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If you’ve been to Disney World around spring break, you know the crowds are NO. JOKE. Walt Disney World! Not only are schools on break, but there are a lot of exciting things happening in Disney World right now which is why park passes have pretty limited availability this week. The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing, TRON Lightcycle / Run is officially opening with a new pop-up shop and interactive experience, and so much more. We’re showing you what the crowds are like in Disney World at this time of year and how Genie+ broke a record today! First of all, we need to give you a big update on Genie+ for the day — it has sold out! This has only happened a handful of tips before in Disney World, but this time is different because this is the fastest Genie+ has ever sold out before. The skip-the-line service was sold out before 12PM today. Genie+ When you see the crowds in Disney World right now, it’s not a surprise that Genie+ sold out! Take a look at the crowds below: Hollywood Studios When we arrived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this morning, this was the line to park. This was about 15 minutes after the park had opened. Parking entrance The front area of the park was bustling with people enjoying a day in Hollywood Studios. It didn’t feel too cramped, but it was definitely busy! Crowds We walked over to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge where we saw the line for Rise of the Resistance before we even entered the land! The line was queued up through the Muppet Vision 3D area — this is typically only used when there is a huge influx of people (like today!). Rise of the Resistance line When we got over to Tower of Terror, it was down for technical difficulties. Cast Members were not allowing anyone to join the line and those with a Lightning Lane were being turned away which caused a bit of a backup in this area. If you have a Lightning Lane for a ride that goes down and it doesn’t reopen during your window, Disney will give you a Multiple Experience Pass to use at almost any other attraction. Tower of Terror got backed up when it went down We expected Hollywood Studios to be pretty busy since it is home to so many popular rides, but you should see the crowds at Animal Kingdom! A NEW PARK MAP Has Landed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — See the Changes Here! Animal Kingdom We also visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom this morning and this is what the parking lines looked like about an hour after the park had opened. Wow! Lots of cars! We get it — lots of people like Starbucks. However, there is almost always a long line at the Starbucks locations in Disney World, especially during spring break! Skip the line at Creature Comforts and grab a cup of Joffrey’s coffee at one of their locations in the park. Skip this line and grab Joffrey’s instead! When we passed by Avatar Flight of Passage, the wait time was up to 195 minutes and the line extended through Pandora. Flight of Passage Here’s another look at the queue winding through Pandora. The most popular ride in the park This one might be hard to believe but it just goes to show how busy the park is. When we passed by It’s Tough to Be a Bug, the wait time was up to 45 minutes!! This is a show that usually has a very small wait time, so we’re shocked to see people waiting that long for the attraction. Crowds That isn’t the only show that was busy today — Festival of the Lion King saw huge crowds with the line extended out beyond the theater’s queue. Festival of the Lion King The Kilimanjaro Safaris line went allllll the way back underneath Dawa Bar. Wow! Safari line Here is a look at the line for Expedition Everest. It extended out towards DinoLand! Expedition Everest line As we get closer to a holiday weekend with Easter and continue with the spring break season, we’ll keep you updated with tips and tricks for how to navigate Disney World. Stay tuned to DFB for more! Will Genie+ Sell Out When You’re in Disney World? Look For THESE Signs Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever visited Disney World during spring break? Let us know in the comments! The post Genie+ Sold Out in RECORD TIME in Disney World Today -- See Why first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re heading to Disney World soon, there’s one thing that you absolutely NEED to have — the My Disney Experience app. Main Street Train Station Disney World This free app has SO many tools to help plan your trip, from ride wait times to park maps to Genie+ and so much more. One feature that we use frequently in MDE is Mobile Order, where you can order food from restaurants around the parks and resorts. But with the latest app update, Disney has CHANGED the system! Previously, the photo below is what Mobile Order looked like when you pulled it up in the Disney World app. You would access this page by selecting the ‘+’ at the bottom of the home screen, then clicking “Order Food.” When you arrived to this page, you could sort restaurants by location with a filter button in the bottom left, but each restaurant would have time windows listed for when you can place an order, starting with the most recent. The old Mobile Order But now, there’s a new (and much more colorful!) page that greets you when you select “Order Food.” Here, you’ll start by selecting either “As Soon As Possible” or “Schedule for