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Did you know it’s D23 Member Appreciation Month? ©D23 The D23 Official Disney Fan Club is celebrating its 14th Anniversary this year, and that means members of the club can expect lots of great discounts, special offerings, and more! If you’re a D23 Gold Member, you should have already received your exclusive magnet featuring the Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club” Milestone Statue, but as of now, all members can enjoy customized downloads, delicious recipes, and brand-new content at D23’s website! Disney 100 Logo At D23 Expo Members can also experience amazing discounts throughout the month such as D23 Gold Member merchandise on shopDisney, 23% off all merchandise from BoxLunch, $1 off of a sundae at Ghirardelli Disney locations, and more. Sweetheart Sundae You can check out all the perks that arrive throughout the month on the D23 member appreciation website! Visit the website and learn all about the perks this month here! Don’t forget that tickets for D23’s next event go on sale on March 14th, and stay tuned to DFB for all the latest D23 events and news! Check out the D23 Finding Nemo event happening next month! 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 D23 member? What’s your favorite part of being a member? Tell us in the comments! The post See If You Qualify for These Exclusive Disney Discounts! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We can’t count how many times we’ve heard the comment, “We want to vacation somewhere other than the Disney parks for once, but just don’t want to leave the Disney magic!” It’s hard to leave the Disney magic! We definitely agree that the warm, nostalgic embrace of the Disney bubble is such a nice break from the real world — and it can be hard to leave that! The good news is, you don’t have to. Did you know that you can visit all seven continents with Disney? Adventures by Disney allows you and your crew to travel to an impressive list of domestic and international locations — all organized by Adventures by Disney tour guides. Whether you’re sailing through the frigid seas of Antarctica, gazing up at the Great Pyramids of Egypt, or touring Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Disney’s award-winning guest services will be there with you every step of the way! Right now, you can get a DISCOUNT on various Adventures by Disney trips! You’re gonna want to hurry, though, because this offer ends on March 25th. Let’s check it out! Costa Rica ©Disney If you book select Adventures by Disney trips before March 25th, 2023, you could save up to $350 per person on experiences that take place between now and April 27th, 2023. ©Adventures by Disney Plus, if you’re interested in doing an Adventures by Disney river cruise, you can get some discounts on those as well! If you book before April 18th, 2023, you can save up to $750 per person! The trip options for this discount range from May 23rd, 2023 to December 28th, 2024. Adventures by Disney Danube River Cruise ©Disney Now, we understand that booking a trip like this can be quite stressful. It’s hard to choose a location and travel package ideal for your travel party, and it’s also difficult to ensure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck if you’re new to all this stuff. Adventures by Disney Danube River Cruise ©Disney We have some friends at Small World Vacations who are PROS when it comes to booking and planning Disney trips! They’ll help you decide which vacation package is right for you — and then they’ll help you do that as inexpensively as possible. After they book your trip, they’ll even monitor other discounts and deals to ensure that you’re still getting the best prices! Cool, huh? Plus, they’ll share with you their expert tips and planning hacks to make sure that your Disney vacation is a breeze. ©Disney The agents at Small World Vacations have been to Disney World over 2,500 times, so that experience comes in handy! The best part is, they’ll answer any questions you have up-front and for no charge. If you’re interested in learning more about their services, or if you’re ready to explore the world with Disney, click the link below! Click here for more information on Small World Vacations Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Have you ever been on an Adventures by Disney trip? Let us know in the comments! The post Book Now! This Disney Discount Ends SOON! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be complicated — especially when you’re trying to choose between 25 resort hotels. If you’ve narrowed down your choices to the two original Disney Vacation Club villa properties, how do you make your final selection? Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Well, we’re here to walk you through the differences between Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. Whether room size, location, pools, and/or restaurants are most important to you, we share the information that you’ll need to make an informed decision. After all, we want you stay at the hotel that is best for your family! Let’s get started and look at all the details so that you can plan your Disney trip with confidence. Old Key West There’s no doubt that Disney vacations are expensive, and no one wants buyer’s remorse when it comes to what can usually be the most EXPENSIVE part of your Disney trip. We’re approaching this chaos-agent of a decision with as much logic as possible, so we’re breaking it down into five categories: Common Ground Theme/Rooms Pools Food Transportation Welcome Home to Saratoga Springs Common Ground Before we mention their differences, let’s take a look at what Old Key West and Saratoga Springs have in common. First, both are Deluxe Villa Resorts, so they offer many of the same perks. In addition, you’ll find that room sizes and nightly rates are very similar. These hotels can be booked by Disney Vacation Club members or cash-paying guests, and because of their immense size, rooms are often available! What a view from Saratoga Springs! Each have a large resort layout that consists of a central lobby building with outer buildings housings the actual hotel rooms. The themeing at both locations is subtle when compared to other resorts such as Animal Kingdom Lodge. Cornhole at Old Key West For Old Key West, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $457 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $3,081 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit. For Saratoga Springs, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $451 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $3,477 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit. Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests Theme/Rooms Old Key West and Saratoga Springs both offer villa-type accommodations with studio, 1-bedroom (sleep up to five), 2-bedroom, or 3-bedroom layouts. Furnishings are generally a little bit more on the higher end. Speaking of spacious accommodations, the 3 Bedroom Grand Villas at various Disney Vacation Club properties can sleep up to 12 people! These rooms typically come with 3 bedrooms, 3 (or more) bathrooms, a (very large) full-sized kitchen, living area, dining area, and a balcony. These rooms are available first for DVC members to book, so they’re pretty difficult to score and pricing is not readily available to the public (unless you call Disney to book for a specific date). Old Key West Resort At each resort, studios have two beds and a kitchenette. The one-to-three-bedroom villas have a full kitchen, as well as washer and dryer. If you’re looking for convenience, these amenities might make your trip a whole lot easier! Lounge at Old Key West! Both are large resorts with beautiful landscaping, but they do have some differences! Old Key West Opened in October 1991, Old Key West features a relaxed, beach vibe (minus the ocean). Picture yourself vacationing at a Caribbean-style guest house in small neighborhood-type structures. Exteriors are painted in soft hues reminiscent of the Florida Keys. Guests return here year after year because of the laid-back atmosphere and large rooms. Old Key West Resort — Deluxe Studio Room. Yes, this resort offers generous square footage in each studio or villa. Studios are furnished with two queen beds. Two-bedroom villas sleep up to nine people. Rooms were last renovated in 2019. Saratoga Springs Here, you’ll escape to a 19th century equestrian resort, although there aren’t any horses! Opened in May 2004, the quaint gardens add to the peaceful atmosphere. