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Where will you cruise? While the Caribbean is the most popular destination for sailing aboard a cruise ship, there are so many other beautiful ports around the world! Mickey and Minnie on the Disney Wish! Choosing cruise destinations can be difficult as there are so many wonderful places to visit and a mind-boggling variety of itineraries to choose from. We suggest choosing your favorite destinations and then researching which cruise lines sail there. Let’s take a look at the best cruise destinations around the globe! World’s Best Cruise Destinations Cruising is a convenient way to explore the world! While sailing comfortably aboard a magnificent ship (like those with Disney Cruise Line), you’ll get to enjoy familiar foods, first-class entertainment, and exemplary service. Depending on how port-intensive your itinerary is, you’ll get to tour on land during the day, and sail to your next port while mostly sleeping. There’s nothing quite like waking up to a new port with an inspiring view! The Mediterranean An all-round, comprehensive cruise experience. This large, secluded sea has served as the birthplace of civilization and likely the first area that connected different cultures. ©Disney There are so many beautiful ports to visit that choosing an itinerary can be difficult. Look for sailings that include Civitavecchia, then spend a day in Rome! Are you visiting Livorno? Lucky you; you’ll get to choose from a tour of Florence or Pisa! Cruising into Valetta, Malta is like taking a scenic voyage through time. Plus, there’s Greece, Spain, France, and more! There are world-class destinations all throughout the Mediterranean. Alaska This is one of the best cruise destinations for wildlife watching, including everything from bears and eagles to orcas and sea otters. View of the Alaskan Glacier from Disney Wonder From charming coastal towns to scenic coastlines, your summer vacation to Alaska will be awe-inspiring. Ships sail between May and September! When Is The Best Time To Cruise Alaska? Click HERE to find out. Norway This is a cruise that’s epic during every season of the year. Summer brings long days and wonderfully green scenery, while winter is perfect for watching the Northern Lights. If you love the EPCOT’s Norway pavilion, plan a cruise to this amazing destination! The Norwegian Fjords are spectacular, and you’ll be amazed at the constantly changing scenery from aboard the cruise ship. Japan Japan has the mesmerizing crowds of Tokyo but also the tranquility of mountain retreats. There are volcanoes and lakes, a myriad of temples and towering skyscrapers. Toyko Disneyland Cruise the Far East and include a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort! The Caribbean Yes, the Caribbean has some of the world’s most popular cruise destinations! If you sail on Disney Cruise Line, you’ll even get to visit their private island — Castaway Cay! Mickey on Castaway Cay Typically, cruises to the Caribbean are divided into the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. Eastern sailings visit destinations such as St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and St Maarten. You might anchor in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, or Cozumel during a Western cruise. A Southern Caribbean cruise could take you to Barbados, Aruba, or Grenada. When Is The Best Time To Cruise The Caribbean? Baltic Sea Several gorgeous historic cities dot the shores of the Baltic Sea, including Stockholm, Riga, Tallinn, and Helsinki. A Baltic Sea cruise also typically includes a visit to stunning St. Petersburg, Russia’s capital of culture and the arts. ©Royal Caribbean See several northern Europe capitals during your vacation! We suggest looking at summer itineraries. Danube River The Danube River is Europe’s most iconic river, flowing through no fewer than ten different countries (the most of any river in the world) on its way from Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea. Hawaii Cruising around the Hawaiian Islands involves everything from volcano excursions and sampling local cuisine to experiencing Polynesian traditions and visiting iconic Waikiki Beach. There he is! Stay at Disney’s Aulani Resort before or after your Hawaiian cruise. Disney fans will love seeing characters in their Hawaiian outfits. British Isles Stare in awe at the variety in landscapes, from the Scottish Highlands to the White Cliffs of Dover, historical cities like London, Liverpool, Dublin, and Glasgow, and the countless castles. London © parliament.uk Explore historical landmarks and rich, cultural traditions — all while cruising in luxury! Mekong River A Mekong River cruise includes stunning variety, from Buddhist temples to busy cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh to sleepy riverside villages. Are you ready to set sail on this famous river? Click HERE for the Ultimate Guide To Disney Cruise Line! If you are dreaming of a voyage on the high seas or along a beautiful river, these destinations will take you to the best cruise ports in the world! Once you decide where you want to sail, you can narrow down the cruise lines and ships that go there. Do you want to feel the excitement of setting sail on a floating city (complete with restaurants, shops, theaters, and more)? Waking up in new destinations aboard a modern cruise ship is truly a fun and memorable experience. Bon Voyage! So You Think You Want To Go On a Disney Cruise During Hurricane Season… What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Explore Disney’s Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Do you have a favorite cruise destination that you’ve visited? Or are you planning a dream cruise?The post The ULTIMATE Guide To The World's Best Cruise Destinations first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Walt Disney Company has been having a rough go of it lately — from the executive level all the way to Cast Members in the parks, employees have been affected by job cuts. We love Cast Members! Not only that, but Disney World Union Cast Members had been protesting for quite a while over wages, benefits, and more. And now, it looks like Disney Cast Members are standing up against the mouse yet again — this time, internationally. According to The Independent, Cast Members at Disneyland Paris went on strike and staged a walkout down Main Street, U.S.A. on May 24th. The protest also included a rally in the Town Square part of the park. Disneyland Paris 30th anniversary fireworks show Several shows and performances were canceled during the walkout, just before the Cast Members exited the park. The workers are part of the UNSA — the Union Nationale des Syndicats Autonomes in French, or the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions in English — and are demanding better working conditions and wages. via The Independent UK There have been ongoing protests and demonstrations in Paris and much of France after unpopular reforms resulted in the state pension age being raised. Disneyland Paris As of now, it looks like Disney has yet to release a statement on the walkout or any potential for ongoing protests or negotiations with the union, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for more updates. As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news! Learn More About Recent Changes at Disney Here Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Cast Members Strike Over Pay, Protest in Disneyland Paris first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Holidays at Disney World typically draw in big crowds and of course, high wait times. Right? Apparently that isn’t always the case! Memorial Day MK crowds With yesterday being Memorial Day, we were almost certain that we could expect tons of people crowding the parks and insane wait times since many had the day off from work. However, we were pleasantly surprised with relatively low crowds and wait times, considering the fact that it was a holiday. If only we knew the storm that was coming. It turns out that the crowds and wait times were holding out until the day AFTER Memorial Day! Today, we were hit with all the crowds and high wait times when we walked into the parks. Crowds in Hollywood Studios When we checked Park Pass Reservation availability yesterday, every park had availability for months to come. We checked again this morning and sure enough, Magic Kingdom was SOLD OUT of reservations for the day for both general tickets and Annual Passes. It’s been a while since we’ve seen park passes sell out, even for Magic Kingdom. The last time this happened was April 21st (for general tickets) and April 22nd (for Annual Passes). ©Disney Since each of the parks was so busy, we checked again later to see if more parks were out of reservations, but reservations had opened back up to be available for all parks again. Disney must have refilled those Magic Kingdom reservations, which happens pretty often. ©Disney To put things into perspective, let’s take a look at some wait times in Magic Kingdom today. At around 12:45PM, wait times for some popular rides are as follows: Magic Kingdom Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — 55 Minutes Haunted Mansion — 55 Minutes Jungle Cruise — 80 Minutes Peter Pan’s Flight — 80 Minutes Pirates of the Caribbean — 65 Minutes Seven Dwarves Mine Train — 85 Minutes Space Mountain — 90 Minutes 5 rides with wait times over an hour is no joke! Check out these parade crowds, too! Magic Kingdom Parade Crowds Now, let’s check out some wait times at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These are also from around 12:45PM. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — 75 minutes Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run — 85 minutes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — 70 minutes Slinky Dog Dash — 120 minutes Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — 65 minutes Twilight Zone Tower of Terror — 50 minutes Disney’s Hollywood Studios Crowds We’ve mentioned before that crowds and wait times can be pretty unpredictable, and this is the perfect example! We’ll continue to keep you updated with all things Disney news and updates, so make sure to follow along for more. Wondering when you should visit Disney World? Click here for our advice. 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 visiting Disney World right now? Let us know in the comments! The post The WEIRD Thing That’s Happening with Crowds in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Disneyland Resort is buzzing with talent during the month of May in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I caught up with some of our favorite Disney+ stars and asked them not only about their favorite Disney experiences but also what their Asian heritage means to them. View this post on Instagram […]View the full article

