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“Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba Sithi uhm ingonyama.” Yep, we’re singing that iconic Zulu introduction to “Circle of Life” because that song reminds us of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (Also, yes, we googled how to spell the lyrics.) The Tree of Life We can’t help it — it’s the song that comes to mind every time we look up at the gorgeous Tree of Life. We’ll also admit to hearing it often because we LOVE Festival of the Lion King. Animal Kingdom just has something the other Disney World parks don’t — it’s got a relaxed vibe, LOADS of animals, cheeseburger pods, and lots of trees (and that means shade, which other parks are sorely lacking). So let’s head on over to this chill park and see what’s new! Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Discovery Trading Company Okay, so who doesn’t love this Disney100 Steamboat Willie Loungefly Mini Backpack? You can grab it now for $88. How cute is this backpack? You can also grab a Disney100 Mickey and Minnie Plush Set — they’re in classic black and white. The set is $44.99. Mickey and Minnie plush set We also spotted a new addition to the Disney Critters collection, and we have to say, we are LOVING all this Meeko representation we’re seeing lately. This is a Meeko Activity Box. It’s MEEKO! The activity box is $29.99. Check Out The NEW Amazon-Exclusive Disney 100th Anniversary Items Now Available Those are the only updates we have from Animal Kingdom this week, but we’re still keeping an eye out for news about the potential future of DinoLand, U.S.A. We’ll let you know if we find out anything, and as always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place. Click here to find 5 places to escape in Animal Kingdom when your anxiety is through the roof. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite thing in Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New at Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Steamboat Willie Loungefly Backpack first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s official, another Disney park is getting a 2023 after-hours event! Spaceship Earth Disney has had after-hours events for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios so far this year, and now it’s been announced that EPCOT will be getting after-hours events this year as well. Here’s everything you can experience during this special late-night event! Attractions During the event, you can ride most of your favorite EPCOT rides with much lower wait times! Attractions you may be able to experience (as this list is subject to change) include the following: Frozen Ever After Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Living with the Land Presented by Chiquita® Mission: SPACE Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure The Seas with Nemo & Friends Soarin’ Around the World Spaceship Earth Test Track Presented by Chevrolet® Cosmic Rewind This means that you can ride Cosmic Rewind WITHOUT buying an Individual Lightning Lane or getting a spot in the virtual queue. You can also ride it as many times as you want! Snacks No after-hours event is complete without snacks! You’ll be able to dine on all the ice cream novelties (like Mickey Premium Bars), popcorn, and select bottled beverages you want for FREE — it’s all included with your ticket price. Nothing like a good ‘ol Mickey Premium Bar! Select dining locations will also be open late to serve heartier meals as well, but we recommend entering the park early at 7PM to eat before the event fully begins, as many restaurants will be closed later on. Characters You’ll also get to meet special characters during EPCOT’s after-hours events! Ariel in EPCOT We don’t have a list of characters that will host meet and greets at this event just yet, but when we head to check it out, we’ll be sure to tell you all about it. You could avoid ALL of these crowds! While the event itself doesn’t start until 10PM, ticketholders can enter the park as early as 7PM to get a headstart on the fun. Remember too that this is a separately ticketed event, so you’ll need to buy an after-hours ticket separate from a normal Disney World ticket. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! FULL LIST of Ticket Dates and Prices for EPCOT After Hours Events 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 park do you think is the best for an after-hours event? Tell us in the comments below! The post FULL LIST of What's Included in EPCOT After Hours Events first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you hear about the major CHANGE at Disneyland’s newest ride? Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Disneyland Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened recently at Disneyland with a virtual queue system instead of a standby line. But the way you get on this popular ride has CHANGED, starting today. Disney sometimes uses virtual queues for new attractions when they expect there to be high demand for the rides. Instead of going to stand in a physical line, guests reserve their spot in a virtual line using the Disneyland mobile app. They’re given a boarding group number, and they return to the attraction once their number is called. This virtual queue system has been used in several other attractions, like Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Walt Disney World. Queue area Now, however, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will utilize a normal standby line in Disneyland instead of the virtual queue. If you want to ride, you’ll need to head to the attraction and hop into the physical line. Standby Entry This change went into effect today, February 22nd, 2023. When we checked the wait times for the new ride, the standby line had a wait of 65 minutes, which isn’t too bad for a brand-new attraction. It’s important to note that you can still purchase an Individual Lightning Lane if you don’t want to wait in the standby line. Today, that option cost $20 per person, but that can vary each day. Learn more about Individual Lightning Lanes here. As always, stay with us at DFB for the latest in Disneyland updates! Classy or Flashy? Weigh In On THIS Disney Ears Battle! 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 Are you excited to ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway without a virtual queue? Let us know in the comments. The post How You Get On Disneyland’s Newest Ride Has CHANGED first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re really starting to see — and hear — construction progress at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Construction In case you haven’t heard, Splash Mountain is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at both Disneyland and Disney World. The Disney World ride is already closed, and Cast Members are hard at work transforming this attraction. Come with us to check out some recent updates! Guests visiting Magic Kingdom can’t help but see and hear what is going on to transform the former attraction into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. If you take a ride on the Walt Disney World Railroad, you can get a great view of the work being done. Windows and entry way to interior queue closed for drilling One of the first visible changes to note is that Cast Members have started to contain some of the progress. It appears the windows and exposed areas of the queue line are now blocked with sheets. While we were taking these photos, we also could hear drilling or jackhammering taking place indoors so it’s possible this is a precaution to ensure guest safety from debris. That wasn’t the only change to the queue line we spotted! Outside queue construction The outside queue line already looks markedly different from its former days. It appears that most of the hanging birdhouses in the trees are now down and that Imagineers are widening some of the walkable queue space. Imagineer painting the exterior queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure There was also a little bit of painting going on, as we saw Cast Members mixing paint colors just outside the queue building. Disney seems to be focusing on the ride as a whole because the queue wasn’t the only part where Cast Members were actively working. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure construction is underway A glance up from the walkway in front of the ride shows the addition of more scaffolding and scrim put up around areas that the log flumes would typically be coming down or up. From the same walkway, we saw some welding happening under the bridge! In addition to the drilling, here we have a daytime look at some less visible progress. The moat area is still drained but this seems to be in progress as well since underneath the bridge has walkabout planks for construction workers. Former Splash Mountain ride vehicle moat Disney seems to be moving right along with their construction efforts on all fronts with this attraction and the progress keeps becoming more visible to guests! As always, stay tuned to DFB as we bring you more Tiana’s Bayou Adventure construction updates. The Disney World Wait Time That’ll SHOCK You 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 about the construction progress for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Tell us below! The post VIDEO: Check Out the PROGRESS at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You’ve got to be CAREFUL when you go to Disney World! Trattoria al Forno Why? Well, some of the things you might love may go totally missing without notice! Disney lost 6 food items in 2022 and we’ve even seen animatronics go missing for a while. You never know what surprises you might be met with during your next trip. Now, it seems another item may have disappeared without a trace! A wonderful Disney Food Blog reader (Rachael) recently told us about a menu change at one of the restaurants on Disney’s BoardWalk so we made a stop over there to see what was going on. The restaurant in question? Trattoria al Forno! And when we stopped by this restaurant recently we were met with some sad news. According to the Cast Member we spoke to, our DFB reader’s tip was spot-on — the Mickey-shaped pizzas that once graced the kids’ menu here are NO longer being offered! Again, keep in mind that this is based on what we were told by a Cast Member so things can change. How Fun Is That?! We had these fun pizzas back in 2021. The dough was house-made and topped with the same marinara sauce used in some of the other dishes. It gained massive points for style with those Mickey ears but gained even more points with taste since the ears were made of CHEESY GARLIC BREAD! YUM! We thought this pizza was fun and delicious. The crust was wonderful (thank you stone oven), and we felt it was a big hit for a kids’ pizza dish. While we got the cheese pizza version, there was a pepperoni version available at that time too. Mickey Cheese Pizza It’s not clear what caused the sudden disappearance of this deliciously cheesy snack. But it’s also not clear if this will be a permanent change. Both the My Disney Experience app and Disney World website for Trattoria al Forno continue to list the Mickey Pepperoni Pizza on the menu. Hmmm… So it’s possible that the change will be temporary, but it’s also possible that the menu will soon be changed to reflect the adjustment. ©Disney We’ll keep an eye out for updates and let you know what we find. In the meantime, if you’ve simply GOT to have Mickey on your pizza, consider making a pizza at home and arranging the bread or toppings to be in the shape of the #1 mouse. Mickey Pepperoni Pizza Need a pizza recipe? Check out this Soul-inspired NYC pizza recipe or opt for a breakfast pizza! And stay tuned for more Disney restaurant news. Click here to see the full menu and prices revealed for Narcoosseee’s restaurant!  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! Were you a fan of this pizza? Tell us in the comments. The post An Iconic Snack Has DISAPPEARED from Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland fans, we have some important news for you! Disneyland Resort Soon, you’ll be able to experience Disneyland in a whole NEW way. As you may or may not already know, two new themes have been added for the Disneyland After Dark events: Throwback Nite and Star Wars Nite, and tickets go on sale SOON. Tickets for Throwback Nite and Star Wars Nite go on sale TOMORROW, February 23rd. Although Disney doesn’t list a specific time for the Throwback Nite tickets to go on sale, the website says that the Star Wars Nite tickets will be available beginning no earlier than 9AM PST. ©Disney Starting tomorrow, you can buy tickets for Throwback Nite, which will take place on April 18th and 20th, 2023. Or, you can buy tickets for Star Wars Nite, which will take place on May 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 11th, 2023. ©Disney Guests attending the Disneyland After Dark events can enjoy early admission, special fireworks, all-new character experiences, and more! These tickets will probably sell out FAST so make sure to mark your calendars and be ready to order them. The nighttime vibe is so special! Make sure to follow along for more Disney news and updates! Click the link below if you’re looking for special events at Disney World. Click here for Disney World After Hours Events 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 Will you be purchasing tickets for either of these events? Let us know in the comments! The post Why TOMORROW Is an Important Day for Disney Fans first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A brain-teasing #DisneyCastLife tradition continued earlier this month at Disneyland Resort, as cast members and employees from across the west coast tangled up in the late-night hours for Minnie’s Moonlit Madness! This after-hours event at Disney California Adventure park tethers team members together to solve trivia, decipher clues, and complete tasks and puzzles to collect […]View the full article

Pixar’s Lightyear excited fans around the world in the months leading up to its release. Trailers seemed to tease this spinoff as a glimpse into Buzz Lightyear’s past, so many expected it to be about the beloved character from Toy Story. ©Pixar However, the movie wasn’t like that at all. Millions of Disney fans were unsatisfied with this story because of the lack of connection between this story and the classic Toy Story characters. Ultimately, the movie was a bit of a flop compared to other Pixar films. Why? What went wrong? Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter recently explained. An article by The Wrap tells us that Docter was clear about the downfall of the film Pixar producers worked so hard for. Ultimately, there was a “disconnect between what people wanted/expected” and what the movie ended up giving them. ©Pixar “I think probably what we’ve ended on in terms of what went wrong is that we asked too much of the audience,” Docter explained. “When they hear Buzz, they’re like, great, where’s Mr. Potato Head and Woody and Rex? And then we drop them into this science fiction film that they’re like, What?” Where were these guys?! Lightyear ended up being just that — a science fiction that had virtually nothing to do with the classic Toy Story plot. Instead, it ended up being an entirely different film with all new characters and portrayals. One aspect that upset viewers was the fact that Buzz Lightyear was voiced by Chris Evans rather than Tim Allen, who has voiced Buzz in each of the Toy Story movies. Chris Evans ©Mega “Even if they read [about the movie] in press, it was just a little too distant, both in concept, and I think in the way that characters were drawn, that they were portrayed. It was much more of a science fiction,” Docter said. ©Pixar | Obtained via Variety Would this film have done better if viewers hadn’t set the high expectation that this would tie a nice bow around the Toy Story franchise? Maybe so! At least now we have Toy Story 5 coming soon to take care of that job for us. For more Disney entertainment news, make sure to follow along so that you never miss anything! Click the link below to learn more about Toy Story 5, which is set to premiere later in 2023. Click here to learn more about Toy Story 5. 