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Studio Studios at this resort are smaller providing a queen bed and pull-down bed. Two bedrooms sleep up to 8 people. Treehouse Villa However, the unique but very remote treehouse villas can accommodate up to nine guests. Results What type of accommodations do you prefer? Both offer a relaxing atmosphere in large, spread-out resorts. If you need space, Old Key West wins out. If you want the most recently refurbished rooms, try Saratoga Springs as they were renovated in 2021. However, if you want the resort with the best thematic details, Old Key West wins hands down! There is a sense of Victorian community at Old Key West. NEWS! MAJOR HOTEL CHANGE Announced for Disney World Pools When the weather is HOT or you just need a break from park queues, head to your resort pool! After all, the pools have their own unique features and special theming. Feature pools at Walt Disney World hotels usually have at least one slide and also offer poolside activities. Look at the hotel’s recreation schedule for more information. Some Disney resorts are so spread out that they also offer leisure pools. These swimming spots are family-friendly with at least one whirlpool spa. Leisure pools are quieter than the more crowded and active feature pools. You can take some time to relax at your hotel! Note that poolside towels are always complimentary. Old Key West Sandcastle is Old Key West’s feature pool near the Hospitality House. Here, a 125-ft. waterslide traverses through a large sandcastle. Guests will love the decorative dolphins that spout water into the large pool. There’s also a relaxing whirlpool spa as well as a dry sauna located inside the nearby lighthouse. Small children will enjoy the kiddie pool. Keeping with the Florida Keys atmosphere, there is also a sandy “beach”! Sandcastle Pool At this property, there are three leisure pools — Old Turtle Pond, South Point and Miller’s Road. Saratoga Springs This resort has two featured pools — High Rock Spring Pool and The Paddock Pool. While High Rock Spring is currently under renovation until late March 2023, the other pools remain open for your enjoyment. Once re-opened, we expect High Rock Spring to continue to offer a fun atmosphere with waterfalls, zero-depth entry, and a 128 ft. slide. You’ll find two whirlpool spas at this location. Got kids? They’ll love the Donald Duck splash area with a fun kiddie-sized slide. Pool at Saratoga Springs The zero-depth entry Paddock Pool showcases a slide that starts at the top of a water tower and provides 146 feet of fun! Kids can splash in the aquatic play area showcasing two small waterslides. Nearby, a horseshoe-shaped whirlpool offers a nice respite. Paddock Pool at Saratoga Springs Leisure pools with whirlpool spas can be found at the Treehouse Villas, Congress Park, and The Grandstand. Results While Saratoga Springs has more pools, we prefer the Sandcastle Pool at Old Key West. It’s a beautiful place to hang-out! 10 Hidden Secrets About Disney World Pools Food Park days can be exhausting. Whether you’re taking a whole day to enjoy your resort, or you are relaxing after a shopping excursion at Disney Springs, once you’re at your Disney World hotel, you might not want to get back on a bus or boat for nourishment. So, you’ll want to know about the best options at your Disney World resort! Artist’s Palette at Saratoga Springs Take a look at the menus and decide which resort has the food that best suits your family. Old Key West Olivia’s Cafe is a relaxed and casual Table Service restaurant featuring flavors inspired by the Florida Keys. Brunch could be our favorite meal It’s open for brunch and dinner. Good’s Food To Go is Old Key West’s Counter Service option serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is unique with its outdoor setting made for more of a “to-go” style. However, Old Key West lacks a quick service food court with indoor seating! Good’s Food To Go The Conch Chowder is a guest favorite. Gurgling Suitcase is a charming little bar where guests can also order full entrees from Olivia’s Cafe. Gurgling Suitcase We love this little oasis. Turtle Shack Snack Bar offers sandwiches, pizza and salads to be enjoyed poolside. Turtle Shack Grab a bite and spend some time at the pool! Click HERE for our Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Old Key West Resort! Saratoga Springs Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is an equestrian-themed resort, with dining options that are simultaneously relaxed and refined The Turf Club Bar and Grill features steaks and chops — along with pasta dishes — in a lovely atmosphere created with dark woods and forest greens. Pork Chop You can also enjoy spending some time at the Turf Club Lounge. (May I recommend the Mint Julep?) Backstretch Pool Bar and On the Rocks Pool Bar serve cold specialty drinks that are perfect for relaxing by the pool on a sunny day. On the Rocks Pool Bar The Artist’s Palette is a Counter Service option serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a spot made to resemble an artist’s studio in New York. The indoor seating is welcome on hot Florida days, chilly mornings and evenings, and during rainstorms! Fresh sandwiches, pizza, salads and more are on offer, and the bakery case always boasts some fantastic and creative cupcakes. Stop by Artist’s Palette for seasonal treats! The Paddock Grill is located by the Paddock Pool, offering substantial eats to enjoy poolside — even for the early risers at breakfast! Click HERE for our Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort! Results First, we’re going to warn you — the pickings at both resorts are rather slim. However, you’re not far from Disney Springs, which has a ton of dining options. And if you are spending a lot of time out at the parks, this category might not be as important to you as others. We do want to note that the Turf Club at Saratoga Springs is only open for dinner. If you plan on a vacation mainly at the resort and have no interest in Disney Springs, you may want to dine at the popular Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West as it offers table-service for brunch and dinner. Olivia’s Saratoga Springs wins out for offering a larger variety of quick service options. Transportation Are there any transportation differences with these hotels located near Disney Springs? Both resorts offer bus transportation to the theme parks at Walt Disney World. Or hop a boat to Disney Springs! Old Key West is just a boat’s ride away from Disney Springs Old Key West If you are driving to Walt Disney World or renting a car once you get to Florida, Old Key West offers the convenience of parking right in front of your villa. And with all the walking that you’ll do on vacation, this might be the right choice for your weary feet. This is especially helpful when traveling with grandparents, young children, or anyone with mobility concerns. Bus to Old Key West Saratoga Springs If you don’t mind a stroll, Disney Springs can be reached by walking. Results If you have your own vehicle and plan on using it around Walt Disney World, then Old Key West wins. Otherwise, Saratoga Springs has a slight edge due to being closer to Disney Springs. Learn all about WDW Transportation The Winner! So, where do we think you should stay? Sorry, that decision has to be up to you. It depends on the people in your traveling party and what your plans are during your stay at Walt Disney World. If larger rooms and a better theme are important to you, opt for Old Key West. Welcome to Old Key West! A few more considerations: Although not currently opened, Saratoga Springs does have a spa facility. Also, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is located on this sprawling property. Saratoga Springs wins out for folks looking for a large fitness facility that is open 24 hours. You may also want to consider that Old Key West (except for three buildings) does not have elevators. If this is an issue for you, perhaps you should choose Saratoga Springs. Enjoy relaxing at Saratoga Springs! If you’re seeking relaxing and don’t feel the need to rush to the parks, then Saratoga Springs or Old Key West both provide an excellent respite from the crowds. These resorts also make a great place to call home during a trip where your focus is shopping at Disney Springs! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport The Ultimate Disney World Packing List for 2022 You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The BEST and WORST Airlines in the US, Ranked by Customer Complaints The MOST and LEAST Reliable Airlines in the U.S. This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Where did you decide to stay? Share with us and your fellow readers! The post Old Key West vs. Saratoga Springs Disney World Resort Guide 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and we’re getting into the Irish spirit! Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival Disney makes it pretty easy because there are always lots of ways to celebrate around the parks. Over at Disney Springs, there is always a big celebration at Raglan Road for the holiday, and all over the parks, you’ll find themed treats for the occasion. We’ve already tried the Shamrock Cone at Swirls on the Water in Disney Springs, but today we’re reviewing another green snack, and we headed to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort to get it. Over at this Deluxe Resort, The Artist’s Palette is a quick-service restaurant that usually serves some fun and creative cupcakes, so when we saw this Mickey Pot of Gold cake we had to check it out! This is a Stout-Chocolate Cake filled with Irish Cream Mousse dipped in a Chocolate Shell with buttercream, gold sprinkles, and a rainbow gummy. Mickey Pot of Gold I mean, look how cute this is! That little rainbow gummy? Adorable. Thankfully, it was as good as it looked. The stout-chocolate cake was very moist and rich, and the exterior was surprisingly soft and broke easily when we bit into it. How CUTE? The Irish Cream Mousse complimented it perfectly. It was smooth and creamy and had a perfect hint of an alcohol bite. Even the buttercream on top had a perfect texture. And how can you not love those gold coin sprinkles? Mickey’s Pot of Gold We got this delicious treat for $5.99. Overall, chocolate lovers should really enjoy this. It was rich and creamy and the perfect Insta-worthy treat. Keep in mind, however, that the alcohol flavor is present, so if you’re not a fan of that this might not be for you. We’ll continue to try more St. Patricks Day snacks, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to read about over TWENTY new Disney snacks you can get for the holiday! 