Well, today is the day, and the end of an era. Splash Mountain at Disneyland A classic Disneyland attraction, Splash Mountain, is set to permanently close so Disney Imagineers can reimagine it as a NEW attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, based on The Princess and the Frog. Its Splash Mountain counterpart in Disney World closed in January 2023 and construction is already underway for the new attraction. But what does the last day of Splash Mountain in Disneyland look like? Let’s take a look! When we arrived at Disneyland this morning, people were already lined up at the gates to get inside and get one more ride in with Br’er Rabbit and his friends. Check out all those people waiting to get in — even on a chilly, dreary morning! Entrance Folks were clearly making a beeline for Splash Mountain, and we followed the crowds as we passed under the train tunnel. Here we go! As we moved further into the park, things only seemed to get worse! We turned around and were greeted by a massive wall of people as far as the eye could see. But then, soon enough, we saw the object of our desire… As we moved further through the line, we could see just how far it stretched into the park — things seem to be getting a bit busier out there! Disney has shared that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will pick up the story of The Princess and the Frog “after the final kiss, and 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.” The story of the attraction, as Disney shares, picks up during New Orleans’ Carnival season, and Tiana is hosting a Mardi Gras Party for the people of New Orleans — the community that has supported her successful restaurant. (The storyline is set about a year after the movie.) Hello down there! And YOU will join Tiana, too, as Disney Imagineers have shared that guests will be active participants coming along with Tiana on this adventure! “On Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, we’ll join Tiana and Louis on a trip to the bayou, where they meet all sorts of unexpected new friends who have a special role to play at the party.” We expected long lines today, so we’re not TOO surprised, but if you are headed to Splash Mountain, be prepared to wait. After tomorrow, you’ll just have to count down the days until the ride becomes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which we know won’t open until at least 2024. Model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the 2022 D23 Expo Have you checked out the latest Disney-themed t-shirts in our store? Click here – you’ll want to pick some up before your next Disney trip! We’ve got a fun Briar Patch Band Tee. Briar Patch Band Tee You’ll find a new Tiana Tee, too! Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You’ll find loads of other merch, too, so be sure to check it out! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you be headed to Disneyland to ride Splash Mountain? Let us know in the comments. The post Join Us for the LAST DAY of a Disney Ride Before It Closes FOREVER 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 travel a lot, which means our suitcases are always waiting nearby to be stocked up with all our Disney necessities. Do you travel a lot? If you also travel a lot, you probably understand what we mean when we say that finding a place to keep a suitcase that’s both out of the way but easily accessible is one of the hardest things ever, especially when you have limited storage space. We recently found what may be the solution to that problem — and it’s on Amazon! We were taking a daily scroll through Amazon (What? Online shopping is one of the many simple pleasures in life.) and we may have found the answer to all of our limited-space problems. Check out this fully collapsible suitcase! It comes in both carry-on and checked bag sizes. ©Amazon When it’s extended, it fits just as much stuff inside as a regular ol’ suitcase. Click here to purchase the collapsible suitcase from Amazon ©Amazon BUT, when you’ve unpacked, it shrinks down to be almost completely flat. You can slide it under a bed or dresser, or even hang it up in a closet. The suitcase comes in 8 different colors, so there’s one for everyone! The shell is also scratch and water resistant, so it should stay looking nice for a long time. ©Amazon On top of that, there is the ability to lock it as well. So you can have peace of mind if you choose to check it! What do you think? Will you be switching over to this collapsible suitcase? We’ll continue to keep you updated with all the Disney and travel tips and tricks we have, so make sure to follow along for more! View on Amazon Looking for more travel tips? We’ve got you covered! Click here! What’s your #1 packing tip? Let us know in the comments! The post Our Jaws Dropped When We Saw This Totally Collapsible Suitcase first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are quite a few snacks that we would consider to be Disney “classics.” A Disney churro! Popcorn, Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, and yes, even turkey legs are a significant part of the Disney snack scene. But one of the standout sweets is a Disney churro, and soon, the parks (especially at Disneyland Resort) are celebrating National Churro Day with some new additions! Unfortunately for the Disney World fans, it looks like the list of new churros is confined to the west coast parks. There are some seriously delicious-sounding eats here, and we’re definitely jealous! Want to know what we mean? Check out the full list below! Disneyland Park Frontierland Churro Cart (Available through August 31) Fruity Cereal Churro: Berry sugar-dusted churro with sweetened condensed milk drizzle and fruity cereal topping “it’s a small world” Churro Cart (Available through August 31) Powdered Sugar Churro: Churro covered in Powdered Sugar (New) Guava-Cream Cheese Dipping Sauce (New) Tomorrowland Churro Cart (Available through August 31) Chai-spiced Churro with Coffee Cream: Churro rolled in chai-spiced sugar served with a coffee cream (New) Coffee Cream Dipping Sauce (New) Town Square Churro Cart (Available through August 31) Tropical Churro: Churro with pineapple-flavored sugar, topped with coconut cream drizzle (New) Sleeping Beauty Castle Churro Cart (Available through August 31) Pineapple Churro: Churro with pineapple-flavored sugar Sweet Pineapple Dipping Sauce: Pineapple-flavored cream cheese with wafer crumbles topped with a cherry (New) ©Disney Disney California Adventure Park Willie’s Churros on Buena Vista Street Spicy Chile-Cheese Churro: Churro dusted with crushed spicy cheese chips & chile-lime sugar dressed with nacho cheese sauce and crushed spicy cheese chips (New) (Available through June 28) Strawberry Lemonade Churro: Churro dusted with strawberry sugar and dressed with a lemon sauce and freeze-dried strawberries (New) (Available June 29 through August 31) ©Disney Cozy Cone Motel – Cozy Cone 1 (Available through August 31; mobile order available) Chocolate-Hazelnut Strawberry Churro: Churro tossed in cinnamon sugar with chocolate-hazelnut spread and freeze-dried strawberries (New) Goofy’s Sky School Churro Cart (Available through August 31) S’mores Churro: Churro rolled in graham cracker sugar, topped with marshmallow crème and chocolate pieces (New) Hollywood Land Churro Cart (Available through August 31) Bacon PB&J Churro: Classic churro rolled in banana sugar, drizzled with peanut butter and jelly, and topped with crispy bacon (New) Terran Treats (Available through August 31) Cosmic Disturbance Churro made with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite-sized candies, popping candy, and blue curaçao-flavored drizzle (New) ©Disney Downtown Disney District California Churro French Toast Churro: Churro rolled in cinnamon sugar, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with a side of breakfast syrup Strawberry Funnel Cake Bites: Churro cut into pieces, rolled in cinnamon sugar, dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with strawberry dessert toppings, and topped with assorted sprinkles ©Disney Walt Disney World Resort Jealous of all the delicious churros coming to Disneyland Resort? Well don’t worry, there are still some options at Disney World! The east coast won’t be getting any new churros for National Churro Day, but you can find some of our favorite churros at Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom, where they’re served vanilla creme and strawberry-guava sauce. Regular churros are available at a number of snack carts around the parks, and Sunshine Churros in Disney Springs offers unique flavors like Dulce De Leche, Cookies and Cream, and Strawberry Shortcake. Nomad Lounge Churros and Dipping Sauces We’ll keep you in the loop with any other snack announcements and special holidays in the Disney Parks! Stay tuned to DFB for all the news you need to know about what to eat on your Disney vacation. 23 Snacks You Cannot Miss in Disney World in 2023 — 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 Which churro flavor is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post This Disney News Is Making Us Super Jealous but IT’S FINE WE’RE FINE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have SO MANY RIDES packed between just the two parks. California Adventure in Disneyland So which rides should YOU be prioritizing and which should you SKIP on your Disneyland vacation? Find out TODAY, here on DFB Guide. Check out our video: Ranking EVERY SINGLE Ride in Disneyland Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 ride in Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below. The post DFB Video: Ranking EVERY SINGLE Ride in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ahh, the Disney Dining Plan, it’s the hot topic of the day! Cinderella Castle Ever since Disney World announced that the dining plan would be returning for 2024 vacations, we’ve had LOTS of questions about the popular offering. Will it work the same as it used to? Which plans will be returning? And of course…how much will it cost? Today, we’re doing some math and making some educated guesses on that last one. How Much Did the Disney Dining Plan Cost Before? To estimate how much the dining plan will cost when it returns in 2024, we have to first look back at how much it cost before. The last time the plan was available was in early 2020 before the parks closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 2024, only two dining plans have been confirmed to return so far, so we’ll just look at the pricing for those two. 50s Prime Time Cafe in Disney World First up is the Standard Dining Plan. This version previously came with one quick service meal credit, one table service meal credit, and one snack credit per person, per night of your package, as well as a refillable resort mug for each person in your party. Before the closures, you could get this plan for $78.01 per night per adult (ages 10 and up) or $30.51 per night per child (ages 3-9). Crystal Palace The other option that has been confirmed to return is the Quick Service Dining Plan. With that plan, you could get two quick service meal credits and one snack credit per person, per night of your package, as well as a refillable resort mug for each person in your party. Since you’re dining at quick service spots, this option was cheaper, costing $55 per adult each night and $26 per child each night. Connections Eatery Okay, now that we’ve got those old prices laid out…let’s make some predictions for the future! Will the Dining Plan Cost Increase in 2024? Even though it’s not a guarantee, it’s likely that Disney will choose to raise the prices of the dining plan when it returns for 2024 vacations. Since 2020, we’ve seen price increases on most things in Disney World, including everything from Minnie ears to snacks to annual passes. Chefs de France One of the most obvious price increases was on Disney World park tickets. Back in 2020, tickets were split into five tiers based on how busy Disney projected the parks to be each day. The “holiday” ticket was $159 per adult, the “peak” ticket was $139, the “regular” was $125, the “value” was $117, and the “low” crowd season tickets were $109 per day. But in the past four years, things have changed significantly. Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards Now, ticket prices can vary from day to day, and the cost will change for one-day tickets based on the park you visit. Tickets for Animal Kingdom range from $109-$159, while tickets for EPCOT cost between $114-$179. Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom tend to be the more expensive parks, with Hollywood Studios tickets costing $124-$179 per day and Magic Kingdom costing $124-$189 per day. Pandora in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Overall, that means you’ll be paying 18.87% more on peak day tickets to Magic Kingdom versus the cost in 2020. For the cheapest days at Magic Kingdom, the price increase is about 13.76%. The only category that didn’t increase in price was the cheapest days at Animal Kingdom — those still cost the same as they did pre-pandemic. Haunted Mansion So what if we took those percentage increases and applied them to the dining plan cost from 2020? It’ll give us an estimation of what the plan could cost when it returns. Let’s do the math! How Much Could the Dining Plan Cost in 2024? If we base a price increase for the dining plan solely on the price increase for theme park tickets, we could expect the Standard Dining Plan cost to rise between $10.73-$14.72 per adult, per night. For children, the increased cost would be between $4.20-$5.76 per night. This means a predicted adult cost of $88.74-$92.73 and a predicted child cost of $34.71-36.27 per night. Tusker House Restaurant For the Quick Service Dining Plan, applying those percentages gives a predicted $7.57-$10.38 increase for adults each night and a predicted increase of $3.58-$4.91 per child each night. This means that the possible price range for that plan would be $62.57-$65.38 for adults and $29.58-$30.91 for children. Flame Tree Barbecue Now keep in mind that these predicted prices are only based on ticket price increases. It’s more likely that Disney would base the dining plan cost on the cost of food and restaurant meals, which would take considerably more time to extrapolate. These numbers just give us a rough “guesstimate” of what the new nightly prices could be. And of course, you also have to multiply this cost by the number of nights that you’re staying, plus the number of people in your group. 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger We’ll see what the new cost is when the dining plans go on sale for 2024, so stay tuned to DFB. We’ve got you covered with the latest news and updates and all the dining details you need to know for your vacation! Click Here to Learn More About the Dining Plan Returning! 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 planning on getting the dining plan when it returns? Tell us in the comments! The post Will The Disney Dining Plan Have A Major Price Hike in 2024? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you ready for National Churro Day? June 6 is almost here and we've got you covered with all of the tasty churros you can treat yourself to. View the full article

In 2024, Disney World is bringing back a popular offering! Magic Kingdom That’s right, we’re talking about the Disney Dining Plan! Starting May 31st, you’ll be able to book the Dining Plan for vacations January 9th, 2024 or later. The plan hasn’t been available since 2020, so naturally, some things have changed. And one of those changes is important to know if you’re planning on visiting character meals! When you add the Dining Plan to your Disney World vacation package, you’re essentially pre-purchasing your meals for the trip. This means that you’ll receive a number of credits to be used on quick service meals, table service meals, or snacks throughout your trip. Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant When it comes to table service dining, most restaurants only charge one credit per meal, although there are some exceptions. Dinner shows, Be Our Guest Restaurant, and signature restaurants all charge 2 table service credits per meal. Cinderella’s Royal Table is also included in this group, but now two more spots have been added to the list. Be Our Guest Restaurant As far as character meals go, Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (for lunch and dinner only), and Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White will all be two-credit meals. Each of these character meals are spots where you can meet Disney Princesses while you dine. Hi, Ariel! At this time, all the other character meals on property remain one-credit experiences, but we’ll keep you updated if that changes. Those one-credit character meals can be a great use of the dining plan since they’re generally more expensive and many offer all-you-care-to-eat feasts. Are you planning a vacation to Disney World? Our friends at Small World Vacation can help you plan it stress-free for FREE! They can iron out all of the dining plan details for your 2024 vacation so all you have to do is enjoy it when you arrive! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Be sure to follow along as we cover the return of the Disney Dining Plan and all of its intricacies! If you’re considering purchasing the Dining Plan on your next vacation, then you may want to check our DFB Guide. Our guide has full chapters on whether the Dining Plan is worth the cost, how to get the most out of the Dining Plan, and recommendations for those using the Dining Plan. It will really help you get the most bang for your buck! Grab the DFB Guide! We’ll keep you up to date on all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Get all the info on the new dining plans by signing up for our 2024 Dining Plan & daily newsletter! Click Here to Learn More About the Return of the Dining Plan! 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 booking a Dining Plan for your 2024 vacation? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney World Is CHANGING Dining Plan Requirements for 2 Character Meals first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Thinking about heading to the “Most Magical Place on Earth” next year? Magic Kingdom Well, you’re in luck, because Disney has shared some BIG news about what you can expect in Disney World in 2024. The Disney Dining Plan will return, hotel guests will continue to have extra park hours, and Genie+ is getting simplified for a more streamlined experience. Next year is already shaping up to be pretty exciting for Disney World, and you’ll soon be able to start your trip planning! Starting tomorrow, May 31st, guests can start booking their vacation packages for 2024. And, for the first time since 2020, the Disney Dining Plan will be available to add to their trip! Full spread from Columbia Harbour House Disney has confirmed that the Disney Dining Plan will return on January 9th, 2024, and guests with hotel stays beginning on that date or later will be able to add it to their stay. There will be two options — the Quick Service and Standard Disney Dining Plans. In order to add one of these plans to a vacation package, guests will have to have purchased at least one ticket per person, in addition to staying at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel. Dole Whip Float For the Standard Dining Plan, Disney has shared that this is what will be included: Everyone in the travel party will receive 1 Table-Service meal per night, 1 Quick-Service meal per night, and a snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay—along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay. For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Dining Plan, each Guest in your party would receive 4 Table-Service meals, 4 Quick-Service meals, and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay. Mickey Waffles And for the Quick Service Dining Plan, here’s what you can expect: Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 2 Quick-Service meals per night, a snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay – along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay. For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, each Guest in your party would receive 8 Quick-Service meals and 4 Snacks or Nonalcoholic Beverages—which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay. Artisan Burger Have an Annual Pass and wondering how this applies to you? Those with Annual Passes will be able to take part in the returning plan as well. They will have the option to simply add the Disney Dining Plan to a hotel stay. For DVC members, Dining Plans will be able to be added to a points reservation, but those are not yet available to be booked. Golden Oak Outpost tenders Need a refresher on all things Dining Plan before you start booking your trip? Get all the info on the new dining plans by signing up for our 2024 Dining Plan & daily newsletter! Are you planning a vacation to Disney World? Our friends at Small World Vacation can help you plan it stress-free for FREE! They can iron out all of the dining plan details for your 2024 vacation so all you have to do is enjoy it when you arrive! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Be sure to follow along as we cover the return of the Disney Dining Plan and all of its intricacies! If you’re considering purchasing the Dining Plan on your next vacation, then you may want to check our DFB Guide. Our guide has full chapters on whether the Dining Plan is worth the cost, how to get the most out of the Dining Plan, and recommendations for those using the Dining Plan. It will really help you get the most bang for your buck! Grab the DFB Guide! We’ll keep you up to date on all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Click here to learn about how to maximize your Dining Plan credits 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! Will you be adding the Disney Dining Plan to your trip in 2024? Let us know in the comments below! The post The BIG Reason Why Disney Fans Are Waking Up EARLY Tomorrow first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you ready? Can you even stand the excitement?! We love Disney food! The Disney Dining Plan is officially returning next year, and bookings will begin soon! Disney shared few details when they first announced the comeback, but now we have a better idea of what to expect when our beloved plan finally returns — so let’s dig in! What Is the Disney Dining Plan? First, let’s start with a quick Disney Dining Plan 101. Basically, with a Disney Dining Plan, you pay a set amount to get a certain number of “credits” that you use throughout your stay. You can then redeem those credits for snacks, quick service meals, or table service meals (depending on the credit type and plan type). It’s a way to essentially pre-pay for your Disney meals and make your vacation feel more all-inclusive. Once it’s time to pay for your actual meal in Disney World, you’ll simply use your credit to cover the cost of your food, instead of paying out-of-pocket at that time (since you’ve already paid for the Dining Plan itself). Did you miss the Disney Dining Plan? Dining Plans are pre-purchased and added onto a Disney Vacation Package (i.e. you must be staying on a Vacation Package at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel, and have purchased at least one theme park ticket per person), so that all you have to do when you get to Disney World is head to a restaurant on the list, eat, and scan your MagicBand/card/etc. (Certain specific rules apply for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members wanting to book a Dining Plan.) Get all the info on the new dining plans by signing up for our 2024 Dining Plan & daily newsletter! Check out our FULL Disney Dining Plan FAQ page here The Disney Dining Plan will return to Disney World on January 9th, 2024! Disney shared that the Dining Plan is coming back for those with hotel stays with a start date of January 9th and we could NOT be more excited. You can book the Disney Dining Plan after May 31st, and we’ve learned a bit more details about what to expect this time around. The Disney Dining Plan comes in handy! Both the Quick Service Dining Plan and Standard Dining Plan are returning, so we’ll break the details down by plan. Why You Definitely SHOULDN’T Buy the Disney Dining Plan Quick Service Dining Plan Everyone in your party ages 3 and up will get the following on the Quick Service plan: 2 Quick-Service Meals Per Night of Stay 1 Snack or Nonalcoholic Beverage Per Night of Stay 1 Resort-Refillable Mug So, if you book a 4-night package with this plan, each person (ages 3 and up) would get 8 QS meals and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages. Take a look at what’s included below: Quick Service Meal Meals redeemed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner will include: 1 Entrée 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) Full spread from Columbia Harbour House Alcoholic Beverages People 21 and older may choose either one nonalcoholic