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Packing for a Disney trip is hard work, and no matter how many times you go, you often feel like you’ve forgotten something. We know from experience! ODOCARE Handmade Mouse Ears Headband That’s why we keep a running list of what some of our favorite items for the parks are, while also keeping an eye out for new ones to add to the list. If you want a super simple list to start out, keeping it short and sweet, here are nine items we think you absolutely need for your upcoming trip. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Keep Your Hair Up in A Cute Way ©Amazon Keeping your hair out of your face is essential, especially on hot days, so you might as well do it cutely, right? That’s where the Minnie’s Bow Medium Flat Hair Clip comes in. It’s adorable; it’ll keep your hair nice and secure, and you can certainly use it outside of the parks as well. Grab it here! The Bag To Carry It All BAGSMART Water Bottle Holder Bag Finding a bag that fits all you need without being too big is a constant struggle, but the BAGSMART Magnetic 40oz Water Bottle Holder really helps solve most of our problems. It holds way more than you’d think, and we love that it can fit our large water bottles, so staying hydrated is easier. Don’t underestimate it! Grab it here! Speaking of Water Bottles Little Mermaid Owala On the topic of water bottles, it’s also essential to have one that’s durable, will keep your drink cold all day, and is easy to carry around. Personally, Owala water bottles are some of our favorites, not only because they work incredibly well, but also because some of them are even subtly Disney-themed! They’re great to use when you’re back at home as well as in the parks, meaning there’s never a bad time to use them. Grab it here! Keep Your Pins Secure PinFolio Go Pin Display Bag We love pin trading as much as the next person, but there’s nothing quite as stressful as being afraid you’re going to lose a pin while you’re walking around the parks. The PinFolio bag makes sure they all stay nice and secure and is also super convenient to carry around. This way, you’ve got them all in one safe place, and you can easily add to it as you get more! Grab it here! Sunscreen That Won’t Let You Down ©Amazon Getting a good sunscreen that won’t leave you burnt is so important, as a bad sunburn can ruin your vacation wildly fast. We personally love Supergoop!, especially the lotion, which has SPF 50. It’s a great lotion for every day, no matter if you’re in the parks or at home, and it’s like killing two birds with one stone. Hooray for lotion and sunscreen all in one! Grab it here! Protect Your Eyes ©Amazon You can’t put sunscreen on your eyes, but it’s just as important to protect them from the sun. We recommend the adorable Adult Mouse Sunglasses because not only are they perfect for the parks, but they also have UV protection. It blocks both UVA and UVB, protecting you on multiple fronts. Grab it here! The Right Shoes Brooks Ghost 17s There are lots of shoes out there on the market, and choosing the right ones is essential so your feet aren’t hurting on day one of your trip. We personally are big fans of the Brooks Women’s Ghost 17 Neutral Running Shoes! They’ve never let us down in the parks, are super cute and go with many outfits, and are supportive without being too rigid. We recommend them time and time again and will continue to do so. Grab it here! Who Doesn’t Love Cute Socks? Character Socks! Getting the right socks is also very important for supporting your feet, but why not make them cute at the same time? These Character Socks are some of our favorites, not only because of how they look, but also because they genuinely help support our feet during long days in the parks. What more can we ask for? Grab it here! Ears That Don’t Cost A Fortune ODOCARE Minnie Ears from Amazon While we love ears from Disney, sometimes that price tag is just too much, especially because they often end up hurting our ears. The ODOCARE Handmade Mouse Ears are one of our favorite budget-friendly options online, and we genuinely find them to be very comfortable. Easy to wear for long days, and they go with practically any outfit! Grab it here! We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all our favorite Disney merchandise finds, so stay tuned to DFB! View the full article

If you don’t know, Disney is cracking down on resort hopping. It’s been a big deal in the Disney community, although it hasn’t made resort hopping impossible. BoardWalk’s Luna Park Pool The biggest change is that guests can no longer hop on a Disney resort bus or boat at Disney Springs unless they have a hotel or dining reservation. The crackdown began in July 2026, and now Disney is getting even stricter about checking out different hotels. This time, the issue lies with the pools! If you were thinking about checking out different Disney pools during your vacation, you might want to reconsider. During our latest trip to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Resort, we were going to check out the pool bar, Leaping Horse Libations, when we were turned away. Relax by your resort pool! This pool bar is completely inside the fenced-in pool area (which isn’t always the case for every Disney pool), but we’ve never had issues grabbing something to drink or eat here in the past, even if we were hotel guests. When we asked the Cast Members why we couldn’t come in, they confirmed that Disney is cracking down on pool hoppers. Leaping Horse Libations They had Cast Members stationed at the main entrance to the pool, scanning for hotel reservations before they would let guests inside. They also closed the side entrances so they could only be used as exits. Long story short, if you’re not staying at the Boardwalk, you’re not getting in! Now, this isn’t totally unheard of. We have seen this before at Stormalong Bay Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club resort. Stormalong Bay Pool Stormalong Bay is frequently considered the most popular pool in Disney World, and they’ve been requiring reservation confirmations to get into the pool for years. The biggest change is that this system is seemingly being implemented at other pools around the Disney World property. The “no pool hopping” rule isn’t new. The pool at Riviera Resort It has been a formal rule in Disney World for many years that guests could only use the pool at their resort, but Disney hasn’t been a super stickler for these rules. Some pools, like the pools at Disney’s Riviera Resort, have touch points where you have to scan your MagicBand or room key to get into the pool. Others, like the Boardwalk Luna Park Pool, only had a gate with no lock that anyone could explore. No, you weren’t supposed to be swimming in them, but you could at least get to the pool bars without fuss. Fuentes del Morro Pool As Disney makes changes to cut down on resort hopping, are these new pool changes contributing to that overall goal? We think so. Typically, Disney gets strict about crowds around the holidays and peak summer times to help with overcrowding and safety. Now, it seems like they plan on sticking to the new rules year-round, which could impact how your Disney vacation operates. If you want to check out the other resorts, you’ll have to catch transportation from a theme park or get a dining reservation. A Disney bus Sure, this pool rule hasn’t formally changed, but we are pretty surprised to see Disney enforcing it so heavily. We’re eager to see if this system is extended to other pools around Disney World property, including the moderate and value resorts. We will be keeping an eye on these rules and systems to see if they change. If you are trying to have some fun in the sun, make sure to keep your MagicBand or room key on hand! Be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news, updates, and more. Disney World Is Cracking Down on Resort Hopping Harder Than Ever Before Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think about this rule? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

It’s Labor Day Weekend in Disney World, and you know what that means…LOTS of people are going to be hitting the parks. That means if you’re also heading to the parks, you can expect crowds and long lines, all in the heat and humidity of Florida. Raglan Road But what if we told you there was something else you could do in Disney World this weekend without even needing to buy a park ticket or stand in a long line? Well, there is! The Great Irish Hooley has returned to Disney Springs, and it’s a great way to escape the crowds, the heat, and the high price of a park ticket. The Great Irish Hooley is an annual tradition at Raglan Road. It’s a roots-revival music festival where you can catch some of the top Irish bands performing on indoor and outdoor stages at the restaurant throughout the holiday weekend. It runs from September 4th through September 7th, and we got an early sneak peek at this year’s festival! The Great Irish Hooley is here! Live music starts at 4 PM on September 4th and runs from 11 AM to midnight for the rest of the weekend. You’ll be able to see some great Irish performers this year, including: The Consequences Folk Division Plain Sailin Men of Aran Adam Sheahan Northern Crossing Raglan Road Dancers Live music You also can’t have a festival without food and drinks, so Raglan Road will be offering up its full menu throughout the weekend, including the Rollicking Raglan Brunch at 9 A.M. on Saturday and Sunday. There are also brand new fall and Halloween specials debuting this weekend, and we got to try them! Check out the 81Bay Brewing Company’s Booo! — Pumpkin Cream Ale ($10.75). Y’all…this is like pumpkin pie in a glass. The cream comes through with notes of cinnamon and pumpkin. It’s a light ale, too, so even non-beer drinkers might appreciate these autumnal flavors. Pumpkin Cream Ale We also had a chance to enjoy the Samhain Sangria ($18). It’s made with The Whistler Irish Whiskey and Pinot Grigio, shaken with apple cider juice and house-made cinnamon syrup, topped with a bubbly Magners Irish cider float. This drink is WICKED, and we mean that in the best way possible. The whiskey is so smooth that the flavors of the Pinot Grigio and apple cider come through beautifully. This is also a drink that’s hard to sip because it tastes SO good, so you’ve been warned. Samhain Sangria You’ll also be able to enjoy some new Halloween-themed bites created by Raglan Road’s culinary team. We got to try the spooky Bandaged Bangers ($19.45), which are mini sausages bandaged in golden pastry, served with a cherry buffalo sauce. So you’ve basically got spicy little sausages wrapped up in a perfectly crispy pastry. They’re also served with a cherry buffalo sauce, which is tangy, bright, and spicy. The little sausages aren’t just cute, though; they’re also well-cooked. Bandaged Bangers We also got to try the Black Barrel Whisky Rib ($25.45), which is a half rack of slow-cooked pork ribs, coated in a Jameson Black Barrel whisky glaze, served with a side of Guinness glaze and topped with crispy onion strings. Boozy meat, y’all. The rib is spicy and sweet, and the meat is so tender that it falls off the bone. It’s also got the perfect crispiness on the outside. The crispy onion strings are just a perfect addition. This is one of those dishes that’s made with an adult palate in mind. Black Barrel Whisky Rib Then it was time for Raglan’s Ghostly Guinness Pie ($19.45), which is puff pastry surrounding braised beef, wild mushrooms, and slow-cooked Guinness gravy, garnished with a sweet onion puree. The pie crust is flaky but sturdy. The beef stew filling is tender and robust. This is something we’d want to eat on a cold, wintry day. Our only complaint is that we wanted more mushroom flavor. Ghostly Guinness Pie We tried the Perfect Little Pumpkin ($13.45) for dessert. This gluten-friendly treat is a pumpkin and gingerbread cheesecake with peach compote on a chocolate soil. The cheesecake is creamy and smooth, and you really get a strong pumpkin flavor. The peach adds a bright aftertaste that isn’t so sweet that it overpowers the pumpkin flavors. The gingerbread is crispy with just the perfect amount of spice. This dessert is so refreshing, and it’s the perfect finish for a fall meal that won’t leave you feeling heavy afterward. Perfect Little Pumpkin You can also get Irish Pumpkin Shake ($16). It’s Raglan’s signature Baileys shake featuring pumpkin spice and topped with cinnamon cold foam. Okay, so the Baileys shake is already perfect, but now they’ve added the taste of fall? We can’t EVEN. It’s creamy, delicious, and those spices really take the standard shake up a notch. We’ll take THREE! Irish Pumpkin Shake There is no additional charge to attend the Great Irish Hooley, but reservations are highly recommended. REVIEW: As If We Needed Another Reason To Love Raglan Road at Disney Springs Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever attended the Great Irish Hooley at Raglan Road? Share your experience in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Raglan Road to attend their media preview of the Great Irish Hooley. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ View the full article