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! Will you be heading to Saratoga Springs to get this chocolate cupcake? Let us know in the comments! The post Chocolate Lovers! There's a New Must-Have Treat for YOU in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you ready for your next Disney World trip? If it’s coming up soon, you have a list of things you need to take care of. EPCOT First, have you made your advance dining reservations? Is your packing list all sorted out? Have you checked park hours and have you made your park pass reservations? Well, if you answered “no,” to that last question, let us help by telling you about next week’s park hours and park pass availability! Magic Kingdom Park Hours Magic Kingdom is open from 9AM-11PM on March 12th, 15th, 17th, and 18th. The hours for March 13th, 14th, and 16th are from 8AM-10PM. ©Disney There are Disney After Hours events on March 13th and March 16th from 10PM-1AM. Extended Evening Hours are on March 15th from 11AM-1PM. EPCOT Park Hours EPCOT park hours are from 9AM-9PM on March 12th-18th. ©Disney Extended Evening Hours are on March 13th from 9PM-11PM. Hollywood Studios Park Hours Hours for Hollywood Studios are from 8:30AM-9:30PM on March 12th-18th. ©Disney If you’re a Disney World hotel guest, you can enter the parks 30 minutes before the official opening time with Early Theme Park Entry. Animal Kingdom Park Hours Park hours for Animal Kingdom are from 8AM-8PM on March 12th-18th. ©Disney Now let’s take a look at park pass availability! Park Pass Reservation Availability Park pass reservation availability is dependent on whether you’re a guest with theme park tickets, a Disney World hotel guest, or if you’re an Annual Passholder. For visitors with Theme Park Tickets, Magic Kingdom is completely sold out for March 14th-16th. Hollywood Studios is also sold out on March 14th and 15th. ©Disney For Select Resort Guests. Magic Kingdom park passes are completely gone for March 12th, and March 14th-16th, while Hollywood Studios park passes are also gone for March 14th and 15th. ©Disney Disney World uses a different calendar to track park pass availability for Annual Passholders. For the IncrediPass, all four parks are available from March 12th-18th. ©Disney The same is true for those with a Sorcerer Pass: all four parks are available March 12th-18th. ©Disney Those with a Pirate Pass cannot visit Disney World AT all next week — the whole week of March 12th through 18th is blocked out. ©Disney Finally, guests with a Pixie Dust Pass are also blocked out the whole week from March 12th-18th. ©Disney That’s everything you need to know about park hours and park pass availability in Disney World next week. If you haven’t made those park pass reservations yet, better get on that ASAP! We’ve got a great resource for you when you plan your NEXT Disney World trip – our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We wrote our ebook after decades of visiting Disney World so that we could help you have a stress-free vacation! Click here and use code WDW2022 to get 25% off! 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 in Disney World next week? Let us know in the comments! The post Magic Kingdom Is SOLD OUT for THREE Days Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, and you know what that means — Disney has started celebrating! A St. Patrick’s Day Magic Shot! (2022) Over 20 snacks are on their way to celebrate the holiday this year, and we’re getting started on trying them all. If you head over to Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you can grab a new cupcake that might just leave you feeling pretty lucky! The Nugget is a cupcake with Vanilla Bean Mousse, Irish Stout Cake, and Salted Caramel Ganache (that contains alcohol) for $7.99. The Nugget cupcake The entire desert is delicious! The mousse is light and fluffy, the presentation is adorable, the gold bites on the bottom are crunchy, and the Caramel Ganache with the Irish Stout Cake makes for a great cake combo. Look at all those deliciously crunchy bits! However, there’s a lot of artificial coloring here (golds, greens) and you can taste it if you’re really looking for it. While it has a great consistency (almost like jello with the mousse on top) it can end up in disaster for you if you don’t carry it upright. It will also melt in the sun if you’re outside with it for a while, so beware! The inside If you have a sweet tooth for chocolate and caramel, love to celebrate with flair, and can handle a mix of cake, filling, and a mousse sensation all at once, this is a great option for you. If you’re more sensitive to textures and are budget conscious (it’s a small snack for a big price tag), you may want to pass this one up. Roaring Fork You can check out all of our reviews of this year’s snacks on our website, and if you’re looking to spend St. Patrick’s Day in Disney World, you’ll want to check out this special event! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news and snack reviews. Check out what else is new at Disney World’s hotels right here! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide 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! Would you grab this treat? Tell us in the comments below! The post REVIEW: Disney World's NEW Caramel-Filled Treat Is Worth the Trek first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve got great news for all the hot dog fans out there! Portillo’s When it comes to theme park food, hot dogs are definitely a classic staple! And there are several places to find a good hot dog in Disney World, like the iconic Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom and Ronto Roasters in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But if you’re in need of a hot dog fix AFTER you’ve left the parks for the day, don’t worry — a popular Chicago-style hot dog chain has you covered! Back in 2021, Portillo’s opened its first Orlando location at the intersection of Palm Parkway and Daryl Carter Blvd, just minutes away from Disney property. Portillo’s The fast casual restaurant chain specializes in Chicago-style food like hot dogs, beef sandwiches, and burgers. Jumbo Hot Dog from Portillos! And if those menu options sound like they’re right up your alley, we have some great news — Portillo’s announced that it plans to open TWO new Central Florida locations in 2023! Can’t forget the fries! The exact locations of the new sites have not yet been shared, but they will join the chain’s two existing Orlando-area restaurants, including the Palm Parkway location near Disney World, and the W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy location across from Margaritaville Resort. Italian Beef Sandwich We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more updates about the two new Portillo’s locations heading to Central Florida, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news! STOP Eating at These Disney World Restaurants 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. Where is your favorite place to eat off of Disney World property? Let us know in the comments! The post TWO New Gourmet Hot Dog Locations Are Opening Near Disney World! 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. You did it! You made it through another week, and we’re super proud of you. We knew you had it in ya. Now, you deserve to treat yourself. FYI Mickey is proud of you too To help you out, we found seven Disney DEALS on Amazon! From collectible Stitch figurines to Minnie Mouse luggage and just about everything in between, we’ve got just what you need to get your weekend started off RIGHT. First up, we found this Disney100 Funko Pop! Train, featuring Mickey in a steamboat car. ©Amazon You can pre-order this collectible for $15. Click here to buy the Steamboat Willie Funko POP! If you can’t wait for Disney’s live-action film The Little Mermaid to come out, check out this Little Mermaid doll. ©Amazon The doll has been approved by The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey — read our post about it here! You can order the doll for $14.99. Click here to buy the Halle Bailey The Little Mermaid doll. If board games are your thing, make sure to check out this Disney Colorbrain game, which has been declared “The Ultimate Board Game for Families who Love Disney.” It features 250 questions from over 20 Disney movies. ©Amazon It’s normally $19.99, but you can get it on sale now for just $12.88. Click here to buy the Disney Colorbrain Board Game. We also found this Disney Doorables Stitch Collection Pack, which contains eight Disney Doorable figures inside a surf shack-themed blind box. ©Amazon The set is normally $16.99, but you can get it on sale for $9.99 now. Click here to buy the Stitch Disney Doorables. For a simple but classic accessory, check out this Mickey Mouse embroidered hat, which comes in a variety of colors. ©Amazon You can get it for $15.99 now, which is down from its normal price of $19.99. Click here to buy the Mickey Mouse baseball cap. Heading out on a Disney trip soon? You could grab this Minnie Mouse suitcase by American Tourister. The bag measure 31″ x 19″ x 11″ in total. ©Amazon It’s available now for $159.99, down from its usual price of $219.99. Click here to buy the Minnie Mouse suitcase. One more essential you may need for your Disney trip is this Mickey Mouse backpack! It’s big enough to hold all of your park essentials. There are also options for Baby Yoda, Avengers, and Lilo & Stitch backpacks. ©Amazon Grab it now for $19.99, down from its usual price of $23.99. Click here to buy the Mickey Mouse backpack. If you’re looking for more Disney merch, make sure to check out our DFB online store! Grab our family matching shirts before your 2023 trip! We have all kinds of fun t-shirt and sweatshirt designs, along with an entire collection of super helpful guidebooks. Click here to shop the online DFB store! Stay tuned to the DFB blog to learn all the latest Disney news. Click here to find more Disney merchandise online! 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 of these items will you be adding to your online cart? Let us know in the comments. The post 7 Disney Deals on Amazon Because YOU Deserve It! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video covering all the latest Disney news! TRON The latest robot technology, Tron virtual queue information, new gourmet hot dogs, and bunny butts? All the latest Disney news is coming up right now on DFB Guide. Check out all the big Disney news of the week in our latest DFB Guide Video! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: Which Disney news of the week are you the most excited about? The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: New Robot Technology, TRON Virtual Queue, Gourmet Hot Dogs & Bunny Butts? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s been a massive week for Disney news. ©Disney In a presentation entitled “Creating Happiness: The Art & Science of Disney Parks Storytelling,” Josh D’Amaro (Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) shared some exciting technology that could have a huge effect on the future of theme park experiences. We saw a rollerblading robot bunny that can do somersaults, we learned about some of the authentic aspects of creating Galaxy’s Edge, and the Hulk even shared his plans to go to Disneyland Paris. But one of our favorite developments from the conference was MUCH smaller. During his presentation, D’Amaro brought a tiny, life-like, stuck-in-a-lantern Tinker Bell on stage! After inviting a colleague on stage to ask her a question, we got to see how realistic her reactions and responses were. We couldn’t help but push her buttons a little bit and asked her how she felt about Wendy. True to her usual attitude of jealousy, Tink said “it’s complicated” and then shared a fun interaction about that first time they met. So impressive! Her reactions are so life-like and not delayed at all, it was such a thrill to see this technology firsthand. Tink! While we loved to see Tink get her moment, and think it would be amazing to see this type of character interaction in the parks — Disney has shared that this is a “Blue Sky” project, meaning it’s still under development and there’s no guarantee that this will be rolled out one day. We can only hope for now! We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any new developments on this and other Disney technology news, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see all the SECRET Projects Disney Announced Yesterday 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 technology news from SXSW were you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments! The post We Talked To Disney's REAL LIFE Tinker Bell, and Yes, She’s Just as Sassy as You’d Imagine first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is there a way to outsmart Genie+ to get the most Lightning Lanes, the best extra perks, and the lowest prices possible? You know it! Lightning Lane sign for Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney Genie is located on the My Disney Experience App and provides on-the-go planning tools and customized itineraries to help guests maximize their time in the parks. While the customized itineraries are a complimentary service, there are also two premium add-on services — Disney Genie + and Individual Lightning Lanes — that you can pay for to unlock Lightning Lane benefits (which will allow you to bypass the main queues of rides in exchange for much shorter queues). Though Lightning Lanes can become a major key for experiencing as many rides in a single day as possible, this service can also feel overwhelming when you first hear about it. And, if you don’t do your research ahead of time, you could end up wasting your money on these premium features rather than benefit from them. So we’re taking a look at the best ways to set you up for Lightning Lane success, and to help you excel at using this premium service! Cinderella Castle Before we get into how to outsmart Disney Genie, let’s make sure you understand the difference between Disney Genie + AND Individual Lightning Lanes. Disney Genie + lets you select return times — for 1 ride at a time — for the Lightning Lanes of over 40+ attractions. The prices for Genie + start at $15 per day, per ticket at Disney World (and $25 per day, per ticket at Disneyland). ©Disney Meanwhile, Individual Lightning Lanes take on more of an a la carte approach. For those wishing to ride Disney’s most popular attractions without a wait, Individual Lightning Lanes are a separate paid upcharge. ILLs allow you to select return times to enter the Lightning Lanes for a maximum of two specific, more popular attractions (which won’t be available on the regular Genie + line up). These rides include: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom (and soon-to-be TRON: Lightcycle / Run in MK, too) Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios AND Disneyland Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Disneyland And Radiator Springs Racers in Disney California Adventure. Pricing is based per ticket, per single ride, with prices ranging between $10-$22 per ILL in Disney World, and $7-$25 per ride in Disneyland. Now, on to those tips … Pay LESS For Lightning Lanes You know how we mentioned that Disney Genie + STARTS at $15 per person, per day? Depending on the circumstances, that price could surge WAY higher. Like, we’re talking $29 per person, per day instead. (Which, for a family of four, could be the difference of paying an extra $60 vs. an extra $116.) Same thing goes for Individual Lightning Lanes. Prices per person COULD be as low as $7-$10 per ride through, but they could also peak around the $22-$25 price range too. (This also depends on which ILLs you’re paying for — since an ILL for, say, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will be cheaper than one for Rise of the Resistance on any given day.) Mine Train! So, how can you AVOID spending the max amount of money on either (or both) of these premium services? The tricky thing with surge pricing for Lightning Lanes is that — unlike park tickets and hotel rooms — you’re not gonna know the EXACT price you’ll be paying for Genie + or ILLs until the day of your visit. But don’t worry. We’ve been tracking the price changes, and we’ve definitely been able to pin-point a couple of recurring patterns Almost every time Genie+ has skyrocketed to its peak prices, it’s been on a Saturday. The cheapest days tend to be Tuesdays and Thursdays — which we often see listed for that minimum $15 per person, per day. And that’s because crowd levels tend to dwindle down during the middle of the week, too. (This, of course, doesn’t apply to those SUPER busy seasons like Thanksgiving week and the days AFTER Christmas — which will see peak Lightning Lane prices consistently.) But if you want a better chance at buying Genie+ in Disney World (or Disneyland) for the cheapest possible price, try planning your trip so that you’re there during the middle of the week instead of the weekend. It’s also a good idea to look at those park tickets and hotel price tags on the Disney World website around the timeframes you’re thinking of visiting — since prices for both of those expenses also range depending on the time of year. BUT, unlike Genie+ telling you its cost the day of, these prices are predetermined way in advance (though that doesn’t mean they’re not subject to change). If you notice ticket prices/hotel prices are gonna be at their peak costs during certain times of the year, assume Genie+ prices will also be high around then. And if ticket/hotel prices drop, assume Genie+ prices will also be more reasonable around those same times, too. Set Your Group Up For Success Ahead Of Time When preparing to make Lightning Lane selections, it’s VERY important to connect your account with the accounts of all of your friends and family members who will be on the trip with you. If you’re not connected, things get much more complicated. Instead of having one account that all Lightning Lanes can be made on, you’ll have to rely on MULTIPLE accounts and line up your reservations perfectly. Even if you’re just planning a trip with friends and won’t be using Genie+ whatsoever, connecting to each other’s accounts can make it easier to share plans and coordinate. Hollywood Studios is a good park to use Genie+ But how do you connect to the accounts of friends and family members for those who already have preexisting Disney profiles? On the My Disney Experience App, you’ll be able to track down a feature called a “Linking Code.” To find your own Linking Code, tap on the 3 horizontal lines on the bottom right-hand side of the app. Then hit “My Profile.” Once you’re there, go to “Show My Linking Code.” What you’ll find is a unique QR code made for you and ONLY you. Once someone scans this Linking “QR” Code of yours, you’ll be automatically added to their Friends & Family list. There’s also a manual code listed as well — just in case your family member isn’t close enough by to scan your QR code when you reveal it. Both the manual and QR code expire after 30 minutes. So if someone waits too long to type it in, you’ll have to go back to your profile and pull up a “refreshed” version. (No biggie.) If your friend or family wants to scan a linking code to connect to you instead, here’s what you’ll need to do. First, select “My Profile” and then “Friends & Family List.” Then, scroll down to where it says “Add a Guest.” The app will ask how you want to add said guest. You’ll select “Scan their Linking Code.” From there, you’ll scan your friend or family member’s linking code when they have it up on their phone (or you can manually enter it, if that’s easier for ya) And ta-da! Consider yourselves officially CONNECTED. Use The 120-Minute Rule To Get MORE Lightning Lanes On the Disney website, it states that — with the purchase of Disney Genie + — you should be able to select up to 2-3 Lightning Lanes per day. But that’s not exactly true. There’s the possibility of you getting TRIPLE that amount — if you know how to play your cards right. A big part of that is knowing when, exactly, to use the 120-minute rule to STACK your Lighting Lane reservations throughout the day. Let’s talk about HOW you can pull this trick off. After you make your first Lightning Lane selection, you’ll only be able to make another after: You’ve used it and are ready to book another. 