Fontina, Mozzarella, Roasted Broccolini, Lemon Ricotta, and Arugula-Oregano Pesto. Seasonal Pizza This was the dish we were most excited about. The pizza had a very thick layer of cheese and a really crunchy crust on the outside that had some flop to it, which we enjoyed. However, the strongest flavor was definitely the pesto, and we weren’t the biggest fans of the roasted broccolini. It just didn’t feel like it belonged with this pizza, but it did have a crunchy snap, giving the pizza a little more texture. Would we get it again? Debatable — it would depend on whether we’re in the mood. Lots of pesto! We finished our meal off with the Riviera Cookie Skillet for $7.99, which is a Warm Riviera Cookie topped with Pistachio Gelato. Riviera Cookie Skillet This is the kind of dessert you try and immediately think of the people you want to bring here to try it again — we would get it again, and again, and again! Riviera Cookie Skillet The cookie was so warm and gooey, and the gelato melted perfectly. It seeps into the cookie, combining the flavors, but the cookie still retains its crunch, which is impressive. This is totally worth going out of your way for, though it is on the smaller side, so you’ll likely want it all to yourself! Nosh or Not? Spend an afternoon at Bar Riva if… You’re doing a resort day at Disney’s Riviera Resort, and you want lunch that doesn’t require shoes with laces or emotional resilience. This is an open-air pool bar with a breezy, “sit down, hydrate, pretend you’re on the French coast” atmosphere. You’ve got a mixed crew: someone wants a cocktail, someone wants “real food,” someone is a picky eater, and someone is just sun-tired. The menu hits that sweet spot with a classic Signature Burger, big salads, pasta, and shareables like seasonal arancini. There are also plant-based-friendly options like the grilled vegetable pita. You’re on the Disney Dining Plan and want a snack-and-lunch spot that can still play along. Yep, Disney Dining Plans are accepted here. We’d recommend another Disney World restaurant if… You need Mobile Order to keep your party from dissolving into chaos. Mobile Order is a no-go here, so expect standard ordering. You want air-conditioning, quiet, and “no one is dripping pool water within a five-mile radius.” This is open-air and pool-adjacent by design, so it’s relaxed, but not exactly hushed. You’re trying to keep things ultra-budget-friendly. It’s not the priciest resort meal, but it’s also easy to watch the total climb once you add a couple of cocktails and a shareable “for the table” that is actually for you. Overall While we think this is a great spot if you’re staying at Riviera Resort and want a menu with lots of different options, except for the Cookie Skillet, we don’t think it’s worth going out of your way for. It’ll hit the spot on a hot pool day, that’s for sure, and we appreciate the elevated options, but it likely will be far from your best meal of the trip. Bar Riva We’re constantly eating our way around Disney World! Be sure to read through a few of our most recent reviews below and stay tuned with us for even more to come. REVIEW: We’d Leave the Disney World Parks for This Hotel Restaurant Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you eaten at Bar Riva at Disney’s Riviera Resort? Let us know in the comments below! 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We’re gearing up for spooky season in Orlando, and that means Halloween Horror Nights is coming back! Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights This annual Halloween event takes place at Universal Studios Florida, and it has some seriously dedicated fans! This is where you’ll want to go if you truly enjoy the spooky, scary, and gory part of the season. But for 2026, they’ve made a major change to the ticket offerings. For 2026, Universal Orlando has discontinued the Express Pass add-on option for Frequent Fear Passes. Frequent Fear Passes are season passes that allow guests to visit Halloween Horror Nights multiple times. Previously, you could pay to add Express Pass to your Frequent Fear Pass, that way you’d be able to skip lines at the haunted houses during your visits. Now, that’s no longer an option for this season pass. Nightmare Fuel Circus of Decay You still have the option to purchase Express Passes to go with a single night ticket, but you can no longer bundle it with the Frequent Fear Pass. Other specialty ticket options that remain available are the Premium Scream Night, the R.I.P. Tour, the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour, and the Scream Early Ticket. Galkn Monsters of the North This year, Halloween Horror Nights happens from August 28th through November 1st on select nights. There will be ten haunted houses, multiple scare zones, and exclusive entertainment and food offerings. This event is not recommended for children under the age of 13 due to its themes and intensity. ©Universal We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop with any other announcements about the happenings coming to Halloween Horror Nights, so stay tuned to DFB by subscribing to our newsletter. See a NEW House Coming to HHN This Year Here! Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you going to Halloween Horror Nights this year? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

