Disney4me

Magic Kingdom is full of rides, shows, parades, snacks, and more… Magic Kingdom Train Station Our readers spend a lot of time and energy planning their Disney World vacations. And every day, we try to help you in that process. We recently asked our readers “If you could redo one thing about your last Magic Kingdom trip, what would it be?” and you all had some THOUGHTS! We want to share those here to help you avoid their mistakes. Before we jump into what our readers would do differently, have you downloaded our FREE Magic Kingdom Checklist? This is a checklist we put together to make sure you don’t miss anything on your next trip. It is easy to use on your mobile device so you can have it in the parks with you. It’s a great resource to help you have a great park day. Alright, now let’s get into the mistakes our readers said they made at Magic Kingdom. 1. Not Booking a Lightning Lane or Joining a Virtual Queue at 7 AM Many of our readers told us they forgot to book their Lightning Lane and join the virtual queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run right at 7 AM. 7 AM can come up quickly after a long park day the day before, and it could easily slip your mind. TRON’s virtual queue can fill up quickly at 7 AM, and every second counts when you’re trying to get a boarding group. Lightning Lanes for popular rides — like Peter Pan’s Flight — also fill up quickly, so you want to grab those as soon as you can. TRON Lightcycle / Run So to avoid the mistake of some of our readers, be sure to set several alarms to remind you to book those Must-Do attractions right at 7AM. If you are wanting to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you can do so at 7 AM if you are staying at a Disney hotel, or at park opening if you are staying somewhere else. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 2. Doing Just One at Magic Kingdom There is so much to do, eat and see in Magic Kingdom, and it can be very hard to get it done in one park day. Sophia wrote, “Block 2 days at Magic Kingdom … we missed out on a lot of things.” Even if you are starting at park open, getting Lightning Lane, and staying to park close, you might not be able to get in everything you want to do. Walt Disney World Some of our readers suggest going to Magic Kingdom for two days on your trip if you have the time. You might be able to relax more and take everything in if you do have two days at the park. This could help you get through that list of snacks you must try, ride more rides and see all of the entertainment options. Main Street U.S.A 3. Making Too Many Table Service Dining Reservations Michelle wrote, “I plan to make either no dining reservations or maybe one for the whole trip… It made the day more stressful trying to plan around the dining reservation, and the table restaurants were so expensive.” Many readers agreed with this. When Magic Kingdom has so much to offer, taking an hour or two for a sit-down meal can really cut into what you can get done. Be Our Guest Restaurant Instead, you can opt for quick service meals,but make sure you Mobile Order ahead. This can save you time waiting in line to order. We recommend Columbia Harbour House, which offers items like Salmon, Grilled Shrimp, and Salads. Columbia Harbour House Spread 4. Not Taking Enough Photos Many of our readers said they wished they would have taken more photos of their family or themself at the park. It can be hard to remember to capture those moments when you’re so focused on completing your checklist, but you will want to have something that you can look back on after your trip. You can utilize Photopass, which is a service Disney offers with photographers stationed around the parks to take your photo for you. You can purchase these photos, but you can also sometimes ask these Cast Members to take your photo with your phone. PhotoPass Cast Members We also get tempted to take pictures OF the park instead of us in the park, but you won’t regret taking that extra minute to snag a photo. So, pull out that device and make sure to capture you and your party enjoying the day. Magic Kingdom 5. Rushing Through the Day Tacking on to the last two redos, many readers said they wished they would have slowed down and not rushed so much during their park day. Elizabeth said, “Too much rushing around and not enough time to stop and relax.” When you have worked hard to plan the perfect park day, you can feel pressure to complete it all. But you will regret not taking a moment to take in the magic. View from the train station Take time to appreciate the small things. Walk up to the top of the train station at the front of Magic Kingdom and take in the views. Or can sit in a rocking chair in Frontierland and enjoy the people walking by. Views in Frontierland 6. Leaving the Park Lisa said … “I wouldn’t leave.” Many readers wrote similar answers. Of course, we all know every vacation has to end, but wouldn’t it be so nice if we never had to say goodbye to those castle views?! Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom We hope our readers can help you not make some of these mistakes on your next trip to Magic Kingdom. For more Disney Parks tips and tricks, be sure to follow us at DFB! If you are planning a trip to Disney World soon, check out our resources below. 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 What is something you would redo about your last Magic Kingdom trip? Let us know in the comments below. The post The Worst Mistakes You Actually Made in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Cast Members are the HEART and soul of the company. Cast Members doing water art Not only do they go out of their way to make sure we’re taken care of when something doesn’t go right in the parks or when we have questions about things, but they’re also there to make sure we stay safe on rides (and during other situations), and we see them create EXTRA magic in the parks all the time. It seems like we all agree on this, too, because the Cast Compliments feature in the Disney mobile apps has just reached a BIG milestone. The Cast Compliment feature on the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps has made giving a Cast Member a compliment easier than ever. Well, a LOT of people have used that feature because Disney just announced that Cast Members have received a total of one MILLION Cast Compliments through the apps! Cast Members with games in Frontierland To celebrate, those Cast Members who received the highest number of compliments were recognized for their efforts. Remington Davis, a security host at Disneyland Resort, was just one of MANY Cast Members who got special recognition. Davis said, “Being recognized for doing a great job gives me a heartwarming feeling. When you enjoy what you do, it’s not work, and it makes me happy to know that I am bringing joy to someone’s day. I like to greet guests with a smile, give them a high-five and welcome them to the resort.” ©Disney Want to know how to use the Cast Compliment feature? On the My Disney Experience app, you’ll want to click on the three lines at the bottom right of the home screen of the app and scroll down to “Cast Compliment.” (It’s close to the bottom of the menu.) Then you just select why you’re complimenting the Cast Member, their location, their name and hometown (if you know it), and the date of the interaction. ©Disney World The process is exactly the same on the Disneyland app — you’ll find “Cast Compliment” after clicking on the three bars on the bottom right of the app and scrolling down to “Cast Compliment.” ©Disneyland So keep that in mind if you ever want to commend a Cast Member for a job well done or for making your trip a little extra magical. Those compliments go a long way and we know those Cast Members love getting them! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! Disney Cast Members Share the BEST Hollywood Studios Food, and Kevin May Be On To Something 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 ever used the Cast Compliment feature on the mobile apps? Let us know in the comments! The post The Disney App Reached a Major Milestone Today! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tiana's Bayou Adventure Research Trip With Joy Ofodu & Disney Imagineering | Disney ParksView the full article

