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There is much more to Disney World than just four theme parks. Besides the resorts and water parks, this area is also home to Disney Springs. Find out how to get to Disney Springs Disney Springs is a shopping, dining, and entertainment district within the Walt Disney World Resort. Here you can shop not only Disney stores but also well-known brands like Uniqlo, Coach, Sephora, and more! Many guests choose to spend an evening or even an entire day at Disney Springs during their trip. If you’re coming to Disney World and want to visit Disney Springs, you’ll need to know how to get there. Disney World has a variety of free transportation throughout the parks. There’s the iconic Monorail, the bus system, the new Skyliner transport, and even boats! You can also choose paid options like ride share services; both Lyft and Uber operate within Disney World, and Disney has its own ride share service — Minnie Vans — which partners with Lyft. The buses are a popular choice for guests because you can find stops across the resort, they’re free, and their large capacity means less time waiting in line to hop on. A COMPLETE Guide to Taking the Bus in Disney World Disney Bus Transportation from Magic Kingdom You can catch a bus from your Disney resort to Disney Springs, and buses start running once Disney Springs opens. There aren’t any buses that go from Disney Springs to the theme parks, so if you are planning on going to the parks after a morning in Disney Springs, you’ll need to find another option. Disney Springs bus Disney Springs has three bus loops, and each has a different use! The Disney Springs West Side loop is now used for ride share such as Minnie Vans, guest pick up/drop off, and non-Disney-owned hotels. The Disney Springs Marketplace loop is used for Minnie Vans and other ride shares. Lastly, the main Disney Springs bus area near the Town Center is where you’ll find buses departing to and arriving from the Disney Resort hotels. Disney Springs buses typically start running at around 9AM, and the bus driver will announce the latest bus return time, usually about 1 hour after Disney Springs closes for the night. Disney Springs bus directory sign Buses tend to run about every 20 minutes, but traffic and delays can occur, so we recommend giving yourself at least an hour for Disney transportation, especially if you’re trying to make a dining reservation! If you do find yourself in a pinch (like if the line for the bus is exceptionally long and you don’t want to or can’t afford to wait) you can always opt for a ride share, but you will have to shell out some cash. Minnie Vans Getting to and from Disney Springs from your Disney resort is easy when you use the bus service. Just keep an eye on the clock to make sure you don’t miss any reservations or end up missing the buses entirely! When it’s time to head back to your resort, you can check the bus directory to see which bus you need and where to meet it. Taking the bus may not be the quickest option, but it is free and fairly convenient because you don’t have to worry about making arrangements like you would with a ride share. Keep following DFB for more information you can use on your next trip to Disney World. The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your First Disney World Vacation — Click Here! 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. Do you prefer to spend an afternoon or evening in Disney Springs, or do you like to set aside a whole day devoted to the area? Comment below! The post Disney Springs Bus Schedule, Tips and Advice 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. National Cocktail Day is March 24 and we’re here to help you celebrate! Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom There are plenty of places to get a cocktail in Disney World. From lounges at the parks like Nomad Lounge or La Cava de Tequila to Disney hotel favorites like Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. If you love having a cocktail at Disney World, but you’re not there today, here are some ways you can raise a glass at home, Disney-style. Here are a few Disney cocktail recipes and Disney-themed cocktail essentials we found that will bring some magic to your drinks! Disney Cocktail Recipes Krakatoa Punch From Disney World’s Trader Sams Couldn’t snag a seat at the bar at Trader Sam’s this year? Not to worry! Disney shared the recipe for one of their signature drinks, the Krakatoa Punch, so you can try this one at home! Krakatoa Punch First, grab all of these ingredients… o.5 oz Almond Syrup 3 oz Gorilla Grog (a Trader Sam’s specialty made of passion fruit, guava, pineapple, orange, lemon juices, and falernum, a syrup with tons of spices in it!) 0.25 oz Hibiscus Grenadine 1 oz Aged Rum 1 oz Spiced Rum Ice Instructions Mix it all in a shaker and strain it over ice! If you have a glow cube, you can really emulate the lava look like they do at Trader Sam’s! Krakatoa Punch at Trader Sam’sWinter Wonderland Spiked Mocha Winter Wonderland Spiked Mocha If you’re a coffee lover and are missing Joffrey’s, you can make this spiked mocha! Ingredients… 16oz glass with ice and 2oz of Joffrey’s Winter Wonderland Blend. 1 1/2 oz Coconut Rum 3/4 oz white chocolate sauce 1/2 Monin Almond Syrup 1 1/2 oz milk Top with whipped cream © Joffrey’s Coffee GurrTiki This cocktail is made by Bob Gurr, the Imagineer behind the Haunted Mansion. When Gurr retired, he became a mixologist at home. The Walt Disney Family Museum released a recipe for his GurrTiki, and it can be made with or without alcohol! Bob Gurr c/o @bobgurrofficial on Instagram Instructions: Start with a hurricane glass Fill 3/4 with cubbed ice 2:1 Naked “Mighty Mango” fruit smoothie to pineapple juice 1 oz of vodka, rum, gin, or tequila topped with a skewer of pineapple, kiwi, and mango Black Magic Margarita We’ll take any margarita recipe La Cava del Tequila is willing to give us, especially if it’s designed by Neil Patrick Harris. The Black Magic Margarita! Ingredients: 1.5 oz. mezcal .5 oz cassis blackberry liqueur 1 oz lime juice 1 oz agave 10-12 blueberries 4 blackberries Mint leaves Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Blend with ice. Garnish with mint leaves and blackberries. It’s so beautiful! Disney-Inspired Drink Supplies Now that we know what we’re making, let’s check out these Disney-Inspired cocktail essentials to add to your house!The The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book features 100 Disney drink recipes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. This recipe book features recipes for The HippopopotoMai-Tai from Trader Sam’s and the Poor Unfortunate Soul’s Float. ©Amazon You can find it on Amazon and it comes in a Kindle version, spiral bound, and hardcover. This would be a perfect way to cure your Disney homesickness. Click Here to Order the Unofficial Disney Drink Recipe Book! Disney Mickey Mouse Squad Collection Tumblers These 15 oz Mickey Mouse Squad Tumblers are on Amazon. They come in a four-pack and would be perfect to hold your Disney-inspired drink. They are also 49% off right now, which only helps! ©Amazon These glass wine tumblers feature Mickey Mouse, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. Click Here to Order the Tumbler Set Mickey Mouse Martini Glasses These Mickey Mouse Martini Glasses are just adorable! They come in a 2 pack and have a Mickey Head outlined on them. ©Amazon These 10oz martini glasses are 5.1” wide and 7.5” tall. These could add a touch of Disney to your bar cart. Click Here to Order the Mickey Martini Glasses Mickey ‘Yikes!’ 4pc Crystal Highball Glasses Set This Mickey Highball Glass Set comes in a 4 pack and features a silly Mickey Mouse! ©Amazon These glasses would be perfect for the Krakatoa Punch! And, there’s enough to share with friends! Check Out the Mickey Highball Glasses Here! Mickey Balloon Ice Cube Tray This Mickey Balloon Ice Cube Tray from Disney Parks is a perfect way to add a touch of Disney to your beverages. This silicone ice tray makes 10 Mickey Balloon Ice Cubes. Check Out Mickey Balloon Ice Tray Minnie Mouse Paper Straws These Minnie Mouse Paper Straws are the perfect way to sip down your cocktail! These come in a 100-pack so you could use one for each recipe you make from the Unofficial Disney Drink Recipe Book! ©Amazon The paper straws will make you feel like you’re at Disney again. Just be quick before the paper straw dissolves! Get Your Minnie Paper Straws Here Tramonto Cocktail If you are heading to the parks to celebrate, check out our Drinking Around the World in EPCOT list below. Wherever you are celebrating National Cocktail Day, cheers from us! For more Disney food and beverage tips, follow us at DFB! Drinking Around the World in EPCOT 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. What is your favorite cocktail at Disney World? Let us know below! The post Celebrate National Cocktail Day -- Disney Style! first appeared on the disney food blog. 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Here at Walt Disney World Resort, our cast members have played a big role in bringing more than 145,000 Disney-inspired wishes to life over the last 40 years alongside our friends at Make-A-Wish®. The transformative power of a wish come true is one of the many reasons why so many of us remain passionate about […]View the full article

Also coming soon: Revered Wall Street institutions Harry’s and Adrienne’s Pizzabar are migrating to West Palm Beach - a first venture outside of New York. View the full article