You and your “fan fam” are invited to the ultimate kick-off party! D23 Day at Disneyland Resort returns Aug. 13, 2026, bringing Disney fans together for imagination, storytelling, and fandom at The Happiest Place on Earth – all before D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event begins in Anaheim on Aug. 14, 2026. All guests with a valid theme park admission and reservation – including D23: The Official Disney Fan Club Members and D23 Event 2026 attendees – are invited to this celebration. Adding even more excitement, Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party also kicks off on Aug. 13 with a one-day event at Disney California Adventure park, followed by a multi-day event in the Downtown Disney District, Aug. 14-16. Disney Parks Blog has more details on this event here! If you’re planning to visit Disneyland Resort while in Anaheim for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, you may find value in special ticket and hotel offers. Let’s dive into the fun, limited-time offerings you can expect: D23 Day at Disneyland Resort D23 Day at Disneyland Resort – Aug. 13 Special Merchandise, Bucket, and Treat D23 Offerings and Discounts at Downtown Disney – Aug. 1-16 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim – Aug. 14-16 D23 Day at Disneyland Resort – Aug. 13, 2026 D23 Day at Disneyland Resort on Aug. 13, 2026, marks the countdown to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim. During this one-day event, all guests visiting Disneyland Resort can discover themed moments and fan-favorite experiences that celebrate the worlds of Disney. From special entertainment to dance parties, themed merchandise, and more, there’s plenty of ways to express your fandom! For the latest entertainment schedule, check Disneyland.com and the Disneyland app on the day of your visit. More information about the Disneyland app is available at Disneyland.com. Complimentary Ear Hats and Commemorative Guides Beginning at park opening on Aug. 13 and while supplies last, guests entering Disneyland park or Disney California Adventure park with valid park admission may receive a complimentary Mickey Mouse ear hat featuring the D23 Day at Disneyland Resort logo and commemorative guide.* Limited quantities available. Disney Legends Cavalcade at Disneyland Experience a quintessential moment of D23 Day at Disneyland Resort and grab a seat along the parade route to see the Disney Legends Cavalcade, happening at Disneyland at 1:30 p.m. See if you can spot all 23 characters as they make their way down Main Street, U.S.A., with the Disneyland Band and select Disney Legends, who have been recognized for the unique and impactful legacies they have created at Disney. D23 Day Entertainment Explore the plethora of entertainment offerings across the resort on D23 Day, from dance parties to special character sightings and more. Keep your eyes peeled for Merlin from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ The Sword and the Stone and Blue Fairy from Disney Animation’s Pinocchio, who you may encounter while wandering through Fantasyland in Disneyland. Tomorrowland Terrace in Disneyland will feature music from day to night! From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., young kids and their families can boogie down with Stitch and some of his friends at “Stitch’s Interplanetary Beach Party Bash.” In the evening, keep those dance moves grooving during the “Disney+ Hulu Throwbacks Dance Party” from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Photo Opportunities What better way to commemorate D23 Day than with a photo, or even a few! Pose in front of one of multiple D23 Day icon photo locations, located at Town Square at Disneyland, Pixar Pier in California Adventure, and in Downtown Disney. If you’re looking for new photos to decorate your walls with at home, photo booths in the Hollywood Backlot in California Adventure and Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland will offer D23 Day-themed photo strips for an additional fee. Complimentary Disney PhotoPass Digital Downloads As part of the festivities, all park guests with valid park admission and theme park reservations on Aug. 13, 2026, may receive complimentary unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken that day.** Disney PhotoPass service will offer fun Magic Shots you can find that day. Activities at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort Discover where love meets magic on D23 Day! On Aug. 13, waltz down to Rose Court Garden at Disneyland Hotel with your loved one to enjoy immersive entertainment, unique photo opportunities, and explore how love stories come to life with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings. Learn more about this experience at DisneyWeddings.com. Throughout the month of August, Disneyland Hotel will feature a photo opportunity inspired by the upcoming film, Camp Rock 3. Special Merchandise, Bucket, and Treat The celebration wouldn’t be complete without merchandise to take home and a treat to try! Let’s take a look at the collections and limited-time items that will be available at the resort beginning Aug. 13, while supplies last. D23 Day Logo Collection Locations: Emporium at Disneyland, Elias & Co. at California Adventure, and World of Disney at Downtown Disney Dress up for the ultimate kickoff party with a colorful tee, trading pin, and magnet, all with the D23 Day at Disneyland Resort logo. Disneylandia Collection Locations: Emporium at Disneyland, Elias & Co. at California Adventure, The D-Lander Shop at Downtown Disney Disneyland Resort is collaborating with Southern California-based, Latina-owned lifestyle and streetwear brand Viva La Bonita. This collection, named “Donde Empiezan Los Sueños,” weaves together culture and storytelling, capturing how Disneyland inspires dreams. The Hunchback of Notre Dame 30th Anniversary Locations: Emporium at Disneyland, Off the Page at California Adventure, World of Disney at Downtown Disney Honoring the 30th anniversary of Disney Animation’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, this vibrant collection features a Spirit Jersey, ear headband, trading pin, mug, and more! This collection will also be available at the D23 Marketplace in the Anaheim Convention Center during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, while supplies last. It will become available on DisneyStore.com at a later date with details to come. Alice in Wonderland 75th Anniversary Locations: Clothiers at Disneyland, Elias & Co. at California Adventure, The D-Lander Shop at Downtown Disney To celebrate 75 years of Disney Animation’s Alice in Wonderland, this pastel apparel and accessories collection is inspired by the Queen of Hearts’ favorite pastime: croquet! This collection will also be available at the D23 Marketplace in the Anaheim Convention Center during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, while supplies last. It will become available on DisneyStore.com at a later date, with details to come. D23 Day Medallions Locations: Candy Palace at Disneyland, Kingswell Shop at California Adventure, Near Star Wars Trading Post in Downtown Disney Available for the first time in capsules and as a complete four-medallion set, the D23 commemorative medallions feature four distinct designs with the D23 Day at Disneyland Resort logo on the back. Available while supplies last. Popcorn Bucket and Treat Take home the Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Bucket, a new novelty available for purchase for a limited time beginning Aug. 13, at Harbour Galley, Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree, Popcorn at Frontierland and Popcorn at New Orleans in Disneyland, and at Popcorn at Grizzly Peak Airfield and Popcorn Near Carthay Circle Restaurant in California Adventure. Available while supplies last; limit two (2) per person, per transaction. No discounts apply. Indulge in the Sorcerer Apprentice Mickey Cake Pop, available for a limited time beginning Aug. 13 at Candy Palace in Disneyland, Trolley Treats in California Adventure, and Disney Wonderful World of Sweets in Downtown Disney, while supplies last. These will be such sweet additions to your celebratory day! “Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration” Live Performance As the culmination to the day and in anticipation of World Princess Week, a limited number of fans may have the opportunity to attend the live performance of “Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration” in California Adventure on Aug. 13. This spectacular performance brings together the largest gathering of Disney Princess talent ever assembled, celebrating the iconic stories across animation, live-action, stage, and music. Attendance will be limited and may require additional steps. This one-of-a-kind concert will transform the night with dazzling lights, sweeping projections, and sky-high fountains creating a truly immersive world where the music, magic, and legacy of Disney Princesses shine like never before. Fans can stream the concert on Disney+ and watch it on Disney Channel, Freeform, and The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC on Sunday, Aug. 16. Time: Virtual queue enrollment begins at 12:00 p.m. PST. Concert performance times are 8:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. PST Location: Paradise Gardens Park, California Adventure A virtual queue confirmation, wristband and valid admission for California Adventure are required to participate in this experience. On Aug. 13, you can request to join the virtual queue through the Disneyland app at 12:00 p.m. PST after entering California Adventure, or after entering Disneyland with a valid Park Hopper ticket. You’ll be assigned an admittance group when joining a queue. When your group is called, and you receive a push notification, proceed to Hyperion Theater Courtyard between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to scan your ticket or entry code to pick up your wristband. Virtual queue admittance groups are extremely limited and available while supplies last. Wristbands will only be distributed to guests who have obtained a virtual queue admittance group entry code and have signed a filming release form. Wristbands have no cash value, may not be sold, and will not be replaced if lost, stolen, or damaged. Wristband availability and procedures are subject to change without notice. Please be advised that photography, filming, and recording of “Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration” will be taking place. Show times are subject to change or cancellation without notice. D23 Offerings and Discounts at Downtown Disney Beginning Aug. 1 through Aug. 16, select locations at the Downtown Disney District will have special offerings or discounts for guests that present their D23 Event badge or D23 Gold Membership Card.**** Learn more about the offers at D23.com. For those not attending D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, you can still partake in these offerings and many other discounts by becoming a member of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. Learn more about membership at D23.com. Locations with discounts or special offers for D23 Members or D23 attendees: Beignets Expressed Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs California Churro Céntrico (food and non-alcoholic beverages only) Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio (dine-in guests only) Kawaii Slime Co. Lovepop Naples Ristorante e Bar (food and non-alcoholic beverages only) PANDORA Parkside Market (excludes alcohol) Paseo (food and non-alcoholic beverages only) Salt & Straw Sunglass Hut Splitsville Luxury Lanes The LEGO Store Wetzel’s Pretzels Specialty Food and Beverage Items (These limited-time items are available to purchase for all guests at Downtown Disney District, Aug. 1-16): Family Gold Ube Cheesecake from Parkside Market Berry Bliss & Choco Crunch Duo from Beignets Expressed Specialty drinks are also available at Ballast Point Brewery Co., Céntrico, Vista Parkside Market, and Paseo D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, Aug. 14-16 We can’t wait for the ultimate Disney fans to arrive in Anaheim for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this year, with so many magical ways to celebrate at The Happiest Place on Earth! After D23 Day at Disneyland Resort concludes, the fandom fun will continue at the nearby Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center, Aug. 14-16. Select tickets are still available for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the time of publishing, with prices starting at $49. Find more information about the D23 Event at D23.com. Both valid Theme Park reservation and admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort. *Limit one per ticketed Guest, while supplies last. Guest must be present at time of distribution. Subject to change or cancellation without notice or liability. Both a park reservation and valid admission are required for park entry. Embroidery is not available for the D23 Day Mickey Mouse ear hats. **Disney PhotoPass® digital photo downloads exclude separately priced Disney PhotoPass® packages and products offered at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and other select locations. Disney PhotoPass® service is subject to the Disney PhotoPass® Terms and Conditions and expiration policy found at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-terms-conditions/. Online registration required. ***Show your D23 event badge or D23 Gold Membership Card to receive limited time offer or discount. Offers apply to all D23 Gold Members including those enrolled in a complimentary Gold Member plan via Disney+ Perks or the Gold Essential, Choice, and Complete plans. Subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice or liability and are determined solely by the applicable store/location. Disney is not responsible or liable for benefits or discounts offered by any third parties. See locations for details. Disney Eats: Where to Get DOLE Whip at Disneyland Resort READ MORE Your Ultimate Guide to Downtown Disney District at Disneyland READ MORE Where to Find Ice Cream, Slushies, and More at Disneyaland READ MORE The post Details for D23 Day at Disneyland Resort 2026 appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Calling all Disney Jr. fans! Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party makes its return to Disneyland Resort in 2026, featuring entertainment and activities energized by iconic Disney Jr. stories and characters at Disney California Adventure park on Aug. 13, 2026, before extending the festivities into a three-day event at Downtown Disney District from Aug. 14 through Aug. 16, 2026. This returning event kicks off alongside D23 Day at the Disneyland Resort, a one-day-only event featuring Disney fandom fun, special entertainment, and more on Aug. 13, in advance of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim. Read more about the event here on Disney Parks Blog. Disney Jr. Let's Play Party! Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party at California Adventure – Aug. 13 Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party Continues at the Downtown Disney District – Aug. 14-16, 2026 Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party at California Adventure – Aug. 13, 2026 The Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party in Disney California Adventure returns Aug. 13, welcoming all park guests, including preschoolers and their families, to enjoy live entertainment, meet fan-favorite Disney Jr. characters, and more! This special, one-day event, tailored to families with young children, celebrates favorite Disney Jr. characters, and stories from hit series including Sofia the First: Royal Magic, SuperKitties, and Spidey and his Amazing Friends. Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Block Party Don’t miss the highlight of the Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party – the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Block Party!” Starting at 10:30 a.m., the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Block Party!” will travel through Hollywood Land in California Adventure, making brief stops on Hollywood Boulevard and at Carthay Circle. This high-energy celebration is filled with music, grooves, and dressed-out vehicles, featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and other iconic Disney Jr. characters. Other Disney Jr. Offerings The fun doesn’t stop there! Hollywood Land will host a multitude of Disney Jr. offerings for the entire family to enjoy. At the Hollywood Backlot Stage, kids can dance with Mickey Mouse and friends during “Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Live.” You may even spot Sofia the First, from the Disney Jr. hit series, Sofia the First: Royal Magic, debuting her new attire, as well as Spidey and more characters making special, limited-time appearances. Kids ages 3 through 11 can discover how the magic of food brings everyone together to save the day and decorate cupcakes with the help of the cat-tastic superheroes from the hit Disney Jr. animated series, SuperKitties, during “Confection Purrfection with the SuperKitties,” also at the Hollywood Backlot Stage. Space is limited, and participant sign-ups begin 45 minutes before each showtime. Little ones and their families can get creative together at the Disney Jr. Let’s Play Craft Zone in Hollywood Land, and at Animation Academy, artists of all ages can learn to draw Pepper, Sofia’s adorable pet puppy-unicorn, from Sofia the First: Royal Magic as well as other Disney Jr. characters. Take the fun home with you after stopping by the photobooth in Hollywood Land for a Disney Jr.-themed photo strip of you and your party for an additional fee, or pose for a picture at unique photo locations in the area. Disney Jr. merchandise is also available at Studio Store and Elias & Co. in California Adventure. If you’re looking to cool off, head to the Disney Theater for an indoor dance party with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and friends during “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!,” part of the everyday offerings for families available at California Adventure. Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party Continues at the Downtown Disney District – Aug. 14-16, 2026 From Aug. 14 through Aug. 16, Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party will continue at Downtown Disney with various offerings throughout the day. The Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage and Lawn will keep the fun flowing throughout the weekend, with a medley of family-friendly entertainment and activities. Kids can keep dancing and grooving at DJ dance parties or live out their bubble dreams during The Bubbles Experience presented by Disney Jr. Family crafts will be available at the Disney Jr. Let’s Play Craft Zone near the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage. To top it all off, there will be even more unique photo locations in Downtown Disney for you and your “fan fam” to commemorate this special celebratory weekend. Celebrate Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party at Disneyland Resort Don’t miss out on all the Disney Jr. fun on Aug. 13 at California Adventure and from Aug. 14 through Aug. 16 at Downtown Disney! We can’t wait for all the kiddos and their families to join us for this unique celebration featuring favorite Disney Jr. stories and characters. Both valid Theme Park reservation and admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort. Disneyland Resort Welcomes One Billionth Guest READ MORE Halloween and Fall Celebrations at Disneyland 2026 READ MORE Disney Eats: Where to Get DOLE Whip at Disneyland Resort READ MORE The post Details for Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party at Disneyland Resort 2026 appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

