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Welcome back to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Animal Kingdom We’re here bringing you all the recent updates from this park. Since things change so often in Disney WOrld, there’s lots of new merchandise to cover this week in Animal Kingdom, so let’s get started! Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Riverside Depot We spotted an adorable Baloo Cuddleez Plush for $39.99! Baloo Cuddleez There is also a new Na’vi Glow Crystal Spear for $32… Na’vi Glow Crystal Spear …and a Na’vi Glow Crystal Knife for $20. Na’vi Glow Crystal Knife We finally saw the Yellow Mickey Sweatpants that match the hoodie we saw earlier. You can get the sweatpants for $49.99. Yellow Mickey Sweatpants We also spotted a Black Mickey Sweatsuit Hoodie for $64.99… Black Mickey Sweatsuit Hoodie …and the Sweatpants for $49.99. Black Mickey Sweatsuit Sweatpants An Aristocats Jacket can also be yours for $64.99. Aristocats Jacket Lastly, we saw some Haunted Mansion Stationary for $24.99. Haunted Mansion Stationary On to the next store! Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures There’s ANOTHER sweatsuit over at this store! It’s the WDW 20th Sweatsuit with a Hoodie for $64.99… WDW 20th Sweatsuit Hoodie …and the Sweatpants for $49.99. WDW 20th Sweatsuit Sweatpants That was all the new merch we spotted at Chester & Hester’s this time. Serka Zong Bazaar (Expedition Everest Gift Shop) We spotted a lot of Lunar New Year merchandise, like the Lunar New Year Wallet for $50… Lunar New Year Wallet …the Red Pocket Set for $19.99… Red Pocket Set …a Lunar New Year Donald Statue for $79.99… Lunar New Year Donald Statue …and a Lunar New Year Spirit Jersey for $85.19! Lunar New Year Spirit Jersey The Spirit Jersey features Chip ‘n Dale, and it says “Happy New Year” in gold letters. Dino Institute And over at the Dino Institute, we spotted a Jasmine MagicBand+ for $54.99. Jasmine MagicBand+ And that’s everything new we spotted in Animal Kingdom! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest park news. Check out our 2023 Ultimate Guide to Animal Kingdom here! Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip How Many Days Do You Really Need in Disney World? How to Have the CHEAPEST Trip to Disney World 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Booking a 2023 Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Are you hoping to see anything arrive in Animal Kingdom soon? Tell us below! The post What's New at Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Princess Jasmine MagicBand+ first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

February is a BIG month for Disney+ fans! ©Disney There’s a ton of new content coming to the streaming service, including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, new episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Disney’s documentary about the making of the Disney Wish cruise ship, and more. Check out a full lineup of all the shows and movies coming to Disney+ in February 2023 here! Wednesday, February 1 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Dead End Express (S1) Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (S1, S2, S3) Puppy Dog Pals (S5, 3 episodes) O Coro: Sucesso, Aqui Vou Eu (S1) The Chorus: Success, Here I Go (Season 1 Premiere) The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Season 2 Premiere, all episodes streaming) National Treasure: Edge of History (Episode 9) Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episode 206) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Friday, February 3 Clan of the Meerkats Life Below Zero (S19) Water and Power: A California Heist Sue Aikens in ‘Life Below Zero’ Wednesday, February 8 7 Toughest Days (S1) Arranged (S1) Celebrity House Hunting (S1) Dance Moms (S1, S2, S7) Dance Moms: Miami (S1) Forged in Fire: Knife or Death (S1, S2) Forged in Fire (S4) Ghost Hunters (S1, S2) Hamster & Gretel (S1, 5 episodes) History’s Greatest Mysteries (S1, S2) Ice Road Truckers (S11) Man vs. Child Chef Showdown (S2) Me & Mickey (Shorts) (S1, 7 episodes) The Owl House (S3, 1 episode) The Proof Is Out There (S1, S2) Rescue Cam (S1) Storage Wars: Barry’s Best Buys (S1) Storage Wars: Miami (S1) Storage Wars: New York (S1, S2) Storage Wars (S14) Marvel Studios’ Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever National Treasure: Edge of History (Finale) Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episodes 207 and 208) ©Disney Friday, February 10 42 to 1 The Christmas Consultant Feliz Navidad House of Darkness Liz & People Presents: Once Upon a Main Street The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story The Santa Con Tommy Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart Turkey Hollow Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter Dug Days: Carl’s Date Marvel Studios Legends (“Ant-Man,” “Hank & Janet,” and “Wasp”) ©Marvel Wednesday, February 15 Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog (S3) Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist (S1) Mars (S1) Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (S1, 6 episodes) SuperKitties (S1, 7 episodes) Mila in the Multiverse (Season 1 Premiere, all episodes streaming) Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episode 209) The Bad Batch posters in Disney World Friday, February 17 Inside Airport Lost & Found Making the Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship The Disney Wish Wednesday, February 22 To Catch a Smuggler (S4) Ultimate Airport Dubai (S1, S2, S3) The Low Tone Club (Premiere, all episodes streaming) Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever (Premiere, all episodes streaming) Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Episode 210) ©Disney Friday, February 24 Blow Your Mind Tini: The New Life of Violetta This is everything that is coming to Disney+ in February. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! Learn more about Disney+ 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which Disney+ addition are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments. The post FULL LINEUP of Shows and Movies Coming to Disney+ in February 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have some BIG news for those of you at Disneyland! Hint: it has to do with the NEW reimagining of Toontown! Disney’s Toontown Toontown, an iconic land at Disneyland, has been closed since 2022 for a drastic refurbishment. So far, we know that the reimagining includes new interactive experiences that are fun for the whole family, more grassy areas, CenTOONial Park, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway! These are just a few of the new, awesome things coming to Toontown — and we can’t WAIT to visit. We know that Toontown’s reopening date is fast approaching, and Disney recently posted a video showing one very important step in the reopening process — the new Toontown sign being installed! The narrator exclaims, “It’s happening!” as construction workers hang the Toontown sign above the entrance to the land. We’re one step closer to seeing all the new additions and updates from the minds of the Imagineers! Mickey’s Toontown Model We can’t wait to visit the reimagined Toontown and are already planning out our visit! Will we see you there? Need help planning your next trip to Disneyland? 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-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 visiting Disneyland soon to see the reimagined Toontown? Let us know in the comments! The post We're ONE STEP CLOSER to Toontown's Reopening in Disneyland! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the most controversial parts of the current Disney World experience could be CHANGING in a big way. Walt and Mickey The Park Pass reservation system was introduced after the COVID-19 park closures and has stuck around ever since, gaining lots of praise from various Disney executives but a heavy amount of criticism from Disney fans. Essentially, because of the Park Pass system, a valid ticket is no longer enough to get you into the parks. Instead, if you want to visit a Disney World park on any given day, you’ll need (1) a valid ticket, and (2) a Park Pass reservation for the first park you want to visit. But could the system soon be altered in a way that’ll make guests happier? One Disney executive thinks so. The Park Pass Controversy The Harmonious barges (they’re going away!), the ending of the “Happily Ever After” fireworks show (it’s coming back!), and the introduction of PhotoPass automated photo boxes — all of these are controversial changes that have been made in Disney World. But one thing has been an even MORE contentious addition — Park Passes. Complaints about Park Passes run the gamut. Some are not pleased with the way in which they impact spontaneity and the ability to book a last-minute trip to Disney World. Others feel that they are overly restrictive or are too restrictive on certain types of ticket holders (like Annual Passholders and locals). Pandora — The World of Avatar But perhaps the greatest evidence of the Park Pass “problem” are the 2 (not 1, 2!) lawsuits that have been filed related to Park Passes. One version addresses Park Passes and Magic Key holders at Disneyland, while another focuses on Park Passes and Annual Passholders in Disney World. Both lawsuits make similar allegations — essentially that by keeping the Park Pass system in place, Disney has violated certain agreements with those passholders who got tickets that Disney advertised as having “unlimited access” to the parks. They also claim that Disney has used the Park Pass system to give preferential treatment to single and multi-day ticket holders as opposed to Annual Passholders to make more money. EPCOT Still, Disney executives have long sung the praises of Park Passes, insisting that they help balance things out between super fans and families that just travel to Disney once every 5 years, allow guests to have a better experience, and help manage demand. But that doesn’t mean the Park Pass system isn’t subject to changes. Changes Have Already Been Made We’ve already seen a number of changes made when it comes to the Park Pass system in Disney World (and Park Hopping at Disneyland too). Back in October of 2022, the system changed in Disney World so that you could book more than 1 ticket type at a time, and so that you could modify the date and park of a Park Pass without having to cancel it first. Then, in November of 2022, more changes were announced. Disney World’s 1-day, 1-park tickets (which are currently priced differently depending on what park you want to go to) now automatically come with a Park Pass for the park you want to visit. Dumbo the Flying Elephant And in January of 2023, a MASSIVE Park Pass change was announced for Disney World. Within the coming months, Annual Passholders will be allowed to enter the parks after 2PM without a reservation. The exception, however, will be Passholders seeking to go to Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays. An official start date for this change has not yet been announced. And at Disneyland, Park Hopping will begin at 11AM PT (instead of 1PM PT) starting February 4th, 2023. That could give folks several more hours in their second park of choice. But these changes might only be the beginning! More Changes Could Be On the Way In a recent question-and-answer session with Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, D’Amaro referenced Park Hopping and Park Passes in a way that seemed to indicate that the restrictions aren’t going away any time soon, but Disney is taking steps to change them. D’Amaro noted that while Park Passes were initially introduced due to caps on attendance after those caps were lifted Disney knew there would still be “some days where there are just too many people.” As D’Amaro put it, he would never run something like Disney’s BoardWalk Inn as an “open invite — first come first served.” There’d be so many guests people would end up sleeping on the floors, making for a less-than-great experience. D’Amaro explained that Park Passes, like hotel reservations, are there to make sure guests have a “better experience.” Josh D’Amaro, Head of Disney Parks and Resorts But D’Amaro fully admitted one big problem guests have with the system “You lose some of the serendipity.” So, he said, Disney is “trying to create ease” while also making sure the guest experience is good. According to D’Amaro, the changes recently announced to the Disney World Passholder requirements are “just the start of changes to Park Passes.” ©Disney via IAAPA Expo 2020 Presentation D’Amaro shared that there are individuals planning right now on how to improve the process. He shared that they are working to “make that reservation process as easy and flexible” as possible. D’Amaro shared, “Are you going to see more initiatives like you saw last week? I think you will.” So what could the future hold in terms of Park Pass changes? Perhaps there will be adjustments made to how the system works with Park Hopping, how it further impacts Annual Passholders, or certain other modifications. What modifications would you want to see made? Tell us in the comments! In the meantime, we’ll keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we see. Click here for our FULL PAGE dedicated to Park Passes 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-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 changes do you think should be made to the Park Pass system? Tell us in the comments! The post "That's Just The Start of Changes to Park Passes," Says Disney Executive first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Bob Iger replaced Bob Chapek as Disney’s CEO back in November 2022, but Chapek didn’t leave the company with empty pockets. ©Disney Disney recently filed an SEC report that lays out the details of executives’ and Board members’ salaries. It includes Chapek’s compensation for 2022 and the value of his severance package. According to the SEC report that Disney filed on January 17th, 2023, the Walt Disney company “exercised its right to involuntarily terminate Mr. Chapek’s employment without cause.” The company did so at the end of the fiscal year 2022, on November 20th. Iger was called upon to take back his former role as CEO — a change that many Disney fans supported. ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images The shift came as a surprise to some because the Board of Directors had voted unanimously to renew Chapek’s contract in June 2022. That extension would have lasted 3 years. However, Disney’s report states that the Board “continued to spend significant time discussing the leadership of the Company in the months that followed and determined that Mr. Chapek was no longer the right person to serve in the CEO role.” Bob Chapek ©Disney For a variety of reasons (not the least of which was a disastrous Earnings Call towards the end of 2022), the Board felt that Iger was the better choice to lead Disney. However, Chapek did not leave empty-handed. The recent report shows that Chapek received a pay package of $24.18 million for his work in 2022 along with a severance package. ©Disney The severance package Chapek received is worth over $20 million, with about $6.5 million in remaining base salary and about $1 million as a pro-rated target bonus. He’ll receive almost $13 million in accelerated Disney stock. This package is dependent on Chapek successfully completing “all of the terms of his post-employment consulting agreement.” Want to learn more about what’s going on with the Disney CEO? Check out these posts! Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces New Employee Rules 4 Important Secrets You Didn’t Know About the Iger-Chapek Conflict Will Bob Iger Reverse Bob Chapek’s Decisions? Bob Iger’s Mistakes “Would Have Killed Any Other CEO.” Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Click here to find out how much Bob Iger makes as Disney’s CEO. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Bob Chapek’s Severance Package Is Worth MILLIONS first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I sat down this morning with Josh D’Amaro, the Chairman of Walt Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, with some fellow writers and reporters for a Q and A, and he had strong thoughts on the future of the Disney parks. 50th Anniversary Cinderella Castle Colloquially referred to as DPEP by Walt Disney Company insiders, D’Amaro’s silo is an arm of the Walt Disney Company that’s extremely profitable, and actually supplements the budgets for up-and-coming projects like Disney’s streaming services — which have lately seen huge losses to the tune of $1.4 Billion. And DPEP continues to thrive, with profits nearly doubling year over year. But it’s no secret that Disney has gotten some negative press for recent revenue-driving changes in the domestic theme parks, like replacing their free skip-the-line service with a paid version (Genie+) on both coasts, closing down their free airport transportation service, and halting most Walt Disney World Annual Pass sales along with drastically changing the Disneyland Annual Pass program after initially eliminating it altogether. Phrases like “nickel and diming” are prominent in guest feedback and reactions online. And with a recent CEO shake-up and Board shifts, activist investors are clamoring for change. ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger To combat this narrative, Disney has recently rolled back a few policies, like paid parking at their resort hotels in Disney World. But some stakeholders see this as too little, too late, and are left wondering if the parks will continue to carry the budgetary weight of the company…and if guests will be the ones bearing the brunt through more price increases and the elimination of previously free amenities. According to Josh D’Amaro, the two are not connected. “It’s easy to make that association,” he says of the revenue-enhancing DPEP changes being attached to budget hiccups in streaming. But “losses elsewhere in the company have nothing to do with what decisions are made at the parks level,” he says. “We’re not going to raise the price of a bottle of Dasani because of budgetary concerns in another part of the company.” EPCOT He also says that Disney+ losses have no affect on what’s green lit in the parks. In fact, D’Amaro was adamant that the Walt Disney Company is on the brink of their biggest projects yet. “We have no shortage of money. We wanna make sure we do the biggest things, the coolest things, the things that represent the future.” Josh D’Amaro with a lightsaber at Destination D23 And in reference to guest concerns that Disney parks projects may be curtailed due to budgetary issues elsewhere in the company, D’Amaro responded, “Our capital spending is higher than it’s ever been before. People are looking for reasons why we shouldn’t be investing, but we’re investing more. That’s not gonna stop as long as I’m in charge. If anybody’s worried that we’re pulling back, we’re not.” ©Disney | TRON Lightcycle / Run is opening SOON! To illustrate this, D’Amaro referenced the parks expansion teasers brought forward at the D23 Expo in September. During that “Blue Sky” presentation, D’Amaro and Disney Imagineers mentioned potential projects including a Magic Kingdom expansion that would bring an additional land — potentially with “Coco” and “Encanto” attractions — to Disney World’s premiere park. Careful to use the language of “what ifs,” the group discussed ideas in the works for the Dinoland U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom, and the possibility of adding “Zootopia” and “Moana” attractions to that area of the park. And then, there was that oft-mentioned idea of Disney Villains. “I know this one is not planned anytime soon,” D’Amaro said in September. “But it’s something that we know all of you talk about, and it’s a fun idea that’s always in the back of our minds—an area overrun by villains.” Concept art of potential Magic Kingdom expansion Today, D’Amaro confirmed these parks expansion projects are still under consideration. “Imagineers are really talking about these,” he says. “We want to pull back the curtain.” According to D’Amaro, the future is bright for the Disney parks. And it genuinely seems like he’s grateful to be at the helm during what he clearly sees as an explosive time of opportunity. Disney Just Hit Us With 15 MASSIVE News Bombs Keep following DFB for the latest Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-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. The post "There's No Shortage of Money" Says Disney Executive on New Theme Park Projects first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Universal announces Mardi Gras concerts featuring Patti LaBelle, Goo Goo Dolls, Sean Paul, more View the full article

Disney has been involved in a number of lawsuits over the years, and another one is seeing some big developments now. Annual Passholder Magnet Disney has recently had to deal with a Park Pass lawsuit from Magic Key passholders, a Park Pass lawsuit initiated by Annual Passholders, and an investor lawsuit stemming from Disney’s handling of the Parental Rights in Education Bill in Florida (what critics call “Don’t Say Gay”). Right now, we’re taking a closer look at the Annual Pass Park Pass lawsuit as that has seen some major developments. The Lawsuit Before we get to the update, let’s go over a brief overview of what’s going on. Basically, back in 2022, some Disney World Annual Passholders filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts related to Park Passes and how they interact with the Annual Pass. In the lawsuit, the Plaintiffs claimed a few things, namely: By keeping the Park Pass system in place, Disney has breached its contract with Passholders The Park Pass system effectively blocks out the highest tier of Annual Passholders on some days (when Park Passes sell out), even though those Annual Passes had been advertised as having “unlimited access” Disney has been unfairly favoring guests with single or multi-day tickets over Annual Passholders so they can “make a larger profit” And Disney has “altered the Platinum Pass and Platinum Plus Pass terms so dramatically that they do not even resemble the original agreement bargained for by Plaintiffs” Disney World Annual Passholder Popcorn Bucket Back in December of 2022, we shared a bit of an update about the Passholder lawsuit and how the Plaintiffs had been directed to file an amended complaint with their full names (they originally just used some initials). The plaintiffs later did file a motion for leave to amend their complaint. But some BIG things have happened since then. Update! Following that December update, the plaintiffs did file an amended complaint, but they were then directed to file a new one as that one still had certain deficiencies that needed to be addressed. Soon after, a second amended complaint was filed (on January 3rd, 2023). That’s the complaint the case is now operating under. And that’s the complaint that Disney is now trying to have dismissed. On January 13th, 2023, not long after that second amended complaint was filed, Disney filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Annual Passholder Card Here’s a basic breakdown of their arguments. First, Disney notes that the plaintiffs had Annual Passes that are subject to certain express terms and conditions. Disney alleges that it reserved the right to change those terms and conditions and Passholder’s park access. Specifically, they point to some terms and conditions that said “[p]arks, attractions or entertainment may … change or be discontinued without notice and without liability” and terms and conditions were “subject to change.” Annual Passholder-exclusive merchandise Disney then notes that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it changed some of those terms and conditions to require Park Passes for all guests (including Passholders) and limit Park Hopping to 2PM. Disney then updated Annual Pass terms to reflect the Park Pass system. Disney claims that it took steps to accommodate Passholders during this time, including by offering them the ability to “opt out of their passes until August 11, 2020,” and even a bit further when the “grace period” kicked in. Disney points out that the plaintiffs did NOT choose to opt-out, but instead kept their passes and renewed those passes “under the reservation system and new terms and conditions” in 2021 and 2022. Annual Passholder Magnet Disney then addresses the plaintiff’s claims. According to Disney, the plaintiffs claim they had an “implied contract” that their passes would have “no blockout dates” and “unrestricted Park Hopping.” Disney then states that the plaintiffs’ claim is that the Park Pass system and Park Hopping restrictions violate that implied contract, among other things. Plaintiffs also brought up times when single-day or multi-day tickets/Park Passes were available while Park Passes for the same day were not available for Annual Passholders. Disney then argues that the plaintiffs fail to state a claim because there were no such “implied contracts.” Instead, Disney alleges that they had the express contract, which restricts them from bringing that implied contract claim. Annual Passholder necklace In Disney’s motion, they argue that the express contract precludes any implied contract claim. They also say that even if there was an implied promise of “no blockout dates,” the facts the plaintiffs allege don’t constitute “blockout dates.” Instead, the issue is more related to dates on which Passholders weren’t technically blocked out but still couldn’t enter the parks because all Park Passes for Passholders had filled up for the day. Disney argues that this is different. 50th Anniversary Annual Passholder Magnet As Disney puts it, the plaintiffs “allege only that ‘Disney appears to be limiting the number of reservations available to Platinum Pass holders on any given day’…Allocating reservations per day is different from blocking out or ‘closing off’ particular ‘pre-designated dates’ altogether.” When it comes to Park Hopping, Disney claims that the plaintiffs argue that Park Hopping used to be allowed before 2PM. But Disney claims that this doesn’t show they promised never to change that Park Hopping access. They then go on to break down why plaintiff’s other claims shouldn’t survive. In conclusion, Disney argues that the entire complaint should be dismissed. Annual Passholder entrance at EPCOT What will happen next? We’ll have to wait and see. We expect the Plaintiffs will file a response to the Motion to Dismiss, and the motion could eventually be set for a hearing, at which point the court will make a determination as to whether the case can move forward. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates. Other Information In terms of other updates, a case management order has been signed for this case. Essentially, what this does is set things in motion for the remainder of the case — setting deadlines for things like discovery, the joinder of parties, etc. Importantly, the case management order establishes that all motions are due by June 27th, 2024, the final pre-trial conference will be on July 18th, 2024, and the trial start date is set for the term that starts on August 5th, 2024. That doesn’t mean August 5th, 2024 will be the actual trial date, but means that the trial should be scheduled within the term that starts on that date, assuming the case gets that far. ©Disney The parties also selected a mediator, which will help them meet other requirements regarding mediation prior to trial. The case was referred to mediation on December 19th, 2022. Again, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest updates on this lawsuit and let you know what we see. For more details about other lawsuits Disney has been involved in, including multi-million dollar lawsuits it has LOST, click here. Click here to learn about the Southwest Airlines lawsuit that has been filed after there were massive cancelations 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-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 claims in this lawsuit? Tell us in the comments. The post The Latest CHANGES in the Park Pass Lawsuit Filed by Annual Passholders Against Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the best things about staying at a Disney World hotel is the pool! Art of Animation pool Disney World swimming pools provide great theming for a fun pool day, or even just a quick dip after a hot day in the parks. But, like everything else at Disney World, those pools require maintenance to stay in tip-top shape for guests. So from time to time, Disney World closes them for refurbishment. It’s a great idea to follow DFB to keep up with these developments, because if the pool is important to you and you’ve booked a stay at that hotel, you may want to try to change your reservations! Here are all the pool closures currently scheduled for 2023. Polynesian Village Resort The water slide at the Lava Pool is currently closed for refurbishment through early February 2023. Important note here: JUST the slide is closed, the pool is open! Pool