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Check out what’s in store for the limited-time Disney100 celebration beginning late September at EPCOT!View the full article

Although summer has been relatively quiet in Disney World, that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a lot of stuff going on. The Famous Cobb Salad from Hollywood Brown Derby We did get to check out the new Caramel Flight from Karamell-Küche in EPCOT, after all. Speaking of EPCOT, a restaurant temporarily closed there, too! We also FINALLY got a look at ALL the menus for the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Meanwhile, Disney World restaurant menus saw some changes, so let’s see what’s different now! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Hollywood and Vine Breakfast has changed at Hollywood and Vine: Sticky Buns have been replaced with Cinnamon Buns. Lunch and dinner have also changed: REMOVED: Kale, Apple and Cranberry Salad REMOVED: Couscous Salad with Cilantro-Lime REMOVED: Herb-crusted Tenderloin Steak with Horseradish Cream ADDED: Shaved Fennel, Kale, and Seasonal Fruit Salad ADDED: Beet Salad ADDED: Artichoke Salad ADDED: Roasted Beef Strip Loin with Horseradish Cream The Buffet Is Back at a Character Dining Spot in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Catalina Eddie’s Some allergy-friendly snacks have seen some updates here: the Allergy-friendly Cookies changed from $2.49 to $3.49. Catalina Eddie’s That’s the only change here, though. Is This Snack Spot at Disney World Just Another Version of PizzeRizzo? Magic Kingdom Columbia Harbour House The allergy-friendly menu here also has a change: Allergy-Friendly Cookies changed from $4.49 to $3.49. Columbia Harbour House That’s the only update at Columbia Harbour House. Is This the BEST Quick Service Restaurant in Magic Kingdom? Pinocchio Village Haus We’re sending a theme here because the Allergy Friendly Cookies here changed from $6.49 to $3.49. Pinocchio Village Haus It seems like Disney is fixing the inconsistent pricing the cookies at most locations. Pinocchio’s Village Haus in Disney World Kinda Makes Us Sad For Pizzas Everywhere. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Satu’li Canteen Some things have changed at Satu’li Canteen: REMOVED: Combination Bowl: Grilled Beef & Chicken REMOVED: Slow-Roasted Sliced Grilled Beef Bowl Slow-roasted Sliced Grilled Beef Bowl ADDED: Combination Bowl: Smoked Chimichurri-braised Beef and Wood-grilled Chicken — Smoked Chimichurri-braised Beef paired with Wood-Grilled Chicken Thighs marinated in Garlic and Olive Oil, topped with crunchy Vegetable Slaw and Boba Balls, and served with your choice of Base and Sauce for $17.49 ADDED: Smoked Chimichurri-braised Beef — Smoked Chimichurri-braised Beef topped with Crunchy Vegetable Slaw and Boba Balls served with your choice of base and sauce for $14.49 A Popular Quick Service Meal Has CHANGED at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Nomad Lounge and Tiffins The Snow Leopard Salvation cocktail had a description change now uses Grey Goose Vodka, rather than Snow Leopard Vodka. Snow Leopard Salvation The Kid’s menu has also changed: REMOVED: Falafel with Garlic Yogurt ADDED: Fresh Fruit for $5 We Ate 7 NEW Things in Disney World — 3 of Them Were NOT Worth It EPCOT Chefs de France Appetizers at Chefs de France has changed: Tartare de saumon legerement fume, sauce a l’aneth was added — Raw Salmon tartare lightly smoked, cucumber, dill sauce for $17.50. Here’s how entrees changed: ADDED: Jarret de porc braise au miel, pommes puree, tomatoes— Braised Heritage pork shank, mashed potatoes, Scallions, Tomatoes for $39.95 ADDED: Filet de Thon a la Provencale, calamars, ratatouille, mais, olives for $35.95 Chefs de France Under Desserts, the following changed: ADDED: Cygne profiterole, glace a la vanille, sauce chocolat for $13.95 ADDED: Gateau Opera — Coffee sponge, coffee whipped cream, chocolate ganache, vanilla ice cream for $14.95 Have Lunch With Us (and the BEST Dessert!) at Chefs de France in EPCOT Disney’s Contemporary Resort Contempo Cafe Here are some things that were updated on the menu at Contempo Cafe: REMOVED: Oreos ADDED: Chocolate Sandwich Cookies for $2.49 Contempo Cafe All-Meat Flatbread is now Three-Meat Flatbread ADDED: Tomato-Basil Soup for $3.99 There’s a CHEESY Lunch Right Outside Magic Kingdom! California Grill Some things have changed at California Grill: REMOVED: Saffron Risotto ADDED: Saffron Cavatelli — Petite Heirloom Squash, Root Spinach, Roasted Cippolini Onions, Blistered Tomatoes, Sunflower-Basil Pistou Saffron Risotto REMOVED: Citrus Crème Brûlée ADDED: White Chocolate Cherry Crème Brûlée — Almond Chiffon, Dark Chocolate Cremeux, Almond Crunch, Morello Cherry Gel, Fresh Cherries The 2 BEST Things on the Menu at California Grill in Disney World Disney Springs Vivoli il Gelato Some sorbetto flavors have changed at Vivoli il Gelato: REMOVED: Blueberry – Mirtillo ADDED: POG – Passionfruit Orange Guava Here’s how House Specials has changed: Waffle Bowl Sundae changed from 1 Scoop $12 | 2 Scoops $13.50 | 3 Scoops $15 to to 1 Scoop $10.50 | 2 Scoops $12 | 3 Scoops $13.50 We love Vivoli il Gelato! The Shakes menu has been shaken up (see what we did there?): REMOVED: Mint Cookies and Cream, Cereal and Donut Shake, Banana Dulce De Lecheand Strawberry Coconut ADDED: Bamba Shake — Up to two flavors of gelato, whipped cream, and a choice of hot fresh filled bomboloni on top for $15 The following was removed from the All Day Brunch Menu: Nutella and Seasonal Fruit Waffle and Gelato Waffle. A Cold Disney World Treat That Isn’t Overly Sweet?! It Exists! Magnolia Golf Course Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Deli If you happen to visit the Magnolia Golf Course, you’ll see a LOT of menu changes at Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Deli. Here’s how breakfast has changed: Bacon, Ham, or Sausage with Egg & Cheese Croissant changed from $6 to $7 Breakfast Burrito changed from $6.50 to $7.50 Breakfast Sandwich changed from $6 to $7 The regular snack menu has also changed: Boar’s Head 1/4 lb All-beef Hot Dog changed from $6 to $7 Boar’s Head 1/4 lb All-beef Hot Dog with Soft Drink & Chips changed from $9 to $10 Boar’s Head 1/4 lb All-beef Hot Dog with Domestic Beer & Chips changed from $11 to $12 Grilled Cheese Sandwich changed from $7.50 to $8 Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Soft Drink & Chips changed from $10.50 to $11 Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Domestic Beer & Chips changed from $12.50 to $13 Boar’s Head Turkey & Swiss Sandwich changed from $8 to $9 Boar’s Head Turkey & Swiss Sandwich with Soft Drink & Chips changed from $11 to $12 Boar’s Head Turkey & Swiss Sandwich with Domestic Beer & Chips changed from $13 to $14 Boar’s Head Ham & American Sandwich changed from $8 to $9 Boar’s Head Ham & American Sandwich with Soft Drink & Chips changed from $11 to $12 Boar’s Head Ham & American Sandwich with Domestic Beer & Chips changed from $13 to $14 Chip n’ Dale Deli Chip’s Chicken Salad Sandwich changed from $9 to $9.50 ADDED: Cucumber Salad Wrap served with a Pickle for $7.50 ADDED: Cucumber Salad Wrap with Soft Drink & Chips for $10.50 ADDED: Cucumber Salad Wrap with Domestic Beer & Chips for $12.50 Chip’s Chicken Salad Sandwich with Soft Drink & Chips changed from $12 to $12.50 Chip’s Chicken Salad Sandwich with Domestic Beer & Chips changed from $14 to $14.50 Chicken Bacon Quesadilla changed from $9 to $10 Chicken Bacon Quesadilla with Soft Drink & Chips changed from $12 to $13 Chicken Bacon Quesadilla with Domestic Beer & Chips changed from $14 to $15 Boar’s Head Country Club Wrap changed from $10.50 to $11.50 Boar’s Head Country Club Wrap with Soft Drink & Chips changed from $13.50 to $14.50 Boar’s Head Country Club Wrap with Domestic Beer & Chips changed from $15.50 to $16.50 Beverages changed, too: Lemonade changed from $2 to $3.50 Orange Juice changed from $3 to $4 REMOVED: GolferAID ADDED: Cranberry Juice for $4 Assorted Domestic Beer (12oz can) changed from $4.50 to $5 Assorted Premium Beer (12oz) changed from $6 to $7 Tour the Exclusive Disney World Hotel You’ve (Probably) Never Visited Remember, it’s always a good idea to check those menus before you leave for your Disney World trip. You can check them on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app. We also check for menu updates regularly, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB to stay updated. Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. Use our discount code for DFB readers – WDW2023 – for 25% off! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite Disney World restaurant? Let us know in the comments! The post California Grill, Nomad Lounge, and 10 More Disney World Restaurants Hit With Menu Changes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes, people just luck out in life. You know the ones. Maybe they received a small loan of a million dollars just to get a head start, or perhaps they were born to inherit a gemstone mine — random, totally hypothetical situations like that. Magic Kingdom But sometimes, it isn’t a person that’s born into luck — it’s an animal. And believe us when we tell you that we think we may have found the biggest nepo baby in all of Disney World. This is one nepo baby we’re certainly not mad at — a brand new Shetland pony has been born at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort! ©Disney She’s not even a week old and her future is already more secure than ours. Not only does this pony get to live in Disney World, she will eventually grow up to be one of the horses responsible for pulling Cinderella’s Coach. We told you we weren’t kidding about this pony seriously lucking out. Her white coat is what makes her a Cinderella pony (and if you ask us, also rather majestic.) More Cinderella horses Until she’s older, you can find her hanging out in the pasture with her mom, Lady. Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President of Disney Animals, Science, & Environment shared that births like this are possible thanks to the team over at Fort Wilderness and Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Tri-Circle-D Disney also just welcomed two new baby cotton-top tamarins at Animal Kingdom, so if you’re looking to check out some seriously adorable animals, be sure to keep these guys in mind. And if you need us, we’ll just be over here wishing we had been born a Cinderella pony in Disney World. ©Disney We’ll be on the lookout for more animal news from around Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! The MOST Expensive Things You Can Do in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you going to go visit this nepo pony? Tell us in the comments. The post We're Planning Our WHOLE Disney World Trip Over This GLORIOUS News first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is always working on SOMETHING — there’s construction EVERYWHERE. Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Splash Mountain is in the middle of being converted into a NEW ride. EPCOT has seen a LOT of construction due to its massive transformation. Even some restaurants are getting worked on right now. Recently, though, we noticed that something was MISSING from a Disney World hotel. If you’ve ever visited Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, you’ve probably seen the iconic band of gators with their musical instruments. There’s a gator with a bass drum, a gator with a banjo… Port Orleans — French Quarter …a gator with cymbals and a gator playing the saxophone. Port Orleans French Quarter Well, now, we visited with the gators, except some of them were missing! So what’s going on here? So it seems like the gator with cymbals has decided to take a break. Meanwhile, the sax gator is still breaking out the jazzy tunes. His pal is missing! However, the gator with the banjo has also gone missing! Did they just get tired of playing all that peppy jazz music for guests? Did they just go off in search of snacks (we mean, there are Mickey Beignets here and we would TOTALLY understand that). The banjo player is missing So only half of the gator jazz ensemble showed up for work today. We asked a Cast Member where they went and they said the two gators “got called away to band practice to make sure everything is working perfectly with their instruments.” The Cast Member also said that when those two gators return, the other two will go do the same. Based on that, it’s likely the gators are just getting a quick touch-up! Only two in this band right now So if you go to Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter, just know the Gator Quartet is now just a duet. But we’ll be keeping an eye out for those other two to reappear, and we’ll let you know when that happens. In the meantime, have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! 