When a new ride or attraction opens in a theme park, it can change EVERYTHING. Lightning Lane at Peter Pan’s Flight If you’re the type to use Lightning Lanes during your visit, a ride change may throw off your entire strategy — messing up the order in which you usually book things. We’ve seen this happen several times in the past few years, with rides and attractions swapping around on the “popularity podium.” And nowadays, some Magic Kingdom attractions aren’t as popular as they once were. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Starting out this list, we have a ride that had a brief surge of popularity in early spring and summer 2026. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin underwent a major renovation in 2025-2026 that changed the targets and scoring system, updated the ride vehicles, and swapped the attraction over to handheld blasters. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Following the refurbishment and reopening, the ride became a popular Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection for a little while. Fans were eager to check out the updates and wanted to avoid the long lines, so of the Tier 2 selections, it was a clear choice. Now that the initial hype has died down a bit, it remains a good choice for a Lightning Lane, but it’s not selling out as quickly. See All the Updates Made to the Ride Here! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Similarly, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad recently reopened after a long closure. This ride was closed for nearly a year and a half and got a full track update as well as some new scenes, effects, and backstory elements. It had a long wait for a while when it reopened in May, and many people were apparently hoping to skip that long line in the heat. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a Tier 1 Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection, and it was booking up FAST after the ride reopened. After a couple of months, it’s still a popular choice, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be your #1 pick — we’ve seen times available for this ride day-of. What We REALLY Think About the Big Thunder Makeover Peter Pan’s Flight For many years, Peter Pan’s Flight was a HOT ticket item. It was a ride that we often recommended guests flock to at rope drop, and it was the top choice for a Lightning Lane for many folks, due to its long wait and fairly slow-moving line. But nowadays? It’s not as much of a priority. Peter Pan’s Flight in Disney World If you have small children, Peter Pan’s Flight and Jungle Cruise are the only two Tier 1 Lightning Lane Multi Pass options without height restrictions. In that case, this is a great choice for your first booking. Otherwise, you can wait to book this Lightning Lane until after you’ve used one in the park, as it’ll likely be available at some point in the day. Why You’ll Never Catch Me Skipping Lightning Lanes as a Disney Mom Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in Magic Kingdom in 2024, and it held its popularity for AGES. This ride was a revamp of the fan-favorite Splash Mountain, and thus, it was the clear top choice for Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a looooong time. It perpetually had a lengthy wait. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Now that the ride has been open for more than two years, some of the hype has died down. We used to cheer and jump up and down if we were graced with the opportunity to snag a last-minute Lightning Lane reservation for this attraction, but now it’s much more routine. If it’s a must-do, it’s a good first choice for Tier 1, but don’t fret if you prefer to book something else — you can probably find some of these time slots throughout the day. Learn More About This Ride HERE! Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Finally, we have to include a Lightning Lane Single Pass option in this list! Magic Kingdom is currently the only park with TWO Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions, and one of those is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. For nearly a decade, it was pretty much guaranteed that this ride would have the highest average wait time in the park. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train But then, several other big rides got updates (see some of the ones near the top of this list), and TRON Lightcycle / Run opened. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train’s Lightning Lane used to be hard to snag, but when guests find themselves working with a tight budget and choosing between this or TRON…the choice often goes to the newer coaster in Tomorrowland. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train wait time on a VERY busy day No matter which rides you choose for your Lightning Lanes, you can still have a great time in Magic Kingdom if you go in with a plan! Follow us here at DFB for more Disney tips and tricks, so you can have a smooth and worry-free vacation. Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which Lightning Lanes do you prioritize in Magic Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

On days when we can’t be at the Disney parks, we love finding Disney decor to make our home feel ten times more magical. If you’re also on the hunt to bring the Disney magic into your kitchen, we’ve got you covered! ©Amazon From July 22nd to July 28th, ALDI is running a massive sale on Disney kitchen essentials. Grab some of our favorite Disney dishware, baking supplies, and even more kitchen essentials while they’re on sale! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. ALDI has some great finds on kitchen essentials. This Mickey and Minnie collection includes bag clips, timers, reusable bags, and sandwich cutters of Mickey or Minnie. ©ALDI Or if you prefer Stitch, you can get the same timer and sandwich cutter with the iconic blue alien! ©ALDI You can also get these Disney Princess bag clips to keep your favorite snacks fresh. ©ALDI If you’re looking for Disney dishware, ALDI’s got your back. You can get these character plates with Bluey or Disney Princesses, ©ALDI or you can get them featuring Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh! ©ALDI And for your little eaters, this Flatware set contains a fork and spoon themed after Bluey, Mickey Mouse, or Disney Princesses. ©ALDI But if you don’t have an ALDI near you, we’ve got you covered! Amazon has similar items at a similar price that can be shipped almost anywhere in the world. Take advantage of Prime Free Shipping if you want it ASAP! ©Shutterstock This Mickey Cookie Cutter Set is so versatile! ©Amazon This Mickey Cookie Cutter Set features seven cookie cutters: one big Mickey head, one small Mickey head, one big Minnie head, one small Minnie head, a Mickey glove, Minnie’s bow, and Mickey’s shoe. You don’t only have to use them as cookie cutters, though. Use them to cut sandwiches, fruit, and more into fun Mickey shapes! view ON AMAZON These Pooh Chip Clips are sweet as honey! ©Amazon These Pooh Chip Clips feature six magnetic chip clips of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore. Keep your chips, snacks, and other food bags sealed tight with these adorable snack bag clips, or display your kids’ artwork, photos, or reminders on your fridge with their magnetic back! view ON AMAZON Oh boy! These Mickey Mouse Toddler Utensils are awesome! ©Amazon These Mickey Mouse Toddler Utensils are sized and shaped just right for babies 18 months and up learning to eat. The textured silicone handles make them easy to grip and hold, leading up to the cutest little Mickey Mouse heads at the top! Mealtime will be magical with these utensils! view ON AMAZON Lead the club with this Mickey Mouse Silicone Grip Dish! ©Amazon This Mickey Mouse Silicone Grip Dish is a high-quality dish featuring everyone’s favorite mouse, Mickey Mouse! This dish includes three partitions on Mickey’s face and ears to keep food separate, and the suction base ensures the plate stays put. Plus, when things get busy, it’s top-rack dishwasher-safe! view ON AMAZON This Princess Toddler Plate and Spoon Set is fit for royalty! ©Amazon This Princess Toddler Plate and Spoon Set includes a pink silicone plate featuring Princess Tiana, Ariel, and Belle, with their sidekicks Flounder, Mrs. Potts, Chip, and Naveen as a frog! It comes with a training spoon topped with a crown that’s perfect for your little princess to learn to eat with. view ON AMAZON Visit the Hundred Acre Wood with this Winnie the Pooh Silicone Grip Dish Set! ©Amazon This Winnie the Pooh Silicone Grip Dish Set features a silicone suction-grip plate shaped like our favorite honey bear, Winnie the Pooh! His smiling face will appear when your little one finishes their meal. This set also includes a toddler-sized stainless-steel fork and spoon that’s easy to grip and just as magical. Plus, they’re all dishwasher- and microwave-safe for convenience! view ON AMAZON We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