at the Polynesian! You can also enjoy a second pool at the resort — the Oasis Pool — while the water slide is closed. Polynesian Village vs. Yacht Club: Which Should You Choose? Saratoga Springs Resort The Saratoga Springs Resort has FIVE pools, so you won’t be left high and dry when you stay there, but there are still some closures you should know about! On the Rocks Pool Bar is closed for refurbishment The High Rock Spring Pool, On the Rocks Pool Bar, and the leisure pool at Treehouse Villas are closed for refurbishment through late March 2023. As we said, there are three other pools available — and Disney is providing a shuttle to transport you to an alternate pool if you are staying near one of the two pools that are closed at this time. 23 Snacks You CANNOT Miss in Disney World in 2023 Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground Through early April 2023, the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and whirlpool spa are closed for refurbishment at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Meadow Swimmin’ Pool Like at many other resorts, there is another pool you can enjoy if you are staying here — the Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool and its whirlpool spa are open. The campground’s water play area, and the Meadow Snack Bar also remain open while the work is being done. How Hotels Are CHANGING in Disney World in 2023 Contemporary Resort The feature pool and whirlpool spas are also currently closed at the Contemporary Resort — through early April 2023. Disney’s Contemporary Resort Again, though, there’s an alternate pool at the resort — the Bay Lake Pool is still open, as well as the water play area for children. New Ways to SAVE at Disney World in 2023 Typhoon Lagoon It’s not a swimming pool, but we thought we’d mention that one of Disney World’s two water parks is also closed at this time! Ever since the water parks first reopened, we’ve been in this back-and-forth game with Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. When one opens, the other one immediately closes. Currently, Blizzard Beach is open, which means that Typhoon Lagoon is closed right now. Typhoon Lagoon No reopening date has been announced for Typhoon Lagoon, and it’s not yet clear if Blizzard Beach will remain open when Typhoon Lagoon operates again. We’ll keep you updated when we know more! 51 Free Things To Do in Disney World in 2023 Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, you’re going to need this discount code – WDW2023. Use it to save 25% when you buy 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. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Where’s your favorite pool in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post All The Disney World Pool Closures in 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We are so excited to announce that Season Two of the planDisney Podcast begins tomorrow, January 18th, 2023! Before we kick off an exciting new season, let’s celebrate some of the highlights from Season One.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. Are you a fan of Disney Loungefly bags? They’re the perfect size to carry for a day at the parks and come in so many unique patterns and designs that reflect all kinds of Disney characters, rides, and more. We just need one or two more! We found some NEW Disney Loungeflys on Amazon and we think you’ll find them pretty sweet. Before we get to the new Loungeflys, are you an Amazon Prime Member? You might be able to save some cash if you are (especially since many items ship free with Prime!), so click the link below to sign up for a FREE trial. If you love Disney treats, the Minnie Mouse Sweet Treats Mini Backpack and Fold Snap Wallet are the PERFECT additions to your Loungefly collection! These Amazon exclusives are sure to serve up a smile during your next park visit. ©Amazon The Minnie Mouse Sweet Treats Mini Backpack features a 3-D banana split, complete with Mickey and Minnie-shaped ice cream scoops, Minnie’s bow, and (of course) a cherry on top! The bag is made of vegan leather and features silver hardware. This exclusive bag is available on Amazon for $80. Click here to purchase the Minnie Mouse Sweet Treats Mini Backpack The Minnie Mouse Sweet Treats Fold Snap Wallet is another option to add to your collection, especially if you purchase the matching mini backpack. This wallet features Minnie’s ears and bow, complete with chocolate sauce, sprinkles, and a cherry on top! Like the matching backpack, this wallet is made of vegan leather and features silver hardware. ©Amazon You can buy the exclusive wallet on Amazon for $40. Click here to purchase the Minnie Mouse Sweet Treats Wallet! We love these SWEET new Loungeflys! They almost look sweet enough to eat! Ice cream anyone? Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Want more Disney Loungeflys? We’ve got you covered! 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you LOVE these sweet new Loungefly items? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! The post NEW Amazon-Exclusive Disney Loungefly Bags Are Now Online! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Springs is a great place to escape from all of the crowds in the parks and enjoy plenty of shopping and dining. Disney Springs With the wide variety of restaurants, cafes, stores, and more, we are always keeping our eyes peeled for new items to check out. You might be surprised at the prices of some of these finds though! Disney Springs Food Updates D-Luxe Burger We got to grab the new French Onion Burger from D-Luxe Burger! They basically figured out a way to marry a fantastic soup with a classic American burger. You can get one for yourself for $13.49. French Onion Burger If you love onions you will probably enjoy this burger (although you might want to grab a breath mint afterwards!). Check out our review of the new burger below! We’re Warning You — Disney World’s New Burger Comes With Some Consequences Swirls on the Water Craving something sweet? Check out this new DOLE Whip Flight from Swirls on the Water! This flight includes three different flavors for $7.49. DOLE Whip Flight You’ll get a classic Pineapple swirl, a Strawberry, and a flavor some might have never tried before: pistachio! This is a great treat to split with friends or family, plus it comes with tasty toppings. Read our full review of this new flight! Amorette’s Patisserie Amorette’s Patisserie’s new Celebration Petit Cake has arrived just ahead of the official start of the 100th anniversary celebrations and is $22. Celebration Petit This is a pretty expensive snack, even for Disney. Is it worth the cost? See what we thought of this treat in our review! Click here to read our full review of the new Celebration Petit Cake! Disney Springs Merchandise Updates World of Disney In Disney Springs’s main shopping center, we found some 100th anniversary merchandise that you can personalize! From ear hats to ornaments, they have a variety of items to choose from. Adding your name is an excellent way to really make a souvenir your own. Personalized Disney100 merch We also found some cute onesies for your little ones! Check out this princess design for $19.99 featuring Ariel and Tiana … Ariel and Tiana onesie … as well as this WALL-E onesie that says “too cute for this planet,” also $19.99. WALL-E onesie But the most expensive item we found recently has to go to this piece of 100th anniversary merch! If you’ve got $175 to spend, you can have your own pair of these Disney100 Platinum Minnie Ears. The minimalistic design lets the dripping platinum on the ears really stand out. Disney100 Platinum Minnie Ears That’s it for this update, which is good because we don’t think our wallet could take any more. Stay tuned to our site for more Disney news! Missed our last update? Check it out here: A Pistachio Drink Debuts at Starbucks and More! Watch this video to see why you should be dining at Disney Springs! STOP EVERYTHING — There’s a New Dole Whip Flight in Disney Springs! 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite thing to do in Disney Springs? Comment below! The post What's New at Disney Springs: Minnie Ears That Will Make Your Wallet Cry first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Whether you prefer to get all of your shopping done early in the day when you still have energy or right before you leave the parks for the day, walking around Disney’s many different shops is a trip highlight for many guests. Who doesn’t enjoy a little Disney shopping? As much as we’d like to, we can’t live inside the parks. So for those days when you’re missing Disney World, why not treat yourself to a little online shopping? Besides being convenient, shopping online can be cheaper than buying souvenirs in the parks, too. We’ve gathered some of the best items on Amazon for those who are missing the parks or getting ready for a trip there! January is only half over, and honestly it’s never too late to get a calendar. This Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade Studios: 2023 Wall Calendar is just the thing to keep you squared away (and it’s perfect for counting down the days until your next trip!). Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade Studios: 2023 Wall Calendar Inside you’ll find stunning artwork from the Thomas Kinkade Studios. Each scene has incredible detail, making it feel like you’re almost stepping into a moment with your favorite Disney characters. Originally $15.99, you can now grab this calendar for $7.99. Click here to buy the Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade Studios: 2023 Wall Calendar! Sometimes sticking with the classics is the best way to go! No matter whether you’re shopping for your next vacation or just looking for a nice tee to wear around the house that makes you happy, this Mickey Mouse Gray Graphic T-Shirt can surely fit the bill. Disney Men’s Giant Mickey Mouse Gray Graphic T-Shirt The mottled gray background and faded Mickey print gives this tee a vintage feel without having to worry about it wearing out quickly. Get this shirt for $12.81, marked down from $18.99. Click here to buy the Disney Men’s Giant Mickey Mouse Gray Graphic T-Shirt! This Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Plus Padding Roll is one of the items we swear by when it comes to preparing for a long day in the parks. You could have on the most comfortable pair of shoes in the world, but blisters can still sneak up on you. Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Plus Padding Roll Don’t let foot pain keep you from enjoying yourself! This roll of flexible cushioning is great because you can cut off pieces to fit your exact needs. Get a roll for yourself for $7.02 while it’s on sale. Click here to buy this Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Plus Padding Roll! This Just Play Mickey Mouse 7-Piece Figure Set could be what you need for an upcoming birthday gift! Just Play Mickey Mouse 7-Piece Figure Set, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Toys, Amazon Exclusive Inside are seven figurines of classic Disney characters, perfect for kids aged 3 and up to play with at home, at school, or on the road. Save a few bucks when you get this set on sale for $16.99, originally $18.97. Click here to buy the Just Play Mickey Mouse 7-Piece Figure Set! It’s easy to add a little Disney whimsy to your everyday life without having to go overboard! Start off with these JoyJolt Disney Mickey Mouse Squad Collection Tumblers. They come in a set of four and feature Mickey, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy. JoyJolt Disney Mickey Mouse Squad Collection Tumblers Whip these out the next time you have friends over for a movie night, or use them in the morning to start your day off with a smile. These tumblers are over 30% off, bringing the price down for the entire set to $29.95. Click here to buy these JoyJolt Disney Mickey Mouse Squad Collection Tumblers! How cute is this Disney Classics Captain Mickey Mouse 13-inch Plush? Surprise one of your kids with this! Disney Classics Captain Mickey Mouse 13-inch Plush We think this would also be an excellent gift to surprise them with a Disney Cruise! You can get this plush for $19.99, originally $31.61. Click here to buy the Disney Classics Captain Mickey Mouse 13-inch Plush! While this would be the perfect park bag for a Disney honeymoon, you don’t have to be a bride to wear the Loungefly Disney Minnie Mouse Sequin Mini Backpack. The all-white bag will go with basically any outfit! Loungefly Disney Minnie Mouse Sequin Wedding Mini Backpack Just like other Minnie Mouse Loungefly bags, this comes with a bow and ears on top. The entire bag is covered in white sequins that will sparkle in the sun! Save 20% when you buy this bag for $68.90, marked down from $85. Click here to buy this Loungefly Disney Minnie Mouse Sequin Mini Backpack! Didn’t quite find what you were looking for? Check out all of the best luggage for Disney in 2023! Why This Suitcase Costs $1,400 — and Where You Can Get Its Fancy Features for Less 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-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 could have any of these items for free, which would you pick? Comment below! The post Disney Deals From Amazon That Won't Break the Bank first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Coffee and ice cream: two of the best parts of life! These two treats are also totally necessary for a trip to Disney. There are numerous places to grab both throughout the parks and resorts, but a fan favorite happens to be at Disney Springs. Vivoli il Gelato Vivoli il Gelato is an authentic Florentine gelateria that has treats ranging from cannolis to cookies, ice cream to coffee beverages! Vivoli just announced a new treat coming to the gelateria that we can’t wait to try — and it includes both coffee and ice cream! This new treat is a take on the classic affogato, an Italian dessert dish that features espresso poured over a scoop of vanilla gelato! Yum! Almond Mocha Affogato from 2020 Vivoli’s take on this classic dessert is an Affogato Float that features a hefty scoop of classic vanilla gelato with Kimbo sparkling coffee poured over the top. ©Vivoli If you’re craving this Italian dessert, Vivoli is located across from The Landing Dock and entertainment amphitheater in Disney Springs. You can head in now to try the treat! We can’t wait to try this new float and grab some other beloved fan-favorite treats from Vivoli. Happy snacking! Looking for more sweet treats at Disney Springs? Click here for more! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide Check Out the 19 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2022 Our Top 50 All-Time Best Disney Dining Tips These Are the BEST Meals in Disney World for Under $15 Ranking Every Single Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking Every Single EPCOT Restaurant Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney Springs Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney World Hotels – Cheap Eats Edition Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be trying the Affogato Float? Let us know in the comments! The post There's a NEW Coffee Dessert at Disney Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have HUGE NEWS for those who have wanted to buy a Disneyland Magic Key Pass! Exclusive Magic Key Lounge Magic Key Pass sales for Disneyland Resort have been on pause for a while, but Disney did recently reveal that new passes would be available for sale from “time to time” in 2023. And now, it seems that the time has arrived! When we visited the Disneyland website today, we were able to join a queue to purchase a NEW Magic Key Pass. You can click here to join and see what’s available. Magic Key Starcade Experience The webpage indicates that “due to high demand, Magic Key pass availability is limited.” So, even if you get into the queue, that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to purchase a Magic Key Pass. The website also notes that, when available, new pass sales will be PAUSED each night at 10PM PT. But you can stay in the queue overnight as long as you stay connected to the network and keep the browser window open. Magic Key Embroidery options If you stay in the queue overnight, you’ll get the chance to buy a Magic Key Pass once sales resume no earlier than 9AM PT the next day. Once you get through the queue, you’ll have 10 minutes to enter the site. Magic Key Reusable Straw New Magic Key pass sales will ONLY be available online, so you won’t be able to get them physically in the parks. When we joined the queue, the wait wasn’t all that long. ©Disney As of around 12:23PM ET we saw a message that indicated that the Imagine Key, Believe Key, and Inspire Key were still available. The Enchant Key, however, is only available for renewals at this time. ©Disney If you visit the Disneyland Magic Key website, you can also see a message indicating that new passes are available online, the quantity and pass types may be limited, and some passes may be unavailable from time to time. ©Disney Here’s a breakdown of the Magic Key Pass prices: Inspire Key: $1,599 Believe Key: $1,099 Enchant Key: Renewal Only ($699) Imagine Key: $499 (Only available for Southern California Residents living in zip codes 90000 to 93599) And here’s a look at the screens we saw once we got through the queue. The website reminds guests to check the Magic Key Calendar before purchasing… ©Disney …and shows pricing for the various pass types… ©Disney …as well as info about what is not available. ©Disney If you want to get one of these passes, be sure to act QUICKLY as pass types may sell out or otherwise become unavailable. Magic Key Holder Stay tuned for more news! Click here for the full list of 100th Anniversary treats coming to Disneyland  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 going to buy a Magic Key pass? Tell us in the comments! The post BREAKING! Magic Key Pass Sales Resumed TODAY for Disneyland Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World and Universal Orlando guests suffered heart issues, a seizure and falls while on rides at the theme parks. View the full article

Are you dreaming of the day when you can step outside and the air won’t hurt your face? If you’re wanting to take a 2023 Disney World vacation during the Spring Break season, then keep reading… Are you ready for Spring Break in Disney World? Because we’re about to dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly of Spring Break in Disney World. Disney World is a popular destination for vacations. And Spring Break is one of the most popular times to go on vacation — the kids are outta school, the weather hasn’t gotten too hot yet, and you’re itchin’ to shake off the cabin fever from the winter, slip on some shorts, and get some good ol’ vitamin D. So what happens when a popular vacation destination (Disney World) collides with a popular vacation time (Spring Break)? It might just result in the WORST WEEK to be in Disney World, but we’re gonna sort through all of the Spring Break challenges at Disney World to help you still have a great time! Spring Break Crowds at the Magic Kingdom Spring Break Crowds at Disney World We’re not gonna beat around the bush here. Spring Break crowds are intense – and 2023 isn’t going to be the exception. But don’t throw in the towel yet! We’ll help you navigate those wild crowd levels. That’s a lot of people no matter how you slice it! Let’s start with rides. Because the parks are going to be crowded, you’re going to start seeing major lines for rides EVERYWHERE. Even walk-on rides will have significant waits. During last year’s Spring Break season, The line for Flight of Passage was about 125 minutes at around 10AM. For reference, the line was so long that it extended all the way out to the bridge in Africa! That’s a whole other LAND! The line for Flight of Passage reached 125 minutes by 10AM! In EPCOT, Spring Break crowds mix with Flower and Garden Festival crowds to merge into a sea of people! Wait times for Spaceship Earth were pushing 35 minutes while Soarin’ averaged around 50 — during other times of the year, you can often walk on to these rides with very little wait. Epcot feeling cramped At Magic Kingdom, unsurprisingly, the line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train got SUPER long, super quickly. The standby line for this attraction wrapped all around Fantasyland — people were waiting all the way back by Storybook Circus! We saw some HIGH wait times! And at Hollywood Studios, several of the most popular attractions in Disney’s Hollywood Studios had some seriously long lines — just look at the standby line for Slinky Dog Dash! Dealing With Spring Break Waits at Disney World So how can you still have a fun trip hitting up the rides when nearly every attraction is requiring you to wait, wait, WAIT? 1) Keep in mind that the worst crowds tend to happen in the late morning/early afternoon. This may be a good time for you to grab a snack, do some shopping, or catch one of the shows instead. The best time to hit up multiple rides is going to be in the early morning while crowds are still filling in and later in the evenings when guests are starting to go back to their rooms for the night. You also might find a small moment of crowd relief during peak dining times (around 11:30 AM and 6:00 PM), so try planning your meals during non-peak meal times and try checking on the ride times instead. Also, skip the parades and head to popular attractions around 15 minutes before parade times. Crowds will more than likely be gathering around to watch that show during select performance times each day. Meaning there’ll be fewer people filling up the queues. Crowds gather for parades If you’re not big on watching the nighttime spectaculars, then getting in lines during evening fireworks shows at Magic Kingdom and in EPCOT, and Disney Movie Magic in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is an EXCELLENT time to hit up any last-minute rides that may have been too crowded during the day. Skip fireworks for potential shorter lines And remember – queue lines will stay open until the parks officially close. So if you can get in line for a ride before the parks close, you won’t be kicked out of the line. Once you’re in, you’re IN – and you’ll be able to experience the ride, no matter what the projected wait time may say. 2) Disney Genie can also help pave your way to a smoother Disney day… most of the time. You can find Disney Genie on your My Disney Experience App. With the free version of this planning tool, you’ll not only be able to get a customized itinerary made with your personal preferences in mind, but you’ll also be able to study up on the “forecasted wait times” of the rides. Disney Genie To do this, go to the My Disney Experience App and tap on the Tip Board. Then, switch to the park you’re visiting that day. Under the Experiences tab, you’ll see the entire list of attractions and their wait times. But, if you tap on “View Details,” you’ll be led to a graph that maps out the predicted crowd levels for that particular experience throughout the day. Does that mean Disney Genie is going to be accurate 100% of the time? Not really. But just like looking at a weather forecast to get an idea for the day’s weather, it may benefit you to check on those ride forecasts, just in case it leads you to less of a wait time. ©Disney Spring Break might be a time where paying extra for Disney Genie+ – or paying-per-ride for those premium experiences with the Individual Attraction Selections – may not be a bad idea to consider. ESPECIALLY if rides are the jam to your toast and you’re looking to eat a LOT of toast. Click here for a Step-by-Step Guide to Disney Genie+ 3) But let’s backtrack here for a minute or two. We mentioned just a second ago how some of the best times to hit up the rides are earlier in the morning or later on in the evening, right? So let’s take a look at the Disney World hotel perks that can help you out with this cause. Disney World has two different benefits for its resort guests. The first is the Early Theme Park Entry – which allows any and all Disney World Resort guests, as well as Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel guests – to enter any of the parks on any day 30 minutes before the official “rope drop” time. Early Entry signage showing Eligible Resort guests where to go to enter The second is Extended Evening Hours – which allows only Disney World Deluxe Resort guests (including Swan and Dolphin Hotel guests) to remain in the parks up to two hours after the parks officially close. This benefit is only available for select parks on select days, so you’ll need to check with the Disney World website to make sure you’re timing your Extended Evening Hours plans to align with when Disney uses them. Magic Kingdom But we gotta level with ya here, Early Theme Park Entry can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you get extra time in the park for ANY of the parks, meaning you can get to your must-do attraction first. On the other hand, many guests are gonna have the same mentality as you. Buses, Skyliner stations, and monorail lines will be PACKED. Monorail line So don’t plan on waking up with *just* enough time to get to parks 30 minutes before. Consider the time it’ll take you and your group to get ready, the morning transportation lines, the overall travel time, and the time it’ll take to go through security and scan your ticket. Escaping Spring Break Crowds at Disney World Even if you’re a pro at navigating the Disney crowds, sometimes being exposed to shoulder-to-shoulder people for extended periods can be overwhelming. It can also be overwhelming for guests who can get overstimulated by constant loud sounds, cramped areas, and stressful situations. Here’s the thing: You don’t have to fight the crowds. There are multiple ways you can escape them, even if just for a bit. First way: Track down some of the less-populated places in the parks. Though you might feel trapped in a never-ending sea of people, there are breaks in the masses if you know where to look. In Magic Kingdom, venture to the space on the right between the Main Street USA shops. Usually, the crowds are A) Booking it down Main Street or B) Are shopping-til-they-drop, so a little nook like this is going to be overlooked (even though it’s a cute place to linger for a spell). A quiet alcove on Main Street Shows like The Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland and The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square are also (usually) going to be way less packed than other attractions. Plus, these 20-minute shows will give you a chance to get off your feet and relax for a while in the AC. (Overwhelmed or not, taking regular breaks like this is something WE HIGHLY recommend so you don’t hit a wall by the afternoon.) Hall of Presidents is a great attraction — and a great place for some quiet time in air conditioning. Tom Sawyer’s Island is a great escape, too! This little island is only accessible by motorized raft. Once you’re there, you can explore different caves, cross a rope bridge, and eat at Aunt Polly’s Dockside Inn (whenever it’s open, that is). Tom Sawyer Island Take a walk in Animal Kingdom to escape the crowds. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has three different walking trails that are just as serene as they are easy-going. You’ve got the Discovery Island Trails around the Tree of Life (to let you get a closer view of all the tree’s intricate animal carvings covering its base and trunk), the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in the Africa section of the park, and the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia. The Gorilla Falls and Maharajah Jungle Trails both feature animals native to their countries that you can say “hello” to in passing. You might also want to take the Wildlife Express Train over to the other section of the park – Rafiki’s Planet Watch – for a less-busy section to explore. Here, you’ll be able to pet animals at the Affection Section, Learn how to sketch popular animated characters at the Animation Experience, and visit the veterinary treatment room at the Conservation Station. Rafiki’s Planet Watch Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all about that hustle-and-bustle! But there are still places you can explore that aren’t nearly as people-y. Before you enter Toy Story Land, you can linger around Pixar Place. There’s not a lot going on here because the Incredibles Meet-and-Greet that’s usually in this section of the park isn’t currently happening. So grab yourself a Num Num Cookie and find a bench in this alleyway for a few minutes of relaxation. A quieter spot outside of Toy Story Land Ever since Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opened its doors, Star Wars Launch Bay over in the Animation Courtyard has seen a whole lot less traffic. So if you still want to immerse yourself in the Star Wars lore but you also want to step away from Batuu for a bit, the Launch Bay will provide you with a self-guided tour of Star Wars memorabilia you’ll probably remember from the movies! Star Wars Launch Bay If you’re a history buff (or you just have a deep appreciation for the man – and mouse! – who started it all), the Walt Disney Presents walkthrough exhibit through the life and career of Walt Disney and his company. You’ll see where he got his start in animation and how his parks took the world by storm through a series of displays, antique props, and models. Walt Disney Presents Because EPCOT is a park that’s so spread out, you’ll probably find it easier to breathe here in many different areas. But if you’re looking for specific escapes, try the second level of the Canada Pavilion (with the beautiful cascading waterfall), the backside of the UK Pavilion (where you might just get to hear live Mary Poppins music from the gazebo – and see Mary Poppins herself!), the Morocco Pavilion in its entirety (because there’s not a whole lot going on here currently – but it’s still a lovely place to explore and snack), and the courtyard of Katsura Grill in the Japan Pavilion (find some zen with koi fish gazing). Canada Pavilion Waterfall EPCOT also has many galleries and walkthrough exhibits in each of its pavilions that can be easily overlooked. So if you’d like to take a self-guided tour through history, as well as have a moment where the crowds aren’t nearly as pressing, try jumping into one of these little museums for a while. The China Pavilion at EPCOT If you or someone in your family has a cognitive disability, there are several rest areas that can provide you with just a little more time to break away for a bit. You can learn more about these services on the Disney World website and through the Disability Access Services section of the My Disney Experience App. But if you don’t have time to research all that BEFORE your trip and you’re needing an escape ASAP while you’re in the middle of your park day, track down a Cast Member and ask them to lead you to a break area for some much-needed downtime. Katsura Grill Courtyard It’s also important to remember that you don’t HAVE to stay in the parks if it gets too overwhelming! You can totally go back to your hotel room to relax by the poolside, make a reservation for a nice meal at a Disney resort restaurant, enjoy the resort’s recreational activities, and even shop in Disney Springs before those evening crowds roll in. Disney’s All Star Music Resort Keeping Your Family Together In the Spring Break Crowds Are you worried that your kid’s gonna lose you in the park during these high-level crowd days? Don’t stress, parents and guardians! There are several ways you can prepare and plan just in case YOU get separated from the group – just to put your mind at ease! First: Wear bright clothing. Clothes that are neon colors (like that highlighter yellow, orange, or pink) are easier to spot in a crowd rather than neutral colors (like white, brown, and black). Second: Know where Guest Relations is located, as well as where the Baby Care Centers are. When a child seems to have misplaced their guardian, Cast Members will quickly escort them to one of these locations until they’re reunited with their party. Again – if you’re struggling to find these areas on the map and you need to get to them ASAP, reach out to the nearest Cast Member, and they’ll lead you where you need to go. Baby Care Center Third: Discuss a meeting point beforehand, just in case. Make it something easy for all ages to track down – like meeting in front of Cinderella Castle or the Tree of Life. And fourth: Consider purchasing temporary phone number tattoos for your kiddos to wear on the back of their hand. That way, if anything WERE to happen, you can be contacted immediately. You can purchase and customize temporary phone tattoos from places like Amazon, Etsy, and websites that specialize in temporary phone number tattoos. Meet up at Mickey! Okay–let’s wrap up this crowd section once and for all! Yes, Spring Break is going to be crowded. So set your expectations ahead of time, take these specific escapes and tips to heart, and create a game plan that’ll work for you. The Good Stuff This is one of those times where we’re gonna ask you, “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” But since we can’t hear your actual response, let’s assume you’re ready to hear a whole bunch of GOOD NEWS for your potential Spring Break escapades. The Flower & Garden Festival is here! When you travel to Disney World during Spring Break, you’re more than likely going to stumble across a lot of benefits you didn’t realize were going to be available around this time. Let’s give some specific examples, shall we? Over in EPCOT, the Flower and Garden Festival will be kicking off in early March. This festival brings a rainbow of floral colors to the park, as well as character topiaries, fresh foods at the Outdoor Kitchens, upbeat entertainment (thanks to the Garden Rocks Concert Series), and a butterfly house (because who doesn’t love butterflies? — But even if you DON’T like butterflies, at least they’re contained in their own little pop-up greenhouse, right?) Minnie is ready for the spring! From April 13-16th, Disney World will be holding their runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend. According to the Disney World website, courses for this runDisney event include “Disney Pixar Cars 5K, Disney Pixar Monsters 10K, and the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler” This is GREAT news for those who will wanna participate, but it could be an added challenge for guests, since this event will bring an even bigger influx of guests to the parks. © Disney Let’s not forget the discounts! (I’m about to talk about Spring Break prices soon, so this is SUPER important to keep in your back pocket.) “Guests staying at select Walt Disney World hotels from April 10th – July 10th, 2023 can save up to 25%.” These types of offers tend to book up quickly, so we’ll link the Disney Discounts page so you don’t miss it! The Bad Stuff Sorry, we’ve gotta do it. We’ve gotta talk about the not-so-great side to a Spring Break vacation – just to lay out all the cards on the table for ya. But don’t let these potential downsides bum you out! We’ve got a few potential solutions for each of them – so let’s ride this wave together! Disney Hotels During Spring Break Reservations during the Spring Break season start booking MONTHS in advance. So if you really are planning on going to Disney World SOON and you haven’t secured your resort, dining reservations, or Park Pass Reservations, then you’ve gotta do that NOW. (Okay, not *now* now. Finish reading this post first. THEN make those reservations!) Many of Disney’s value hotel rooms, as well as the standard rooms for moderate and deluxe resorts, start to book FAST, leaving behind the higher-end rooms that you might not wanna splurge on. Pop Century Resort If your trip seems to have snuck up on you and you’re having a hard time finding a Disney resort that’s not going to break the bank, consider looking into one of Disney World’s Good Neighbor Hotels. These hotels aren’t directly owned by Disney, but they are close to the property and provide many of the same benefits that Disney-owned hotels do. But the best part about them? They’re (normally) going to be even cheaper than Disney World’s value hotels. (Spoiler alert – there are over 40 Good Neighbor Hotels for you to choose from!) Click Here For Our Ranking of Good Neighbor Hotels! ©Drury Hotels If you do want to stay in a deluxe resort during your trip but you’d like to save a little moolah in the process, then you may want to consider looking into renting DVC points through a third-party rental company. Renting DVC points means that you’re going to be paying a DVC member (AKA – a timeshare holder with Disney) for the points they use to rent their DVC rooms. Renting through a third-party DVC rental party – like David’s DVC Rentals – gives you a “middle man” to make sure the transaction goes as smoothly as possible. Full kitchen at Grand Floridian 2-Bedroom Villa Disney World Dining During Spring Break If you’ve still got over 60 days before your Spring Break vacation to book restaurant reservations, then you’re in luck! Mark that 60-day point on your calendar and make sure you book those reservations the day of. Reservations will open at 5:45 AM EST – which will probably be your best chance at snagging the most popular restaurants. A few of the hot-spot dining locations that book up super-duper quick are: Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom Space 220 at EPCOT Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom And Oga’s Cantina at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Lunar Eclipse Cocktail at Space 220 If it’s a little…uh… *less* than 60 days before your Disney World vacation, don’t think that you’ve missed out on ALL your reservation opportunities! You can still check and see what’s available to reserve at any time on the Disney World website by using the “Check Availability Tool on any individual Table Service restaurant’s page.” From there, enter the size of your party and select the time (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) you’re hoping to dine during. The website will be able to show you what (if any) reservations are available. Dine with Mickey and friends at Tusker House You can also make reservations through the My Disney Experience App or by calling 407-WDW-DINE (3463), which will connect you with a dining agent. If you’re not seeing any times available for the restaurant you’re wanting to eat at, don’t give up yet! Try checking again later on. Sometimes, other travel parties will have to cancel their dining reservations, meaning there’s the off-chance you could swipe it up! The prettiest breakfast plate you ever did see! If you have a bigger travel party, try breaking up the group between multiple tables. Restaurants will have an easier time accommodating multiple groups of 3, but they’ll have pretty limited options for groups of 9. Also – try searching for dining reservations during non-peak dining times. Reservations for restaurants book a lot quicker for prime lunch and dinner hours than they do between times like 2 PM-4 PM – so you may have a better shot! Biergarten is so pretty inside! One last dining tip: Don’t forget about the Mobile Walk-Up Wait Lists that you can access through the My Disney Experience App. If you’re struggling to find a reservation beforehand, the Mobile Walk-Up Waitlist and Last Minute Dining Reservations might be able to point you toward an open restaurant reservation the day of your visit. Although this is a super-nifty tool, we don’t recommend relying on it – especially while the crowds are so thick during Spring Break. Try securing a reservation first – or plan on dining at quick-service locations (which can also be quite tasty, depending on where you go!) Park Pass Reservations During Spring Break Before your visit, you will need to secure your spot in the parks by making a Park Pass Reservation. You can make these reservations AFTER you purchase your park tickets. Yeah, it’s an extra step – but Disney WILL lead you directly to where you can make your reservations right after your purchase – and the reservations themselves will only take a few minutes to secure. Slinky Dog Dash Our advice? Check on the park pass availability calendar BEFORE you purchase to make sure you’re not buying a park ticket for a time when the specific park you’re wanting to visit is already filled up. Remember – Disney World tickets do have a range of times in which you can use them, so if, say, Magic Kingdom is booked on the Saturday you were planning on hitting it up, then you may want to try reserving a spot for it earlier in the week when it IS still available for reservations. You can check on the availability calendar on the same page where you can make the theme park pass purchases. Guardians of the Galaxy Just DON’T FORGET ABOUT THIS STEP!! Just because you have a theme park ticket or a dining reservation does NOT mean you’ll be able to get into the parks! You’ve GOTTA have your park pass reservations made, too! Welcome to Tomorrowland So let’s say you wanna make a Park Pass Reservation for Magic Kingdom, but the ENTIRE WEEK you’ll be in Disney World is already BOOKED for this park. What then? You’ve got a couple of options that aren’t guaranteed for success, but they CAN prove successful: First, you can play the waiting game. No fun, we know. But just like dining reservations, Park Pass Reservations may need to be canceled by guests from time to time. So there’s still the possibility more Park Passes will become available later on if you keep checking back. Second, grab a park hopper! Let’s say Disney’s Animal Kingdom is free during your visit while Magic Kingdom isn’t. You can make a park pass reservation for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and start your day there. Then, when 2PM rolls around, you’ll be able to use your park hopper and (hopefully) be able to *hop* over to the Magic Kingdom without a Park Pass Reservation. Ready to get wild? Again, this plan isn’t foolproof. Hopping into the second park of the day is still subject to capacity – but it might be the plan C or D you’re looking for when plans A and B let ya down. Hollywood Studios Okay, now that you know everything you never wanted to know about Disney reservations. So let’s move on to the dreaded surge pricing convo. Spring Break Surge Pricing at Disney World Since Spring Break raises the demand for numerous services, you’re gonna start seeing prices spike up, up, UP. Rideshare prices? Increased. Park tickets? Increased. Individual Attraction Selections? Increased. Disney Springs Save back more money than you think you might need to accommodate for the spikes you’ll stumble across. You might find price spikes in places you were least expecting it, and you don’t want to catch your wallet by surprise. On the DFB website and our weekly DFB Latest News updates on this channel, we’ll provide you with the 411 on what we’re noticing price-wise in the parks leading up toward your vacation. That way, you can follow along with us and get a better idea of what things are going to look like cost-wise when you arrive. 