It’s no secret that we love the Cake Bake Shop at Disney World. The restaurant and bakery serve high-quality meals and treats on the gorgeous BoardWalk of Crescent Lake! Apple Crumble Cake The Cake Bake Shop just added a brand-new cake slice to their fall menu, so we had to run over to the BoardWalk to try it! We tried the brand-new Apple Crumble Cake for $22. This is an apple spice cake with real apples and pecans, filled with homemade salted caramel and caramel buttercream, then frosted with caramel buttercream, topped with apple pie crumbles, and drizzled with more salted caramel. Apple Crumble Cake The apple spice cake is super soft and packed with cinnamon and apple chunks. The apple pieces are very soft and don’t add much to the texture, but it brings a strong apple-forward flavor. Pecans are mixed into the batter and add a crunch. The buttercream is super creamy and caramel-flavored to add some sweetness. This tasted just like fall, and if pumpkin isn’t your jam, you’re going to love this! Apple Crumble Cake We loved this new Apple Crumble Cake from the Cake Bake Shop Bakery. If you’re craving more fall desserts, they recently brought back the Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bar, which is one of our favorites. It’s a snickerdoodle cookie crust topped with cream cheese filling, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and crumbled snickerdoodle cookie dough, and yes, it tastes as good as it sounds! Ain’t she a beaut? We’ll be sure to keep you updated on more fall menu items that hit the Cake Bake Shop Bakery at the BoardWalk. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney World food reviews! We’ve Had EVERY Cake at Disney World’s Cake Bake Shop, and We’re Ranking Them From Must-Get to Not Worth It Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you try this Apple Crumble Cake? Comment below! View the full article

Here at Disney Food Blog, we love a good pair of Minnie Ears. But we won’t lie, shopping for them in the Disney Parks can get overwhelming FAST with walls and walls of options. ©Disney That’s why we love the DisneyStore’s website for getting a shiny new pair of ears. You can see all the brand-new pairs in one place and get them shipped straight to your house. But we have to warn you: These five new pairs of ears will sell out faster than Lightning Lanes! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. This Mickey Mouse Simulated Leather Ear Headband is customizable! Mickey Mouse Simulated Leather Ear Headband This Mickey Mouse Simulated Leather Ear Headband is a stylish white Mickey Mouse ear headband, crafted in smooth simulated leather for a sleek, modern look. These plain white ears can be the perfect canvas for your drawings or signature! view ON DisneyStore Lead the club with this Minnie Mouse Ear Headband with Pink Bow! ©Disney This Minnie Mouse Ear Headband with Pink Bow is a classic headband with plush velvety ears, topped with Minnie’s signature satin bow featuring plenty of big printed polka dots to complement her pink costume. view ON DisneyStore This Minnie Mouse Halloween Ear Headband is not-so-scary! ©Disney This Minnie Mouse Halloween Ear Headband features padded ears decorated with appliqué windows and doors as seen when trick-or-treating. The velvety mouse ears and shimmering mesh bow are decorated in dazzling faceted gems, while a cloisonné ”Mickey cutie ghost” makes a special appearance just to say ”boo!” view ON DisneyStore You’ll be one happy haunt with The Haunted Mansion Wallpaper Ear Headband! ©Disney The Haunted Mansion Wallpaper Ear Headband features the ride’s iconic flocked wallpaper pattern on padded satin ears, topped with a negative image bow that will leave you one grim-grinning ghost! view ON DisneyStore This Zero Headband will float wherever you go! ©Disney This Zero Headband features a ghostly plush dog Zero sitting atop The Nightmare Before Christmas headband with his signature pumpkin nose to help guide your way! view ON DisneyStore 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

Big changes are going on around Disney World these days! The monsters have on hard hats, the cars are fueling up, and the Muppets are rockin’ out. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Even though there are big changes in the works, it doesn’t make those small updates any less notable! Nearly a year after they announced it, new changes have finally arrived at a popular EPCOT attraction. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure has CHANGED! The popular trackless ride previously announced that new props and lighting would be added to the attraction in October 2025. We have been consistently checking the attraction since the announcement, and we even noticed a new permit filed for the changes in May 2026. After months of waiting, the changes have arrived. Welcome to Remy’s world! In one scene, you can see a spilled box of pasta noodles that are larger than life! Can you see it? The final scene also changed with the addition of physical props. Previously, the small tables and cups were located in front of the screen, but now a giant charcuterie board is there as well! Practical props! The massive board is complete with slices of cheese and artwork of the Eiffel Tower. There’s also a cork resting on the board. These new props help to fill the blank space between the ride vehicles and the screens, making the ride feel a bit more immersive. Look at the cheese! These changes come after the ride switched from being 3D to 2D in 2025. The changes also help the attraction mirror its counterpart in Disneyland Paris, which we are fans of! The other end of the board! You can read our thoughts on the 3D changes from November right here. EPCOT is the place to be right now since there are no major construction projects going on in the park, unlike Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. The park also just kicked off the Food and Wine Festival, which is a hugely popular event each year. You can see our full coverage of that right here! Be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more news, updates, and reviews! Here’s Exactly How We Cover All 30+ EPCOT Food and Wine Booths in a Single Day 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 changes? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Is there any better combination than a slushy and wine?! Well, we’re about to tell you! Slushy Wine Flight! If you’re looking for an ice-cold, frozen alcoholic drink, you need to head over to Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs. They’ve been serving slushy wine there for a while, but things just got even better. Now, you can get three slushy wines in the style of a wine flight! We just got the brand-new Wine Slushy Flight at Amorette’s for $12, and we had to share our thoughts with you. The slushy wine flight comes with three flavors — Raspberry Pinot Noir, Mango Moscato, and Strawberry Shiraz. New Wine Slush Flight First, we had the Mango Moscato, which we would say was ultimately the most refreshing of the three. The slushy was very mango-forward, and we did not get a ton of a wine taste or feel in each sip. If you’re not a wine fan, you’ll probably find that this is the perfect option for you. Mango Moscato Then, we had the Strawberry Shiraz, which had a very strong strawberry taste. This was another one where we did not get a ton of wine flavor from. Typically, Shiraz has more potent taste notes, so it was surprising to not get much of that in this slushy. It does have a wine-y mouthfeel at the end of each sip, so it had that going for it. Again, this is a good drink for those who aren’t the biggest wine fans, but the first two had us wanting a little more of a wine taste. Strawberry Shiraz Lastly, we had the Raspberry Pinot Noir. We can confidently say that this one was our favorite of the three! This tastes just like a frozen sangria, and we were here for it. The drink had the perfect amount of sweetness from raspberry, and the dryness of the Pinot Noir is a nice balance. Raspberry Pinot Noir Overall, this is a nice, refreshing treat on a hot day at Disney Springs. If you’re a wine lover, the Raspberry Pinot Noir is going to be the best choice for an overall wine slushy. Mango Moscato is going to be best for those who don’t love wine but maybe want to dabble in it. The Strawberry Shiraz is sweet, and you can’t taste the alcohol. You can get all three flavors on their own, but we think the flight is a great option to just try different flavors. This was tasty! For more food reviews around Disney World, make sure to follow us at the Disney Food Blog. We’re always on the hunt for the best eats, treats, and drinks! REVIEW: I’ve Always Wanted to Drink Banana Bread and Starbucks Just Made My Dreams Come True Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you try this flight? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

