Disney4me

Goo Goo Dolls' Robby Takac talks Universal Mardi Gras concert, the return to touring, pandemic productivity. View the full article

Jomar Rios, SeaWorld Orlando chef, talks about the menu twists for theme park's Seven Seas Food Festival View the full article

If you’ve done any research on Walt Disney World at all then you’ve heard the the term “Rope Drop”. You have no clue what it is, and all you know is that you have to do it. Military Disney Tips is here to help fill you in on everything you need to know about Rope […] The post Green Light, GO! The Complete Guide to Disney World Rope Drop appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced a restructuring of the company during his first earnings call back at the helm of the business he first retired from in 2021. ©DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY via The Hollywood Reporter | Disney CEO Bob Iger Iger famously returned on Nov. 20, 2022, to replace fired CEO Bob Chapek. He touted the reorganization as a way to return creativity to the center of the company. “Our company is fueled by storytelling and creativity,” he said. “Virtually every dollar we earn … emanates from something we created.” Iger told investors that a restructuring at the company — effective immediately — is “aimed at returning greater authority to our creative leaders.” Disney will be organized under three divisions: Disney Entertainment This division will be led by Alan Bergman, who was previously the chairman of Disney Studios, and Dana Walden, who was previously the chairwoman of Disney General Entertainment Content. ESPN Jimmy Pitaro will continue to lead ESPN as its own division. Disney Parks, Experience, and Products Josh D’Amaro will continue to lead Disney’s division that manages the parks, resorts, cruise lines, and consumer products. Magic Kingdom Iger stressed that the reorganization will provide “a more cost effective, coordinated and streamlined approach” to the company’s operations. The new structure will “re-establish a direct link between content decisions and financial performance,” he said. As far as financial performance goes, today was a good day for the Walt Disney Company. They reported earnings of $2.35 billion — up 8 percent from the first quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share were 99 cents — 7 cents less than last year at this time. ©Disney In its streaming businesses, which have been of great concern to investors, Disney reported 11.8 million new global streaming subscribers, beating analyst expectations. Average revenue per user decreased by 19 cents, and the division lost $600 million — largely due to content production, tech and marketing costs. Disney’s stock price jumped 4.88% in after hours trading, to $117 — a signal that investors were pleased with the Q1 earnings report. ©Google Finance Iger also announced cost-cutting measures to the tune of $5.5 billion during today’s earnings call. The savings will come from the layoff of 7,000 employees, as well as deep cuts in Disney’s marketing budgets. And he revealed upcoming projects, including sequels in the Toy Story, Frozen, and Zootopia franchises, and an Avatar expansion at Disneyland. Pandora Iger said the company’s restructuring was effective immediately, and that Disney would begin reporting earnings according to the three new divisions by the end of this fiscal year. Iger’s next challenge is the board member election coming up at the annual shareholders meeting, to be held on April 3. An activist investor is challenging the way the board governs the Walt Disney Company, and is trying to get shareholders to elect him to the board. Check out these posts for more information: Who Is Nelson Peltz and Why Do People Care What He Says About Disney? Can Activist Investors Derail Bob Iger’s Board at Disney? Investor Wants Disney to FIRE Board Member The Big Disney Parks Changes that Activist Investors Are Pushing Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Walt Disney Company News. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Disney's Iger Aims To 'Reshape Our Company Around Creativity' first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Today is a BIG day for Disney fans, even though it might seem like just a random Wednesday. Disney World Entrance That’s because today (February 8th) is Disney’s 2023 first-quarter Earnings Call. During this call, Disney executives comment on the state of the company, share updates on current projects, and sometimes announce MAJOR news. But, Bob Iger failed to comment on a controversial part of the Disney parks: the Park Pass Reservation system. Park Pass Reservations were introduced to Disney World and Disneyland when the parks reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic-related closures. The reservations were originally intended to keep capacity down and allow for more social distancing, but after distancing requirements were removed, those reservations stuck around. Entrance to Magic Kingdom Executives have commented that having these reservations allows guests to secure their spot in the theme parks ahead of time so that fewer people arrive at the entrance only to be turned away due to the parks being at full capacity that day. EPCOT park entrance Now, if you want to visit Disney World of Disneyland, you must have both a park ticket and a reservation. Those reservations are free to make, but they are mandatory. Without one, you can’t get into the parks. Annual Passholders can hold a certain number of reservations at any given time, and that number varies depending on which pass you have. Animal Kingdom Some guests have complained that this system makes it harder to go on spontaneous trips to the parks, and it limits the value of Annual Passes. When CEO Bob Iger returned to the position last November, he was asked about potential changes coming to the park passes. At the time, he said he had not used it himself. He also said that he wanted to hear from Josh D’amaro about the system before he made any more comments. (D’amaro is currently the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.) ©Disney But, Iger didn’t exactly comment on the Park Pass Reservation System during the call. In today’s earnings call, Iger once again made some comments about park passes and park capacity. He first noted that he is “very bullish” about the Disney parks, and that they’re still a top priority for him. He then went on to mention that over the past holiday season, Disney reduced capacity in the parks in order to create a better guest experience — and still “maintained a robust bottom line.” ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Iger said that Disney is able to manage capacity “very very carefully and shift the mix from Annual Passholders to those who may come once in a lifetime or just once.” And for those once in a lifetime guests, Iger remarked, “It’s clear that some of our pricing initiatives were alienating to our consumers. We were not perceived to be as accessible or as affordable as we probably should have been,” and steps have already been taken to change that — like with more low price tickets in Disneyland, for example. Bob Iger ©New York Post As far as plans to increase capacity in the parks, Iger didn’t say anything for certain, but mentioned that in the past, Disney has been able to increase park capacity by building new lands like Pandora and Galaxy’s Edge. Whether or not these changes might be on the horizon for Disney remains to be seen. ©Disney Want to know more about upcoming changes at Disney? Check out these posts: 3 Nasty Surprises Waiting for Disney CEO Bob Iger in 2023 Can Activist Investors Derail Disney’s Board of Directors? Why a Random Date in April Will Be CRITICAL to The Walt Disney Company We’ll continue to watch for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news. Check out our FULL GUIDE to Park Pass Reservations here. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think about Iger’s comments? Let us know below. The post Something BIG Was Missing from Disney CEO Bob Iger’s Announcements Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you love Disney movies it’s time to get EXCITED! ©Disney Various new Disney movies are coming out soon or are already in the works at Disney including a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, a Peter Pan and Wendy film for Disney+, and a new animated movie called Wish. But now we’ve got even more MASSIVE Disney movie news! During the earnings call for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 for the Walt Disney Company, we got a number of updates about Disney+ subscriber numbers, the Company’s financial standing overall, increases in guest spending in the parks, upcoming layoffs, and MORE. But Disney CEO Bob Iger also surprised fans with big news about new Disney movies that are in the works. ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger Iger emphasized various times during the call that Disney is taking a close look at its core brands and really focusing on “curating the Disney and the Pixar and the Marvel and the Star Wars of it all.” He also announced that sequels are currently in the works at Disney for Toy Story, Zootopia, and Frozen. WHAT?! It’s TRUE! ©Disney/Pixar So if you thought the Toy Story fun was over, you were MISTAKEN (apparently!). Considering the fact that Disney has also teased that Zootopia could take over part of DinoLand U.S.A., this is interesting news indeed. Could it be a signal that a Zootopia retheme is more likely? We’ll have to wait and see! Concept art of possible changes Not much was shared about these sequels, what forms they would take, or where they would be distributed (Disney+ or theaters), but we’ll keep an eye out for more news. Stay tuned for all the details! Click here to see ALL of the remakes, reboots, and sequel movies in the works at Disney  Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What sequel are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Sequels for ‘Toy Story’ and 2 Other Major Disney Movies Are in the Works first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Walt Disney Company just held the first earnings call since Bob Iger’s return. Cinderella Castle We learned a ton of details about Disney+ streaming and subscriber numbers, park operations and profits, and layoffs that are coming for the company. We also learned one very important piece of information: what Bob Iger’s number one priority is now that he’s back at the helm. Since Bob Iger returned as CEO to restructure and reorganize The Walt Disney Company, investors and fans alike have been waiting to hear exactly what his plans are in order to achieve that goal. And now, following the first quarter earnings call of 2023 — we have an answer. ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger Iger’s number one priority is improving streaming at Disney — most likely when it comes to Disney+, but also Hulu and ESPN+ as well. It’s no surprise that the second-time CEO would choose streaming as his top priority, especially considering that area of the company hasn’t been doing so hot historically. Bob Iger ©New York Post In November 2022, we got an updated look at the Disney+ subscriber numbers but we also learned that Disney’s streaming business as a whole had a loss of nearly $1.5 BILLION. This loss ultimately contributed to the ousting of Bob Chapek as CEO. In the Q1 earnings call on February 9th, we learned that the total number of Disney+ subscribers is now 161.8 million. As far as ESPN+ and Hulu go, both of those services are up in subscriber count as well, with 24.9 million and 48 million, respectively. Disney reported a $1.053 billion operating loss in its direct-to-consumer division this quarter compared to Q4 of FY 2022. ©Disney No sudden flipping of the Bob switch could magically make Disney’s streaming division profitable, and because of that, Iger is still choosing to focus on growth and profitability for streaming. Iger reiterated Disney’s previous comments that they expect Disney+ to be profitable by the end of fiscal year 2024. ©Hulu The new organizational structure announced by Iger during the call will hopefully help by relinking the creative process with the financial results. As Iger put it, Disney is putting content back into the hands of the creatives. Disney will be focusing on its core brands and franchises, which have historically delivered higher returns. They’re working on curating content and adjusting as needed, adjusting pricing and marketing strategies, and fine-tuning streaming advertising. ©Disney According to Iger, the “streaming business is the future and has been growing.” During the call, he also announced that 3 popular franchises will be getting sequels — but has promised that there will be more of a focus on the quality of the content being created versus the quantity. More specifically, Iger said Disney has “to be better at curating the Disney and the Pixar and the Marvel and the Star Wars of it all” by focusing on “core franchises” like these. ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images When asked about how exactly Iger plans on improving and growing Disney’s streaming division, he had a few ideas in mind: Seeking loyal subscribers for the long-term Reviewing pricing and making sure services are priced correctly Rebalancing marketing on the platform versus marketing of the programs Bob Iger ©Bloomberg There’s a long road ahead of Bob Iger and Disney+, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest news from Disney and more. Disney Is Building a New ‘Avatar’ Experience Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think the future of streaming will look like? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces His “Number One Priority” first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Illusion Island makes its exclusive debut for Nintendo Switch on July 28, 2023. View the full article