50th Corckcicle Also, try to save money where you can! Remember the hotel discount and those Good Neighbor Hotels we talked about earlier? Just saying – those will help you save a good chunk of money. Also – make sure to study up on extra expenses (like the Disney Genie +, IAS reservations, signature restaurants, and extra enhancements) to see if they’re really things you need to be budgeting for OR if you can live without them this time ‘round. Packing and Timing for Spring Break at Disney World So Orlando in March and April can be pretty fickle weather-wise. Somedays, it’ll be perfect. Not a cloud in the sky; a nice, tame temperature. Peaceful. Serene. Hot days call for a cool treat Other days? It’ll be cold. The mornings will start cold and *possibly* warm up by the afternoon, but then drop down again come nightfall. And then you’ve got your constant afternoon rainstorms that like to pop up and either last for a whopping 15 minutes or the remainder of the day, depending on Orlando’s mood. Bring the Ponchos! Or maybe it’s just going to be really, really HOT during your visit. Who’s to say? Orlando’s got a mind of its own. Although rain patterns are tricky to follow, it’s still good to look at forecasts ahead of time so you can get a good idea of what the predicted temps are going to look like during your visit. When you pack, make sure you pack clothes that you can easily shed and put away in the bag you take with you inside the parks (like jackets, hoodies, extra socks, scarfs, leggings, and hats. Yep, sometimes you need a jacket — even in Orlando So how long DOES Spring Break season last? Spring Break isn’t just one week – it’s a RANGE of them – and it tends to start in mid-March and last throughout early April. Because not every school has the same Spring Break! So you’re going to get waves of groups from different locations, depending on when the week-long break officially kicks off for them. But if you wanna know when ORLANDO’s Spring Break week is this year (since that’s when locals will start hitting up the parks, as well), theirs will span from March 14th-18th. Don’t attempt to plan a March or April Disney World vacation before or after your school district’s Spring Break in the hopes that you’ll avoid these high-traffic crowds. Because more than likely, you’re gonna be in the thick of other Spring Break vacationers. It’s pretty busy during Spring Break season Spring Break isn’t unmanageable, even with those intimating crowds! Make sure to set your expectations ahead of time, figure out those “Must Do” experiences, and plan ahead! This is definitely a trip you don’t want to go into on a whim! We’ll continue to keep you informed on everything you need to know about visiting Disney World during Spring Break (or if you’d rather avoid it!), so stay tuned for more! And if you want a handy-dandy print out of ALL of this information, just click HERE to have one sent to your email inbox! Everything You Can Do On My Disney Experience BEFORE Your Disney World Vacation For more information about visiting Disney World in the spring, check out these posts! Disney World in March Disney World in April 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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever visited the parks during a peak time of year? Let us know in the comments! The post The Worst Week To Go To Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney news has focused a lot on two Bobs as of late (Chapek and Iger), but one Bob who is very important to Disney history is getting some much-deserved time in the spotlight. Disneyland Resort Bob Gurr, a legendary Disney Imagineer, is giving fans another chance to learn about the history of Disneyland straight from his own first-hand accounts. On Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the Bowers Museum Auditorium in Santa Ana, California, Bob Gurr will be giving an encore presentation of Building Disneyland. In this presentation, he goes in-depth on the process of creating the iconic park. Another former Imagineer, Tom Morris, will also be in attendance. This event is any Disney historian’s dream! © Bob Gurr Official Instagram For those who don’t know, Bob Gurr worked directly with Walt Disney and is responsible for designing many of the Disneyland ride vehicles, including the iconic Doombuggies in the Haunted Mansion. Gurr will be discussing working on these designs and other experiences he had while working on Disneyland. Guests will even get to see rare vintage footage of the park! Tower of Terror wouldn’t be the same without Bob Gurr! Tickets are limited, and currently there are only a few General Admission tickets left. This event is a unique experience, so if you love Disney history get a ticket for yourself! If you can’t make it, stay tuned to our site where we’ll be sharing information on other Disney events, like this special exhibition for Disney’s 100th anniversary! Interested in more history? Read about the history behind some of your FAVORITE classic Disney parks 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 If you could meet any Disney historic figure, who would you pick? Comment below! The post Don't Miss Your Chance To Meet an Original Disney Imagineer! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Things are getting complicated for the Walt Disney Company. ©Reuters Former CEO Bob Chapek left not long ago and Bob Iger suddenly returned to his CEO role. Since that time, we’ve seen slight increases in stock values, drops in stock value, and an activist’s attempt to bid for a seat on the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company. Now, we’ve got an update on what’s going on. What Disney Has Said According to a recent SEC filing, Disney has indicated that their current Board of Directors is the “right board for shareholders.” This comes after an activist group suggested that Disney has “lost its way” and pushed for Nelson Peltz to be elected to be on Disney’s Board of Directors (more on that in a second). ©Disney In the filing from Disney, they note that the board is independent and “highly qualified” and that it has “provided strong oversight focused on delivering superior, sustained shareholder value.” Disney goes on to discuss just how involved the Board is in reviewing the strategic direction of the company, including with the launch of Disney+, their decisive actions to “address leadership challenge,” and their focus on succession planning. They also went on to discuss the incoming Board Chairman — Mark Parker — and why Parker is an asset to the Board, and mentioned Carolyn Everson, who was added to the Board in 2022, and the skills she offers. ©Disney When it comes to key changes coming to Disney, the SEC filing notes that the Board is working on key strategic changes that are being implemented by management. Those changes include reorganizing some of the structure of the Company to give decision-making back to creative teams (something Iger indicated he would do when he returned as CEO), putting a “cost reduction plan” in place, “prioritizing streaming profitability,” and, at the Disney parks, improving the experience for guests by “providing more value and flexibility.” We have seen some key things change in the parks lately, especially when it comes to the Disney Dining Promo Card deal and the return of free parking at the Disney World hotels. ©Disney Disney then makes it abundantly clear that they do NOT want Nelson Peltz to be on the Board by saying that Peltz “does not understand Disney’s business and lacks the skills and expertise to assist the Board in delivering shareholder value in a rapidly shifting media ecosystem.” Really, it couldn’t be any more clear. ©Disney The filing then goes on to talk about how Iger created value for shareholders during his time as CEO, specifically in terms of total shareholder returns (which is defined as stock price appreciation plus reinvestment of dividends). ©Disney They also discuss how Iger added value by growing Disney’s market capitalization… ©Disney …and making key acquisitions (like of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm) that “transformed Disney.” ©Disney That includes the Fox acquisition. Disney specifically notes that by acquiring Fox, they “broadened [their] portfolio of world-class IP,” enabled their direct-to-consumer side to expand quickly, and enriched the Company with the knowledge and experience of members of the Fox team. ©Disney Disney then discusses the issues with some of Trian’s analysis. Trian Partners L.P. and Trian Partners Parallel Fund I, L.P. are the entities that have nominated Nelson Peltz to become a director on the Disney Board of Directors. CNBC calls the Trian Partners group an “activist firm.” They own about 9.4 million shares in the Disney Company. Peltz was reportedly opposed to the return of Bob Iger as the company’s CEO. And Peltz has expressed his opinion on a number of other things, indicating that “Fox hurt this company” and “took the dividend away.” Peltz has also indicated that Disney should get out of streaming entirely or buy all of Hulu. ©Reuters The Trian Group has weighed in on what it considers to be “poor corporate governance” at Disney, “over-the-top compensation practices,” and “failed succession planning.” Peltz has indicated that he wants to work with Iger to ensure a smooth transition 2 years from now, get access to internal numbers to see what opportunities Disney is missing out on, and more. ©CNBC But, again, Disney has opposed Peltz’s proposal to get on the Board. Instead, they insist that Disney has a highly rated investment grade balance sheet, unlike what Peltz has called a “balance sheet from hell.” And they point out some things the Trian group is potentially not focusing on enough — like the impact of the global pandemic. Disney insists that the dividend suspension was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and not the Fox transaction. We reported back in May of 2020 when CFO Christine McCarthy said that Disney would be suspending its dividend payout. At that point, Disney indicated that they would revisit the dividend over the next 6 months once the Company had a better idea of the impact of the COVID-19 closures. Thus far, dividends have not been reinstated. ©Disney In the SEC filing, Disney goes on to note that Peltz has NO track record in large cap media or tech, and NO solutions that he could offer for the evolving media landscape. They also critique Peltz’s history with MSG sports and say that if that is his training ground, “it has not been a good one.” ©Disney They also insist that shareholders “carefully analyze Peltz’s statements to differentiate facts from fiction.” That slide shows some of Peltz’s comments as opposed to what Disney terms “the actual facts.” They go through Peltz’s own reported intentions, his reported work in pushing GE CEO out of office, and more. ©Disney And finally, Disney ends with a chronology of Peltz’s interactions with Disney, dating back to the lunch he had with then-CEO Bob Chapek in July of 2022 in Paris. It goes through Peltz’s various calls with Disney officials and executives as he expressed his desire to join the board. Things then turned a bit more complicated in November of 2022, when Peltz had calls with Christine McCarthy (Disney’s CFO) and indicated that he “planned a proxy fight if he wasn’t added to the Board.” This appears to have been reiterated in December 2022 when Peltz reportedly had a call with Iger and said that if he wasn’t given a seat on the Board he’d start a proxy fight to “challenge Mr. Iger’s legacy.” (A proxy fight is defined by Cambridge Dictionary as a situation where a group of investors that wants to take control of a company tries to “persuade shareholders of that company to vote at shareholders’ meetings in a way that helps the investors achieve what they want.”) ©Disney All in all, the SEC filing appears to be a strong showing of Disney’s support for Iger and their opposition to Peltz’s proposals to get on the Board of Directors. Disney followed this up with another SEC filing for shareholders. They note that shareholders’ votes are “especially important” at the annual meeting this year, especially as the Trian group seeks to get Peltz on the board. They then clearly note, again, that the current Board of Directors of Disney “does not endorse the Trian Group nominee or the Trian Group Proposal.” According to Disney, “Your vote is extremely important no matter how many shares you own.” ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters They then go into more detail about why Disney does not recommend Peltz become a member of the Board, including: “despite months of engagement, Mr. Peltz had not, and the Trian Group representatives at the meeting had not, actually presented a single strategic idea for Disney, that their assessment of Disney seemed oblivious to the secular change that had been ongoing in the media industry, as well as the impact of the pandemic on each part of the Company’s business from production, to exhibition, to leisure travel.” Again, it appears to be a critical showing of support for Iger and opposition to Peltz. The date for the 2023 shareholder meeting has not yet been shared, but in 2022 it took place on March 9th. We’ll be on the lookout for updates there. In the meantime, Disney has announced that their Q1 Fiscal Year 2023 Earnings call will take place on February 8th, 2023, so we’ll learn more about the financial status of the Company then. Walt Disney Company Headquarters ©LA Times What do you think will happen with Peltz and the Board? Tell us in the comments. At this point, only time will tell what the future of the Company will be like. Much remains to be seen. Stay tuned for the latest Disney news. Click here to learn about the succession planning taking place at Disney to find Iger’s eventual replacement  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! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 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! 