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We’ve tried some interesting snacks during our Disney days. Refreshment Corner Some of our interesting snack finds have been at Refreshment Corner in Disneyland, which has been home to many peculiar experiences. We’ve had a delicious dessert pretzel recently, and have also drank out of a lightbulb before. This spot is also known for their interesting hot dogs, and we went to try its picnic hot dog! The BBQ Picnic Hot Dog is available at Refreshment Corner for $13.49. It’s a pulled pork-topped foot-long Hot Dog, Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce, and Coleslaw, and it comes with a Cuties Mandarin Orange or a small bag of chips. BBQ Picnic Dog There’s a lot going on with this hot dog, but the pulled pork was sweet and flavorful and paired very well with the refreshing and tangy flavor of the coleslaw. The hot dog itself was your classic Disney hot dog, so nothing special, but not bad either! This thing has a lot going on! If you love pork and hot dogs, this is for you! However, if barbeque isn’t your thing or you’re more a fan of simple food without contrasting flavors, you may want to stay away. Definitely tastes like a picnic! If you’re looking for other new snacks to try, check out the delicious new 100th Anniversary snack we found, and don’t forget to check out the menus for the Lunar New Year celebration that’s coming to Disney California Adventure soon. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disneyland news! See how you can get Disney’s new 100th Anniversary popcorn bucket here! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Would you be willing to try this hot dog? Tell us in the comments below! The post REVIEW: This Disney Hot Dog Has A LOT Going On...But It Works! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The one thing you can count on at Disney World is change — things are constantly changing, evolving, growing, being updated, or under construction at some point. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Right now, EPCOT is still undergoing a HUGE transformation. There’s construction going on over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The Grand Floridian is getting some work done. There’s even construction happening over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort — and that construction could affect your lunch plans. We visited the Caribbean Beach Resort today and stopped by Spyglass Grill, which usually serves hot AND cold lunch and dinner items. Sign for Spyglass Grill However, we were told by a Cast Member that the restaurant was NOT serving hot lunch right now and wouldn’t be serving hot food again until 5PM. We were then told that it’s because the construction around the hotel has affected the lunch business there. Spyglass Grill However, you can still pick up cold food, like sandwiches, salads, and pastries at this location. But keep this lunch change in mind if you’ll be staying there soon. If you’re looking for quick service hot food at Caribbean Beach, though, you can head to Centertown Market. Smoked turkey breast sandwich from Spyglass Grill It’s a good idea to keep up with construction happening at Disney World — you never know how it might affect your plans. We’ll do our best to keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more! With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. Grab the DFB Guide! We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! The Nasty Travel Problems You’re Not Prepared For in 2023 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort soon? Let us know in the comments! The post How Construction in Disney World Could Ruin Your Lunch Plans first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s 100th Anniversary is on its way! 100th Anniversary Disneyland Popcorn Bucket We’ve already started to see new 100th Anniversary offerings released, like new credit card designs, MagicBand+ designs, and so much more. If you’ve been hoping to try a new 100th Anniversary snack in Disneyland, we’ve got good news — lemon fans will LOVE this new adorable snack! The new 100th Anniversary Lemon Tea Cake is lemon cake with lemon curd and lemon zest glaze (lots of lemon!) and can be yours for $6.99. 100th Anniversary Lemon Tea Cake We personally loved this little treat! It had a great balance of sweetness and tart lemon flavor and was soft and moist. The glaze over the top also gave a nice crunch to the top of the cake, which we thought was delicious! Yum! If you love lemon, we highly recommend grabbing this! We grabbed our cake at Jolly Holiday Bakery, but you can also find it at Alien Pizza Planet. A delicious treat! Disneyland has also introduced new 100th Anniversary cups that you can grab throughout the park when you get drinks to go from quick service locations! Cute cups! There are lots of ways to celebrate Disney’s 100th Anniversary, both in the parks and outside of them. If you’re planning a 2023 trip and you want (or don’t want) to coincide with the 100th anniversary, the celebration kicks off on January 27th. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Check out the 100th Anniversary treats you can get in Disney World! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Would you try this adorable little cake? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Try a NEW Disney 100th Anniversary Snack With Us! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Picture this: you’re looking for a quick bite to eat just steps away from Magic Kingdom. Disney World Should you pop over to the Polynesian? Gallivant over to the Grand Floridian? The answer could be even closer than you might think! At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, look no further than Contempo Cafe. This quick service spot is dishing up all kinds of savory eats and sweet treats — and it’s time we take you with us for a full review! Atmosphere Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a modern-themed hotel with a very special feature: the monorail runs right through it! The Contemporary is home to California Grill, Steakhouse 71, Chef Mickey’s, a lounge, a coffee shop, and of course — Contempo Cafe! Disney’s Contemporary Resort You’ll find Contempo Cafe located in the atrium of the Contemporary Resort up the escalator, directly next to Chef Mickey’s. If you’ve ever been to the Contemporary, chances are you’re familiar with just how loud this atrium area can actually get. There are usually A TON of people milling about — whether in the restaurants, shopping, or just taking in the views. That’s definitely something to keep in mind when eating here! Contempo Cafe Contempo Cafe is a quick service spot, so you can pop in and out! Menu You’ll find plenty of items to choose from on this menu, like Caesar salads, burgers, sandwiches, and flatbreads… ©Disney …and some plant-based offerings and soup too. ©Disney Kids have a few different options to choose from… ©Disney …and there are also a TON of grab-and-go snacks available here. ©Disney Oh, did we mention how absolutely STACKED Contempo Cafe is with desserts?! From cupcakes to cookies and pies… ©Disney …and a few bakery items as well. ©Disney You can whet your whistle with plenty of grab-and-go beverages… ©Disney …or grab a beer if you’re up for it! ©Disney There are quite a few different wine offerings… ©Disney …and a few pre-mixed cocktails as well. ©Disney The Contempo Cafe menu is pretty extensive, and Disney often features specialty snacks and items here. Of course, you’ll find the typical allergy-friendly menus and offerings available here as well. Eats We stopped by Contempo Cafe for lunch — and we’re pretty darn glad we did! We started out with the Spicy Chicken Sandwich for $11.79. This is a Grilled Chicken Breast, House-made Chipotle Rémoulade, Feta, Pickles, Leaf Lettuce, and Tomato on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries. Spicy Chicken Sandwich We really liked this