Disney recently had its Q1 2023 earnings call and boy, was it a WHIRLWIND of information! ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger We got the low-down on the financials of the company, including updates about Disney+ and the theme parks division. On top of that, we learned more about some changes that will be coming in the future…including some BIG projects that Disney is working on! And one of those projects might bring Avatar to the west coast. Back in December, Disney released Avatar: The Way of Water in theaters, and it was a massive box office success, currently ranking as the 4th highest-grossing film of all time. Because of that, Disney CEO Bob Iger has shared that there will be more opportunities for fans to engage with the franchise in the future. ©Disney Avatar will now represent another core franchise for the company, and Iger shared that there are plans in the future to bring the IP to Disneyland Resort. Later in the call, Iger noted that he has already been in talks with Disney Parks, Experiences, & Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro about the possibility of introducing Avatar in the west coast parks. ©Disney This expansion would be part of a long-term business strategy that would likely give financial benefits. When Disney increases capacity in the parks (as far as theme park reservations go) it hurts the guest experience due to overcrowding. However, when they increase a park’s capacity by adding more lands and therefore more space (like they did with Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora in Disney World), it benefits both the consumer and the company. It also draws in more guests with connections to those franchises. On that note, Iger said, “We have opportunities to look at the great franchises of the company and see where we can invest in those in the parks and keep guest happiness up.” Pandora We’re interested to see what plans for Avatar in Disneyland Resort might be! If you recall, Disney announced an initiative to expand Disneyland Park and California Adventure a while back, but the plan required some government approval first. Could we get a second Pandora? We’ll have to wait and see. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney parks news and updates, as well as anything you need to know from the earnings call! Click Here to See Some of the Box Office Records Avatar: The Way of Water Broke! 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 like to see Avatar in Disneyland? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Is Building a NEW ‘Avatar’ Experience! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World CEO Bob Iger revealed plans Wednesday to lay off 7,500 workers, about 3% of the workforce. View the full article

Looking to make dinner plans? See what's new on South Florida's dining scene. View the full article

Many have wondered about the future of Disney since several major changes have taken place in the last few months. Disney World One of those changes is the upcoming hiring freeze that former CEO Bob Chapek announced in early November. We found out later that month that Bob Iger planned to continue with the freeze, but we hadn’t heard anything since. Now, Iger has commented on the upcoming freeze and what it means for the company and its employees. Back in early November, Chapek had said the company would be “limiting headcount additions through a targeted hiring freeze. Hiring for the small subset of the most critical, business-driving positions will continue, but all other roles are on hold.” He had also mentioned that they also anticipated staff reductions. Bob Chapek ©Disney In the most recent earnings call for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, Iger announced that the Walt Disney Company would now be “reducing expenses to improve margins and returns” in order to better position the company should any global economic challenges arise. ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger Iger announced that the Walt Disney Company will be reducing its workforce by 7,000 jobs. Iger said he “does not make this decision lightly” and is “mindful of the personal impact of these changes.” Partners statue We’ll continue to watch for more updates on these layoffs, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news. Click the link below for a FULL report on Disney’s quarter one earnings report. Learn more about the announcements from the first-quarter 2023 Earnings Report. 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 are your thoughts on these changes? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces Thousands of Layoffs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Today is a BIG day for The Walt Disney Company. Cinderella Castle Today marks the FIRST quarterly earnings report and call since Bob Iger returned as CEO of the company (although note Bob Chapek was still the CEO for part of this fiscal quarter). The earnings call lets us know how the company is doing overall. We recently learned that Disney+ lost subscribers globally over the past quarter, but how are Disney’s Parks doing? During the last quarterly earnings call, Disney shared that parks revenue was at $7.4 billion during Q4 2022, an increase from the previous quarter. That was despite some pretty significant losses due to Hurricane Ian that directly impacted operations at Disney World. Flooding from Hurricane Ian at a Disney World construction site During the most recent earnings call, Disney reported the revenue for Parks & Experiences in Q1 2023 was $8.7 billion, an increase of 21%. The company also reported that segment operating income (the difference between net revenue and operating expenses) increased 25% to $3.1 billion. According to the earnings report, “higher operating results for the quarter reflected increases at our domestic parks and experiences and, to a lesser extent, our international parks and resorts.” Parks revenue is up Disney cites the income growth is due to “higher volumes and increased guest spending, partially offset by cost inflation, higher operations support costs and increased costs for new guest offerings.” The report also cited that Genie+ and Lightning Lane contributed to the increase in guest spending. Genie+ and Lightning Lane helped fuel more guest spending Domestically, this growth was achieved by purposely reducing capacity at the parks, thanks to the park pass reservation system. On January 1st, 2022, Disney’s domestic revenue was $4.8 billion — at the end of the year, on December 31st, 2022, the revenue was up 27% to a little over $6 billion. Overall, Disney has seen park attendance at both Disney World and Disneyland already pacing above the prior year, and it is expected to continue. Domestic Disney Parks revenue is up The increase in revenue for international parks was due to “growth at Disneyland Paris and higher royalties from Tokyo Disney Resort, partially offset by a decrease at Shanghai Disney Resort.” Higher operating results at Disneyland Paris stemmed from more guests in the parks plus more guest spending, but “offset partially offset by a loss on the disposal of our ownership interest in Villages Nature, increased costs for new guest offerings and cost inflation.” Tokyo Disney Sea There was a decrease at Shanghai Disney Resort, though, due to lower guest attendance as a result of the park’s closures due to COVID-19 policies. We’ll be covering everything from Disney’s Q1 2023 earnings call, so stay tuned to DFB for more. The One BIG Change Fans Want To See At 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. What do you think of these numbers? Let us know in the comments! The post You’re Spending MORE at the Disney Parks — Here’s the Proof first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We just got some MAJOR updates from the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney World On February 8th, 2023, Disney released its earnings report for the first quarter of the 2023 fiscal year (this covers a period from early October 2022 through December 2022). A lot has changed since the last report we got in November of 2022. Bob Chapek is no longer the CEO, Bob Iger has returned, Disney+ has launched its ad-supported tier, and some park perks are back. Chapek was still CEO for part of the period covered by this earnings call though, and Iger would have only had a few weeks to really change things. So how is the Company doing financially? Let’s find out. It’s important to keep in mind that this news is all being released just weeks ahead of another critical Disney date — April 3rd. That is when Disney will hold its 2023 annual meeting of shareholders and we’ll finally get a resolution to Nelson Peltz’s proxy battle for a seat on the Board of Directors. Overall Financial Results In terms of overall financial results, here’s what Disney reported: Revenues for the quarter grew 8%. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations for the quarter increased to $0.70 from $0.63 in the prior-year quarter. Excluding certain items(1), diluted EPS for the quarter decreased to $0.99 from $1.06 in the prior-year quarter. Bob Iger called this a “solid first quarter,” and said that following this they are “embarking on a significant transformation, one that will maximize the potential of our world-class creative teams and our unparalleled brands and franchises.” Iger noted that the work they’re doing to “reshape our company around creativity, while reducing expenses, will lead to sustained growth and profitability for our streaming business, better position us to weather future disruption and global economic challenges, and deliver value for our shareholders.” ©DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY via The Hollywood Reporter Below you can see a chart of the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 (the quarter that they’re reporting on now) versus the same quarter in 2022. Compared to the prior year quarter, there were increases in many areas, but there have been losses in total segment operating income, and diluted EPS excluding certain items. ©Disney Let’s take a look at some specific parts of Disney’s business. Disney+ Subscribers Disney has provided a HUGE update on Disney+ subscriber numbers. Back in October of 2022, the total number of Disney+ subscribers was 164.2 million (including Hotstar and international subscriptions). But as of the end of Q1 for FY 2023, the number of subscribers has actually DECREASED to 161.8 million. No, that’s not a typo, total Disney+ subscriber numbers actually DECREASED by December 31st, 2022 compared to just a few months before (October 1st, 2022). ©Disney It appears the loss was primarily in Disney+ Hotstar. Domestic Disney+ subscriptions (U.S. and Canada) increased ever so slightly from 46.4 million to 46.6 million, and International subscriptions (excluding Disney+ Hotstar) increased slightly as well. Disney+ Hotstar, however, saw a loss from 61.3 million subscribers in October of 2022 to 57.5 million by December 31st, 2022. ©Disney Let’s take a look at other important Disney+ numbers. Other Disney+ News We got some other critical Disney+ updates as well. Back in November of 2022 is when we saw those huge direct-to-consumer losses, to the tune of nearly $1.5 BILLION in Q4 of FY 2022. This massive loss (and the handling of the earnings call surrounding this loss) is one of the major reasons why Chapek was ousted from his CEO position. So just how has that changed for Q1 of FY 2023? Well, things are better, but not by that much. In Q1 of FY 2023, Disney reported an operating loss of 1.053 billion with its direct-to-consumer business. That is compared to a loss of just 593 million in the prior-year quarter (Q1 of FY 2022). ©Disney Disney’s revenue in Linear Networks also slightly dropped. But revenues for Disney’s direct-to-consumer business did increase in Q1 of FY 2023 compared to the prior-year quarter. It looks like content sales/licensing and other also increased slightly compared to 2022. We’ve also seen a change in the average monthly revenue per paid subscriber when it comes to Disney+. That number has actually DROPPED for Disney+ domestic, despite the introduction of the ad-supported tier and increased price for the ad-free tier. ©Disney But the average monthly revenue per paid subscriber increased with Disney+ Hotstar, leading to an overall increase compared to October of 2022. Disney notes that the drop in average monthly revenue per paid subscriber for domestic Disney+ dropped due to “a higher mix of subscribers to multi-product offerings, partially offset by an increase in retail pricing.” ©Disney Overall, when it comes to streaming, “Direct-to-Consumer revenues for the quarter increased 13% to $5.3 billion and operating loss increased $0.5 billion to $1.1 billion.” They noted that at Disney+ there were “higher programming and production costs and increased technology costs,” and the “increase in programming and production costs was attributable to more content provided on the service and higher average costs per hour, which included an increased mix of original content.” Disney Parks Update When it comes to the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division, things had been going significantly better than the streaming world recently. In November of 2022, we saw that the Parks, Experiences, and Products division had a total revenue of $7.4 BILLION, significantly up from the same quarter in 2021. Magic Kingdom But have the parks been able to continue on this path of victory? It seems so. Disney reports that the Parks, Experiences, and Products division’s “revenues for the quarter increased 21% to $8.7 billion and segment operating income increased 25% to $3.1 billion.” Parks & Experiences (Domestic) had a particularly big jump going from 4.8 billion in January 2022 to 6.072 billion at the end of December 2022. ©Disney Disney notes that the “Operating income growth at our domestic parks and experiences was due to higher volumes and increased guest spending, partially offset by cost inflation, higher operations support costs and increased costs for new guest offerings.” Where did the higher volumes come from? Disney attributes that to “increases in passenger cruise days, attendance and occupied room nights.” What about guest spending in the parks? That increase was due to “an increase in average per capita ticket revenue driven by Genie+ and Lightning Lane.” Hollywood Studios That’s a brief overview of the earnings report. We’ll be uncovering more details within Disney’s earnings report and listening for updates during the earnings call, so check back for updates. With activist investor Nelson Peltz on the hunt for a seat on the Board, we expect many parts of this earnings report could be crucial to Disney’s upcoming shareholder meeting in April. We’ll keep an eye out for more news as that date approaches. For more Disney Company news, see our posts below: Why a Random Date in April Will be CRITICAL to the Walt Disney Company Can Activist Investors Derail Bob Iger’s Board at Disney? Disney Fears One Change Could Be “DISRUPTIVE” at a Crucial Time Investor Wants Disney to FIRE Board Member The Big Disney Parks Changes that Activist Investors Are Pushing Who Is Nelson Peltz and Why Do People Care What He Says About 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. What surprised you the most about this financial information from Disney? Tell us in the comments. The post Disney Reveals Major News As Critical Date Nears first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Streaming has become a big part of Disney’s business but also a big point of contention when it comes to Disney’s finances. ©Disney Back in November of 2022, we got an updated look at the Disney+ subscriber numbers but we also learned that Disney’s streaming business as a whole had a loss of nearly $1.5 BILLION. This tremendous loss, among other things, ultimately contributed to the ouster of Bob Chapek as CEO. Since that November report, Bob Iger has returned as CEO and Disney has officially launched its ad-supported Disney+ tier. So what is going on with Disney’s streaming business now? We found out. On February 8th, Disney released its quarterly earnings report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 (Q1 of FY 2023). In it, we learned that the total number of Disney+ subscribers is now 161.8 million. Give the Gift of Disney+ Back in November of 2022, that number was 164.2 million (that included Disney+ Hotstar and international subscriptions). So in the past few months, the number has actually DECLINED. This is the first time we’ve seen this happen in Disney+ history. ©Disney So what happened? When you look at the breakdown, domestic Disney+ subscribers (in the U.S. and Canada) increased from 46.4 million to 46.6 million, and international subscribers (excluding Disney+ Hotstar) increased as well. With Disney+ alone, the subscriber count went from 102.9 million to 104.3 million. Not a huge increase, but an increase nonetheless. ©Disney The main problem area is with Disney+ Hotstar (only available in international markets). The service lost 6% of its subscribers in the past quarter, dropping from 61.3 million to 57.5 million total. So technically, no losses from Disney+ directly in the domestic markets, even though the overall number has decreased. As far as ESPN+ and Hulu go, both of those services are up in subscriber count as well, with 24.9 million and 48 million, respectively. ©Hulu And that’s a current look at Disney+ and the financial situation with Disney’s streaming business. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more news and let you know what we find. Click here to see if activist investors could really derail Bob Iger’s Board at Disney  Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think about these streaming numbers? Tell us in the comments. The post Is Disney+ LOSING Subscribers? Here’s What the Numbers Say first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a Disney trip can be a stressful experience. Disneyland Monorail From park tickets to hotels, dining, transportation, and more — there’s a lot to keep track of. And, since no two days are alike in the Disney parks, things can get a little confusing. That’s why we’re here to let you know about an important closure that could impact your next trip to Disneyland! The Disneyland Monorail will be closing for a brief refurbishment on March 20th, 2023! It will reopen a few days later on March 24th, but if you’re heading to Disneyland during this time — make sure you keep this in mind and find alternate transportation. ©Disney Disney didn’t share what sort of refurbishment the monorail would be receiving, but we often see certain experiences become unavailable when routine maintenance is required — which might be the case here! Pixar Pier Luckily, the monorail will only be closed for a short time, so no lengthy refurbishments here. We keep track of all the current and upcoming closures in Disneyland and Disney World, and you can read about everything that will be closed in Disneyland at the link below. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more! EVERYTHING That Will Be Closed in Disney World in 2023 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 heading to Disneyland soon? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: The Monorail Will CLOSE Soon in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Only at Disney World is getting evacuated off a ride exciting! It seems that Disney just has a way of making the mundane magical, huh? Spaceship Earth Many guests treat the experience of a ride evacuation as a chance to take a one-of-a-kind backstage tour — witnessing all the ins and outs of their favorite ride in a way they’ve never seen them before! Most of these evacuations aren’t serious and can be caused by something as minor as a spill taking a while to be cleaned up or show elements like spotlights not working. One of our readers was recently evacuated off Journey into Imagination with Figment! Thanks to DFB reader Beth M. for sending us these photos! So, what is it like to get evacuated from Journey Into Imagination? Unlike Figment, we won’t make you use your imagination alone. Things look a little less dream-like with the work lights on! Photo by Beth M. This part made us wonder if this was Journey Into Imagination or the spookiest carnival ever…. Photo by Beth M. We learned the secret behind Figment’s footprints! They’re little light-up signs all along the tunnel. Photo by Beth M. Things definitely looked different without the black lights… Photo by Beth M. …and here’s a look at the ride path! Photo by Beth M. Well, was it what you expected? We loved taking a look at these photos and getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of this fan-favorite ride. We love when our readers share photos with us, and when they do, we try to share them here for the rest of you to see! Make sure to follow along for more news — including inside looks at evacuations. Speaking of evacuations… sometimes rides close down for a LONG time! The good news is, they’re scheduled to do so. Click the link below so you know which rides will be closed in 2o23 so that they don’t catch you by surprise! Click here to view a COMPLETE LIST of 2023 ride closures 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 evacuated off a ride? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Get Evacuated off Journey Into Imagination With Figment in EPCOT With Us first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We get it — so many of us Disney fans don’t live near Florida or California to visit the parks as often as we like. So we have to get our Disney fix in other ways. Mickey and Minnie Maybe that’s non-stop binging EVERYTHING on Disney+. Maybe it’s playing our favorite Disney playlists over and over. Maybe it’s just watching videos about Disney (*cough* DisneyFoodBlog YouTube videos) on repeat. But if you live around Texas, you might not be aware of a Disney experience in your own backyard! Disney’s Mickey & Friends: An Extra Big Adventure is coming to CAMP Dallas in Dallas, Texas. With help from CAMP Counselors, guests will get to play through an “immersive world filled with absolutely humongous fun, celebrating Disney’s Mickey Mouse & Friends!” ©CAMP Activities include a play experience where you’ve been shrunk down to the size of a crayon and you need to help Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy get things back to normal in time for Mickey’s birthday party. That will include sliding down the ribbon of a gigantic birthday present, mixing a song on a huge turntable, throwing enormous popcorn kernels, and more! There’s even a dance party. ©CAMP Although the experience promises fun for the whole family, it is specifically targeted at kids ages two to eight. Tickets will get you a 40-minute experience and can be purchased from the CAMP website. You’ll book a specific time for the experience, which is what your ticket will be for. Tickets are $20 to $22 per person depending on what day you book. ©CAMP So that’s one thing you can do to bring some extra Disney into your life. You’ll also see some 100th anniversary things popping up all over the U.S. soon, too, including an immersive animation experience. Be sure to keep an eye on DFB because we’ll be sure to tell you about these things in advance! 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! How You Can Celebrate Disney’s 100th Anniversary 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 checking out this experience? Let us know in the comments! The post The Disney Experience You Never Knew You Could Do in...Texas? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