beverage or one-single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) as part of their meal, including: Beer or Cider Wine or Sangria Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails Nonalcoholic Beverages Folks 10 years old and up can choose one nonalcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) as part of their meal. Milkshakes Fresh Smoothies Premium Hot Chocolate Soda, Coffee, or Tea 81Bay Brewing Co. Horchata Beer Snacks At Quick Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as: Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, or fruit bar 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream Popcorn scoop (single-serving box) Piece of whole fruit Single-serve bag of snacks 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water 20-ounce fountain soft drink Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk, or juice Cup of soup Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce) What’s NOT Included Items that are more than a single serving (such as a box of doughnuts or a jar of peanut butter) Items (such as popcorn or drinks) that are served in a souvenir container Items considered to be merchandise (such as bottle toppers, glow cubes, and bottle straps) Special dining events offered at certain Table Service locations Mickey Pretzel Phew, that’s quite a bit. Let’s take a look at the Standard Dining Plan details. Why You Definitely SHOULD Buy the Disney Dining Plan Standard Dining Plan Much of the details are the same for this plan, but it’s geared toward Table Service restaurants instead. Everyone in your party ages 3 and up gets the following during their stay: 1 Quick Service Meal Per Night of Stay 1 Table Service Meal Per Night of Stay 1 Snack or Nonalcoholic Beverage Per Night of Stay 1 Resort-Refillable Mug So in this case, if you were to book a 4-night stay and purchase this Dining Plan option, each person in your party (ages 3 and up) would get 4 TS meals, 4 QS meals, and 4 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages to be used any time during your stay. Here’s what’s included: Quick Service Meals redeemed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner will include: 1 Entrée 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) Eats from Cookes of Dublin Table Service Meals redeemed at breakfast will include: 1 Entrée 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) OR 1 Full Buffet (prix-fixe) or Family-Style Meal (prix-fixe) 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) Meals redeemed at brunch, lunch, or dinner will include: 1 Entrée 1 Dessert 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) OR 1 Full Buffet (If Available) or Family-Style Meal 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) Full spread at Narcoossee’s upon reopening Alcoholic Beverages People 21 and older may choose either one nonalcoholic beverage or one-single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) as part of their meal, including: Beer or Cider Wine or Sangria Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails Nonalcoholic Beverages Folks 10 years old and up can choose one nonalcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) as part of their meal. Milkshakes Fresh Smoothies Premium Hot Chocolate Soda, Coffee, or Tea ooh, the color! Snacks At Quick Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as: Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, or fruit bar 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream Popcorn scoop (single-serving box) Piece of whole fruit Single-serve bag of snacks 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water 20-ounce fountain soft drink Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk, or juice Cup of soup Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce) What’s NOT Included Items that are more than a single serving (such as a box of doughnuts or a jar of peanut butter) Items (such as popcorn or drinks) that are served in a souvenir container Items considered to be merchandise (such as bottle toppers, glow cubes, and bottle straps) Special dining events offered at certain Table Service locations The Dining Plan Is Finally Coming Back! Other Dining Experiences Character Dining Two Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at: Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (at lunch and dinner only) Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White Dinner at Be Our Guest Be Our Guest Restaurant requires 2 Table Service meals to be exchanged for a single dining experience. Beast greeting guests at Be Our Guest Fine/Signature Dining Each meal from a Fine/Signature Dining restaurant on the Disney Dining Plan includes: 1 Entrée 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) 1 Dessert Two Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at a Fine/Signature Dining experience. Dinner Shows Two Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining at a dinner show experience. Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue In-Room Dining Right now, In-Room Dining (room service) is only available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. But, you can still use the DDP when dining in your room. Each private in-room dining meal on the Disney Dining Plan includes: 1 Entrée 1 Dessert (lunch and dinner) 1 Nonalcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older) For private in-room dining, 2 Table Service meals will be redeemed from the dining plan for each person dining. Pizza Pickup Another option for in-room dining at various resorts is Pizza Pickup from select Quick Service spots, and it looks like you’ll be able to snag some ‘za with the Dining Plan too. You can stop by select Quick Service locations to pick up a pizza meal, which includes: 1 Large Pizza 2 Single-serving Nonalcoholic Beverages (or Alcoholic Beverages, for Guests 21 and older) Two Quick Service meals will be redeemed for each Pizza Pickup meal. This is available at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. PIZZA With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! If you’re ready to book the Disney Dining Plan for 2024, hopefully, these details will help you choose which plan might be best for you and your travel party! But, our friends over at Small World Vacations can help you book a trip and the dining plan too! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg No matter what, you can be sure we’ll keep up with the latest news from around Disney World and beyond, so stay tuned to DFB! Learn More About the Disney Dining Plan 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! Will you be booking the dining plan? Tell us in the comments. The post NEW DETAILS ANNOUNCED for the Disney Dining Plan first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

This might really impact your Disney World trip! Cinderella Castle From bad weather to last-minute cancelations and even ride closures, there are a lot of things that can affect your upcoming Disney vacation. So how do you handle those changes? Here’s what we know! This morning in Disney World there were not one, not two, not three, but four rides that closed unexpectedly! We see these temporary closures happen pretty often, but four closures in one morning is pretty bad. Over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Kali River Rapids failed to open within the first hour and a half of the park’s opening. Kali River Rapids In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mickey and Minnie’s Runway Railway suffered the same fate and is still closed at the time of writing. However, it seems like Magic Kingdom was the park that was struggling the most! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Over in Magic Kingdom, both Peter Pan’s Flight and Pirates of the Caribbean are both closed! ©Disney While we do expect all four of these rides to open back up today, ride closures can seriously impact your Disney trip. To help avoid this, we are always checking the My Disney Experience app before we head over for a ride. Making sure to double-check and see if a ride is open can help save you time walking across the park only to find a ride closed. The My Disney Experience App! If you’re planning on rope dropping a ride and find out it’s closed before you get there, plan to have a backup ride to go to so you don’t waste any time trying to make a new plan. This can help you go through your priority list and be flexible while you wait for the ride you wanted initially to open back up. Hollywood Studios entrance crowds at rope drop If you have a Lightning Lane for a ride that is currently closed, don’t worry! If the ride doesn’t reopen in the timeframe of your Lightning Lane reservation, that Lightning Lane will convert to an “experience redemption pass” which is basically a Lightning Lane pass that lets you ride that attraction at any time of the day after it reopens. Those experience redemption passes are usually good for a few different ride options, so you could even use it for a different ride than the one you initially booked. ©Disney Don’t forget to keep consistently checking the My Disney Experience app to see if the ride has reopened so you can go hop in the stand-by line or use your experience redemption pass! Disney World rides tend to close semi-frequently for different reasons so making sure to have a backup plan and keep your cool can help make your vacation stays on track. Don’t forget to keep following DFB for all of your Disney World news and updates. Find Out What Happens When A Ride You’ve Paid For Is Closed HERE! All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA for in Disney World & How Much They May Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You May Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn Some Disney Genie HACKS Get a Step-by-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+ See Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland Still Confused About Disney Genie? Check Out These DFB Videos Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you ever experienced your favorite ride closing while you were in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post 4 Popular Rides Were Unexpectedly CLOSED in Disney World Today! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

19-year-old Rei’s wish to visit Tokyo Disney Resort came true, just in time for the resort's 40th anniversary celebration! Read this heartwarming story of strength and fortitude.View the full article