One of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic attractions is officially offline as Disney prepares for one of its biggest transformations in decades. Carousel of Progress If you’re planning a Disney World vacation in late summer 2026, this is one refurbishment you’ll definitely want to know about. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress has already closed for an extensive overhaul, and when it returns in 2027, guests can expect a very different experience while still honoring the attraction’s legendary history. Here’s everything we know about the closure and what’s coming next. Carousel of Progress Is Closed Through 2026 Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress officially closed on July 6th, 2026, and it will remain unavailable through August and the rest of 2026 while Imagineers work on an ambitious reimagining of the classic attraction. Walls are up! Disney has confirmed that the attraction is expected to reopen sometime in 2027, making this one of the longer refurbishment projects currently happening at Magic Kingdom. If you were hoping to catch one more performance during a 2026 vacation, you’ll need to adjust your plans because the theater will stay dark for quite a while. This Update Actually Fits the Attraction’s Story While longtime fans may be sad to see Carousel of Progress closed, there’s something fitting about this particular refurbishment. The attraction has always been about change, innovation, and looking ahead. Since its debut at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, the show has evolved several times as technology and everyday life have continued to change. It later moved to Disneyland before eventually finding its permanent home in Magic Kingdom in 1975. Carousel of Progress Over the decades, Disney has refreshed dialogue, updated scenes, changed voice actors, and even swapped theme songs before eventually bringing back “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” In many ways, updating the attraction is part of its own tradition. Walt Disney Is Joining the Attraction Perhaps the biggest addition coming with this refurbishment is the arrival of Walt Disney himself. ©Disney Imagineers are creating a brand-new opening scene featuring an Audio-Animatronics version of Walt inspired by his famous presentation introducing Carousel of Progress before the World’s Fair. The scene is expected to recreate many of the memorable props seen during that presentation, including early Disney projects and models that helped define one of the company’s most creative eras. For many Disney fans, this may end up becoming one of the most emotional moments in the attraction. Every Scene Is Getting a New Time Period The show’s familiar American family isn’t going anywhere, but they’re moving into entirely new decades. Rather than beginning around the turn of the twentieth century, the refreshed version will start in the 1960s. Disney says the goal is to make the attraction more relatable for modern audiences while still celebrating the spirit of progress that has always defined the show. ©Disney Here’s what guests can expect. The 1960s: The first act takes place during the summer of 1969 as the family gathers around the television to watch the Apollo 11 moon landing. It’s a perfect way to capture one of history’s greatest moments of innovation while keeping the focus on how technological breakthroughs shape everyday family life. The 1980s: The second act jumps to Halloween night in 1985. This scene shifts much of the spotlight to Sarah as she explains how new household gadgets and appliances are making life easier. Meanwhile, John is busy handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and Uncle Orville is still dealing with his famously interrupted bath time. The New Millennium: The third act moves to New Year’s Eve 1999 as everyone prepares to welcome the year 2000. The growing popularity of the internet becomes one of the major themes, showing how technology is connecting families in entirely new ways. Disney also promises plenty of humorous family moments, including Grandpa falling asleep before midnight while Grandma quietly changes the television to wrestling. The Future: The final act continues the attraction’s tradition of imagining tomorrow. This updated finale features futuristic home technology, helpful robots, and even space travel as part of everyday life. Imagineers also looked back at original concept artwork created by legendary Disney designer John Hench while developing this scene, blending classic inspiration with fresh ideas. The Attraction Will Still Feel Familiar Even with all these changes, Disney isn’t throwing away what fans love. The Sherman Brothers’ beloved song, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” will remain part of the experience, continuing to play as guests rotate between scenes. What will the future bring? Imagineers have also emphasized that practical sets, detailed props, painted backdrops, and physical effects will continue to play a major role throughout the attraction. Every decade will feature carefully researched décor, appliances, artwork, and fashion to help each scene feel authentic. That commitment to practical storytelling should help preserve much of the charm that has made Carousel of Progress a fan favorite for generations. There’s Even a New Attraction Poster Disney also revealed a brand-new attraction poster that celebrates both the attraction’s history and its future. ©Disney The artwork takes inspiration from the original Disneyland poster while incorporating elements of the refreshed experience. It’s a small detail, but longtime Disney fans will likely appreciate the nod to the attraction’s roots. What This Means for Your 2026 Trip If Magic Kingdom is on your vacation itinerary this August, be prepared for Carousel of Progress to remain behind refurbishment walls while work continues. Carousel of Progress is now behind walls Fortunately, Tomorrowland still offers plenty to do, including Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin once it returns from its own refurbishment, TRON Lightcycle / Run, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. Even without Carousel of Progress operating, there are still plenty of attractions to fill your day. For fans of Disney history, though, this closure marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Disney isn’t simply refurbishing an attraction. It’s carefully reimagining one of Walt Disney’s most personal projects while preserving the optimistic message that has inspired guests for more than 60 years. Yep, it’s closed We’ll be keeping a close eye on construction progress, new concept art, and additional announcements as Disney shares more details leading up to the attraction’s 2027 reopening. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World news, refurbishment updates, and planning tips. Disney World Confirms 12 NEW Hotel Changes Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which new scene are you most excited to experience when Carousel of Progress finally returns? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas, everyone! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party What? Am I a little early? Well, according to Disney I’m not, because today, tickets have gone one sale for two of Disney World’s most popular holiday offerings! Let’s talk about it. As of Thursday, July 16th, tickets are on sale for the public for both Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights. These two evening events happen throughout the holiday season after their respective parks close for the day. They offer exclusive entertainment, themed snacks, and rare character meet and greets. Frosted Chocolate Chip Cookie Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place on select nights from November 8th through December 22nd in 2026. The event runs from 7 PM to midnight at Magic Kingdom. Here’s the full list of prices for Very Merry in 2026: November 8th: $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) November 9th: $189.00 (Adult)/$179.00 (Child) November 12th: $189.00 (Adult)/$179.00 (Child) November 13th: $194.00 (Adult)/$184.00 (Child) November 15th: $194.00 (Adult)/$184.00 (Child) November 17th: $189.00 (Adult)/$179.00 (Child) November 19th: $194.00 (Adult)/$184.00 (Child) November 20th: $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) November 24th: $204.00 (Adult)/$194.00 (Child) November 25th: $209.00 (Adult)/$199.00 (Child) November 27th: $219.00 (Adult)/$209.00 (Child) November 29th: $214.00 (Adult)/$204.00 (Child) Once Upon a Christmastime Parade December 1st: $209.00 (Adult)/$199.00 (Child) December 3rd: $214.00 (Adult)/$204.00 (Child) December 4th: $219.00 (Adult)/$209.00 (Child) December 6th: $214.00 (Adult)/$204.00 (Child) December 8th: $219.00 (Adult)/$209.00 (Child) December 10th: $219.00 (Adult)/$209.00 (Child) December 11th: $224.00 (Adult)/$214.00 (Child) December 13th: $224.00 (Adult)/$214.00 (Child) December 15th: $224.00 (Adult)/$214.00 (Child) December 17th: $229.00 (Adult)/$219.00 (Child) December 18th: $229.00 (Adult)/$219.00 (Child) December 20th: $229.00 (Adult)/$219.00 (Child) December 22nd: $229.00 (Adult)/$219.00 (Child) Christmas is HERE! Disney Jollywood Nights takes place on select nights from November 7th, 2026 through January 5th, 2027. This is the first time the event will extend past the new year! It runs from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These are the event prices for this year’s season: November 7th: $179.00 (Adult)/$169.00 (Child) November 14th: $179.00 (Adult)/$169.00 (Child) November 16th: $169.00 (Adult)/$159.00 (Child) November 21st: $189.00 (Adult)/$179.00 (Child) November 23rd: $194.00 (Adult)/$184.00 (Child) November 28th: $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) Free ornament from Jollywood Nights December 5th: $194.00 (Adult)/$184.00 (Child) December 7th: $194.00 (Adult)/$184.00 (Child) December 12th: $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) December 14th: $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) December 19th: $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) December 21st: $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) December 23rd $199.00 (Adult)/$189.00 (Child) Echo Lake in Hollywood Studios January 3rd: $194.00 (Adult)/$184.00 (Child) January 5th: $189.00 (Adult)/$179.00 (Child) 2025 Jollywood Nights Of course, we’ll be heading to both of these events when they kick off in November, so stay tuned by following us on social media and subscribing to our newsletter. We’ll keep you in the loop with any more news and reveals about what’s happening at the parties in 2026 (and 2027 for Jollywood Nights!). Everything Confirmed for Jollywood Nights in 2026 DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to the parties this year? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Changes have been a constant at Disney World for decades, with rides, attractions, restaurants, and even a whole water park closing over the decades. In the last few years alone, iconic attractions like Muppet*Vision 3D, Tom Sawyer Island, and The Rivers of America have all shuttered for good, with fans making one final visit while lamenting their loss in the buildup to their final day of operation. However, not every closed Disney location has gotten a grand send-off. Tortuga Tavern Instead, some – – ranging from merchandise locations to a decades-old show – – closed without warning and simply never reopened, changing the face of their respective Disney park with nothing but a whimper. The Voyage of the Little Mermaid First opened in 1992, Voyage of The Little Mermaid was a major part of Hollywood Studios for nearly 30 years. The show featured an abridged version of the film’s story, utilizing a mix of live actors, puppets, special effects, and laser projections on the auditorium walls and ceilings to mimic being underwater. Voyage of the Little Mermaid The show closed with the rest of Disney World at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, and simply never reopened. The venue sat closed for several years until it was revamped with a take on the material entitled The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, which opened in 2025. While the new show hits similar beats, many guests who grew up with the ’90s version still lament not having the ability to have seen the original version one last time. The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure The One Hollywood Studios Trick That Will Always Get You on More Rides Tortuga Tavern Located in Adventureland, the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Tortuga Tavern first opened in 2011. The quick-service location offered a menu mainly consisting of Mexican food. The restaurant closed in the summer of 2024, initially for refurbishment, and then never returned. Of course, since then, Adventureland has gotten a new — and much more intricately themed — Pirates of the Caribbean-themed dining establishment in Beak and Barrel. Tortuga Tavern blocked by shrubs Disney Made A HUGE Change This Week…And Then They Took It Back Big Al’s As a massive portion of Frontierland continues to transform into Piston Peak, elements of the land continue to change. This includes Big Al’s, the Country Bear Jamboree-themed merchandise, which once sat on the shores of the Rivers of America. Big Al’s The merchandise stand closed on May 11th. Disney never formally confirmed this location was closing permanently, and the fact that when we get the “someone ate the page” screen on the Disney World website for Big Al’s (AKA it has been scrubbed from Disney’s website) gives us a clue that it’s never coming back, at least not as Big Al’s. RIP Big Al’s! Well, We Gave Up Rivers of America For This…See Piston Peak Construction Progress Disney Jr. Play and Dance Let’s wrap up with a return to Hollywood Studios. First opening in 2020, the Disney Jr. Play and Dance show was the then-latest incarnation of a child-friendly Disney Jr. show held in Hollywood Studios’ Animation Courtyard. The show ran until the spring of 2025, when it was “temporarily” replaced by Get Animated!, a show that was part of the Cool Kids Summer. Disney Jr. Play was supposed to reopen in September, but never did. It has since been replaced by Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! as part of the Animation Courtyard’s larger transformation into the Walt Disney Studios Lot. Disney Jr. Play & Dance Next time you’re at Disney World, remember to take in everything from shops to restaurants to rides and shows, as for some of them, you may never know when they’ll disappear without fanfare. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney history. “Stop Ruining The Old Stuff” Disney Fans React To Latest Carousel of Progress News Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you miss any of these Disney spaces? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