How long does it take cast members at Shanghai Disney Resort to prepare decorations for the Chinese New Year? View the full article

Since 1980, The Walt Disney Company has partnered with Make-A-Wish to make dreams come true. Dreams Come True Now, a familiar face is joining the national Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish America. According to PRNewsWire, The Walt Disney Company and Make-A-Wish America have worked together to make over 145,000 wishes come true for many Make-A-Wish families. Disney also collects the coins often thrown into the fountains around the Parks and has previously donated the money to Make-A-Wish. Cinderella’s Wishing Well in Magic Kingdom After a board meeting on February 3rd, Make-A-Wish announced that the chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro, would join the board of directors for the company. Josh D’Amaro, Head of Disney Parks and Resorts “Both Disney and Make-A-Wish understand what a positive impact hope, imagination, and happiness can have on the lives of seriously ill children,” said D’Amaro. “It’s an honor to represent the thousands of Disney cast members around the world who create magic and help make wishes come true every day for these amazing families.” ©Josh D’Amaro We love to see so many wishes coming true for Make-A-Wish families and the special link between them and Disney. Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Click here to read about Josh D’Amaro’s comments on changes to Theme Parks! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of this new addition to the Make-A-Wish board? Let us know in the comments below! The post NEWS: Disney Chairman Josh D'Amaro Joins the Make-A-Wish Board of Directors first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We might still be celebrating the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, but the next festival is right around the corner! Flower and Garden The 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival kicks off on March 1st, and we’re looking forward to everything returning this year — including the Garden Rocks Concert Series. But, there’s a way to enjoy the concerts that stands out above the rest and reservations are available starting tomorrow! Garden Rocks dining packages are special extras guests can book to get guaranteed seating at that day’s Garden Rocks concert. When you book a dining package, you’ll get lunch or dinner at select EPCOT restaurants, plus guaranteed seating at one of the Garden Rocks performances that day. Garden Rocks 2022 Here’s a look at the participating restaurants this year: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall ($74 for adults and $48 for children) Biergarten ($60 for adults and $34 for children) Coral Reef Restaurant ($69 for adults and $27 for children) Garden Grill Restaurant ($66 for adults and $43 for children) Le Cellier ($95 for adults and $36 for children) Regal Eagle Smokehouse ($35 for adults and $20 for children) Rose & Crown Dining Room ($55 for adults and $25 for children) Spice Road Table ($47 for adults and $20 for children) Garden Rocks concert series Each dining package includes a meal with an appetizer, entrée, and dessert or one full buffet or family-style meal, as well as a non-alcoholic beverage. Note that Spice Road Table is different, though: the dining package there includes two small plates, a shared dessert platter, and a non-alcoholic beverage. Garden Rocks Dining Package Advance dining reservations will be available beginning February 9th on the My Disney Experience app or by visiting the Disney World website. The EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival will run from March 1st through July 5th. Here’s an important thing to note, though: dining packages are not offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. We’ll continue to keep you updated on the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Check Out the Full Lineup for the 2023 Garden Rocks Concert Series Click HERE to See All the Updated Details for EPCOT's International Flower and Garden Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Trip? Pre-Order the DFB Guide to the 2023 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 220+ page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Pre-Order your 2023 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code SPRING at check-out to get $2 off the cover price! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you planning on getting a Garden Rocks dining package? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Disney Fans Need To Get Up EARLY Tomorrow first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s no doubt that Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers a lot when it comes to entertaining guests. Tower of Terror However, the popular thrill ride Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster is scheduled for maintenance and will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment period starting on February 20th, 2023. Disney hasn’t announced an exact reopening date, but says the ride should reopen sometime in the summer. With Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster taking a break and other attractions still closed, guests will need to turn to other options in the park. Thankfully, there are not only a ton of other rides and shows to keep you busy but plenty of shopping opportunities too! Since we last checked in at Hollywood Studios the park has added a TON of new items. Keep reading to see if your favorite characters or rides are featured! Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates Crossroads of the World When you first enter Hollywood Studios (or on your way out) stop by this kiosk for fun pins. We spotted two new Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster pins, including this Pedal to the Metal Pin for $11.99! Pedal to the Metal Pin The other one is a red classic Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Pin, which you can grab for $12.99. Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Pin Mickey’s of Hollywood At Mickey’s of Hollywood we found this adorable pink hat featuring all sort of Disney animals for $29.99. Pink Animal Hat They also are carrying this sweet purple Mickey Mouse T-Shirt which can be yours for $34.99. Mickey Mouse T-Shirt How cool is this Sulley Nutcracker? Get one to bring home for $69.99. Sulley Nutcracker If you’re a fan of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you can buy this Best Date Night Ever Pin for $14.99. Best Date Night Ever Pin And for a place to hold all of your pins, you can use this Munchlings Lanyard, which is $14.99. Munchlings Lanyard The Darkroom Did you know this shop is FILLED with pins? We found several limited edition ones celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Peter Pan! First, we have this Lost Boys Pin for $54.99 … Lost Boys Pin … a Captain Hook and Smee Pin for those who love villains for $19.99 … Captain Hook and Smee Pin … and one with Peter and Wendy for $17.99. Peter Pan and Wendy Pin They also have two new Star Wars Pins for $17.99 each. They have this Walrus Man Pin … Star Wars Orange Vest Pin … as well as this Hammerhead Pin. Star Wars Blue Vest Pin Celebrity 5 & 10 You can shop for apparel at a variety of places in Hollywood Studios, including Celebrity 5 & 10. We recently found this Runaway Railway Hat that looks like a conductor’s cap! You can purchase one for $34.99. Runaway Railway Hat They also have the Walt Disney Studios Button Down from the Disney Eras collection for $64.99. Walt Disney Studios Button Down You can find more than clothes here! Check out this awesome 100th Anniversary Mug that comes with its own lid and can be yours for $24.99. 