Mobile Order — it’s a blessing and a curse. Mobile Order Sign Being able to order food from anywhere in Disney World and being able to grab it later makes mealtimes quick and easy. You could order your lunch while waiting in line for one ride, and grab it while on your way to another! However, there are a few reasons why ordering via mobile order is not ideal in many scenarios. When using mobile order, you order based on the menu that is shown for the restaurant online and in the Disney World app. The problem with this is that the online menus can be inconsistent and a bit unreliable. ©Disney Sometimes, Disney will still include items that are unavailable at the actual location. Other times, they won’t include available items being served that you could have ordered. Trust us, it’s pretty sad to go pick up your food and realize that you could have gotten something even tastier if you had known it existed! Quick Service at Gaston’s Tavern This happened to us just the other day. We were visiting Magic Kingdom and noticed that a treat — the Seaside Serenade drink — was listed on the physical menu at Prince Eric’s Village Market, but it wasn’t included on the mobile order menu online. This is a limited-time treat that’s available now in honor of the release of The Little Mermaid, so it wasn’t yet included. This happens super often! Prince Eric’s Village Market Menu To avoid this, you can order in person at quick service locations so that you can speak to Cast Members and know for sure what’s on the menu. Plus, this can be a great way to discover new treats and snacks you might not have already known about — and you know we’re all about new snacks!! Quick Service Cast Members We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney tips and tricks, so make sure to follow along for more. Looking for snack recommendations? Look no further! Click here for more! 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 typically order in person or via mobile order? Let us know in the comments! The post Why You DON'T Want To Use Mobile Order in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Something STRANGE happened in Disney World. Main Street, U.S.A. May 29th, 2023, marked the Memorial Day holiday in the United States, which can often bring BIG crowds to Disney World and other theme parks. While we did see some crowds and the Genie+ price increased to the highest it has been in weeks, the wait times in the parks were SURPRISING. There were some fairly large crowds at the entrance to Magic Kingdom right when it opened. Memorial Day MK crowds But once inside the park, things weren’t all that bad. At least, people weren’t packed in like sardines, walking shoulder-to-shoulder to their next ride. A look down Main Street, U.S.A. At around 11:30AM on May 29th, we spotted a 65-minute wait for Haunted Mansion — fairly lengthy but only just over an hour, so not too bad. By 12:10PM, things were still looking pretty good. Is that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad we see with a 35-minute wait?! ©Disney And Pirates of the Caribbean at just 25 minutes?! ©Disney What about a trip on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with a wait of just 20 minutes… ©Disney …or a stop at the PeopleMover with just a 5-minute wait?! Sign us up! ©Disney Things at EPCOT weren’t bad either, with Spaceship Earth at 30 minutes, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at under an hour, and only Test Track with a wait time of over an hour. ©Disney We checked the wait times again around 4:45PM, and still, things weren’t all that terrible. ©Disney Thunder Mountain was at a 15-minute wait(!!)… ©Disney …Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run was at a 25-minute wait… ©Disney …and even the reopened Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster AND Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance had a wait of less than 60 minutes. ©Disney The longest wait times were 80 minutes at Slinky Dog Dash, 90 minutes at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and 115 minutes at Avatar Flight of Passage. ©Disney That’s not to say there weren’t any crowds at all, but our reporters shared that the parks (especially Magic Kingdom) felt much emptier than they expected. Disney did note that they anticipate some park results would be “unfavorable” in this back half of their fiscal year compared to last year since the 50th Anniversary celebration has ended. And it’s possible that Disney also more heavily limited Park Pass availability today, though none of the Park Passes filled up. It’s also possible that people were taking advantage of this day to fly home before work begins again on Tuesday. Crowds What do you think? Are the crowds bigger or smaller than you anticipated? Tell us in the comments. For more tips to help you plan your next Disney World vacation, see our links and video below. And stay tuned for all the latest updates!  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 surprised you the most about these wait times? Tell us in the comments. The post Disney World Was NOT What You Expected Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We talk a lot about the hidden secrets you might find lurking around Disney World — but we think we may have found something to top it all (at least for now!) Tree of Life One of the best parts about Disney World is that multiple different cultures are represented throughout the parks. But, if you’re not familiar with another language, certain signs might confuse you. Luckily, we think we may have something to share that’ll help you out! Have you ever been wandering around Animal Kingdom or even EPCOT and wondered what phrases written in other languages might say? Hi, it’s us, we do that all the time. Take this Simba and Nala display at Animal Kingdom. It’s written in Swahili (which we don’t speak!), and while you could type it into Google to figure it out — who has the time for that?! Instead, just pop that bad boy right into the Google Translate app and you’ll have your answer in no time! What does it say? The app uses your phone camera and automatically detects the language using Google Lens, and translates it right in front of your very eyes! In this case, it says, “Can you feel the love tonight?” Can you feel the love tonight? Over here, we’ve got some statues of Russel and Dug from Up — but what does each statue say? Russel and Dug According to Google Translate, Russel’s statue says “Boy…” Boy …and shockingly, Dug’s statue says “Dog!” Dog We bet you could even use it over at EPCOT when you’re walking around the World Showcase! Need to find out what Le Cellier means? You can do that. Want to know what Teppan Edo translates to? You can probably do that too. Your next Disney World trip is about to be a whole lot more interesting — and we can’t wait to see what you discover! World Showcase Lagoon 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! Flower and Garden Merch! As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World tips and news. 13 Disney World SECRETS Only the Insiders Know WHAT'S NEW AT DISNEY? Check out our daily updates on all the happenings around Disney World and Disneyland! Magic Kingdom EPCOT Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Disney Hotels Disney Springs Disneyland What’s your favorite hidden Disney World tip? Tell us in the comments. The post Why You NEED the Google Translate App in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So, you’re planning a trip to Disney World, and you’ve narrowed it down between two of the most ICONIC Disney resorts in existence (you lucky, lucky person!). Old Key West Resort But how do you choose between Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas and Disney’s Old Key West? Well, let’s dive into the deets to see which one is right for you! Choosing between the BoardWalk Inn and the Old Key West, is like choosing a favorite child, a favorite Disney cupcake, or between a Dole Whip or a Mickey Pretzel — there’s enough love to go around! But just like cupcakes and classic Disney snacks (and maybe your kids, too… only you know your family dynamic…), there’s a certain flavor that might just hit the spot for what you’re looking for. BoardWalk Inn There’s no doubt that Disney vacations are expensive, and no one wants buyer’s remorse when it comes to what can usually be the most EXPENSIVE part of your Disney trip. We’re approaching this chaos-agent of a decision with as much logic as possible, so we’re breaking it down into five categories: Common Ground Theme/Rooms Pools Food Transportation We’re putting each resort through these paces to see where they stand and which one may be speaking to you for your Disney trip. Common Ground Before we start down the rabbit hole into the Wonderland of their differences, let’s review the similarities of these resorts. These resorts are both Disney Deluxe Resorts, so they will be pretty pricey and offer the same perks. BoardWalk Inn For the BoardWalk Inn, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $597 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $4,455 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit. For Old Key West, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $457 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $3,081 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit. Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests Theme/Rooms Both the BoardWalk Inn and the Old Key West are Deluxe resorts and offer the poshest of Disney’s accommodations and perks, but that doesn’t mean they look the same! BoardWalk Inn Welcome to the charming turn-of-the-century Atlantic boardwalk themed resort, aptly named BoardWalk Inn (so sometimes Disney creativity pales in comparison to a straightforward resort naming). BoardWalk Lobby The BoardWalk brings in the vibrant colors of a carnival without feeling like you’re staying in a circus. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn So, you won’t find oversized Disney character decors that you might find at the more festive Value Resorts, but this turn-of-the-century New England esplanade does have some vibrancy and fun that makes it a great retreat from the parks. In essence, the BoardWalk balances the fun of the theme with the luxury of a deluxe resort. The rooms last received a bit of a touch up and spruce back in 2016, and with the ongoing construction and other resort renovations may see some TLC, soon. BoardWalk Inn The BoardWalk Inn has been updating and renovating many of the common areas, like the dining options on the actual boardwalk, like the rebranding of the BoardWalk Deli (formerly the BoardWalk Bakery), and the soon-to-open Cake Bake Shop. Inside the BoardWalk lobby, the fan-favorite Belle Vue Lounge reopened with new furnishings, that received some humdrum remarks from loyal guests for losing its charm and looking like it was furnished by Wayfair. And Carousel Coffee recently opened, serving up pastries, Joffrey’s Coffee, but a rather subdued vibe for a joint named after a bright and vivacious carnival attraction. Old Key West As a Deluxe Villa Resort, this hotel offers many unique perks. Villas can be booked by Disney Vacation Club members or cash-paying guests, and because of the immense size of Old Key West, rooms are often available! Opened in October 1991, Old Key West features a relaxed, beach vibe (minus the ocean). Picture yourself vacationing at a Caribbean-style guest house in small neighborhood-type structures. Exteriors are painted in soft hues reminiscent of the Florida Keys. Guests return here year after year because of the laid-back atmosphere and large rooms. Old Key West Resort — Deluxe Studio Room. Yes, this resort offers generous square footage in each studio or villa. Studios are furnished with two queen beds and a kitchenette. Take note of that balcony! Two-bedroom villas sleep up to nine people. The one-to-three-bedroom villas have a full kitchen, as well as washer and dryer. Rooms were last renovated in 2019. Old Key West Resort Speaking of spacious accommodations, the 3 Bedroom Grand Villas at various Disney Vacation Club properties can sleep up to 12 people! These rooms typically come with 3 bedrooms, 3 (or more) bathrooms, a (very large) full-sized kitchen, living area, dining area, and a balcony. These rooms are available first for DVC members to book, so they’re pretty difficult to score and pricing is not readily available to the public (unless you call Disney to book for a specific date). Results This could boil down to the size of the room that you need. Both have those laid back, just here on vacation kinda vibes. The BoardWalk has the brighter colors of a, well… boardwalk, and Old Key West has the softer pastels of the Caribbean, but both offer those stroll along the beach, find a nearby hammock kinda atmosphere. Old Key West wins this category because of that price point and the size of the room you get for it. If you’re traveling with a larger party, you’ll definitely appreciate that extra elbow room. PHOTOS: Go Inside an Old Key West Deluxe Studio Hotel Room in Disney World Pools Pools, splash pads, hot tubs, and lounge chairs, vacation just doesn’t feel completed without spending some time by the pool. Which of these resorts is the aquatic champion of water lounging? Only one way to find out… BoardWalk Inn The BoardWalk Inn has three pool, the main pool is called Luna Park, and two “leisure” pools for folks that are looking for more chill than thrill for their watery adventure. BoardWalk Luna Park Pool The Luna Park pool used to be the home of the nightmare-fuel clown water slide that lit up at night and may have caused an entire generation to need therapy. Luckily for you fine folks, you get to enjoy the renovated model of the Keister Coaster pool slide — where the trauma-inducing clown was replaced with a fun mural of Mickey, Minnie, and the gang enjoy a pool adventure with you on this 200-foot long slide. BoardWalk Inn Pool This fun pool is 184,217 gallons (yep, we here at DFB painstakingly measured each ounce for full accuracy just for YOU — we care that much) and is just step away from the fun of the boardwalk where you can easily grab a quick ice cream or margarita and then jump right back in the pool. Old Key West Sandcastle is Old Key West’s feature pool near the Hospitality House. Here, a 125-ft. waterslide traverses through a large sandcastle. Guests will love the decorative dolphins that spout water into the large pool. There’s also a relaxing whirlpool spa as well as a dry sauna located inside the nearby lighthouse. Small children will enjoy the kiddie pool. Keeping with the Florida Keys atmosphere, there is also a sandy “beach”! Sandcastle Pool At this property, there are three leisure pools — Old Turtle Pond, South Point, and Miller’s Road. Results There’s no real loser in this category if you’ve found relaxation and joy, but our heart leans towards the Old Key West pool as it offers some great amenities for the whole family. Disney’s Old Key West Resort We also love that the nearby Good’s Food to Go often has a fun flavor of DOLE Whip, which just raises the pool experience to a new level. 