Cast Member unions have finally reached an agreement with Disney, which the service trades council announced on March 23rd. The council is made up of six unions that represent Disney World employees. Unite Here Local 362 announces a new contract proposal for Disney World Cast Members. The unions have been in talks with Disney for a long time now, with the main issue being wages. Disney gave an offer in February of this year that union members overwhelmingly voted to reject, and the unions said that negotiations stopped after Disney “refused to add even one cent to its wage proposal.” Now, after negotiations recently resumed, an agreement has been reached and Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle released a statement about it. Under the new agreement between Disney and the Cast Member unions, the following changes will be made (provided union members vote to approve this agreement): Minimum of $17 an hour for new and existing cast members upon ratification (effective immediately) Minimum of $18 an hour by year-end for current cast Annual pay increases every year of the contract Full retroactive increased pay of at least $2 more an hour, dated back to October 2022 for all current cast members Entry-level rates for newly hired cast will reach a minimum of $18 an hour by 2024 Disney Cast Members by a Clap Box Disney’s initial offer in February set a minimum wage of $16 an hour for many roles with a raise each year for 5 years to a $20 minimum wage. This offer was rejected. Cast Members in the unions will vote on the new agreement next week, on Wednesday, March 29th. Disney World Cast Members at The Confectionery The proposal would make the minimum wage for Disney World’s current Cast Members $18 per hour by year’s end, and the increased wages will be retroactive to the date of the contract — October 1st. The union leaders said, “We could not be more proud. Every one of the affiliates of the service trades council union will be recommending that their Cast Members vote to support this agreement.” Cast Members doing water art Disney reached out with a statement from Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World Resort, about this agreement. Vahle said, “Our cast members are central to Walt Disney World’s enduring magic, which is why we are pleased to have reached this tentative agreement. Disney is proud to offer an industry-leading employment package that includes comprehensive benefits and affordable medical coverage, in addition to 100 percent paid tuition for higher education for hourly employees through the Disney Aspire program. With the support of the unions, we anticipate cast members will approve this new agreement.” Jeff Vahle Disney also stated the following: “In addition to Walt Disney World being the first major employer in Central Florida to set a path to a $15 per hour starting wage for our cast members by 2021, we invest in their overall employee experience by offering a comprehensive employment package that includes health care, paid vacation and sick time, overtime opportunities, discount offers, along with multiple options for development and advancement.” Cast Members! We’ll watch for any updates about this story, and we’ll let you know how the union members vote on the 29th. Keep following DFB for all the latest Disney news. Click here to learn more about the Cast Member union agreement. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Disney Executive Comments on Cast Member Union Agreement first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Here at DFB, we don’t just like to talk about Disney food, we like to talk about ALL food. Adults Happy Meal at McDonald’s We’re constantly on the lookout for the latest in restaurant news, with everything from new Orlando locations of popular fast food chains to updated Happy Meal toys at McDonald’s. (We’ve got RANGE, y’all!) And now, we’re here to tell you about a new permanent menu item at KFC! According to a press release, KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken, but you probably already knew that) is adding a very popular food to its menu — chicken nuggets! The restaurant briefly tested out the “100 percent white meat” Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets in a test run last year and they were a wild success, so they’ll become a permanent addition to the menu on March 27th nationwide. ©KFC “People have been living in a nugget blandemic and settling for the same mediocre nuggets for far too long,” KFC said in a statement. “The fried chicken experts are empowering America to break up with bland and end it with cookie-cutter shapes and open their hearts and mouths to Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets.” ©KFC The pricing for the nuggets starts at $3.49 and you can order them in counts of 5, 8, 12, or 36. Sauces you can get at KFC include KFC Sauce, Honey BBQ, Classic Ranch, Honey Mustard, or Buffalo Ranch…because who doesn’t love dipping some nuggets?! But wait, there’s more! The KFC Mac & Cheese bowl will also be returning to nationwide menus for $5 starting April 3rd, but it’ll only be around for a limited time so you’ll want to act fast. AND KFC is bringing back its “spicy, smoky Nashville Hot sauce” for a limited time too. This will be available for the $5 Spicy Mac & Cheese Bowl that’ll feature the new nuggets. ©KFC We’ll make sure to keep you updated with any more big fast food news, as well as all the Disney food news, so stay tuned to DFB! Click Here to See How You Can Get McDonald’s CHEAPER! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Would you try chicken nuggets at KFC? Tell us in the comments!The post A NEW Snack Is Coming to KFC’s Permanent Menu! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As we near the end of March, and wrap up our Women’s History Month celebration, I wanted to take a moment to recognize just a few of the women from our Disney Springs restaurants who add a bit of flavor to our neighborhood!View the full article

Even CEOs of the most influential companies in the world sometimes make McDonald’s runs, right? We don’t think anyone is exempt from the occasional french fry craving. McDonald’s on Disney property! And since Cardi B and Offset get their own celebrity Mickey D’s meal, why can’t Bob Iger have one? During our last trip to the Golden Arches, we were wondering, What would Disney CEO Bob Iger order if he were having dinner here? Do we really think Bob Iger is going through the McDonald’s drive-thru very often? Eh, probably not. Iger shared his strict morning regimen in a Master Class, and we learned that he wakes up at 4:15AM every day and completes a morning workout before looking at his phone. Those healthy habits make us think that he’s probably not regular at McD’s. But if he WERE to have a McDonald’s celeb meal created, we’re pretty sure this is exactly what it would be: Inside McDonald’s 4-piece Chicken McNuggets Apple Slices McRib Spicy McCrispy Sandwich Shamrock Shake Vanilla Cone Pretty obvious, right? OK, we can explain our reasoning so that the order makes a little more sense. Let’s start with the Chicken McNuggets. 4 Piece Chicken McNuggets Bob Iger needs a 4-piece Chicken McNuggets because he recently announced that Disney employees need to return to the office for at least four days each week. That’s one McNugget for each day that Disney employees must be in their offices. McNuggets According to CNBC, Iger sent an email to hybrid Disney employees and indicated that they MUST return to Disney’s corporate offices to work physically within the office at least four days a week. This change went into effect on March 1st, 2023. Bob Iger ©Bloomberg In the email, Iger shared that he had been “meeting with teams throughout the company over the past few months” and had been “reminded of the tremendous value in being together with the people you work with.” He went on to say that “creativity is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do at Disney. And in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe, and create with peers that comes from being physically together, nor the opportunity to grow professionally by learning from leaders and mentors.” Marceline Missouri — Walt Disney’s office in his hometown This return-to-office mandate is relatively strict compared to other companies that have only required hybrid employees to come into the office two or three days per week, and many Disney employees were not happy about it. According to the Washington Post, employees have signed a petition in the hopes of reversing the four-day return-to-office rule. More than 2,300 employees signed the petition asking Bob Iger to reconsider, saying that it’s “likely to have unintended consequences that cause long-term harm to the company.” The signees include a variety of workers across Disney’s many businesses, including ABC, 20th Century Studios, Marvel Studios, Hulu, Pixar, FX, and more. It’s possible that this return-to-office mandate could serve as a soft layoff, as some employees may quit rather than come back to the office four days a week. Disney is in the midst of job cuts, so this change could be part of that plan. Learn more about the Disney employees’ reaction to Iger’s new rule here. Apple Slices WHO is ordering apple slices at McDonald’s?? Surely only someone who’s trying really hard to be healthy would swap the beloved french fries for a small bag of fruit. Apple Slices And Iger is trying really, REALLY hard to make one particular part of the Walt Disney Company revenue pie graph healthier. He has recently announced that his number one priority at The Walt Disney Company is to make Disney+ profitable. ©Disney During the first quarter earnings call of 2023, Iger announced that his top priority is to improve streaming at Disney, which could include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. It’s no surprise that the second-time CEO would choose streaming as his top priority, especially considering that