Later” at the top of the screen. If you want to order as soon as possible, you’ll be shown the next arrival window for each restaurant. The new page! But if you’re getting ahead of the curve and scheduling an order for later in the day, you’ll see a list of open time windows instead. Here, the app will also show the hours that each restaurant is open. The other option If you’re not in Magic Kingdom, you can scroll down further to see a drop-down list of locations at different parks, hotels, and Disney Springs. All the locations To make that list easier to manage, there are some filters you can use! Toward the top of the screen, there will be two different recommended filters available depending on which page you’re on, but you can also click on the word “Filters” to see more options. Filters The full list of filters includes things like “Available Now” and “Nearby,” as well as all the locations with Mobile Order in Disney World. This way you don’t have to scroll to the bottom of the list to look for your hotel or park! Filter options Once you select a restaurant, you’ll be directed to its individual page. Here, things haven’t changed. You’ll still scroll through the menu and select the items you want, then proceeded to checkout. Once you’ve arrived at the restaurant, you can select the on-screen button that says “I’m Here, Prepare My Order.” These pages haven’t changed Another tip that might help you out is that on the main page, the “As Soon As Possible” tab will show how far out the Mobile Order windows are at the current moment. For example — this screenshot shows that the next order window for Woody’s Lunch Box starts in 12 minutes. You can go ahead and place that order now, but you won’t be able to pick it up until you’re within the timeframe. Order times And sometimes, using this feature can help you see how crowded a restaurant might be, even if you’re not planning on Mobile Ordering your food. (Looks like we might want to avoid Connections Eatery during the lunch rush!) Wow! So there you have it — a full guide to the new Mobile Order system in Disney World. We’ll keep you updated if anything else in the app changes, so stay tuned to DFB! Click Here to See Our Best Tips for Disney World in 2023! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever Mobile Ordered your food in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Mobile Order Has CHANGED in the Disney World App first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney plans to invest $17 billion in Walt Disney World over the next 10 years and create 13,000 new jobs, CEO Bob Iger says. View the full article

We’ve been following the feud between The Walt Disney Company and Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis, and recent times have yielded lots of interesting updates. ©Governor Ron DeSantis Website A new Board of Supervisors appointed by Florida Governor DeSantis has met regarding the future of Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) and they’ve recently discovered an agreement that was signed by Disney and the old Board that grants Disney quite a lot of power over certain decisions within the District moving forward. The new Board has threatened legal action and the Florida Governor has ordered an investigation into Disney’s agreements, all while Disney has defended the agreement. And now Disney CEO Bob Iger has commented on the situation. During the 2023 annual shareholder meeting for the Walt Disney Company, Disney received a number of questions related to the District and Disney’s decision to take political stances. One question came from a financial advisor that asked, “what steps have already been taken or will be taken to protect shareholder value with regard to the legal battle between Disney and Ron DeSantis and the Reedy Creek Improvement District?” In response, Iger said, “we love the state of Florida.” He continued, “I think that’s reflected in not only how much we’ve invested over the last 50 years, but how much we’ve given back in the form of jobs, and community service, taxes…tourism of course, and all sorts of other responsible business practices.” ©Disney Iger continued by noting, “we’ve also always respected and appreciated what the state has done for us…it’s kind of been a two-way street. But a year ago, the Company took a position on pending Florida legislation, and while the Company may have not handled the position it took very well, a company has a right to freedom of speech just like individuals do.” According to Iger, “the governor got very angry about the position Disney took and seems like he’s decided to retaliate against us, including the naming of a new board to oversee the property and the business, in effect to seek to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right…and that just seems really wrong to me.” ©Disney Iger emphasized that this seems “wrong” for the state to do “against any company or individual, but particularly against the company that means so much to the state that you live in.” To put things into perspective, Iger noted that they [Disney] have “over 75,000 employees…countless thousands of indirect jobs have been created, about 50 million visitors will go through our gates this year alone, about 8 million of them from outside the US, and we are the largest taxpayer in the state.” Reedy Creek He shared, “we’re currently planning now to invest over 17 billion dollars in Walt Disney World over the next 10 years, and