4 Disney World Hotels You Should AVOID Right Now Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels The BEST Disney World Hotels for 2023 The WORST Disney World Hotels for 2023 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter? Let us know in the comments! The post Something Is MISSING From Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a visit to Disney World soon? There are LOTS of changes happening that might surprise you. EPCOT There’s lots of construction happening at the hotels (especially Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa), Splash Mountain is being transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and big menu changes have been hitting some restaurants too. But now we’ve spotted something that could point to future changes at one EPCOT snack spot! We’re constantly taking a look at Disney’s latest permits to see what work could be coming in the future. Specifically, we look at Notices of Commencement. These can typically indicate the type of projects that may start soon within the parks and hotels. One of the permits we spotted recently is actually to “install cart” at an address that appears to be linked to the address for La Gelateria Toscana — the gelato stand that opened in 2021 in EPCOT. Gelateria Toscana Walt Disney Imagineering is listed as the owner of the property involved. And Icarus Exhibits, Inc. is listed as the contractor who will do the work. What’s interesting is that Icarus Exhibits has been listed on various permits before for work involving theming work for Imagineering, and construction projects at other spots in EPCOT. They were even listed on a permit in the past involving La Gelateria Toscana before it officially opened, so perhaps it’s no surprise to see them involved again. Gelateria Toscana For those not familiar with it, Gelateria Toscana is a little kiosk on the edge of the Italy pavilion that serves up gelati, sorbetti, gelati floats, and more. You might even find some special items — like a Zeppole (ricotta cheese fritters) — on the menu, along with snacks like the Coppa Delizia and Espresso Affogato. Coppa Amarena It’s not clear what this “cart” mentioned in the permit will be exactly or how it could change things at this snack spot (if it’ll change things at all) but we’ll definitely be on the lookout! In terms of other permit updates, we also spotted an Imagineering-involved permit where a contractor will be working to “install signs” at an address linked to part of the United Kingdom pavilion in EPCOT. Plus, there is a permit to “install shroud” at an address tied to The Seas pavilion in EPCOT. It looks like Disney is also working on the installation of some items at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and even some general construction at the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Magic Carpets That’s just a sampling of the work happening around Disney World and projects that could get underway soon. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any big permits so you know what to watch for. Click here to see why you should WATCH OUT for this EPCOT transportation change  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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you visited La Gelateria Toscana? Tell us in the comments! The post New Permit Hints at CHANGE Coming to an EPCOT Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You’ve decided to go to Disney World on vacation, but now you have to figure out how to pay for it! Time to start filling this puppy with some spare change! Luckily, we’ve grabbed some great trips for doing Disney World on a budget, but first – you have to get there! Here are some great ways to save money, some are Disney-specific, and some can be used for saving money for any type of vacation or occasion! Buying Discounted Disney Gift Cards You can find many Disney Gift Cards discounted at stores near you, like Sam’s Club, Target, and BJ’s Wholesale. We wrote a whole post about where you can find these discounts and about how much you can plan to save. One thing we all know is that when it comes to money, every little bit helps! Be Careful About Financing Your Vacation It can be so tempting to pull out the credit card and book your next vacation. You can even justify to yourself by considering the credit card awards you accrue by putting a large purchase on your card. But if you don’t have the money to pay it off within a reasonable amount of time, you’re going to negate those credit card rewards you earned and add a lot to the total cost of your vacation in interest charges. Disney Visa Remember that you can book a vacation package at Disney World with a deposit, and then pay it off before you go on the vacation without paying any interest charges — it’s kind of like layaway. We’ve got lots more info on Disney Payment Plans here. We’re Answering ALL of Your Disney Credit Card Questions Book as Early in Advance as Possible to Maximize Savings Last-minute trips can’t always be avoided, but when you can, try to book your trips as soon as you know your travel dates. This can be especially true if you have to book airline flights. If a new discount or promotion is released during your travel dates after you’ve book, you can always call Disney directly to have those promotions applied to your existing reservation. Better yet — use a travel agent who will monitor all the new discounts coming out for you, and their services are free! We recommend Small World Vacations. Disney-authorized travel agents are often the first to learn of new discounts and promotions and can apply those to your existing vacation for you, without you having to take the time to call Disney. The Ultimate Guide To Disney World Travel Agents Calculate Your Entire Vacation Budget Calculate your entire vacation budget and stick to it! You’ll want to be sure to factor in transportation, accommodations, tickets, meals, souvenirs, and miscellaneous fees — like tips, taxes, and unplanned rideshare trips. Magic Kingdom This can feel overwhelming, but if you put in the work, it’ll totally pay off. We have a complete guide on planning your Disney World vacation that takes you through all of the items you’ll need to consider. And the best part is you can tailor to your family’s needs and priorities. The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your FIRST Disney World Vacation Cut Some Costs from Your Monthly Budget These suggestions can help you cut costs for any reason. It doesn’t have to just be for a Disney vacation (or Disney Cruise, or Aulani trip, or Adventures by Disney…). Most of these are commonly discussed, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t work! Save some pennies to get this view! Drop to one streaming service. Pick just one budget-friendly streaming service—this will help you save for the trip and free up cash in your budget every month. Go on a spending freeze. Try a no-spend challenge. Pay for essentials only for a week (or really ramp it up with a whole month). Cut out extra expenses. No more concert tickets, spur-of-the-moment day trips, or fancy restaurants. Remember: This is temporary! Find a side hustle. Make some extra cash you can throw directly toward your vacation savings. Work overtime hours. Put in extra hours at work. Your boss will love you, and your vacation fund will too! Sell your extra stuff. Go online to sell all those clothes you don’t wear anymore, or clean out your entire house and host a garage sale. Save on groceries by meal planning. Decide upfront what you’ll eat for each meal throughout the week, and watch your vacation fund soar. So those are some of our tried-and-true tips for saving money FOR your Disney trip and DURING your Disney trip! Our BEST tip for sticking with your budget at Disney World will forever be to plan ahead – especially for dining! When you buy our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World, you’ll get immediate access to our downloadable worksheets for planning your trip, as well as sample one-day dining itineraries! And as a DFB reader, you’re entitled to a discount! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off your purchase. Which Disney Discount Actually Saves You the MOST Money? We’re Breaking It Down. 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are your best money-saving tips? Share them below in the comments! The post Our Top Tips for Saving for Your Disney World Vacation first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve seen plenty of flashy snacks and newsworthy desserts over the years, but nothing quite compares to an old classic: Dole Whip. It’s simple yet bright, sweet, and refreshing. Yes, this is officially a Dole Whip fan blog now. Kidding — but really, we love to celebrate Dole Whip around here! Dole Whip Speaking of Dole Whip, there’s a MAJOR, very important holiday coming up. Is your calendar marked? This occasion calls for the largest of celebrations, so make sure you’ve got your party hats, people. Dole Whip Day is July 20th, though the citrusy festivities run through July 23rd. To celebrate, we ordered a little treat from Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Disney World. That’s right — you can enjoy Dole Whip desserts without a Magic Kingdom park ticket! Meet the Dole Whip Cupcake for $5.79. Dole Whip Cupcake This is a Yellow cupcake filled with DOLE Whip pineapple mousse garnished with a cherry. We had a cupcake just like this last year and we LOVED IT. So how does this version compare? It’s pretty Well, first, it’s very pretty. It’s also delicious. The cupcake itself was moist with a hint of vanilla flavor. The flavor of this cupcake is VERY pineapple, and the pineapple mousse is both tart and sweet — it really tasted like Dole Whip in a creamy filling. Loads of pineapple flavor The part of the cupcake that they dug out for the pineapple mousse was also put on top, so instead of a big swirl of icing, it’s actually MORE cake. Okay, that’s BRILLIANT. Of course, if you’re expecting extra icing, you might be disappointed. Cake on top of cake But this isn’t the ONLY Dole Whip treat you can get in Disney World! Here’s the FULL list of Dole Whip treats available: Disney’s BoardWalk BoardWalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas DOLE Whip Smoothie (Non-alcoholic) Captain’s Seaside Sensation with DOLE Whip Disney’s Old Key West Resort Good’s Food to Go Key Lime Swirl: DOLE Whip lime and vanilla swirl topped with graham cracker crumbs Key Lime Swirl Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Barefoot Pool Bar and Oasis Bar & Grill Frozen Margarita with DOLE Whip Lime: Corazón Blanco Tequila blended with DOLE Whip lime and chili-lime seasoning Frosty Pineapple: DOLE Whip with Captain Morgan Private Stock Rum The Voyager: DOLE Whip blended with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice Pineapple Lanai Olu Mel DOLE Whip: DOLE Whip lime topped with crisp pearls, edible flowers, glitter, and white chocolate ‘Olu Mel