One of the BEST reasons to go to Disney World is to check out their HUMUNGO COLLECTION of world-class rides. Doesn’t it look so cool? But are there any rides in Disney World we DON’T recommend waiting for? We’ve….got a few of ‘em (based on… personal experience). Check out our new video: Rides That Are Never Worth the Wait at Disney World Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What video do you want to see from DFB next? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

We’ve just got a little more than a month before the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival begins, and we’re ready to eat all the eats, chase a rat around EPCOT, and enjoy some fun concerts at the American Adventure Pavilion. Mimosa at Parisian Breakfast The festival offers all kinds of great experiences, including one of our favorites, the Parisian Breakfast at Chefs de France in the France Pavilion. Now it has been confirmed that the breakfast will return for this year’s festival, but we’ve got some bad news if you’re thinking about booking: the price for the breakfast has gone up. Last year, the price for the Parisian Breakfast was $64.95 per person. This year, the breakfast will cost $3 more, with the price at $67.95. The breakfast includes a traditional French breakfast with buttery croissants, pain au chocolat, other assorted pastries, freshly baked baguettes, cheeses, charcuterie, smoked salmon, and fresh fruit. You also get unlimited mimosas, fruit juices, and freshly brewed coffee. Parisian Breakfast Now, if you’ve actually visited France, you’ll know a traditional breakfast is more like a single croissant and a cup of espresso, but this is a way to try traditional French breakfast foods and fill up. We’ve enjoyed this buffet in the past and still feel that it could be worth it if you arrive hungry. It’s a unique way to enjoy breakfast in EPCOT and a great way to start an EPCOT Food & Wine Festival day. Cheeses With that being said, you also don’t want to fill up too much because you’ll need to save room for all the festival foods you want to try, too. So you’ll have to decide if the breakfast is for you. Baguette We’ll keep an eye out for more EPCOT Food & Wine Festival news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Read Our Most Recent Review of the Parisian Breakfast  Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of the Parisian Breakfast? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Who’s excited for the return of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival? Let’s go! This year, it runs from August 27th through November 1st. We’ll be there on opening weekend to check out all the delicious new treats and fun offerings, but if you’re planning a visit, today is an important day. Dining reservations are NOW open for Food & Wine! As of July 16th, two different types of dining reservations have opened for the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival — Eat to the Beat dining packages and the Parisian Breakfast at Chefs de France. Both of these offerings are available exclusively for the festival. Dining Packages The Eat to the Beat dining packages are a way that you can get guaranteed seating during the Eat to the Beat concert series. These concerts are free with EPCOT admission, and take place three times nightly. More famous bands and artists perform Fridays through Mondays, while local bands perform Tuesday through Thursday evenings. Those famous bands can be VERY popular, so getting reserved seating for a show could be a game-changer if there’s someone you really want to see. John Stamos with the Beach Boys at Eat to the Beat in 2025 Showtimes happen at 5:30PM, 6:45PM, and 8PM nightly. The following restaurants now have reservations open through the Disney World website and My Disney Experience app for dining packages: Biergarten Restaurant Chefs de France Coral Reef Restaurant Garden Grill Restaurant La Crêperie de Paris La Hacienda de San Angel Le Cellier Steakhouse Nine Dragons Restaurant Rose & Crown Dining Room Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya Spice Road Table Teppan Edo Tutto Italia Ristorante Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria Regal Eagle Smokehouse also offers dining packages same-day. Stop by first thing in the morning to see if there are any available on the day of your visit. Learn More Details and See Pricing Here! Eat to the Beat The other dining reservation that opens today is for the Parisian Breakfast at Chefs de France in the France Pavilion. This is a buffet available exclusively during the Food & Wine Festival with traditional French breakfast fare. It was a brand-new offering in 2025 and we had a delightful time trying it out. See Our Review from 2025 Here! Mimosa at Parisian Breakfast It’s a pre-paid meal that’s available on Fridays and Saturdays starting on August 28th, 2026. The cost is $67.95 per adult, so this is not a cheap meal, but it could be a great way to relax a bit during your EPCOT visit. Booth seating We’ll keep you in the loop with more updates and news about the Food & Wine Festival in 2026, so stay tuned to DFB. Subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube channel for the latest. Learn All About the Food & Wine Festival Here! IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to the festival this year? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

If you’re planning a trip to Magic Kingdom this fall or winter, there’s an important schedule change you’ll want to be aware of, especially if you’re hoping to catch the park’s iconic nighttime fireworks. Happily Ever After If you’re like me, you might look forward to watching Happily Ever After every Disney trip. So when something interrupts that plan, you need to know in advance! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Disney pro, it’s worth taking a closer look before locking in your plans. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming changes to the nighttime fireworks at Magic Kingdom. Planning your Disney trip around fireworks? You’ll want to double-check your dates, because on select nights this fall and winter, Happily Ever After, Magic Kingdom’s beloved nighttime fireworks show, will not be performed. These changes are due to special ticketed events: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. On party nights, Magic Kingdom closes early to regular guests, and there will be holiday-specific fireworks for party guests. 2025 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party map During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular replaces Happily Ever After. This party-exclusive fireworks show is hosted by Jack Skellington and features frightfully fun projections, lasers, and fireworks. Happily Ever After will NOT run during these nights of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: August 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28 and 30 September 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27 and 29 October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31 FULL LIST Of Ticket Prices For Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular 2024 During these Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party evenings, guests can enjoy Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks instead. This dazzling display is filled with holiday music, seasonal projections, and sparkling pyrotechnics. Happily Ever After will NOT run on these Christmas party nights: November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29 December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22 Prices CONFIRMED for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney World Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks If fireworks are a must-see during your visit, be sure to check the party schedule before booking your Magic Kingdom day—otherwise, you might miss out on Happily Ever After. And remember: the party-specific fireworks are only available to guests with event tickets. Happily Ever After We will bring you all the news about these upcoming parties as it becomes available. For more Disney World tips for your upcoming trip, be sure to follow DFB! 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 heading to any of the holiday parties this year? Tell us in the comments below! View the full article