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 how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-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 happen with Peltz and the Board? Tell us in the comments. The post Disney Pushes Back Against Activist Investor and Defends CEO Bob Iger first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re only days away from the official start of the Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary Celebrations in Disneyland! Sleeping Beauty Castle Besides the current array of Disney100 merchandise, Disneyland has just announced new snacks, drinks, cups, and more that will be making an appearance during the celebrations. The list includes a few popcorn buckets and sippers as well — check them out here! One item we were able to purchase already is this 100th Anniversary Popcorn Bucket. Mickey and Minnie are all dressed up in their festive outfits in this design that incorporates an art deco style. Tinkerbell, the Fantasyland Castle, and the Disney100 logo are also featured. You can get one for yourself for $12.25 (including the popcorn!). Disney100 Refillable Popcorn Bucket This isn’t the only new popcorn bucket design! For Disneyland Annual Passholders, there is also the Disney100 Magic Key Refillable Popcorn Bucket. Only for Magic Key holders, this beautifully illustrated bucket includes a variety of iconic attractions from Disneyland. It’s available at the Popcorn Carts near Sleeping Beauty Castle, “it’s a small world,” Fantasyland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland, and Town Square (in Disneyland Park) and Popcorn Carts on Buena Vista Street, Grizzly Peak, and Pixar Pier (in Disney California Adventure). Disney100 Magic Key Refillable Popcorn Bucket © Disney Disney also promised a new Disney100 Platinum Mickey Mouse Balloon Bucket. This will most likely look just like an all-platinum version of the metallic balloon popcorn buckets we’ve seen before. It’ll be available at Popcorn Carts in Buena Vista Street, Grizzly Peak, and Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure. And another new popcorn bucket to be released for the event is the Disney100 Cinderella Premium Bucket, which we haven’t seen a preview of yet! The Cinderella Premium Bucket will be available at the Fantasyland Theater Popcorn Carts near Sleeping Beauty Castle, “it’s a small world,” and Town Square. Mickey Balloon Premium Bucket (Rainbow) Besides popcorn buckets, there are plenty of different cups and sippers coming our way too! You’ll be able to get the new Disney100 Poison Apple Mug, a blue-and-silver take on the classic Snow White icon. Starting on January 27th, you can find this mug at the Casey Jr. Churro Cart and Mortimer’s Market. Disney100 Poison Apple Mug © Disney We also learned of a new Disney100 Travel Tumbler with Lanyard. It comes with a lid and lanyard, making this an excellent choice for toting around the parks! You can get the Travel Tumbler at the following locations: Bengal Barbecue French Market Restaurant Fruit Cart in Fantasyland Galactic Grill Harbour Galley Hungry Bear Restaurant “it’s a small world” and Tomorrowland Lemonade Carts Jolly Holiday Bakery Café Mint Julep Bar Outdoor Food Carts Plaza Inn Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Red Rose Taverne Refreshment Corner Royal Street Veranda Ship to Shore Stage Door Café The Golden Horseshoe Troubadour Tavern Chiller at Paradise Gardens Park Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill Lucky Fortune Cookery Outdoor Food Carts Pacific Wharf Café Pacific Wharf Cappuccino Cart Paradise Garden Grill Pixar Pier Lemonade Cart Schmoozies Smokejumpers Grill Disney100 Travel Tumbler with Lanyard © Disney Another easy-to-carry cup is the Disney100 Thermo Tumbler. This mostly-periwinkle cup has the Fantasyland Castle front and center surrounded by classic characters like Tinkerbell, Goofy, and more. This tumbler will be available at the following locations: Bengal Barbecue Edelweiss Snacks French Market Restaurant Galactic Grill Harbour Galley Hungry Bear Restaurant “it’s a small world” Lemonade Cart Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe Plaza Inn Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Red Rose Taverne Refreshment Corner Stage Door Café The Golden Horseshoe Corn Dog Castle Pacific Wharf Cappuccino Cart Paradise Garden Grill Pixar Pier Chiller Cart Studio Catering Co. Disney100 Thermo Tumbler © Disney Looking for something more unique? Check out the Disney100 Mickey Mouse Sipper! This is such a cute sipper, with Mickey in his shiny metallic anniversary outfit. It’ll be available starting January 27th at the following locations: Bengal Barbecue French Market Restaurant Galactic Grill Harbour Galley Hungry Bear Restaurant Jolly Holiday Bakery Café Plaza Inn Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Red Rose Taverne Refreshment Corner Stage Door Café The Golden Horseshoe Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta Chiller at Paradise Gardens Park Corn Dog Castle Fairfax Market Outdoor Food Carts Pacific Wharf Café Paradise Garden Grill Smokejumpers Grill Disney100 Mickey Mouse Sipper © Disney When we find out the exact prices for these items we’ll be sure to share them, so stay tuned to our site for updates on these and other 100th anniversary merch items! Learn more about Disney’s 100th Anniversary here! Learn More About Disney 100 Years of Wonder – The 100th Anniversary Celebration! When Disney’s 100 Year Anniversary Celebration Actually Starts Is the 100th Anniversary Coming to Disney World? A NEW 100th Anniversary Disney Credit Card Design Is Coming! PHOTOS: Sparkly NEW 100th Anniversary Minnie Ears Are Now Available in Disney World ALL of the Disney 100th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get Online Right NOW! Check Out the NEW 100th Anniversary Starbucks Tumbler Inside Look at NEW 100th Anniversary Disneyland Fireworks Show Sleeping Beauty Castle Will Get a NEW Look For Disney’s 100th Anniversary Get ALL of the Latest Updates on the 100th Anniversary Celebration Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Comment below which of these new items is your favorite! The post Disney Reveals NEW 100th Anniversary Popcorn Buckets and Sippers! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Eats reveals new Disney 100 Celebration food, drinks and novelty items available at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in celebration of Disney 100th anniversary.View the full article

Change. It’s a powerful word — a word that could mean so many good things and bring so much happiness, or could signal the loss of something important and bring lots of disappointments. And it’s a word we’ve heard (and used) a LOT lately thanks to all of the CHANGES (there we go again!) taking place in the Disney parks and resorts. Disney’s Grand Floridian Within the last few years and even just the last few months, Disney’s hotels have changed in a particularly big way. We’ve seen Moana-inspired rooms open at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, a NEW coffee shop open at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and other projects announced for Disney’s future. So, what will 2023 be like at the Resort hotels? What major changes should YOU expect? We’re breaking it all down for you here. H2O+ Products *Could* Disappear Back in August of 2022, we shared that the BELOVED provider of Disney’s bath and body products in the hotels — H2O+ — would be retiring at the end of 2022. And yes, some of us may have shed a few tears. For a limited time, items were available on shopDisney, though they subsequently sold out. H2O toiletries A press release about the end of H2O+ previously indicated that H2O+ would “fulfill its obligation to supply products, etc., in accordance with agreements with its business partners, and proceed with dissolution procedures during the second half of 2023. Subsequently, the liquidation will be concluded upon the completion of the necessary procedures.” So we expect that after fulfilling its current obligation to supply products to Disney and proceeding with those dissolution procedures in the second half of 2023, H2O+ products could start to disappear from Disney World hotels. All the goodies Keep in mind, Disney hasn’t announced an end date for their partnership with H2O+ and has not announced when products could potentially leave the hotel rooms. This is just based on the press release and the dissolution of the H2O+ company. Things are subject to change. The big takeaway we want you to get from this is to at least be mentally prepared for the potential that those beloved products could disappear from Disney World hotel rooms at some point this year. Click here to see more about the end of H2O+ Refurbishments/Construction Quite a few construction projects are going on at Disney’s hotels. Let’s go through some of the big ones here! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa When it comes to the restaurants at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Narcossee’s is undergoing some important changes! The restaurant closed on July 14th, 2022, and it should be undergoing refurbishments as we speak! It’s expected to reopen in 2023 with an “enhanced table-service experience” though Disney hasn’t quite specified what that means. We’ll be on the lookout for more updates! ©Disney Construction has also been ongoing at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, most recently at the Conch Key building. There has been some scaffolding up around parts of the building and construction could impact noise levels during the day here, so just keep that in mind. Construction Aside from Narcoosee’s, the iconic lobby at the Grand Floridian is also set to be refurbished soon. Thus far, Disney has only indicated that the lobby will “will maintain the classic theming [guests] know and love with some fresh new enhancements.” How Could This Be CHANGING? Could the lobby get a Mary Poppins Returns theme like Citricos did? Disney hasn’t revealed that yet. Only time will tell! Click here to see our full post about the changes coming to the lobby Disney’s BoardWalk Inn At Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, more changes are underway! We’ve already seen BoardWalk Deli take the place of the BoardWalk Bakery, and a NEW coffee shop — Carousel Coffee — has opened up near the lobby. But more is on the way. In terms of restaurants, the ESPN Club has CLOSED and is being partially demolished. In its place will be a brand NEW restaurant called the Cake Bake Shop, which will feature sweet and savory menus, afternoon tea, a table service side, and quick service items too! That is set to open at some point in 2023. ©Disney In terms of the hotel itself, the Belle Vue Lounge already got an updated look, and the lobby and guest rooms at the hotel are set to be refurbished too. They will be getting a “reinvigorated” look that’ll have “light and airy touches” and “carry and seaside breeze right inside.” BoardWalk Lobby October 2022 “Newly refreshed” seating spaces inside and outside are also expected to come to the hotel. Disney hasn’t shared other details on this yet, but we’re on the lookout for the latest info so stay tuned! See more about the BoardWalk Inn’s restaurants here Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort At the Polynesian, we’ve already seen new Moana rooms debut (as we mentioned above), but 2023 is sure to be full of MORE construction updates from this resort. In March of 2022, Disney revealed that the Polynesian is going to be EXPANDED with NEW Disney Vacation Club villas! They are set to be inspired by early concepts of the resort, and there will be new recreation and dining offerings in addition to the new rooms. ©Disney | Polynesian Village Resort concept art The Spirit of Aloha show has closed, and the building has been demolished to create space for this addition. Polynesian Construction Updates The new villas aren’t expected to open until late 2024, but we’ve already seen lots of construction taking place and expect that 2023 will be full of the same. Click here for the latest update on the construction at the Polynesian! Room Changes Disney’s Beach Club Resort Over at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, some room changes will be taking place in 2023. Thus far, Disney has shared that the rooms will be refurbished between January 7th and April 2023. Disney’s Beach Club Resort The Resort’s amenities will continue to be available, but you might hear some construction during the day. Thus far, Disney hasn’t announced how exactly the refurbishments will impact the rooms, what refurbished rooms will look like, or any other details, but we’re on the lookout for more information! Click here to see our full post on these room changes Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Over at Caribbean Beach, more room changes are taking place! In 2022, Disney revealed that the hotel’s pirate-themed rooms would NOT be available in 2023. We later learned that the rooms would be refurbished and decorated with “characters from under the sea.” Then we finally got the big reveal — a look INSIDE these new rooms with theming inspired by The Little Mermaid! ©Disney The Little Mermaid-themed rooms are coming to Caribbean Beach Resort. The updated rooms will have new artwork, brighter decor, pastel colors, and a 5th sleeper bed that will let each room fit more guests (so, invite your cousin Shelby to the next trip, she can fit in the room!). ©Disney The rooms that will be refurbished are in the Trinidad section of the hotel and the refurbishment is already underway. ©Disney The rooms are expected to become available in 2023! We can’t wait to see them and give you a full tour. If you’re planning on visiting in 2023, stay tuned for more details as to exactly when these new rooms will become available to stay in. Click here for our full post on these room changes Pool Closures If a trip to the hotel pool is a MUST during your vacation, be WARNED. Some hotel pools will be undergoing refurbishment this year. Beginning in January and lasting until late March, the High Rock Spring Pool will be closed for refurbishment at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. During this time, the On The Rocks Pool Bar will also be closed. The leisure pool at Treehouse Villas is also set to be closed during that time, so keep that in mind. One of the Saratoga Springs Resort pools will be closed temporarily. Also, from January 9th through early April 2023, the feature pool and whirlpool spa will be closed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. During that time, however, the water play area and Bay Look Pool will still be available. Contemporary Feature Pool The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and whirlpool spa at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds will also be closed from early January (January 9th) through early April 2023. But, don’t fret! During that time, the water play area, Meadow Snack Bar, and Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool and the whirlpool spa near there will remain open. Meadow Swimmin’ Pool That’s a decent amount of pool closures to keep in mind! If you’ll be visiting a Disney World hotel in 2023 and pools are a must-do for you, be sure to check with the hotel for any upcoming closures so you can be prepared. No More Parking Fees 2023 brought a HUGE change that many fans are likely thrilled about. Starting on the evening of January 10th, 2023, FREE overnight self-parking returned to Disney World’s hotels (for those staying at the hotels). Park For FREE! So if you stay at a Disney World hotel this year, you can remove those parking fees from your budget! But, keep in mind that