décor (Available July 20th through 23rd) DOLE Whip: DOLE Whip or DOLE Whip lime Pineapple Float: DOLE Pineapple Juice served with a choice of DOLE Whip, vanilla soft-serve, or swirl (Non-alcoholic) DOLE Whip with Rum Floater: DOLE Whip with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Spikey Pineapple: Barbancourt Pango Rum blended with DOLE Whip ‘Olu Mel Dole Whip Float Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Backstretch Pool Bar Cherry Blossom Swirl: DOLE Whip cherry and vanilla swirl Disney Springs Swirls on the Water Orange Bird Nest: DOLE Whip orange, whipped cream, and sprinkles served in a waffle bowl (Available through August 13th) Blood Orange Mimosa Float: Blood orange mimosa, DOLE Whip Orange, and an orange wedge (Available through September 1st) DOLE Whip Sampler DOLE Whip, soft-serve vanilla, and pineapple wedge DOLE Whip raspberry, DOLE Whip lemon, and a raspberry DOLE Whip orange, DOLE Whip watermelon, and orange wedge DOLE Whip Flavors: Orange, watermelon, raspberry, and lemon DOLE Whip Float DOLE Whip Float with Rum DOLE Whip Float with Angry Orchard Wine Bar George and The Basket (Currently available) Frozen Old Fashioned made with DOLE Whip Orange Frozcato made with DOLE Whip Frozcato Mimosa made with DOLE Whip Orange Bird Nest Typhoon Lagoon Happy Landings Ice Cream Pineapple Upside Down Cone: DOLE Whip and vanilla soft-serve swirl served over vanilla cake with caramelized pineapple, a cherry, and white chocolate-dipped cone ©Disney Snack Shack Tropical Themed DOLE Whip Cone: DOLE Whip and DOLE Whip raspberry Tropical Themed DOLE Whip Cone: DOLE Whip strawberry and vanilla soft-serve in a white chocolate, coconut-dipped waffle cone DOLE Whip Flavors: Pineapple, mango, raspberry, watermelon, and strawberry DOLE Whip with Rum Floater of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum or Myers’s Original Dark Rum Kungaloosh Kooler: DOLE Whip strawberry with a blend of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Myers’s Original Dark Rum, Bols Blackberry Brandy Liqueur, Minute Maid Orange Juice, and a splash of Fanta Strawberry Happy Dole Whip Day to all who celebrate! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Disney Is Serving a CANDLE for Lunch. Would You Try It? Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite kind of Dole Whip dessert? Let us know in the comments! The post Friends Don't Let Friends Miss Out on This Delicious Disney World Treat! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Although there’s a lot we DO know about the life of Walt Disney, sometimes we learn NEW facts about the man behind The Walt Disney Company, which is now celebrating its 100th anniversary. ©Disney We know Walt liked simple foods (like chili), and we know he loved trains. But there are other little smaller details that you may not know, including one an Imagineer recently shared. Imagineer and Disney Legend Bob Gurr spent some of his life actually working with Walt Disney. You see, Gurr, is the man who designed most of the classic ride vehicles in Disneyland, including Autopia, the Disneyland Monorail, and Matterhorn Bobsleds. In fact, we can credit Gurr with the creation of the iconic Haunted Mansion Doom Buggy, too. Bob Gurr c/o @bobgurrofficial on Instagram Bob recently shared a story about Walt Disney. If you’ve ever seen the Fire Station in Disneyland, you might have noticed there was an apartment above it. That apartment was a second home for Walt while he was working on Disneyland, but it also acted as a second home to his wife, Lillian, and their children. Fire Station in Disneyland Bob told a story about Walt coming to the fire station and parking his gray Thunderbird in the back. Walt liked to get up in the morning and go to Carnation Cafe (which is still there on Main Street, U.S.A.) where he would squeeze fresh orange juice to take back up to the apartment for Lillian. Isn’t that so sweet? If you’ve never visited Disneyland, there is a lot of amazing Walt Disney history you can experience there, especially as Walt and his family spent so much time there himself. It’s worth visiting for that alone, although being we are Disney FOOD Blog, we might argue that there’s some AMAZING food to be had there, too (what else would you expect in the place where Doritos were invented?). Anyway, we love hearing these stories about the man who started it all with a Mouse. Learn more about how Disney is celebrating its 100th Anniversary Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite story about Walt Disney? Tell us about it in the comments! The post Imagineer Bob Gurr Shares Little Known Secret About Walt Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are lots of updates coming to the Disney parks in the rest of 2023. Disney World We know that Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is coming soon, as well as the Frozen lands over in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. But what if you’re visiting a Disney park in 2024, what can you expect then? Here are all the new rides that are confirmed to open in 2024! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure In Disneyland and Disney World, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be replacing what was formerly Splash Mountain in both parks. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World This ride will pick up the moment after The Princess and The Frog ends and we will “join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.” Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney So what actually happens after the film? Tiana opens Tiana’s Palace and requires the riders’ help finding a missing key ingredient for the Mardi Gras party she’s throwing for the people of New Orleans. We’re going to be seeing old and new characters, hearing familiar and new songs, and embarking on a whole new adventure with Tiana! Read all about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure here! New Star Tours Adventures Disney also announced that Star Tours, located in Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Disney World, will be getting some new scenes/adventures that guests can get when they ride! Star Tours While this isn’t technically a new ride, the new stories will make your ride new, since it’ll be stories none of us have seen before! Star Tours Loading Area This isn’t the first time that new stories have been added to the ride, as they’ve been updated multiple times throughout the years. We can’t wait to see the new stories! Read all we know about the new stories being added here! Fantasy Springs 2024 is also supposed to be the year that Fantasy Springs, the HUGE addition happening over in Tokyo DisneySea, will be complete! Fantasy Springs Concept Art ©Disney This addition will add multiple new areas to the park, including Peter Pan, Tangled, and Frozen! ©Disney We haven’t heard much about this expansion since 2021, and then when the opening year was announced, but we look forward to seeing and hearing more in the near future! See everything we know about Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs here! And those are all the projects we know are expected to open in 2024! Stay tuned to DFB because we’ll update you as we hear more. See Disney’s confirmation of the opening timelines of MANY major projects right here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which project are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments! The post Every Single Disney Ride Opening in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has been doing some interesting things with its TV shows lately. ©Disney Disney Channel and Disney Junior shows are also available to stream on Disney+ the day after they air on TV. However, while Disney+ has some series that are UNIQUE to the streaming service, Disney has also brought some of those shows to broadcast TV, like American Born Chinese. Well, now, a MARVEL TV series from Disney+ is headed to ABC. ABC will be airing all six episodes of the Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel, on ABC. This will be the first time a Disney+ Marvel show has ever aired on broadcast TV. The series will debut on August 5th with its first three episodes from 8-11PM ET, followed by the last three episodes on August 12th from 8-11PM ET. This will be the first time that a Marvel series will have been aired outside of Disney+, so it’s kind of a big deal. It seems like Disney is wanting to get even more eyeballs on its Marvel series, especially for those people who may not subscribe to Disney+. It could also entice new subscribers to sign up for the other Marvel shows on the streaming service. It’s also possible that this is related to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike since production on many shows and movies has come to a halt. ©Disney The series follows Kamala Khan, a Muslim teenage girl obsessed with Captain Marvel, who comes into superpowers of her own. However, the series actually sets up the next big Marvel movie, The Marvels, which will bring Kamala Khan together with Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau (who we first saw in the WandaVision series on Disney+). Disney may also be using ABC to get more hype for that upcoming movie. ©Marvel Ms. Marvel has also been nominated for several 2023 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Picture Editing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special, and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. We’ll keep an eye out for more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Robert Downey Jr. Almost Played a Marvel VILLAIN Before He Was Iron Man 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of Ms. Marvel coming to ABC? Let us know in the comments. The post A Disney+ Original Series Will Air on ABC Next Month first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, we know a LOT of y’all love McDonald’s. McDonald’s We’re sure you went out there and got your free fries on National Fry Day. We also know that a LOT of y’all tried the Grimace Shake for Grimace’s birthday (we did!). Well, now we have ANOTHER McDonald’s thing to tell you about. Y’all, you can get McDonald’s characters as HOLIDAY FUNKO POPS! We found these Funko POPs online on Entertainment Earth, and if you love McDonald’s, you’re going to want to collect them all. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get the Halloween McBoo McNugget ©Entertainment Earth Look at McBoo McNugget dressed up in its Halloween costume. It’s a ghost — and it even has a little black cat companion with it. This little guy is ready for spooky season (and so are we). View on Entertainment Earth Buy the Halloween Vampire McNugget Funko Pop ©Entertainment Earth This little McNugget will be a vampire for Halloween — he’s got the costume and everything. There’s even a bat perched on top of his head. View on Entertainment Earth Buy the Halloween Witch McNugget Funko Pop ©Entertainment Earth This McNugget is feeling witchy for the Halloween season and is dressed for the occasion. Her witch’s hat, though, has a bit McDonald’s “M” logo on it. View on Entertainment Earth Buy the Halloween Mummy McNugget Funko Pop ©Entertainment Earth How about a McNugget dressed up as a Mummy? Or would that be a McMummy? He’s all wrapped up in bandages with a spider on his head. View on Entertainment Earth Get the Holiday Grimace Funko Pop ©Entertainment Earth Grimace just celebrated his birthday, but now he’s ready to celebrate the holidays. He’s got his holiday scarf on with a Santa hat. View on Entertainment Earth Buy the McDonalds Birthday Ronald McDonald Funko Pop ©Entertainment Earth Birthdays at McDonald’s used to be a BIG deal for kids, and Ronald is ready to celebrate with this Funko Pop with a birthday hat AND present. This isn’t part of the brand new holiday collection, but we wanted to remind you that it will be available this July! View on Entertainment Earth So head on over to Entertainment Earth to grab these fun Funko Pops before they’re gone! We’ll keep an eye out for more fun merchandise, so stay tuned to DFB for more. McDonald’s and 6 Other Fast Food Chains That Will Deliver to Your 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Who’s your favorite McDonald’s character? Tell us all about it in the comments! The post NEW McDonald's Holiday Toys Are Coming Soon -- And You'll Want Them ALL first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you hopping on a plane in the near future? Flying anytime soon? As you know, there are a whole host of considerations that you have to make when finalizing your travel plans. You have to double-check that the room, and grab any last-minute travel essentials. But a big consideration that you may not have spent much time on is where you will sit on the plane. About that, we wanted to go over some info that might help you make the best decision. We know. We know. We know that air travel is the safest form of transportation available. Normally, all we’re thinking about when choosing our seats typically are questions like, “Do I want a window or aisle seat? Or, maybe I should pay more for extra legroom?” But, lately we have started wondering about another question: “Which seats are the safest?” We’re not trying to be pessimists, but we think it’s always wise to have a plan in place for those one-in-a-million chance accidents and to that, let’s take a look at the following infographic (via Statista.com): ©Statista Basically, what that graphic represents is that in a study by Popular Mechanics based on reports from the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board), it was concluded that seats in the rear of the cabin had the highest rate of survival in a crash. If you sit in the rear part of the plane, you have a 69% chance of staying alive in a crash. That is a 20% increase over those in business class. There was another study done by researchers at Time where they went through 35 years of FAA data, and found similar results. ©Getty Images They found that seats in the rear third of the aircraft had a lower fatality rate than the seats in the other parts of the plane. They specifically found that middle seats in the rear section were the best by far, with a fatality rate of 28 percent (the yellow box in the graphic). Again, we’re not trying to be all gloom and doom, just trying to help you make the best, and safest, travel decision for your upcoming trips! Until then stay safe and travel well. We’ll continue to give you ALL the latest travel information we find! Click here for all the lastest Orlando Airport news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What seats do you choose when flying? Let us know in the comments! The post CONFIRMED: The Safest Seats to Choose On An Airplane first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Although both SAG-AFTRA and the WGA are on strike, Disney still held the premiere for its new movie, Haunted Mansion, based on the Disney Parks ride of the same name. ©Disney Disney’s Haunted Mansion movie premieres on July 28th. Although a movie premiere was set to happen in Disneyland on July 15th, the SAG-AFTRA strike prevented the film’s cast from attending the premiere. The premiere DID happen, though, but Disney replaced the actors with characters. The Haunted Mansion movie stars Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito, and more. Because those actors are on strike, they did not walk the red carpet at the premiere, which was held in front of the ride followed by a screening at the Hyperion Theatre in Disney California Adventure. Haunted Mansion premieres in movie theaters on July 28th. Note that actors from the film will not be available for any promotions while they are on strike. We’ll continue to keep you updated on how the SAG-AFTRA strike, as well as the WGA strike, continues to impact the Walt Disney Company and the entertainment industry, in general, so stay tuned to DFB for more. DATE ANNOUNCED: Haunted Mansion Will Temporarily CLOSE in Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think about this premiere for Haunted Mansion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. The post Disney Characters Walk 'Haunted Mansion' Red Carpet During Actors' Strike first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Fun fact: it is literally impossible not to smile when you meet Disney characters in their Halloween costumes. Think you can meet Winnie the Pooh and Piglet in their cute little costumes and NOT feel any joy? Good luck. Happy Halloween! While we wait for August to roll around so we can officially start celebrating Halloween, we can do a little shopping in the meantime to prepare for the upcoming fall season! Oh, and good news: we found a Disney Loungefly backpack featuring Mickey Mouse, and yes, he is all dressed up for Halloween. YAY! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Loungefly Disney Mickey Mouse Scarecrow Mini Backpack ©BoxLunch It’s official: Scarecrow Mickey is HERE, and he’s READY for fall. Just look at that festive outfit! View on BoxLunch Loungefly Disney Mickey and Minnie Mouse Frankenstein Mini Backpack ©BoxLunch If you’re looking for a Loungefly bag that’s a little more Halloween-inspired, check out this Frankenstein backpack! Minnie and Mickey are the ultimate spooky couple, don’t you think? View on BoxLunch Loungefly Disney Mickey Mouse Fall Foliage Mini Backpack ©BoxLunch All you need is a pumpkin spice latte, an apple-scented candle, and this backpack, and you’re all set for the PERFECT fall day. This backpack has a ton of detail — even the zipper pull is shaped like a leaf! View on BoxLunch All this talk about Halloween has us itching to start burning our pumpkin-scented candles and sipping our fall-inspired drinks — anyone else? In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Click here to learn more about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World EVERYTHING CONFIRMED for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World FULL LIST of Rides That Will Be Open at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Get All of the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Target Has NEW Halloween Inflatables Online Now! How To Get the CHEAPEST Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World CHANGES Revealed for Disney World’s Halloween Parade in 2023 Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Are you planning to visit Disney World this fall? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 EXCLUSIVE Disney Halloween Loungefly Bags are Online NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is upon us and you know what that means — time to EAT! Food & Wine is almost here! We’ve already seen the booths popping up around the World Showcase, poured over the menus to find out what we can’t wait to try, and have already figured out which concerts we can’t miss. But, this year, things will be different and we want you to be prepared. That’s why we’re sharing the biggest changes announced for this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. We can’t wait to check out all the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival has to offer, but we’re especially stoked for everything new coming to the fest! We’re in store for four major changes, and if you’re heading to the festival anytime between July 27th and November 18th, 2023, you might want to know about these changes! 100th Anniversary Booths To celebrate Disney’s 100th Anniversary, there will be four 100th Anniversary-themed booths at this year’s festival, all with brand new menu items! They’ll be opening sometime later this fall, so we’ll keep an eye out for when an official date has been announced. But for now, we’re salivating over the menus. Check them out below: EPCOT Bubbles & Brine Food Items: Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with prosecco cocktail sauce and grilled lemon (New) Jonah Crab Claw Cocktail with stone-ground mustard sauce (New) Caviar with traditional accompaniments, champagne cream, and blini (New) Beverages: Moët & Chandon Impérial Veuve Clicquot Rosé Dom Pérignon Char & Chop Food: Roasted Porchetta with lemon-parsley salsa verde and shaved fennel salad (New) Grilled IMPOSSIBLE Spicy Sausage with herbed polenta, puttanesca sauce, and ricotta (New) Meat Assorti: Trio of shaved meats with baby arugula, pickled mustard seeds, truffle oil, and grilled ciabatta (New) Beverages: Krombacher Pilsner (New) North Coast Laguna Baja Vienna Lager (New) Motorworks Brewing Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter (New) GoGi ‘Birdie’ Pinot Noir Bloody Mary with Seaside Grown Bloody Mary Mix and Kurvball Barbecue Whiskey Beer Flight EPCOT Swirled Showcase Food: Mickey-shaped Liquid Nitro Cake Soft-serve in a Waffle Cone Vanilla Apple-Cinnamon Salted Caramel Cream Soda Float with vanilla soft-serve Fanta Grape Float with vanilla soft-serve Beverages: Frozen Apple Pie (Non-alcoholic) Cinnamon Apple Cider (Non-alcoholic) 3 Daughters Toasted Coconut Porter 3 Daughters Toasted Coconut Porter Float with vanilla soft-serve Berry Fizz Fragolino Red Sparkling Wine Float with vanilla soft-serve Wine & Wedge Food: Assorted Artisanal Cheeses and Accompaniments (New) (Emile’s Fromage Montage) Boursin Fig & Balsamic Soufflé with fig tapenade (New) (Emile’s Fromage Montage) Southern Pimento Cheese with bread-and-butter pickled vegetables and grilled bread (New) (Emile’s Fromage Montage) Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese: Assorted Artisanal Cheeses and Accoutrements paired with Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Hartley Apple Brandy, and Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port (New) Beverages: Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese (New) Hartley Apple Brandy (New) Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port (New) Flight World Showcase We can’t wait to check these new booths out! Muppets Lab Disney shared a fun little preview of a NEW experience coming to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Per Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker, guests can look out for the smartest pair of Muppets we know over by the Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey. There, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker will join the festival as the taste-testers in residence, where they will be taste-testing the flavors of tomorrow and today! That’s right — Muppet Labs are coming to EPCOT! Get ready to experiment with tasty flavors at the Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey! Disney is calling the new Muppet Labs an experience with “flavorful adventure, featuring the culinary creations — and madcap mishaps — of Muppet Labs!” Look out for some interesting new snacks, like the Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings and the Pickle Milkshake. We’re intrigued — and you know we’ll be checking it out on the first day of the fest! New Entertainment In addition to all the delicious eats and new merch we can’t wait to check out, did you know that there are also free concerts during the festival? The Eat to the Beat Concert Series brings award-winning artists to EPCOT, and this year there are new performers! Eat to the Beat 2022 Orianthi – NEW! July 28th and 29th for King & Country – NEW! July 30th and 31st Ruben Studdard with Haley Reinhart – NEW! August 11th and 12th The Bacon Brothers – NEW! August 13th and 14th Ayron Jones – NEW! August 25th and 26th Phillip Phillips – NEW! August 27th and 28th Raul Acosta & Oro Solido – NEW! September 16th and 17th We the Kings – NEW! November 3rd and 4th Big Bad Voodoo Daddy You can check out the full concert schedule here, and be sure to get to the America Gardens Theater early to get a good seat — or book a dining package! New Eats Of course, it wouldn’t be the Food & Wine Festival without