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Nearly three years after the Disney World closure in 2020, things are still not totally back to normal. But now, we can finally say that you can have breakfast with Disney Princesses again in EPCOT! We’re ready to meet some princesses! That’s right, we were able to visit Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion on the first day the character dining resumed breakfast service. Come with us for a first look at our experience! Then Snow White came to visit! Snow White looking RADIANT And we saw Ariel! Hi, Ariel! The fifth princess who came to visit was the lovely Belle. Belle! We were given a great souvenir — an autograph card signed by all five of the princesses we were able to see today! Front of the autograph card at Akershus Back of the autograph card at Akershus And that’s a wrap on our character dining experience at Akershus! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney food news! Ranking the BEST Character Dining in Disney World — 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 princess would you be most excited to meet? Tell us in the comments! The post FIRST LOOK: The EPCOT Princess Breakfast is BACK! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Genie+ has been around for a while now in Disney World, and we’ve gotten to know the system pretty well. Genie+ But, if you’re not in the parks every day like we are, it can still be pretty darn confusing. There are times you need to remember, rules you have to follow, and certain tricks you might not know. We’re breaking down one of the most confusing Genie+ rules so you can be prepared! Just as a refresher, Disney Genie+ is an optional paid service in addition to the standard Disney Genie. Disney Genie+ allows you to bypass standby lines and enter the Lightning Lane (previously known as the FastPass line) at select attractions by paying a base price, starting at $15 per day*, per ticket at Disney World. With Genie+, guests can make one ride selection at a time. You can make another selection when one of three things happens: You have used the first one you booked; Your first return time window has ended (if you miss it); or 120 minutes have passed since you booked your last one* (or 120 minutes after park opening, depending on the situation). Essentially, you can book another Lightning Lane 2 hours (120 minutes) after reserving a previous one if the return time for the first Lightning Lane is more than 2 hours away. Lightning Lane The 120-minute rule is arguably the most confusing of them all. You can generally make 1 Genie+ selection at a time throughout the day. But after you’ve made your first one, when can you make your second one? That’s where the 120 rule comes in. Lightning Lane If you book your first Genie+ choice in the morning for later in the day, then you can make a second Genie+ Lightning Lane choice once 120 minutes have passed. But if you book before park opening time, this countdown starts at park opening time. This is the key here! We’ll come back to that for a second. At Disney World, you can make your first Lightning Lane attraction selection at 7AM on the day of your visit. So yes, you will need to get up pretty early on your vacation to get the most out of Genie+. Lightning Lane sign at Beauty and the Beast show So let’s say you wake up early (at 7AM) and make your first Genie+ selection for a ride at Hollywood Studios that doesn’t have a return time until 12PM (maybe something like Slinky Dog Dash). You won’t be able to use that first Genie+ selection until your designated 12PM return time, and your return time won’t end until later in the day. So are you stuck waiting until you ride the ride or that time passes before booking another one? NOPE! With the 120-minute rule, you can book another Genie+ selection sooner than that. But here’s where people get it wrong. Disney World Lightning Lane If you make that first Genie+ selection BEFORE the park opens, your 120-minute timer actually starts when the park OPENS. In this case, you booked the Genie+ selection at 7AM, but Hollywood Studios doesn’t open until 9AM. So you’ll be able to book that next Genie+ selection at…11AM! Lightning Lane Keep in mind that the 120-minute rule only applies to standard Genie+ attractions and not Individual Lightning Lanes, which are pay-per-ride instead. If you’re ever in doubt, you can check the Genie+ section in the My Disney Experience app and it will tell you if you’re too early to make that second selection. You can always keep up with DFB for more Disney Genie+ tips too — and for all your other Disney World news and updates! Still Confused About Disney Genie+? Click 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 Do you use Genie+ in Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post A Complete Breakdown of the Most CONFUSING Part of Disney Genie+ 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. What is your Disney merch passion? Whether you collect Minnie Ears, bags, or have your whole home decorated in a Disney theme, this sale is for you — but you have to act fast! ©shopDisney shopDisney is offering 20% off almost everything on the website! Here’s how the sale works — if you spend $100 on qualifying items, you will get 20% off. If you spend at least $150, you will get 25% off. This is a GREAT way to save on the pricier items you might have had your eye on, because a lot of those don’t go on sale frequently. We’re going to highlight a few items here, but be sure to browse the website, where you’ll find so much more! First up are these black and gold Disney World “four parks” ears! ©shopDisney The gold bow here is detachable, and just look at those park icons highlighted on both the front and back! Click here to order the Disney World Four Parks Ears! The NEW live-action version of The Little Mermaid will be in theaters soon, and we’re seeing lots of brand-new Little Mermaid merchandise as a result. Check out this belt bag! ©shopDisney This is faux leather with embroidered accents. These colors are perfect for summer! Order this The Little Mermaid Belt Bag! Get ready for lots of summer adventures with this Mickey Mouse Cooler Backpack. ©shopDisney This backpack is insulated, water resistant, and has a 20-can capacity! Shop This Mickey Mouse Cooler Backpack! Yes, even LEGO is included in this sale! ©shopDisney This set has nearly 1,000 pieces to build a Star Wars Mandalorian FANG Fighter and a TIE Interceptor — plus four LEGO Minifigures! Click here to Check Out This Star Wars: Mandalorian LEGO Set! There is SO MUCH MORE you can save on during this sale. Remember! It ends May 14th, so act fast! 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 The post Last Day to Save on HUNDREDS of Disney Finds! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So you need to CHANGE your Disney World plans…what do you do? Magic Kingdom Unexpected things happen all the time when you’re planning a vacation, and sometimes you have to abandon even the best-laid plans and shake things up. Sometimes, your plans can be modified — picking a different time for a dining reservation, choosing a different Lightning Lane, or moving the dates on your hotel stay. But what about the times when you need to CANCEL your Disney reservations? Today, we’re walking you through different cancelation policies and processes for Disney World. Dining Reservations To start, let’s talk about dining reservations. These can be made 60 days in advance of your reservation, and a lot of things could change between the time you select your restaurants and the day of your visit. Currently, the cancelation policy is that all reservations can be canceled up to two hours in advance without charge. If you wait and cancel within that 2-hour window, you’ll be directed to a phone line you’ll need to call to cancel. This policy doesn’t apply to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Victoria and Albert’s, and Monsieur Paul. ©Disney To cancel your reservation more than two hours ahead, you’ll simply need to log into your Disney account online or open your My Disney Experience app, find the reservation, and select the “cancel” button below the reservation information. You’ll be prompted with a confirmation, but then you’ll be all set and it’s no harm done! You will likely get a confirmation email after the cancelation goes through. Click Here to Learn More About the Cancelation Policy! Genie+ Lightning Lanes Next up, let’s talk about Lightning Lanes available through Genie+ (this is NOT the same as Individual Lightning Lanes that you pay for separately). Back when Disney World changed the policy so that you could modify Genie+ selections after booking them, it changed the way that you cancel your Lightning Lanes as well. Now, you’ll need to select the Lightning Lane you already booked, and then a list of options will pop up at the bottom of the screen. What happens if you click on your selection From there, you select “Cancel Plan” and then follow the prompts through to cancel your selection. In most cases, it likely makes more sense to modify your selection instead and book a different ride or time, but it’s still possible to just straight-up cancel it. (Keep in mind that if you’re locked into the 2-hour rule, canceling your selection and rebooking something else will start the 2-hour clock over, whereas just modifying a selection will not.) Click Here to Learn How to Modify a Genie+ Selection! Disney Park Passes In 2023, guests are required to make Disney Park Pass reservations to visit any theme park, unless they’re an Annual Passholder visiting after 2PM. This policy is changing significantly for 2024, but until then, we’ll all be continuing to use the Park Pass system…so we need to know how to cancel those reservations! To start, log into your Disney World account on a web browser (you can’t do this one in the My Disney Experience app). You’ll need to go to your plans! From there, go to your plans and find your Disney Park Pass reservations. Each one should be listed by date and members of your party. There will be buttons on the screen to select either “Modify Reservation” or “Cancel Reservation.” Once you choose to cancel, you’ll just follow the prompts through until you hit the confirmation screen. Hotel Reservations Last but not least, let’s talk about hotel reservations! For these, you’ll also want to log into your Disney World account and head to “My Plans.” For many reservations, you’ll see a “Cancel Reservations” link that you can select. But for some select reservations (like those that aren’t booked at a Disney-owned resort or have special considerations), you may need to call to cancel. In that case, there should be a phone number listed. Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Depending on the situation, you may need to pay a cancelation fee. Canceling 30+ days out will not cost you, but canceling between 2-29 days ahead of your vacation will cost you $200. If you’re a no-show or it’s less than 2 days before check-in, you’ll be charged the full cost for the room. Policies are slightly different for room-only bookings, where you can cancel up to 5 days in advance with no penalty. Click Here to Get All the Details on Canceling a Hotel Reservation! Things You Can’t Cancel There are also some things that you CANNOT cancel after you book them in Disney World. For starters, ticket purchases are non-refundable, so they cannot be canceled. You may, however, be able to change the dates on your already purchased tickets to use them for a future trip. Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards Another thing you can’t cancel once you’ve purchased? Individual Lightning Lanes. These are the rides that you have to purchase Lightning Lane access separately for (outside of Genie+) at each park. Currently, they include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Rise of the Resistance, and Flight of Passage. Once you buy those Lightning Lanes, you can’t change the time or cancel the reservation. We have only been refunded in the case of a ride closure — but if you have issues specifically with your Lightning Lane, you can talk to Guest Relations. TRON virtual queue and Lightning Lane signs So if you’re heading to Disney World and you’ve got a lot of extras booked for your trip, make sure to check out those cancelation policies ahead of time…just in case! We’ll keep you in the loop with anything else you need to know. Click Here to See a List of Disney World Cancelation Policies! 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 had to cancel plans in Disney World? Tell us about it in the comments! The post Step-by-Step Guide to CANCELING Disney Reservations first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Adventures by Disney takes you to amazing destinations around the world, but for entertainment cast member, Megan Hamilton, she never dreamed it would introduce her to extended family. Megan’s adoptive mom, Anne, booked a trip to Vietnam as part of the Southeast Asia itinerary. With multiple adopted children, Anne wants each of them to know […]View the full article

Welcome back to Disneyland, friends! Crowds on Main Street in Disneyland We recently found a delicious new hot chicken stand in Disneyland that you may wanna try, and we’ve covered the menu changes that have recently been happening over at the west coast parks. But the changes don’t stop there — let’s see what’s new over at Disneyland Resort. Disneyland Resort Food Updates Refreshment Corner We spotted the Esquite Hot Dog for $13.49. Esquite Hot Dog This snack isn’t entirely new — we first spotted it in July of 2021, but we’re excited to see it back! Jolly Holiday Over at Jolly Holiday, we grabbed the S’mores Macaron for $6.99… S’mores Macaron …the Cherries and Cream Pie for $6.49… Cherries and Cream Pie …the Coffee-Chocolate Cheesecake for $6.49… Coffee-Chocolate Cheesecake …and the Strawberry-Lemon Croissant Muffin for $5.99. Strawberry-Lemon Croissant Muffin Terran Treats We also grabbed the Cosmic Disturbance Churro for $6.75! Cosmic Disturbance Churro Disneyland Resort Construction Updates We noticed that the construction walls on Tiana’s Palace now go further out into the walkways around New Orleans Square. Tiana’s Palace construction Over in Disney California Adventure, there are walls and scaffolding up around the bread factory tour and Pacific Wharf Cafe. Pacific Wharf Construction Disneyland Resort Merchandise Updates Emporium We spotted a reversible Tiki Room Bucket Hat for $34.99… Tiki Room Bucket Hat …a Stitch Trucker Hat for $24.99… Stitch Trucket Hat …and a Stitch Bucket Hat for $29.99. Stitch Bucket Hat We also found some American Flag Ears for $34.99. American Flag Ears There are also some new Plush Keychains for Pooh… Pooh Plush Keychain …Pluto… Pluto Plush Keychain …Mickey… Mickey Plush Keychain …and Minnie. Minnie Plush Keychain You can also grab a few Munchlings Keychain Sets for $16.99 each! One has Mickey and Minnie… Mickey and Minnie Keychain Set …Donald and Pluto… Donald and Pluto …and Chip and Dale. Chip and Dale 20th Century Music We spotted some Mystery 100 Block Character Pins for $34.99… Mystery 100 Block Character Pins …and Mystery Food Truck Pins for $39.99. Mystery Food Truck Pins China Closet You can also grab a Disneyland Resort Apron for $34.99. Disneyland Resort Apron Pooh Corner Over in Pooh Corner, we found some Munchlings Chocolate Bars you can munch on for $5.49 each. Munchlings Chocolate Bars Tomorrowlander There are some Mystery Duck Tales Pins available for $19.99… Mystery Duck Tales Pins …a Love Your Pet Pin for $17.99… Love Your Pet Pin …a Celebrate Laughter Pin for $17.99… Celebrate Laughter Pin …a National Pizza Party Day Pin for $17.99… National Pizza Party Day Pin …a Mother’s Day Pin for $17.99… Mother’s Day Pin …and a May The 4th Be With You Pin for $17.99. May The 4th Be With You Pin Star Trader You can also grab a Herchel Star Wars Backpack for $120. Herchel Star Wars Backpack Elias and Co Lastly, we spotted a Guardians Shirt for $29.99 over in Disney California Adventure. Guardians Shirt And that’s everything that’s new at Disneyland Resort! There are a lot of exciting developments happening over on the west coast, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news. Check out our ultimate guide to Disneyland in 2023 right here! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About 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 Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? 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 part of a Disneyland vacation? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New in Disneyland: NEW Jolly Holiday Treats and Munchlings Merch! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve got some limited-time news out of Disney Springs! Disney Springs Recently we spotted a new Dole Whip flight and there are plenty of other new snacks to try. But now it’s Mother’s Day weekend, and there are two new limited-time offerings you won’t want to miss. Over at Everglazed, you can grab the Honey Lavender Cold Brew, which is made of the store’s classic cold brew blend, oat milk, honey, lavender syrups, and an ube glaze. It’ll only be available through May 14th, so grab it while you can! https://www.instagram.com/everglazed_fl/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ca2c4ef6-8506-4931-a88f-eacbe03581c5 If you’re looking for something with a little more of a kick, you can also head to Wine Bar George to grab the new pink Corkcicle, which comes with a complimentary frozen drink at purchase. These will only be available while supplies last, so we suggest hopping over sooner rather than later to snag one for yourself. Disney Springs In other Disney Springs news, a store has permanently closed, and we headed over to the newest Disney Springs hotel to see what their offerings are like. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney updates! We spent $80 for lunch at The Boathouse and told YOU if it was worth it! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these offerings is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post There Are Two NEW ADDITIONS in Disney Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s a big day over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Pixar Place Pixar Place has been closed for quite some time. The area itself used to be the entrance to Toy Story Mania before Toy Story Land was built, but all of its attractions have been shut down for eons. Now all of that is changing, and the reopening of this area means that a very popular snack is finally returning! Today, Pixar Place had a soft opening in Hollywood Studios, and we were just in time to drool over the Jack-Jack Num Num Cookie that has made its return to the Neighborhood Bakery! Now, this cookie was often available at the Joffrey’s location just outside Pixar Place during the area’s closure, but that just wasn’t the same. It’s back home where it belongs now! Neighborhood Bakery These cookies are a fan-favorite of many Disney-goers, so we’re so happy to see them return to this spot. Yum!! (Now because we’re weird, we want to give you all the interesting backstory. Did you know that while the parks were shut for the pandemic, you could go buy these cookies at the bakery where they’re made…for half price? It’s true! Read all about it here!) These are nothing but VERY rich, huge chocolate chip cookies…but they’re well worth grabbing at least once! If you get them served fresh and warm, they could be life-changing for you! There are so many experiences returning to this spot — meet and greets, the Edna Mode Experience, and more — so be sure to stay tuned to DFB to get all the latest Disney news and updates! See everything that will be CLOSED in Disney World this year so you’re prepared for your trip 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 Are you excited for this snack and area to return? Tell us in the comments below! The post THIS IS NOT A DRILL! The Jack-Jack Num Num Cookie is BACK HOME in Disney's Hollywood Studios! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Surprise! A special area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios that’s been closed to the public has now reopened! And it looks pretty different! Disney’s Hollywood Studios The reimagined Pixar Place, located across from One Man’s Dream, and right before you get to the entrance of Toy Story Land, soft-opened today — ready for meet and greets and cookies! The newly imagined space has lost some of its Municiberg decor, and has gained a more general Pixar vibe. Pixar Place Decor And a few easter eggs have been added, including these which represent the year Pixar was founded, and the Cal Arts animation room number! Pixar Place easter eggs Pixar Place Character Meet and Greets The main function of Pixar Place is for character meet and greets, and at the moment you’ll be able to meet Edna Mode at the Edna Mode Experience… The Edna Mode Experience Edna Mode Meet and Greet …Sulley from Monsters Inc. (whose One Man’s Dream meet and greet recently closed to make way for the live-action Little Mermaid meet and greet)… Sulley Meet and Greet at Pixar Place Sulley Autograph at Meet and Greet …Mr. and Mrs. Incredible… Mr. and Mrs. Incredible at Pixar Place Meet and Greet …and Frozone! Frozone Meet and Greet To date, these are the only Meet and Greets that have been announced for this area, but we’ll keep you updated with any news! Neighborhood Bakery Reopens Another exciting addition to the park is the reopening of the Neighborhood Bakery here in Pixar Place! Neighborhood Bakery Originally, this location offered several items, including that incredible Lime Cheesecake-on-a-stick; but today the only thing on the menu were Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookies! Num Num Cookies These haven’t been missing from the park — they were sold outside Pixar Place at the Joffrey’s location pretty regularly. But it’s good to have them back home where they belong! Jack Jack’s Cookie Num Nums are now at Neighborhood Bakery These are $5.79 before tax! Note that we’re not certain what the schedule will be for Pixar Place going forward. Soft openings are usually for training and practice, so the location may or may not have regular hours next week, and may not be open all day if it is open. Keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app as always for updated meet and greet information! Click here to read more about the NEWEST Meet and Greet Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW The post BREAKING: Reimagined Pixar Place is NOW OPEN in Disney's Hollywood Studios! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When we head to the Disney World theme parks each morning, we usually see a few temporary closures impacting some of the rides and attractions. For example, Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom has had a couple of rough mornings recently and was down for a few hours a couple of days ago. Spaceship Earth in EPCOT was having trouble as well, and it was closed for a couple of hours in the morning two days in a row. Cinderella Castle These temporary closures generally only last a few hours, and you can keep checking the My Disney Experience app to see when the ride reopens that same day. However, some closures last for days, weeks, or even months. Disney generally plans those longer closures well in advance so that you’re aware of them before your visit. In order to help you plan for your trip, we have a full list here of everything that’ll be closed in the parks next week. Magic Kingdom Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Splash Mountain closed on January 23rd for a long refurbishment. The ride is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with a Princess and the Frog theme. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure The new ride will reopen sometime in late 2024. We’ll be watching for more updates on the reopening timeline. The tree at the top of this ride has been removed as Disney continues construction, and several new rock structures have been built at the bottom of the drop. More details If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt… DFB Exclusive! …and a Tiana tee as well! Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store. Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster The popular Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster ride closed on February 21st for a long refurbishment. Rock ‘n Roller Coaster So far Disney hasn’t announced the date for when it will reopen, but we know it’ll be sometime in the summer of 2023. We’ll be watching for a specific reopening date. Right now, this coaster is going to be closed through late June at least, according to Disney’s refurbishment calendar. Voyage of the Little Mermaid This Little Mermaid-themed stage show has been closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a long time now. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen. We experienced something AMAZING recently at Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Boneyard The Boneyard play area in DinoLand U.S.A. is going to be closed for all of next week in Animal Kingdom. closed now This spot will be closed for over a month as Disney refurbished it. It should reopen on June 13th. Check out the latest updates from Animal Kingdom. EPCOT Refreshment Station This snack stand (previously called Cool Wash) in EPCOT is still under construction and hidden behind some hedges. We can see inside the station from the Monorail, however, and it looks like Disney has added some furniture inside the dining area. Inside the station Disney hasn’t announced when it will open, but we’ll watch for any changes. Don’t forget that the Flower & Garden Festival is going on in EPCOT right now as well! Click here to check out our NEW tees that are perfect for a trip to the festival. Get ready for Flower and Garden fest with these new shirts! You can choose from a variety of colors for our Flower & Garden tees. (If your trip is later in the year, Disney has announced the dates for the Food & Wine Festival as well!) Shop the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival tees here. Disney World Water Parks Blizzard Beach Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park has officially reopened, but now the other water park, Blizzard Beach, has closed for refurbishment. Blizzard Beach Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for updates! The BEST Rides at Blizzard Beach, Ranked Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Disney has confirmed the opening dates for several major projects! 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 How Many Days Do You Really Need in Disney World? How to Have the CHEAPEST Trip to Disney World 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Booking a 2023 Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post Attraction CLOSURES Will Impact All Four Disney World Parks Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hi! You might think Disney World is all safety and not-getting-wounded, but I’m here to tell you that’s NOT ALWAYS TRUE! It is, in fact, rather common to get hurt in Disney World…at least in these three ways… . Haunted Mansion in Disney World SO MANY Disney fans have experience with these injuries, so we’re sounding the alarm and making sure YOU don’t make the same mistakes WE have…over and over again! We’re headed to Magic Kingdom first, which may look all kinds of unthreatening. Those cute Main Street U.S.A. shops, fluffy characters, and magical princesses couldn’t possibly end in disaster could they? YES, they COULD! Main Street is lined with CLEARLY menacing trolley tracks, which target new and veteran guests alike with they way the innocuously blend into the street below. You’re walking down Main Street, staring at the siren that is Cinderella Castle, looking all around you, taking it all in, when BAM — suddenly you’re limping from the worst twisted ankle ever. Main Street USA Trolley Tracks Now of course that last paragraph is a little tongue-in-cheek, but I’m not gonna lie — this happens more often than we’d care to admit, and it’s basically become a meme for Disney fans! So while it’s hard to stay vigilant when all you want to do is stare at the castle, we advise that you keep one eye on the ground and pack your ACE bandages LOL! Next on our list of super popular ways to severely hurt yourself in Disney World is…drinking around the World! Or at least the potential outcome of doing so! This is a rite of passage for Disney-goers. You head to EPCOT, choose your starting point (Left: Mexico, or Right: Canada — by the way there IS a correct choice), and get a drink in all 11 World Showcase countries around the lagoon! EPCOT Morocco Pavilion Now we’ve got LOTS of tips for drinking around the world — from which drinks to get, to what to wear when you’re doing it, but possibly the most important tips are to pace yourself and drink plenty of water along the way! Drinking Around The World Also, be sure to combine your imbibing with some good eats for balance. I can highly recommend grabbing a snack at Joy of Tea in China, some pretzel bread pudding in Germany, and of course some loaded fries in America! New Loaded Fries OK, so now you’ve twisted your ankle and probably gotten into a couple of scrapes internally and externally with eleven drinks in EPCOT. What’s next? Well, this one is REALLY embarrassing, but I’ll be honest. I do this to myself on nearly every Disney trip no matter how many lessons I’ve learned. We’re talking about BLISTERS and SUNBURN! Don’t forget the sunscreen! These two injuries can set you back for DAYS. Let’s start with those