2. Your first return time window has ended (if you miss it). OR 120 minutes have passed since you booked your last one That 3rd option — the 120-minute rule portion — will let you book another Lightning Lane 2 hours after reserving a previous one IF the return time for the first Lightning Lane is more than 2 hours away. Lightning Lane For example, let’s say that at 9AM you booked a Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane with a return time of 2PM. You don’t have to wait until 2PM to make another Lightning Lane reservation. Instead, 2 hours after you made that reservation, you can make another one! So at 11AM, you can choose another attraction (and you’ll still have the 2PM Haunted Mansion reservation). Nifty, right? If you booked your first Lightning Lane at 7AM, though, the 2 hours don’t start until the park’s opening time. (So if you book one at 7AM but the park opens at 9AM, you can book the next one at 11AM — 2 hours after park opening.) (Keep in mind this is DIFFERENT for Disneyland — since ALL guests won’t be able to start booking their Lightning Lanes until the parks officially open for the day.) When Disney Genie + was first released, this rule was sort of hush-hush. It was definitely still true, but Disney didn’t talk about it. But now, Disney has updated their Genie+ website to include several rules that guests need to follow with the new skip-the-line system — and one of the rules they included just so happens to be our 120-minute bestie! EPCOT If you’ve lost track of time and you’re not exactly sure WHEN you booked your last Lightning Lane, you can always check the Genie+ section in the My Disney Experience app. It’ll tell you if you’re too early to make that second selection, as well as advise you as to when you can make your next selection. By using this strategy, we’ve been able to collect SO MANY MORE Lightning Lanes than the website promises. (We’ve even been able to snag ALL 12 Lightning Lanes in Disney’s Hollywood Studios before — which, WOW, really makes this service more worth your moolah.) Modify Your Selections (To Get Something BETTER) Sometimes, you’ll have to make a Lightning Lane selection that wasn’t really your FIRST choice, but is the best choice available at the time you’re searching. BUT what you’re currently seeing listed for Lightning Lanes isn’t necessarily gonna be how it’s gonna look all day long. We often see extra ride times pop up throughout the day — which is why it’s so important to keep checking the My Disney Experience app, refreshing the page, and crossing your fingers. So what if you DO find a Lightning Lane selection you’re wanting more… but you already have a Lightning Lane booked? In the past, Genie+ users couldn’t modify Lightning Lane selections in the My Disney Experience app without canceling their reservation first. And that meant their 120-minute countdown would start over anytime a cancellation was made. Lightning Lane sign at Ariel’s Grotto But back in December 2022, Disney changed that. Now, you can modify your Lightning Lane reservations WITHOUT having to cancel them completely! That means even if you modify your Lightning Lane for a different return time or a different ride entirely, you still won’t lose your 120-minute countdown! If need be, you can also change specific members within your group who are attached to your Lightning Lane reservation before submitting any changes (in case someone wants to bow out and NOT go on the screaming metal death trap that is Tower of Terror, or come face-to-face with a yeti on Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain) Modifications are super easy to make. Just tap on your current Lightning Lane selection to pull up a box of options. You’ll find one of the listed options to be “Modify Plans.” (See? Told ya it was easy.) Skip The Virtual Queues This point is gonna be CRUCIAL for everyone wanting to prioritize riding on TRON Lightcycle /Run after it opens in Magic Kingdom on April 4, 2023. When this new high speed coaster opens in Tomorrowland, it’s not gonna have a “normal” queue. (Not immediately, that is.) Instead, it’ll use a virtual queue system that Disney’s been implementing for its newer rides to help manage the crowds and make sure guests won’t be waiting in a line that’ll eat up most of their park day. (Currently, this is how guests are able to ride Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT.) The process SOUNDS great — and it really DOES work in your favor IF you’re able to get a spot in the virtual queue. But the keyword here is… IF. TRON Lightcycle / Run opens soon! The big downside to the virtual queues? If you’re unable to snag your party a Boarding Group number on the My Disney Experience App at either 7AM or 1PM — which will guarantee yourself a spot in line for said virtual queue — then you’re gonna miss your window of opportunity to ride, period. (No pressure, right?) The other BIG problem with virtual queues is that Boarding Groups are snatched up almost IMMEDIATELY after they go live. I’m talking 10 seconds AFTER that 7AM drop, all the Boarding Groups will be GONE. So if you get on the My Disney Experience App just a few seconds too late, or your wifi connection decides to cut out on you at the worst possible time, it could cost you a TRON ride. BUT you DO have another way to get on this coveted ride — and it’s through the Individual Lightning Lanes. If you opt for this plan B instead of trying to get a Boarding Group number, you can bypass the virtual queue entirely. TRON Lightcycle / Run Annual Passholder Previews Though ILLs for brand-new rides STILL get bought up within MINUTES of their releases each day, they could still buy you more time (and get snatched up less quickly) than the free Boarding Groups do. To buy an ILL QUICKLY, follow these steps: Head to the My Disney Experience app and go to the Genie section Tap on the “My Day” options. If you downloaded the My Disney Experience App ahead of time, and already let the FREE version of Disney Genie know your park preferences for your trip, then you may have this desired ride already listed as a recommended activity. Otherwise, you can head to the Tip Board section, choose the park you’ll be visiting, and scroll down to the attraction you’re wanting to purchase an ILL for. Once you’ve found the ride you want to purchase Lightning Lanes for, you’ll tap the “Purchase” button — and follow the prompts from there! Keep in mind that those staying at a Disney World-owned resort will have first dibs for Individual Lightning Lanes each day. While Genie + Lightning Lanes go live for everyone starting at 7AM, ILLs will go live at 7AM for Disney Resort guests only. Everyone else will have to pay for ILLs AFTER the parks open for the day (which will probably be too late for the TRON Lightcycle / Run groups). Of course, ILLs for brand new rides will be AWFULLY pricey, so it’s understandable if you wanna try the FREE Boarding Group option first (and pray that the odds are ever in your favor). Continue Using Genie+ Perks AFTER Your Trip Just because your Disney trip has come to an end doesn’t mean all your Genie + perks come to an end, too! You might be shocked to hear this, but Genie + can offer you MORE benefits than just the Lightning Lanes. And there are about to be even more than there already are. One of Genie+’s extra features include Augmented Reality photo lenses — for both Disney World and Disneyland. Many of these Disney PhotoPass Lenses are available to use around Disney property —but some of them will only be available in specific parts of the park (like the one over at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure that’ll give you a “Little Chef” under your “toque blanche”). ©Disney | Augmented Reality Photo lenses are available in Genie+ That being said, a few of the Disney PhotoPass Lenses WILL stick around on your phone for up to 45 days after your visit! Meaning you can still mess around with them from the comfort of your living room while you’re busy coping with the fact that your trip has already come to an end. Another cool feature on Genie + is the audio experiences, featuring Disney Imagineers and special guests. These audio experiences share fun facts about the attractions and other areas of the lands around you. (Meaning you’ll receive your own private park tour!) Know About The NEW Features BEFORE They Go Live The extra perks that come along with your Disney Genie + purchase in Disney World are about to get a WHOLE lot cooler. Currently, Disneyland guests that are using Genie+ can ALSO enjoy unlimited PhotoPass downloads from your day. (Which makes that extra cost a little easier to swallow.) On-ride Photo for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind But Disney recently announced that “in the next few months,” guests who purchase Disney Genie+ in Disney World will start to get FREE digital PhotoPass downloads too! Now, this still doesn’t mean you’re gonna receive AS many Photopass pictures as you will over in Disneyland, BUT you’ll still at least get all those in-ride downloadable photos from attractions like Space Mountain, Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, Expedition Everest and MANY more INCLUDED with your Disney Genie+ purchase that day! This feature is set to go live on March 20th, 2023! Keep an eye on Lightning Lanes for your second park Can you make Lightning Lane reservations for MULTIPLE parks if you’ve got a park hopper ticket? Answer: Absolutely. But there is a catch. If you purchase a Disney World theme park ticket with Park Hopper benefits, you’ll have to wait to book a Lightning Lane at the park you’re planning on hopping to until the return time reaches 2PM or later for all guests for those particular rides. WHEW. Let me give you an example to help clear things up: Let’s say you decide to spend the first part of your day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but — later on — you’re planning on park hopping over to Magic Kingdom. You might wanna book a Lightning Lane for Space Mountain first— since you know those Lightning Lanes tend to get snatched up pretty quick. But you’re not gonna be able to do that — not when you’re starting your day in Animal Kingdom Space Mountain In this instance, you’ll have to wait until all Space Mountain Lightning Lanes prior to 2PM have already been booked by those STARTING their day in that park. And this makes sense, right? You can’t park hop to your second park of the day until after 2PM anyways— so why bother