area of the company has been a little rocky. ©Disney In November 2022, we got an updated look at the Disney+ subscriber numbers but we also learned that Disney’s streaming business as a whole had a loss of nearly $1.5 BILLION. This loss ultimately contributed in part to the ousting of Bob Chapek as CEO. In the Q1 earnings call on February 9th, we learned that the total number of Disney+ subscribers is now 161.8 million. As far as ESPN+ and Hulu go, both of those services are up in subscriber count as well, with 24.9 million and 48 million, respectively. Disney reported a $1.053 billion operating loss in its direct-to-consumer division this quarter compared to Q4 of FY 2022. Disney+ Billboard No sudden flipping of the Bob switch could magically make Disney’s streaming division healthy, and because of that, Iger is still choosing to focus on growth and profitability for streaming. Iger reiterated Disney’s previous comments that they expect Disney+ to be profitable by the end of fiscal year 2024. The new organizational structure announced by Iger during the call will hopefully help by relinking the creative process with the financial results. As Iger put it, Disney is putting content back into the hands of the creatives. Disney will be focusing on its core brands and franchises, which have historically delivered higher returns. They’re working on curating content and adjusting as needed, adjusting pricing and marketing strategies, and fine-tuning streaming advertising. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge When asked about how exactly Iger plans on improving and growing Disney’s streaming division, he had a few ideas in mind: Seeking loyal subscribers for the long-term Reviewing pricing and making sure services are priced correctly Rebalancing marketing on the platform versus marketing of the programs Will Disney pursue a future in sports betting? Find out here. McRib We’ve got the nugs (yum) and the apple slices (less yum), so next up on Iger’s order is the McRib. … Anyone else see the problem with this item? Yeah, it doesn’t actually exist on the McDonald’s menu anymore. ©McDonald’s But this isn’t the first time the McRib has disappeared. Yes, it had a whole farewell tour…but it’s done that before and then returned to McDonald’s once again. Basically, we can’t seem to get rid of the McRib, and the more it comes and goes, the more fans seem to latch on to it. You can probably see why we this sandwich is part of our fantasy celeb McDonald’s meal for the boomerang CEO. Bob Iger ©New York Post Bob Iger first became the Disney CEO back in 2005, and he stayed in that position until 2020. But even once he “retired,” he didn’t really leave. In 2020, he became the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board and remained there through 2021. At that time, Bob Chapek was the Disney CEO. ©Disney Iger returned to his role as the company’s CEO in November of 2022, and he currently has a two-year contract with the company. But can he truly let go of Disney? ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Like McRib fans with their beloved sandwich, Disney fans seemed to have become more fond of Iger in his “absence,” and many were very excited when he returned to the role in 2022. ©McDonald’s Want to know another connection between Iger and this sandwich? When we asked about the McRib at McDonald’s, we were told that they “don’t know if it’s coming back, but if it did, it’d likely be in November.” Iger returned in November as well. Bob Iger IS the McRib! Learn four important SECRETS about the Iger-Chapek conflict. Spicy McCrispy Sandwich We got Iger a sandwich that doesn’t exist, so we probably should get him one that does exist to make up for it. We think Iger would like the Spicy McCrispy Sandwich. Why, you may ask? Let us tell you! Spicy McCrispy Chicken Sandwich One of Bob Iger’s favorite things is acquisitions. During his first time as Disney’s CEO, he acquired major entities like Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. Most of those are widely considered to be very successful business moves, and Disney itself cites these decisions as having created “significant value for Disney shareholders.” ©Pixar | Disney According to Disney, these acquisitions transformed the company. And while they were generally tagged as being things that Disney “overpaid” for, Disney argues that narrative has been proven to be “highly inaccurate.” We’ve seen the success of Marvel’s many movies and Disney+ shows, Star Wars’ own sequels and Disney+ shows, and Fox’s Avatar. Iger may even be looking to fully acquire Hulu now. ©Hulu Disney already owns 67% of Hulu, and Comcast’s NBCUniversal owns the remaining amount. According to Yahoo, under the deal made back in 2019, Disney got “full operational control” of Hulu. And, as early as January 2024, “Comcast can require Disney to buy NBCUniversal’s interest in Hulu and Disney can require NBCUniversal to sell that interest to Disney for its fair market value at that future time.” So what does all of this have to do with the Spicy McCrispy Sandwich? McDonald’s seems to have acquired this idea from several other fast food chains that found success selling spicy chicken sandwiches. They weren’t the first to think of it! Popeyes is famous for its version, and Chick-fil-A has one as well. It’s not just the restaurants that specialize in chicken that have hopped on this train — Arby’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, and Whataburger all have their own versions of the popular item. Spicy McCrispy Sandwich McDonald’s saw the value in selling this sandwich, and so they grabbed the idea and ran with it, adding a few different kinds of chicken sandwiches to the menu. Acquisition ahoy. Disney may have to fight a BATTLE to buy Hulu. Shamrock Shake To drink, Iger is clearly grabbing a Shamrock Shake, and it’s not just because this fan-favorite minty treat is super tasty. Shamrock Shake Like the Shamrock Shake, Bob Iger hasn’t stayed at Disney for one continuous run. Instead, he was the CEO, left, and then returned again. And also like the Shamrock Shake, many people were very excited when he came back. It’s a popular choice But the main reason that Bob can relate to this treat is that he’s seriously shaking things up at The Walt Disney Company. (Yes, we’re proud of that pun. No, we don’t care that it’s cheesy .) ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced a restructuring of the company during his first earnings call back at the helm of the business in 2023. He touted the reorganization as a way to return creativity to the center of the company. “Our company is fueled by storytelling and creativity,” he said. “Virtually every dollar we earn…emanates from something we created.” ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters Iger told investors that the restructuring at the company — effective immediately — is “aimed at returning greater authority to our creative leaders.” Disney is now organized under three divisions: (1) Disney Entertainment, (2) ESPN, and (3) Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. Cinderella Castle Iger stressed that the reorganization will provide “a more cost-effective, coordinated and streamlined approach” to the company’s operations. The new structure will “re-establish a direct link between content decisions and financial performance,” he said. ©Disney Iger also announced cost-cutting measures to the tune of $5.5 billion during the recent earnings call. The savings will come from the layoff of 7,000 employees, as well as deep cuts in Disney’s marketing budgets. And he revealed upcoming projects, including sequels in the Toy Story, Frozen, and Zootopia franchises, and an Avatar expansion at Disneyland. Pandora — The World of Avatar in Disney World In short, there are a LOT of changes that have been made and that are on the way for Disney. Iger certainly isn’t afraid to mix things up! See what else has CHANGED since Iger returned as CEO. Vanilla Cone Finally, for dessert, Bob Iger would get a simple vanilla cone. But as anyone who has made a midnight run to McDonald’s for some ice cream will tell you, this treat is actually far from simple. In fact, to find a restaurant that has a functioning ice cream machine when you’re craving the creamy goodness is something of a miracle. McDonald’s ice cream machines are notorious for breaking down, and that problem actually came up when we were ordering Iger’s meal! McDonald’s Vanilla Cone We went to one McDonald’s location and found out that their ice cream machine was down, so we wouldn’t be able to get the cone (or the Shamrock Shake, for that matter). So we hopped back into the car and found a different location which — incredibly — had a functioning ice cream machine. Hooray! Ice cream is McDonald’s fatal flaw. Bob Iger also has a fatal flaw: succession. The first time that Iger “retired” as Disney’s CEO, he seemed to put off the issue of succession and then recommended that Bob Chapek take the position. Chapek did guide the company through an unprecedented time with the worldwide pandemic, but ultimately it was reported that Iger regretted his decision in a successor. Bob Chapek ©Disney Some sources indicate that Chapek and Iger had a falling out at one point, and they struggled to work together when Iger stayed on as the Chairman of the Board. Overall, we can say that Iger’s first go at succession wasn’t a roaring success, much like our first trip to McDonald’s didn’t result in any ice cream. Ice Cream Now, Iger has another chance to choose a good replacement, and this time he doesn’t seem to be taking any chances. He has stated that he has no plans to stay longer than his current two-year contract, and both he and the Board of Directors are focused on the issue of succession. Mark Parker, who is the new chairman of the Board, is also the head of “a newly created Succession Planning Committee of the Board, which will advise the Board on the CEO succession planning, including review of internal and external candidates.” Mark Parker ©Disney Iger seems committed to his responsibility to choose a great replacement. And if our success in obtaining ice cream at the second McDonald’s location is any indicator, he’ll likely succeed this time around. Will Disney need TWO CEOs to replace Bob Iger? See? It all makes sense! Bob Iger’s Meal So whose McDonald’s order should we build next? Maybe we need to dive into what Mickey Mouse would get at the drive-thru…and surely that order has to involve plenty of cheese. If you want to learn more about the current Disney CEO, check out these posts: Will Disney Need TWO CEOs to Replace Bob Iger? “I’m a Little Nervous for Bob” — Michael Eisner Comments on Disney CEO Iger How Bob Iger Plans To “Improve the Guest Experience” in the Theme Parks One Critical Difference between Disney CEOs Bob Iger and Bob Chapek Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Click here to see three BIG problems Bob Iger is facing right now. 