blisters. Think about how much walking you do in Disney World. It’s often 15,000-20,000 steps per day. And I can tell you right now that when those blisters develop — due to brand new shoes that aren’t broken in, wet sandals rubbing against your feet all day, or walking too fast for too long — it is AGONY. I have had experiences where I had to buy and wear multiple pairs of socks WITH FLIP FLOPS just to get myself back to my car at EPCOT. I’ve had to beg cast members at Coronado Springs Resort to see if they had any moleskin behind the front desk that I might be able to “borrow.” When you have horrible blisters, it’s all you can think about. ©Target SO — I always have moleskin AND bandages specifically formulated for blisters packed in my park bag now for just these circumstances. It is my dream to someday put someone out of their blister-induced misery by giving them moleskin or a bandage the way that kind Coronado Springs Resort cast member saved my life. If you don’t happen upon me in the parks with my free moleskin, though, you can always go to any first-aid location — they are clearly marked in all the parks — and get bandaids for free from the cast members there! Baby Care Center and First Aid signage When it comes to sunburn, while it doesn’t keep you from getting out there in the parks in the same way, it can take you down for the count with exhaustion, chills, headache, and just generally feeling horrible. And if you get severely sunburned, it can be a significant health risk. If you’ve forgotten your sunscreen and are already in the parks, you can buy some at most gift shops (it’ll be PRICEY, but it’s there). We’ve also got a good primer here for which sunscreens are the best ones! Wanna get the best sunscreen for your Disney World trip? We’ve got some great suggestions here! Sunscreen in Disney Springs If your sunburn is making you feel lightheaded or sick, head over to first-aid in the parks as well. They are used to helping guests rehydrate, and just take a breather in the A/C until they’re ready to face the World again! Now I’m sure you won’t make these same mistakes I always seem to, but if you do — know that you’re NOT ALONE! We all do it…whether we want to admit it or not! Let me know in the comments what your Disney World horror stories have been! 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 The post Three Super Popular Ways To Severely Hurt Yourself in Disney World (Speaking From Experience) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you want to travel the world in a Disney way? ©Adventures by Disney If so, then you may be interested in Adventures by Disney. Recently they announced 2024 River Cruise itineraries and other new adventures for 2024, and NOW they’re offering a limited-time discount that you need to know about! Right now, Adventures by Disney has their Book Early & Save offer happening. This event can save you up to $500 on select 2024 and 2025 Land Adventure departures. Departures must be booked by August 5th, 2023, for departures from March 6th, 2024, through March 31st, 2025. ©Disney You can save $400 per person on these select North America & Central America departures: NORTH AMERICA Alaska Arizona & Utah Canadian Rockies Disneyland Resort & Southern California Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island Wyoming CENTRAL AMERICA Costa Rica ©Adventures by Disney You can save $500 per person on these select International Land Adventure Departures: AFRICA Egypt Morocco South Africa ASIA PACIFIC Australia China Japan New Zealand Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia SOUTH AMERICA Colombia Peru EUROPE British Isles England & France Germany Grand Europe: England, France & Italy Greece Iceland Ireland Italy Italy & Amalfi Coast Italy & Switzerland Norway Poland, Czech Republic & Austria Portugal Scotland Sicily ©Adventures by Disney Here are some important details for you to keep in mind: Trip must be booked by August 5th, 2023, to take advantage of offer Booking begins on May 9th, 2023 Valid on select Land Adventure departures only Offer excludes Adventures by Disney Escapes Offer is not combinable with any other offers, discounts or promotions Valid on new bookings only Offer availability is limited for each departure. Pricing as quoted is accurate as website is not updated in real time The availability is limited for the 2024 special early booking offer, so you’ll want to check it out ASAP. To book, you can visit the Adventures by Disney website, call (877) 728-7282, or call your Travel Advisor. And remember that the travel must be booked by August 5th, 2023. If you’re looking for some help in booking your Disney trip, reach out to our friends over at Small World Vacations for their help! 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 And in the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you planning on an Adventures by Disney vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post Save Up to 0 on a Disney Trip With a NEW Discount first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival has developed a huge reputation! EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Many guests plan their Disney trips around this popular festival to try all of the tasty bites, unique sips, and really fun beats! The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is an annual celebration of global cuisine in Disney World. EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Recognized as the Original Disney Food Festival, the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival began in 1995 with 25 Marketplaces situated around World Showcase. Featuring incredible special events, informative culinary and beverage demonstrations, celebrity chefs, and delicious Marketplace Food Booths around the park, this annual event is a can’t miss part of the Disney calendar! The Noodle Exchange The success of the event is undeniable. Now a destination for food lovers from all over the world, the Festival expanded to a record 131 days in 2020, followed closely by 129 days in 2021 and 2022. In addition to the Marketplace Booths situated around World Showcase (and now stretching into World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature — the three neighborhoods that now make up the area previously known as Future World), the Festival also includes many special events at all different price points — some are even free! Brew-Wing Cider Flight Enjoy the Eat to the Beat Concert Series nightly, featuring musical acts from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond. Culinary Demonstrations and Wine and Beverage Seminars are some of the Festival’s most popular events, and are an affordable and enjoyable way to learn in a hands-on environment, when available. Grand tasting events such as Party for the Senses turn the Food and Wine Festival into an indulgent experience, and we look forward to the return of these Special Events in coming years. Eat to the Beat To experience the Food and Wine Festival, guests will need to have valid admission and a park pass reservation to EPCOT. Guests wanting to eat or drink at the booths will need to pay for those items individually, but a separate event ticket is not required. It’s time for the 2022 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! The dates for the 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival are July 27 through November 18, 2023. EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 101 Ready to Plan for Your EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Trip? Pre-Order the DFB Guide to the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-Book today! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including details on what’s new this year, touring plan ideas, and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Pre-Order your 2023 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for 20% off the cover price! 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 visit the Food and Wine Festival this year? Let us know in the comments below! The post Do you need a ticket for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival? A Quick Guide. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

For many of us, Starbucks is a way of life. Mango Dragonfruit Refresher with Coconut Milk We can’t start our morning (or Disney World day) without our Starbucks drink, and we even have collections of Starbucks tumblers and ornaments. Well, as we know, price increases happen EVERYWHERE, including at Starbucks, and now some Starbucks drinks are going to cost extra. According to Business Insider, Starbucks is now charging customers for a very specific customization on its Refresher drinks. Customers who order Refreshers with NO water will now be charged an extra $1 for their drink. Star Drink Refreshers are generally made with green tea and fruit juice but also contain some water. Customers will often ask for no water in their drinks for a stronger flavor. That’s now going to cost more because this customization requires more Refresher base, so the extra $1 accounts for that extra bit of product. Strawberry Acai Refresher A Starbucks spokesperson said, “This change allows us to provide a more consistent approach to customization, similar to other beverage customizations such as adding an espresso shot or syrup, which incur an additional charge.” The change has already gone into effect, so if you like your Starbucks refresher drink with no water, you’ll need to be prepared to pay a little extra for it. Main Street Bakery, the Starbucks location at Magic Kingdom Starbucks recently released two new cold drinks: the Chocolate Java Mint Frappucino and the White Chocolate Macadamia Cold Brew — we recently tried out both drinks so be sure to read our reviews here. We’ll let you know about any other potential price increases that could affect Disney World, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. Use our discount code for DFB readers – WDW2023 – for 25% off! Here’s Another Way Your Starbucks Order Is About To Change! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you order Refreshers without water? What do you think of this additional charge? Let us know in the comments! The post Your Starbucks Order Is About To Get More Expensive first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