grabbing a Lightning Lane for a return time that’s EARLIER than that? But this is where things get tricky: If you’re wanting to park hpp to Magic Kingdom and you ALSO wanna get a Lightning Lane for Space Mountain, you’re gonna have to keep checking back on those Disney Genie+ times for your second park, as well as your current park — because you never know WHEN Space Mountain’s return times will hit 2PM and later. It could be in an hour, in two hours, maybe even 30 minutes after park opening. It can feel like a ticking time bomb for sure! Just don’t miss out on the Lightning Lanes you can get RIGHT NOW while you have them! Because Animal Kingdom’s Lightning Lanes will be obtainable for you just as soon as the clock strikes 7AM. Make The Most Out Of A Stressful Situation What happens when the ride you paid an Individual Lightning Lane for isn’t cooperating with your plans (like, it’s experiencing some MAJOR technical difficulties on the day of your visit)? Does that mean you’re going to LOSE all that money you forked over? Not at all. This is where the “Experience Redemption” comes into play. If you happen to find yourself with an Individual Lighting Lane for a ride that closes— and STAYS that way throughout your designated return time— then you’ll get an “experience redemption”; which is basically a boarding pass that lets you ride that attraction at any time after it reopens that day. Rise of the Resistance For example, this happens FREQUENTLY for poor Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. So, if the Resistance decides to, well, *resist* working, then the My Disney Experience App should automatically update your ILL and make it an “experience redemption” instead — which you’ll be able to use whenever you want to after the ride is back up and running again. But — worst case scenario — what if the ride DOESN’T go back online for the day? What if it’s down for good? If the ride doesn’t reopen at any point during that day, then you qualify for a refund. BUT, unlike the experience redemption — which will automatically be added to your Disney Genie plans — you’ll need to ask for that refund in person. Make your way to Guest Relations and ask for a refund if it’s announced that the ride will be closed for the rest of the day. (This is the ONLY way you’ll be able to get a refund for ILLs. If you purchase one and decide later on that you don’t actually want/need it, you’re not gonna be able to get your money back.) But, in general, if you have any day-of questions about Genie + or ILLs or Lightning Lanes whatsoever, guest relations (located at the front of each of the parks) is a good place to go to get things sorted out and clarified. (So you don’t have to stress over figuring it all out yourself.) Manage Clashing Schedules Hypothetical situation: Let’s say you end up snagging a Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane — a ride that your kids are SUPER excited to finally experience for the first time. But — uh oh — the next available return window you were given is the exact same time as your Sci-Fi Dine In dining reservation that you made in advance 60 days ago! What do you do NOW? Sci-Fi Dine-In When we’ve asked Cast Members about how we should best juggle this dilemma in the past, they’ve always told us to prioritize dining reservations over rides. It’s much easier to keep your dining reservation and, instead, ask to speak to Cast Members about your Lightning Lane reservation at either the location of the ride or over at Guest Relations. They may not be able to change your Lightning Lane time, but — more often than not — they’ll make adjustments for ya. (After all — they WANT you to spend money at their restaurants. So if the only thing keeping you from paying $25+ per person in your group for an entree is a Lightning Lane time clash, they’ll see what they can do to make sure everyone wins.) Now if you’d rather try to change your dining time… that can be a little trickier — especially with more popular restaurants like Sci-Fi Dine In. BUT there is still the possibility that you could try finding a different dining reservation time on the Dining Tips Board on the My Disney Experience App. Sci-Fi Dine In And, if you’re really in a pinch and just wanna throw away the dining reservation altogether, you can always cancel your table without a cancellation fee — as long as it’s at least 2 hours before the reservation time. BUT don’t forget about that handy-dandy modification option we talked about earlier for your Lightning Lanes! Because you MAY just be able to find a NEW timeframe for your Lightning Lane the next time you check. In conclusion — you have OPTIONS. (But if WE were in your shoes? We’d pick dining all the way.) Skip The Lines For MORE Than Just Rides Disney’s rides don’t hog ALL of the Lightning Lanes, you know. Several shows and meet and greet opportunities have Lightning Lanes available on Genie+, too! Here’s a list of ALL the different non-ride attractions that offer Lightning Lanes.(We put an asterisk by the attractions that can ACTUALLY benefit from the Lightning Lanes, since many attractions really aren’t gonna need ‘em.) Magic Kingdom Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Mickey’s PhilharMagic *See Mickey and Minnie at Town Square Theater *See Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall *See Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall *Meet The Little Mermaid at Ariel’s Grotto *Reserved Viewing for Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Thanks, pal… Disney’s Hollywood Studios Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular MuppetVision 3D Frozen Sing-Along Celebration Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage Disney Junior — Live on Stage *See Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight EPCOT Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival Turtle Talk with Crush Turtle Talk with Crush Disney’s Animal Kingdom Festival of the Lion King Feathered Friends in Flight! Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! It’s Tough to Be a Bug *Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost The Animation Experience Figure Out What You Need To Prioritize It’s TIME for you to make your FIRST Lightning Lane selection of the day. So… which one are you gonna choose? This is NO TIME to freeze up like a deer in headlights! You need to have a game plan for when those Lightning Lanes first go LIVE at 7AM! What you’re gonna learn is that some rides are more important to prioritize than others — simply because of how popular they are. These Lightning Lanes tend to book up quickly in the morning and run out of spots by the end of the day. (Yes, that’s right, friends — just because you’ve purchased Disney Genie + does NOT MEAN you’re guaranteed EVERY Lightning Lane you want! So you’ve gotta STRATEGIZE.) Hop in line ASAP! Here’s a little cheat sheet for ya — just in case you wanna know WHICH Genie+ rides tend to get booked up the soonest each day: In Animal Kingdom, rides like Kilimanjaro Safaris and Na’vi River Journey tend to go quickly. Over at Hollywood Studios, you’ll want to snag Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. (I know that almost sounds like ALL of the Hollywood Studios rides, but if you’re REALLY trying to narrow it down, Slinky Dog Dash’s main queue line tends to be the WORST to wait in — so you may wanna choose that one above the rest, especially if you have younger riders in your group that won’t be able to get on the bigger attractions like Rock N Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror.) Slinky Dog Dash The EPCOT rides that fill up the fastest are Soarin’, Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Test Track. (I’d probably aim for Frozen or Remy first, though— since they’re newer and well-loved by ALL ages.) And as far as Magic Kingdom is concerned? Well… there’s a LOT of popular rides here. You’ve got Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean. So, once again, it all depends on your group. But if you’ve got a bunch of adrenaline junkies in your party, you may wanna stick with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain Don’t Buy Genie+ For EVERY Park (Or… At All?) The GREAT thing about Lightning Lanes is that you don’t HAVE to pay for them every day of your trip. You can pick and choose when you want to use Genie + (since you won’t be able to pay for it until midnight on the day of your visit anyway) So which parks do we usually get Genie + for, and which do we tend to skip out on to save that extra cost Magic Kingdom has a LOT of rides and is generally considered one of the most hustling-and-bustling parks out of the four. So using Genie+ over there makes sense. Same thing with Hollywood Studios. Because Hollywood Studios is FILLED with a lot of heavy-hitter rides, the lines can get OUTRAGEOUS — making Genie+ a nice little crutch to have during your day. Do you really NEED Genie+ in EPCOT? EPCOT and Animal Kingdom, on the other hand, don’t feel as necessary. EPCOT has SEVERAL B-tier rides that you won’t really need those Lightning Lanes benefits, and Animal Kingdom doesn’t have a whole lotta rides in its park to begin with. So you might just wanna skip over those extra expenses for either park. And — here’s an upset for you to consider — you may not wanna purchase Disney Genie + (or Individual Lightning Lanes) at ALL. If your day in Disney World isn’t complete until you’ve been on nearly EVERY attraction the park has to offer, then, yeah — Genie+ probably makes sense for you. But if you’re not trying to ride every ride and just want to go with the flow, it might be a waste of money. You can get by without buying Genie+ for Animal Kingdom. Not only that, if you’re heading to Disney World on a day that’s not very crowded, chances are you probably don’t need to use Genie+ unless you or someone in your party really really REALLY hates lines. Because, oh my goodness, it’s a pain to buy Genie+ in the morning, only to realize later on that you didn’t actually need it. So, real quickly, lemme tell