sandwich! The chicken wasn’t too dry like you can often find when it’s been grilled, and the brioche bun was nicely toasted and soft. We loved the feta cheese crumbles combined with the chipotle remoulade and thought the lettuce, pickles, and tomato gave the sandwich a much-needed crunch. But, if you’re looking for a true spicy chicken sandwich — this just isn’t it. We may have noticed a bit of a kick from the chipotle, but the chicken itself wasn’t spicy, and we didn’t feel the need to wash it down with anything. We’d give this a try if you’re looking for a slightly elevated standard chicken sandwich. Chicken Sandwich Next up was the plant-based Grilled Tofu Bowl made with Grilled Tofu, Green Sofrito Rice, Red Sofrito Black Beans, Pico De Gallo, Green Tomatillo Salsa, and Avocado Crema for $12.99. First of all, look how HUGE this portion is! It’s a pretty big dish and could easily be shared between two people for a lighter lunch. The tofu was light and firm, and when combined with all the other ingredients in the bowl it was excellent — but by itself, it didn’t have much flavor. The avocado crema and green salsa were our favorite parts and really gave the dish a nice kick. If you like tofu bowls or rice bowls, this could be a solid option for you! Grilled Tofu Bowl The All-Meat Flatbread is exactly what it sounds like — a Fresh-rolled Pizza Dough layered with Marinara, Mozzarella, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, and Smoked Bacon finished with Grated Parmesan for $12.29. Meat eaters, this one is for you! Fair warning, though, we found our slice to be pretty salty from all the meat and cheese — deliciously salty, that is. All Meat Flatbread You’ll find pretty standard sausage and pepperoni on here, but the mozzarella cheese tasted remarkably fresh. Not only that, but this is a pretty big flatbread and could be shared between two carnivores. Of course, it’s a pretty heavy dish being that it’s all meat and cheese and bread, but sometimes that’s just what you need in the middle of the day. A decent slice We couldn’t visit Contempo Cafe without getting a dessert (or two!) so we picked up the Monorail Cookies and Cream Cupcake for $5.99. This is a vanilla cupcake with cookies and cream frosting and filling with a hollow white chocolate monorail on top. Monorail cupcake When they say cookies and cream, they MEAN it! There is no shortage of the classic flavor in this cupcake. We really love that they used the same frosting on top and on the inside — this isn’t covered in overly sweet icing that will stain your teeth. The chocolate monorail is an adorable touch but just adds that sugary white chocolate flavor. This is definitely one of the better cupcakes we’ve had here! Delicious Oh, Contempo Cafe Peanut Butter Pie. You know we love you. And we mean the REAL you. Not this 50th Anniversary impostor — but, we’ll give it another chance. The 50th Anniversary Peanut Butter Banana Pie is a Sweet Tart Shell filled with Peanut Butter Mousse and Banana Sauce topped with Chocolate Glaze and Chocolate Décor for $5.29. Peanut Butter banana Pie You definitely need to love the flavors of both peanut butter and banana to like this snack, but if that applies to you — step on up! The peanut butter mousse combined with the banana sauce and chocolate glaze is a true standout, though that banana flavor does shine through pretty strongly. The inside Parts of the dish were overwhelming when you tasted one flavor by itself, but find the perfect forkful, and you’ll be inhaling this dessert in no time. Nosh or Not You should eat at Contempo Cafe if… You’re looking for a quick-service restaurant just steps away from Magic Kingdom. You want to experience the Contemporary Resort but don’t have time for a full sit-down meal. You love desserts and want a lot of options when it comes to a sweet treat. You should skip Contempo Cafe if… You’re looking for a relaxing, sit-down meal. You want to experience an exciting atmosphere that really feels like you’re at Disney World. You want to really be wowed by your meal. Overall Consider Contempo Cafe the next time you’re looking for something quick to eat on your way to or from Magic Kingdom. We’ve had some pretty decent dishes here, but nothing that has made us want to make a special trip (except for you, peanut butter pie!). Contempo Cafe spread With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! We’ll be bringing you even more Disney World food reviews in the future, so stay tuned to DFB! The 17 BEST Restaurants in Disney World in 2023 Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide Check Out the 19 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2022 Our Top 50 All-Time Best Disney Dining Tips These Are the BEST Meals in Disney World for Under $15 Ranking Every Single Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking Every Single EPCOT Restaurant Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney Springs Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney World Hotels – Cheap Eats Edition Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you eaten at Contempo Cafe before? Let us know in the comments! The post Come With Us For Lunch Just a Few Steps Off the Monorail in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the worst parts of Disney World is a fact that most of us have accepted as part of the experience, and it’s the crowds. Cinderella Castle! There’s no denying Disney is a popular vacation destination for people all over the world, and with that brings tons of guests to the parks daily. If you’re only going one time or take trips infrequently, it might be more tolerable. But for those who visit the parks regularly (like Annual Passholders) you might prefer to plan your visits around the busy seasons. If you don’t like crowds, January 22nd, 2023, is one day you’ll want to skip Magic Kingdom. Why? It’s the day that Splash Mountain will be taking its last passengers before closing for good. After this date the ride will close permanently as construction begins on its retheming to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Splash Mountain Disney announced the retheming way back in 2020, and now Splash’s final day is here! Disneyland’s version of the attraction will be closing as well, so if you aren’t able to make it to Disney World before the closure you could still ride the West Coast version, as we don’t know the official closing date yet. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney Disney hasn’t announced any special events for the closure but it’s likely that many guests will be heading over to Magic Kingdom to get one last ride in, so you might want to spend your day in another park. Festival of the Arts will be running in EPCOT with plenty to see, do, and EAT! You can also check out our Ultimate Guide to Animal Kingdom — you might find something new to do! And if you really want to avoid the crowds, head over to Hollywood Studios for an After Hours event. You’ll be surprised at how empty the park is! An empty Galaxy’s Edge If you’d like to relive the nostalgia you can instead opt to ride Splash in the coming days. We can’t promise it will be quiet though! If you want some inspiration on other Magic Kingdom spots to visit while you’re waiting for your Lightning Lane, you can download our checklist for free. It covers absolutely EVERYTHING in the park, from attractions, to dining, to merchandise and more! For more details on the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, check out our posts below: Take a look at the clue we found that construction would begin soon See our page full of details about the ride Learn about the new friends coming to the ride Get full details about Tiana’s new look Get an INSIDE look at the ride Check out some of the art inspiring the ride Get another look at the colorful concept art for the ride Stay current on all of the ride updates in Disney World on our site! After Hours Events Are BACK in Magic Kingdom! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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. Comment below some of your other favorite rides in Magic Kingdom! The post Why You WON'T Want to Be in Disney World January 22nd first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To say the holiday travel season was a little chaotic is a great understatement. Even after bad weather grounded flights all over the U.S., Southwest Airlines continued to cancel thousands of flights FOR DAYS even after the weather had cleared, leaving passengers stranded. Southwest Plane As the problem dragged on, Southwest Airlines’ CEO released a public apology video. Eventually, Southwest’s flight schedule returned to normal, and the airline began issuing refunds to affected passengers. However, for some, that isn’t enough, and a lawsuit has been filed against the company. According to Insider, a group of Southwest shareholders has filed a lawsuit against the company with allegations that the airline hid certain problems that resulted in mass flight cancellations over the holiday travel season. ©Reuters The class action lawsuit was filed against Southwest Airlines, its CEO, CFO, and executive chairman earlier this week in a federal court in Houston, accusing the airline of not noting failures in its scheduling system that resulted in the flight cancelations. According to the lawsuit, shareholders allege they “have suffered significant losses and damages” because of how the company’s market value dropped after the mass cancellations. Were you affected by the Southwest cancellations? According to Mike Santoro, the vice president of Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, the weather cancellations were made worse because of the airline’s “outdated” scheduling system. Since the cancellations, Southwest announced a huge sale with airfares as low as $49 per day. This included flights to Orlando, for those headed to Disney World. ©Southwest Airlines We’ll continue to keep an eye on the situation and keep you updated. Here’s How You Can Be Compensated for Flight Delays or Cancelations Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport The Ultimate Disney World Packing List for 2022 You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The BEST and WORST Airlines in the US, Ranked by Customer Complaints The MOST and LEAST Reliable Airlines in the U.S. This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Were you affected by the Southwest flight cancellations over the holidays? Let us know in the comments. The post Lawsuit Filed Against Southwest Airlines Over MASSIVE Cancelations 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. Okay, so we’ve seen a LOT of unique pairs of ears in Disney World. EARS FOR DAYS We’ve seen ears with sails on the back of them, ears straight out of Bridgerton, Lumberjack ears, and more! But the Beaded Ears we’ve seen online and in Disneyland are unique in their own way, and now they’re available in Disney World! That’s right, if you’re visiting Disney World soon, you can now get the Minnie Mouse Beaded Ear Headband (that’s the official product title) there! These ears channel Aurora’s pink and blue colors! Make it pink AND blue The ears are padded with Mickey-shaped beads on them! Mickey beads! The bow is entirely beaded — we love how DIFFERENT these are! Beaded bow We found these ears in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Celebrity 5 & 10 for $34.99. But if you can’t get to Disney World and want to get your hands on these — don’t fret! You can buy them online, too! Buy the Beaded Ears online here Do you love Figment? Check out this fun Figment souvenir you can get for under $6 in EPCOT! We’ll also keep an eye out for more new merchandise in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more! While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? It’s super fun stuff to wear to the parks, or to rep your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store! 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 of these ears? Let us know in the comments! The post Where to Find the NEW Beaded Minnie Ears in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You’ve resolved to travel more, to get out of your home, your neighborhood, and even your town. You may have even resolved to travel beyond the Disney Parks and see more of the world beyond EPCOT’s World Showcase. That’s right — you’re taking a Disney Cruise! The Disney Wish But how do you choose which ship to cruise on? Now that Disney’s fleet has expanded to five ships (soon to be six!), you might be struggling to decide which ship is right for you and your family. And since Disney Cruises are quite the investment of your family vacation dollars, that is an important decision. So, we’re here to help you break it down! The Disney Cruise Line fleet is comprised of five world-class ships: the Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder, the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy, and the newest ship in the fleet: the Disney Wish. The fleet will be joined by the Disney Treasure in 2024! They all sail to different ports and in different areas of the world, so just your itinerary of WHERE you want to travel will narrow down your selection quite a bit. And if you’re also restricted on cruising dates, well, that will also help narrow down your options. For example, if your travel plans have you cruisin’ around Europe, then you’ll be sailing on the Disney Dream — because that’s the only ship that currently sails in Europe. Not a bad view But we’re gonna take travel dates and travel destinations off of the table and JUST look at the ships and what the ships have to offer. We’re gonna rank all five ships based off of some standard criteria so YOU know which ship will best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Best Cruise for Food Best Cruise for Adults Best Cruise for Kids Best Cruise for Teens Best Cruise for Recreation Best Cruise for Entertainment Mickey and Minnie on the Disney Wish! So, now that you have an idea of what this is all about, let’s dig into these ships! We have a full overview of everything the ships have to offer, and now we’re highlight the ships that top each category of fun, food, and frivolity! Best Cruise for Food Sometimes evaluating food, restaurants, and dining experiences on Disney Cruise ships can be difficult because many of them offer the same options. All of the ships have a sort of food court-style quick service options on the top deck, near the pools. You can find fine dining options like Palo or Remy (or both) on most of the ships. And Animator’s Palate has become a Disney Cruise dining icon on the ships. So, how do you distinguish “best food” on the ships when so many options are so similar on most of the ships? Animator’s Palate restaurant Now, consider this a good thing! It’s difficult to decide the best and that means that when selecting your cruise, you don’t have to worry about FOMO! If your cruise destination has you sailing on the Disney Wonder instead of the Disney Dream because so many experiences are similar across the fleet, that means that you won’t be missing much (if anything). Palo Now we know that makes us sound like we’re teasing you. “Hey DFB, you said you’d give the Best Cruise for Food, and now you’re saying it’s all good. What’s the deal?” Ok, ok, we hear you! There IS a Best Cruise for Food — the standout in this category is the Disney Wish. The Disney Wish is the newest Disney Cruise and it has SO many dining options, some are similar to experiences on other ships, and some are completely unique to the Wish! And there’s just MORE to choose from! Food on the Disney Wish The Wish has the traditional Disney Cruise Line three dining room rotational dining service which rotates among three brand new dining stories: Worlds of Marvel, 1923, and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. These new dining