There are tons of deliciousDisney World restaurants around Disney World, and some of the best ones are found at the Disney World hotels. Yes, we often find that they’re worth leaving the parks for! It’s time to dine on some delicious Italian eats! Today, we are heading over to the Walt Disney World’s Swan Hotel to try out one of our favorite restaurants on property — Il Mulino. We hope you’re in the mood for Italian, because we know we are! Il Mulino New York Trattoria is located at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. It serves up traditional meals from the Abruzzo region of Italy. The original location of this restaurant is located in Greenwich Village, New York, so yes, this is the second one to ever exist. Inside, you will find dark wood tones, rustic lighting, and brick walls as you dine on rich, delicious, authentic flavors. Unlike the Italy pavilion food booth, which continues to disappoint festival after festival, we are typically impressed with the flavors and food quality here. Atmosphere The entrance to the restaurant is simple and welcoming, and we truly do love all the wood accents all over — even just from the doors. Il Mulino The best way we can describe Il Mulino’s vibe is cozy, yet elevated, which is another reason it’s as popular as it is. The restaurant is filled with wood tones and lots of beautiful brickwork. One of our favorite parts of the restaurant is the beautiful display of wine bottles, barrels, and baskets — it really just sets the tone for the dining experience. Il Mulino There’s also a large lounge area where you can go to sip on your beverage of choice and relax. The natural lighting here is really what sets it apart for us, combined with that beautiful wood paneling. Il Mulino Time to see what’s to eat! Menu The restaurant offers an extensive menu, including a large selection of wines and other alcoholic beverages. Menu For starters, you can choose from a variety of antipasti, insalate, and zuppe, but you’ll also find plenty of pizza and pasta as well. You can also order meals family-style, dishes from the grill, or chicken. Veal and fish are also available, as well as numerous sides. For the kids, there’s no need to worry, as there are also meals for them. Inside the menu You can choose from a variety of desserts from the separate dessert menu, which also includes dessert cocktails, wines, ports, sherries, and grappa. Dessert Menu Il Mulino also has a huge selection of alcohol, including some specialty cocktails. They also have an extensive wine menu and numerous beer options. ©Disney Now that we have taken a look at the menu, let’s take a look at what we ordered! Eats For starters, we were served a basket of fresh bread, which was housemade ciabatta and focaccia with sliced salami and eggplant caponata. Bread Service The salami is so thinly sliced and salty, with just the right amount of pepper, and the eggplant goes incredibly well with the ciabatta. The ciabatta is fluffy in the middle, with a tangy sourdough-like aftertaste and a chewy crust. The eggplant offers a cool and garlicky cheesy bite on top, is cooked well, and isn’t unpleasant in texture. The focaccia is cloud-like and has more of an olive oil flavor. We were big fans! Next up, we got the Polpette Al Forno for $16, which are Italian Meatballs with Tomato Basil Sauce and Parmesan Cheese. Polpette Al Forno This might be one of the best meatballs we’ve ever had because it doesn’t have a lot of filler. The flavor of the sweet Italian sausage with ground beef comes through beautifully, making these somehow airy but full of flavor. The polenta on the bottom is just enough to bring a little richness with tons of cheese and the freshness of the basil, and the balance is divine. Absolutely delicious! Next up was the Rustica Pizza for $21, which is made with Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, and Sliced Pepperoni. Rustica Pizza This is childhood flavors elevated to adult levels. The crust is so perfectly thin and chewy, and we loved that you could taste that it was cooked in a wood-fired oven. Look at that crust! It has the right amount of cheese, the sweet tomato sauce isn’t too overpowering, and paired with the spicy pepperoni all over the top? This is the perfect pizza. This pizza is typically offered in the lounge, but you can request it at the restaurant, and it is so worth it. It’s VERY large, though, so be sure to grab a take-home box, or be ready to share with a friend. This was delicious! The Pollo Scarpariello will cost you $32 and is Hand-Cut Chicken with Garlic, White Wine, Wild Mushrooms, and Spicy Cherry Peppers. Pollo Scarpariello This dish surprised us in the best possible way. The chicken is so tender, and the breading is so thin. When mixed with both the cherry peppers and the mushrooms, it creates this incredibly velvety, garlicky sauce that’s slightly spicy on the back end. This is the kind of dish where you keep going in to build more flavors over and over again until at last it’s gone. The portion is absolutely huge, but every bite is absolutely worth it. It’s not too rich because the sauce isn’t heavy and the chicken is so lightly breaded, so there’s no heaviness to this dish. We do recommend saving some of your ciabatta from the bread service — thank us later! This blew our minds! For dessert, we grabbed the Cheesecake Italiano for $13, which is Italian-style cheesecake served with Whipped Cream and Zabaglione Cream. Cheesecake Italiano This was super creamy and light, but not as light as a classic cheesecake, as it’s thicker in consistency. You can taste the ricotta, which adds to that thicker texture, and it’s less sour than a classic cream cheese-based cheesecake. The whipped topping on the side and berries add a light freshness to the dish. Get a bite with all the flavors! Don’t be fooled — this isn’t a sweet dessert, so the best bites were those with berries, as the fresh tartness of the berries helped these flavors sing. The zabaglione cream has depth and an almost nutty quality, which pairs well, and we definitely recommend getting a bit of the chocolate sauce in each bite as well. Overall Overall, this place isn’t overly themed, which we enjoyed, but may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It almost LOOKS like you’re sitting in a place that’s serving overpriced brunch that doesn’t impress you, so it’s a pleasant surprise that the food is as good as it is. However, because it’s so out of the way and the atmosphere isn’t anything to write home about, you may not find yourself traveling all the way out here unless you’re already in the EPCOT Resort area. Il Mulino Compared with Via Napoli, which you can find in EPCOT, which is the closest comparison you can get on the level of fine Italian food, you may prefer to go to Via Napoli since it’s already inside the park. That said, this is a great option if you’re willing to stop by! Nosh or Not? This spot will be a fantastic fit for you if: You absolutely LOVE Italian eats. Expect to find rich, authentic flavors and high-quality Italian food. If that’s your thing, you’ll love it here. You’re looking for a place with a family-style dining option. Groups of 4 or more can look into the Piatti per il tavolo options — family-style dining. These are priced per person but served family-style so you can share some dishes with the group. You want a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. The vibes here are cozy but elevated, so it can make for a nice meal with brick walls, dark wood tones, and rustic lighting setting the tone for the meal. Il Mulino Seating However, it may not be your speed if: You’re not staying nearby and won’t be in the area. It can be a little bit of a trek to get here unless you’re staying nearby or will be nearby. Unless you really, really LOVE Italian food, this might not be a go-out-of-your-way spot for you. You want a quick meal. This is a Table Service restaurant, so you’ll want to dedicate a decent chunk of time to it. If you’re in a hurry to get to a ride or something else, this won’t be a good spot to consider. You want a heavily Disney-themed spot or a spot that’ll appeal to kiddos. This spot is beautiful in its simplicity, but you won’t find Mickey Mouse portraits on the walls or anything like that. It’s not exactly a spot meant to entertain kiddos, so if that’s what you’re looking for, it won’t be a good fit. We’re constantly trying new food and revisiting dining locations around Disney World, so make sure you stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney food news! REVIEW: We’d Leave the Disney World Parks for This Hotel Restaurant Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you been to Il Mulino before? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

EPCOT has become a beloved destination for Disney adults, and everyone has their own favorite. For many, it’s the Mexico Pavilion, but some guests are getting annoyed for good reason. Mexico Pavilion There are plenty of unspoken rules at Disney World. Don’t stop in the middle of a busy walkway, keep your stroller to one side when possible, and maybe don’t cut in front of someone. But there’s one habit we keep seeing in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion that has Disney Adults collectively sighing every single day. We get it — this pavilion is beautiful, packed with incredible details, and full of things worth stopping to admire. But if you’re going to pause, just make sure you’re not doing it in one of the busiest bottlenecks in the entire park. Please Don’t Stop Right In Front of the Pyramid The entrance to the Mexico Pavilion is one of the busiest spots in World Showcase. Guests are heading in to ride Gran Fiesta Tour, grabbing a table at San Angel Inn Restaurante, or shopping for souvenirs. When people stop directly in front of the pyramid entrance to chat, check the My Disney Experience app, take a family meeting, or decide where to go next, everything behind them slows down. Crowds at Mexico Before long, you’ve got dozens of people trying to squeeze around one stationary group, and what should be a smooth flow of traffic becomes an unexpected traffic jam. The pyramid isn’t going anywhere. If you need a minute to regroup, simply step off to the side where you’re out of the main path. Once You’re Inside, Keep Things Moving The inside of the pyramid is one of the most immersive places in EPCOT, but it also isn’t exactly known for its wide walkways. Between the shopping area, restaurant entrance, ride queue, and guests exploring the marketplace, space is already at a premium. That’s why large groups stopping shoulder-to-shoulder in the middle of the shopping area can bring traffic to a complete standstill. Inside the Mexico pavilion in EPCOT We completely understand wanting to admire the merchandise or decide what drink from La Cava del Tequila to order, but when an entire group spreads across the walkway, everyone else ends up annoyed and trying to go around you. Take a look, browse the displays, grab what catches your eye, and then continue exploring from a spot that’s a little less crowded. You’ll still get to enjoy everything the pavilion has to offer without accidentally creating a human roadblock. Gran Fiesta Tour Disney World is busy, especially in EPCOT, and everyone shares the same walkways. Small acts of courtesy like stepping aside before stopping or keeping your group from blocking narrow paths can make a surprisingly big difference in everyone’s day. Mexico pavilion in EPCOT The Mexico Pavilion is one of the most popular stops in World Showcase for good reason. A little awareness of your surroundings helps keep it enjoyable for everyone. For more Disney tips and news, be sure to follow us at DFB. How Much Money Should You Really Budget For the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is something you would like to see changed in this pavilion? Tell us in the comments below! View the full article