you about a few ways that you can potentially bypass those crowded queues WITHOUT any Lightning Lane assistance: Use Hotel Benefits If you’re staying at any of the Disney World resorts, you’ll have access to Early Theme Park Entry — which will get you into the parks 30 minutes before they open for everyone else. (This could buy you enough time to get in line for one of the most popular rides before the rest of the crowds file in) OR if you’re staying at a deluxe Disney World resort, you’ll also have access to extended evening hours — which will allow you to stay in select parks on select nights up to two hours AFTER they close for everyone else. (This could potentially give you not only shorter ride lines, but ALSO an almost ghost town-like experience around a very EMPTY Disney park.) Try Single Rider (If Available) If you’re at a ride that has that single rider option available, and the queue is looking rather intense, there’s a good chance you can significantly lower your wait time by choosing the single rider line over the standard line. And it won’t cost you a cent extra. Single rider isn’t ALWAYS available, but when it IS, you can find it over at: Test Track and Soarin’ Around the World in EPCOT Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run and Rock N Roller Coaster in Disney’s Hollywood Studios And Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The single rider line is usually pretty short at Expedition Everest! Check On The Rides and Attractions Tip Board Don’t forget — Disney Genie has FREE services, too — including its Tip Boards! Disney Genie’s Tip Boards will keep you in the loop on attraction statuses, showtimes, dining availability, current standby wait times, and even forecasted attraction wait times. Rope Drop/ Stay Late Even if you’re not planning on using Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Hours, it’s still a good idea to get to the parks by rope drop, and/or to linger in the parks as they start wrapping up for the day. Rope dropping will still allow you to experience the parks AND rides before they start filling up with people. (SO MANY PEOPLE.) You can either get in line for that one REALLY popular ride before it hits its peak wait times for the day — OR you can hit up multiple smaller rides that’ll still be practically walk-ons around then. Getting there early can save time AND money! Around the end of the day, families will start taking their kids back to the hotels (in order to beat the bus crowds and get everyone to bed at a decent hour), OR they’ll be getting ready to watch those nighttime spectaculars. If you don’t mind skipping out on the fireworks shows, this could be the PERFECT time for you to get in line for that one ride that’s been at an UBER high listed wait all day long. (No purchase necessary.) And that’s our look at the ways YOU can outsmart Disney Genie+! One last note for you: Disney Genie + rules have a tendency to change frequently — so just because what we’ve told you here is true NOW doesn’t mean there won’t be new strategies or adjusted rules for Genie+ in the future. So keep checking back to DFB for the latest news — and don’t forget to sign up for our DFB newsletter, when you get the chance! (That way, any NEW updates can be sent STRAIGHT to your email as soon as we learn about ‘em!) 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 used Genie+ in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post How to OUTSMART Genie+ in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Cruise travel is picking up again, but COVID-19 can still be an issue on ships, with some vessels and some cruise lines worse than others. View the full article

Disney Cruise Line ships will have a second private Bahamas destination on their itineraries starting in 2024 after years of delays from COVID-19, hurricanes and environmental impact concerns. View the full article

South Florida restaurants are once again in Guy Fieri’s culinary crosshairs, and he plans to spotlight five Broward and Palm Beach County eateries on this season’s “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives,” which kicked off its newest season on March 3. View the full article

Storytelling Through Characters at Disney Parks I SXSW 2023View the full article

Meeting our favorite characters can be one of the BEST parts of going to a Disney park. THEY’RE HERE! Lately, Disney has been bringing us new additions to the character meet-and-greet lineup, from Kang the Conqueror and Moon Girl in Disney California Adventure to the Mandalorian and Grogu in Hollywood Studios at Disney World. Last year, we even saw a GIANT Hulk at the D23 Expo that later met guests in Disney California Adventure. Well, it turns out, HULK isn’t done meeting guests yet. He’ll be making his way to another Disney theme park soon! Disney Parks took to the stage this year at SXSW, also known as South by Southwest, for their “Creating Happiness: The Art & Science of Disney Parks Storytelling” presentation. During this presentation, Disney shared some exciting technology like a tiny life-like fairy Tinker Bell and an adorable robot that can rollerblade! Is that … Judy Hopps we see? ©Disney But we also got to see one of our favorite bits of technology return from last year’s D23 Expo, the Hulk. And he shared some pretty exciting news about the future of his meet-and-greets — he’ll be heading the Disneyland Paris! We even heard him admit that he needs to brush up on his French! His time in Disney California Adventure was short, so it’s pretty exciting that Disney fans will get to see him again soon. Disneyland Paris is the perfect place for him — not only because we’ll hopefully get to hear him speak French, but because there’s also an Avengers Campus there as well. Hulk in Avengers Campus, Disney California Adventure We’ll keep you posted as we learn more, so stay tuned to DFB! Click here to read about the SECRET projects we learned about at SXSW. 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 met this giant yet? Let us know in the comments! The post This HUGE Disney News Will Convince You To Learn French first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Some of us can jump right out of bed as soon as the alarm rings in the morning and head right over to the parks to be there for rope drop. Good morning! And, well, some of us need a little help … in the form of COFFEE. Fortunately for those of us in the second category, there’s lots of great coffee to be found in Disneyland! We’re rounding up the spots where you will find the good stuff! Disneyland Market House We know lots of you have a Starbucks requirement each day, and Disney Parks know that, too. That’s why the Starbucks location in Disneyland is just inside the Disneyland Park’s gates — on Main Street, U.S.A. Market House is Disneyland’s Starbucks location. You’ll find all of the same coffees you can get at your local Starbucks here. Be on the lookout for some unique-to-Disney treats, too. Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe If you’re not a Starbucks devotee, you will also find specialty coffees at the Mary Poppins-themed Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A. Coffee certainly makes holidays jolly-er Along with your coffee, you’ll find an assortment of pastries for the early mornings. A little later on you can stop here for a fresh salad, specialty sandwich, soup and quiche selections. Be sure to check out the seasonal treats here, too. Docking Bay 7 Docking Bay 7 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has a great drink for those who love cold brew coffee — the Cold Brew Black Caf! Cold Brew Black Caf from Docking Bay 7 This caffeinated drink is Cold Brew Coffee topped with Sweet Cream Cheese and Chocolate Puffs (essentially Cocoa Puffs). Maurice’s Treats And over in Fantasyland, you can get your caffeine fix at Maurice’s Treats. Maurice’s Treats There’s hot coffee of nitro cold brew on Maurice’s menu, and if you like donuts with your coffee, you’ll find those here, too! Disney California Adventure Cappuccino Cart This cart in the Pacific Wharf area has espresso, specialty coffee drinks, cold brew, and more! Coffee acquired This is another hot spot for special coffees and treats that change with the seasons, so we always stop by here to see if there’s anything new! Carthay Circle Restaurant This table-service restaurant is the spot for those who like a cup of coffee after dinner. Carthay Circle Restaurant You can get your choice of Irish Whiskey, Hazelnut Creme, Bailey’s, or Kahlua in your coffee here, if you desire. Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe You’ll find your Starbucks fix in Disney California Adventure at this location on Buena Vista Street. Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe In addition to the usual Starbucks faves, you’ll also find unique-to-disney snacks here! Ghiradelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop Yes, you will certainly find delicious chocolate at this Pacific Wharf location. And you know what goes well with chocolate? COFFEE! Ghirardelli in Disney California Adventure You can get a hot or iced latte or mocha here, along with frappes. And if you like your coffee to taste like, ummm, coffee, you can get your plain old drip coffee fix here, too! Schmoozies! Schmoozies is the place to go at Disney California Adventure for extreme drinks, and they describe their coffees as “Epic!” Schmoozies! You can get a traditional hot or iced latte or Americano here, and there’s even a smoothie made with cold brew! And that’s our round-up of the places where you can find the best coffee in Disneyland! Keep follow Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe The post Where To Find the Best Coffee in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It seems like we’re constantly getting new restaurants in Disney World these days! Space 220 From the ones that arrived with the 50th Anniversary (like Space 220 and Steakhouse 71) to the newer options coming soon (like Roundup Rodeo BBQ), there are plenty of exciting new places to eat in the parks and resorts. But soon, we’ll be getting a NEW hotel restaurant in Disney World! In case you haven’t heard — Rosa Mexicano is coming soon to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin! This chain restaurant will have its first location in the Orlando area at Disney World, and we now know that it will open THIS MONTH. Credit: Luke Townsend via New York Magazine According to an email from the Swan and Dolphin, Rosa Mexicano is set to open in March 2023. No specific date has been set yet, but we’ll be on the lookout for more information. It’s replacing the former Fresh Mediterranean Market inside the Dolphin hotel, which recently closed to make way for the new dining location. Rosa Mexicano food at the 2022 Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic The restaurant will be 5,500 square feet and offer various seating areas with room for about 300 guests. There will also be a 30-person bar and a private dining room for 50. The menu at Rosa Mexicano will have a contemporary interpretation of authentic Mexican cuisine that will include beloved classics and innovative dishes that pay tribute to Mexico’s richly varied culinary regions. There will also be over 100 varieties of tequila and agave-based spirits. ©Rosa Mexicano We can’t wait to check out this new spot soon, so stay tuned to DFB for more updates! Click Here to See the List of Every New Disney World Restaurant 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. Are you planning to visit this new spot? Tell us in the comments! The post OPENING TIMELINE Revealed for a NEW Restaurant Coming to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Pencil Magic With Stacia Martin | Celebrating Figment | Walt Disney World ResortView the full article

This week, we at Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP) have the privilege of highlighting three individuals who have not only made significant impacts in their respective fields but are also responsible for beautifying our new office in Celebration, Florida with stunning artwork: Art Director Jean-Paul Orpiñas, Manager of Store Design & Development Katie Boyce […]View the full article

Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products President Josh D’Amaro spoke at the music festival that transformed itself into a HUGE tech-and-all-other-things conference – SXSW – today in Austin, TX. Josh D’Amaro speaks at SXSW. “Creating Happiness: The Art & Science of Disney Parks Storytelling” promised to reveal secrets of how Disney amazes its guests and delivers memorable experiences. But it wouldn’t be a Disney presentation without delivering memorable experiences of its own, now would it? Let’s dive into what D’Amaro revealed today! D’Amaro told the audience that Disney’s immersive environments aren’t just inside its rides – which take you to far-off lands such as the Black Spire Outpost in Rise of the Resistance, or Neverland in Peter Pan’s Flight. Disney’s focus on storytelling extends to the music you hear walking around the parks, and even the food that’s available, because, as he said, “Food and music heighten emotion.” Galaxy’s Edge! Now, we already know this – especially about the food – but he did mention one choice that may seem less “authentic” to Star Wars fans, but makes total sense! Star Wars movies have iconic soundtracks with full orchestral music. But, as D’Amaro said, “you wouldn’t hear an orchestra as you’re strolling through a town.” So the music in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge sounds more like music you might hear on a radio station. Hello, friends! D’Amaro also brought out the lightsaber developed for the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in Disney World. He said Disney had developed over 100 prototypes for the lightsaber. Josh D’Amaro at play. Getting Star Wars “right” is especially important to Disney because of the fan base. “They love how we pay tribute to their dreams by creating lands that are totally authentic,” D’Amaro said. And, um, they didn’t give us a name for this robot, but she sure does look a lot like Judy Hopps from Zootopia! We’ve been hearing a lot about Zootopia lately – including the announcement that a sequel is in the works, and suggestions that a Zootopia land is under consideration for Animal Kingdom. Could we see this tech in the parks someday? Is that … Judy Hopps we see? Now we should note here that when Disney gives us glimpses of their brand new tech, it can often take years to actually see it appear in use in the parks — if at all. For example, the new robot revealed today looks like one that Disney filed a patent for nearly three years ago. ©Disney D’Amaro said that every detail in Disney Parks — from the vast variety of churros available at Disneyland to never-before-seen robotic technology — combines to make the memorable experiences Disney has been known for since its founding 100 years ago. “We create our experiences because we know that when people spend time together and have real carefree fun together, that’s when they really connect.” he said. Keep following DFB for the latest Disney 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. What do you think of the NEW projects Disney revealed today? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Exec Announces SECRET Projects first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Parks Artist and Historian Stacia Martin is back with her pencil magic at Walt Disney World, this time to draw Figment and share more about his history.View the full article

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway may have opened on the west coast earlier this year, but there are still some exciting additions we’ve been waiting for! Toontown Disneyland’s reimagined Mickey’s Toontown was originally scheduled to open on March 8th but got pushed back to March 19th due to some heavy winter storms. During this construction, guests riding Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway haven’t been able to visit the gift shop — until now! Earlier today, Disneyland opened EngineEar Souvenirs ahead of the official opening of the rest of Mickey’s Toontown. The whole gift shop is themed to the surrounding Toontown, starting with the sign out front. EngineEar Souvenirs There are lots of references to trains (it’s the gift shop for Runaway Railway, after all), from the train track “blocks” on the floor… EngineEar Souvenirs …to the real model train on the track above guests’ heads! EngineEar Souvenirs Train There’s also a “Toontown Railway” schedule on the wall… Toontown Railway …and tons of merchandise in theme with the ride and area, like Minnie ears, t-shirts, and plushes. EngineEar Souvenirs merch We were especially intrigued but this mug that we found for $24.99. Runaway Railway We can imagine how adorable this would be with steam from your coffee coming out of the top, but it just doesn’t look very practical when it comes to drinking out of it and washing it after. There were also some shirts for the ride, like this one we found for $29.99… EngineEar Souvenirs …as well as a cute pair of ears that we’ve seen in Disney World previously. Runaway Railway Minnie Ears These will set you back $34.99. You can also find some ride-themed magnets, like this one featuring Mickey and Minnie… Runway Railway magnet …and this one featuring Chuuby and lyrics from the ride’s theme song, “Nothing Can Stop Us Now.” Both of these are $14.99. Chuuby!!! We are excited to get a surprise addition to this ride and are looking forward to the opening of Toontown later this month. We’ll be on the lookout for more info, so stay tuned to DFB! Click here to read all about the Toontown transformation! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What part of Toontown are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Opened a NEW STORE Today. Come Check it Out! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happiness is good for you, and happiness makes the world a better place. Disney makes us happy! This was a main point of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro‘s speech during his SXSW presentation. Here, he shared the ways in which the Walt Disney Company was built on storytelling, creativity, and innovation to create more happiness in the world. In that, he shared some really awesome things — lightsabers, the culinary team’s flavor lab, and the authenticity of immersive Disney experiences, like in Galaxy’s Edge. However, one thing he showed during his talk really caught us off guard… He brought Tinker Bell on stage! Like, tiny, stuck-in-a-lantern, fairy Tinker Bell! D’Amaro invited a colleague to ask Tink any question he wanted. Tinker Bell’s reactions and responses were authentic and not delayed at all. D’Amaro’s colleague marvels at this and says, “It looks so real!” Tink! Tink responded, “Of course I am! I’m a fairy!” Ah… classic, sassy Tink! It’s Tink! We love that Tinker Bell was able to have her moment on stage, and something tells us that she loved it too. It’s always cool seeing the new, innovative entertainment that Disney comes up with! Could we see meet-and-greets like this in the parks soon? Our favorite fairy For more Disney news and updates, make sure to follow along! We post all the time about the new things happening when it comes to all things magic. Click the link below to check out some more things coming soon! Click here for up-and-coming things at 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 like to meet Tinker Bell like this? Let us know in the comments! The post You Won't BELIEVE This Disney Character Technology first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Today at South by Southwest, (SXSW) a conference and series of festivals celebrating the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture in Austin, Texas, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared how we use storytelling and technology to create happiness for our guests. Josh talked about how Disney Parks tells stories through […]View the full article