OK OK OK don’t come at me I KNOW a lot of you are huge fans of Chuuby from Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. In our WhatsApp thread for DFB there is HUGE LOVE for Chuuby, so heads up if you are a part of the Chuuby fan club! Chuuby! He’s already got two pairs of ears that you probably have in your collection (these ones, and these ones), but a new pair of CHUUBY-CENTRIC ears have just dropped in EPCOT! (OK he IS kind of cute, but maybe I’m still a little bit salty about Great Movie Ride.) These new finds are the see-through ones that we’ve already seen online and in Disneyland, but it’s a first for us to see them in EPCOT. EVEN MORE CHUUBY EARS These ones have a little Chuuby in the middle, flanked by plastic, see-through, musical-note-bedecked ears filled with sparkly confetti. SEE-THRU EARS (This material reminds me of the plastic clothing that my Barbie and the Rockers dolls used to come with…you know the neon like vests and stuff? Yeah. You remember.) Barbie and the Rockers plastic ears So! If Chuuby is your main bird (by the way, did you know that Imagineers have admitted that his name was originally supposed to be Chubby but there was a typo and the development team liked Chuuby better?), here are your NEW EARS! We spotted ’em in Gateway Gifts and Creations Shop, but you can also get them online if you need them sooner! Let us know in the comments if you are living the CHUUBY LIFE! Check out MORE Disney merch with this motherload of 100th Anniversary goodies! 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 The post If You ACTUALLY Like This Character...He Has More Ears in EPCOT Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What do Mickey Bars, Dole Whips, and Cheeseburger Spring Rolls have in common? Columbia Harbour House They are all pretty iconic Magic Kingdom snacks. Whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal or would prefer to eat on the go, there are lots of food options in Disney World’s most popular park to choose from. Columbia Harbour House, a quick service location in Liberty Square, typically is a great spot when you’re trying to please a variety of tastes. How did that reputation hold up on a recent midday trip? Let’s find out. Atmosphere Located in the park’s Liberty Square, Columbia Harbour House fits in with the theme of the land well. The building is inspired by Colonial America, specifically New England’s coastal style. Columbia Harbour House You’ll find lots of nautical references around the restaurant. Nautical theming In fact, it has tons of details that play into the restaurant’s backstory. If you wanted to, you could spend a long time taking in all of the decor. Flying Dutchman This spot is also big. There are a few dining rooms, located both downstairs where you pick up your food, as well as upstairs — which typically is a nice air-conditioned respite from the park’s heat and crowds. Upstairs dining room When you are ready to order, you can either do so with a Cast Member at the front of the restaurant, or through the My Disney Experience app. Ordering station I chose to create a Mobile Order in the app, so when it was ready, I headed to the designated window. Mobile Order window Once you get your food, there are self-serve stations for utensils, napkins, and condiments. Self-serve station You’ll find options like tartar sauce, honey mustard, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, salt, and pepper. Condiments Once I got what I needed, I found a table upstairs. The upstairs seating area here is often a quiet(er) place to eat. Upstairs dining room Let’s take a look at the menu! Menu Listed first on the menu are the desserts! You’ll find a Happy Haunts Milk Shake and Yogurt here if you want something sweet. For entrees, the restaurant offers a number of seafood items, like a New England Shrimp Boil, a Lobster Roll, and the Sea Captain’s Fish Sandwich. If you’re not a fan of seafood, there are a couple options — a Mixed Greens Salad and Chicken Strips. Desserts and Entrees Next, you’ll see the Plant-Based Crab Cake Sandwich above a variety of sides and a few kid’s options. For the little ones, you have a choice between a Shrimp Skewer, Grilled Salmon, Fried Shrimp, or Chicken Strips. Kids Meals and Sides To drink, they serve a variety of soft drinks, coffee, milk, hot cocoa, and a lemonade slushy. Beverages Let’s dig in! Eats For lunch, I tried the Mixed Greens Salad, the Grilled Shrimp Skewer, and the Grilled Salmon. Mixed Greens Salad First, the Mixed Greens Salad for $12.59 was made of apples, cheddar, dried cranberries, onions, and apple vinaigrette — and was served with two chicken tenders. Overall, the flavors of this meal really surprised me! The green apples and cranberries added a nice sweetness to the dish, and I enjoyed the texture that the apples and onions added. Mixed Greens Salad The tenders were pretty basic Disney chicken tenders, but done well. They were fried well and were crispy on the outside with tender white meat on the inside. Between the crunchy apples and crispy chicken on top, the textures of this salad were really satisfying, and I would definitely order it again. Chicken Tenders Second, the Grilled Salmon for $14.29 comes with your choice of two sides: French Fries, Hush Puppies, Green Beans, or Rice. I chose Rice and Green Beans for this meal and was given a hefty portion of both salmon and sides. Grilled Salmon The salmon tasted really fresh and had a nice buttery-grilled flavor. Accompanying it, the rice was pretty plain. It did taste a little buttery as well, but I would have liked it to have been better seasoned. Salt and pepper are available, however, which I made use of, so in the end it was still a good option. It wasn’t undercooked or too soft, and it went perfectly with the bright and fresh green beans. Grilled Salmon Overall, the flavor of the fish was great, but it was cooked a little more than I would have liked. If you prefer your fish to be fully cooked, this might not be a problem for you, but I thought it was a touch on the dry side. Even so, it is a great healthy option, so I would order it again from time to time. Grilled Salmon inside This is a solid option if you are looking for something to sustain you throughout the park day. You get a fair amount of food, but you won’t leave feeling heavy from a big fried meal. Lastly, the Grilled Shrimp Skewer for $14.29 comes with your choice of two sides as well. I ordered it with French Fries and Hush Puppies. Grilled Shrimp Skewer The shrimp had a ton of flavor! They were grilled with their tails on, which was a nice touch, and they tasted like they were seasoned with Old Bay. These were grilled well and were buttery and pretty juicy, with great seared edges. Grilled Shrimp Skewer You get five shrimp on the skewer, and while they are not huge, it is a fair portion. Juicy Shrimp The hush puppies were also really tasty — fried perfectly and with a nice sweet and buttery flavor. Hush Puppies These were made even more delicious by the corn kernels on the inside. Hush Puppies The fries, however, were just okay. They were not served piping hot and tasted pretty generic. French Fries Overall, this was a satisfying dish. But, keep in mind that the fries are inconsistent. Overall There were a few things here that were on the mediocre side, but overall, I think this spot is popular for a reason. As a seafood lover, the options here are pretty satisfying and fresh. While the salmon was a little overcooked for my taste, both the fish and the shrimp are things that I would order again. However, for landlubbers, there really aren’t that many options — a few varieties of fried chicken and a plant-based seafood option. I really enjoyed the chicken dish that I had, but if you don’t want seafood, and fried chicken doesn’t appeal to you, this might not be the best stop for your group. Nosh or Not You should set sail to Columbia Harbour House if… You love seafood. The options here for seafood lovers are pretty solid, and whether you’re looking for something fresh and grilled or a fried meal, you’ve got plenty of great options. You love the theming of Liberty Square. The theming here is really intricate, and dining here feels pretty immersive. The decor is carried throughout the restaurant, and you really feel like you stepped back in time. You want quality food, fast. There are plenty of food options in Magic Kingdom, but if you’re looking for some great food and don’t want to spend time at a full-service restaurant, you can get some good food here quickly. Skip this nautically-themed spot if… You don’t love seafood. There are a few good options if you like chicken, but there’s not much of a variety. You are looking for a more on-the-go experience. While this is a quick service spot, if you are really crunched for time, there are faster options that may be more convenient for you. You want a sit-down meal. Similarly, if you did want a more dedicated dining experience, you might want to find a table service spot. Columbia Harbour House There you have it! Columbia Harbour House is a pretty solid option for a lot of guests. It’s a good standby for a lot of us here at DFB. Let us know what you think in the comments below! 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! Click here to read about the new restaurant coming to EPCOT! 