new eats and drinks! Check them all out below. The Alps Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake and Meringues (NEW) (plant-based item) Belgium Brasserie D’Achouffe Houblon Chouffe IPA, Achouffe, Belgium (NEW) Chimay Grande Réserve, Chimay, Belgium (NEW) Brew-Wing Orange-Cardamom Wings (NEW) Impossible Buffalo Chicken Tenders with Plant-Based Blue Cheese, Plant-Based Ranch and Celery (NEW) (plant-based item) Scorching Hot Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings with Creamy Cucumber Raita (NEW) Sun King Brewing Caipirinha Lager, Sarasota, FL (NEW) Brew Hub French Connection IPA, Lakeland, FL (NEW) 3 Daughters Brewing Old Fashion Porter, St. Petersburg, FL (NEW) Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Tropicolada Hard Cider, Armada, MI (NEW) Bold Rock Peach Berry Hard Cider, Nellysford, VA (NEW) 3 Daughters Brewing Raspberry Lemonade Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL (NEW) The Alps Bubbles & Brine Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with prosecco cocktail sauce and grilled lemon (NEW) Jonah Crab Claw Cocktail with stone-ground mustard sauce (NEW) Caviar with traditional accompaniments, champagne cream, and blini (NEW) Char & Chop Roasted Porchetta with lemon-parsley salsa verde and shaved fennel salad (NEW) Grilled IMPOSSIBLE Spicy Sausage with herbed polenta, puttanesca sauce, and ricotta (NEW) Meat Assorti: Trio of shaved meats with baby arugula, pickled mustard seeds, truffle oil, and grilled ciabatta (NEW) Krombacher Pilsner (NEW) North Coast Laguna Baja Vienna Lager (NEW) Motorworks Brewing Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter (NEW) China Crispy Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce (NEW) Coastal Eats Wildly Brut Cuvée, South Australia (NEW) Flavors of America Italian Hot Beef Sandwich with Shaved Beef, Spicy Giardiniera and Au Jus on a French Roll (NEW) Cioppino: Seafood Stew with Saffron-infused Tomato-Fennel Broth and Sourdough Crostini (NEW) Chilaquiles: Corn Tortilla Chips tossed in Salsa Verde with Ranchero Chicken, Queso Fresco, Cilantro-Lime Crema and a Soft-Poached Egg* (NEW) Flavors from Fire Chimichurri Marinated Skirt Steak Taco with Crushed Avocado, Grilled Corn Salsa, Pickled Red Onions, Queso Fresco and Cilantro-Lime Cream* (NEW) Spiced Chocolate Tart with BBQ Potato Chip Crust, Salted Whisky-Caramel and Smoked Sea Salt (NEW) China France Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Bordeaux, Château de Le Clos de Confreries (NEW) Chardonnay, Maison Nicolas (NEW) Parisian Cosmo Slush: Vodka, Grey Goose Le Ctiron Vodka, Grand Marnier and Cranberry Juice (NEW) The Fry Basket Pickle Fries with Dill Ranch (NEW) Stone Brewing Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager, San Diego, CA (NEW) Germany Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Riesling, Mosel (NEW) Greece Plant-Based Impossible Moussaka (NEW) (plant-based item) Fry Basket 2022 Italy Focaccia Ripiena: Freshly Baked Focaccia, Beef Meatballs, Tomato Sauce and Burrata Cheese (NEW) Cavatelli with Sweet Sausage Ragout and Crispy Applewood-Smoked Bacon (NEW) Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake with Vanilla Cream and Strawberry Compote (NEW) Japan Fire Taiko Roll*: Sushi Roll with Spicy Tuna, Cucumber and Pickled Daikon Radish served with Spicy Sauce (NEW) Beef Wa-Gyu Don*: Traditional Japanese Rice Bowl with American Wagyu Beef over Steamed White Rice (NEW) Sake Passion Cocktail (NEW) Moon on the Water Sake (NEW) Brew Hub Momo Amber Ale, Lakeland, FL (NEW) Mexico Tostada de Carnitas: Braised Pork on a Fried Corn Tortilla with Black Beans, Avocado Mousse, Queso Fresco and Chives (NEW) Taco de Costilla: Slow-braised Beef Short Rib on a Corn Tortilla with Salsa de Chile Morita, Avocado Mousse and Spring Onions (NEW) Pastel Impossible: Layers of Traditional Mexican Flan and Tres Leches with Guava and Cajeta (NEW) Trouble in Paradise Margarita: Ilegal Mezcal, Watermelon Liqueur, Rosé Wine, Lime Juice and Agave with a Chili-Lime Powder Rim (NEW) Fly Away Margarita: Nocheluna Sotol, Pineapple-Ginger Juice, Chile Ancho Verde Liqueur and Tequila with a Sweet Dried Chili Salt Rim (NEW) Japan Booth The Noodle Exchange Parish Brewing Strawberry Mochi Berliner Weisse, Broussard, LA (NEW) Refreshment Port Hosted by Boursin Cheese Festival Item: Cinnamon-Sugar Beaver Tail (NEW) Shimmering Sips Hosted by CORKCICLE Berry Mimosa with Berry Fizz Sparkling Wine and White Cranberry Juice (NEW) Spain Viña Borgia Macabeo White Sangria (NEW) Viña Borgia Rosé Sangria (NEW) Viña Borgia Garnacha Red Sangria (NEW) Sangria Flight (NEW) Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina Keel Farms Raspberry Citrus Hard Cider, Plant City, FL (NEW) Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Peach Party Peach & Blackberry Hard Cider, Armada, MI (NEW) Tangierine Cafe Wine & Wedge Food: Assorted Artisanal Cheeses and Accompaniments (NEW) Boursin Fig & Balsamic Soufflé with fig tapenade (NEW) Southern Pimento Cheese with bread-and-butter pickled vegetables and grilled bread (NEW) Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese: Assorted Artisanal Cheeses and Accoutrements paired with Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Hartley Apple Brandy, and Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port (NEW) Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese (NEW) Hartley Apple Brandy (NEW) Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port (NEW) Funnel Cake Stand in American Adventure Pavilion Candied Bacon Funnel Cake: Funnel Cake topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, Candied Bacon and Maple Syrup Drizzle (NEW) Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea: Coffee Carts The American Adventure Nutty Caramel Mocha Cold Brew: A Sweet Blend of Caramel Mudslide Cold Brew, Caramel Syrup, Peanut Butter Syrup and Chocolate Syrup topped with Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce (NEW) Near Disney Traders Java Horchata: A Sweet Blend of Espresso and Horchata topped with Whipped Cream and Cinnamon (NEW) Near Canada Frozen Roseberry: A Refreshing Blend of Frozen Lemon and Strawberry-Rose Syrup (NEW) Near Mission: SPACE Amaretto Iced Tea: A Sweet and Nutty Blend of Black Iced Tea and Amaretto Syrup (NEW) ©Disney Whew — that is a LOT of new food to try and we can’t wait! Of course, some returning favorites will be back this year, too. See ALL of the Food and Wine Festival Menus HERE! Heading to the festival this year? Be sure to check out our Food & Wine Vibes Tank Top — it’s the PERFECT thing to wear during those hot summer months during the festival. Food & Wine vibes! And click here to check out our whole merch line! Here’s Everything CONFIRMED to Return to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 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! Save 20% on the 2023 DFB Guide to EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival with code CHEFS. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Insider Tips for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival What to Pack in Your Park Bag for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Food and Wine Festival 101 Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you heading to the Food & Wine Festival this year? Tell us in the comments. The post 4 BIG Changes Announced for the 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do we really need an excuse to buy more Disney souvenirs? Time to buy MORE Disney stuff Well, the answer is probably “no,” but at least we feel better when we find good sales, discounts, and deals for Disney merchandise online. We’re also here to remind you about those sales, so here’s an alert that one BIG Disney sale ends TONIGHT! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The shopDisney Friends & Family Savings Event will end tonight, so this is your LAST chance to save 25% off sitewide on Disney merchandise. Get The Disney World Stainless Steel Starbucks Water Bottle How cute! Okay, Starbucks fans, this is your last chance to save on this AMAZING Disney World Starbucks Water Bottle that features Mickey and many of Disney World’s rides and icons on it! View on shopDisney Buy the Hitchhiking Ghosts Doom Buggy Pet Bed Haunted Mansion Pet Bed Bring a ghost home with you…FOR YOUR PET with a bed that looks like a Doom Buggy. Every Haunted Mansion pet owner needs this, right? View on shopDisney Get the Jaq and Gus Sketchbook Ornament ©Disney It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays, and wouldn’t your Christmas tree look that much cuter with this Jaq and Gus ornament where Cindy’s mouse pals are peeking out from inside a pumpkin? View on shopDisney Buy the Haunted Mansion “Eyes” Ears “Eyes” Ears We’ve got our EYES on these Haunted Mansion ears — LITERALLY. These ears are for those foolish mortals who just can’t get enough of the Haunted Mansion. Oh, did we mention that they glow in the dark? View on shopDisney So head on over to shopDisney and SHOP NOW — to get 25% off, use code DISNEYPAL at checkout. Remember you can also get free shipping on any order of $75 and up! While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? It’s super fun stuff to wear to the parks, or to rep your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store! 6 Disney Amazon Deals You Can’t Pass Up! 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you grabbed anything from this sale yet? Let us know what you got in the comments! The post HURRY! You Have Less Than 24 Hours To Score These Online Disney Deals first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is full of magic, sunshine, and lines. Genie+ Genie+ was introduced as a way to avoid waiting in long lines for rides at Disney World. We know that depending on the time of year, there are major crowds and wait times can get long. It can be tough to know when you should purchase Genie+ or an Individual Lightning Lane — especially now that the Genie system has changed to have different pricing depending on the park you’re doing to. We’re here to make a case for why you should save your money and rope-drop one particular ride — the one that often has the longest standby waits. Have you rope-dropped a popular Disney World ride instead of purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane? Let us know below. The post Why You Shouldn't Pay to Skip Disney World's Longest Wait first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re going to Disney World next week, WATCH OUT! Not one, not two, but FOUR restaurants are going to be closed (spoiler: most of them are in EPCOT). EPCOT In addition to the restaurant closures, there are a few other rides and attractions that’ll be closed. Here’s a full list of everything you CAN’T do in Disney World next week, from July 16th through the 22nd. Tokyo Dining in EPCOT In the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT, Tokyo Dining is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, and will not reopen until summer 2023. However, a brand new restaurant is coming to EPCOT this summer: Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya will be a table-service restaurant featuring a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.” ©Disney The restaurant will be located in the Japan Pavilion, on the second floor (above the Mitsukoshi Department Store), and will offer “stunning views of EPCOT, the World Showcase Lagoon, and, of course, fireworks.” That location sure sounds a LOT like the current location of Tokyo Dining — and according to signs that have gone up at this spot, we think we may be right! Click here to learn more about the NEW restaurant coming to EPCOT. Refreshment Port in EPCOT Refreshment Port is also closed right now. This spot, which is located close to the Canada pavilion in World Showcase, won’t reopen until July 27th. It’s closed! We’re expecting that it’s getting ready for the Food & Wine Festival, which