We were seriously blown away by the incredible experience we had at this motel near Dollywood for only $40(!!) per night! Super 8 by Wyndham We recently visited Dollywood to check out the park’s brand-new coaster, Nightflight Expedition. As we were planning our trip, the Super 8 by Wyndham Pigeon Forge Downtown kept popping up in our research as an incredible value with especially great ratings for cleanliness and amenities. Our curiosity got the best of us, so we decided to book a room at the motel, priced at $40 per night plus taxes, and we were SHOCKED to find that we agree with the motel’s solid reviews! The Super 8 motel chain was founded in 1974 and was named for the standard rate of $8.88 per night that was offered at its original locations. Accounting for inflation, that would equal about $62 in today’s money, which is pretty impressive considering our room at one of the highest-rated Super 8 motels in the country cost us only $40 per night plus taxes, with no resort fee! Super 8 by Wyndham The Super 8 by Wyndham Pigeon Forge Downtown currently has an overall rating of 8.8 out of 10 on Expedia from more than 1,000 verified reviews, including a 9.0 for cleanliness. Similarly, Booking.com has it at 8.5 out of 10 from more than 2,200 reviews, including a 9.0 for value and a 9.2 for location. Super 8 Pool We checked in late, and were so relieved to find that our room was impeccably clean, just like the motel’s ratings suggested. A recent refurbishment upgraded the rooms, and we’d say they felt similar in quality to an All-Star Value Resort. Our Motel Room There was no closet in the room, but there were plenty of other options for unpacking clothes and other essentials, including a swinging rack with hangers included, and a shelf with built-in hooks. Storage Space The sink is located outside the restroom, with plenty of counter space for unpacking toiletries. Sink Inside the bathroom is a nice deep tub with a luxurious showerhead and great water pressure. Bathroom Across from the beds is a bench designed to hold one suitcase. Another suitcase can easily fit on the cabinet under the television, which is mounted on the wall. There was also lots of drawer space available. All of our drawers were super clean, and one had two extra blankets inside. Lots of Storage Space! Speaking of the roominess, we were also impressed by the amount of workspace, including a chair with a desk built into the arm that could also be used as a dining tray. Chair with Built-In Desk There was also a full traditional desk with an office chair and outlets next to the coffee maker and television. There were actually tons of outlets throughout the room, including some built into the lighting fixtures on the desk and bedside table, although some of those were already being used for things like the TV and phone. Desk Area We couldn’t believe how many amenities were included for what we paid. Our room had a hairdryer, mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker with two packets of regular coffee and one packet of decaf, extra blankets, comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a seasonal outdoor pool! There was also coffee available in the lobby when we checked in late. A light breakfast is provided, and there is a 24-hour front desk. Fridge & Microwave The location is another HUGE plus for this motel. There’s a ton within walking distance, including FunStop Family Action Park right across the Parkway, a small amusement park with go-karts, thrill rides, mini golf, and an arcade that reminded us of the Fun Spot amusement parks in Orlando and Kissimmee. Plus, you can take the 0.4-mile walk to Patriot Park to reach the main hub for Pigeon Forge Mass Transit, which has a dedicated trolley directly to Dollywood. Welcome to Dollywood! The Dollywood trolley currently costs $2.50 per ride, or you can buy an all-day transit pass for $3. Dollywood service runs approximately every 15 to 20 minutes, although traffic can affect that. So you could stay here without having to drive your own car to Dollywood and pay the park’s current $25 standard parking fee! Dollywood Our only complaint about the motel was that our towels were a bit rough. Which, considering the fact that our room was only $40 a night, feels WILD to say! For comparison, the rates at Dollywood’s HeartSong hotel were between $200 and $300 per night. Between the proximity to Dollywood, cleanliness of the room, comfort of the beds, lack of noise, everything within walking distance, and everything you get for the price, the value of the Super 8 is kind of ridiculous. The ratings led us here, and after actually staying in the room, we totally get why they’re so high! Dollywood! While on this visit, we learned that the resort is currently working to build up its own hotel capacity, so hopefully we’ll see more value-level hotels on Dollywood property in the future too. But in the meantime, we’re happy to make this our unofficial value resort pick for Dollywood! We’ll continue to report back with all of our theme park experiences, tips, and reviews, so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for the latest updates! The BEST Dollywood Restaurants for First-Timers in 2027 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever been to Dollywood? Let us know your go-to hotel in the comments! View the full article

EPCOT‘s Italy Pavilion is often overlooked when it comes to what food and drinks are available, and we’re here to tell you that that’s a BIG mistake. Who’s ready for some Italy eats? This pavilion is full of some of our favorite restaurants and small bites in all of EPCOT, especially if you’re looking for something that’s going to appease the whole family. We got a chance to try some delicious desserts around the pavilion, as well as a drink we can’t get enough of, and if this isn’t enough to convince you to stop by, we don’t know what is! Our first stop was La Gelateria Toscana to try some of the eats that have been available here since April. We got to try the Cialde di Cannoli first, which you can grab for $12. This is made with crisp pastry chips and has cannoli filling for dipping. Cialde di Cannoli This is a majorly underrated treat, and we think it’s quite the hidden gem. The chips are fried to perfection with a cinnamon sugar coating evenly dispersed on each chip. They have a great crunch and freshly fried texture, meaning they taste like a crunchy cannoli shell with a slightly doughy flavor, but their main purpose is to let the cannoli dip shine. The cannoli dip is fluffy, creamy, and slightly gooey, and it’s got a slight tang to it thanks to the ricotta cheese. It was like a deconstructed cannoli in the best way! This was a major winner! We also got to try the Coppa all’Arancia, which costs $12.75 and is made with orange sorbetto, vanilla gelato, vanilla wafer crumbs, whipped cream, and a candied orange. Coppa all’Arancia While this is basically an orange creamsicle in float form, they can’t call it that for legal reasons; hence, no mention of it in the name! The orange sorbetto is the prominent flavor here, giving this a strong and bright orange flavor with only a hint of vanilla. The whipped cream and vanilla gelato add a creamy sweetness that balances out the bold citrus flavor, and we enjoyed the bits and pieces of the orange gummies we got throughout. This also stayed cold for a surprising amount of time, which is amazing for the summer heat! Orange fans will love this Our final eat here was the Cannoli Speciele, which will cost you $10. It’s made with a seasonal sweet ricotta filling, and this time around, it was pistachio! Cannoli Speciele The prominent flavor here is that nutty, earthy pistachio that’s not super sweet. The fried cannoli shell gives it a satisfying crunch, while the smaller pistachio pieces add a softer crunch in a few bites. The ricotta filling is a bit tangy that balances out the nuttiness of the pistachio. If you’re a fan of pistachio flavors and cannolis, this is right up your alley! Pistachio fans will love this! We also headed over to Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar to try their new Sarti Spritz! This is Sarti Rosa Aperitivo, prosecco, and sparkling water. Sarti Spritz Right from the first sip, this was very easy to drink and not overly strong. It’s tart, sweet, and citrus-forward without being overpowering, which is quite impressive. The bottle lists flavors of blood orange, mango, and passion fruit, and we can certainly pick up on all three, though it does more combine into a general fruitiness. This is a great option for those who like sweet drinks that don’t taste like alcohol, especially if you’re not big on overly fizzy drinks. A delicious option! These are just a few of our favorite treats around the pavilion, so the next time you’re visiting, don’t forget to take a close look at those menus! More Recent Reviews! REVIEW: Uh Oh. My Drinking Around the World List Just Got LONGER in EPCOTREVIEW: I’ve Always Wanted to Drink Banana Bread and Starbucks Just Made My Dreams Come TrueREVIEW: This New Disney Springs Dish Is Big, Bold, and Only Here for a Limited TimeGoing to Disney World Soon? You Don’t Want to Miss These Massive DEALS On EssentialsREVIEW: Apparently Meat and Maggots Make The PERFECT Universal Halloween Horror Nights Dessert We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World news and reviews, so stay tuned to DFB! REVIEW: This Majorly Underrated EPCOT Food and Wine Drink Will Be On Our Minds For Weeks Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these are you most excited to try? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of dining around the Italy Pavilion. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ View the full article