experiences are unique, fun, engaging and let’s face it, delicious! You’ll also find the poolside quick service options that you’ve come to expect on a Disney Cruise, but the quality of these locations on the Wish just stands apart from the other ships. Who knew Ant-Man was such a good cook? The Wish just also goes above and beyond in some other categories, like having some great spots to snag specialty coffee orders, for those who need a latte while they cruise, you can pick up your caffeine fix at Wishing Star Cafe and also in Marceline Market (the top deck buffet service), both in addition to the Cove Bar & Café you can find on all of the Disney ships. The same can be said of the bars and lounges, the Wish has NINE (well, TEN if you include Hook’s Barbery, which will serve up some rum while you get your beard trimmed)! There’s even a $5,000 cocktail you can get at the exclusive Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge. Awesome Cast Members! The Disney Wish wins the food category, but that doesn’t mean that the other ships are losers. You’ll still have amazing and memorable meals aboard any of Disney’s ships. But, if you’re going to pick a cruise just based on the food alone, and you don’t care where or when you cruise, then you’ll want the Disney Wish. All of the Disney Wish Restaurants Best Cruise for Adults Disney Cruises are great for families and kids, but they make amazing vacations and retreats for adults, as well. Whether you’re traveling solo, with some pals, on your honeymoon or anniversary, or with your family but just getting a break from the younger members of your crew, the Disney Cruise ships offer fun, relaxation, and luxury for grown-ups. Senses Spa You just read all about which cruise wins for food and you’re thinking, with ten bars and lounges, that the Wish has to top the Adults category, too, don’t you? Well, SURPRISE, it’s up there but didn’t win this round. Who edged out their sister ships on this category? The Disney Fantasy. Disney Fantasy As mentioned above, many of the ships offer overlapping experiences and offerings, so you’ll find adult-only areas, pools, lounges, spas, and decks on all of the ships. But what sets the Fantasy apart from her sisters is that her over-18 options are conveniently located in the same general section of the ship. The adult dining options of Palo, Meridian, and Remy are snuggled together at the aft of Deck 12, but Deck 4 seems to be created with adults in mind with seven variously themed bars and lounges (Vista Cafe, D Lounge, Ooh La La, La Piazza, O’Gills Pub, Skyline, and The Tube), not to mention Tiffany & Co gift shop for those looking for some duty-free jewelry purchases. Ooh Laa Laa Again, you’ll find adult-only sections on every Disney Cruise. However, if your cruise plans are centered around a grown-up adventure, then you might want to see where the Fantasy will take you! Disney Fantasy Cruising: 2023 Restaurant Guide Best Cruise for Kids Well, this is all Disney Cruises, isn’t it? If Disney is known for anything, it’s quality entertainment for kids, so you know you’re kids are gonna have a good time on a Disney Cruise. But is any one ship a little better at this than the others? Oceaneer Club All of the ships have kids-only areas that are age specific with activities and entertainment tailored to that age-range. These Disney Oceaneer Clubs and Oceaneer Labs are on all of the cruise ships, but there are different themes and Disney stories utilized on each ship. But one ship pulls ahead of its peers in this category: The Disney Wish. The Wish is really a benefactor of its older siblings. The Wish started her cruising career in 2022, nearly 24 years after the first official Disney Cruise ship, The Disney Magic. That’s 24 years for Imagineers, technology, and research to optimize the best possible experience and space for little cruisers to enjoy. And they’ve really done their homework and it begins before they even enter the Oceaneer space — at the entrance, which is A SLIDE! Parents check their kiddos into the Club on Deck 3, and then they SLIDE DOWN to Deck 2, where the club is located (sorry, it’s a kids-only slike, no adults allowed). You can enter the Disney Wish kids’ area through a SLIDE! The Oceaneer Club has multiple spaces where kids can choose to hang out and participate in different activities. There’s a stage in the hub of the club where there will be special shows and character appearances. And then it breaks off into different themed areas like Fairytale Hall for fans of Disney royalty; Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, where kids participate in hands-on activities; Marvel Super Hero Academy for those Avengers-in-training; Star Wars Cargo Bay for those force-sensitive in the family; and Mickey & Minnie’s Captain’s Deck with an indoor playground set for getting some of that youthful energy out. Oceaneer Lab And while it’s not located in the Oceaneer Club, but you can’t forget about Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where kids can get transformed into their favorite Disney characters! And other kid-loved spaces like pools, waterslides….er water-coasters, the Hero Zone, and well, you know, the whole rest of the ship. The Disney Wish includes an Imagineering Lab for kids! So the Wish is the best cruise for kids, but another thing to consider is the best cruise ship for adults with kids and we’d consider the Magic or the Wonder would fit that role as those ships are smaller, easier to navigate, and overall just a bit less complicated. So, this is kind of a “yes, but” answer, but still something worth considering! Explore the Kids Clubs on the New Disney Cruise Ship — The Wish Best Cruise for Teens Let’s look at that teen stereotype of kinda moody, a little sassy, too “grown up” for cartoons, but still a little goofy and definitely not shouldering the burden of student-loan debt or a mortgage, but dealing with the nuances of maintaining their cool in a virtual universe of social media. Can Disney find something to appeal to the complex creatures that are human teenagers? Is there anything on a Disney Cruise ship that might entice a teen to put down their phone (or adults too for that matter, you know who you are), and have dinner with their family, watch a show, participate in a game, or even make some new friends and actually talk to them IRL (that’s “in real life” for you grown-ups out there) rather than just communicating through text? Vibe Disney had their work cut out for them to find new and engaging ways to reach the ever-evolving interests or teenagers. And as technology, culture, and trends seems to change every five years, that is a daunting task to remain relevant for this dynamic group of cruisers. Yet, they managed to do it! (Disney, you really a place where dreams come true!) But which ship did it best? Vibe We’re starting to sound like a bit of a broken record, but we like the Disney Wish and Disney’s Dream and Fantasy (since they have the same options). Disney Wish’s indoor or weather-controlled Hero Zone is a multi-use space for so many activities. This includes basketball, ping pong, air hockey, shuffleboard, and foosball. Families can use this area too, but it’s especially great for teens. It’s not an accident that the Hero Zone is near Vibe on Disney Wish. Hero Zone ©Disney The Wish is the only ship to have The Hideaway for teens and tweens. Yet the other ships – Disney Dream, Fantasy, and Magic – all have Chill, a teens-only spa for ages 13 to 17. Learn All of the Disney Wish Secrets Best Cruise for Recreation (pools & spa) For all of these categories, we can honestly say “all of the ships are great, but this one just squeaks out ahead”, but not for this category. When it comes to the best Disney Cruise ship for Recreation (we’re talking pools and spas), The Disney Wish is the clear front runner. Aaaaahh…. Now, yes, you will find plenty of pools and a luxurious spa on each and every one of the Disney