10 Hidden Secrets About Disney World Pools Food Because we are Disney FOOD Blog, we take food seriously. Very. Seriously. And we love it all. We love the cheap, comfort of plastic cheese, and we love the high-brow sophistication of a wine flight or a multi-course pre-fixe meal. We don’t discriminate; we are a lover of all foods. Since food is SO important, let’s see who these resorts stack up against each other in the restaurant category. BoardWalk Inn If you were impressed with the Polynesian’s 10 dining locations, look out, because the BoardWalk has 16! AbracadaBar, according to the story, you can still feel the magic in the air at this former secret haunt of boardwalk magicians and entertainers… a group that mysteriously vanished over 70 years ago. Guests can experience their lingering magic in the sights, sounds, and even tastes (through the signature “Curious Cocktails”) in this enchanted lounge! Step inside for a magical happy hour Atlantic Dance Hall is another bar on the BoardWalk. Looking for a place to get your groove on? Boogie down to music from the 80s through today at Atlantic Dance Hall! You can request your favorite music videos, and dance along as they play on the large screens above. Shake your groove thang, and get your dance on with a group of friends! Please note that Atlantic Dance Hall is limited to guests 21 and older and typically open Thursday through Sunday nights from 8PM to 1AM. Atlantic Dance Hall The Belle Vue Lounge is what many call a “rare find” at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Modeled after a 1930s sitting room, it has nice touches like board games and working radios playing shows from eras past. Tucked right off the main lobby, this lounge is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink after a long day at the parks, or even to take a quick snooze in a comfy chair to recharge in late afternoon. Guests can also stop here for coffee or pastries in the morning. Belle Vue Lounge Head to a real brewing factory at Big River Grille & Brewing Works! Here you can sample many different kinds of beers, along with great burgers, steaks, nachos, and more. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the Big River Grille & Brewing Works restaurant provide a glimpse into the beer-making process. Watch while an on-site brew master crafts the establishment’s beers. Or sit outside and enjoy the BoardWalk atmosphere and water views. Big River Grille & Brewing Works Step back in time to a seaside boardwalk village on Crescent Lake where turn-of-the-century charm meets savory eats and sweet treats at the BoardWalk Deli. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered, and guests enjoy items like house-baked bagels, an “overstuffed warm pastrami Reuben” or a hand-piped cannoli. In Disney’s words, the menu takes us on “a road trip of classic sweet and savory flavors from New York to the Jersey Shore,” and you can check it out here. BoardWalk Deli Craving a cool treat while strolling along the Disney World BoardWalk? Then stop by BoardWalk Ice Cream! This ice cream to-go store scoops up simple sundaes and cones made with Edy’s brand ice cream. The treats here are said to be inspired by the beloved Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at the nearby Beach Club Resort. BoardWalk Ice Cream BoardWalk Joe’s is a stand on Disney World’s BoardWalk that is known for ONE thing: “Marvelous Margaritas!” For a relatively small kiosk, there is a surprising variety of flavorful margaritas available — and sometimes you’ll happen upon a seasonal concoction! A selection of snacks such as pretzels and roasted nuts is also available. Non-alcoholic smoothies (including one made with Dole Whip!) are also on offer. Boardwalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas Stop by the Pizza Window on Disney World’s BoardWalk for a piping hot pizza pie! One of those most relaxing and fun things to do at Disney World is stroll along the Disney BoardWalk, taking in all the sights and smells around Crescent Lake. With 9,000 square feet of entertainment, shops, and restaurants, there are several options for a quick bite to eat. Why not grab some fresh pizza from the BoardWalk Pizza Window? They serve up whole pizza pies and pizza by the slice (and Sangria to go with it, for of-age guests, along with fountain drinks). Grab one of the cafe tables outside or stroll while you eat. Pizza Window If you happen to be walking down Disney World’s BoardWalk and you’re in the mood for a quick snack, be sure to stop at the BoardWalk To Go kiosk. At the kiosk you’ll find baskets of deep fried treats including fried mac and cheese bites and corn dogs. You can even grab a meal combo built around a hot dog, cheeseburger, or pulled pork sandwich. Boardwalk To-Go The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers is coming to Disney World’s BoardWalk in 2023! This new Table Service restaurant will serve items for brunch, lunch, and dinner featuring both sweet and savory menus. Afternoon tea service will be offered as well! Disney notes that the new eatery will present a “whimsical atmosphere that complements the magic of the idyllic charm of Disney’s BoardWalk that guests know and love.” And guess what? Guest will also be able to pop in for a quick treat by grabbing something to-go from the bakery case! Concept art for The Cake Bake Shop You can find Carousel Coffee at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. This spot is located right off the Resort’s lobby, making it a perfectly convenient spot for your pick-me-up cup! Coffee, tea, and pastries (including options by Joffrey’s Coffee) are on offer. Keep an eye out for seasonal drinks and unique options like a Dark Cherry Mocha Frozen Blended Coffee (which Disney shares is a flavor staple of “coffee shops, family-owned delis, and ice cream parlors along the shores” in keeping with the BoardWalk’s vintage seaside theme). As far as the eats, you can grab classic snacks such as the Vintage Mickey & Minnie Sugar Cookie, Banana Bread, Croissants, Muffins, NJ Crumb Cake, Bagels, and a Mickey Brownie up for grabs. Carousel Coffee Flying Fish is a signature restaurant that serves gourmet seafood to guests on Disney World’s BoardWalk. Many tout both the sea and land dishes here. (The Char-Crusted New York Strip is a favorite among landlubbers.) The location — complete with a lovely glass school of fish “swimming” above the main dining room — has an emphasized focus on seasonal, sustainable fare. Flying Fish You’ll find a truly classic carnival treat on Disney World’s BoardWalk: Funnel Cake! The Funnel Cake Stand also serves the rather unexpected offering of Fried Ice Cream. Enjoy your “Tasty Sensations” (as the sign says) while you stroll or pull up a bench on the BoardWalk while watching the people go by! PLEASE NOTE: The BoardWalk Funnel Cake is currently closed. We will keep you updated when a reopening is announced! Funnel Cake Stand Do you love music from the 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s? Do you love dueling piano improv? Then Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar is the place for you! The raucous bar on Disney’s BoardWalk brings you non-stop dueling pianos and a drink special each night (the “Jellyroll of the Day”). So be thinking of your favorite Billy Joel, Mariah Carey or Elton John song to request! A cover charge of $18.00 to enter Jellyrolls is typically open nightly from 7PM to 1:45AM. Doors open at 7PM, and entertainment starts at 8PM — it helps to be early to grab a seat! Jellyrolls Welcome to Leaping Horse Libations at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn! Out at the Luna Park Pool, its given name) at this Deluxe Resort, you’ll find a poolside bar with all the basics you need for an afternoon in the sun — cold drinks, snacks, and even a few lunch items to get you through your Florida sun-and-pool afternoon! Look for fun carnival-themed drinks like the Tilt-A-Whirl, and The Roller Coaster Meltdown served along with the standard Disney pool bar menu. Leaping Horse Libations You’ll find Trattoria al Forno on Disney World’s BoardWalk. This eatery serves dinner daily and is an “original Italian restaurant.” The dinner menu features regional specialties with classic preparations. Many ingredients are crafted in-house, including hand-crafted mozzarella and handmade cavatelli. Trattoria al Forno also features seasonal risotto and serves only Italian wines. Trattoria al Forno So many amazing places to eat, how can you choose? Or you don’t have to, just systematically eat your way through the BoardWalk! Has Disney World Gone TOO Far With Their Creative Drinks?! You Tell Us! Old Key West Olivia’s Cafe is a relaxed and casual Table Service restaurant featuring flavors inspired by the Florida Keys. It is a beachy, breezy, casual restaurant in Disney’s Old Key West Resort — offers yummy dishes and a family atmosphere that anyone’s bound to love. This Table Service restaurant serves up classic American fare and items inspired by the Florida Keys including Shrimp Fritters, the Duval Street Burger, and a Key Lime Tart for dessert during lunch and dinner. This spot serves up a great breakfast, too, featuring Banana Bread French Toast among the offerings Brunch could be our favorite meal And here’s some great news: Olivia’s Brunch is a DAILY offering, making Olivia’s one of the only spots in Disney World to offer Brunch every day! Good’s Food To Go is Old Key West’s Counter Service option serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is unique with its outdoor setting made for more of a “to-go” style. However, Old Key West lacks a quick service food court with indoor seating! Good’s Food To Go The Conch Chowder is a guest favorite. Gurgling Suitcase is a charming little bar where guests can also order full entrees from Olivia’s Cafe. Gurgling Suitcase We love this little oasis. Turtle Shack Snack Bar offers sandwiches, pizza, and salads to be enjoyed poolside. Turtle Shack Grab a bite and spend some time at the pool! Click HERE for our Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Old Key West Resort! Results It’s so hard to designate a clear winner for food — because we love it all! If you’re in the market for home-style comfort food, then you might just enjoy dining at Olivia’s throughout your stay (it’s definitely one of our favorites and a hidden gem). Olivia’s fried chicken The BoardWalk Inn gives