Okay, so we know a lot of you are HUGE Haunted Mansion fans. Haunted Mansion in Disney World We get it — we also start throwing money at Disney when the company releases new Haunted Mansion merchandise. Yes, we’ve seen a Loungefly bag (or several), ears, plus a spirit jersey, plus ornaments, and more. But the one thing we never realized we ALWAYS wanted is now available online — and it’s pricey. BUT IT’S ALSO WAY COOL. Someone stop us from blowing our entire souvenir budget on it. So we were just browsing the Lowe’s website, as one does, and happened upon something UH-mazing. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. It’s a Haunted Mansion Caretaker animatronic…FOR YOUR HOUSE. Check Out the 6-Foot Lighted Animatronic Caretaker ©Lowe’s You can actually get a 6-foot-tall Haunted Mansion caretaker ANIMATRONIC that moves and plays “Grim Grinning Ghosts” with crow sound effects. Say what? WE NEED THIS. Yes, he’s pricey, but still… View on Lowe’sThat’s not all, though. Lowes has a bunch of other Disney Halloween items that we really want to add to our online carts! Check ’em out. Buy the 6-Foot Lighted Mickey Mouse Inflatable ©Lowe’s You can also get a 6-foot-tall lighted Mickey Mouse inflatable. And look — he’s wearing a candy corn hat! He’s got interior lights that make him nice and bright at night, so he’s the perfect addition to your Halloween yard decor. View on Lowe’s Get the Lighted Mickey Mouse Candy Corn Inflatable ©Lowe’s Or you could spend a little more and get a 9.5-foot Mickey Mouse Inflatable shaped like candy corn. How adorable is this? This would also make a SPLENDIDLY spooky addition to your yard during Halloween season. View on Lowe’s It’s never to early to start planning for your Halloween decorations, right? So head on over to Lowe’s to see what fun items you can get RIGHT NOW! While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? We’ve even got shirts to get you in the Halloween spirit! Our Hocus Pocus shirts! 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! This is NOT A Drill! Disney Halloween Loungefly Bags ARE HERE! 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 Do you have plans for your Halloween yard decorations this year? Tell us all about it in the comments! The post I Love the Haunted Mansion...but I Really Shouldn't Spend 0 on This...Right? 😅 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Where could you grow with a role at Disney? 🌲✨ #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyCareers #ShortsView the full article

Today is a BIG day, my friends. We’ve got our forks at the ready and we’re ready to take on the BEST food across all of EPCOT. There are plenty of great food options at EPCOT! Is your stomach growling? Just you WAIT – things are about to get TASTY. Check out our video below: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Food in EPCOT  Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Stay tuned for more Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite food to eat in EPCOT? Tell us in the comments below. The post DFB Video: Ultimate Guide to the Best Food in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is a weird and wonderful place with all kinds of opportunities to create fun memories. Disney Ducks having their own parade down Main Street, U.S.A. Getting to hug Mickey Mouse in real life? Check. Watching Tinker Bell fly overhead after watching Happily Ever After for the first time? Check. Seeing the cutest baby tamarins cling to the back of their mother in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Check. But sometimes, the best experiences in Disney World are the ones that involve Disney ducks. Disney ducks are icons in the parks! Whether they are holding up a parade in Disneyland or taking a snooze in Magic Kingdom after a long day in the sun — we can’t get enough of them. Bonus if you catch a whole family with their little ducklings! In the spring in early summer, EPCOT is full of the little babes. Have you ever noticed they love to hang out in the ponds near the Imagination Pavilion? We LOVE Disney ducks! We’ve seen these ducks take turns jumping off of the ledges and into the water in the cutest dives you’ve ever seen. We confirmed with a cast member (who seemed just as excited as we were) that these ramps were in fact installed for the little birds. This ramp was made for him, and he knows it. So, next time you’re walking around these ponds, keep an ear out for little peeps — they’ll often lead you to the sight of these babes. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news! Click here to see the new Food and Wine booths that have arrived 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 What is your favorite Disney duck story? Let us know in the comments below! The post I Promise This Is the CUTEST Disney News You’re Going To See Possibly Ever first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World sure knows how to do snacks — but one park, in particular, stands out above the rest. Food and Wine Festival (2022) EPCOT is known for its many festivals throughout the year, and they happen to be some of our favorite events. While the Flower & Garden Festival may still be underway, it looks like EPCOT is already preparing for the next one — Food & Wine! We’re not talking menu sneak peeks and merch drops — nope. There’s an even bigger sign that Food & Wine will be here before we know it! Hey EPCOT — you okay?? We’re still in the midst of the Flower & Garden Festival until July 5th, but it looks like Disney has already jumped the gun and started setting up for the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is an annual celebration of global cuisine in Disney World, and this year it takes place from July 27 through November 18, 2023. Food & Wine 2022 But, before the Flower & Garden Festival has even ended, Food & Wine food booths have started popping up around the World Showcase! This seems pretty early to us, especially since we’re over a month from the start of Food & Wine and booths are still up for Flower & Garden! We’re certainly not complaining, though, as Food & Wine is one of our favorite festivals of the year (though, let’s be real, we love them all). World Showcase Lagoon So far, we’ve spotted what looks like Ireland… Ireland! …Belgium… Belgium …Spain… Spain …Kenya… Kenya …The Alps… The Alps …and India! India Disney has yet to confirm the food booths that will be available at this year’s festival, though we did already know that India and Spain would be returning based on an earlier announcement. Of course, we’re waiting on the edges of our seats for those booths to be revealed, and will likely have to wait even longer before we get the full list of menus. Full spread from The Alps! The Eat to the Beat Concert Series is also returning to this year’s festival. The concerts take place on select nights during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival at America Garden Theater. Showtimes will take place at 5:30PM, 6:45PM, and 8PM on Fridays through Mondays. Read more here! Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Looking for some of our best tips for tackling the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? We’ve put together 10 of our readers’ best festival tips here. We’ll be posting LIVE from the festival on day one, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more. And, if you want to score some fashion points at this year’s festival, be sure to check out our Food and Wine Vibes Tank now available at the DFB Store. Food & Wine vibes! Stay tuned for more EPCOT Food & Wine Festival news! Find Out EVERYTHING You Need To Know About the 2023 Food & Wine Festival Here WE WASTED MONEY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO. 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! What’s your favorite EPCOT festival? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: Food and Wine Festival Booths HAVE ARRIVED in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Since it was first announced, we’ve been SO excited for the chance to have our first walkthrough of the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana! But as much as we’re looking forward to our chance to play in this space…we’re also getting more and more worried. Journey of Water Concept Art ©Disney Guests will be able to explore what Disney has described as a “lush exploration trail” that allows explorers to “play with magical, living water” through an immersive walk-through attraction. Well, we sure hope so. When the details for the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana attraction at EPCOT first came out, our anticipation soared! But as time as gone on and more information has been released, concern grew right along with our excitement, and we continue to have questions about this project as it gets closer and closer to completion. Let’s go over a couple of those together. Journey of Water Concept Art as seen in The EPCOT Experience The Departure from Traditional Rides One major concern revolves around the departure from traditional rides. Unlike other popular attractions that offer thrilling adventures, Journey of Water is described as a walk-through exploration trail, which makes us worry that this departure from a traditional ride format might not provide the same level of excitement and entertainment we’ve come to expect from Disney theme parks. We know that we will be able to interact with the water elements, so we’ll need to wait and see how truly “immersive” this ends up being. Journey of Water Concept Art as seen in The EPCOT Experience Potential Lack of Replay Value Another concern is the potential lack of replay value. While a walk-through experience can be immersive and visually stunning, there is a question of whether the attraction will offer enough variety and interactive elements to warrant multiple visits. To that end, hopefully the 15-foot tall model of Te Fiti will make us want to come back again and again. Te Fiti Sculpture in Journey of Water With that said, we are eager to know if there will be enough surprises and engaging activities along the trail to make each visit a unique experience. Limited Moana Connection Despite being inspired by the beloved film Moana, some of us are worried that the attraction might not feature enough direct references to the characters and storyline. ©Disney The focus on the water cycle and conservation is commendable, but we who were expecting a more immersive Moana experience may feel slightly disappointed if the film’s presence is not as prominent as anticipated. Impact on EPCOT’s Overall Transformation EPCOT is currently undergoing a significant transformation, and that raises some concerns about how Journey of Water fits into the park’s overall vision. Journey of Water Concept Art © Disney With the Future World section undergoing extensive changes, there is a question of how this attraction will blend with the new thematic elements and whether it will complement the park’s educational and futuristic focus. Disney has shared that in addition to the trail and interactive living water experiences, that guests will “learn about the importance of the natural water cycle and the important role we all share in preserving this life-giving and life-sustaining precious resource.” ©Disney As we said before, hopefully activities along the trail will feel cohesive with the park’s vision and make each visit a unique experience. Journey of Water construction site — March 2023 Despite the concerns, there is still much excitement surrounding the Journey of Water attraction. Disney’s ability to create immersive environments and captivating storytelling has consistently impressed us in the past. With the promise of lush landscapes, interactive water elements, and the incorporation of Moana-inspired elements, we have an optimistic hope that Journey of Water will deliver a unique and memorable experience that resonates with us as visitors. Until then, stay tuned for the latest on the transformation of EPCOT and more Disney news! Click here for the latest on EPCOT and the Moana-inspired attraction Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana Has the Mary Poppins Project at Disney World Been Canceled? What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Fireworks Show Coming to EPCOT Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest EPCOT transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What are your thoughts about this new Moana-inspired attraction? Let us know below! The post Why We're Worried About EPCOT's New Moana Attraction first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know that feeling … you have just entered Magic Kingdom, you’re taking in the sights and sounds and smells, maybe you’re even a little teary at the thought of the magical day ahead. Rolling ankles for 50 years! And then, BAM! Yep. You forgot about the trolley tracks and tripped again! We’re introducing our newest DFB-exclusive shirt design, and it’s a PSA, really… Grab our DFB-exclusive merch! Now you can warn everyone you encounter at Magic Kingdom to remember those tracks! Check Out Our Latest Shirt Design Here! This design features one of our favorite sights in Disney World — a Main Street Trolley. Sweatshirts also available! And as your Random Act of Kindness for the day, it includes a warning for fellow Disney travelers … because we’ve been tripping on tracks on Main Street since 1971. Main Street U.S.A. You’ll find this DFB-exclusive design and lots more at DFBStore.com! Shop This DFB-Exclusive Design Here! Keep following DFB for more fun designs to show your love of Disney in the parks and at home! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post If You've Ever Tripped on the Tracks in Disney World ... We've Got a Shirt for That first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Things are ever-evolving at the former Reedy Creek Improvement District that governs the land on which Disney World operates in Florida. Reedy Creek Improvement District The District is now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, it has a new Board of Supervisors appointed by Governor DeSantis (which has seen some recent changes), lawsuits are still pending regarding Disney and DeSantis’ battle over the District, and we’ve even seen some updates from the District’s firefighters. But now we have more news. On June 21st, the District’s Board of Supervisors met to discuss pending matters. Just what came out of that meeting? We’re breaking down what you need to know right here. 1 — New Logo First up, the District revealed its NEW logo — you can see it below. According to the new District Administrator — Glenton Gilzean — they were able to get feedback on the matter from staff and others. He shared that the District is in a “new chapter” and that the new look will “enhance” its brand recognition and resonate with the millions of guests that visit the District each year. ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board This might be a subtle change, but it is important as it could eventually get rolled out to various areas throughout Disney World to really mark the shift from Reedy Creek to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. It serves as another way to really distance the existing Board and what it’s trying to do with the older board that had much more involvement and control by Disney. In the past, we’ve seen the old Reedy Creek logo on trash cans and other signs in Disney Springs, so those could change in the future. Reedy Creek Trash Cans It will also likely mark the start of further changes on the District’s website and other places all throughout the District where the “Reedy Creek” name appears. Click here to learn about the NEW board member that has joined the District 2 — Whistleblower Policy Second, the District’s Board of Supervisors adopted a new whistleblower policy. Martin Garcia, the chair of the Board, expressed his hope that this will send a message that the culture in the District (from the Board’s perspective) is that they want to hear all types of feedback and information about the District — good, bad, and ugly. As the Orlando Sentinel points out, Garcia shared, “We want to adopt a policy that says we don’t have deaf ears, nothing will fall on deaf ears…So if you have an issue, here is a new policy. Here is a new culture.” ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream Reportedly the adoption of this policy came following the concerns expressed by some District employees about their complaints not being fully listened to by the prior board. The Sentinel says the policy “provides protections for whistleblowers and sets out the process for reporting unlawful activity and other concerns.” It is meant to supplement Florida’s existing whistleblower act (not replace it). There will be a delayed effective date for union employees (delayed until August 1st at the earliest), but the policy applies immediately to nonunion staff. 3 — Advisory Board Another thing discussed at the recent meeting was the creation of new advisory boards. Specifically, District Administrator Gilzean shared that he had several conversations with some of the District’s taxpayers, including one individual who owns several restaurants at Disney Springs. Gilzean noted that they’re in discussion about what these boards will look like with the “goal” being to have “honest and open conversations that deal[] with much of the misinformation that is currently out there.” ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream Gilzean shared that a recent meeting he had on this issue was productive. The Orlando Business Journal notes that this marks the start of some “headway” in the District’s efforts to “create an advisory group for businesses in and around Walt Disney World.” Gilzean has said his goal is to “get input from as many people as possible so when we develop this, it’s supported by the neighbors.” He has indicated that the District will decide if multiple advisory groups (based on the needs of different types of businesses or issues) will be needed. Reedy Creek And it seems like some are responding positively to this news. Jay Leonard — complex general manager of the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs hotel — said that this is a good sign and that the advisory group could “bridge the gap” between these businesses and the Board. We’ll continue to watch for updates as to how this situation moves forward. 4 — Firefighters Update In terms of an update on the firefighter situation, the Sentinel reports that Gilzean said he is working to finalize the contract that had already been approved by unionized firefighters. The contract would increase their pay and add more firefighters and paramedics to their team. After the June 21st meeting Gilzean shared, “We’re going to give our firefighters the best resources.” Reedy Creek Fire Department The Board of Supervisors for the District will meet in a closed-door session to discuss the negotiations with the union. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Gilzean has said that the contract approval was delayed for “procedural reasons because he wanted to complete agreements with all bargaining units at the same time.” The president of the firefighters union — Jon Shirey — previously expressed some frustration over the situation. Shirey slammed union members for sharing the proposed contract, claiming that this is pressuring the new District administrator not to sign since other public officials are complaining about the deal. “We just shot ourselves in the foot to the tune of millions of dollars that this agreement would have put into the pockets of our members,” Shirey wrote to the firefighters. Read more about Shirey’s comments here. Jon Shirey, President of the Reedy Creek Firefighters Association | ©Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel Those are the main updates from Reedy Creek for now but we expect many more will be on the way as both the federal and state lawsuits involving Disney and Reedy Creek are still pending, plus more Board meetings are scheduled for the future with more changes likely on the way. We’ll look for more news as that all continues and share the latest updates with you so stay tuned. Click here to learn about the hearing set in the Reedy Creek vs Disney lawsuit Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Subtle But Important Change Revealed for Disney's Reedy Creek District first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If the humidity and crowds at the parks haven’t told you yet, it’s summer at Disney World. Disney Springs We are looking forward to a lot of things this summer at Disney World like the start of EPCOT’s International Food and Wine Festival, which starts July 27th. But that’s not the only festival to enjoy this summer in Disney World. We now have NEW details on an event that is happening at Disney Springs soon and you’re going to want to make sure you know these info when planning your visit! This year, Disney Springs is once again hosting the Flavors of Florida festival presented by CORKCICLE. During the event, you can enjoy cuisine inspired by the Sunshine State. The event runs from July 1st through August 13th, and over 30 restaurants and shops all around Disney Springs will showcase limited-time dishes and drinks during this time. ©Disney We’ve got a FULL LIST of the eats and drinks coming, and details about special culinary demonstrations that’ll be available too. But we were also invited by Disney to get a sneak peek of the event and now we’re sharing all those details with you! First up, we had the opportunity to visit Wine Bar George to learn about what items they will be adding to the menu for the Flavors of Florida event. We were able to try the Frozen Old Fashioned which is made with DOLE Whip Orange and George Dickel 8-Year-Old Tennesse Whiskey. (We actually saw this offered in 2022 as well though it was made with a different whiskey and featured orange bitters back then.) This had a VERY strong whiskey flavor but the DOLE Whip Orange did a decent job balancing it out. Just be warned — if you don’t like whiskey, this will not be something you’ll want to try! Frozen Old Fashioned If you’re looking to grab something special to go with that drink, Wine Bar George will be offering a twist on their classic Buratta. During Flavors of Florida, you’ll be able to grab the Dicuru Burrata which uses Florida-sourced ingredients. You can hear master sommelier, George Miliotes speak about the dish below and where each ingredient comes from. During Flavors of Florida, guests can stop by the Disney Springs Welcome Center (or any participating location listed below) for an event guide. That makes for a fun souvenir and guide to the event! 