those investments we estimate will create 13,000 new Disney jobs and thousands of other indirect jobs, and they’ll also attract more people to the state and generate more taxes.” He concluded by stating, “our point on this is that any action that thwarts those efforts, simply to retaliate for a position a company took sounds not just anti-business, but it sounds anti-Florida.” Reedy Creek After that question, another individual posed a question to Iger asking whether it was wise for Disney to take political positions “to satisfy a very small portion of people when our primary mission is entertainment, not education.” To that, Iger said, “as the CEO of the Company, my job is to strive to do what I think is best for our business and that includes doing…what’s best for our Cast Members or our employees, and what will enable both to flourish.” ©Disney He went on to note, “I don’t think we should or can weigh in on every issue. And I also understand there are gonna be gray areas. There are gonna [be] times when we decide to weigh in on an issue that we believe is worthy of debate because of its relevance and importance to our business or to our employees…and there are times when I actually believe we shouldn’t.” But, he continued, “I strongly feel that we alone have to determine whether, when, or how to weigh in on an issue, whether it’s private or public. Of course with the standard that when we take a position on those matters, there’s a true reason why we have. And in almost all cases it has to be because it directly affects our business or our people.” TRON Cast Member in NEW Costume And so the Reedy Creek drama continues. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we find. If you want to learn more about the Reedy Creek Improvement District battle, check out these posts: “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” — Gov. DeSantis Threatens Future Action Against Disney Why Disney Dragged King Charles Into Its Battle with DeSantis Disney Comments on Lawsuit Threat from New Reedy Creek Board Desantis-Appointed Reedy Creek Board Claims Disney Stripped Their Power With “Last-Ditch Efforts” Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news.  Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post “Anti-business” and “Anti-Florida” -- Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on DeSantis Actions first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever been to Disney World on a special holiday? Because it is something ELSE. Disney You probably know about the special celebrations for Halloween and Christmas, but they’ve also had unique offerings for the 4th of July, New Year’s Eve, and many other holidays in the past. And if you’re visiting soon for Easter, then there’s a special celebration you don’t want to miss! Around Easter each year, Magic Kingdom offers a special meet-and-greet that you won’t find during other times of the year. It’s Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny! Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny This year, you’ll find them greeting guests at the pavilion in Liberty Square. When we got there, we spotted a sign announcing the meet-and-greet. The Bunnies will be greeting guests each day, intermittently from 9AM to 5PM. Sign There was a PhotoPass photographer available to snap your pics with the iconic bunnies. Cast Members were also handing out little postcards with Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny’s autographs. Cute! On the other side, the cards said “Happy Easter!” Happy Easter! We love their pastel outfits — how festive! Pastel outfits So if you’re heading to the park in the coming days, make sure to stop by and say hello. They’re pretty rare characters to see since they only come out once a year! This meet-and-greet will be around until Easter, with is on April 9th. Stop by to say hello! Keep following DFB for more updates from Disney World. Click Here to See Another Way You Can Celebrate Easter in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you going to meet the Bunnies in Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post PHOTOS: 2 RARE Characters Have Returned to Magic Kingdom! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland is now open, and we have your favorite new apparel, toys, and plush to ride along with Mickey and Minnie!View the full article

We know we’re not the only ones excited about EPCOT’s transformation. Spaceship Earth One new attraction coming to the park is Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana. While we’ve heard details about this attraction before, we just got some new information you won’t want to miss! First, let’s catch up on what we know already. Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana is a walk-through experience where guests can interact with different elements that deal with the water cycle. ©Disney We also know the attraction houses a large Te Fiti statue (which looks beautiful) and is in the park’s World Nature section. We’ve been keeping an eye on all the latest construction updates for months now, seeing how everything has developed. Journey of Water construction March 2023 The original opening timeline for this new experience was announced back in September 2022 with a “late 2023” expected opening. However, Disney recently specified things a tiny bit and confirmed the opening timeline by noting that the attraction will open in the FALL of 2023. ©Disney Now we’ve got some NEW details to share with you! During the 2023 shareholders meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger gave a sneak peek inside the attraction. ©Disney It looks like he had the chance to tour the attraction recently and check out the progress. ©Disney We got an up-close look at the giant Te Fiti statue that will be the centerpiece of the walk-through attraction. ©Disney And we also got to see some other areas of the attraction, which will likely be shelters and other rock formations. When it opens, guests will be able to explore what Disney has described as a “lush exploration trail” that allows explorers to “play with magical, living water” through an immersive walk-through attraction. ©Disney We’re so excited for this attraction to open later this year. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Learn all about Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana here! Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? EPCOT’s Three New Neighborhoods Have Debuted – Learn More Here See Our Full Review of One of EPCOT’s Newest Restaurants – Connections Eatery Get a Full Tour Inside EPCOT’s New Starbucks Location – Connections Cafe See All the Details You Need to Know About the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster, Now Open in World Discovery NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT Go Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure With Us Check Out All of the Tasty Details About La Crêperie de Paris See Our Full Reviews of Space 220, Which Has Officially OPENED in EPCOT Check Out Spaceship Earth’s Permanent New Nighttime Look Learn More About EPCOT’s New Nighttime Spectacular -- Harmonious See Full Details About the New PLAY! Pavilion Coming to EPCOT Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana, Coming to World Nature The Mary Poppins Attraction is on Hold – Learn More Here What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest EPCOT transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What are you most excited to see in this new attraction? Tell us in the comments below! The post Bob Iger Shares NEW Look Inside the Moana Attraction Coming to EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Gov. Ron DeSantis asked Florida’s chief inspector general on Monday to look into agreements the Reedy Creek Improvement District made with Disney. View the full article

The grand opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise is just a day away, and we’re excited and ready for new “users” to experience this incredible new attraction. Before that though, we had the chance to celebrate this milestone with the Central Florida community while sharing some exciting news: Disney World will be donating $100,000 to help enhance STEM education in Orange County Public Schools!View the full article

JetBlue Airways' bid to take over Miramar-based Spirit Airlines has drawn more opposition as California, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina joined a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit to stop the transaction. View the full article

Live-action movies have become very popular for Disney! ©Disney There are several live-action remakes from older films including Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, and the upcoming Lilo & Stitch and Snow White movies. Now, there’s another live-action film that Disney is working on! During Disney’s Annual Shareholder meeting on April 3rd, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson announced that Moana would be getting a live-action remake! ©Disney Johnson confirmed that Maui will be in the movie but did NOT yet confirm if he will be playing the role. The movie has lots of inspiration from his family and Maui is inspired by his late grandfather. Hey Moana! This movie is still VERY early in the process with lots of work to be done, however, it is currently in the works. We’re looking forward to learning more about this new film! Here is the full announcement: Stay tuned to DFB for more details on this live-action movie. PHOTOS: Tour the New Moana Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you excited about this movie? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: 'Moana' Live-Action Movie in the Works at Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Alyssa Ibarra kept a secret from her friends and fellow Disney California Adventure park cast members for the last eight months: she’s a contestant on the new season of “The Voice” singing competition. But that’s not the only incredible thing about her. “Another fun fact about me is that I was born deaf,” shared Alyssa, […]View the full article