100th Anniversary Mug With Lid Keystone Clothiers Looking for more clothing? Stop by Keystone Clothiers, which carries collectibles like this replica of Dr. Strange’s Cloak of Levitation for $99.99. Cloak of Levitation For kids, they’ve added two new Cars Dino Park tops! There’s this Rash Guard for $29.99 … Dino Park Rash Guard … as well as this Button Down for $39.99. Dino Park Button Down Keystone also had two new Black Panther pins! You can buy this limited edition Black Panther Mask Pin for $19.99. Black Panther Mask Pin There’s also this silver limited release Black Panther Pin for $17.99. Black Panther Pin For kids who love Cars, you can pick up this Air Mater Toy Set for $24.99. Air Mater Toy Set Rock Around the Shop At this location dedicated to Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster you’ll find tons of merch for the thrill ride, like this hoodie for $44.99. Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Hoodie You can match your pin with this Pedal to the Metal Mug (complete with flames!) for $19.99. Pedal to the Metal Mug That’s it for now! Keep an eye on our site for more Hollywood Studios updates, and if you missed our last update, you can read it here. TIPS on planning your BEST DAY in Disney’s Hollywood Studios 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. If you were gifted one item out of all of these options, which one would you choose? Comment your pick below! The post What's New at Disney's Hollywood Studios: 10 NEW Pins! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s certainly no shortage of incredible food around Disney World, but Disney Springs might just be our favorite place to grab a bite to eat. Disney Springs From table service spots and quick service locations to ice cream shops, bakeries, and more — chances are everyone can find something they like at Disney Springs! But today, we’re trying some barbecued eats at The Smokehouse at the House of Blues! We’re heading over to The Smokehouse at the House of Blues in Disney Springs! This counter service component to House of Blues features items including — but not limited to — barbecue sandwiches, ribs, and smoked turkey legs. And the relaxed, casual vibe is often enhanced by the presence of live musicians in an outdoor setting. Atmosphere You’ll find The Smokehouse over on the West Side of Disney Springs, near the M&M’s Store and City Works. It’s the counter-service sister to the table-service House of Blues Restaurant, and you’ll find plenty of barbecued eats and snacks here. The Smokehouse at the House of Blues Since it’s a counter-service spot, The Smokehouse doesn’t offer indoor seating, but you’ll find plenty of outdoor spots underneath a canopy of trees and string lights. Not only that, but you’ll often find live musicians here serenading you as you dine. And when you’re done, you can potentially catch a concert inside the House of Blues music venue. Outdoor seating under the trees Now that we know what kind of vibes we’ll be getting at The Smokehouse, let’s take a look at what we can eat! Menu You’ll find a smaller menu at The Smokehouse — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! There are barbecue brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, a hot dog, and a salad if you’re looking for something a little lighter. ©Disney You’ll find snacks like beans, chips, and coleslaw, plus cookies, brownies, and assorted candy for dessert. ©Disney There are soft drinks, energy drinks, and bottled water… ©Disney …plus a TON of beer options… ©Disney …and some wine, too! ©Disney But, what’s on the menu for us this time around? Eats We kicked things off with a soft pretzel and cheese sauce for $5 (the pretzel is $4, but the cheese sauce is $1 extra.) We weren’t expecting to have our socks knocked off here or anything, but the pretzel was warm, soft, and perfectly salty. The cheese sauce was an excellent addition — it was also warm and had that delicious nacho cheese flavor. We thought this was a pretty good deal for the price! Pretzel with cheese Moving on to our meatier dishes, we picked up the Smoked Turkey Leg for $14. This thing is MASSIVE. This could easily be split between two people or just one really hungry carnivore. There was a ton of meat on the leg, but it was rather salty (not uncommon for turkey legs.) It did have a great smoky flavor, though, and it’s nice to know you can get a turkey leg in Disney Springs if you want it. Turkey leg For our entree, we grabbed the Barbecue Brisket Sandwich for $16. It comes with a side of beans and a side of coleslaw too! This thing was stacked with brisket — so if you’re looking for a lot of barbecue, you can definitely find it here. Barbecue brisket sandwich The bun was soft, but overall the sandwich wasn’t very big despite having a lot of meat on it. We wouldn’t recommend sharing this based on the size. We also found the barbecue sauce to be on the sweeter side, although there was a nice smokiness to it, too. We didn’t love the coleslaw or the beans particularly, the coleslaw reminded us of cafeteria food and the beans tasted just like the barbecue sauce from the sandwich. Lots of flavor Of course, we can’t have a meal without getting a dessert — so we opted for the brownie! It was only $2, but it did come prepackaged, so don’t expect a freshly baked treat from this spot. Brownie It was pretty large for the price, however, and it was soft and moist. We did find the center to be a bit on the mushy side, but it wasn’t off-putting. Plus, we appreciated just how many chocolate chips were hiding in here! It was pretty chewy! So, what’s the final verdict on The Smokehouse at the House of Blues? Nosh or Not You should eat at The Smokehouse if… You’re in the mood for some quick barbecue or are really craving some meaty dishes. You enjoy the outdoor ambiance and live music performances. You’re looking for something quick to grab before continuing your Disney Springs visit! You should skip The Smokehouse if… You’re looking for a formal, table-service meal. You’re not a carnivore and don’t like barbecue (the menu is pretty limited!) You don’t want to have to potentially talk over a live musician or band. Overall Next time you’re at Disney Springs, stop by The Smokehouse at the House of Blues for some delicious barbecue and other tasty treats. Although the seating is outside, you’ll be surrounded by trees and tunes that’ll make up for it. Full spread We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest spots to grab a bite to eat in Disney Springs, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest — and check out more restaurant reviews below! The WORST Things We Ate at Disney World in January Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide Check Out the 19 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2022 Our Top 50 All-Time Best Disney Dining Tips These Are the BEST Meals in Disney World for Under $15 Ranking Every Single Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking Every Single EPCOT Restaurant Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney Springs Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney World Hotels – Cheap Eats Edition Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you eaten at The Smokehouse in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Found Smoky, Sweet Barbecue in Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