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 Check Out the 19 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2022 Our Top 50 All-Time Best Disney Dining Tips These Are the BEST Meals in Disney World for Under $15 Ranking Every Single Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking Every Single EPCOT Restaurant Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney Springs Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney World Hotels – Cheap Eats Edition Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your favorite thing at this spot? Let us know in the comments below! The post REVIEW: Is This the BEST Quick Service Restaurant in Magic Kingdom? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So, we were in Magic Kingdom (’cause we’re in Magic Kingdom almost every day), and we saw a SURPRISE AND DELIGHT! Cinderella Castle What’s a SURPRISE AND DELIGHT you ask (and by the way, you don’t have to capitalize SURPRISE AND DELIGHT every time you reference it, but, you know, it’s pretty cool)? It’s when Disney ushers forth even MORE magic that usual as a little bonus for the guests in the park that day. And while we were walking around Fantasyland today, we spotted something pretty delightful that you need to see! Cinderella’s Stepsisters were riding Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel this morning! Yep, Anastasia and Drizella were having a blast riding on the Carrousel with other guests. Can you imagine getting to ride with a Disney character? Especially these two villains? (YES, they ARE villains even if they’re kind of sub-par junior villains compared to their mother.) Love it! You can usually meet the Stepsisters in the gazebo in Fantasyland, or sometimes you’ll see them walking around the land as well. But riding a ride with a character is next level SURPRISE AND DELIGHT (there I go again). They were having a lot of fun Looking for other character meet and greets? We’ve got a full list of where you can find every single character in the parks for your convenience. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! See what NEW meet and greet is coming to the parks right here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Who is your favorite character to meet? Tell us in the comments! The post Two VILLAINS Surprised Us (On A RIDE!) In Magic Kingdom Today! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Imagineering shares new details about the music heard on TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise at Magic Kingdom Park! Check out an exclusive, behind-the-scenes interview with Imagineers and Composers.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. May is here and we think you could use a deal! Disney Merch Ready to add some magic to your shopping cart? We’ve discovered some Disney-themed items on Amazon that are sure to delight any fan! Before we dive into the deals, do you have Amazon Prime? If you don’t already have it, you can click the link below to sign up for a FREE trial and potentially save some coin in the process! Now, on to the deals! First up, we have the Disney Doorables Countdown to Birthday Calendar! ©Amazon This Amazon Exclusive countdown calendar features 14 different figures inspired by stories like Disney’s Hercules, Alice in Wonderland, Big Hero 6, Disney Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., and more. Click here to pre-order the Disney Doorables Countdown to Birthday Calendar Next, we found the Disney Mickey Mouse Wireless Charging Pad. ©Amazon This Mickey Mouse wireless charging pad provides universal compatibility for phones and wireless charging capable earbuds (including AirPods). Click here to buy the Mickey Mouse Wireless Charging Pad Next up, we found the Disney Baby by J.L. Childress Cups ‘N Cargo Universal Stroller Organizer. ©Amazon This keeps your cargo organized with secure and easy-to-reach pockets, expandable cup holders, and more. Click here to buy the Disney Baby by J.L. Childress Cups ‘N Cargo Universal Stroller Organizer Up next, we found the Mickey American Tourister Disney Teddy Buddy Luggage with Spinners. Mickey American Tourister Disney Teddy Buddy Luggage with Spinners ©Amazon Travel with ease and Disney flair with this 2-Piece Set! The shell construction is split for maximum packing capacity, and when not in use, the Backpack nests inside the Carry-on for easy storage. Plus, enjoy the convenience of Mickey Mouse while you travel! Click here to buy the Mickey American Tourister Disney Teddy Buddy Luggage with Spinners Last, but not least, we found the ONIVA – Disney Topanga Tote Cooler Bag. ©Amazon This Topanga Cooler Tote Bag by Oniva, is a polyester and PVC insulated soft cooler tote designed to keep your drinks and snacks chilled while rocking Disney style. Click here to buy the ONIVA – Disney Topanga Tote Cooler Bag And while you’re in the shopping mood…how about checking out our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? There are fun and unique designs perfect to wear to the parks or wherever you chose! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store! Disney-inspired tops! Keep following DFB for all the latest Disney merch news and more! Click here for Disney100 merch on Amazon! 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 of these Amazon deals are you picking up? Let us know in the comments. The post Upgrade Your Weekend with These Disney Amazon Finds first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

How many of you are loving pet owners? (And that includes being both pet owners who love their pets…and people who love people who are pet owners…that’s OK too.) Slinky Dog Dash Either way, you should know that Disney and pets keep finding their way back to each other! There are ways you can bring your dog to Disney World with you (but it may cost you a pretty penny), and you probably know there’s TONS of Disney pet merchandise we see as well. But it also seems that many Florida residents name their beloved four-legged friends after Disney characters! Click Orlando has recently released a list of the 50 most popular dog names in Florida, and a few of them are familiar! Number 45 on the list is Simba! ©Disney Then, number 38 is Bruno! ©Disney Nala also landed at number 13, Daisy at number 8, Coco at number 4, and Max at number 3 (we know that one is more generic, but we think of Max Goof so it TOTALLY COUNTS AS A DISNEY NAME, OK)! Nala Plush With Florida being the home of Disney World, it’s not surprising to us that these names are popular. And if you REALLY want to make your day 1000% better right now, you should go check out this post where we asked our twitter followers to share pics of their Disney-named pets! That’s right! YOU CAN GO LOOK AT A BUNCH OF DOGGOS RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF DOING BORING THINGS LIKE WORK AND LAUNDRY! You’re welcome. As always be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! We asked YOU to share your favorite pets named after Disney characters with us and you did NOT disappoint! 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 Do you have a pet named after a Disney character? Tell us in the comments below! The post We Finally Know The Most Popular Disney Dog Names in Florida (And Our Lives Are Now Complete) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You may have hopped on the Disney World monorail, Spaceship Earth, or Peter Pan’s Flight dozens of times — but on how many of those occasions have you sat back and thought “Hmm. I wonder how and when this ride was last inspected?” Disney World Perhaps you’ve thought about it once or twice, or maybe it’s never even crossed your mind. You’re at Disney World, where the false sense of security is STRONG (until you hit a technical issue that requires an evacuation, maybe). Even if you’ve never considered just how the Mouse uses his mouseketools to ensure the attractions you love are in tip-top shape, it seems others have — namely, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature. Over the past few weeks, some major talk has come up about changing how Disney World’s rides are inspected and how the monorail is evaluated for its safety. Now, we’re taking a look at some of the unique things this discussion has revealed and just how things could be changing soon. Rides at Major Florida Theme Parks Are NOT Subject to State Inspection The first thing you might not know is that rides at major Florida theme parks (including Disney World and other places — like Universal Studios and Sea World) have NOT been subject to inspection by the state of Florida for quite some time. It’s all thanks to Florida Statutes 616.242. That law outlines safety standards for amusement rides and says it applies to all amusement rides within the state EXCEPT those that fall under the exception outlined in subsection 11. Subsection 11 says that the safety requirements in that law don’t apply to: “Permanent facilities that employ at least 1,000 full-time employees and that maintain full-time, in-house safety inspectors.” Peter Pan’s Flight It has been noted on many occasions that Disney falls under this exception. Perhaps that’s no surprise because it is a permanent place and employs around 75,000 in Florida (far more than the 1,000 required by law). But because Disney falls under this exception, that must mean it also maintains full-time, in-house safety inspectors. Again, that likely comes as no surprise given the number of rides in the parks, how often things can go wrong and rides have to shut down to be fixed, and Disney’s inclusion of the key of “safety” in its essential keys to the kingdom (a.k.a. its guiding principles in the park). Seven Dwarfs Mine Train It’s worth noting that the current law does require these exempt permanent facilities to “file an affidavit of the annual inspection with the department on a form prescribed by department rule. The department may consult annually with the permanent facilities regarding industry safety programs.” Rides at big theme parks aren’t the only things exempt from state inspections, though. There are