TRON Lightcycle / Run is currently having a soft opening, but it’s official opening date is on April 4th. TRON Lightcycle / Run But that’s not the only NEW TRON thing coming to Magic Kingdom. First, a new snack kiosk has opened with some very interesting treats. We previously told you about a new pop-up shop coming to Tomorrowland, too, and here’s your reminder that it opens TOMORROW. The shop will carry TRON Lightcycle / Run and TRON movie-themed collections. The shop will be located directly across from the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor entrance in Tomorrowland (our best guess so far is that it might be where Stitch’s Great Escape used to be). Where Stitch’s Great Escape used to be. (Construction photo from 2020) You’ll be able to find three merchandise collections, including the Back to the Arcade Collection, the Thrill of the Race collection, and a “third merchandise collection inspired by the clean design language of this digital world.” Tron merchandise That won’t be the only location with TRON souvenirs, though. Visitors to the grid will soon be able to take part in the Tron Identity Program, where they can build a customizable “program” action figure and identity chip. The identity chip can be used to interact with other TRON merchandise, like the Identity Discs and Remote Control Lightcycles. ©Disney This experience will be inside Tomorrowland Launch Depot, but you’ll need to make a reservation for it online first. Reservations are available now. We’ll be checking out the pop-up shop as it opens, and we’ll be in Magic Kingdom on TRON Lightcycle / Run’s official opening day, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Speaking of shopping, you’re going to love our graphic tees for your next Disney World trip! Click here to see the whole collection! What If You’re LATE for Your TRON Boarding Group in Disney World? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you had a chance to ride Tron Lightcycle / Run yet? What did you think? Let us know in the comments! The post A NEW STORE Is Opening Tomorrow in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is a lot going on between Disney’s Reedy Creek District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Reedy Creek On March 29th, 2023, the new Board of Supervisors that was appointed by DeSantis met for a second time to discuss several aspects of the District. The Board considered challenging some of the agreements with Reedy Creek’s former board that were approved before the new board took over and even threatened a lawsuit. Disney and DeSantis have gone back and forth commenting on the situation and now we’ve got another update. Ron DeSantis has taken things a step further and is ordering the Chief Inspector General to launch an investigation into any possible violations by the former Reedy Creek board, according to Scott Gustin on Twitter. ©Governor Ron DeSantis Website DeSantis released a letter saying that his new Board “uncovered that, immediately before the enactment of House Bill 9-B, the RCID Board of Supervisors attempted to enter into last-minute development and restrictive covenant agreements” with Disney. He also says this was “designed to usurp the authority of the CFTOD Board.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline The letter indicates some of his and his team’s frustrations from the week before saying that this agreement was “collusive and self-dealing” and defies “the will of Floridians.” The letter goes on to say that “RCID board’s actions appear to suffer from serious legal infirmities, including, among other things, inadequate notice, lack of consideration, improper delegation of authority, and ethical violations, such as conflicts of interest and self-dealing.” Reedy Creek Because of this DeSantis has now ordered the Chief Inspector General of the State of Florida to “launch a thorough review and investigation into the actions of the RCID Board of Supervisors.” This investigation will look at many things including the “legal validity of their actions” and “any financial gain or benefit derived by Walt Disney World as a result of RCID’s actions.” Read the full letter from DeSantis below: We’ll continue to keep you updated as we get more information on the battle between Disney and DeSantis, so stay tuned for updates. “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” — Gov. DeSantis Threatens Future Action Against Disney Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Gov. Ron DeSantis Orders Investigation Into Disney's Reedy Creek District 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. Starbucks and Disney just go together! Starbucks Logo Many guests start their day at one of the Starbucks locations in Disney World, and there have been several Disney x Starbucks merchandise collections. Now, a NEW collection has been announced, and some of the merchandise is already for sale online! Disney shared a sneak peek of its upcoming Coffeehouse Collection, which is coming out in its entirety on April 10th. The collection looks to feature a few different tumblers with Walt Disney World branding, along with a little keychain ornament. @shopDisney Although most of the collection isn’t available yet, there are a few things that you can buy online now! For example, you can get this Walt Disney World Castle Starbucks Tote Bag. @shopDisney The tote bag has a pink and purple geometric pattern with Cinderella Castle on the front. Click here to buy the Disney World Tote Bag. If you’re a Disneyland devotee, you can also get the West Coast version of this bag, which features Sleeping Beauty Castle. @shopDisney The Disneyland Castle Starbucks Tote Bag is online now! Click here to buy the Disneyland Castle Starbucks Tote Bag. Finally, you can get the Walt Disney World Castle Starbucks Cold Cup Ornament Keychain. @shopDisney We’ve seen a few different Starbucks ornaments, but this is a new version that features the cold-drink tumblers instead of the warm ones. It could work as either a keychain or an ornament. Click here to buy the Starbucks Tumbler keychain. We’ll watch for more updates on new Starbucks products coming to Disney, and don’t forget to check back on April 10th for the full collection to be released. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney merchandise news and more. Click here for more Starbucks news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be picking up something from this collection? Leave us your thoughts below! The post A NEW Disney Starbucks Collection Is Now Online! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Alright, who’s up for a trip to Andy’s back yard? Roundup Rodeo BBQ In case you haven’t heard by now, Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now open — and transporting guests to a backyard barbecue with the Toy Story gang. We went and tried everything on the menu, and it definitely didn’t disappoint, but we did learn one super important thing about the menu that shocked us. The best thing on the Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu is NOT the barbecue! It also isn’t one of the other meats that stand as a main dish. Nope, the best items on the menu are the sides. From macaroni and cheese to fried pickles, this restaurant is serving up a whole heck of a lot of deliciousness on the SIDE. Howdy! One of our favorite items that we tried were the Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly. These biscuits are the perfect balance of bread and cheese — and the jelly is the perfect tangy mix of sweet and spicy. Dipping it in that sweet pepper jelly We also really enjoyed the Slinky Doooooooog’s Mac & Cheese, which was super saucy but in the BEST way. The crunchy cheese crackers on top added an extra bit of fun texture and flavor. This is a great item for kiddos! Slinky Dooooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese Our FAVORITE side was the Married Spuds, which are loaded potato barrels smothered in a cheese sauce and Green Goddess dressing. The dressing was a fun and interesting choice, and the potatoes were perfectly done — crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Roundup Rodeo Married Spuds The Veggie Slaw was tangy, crunchy, and fresh — great when paired with the meat. They had a heavy mayo flavor, though, and this was probably the least exciting side dish. Veggie Slaw The Campfire-roasted Vegetables are a very solid veggie option. We ended up liking these a lot! It turns out that they’re cooked with the same rub used on the meat, so they pair well and are very tasty. Campfire Roasted Vegetables The Buckin’ Baked Beans are sweet and tangy and cooked with jackfruit instead of meat for flavor. It also tasted like there was some sort of barbecue sauce in them. We liked these a lot, too! Buckin Baked Beans The Force Field Fried Pickles are some of the BEST fried pickles we’ve ever had. They’re spears instead of slices, and they’re friend in batter with dill mixed in it. Believe us when we say that these are delicious. Force Field Fried Pickles Last but not least, the Cowpoke Corn on the Cob is delicious. It’s typical street corn with spices and cotija cheese. It’s also super buttery, which makes for a tasty but messy experience. Cowpoke Corn On The Cob Well folks, there ya have it. Side dishes are truly the stars of the show at Roundup Rodeo BBQ. We’ll dream of cheddar biscuits and fried pickles until we have these again — truly. If you’re planning a trip to Disney World and think you might want to swing by this restaurant to try it for yourself, read more about our experience here by clicking the link below! Looking for more info on Roundup Rodeo BBQ? Look no further! Click here for more. Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide 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! Have you been to Roundup Rodeo BBQ yet? Let us know in the comments! The post The Best Part of Roundup Rodeo BBQ Is NOT The Barbecue 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. Man, Disney makes it super hard for us to hold on to some extra cash sometimes. Give us all the ears! Lately, we’ve seen tons of new merchandise pop up in the parks and online, and today, we found some new ears on shopDisney that you might just have to snag for your next trip to the parks! We found FIVE new pairs of ears online, so let’s check them out! First, we have the Enchanted Tiki Room Ears! ©Disney They’ve even got a little DOLE Whip decal in the middle of the bow. We might be in love! Click here to purchase the Enchanted Tiki Room Ears Next, we saw these Platinum Disney100 Minnie Ears. Minnie Mouse Disney100 Ear Headband We’ve seen these in the parks and online already, but we’re glad they’re finally back online. Click here to buy the Platinum Disney100 Minnie Ears Next up, we have the Minnie Mouse Strawberry Cupcake Disney Munchling Ears. ©Disney If you love the Disney Munchlings plushes, these could be the perfect park accessory for you. Click here to purchase the Minnie Mouse Strawberry Cupcake Munchling Ears These Loki Ears are also new online. Loki Ears If you’re a fan of Loki, you might be a fan of this accessory. We’ve seen these in the parks before, but we’re glad they’re now online for those who won’t be in the parks any time soon! Click here to purchase the Loki Ears Finally, we have another pair of Disney100 Ears. ©Disney These Platinum Mickey and Friends Ears could be a great way to commemorate Disney’s 100th anniversary. Click here to purchase the Disney100 Mickey and Friends Ears While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? It’s super fun stuff to wear to the parks, or to rep your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store. DFB shirt Oh, and follow along for more Disney news and updates, because that’s kind of our thing around here. If you’re looking for more Disney merchandise we’ve seen online recently, click the link below. Click here for more Disney merchandise! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of these new ears? Let us know in the comments! The post It's Time to Treat Yourself -- NEW Disney Souvenirs Just Dropped Online! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When Jacklyn received an offer to become a communications professional intern at Walt Disney Imagineering, the team discovered that a second member would be joining her as well – Noodle, her service dog! Sporting fashionable pink booties on construction sites and commonly seen curled up next to an ice-cold wall, Noodle is the first canine […]View the full article