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. Whose McDonald’s order should we build next? Let us know in the comments! The post We Made A "Disney CEO Bob Iger Celebrity Meal" At McDonald's. Here's What's In It. 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. Minnie ears — there are DOZENS of them. You might very well have a couple pairs in your home or lining your walls, but will you be tempted to buy one more? EARS! Disney is constantly releasing new ears including ones for the Disney100 celebration and strange ears too. But now a new set of Minnie ears have finally made its way to Disney World and we’ve got all the details you need to know right here. Disney’s purple Minnie Mouse Sequin Ears were some we first spotted online near the beginning of March. We later saw them released in Disneyland. But now they’ve arrived in Disney World too! We spotted these over at Celebrity 5&10 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios initially but later saw them at The Emporium and Big Top Souvenirs in Magic Kingdom too. The New Ears The ears themselves are lavender and COVERED in sequins. Sequins EVERYWHERE From the ears to the headband and the bow — it’s a sequin explosion! Seriously, The Sequins Never End On the back of the ears, you’ll find…you guessed it, more sequins! The Back Basically, these are a great set of ears for those who love lavender, can’t get enough sequins, and are looking for a simple set that doesn’t have too many other things going on with it. Would You Get These? You can pick these up for $34.99 in the park or online. Also, if you buy them today (March 24th) you can get FREE shipping from shopDisney with code “freeship” so act fast. Get the ears online here! For more Disney merchandise news, click here to see what 50th Anniversary item will be disappearing from Disney World soon. And stay tuned for more Disney updates! Click here for EVERY pair of Minnie ears you can buy online now! 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 a fan of these ears? Tell us in the comments! The post Will YOU Resist the Temptation to Buy Disney World's Newest Minnie Ears? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re nearing the end of the 50th Anniversary celebrations in Disney World and it has been a wild ride! It’s Disney World’s 50th Anniversary! From the chaos of October 1st, 2021 until now, we’ve seen countless entertainment offerings, merchandise collections, park decorations, and snacks, all dedicated to celebrating this momentous occasion. But now, we’re starting to see those celebrations disappear! We’ve already seen a few different snacks disappear from Disney World menus, but now we have to mention one specifically that we really enjoyed (and will definitely miss!) — the Glimmer and Shimmer Funnel Cake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Glimmer and Shimmer Funnel Cake This treat has been available at Epic Eats in the Echo Lake area of the park for the past 18 months, and it was a funnel cake topped with vanilla soft serve and all kinds of shiny toppings. Glimmer and Shimmer Funnel Cake There was powdered sugar and chocolate sauce over the funnel cake, gold sprinkles tossed over the whole thing, and chocolate-dipped, gold-sprayed Oreos. So Sparkly! It was truly indulgent, but now it has disappeared from the menu. It’s gone! If you want something similar, the Cookies ‘n’ Cream Funnel Cake has some of the same toppings, although it’s not quite as pretty as its 50th Anniversary counterpart. And of course, you could always get the funnel cake served plain or with strawberry topping and ice cream. Yum! We’ll keep an eye out for any more snacks that will disappear from menus soon, so stay tuned to DFB! The 50th Anniversary celebrations officially end on March 31st. Click Here to Learn About Another Snack Disappearance! 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. Which 50th Anniversary snack was your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post The Most Glitzy 50th Anniversary Snack Has DISAPPEARED from Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So you consider yourself a big Disney fan, but have you really done it ALL? Have you been to Disney World, on a Disney Cruise, or walked the streets of Disneyland Park? Cinderella Castle Maybe you have, and maybe you’re REALLY dedicated to the Disney fandom. If that’s you, then you’re probably interested to know more about the Disney communities that are currently being built! Storyliving by Disney is a project that sets out to “create vibrant new neighborhoods that are infused with [their] special brand of magic.” These master-planned communities will bring some of the joys of the parks right into the neighborhood with specially designed spaces and lots of unique amenities. One of these communities is called Cotino and it’s located in California…and we just got more details on what future residents can expect! ©Disney In a recent announcement, Disney shared the following: “When Cotino, the first Storyliving by Disney community opens in Rancho Mirage, California, individuals who purchase a membership for the Artisan Club will enjoy a dazzling array of offerings infused with unique Disney and Pixar touches. Highlights include a one-of-a-kind gathering space inspired by an “incredible” location from a fan-favorite Pixar film, part of a vibrant club featuring a diverse range of leisure pursuits.” ©Disney At Contino, you’ll be able to visit the Parr House, inspired by the abode from Disney and Pixar’s Incredibles 2. The space is being put together by Disney Imagineers and will be available for “special events, celebrations, and limited overnight accommodations for Artisan Club members, all subject to availability.” The main entertaining room will feature a large rockwork fireplace, and additional spaces include five bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a boardroom, and an art studio. An elevated patio outside will provide a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains. ©Disney “As the Cotino community continues to come to life, we are excited to share more information about the many opportunities Artisan Club members will have to experience Disney magic right outside their front door and down the block,” said Claire Bilby, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Signature Experiences Emerging Businesses. “From Disney entertainment and events to spaces inspired by Disney stories, club members will truly experience Disney story living.” ©Disney But besides Parr House, Artisan Club members can enjoy a clubhouse space featuring spaces for dining, wellness, art, recreation, and entertainment. The clubhouse will be manned by Disney Cast Members. Voluntary club membership will include access to the waterfront clubhouse, club-only beach area, and recreational water activities, as well as Disney entertainment, events, and special excursions for an additional fee. There will also be a public beach park that will be available for residents and guests with a day pass. When it launches, Artisan Club membership will be available to both residents and non-residents. ©Disney If you’re interested in buying a home in Cotino, the residential areas will be open to homeowners of all ages, but there will be at least one section specifically for ages 55+. “Home buyers will select from a wide range of home types, from condominiums to cottages, grand and estate single-family homes.” ©Disney We’re interested to learn more about this community and its features in the future, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled for any more details. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Click Here to Learn More About Storyliving by Disney! 