also exemptions for certain playgrounds operated by schools, arcades, and select other things. TRON Lightcycle / Run So what’s happening now? Well, following Disney’s statement against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law (what critics called “Don’t Say Gay”), a number of changes have hit or been threatened to hit Disney by Florida Governor DeSantis. One of the latest things DeSantis has threatened to impact is Disney’s exception from state inspection of its rides. In an April press conference, DeSantis announced some planned actions against Disney including filing legislation that would place Disney’s rides and attractions under inspection and oversight by the state’s Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin DeSantis said, “Building inspection, safety — all these other things that they were exempt from, when everybody else has to follow…if these are not good laws then everyone should be exempt, you shouldn’t just say one corporation should be exempt — so that’s already been done.” DeSantis noted, “Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services…they have oversight over amusement park safety generally speaking except Disney’s been carved out of that over the years. Well, now they’re back in the game, so they’re gonna make sure that that’s done.” Obtained via ClickOrlando Livestream This particular change does seem to be targeted directly at Disney. DeSantis has indicated that the legislation that would be drafted to address this would (according to his belief) only apply to theme parks within a special district. Disney World is the only major Central Florida theme park that is located in a special district. This means that other spots like SeaWorld and Universal Orlando would remain exempt from state inspection regulations. Mad Tea Party during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party According to WESH 2 News, some have taken issue with this. State Senator Geraldine Thompson said, “I am fully supportive of greater oversight and inspections for amusement rides in Florida; however, to impose additional requirements only on Disney reeks of retribution and does not level the playing field for amusement parks.” The regular Legislative session for this year concluded on May 5th, and state lawmakers did not take up a bill that would have required state inspections of Disney World rides. Disney Reports Serious Injuries to the State Another thing you might not know is that back in 2001, Disney (and some other companies) worked out a special deal about ride injury reports with the state of Florida. According to FOX 35, this deal allows Disney and those other companies to report serious injuries that take place within their respective locations on their own. This was, as the Orlando Sentinel calls it, a “voluntary agreement.” And it allows “the state’s major attractions to file regular reports about ride-related guest injuries that required at least 24 hours of hospitalization.” Tower of Terror The Sentinel points out that the attractions do regularly report their ride-related guest injuries, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services then releases a quarterly report to summarize these things. In the latest theme park injury report, Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld reported seven injuries between January and March. No injuries were reported by Legoland or Busch Gardens. When it comes to these injury reports, however, an investigation from the Orlando Sentinel in 2020 found that, reportedly, “details are scarce and can be vague or inaccurate.” Rise of the Resistance Recently, some legislation about inspecting theme park rides has been passed by the Florida legislature and signed by DeSantis. The new law addresses some of the concerns raised by the death of teenager Tyre Sampson on the now-closed Orlando Free Fall at ICON Park last year. But, the law’s proposals do not apply to the major theme parks. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Disney’s Hollywood Studios So we’ll have to keep an eye out to see how ride inspections do change in the future, if at all. The Monorail Also Falls Under an Exception It’s not just Disney World’s traditional rides that fall under exceptions from state inspection though. The Disney World monorail is also not subject to state safety inspections. DeSantis said, “This monorail is exempt. They exempted the Monorail from any safety standards or inspections…so they’re gonna go and make sure that the monorail is subject to oversight just like everything else would be in the state of Florida.” But those inspection rules are going to change. Monorail Following DeSantis’ announcement that monorail inspections would change, an amendment addressing the monorail was introduced to one Florida Senate bill, that was later substituted for another. The key bill now is House Bill 1305. The bill was signed into law by DeSantis on May 11th. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to “adopt by rule minimum safety standards” for “any governmentally or privately owned fixed-guideway transportation systems operating in this state which are located within an independent special district created by local act which have boundaries within two contiguous counties.” Monorail This law does appear to be very narrowly drafted to impact Disney as no other theme parks are in a special district in Florida, much less a special district that has boundaries within 2 contiguous counties (in Disney’s case — Osceola and Orange). In addition to safety standards, the law requires structural safety inspections for “any fixed-guideway transportation systems that are raised or have bridges, as appropriate.” State inspectors are required to follow appropriate safety protocols during inspections, which could include suspending the service of the system “to ensure the safety and welfare of inspectors and the traveling public during such inspections.” In other words, they could shut down the monorail to conduct an inspection if they deem it necessary. Monorail Unless those inspections are done at very odd hours, suspending the monorail for an inspection could cause headaches for Disney and Disney guests as they try to make their way around the parks. According to the Orlando Sentinel, state Senator Nick DiCeglie said that inspections would be scheduled at a time that works for both the state and Disney. DiCeglie said, “If there are any safety issues, having a complete suspension is really going to be an action of last resort.” EPCOT Some have also questioned whether this language would mean inspections would apply to the Skyliner. How this law gets implemented is something that remains to be seen, but we’ll keep an eye out for updates. Will Anything ACTUALLY Change If the State Takes Over Ride Inspections? So, thus far we have no bill addressing Disney World ride inspections — just the new law that affects the monorail. But if more Disney inspections become the responsibility of the state, will it actually CHANGE things and make things safer? People are divided on this. According to FOX 35, Jakob Wahl, CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) shared, “We know that Disney goes even beyond the existing ride safety standards…This is where we’re not sure how such a change actually would improve further the already excellent safety record of Disney.” Flight of Passage in Pandora WESH 2 News reports that Bill Kitchen, ride designer and President of U.S. Thrill Rides, feels similarly. Kitchen said, “That’s a ridiculous proposition. How can the state of Florida do a better job than Disney’s done for 50 years?” He continued, “There have been millions of people over the years enjoying Disney parks. Of course, there are going to be some accidents and incidents, you know, there’s never been a perfect park. There’s never been a perfect ride. There’s never been a perfect ride inspector. But they’re as close as you can get to being perfect.” Kitchen also noted that there are 2 key things when it comes to inspections — the ride and the people trained to operate the ride. Kitchen said, “Nobody in the world does a better job than Disney. Nobody does a better job in the world of inspecting the rides and making sure that they’re safe.” Dinosaur Others, however, feel differently. FOX quoted ride safety consultant Ken Martin as saying that these changes “would be the best thing that could happen to the citizens and visitors to the State of Florida.” What do YOU think? Should Disney rides be subject to outside inspection and if they are, will it change anything? Tell us in the comments. For more about the Reedy Creek, DeSantis, and Disney drama, see our posts below. Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill to VOID Disney’s Reedy Creek Agreements Clearing Up the CONFUSION Over the New Reedy Creek Board’s Attack Against Disney Gov. Ron DeSantis Comments on New Reedy Creek Board’s Choice to Sue Disney Disney Claims DeSantis Is Waging a “Relentless Campaign to Weaponize Government Power” — Here’s a Breakdown of the Drama DeSantis’ Office Releases Statement in Response to Lawsuit from Disney And check back for more updates.  