Disney World does some pretty cool things sometimes. Harmonious Sometimes that comes in the form of an epic new ride. Other times it’s the opening of a really elaborately themed restaurant, a magical moment a family will remember forever, or some awesome new merchandise you’ll pass down for generations. But a recent cool action comes in the form of actually Disney having REFRAINED from doing something. April 2nd was the LAST night for the nighttime spectacular that arrived at EPCOT during the 50th Anniversary — Harmonious. We made our way over to EPCOT decently early to grab our spot and were lucky enough to position ourselves right in between the Disney Traders and Port of Entry gift shops. We Were Between 75 and 74! We were able to go all the way up to the bushes toward the front, but not all the way up to the railing right on the water. The area at the very front by the railing was blocked off. Even though we were behind some bushes, our view was pretty spectacular! And what made it even better is that Disney did NOT sell out any of this area or the roped-off area in front of us to any private parties to mark the end of the fireworks show. One of our reporters shared that they’ve typically seen Harmonious from this spot and it’s almost always open for general viewing (so it’s not as though this is “new”), but we still wanted to note that Disney did not transform this into a special VIP viewing for the last show and instead continued to let all guests enjoy the space. Our View That meant that regular parkgoers were able to take advantage of this prime viewing area without too many obstructions. We spoke to one Cast Member who confirmed that the space in our particular area was ONLY available for regular people visiting the park. Lots of Guests The Cast Member couldn’t tell us if that was the case throughout all of World Showcase, but they did mention that the main areas they had taped off were just to facilitate walking paths throughout the space. There were plenty of people around for Harmonious’ last showing, and the fact that Disney left all of this space open was helpful to give everyone a great view of the show. There Were PLENTY of People Waiting Around And we REALLY got a great view! WOW! This can be one of the best spots from which to see the fireworks/nighttime show, so the fact that it was open to all was fantastic. Harmonious It really let us say “goodbye” to Harmonious in a spectacular way. Goodbye, Harmonious! People took advantage of this prime viewing space for good reason. Crowds And that was the cool thing Disney did — or rather, didn’t do — on the last night of Harmonious! Everyone in This Area Got a Great View No VIP parties — just regular people all enjoying the last night of Harmonious together. And Just Like That, It’s GONE! Now that Harmonious has ended EPCOT’s nighttime show will be seeing some changes. On April 3rd, EPCOT Forever will return for a limited time. Then, later this year, EPCOT will get a NEW fireworks show. The new show is meant to “reflect the commonality in all of us.” There will be fireworks, lasers, music, and light, as well as an original composition and songs from the Disney songbook. New EPCOT show ©Disney Again, that show won’t debut until late 2023, so we’ll be on the lookout for more updates. Be sure to stay tuned for more news. See videos from the LAST showing of Harmonious here! Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? EPCOT’s Three New Neighborhoods Have Debuted – Learn More Here See Our Full Review of One of EPCOT’s Newest Restaurants – Connections Eatery Get a Full Tour Inside EPCOT’s New Starbucks Location – Connections Cafe See All the Details You Need to Know About the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster, Now Open in World Discovery NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT Go Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure With Us Check Out All of the Tasty Details About La Crêperie de Paris See Our Full Reviews of Space 220, Which Has Officially OPENED in EPCOT Check Out Spaceship Earth’s Permanent New Nighttime Look Learn More About EPCOT’s New Nighttime Spectacular -- Harmonious See Full Details About the New PLAY! Pavilion Coming to EPCOT Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana, Coming to World Nature The Mary Poppins Attraction is on Hold – Learn More Here What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest EPCOT transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you excited about the return of EPCOT Forever and EPCOT’s new fireworks show? Tell us in the comments! The post The Really Cool Thing Disney World Did on the Last Night of Their Fireworks Show first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Eleven new restaurants will be added to the Florida Michelin Guide selection in 2023 — eight of them are in Orlando and three in Tampa. View the full article