A major announcement is about to drop about the next Harry Potter theme park land, and it’s NOT at Universal. ©Harry Potter The new Potter expansion is coming to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and we’re learning more about ot as part of Warner’s Back to Hogwarts reveals. According to Warner Bros., the names of “three new magical themed lands” coming to the Yas Island theme park will be revealed on September 7th, with the studio encouraging fans to “keep (their) eyes on the skies” for the big reveal. The reveal was paired with a teaser trailer featuring the flying Ford Anglia from the franchise. According to Forbes, the usage of the Anglia in the clip was tied to the fact that the land’s centerpiece will be a thrilling attraction featuring guests in the vehicle that simulates scenes from the Potter franchise “where it skims across the English countryside following the Hogwarts Express steam train before battling a Whomping Willow tree and an army of sinister giant spiders.” The outlet also reports that the lands featured in the expansion will include Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest, citing a statement that had been posted on the official Harry Potter Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads channels. Forbes wrote, “There is no doubt about the authenticity of the statement as the accounts are the social media channels of the official Harry Potter website, which says that it is “brought to you by Wizarding World Digital and its parent company Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.” Will the new land match up to Universal’s Wizarding Worlds? Only time will tell. The land will mark the first Potter-themed theme park land outside of Universal’s resorts, as Warner Bros. actually owns the rights to the Potter franchise, and while they deal with Universal, the theme park rights do not exclusively belong to the latter in all regions. Like the other attractions on Yas Island, the park is controlled by Miral. Other parks on the island include Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. The company also signed a deal with Disney to build Disneyland Abu Dhabi on Yas Island in 2025. ©Miral The news on the new Potter park is part of a larger wave of news related to the franchise in preparation for the December launch of the new Harry Potter series on HBO Max. Other announcements included a new LEGO collection, a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float, a third season of Wizards of Baking, new video games, a new broom experience coming to Harry Potter Shop New York, and more. ©HBO We’re just a few days away from official confirmation on which lands are coming to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi’s new Harry Potter land, which will likely be opening sometime in 2029. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on this project. DFB Video: Wizarding World of Harry Potter PRO TIPS 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 think Miral will be able to match the quality of Universal’s Potter lands? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has requested that a federal judge “toss out” Disney’s lawsuit regarding the ABC TV station license. The request came on Thursday, September 3rd, according to NBC. ©ABC The lawsuit is seeking to block the agency’s early review of ABC licenses. The FCC has said that if Disney wins this suit, it would “prevent the commission from analyzing evidence in its ongoing investigation.” They also wrote it would impact the agency’s “efforts to investigate and resolve serious allegations that Disney has engaged in unlawful discrimination.” The early review would impact Disney’s eight company-owned ABC stations. This case is being considered a “test of free speech rights for broadcasters.” The suit comes after President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for ABC to lose its license due to select programming. The issue has been ongoing after FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered an early review of the license despite the fact that renewals were not supposed to occur until October 2028. ©FCC According to NBC, this is the first time the FCC has ordered an early renewal in more than 50 years. Carr later said he has not made a decision on whether the FCC was going to refer Disney’s license for a hearing. The review order came after President Trump urged ABC to fire last-night host Jimmy Kimmel. ©ABC U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, who is located in Washington, has a hearing on the lawsuit scheduled for October 6th. The FCC has agreed to give at least 48 hours’ notice before issuing an order for a public hearing regarding Disney’s ABC licenses. The FCC has also said this case should be before a federal appeals court in Washington instead of a district court. ©The Walt Disney Company If the FCC were to pull Disney’s ABC license, it would mean ABC could no longer use public airwaves. License revocations are “extremely rare,” but the threat of losing the license can put pressure on broadcasters to report a specific way based on the FCC’s desires. This is why this particular case is considered a test of free speech. Disney declined to comment after the FCC’s request. In Disney’s filing, it stated that the FCC is “seeking to coerce and retaliate against a network that refuses to bow to the ⁠administration’s ​demands.” ©Disney Disney later called the agency’s actions an “extraordinary assault on free speech.” At D23 in August 2026, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro spoke on the situation, saying, “Our position on this is clear. We’re very principled on this. We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity.” He later said that the company would not be told how to run that side of the business. Josh D’Amaro The company has been at odds with the FCC and the President for months, including claims that Disney has “engaged in illegal DEI discrimination for over a year.” This story is continuing to develop. Be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more. 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 View the full article

I’m taking my toddler on our first family vacation to Disney World, and my to-do list is RIDICULOUS. Magic Kingdom at Disney World When you go from traveling to Disney World as DINKs (double income, no kids) on a regular basis to traveling with a small child, you don’t realize how much more complex prepping for your vacation will be. My preparations actually began weeks ahead of the trip, and the list includes quite a few tasks that surprised me. So here are some things you might need to do as well if you’re planning on taking your little ones to Disney! Things I’m Buying Several different items on my to-do list involved shopping for things we didn’t previously own. It started simple, with getting new swimsuits (we’re going to Blizzard Beach Water Park while we’re there!) and ordering a new stroller fan (ours broke). But then I started getting into the weeds of stroller organizer products and special attachments, and I had to rein myself in — gotta save some money for the trip itself! J.L. Childress Disney Baby Mickey Mouse Stroller Fan Other items that made their way onto my shopping list were toys for the car ride. We’ve got a relatively long car ride ahead of us, and I wanted one or two new things to keep his attention and placate him during the journey — we went for some mess-free coloring pads. Also, I scoured the internet for a pack ‘n’ play mattress. If your kid is used to sleeping on a nice comfy crib mattress at home, the pack ‘n’ plays at the hotel might not be as comfy. And if there’s one thing we want to go well on this trip… it’s our sleep! Genius Amazon Finds for a Disney Trip With Toddlers Things We’re Practicing This is the category you may not think about, but I’ve seen enough disaster in Disney World to know that there are some things I should prepare my child for. To start, we’ve been watching YouTube videos of Disney characters in the hopes that he doesn’t freak out when meeting Winnie the Pooh during breakfast at Crystal Palace. Now, he has met characters before (we lived in Central Florida for the first year of his life), but toddlers are unpredictable, man. I want to set us up for success as much as possible. And if I’m honest, character phobia is in his genes — I was afraid of anything in a costume until I was 10 years old. Winnie the Pooh We’ve also been going on frequent stroller walks at home. My child is used to running around the house and the backyard freely, and when we’re in Disney World, he’s going to have to be in the stroller for a decent portion of the day. Getting him acclimated to riding has been a priority. Of course, we’ll make sure to intersperse our Disney days with plenty of breaks for him to run some energy out. Stroller Parking In a similar vein, I’ve been letting him wear his sunglasses and hat around the house during the day. He’s going to be more comfortable in the parks if he has a bit of sun shade (in addition to the sunscreen I will liberally apply), so I’m trying to make wearing the hat and sunglasses as fun as possible. Whenever he wears the sunglasses, I call him a “cool dude,” and he LOVES it. The Best Rides for Toddlers at Magic Kingdom Things I’m Planning For Outside of the regular dining reservations, hotel reservations, and Lightning Lanes, there are several things that I’m planning for ahead of our trip. First, I went ahead and measured my toddler so we can plan which rides to do. You don’t want to create disappointment in the middle of your trip when you find out your child is too short to do a ride you had hoped to take them on. Measure before you go! (And do it HONESTLY). Warning at Test Track Also, I started pre-planning where and when we’re going to take naps each day. Most days, that means going back to the hotel room, but on our two check-in days (we’re doing a split stay) things get a bit more complicated. My child isn’t go-with-the-flow when it comes to sleep and is not the type to just nap in the stroller, so this had to be decided in advance to save us headaches and tantrums. In general, if your child has a limit at home, they’re going to have the same limit in the theme park. Don’t stretch them beyond what they can handle! Hotel room at All-Star Movies Finally, I had to think about our schedule in regard to meals. We’re hoping to rope drop the parks each day, but those early hours may interfere with my son’s normal breakfast routine. This means I’m going to need some portable breakfast items or snacks on hand to make sure we can hold him over until it’s time to sit down and eat. This goes hand-in-hand with making sure you don’t push your kids past their limits — anticipate their needs and meet them. It’s the best way to make sure everyone stays in a good mood on vacation! It’s a Minnie waffle! So, as you see, there is a lot of planning going into taking a little one to Disney World. Hopefully, though, thinking about these problems ahead of time will help minimize stress throughout the trip and make it so we can all have a good time. I’m not delusional to think that there will be no breakdowns or hard moments, but I want to maximize the fun as much as I can! For more tips on taking your family to Disney World, subscribe to our newsletter. The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation! 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 taken a toddler to Disney World before? What are your tips? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

We might be obsessed with Disney Parks and go to Disney World and Disneyland almost every day, but we love other theme parks, too! We’ve recently spent time at Dollywood (which we loved), as well as Universal Kids Resort. We also visit Universal Orlando quite a bit (and we’re obsessed with Epic Universe). ©Hersheypark Well, one of the most popular parks in the U.S. is Hersheypark (and who can’t love a theme park based around a chocolate company?). However, if you’ll be visiting Hersheypark soon, we’ve got a warning: a popular ride will be permanently closing there soon. Hersheypark’s Tidal Force will close forever on September 7th. The popular log flume ride has been a staple at the theme park for 32 years, but it seems that all good things must come to an end, and the ride will soon make its “last splash.” ©Hersheypark Tidal Force, which has a height requirement of 42″, takes riders up a 100-foot hill before dropping them down at a speed of over 50 mph. That means when the boat reaches the bottom, it makes a splash big enough to soak everyone on the ride and bystanders outside. It’s one of those attractions you seek out on a hot day, and it’s sure to cool you off. ©Hersheypark Hersheypark might not get the visitor numbers of Disney World, but the park is often listed as one of the top ten theme parks in the U.S. The theme park is just one part of the resort, which also includes The Boardwalk water park, ZooAmerica, and Hershey’s Chocolate World, which has its own rides, as well as chocolate tastings and an interactive experience where you can make your own chocolate bar. ©Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company We’ll keep an eye out for more theme park news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. And the Award for the BEST Theme Park in the U.S. Goes to… (Spoiler: It’s NOT 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 Have you ever been to Hersheypark? What’s your favorite thing to do there? Share with us in the comments! View the full article