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 The post Three Things that Surprised Us About How Disney World Rides Are Tested 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. How are you celebrating Disney’s 100th Anniversary?! Disney World The festivities have made their way to Disneyland and Disney World — from treats to decor to, of course, merch, Disney is celebrating in true Disney fashion. And soon, we’ll have another reason to celebrate because the latest Disney 100 collection will be here soon! Get ready to step back in time, because Disney is celebrating its 100th Anniversary with the next Decades Collection! This time, it’s all about the 1950s. While the new merch isn’t out just yet, Disney did give us a sneak peek at a few of the items we can expect to see. It’s all dropping on shopDisney on May 15th, but for now, let’s take a look at some of the new merch! ©Disney A dream might be a wish your heart makes, but you won’t have to wish for a new park bag anymore! Check out this stunning Cinderella Loungefly backpack featuring the princess herself, plus her Fairy Godmother, and some of her most trusted pals. We love the purple color and 3D look. ©Disney Next up is The Shaggy Dog plush dressed in his letterman sweater and fedora! Shaggy or Chiffon is from the 1950s classic Disney live-action film, The Shaggy Dog. ©Disney And finally, check out Goofy and Humphrey the Bear on this limited-release pin! Photographer Goofy is getting some good shots of Brownstone National Park’s most troublesome bear in this one. ©Disney Set your alarms for May 15th if you want to get your hands on any of these items and more! It also looks like there might be an Alice in Wonderland MagicBand+ as part of the collection, but we’ll have to wait and see! Either way, we’ll have the latest news for you here on DFB, so stay tuned! Save on Disney 100th Anniversary Merchandise Online Learn More About Disney 100 Years of Wonder – The 100th Anniversary Celebration! When Disney’s 100 Year Anniversary Celebration Actually Starts Is the 100th Anniversary Coming to Disney World? A NEW 100th Anniversary Disney Credit Card Design Is Coming! PHOTOS: Sparkly NEW 100th Anniversary Minnie Ears Are Now Available in Disney World ALL of the Disney 100th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get Online Right NOW! Check Out the NEW 100th Anniversary Starbucks Tumbler Inside Look at NEW 100th Anniversary Disneyland Fireworks Show Sleeping Beauty Castle Will Get a NEW Look For Disney’s 100th Anniversary Get ALL of the Latest Updates on the 100th Anniversary Celebration Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Do you have any 100th Anniversary merchandise? Tell us in the comments. The post FIRST LOOK at a NEW Disney 100th Anniversary Collection! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Lifelong Disney fan Rebecca Toth always knew she wanted to be a Disney cast member. However, she didn’t know that when she achieved her dream, her mom, Sharlene Toth, would be alongside her as well! After graduating college in 2018, Rebecca took a celebratory trip to Walt Disney World with her mom, during which they […]View the full article

Something NEW is starting to pop up in more and more Disney World hotels and you need to know about it. Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Disney World hotels have changed quite a bit over the past few months from the return of free overnight hotel parking for guests to hotel restaurant menu overhauls and other adjustments. But now we’ve started to see something else happening in the resorts. Remember when Disney (WAY back when) announced a new, complimentary Amazon Alexa-powered hotel perk would be coming to Disney World and Disneyland soon? No? What we’re talking about “Hey, Disney!” These are little Amazon Alexa Echo Show devices powered with the “Hey, Disney!” service that are placed in Disney World hotel rooms. You can get “custom voice assistance” through the service to do things like order more towels for your room, see how late the parks will be open, play games, and even get messages from Disney characters. At the Polynesian Resort These were initially set to roll out in 2022, but it seems they’ve been installed in batches a little slower than that. We’ve already spotted these devices at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, but now they’ve arrived at another hotel. A huge thanks to our Instagram follower Bill B (@bbrandt4 on Instagram) who sent us the image below and let us know that “Hey, Disney!” was available in their hotel room during their recent stay at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter. Thanks Bill! So that brings our total of Disney World hotels with “Hey, Disney!” devices in them to 3 (that we know of so far). Still not sure how “Hey, Disney!” works or can help you? Let’s go through the basics. If you arrive in your hotel room and see “Hey, Disney!” there, the device should be muted upon your arrival (you’ll see a button on top that looks like this: ⊘ and is red). You can press it to unmute the device. Start and Volume Control Buttons Once you’ve unmuted it, you can start to ask it questions by saying “Hey, Disney!” at the beginning of your phrase (or by touching the interactive screen or saying “Alexa”). Then, you’ve got a few different more practical things you can do: You can use “Hey, Disney!” to ask for things for the room like extra towels, blankets, or pillows You can ask it park-related questions like “What time does EPCOT open” or other things of that nature You can ask about when the next bus to a specific park or Disney Springs is scheduled to arrive at your hotel You can ask for the weather forecast so you know what to wear “Hey, Disney!” can set alarms for you so you get up in time to make those Genie+ selections Hey, Disney! “Hey, Disney!” also has some more fun features. With it, you can: Interact with characters in new ways — If you ask about the weather (for example) Olaf might share some comments about how he loves summer and everything hot, or Dory might tell you that she will NOT forget about your alarm (this time) Hear jokes from your favorite characters Participate in some Disney trivia that’ll challenge the whole family Listen to soundscapes that’ll make you feel like you’ve traveled into your favorite Disney movies Read a bedtime story Experience “Magic Moments” that let you and your little one “go on adventures” with some of your favorite Disney friends Get personalized messages from your favorite characters Hey, Disney The service has also introduced a new character called the Disney Magical Companion. That character serves as your guide and can answer your questions. Hey, Disney The service is also set to be made available for people to use at home (by purchasing the skill through the Amazon Alexa skill store) but that has not yet been released. For now, keep an eye out for “Hey, Disney!” to be installed in your Disney hotel room in the future. To see our full page about “Hey, Disney!” and EVERYTHING it can do — click here. And stay tuned for more Disney World hotel updates. Which Disney World hotel is BEST for you? Click here to find out! 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 How Many Days Do You Really Need in Disney World? How to Have the CHEAPEST Trip to Disney World 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Booking a 2023 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 Would you use “Hey, Disney!” in your hotel room? Tell us in the comments. The post Something NEW Has Arrived at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, admit it, do you start singing “Circle of Life” the minute you see the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? It’s totally okay, because SAME. Animal Kingdom There’s just something special about this park where we can explore the time of the dinosaurs, but also see real animals on a safari. We can even be entertained by the amazing Festival of the Lion King show and more! But what’s been going on with Animal Kingdom recently? Well, let’s find out? Animal Kingdom Food Updates Mr. Kamal’s There’s been a sauce switcheroo at Mr. Kamal’s. The Seasoned French Fries used to be served with two sauces, Curried Honey Mustard and Korean Chili Ketchup. But now, you can only get Sriracha Mayonnaise. Seasoned Fries with Sriracha Mayo A Cast Member told us this change was for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month but they did not believe the old sauces would be returning at all. Learn more about this sauce emergency Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Riverside Depot So those cute Munchlings plushes are now ACTUAL chocolate bars. Say what?! We found a Chillin Like A Villain Wintermint Gelato Bar… Wintermint Gelato? Yum! …a Chip ‘n’ Dale Double Trouble Dark Chocolate Ganache Truffle Bar… For you dark chocolate fans …and Roll With It Honey Bear Honey Cake Bar. Each bar is $5.49. A Pooh Honey chocolate bar! New pin alert! There’s a National Pizza Party Day Lilo and Stitch Pin for $17.99. We’re all for Pizza Party Day We also found a Disney Arcade Dumbo Pin for $19.99. Dumbo Arcade Pin Plus Star Wars fans will want this Grand Moff Tarkin Pin for $17.99. Grand Moff Tarkin We even found some new Avatar: The Way of Water merchandise, including a Straw Bag for $39.99… This would be a great beach bag …and a Water Connects All Things Straw Hat. This would be a great beach hat The hat is $34.99. Here’s More About The NEW ‘Avatar’ Experience Disney is Building Discovery Trading Company A lot of new Disney100 merchandise has arrived, including a Disney100 Nemo Succulent for $24.99… Nemo as a plant …a Disney100 Spider-Man Pencil Holder for $19.99… Let Spidey hold your pencils …a Disney100 Chewbacca Trinket Box for $29.99… Chewbacca trinket box …a National Geographic 100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime Book for $100… Limited edition book …and a Disney100 Dumbo Oil Diffuser. An oil diffuser! The oil diffuser is $19.99. Here Are 4 Unexpected Announcements for Disney’s 100th Anniversary Windtraders There’s a new Banshee Plush available. Banshee The plush is $22.99. This Popular Animal Kingdom Attraction Will CLOSE for a LONG TIME in Disney World That’s all that’s going on in Animal Kingdom right now, but we’ll be back soon with even more updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more! 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! What’s your favorite thing to do in Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New in Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Serious Condiment Situation first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article