Planning a trip to Disney World can be STRESSFUL! Cinderella Castle But what if I told you the DFB team could boil down EVERYTHING you need to know in just 15 minutes? Don’t think it’s possible? Stick around — we just might surprise you! Check out our video below: Everything You Need To Know About Disney World in 15 Minutes Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 What other questions do you have about planning a Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments below. The post DFB Video: Everything You Need To Know About Disney World in 15 Minutes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Story Behind the Making of Cotino Community – Part 3 | Storyliving by DisneyView the full article

This new Disney100 collection is full of character – literally! Find out which characters are joining in on the collection launching today on shopDisney and at Disney Parks.View the full article

Will you be purchasing Genie+ for your next Disney World trip? Have you used Genie+ in Disney World? Have you read our ultimate guide on Genie+ and stayed updated on our best tips? Are you aware of surge pricing, which could mean Genie+ costs more during your trip? Do you understand that Genie+ could sell out? Yes, Genie+ can and does sell out, but there are a few things you can know to help predict when that will happen. Park pass reservations are sold out Park pass reservations are required before you can enter any theme park in Disney World. They’re free, although you do need to have a valid ticket to make them. If park pass reservations are sold out for any park during your trip to Disney World, there’s a good chance that Genie+ could sell out quickly. That’s because the parks will be AT capacity, which means long standby lines, which means more people wanting to purchase Genie+ to use those rides’ lightning lanes. If park pass reservations are sold out, Genie+ might sell out, too So the first thing you can do to see if Genie+ might sell out during your trip is to check out the park pass availability status on the Disney World website. Note that a park pass reservation does not guarantee you the opportunity to buy Genie+, which is sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. Learn more about park pass reservations in Disney World It’s a busy season Another way to know if Genie+ might sell out on specific days is if you know it’s going to be a busy weekend or season in Disney World. For example, you should know that the spring break travel period is ALWAYS going to bring big crowds to the parks, meaning that more people will be purchasing Genie+. Magic Kingdom Crowds March 2023 (Spring Break) You’ll also find crowds in the parks during holidays, especially holiday seasons, like the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Parks are likely to be crowded before and after those holidays, too. That goes for holiday weekends, too, like Labor Day weekend and Thanksgiving weekend. Here’s an idea of how many people travel to Orlando during Spring Break Recent high wait times It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on wait times for rides a week or two before your trip. If the wait times seem higher than usual, that’s a good indicator that Genie+ could sell out during your trip. Higher wait times often motivate guests to purchase Genie+. Hollywood Studios crowds So be sure to check those wait times (we’ll keep an eye on them for you here, too). BEWARE of These 10 Rides in Disney World Right Now Major Events Other days that could be scores of crowds to the park include runDisney Marathon weekends, as well as the closure of rides and shows. For example, we saw A TON of people in the parks on Splash Mountain’s last day of operation in Magic Kingdom. More people means a higher chance of Genie+ selling out for the day. Splash Mountain’s last day brought many people to Magic Kingdom Other events that could bring crowds and mean that Genie+ sells out are when new attractions open. That will bring a LOT of people to specific parks and many will want to skip the long standby lines, so they’ll purchase Genie+. See How Fast Splash Mountain Lightning Lanes Sold Out On The Ride’s Last Day So these are all good things to keep an eye on if you’re wondering about your chances of purchasing Genie+ on any given day. Your best bet to guarantee that you can buy it is to purchase it each day as soon as it becomes available — that would be at midnight the day of. Yep, you’ll either have to stay up a little late or get up in the middle of the night, but if Genie+ is a must for your trip, it will be worth it. Whew. We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT. And this Genie+ thing can be so confusing – which is why we bring you posts like this so often But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. Here’s A Step-By-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+ Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever been to Disney World when Genie+ sold out? Let us know in the comments! The post Will Genie+ Sell Out When You’re in Disney World? Look For THESE Signs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World: Getting the new Tron roller coaster online is a matter of timing. View the full article