If you’re ever at the Polynesian Resort, then you’ll know the most popular spot to grab a drink is Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. This tiki-themed bar serves some over-the-top drinks, some that even light on fire, so the waitlist can get looong! We love Tiki Terrace! But did you know they have a bar counter outside if you can’t snag a table? Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is located outside of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, with an outdoor seating area and water views. It used to be one of our favorite spots to grab a drink, but then it unexpectedly closed in April. Disney must have heard our prayers for a quick-service Polynesian Pearl, because a reopening timeline was just announced! Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at the Polynesian Village Resort has been closed for refurbishment since April. Disney didn’t announce when or if the quick-service bar would reopen — until now. The opening timeline is set for late October! Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is temporarily closed due to refurbishment work at the Grand Ceremonial House. The Grand Ceremonial House is the main building of the Polynesian Village Resort, housing the lobby and multiple restaurants, which is currently undergoing an extensive exterior refurbishment. Since Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is connected to the Grand Ceremonial House, it makes sense why the bar has temporarily closed. Polynesian construction Disney just announced that the Grand Ceremonial House, along with Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace, will finish refurbishment on an unspecified date in October. This means that our quick-service Polynesian Pearls will be back in our hands this fall! Polynesian Pearl If you want a drink during the closure, check out Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto inside. The sister bar is known for its over-the-top cocktails, like the Polynesian Pearl, which comes in a decked-out souvenir cup, or the Uh-Oa! drink, which lights on fire! Unlike the Tiki Terrace, this isn’t the best spot for families, since only guests 21 and up can enter past 8 PM. Yes, it’s on FIRE! We’ll be sure to update you on more closures and reopenings across Disney World. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney news! NEW DOLE Whips Coming to Disney World and Disneyland! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you been to Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace before? Comment below! View the full article

Cases of the parasitic infection Cyclospora are popping up at an extremely fast pace in the United States. Of the many states seeing increased cases, Florida is one of them. ©NY Times There’s been a parasite going around the United States that can cause weeks of watery diarrhea, and it’s not going away. 17 states, including Florida, have a combined 145 confirmed cases of the cyclospora infections from early May through June 16th, according to CBS News. According to CBS News, the cause of the recent rise in cases hasn’t been determined. That being said, it was stated that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said that previous outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada were linked to bagged salad mixes, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas, and scallions. ©Britannica Health officials are urging people to wash all fruits and vegetables under running water before cutting, cooking, or eating them. It’s also been said that firm fruits and vegetables, like melons and cucumbers, need to be scrubbed with a produce brush. Also, cut away bruised or damaged areas of produce before using and eating it. You should also refrigerate any cut, peeled, or cooked produce within two hours of prepping it. ©Healthy Green Kitchen If you have a trip to Disney World coming up, you’re going to want to be aware that the parasite is growing in Florida. According to CBS, at least 50 cases of Cyclosporiasis have been reported between May 1st and July 4th, 2026. Cinderella Castle CBS also stated that “the parasite spreads through feces, and in the past, people have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables that had been exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water.” The CDC said that “people usually begin to see symptoms of cyclosporiasis about a week after consuming food or drinking water containing the Cyclospora parasite.” EPCOT We’re going to be following along with the news on cases and other ways to avoid this parasite. We wouldn’t want your Disney World trip to be ruined by sickness. For all the latest news, to make sure you’re prepared for your Disney trip, follow us at the Disney Food Blog. Could The Parasitic Outbreak Affect Your Disney World Trip? 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 have a Disney trip coming up? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Disney World isn’t the only theme park making big changes — Universal Orlando has been making some pretty big updates to its parks, too. First, Epic Universe still has that new smell because it’s only been open for a little over a year. But even that park is getting a new ride soon. Fast & Furious: Supercharged The Lost Continent and Mythos Restaurant recently closed to make way for something new, while Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit was recently demolished in Universal Studios Florida to make way for a new Fast and Furious roller coaster. But speaking of Fast and Furious, the Fast and Furious: Supercharged ride in Universal Studios Florida will be closing a lot sooner than anyone thought…as in NEXT MONTH. So Universal previously announced that Fast and Furious: Supercharged would close in 2027, but Universal recently sent a message to Universal Orlando Annual Passholders confirming that the ride will actually close on August 17th, 2026 — as in next month. That means the last day to ride the attraction will be on August 16th. It looks like Universal is moving ahead with whatever will replace it, although there hasn’t been an official announcement as to what that might be as of yet. Fast and Furious: Supercharged Fast and Furious: Supercharged is a thrilling motion-based dark ride that drops riders into the world of the Fast and Furious movies. It uses curved screens to simulate street racing, with ride vehicles being referred to as party buses. The ride and queue features appearances by actors from the franchise, including Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and more. Fast and Furious: Supercharged We’ll be keeping an eye out for announcements about what might be replacing this ride in that space, so stay tuned to DFB for more. The BEST Universal Orlando Restaurants for First-Timers in 2027  Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> What do you think about this news? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Disney World is HOT nearly every day of summer, but this week has been something else. Stanley IceFlow Thanks to a heat wave, temperatures have been sitting in the upper 90s, while the real feel has brought the heat of the days to feel closer to 110 degrees Fahrenheit some days. Staying hydrated in Disney World is always important, but with heat as intense as this, it becomes essential that the water you’re drinking is also cold, if at all possible. Very few people are tempted to drink warm water, especially enough to keep them safely hydrated, but cold water is a different story. We’ve tested out LOTS of water bottles in the parks, trying to find the best one, and there’s ONE that clearly came out, even in 100° heat. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Stanley IceFlow Stanley IceFlow The water bottle that came out on top, though our second choice was just barely behind it, is none other than the Stanley IceFlow. What we love most about this bottle, other than the fact that it’s so insulated it REALLY does live up to its name and keeps your ice cold, is that it’s the perfect size for a Disney day. It’s big enough to get through a stretch of the afternoon without needing to refill every hour, but not so bulky that it takes up too much space in your bag. Stanley IceFlow We also really can’t get enough of how easily the lid comes apart for cleaning, which is a BIG deal. Let’s be real — Disney water is not the nicest out there, and you’ll want to thoroughly clean your bottle after the trip, and potentially even scrub it every few days on a longer trip. The handle also folds flat on both sides, so it doesn’t create an awkward lump against your hip or catch on the inside of your bag, which we love. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop, this IS the bottle for you. Grab on Amazon! Owala Little Mermaid Owala However, we also want to mention our second choice, which is also fantastic for a park day — the Owala! We love that these have a push-to-open lid with a second locking layer so it won’t leak if it accidentally tips over or gets jostled around. It also does a great job of keeping your drink cold, including keeping your ice intact, and yet the outside doesn’t sweat, which means no damp bag liner and no slippery grip when you pull it out mid-walk (my biggest pet peeve ever). Rapunzel Owala The FreeSip design also means you can either sip through the straw upright or tilt it back and drink from the wide-mouth opening, and that versatility is important. The only reason the IceFlow beat this one is that the lid situation on the IceFlow is just slightly better, but if that’s not a concern for you, then this is also a fantastic bottle to look at — especially if you want a cute water bottle that’s inspired by some of your favorite Disney characters, or just want a bottle that really matches your aesthetic. Grab on Amazon! We’re here to bring you all the latest Disney tips and tricks to help you have the best trip, so stay tuned to DFB! View the full article

Okay, let’s talk about the DREAM stay in Disney World, and no, it’s not staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or at the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. No, we’re talking about the ULTIMATE dream stay INSIDE Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. You could stay inside Cinderella Castle! Yes, Cinderella Castle has its very own suite, but getting a stay there isn’t as simple as booking it because you, well, can’t. Instead, getting a stay at Cinderella Castle is usually only available through giveaways, which often involve supporting a charity with donations. So these opportunities are few and far between. We’ve got good news, though: a NEW giveaway is now offering a stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite…and you could win it! Give Kids the World Village is an 89-acre resort near Disney World that offers free stays to children who are critically ill, as well as their families. Now, you can support that great cause by donating and entering to win a contest for a stay in Cinderella Castle Suite. ©GiveKidstheWorldVillage If you win, you’ll get a one-night stay inside the Cinderella Castle Suite, as well as round-trip airfare for yourself and up to three guests, a two-night stay at one of Disney World’s deluxe hotels, up to four 3-day theme park tickets with the park hopper option, breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom, and a $500 Disney gift card. ©Disney To enter, all you have to do is donate at least $10 to Give Kids The World, and even if you don’t win, you’ve helped a fantastic cause! So it’s a win-win situation, right? You can donate here. The contest ends on November 14th, so you have plenty of time to rack up entries. A winner will be selected on November 16th. Good luck! ©Disney We’ll keep an eye out for more Disney-related contests, so stay tuned to DFB for more. 2 Ways You Can Stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What would you do if you won a stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite? Let us know in the comments. View the full article