TRON Lightcycle / Run will officially open in Magic Kingdom on April 4th, 2023, but guests already have some THOUGHTS about the experience. ©Disney We’ve already seen part of what it’s like to ride the attraction, given you a look at Cast Member costumes for the ride, and shared details about the ride’s major milestones. But now we’ve got more information to share ahead of your ride on this new attraction! On our Instagram page, we asked our readers if they have ridden TRON Lightcycle / Run during the Cast Member previews that are currently going on. We also asked them to comment on what they loved and what they think needs more work. Our readers had some THOUGHTS about the ride, so now we’re going to share them all with you! Keep in mind, this post is based just on the responses of those readers who have had the chance to visit TRON thus far. Only Cast Member previews have taken place as of this time (meaning only a limited number of guests have been able to ride), but more previews for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members will be taking place soon ahead of the ride’s official opening, so many more guests should be sharing their experiences in the future. TRON Cast Member previews Let’s take a look at just what our readers who have been on TRON so far have said is BAD and what is GOOD about Disney World’s newest addition. Good: Theming Several of our readers seemed to emphasize that Disney did a spectacular job when it came to theming. One reader shared that the “indoor effects & overall theming were amazing.” Another used the power of emojis to really capture their feelings, saying “the area itself is .” One reader highlighted a specific aspect of the theming, noting that the “lighting was fantastic.” ©Disney We’ve only seen a limited amount of the indoor portion of the TRON ride thus far. Disney has given a preview of the lockers area (which does appear to be illuminated in a fun way)… Have you ridden TRON yet? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. The post Disney World’s NEW TRON Coaster…The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The future of Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District still hangs in the air after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis filed a bill that would change how the self-governing district operates. ©Spectrum News 13 We shared Disney’s response to the new legislation, but now it appears other Florida lawmakers have spoken out to criticize the bill as well — in the form of proposed amendments. Here’s what we know. The latest Reedy Creek legislation proposed by Governor DeSantis (HB 9B) seeks to change the district’s name, make the Board wholly Governor-appointed, strip RCID of certain powers, restrict other perks regarding spending and tax codes, and more. While this is just a draft proposal for now, it could grow legs and gain traction in the Florida legislature. Reedy Creek Trash Cans However, various amendments have now been filed on HB 9B, also called the “Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange and Osceola Counties” bill. There are multiple different amendments, such as the one proposed by Rep. Harris regarding the RCID Board which suggests that “Any person who has previously contributed to a political committee affiliated with the Governor or made a campaign contribution for the election of the Governor” not be admitted a seat on the Board. ©The Florida Channel | Courtesy of WTVT Rep. Anna Eskamani proposed an amendment regarding the new Board as well, this time suggesting that instead of five members as DeSantis proposed, the Board of Supervisors would consist of seven members: three appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the Senate, and four would be local elected officials such as the mayors of Orlando, Orange County, Kissimmee, and the chair of the Osceola Board of County Commissioners. ©WFTV 9 Another amendment proposed by Eskamani would provide more distance between the new Board and Florida legislature (DeSantis). It would mean that anyone who has held an “elected office during the 10 years immediately preceding his or her appointment” or who has “made any campaign contributions to the Governor or any political committee affiliated with the Governor” could not serve on the Board either. A similar amendment was filed regarding the general counsel the Board is allowed to employ for legal services when needed — no partners or shareholders from the chosen firm can have “served as an elected official during the 10 years immediately preceding such appointment or contracting” or have made political contributions to the Governor. Reedy Creek Emergency Vehicles©Wesh In addition to Board changes, Rep. Harris proposed that the Governor can’t “accept anything of value, including but not limited to, campaign contributions or transportation free of charge on privately owned aircraft, from a vendor, contractor, company or other person financially affiliated with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District,” — the DeSantis-proposed new name for Reedy Creek. ©Fox10 News | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Speaking of the district’s new name, perhaps the most critical amendment filed regarding DeSantis’ new Reedy Creek bill was written by Rep. Eskamani — who was suggested that the district be renamed “Florida’s Attempt to Silence Critical and Independent Speech and Thought.” Many have watched the Disney and DeSantis drama unfold since the dissolution of Reedy Creek was viewed as retaliation for Disney’s response to the Parental Rights in Education bill (the “Don’t Say Gay” bill which has now become law.) Now that this new legislation has been drafted, we’ll have to wait and see what unfolds. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline The legislation will be a topic of discussion at the State Affairs Committee hearings on February 8th, but there is still a ways to go before the bill makes it to the House and Senate floors. Cinderella Castle For more on the Reedy Creek situation, see our posts below: The LOOPHOLE Disney might use to resolve some of its Reedy Creek issues “We’re Not Going to Have a Corporation Controlling Its Own Government” — Governor DeSantis Comments on the Future of Disney’s Reedy Creek District “We Don’t Have a Choice” — Update on Disney’s Reedy Creek Drama from the District’s Leaders Stay tuned to DFB for more news. See a Full Breakdown of the Proposed Reedy Creek Bill 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. What do you think will end up happening with Reedy Creek? Let us know in the comments. The post “Florida’s Attempt to Silence Critical and Independent Speech and Thought” — What Lawmakers Are Saying About Proposed Reedy Creek Changes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article