There’s something special about arriving at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, but this evening, my husband, Daryon, and I weren’t checking in for a vacation. Instead of heading to the front desk, we were meeting two of our favorite people for dinner: my Disney Parks Blog partner-in-crime, Rain, and her sweet husband, Todd, (who, after this dinner, is also now Daryon’s partner-in-crime). These adventures have become one of my favorite parts of living in Orlando since date nights and group outings look a little different here. One evening might mean a romantic dinner topped off with fireworks, while the next could include a sunset boat ride across Seven Seas Lagoon. At Walt Disney World, every outing feels like a special occasion. After an escalator ride to the second floor, we checked in for our reservation. Once our table was ready, we were escorted to a dedicated elevator that carried us to the top floor, anticipation building with every passing second. When the doors finally opened, California Grill made quite the first impression, welcoming us with stunning views and an enchanting atmosphere. This grand reveal immediately had us ‘ooh’ing’ and ‘ahh’ing over the panoramic views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom Park. A Look at the Menu It’s hard to turn away from your view of Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain, but eventually we find ourselves peering at the menu. While we were taking a look at the selections, Jim, our charming server, let us know that this California cuisine is inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients. Which you may already know if you’ve been here before — the team refreshes the menu multiple times a year with new bites or drinks to try! After marking my calendar for the next group outing in December, it was time to get serious. California Grill offers a prix fixe menu similar to Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest Restaurant. Here, it’s $99 per person and includes three courses. Our whole group had a taste for different things, so this is about to be quite the roundup. What’s included in the prix fixe menu? With the prix fixe menu at California Grill, you’ll receive a three-course menu, including an appetizer (market inspirations), a main course (chef’s journey), and a dessert (sweet creations). What additional offerings are available outside of the prix fixe menu? If you’re looking for a special addition to your experience, this restaurant offers deluxe wine pairings, meal enhancements—Tiger Prawns, Lobster Tail, and Scallops—and signature cocktails. Starting with the Bread In my opinion, the bread sets the course for the rest of the meal. It’s not only your first bite, but also your first look into the dining experience that is about to unfold. So, I’m sure you could picture my excitement for the next courses after I saw Warm Onion-Fennel Focaccia appear on the table with some extra virgin olive oil and salted butter to adorn it. It was fresh. It was delicious. We immediately knew this was about to be a meal we wouldn’t forget. Cocktail Break Accompanying the heavenly focaccia were two picture-worthy cocktails for Rain and myself. Favoring anything that comes in a coupe, I gravitated towards the Honeycomb Fizz, which is a new specialty cocktail that the California Grill bartender, Matt, recently created as part of their refreshed menu released in June. The glassware didn’t lead me astray. By the first sip, I realized this was my new favorite cocktail at Disney. It was the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness because it incorporates a house-made lemon and honey syrup in this beverage. Now if you like a cocktail with dark liquor and a smoky finish, I’d recommend the Sonoma Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned that Rain had at our double date. She shared that this cocktail was bold, yet smooth. It’s the perfect beverage if you’re looking for something to sip on while staring out the windows dramatically. Especially since our dinner night had the perfect rainy gloom you expect in a music video about childhood woes. Honeycomb Fizz Casamigos Blanco Tequila, house-made lemon-honey syrup, peach nectar, and Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé. Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon, vanilla maple syrup, Angostura bitters, Luxardo gourmet maraschino cherries with an orange twist Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli Surf & Turf Roll Surf & Turf Roll Small Plates Worth Sharing The star of the appetizer round for most of us was the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli. This one is a California Grill staple for a reason. The flavors are unmatched, and the ravioli portion feels hearty when placed in front of you. I had a feeling this would be Daryon’s favorite too, so I waited to see his reaction to trying this dish. Surprised by the tomato-fennel broth, he took a second to appreciate the mix of flavors before turning to us all with wide eyes and a big grin. He shared, “Wow. The broth has so much depth and really adds an extra punch to the pasta dish.” The first course was a success, and we were sad to see it end, so we started reading about Lead Sushi Chef Jose and discovered a few things about the sushi: A lot of dedication goes into each sushi roll because the team understands that this is the first dish for many guests at dinner. He follows sushi trends from different countries to learn best practices from around the world and bring them to California Grill. You may find a Hidden Mickey on your plate. Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli Organic Mixed Mushroom Ragoût, Tomato-Fennel Broth, California Extra Virgin Olive Oil Seasonal Flatbread Chef-inspired Creation featuring Seasonal Ingredients Surf & Turf Roll Wagyu Beef, Soft-shell Crab, Yuzu-Avocado Purée, Soy Gel Spicy Kazan Roll Blue Crab, Ebi Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Fireball Sauce Seared Market Fish Seared Market Fish Cioppino Cioppino Pan-roasted Carrot Gnocchi Pan-roasted Carrot Gnocchi The Main Course It was a feast for the eyes as much as our stomachs as all four plates were placed before us. With four entrées to share, we opted for a variety of flavors, ranging from plant-based pasta to fresh seafood and steak. Each meal also had its own wine pairing that we selected based on the recommendation from Jim. Pan-roasted Carrot Gnocchi Toasted Pistachios, Agave-Citrus-glazed Baby Carrots, Pesto Sauce, Carrot Hummus Wine Pairing: Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County ‘23 Wagyu Strip Loin Corn, Beef Tallow-Herb Fingerling Potatoes, Grilled Green Garlic, Salsa Macha Wine Pairing: Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ‘23 Seared Market Fish Wax Beans, Ancient Grains, English Peas, Marcona Almond, Meyer Lemon-Caper Butter Sauce Wine Pairing: Trimbach “Cuvée Frédéric Émile” Riesling, Alsace ‘19 Cioppino Black Bass, Clams, Shrimp, Calamari, Mussels, Crispy Garlic Chips, Sourdough Crouton Wine Pairing: Nickel & Nickel Bear Trach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ‘23 Call me forever changed because the Pan-roasted Carrot Gnocchi left its mark on me. I didn’t realize how much I loved carrots until I tried that dish, and I will be asking our Disney Eats team for a Cooking Up the Magic recipe daily. Magic Kingdom Firework Break The sky has darkened, and other dining guests are making their way to the private outdoor viewing area, which can only mean one thing: Happily Ever After is about to begin. After one last forkful of our entree, Jim invited us to grab our wine and make our way outside with the other guests. The moment felt sweet and intimate as we gathered on the balcony, anxiously waiting for the intro of the nighttime show at Magic Kingdom to hit the speakers. With a “Ready to begin…” the crisp sound of Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer surrounded us and the fireworks lit up the sky. Now, my favorite part is usually when I hear I Can Go the Distance, but that couldn’t top watching Rain and Todd sing to each other that night. The 18 minutes flashed by, and we made our way back to our table, starstruck and ready for dessert. Fun Fact Dining at California Grill always includes firework viewing, weather permitting. If your dinner wraps up before showtime, you are still welcome to come back to the restaurant to watch Happily Ever After. Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée A Sweet Treat to End the Evening If you have a sweet tooth like me, then this section is for you. Before going to California Grill, I knew this evening called for my stretchy pants. I was not about to miss out on a bite of this delicious food, especially the dessert. Rather than ordering duplicates, we each selected a different dessert so we could enjoy all four options together. With the plates gathered in the center of the table, it felt like our own dessert tasting experience. Much like the entrée course, each dessert also featured a recommended dessert wine pairing, thoughtfully selected to complement and elevate the flavors of every sweet bite. Celebration of Citrus Meyer Lemon, Olive Oil-Poppy Seed Cake, Blood Orange Gel, Yuzu Curd Dessert Wine Pairing: Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake Blueberry Meringue, Vanilla Chantilly, Raspberry Coulis, Goat Cheese Mousse Dessert Wine Pairing: Dolce Late Harvest, Napa Valley ‘21 Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake Spiced Chocolate Crémeux, Ancho Chile-Caramel Sauce, Candied Nut Crumble (Plant-based) Dessert Wine Pairing: Inniskillin Icewine Vidal, Niagara Estate ‘24 Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée with Seasonal Fruit Dessert Wine Pairing: Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszú ‘18 Surprisingly, we all had different favorites from this round. My favorite was the Celebration of Citrus because of the fresh, lemon flavor that felt nice and light after a big meal, but we all had thoughts on why the other three were also the best way to top off the evening. The Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake was perfect for Daryon, and he’d suggest it to anyone else looking for a more decadent dessert. Chocolate lovers? Todd would recommend you try the Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake, which somehow felt rich without feeling heavy. He let us know that the combo of chocolate and coffee seemed like a partnership we’d want to cover in the Perfect Pairings series on the blog. And he’s not wrong! But let’s not forget the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée because it’s a classic for a reason. At our table, Rain won the privilege of breaking the hard outer shell. With a satisfying snap, we all dove into this timeless option, ensuring there was sugar and custard in every bite. Our Favorite Bites and Sips Daryon: Appetizer: Spicy Kazan Roll Entree: Wagyu Strip Loin Dessert: Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake Laura: Appetizer: Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli Entree: Pan-Roasted Gnocchi Dessert: Celebration of Citrus Rain: Appetizer: Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli Entree: Seared Market Fish Dessert: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée Todd: Appetizer: Seasonal Flatbread Entree: Cioppino Dessert: Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake After a night filled with fireworks and fine dining, it was time to stroll back to our cars. Our slow walk back was partnered with a lot of reminiscing on the experience that only completed a few minutes earlier. And since that day, texts have already been sent in the group chat declaring California Grill as a perfect place to celebrate special occasions at Disney World. I hope you give it a visit on your next trip, and please tell Jim we say hi. Come Sit with Us: Our Rootin’ Tootin’ Roundup Rodeo BBQ Review READ MORE EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Foodie Guide 2026 READ MORE Come Sit with Us at The Garden View Lounge for a Spot of Tea READ MORE The post Come Sit with Us: Date Night in the Sky at California Grill appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Changes are inevitable in Disney World, and restaurants are no exception to that because one restaurant in EPCOT closes in just a few days! Spaceship Earth If you’re planning a trip to EPCOT anytime soon, make sure to take note of this restaurant closure because you don’t want to be met with any surprises during your vacation! Coral Reef Restaurant is scheduled to close on September 8th for planned maintenance and is scheduled to reopen later this year. This restaurant is located in World Nature in EPCOT right next to the Seas Pavilion and Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana. Coral Reef Restaurant Coral Reef Restaurant focuses on seafood dishes primarily based on the season, like Grilled Snapper and Coastal Palm Cakes. But they also have meals that appeal to all palates, like Mojo Chicken and Macaroni & Cheese. Grilled Snapper However, what really attracts guests to eat here is the dining room. Lined with massive picture windows, this restaurant looks into the giant, indoor Living Seas aquarium. So, you’ll be able to watch all different kinds of animals swim around during your meal, including fish, sharks, sea turtles, rays, and more! And if you’re lucky, you may be able to spot a diver or two! Coral Reef Restaurant Although you won’t be able to dine here for the next few months, there are a plethora of other options to choose from, especially with the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival going on! This festival features over 100 NEW items and 30+ Global Marketplaces, so you’re bound to find something you like! Some of our favorites include BEST OF THE FEST. The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival 2026 But if you’re looking to dine at a table-service restaurant while you’re in EPCOT, some of our favorites include Le Cellier Steakhouse, Garden Grill Restaurant, Rose and Crown Dining Room, and Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria. Le Cellier Steakhouse If you’re planning a trip to EPCOT any time soon, be sure to keep this restaurant closure in mind! Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news and updates. The One Thing EPCOT Does WAY Better Than Hollywood Studios 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! Have you ever dined at Coral Reef Restaurant? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