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. Would you live in a Disney community? Tell us in the comments! The post NEW Details Revealed for Disney’s Master-Planned Community first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re looking for a delicious meal on your Disney vacation, Disney Springs has tons of great options. Pepe We were recently invited to a media event at Pepe by José Andrés, a quick-service restaurant next door to the Chef’s signature restaurant, Jaleo — and we really enjoyed how fresh and tasty everything was! Sandwiches are the feature here, and boy do they make them well. Their #1 seller, the Pepito De Ternera, is a savory delight made with ribeye steak, cheese, and caramelized onions that really impressed us. Can’t make it to Disney Springs soon to try this dish? Don’t worry, we have the recipe! The folks at Pepe were kind enough to hand out the details so that YOU can try this one at home, so let’s dive in! Pepito de Ternera Ingredients 1 lb ribeye top sirloin, sliced thin 2 yellow onions 2 green bell peppers 1/2 lb Manchego cheese, shredded 1/2 lb Havarti cheese, shredded 2 cups mayonnaise 2 Tbl dijon mustard 1/2 cup of canola oil 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbl butter, unsalted Ciabatta bread Method Caramelized Onions: Slice onions into long thin strips. With about half a cup of extra virgin olive oil, add to a medium size pot on low heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Caramelize on low heat until onions are brown and sweet. Roasted Green Bell Pepper: Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees F. Using your hand, rub canola oil around the outside of the green bell peppers. Add to oven and cook for about 15 minutes. Use the broil option for the last 5 minutes of the process. Once the green bell pepper is charred on the outside remove it from the oven and add it to a container and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Once cooled, peel the outside of the peppers and remove the inside core and seeds. Cut into thin strips. Mayo Mostasa: Using a bowl and a whisk, add 2 cups of mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard. Mix until well incorporated. Ribeye/Sirloin Meat: Using a griddle or a sautee pan, cook shaved ribeye meat over medium heat. Make sure to season your meat. Add the caramelized onions and roasted green pepper to this mixture. Add Manchego cheese and Havarti cheese directly on top of the shaved ribeye and vegetables so that it melts slightly. Ciabatta: Slice the ciabatta in half. Using 2 tablespoons of butter add to sautèe pan or griddle. Toast both sides of the bread until caramelized. Assembly: Add the desired amount of Mayo Mostasa. If you are like José you will probably want to add a little extra! Add ribeye and caramelized vegetable mixture. Enjoy! Pepito de Ternera If you want a printable version, click the image below to open it to its full size. The Recipe And there you have it! You’re just a few steps away from trying this sandwich at home. Will you be giving it a shot? Let us know in the comments! Click here for more Disney recipes. And click here to see our full review of Pepe by Jose Andres! 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 ever been to this hidden gem in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post Recipe: Make the TOP Selling Sandwich from a Disney Springs Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

“Incredible” Amenities Coming To The First Storyliving by Disney CommunityView the full article

As the very first Storyliving by Disney community continues to blossom in Rancho Mirage, California, we are excited to share some of the unique elements that will bring Disney adventures to life. View the full article

Roundup Rodeo BBQ has officially opened, y’all! It’s open! It feels like we have been waiting forever for this new restaurant to open — and now that it is, we HAD to check it out. This rootin’ tootin’ dining location in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is full of fun decor, family-style BBQ fare, and about as much theming as we could hope for — but what are our honest thoughts about it as a whole? Could this be the best new restaurant in Disney World, or did it not live up to the hype? Well, it’s complicated — let’s take a look! Depending on what is important to you and your family, this could be the best restaurant in Disney World! But, it could also be the worst. Let’s start with the good. Best Restaurant in Disney World There’s one thing you can’t argue with — Roundup Rodeo BBQ has MASTERED the theme of this restaurant. From the minute you step foot through the entrance, you really just feel toy-sized. It’s incredible! Howdy, partners! The entire place is decked out in Toy Story-themed decor, from the walls to the ceiling and floor. Woody and Zurg! There is so much to see in this place, it’s a lot to take in. The fun elements are seemingly never-ending. So Much to See! You will feel fully immersed in this restaurant. But it doesn’t end with just the decor — even the cast members really help sell the experience. On opening day, they had stick ponies for kids to play with. Stick pony! They even warn “Andy is coming!” when the sound of footsteps surrounds the dining room and they freeze in their spot! If you love barbecue — you’ll also enjoy the food. Not only is it tasty, but the theming carries throughout the meal as well. The plates are ceramic, but made to look like paper… “Paper” plate …and food and drinks are served in fun dishes, like these classic Coca-Cola glasses and BBQ sauce bottles. The food is comforting and reminded us of a really good backyard barbecue. With options like Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, Buttercup’s Beef Brisket, and Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese, we were pleased with the food here. That is a LOT of meat If that is the type of food that you live for, and you love a good theme — this might be the best restaurant in Disney World for you! However, we have to talk about some of the setbacks here. Let’s take a look. Worst Restaurant in Disney World While this new restaurant really impressed us in a lot of ways, there are some reasons why this might be a big letdown for some folks. First, the food is delicious, BUT it is pretty simple. If you are used to really good barbecue, the food here might not justify the price for you. The full spread It costs $45 per adult and $25 per child to eat at this family-style location — that’s not cheap for something you could make at your next family get-together! Second, this is not a character meal. For an expensive meal like this one, especially one situated in the heart of Toy Story Land, many might think they get to meet their favorite Pixar characters! Inside Roundup Rodeo BBQ But while we loved the atmosphere, and the cast members really added a nice touch to the experience, you’re not going to meet Woody or Buzz here. Another problem you might have with this spot is that Hollywood Studios is busy, and Toy Story Land is no exception. You could have trouble getting a park pass for this park in the first place, and if you do — you’ll have a lot of crowds to face to get here. Toy Story Land gets BUSY This might not be an issue if you were already planning to face the crowds anyway, but snagging this reservation might be tricky. Lastly, while this food isn’t particularly complicated, there aren’t any meals made specifically for children. Kids might enjoy Slinky Dooooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese or Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, but you won’t find your basic chicken tenders on this menu. Slinky Dooooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese That’s a lot of money to spend on a meal for the atmosphere, to not have a guaranteed option for those young picky eaters! And pair that with not getting to see any characters at your table — this might be a bit of a letdown for your little ones. Overall, we really loved this new restaurant. But, depending on what you are looking for, this might not be the best choice for your vacation. If you love barbecue and Toy Story, and you want to feel fully immersed in Toy Story Land — definitely give this spot a try. But, if $45 feels like too much to spend on a restaurant that serves barbecue and doesn’t have characters, regardless of how good the theme is — you might want to skip this one. 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! Stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see the 2 details that made Roundup Rodeo BBQ STAND OUT in Disney World 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! Are you excited to try this new restaurant? Let us know in the comments below! The post Why Roundup Rodeo BBQ Is the BEST and WORST Restaurant in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are so many great food options to try in Disney Springs, it might be challenging to decide which one to choose! Pepe by Chef José Andrés Whether you’re looking for a comforting Southern brunch or an upscale pan-Asian dinner, you will not be starved for choice at Disney Springs. If you’re in the mood for some delicious Spanish cuisine, Jaleo by Chef José Andrés features a delightful menu of tapas in a table service restaurant. But did you know they also have a counter service location right next door? You can enjoy Pepe by José Andrés by dining in or taking it with you on the go. We were recently invited to a media event to try some of their new and favorite menu items, so come see what we thought! If you’re walking along Disney Springs, you might overlook this spot — but it’s worth a stop! We were invited for lunch, so let’s take a look at what they offer. Pepe outdoor seating When you enter Pepe, you’ll find a bright, open room where you can order at the counter. There are also a few indoor tables. Counter Service There’s a beautiful mural inside, welcoming diners to enjoy some of Pepe’s signature offerings — sandwiches! Mural Once we arrived, we had the chance to learn about some of the history of the company — Pepe was actually started as a food truck in 2012 in Washington, D.C. Chef Andrés has a passion for Spanish sandwiches, so that is the feature at this spot. This NEW dish is made with fresh vanilla soft serve, fresh strawberries, dehydrated strawberries, freeze-dried strawberry powder, and strawberry gel. Helado de Vainilla y Fresa The strawberries used in this super refreshing dessert are sourced locally — from Southern Hill Farms. Overall this was a delicious way to end the meal. The vanilla soft serve had flavorful hints of vanilla bean, and it paired really nicely with the tart strawberry flavors. All of the textures of this one went really well together — the strawberries were perfectly ripe, the soft serve was rich and creamy, and the dehydrated strawberries added a fun, tart crunch. It’s a great dessert to enjoy on a hot Florida day. Helado de Vainilla y Fresa Truly, Pepe is a hidden gem in Disney Springs! If you didn’t already know it existed, and you love fresh flavors with a Spanish flair — you should give it a shot. All of the ingredients were simple but incredibly fresh and flavorful. For more Disney Springs news and thoughts, click here to see our ultimate guide to Disney Springs Restaurants. Or click here to see menu updates from The Edison. Click here to see our last FULL Review of Pepe by Chef José Andrés  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 ever tried this hidden gem? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney World to attend their media event for Pepe by Jose Andres. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post STOP Walking Past This Hidden Gem in Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Orlando Sentinel tourism reporters Katie Rice and Dewayne Bevil discuss the robot, modeled after the character Judy Hopps from Disney’s 2016 animated film “Zootopia,” and when it might show up at theme parks. View the full article