Cruise ships, but the Wish just does them bigger, better and more! The AquaMouse is not your average poolside, or even your cruise-specific “over the edge of boat” slide, it’s a complete water attraction! You’ll get in a 2-seater ride vehicle and go up into a tunnel that will take you into the world of Disney animated shorts, either “Scuba Scramble” or “Swiss Meltdown” as your story, and you’ll see the story playing out on the screens around you! ©Disney Beyond the epic water coaster, there are a total of 10 pools and water play areas, in fact — each named after a Disney character! And for the little ones, there’s a Toy Story Splash Zone, which has Toy Story characters that squirt water! Quiet Cove is an adults-only area of the deck, where you’ll find an infinity pool, whirlpool spa, and bar. Toy Story Splash Zone And the Spa?! The Senses Spa is on all of the Cruise Ships, but on the Disney Wish, there are all of the luxurious indoor treatment areas and an outdoor rainforest relaxation space. Unique to the ship is Disney Cruise Line’s first ever ice lounge for thermal therapies, plus other treatments like heated ergonomic loungers. There are also multiple different rooms to use like the sauna, steam room, and frigidarium, or the cold room. Oasis Other Cruises have the Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutiques for little ones to get the royal treatment, but only the Wish has Hook’s Barbery, where dapper folks can get spiffed up in a setting reminiscent of a cigar room, and could also sip on a nice cognac or rum in the process. It’s a BARber shop, get it? Hook’s Barbery Will you get the chance to pamper yourself and relax on other Disney cruises? Yes. But if your final destination is relaxation decadence, then you want the Wish. The Most Relaxing Spots on Disney’s New Cruise Ship Best Cruise for Entertainment (clubs, shows, and characters) Disney Cruise Line also offers free movies in multiple spots – out on the funnel vision screen near the pools, as well as in the movie theater on the ship. The movie theater even offers runs of new movies that are currently out in theaters. There are also Broadway-style shows in the theater onboard the ship. Typically these large productions are offered more than once a night. Each ship has its own unique performances. Walt Disney Theatre In the ship’s Atriums, Disney Characters meet and interact with guests throughout the day, and the ships all set off evening fireworks. And there are spaces onboard for quizzes, trivia, and games for families or just adults to enjoy. The ships are all floating entertainment centers! But a few of them offer a bit more in this category. The Disney Dream and Fantasy both host the Midship Detective Agency, an interactive game taking guests all around the ship to solve a mystery. There are three different mystery options involving Mickey and friends, characters from Disney’s 101 Dalmations, or the Muppets. And we do love a good Muppet Caper! Disney Cruise Line Atrium The Disney Wish has learned from its older siblings and created a unique Atrium Stage which hosts unique character shows throughout the cruise and character meet-and-greet opportunities. It also has its own interactive game aboard, Disney Unchartered Adventure. Disney Unchartered Adventure is its own interactive game using the Play Disney Parks app and AR technology on your mobile device to play games and interact with your favorite Disney characters. Welcome So, which ship comes out on top? We lean toward the Dream and Fantasy. We love the Midship Detective Agency and how families can play it together or individuals can play it solo. Plus, Muppets. ‘Nough said. SNEAK PEEK at Pixar Characters Coming to Disney Cruise Line Soon Summary Like we’ve said about a hundred times already, there’s no such thing as a bad Disney Cruise. Your ship will provide you with impeccable service, special memories, amazing food, fun activities, and relaxation galore, no matter when or where you cruise. But if you’re looking for some very specific onboard experiences, these categories may help you find the right ship for you and your family. Disney Dream And remember, in 2024, the new Disney Treasure will launch and may upset this whole list! Disney also recently acquired another ship which will receive a Disney makeover and debut sometime in 2025. We’ll keep you posted on how these new additions to the Disney fleet stack up, so make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter to keep up with all of the Disney Cruise Line and Disney Parks information! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Follow Along As We Explore Disney’s NEW Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish Learn ALL the Secrets of the Disney Wish We Ate EVERYTHING on Disney's Newest Cruise Ship -- The Disney Wish Learn About Disney Cruise Line’s COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Policies Disney Wish COVID-19 Testing Mishaps to Avoid A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) A Look at the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Policies For EVERY Major Cruise Line What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Which Disney Cruise ship is YOUR favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post Ranking The Best Disney Cruise Ships For 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The day has finally come! Pete’s Silly Sideshow There are lots of meet and greets you can experience in Disney World. Disney announced earlier this month that characters would return to Pete’s Silly Sideshow on January 15th, which means it is time. Come with us to say hello to these characters once again! On one side of the sideshow, you can meet Minnie Magnifique and Daisy Fortuna, and on the other side, you can meet The Astounding Donaldo and The Great Goofini. To meet these wonderful characters, check your My Disney Experience App to see when they’ll be meeting guests. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Click here to see the list of all the character meet and greets that have returned to normal in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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. Who will you plan to meet first back at this spot? Tell us below! The post Characters Are BACK at Pete's Silly Sideshow in Magic Kingdom! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the biggest perks of staying at a Disney World resort is having access to Disney World’s vast transportation system. The Skyliner If you need to get somewhere in Disney World, all you need to do is hop on a bus, a boat, the Monorail, or the Skyliner. However, when a mode of transportation goes down in Disney World, it could put a wrench in your plans. That’s why we’re reminding you that the Skyliner will be closed very soon! Disney World’s Skyliner will be closed for refurbishment from January 22nd to 29th, 2023! So if you’re staying at Disney’s Pop Century, Art of Animation, Riviera, or Caribbean Beach Resort during that time, you will not be able to take the Skyliner to any of those resorts , Disney’s Hollywood Studios , or EPCOT. Disney Skyliner at Hollywood Studios Instead, you’ll need to take bus transportation to the parks from the Skyliner resorts. So keep that in mind as that could add a little extra time to your trips (especially if you have an advance dining reservation you need to make in time). Skyliner Closed sign If you use the Skyliner to travel to those Disney World hotels that have it, you’ll also need to make alternative transportation plans. We’ll keep an eye on the closure and let you know when it’s operating again, so stay tuned to DFB for more! When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? Matching shirts for the whole family! We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! Here Are Unexpected Problems You’ll Have on the Skyliner in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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. Are