you a lot more options, from sandwiches and pizza to classy Italian fare, a casual brewery, and a festive piano bar! Trattoria al Forno Plant Based Rigatoni Bolognese The edge for this one goes to the BoardWalk Inn, but remember that the Old Key West is just a boatride from all of the dining options of Disney Springs, so that’s nothing to discount too soon! New DFB Video: Join Us For the Monorail Crawl! Transportation Do these deluxe resorts offer anything different when it comes to transportation? Let’s see!! BoardWalk Inn The BoardWalk Inn is considered an “EPCOT-area” resort. It sits on Crescent Lake, across the lake from Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts. This resort is situated in between TWO Disney parks, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Yep, that’s right, you can walk or enjoy a relaxing boat ride on a Friendship Cruise boat to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. EPCOT Boat If Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs is your destination, then you can board one of Disney’s buses to transport you over to these parks. Disney buses can get you just about anywhere! And as if walkways, boats, and buses weren’t enough options for you, BoardWalk guests are also within walking distance of the EPCOT Skyliner station. This means you have easy access to the other Skyliner resorts if you want to go exploring other resorts or just have a relaxing cruise through the sky. Walt Disney World Skyliner Old Key West If you are driving to Walt Disney World or renting a car once you get to Florida, Old Key West offers the convenience of parking right in front of your villa. And with all the walking that you’ll do on vacation, this might be the right choice for your weary feet. This is especially helpful when traveling with grandparents, young children, or anyone with mobility concerns. Bus to Old Key West To all theme parks, you’ll have to take a bus. But you can enjoy a leisurely boatride down to Disney Springs to spend a day or evening at this premium shopping and dining district, whether you’re looking for another vacation souvenir or a pre-dinner cocktail. Old Key West is just a boat’s ride away from Disney Springs Results It’s hard to make a comparison, here. BoardWalk Inn is within walking distance of TWO Disney parks, and offers buses, boats, and the Skyliner to explore all of the far reaches of Disney World. EPCOT Guests staying at Old Key West using Disney transportation will be relegated to just using the Disney bus system, unless you’ve brought your own car or are just happy using the boat service to Disney Springs. Why You Should Skip the Monorail on Your Next Magic Kingdom Trip The Winner! So, who is the ultimate winner in the BoardWalk Inn vs. Old Key West battle? We hate to say it, but it depends! The BoardWalk Inn won the Food and Transportation categories. Old Key West won the Room and Pool categories. So, if you plan on spending time at your resort and really enjoying it’s amenities, then Old Key West is your gal. If your vacation is focusing on the parks and the food, then BoardWalk Inn may be for you — but that price point reflects those perks. Old Key West Keep following DFB for more articles like this, and sign up for our newsletter below to get them straight into your inbox! Polynesian Village vs. Contemporary Resort Guide for Disney World in 2023 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? Is BoardWalk Inn or Old Key West Resort better? Let us know in the comments! The post Old Key West vs. BoardWalk Villas Resort Guide 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With the help of First Book and more than 100 Disney VoluntEARS, 40,000 Disney Books made their way into the hands of Anaheim children to inspire them to continue reading during summer months.View the full article

No matter when you last visited Disneyland, chances are things might look a little bit different. Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Disney is hard at work updating attractions, building new lands, and coming up with new restaurant ideas! If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland this summer, we spotted some closures you might want to know about! Soarin’ Around the World is closing for refurbishment on July 5th, and so far there’s no end date listed. The Disneyland calendar shows it being closed as far out as we can see for now, though. Soarin’ Around the World There’s another ride closure coming up at Disneyland when Dumbo the Flying Elephant is listed as unavailable for just one day — on July 3rd. We’ll keep an eye out for any additional closure dates that might pop up for this ride. Dumbo And perhaps the biggest closure of them all — the Disneyland Monorail will be closed beginning on July 5th. There’s a notice on the website that reads, “Beginning July 5, 2023, the Disneyland Monorail will be closed for refurbishment. Please check back here for updates about when it will open.” Disneyland Monorail We know that the monorail refurbishment will last at least through July 10th, but it could last even longer. We’ll keep an eye out for a potential reopening date and let you know if we hear anything! Disneyland Monorail In dining news, there are a few spots at Disney California Adventure’s Pacific Wharf that are closed as part of the ongoing transformation into San Fransokyo Square from Big Hero 6! The Boudin Bread Cart is now closed, but will reopen on July 2nd. Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. will be closing on May 31st and reopen on July 2nd. Learn more about the new Big Hero 6 land here! ©Disney Keep these closures in mind if you’re heading to Disneyland soon, and as always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest news from all around the Disney parks and beyond! 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 When did you visit Disneyland last? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: 5 CLOSURES Revealed for Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The 2023 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is just around the corner in Disney World, and there is a LOT to prepare for! It started on July 27th and runs alllll the way until November 18th this year. EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Passport First off, you’re going to want to take a look at those food booth menus so you can map out which items you want to grab while in the parks. You should also probably check out the lineup for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series to see which artist will be performing while you’re at the festival, or even to schedule your trip around a certain artist! We’re getting you ready with our guidebook to the festival, our free printable for all of the food booths, and some sound advice, but there is one major thing we need to talk about — BUDGET! So, let’s break down what an actual realistic budget looks like for EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival. Park Tickets To go to the festival, you gotta buy a ticket to get into EPCOT — duh! The festival is accessible to everyone who has admission into the park, so there’s no paying extra to attend or anything like that. Now, park ticket prices vary on when you visit, with busier times typically being more expensive. Food & Wine Festival There are a lot of dates to look at since the festival is about 4 months long! Keep in mind that weekend tickets are usually more expensive than weekday tickets, so that could affect your budget when you’re planning. Luckily for you, we’ve already figured out which days are the CHEAPEST to visit the festival! The majority of them are in August and September, with October and November prices being higher. Throughout the 4 months, ticket prices for a single day, single park admission range from $109-$149 for each ticket. EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Passport When you’re planning, keep in mind that this cost will change according to when you visit the festival, so make sure to look at the dates you want to go to get an accurate estimate for your budget! EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 101 Food Now for the main event: FOOD! Well, it’s the main event for us, at least. And, it’s typically the thing you’re going to spend the most money on at the festival, unless you’re buying a BUNCH of merchandise (you do you!). At Food and Wine, like the other EPCOT Festivals, there are food booths with different themes scattered around the park. Spain Food and Wine selections Food items tend to cost between $4.50-$9.25, and drinks tend to cost between $5-$9 (with some outliers). So, the average cost for each food or drink item at the festival is around $7. These are almost all small plates or portions, so don’t expect a full-sized steak to come out on a plate. But, that’s a good thing in this case, because it means you get to try more things! And, it won’t be a total loss if you end up absolutely hating something. Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup Realistically, you probably won’t be able to get something from every single booth, just because that is a lot of eating and/or drinking! You could probably do it if you really pushed yourself and shared items with other people. And, if you did do this, you would spend around $175 using the average price of the items, and that’s only if you stick to one thing at each booth. The Alps Booth But, we know a lot of people only have so much stomach space and time while in the parks, so realistically, let’s you get 2 items and a drink at 3 booths, and you can expect to spend about $70 per person. You could round it up to $100 per person to give you a buffer for choosing a more expensive drink, flight or food item. Or some extra coin in case you want more than 2 items at a particular booth. But remember, you can also share items with people in your group to cut costs and to try more things. It all depends on how hungry you are! Full spread from France. If you want to make SURE you stay on budget while you’re at the Food and Wine Festival, you can use one of our favorite tricks — get a gift card! No, not like a gift card that someone else gives you (although that would definitely help with costs!), but one that you pay for yourself, loading the exact amount of money you want to spend onto it, that way, you can’t go over budget! Wristlet Gift Card Now, we’re not going to include this in the realistic budget, but if you want to get an Eat to the Beat Dining Package while you’re at the festival, remember that costs extra cash! You can take a look at the pricing right here. Click here to see our 3 budget plans for EPCOT festivals! Merchandise Let’s talk about merchandise. This definitely isn’t a necessity at the festival, but we’re sure a lot of you will want some kind of keepsake from Food and Wine to take home with you! So, if you do want some merch from the festival, make sure to leave some wiggle room in your budget for it. 2022 Food and Wine Festival Ears Keep in mind that Disney merchandise is usually more expensive than the same kinds of items you would find in stores at home (wouldn’t it be great if there were Target prices at Disney, though?!). There are a LOT of different items that Disney releases for the festival, so we’re just going to talk about some of the more popular things. Spirit Jersey Spirit Jerseys at Disney World are usually between $70 to $80, while regular short-sleeved T-shirts are between $30 to $40. Cups like Tervis Tumblers or Corkcicle items run between $25-$35. And, Minnie and Mickey ears can usually be found between $30-$40. 