hotel, ticket, food, and merchandise prices can change (and increase a lot!) so you’ll need to evaluate that budget carefully and see what costs might be higher now than you might have previously expected. Click here to see our full post on the return of free parking Skyliner Refurb If you’re a huge Skyliner fan, be CAREFUL when you travel in 2023. The Skyliner is set to CLOSE from January 22nd through January 29th for refurbishment. Remember that the Skyliner connects EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. Skyliner Station During the time of the closure, the hotels that rely on the Skyliner will generally provide buses or other forms of transportation to the parks you may have normally reached via Skyliner (EPCOT and Hollywood Studios). Be sure to check the signs at your hotel for updates. See our full post on the Skyliner closure here! MORE But wait…there’s MORE! In terms of other changes at the Disney World hotels in 2023, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Chef Mickey’s will resume its BUFFET service in 2023. Since its reopening (post the COVID-19 related closures) Chef Mickey’s has served meals family-style, but buffets are coming back on March 1st, 2023. Mickey at Chef Mickey’s Also, 2023 marks the end of the 50th Anniversary celebration in Disney World. The festivities will only last through March 31st, 2023. After that time, we expect some special 50th Anniversary touches could go away. At the hotels, that could mean the end of any 50th Anniversary snacks, the removal of 50th Anniversary-specific decor, and the end of other 50th-specific offerings. For example, during the 50th Anniversary, characters made surprise visits to the hotels in their 50th Anniversary outfits. While the character caravans could continue, we expect the 50th Anniversary outfits would go away. Additionally, for the 50th Anniversary, California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has been serving a special prix fixe menu. Could that also go away at the end of the celebration or will it be sticking around longer? Disney hasn’t really revealed any details there but we’ll be on the lookout for news. 50th Decor at the Contemporary Another thing we wanted to point out is that Disney has announced a Dining Promo Card offer for 2023! We saw something similar to this done for select guests last year. We have also seen Quick Service Dining Cards offered in the past, but this seems to be a more expanded offer. The Dining Promo Card offer applies to trips booked for arrival dates between July 1st, 2023, and September 14th, 2023. (Other dates might qualify too so be sure to ask). If you book a minimum 5-night stay at a Disney World Resort with at least 4 days of tickets, you could be eligible to get a Dining Promo Card. Appetizers at Trattoria al Forno That Promo Card can then be used at select restaurants throughout Disney World. Basically, it’s similar to a gift card…but for restaurants! We’ve got ALL the details you need to know about this offer, so check out our posts below for more: Is This Disney World’s Answer to the Dining Plan in 2023? Dining Promo Card Details How Disney’s NEW Dining Promo Card Clues Us in to the Future of the Dining Plan When You Should Say NO to Disney World’s New Dining Package How to Get OVER $1000 With Disney World’s New Dining Offer! 24 Restaurants To Visit To Make the MOST of Your Disney World Dining Promo Card What Is a Dining Promo Card and How Do You Use It in Disney World? We Have the Answers Potential Changes Hey, Disney And finally, we have a potential change that could impact Disney World hotels in 2023. Hey, Disney is a service being created with Amazon’s Alexa that will offer “custom voice assistance” to guests at Disney World hotels and Disneyland. Basically, it’s a digital service that’ll answer your questions about the parks, can help you order extra things like pillows, and can also provide interactive elements (like jokes!). Hey, Disney! The system was set to debut in the hotels in 2022, but so far all we’ve seen is limited testing announced for the rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. But the service is expected to launch soon for select Amazon Alexa devices you might already have in your home, and Disney did indicate that the initial launch at the Polynesian would be taking place “before expanding in phases to additional Disney Resort hotel rooms across Walt Disney World.” So 2023 could finally bring these devices to many more Disney World hotel rooms. We’ll be on the lookout for more updates there! It can even tell jokes! And that’s our COMPLETE list of the ways in which Disney World hotels are CHANGING in 2023! For more hotel info, click here to learn about the WORST Disney World hotels for 2023, and click here to see 25 things you should NEVER do at Disney World hotel rooms. And, as always, stay tuned for more news! Click here to see why you should be CAREFUL staying at these Disney World hotels in 2023  Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels 9 Ways Your Disney World Hotel Stay Will Be Different in 2023 Our Picks for the Best Disney World Hotels in 2022 These Are the WORST Disney World Hotels for 2022 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel You Couldn’t Get the Disney World Hotel Reservation You Wanted – Now What? The 6 Disney World Hotel Problems No One is Talking About See Why You Might BAIL on Your Disney World Hotel A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details Are Disney World Hotel Perks Worth the Hefty Price Tag? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What other CHANGES do you hope will be made at Disney World’s hotels? Tell us in the comments! The post How Hotels Are CHANGING in Disney World in 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Can you believe that in a matter of months, it’ll be spring? Hollywood & Vine Springtime brings larger crowds to Disney World because of spring break, and we often see new eats arriving at the parks as well. That’s the case at Hollywood & Vine, which is a restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This spot hosts Minnie’s Seasonal Dine for lunch and dinner, which changes throughout the seasons and brings characters like Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and more to dine with you. Now we’ve got dates for when Springtime Dine and Summertime dine will return this year! Currently, you can experience the Silver Screen theme at the restaurant (for awards season, of course!) until March 15, 2023. Springtime Dine will start on March 16th, 2023, and last until May 24th, 2023. During this event, you can see the characters dressed in their pastel springtime outfits. It’s time for Minnie’s Springtime Dine! Summertime Dine will then begin on May 25th, 2023, and at this time, there isn’t a closing date announced for that seasonal experience. Minnie’s Summertime Dine While you’re visiting the park, be sure to check out the newest merchandise, and if you’re interested in attending one of the after-hours events this year, be sure to grab those tickets ASAP. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news! Learn more about Hollywood & Vine and read our reviews here! Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip How Many Days Do You Really Need in Disney World? How to Have the CHEAPEST Trip to Disney World 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Booking a 2023 Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Have you ever eaten at Hollywood & Vine? Tell us in the comments! The post FULL LIST of Seasonal Dining DATES at Hollywood & Vine in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Today is THE day! The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023 e-book is HERE, and we’re so excited! Grab the DFB Guide! To celebrate the launch of the 2023 edition of our most popular guide, you can save 25% off the cover price with promo code WDW2023! Get your copy of the fully-updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023 now! Use promo code WDW2023 to get 25% off the cover price! What’s in the DFB Guide? The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2023 Edition is full of need-to-know details, tools, and features to make your trip go smoothly, including: A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience. Printable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips! Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning. A comprehensive index of bars and lounges WITH reviews. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic. The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket! We love hearing from you! Our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is three books in one — with everything you need to plan your dream Disney World vacation! Three Guides in One! 101 Plan As the core of our DFB Guide system, this book contains: Your essential steps to planning your Disney World dining Quick tips to choosing the best restaurants for your family Information about what’s new in Disney World More important details to get your dining journey figured out for the Most Magical Place on Earth The keys to planning your Disney World vacation are here! Reference Guide Here’s your DEEP DIVE into the world of Disney World restaurants, with: Fully updated prices and restaurant info for 2023 visitors Overview of EVERY SINGLE restaurant in Disney World DFB’s own 2023 recommendations for everything from table service to counter service to snacks and more A deep dive into Disney World restaurants — including all of our recommendations — is inside! Printables & Resources Want to plan your trip down to the last detail? Inside our third book, you’ll find: Worksheets and printables to help with your planning DFB-exclusive activities we’ve created to keep you and your family entertained as you eat your way through the parks A master calendar to store everything you have planned for your trip Worksheets to help you plan are inside! And even more: What’s New and Upcoming at Disney Springs, all the theme parks, and more! A list of the must-do restaurants for Disney World first-timers, fully updated for 2023 Updated suggestions for unique kids’ meals Updated Suggestions and Reviews in our Drinking Around the World Chapter, Index of Bars and Lounges, and Late Night Dining Options Section Updated recommendations for traveling with babies and toddlers Our picks for the snacks you MUST try in 2023 Updated Dining Strategies to help you stick to your budget Updated Disney Dining FAQ section As you can see, this is a labor of love and we put a ton of time and effort (and research) into ensuring that we are sharing with you the most relevant, up to date Disney Food Information that’s available. We do this so that you can plan your own Disney visit with confidence, and have the trip of a lifetime, every time. And right now you can save 25% off the cover price with promo code WDW2023! Get MORE for LESS! Save with the Everything Bundle! We have even bigger savings on our Everything Bundle today too! This bundle has, well, EVERYTHING in it – all seven of the DFB Guides including: the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, the DFB Guide to the 2023 Epcot Food and Wine Festival pre-order (plus a free, instant download of the 2022 edition), the DFB Guide to the 2023 Walt Disney World Holidays pre-order (and a free, instant download of the 2022 edition), the DFB Guide to the 2023 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival pre-order (and a free, instant download of the 2022 edition), the brand-new 2023 DFB Guide to the Festival of the Arts, and our Snack Guides that cover every Disney World park. It Has It ALL! And right now you can save 40% off the already super-discounted price of the Everything Bundle with promo code BUNDLE40! Read What Our Customers Say! But don’t take our word for it! Check out what some of our readers had to say about the guide. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DFB-Guide-Testimonial-22.png http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DFB-Guide-Testimonial-14.png Ready to see what all the fuss is about? We’d love to share our best tips with you! And remember, because the guide is an e-Book, it’s super easy to download it to all of your mobile devices and take it right into the parks with you! Order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023 Edition and receive 25% off with promo code WDW2023! You can take our DFB Guide with you! With a 100%, 30-day, money back guarantee, you have nothing to lose! As always we thank you for your support of Disney Food Blog and the work we do here. We couldn’t do it without you! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post It's HERE! Get the 2023 Edition of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining TODAY! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you ready for the new season of The Mandalorian? Mandalorian The Star Wars show called The Mandalorian took the world by storm when it debuted on Disney+. Grogu (also known as Baby Yoda) has been ALL over merchandise since the show debuted and you can actually meet the iconic duo in a Disney park now! But we’re gearing up for the third season of the show with a new trailer released by Disney! Disney just dropped a new trailer for the third season of The Mandalorian — check it out below! The show’s new season will debut on Disney+ on March 1st, 2023, so mark your calendars now! ©Disney If you want some more Disney entertainment news, Strange World recently released on Disney+ and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is coming to the streaming service soon. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates! Everything Coming to Disney+ This Month Want MORE Details About Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge? Click HERE for All the News About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge — Including Our REVIEWS! See How to Build Your Own Droid at Droid Depot Dream of Building Your Own Custom Lightsaber? See How to Do It! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance! Get Full Details About Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run See More About Oga’s Cantina and Check Out Our Reviews! PHOTO TOUR: Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities Check Out Galaxy’s Edge Tips and SECRETS Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news right in your inbox! Click Here to Subscribe! What do you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: Trailer Released for Season 3 of 'The Mandalorian' Coming to Disney+ first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article