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. Did you love Lightyear? Let us know in the comments! The post Pixar Executive Reveals "What Went Wrong" with Disney's 'Lightyear' Movie first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s Mardi Gras season, but the French Market Restaurant AND Mint Julep Bar in Disneyland just CLOSED (to make way for the upcoming Tiana’s Palace restaurant). You know the Mint Julep Bar — the place where you could grab the delicious Mickey-shaped beignets at Disneyland? When we heard this news, we panicked a little, not gonna lie. The most delicious Of course, Disney knows better than to make us suffer from a lack of Mickey beignets, especially during Mardi Gras. Although the French Market Restaurant is permanently closed, the Mint Julep Bar will reopen later this year as part of Tiana’s Palace. In the meantime, you can grab Mickey beignets from another location at Disneyland! You can grab your fix of Mickey beignets from Royal Street Veranda in Disneyland for $4.99 for a pack of three beignets. However, there’s a catch…. Thank goodness! It seems like EVERYONE is flocking to buy some powdered sugar goodness. And we mean everyone! The line wrapped around the side of the building when we visited recently. We can’t blame them though — the beignets are worth the hype. This line is LONG! So, just know that if you’re wanting a Mickey beignet, you may have to wait for it…for a really long time. However, we all know that good (and often very delicious) things come to those who wait. No end in sight! And there might be a way to AVOID that long line — Royal Street Veranda has Mobile Order, which means you can order your beignets ahead of time and head straight up to the window to pick them up when you arrive. Click here to learn how to use Mobile Order in Disneyland. Food is our thing around here, so make sure to follow along for more food news, reviews, and updates! That way, you’ll never miss a thing, and you’ll also never go hungry in the Disney parks. Click here to check out more Disneyland snacks 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 Would you wait in a line this long for your favorite Disney snack? Let us know in the comments the LONGEST line you’ve waited in for food at Disney! The post Important WARNING about Mickey Beignets in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a trip to Disney World this weekend? Pay attention to those speed limit signs! From February 23rd – 26th, 2023, Disney guests can expect potential road closures and traffic delays. If you’re heading in for a weekend of magic, make sure to be aware of these closures and delays to avoid some not-so-magical inconveniences! Disney World’s runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend will take place this weekend, from February 23rd – 26th. Traffic from last year’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend In preparation for the three races, we can expect road closures and therefore potential traffic delays. Luckily, they won’t cause too much inconvenience as the road closures will only take place from 4AM to 7:30AM each morning. Princess Minnie at the Finish Line for 2022 Disney Princess 5K According to Disney, the roads experiencing closures are as follows: World Drive Northbound ramp to Buena Vista Drive Eastbound World Drive North to Buena Vista Drive East World Drive South ramp to Buena Vista Drive East World Drive South ramp to Buena Vista Drive West World Drive Southbound to Buena Vista Drive Buena Vista Drive West Ramp to World Drive South If you’re traveling in the early morning, keep a watch out for these closures! Safe travels, and good luck if you’re running this weekend! As usual, follow along for more Disney-related news, reviews, and updates. Click here for more Disney World closures happening 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. Will you be at Disney World this weekend? Let us know in the comments! The post A WARNING If You're Headed To Disney World This Weekend first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Participating in any runDisney race requires training, patience, and determination. Luckily these are all traits cast member Joan Doyle has! Joan’s runDisney journey began with the Disney Princess 5K in 2011, and she’s been hooked ever since. For more than ten years, she’s participated in several half marathons with runDisney, including the inaugural Wine and Dine which […]View the full article

Disney World is often touted as the Most Magical Place on Earth — but the unions representing Cast Members responsible for making that magic say that’s no longer the case. Disney Cast Members Cast Member unions and Disney have been battling over contracts since October 2022, when the most recent agreements expired. After multiple bouts of negotiations ended with the unions voting to reject Disney’s offers, what happens next remains unclear. But, that doesn’t mean the war on wages is over — in fact, it may just be getting started. In early 2023, members of six unions representing full-time Disney World employees voted no on a contract offered by Disney. According to Disney, the rejected contract offered the following: $20 per hour wage for full-time, non-tipped STCU roles during the contract’s term Wages for full-time, non-tipped cast members will remain at least $5 above Florida’s minimum wage each year 8 weeks paid child bonding for eligible full-time cast Nearly 10% average pay increase during the first year Immediate minimum $20 per hour wage for select roles, including housekeeping, bus drivers and culinary staff ©Orlando Sentinel But, the unions (which represent around 30,000 full-time Disney World Cast Members) have said that Disney’s offer, which proposed raises of “only $1 a year for most workers,” was not enough to rectify the immediate concerns regarding the city of Orlando and the surrounding area’s increased cost of living. Unions have been pushing for Disney to immediately increase the minimum wage from $15 to $18 per hour, and increase the pay of those who make closer to that by $3 to keep up with inflation. We love Disney Cast Members! According to Florida Atlantic University, rental rates have skyrocketed across the United States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the national average having increased by 6.9% year-over-year. But in Orlando, that number is even higher — average rents have increased by 7.4% year-over-year. Cast Members say they are struggling now, and Disney’s offer wouldn’t provide immediate relief. Disney World Cast Members make the magic! After this contract offer was rejected, Disney and the unions met again to see if they could come to an agreement. Ultimately, that did not happen. In mid-February, negotiations came to an end after nine hours, with Unite Here! Local 362, a Cast Member union, shared that “[d]espite the overwhelming message sent by Cast Members, Disney refused to add even one cent to its wage proposal.” They noted that instead, Disney’s most updated proposal “reduced retroactive pay for thousands of workers,” making the offer “even worse than the offer already rejected.” According to Daniel Kline with The Street, if Disney and the unions do not come to an agreement on a contract and the current short-term extension comes to an end, the door is wide open for an employee strike. And with Universal Orlando recently announcing a minimum wage increase to $17 an hour, which could further fuel Disney World Cast Members’ fire. Cast Members at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Cast Members’ requests for an $18 per hour minimum wage would mean a 40-hour per week employee would bring in $3,120 per month, and $37,440 per year. Alternatively, Disney’s offer of a $16 starting minimum wage equates to $2,773 per month or $33,280 per year. In either case, the new wage would still not bring Cast Members up to the average cost of living in Orlando. ©Disney As for what happens next, we’ll have to wait and see. The unions have indicated that they’re working on announcing public actions, so stay tuned to DFB for more updates. See Who Won’t Be Affected by Job Cuts Announced by Disney Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of the negotiations? Let us know in the comments. The post Disney World Employee Wage War Attracts National Spotlight first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When you’re staying at a Disney World resort, you’re sometimes in a rush to grab breakfast before you hit the parks! Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Many hotels offer quick service restaurants with Mobile Order, but sometimes that can cost you valuable minutes when you’re hurrying to make the bus. So what’s the solution? Well, the grab-and-go spots, of course! And recently, we stopped by one of those places to give you a look at what it’s like. For this review, we’re taking you along with us to Cafe Rix at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort! Cafe Rix The quick service spot is located in the older part of the resort, right off of where the lobby used to be before Gran Destino Tower was built. Cafe Rix It’s designed as a walk-through where you enter through one doorway, pick out your food and drinks, then checkout before exiting. Typically, it’s open from 7AM-12:30PM so you’ll mostly get breakfast and lunch. Checkout counter So what can you order? Let’s check out the menu! Menu & Food Options When you first step into the restaurant, you’re greeted by a case filled with baked goods. They have assorted doughnuts and bagels during breakfast hours, which are a great option for a grab-and-go meal. Bakery Case We also spotted a few different pastries, including a few different danishes and Cronuts. Bakery Case And of course, it wouldn’t be breakfast without muffins and cinnamon rolls! Muffins Next to the baked goods is a refrigerated case with fruit cups and yogurt parfaits, as well as some lunch items. We spotted a few different varieties of pre-made sandwiches and salads. The online menu lists a Smoked Turkey and Bacon Sandwich, a Smoked Ham and Swiss Sandwich, a Tuna Salad Wrap, a Chicken Caesar Salad, a Blue Cheese Wedge Salad, a House Salad, and a Chef Salad. Each ranges between $10-$12, which is about the cost of a cheap quick service meal elsewhere in Disney World. The refrigerated case The next section of the restaurant has a coffee bar that serves Joffrey’s coffee and teas. There used to be gelato here as well, but the case was empty when we stopped by and we were told that they no longer serve the frozen treat. Bummer! Former gelato stand You can get regular or decaf coffee, as well as a variety of artisanal drinks. One of the highlights of the menu is the smoothies, which come in Tropical Mango Splash, Strawberry Banana Dream, and Wildberry Explosion. Joffrey’s Menu But that’s not all! Since this is a grab-and-go location, you can also get a bunch of pre-packaged brand-name snacks from the shelves on the back wall. Potato Chips There are bags of chips, granola bars, cookies, candy, chocolate, and little cups of dry cereal. They’ve got a lot of the options that you would find in a hotel gift shop or vending machine outside of Disney World. Packaged snacks They have quite a few options here, but keep in mind that these will likely be more expensive than what you could get if you had groceries delivered to your hotel. It’s nice to have them if you’re in a pinch though! Sweet & Savory snacks Also on the back wall are the self-serve drink machines, as well as the dispensers for regular and decaf coffee. You can get your resort mug refilled here, so keep that in mind if you purchase one for your visit. Soda Fountain And of course, there’s a table set up with utensils, napkins, and various sweeteners for your drinks near the checkout. Utensils Now that we’ve taken a tour of the options, let’s review some eats! Eats Since the coffee options are simply the typical things you get at Joffrey’s and the pre-packaged snacks are your regular brand-name treats, we’ll be skipping out on those for this review. Instead, we ordered a smoothie, a cinnamon roll, and the most popular item in the bakery case according to a Cast Member, which turned out to be the Pink Donut. Let’s eat some breakfast! First, let’s talk about that smoothie! We ordered the Tropical Mango Splash for $7.39. When it was first handed to us, it was thick and VERY very cold. It’s blended fresh right in front of you, which was a nice little bonus. It’s pretty smooth, and they have recycled agave straws here, which made it much easier to drink the smoothie than it would’ve been with a paper straw. Mango Smoothie It’s pretty thick at first, but melts into a consistency that was easier to drink. The mango flavor tasted pretty real, but it kinda gets loaded down with a lot of sugar. We didn’t mind the sweetness too much, but you might want to drink this one slowly to avoid a sugar overload. A sugary drink to start the day! After the smoothie, we tried the Pink Donut for $5.50. It’s a pretty simple yeast donut with pink icing and sprinkles. It didn’t look like it was going to taste very good because it was kind of stiff, but once we bit in, it was SO fluffy. Pink Donut It pulled apart really easily and it was very soft on the inside. The pink icing on top is sweet and add a fun little bit of depth in the flavor. Honestly, it tasted very similar to the donuts that you get from Joffrey’s in Disney World, although it seemed to be a bit smaller. Since Cafe Rix sells Joffrey’s coffee it’s likely that it could be from the same donut supplier — Donut King. Inside the donut The Cinnamon Roll was also $5.50, but unfortunately, it wasn’t anywhere near as delicious as the donut. We could tell that it was dry from looking at it, but it was confirmed when we had a tough time pulling it apart. It was quite stiff. Cinnamon Roll It was softer in the very middle but still pretty dry throughout. The roll had a decent distribution of cinnamon but not enough icing in our opinion. The icing that it did have was hard and fell off the roll in little chunks. If we had to make a recommendation, we would say to skip this and get the donut instead. Inside the cinnamon roll So what are our overall thoughts on Cafe Rix? Overall When it comes down to it, this is a great place to stop and grab some quick breakfast on your way to the parks or before your catch your departure flight. We spotted many people inside the restaurant doing exactly that during our visit. It’s a great way to avoid the long lines for pastries and coffee once you get to the parks. It’s a convenient spot, but we really wish that it was open in the late evening hours as well. It would be nice to come here after the parks close and grab a late night snack. On top of that, the breakfast options seem to be sufficient, but there aren’t as many choices here for a substantial lunch unless you want to buy an overpriced pre-packaged sandwich. Nosh or Not Make a pit stop at Cafe Rix if… You need something quick to eat on your way out the door. The time it took to get our order together was relatively short, even with a line of people waiting. You have a group with varying breakfast tastes. They have a good variety of options here, from pastries to cereal to parfaits. Most people in your group could find something they like! You need some snacks for your park bag. With the variety of chips, cookies, snack bars, and candy, you’re sure to find something to fill your bag for the long park day ahead! Grab your food elsewhere if… You’re looking for a delicious lunch. The sandwich and salad options here are pretty basic and a little overpriced. You could find more unique eats elsewhere. You want some really amazing baked goods. The donut was pretty good, but it’s essentially the same as what you get