When it comes to dining in Disney World, it’s no secret that some of the best spots are located at the hotels! Mickey waffle with chicken? Yes, please! From amazing pool bars to fine dining table-service restaurants, the Disney World hotels offer some delicious dining options that are even worth leaving the parks for. Now, one of our favorite table-service spots might finally reopen after a months-long closure. Here’s everything we know! After months of waiting, it seems like we might be able to dine at the Grand Floridian Cafe again! The popular restaurant has been closed since July, and Disney previously confirmed that it would be closed until mid-October. The announcement first came in March 2026, but Disney has kept quiet about a reopening date. Grand Floridian Cafe The popular brunch offering moved over to Citricos so guests of the hotel didn’t have to go without for too long. Now, after months of waiting, you can make dinner reservations for the Grand Floridian Cafe starting on November 2nd! Lobster Thermidor Burger from Grand Floridian Cafe We can’t wait to dine on some of our favorite items again at this affordable spot before strolling around the Grand Floridian Resort. In case you missed it, the resort itself is undergoing quite a few changes as well. There are several projects taking place at the hotel, mainly the exterior parts of the hotel, until early 2027. Even the bathrooms are involved! The resort recently redid the lobby area and even added a brand-new bar called The Perch. If you’re stopping by the resort or you’re staying there on vacation, be aware that construction is taking place throughout the day, which you may be able to see or hear. We can’t wait to dine on our favorite Eggs Benedict or the Lobster Thermidor Burger once the restaurant fully reopens in November. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news, updates, and more! 6 NEW Restaurants Are Opening at Disney World in 2027 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 dined here? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Hollywood Studios has so many great rides and attractions between its lands. There are so many must-dos, like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run… and that’s not even half of them! Hollywood Studios But when we’ve gone to Hollywood Studios lately, one of our favorites has always been closed. An ultra-popular roller coaster on our must-do list has been closed for a few days, and Disney hasn’t said anything about it! Slinky Dog Dash has been closed all day, every day since Monday, August 31st. On Sunday, August 30th, its last day of operation, the ride was temporarily closed at 9 AM and then closed again from 7 PM until the park’s close at 9 PM. Right now, the ride has yet again been temporarily closed since Hollywood Studios opened. So Slinky Dog is having some issues! Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios It’s currently unclear why Slinky Dog Dash is closing so frequently. The Disney World website and My Disney Experience app both show the ride operating from 8:30 AM to 9 PM as usual, and a refurbishment or permanent closure notice isn’t posted. Slinky is just going through a rough patch right now! Slinky Dog Dash We’ll be sure to keep you updated on more Slinky Dog Dash news. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news! FIRST LOOK At New 55th Anniversary Collection Coming to Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of the Slinky Dog Dash closure? Is this also one of your favorite rides at Hollywood Studios? Comment below! View the full article

Yet another refurbishment is coming to Disney World soon, and it’s going to affect where you can grab one of our favorite snacks in all of the resort. Mickey Beignets at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter is known for many things, but the delicious beignets at Scat Cat’s Club are one of the biggest ones. If you’re a big fan of this fluffy, delightful snack, you need to know that where you can snag them will be CHANGING for the coming few months. Don’t worry, you won’t have to go far, but it will change the flow of things! It’s been confirmed that Scat Cat’s Club – Café and Scat Cat’s Club – Lounge at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter will close beginning on October 6th. The refurbishment is expected to take until December for the Café, while the Lounge is expected to open in January 2027. Scat Cat Club Lounge! During the closure, a temporary bar will be available near the café from 5 PM to 11 PM each night. Beignets and coffee will also be available at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, located just a few steps away. If you’re visiting during the Halloween season, don’t worry; Ghoulish Delight beignets will also be available there through November 1st! Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory The Ghoulish Beignets are some of our favorites all year long, so if you haven’t yet had them, we highly recommend grabbing them on your trip if you’re visiting before November 1st. Ghoulish Beignets Looking for more recent construction news around Disney World so you’re not caught off guard? Check out our posts below! More Recent Disney Construction News Beignet Fans, DON’T PANIC, But Your Beloved Disney World Snack is MovingDisney Quietly Announced ANOTHER Hotel ClosureNEWS: Timeline Revealed for NEW Art of Animation Hotel Rooms in Disney WorldRefurbishment Hits ANOTHER Disney World HotelFans Are AVOIDING 3 Disney World Hotels Until 2027 We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World news, so stay tuned to DFB! One of Our Favorite Disney World Hotel Perks Is BACK 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 beignets at Scat Cat’s Club are your favorite? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Disney merchandise fans, there’s something you need to know that’s coming soon! ©Disney Disney World is getting ready to celebrate its 55th Anniversary next month, and to celebrate, Disney is getting ready to drop tons of new merchandise. We just got a sneak peek at a few of the new merchandise items getting ready to hit shelves, and we’ve got a feeling this new collection will be a big hit. Disney officially announced that the new 55th Anniversary collection is coming soon to select locations around Disney World. You’ll want to look for it at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom, Creations Shop in EPCOT, as well as other locations around the resort. Disney also gave us a look at four of the new items in the collection on the way, starting off with a new pair of ears! ©Disney If ears aren’t your thing and you’re more of an apparel person, don’t worry, Disney’s got you covered. We also got a look at two of the new pieces of apparel coming to the collection. ©Disney For those who absolutely love plushies, you won’t want to miss the new Mickey plush that’s dropping soon as part of the collection! ©Disney Finally, we got a look at a new backpack coming to the collection as well. Is it possible the red and white striped shirt the gentleman is wearing is also part of the collection? We won’t know for sure until we start to see it arrive in stores! ©Disney We’re expecting to start to see these items relatively soon, so we’ll be on the lookout and will tell you the moment we spot them. It’s also possible they’ll be released online at some point, but Disney hasn’t released any official statement about that just yet. More Recent Disney Merchandise News! FIRST LOOK At New 55th Anniversary Collection Coming to Disney WorldThe One Thing Every Disney Mom Packs For Magic KingdomGet Disney Souvenirs Up To 67% Off On Amazon Right NowThe 1950s Disney Loungeflys That Are Taking Over Amazon Right NowAn Entire Halloween Collection Is Coming to ALDI Next Week, Everything Is Under $30, and I’m FREAKING OUT We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney merchandise news, so stay tuned to DFB! The New Disney World Logo You’ll Soon Be Seeing EVERYWHERE 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 looking forward to this new collection? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