Six months after near-Category 5 Hurricane Ian landed, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and surrounding neighborhoods show glimmers of recovery. View the full article

A flamingo success story at Disney's Animal Kingdom involves the birds and the bees ... and baseball? View the full article

Disney Cruise Line is pushing customers mostly to its second Florida home in Fort Lauderdale next summer if they want to try out the new Bahamas private destination Lighthouse Point. View the full article

Theme park experts say advanced robotics technologies help bring popular film and TV characters to life in convincing ways. View the full article

We came, we saw, we ate … and then we came back to eat some more! It’s open! We’re nothing if not thorough here at DFB, and you know we couldn’t just review the newest table-service restaurant to open up in Disney World once! That’s right, we’re BACK at Roundup Rodeo BBQ on its official opening day, checking out all the eats, treats, and everything there is to see at this rootin’, tootin’ spot. So come with us to dig into some barbecue at Roundup Rodeo BBQ! Atmosphere Get ready to be transported to Andy’s backyard for a barbecue! This is a fully immersive western-style themed restaurant designed to help people feel like they’re really part of the Toy Story gang. Everywhere you look you’ll find hidden details and nods to some of your favorite characters. A Peek Inside Roundup Rodeo You’ll really feel like you’re in the rodeo when you dine here since everywhere you look there are nods to Woody’s Roundup! Welcome! Seriously, there are even details on the ceiling… WOW! …and you might even be seated in the middle of a Monopoly board! We could spend hours in here just taking in all the details and nods to nostalgic games and toys from our childhoods. There is audio that plays where Sarge, one of the green army men, announces a yard sale, just like in the Toy Story movie. The servers all panic! It turns out to be just a false alarm, though, and Sarge announces that it’s actually a lemonade stand, not a yard sale. Our server even brought us some lemonade he snuck from Andy! Theming In addition to having enough details to keep us occupied for hours, there are plenty of places to sit here, too. But, keep in mind that you’ll either need a reservation or to join the waitlist on the My Disney Experience app if there is room. Tables The idea here is that Andy has created a backyard rodeo himself, and that’s where you’re eating! You might even hear that Andy is coming… Since this is a barbecue restaurant, you’ll find lots of smoked meats and more on the menu — let’s check it out! Menu If you’re hungry — this is the place to be in Hollywood Studios! Food is served up family-style, but it’s all you care to enjoy, so you can get seconds of salads, sides, meats, and desserts too! The feast here is $45 per adult and $25 per child (ages 3-9) — the same pricing for lunch and dinner. When we ate here on opening day, we were told by our server that right now, Roundup Rodeo BBQ is not accepting discounts of any kind. This could change in the future, and we’ll keep you updated! The menu The meal begins with some cheddar biscuits, then you can enjoy three salads to share. After that, your table will share a platter of house-smoked meats, or you can opt for the plant-based trio. There are also some cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks too. More Menu Details But, enough of what we could eat, let’s check out what we did eat! Eats We kicked things off with the Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly. The meal honestly could have stopped here and we would have been fine with it. We really enjoyed these last time, but they weren’t exactly hot. This time around we were seriously wowed. The biscuits are soft with the perfect amount of cheese in them, and the pepper jelly they’re served with is peppery, sweet, and has a vinegary zing to it — it’s different and super delicious. BISCUITS Next, we tried some of the salads, starting with Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad. It’s made with Apples, Dried Cranberries, Pumpkin Seeds, and Green Goddess Dressing. This was our least favorite of the three salads, but it was still pretty good. We wish there had been a bit more dressing, but we enjoyed the apples as they added a fruity crunch. The kale was soft and tender, and the pumpkin seeds added a nice saltiness. It was balanced but very earthy. Rex’s salad The Rootin’ Tootin Tomato Salad includes Cucumbers, Pickled Red Onion, and White Balsamic Vinaigrette. This was our favorite of the salads! It was vinegary without making us pucker, and there was a hint of sweetness. The cucumber and tomato were fresh and cut into the perfect size bites. It’s a great, light start to a heavier meal. Tomato salad We tried Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad with fresh-torn mint. This is essentially just fresh watermelon and mint, but again — super fresh! Definitely adds to those backyard cookout vibes we get from the rest of this meal. Nothing fancy, but a light start to a heavier meal once again. Watermelon and mint are so refreshing After all those healthy veggies, it was time for some meat. Enter the House-Smoked Meats Platter. It’s served with Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, Buttercup’s Beef Brisket, There’s a Sausage in my Boot — Fire-grilled Pork Sausage, and BBQ Chicken with Style! Let’s start with the BBQ Chicken — we thought this was well-seasoned and there was a good mix of white and dark meat on the platter. The dark meat was a lot more tender and juicier, but that’s typically the case with chicken. The white meat was still tasty, though, and it was still juicy and not dry. The Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs were our favorite meat on the platter, which is saying something because neither of our reporters who tried them are typically rib people. They were tender and fell off the bone, plus there’s a sweet and sticky barbecue sauce on them. Don’t expect a dry rub here! All the meats are smoked in-house and you can really tell. The Beef Brisket was pretty good, but it didn’t knock our socks off. It was tender and fell apart easily but we didn’t find ourselves going back for it as often as some of the other items. We did really enjoy it when paired with the barbecue sauces, though — but more on those later! Last up for the smoked meat platter is the Fire Grilled Pork Sausage, affectionately called the There’s a Snake in My Boot! It’s adorably coiled up like a snake (if you’re into that sort of thing) and is visually appealing. This is one tasty snake if you ask us (it’s pork, don’t worry) as it had a great char on the outside and made the perfect snap. It was black peppery and was salty, greasy, and everything we wanted it to be. That is a LOT of meat Plant-based eaters can get Trixie’s Plant-Based Trio made with Combat Carloflower with Harissa Drizzle and Walnut Gremolata, Scrumptious Bratwurst, and Rip Roarin’ Rib Chop. We’re kicking things off with the Rip Roarin’ Rib Chop, which tasted like a really delicious, savory meatloaf (without the meat). It was seasoned with barbecue seasonings and sauce, and had the flavor of real meat to us — which could be a problem for some plant-based eaters. Our plant-based reporter who tried this said it was exciting to be in a barbecue restaurant and be able to eat more than just sides. The Scrumptious Bratwurst was the standard Disney World plant-based sausage or brat, but this was prepared a bit differently. It was somehow tender and juicier than what we’ve had at other locations and is seasoned to taste like it had been barbecued. Definitely the best plant-based brat on property! Last up for the plant-based platter was the Combat Carloflower which is served with a walnut gremolata and harissa drizzle. The harissa wasn’t spicy, so if you’re spice-averse you may still enjoy this. The cauliflower itself wasn’t very well seasoned, unfortunately, and most of the flavor came from the topping. While this was our least favorite of the platter, it was still really delicious and something we think meat eaters and non-meat eaters would both like. Trixie’s Plant-based trio Barbecue requires some sauces, and there are three different ones here: Classic, Sweet, and Spicy. The sweet was LOVELY and reminded us of Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce — it still had a kick, but it was mild. The Spicy Sauce had a Louisiana hot sauce vibe. It wasn’t SUPER spicy, but that heat could build up as you eat it and add more. The Classic Sauce was peppery and vinegary — there’s just a little kick from the vinegar, but not a lot of heat. This is the one you’ll want to try if you like a Carolina or vinegar-based sauce. All really solid options that should please a variety of tastes! Three sauces We hope you like the sides because we got a LOT this time around. The Slinky Doooooooog’s Mac & Cheese was a really good mac & cheese (and we’ve tried a lot). The noodles are tiny which made for excellent soaking of sauce, and when we say sauce we mean it. This was pretty liquidy, but we didn’t hate it at all. The best part is the crunchy cheese crackers that are crushed up and sprinkled on top. They add a really fun crunch. This would be great for kids! Mac and Cheese The Married Spuds are loaded potato barrels smothered in a cheese sauce and Green Goddess dressing. This was our favorite side! We loved the addition of the dressing and thought it was an interesting take on a loaded tot. The tots themselves were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. We did find that they got a bit soggy the more they sat, but they were so dang tasty that we didn’t even care. Loaded tots We had the plant-based Veggie Slaw which was a great accompaniment to the meat, as it was tangy, crunchy, and fresh — a nice palate cleanser, almost. But compared to the other sides it was kind of lame. This had a pretty mayo-heavy flavor and was more on the traditional side, so slaw fans might like it. Slaw You can also get some Campfire-roasted Vegetables! These were awesome. We weren’t expecting to like these as much as we did, but they had a really great flavor. They’re made with the same Carolina rub used on the ribs which makes for a smoky and tasty bite. Our veggies still had a nice crunch and weren’t mushy either. Veggies The Buckin’ Baked Beans are plant-based, and instead of bacon or ham, you’ll find jackfruit instead! Not your average backyard barbecue side dish, but we enjoyed the beans with the jackfruit. They were sweet, tangy, and tasted like there was some sort of barbecue sauce in them. Gotta’ have baked beans at a BBQ Force Field Fried Pickles, anyone? These are some of the best fried pickles we’ve ever had, and our reporter who said that is quite the pickle aficionado. They’re spears instead of chips and are fried in a dill batter which just adds to the pickle experience. The batter itself is crunchy and the pickles retained their crunch as well. Fried pickles It’s corn! The Cowpoke Corn on the Cob is your typical street corn with cotija cheese and spices. It was well-spiced but not too spicy, and we loved the grilled flavor. Fair warning, though, this was a super buttery situation and you might need to wash your hands right after you eat this corn. It’s corn! After we had our fill of savory items, we moved on to the desserts! Bo’s Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake is a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The cheesecake is creamy and reminds us of New York Cheesecake. The blueberries are sweet and the lemon is nice and tart. You’ll find some sweet and buttery crumbles at the bottom too! Lemon Blueberry Griff’s Peach Strawberry Pie is plant-based, but you wouldn’t even know it! The peach and the strawberry combination was excellent, and not something we’re used to seeing often but makes sense with the vibes of the restaurant. Our only complaint is that we wish there had been more of the graham cracker crumble at the bottom of the jar! Peach Strawberry The Goat’s Apple Pie is a super solid dessert. The apples were cooked but still had some snap to them. The dessert also had lots of cinnamon, too. It reminded us of the baked apples at Cracker Barrel and tasted homemade! Apple pie Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie is definitely a winner for chocolate lovers. It reminded us of French silk pie — it was super smooth and surprisingly light. We really love the portion sizes of these desserts, they’re small, but you can ask for more and this way you get a little of everything! Chocolate! The Cupcake a la Forky might be geared toward kids, but we loved it too. This is a classic chocolate cake with a gooey chocolate ganache center topped with velvety graham cracker buttercream and a sugar cookie. It was very sweet, but also a little basic. It sort of reminded us of the kind of cupcake you can pick up in any grocery store. Forky We had to get a few different drinks to wash this all down… Drinks We love a good sweet tea, and this Peach Iced Tea hit the spot. It was so flavorful but very lightly sweet. We were afraid it would be overly sweet and syrupy, but that wasn’t the case at all — it was light and refreshing. The peach flavor didn’t taste artificial either and we found ourselves wanting more. Iced Tea The Partysaurus Tex is made with Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade and Strawberry Puree, garnished with Gummy Candy for $6.50. Kids will probably love this, but it’s just your basic strawberry lemonade and not a homemade one at that. Super fun but might not be worth the upcharge. Drink for a partysaurus The Frozen Cowpoke Cocoa is a Frozen Cocoa and Minute Maid® Vanilla Smoothie topped with Mini Marshmallows for $6.50. This was like a super sweet chocolate milkshake. It wasn’t anything remarkable, but kids would like it and the marshmallows on top are a nice touch. Frozen cocoa We also tried one of the “Grown-Up” drinks — the Grown-Up’s Peanut Butter & Jelly. It’s made with Frozen Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Minute Maid® Vanilla Smoothie Mix, and Grape Jelly for $16.50. We wanted to love this more than we did! Though we were hoping for something along the lines of the boozy PB&J milkshake from 50s Prime Time Cafe, so that might just be because we had some pretty high hopes. The peanut butter whiskey is delicious though, but we thought the grape jelly chilling on the bottom was strange. We would have rather had it mixed in or something! Grown-up PB&J But, is Roundup Rodeo BBQ worth a visit in Disney World? Nosh or Not? You should get your grub on at Roundup Rodeo BBQ if… You love Toy Story and are looking for an immersive, fun experience that will transport you smack dab into the story. You’ve got a big appetite and are really looking to chow down for a meal. You want a wide variety of items to try for one price and are looking for a break in the middle of your park day (though we can’t promise you won’t need a nap later!). You should run like the wind from Roundup Rodeo BBQ if… You’re looking for a smaller meal or snack — you’ll pay one price for this meal and purchasing items individually isn’t an option. You don’t want to take an hour or two out of your day to sit down for a full meal. You don’t love barbecue or backyard picnic-style foods. Overall Like we said after our first trip here, Disney totally nailed the theme of a backyard barbecue here, both with the atmosphere and the food. We love the family-style service and the fact that you can order multiple sides and desserts. It’s an incredibly fun atmosphere, and a really great value if you’re looking to get a hearty meal during your park day. The full spread We’ve enjoyed both meals we had here Come See All the Hidden Details and More at Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney World 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 are you looking forward to eating here? Let us know in the comments. The post REVIEW: We Ate EVERYTHING at the NEW Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. 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For the past several years, Disney has been in the business of doing live-action remakes of their classic films. ©Disney So far, we’ve seen everything from The Lion King to Beauty and the Beast to Aladdin get made over, and up next is another film from the Disney Renaissance — The Little Mermaid. The new adaptation stars Halle Bailey as Ariel and recently, the star shared some inside thoughts on the film! According to Variety, filming for the movie required Bailey to be in the water for 13 hours straight on some days. “I pushed myself as far as I’ve ever pushed myself in life,” the actress said about the strenuous schedule. ©Disney Bailey also shared that the live-action version of the movie puts a more contemporary spin on the storyline. “I’m really excited for my version of the film because we’ve definitely changed that perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy,” Bailey said. “It’s way bigger than that. It’s about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life, and what she wants.” Halle Bailey “As women we are amazing, we are independent, we are modern, we are everything and above,” she added. “And I’m glad that Disney is updating some of those themes.” The new version of the movie also stars Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, and Noma Dumezweni. It will open in theaters on May 26th, 2023. ©Disney We’ll keep you updated with any more news about this movie, as well as any other Disney films coming soon. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Why The Little Mermaid Could Be Disney’s Biggest Live-Action Movie Yet — Click Here! 