2022 Food and Wine Festival Merchandise So, let’s say you get 2 reasonably priced merchandise items while you’re at the festival. Including your food budget, this will probably put you around $200 total for the day, plus the cost of your park ticket. Now, this does NOT mean that you’re for sure going to spend $200 for each person while you’re at the festival — it completely depends on how much you eat, drink, share, and buy. Everyone will have different preferences, which will add up to different costs. But, this should help you get a general idea of what eating a decent amount of items and buying some merch will look like during the festival! Fries! Want to prepare even more for EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival? We’ve got you! You can check out our full guide to the festival, all of the food menus, all of the NEW food items this year, the entertainment lineup, and more. And remember, even with buying a park ticket, you DO still have to make a Park Pass Reservation for EPCOT in order to get inside the park, just like you have to do at the other parks! We would recommend buying your ticket and making your reservation as soon as you can, because days can sell out and book up. Mexico Booth Items 2022 We’ll be checking out EVERYTHING at the festival, from the food booths to the entertainment, so stay tuned to DFB for MORE coverage of the 2023 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! We’ve Covered the EPCOT Food and Wine Fest for 15 Years. Here Are Our Predictions for 2023 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! Will you be going to EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival this year? Tell us in the comments! The post How Much Does the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Really Cost? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s almost impossible to imagine Iron Man played by anyone other than Robert Downey Jr., but did you know that Downey was almost cast as a DIFFERENT Marvel character before he auditioned to play the “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” (his words, not ours )? Iron Man And that other character was an infamous VILLAIN, no less! Imagine how different the Marvel films would be if Robert Downey Jr. were cast as Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four instead of as Iron Man. It sounds like a casting from a different multiverse, right?! But that’s almost what happened, according to Iron Man director Jon Favreau. Doctor Doom ©Fox via Business Insider In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Favreau and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige reflected on the making of Iron Man. Favreau said, “I remember you had all met with him [Downey] already for like Doctor Doom or something on another project. I think he had come through on like maybe Fantastic Four, so everybody sort of knew who he was.” Favreau didn’t say exactly how close Downey was to getting the role of Doctor Doom. He did say, however, that when Downey auditioned for Iron Man, they immediately saw a “spark” and “knew he was perfect for the role.” ©Disney via Hollywood Reporter Favreau reflected that, once Downey was on board with Iron Man, things just started to fall into place: “Once it was him, that’s when my life got a lot easier because he understood the voice of the character. Then one by one, people were just signing on board because now it became something interesting.” Of course, Downey went on to play Iron Man in a couple of sequels, four Avengers movies, and lots of other Marvel films. Feige said that he didn’t think Marvel would have a studio if it weren’t for Downey: “I remember on later movies — we’ll talk about them on the 15th anniversary of those — there were dark days. I would say to Robert, ‘We wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for you,’ meaning we wouldn’t have a studio if it wasn’t for him.” ©CinemaBlend | Marvel In an interview with Insider back in 2022, Downey reflected on his role in Iron Man, saying that “not too many people were thinking Iron Man was going to have an opening weekend or do much of anything, so we were a little bit left alone.” According to Downey, Marvel had financed the movie “in a way that meant the studio was already prepared for failure.” ©Blackstone Publishing About making the film, Downey said, “It was the perfect thing where there were not a lot of creatively aggressive eyes on us. And by the time they gave it to us, it was like [artist-owned movie studio] United Artists, like the lunatics took over the asylum.” Contrary to the studio’s predictions, however, Iron Man was a big success, earning $585 million worldwide. Downey went on to play Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame, which earned $2.798 billion worldwide, so clearly Marvel made the right call in bringing Downey on board. ©Marvel Iron Man is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The film started Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in 2008. (Can you believe we’re already on Phase 5 now?) Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Bob Iger says he wants to have more Marvel in Disney World. Here’s why he CAN’T. 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 Marvel character is your favorite? Let us know in the comments. The post Robert Downey Jr. Almost Played a Marvel VILLAIN Before He Was Iron Man first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A fan-favorite dining experience at Disney World is the opportunity to dine with Minnie Mouse and her friends in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Hollywood and Vine Hollywood & Vine offers a wide variety of American dishes on a buffet during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant is hosted by Minnie and her friends, dressed seasonally and ready to meet and take photos with you and your crew! Many Disney fans look forward to the end of the year — when holidays inspire park decor, cuisine, and character costumes in the parks. At Hollywood and Vine, you can experience special holiday meals with Minnie and her friends while they’re decked out in festive costumes. If you’re wondering when you can experience these, you’re in the right place. Hollywood and Vine From August 11th to November 4th, you can join Minnie for a Halloween celebration! She and her friends will rock their favorite Halloween costumes during Minnie’s Halloween Dine! Witch Minnie at Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine Starting November 5th, you can celebrate the winter holidays alongside Minnie and her friends at Minnie’s Holiday Dine. We expect this one to be pretty jolly! We don’t know when this dining experience will end, but we’ll let you know when we do find out. Santa Goofy at Minnie’s Holiday Dine If you’re wondering about the food, it’s… okay, in our opinion. You can check out our review of the restaurant by clicking here! It’s not our favorite, but the character experience can make it totally worth it, especially if you have little ones. You can book your dining experience up to 60 days in advance on the Disney World website or by calling (407) 939-3463. Mickey! We’ll continue to keep you updated with all the Disney news and updates, dining news included! Make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more seasonal meals at Hollywood and Vine? Click here for more! 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! Will you be joining Minnie and her friends for the holidays? Let us know in the comments! The post DATES ANNOUNCED for Important Changes at Disney’s Hollywood & Vine Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

From the PeopleMover to the monorail, Disney World has some of Florida’s most UNIQUE transportation options! Here’s a fun fact for ya: EPCOT is the only Disney World park you can get to from every type of Disney World transportation — even your own two feet (if you’re staying within walking distance from the park, anyway). EPCOT One of our FAVORITE transportation methods is the Disney World Skyliner system. It’s still relatively new, so if you haven’t been to Disney World in a while, allow us to teach you all about the Skyliner. What is the Disney Skyliner? The Skyliner is a gondola system that connects TWO Disney parks (EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) with multiple Disney Resorts right above our heads! Oh, and good news; like Disney’s other transportation methods, this one is FREE. Away we go! You can get to the Skyliner from several locations, including EPCOT’s International Gateway, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. But (this is important, so listen up) you can ONLY get to the Disney World parks by visiting the Skyliner hub at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. (Or Disney’s Riviera Resort, but that station only has a direct line to EPCOT) You have to transfer at the Caribbean Beach Resort Disney Skyliner station In other words, don’t expect every Skyliner station to take you straight to your destination. You may have to hop into a gondola at one station, get off at the Caribbean Beach Resort station, then transfer lines. The Skyliner is a fun way to hop from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios! Luckily, the Skyliner is pretty simple to use; you just hop into a gondola and let the Skyliner do its thing! Just make sure to check the operating hours in the morning so you know when the Skyliner closes for the night. There’s usually a sign posted by the entrance to each Skyliner station with all the operational details. Don’t make this ROOKIE mistake! Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s talk about the biggest MISTAKE we see first-timers make with the Skyliner. The Skyliner is SUCH a convenient way to travel! Here’s the thing: Florida weather is super unpredictable, and nasty weather often impacts Disney World transportation. You can’t take the boat in lightning conditions, you can’t use the monorail in bad weather, and you can’t ride the Skyliner when lightning is nearby. Look out for stormy weather! That may seem obvious, right? But the truth is, the Skyliner often closes BEFORE bad weather is even happening! Cast Members are trained to carefully monitor nearby weather conditions to prevent guests from being stuck in a thunderstorm. You may see blue skies and sunshine, but the Skyliner could close due to a lightning strike miles away. The weather can be deceiving! Currently, Disney doesn’t really have any sort of mass notification system to alert guests that the Skyliner is closed. This means some guests may walk allll the way over to the Skyliner just to find out that it’s not operating. (We’ve been there — it’s not fun!) Look for a sign to let you know the Skyliner is closed! In some places, it’s a short walk from the Skyliner to the bus stop, but other Skyliner stations are far from alternate transportation options, which can add a LOT of time to your journey. Hollywood Studios Skyliner Station For example, EPCOT guests hoping to take the Skyliner are typically re-directed to the bus stop when the Skyliner is closed, which is on the complete OPPOSITE side of the park. After a long day of standing and walking, the news can feel pretty devastating. That’s a long walk! Prepare for a long walk! So, what can you do to prevent this mistake? First of all, check the weather on your phone BEFORE you head to the Skyliner. If you see a thunderstorm predicted to come in the near future, don’t risk it! Take the bus instead. Bus Transportation is free, too! Next (and this isn’t foolproof, so keep that in mind), you can look at nearby attraction closures to gauge the likelihood that the Skyliner is operating. If you see Disney’s outdoor attractions start closing, there’s a high chance that the Skyliner isn’t operating, either. Look for other closures first! You can also try asking a Cast Member, but keep in mind that not all Cast Members are immediately notified when the Skyliner closes. Look for a Cast Member in this costume — they can help! It’s not always easy to predict if (and when) the Skyliner may close, but keep your eyes out for signs before you start walking to the Skyliner — it might save you some time! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have YOU ever made this rookie mistake? Let us know in the comments! The post The BIGGEST Skyliner Mistake That Rookies Make in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article