At August’s 2026 D23 Ultimate Fan Event, Disney released a slew of information on multiple in-progress and planned theme park projects, including Piston Peak, Monstropolis, Tropical Americas, Villains Land, Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, the return of Dreamfinder to EPCOT, and more. ©Disney However, during the same period, Disney also filed some patents that may point to future projects beyond even everything that’s under construction now! A New Dark Ride Illusion? In one of the latest patents Disney filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the company touted technology that would create the illusion of a ride vehicle rising or falling. The ride vehicle stays on its flat track, but elements in the ride’s set design around it are used to create the illusion. The idea is to use walls and set elements that are angled, so it SEEMS like a ride is rising or falling, making it feel like the ride vehicle is going up or down. Conceptually, it’s an evolution of an illusion used in Universal’s Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man attraction. Interestingly, the concept art associated with the patent looks like it belongs with the upcoming Encanto attraction, though there are several Disney projects in the pipeline that seem like they would use this technology. ©U.S. Patent and Trademark Office A Personalized Ride Experience Another new patent filed by the Walt Disney Company will seemingly help guests tailor rides based on their preferences. The patent, titled “Personalized Notification of Attractions Including User Preferences or Aversions,” was granted on August 20th, 2026. The system features a processor and memory that store software and a user’s preferences, which would include at least one of the user’s likes or dislikes. ©US Patent The system’s processors would run software to receive data about an attraction, compare it with user preferences, and determine if the experience matches the user’s likes or dislikes. Guests would be able to input their preferences in the My Disney Experience app. Disney recommends noting specific ride features like dark or scary scenes, flashing lights, sharp turns and drops, tight spaces, blood and gore, screams, profanity, smells, water effects, snakes and spiders, vibrations, and sound levels in this new system. Also considered are speed, acceleration, a vehicle’s roll, pitch, or yaw, and quick drops and rises. ©US Patent The system would alert guests via visual, audio, or haptic alerts on devices such as phones or smartwatches when a ride matches their preferences or aversions. The alerts could even occur during the ride, warning people of an upcoming potential trigger. In addition, the patent also includes the ability to assign intensity ratings on a scale of one to ten and even includes the ability to make real-time adjustments to an attraction, such as removing problematic elements or highlighting preferred features. Advanced Character Interaction Finally, Disney also applied for a patent that describes new Animatronics that guests could actually have conversations with! For example, guests would be able to ask a character a question, and that Animatronic would pull from a memory bank to respond, all while staying in character. ©Disney In the past, conversations with characters of this type have been pre-scripted, and responses have been available in a dialogue tree format. This new technology would allow for a more natural flow of conversation, bringing the characters to life in a new way. The Animatronics would combine the use of a “memory bank” for the character and large language models (LLMs) to create conversations that make sense within the worlds Disney has built, while feeling natural to the guest speaking with the character. Robot Olaf! Even as Disney is in the midst of several massive construction projects, the company is still filing patents for new and ever-advancing technology that gives a glimpse into the potential future of Disney Imagineering. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney’s future! “SWEET MOTHER OF ALL THINGS” and 34 Other Things Our Team Screamed Into Slack During Disney’s Massive News Drop Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these patents sounds most interesting to you? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

Disney World is full of construction walls these days! In the theme parks, monsters have put on their hard hats, cars are fueling up, and we’ve heard rumors about some dastardly villain plans. All-Star Sports Even the resorts are getting in on the big updates, and now a popular pool bar is closing for a limited time! If you’re rocking out at the All-Star Resorts, don’t be caught unaware. There are closures around the Disney resorts that can last a few days, and sometimes they can last for years. Luckily for us, this new hotel closure is only going to last for a few months. If you’re relaxing by the pool and want to grab a sip at the All-Star Sports Resort, you should know that Grandstand Spirits Pool Bar is closing VERY soon. Grandstand Spirits Starting on September 18th, Grandstand Spirits will close for refurbishment. This closure will last for a few months until mid-December 2026, so it won’t last too long. If you’re sitting by the pool and still craving a snack or drink, there will be a temporary pool bar “available nearby.” Grand Slam Pool Disney didn’t specify how far the temporary pool bar will be, but you can also grab food and drinks from the End Zone Food Court, which is a very short stroll from the pool area. End Zone Food Court Disney warned guests that they may see or hear construction throughout the day as work is being completed around the resort, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that this won’t throw a wrench into your vacation plans. This is just one of several planned construction projects going on around the Disney World resort, so if you want to avoid construction at all costs, you might want to consider using a travel agent. We have used Small World Vacations for years now, and they can truly help you with all of your planning needs! They find the best deals, give you warnings about those noisy construction projects, and more to help make your vacation as magical as possible. Best of all? It’s free to you. All-Star Sports No matter when you’re heading to Disney World, things are almost always changing, so be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more updates, warnings, news, and more. Refurbishment Hits ANOTHER Disney World Hotel 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 hotel do you like to stay in when you visit Disney World? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Hello from Paramus, New Jersey! You may be wondering – what could the Disney Parks Blog team possibly be doing in the Garden State? I’ve journeyed far from my desk in California and am here at the Westfield Garden State Plaza, where today, the newest Disney Store Limited Time location has officially opened its doors to fans. In collaboration with Go! Retail Group, Disney Store Limited Time gives guests a chance to shop for their favorite products (maybe even discovering some new treasures, too) and step into a space that feels truly transformed by the magic of Disney. Every corner contains quotes, artwork, or other nods to classic scenes from Disney moments, films, and franchises, alongside everything from home decor to the top toys of the times. We’re taking you along for the ride, with a sneak peek at the space and the merchandise available (including a few exclusive pieces), first reactions from shoppers, and all the grand opening festivities. The Timeless Magic of Disney Store For many children, myself included, oftentimes their first Disney encounter comes in the form of product – whether it be a Mickey Mouse plush, Disney Princess doll, or other toy. These items become beloved keepsakes that open the door to unforgettable characters and worlds during our most formative years, inspiring moments of play and imagination. I have fond memories of visiting my local Disney Store throughout my youth, and became a frequent customer at Disney Store Times Square during my college years residing in New York City. These destinations are more than just a place to shop, but serve as an extension of beloved Disney storytelling, stirring up powerful feelings of joy and creativity. Living in Pennsylvania, merchandise and immersive shopping experiences at Disney Store were truly my gateway to loving Disney, and these new Disney Store Limited Time locations continue that tradition. Taking inspiration from the nostalgia Disney fans love, Disney Store Limited Time is a fresh way to bring Disney fandom to life through retail. “Disney Store Limited Time gives us the opportunity to bring the Disney Store experience into new communities, deepen our connections with fans, and learn from how they engage with the brand,” said Patrick Sager, VP Disney Store. “Retail is always evolving, and with the opening of this store in New Jersey we’re creating another flexible experience, meeting fans where they are.” The Doors are Open Fans eagerly began lining up for their opportunity to shop, and were greeted with commemorative giveaways just for today, including a special postcard, stickers, and paper headbands, before entering the store. Lots of shoppers donned Disney Store merchandise, and chatted excitedly with those around them about what else they were most eager to add to their collections and closets today. A fan-favorite moment at Disney Store is the opening ceremony, and I was thrilled to see this tradition continuing here at the Westfield Garden State Plaza. Each morning, one lucky guest is chosen to “unlock” the store with a very majestic, larger-than-life ceremonial key. It creates a sweet memory for the selected shopper, and is a uniquely Disney way to start the day. “Today we are not just opening a store, we’re opening a door to imagination,” exclaimed the Disney Store team. Guests are invited to discover, play, and create new memories in this space, and it’s clear from the crowd that turned out today that there is immense excitement to do just that. This temporary retail location will remain open through the 2026 holiday season, and I can already sense that it’s going to be a popular place for those looking to pick out some festive presents. Exploring the Store Before you even step foot inside, the eye-catching exterior elements immediately set the mood. There’s a bright Garden State “mural” on one side, with select New Jersey symbols on the other – both are a great photo op so you can brag about your visit. You’ll also spot multi-dimensional window displays of Spider-Man swinging into the scene (from basically right across the way in Queens), and a sweet 100th anniversary Pooh Bear with his pals and pot of hunny. Upon entering the 2,300 square feet of retail space, it immediately feels so colorful, whimsical, and transportive. There’s a vibrant New Jersey art piece to welcome you as soon as you walk in, showing Mickey & Friends in casual streetwear playing some tunes, along with the signature plush tower. Character portraits featuring Princess Jasmine, Olaf, Winnie the Pooh, Super Heroes, and more familiar faces adorn the walls, with sparkling motifs and other dazzling design elements. If you look up and around, you’ll even notice characters blending in seamlessly with the gradient – it’s an entertaining exercise to see how many you can count. And one of my favorite elements are the decals on all the full-length mirrors, so your OOTD photo lets everyone know you’re here at Disney Store Limited Time! One portion is covered in old school diner-inspired graphics that feel right at home in Jersey (I can especially appreciate this after visiting a similar establishment during my time here), with a neon sign for fresh bagels and a marker for Highway 17. Another Easter egg that locals will appreciate? Violets, the state flower, tucked into the trim of the artwork in this area. Something special about this store that feels distinctly Disney are the “magic mirrors,” showing characters dropping in from their worlds in a way that feels so dynamic and almost interactive. You may see Chip ‘n’ Dale popping up to wave hello in the diner window, or the Mistress of All Evil, Maleficent, strolling menacingly past a door. Merchandise Highlights I was so blown away by the curated selection of items available to shop in the store. We saw visitors head straight for so many fan-favorite products like pins, Wishables, mugs, and classic Disney delights, shopping bags and baskets in hand. From outfits for the tiniest tots to an amazing assortment of adult sizes, there’s something for everyone in your group! There’s a section dedicated to Halloween, which we’ve been discussing heavily here on Disney Parks Blog, with Urupocha-Chan Plush, bag charms, tees, home goods, costumes, and those fun character face totes I often spot at Disney Parks, including a pastel pink one from the iconic Cutie Ghost collection. Also in this area you can spot some frightfully fun stories, with products inspired by Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Disney Villains. We know fans love exclusive items and have seen lots of excitement around the NYC-driven products sold only at Disney Store Times Square. Inspired by this enthusiasm, the Disney Store Limited Time location in Paramus will also have location-exclusive pieces – a tee and tote bag – with New Jersey-themed artwork and symbols like the striking state flower, a scene from the sunny Jersey Shore, and a slice of fresh pizza. I’m sure fans will also be excited to shop some Disney Store exclusive items, like the Disney Iconics plush that just dropped at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa (including the special blue variant), the Disney x Formula 1 race-inspired collection, plus bag charms and plush all the way from Disney Store Japan. These all immediately went on my wish list! Looking for products from a particular film or franchise? The store is organized in a way that feels easy for anyone to navigate, with areas specifically catered towards those who love Disney Princess characters, Cars, Toy Story, Star Wars, and more. Longtime Disney fans and littles just beginning to fall in love with the magic alike will find whatever their heart desires here. Guest Reactions There’s a lot of love for Disney in the tri-state area, with Disney Store Times Square just across the Hudson being a popular spot to shop for ear headbands, spirit jerseys, pins, and more. You also have Disney on Broadway, which is behind shows like Aladdin and The Lion King gracing the Great White Way, and the recently announced return of Disney Cruise Line to NYC. And for New Jersey residents, there’s a Disney Store outlet not far from here in Elizabeth. Many shoppers at the store shared that they were from nearby regions like New York and Connecticut, with the majority being New Jersey locals who have such a clear passion for the Disney shopping experience. I admire the dedication from the fans who took trains, buses, and cars to make it for the big day, eagerly cheering when the doors opened for the first time. We even met someone who revealed that they’d proposed to their partner at a Disney Store, with all of their family and friends hidden amongst the shelves, which was such a heartwarming story to hear on this special day. This marks the second Disney Store Limited Time that has opened over the last few months, with the inaugural location at Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh, PA. By bringing these fandom-focused experiences to suburban shopping centers, Disney Store is reminding us that magic can be found everywhere, creating new chances for families to connect with the characters they love closer to home. Disney Consumer Products Disney and Formula 1 Shift Into High Gear for the 2026 Race Season Disney Consumer Products Limited-Edition Disney Dolls: Inside the Details and Design Process Disney Consumer Products 2026 Halloween Merchandise Guide: Frightfully Fun Finds for Every Disney Fan The post Celebrating the Grand Opening of Disney Store Limited Time in New Jersey appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Disney World days can be long, tough, and tiring. That all increases when you’re bringing kiddos with you! Strollers in EPCOT We all love Disney World; it’s the most magical family vacation in the world. However, that doesn’t mean things can’t get exhausting with the little ones. If you have a Disney vacation coming up with the family, there are just some items that every single Disney mom brings. Trust us, this will make your trip so much easier! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Grab this Stroller! ©Amazon Of course, that one item that every Disney mom has with her is a stroller, and it’s the most obvious thing you should bring to Disney World! Walking around the Magic Kingdom all day long kills OUR legs, so imagine how it makes little legs feel. We totally get the worries that may come with bringing a stroller, but there is lots of space to walk around all four parks with this thing. Plus, there is TONS of stroller parking for every attraction, show, restaurant, you name it. This one is currently 15% off! view ON AMAZON This Stroller Rain Cover is a big help! ©Amazon If you’re bringing a stroller to the park, we highly recommend you grab this Stroller Rain Cover! This is the perfect shield for those many, MANY rainstorms you’ll encounter when you’re in Florida (especially in the summer). This will keep your kiddo dry, as well as all your belongings when the stroller is parked. You can grab it at a great price! view ON AMAZON We love the Stroller Fan ©Amazon Speaking of Florida weather, we think the Stroller Fan is another great accessory! We all know Florida can get HOT, and it is not a pleasant time for kiddos sitting under the beating sun in their stroller. This is a great way to cool them down. Plus, it’s easy to pack, attach, and move around. Oh, it’s also 20% off! view ON AMAZON Also, grab this Stroller Toy ©Amazon This is more for the very little ones, but we thought this Winnie the Pooh Stroller Toy was adorable! It’ll keep kiddos entertained during a long day, and it matches the Disney vibe. The toy is easy to clip onto things, so it’s much harder to lose. view ON AMAZON While you’re here, use the button below to check out the stroller storefront that has Disney-approved sizes in it to help take the guesswork and measuring out of planning! view the stroller storefront 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