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. Do you plan to go see this movie in theaters? Tell us in the comments! The post How Disney’s Live-Action ‘The Little Mermaid’ Will Be DIFFERENT Than the Original first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re in the Disney World theme parks every single day, and we’re constantly finding little updates here and there. But once in a while, we spot HUGE changes instead! Disney’s Hollywood Studios We’ve long been looking forward to the opening of Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and on March 23rd, 2023, it finally opened its doors to guests. During a media event, we got to try some of the eats a little early, but now we’ve tried EVERYTHING on the menu. Come with us to check out this new spot and see what other updates we can find around Hollywood Studios! Hollywood Studios Food Updates Roundup Rodeo BBQ Roundup Rodeo BBQ is finally open in Toy Story Land! Howdy, Partners! This spot serves classic barbecue entrées with lots of tasty sides and a few desserts. That is a LOT of meat The food is pretty darn good, but the best part has to be the atmosphere — there are so many fun details to check out. Like this GIANT pencil! One cool detail is that if you hear the servers yell “Andy’s Coming!” then you and everyone else in the restaurant have to freeze in place until he’s gone. We’ll have our full review out soon, so be on the lookout for that. Click here to find out what makes this restaurant stand out in Disney World! Oga’s Cantina We stopped by Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge to grab the Happabore Sampler. This charcuterie board from a galaxy far, far away was a little bit…odd the first time we tried it (back in 2021), but has that changed? Happabore Sampler We’ll be bringing you a full side-by-side comparison of the old and new samplers, so stay tuned for the review! You can get one of these for $21. Popcorn Cart At a popcorn cart in Hollywood Studios, we picked up a 100th anniversary souvenir! The Disney100 popcorn box is available now. Fresh Hot Popcorn Since it’s just a cardboard box (not one of the souvenir popcorn buckets), it’s only $5.50. Epic Eats We’ve seen several 50th anniversary snacks and treats start to disappear from menus at snack stands and restaurants around Disney World. The 50th celebration is coming to an end on March 31st, so it makes sense that Disney is phasing these eats out. We understand why it has to happen, but we’re still very sad to see one of our favorite treats disappear from Epic Eats. Glimmer and Shimmer Funnel Cake The Glimmer and Shimmer Funnel Cake has been removed from the menu at this snack spot by Echo Lake. There’s still a Cookies ‘n’ Cream Funnel Cake on the menu, which is very similar to the 50th anniversary version (just not covered in gold decorations). You can also find a Strawberry Ice Cream Funnel Cake here. Check out more 50th anniversary snacks that are disappearing from Disney World! Hollywood Studios Construction Updates The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary is being celebrated right now, and some decorations have arrived in Hollywood Studios! 100th anniversary decals We saw decals in the purple and platinum color scheme on the windows of the Celebrity 5 & 10 gift shop. Click here to learn more about Disney’s 100th anniversary. Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates The Darkroom At the Darkroom, we found a Star Wars Women of the Galaxy MagcBand+ for $44.99… Star Wars Magicband+ …a Mickey Otterbox phone case for $59.99… Mickey Phone Case …and a Marvel Infinity Gauntlet digital watch cover for $19.99. Infinity Gauntlet Watch Cover We also found several pins, including a Jabba the Hut pin for $17.99… Jabba the Hut Pin …an Avatar the Way of Water robot pin for $17.99… Avatar Pin …an Avatar the Way of Water whale pin for $17.99… Avatar Pin …a Meet the Robinsons pin for $17.99… Meet the Robinson’s Pin …a Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway pin for $19.99… Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Pin …a Robin Hood King Richard pin for $17.99… King Richard Pin …and a spring break pin for $17.99. Spring Break Pin We also found a Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway mug. Mickey & Minnie’s Ruanway Railway Mug The mug was $24.99. Keystone Clothiers At Keystone Clothiers, we found a Thor pin for $19.99… Thor Pin …a Loki pin for $19.99… Loki Pin …and a Spider-Man pin for $19.99. Spider-Man Pin We also spotted a Mandalorian quarter-zip jacket for $54.99… Mandalorian Sweatshirt …and a Mandalorian t-shirt. Mandalorian shirt The tee was $39.99. Celebrity 5 & 10 There was a new Moana home collection at this gift shop. We found a basket for $24.99… Moana basket …a pillow for $39.99… Moana pillow …a plate set for $39.99… Moana plates …and a platter for $59.99. Moana bowl This spot also had some new purple sequin Minnie ears! Purple Minnie Ears The ears were $34.99. Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time had a The Little Mermaid set, including a cake stand for $49.99… Ariel Cake Stand …and a cookie jar for $34.99. Ariel Cookie Jar There was also a new Minnie Mouse polka-dot jacket. Minnie Jacket The jacket was $79.99. Mickey’s of Hollywood Mickey’s of Hollywood had a new Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster keychain for $11.99… Rock ‘N Roller Coaster Keychain …a Mickey Mouse hoodie jacket for $64.99… Mickey Hoodie …and a Powerline Goofy Movie pin for $14.99. Powerline Pin On to the next shop! Sunset Club Couture Sunset Club Couture has a new “Spidey to the Rescue” shirt for kids for $24.99… Spidey T-Shirt …and a kids’ shirt featuring the Death Star. Death Star Shirt The Star Wars shirt cost $24.99. Tower Hotel Gifts At the Tower of Terror gift shop, we found a new Elevator Repair Goofy mug. Tower of Terror Mug The mug was $19.99. Check out some NEW Disney ride-themed merchandise online. Those are all the updates we found during our last few trips to Hollywood Studios! We’ll keep watching for more updates at the parks and hotels, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news. Click here to check out some updates from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 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’s your favorite thing to do in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments. The post What's New at Disney's Hollywood Studios: A NEW Restaurant Is Now Open! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The service trades council made up of six unions that represent Disney World Cast Members announced a new agreement today that union members will vote on next week. Cinderella Castle Disney World’s full-time, unionized cast members have been working without a contract since October 1st, 2022. Today’s proposal would make the minimum wage for Disney World’s current Cast Members $18 per hour by year’s end, and the increased wages will be retroactive to the date of the contract — October 1st. “We could not be more proud,” union leaders said. “Every one of the affiliates of the service trades council union will be recommending that their Cast Members vote to support this agreement.” Unite Here Local 362 announces a new contract proposal for Disney World Cast Members. “Our cast members are central to Walt Disney World’s enduring magic, which is why we are pleased to have reached this tentative agreement,” said Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World Resort. “Disney is proud to offer an industry-leading employment package that includes comprehensive benefits and affordable medical coverage, in addition to 100 percent paid tuition for higher education for hourly employees through the Disney Aspire program. With the support of the unions, we anticipate cast members will approve this new agreement.” Disney World Cast Members at The Confectionery The Cast Member unions represent about 43,000 workers. According to Disney, the contract proposal provides for: Minimum of $17 an hour for new and existing cast members upon ratification Minimum of $18 an hour by year end for current cast Annual pay increases every year of the contract Full retroactive increased pay of least $2 more an hour, dated back to October 2022 for all current cast members Entry level rates for newly hired cast will reach a minimum of $18 an hour by 2024 Mel Paradiso, a 3rd shift custodial worker at Animal Kingdom, said the $4 per hour raise she will receive in the first year of the contract will be “life-changing” for her family. “We live in a one-bedroom apartment, maybe we will be able to make it two since we have a little one.” Animal Kingdom “We got a deal that is just gonna benefit everyone,” Paradiso said. Nicole, a Cast Member who works as a cook in the EPCOT Festival Kitchen, said the culinary team will be getting raises starting at $4.10 per hour. She said that she will be able to spend more time at home and help her daughters — one of whom is preparing to start medical school. Union leaders said Disney World Cast Members currently making the minimum starting wage at Disney World will get 36% in wage increases over the life of the contract. Cinderella Castle The primary disagreement in months of negotiations leading up to this agreement was over wages. On February 3rd, union members overwhelmingly rejected a contract proposal that Disney had characterized as its “best offer.” That offer set a minimum wage of $16 for many roles, with a raise each year for 5 years to a $20 minimum wage. The unions and Disney returned to the bargaining table in mid-February, but negotiations were promptly halted when the unions said Disney “refused to add even one cent to its wage proposal.” Negotiations resumed today and resulted in this proposal, which will be put to a vote of union members on Wednesday, March 29th. Union voting will be from 7AM to 7PM. Union leaders said they would begin counting the vote at 7PM that evening. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post BREAKING: Cast Member Unions Announce NEW Agreement With Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article