2023 Event Guide With over 60 new items coming, there could be something for everyone in your group to enjoy. Just remember these won’t be around forever — the event only lasts through August 13th so you don’t want to miss out! Click Here for a Full List of Items Coming to the Flavors of Florida Event We’ll keep an eye out for more updates about Flavors of Florida and share those with you. For more Disney Springs updates, click here for a recipe that’ll help you make an iconic dessert from a Disney Springs spot at home!  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 you most looking forward to about this event? Let us know in the comments below. Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of the Flavors of Florida event. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post Sneak Peek at Limited-Time Menu Items Coming to The Polite Pig and Wine Bar George in Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Something new has been announced for Disney California Adventure Park! Avengers Campus The park is already set to get a new store in Avengers Campus along with a limited-time Rogers: The Musical show. But now a separate limited-time offering has popped up! If you’re heading to Disneyland Resort soon, be sure to stop by Avengers Campus for a limited-time character appearance! We’ve seen Disney do this in the past — introduce characters for a limited time in Avengers Campus — to match up with the release of new movies and Disney+ specials, and now it has happened again! What do you think? Will you be stopping by Avengers Campus to check out this new experience? Tell us in the comments! To learn ALL about the land within Disney California Adventure Park, click here! And stay tuned for more news. Click here to see a NEW Marvel-themed popcorn bucket coming soon! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you excited about this experience? Tell us in the comments. The post Disney Announces ALL-NEW Interactive Park Experience first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We’re gearing up for a big holiday! ©Amazon If you’re an online shopper, then you probably know all about Amazon Prime Day! The two-day event takes place July 11th-12th this year, and it’s going to be marked with some major deals for Amazon Prime members. But if you don’t want to wait until the sale REALLY begins, then we have good news! Amazon has already released some early Prime Day deals online, and we’re here to round up some of the best. Let’s dive in and see how you can save! Kodak Mini Retro Portable Photo Printer ©Amazon Want to print your pictures on the go? The first deal on our list is for this Kodak mini photo printer, which comes with 8 sheets and prints photos in seconds. You can print both bordered or borderless pictures and the printer is small enough to fit in your hands. It’s on sale right now for 36% off. VIEW ON AMAZON HERE! Prime Video Deals ©Amazon Looking to add some movies or TV series to your collection? Then you’ll want to check out the Prime Video deals! You can save up to 50% on select DC movies, score a bundle with Amazon Music and Prime Video for $0.99 per month, or purchase a variety of shows for less than $10. That’s a steal! CHECK OUT ALL THE PRIME VIDEO DEALS HERE! Fire TV ©Amazon Once you’ve got all those shows and movies, you’ll need somewhere to watch them! Say hello to the Amazon Fire TV 40″ 2-Series 1080P Smart TV. It allows you to stream live TV without cable, and it comes capable with Alexa Voice Search. Right now, you can snag one for 24% off. GET THE AMAZON FIRE TV ONLINE HERE! Fire Tablet ©Amazon Another great deal you can snag currently is the 2022 Blue Fire HD 8 Kids’ Tablet. It comes with a kit-proof case and has 13 hours of battery life. The 32GB version. ison sale right now for 50% off. That’s a steal! GET THE AMAZON FIRE TABLET FOR KIDS HERE! Kids’ Echo Dot ©Amazon Speaking of new tech for the kiddos, we have to mention the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Generation for Kids. It’s designed for little ones and has parental controls, plus comes with a year’s worth of Amazon Kids+. Right now it’s on sale for 53% off. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE KIDS ECHO DOT! Prime Gaming Deals ©Amazon Are you a gamer? Right now, there are several free games and in-game items available with Amazon Prime. Check out Amazon Prime Gaming to find plenty of in-game content, daily challenges, and games that will be available with your membership between now and Prime Day. CHECK OUT THE GAMING DEALS HERE! Kindle Unlimited Deal ©Kindle Unlimited And finally, we’ve got to talk about this GREAT deal on Kindle Unlimited, where Amazon Prime members can currently get three months FREE! Unlimited reading and listening are available on any device. It’s time to check off those summer reading lists. CLICK HERE TO GET KINDLE UNLIMITED!Those are the big deals available online now, but we’ll update you as more deals become available. Keep following DFB for the latest on the Amazon Prime Day news so that you can score ALL the savings! Click Here to Learn More About Amazon Prime Day! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are you planning on buying during Amazon Prime Day? Tell us in the comments! The post 7 Early Amazon Prime Day Deals You Can Shop NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Marvel fans — if you’ve loved all the merchandise that has popped up in the theme parks and online after the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in early June we’ve got some news you need to know! ©Sony Pictures Animation We’ve seen lots of merchandise themed to the film in the parks, the movie has hit some big numbers at the box office, and we’ve even seen a Spider-Man BURGER released. If you loved the new film (or any Spider-Man film) this post is all about how YOU could win some special Spider-Man merchandise. SoleSavy is hosting a raffle in which you could win a pair of Nike Air Jordan 1 Utility Stash Sneakers as seen in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. ©SoleSavy These shoes aren’t available for purchase, so winning this raffle is your main chance at owning them! According to a post from the SoleSavy site, only 100 pairs of the shoes were made and sent to “Jordan Brand and Sony Pictures friends and family to celebrate the film’s release.” Want to bring ’em home? Here’s what you need to know! ©SoleSavy To enter, you’ll need to download the DROPS by SoleSavy app. From there, head to the ‘Releases’ tab within the app where you’ll find the listing for the raffle. You’ll fill out a form, and you’ll want to follow SoleSavy on Instagram too. Then you’re done! To be eligible, you’ll just need to create a Basic, MobilePlus, or Premium Sole Savy account. ©SoleSavy The raffle closes Sunday, June 25th, 2023 at 5PM EST. So, if you’re hoping to enter, you’ll want to hurry! There is a limit of 1 entry per person, the size of the sneaker will be random, and it’s open to the US, Canada, and UK only. ©SoleSavy We’ll continue to keep you updated with any and all Disney news and updates, giveaways and raffles included. Make sure to follow along so that you never miss a thing! Looking for more Disney movie news? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be entering this raffle? Let us know in the comments! The post Hold Up! You Could Win This Super EXCLUSIVE Souvenir Online Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are constantly new things to try at Disney World, and we work to bring you ALL of the latest updates so that you can best plan for your next trip! Tomorrowland We have shared updated reviews for some of the most talked about restaurants. We recently tried a new chocolate treat at Magic Kingdom and we are looking forward to the over 60(!!) new items coming to Disney Springs soon. Now, we’re heading into Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom where you’ll find something NEW that looks very much like a science experiment gone…wrong. Energy Bytes, the snack stand next to TRON Lightcycle/Run, has seen some menu changes lately. Recently we saw that its 2 savory options suddenly DISAPPEARED from the menu. And now, we spotted a NEW drink that has been added to the menu. The NEW Pina Colada Slushy can be purchased for $5.99. This is a drink made with Chipotle Pineapple, Matcha, and Popping Candy. Let’s start with the look. As you stare down into the drink, you may be a bit…disgusted? Confused? There’s a LOT going on here and it sort of looks like the top of the drink is covered in MOLD! What is with Disney and moldy-looking snacks — anyone remember that bread from Disneyland? Of course, it’s not covered in mold — that’s just all of the matcha powder and popping candy but still — you’ll need to get past that initial shock to really enjoy this one. And we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised once you go past its less-than-attractive topping! There’s a lot happening here Overall, we enjoyed the drink but there is a BIG WARNING we need to give you — MIX IT! We took a quick sip before mixing and were met with a strong matcha powder taste. But, once mixed, it proved to be a sweet and tropical drink with a nice spicy kick to balance it out. It was refreshing and light — great for a hot day! Pina Colada Slushy The popping candy was SO fun. It added a really unique texture but be warned — it is loud. Also, keep in mind that this is NOT your average Pina Colada. The spicy chipotle pineapples take it to another level so you’ll want to go in expecting that. If you don’t love matcha, pineapple-coconut, or spicy drinks, you’ll want to skip this one. But if you like those flavors and remember to MIX, MIX, MIX, we think this is one you could really enjoy. Our reporter shared that they’d totally get this again, but we are partial to the pineapple-coconut combination. Do you remember our love for the Tropical Serenade? Our Drink What do you think? Would you be willing to give this drink a try? Tell us in the comments! For more news about Disney snacks and drinks, stay tuned! 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 Will you be grabbing one of these on your next trip to Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below. The post Disney World’s Newest Drink Looks Like It’s Covered in MOLD 😳 But You’ll Want It Anyway first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, friends, it has happened again. Disney just announced a HUGE sale online. Time to stock up on some Disney stuff You might already have SO much Disney stuff at home, like Loungefly bags, Munchlings plushes, pins, and more. But this sale is for tees and pajamas, and well, can you ever have too many of those? (Hint: the answer is no). So you might as well get them while they’re on sale, right? DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Here are the deets: shopDisney is having a Flash Fantasy Sale RIGHT NOW and a lot of stuff has been marked off! So let’s do some shopping! Buy The Mickey Mouse and Friends T-Shirt ©Disney This shirt is all about Mickey and his friends with 1930s vintage art! Characters featured on the shirt include Mickey Mouse, Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Pig (The Three Little Pigs), Three Orphan Kittens, Toby Tortoise and Max Hare (The Tortoise and the Hare), Abner and Monty (The Country Cousin), Flowers and Trees, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow. WOW. That’s a bunch of fun on just one tee! View on shopDisney Get the Buzz Lightyear PJs ©Disney If you have a kid who loves Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear, these pajamas might be a must! ©Disney It’s a two-piece set with a long-sleeve shirt and pants made to look just like Buzz Lightyear’s outfit. View on shopDisney Check Out the Disney100 Unified Characters Shirt ©Disney This tee features screen art of some of your favorite Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel characters. Characters include Mickey, Minnie, Snow White, Grogu, Black Panther, Donald Duck, Elsa, Chewbacca, Winnie the Pooh, Woody, Miguel, Moana, Simba, Spider-Man, Stitch, Tiana, and Iron Man. There’s really a little bit of everything! View on shopDisney If you’d like to check out the FULL sale, you have until the end of TODAY to see everything available here. There are over 100 items included — talk about some serious savings! SHOP THE FULL SALE HERE! We’ll also keep you updated on any other great Disney deals we find online, so stay tuned to DFB for more. While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? Check out our exclusive Disney 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! Here Are 6 Disney Loungefly Bags on Amazon for UNDER $50 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 Will you be grabbing anything through this sale? Let us know what you’re buying in the comments! The post FLASH SALE ALERT 🚨 Save on 100 Disney Tees Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Get ready, you might need to adjust those Disney snack lists. Indiana Jones Display Disney has been changing menus left and right lately — implementing price increases, dropping menu items mysteriously, and revealing new additions. And now more snack news has been shared but this time it’s made for Indiana Jones fans! Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny officially release on June 30th, 2023. The film series has already inspired the release of new Loungefly items, exclusive merch, and a NEW pop-up bar at Hollywood Studios. But now, Disney has announced that exciting eats and drinks will be coming to Disney World and Disneyland soon in honor of the newest film! We had already seen the Disney World items announced, but we’re sharing them again here so you can get a peek at what to look for. Here’s what you can expect to find on both coasts: Walt Disney World Disney Springs Indiana Jones Petit Cake at Amorette’s Patisserie ©Disney Indiana Jones Chocolate Piñata… ©Disney …Marion’s Medallion at The Ganachery (previously announced) ©Disney Giant Bacon for All Mankind at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar (we previously saw this announced) — see what other NEW items have been announced for Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar here! ©Disney Disney’s Hollywood Studios L’Atlantique Green Tea at Indiana Jones – Den of Destiny (the pop-up bar!) L’Atlantique Green Tea Disneyland Resort Disneyland Park — Bengal Barbecue The Forbidden Turnover ©Disney Lamb Kofta Skewer ©Disney Vegetable Platter ©Disney Adventurer’s Platter ©Disney So if you’re hungry for some Indiana Jones-inspired snacks, stop by these spots soon to check them out. The Disney Springs items are set to arrive on June 30th, and we expect it’ll be a similar release out at Disneyland. For more snack news, click here to see the 6 WORST snacks we’ve tried in Disney World this year and the 6 you should eat! Click here to see our ranking of every snack in the Magic Kingdom Main Street Confectionery Case 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 Would you try these snacks? Tell us in the comments! The post NEW Disney Snacks Are Coming Soon — See Them Here! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Although Disney World has been offering new Annual Passholder perks recently, like an exclusive magnet, a lounge, and special photo-ops, the Park Pass lawsuit brought by Disney World Annual Passholders against Disney World continues. Since the lawsuit was initially filed, Disney announced plans to change the Park Pass Reservation System, but that change did not put an end to the lawsuit. There are a lot of Disney World Annual Passholders For reference, the lawsuit was filed in October 2022. It argues that Disney’s Platinum Pass and Platinum Plus passes were advertised with “no blockout dates,” yet Passholders alleged the Park Pass Reservation System created blockout dates for Annual Passholders, and therefore modified their original contracts with Disney. The lawsuit also spells out some other criticisms, arguing that Disney prioritizes regular ticket purchasers in the interest of a bigger profit, “takes advantage” of its loyal passholder fans, and “abused a global pandemic.” Now, let’s discuss where we’re at as of mid-June 2023. A Brief Recap A few months back (March 2023, specifically), The Walt Disney Company filed a motion to dismiss the Passholders’ complaint. Magic Kingdom Disney made a few key arguments, which can be summarized with this statement: Annual Passes are governed by express terms and conditions, and Disney reserved the right to change those terms (and park access). Additionally, Disney argued that Park Pass availability limitations are not the same as blockout dates. Passholders had the ability to enter the parks; some dates just happened to “sell out.” Click here to learn more about Disney’s motion to dismiss From there, it was left to the Plaintiffs (the Annual Passholders) to file a response to Disney’s motion to dismiss, explaining why the original complaint should not be dismissed by the Court. Figment Annual Passholder Magnet The Plaintiffs’ response essentially covered a lot of what was originally being argued. Passholders argued that Disney participated in “unethical business practices” and “unlawfully restricted Platinum Pass holders’ ability to enter its Florida theme parks to garner more daily ticket sales.” Annual Passholder Card Platinum Passholders asserted that they initially purchased those passes due to the claim that they had “no blockout dates.” Further, they stated that it was “reasonably understood” they could enter the Disney World parks any time, any day of the year — Park Passes got in their way. Click here to learn more about the Plaintiffs response Where are we now? Now that both sides have made an argument on the validity of the lawsuit, it remains to be seen how the judge will rule. Currently, we know where both sides stand. Disney argues there was no implied contract, the express contract lets them change the terms at any time, and Park Pass unavailability isn’t a true “blockout date.” The Passholders argue the express contract is unfair/invalid; instances when the AP calendar is full but the regular ticket calendar is not should, in fact, be considered “blockout dates.” ©Disney At this point, we’re in a sort of limbo. We’ve previously speculated that the next step could be a hearing or a further opportunity for statements on the matter, though we have yet to see any official progress. There have been no official updates on the case docket since the Plaintiffs’ response in March. Walt Disney World We will continue to look for updates as this is an ongoing case. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. NEWS: Disney CFO Christine McCarthy Is Stepping Down Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think about the arguments in this lawsuit? Tell us in the comments. The post Annual Passholders Claim They Were Misled by Disney -- Where Do They Stand Now? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Like you needed ANOTHER excuse to shop from Target… We love Target! You might already buy a LOT of stuff at Target, including Disney backpacks, discounted Disney gift cards, swimsuits, and more. We’ve even found Disney100 merchandise at Target. But, now a MASSIVE sale could have you rushing back to this popular store. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. If you’re a member of Target Circle, heads up! One of the BIGGEST sales of the year — Target Circle Week — will be taking place on July 9th-15th and it’s EXCLUSIVELY for members of Target Circle. If you’re not a member, don’t worry. You can sign up for the company’s loyalty program for free. Target toy section So just how good are the deals going to be this year? Well, you’ll be able to save up to 50% off some of your favorite brands (and we’re crossing our fingers that it’ll include some great deals on Disney merchandise!). The best part? If you don’t have a Target nearby or just don’t want to go to the store, you can shop the deals online and through the Target app! Target Here’s a preview of just SOME of the things you’ll be able to save on during Target Circle Days: 50% off select Sun Squad items, including outdoor pools, water toys, and more 30% off select kids’ apparel Spend $40 on beauty and health products and receive a $10 Target gift card 20% off all Barbie 20% off Mountain Dew, Bubly, and Gatorade 20% off breakfast cereal Spend $50 on household essentials and receive a $15 Target gift card Save $30 on Keurig K-Mini (sale $59.99, reg. $89.99) Save $350 on Lenovo 15.6″ Touchscreen IdeaPad 3i laptop (sale $389.99, reg. $739.99) Save $130 on Dyson V8 Origin Cordless Stick Vacuum (sale $299.99, reg. $429.99) More deals will be revealed on Target.com on July 9th, so be sure to check the website out! You can save on tons of stuff We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more deals when they’re announced to keep you in the loop, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Looking for more deals? Amazon Prime Days have also been announced recently, so there’s a LOT to forward to. In the meantime, have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? Disney-inspired tanks! 