you staying at a Skyliner resort during the closure? Let us know how you’ll adjust your plans in the comments! The post Don't Forget! Disney World's Skyliner Will Temporarily Close SOON first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s something we tell you all the time … rope dropping is usually worth it! Rope drop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios When you can beat at least SOME of the crowds to the parks for the day, it allows you to take advantage of shorter wait times and knock out some of those popular attractions! But there are OTHER popular places to go in Disney World that seem to fill up right when the doors open! Today, we’re taking a look at some unique lounges at Disney World that are so popular, you’ll want to consider “rope dropping” them to get a seat! OK, first off, if you don’t know what rope dropping is, it’s basically getting somewhere BEFORE it opens. At Disney Parks, it’s called rope drop because of, well, real ropes! The term comes from an actual rope that Cast Members used to control the flow of guests entering the park and goes back to the earlier days of Disneyland. Rope drop in World Showcase at EPCOT Guests would be allowed into the park and allowed on Main Street, U.S.A. but Cast Members with a rope would block off entry into each land. When the park officially opened, a spiel would come on the loudspeaker announcing the park was open for the day, and the Cast Members would “drop the rope” and slowly allow guests to walk (no running!) into the rest of the park. So, which lounges at Disney World are SO popular you might want to “rope drop” them? Space 220 Lounge This restaurant in outer space (but really, in EPCOT) is definitely one of the hardest reservations to get in all of Disney World. But there’s a trick to eating here you may not know about — getting a seat in the bar instead of a table in the dining area! In the Space 220 Lounge, you can order the full prix fixe meal served in the restaurant, OR you can order a la carte items — something you can’t do on the restaurant side! Space 220 Lounge You CAN get an advance dining reservation for Space 220 Lounge, but if you don’t get one, there is another way! Space 220 Lounge typically opens at 11:30AM, and we recommend heading over there about 30 minutes before opening! You will see a stand-by line area, and you can tell the Cast Member there that you would like bar seating. You may have to wait a bit, but our last time doing this, we got in right when the restaurant opened! Let’s go! The Space 220 Lounge menu includes cocktails like the Planetary Punch, with Bacardi Silver, Malibu, Blue Curacao, Guava, and Coconut … Planetary Punch … and “Flight Bites” such as the Astro Deviled Eggs, made with Free-Range Eggs, Maple Glazed Bacon, Scallion, Pickled Shallots, and Micro Greens. Astro Deviled Eggs We’re all about Disney FOOD here at DFB. We even wrote the book on it! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining in an ebook format you can easily download to your tablet or smartphone. Use code WDW2023 to save 25% on the cover price! Check out our recent review of Space 220 Lounge Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is considered one of — if not THE — busiest bars in Disney World. And it doesn’t take reservaions. If you’re not familiar with Trader Sam’s, this bar is themed as an extension of the Jungle Cruise attraction in Magic Kingdom. Basically, the idea is that Trader Sam, the famous head-salesman-turned-gift-shop-owner, needed a place to store all of the artifacts that he collected from his travels all over the globe and he decided to stow them away in this “happy hideaway” in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. And, that’s why you’ll have to find the little hole in the wall down the hallway from Capt. Cook’s to get in! Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Trader Sam’s is pretty small, so with the limited seating, how do you get in? This Disney World lounge operates with a virtual queue. Basically, you get your name on a list, and you’ll get a text when your seat is ready. The BEST way to ensure you’re going to get to visit Trader Sam’s is to — you guessed it — “rope drop” it. Trader Sam’s generally opens at 3PM, and a Cast Member usually starts taking names for the virtual queue 30 minutes before that. We recommend getting there even earlier to get in line if you can! Yes, you will likely have to wait in a physical line to get placed on the virtual waiting list. It’s a topsy-turvy world! TIme to get in line! But when you get that glorious text, you’ll be glad you showed up early! We recommend trying the tropical drinks here, like the shareable Uh-Oa, with Plantation Original Dark Rum, Bacardi Superior Rum, Orange, Passion Fruit, Guava, Pineapple, and Grapefruit Juices, Falernum, Cinnamon, and fresh Lime Juice that wakes up the Tiki God in the bar and is brought to you on FIRE … Uh-Oa! … and you can even grab some grub like the Thai Chicken Flatbread with Bacon and Peanut Sauce! Thai Chicken Flatbread from Trader Sam’s With all of the Cast Member antics and fun to be had, we’re guessing you’ll be glad you rope-dropped this Disney World lounge! Read our review of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Those are the two Disney World lounges you’ll want to arrive at before they open to get a seat! Getting there early will often reward you with a great seat, great drinks, and great food, so don’t let the fact that you know a lounge is busy scare you! Did you know that you can also join the walk-up waitlist for some restaurants at Disney World, even if you didn’t get a reservation? We’ve got more details on the way to get on “the list” here! Keep following DFB for the latest Disney dining 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. Do you have tricks to get into a busy dining location at Disney World? Share them in the comments! The post Disney World Bars You Have to Rope Drop To Get a Seat first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Travel Country Outfitters in Altamonte Springs is helping hikers, backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds gear up for milder weather in Florida. View the full article

Welcome back to Disney World’s resorts! Disney’s Contemporary Resort There are lots of Disney resorts to stay at, and we’ve ranked every single hotel to help you decide where to stay for your trip. Lots can change at these resorts quickly, so let’s take a look at everything new we spotted this past week! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Merchandise Updates Fantasia Marketplace We spotted a Black Panther Action Figure for $24.99! Black Panther Action Figure We also saw lots of new pins like the “it’s a small world” Mickey and Minnie Pin for $14.99… “it’s a small world” Mickey and Minnie Pin …an Avengers Pin for $12.99… Avengers Pin …a Vision Pin for $11.99… Vision Pin …a Thor Pin is available for $11.99… Thor Pin …a Star Wars Retro Pin for $12.99… Star Wars Retro Pin …and another “it’s a small world” Pin for $11.99! “it’s a small world” Pin There’s also a Simba Weighted Plush for $39.99! Simba Weighted Plush You can also grab a Stitch Plush for $29.99… Stitch Plush …or a Dumbo Plush for $29.99. Dumbo Plush That’s all from Fantasia! Bayview Gifts Over at Bayview Gifts, we spotted a 100th Anniversary Hoodie for $64.99! 