Here at Disney Food Blog, we love Loungeflys. They’re all high-quality, durable bags that have a super-cute touch featuring some of our favorite Disney movies and characters! ©Loungefly Whether your favorite movies are classics like Peter Pan or Cinderella, or newer hits like Moana and Up, a brand-new Loungefly mini backpack is calling your name! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Go on a Hawaiian roller coaster ride with this Leroy & Stitch Micro Mini Backpack! ©Hot Topic This Leroy & Stitch Micro Mini Backpack features an allover tropical print of Stitch, Scrump, Angel, and Leroy, plus a clasp closure on top in the shape of Stitch’s head. Inside, you’ll find a coordinating inner lining of Stitch and Angel, complete with an interior zipper pocket, and the adjustable straps can be zipped together to carry the bag as a crossbody. view ON Hot Topic This Cinderella Cameo Mini Backpack is fit for a queen! ©Loungefly This Cinderella Cameo Mini Backpack features cameos of all of your favorite characters, including Prince Charming, Fairy Godmother, Jaq, Gus Gus, Anastasia, Drisella, Lady Tremaine, and Lucifer. The center features a stunning design of Cinderella’s castle surrounded by silver embroidered flowers, which opens to reveal Cinderella being transformed into her iconic ball gown! view ON Loungefly Explore the galaxy with this Jim & Morph Mini Backpack! ©Loungefly This Jim & Morph Mini Backpack features a shiny gold foil compass front pocket with embroidered detailing and gorgeous artwork inside the front flap. Open up the front pocket to reveal a picture of Jim and Morph from Treasure Planet! view ON Loungefly This Belle Reading Mini Backpack will fit all of your books! ©Amazon This Belle Reading Mini Backpack features Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast with her nose stuck in a book. The drawn design shows Belle in her village dress reading on a tree branch, surrounded by vibrant flowers and flying birds on the outskirts of her home. view ON AMAZON This Tinker Bell Flowers Mini Backpack is sprinkled with Pixie Dust! ©Amazon This Tinker Bell Flowers Mini Backpack features the iconic Disney fairy Tinker Bell lying down in a flower field, surrounded by gorgeous pink and yellow flowers, red mushrooms, purple butterflies, and green dragonflies. It’s so pretty! view ON AMAZON See how far you’ll go with this Floral Moana Mini Backpack! ©Amazon This Floral Moana Mini Backpack features our favorite wayfinder, the live-action Moana, surrounded by vibrant, embroidered flowers. Moana and Hei Hei are standing at the ready on each side pocket. Whether you’re heading to EPCOT or to see Moana in theaters, you’ll be ready for your next adventure! view ON AMAZON This Carl & Ellie Balloon Cart Mini Backpack is adorable! ©Amazon This Carl & Ellie Balloon Cart Mini Backpack features Carl and Ellie from Disney Pixar’s Up. They’re hugging in front of Carl’s iconic balloon cart surrounded by flowers, and Ellie just gave him a gift! The side pockets of the bag feature the classic Grape Soda logo. view ON AMAZON We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

One of the most iconic snacks in Disney World and Disneyland is the DOLE Whip. DOLE Whip can come in something as simple as the pineapple version we all love, or it can also come in other flavors, as well as in sundaes, floats, and more. It’s so versatile! Pineapple DOLE Whip Well, believe it or not, this year, Disney is celebrating 50 years of DOLE Whip (Happy Birthday, DOLE Whip!) and will be dropping four NEW DOLE Whip snacks in Disney World and Disneyland soon to celebrate as part of DOLE Whip Day (and yes, it’s a real holiday). DOLE Whip Day is on July 16th, and in honor of 50 years of DOLE Whip, you’ll be able to grab some brand new DOLE Whip snacks in Disney World and Disneyland, starting with the Hoa Aloha Float made with DOLE Whip pineapple with cucumber-lime agua fresca, chamoy, and candied kiwi. Grab this sweet treat at Tropical Hideaway in Disneyland starting on July 16th. Check out those cute little kiwi Mickey ears! ©Disney You can also grab the souvenir Swirl Up Some Magic Cup at Tropical Hideaway and Tiki Juice Bar starting on July 16th. It’s so much fun!!! ©Disney Don’t worry, though! Disney World is getting some special DOLE Whip treats, too! If you make your way over to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you can get the DOLE Whip Peach with Streusel Crisp at Pineapple Lanai for a limited time. It’s DOLE Whip peach, peaches, and streusel in a waffle cup. We’re really excited about this one because we LOVE DOLE Whip Peach! ©Disney Heading to Blizzard Beach to take advantage of that free water park perk for Disney World hotel guests? Be sure to swing by Lottawatta Lodge to order the DOLE Whip Peach with Streusel Cobbler Sundae made with DOLE Whip peach with vanilla cake, peach fruit filling, and streusel. YUM. ©Disney You can bet we’ll be trying out these new DOLE Whips, so stay tuned for our reviews! LITERALLY EVERYTHING You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About DOLE Whip at Disney Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which ones of these treats do you want to try? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The list of construction projects at Disney World just got even bigger! Typhoon Lagoon Between new lands coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom, it seems like Disney is filing permits every other week. Well, a new permit has just been filed for another construction project, only this one is for one of Disney’s water parks! Disney has filed a new permit with the South Florida Water Management District for a new project at Typhoon Lagoon! On the permit, you can see that it is titled Typhoon Lagoon Backstage Parking Lot. Typhoon Lagoon On the permit, the project’s description claims that this is “a new roadway leading to a fenced-in back-stage gravel parking lot at Typhoon Lagoon within Walt Disney World Resort.” It’s also noted that the “proposed stormwater management system consists of two dry retention ponds and four main conveyance swales that contain ditch blocks.” Typhoon Lagoon On the permits image, you’ll see that the construction site is behind the water park in the backstage area. You can see it sits right behind Crush ‘n’ Gusher. ©South Florida Water Management District The new parking lot plan tells us that the popular water park may be seeing even more guests. It’s definitely gotten busier at Typhoon Lagoon over the summer, and adding a new parking lot would give a lot more room to guests. ©South Florida Water Management District Since this is a backstage parking lot, it will most likely be parking for Cast Members who work at Typhoon Lagoon. That means that we could be seeing the current Cast Parking switched to a parking lot for guests coming to the water park. Everyone is at Typhoon Lagoon! There is no better time for this permit to be filed, because the water park is closing for the cooler season on September 9th. Both water parks were open for the summer, but Typhoon Lagoon will be getting its annual temporary closure soon. Blizzard Beach will still be open after Typhoon Lagoon closes. Typhoon Lagoon We’re not sure how long the parking lot construction will take, but we also don’t know when Typhoon Lagoon will open again. Maybe by the time Typhoon is open again, the parking lot will open with it. We’re expecting some news on the construction and a confirmed opening date for the water park once it closes. For all the latest Disney news and updates, make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog. Wait? Did Disney World Just Add a Name Change to Lakeshore Lodge? 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 have any water park plans for the rest of the summer? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

You know, you’d be shocked at how popular Crocs are at Disney World! Toy Story Land! When it comes to the perfect shoes to wear to Disney World, you would often think of runners. However, Crocs seem to be the wave right now, and that trend is pointing upward. Amazon has a ton of Crocs right now, and we have a feeling every park regular will be wearing them, especially since they’re Disney-themed! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get these Buzz Lightyear Crocs ©Amazon Take your Disney outfit to infinity and beyond with these Buzz Lightyear Crocs! These Crocs come in Buzz’s classic colors, and they are detailed to basically look like the action figure transformed into a pair of Crocs. The Crocs also come with Jibbitz to give them a little more pizzazz. Oh, and they’re currently 10% off! View on Amazon These Zootopia Crocs are cute! ©Amazon Any Zootopia fans? Check out these Kids’ Zootopia Crocs! Your kiddos are going to be killing the fashion game if they add these to their Disney outfit. The Crocs come with tons of Jibbitz, like a fluffy Judy Hopps, a fluffy Nick Widle, a pawpsicle, and more. From cute Disney style to comfort, you can’t go wrong with these. Especially since they’re 10%! View on Amazon We love these Minnie Mouse Clogs ©Amazon There are also these Minnie Mouse Clogs! We could definitely see a Disney mom or a Disney grandma rocking these at Magic Kingdom. They have a cute design with an all-over print of Minnie Mouse faces in different poses. Minnie Mouse is designed in a nostalgic, retro look. View on Amazon Or, you can grab these Minnie Mouse Crocs ©Amazon You might be a Minnie Mouse fan, but looking for something a little different. Well, Amazon has these Minnie Mouse Crocs, and these ones are all white, with big red bows on the top! The soles have a classic Minnie Mouse polka dot design, and there’s a little Minnie head on the sides. view ON AMAZON Don’t forget about these R2-D2 Crocs ©Amazon As Star Wars fans, our reaction to seeing these R2-D2 Crocs was *insert iconic R2-D2 scream*! The Crocs have a full-body design of the droid. They also come with little R2 Jibbitz, one on each shoe. Are we rocking these while in Galaxy’s Edge? Absolutely! They’re also 13% off. View on Amazon How about these Mickey & Friends Crocs?! ©Amazon These Mickey & Friends Crocs are the perfect shoes for those who are suckers for nostalgia! Each of the iconic Disney characters on these Crocs is designed in their vintage look. The Crocs feature Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto, as well as Jibbitz for each of them. They’re having the biggest deal, sitting at 45% off! View on Amazon And finally, there are these Minnie Mouse Crocs ©Amazon Lastly, there are these Minnie Mouse Crocs, covered in bright colors! These Crocs are sure to draw attention, with their all-pink look, colorful Minnie Mouse Jibbitz, and patterned soles. The back of the Crocs also has Minnie’s name printed in a 3D design. You can grab these for 10% off! View on Amazon We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article