If you love LEGOs, then you can’t miss LEGOLAND when you’re in Orlando. You can meet life-size LEGO, ride LEGO-built roller coasters, and watch LEGO in action at shows! LEGOLAND If you love LEGOLAND Florida so much that you’re getting an Annual Pass next year, then you’re in luck. LEGOLAND just announced an amazing Annual Pass deal that you can’t miss! If you buy a LEGOLAND Florida Annual Pass from now until October 7th, then you’ll be able to visit for free for the rest of 2026! That means you’ll get into LEGOLAND from now through December 31, 2027 for the same price as a 2027 Annual Pass! Ceremony of the Ninja There are three different pass types to choose from to get the deal: Standard ($179) — Includes admission to LEGOLAND Florida, PEPPA PIG Theme Park, and SEA LIFE Aquarium (blockout dates apply) Preferred ($249) — Everything included with the Standard pass, plus unlimited admission to all four parks and three regional attractions, free Standard Parking, and exclusive discounts Premium ($299) — Everything included with the Preferred pass, plus four free Bring a Friend tickets per year, one free Fastrack One Shot per visit, access to 20+ Merlin attractions, and exclusive discounts Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster With this deal, you can experience LEGOLAND’s 50-plus rides, shows, and attractions for 485 days at the price of a year’s annual pass! We recommend the Ceremony of the Ninja show for your Ninjago-obsessed littles, and Galacticoaster, LEGOLAND’s newest family-friendly roller coaster all about fun aliens. Galacticoaster! You can also attend LEGOLAND’s seasonal events and entertainment for popular holidays like Halloween and Christmas, which are included in your Annual Pass, no extra ticket required! Since LEGOLAND was designed to meet the needs of families with younger kids, the park’s Halloween “Brick-or-Treat” event is one of the less-spooky seasonal entertainment options around the area. Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida We’ll be sure to keep you updated on more LEGOLAND Florida deals. Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more LEGOLAND news! Is LEGOLAND Florida Worth It for Disney Families? We Went to Find Out Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you a LEGOLAND Annual Passholder? Would you get one and take advantage of this deal? Comment below! View the full article

While we’re named the Disney Food Blog, we really love theme parks in general, which is why our Universal Annual Pass is one of our favorite things. We’re at Universal Orlando just as often as Disney World, and there are so many great new AP-exclusive perks to take advantage of! Universal Orlando So when we heard that a new Annual Passholder store just opened in Universal Orlando, we had to check it out, and we’re taking you with us! Universal Studios Florida has a brand-new joint Annual Passholder and Team Member store in the San Francisco Area of the park. It’s located in the Custom Gear shop, the former Fast & Furious: Supercharged gift shop, and it’s open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. The new Annual Passholder store! We found so much fun Annual Passholder and Team Member-exclusive merch here, and a lot were Epic Universe-themed! We found some exclusive toys and collectibles, plus some shirts and tops from Super Nintendo World that you don’t have to venture over to Epic for. TONS of Mario merch! The same goes for Harry Potter, where we found some Le Cirque de Arcanus posters, t-shirts, and toys. But the best part? This whole display is 70% off! Harry Potter display We found another 70% off sign for all of this Minion merch, too. Most of the store had these 70% off signs, and a Team Member there confirmed all items are 70% off marked original prices, which is an amazing deal! Minions! The Universal AP Store used to be located in the Brown Derby store, but it didn’t have these amazing discounts. If you’re a souvenir collector considering a Universal Orlando Annual Pass, these deals would make it worth the price in merch discounts alone! These are some of the best deals we’ve seen on Universal merch in the parks for a while. Universal Orlando Annual Pass We’ll be sure to keep you updated on more Universal Orlando Annual Passholder perks. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Universal news! You Have 3 MORE Chances to Stay in Epic Universe AFTER It Closes Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this new AP store? Have you been? Comment below! View the full article