starts on that date. Refreshment Station in EPCOT And there’s another “refreshing” restaurant that’s currently closed: Refreshment Station. Refreshment Station is empty This spot also won’t open until July 27th, so it may be preparing to debut some new treats for the festival. Trail’s End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Trail’s End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground closed in mid-April and is currently undergoing a MAJOR refurbishment. Trail’s end construction It will reopen this summer as “a marketplace concept with expanded quick service options.” The table service option will no longer be offered. There may be some noise coming from this construction zone on your visit, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to book here. For a different option with similar vibes (but a pricier tag) check out the Wilderness Lodge. Learn more about the change coming to Trail’s End here. The restaurants aren’t the only places where you’ll see construction in Disney World, however — here are a few rides and attractions that are currently CLOSED. Magic Kingdom Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Splash Mountain closed on January 23rd for a long refurbishment. The ride is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with a Princess and the Frog theme. Main building The new ride will reopen sometime in late 2024. We’ll be watching for more updates on the reopening timeline. The tree at the top of this ride has been removed as Disney continues construction, and several new rock structures have been built at the bottom of the drop. There’s a new water tower as well, which says “Tiana’s Foods” on the front and “Never, ever lose sight of what’s really important” on the back. It’s topped with Tiana’s crown, which has two stars on it to represent Ray and Evangeline. Tiana’s Foods Water Tower We noticed that part of the ride track has recently been covered up as well. At the moat If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt… DFB Exclusive! …and a Tiana tee as well! Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store. Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store. Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer Island Over on Tom Sawyer Island, the Barrel Bridge is currently missing. Barrel Bridge is closed A Cast Member told us that it has been removed for maintenance, and they didn’t know when it might return. The rest of the island is still open to explore, though! If you order this new Magic Kingdom snack, good luck! You’re gonna need it. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid This Little Mermaid-themed stage show has been closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a long time now. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen. PSA: This $5 Hollywood Studios treat is still one of the best. EPCOT Spaceship Earth Spaceship Earth is going to be closed for one day only, on Wednesday, July 19th. EPCOT Disney didn’t give a reason for this closure, but it’s likely routine maintenance. WATCH OUT for this EPCOT transportation change! Disney World Water Parks Blizzard Beach Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park has officially reopened, but now the other water park, Blizzard Beach, has closed for refurbishment. Olaf at Blizzard Beach Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for updates! The BEST Rides at Blizzard Beach, Ranked Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Click here to check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World. Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post 4 Restaurants Will Be CLOSED in Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Want to drink around the world in EPCOT, but need to know which drinks you should try? You’ve come to the right place! Italian Margarita We get it — there are 11 country pavilions in World Showcase, and each has its share of unique and wonderful beverages. Now, we’ve already told you how to drink around World Showcase on a budget, but if you want the BEST drinks in each pavilion, we went to the experts — the Cast Members who work there! Mexico We’re going to start in Mexico, because where else would we start? (Yes, we know that some people like to go right in EPCOT, but we’re stubborn and ALWAYS go left). Cast Member Maritsa told us that her favorite drink in that pavilion is the Fiesta Frozen Margarita from Choza de Margarita. Fiesta Margarita She said the drink is refreshing, and because it’s made with a combination of strawberry, classic lime, and mango loco, it’s like having three drinks in one! Here’s our review of the Fiesta Margarita Norway If you’re looking for a refreshing drink in Norway, Cast Member Sadi recommends the Troll Krem, which is a Cranberry and Vanilla slush topped with Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum and whipped cream. Troll Krem Sadi says it’s perfect for a hot day because it’s a refreshing and slightly tart, frozen drink. Read our review of the Troll Krem China In China, Cast Member Sarah told us that her favorite drink is the Kung Fu Punch at Joy of Tea, which is made with Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango, and Orange Juice. Kung Fu Punch Sarah told us she’s a fan of Vodka, but we also learned it’s the most popular drink sold here. See what else we like here! Germany In Germany, we asked Cast Member Eric about his favorite drink. He told us when drinking around the world, the Schöfferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen is his go-to drink. It’s a light and fruity grapefruit drink that’s great for the summer. We agree! Although it’s a beer, it’s a beer that even non-beer drinkers will like. Schöfferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen However, Eric told us his other favorite drink in the Germany pavilion is the König Ludwig Weissbier. He says it tastes like Blue Moon but without the citrus notes. Here’s why this is our go-to drink, too! The American Adventure Don’t skip out on drinking at The American Adventure pavilion. Cast Member Joseph told us the Moonshine Sour was his favorite drink there. It’s made with Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine, Blood Orange, Blackberry, and Lemon. Moonshine Sour He described it as tasting like a Sour Patch Kid with a nice tart flavor. Read our review of this drink! Japan The Japan Pavilion has some wonderful unique sips, but Cast Member Skyler told us the Tokyo Sunset is a favorite because it has a nice pineapple flavor. It’s made with Coconut Rum, Peach Schnapps, Banana Liqueur, and Pineapple Juice. Tokyo Sunset However, the Violet Sake is the best-seller here. Read our review of the Tokyo Sunset Morocco At Oasis Sweet & Sips, Cast Member Steven told us the Frozen Citrus-Pomegranate Slushy is the way to go. Frozen Citrus Pomegranate Slushy Cast Members also recommended the Sangria cart where you can get Red or White Sangria. The sangria is made in-house, plus each serving serves two people. Learn more about the Sangria Cart France In France, you might think we’d get a wine recommendation. But Cast Member Kyle told us the Grey Goose Lemon Citron Slush is his favorite drink. Grey Goose Citron Slush This simple mixed drink, he said, “can get you there.” We’re not sure where THERE is, but we have a feeling that means it packs a punch. See what happens to this drink on St. Patrick’s Day UK Over at the UK Pavilion, Cast Member Trevor told us the Strongbow Cider was his favorite drink over at the Rose & Crown Pub. Rose & Crown Pub Menu He likes the refreshing apple taste it has. Read our most recent review of the Rose & Crown Dining Room in the UK Pavilion Canada Finally, we made our way to Canada, where Cast Member Kevin recommended the Blanche Chambly as his favorite drink. It’s a beer he says is very similar to Blue Moon. Blanche Chambly However, the most popular drink in Canada is the Ottawa Apple, and it’s made with Crown Royal Whiskey, maple, and apple-cranberry juice. So the next time you head to EPCOT and want to drink around the world, you’ve got some new recommendations to try. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! Who Actually Owns the World Showcase Pavilions in EPCOT? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you tried these drinks Cast Members have suggested? Let us know in the comments! The post The BEST Way To Drink Around the World, According to EPCOT Cast Members first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest Disney news, then you’ll know that there’s a lot going on right now. EPCOT Just this week, we got more news about menus at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, CEO Bob Iger remaining with Disney until 2026, and the rooms at BoardWalk Inn have changed. It can be a LOT to keep track of! But that’s why we’re here — we’ll let you know about anything that could impact your next Disney World vacation. And speaking of, it’s time to talk wait times! Each week we look at the average wait times in all four Disney World theme parks to see what the patterns are and if there are any rides in particular that you should watch out for. This week, we noticed that EPCOT had low wait times compared to the other parks which gives you another excuse to visit soon! This won’t last forever, though, because the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival officially starts on July 27th…and it brings TONS of people to the park. Right now the park is between festivals now that the Flower and Garden Festival is over, so we are interested to see how wait times change over the next couple of weeks when the festival begins. For a full look at the average wait times in Disney World, keep scrolling! Magic Kingdom Starting in Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time of 85 minutes. Last week the average wait time was 75 minutes, so the time has decreased a LOT this week. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Next, Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 70 minutes, Space Mountain averaged 65 minutes, and Jungle Cruise averaged 47 minutes. After that, average wait times had Haunted Mansion at 42 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 39 minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean at 35 minutes, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 33 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 30 minutes, and Enchanted Tales with Belle averaged 28 minutes. Bonjour, Lumiere! After that, “it’s a small world” averaged 22 minutes, Tomorrowland Speedway averaged 21 minutes, The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini averaged 19 minutes, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant averaged 16 minutes, and Mickey’s PhilharMagic averaged 14 minutes. “it’s a small world” Next, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover averaged 12 minutes, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel averaged 10 minutes, and Mad Tea Party averaged 10 minutes. The Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and the Liberty Square Riverboat all averaged 5 minutes. Enchanted Tiki Room The Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and Tom Sawyer Island averaged no wait. Reminder: TRON Lightcycle / Run does not have a posted wait time as it only uses a Virtual Queue or Individual Lightning Lane. Should I Spend $1,300 on These Magic Kingdom Souvenirs? No. Am I Gonna Do It Anyway? …Please Stop Me EPCOT Heading over to EPCOT, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure had an average wait time of 52 minutes — this is a decrease from last week. Frozen Ever After’s wait time also decreased to 53 minutes meaning this is the highest average wait time in the park. Frozen Ever After Next up is Test Track at 52 minutes, Soarin’ at 27 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 21 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 15 minutes, and Spaceship Earth at 12 minutes. Spaceship Earth Then, there is Journey into Imagination and The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 9 minutes, Gran Fiesta Tour at 7 minutes, and Living with the Land at 6 minutes. Living with the Land Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. Reminder: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind does not have a posted wait time as it only uses a Virtual Queue or Individual Lightning Lane. WARNING: A Popular EPCOT Ride Will Be CLOSED Next Wednesday Hollywood Studios Over in Hollywood Studios, Rise of the Resistance saw an increase from 67 minutes to 81 minutes this week. This is the first increase in this ride’s average wait time in a couple of weeks. Slinky Dog Dash also saw an increase to an 86-minute average making it the longest wait time in the park. Slinky Dog Dash Other wait times in the park include Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at 74 minutes, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 60 minutes, Toy Story Mania at 55 minutes, and Tower of Terror at 54 minutes. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster After that, Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 32 minutes, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue averaged 17 minutes, Walt Disney Presents averaged 16 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy averaged 14 minutes, and Muppet*Vision 3D averaged 10 minutes. Disney Reveals EXCLUSIVE Perks for Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom And last but not least, let’s talk about Animal Kingdom! Avatar Flight of Passage still had the longest average wait time this park this week with 95 minutes. This means the ride saw a MAJOR increase since last week’s 76-minute average. Pandora Following that, Na’vi River Journey at 58 minutes, Kali River Rapids at 34 minutes, Expedition Everest at 33 minutes, DINOSAUR at 30 minutes, and Kilimanjaro Safaris at 29 minutes. Dinosaur It’s Tough to Be a Bug averaged 10 minutes and TriceraTop Spin averaged 5 minutes. Both The Boneyard and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail averaged no wait time. Only the Experts Know These Unusual Facts about Disney’s Animal Kingdom When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! DFB t-shirt Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! Why You SHOULDN’T Visit the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival in July Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe You have to pick just ONE ride to do in Disney World — what do you pick? Tell us in the comments! The post The BIG Reason Why EPCOT Is the Best Park to Visit Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The ongoing political conflict between The Walt Disney Company and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (previously known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District) may soon come to a head. Following the latest update in the state case between the CFTOD and Disney, more news may be coming soon. Walt Disney World For reference, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board’s lawsuit came shortly after Disney filed a lawsuit against the Board and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The CFTOD Board filed a countersuit on May 1st, 2023. From there, Disney filed a motion to dismiss the CFTOD Board’s countersuit, stating the suit was “moot.” The CFTOD Board filed a response to Disney’s motion to dismiss, and finally, on July 14th, the judge heard arguments in the district’s lawsuit against Disney. Here’s what happens next. The Arguments Before we cover the judge’s ruling, let’s review the arguments from both sides. After Disney filed its motion to dismiss the state lawsuit, the CFTOD Board stated, “Disney’s motion is classic Imagineering, inviting the Court to make believe that reality is whatever Disney dreams up.” The response went on to argue that the Board’s original position on the matter is not, in fact, “moot.” Magic Kingdom To further illustrate the district’s argument, the Board’s original lawsuit stated, “Within its fiefdom, Disney wrote the laws that governed itself, chose whether and how to enforce those laws against itself, and set its own tax rate. No other Florida business, large or small, enjoyed those benefits.” Here, the Board is referencing the old Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was essentially set up — and run — by Disney. Reedy Creek Improvement District The Board’s lawsuit further stated, “There is no question that much good came from the special status that the Florida Legislature granted Disney in 1967. But over time Disney used its influence to obtain what must have seemed like permanent exemptions from the democratic checks and balances that apply to all other Florida businesses.” This is essentially the crux of the district’s argument. Disney vs. DeSantis Disney, on the other hand, argues that the state court lawsuit is irrelevant. Disney’s argument stems from the Board’s earlier actions; when the Board declared Disney’s agreements with the Reedy Creek board to be invalid, the Governor signed a bill attempting to void Disney’s old contracts by prohibiting the Board from complying with the terms of those contracts. Reedy Creek Building Disney argued, “That legislation renders Plaintiff’s complaint moot because it makes any order this Court could issue — in either party’s favor — legally irrelevant.” Basically, Disney asserts that if the court decides that the Board is wrong and the contracts complied with state law, the Board would still not be able to enforce them due to Florida law. If the Court finds that the Board is right and the contracts are invalid, it wouldn’t matter anyway because the new state law has already made them void. Click here to read more about Disney’s response to the lawsuit The Outcome Now that we’ve covered the overarching arguments, that brings us back to July 14th. The state court granted a hearing after Disney filed a motion to dismiss the CFTOD lawsuit (or at least put it on hold) and scheduled the hearing for July 14th. According to local news affiliate Spectrum News, Orange County Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber listened to arguments from both sides but ultimately did not make a decision. Instead, the judge asked both sides to submit proposed orders in their favor by July 19th. A ruling is expected to come soon. ©Spectrum News 13 Basically, this means the case is still ongoing, with no real update for now. Keep in mind that if the court sides with Disney, the District’s lawsuit would be dismissed. As a reminder, there are four main points outlined in the state lawsuit: A. Declare that the Development Agreement is void, unenforceable, and/or invalid B. Declare that the Restrictive Covenants are void, unenforceable, and/or invalid C. Issue an order enjoining Disney from enforcing the Development Agreement and the Restrictive Covenants D. Grant such other relief that this Court may deem just and proper. Click here to learn more about the lawsuit If the court decides to move forward with the lawsuit, Disney would be open to further litigation on the matter. We will continue to watch for updates and let you know what we find. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Florida Judge Expected To Rule in Disney Reedy Creek Lawsuit Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Could Gen Z CHANGE Disney World restaurants forever? Casey’s Corner We already talked about one Generation Z dining trend that seems to be impacting the theme parks — they don’t drink as much alcohol as other generations and are more inclined to order a non-alcoholic drink over a cocktail. But there’s another way that this group might have a major impact on Disney World: they love fast food! Gen Z — which the U.S. Census designates as those born between 1997 and 2013 — dine differently than other generations. According to an article from Business Insider, they eat fast food “like no other generation.” Gen Z LOVES Fast Food Although this group is still known to dine out at sit-down restaurants (according to Business Insider, some are “not afraid to splash out to make a meal an occasion”), they’re trending towards takeout and fast food rather than long, fancy meals. Lotus Blossom The CMO of El Pollo Loco, Andy Rebhun, said, “Speed and convenience are paramount to Gen Z. They want things now, meaning whatever easiest order mode they can get their food as quickly as possible, that’s usually what they’re doing.” They’re also more likely to use apps and delivery services, as this generation tends to be technology-savvy. ©DoorDash It’s important to note that even the oldest members of Gen Z are still just in their 20s right now, so it’s possible that dining out at fast food restaurants might decline as they get older. But a significant portion of this group is old enough to have disposable income, and they’re choosing to spend more of it at drive-thrus and other quick service options than at sit-down meals. Business Insider also noted that “young diners don’t tend to eat at regular times.” Instead, Gen Z likes to snack! Rebhun said, “I would say with Gen Z we don’t really see a pattern per se. It’s usually: ‘When it’s most convenient for me.’ They will eat whenever they can fit it into their schedule.” That means more quick meals and fewer drawn-out dinners. The Data Backs Up the Trend A study done by IBISWorld shows how this trend is already impacting fast food spending and industry profits. The following graph shows the market size of the quick service restaurant sector in the U.S. (in billions of dollars) from 2012 to 2022: ©IBISWorld Updated data show that the market size of fast food restaurants in the U.S. in 2023 increased yet again to $366.9 billion. Between 2018 and 2023, the market size growth of fast food restaurants in the U.S. increased by an average of 2.5% per year. McDonald’s IBISWorld reported that “the market size of the Fast Food Restaurants industry in the US increased faster than the economy overall.” In addition, “The market size of the Fast Food Restaurants industry in the US increased faster than the Accommodation and Food Services sector overall,” showing that interest in fast food is outpacing that of other restaurants. How Is This Changing Disney World? So how could we see this trend show up in Disney World? We may see more new quick service restaurants being announced than table service restaurants. Recently the Energy Bytes snack stand opened up near TRON Lightcycle / Run in Magic Kingdom, and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs is coming to Disney World’s BoardWalk Inn! Blue Ribbon’s Pickle Dog And there are two other new quick service restaurants at the BoardWalk: BoardWalk Deli and Carousel Coffee. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Some upcoming table service restaurants will offer quick service alternatives as well. The Cake Bake Shop is a sit-down restaurant, but it will have a quick-service takeaway counter so that you can still get the treats without sitting down for a long meal. Concept art for The Cake Bake Shop Summer House on the Lake in Disney Springs is going to have The Cookie Jar inside, which is “a dessert-focused market” that serves “freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.” ©Disney However, that doesn’t mean that Disney is abandoning sit-down restaurants. A couple of new table service restaurants opened recently, including Roundup Rodeo BBQ and Rosa Mexicano. Roundup Rodeo BBQ In the future, will we see more quick service than table service? Only time may tell, but the trends seem to point to that. Don’t forget that you can use Mobile Order at most quick service restaurants in Disney World to get your food even faster! Check out a list of new restaurants announced for Disney World here! If you’ll be visiting Disney World soon and want to know all the best places to eat, be sure to check out our DFB Guide to Dining in Disney World. It’s full of hundreds of photos, tips, and restaurant reviews! Grab the DFB Guide! We’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney World news, so stay tuned to DFB! We know where to get the BEST fast food in Disney World — click here! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Do you prefer fast food or sit-down meals? Let us know in the comments! The post Gen Z Is Deciding the Future of Disney Restaurants first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Everyone has their picks for the ideal places to go when you’ve got to “go,” but we’re here to reintroduce you to a familiar option. We never knew bathrooms could be so controversial With so much going on in Frontierland near the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction, it can be hard to navigate all of the construction to see exactly what is still open and what’s closed. We recently said goodbye to the pressed penny machines that held the last remnants of Splash Mountain in that same area. Listen, we recognize that there’s a preference as to which bathrooms are the best to visit in Disney World, and we’re here to tell you about some bathrooms we think you need to consider adding to your list. There is a set of restrooms in Frontierland that you may have forgotten about since all the new construction came to the area. Entrance queue construction Since the closure of Splash Mountain and the subsequent transformation into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the whole back queue area has been a mess. With so many walls around, it’s hard to tell that anything back that way is open. When the ride was in operation, the Frontierland bathrooms were almost always pretty busy! Frontierland bathrooms We figure that was mostly because the ride was capable of completely soaking you, so the nearby bathrooms were a great location to dry off. This came with its downfall, too, though, because that meant that EVERYONE also considered it a good place to get out of the way and get changed, so this spot was generally busy all day long. Since the ride has closed, the construction seems to keep most of the crowds away, making these restrooms a great, hidden spot. So fresh and so clean We’ve found that they’ve remained very clean, freshly scented, and well-kept for the past few months since the closure because most people aren’t walking back here to visit them. We’re not totally sure if everyone thinks they’re closed with all the other construction or just don’t know that they exist, but either way, we think this is one bathroom stop that’s worth taking your chances on! We like to watch for updates, tips, and tricks around Disney parks all the time to make your next visit the best it can be! For the latest in Disney news and updates, stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog. REVIEW: We Finally Found an Easy Way To Get the Best Meal in Disney’s Hollywood Studios 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which bathroom is your favorite to visit at Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Pssst! These Are the BEST Disney Bathrooms No One Will Tell You About -- But We Will! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What kind of snack does a superhero stop for during a day at Disney California Adventure? Avengers Campus With all of the fuss over the upcoming San Fransokyo Square and Tiana’s Palace set to open soon, there hasn’t been much news over by Avengers Campus… or so we thought! On a recent trip out to save the world with our favorite superheroes, we stopped taking a bite out of crime long enough to take a bite out of a new snack! It’s a well-known fact that walking around Disney parks all day can certainly help you drum up an appetite. Sometimes choosing what to eat requires you to find a good balance between something that will fill you up but not keep you feeling weighed down and sluggish through the rest of your park day. We started getting a bit hungry walking around Disney California Adventure and decided to head over to Avengers Campus to see what we could round up for a quick bite. Avengers Campus Our search led us to Pym’s Test Kitchen, where we noticed a snack we’d been hoping to try, so naturally, that’s what caught our attention! Admittedly though, it was a busy time to come for food, so it seems we weren’t the only ones thinking it was time to eat. Look at that line! Pym’s Test Kitchen Once we were inside and made it through the line, we finally acquired our prize! We picked up the Atomic Pretzel: Carne Asada Pretzel and decided to tell you all about it! This one cost us $15.49. It consists of a pretzel topped with marinated tri-tip, avocado salsa, roasted onions, and Oaxaca cheese. Atomic Pretzel: Carne Asada Pretzel This almost looks too good to bite into, but research, right? The whole pretzel had a pretty good spice throughout. The tri-tip was tender with a bit of sweet flavor to it. The avocado salsa had a refreshing avocado flavor that cooled down the spice and paired well with the sweet tri-tip. The Oaxaca cheese added hints of savory flavor to the pretzel, and it went well with all the other ingredients. Looks yummy! While there was spice to the pretzel and toppings, it wasn’t overpowering; we felt it had just enough to give a kick to the flavor. If you’re not big on “spicy” flavors or just want a simple snack, though, this is one you might wanna skip. If you’re totally down for interesting pretzels, Mexican food, and spices, this is certainly one we recommend you give a try! All in all, it was a filling snack that didn’t leave us with too much uncertainty, and we felt like we knew what we were getting with the ingredients from the menu listing. If you find yourself looking for something quick to snack on and continue your park day, this might make a great option for you. As always though, stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for the latest in Disney food news and updates! This Animal Kingdom Snack Is a Melty Mess But You’ll Want It Anyway Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of this new pretzel in DCA? Tell us your thoughts on it below! The post Disney’s Loaded Pretzel Cost Me , but I Still Can’t Resist first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Oh, how the good times have come… and gone? Disney World One would think that as time goes on that the services offered or amenities at an establishment would steadily increase in value. To that end, we’ve seen new attractions ideas pop up and plenty of new merchandise being offered at Disney World. But what about the resorts? How have their benefits been over the years? Let’s find out together. The answer may have you asking why anyone would stay at a Disney Resort. So let’s do a little retrospective and think about this for a minute. Let’s start with the Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours These were when select Disney Parks would stay open late OR open early exclusively for people staying at Disney World-owned resort hotels and several good neighbor hotels nearby. Extra Magic Hours The perk was usually offered at one or two parks per day and it was a great opportunity for people to experience rides with significantly shorter wait times due to the parks being less crowded! It also was a nice way to enjoy the parks in lower temperatures than during the normal day, because the hours were either early in the morning or late at night. Now let’s see what we have in 2023. Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours Early Theme Park Entry is available for guests of all Disney World hotels and offers people an extra 30 minutes in all four parks each day. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours are offered on select days of the week — but ONLY for those staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Villas. Depending on the night, resort guests can spend a few extra hours experiencing the parks and riding attractions with little to no wait. Do you see the difference? It’s subtle, but those evening hours are not available for all guests at a Disney Resort. Now, the next three have all gone the way of the dinosaur. Let’s just have a quick reminder about what they were: Disney’s Magical Express The Magical Express was a shuttle service that provided transportation between Orlando International Airport and Disney World. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World resort were able to reserve seats on the free transportation to get them from the Orlando International Airport directly to their Disney World Resort. Guests were even provided with special luggage tags, which meant that they didn’t need to collect their luggage at the airport either; these tags enabled Disney to collect guests’ luggage and deliver it to their resort later in the day. Inside Magical Express Bus However, as of January 1, 2022, Disney World discontinued the Magical Express airport transportation service. There have been a couple of replacement services that are available. Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer both emerged with paid services that provide a similar charter bus experience from the airport to your Disney resort — but now with the added benefit of not exclusively serving Disney World resorts. These shuttles can also provide service for other select hotel guests. And it was just announced that these services are merging! Sunshine Flyer There’s also the option of a car service, a rideshare, or even taxi. These will provide more direct experiences without multiple stops along the route, but may be more expensive or even not an option if you’re traveling with small children who require car seats or large groups that exceed the passenger limit. Advance FastPass+ Reservations FastPass+ was a free service included with your Disney World theme park admission which allowed guests to reserve a specific window of time to ride an attraction without having to wait in the full line. Guests booked a FastPass+ for a certain window of time and headed to the ride sometime during that window. A designated FastPass+ line allowed these guests to bypass the regular standby line, and have a very short wait before boarding the attraction. FastPass+ Lane The direct replacement for this is in the Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Attraction Selections. The Disney Genie Plus base-price option allows guests to select the next available time to arrive at an attraction (similar to the previous FastPass+ time windows) and enter that attraction’s Lightning Lane. Individual Attraction Lightning Lane Selection is a pay-per-ride service. Guests pay a fee to utilize the Lightning Lane for an individual, in-demand attraction. Complimentary MagicBands Back in the day, Disney World Hotel guests would receive a complimentary solid-colored MagicBand. However, Disney discontinued FREE MagicBands in January 2021. MagicBands Now, all of the same basic functionality can be found within the My Disney Experience app on your smart devices like allowing guests to unlock their rooms using their smartphones. So, MagicBands are no longer offered for free, but you may be able to get a discount on a new one if you have an annual pass or another discount. Now the only thing that cannot be directly compared is that currently, resort guests can make 7 AM Genie+ reservations. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if that makes up for the other things missing from the benefits list as you make your Disney trip plans. Until then, keep it right here for all the latest Disney news! Click here for more on the hotel perks that will extend through 2024 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How do you feel about the current benefits offered for staying at a Disney resort? Let us know us below! The post How Disney World Hotel Perks Went from Awesome to Awful first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article