at any Joffrey’s location. We’ve definitely had better cinnamon rolls elsewhere on property! You need to eat in the afternoon or evening. Since this spot is only open in the morning, you’d be out of luck! Breakfast at Cafe Rix We’ll continue to share our dining location thoughts with you, so stay tuned to DFB! We’ve been to every restaurant in Disney World and we have so many tips and tricks to help make your food experience in the parks amazing! With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! This Disney World Hotel Has Shockingly Good Food — Click Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever been to Cafe Rix? What did you order? Tell us in the comments! The post Try This Disney World Hotel Spot When You Need to Grab Breakfast and Go first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s a LOT that goes into planning a Disney World vacation. Cinderella Castle We do our best to prepare you for your trips with all the latest news and updates from the parks, but that’s a TON of posts! Our readers have recently reached out about the thing that blindsided them in Disney World, so we’ve compiled a list to save you from surprises! Gratuity At Table Service Meals Now, we’re not talking about the choice of adding gratuity (which we always think you should do and support those cast members!), but if you have a party of 6 or more, many table service restaurants in Disney World will automatically add on 18% gratuity to your meal. Boma Our DFB reader that recently shared this with us was not aware of this when she dined at Boma, so the bill was a bit of a surprise! Keep this in mind when you’re dining with a big party in the parks. If you’re traveling with a group of 6+, always check the restaurant’s page on the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app before booking your dining reservation to see if an automatic gratuity will be added to your bill! Staying in Magic Kingdom After Closing Don’t misunderstand, we’re not saying you can stay for a WHILE. Main Street Confectionary You can mobile order a snack from the Main Street Confectionery BEFORE the park closes and sit on a bench on Main Street while you wait for some of those exiting crowds to die down! It’s a good way to avoid the mad rush for the monorails and buses, and take a quick breather at the end of your day. Outdoor Rides CLOSE in Bad Weather Yep. If it’s raining or storming on your Disney day, outdoor rides will likely close. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Rides may continue to run in light rain, but once it really starts, outdoor rides will close until it’s deemed safe again. This means that you really need to take a look at the weather before and during your park day and make a plan of what you’d like to ride before potential rain hits. After Hours Events WILL Close Parks Early In early 2023, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom both have after-hours events on select nights. An empty Galaxy’s Edge This means that if you haven’t bought a special after-hours ticket, the parks will close EARLY. It’s so important to check the park hours before you book your park pass reservations so you can work around any special events. You want as much time in each park as you can get! Virtual Queues For Rides There are a few rides in Disney World that do NOT have a standby line. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Currently, these rides are: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT TRON Lightcycle / Run in Magic Kingdom (when it opens to the public on April 4th) This means that the ONLY way you can ride these rides is by getting a spot in the Virtual Queue, or by purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane selection. We’ve got guides to both of those on our website, so you can do all your research ahead of time! Our Guide to Virtual Queues Our Guide to Individual Lightning Lanes Whew! We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT. And this Genie+ thing can be so confusing – which is why we bring you posts like this so often. But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. You can take our DFB Guide with you! Not All Rides In The Parks Open Early If you’re staying at a Disney-owned resort or Good Neighbor Hotel, you have access to Early Theme Park Entry. Fantasyland However, it’s important to note that not all sections of the parks are open for this extra time. In Magic Kingdom, you can only head to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland to ride rides before the park officially opens. When in doubt, just ask a cast member! Crowds around the castle And now that you’ve read the post, these things won’t catch you off guard anymore. As always, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Check out our ULTIMATE guide to planning your Disney World vacation here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Did you know about any of these? Tell us in the comments! The post The One Thing That Could BLINDSIDE You in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Shades of Green has announced their October Savings Special for 2023. This Special is currently a room only discount. Dates: The current dates of this special are: 1 – 10, 15 – 17, & 22 – 30 September 2023 These dates and discount amount can change, see why Rates Category 1 guests $147.90 per night […] The post Shades of Green October Savings Special 2023 appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We recently spotted two new sets of ears you’re going to want to add to your collection! That’s an impressive selection of headwear! Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder Celebration is now in full swing at Disneyland Resort, and along with the festiviteis, we’re getting more merchandise drops! First up we spotted these new Steamboat Willie ears in the Emporium on Main Street USA. Steamboat Willie 100 Years of Wonder ears Different scenes from the short are printed on each of the ears, which nods to the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration of Walt Disney Animation. They ears are outlined in white stitching and set against a solid black headband. There are even a few decorative grey music notes to really make the design pop! ©Disney The back also carries over the design patterns with different scenes from the front. We’ve seen these online at shopDisney already but this was the first we have seen them make their park debut. These ears are priced at $39.99 (both in the parks and online). Click here to buy the Steamboat Willie ears from shopDisney. We are stunned at these beautiful new purple sequin ears! The bright color and flashy sequins make these ears very different from the classic Steamboat Willie design — which one is more your style? Lavender Sequin Ears These lavender sequin ears were also spotted in the Emporium gift shop and are a great alternative to showing off for the 100th celebration. These gorgeous ears and center bow are completely covered in purple sequins. The ears have a herringbone design to the sequin stitching, and the bow also adds a bit of flare as the light hits those sequins and gives off an iridescent look. Give us all the purple iridescent! These ears are currently not yet available on shopDisney online and are priced at $34.99 in the park. As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest in Disneyland merch updates! Check Out the CHANGE Revealed for Disneyland’s Newest Ride 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 Will you be picking up these ears in Disneyland? Tell us which pair you’re after in the comments! The post Classy or Flashy: Weigh In on This Disney Ears Battle! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Last year Disney World opened its most unique hotel to date — the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. This new resort is like living inside of a Star Wars movie, but if that movie were acted out on a cruise ship. The two-night experience includes your meals, your lodging, and 45 hours worth of interactive story elements that you can explore, but the big thing deterring guests from booking is the price. It’s a pretty hefty cost, but now there’s a new way for select guests to save! Disney has just announced a Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser discount for Cast Members and eligible retirees. With this new rate, Cast Members can save on voyages that “depart” on March 22nd, March 24th, April 19th, April 23rd, April 25th, April 27th, May 7th, May 11th, June 10th, and June 22nd. INSIDE the Galactic Starcruiser The sample rates for those dates are as follows: For 2 adults $2490 total For 2 adults and 1 child $2670 total For 3 adults and 1 child $2960 total Dining on the Galactic Starcruiser These rates are significantly lower than the sample rates listed on the Disney World website for regular guests. The ones currently online apply to departure dates most weeknights in the fall and show prices from $4809 total to $5999 total. ©Disney To take advantage of this offer, the eligible Disney employee or retiree must book and stay in the cabin during the voyage. You will be required to show your company-issued ID at check-in, and Disney recommends that you carry it with you while onboard. The offer is valid for the employee and up to the number of guests that are indicated on the back of their Main Entrance Pass. Inside the cabins The number of voyages available for this offer is limited, and Cast Members are not allowed to discuss the details of their discount or the price that they paid with any other guests during their Starcruiser voyage. The offer excludes the Galaxy Class Suite and Grand Captain’s Suite, and is only applicable to new bookings. Atrium For more information on this discount, make sure to check the hub for Cast Members. There, you’ll also find information on how to book. We’ll make sure to let you know if any more discounts for this experience are announced, so stay tuned to DFB! Click Here to See Our FULL Guide to the Galactic Starcruiser! Star Wars Hotel -- Galactic Starcruiser News and Information Check Out Our COMPLETE GUIDE to the Star Wars Hotel We’re Breaking the MYTHS from Inside the Star Wars Hotel Rooms What to Get (or AVOID) for Breakfast at the Star Wars Hotel We Ate EVERYTHING for Lunch at the Star Wars Hotel See Our FULL Review of the Entire Dinner on Night 1 of the Star Wars Hotel Yes, Dinner on Night 2 at the Star Wars Hotel is Different. See Our Full Review Is the Captain’s Table Worth the Extra Cost? See How the Fireworks at the Star Wars Hotel Will (and Won’t) Surprise You Get Our Full Thoughts on the BLUE SHRIMP See What Snacks Look Like in Space Some of the Best Food in the Star Wars Hotel is Hiding! Get a Look at the Exclusive Star Wars Hotel Merchandise Learn About What’s Included When You Leave the Star Wars Hotel for Hollywood Studios Take a Look at the Pricing for the Star Wars Hotel Watch Our DFB Video About Our Experience at the Star Wars Hotel Click HERE to See More About Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Would you stay at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser if you could get the discounted price? Tell us in the comments! The post HUGE ‘Star Wars’ Hotel DISCOUNT Announced for Disney Cast Members first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Once the Halloween season passes, Disney trades in its spooky decor for cozier holiday decorations! And that means you can also trade in your mega bag of trick-or-treat candy for another sweet favorite, some gingerbread! So Cute! The holidays at Disney World include lots of exclusive seasonal faves for guests to look forward to. One of the traditions we look forward to every year is checking out all of the super elaborate gingerbread displays around Disney World. And as an extra bonus, you don’t even need a park ticket to see most of them! We’re going to explore these detailed architectural confections and let you know where you can find Mickey gingerbread during your visit. Ready to go on a sweet stroll through each of the gingerbread displays coming to Disney World during the holiday season? Christmas at the Grand Floridian Well then, suit up and let’s get started! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House We’re starting off the list with what might just be the most iconic Disney World gingerbread display of all — the life-sized Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House! 2022 Grand Floridian Gingerbread House If smelling alllll that delicious gingerbread is making you hungry, you’re in luck. This giant gingerbread house also serves as a shop that sells holiday treats! Gingerbread Whoopie Pie If you’re on the hunt for a classic gingerbread house on a MASSIVE scale, be sure to add Grand Floridian Resort to your must-visit list this holiday season! So pretty And in addition to a class Gingerbread Cookie man, they offer a ton of other gingerbread-inspired treats. See More Photos And Video of the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Disney’s Beach Club Resort Gingerbread Carousel If you’re looking for a unique gingerbread creation, you NEED to swing by Disney’s Beach Club Resort to see the Gingerbread Carousel this year! Speaking of unique, the design of the carousel changes each year, drawing inspiration from different Disney characters. In 2018, it featured horses themed to Donald Duck and Daisy Duck… Daisy the Horse on the Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel In 2019, we saw a Peter Pan theme. And in 2021, the horses were all inspired by characters from The Little Mermaid! And in 2022, the theme is Disney Princesses!! The carousel also has a treat shop where you can grab your favorite gingerbread snack! It’s running! This is another spot to not just smell and admire the gingerbread creations, but you can sample them, too! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Castle We’re hopping back on the Monorail loop for our next iconic gingerbread display. This year, the Gingerbread Castle has returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort to add some holiday cheer to the hotel! It’s so pretty! Like at other resorts, this display has included a treat stand nearby, so here’s yet another chance to satisfy those sweet cravings. Gingerbread Man and Mickey Linzer Cookie Who’s up for a gingerbread display Monorail crawl?? Here are some of the treats at this location: Check Out Photos of the Gingerbread Castle Display and Read Our Review of The New Treats! Disney’s BoardWalk Gingerbread Replica While you’re in the neighborhood checking out the carousel at Beach Club, you may also want to swing by Disney’s BoardWalk Inn to see the return of the BoardWalk Gingerbread Replica! The BoardWalk Inn Lobby This creation features a gingerbread versions of the restaurants and scenery that line the BoardWalk. In 2022, we saw a re-creation of the BoardWalk Deli! BoardWalk Deli Gingerbread replica And you can munch on the spiced treat while you admire the bakers handy work! Click Here to See Photos of the BoardWalk Gingerbread Display! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Gingerbread Giraffe And yet another must-see holiday display to our list when Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge debuted their new Gingerbread Giraffe! The gingeraffe This sweet little guy makes his home in the lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House for the holidays, and he’s joined by a life-sized gingerbread baby zebra, Debra, as well! Debra the Zebra! There are also gingeraffe cookies available for purchase. While you’re at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you may want to swing by Sanaa for a meal to spot some LIVE animals out on the savanna while you dine! PHOTOS: Get a Closer Look at the Gingerbread Giraffe! Bakeries & Confectioneries Around Disney Word You don’t have to leave the parks to grab a festive gingerbread treat. Each holiday season, you can expect to find some version of the Mickey Gingerbread cookie at one of the park’s bakeries or confectioneries. Spicy! Like Trolley Car Cafe in Hollywood Studios, Main Street Confectionery or Big Top Treats in Magic Kingdom, Connections Cafe in EPCOT, or Zuri’s Sweet Shop in Animal Kingdom. Gingerbread Mickey Cookie in case And don’t forget the OG Disney park, Disneyland, which also has all of its own gingerbread traditions and snacks! Mickey Gingerbread Man Almost too cute to eat, but also too tasty to pass up! Mickey Gingerbread Cookie Recipe If you’re not able to make it to the parks during the holiday season to partake in the gingerbread schmorgase board, don’t abandon hope! With the help of D23, Disney special fan club, we’ve got the recipe so you can make your own Mickey Gingerbread Man cookies at home! @Disneyland Ingredients 2 sticks softened butter 2 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted 2 eggs 1 ¼ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 3 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour 2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 ¼ teaspoons ground coriander 2 teaspoons ground star anise 1 teaspoon ground fennel 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground clove ¼ teaspoon ground mace Ingredients for decorations optional ¼ cup milk 1 cup colored sugar granules Simple, but still Mickey-shaped gingerbread! Directions Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth using an electric mixer. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Sift all the remaining dry ingredients in a separate large mixing bowl and mix well. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until a dough forms Remove dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap; place in refrigerator until firm, two to four hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets. Remove dough from refrigerator and allow dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable. Divide dough in half and place on floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out until about 1/8 inch thick. While rolling, flour the work surface and rolling pin as needed. Cut out desired cookie shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to a greased cookie sheet, placing them 1 inch apart. Lightly brush cookies with milk and sprinkle with sugar granules as desired. Bake until firm and edges begin to darken, 10-14 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for a minute, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Cook’s notes: You can find star anise in the ethnic aisle in your local grocery store. To get the best flavor from this spice, you will need to grind the whole star anise pod. For the neatest edges, dip your cookie cutters in flour before cutting out each cookie. Mickey Gingerbread Cookie And that’s where you can find Mickey Gingerbread Cookies, even when you AREN’T visiting Disney park! Keep following DFB for more tips and the lowdown on great snacks and where to find them! 9 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Disney World WITHOUT A Park Ticket Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2023 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Pre-Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2023 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2023 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to pre-order your 2023 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: Pre-Order The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023 Pre-Order The 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2023 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World from 2022 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which Disney World gingerbread display is your favorite? Share with us in the comments! The post Where To Find Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Man Cookies in Disney World (and the Recipe!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome to the video you’ve been wanting for a while now — the ULTIMATE GUIDE to Disney’s Deluxe Resorts (AKA the most EXPENSIVE hotels in Disney World). Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Luxurious spa treatments, fine dining, private fireworks shows, and water parks in your backyard – it’s pretty nice, but is it worth the massive price tag? Check out our video below: Ultimate Guide To Deluxe Resorts At Disney World Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for all of the latest Disney news! Click here to see things that should be BANNED in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 900 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! You'll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis; and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you stayed at a Deluxe Resort in Disney World? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below. The post DFB Video: The Ultimate Guide to Deluxe Resorts at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The hotels at Disneyland are getting some major changes right now! ©Disney The Paradise Pier Hotel is being re-themed to become the Pixar Place Hotel, and over at the Disneyland Hotel, a brand-new Disney Vacation Club tower is being built! We got a first look at the new DVC villas, which are themed to Disney films like The Princess and the Frog, The Jungle Book, and Fantasia. If you want to reserve your spot at one of these new villas, you’ll need to know WHEN reservations open! The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will open in September 2023, and DVC Members will get the first chance to book the new rooms. For DVC Members, reservations open on March 15th. They can book by calling Member Services at (800) 800-9800. ©Disney The next group that gets to make early reservations is Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders. If you have a Magic Key pass, you can book on March 16th by calling (714) 956-6425. ©Disney Finally, bookings will open to the public on March 17th. You can make your reservation online at Disneyland.com/VillasDisneylandHotel or by calling (714) 956-6425. ©Disney Disney notes that villas are limited in availability. Although the tower will have 12 stories of DVC villas, we can see these rooms filling up fast! ©Disney The tower will have duo studios, deluxe studios, and 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas. Each room is themed to a Disney film, with themes including The Jungle Book, The Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, Fantasia, and Bambi. ©Disney We’ll continue watching for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned for all the latest news. Check out a FIRST LOOK at these villas here! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you planning to stay in one of these villas? Let us know in the comments. The post Reservations Open SOON for the NEWEST Disney Hotel Rooms first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Things are CHANGING at Disneyland! ©Disney Pacific Wharf is becoming San Fransokyo Square, the Paradise Pier Hotel is being rethemed, and a new DVC tower is being built at the Disneyland Hotel. We’ve been keeping an eye on construction, and now Disney has shared a first look at the new villas! The Villas at Disneyland Hotel are currently under construction, and it will be the fourth tower at the hotel, “just steps from the Downtown Disney District.” Disney recently shared that The Villas would be opening in September this year — and we also got a first look at some of the rooms! ©Disney The tower will be 12 stories tall, and the spaces will “immerse you in discovering the creative storytelling process, bringing some of your favorite Disney stories to life like never before in a variety of themed accommodations.” What sort of themes? There will be a “duo studio” inspired by The Jungle Book… ©Disney …deluxe studios will sleep up to four and be themed after Sleeping Beauty and The Princess and the Frog… ©Disney …while one- and two-bedroom villas that sleep up to five or nine guests are themed to Fantasia and The Princess and the Frog. The villas include a washer and dryer, living area, and full-sized kitchen with all the cookware you need. ©Disney But, the Grand Villa is the fanciest of them all. This multi-level unit sleeps up to 12 guests, with a full-size kitchen, large dining area, and double-sided fireplace that connects the living area to a HUGE private outdoor balcony. The first floor is home to the primary suite inspired by Bambi. ©Disney The second floor features two bedrooms inspired by Frozen and Moana. ©Disney Reservations for the new DVC villas open up on March 15th for DVC Members and March 16th for Magic Key Holders. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more! Learn About Disneyland’s Other Hotel Retheme Here Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Will you be booking a stay at the new villas? Let us know in the comments! The post FIRST LOOK at NEW DVC Villas Coming to the Disneyland Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World isn’t the only Disney resort getting a ton of changes and upgrades. Disneyland Hotel construction Disneyland is also seeing a LOT of new things happening, including a re-imagined ToonTown in Disneyland Park, new restaurants at Downtown Disney, and new villas at The Disneyland Hotel, known as The Villas at Disneyland Hotel. Now, we’ve now got a NEW update about that property — it will be opening SOON. The new Disney Vacation Club tower at Disneyland Hotel will have 12 stories with 350 villas. There will also be a new pool, outdoor bar, interactive play area, fitness hall, and community hall. The rooms will have themes based on Disney movies, like The Jungle Book. ©Disney However, here’s the most important thing: The Villas at Disneyland Hotel are set to open in September 2023. ©Disney So we’re betting you’re ready to book one of these rooms, right? Well, reservations for The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will be available on March 15th for DVC members, who can book by contacting Member Services at (800) 800-9800. Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders will be able to make reservations on March 16th by calling (714) 956-6425. ©Disney Bookings will open to the public on March 17th, and you can reserve your spot by calling (714) 956-6425. So mark your calendars if you’re wanting to book one of these brand-new rooms! Have you checked out the latest Disney-themed t-shirts in our store? Click here – you’ll want to pick some up before your next Disney trip! A CHANGE Has Been Revealed for Disneyland’s Newest Ride 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 Will you be booking one of these new villas? Let us know in the comments! The post OPENING TIMELINE Announced for NEW Rooms at the Disneyland Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are LOTS of changes happening over at Disneyland Resort. ©Disney Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway recently opened at Disneyland Park but its virtual queue situation is changing. Mickey’s Toontown is getting some big changes and will be reopening soon. Plus, a NEW Big Hero 6 land is coming to Disneyland Resort and now we’ve got some exciting updates about what it’ll include! What’s Going On? Pacific Wharf in Disney California Adventure Park (Disneyland Resort) is being rethemed to a Big Hero 6-themed land called San Fransokyo Square. ©Disney It’s set to open this summer. What’s the Story? According to Disney, “San Fransokyo Square will transport you to the not-too-distant future, in a fictional mash-up of two iconic cities – San Francisco and Tokyo. As the tech industry began to emerge and the local fishing trade fell on hard times, entrepreneurs came together to reinvent the seaside canneries into a vibrant, multicultural district of neighborhood restaurants and small businesses where you’ll be able to eat and shop.” ©Disney There will be a San Fransokyo Gate Bridge, a floating wind turbine on top of a fishing net tannery, and even a Baymax meet-and-greet. ©Disney So there’s a lot to look forward to…but our focus today is on the FOOD! So What About the Food?! Well, there are various restaurants on Pacific Wharf right now. You might know it for its sourdough bread, ice cream, Mexican eats, Asian dishes, and more. So, for starters, Disney has shared that fans will still be able to enjoy all of those dining locations throughout this transformation. They’re Still Open! Once the rethemed area fully opens, it’ll still serve up familiar favorites, like those iconic soups in bread bowls. But there will also be NEW Asian-inspired eats. And here’s where things get interesting. Disney has also announced that there will be a NEW spot (really a re-themed spot) called “Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería.” Cervecería is Spanish for “Brewery.” ©Disney According to Disney, this spot will draw “inspiration from its tri-cultural influences with signage in English, Japanese and Spanish.” On the outside, it’ll have a “fun and inviting beer garden decorated with festoon lights and papel picado.” “Papel picado” literally translates from Spanish to English as punched or chopped paper. As NBC News points out, these are special paper cut-out decorations that are often used in Mexico for alters made for the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). Reportedly the tradition began in the 1800s. Construction Has Already Begun in the Nearby Area So just what will this “Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería” place be? Again, so far Disney has only really shared that it’ll have a beer garden on the outside and the name Cerveceria does seem to indicate a mainly beer-focused spot. Based on the concept art, it looks like Cocina Cucamonga will remain in this rethemed area (you can see the sign for it in the background of the concept art). ©Disney So it looks like this Cerveceria will be a retheme of the beer garden area/seating space next to/to the side of Cocina Cucamonga. You can see the boats on top of the wooden canopy in the image below from The Orange County Register in 2016… ©Orange County Register …and then again on top of the new Cerveceria space. ©Disney Considering that there is a Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. spot nearby in Pacific Wharf that serves handcrafted beers, this could very much replace that service “need” (beers) in the area. Cocina Cucamonga (2022) The concept art does seem to show a mix of cultural influences with signs in different languages. ©Disney Looks like even the trash cans are getting in on the fun. ©Disney Based on the design, it looks like there could be a pick-up order window on the outside, next to the seating, for those drinks. ©Disney It also looks like there are some pick-up/order windows to the left with some menu signs up above. ©Disney These look to be fairly similar to the existing ones at the restaurant so it looks like those could just be the ordering signs/spots for Cocina Cucamonga itself. Cocina Cucamonga (2019) In terms of seating, it looks like it’ll continue to be outdoors, with some under that wooden canopy area. This makes sense since the seating for Cocina Cucamonga is already situated in an outdoor dining patio environment. It looks like there will be traditional tables/seats, as well as some tables that are built on top of beer kegs. ©Disney And that’s what we know so far about this new/rethemed restaurant space! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for updates and let you know what we find. For more Disneyland planning news, see our video below and check back for the latest details!  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 do you think about this rethemed spot? Tell us in the comments! The post EVERYTHING We Know About the Re-Themed Restaurant Coming to Disney’s NEW ‘Big Hero 6’ Land first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Here's your first look at the guest rooms coming to The Villas at Disneyland Hotel!View the full article

Tickets are on sale now for SunFest 2023, a slimmer, three-day version of the beloved festival taking place May 5-7 on the West Palm Beach waterfront. View the full article