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! These 6 Target Backpacks Will Seriously Upgrade Your Disney Parks Style 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 a Target Circle member? Will you be checking out Target Circle Week? Let us know in the comments! The post HELP. I’m Already Planning to Spend SO MUCH Money at This HUGE Target Sale first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Some Disney souvenirs are so popular that they sell out FAST but if you’re lucky, you might be able to snag those items when (and if!) they get restocked. That’s what could happen to you on an upcoming trip, but you may want to act fast. Cinderella Castle Earlier this year, Disney released a special 100th Anniversary Cinderella’s Carriage popcorn bucket at Disneyland. That bucket eventually made its way to Disney World and quickly SOLD OUT. But now we have some exciting news. The 100th Anniversary Cinderella Carriage popcorn bucket that previously sold out in Disney World has returned! A Cast Member had previously told us that more of the buckets would be back in June or July and it seems that day has finally come. But be warned — finding this popcorn bucket won’t be easy! When we visited the park, we checked the popcorn carts by Big Top Souvenirs, Bonjour Village Gifts, and Liberty Tree Tavern and NONE of those had it. BUT the cart to the right of Cinderella Castle DID have some available! They’re BACK! And it looks like we weren’t the only people searching for them. A long line had already started to form at this popcorn cart so if this bucket is something you’ve been hoping to pick up, you’ll want to act fast. Cinderella Coach Premium Bucket The popcorn bucket is $28 so know that it won’t come cheap! Popcorn Bucket If you want to get your hands on one, we suggest grabbing it quickly! We’ll continue to watch for updates and let you know what we find. For more Magic Kingdom news, see how the menu has CHANGED at one snack stand in the park. And check back with us for the latest updates. Click here to get a first look at a NEW popcorn bucket coming soon! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you a fan of this popcorn bucket? Tell us in the comments! The post ACT FAST! A Sold-Out 100th Anniversary Popcorn Bucket Has Returned to Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The sun rose over the spires of the iconic castles across Disney Parks worldwide as thousands of cast members gathered with their yoga mats to celebrate International Yoga Day. Since the first yoga day event at Walt Disney World in 2016, two cast members have had the honor of sharing their yoga expertise by leading […]View the full article

When people imagine Disney World fireworks shows, the nightly “Happily Ever After” show in Magic Kingdom is typically what comes to mind first. Happily Ever After However, by limiting yourself to only view the Magic Kingdom fireworks, you’d be missing out on a lot more fun and magic. Fireworks shows at EPCOT take place nightly, and viewers gather around World Showcase Lagoon and World Celebration to watch. A lot of folks prioritize seeing the shows in Magic Kingdom, but don’t necessarily prioritize seeing the EPCOT shows. The reason? Well, a lot of people just don’t realize they even happen — or know specific details regarding the shows! If you’re interested in checking out the EPCOT fireworks on your next Disney World visit, this post is just for you. So, when do the EPCOT fireworks take place? Right now, “EPCOT Forever” takes place nightly — typically at 9PM. (We’ll explain what we mean by “typically” in a bit.) EPCOT Forever is a temporary show, one we’ve seen before, that replaced “Harmonious” at the conclusion of the 50th Anniversary Celebration in Disney World. A new fireworks show is set to replace EPCOT Forever later this year in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. EPCOT Forever lasts about 10 minutes — from start to finish. However, the start times and end times can vary! Sometimes, if lightning or wind is in the area, the start time will be delayed. The way Cast Members put it, fireworks at Disney World are technically never cancelled, they’re always simply delayed. The thing is, they could be delayed until the next night for the next showing. If there is lightning or wind in the area, just check in with Cast Members to see if the start time will be impacted. EPCOT Forever Sometimes, fun things are added to the show that make it a bit longer! For example, extra scenes and theming can be added to fit the season. This will obviously make the shows longer and result in a later end time, which could push back the time you’re getting back home or to the hotel. This also varies from year to year, and we never really know what Disney is gonna do until we see the show for the first time! EPCOT Forever What do you think? Will you be joining EPCOT for fireworks during your upcoming Disney World vacation? We’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the latest Disney news, updates, and tips for planning your next trip. Make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more on Disney World fireworks? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you watched EPCOT Forever before? Let us know in the comments The post What Time Are The Fireworks in EPCOT? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to fan-favorite television series, producer Ryan Murphy has been among the masterminds behind several. ©New York Times Murphy has contributed to creating beloved shows such as Dahmer, American Horror Story, and Glee. Currently, the creator has been working for Netflix, but an ongoing negotiation with Disney hints that he could be leaving soon. According to a Bloomberg article, Murphy, a “superstar TV show creator,” has been negotiating contract details with Disney for the past year. According to the article, many of the details are said to have been solidified before the writer’s strike began in May of 2023. People familiar with the matter refused to comment. ©Bloomberg Bloomberg said that Murphy joining Disney would be a “homecoming of sorts,” as he’d be reunited with the creatives who assisted him in producing hit television shows like American Horror Story and Glee. ©Reuters The majority of Murphy’s career was spent working for Fox alongside Dana Walden, who currently serves as the co-chair of Disney Entertainment. Walden joined the team at Disney when the company bought out Fox’s entertainment assets, while Murphy left Fox for Netflix at this time. According to many critics, Murphy’s success dwindled once he no longer worked with Walden, who is considered to be one of the most prolific producers in modern television. ©Disney While the details of Murphy’s contract with Disney aren’t yet known, and might not even be finalized at this time, Disney does own the majority of Murphy’s catalogue, which could allow Disney to him out of future royalties as part of the deal. ©Disney Disney announced at the Q1 earnings call for 2023 that costs would be cut within the company’s entertainment sector, which led to thousands of job cuts across the company, but was highly focused on entertainment roles. Taking this into consideration, it will be interesting to see the terms of Murphy’s deal if/when he joins the team of writers and producers at Disney. Disney World We’ll continue to keep you updated with any and all Disney news and updates, so make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more Disney news and updates? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think about Murphy joining the Walt Disney Company? Let us know in the comments! The post “Superstar TV Show Creator” Planning to LEAVE Netflix for Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Six of our beautiful Disney Vacation Club resorts have been recently recognized by readers in Travel + Leisure Co.’s 15 Best U.S. Resorts for Families in 2022. If you’ve never been to these six spots, here’s why these beautiful locales serve as the perfect backdrop for families to create magical memories to last a lifetime. Aulani, a Disney Resort & […]View the full article