100th Anniversary Hoodie There is also a Pink Headphone Case for $21.99. Pink Headphone Case We also spotted a Mickey and Friends Jacket for $59.99… Mickey and Friends Jacket …as well as matching Mickey and Friends Pants for $49.99. Mickey and Friends Pants We also saw a WDW Spirit Jersey that is blue with neon green accents. WDW Spirit Jersey The spirit jersey is $79.99. Heads Up! Two Disney World Resort Pools Are Closed for Refurbishment Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Construction Updates DVC Building Lots of construction is continuing to happen over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort where their new DVC building is in progress. Part of the Construction Construction vehicles are on different parts of the site as well. Construction It’s exciting to see the building process continue, and you know we’ll continue bringing you updates as things progress. Things are happening! This is just one of the many things changing at Disney World hotels! The Pool Slide Closure That Could Affect Your 2023 Disney World Trip And that’s everything that’s new at Disney World’s resorts! With the holiday season over and the crowds winding down in Disney World, we’ll keep bringing you updates on what you can expect from your next Disney World trip. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! See the 15 massive news drops Disney hit us with recently! 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’s your favorite Disney resort? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New at Disney World Hotels: Pin Collectors BEWARE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s been a pretty wild week for Disney news! Magic Kingdom We found out when Happily Ever After and EPCOT Forever would return to Disney World, free parking is now available for hotel guests, Genie+ is getting a new perk, Park Pass Reservations are changing for Annual Passholders, and more. Also, the Festival of the Arts officially kicked off in EPCOT! Even though Disney news has been busy, the parks seemed to have mellowed out when it comes to wait times. Although wait times have gone down overall, there are still some long lines you may want to skip. One way to skip the long lines at certain attractions is rope dropping or staying until park close. Rope dropping is when you arrive at the park before opening time so you are one of the first people in the parks for the day. During this time, you can get on a ride or two without much of a wait! We’ve also noticed that wait times dip near the end of the night. EPCOT Entrance Another choice you can make is purchasing Genie+, which is Disney’s skip-the-line system. The price of Genie+ depends on the day since Disney introduced flexible pricing earlier this year, however we’ve seen the price fluctuate between $15 and $29. Buying Genie+ will allow you to expedite your wait for many Disney World attractions. Disney Genie+ allows you to book the Lightning Lane for rides. Now, let’s take a look at the average wait times from this past week in all 4 Disney World parks! Magic Kingdom We’re starting at Magic Kingdom, where Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time at 83 minutes this week! Last week the average wait time was 110 minutes, so this is a pretty significant decrease. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Next, Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 69 minutes, Space Mountain and Jungle/Jingle Cruise averaged 49 minutes, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad averaged 46 minutes. After that, the ride averages put Splash Mountain at 45 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 39 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 35 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 32 minutes, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 31 minutes, and Pirates of the Caribbean at 29 minutes. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin After that, “it’s a small world” averaged 25 minutes, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid averaged 23 minutes, The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini averaged 20 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin averaged 18 minutes, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant averaged 16 minutes. Tomorrowland Speedway averaged 15 minutes while Mickey’s PhilharMagic averaged 14 minutes. Journey of the Little Mermaid Next, Mad Tea Party and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel averaged 12 minutes. The Enchanted Tiki Room, the Carousel of Progress, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and the Liberty Square Riverboat all averaged 5 minutes. Carousel of Progress The Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and Tom Sawyer Island averaged no wait. Complete List of What’s Available During After Hours Events at Magic Kingdom EPCOT Over in EPCOT, the ride with the longest average wait time was Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, with an average wait time of 77 minutes, compared to last week’s average of 125 minutes. Frozen Ever After had an average wait time of 68 minutes, which was also a decrease compared to last week. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Next up is Test Track at 55 minutes, Soarin’ at 37 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 21 minutes, Spaceship Earth at 14 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 15 minutes, and Journey into Imagination at 10 minutes. EPCOT Then, there was The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 9 minutes, and Gran Fiesta Tour and Living with the Land at 8 minutes. Turtle Talk with Crush Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. Everything You Need to Eat and Drink at the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Hollywood Studios Over in Hollywood Studios, Rise of the Resistance (previously 139 minutes) and Tower of Terror (previously 134 minutes) tied for the highest average wait time in the park at 105 minutes. Slinky Dog Dash was not far behind with an average of 82 minutes. Tower of Terror Next, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith averaged 69 minutes, Toy Story Mania and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway averaged 59 minutes, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run averaged 57 minutes. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway After that, Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 34 minutes, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue averaged 23 minutes, Walt Disney Presents averaged 18 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy averaged 15 minutes, and Muppet*Vision 3D averaged 10 minutes. Everything Included With Your After Hours Event Ticket at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom And last but not least, let’s visit Animal Kingdom, where Avatar Flight of Passage had the longest average wait time of 114 minutes. Last week, the average was 173 minutes, making this a MAJOR drop off. Flight of Passage Then, there was Na’vi River Journey at 65 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 41 minutes, Expedition Everest at 30 minutes, and DINOSAUR at 25 minutes. Kilimanjaro Safaris Triceratop Spin averaged 9 minutes and It’s Tough to Be a Bug averaged 11 minutes. Both The Boneyard and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail averaged no wait time. Kali River Rapids closed for refurbishment on January 9th. Animal Kingdom Gluten Free Ultimate Guide for 2023 Overall, wait times have significantly decreased since last week! The holiday crowds seem to have left Disney World, and although we saw some pretty big crowds at the first day of the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, the crowds have thinned out for the most part. Look at all those people! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates at Disney World! The Cheapest Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 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 visiting Disney World soon? What are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World Wait Times See Major DROP first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve got good news from Magic Kingdom! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad In December, it was announced that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would be closing for a brief refurbishment in January. If you’ve been looking forward to your trip later this month and were crossing your fingers the refurb wouldn’t drag on, you’re in luck — Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened today! The ride had a set closure from January 9th through January 13th — that means the ride is back and open for business as of January 14th! Look at all those people! The line was long all day and was at a 75-minute wait by the time we stopped by to check it out. Screenshot from My Disney Experience app This is one of the most popular rides in Magic Kingdom, so we’re excited to see it reopen! This comes at a good time since its next-door neighbor Splash Mountain is closing next weekend. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad There are other rides that are also currently closed in Disney, so be sure you’re familiar with them before embarking on your trip. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Check out what else is new in Magic 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 How many times could you ride Big Thunder Mountain in a row? Tell us below! The post Big Thunder Mountain Has Reopened From Its Refurbishment in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, one thing you should do BEFORE your trip is to check the weather. Main Street, U.S.A. Why? Well, knowing what the weather will be during your vacation will not only help you decide what to pack, but could also help you make backup plans in the event weather closes rides or let you know if you need to bring a raincoat to the parks. Today, though, weather is impacting something you may not have thought about. So the weather in Disney World today is COLD. Not only that, but it’s also windy — which could impact your day in Magic Kingdom. How? Well, when it’s windy, parts of the park could shut down during the nightly Disney Enchantment fireworks. Disney Enchantment While we were walking through Storybook Circus today, we noticed a sign saying as much and warning guests that the land could be closed during tonight’s fireworks. Sign about wind So if you’ll be in Magic Kingdom tonight and have plans to skip the fireworks and hop on some rides, you might want a backup plan just in case those rides are closed during the show. We’ve also seen high winds cause fireworks shows to be canceled, so we’ll keep an eye on things in case that happens. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for more — we’ll let you know how the weather can impact your day in Disney World. When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? Check out our exclusive Disney merch! We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! Here’s What It Takes For Disney World to Cancel Fireworks 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. Are you in Magic Kingdom today? Let us know in the comments! The post How Your Trip to Magic Kingdom Could CHANGE on a Windy Day first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened in Magic Kingdom on January 14th, but several other attractions remain closed at the parks. Kali River Rapids boat Some shows, character meet-and-greets, restaurants, and more will be closed at Disney World, and you’ll want to know what’s going to be unavailable during your upcoming trip. Check out everything that’s going to be closed in Disney World next week here! Before we get to the closures…do you already have your bags packed for your trip? If you’re going to visit Disney World soon, you’ll need the perfect outfit to wear into the parks! We’ve got a lot of great tees and sweatshirts at our online DFB store — Click here to check out our whole merch line. Grab our family matching shirts before your 2023 trip! Now that you’re ready with the perfect Disney ‘fits, check out our full list of what’s going to be CLOSED in Disney World next week. Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. The Tomorrowland Light & Power gift shop is still closed for refurbishments, and Disney hasn’t announced when it’ll reopen. For now, it’s scheduled to be closed for all of next week. Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. In the meantime, guests who visit Space Mountain are being directed to exit the ride a different way. Enchanted Tales with Belle Enchanted Tales with Belle is where guests could previously help Belle tell the story of Beauty and the Beast. There’s Belle! This attraction is currently closed, and Disney hasn’t announced a reopening date. Meet Ariel at Her Grotto Like Belle’s attraction, Ariel’s meet-and-greet is also closed in Fantasyland. Ariel’s Grotto Disney hasn’t announced a reopening date for Ariel’s Grotto, either. Pete’s Silly Sideshow Over in Storybook Circus, Pete’s Silly Sideshow is closed. This character meet-and-greet spot usually has Minnie, Daisy, Goofy, and Donald, dressed in circus performer outfits. Pete’s Silly Sideshow Disney has announced that it’ll reopen sometime “in the coming months.” We’ll be watching for more updates! Check out a major construction UPDATE at TRON Lightcycle / Run in Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Kali River Rapids Kali River Rapids is still closed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Kali River Rapids This water ride closed on January 9th, and Disney hasn’t announced a reopening date yet. For now, it’s scheduled to be closed through early March at least. Check out the best Disney shirts for Animal Kingdom fans. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid This Little Mermaid-themed stage show has been closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a long time now. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen. Find out when Rock ‘n Roller Coaster will CLOSE in Disney World. EPCOT Cool Wash Cool Wash temporarily had a new sign that re-named the spot “Refreshment Kiosk,” but that sign has been removed. The snack kiosk is still closed and blocked off by several plants. Cool Wash Disney hasn’t announced when Cool Wash will reopen, but we’ll watch for any changes. Check out ALL our reviews of the Festival of the Arts food booths! Disney World Hotels Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Narcoossee’s is an upscale seafood restaurant at the Grand Floridian, and it’s been closed for several months now. Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort This restaurant will reopen sometime in 2023 with an “enhanced dining experience.” We’ll be watching for Disney to announce a more specific reopening date. FREE overnight hotel parking has returned to Disney World. Disney World Water Parks Typhoon Lagoon Typhoon Lagoon is closed in Disney World, and Disney hasn’t announced when it’ll reopen. Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Disney World’s other water park, Blizzard Beach, is open! Check out our full guide to Typhoon Lagoon here. Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Find out why you’ll want to be in Magic Kingdom on January 22nd. 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 visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post An Animal Kingdom Thrill Ride and 8 Other Attractions That Are CLOSED in Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, we’re about halfway through January, and how exactly did that happen? It seems like the holidays were just yesterday! Spaceship Earth’s Figment Show! Granted, the holiday crowds are pretty much gone from Disney World, and things seem to be returning to “normal,” although we’re sure the EPCOT Festival of the Arts will be bringing in some guests. So let’s take a look at park hours and the park pass reservation situation for next week. Magic Kingdom Park Hours Over in Magic Kingdom, the park hours for January 15th, 17th-19th, and 21st are from 9AM-11PM. On January 16th and 20th, hours are from 8AM-10PM. ©Disney Extended Evening Hours are on January 18th from 11PM-1AM. EPCOT Park Hours At EPCOT, park hours are from 9AM-11PM from January 15th-21st. ©Disney Extended Evening Hours are on January 16th from 9PM-11PM. Hollywood Studios Park Hours Disney’s Hollywood Studios is open from 8:30AM-9PM on January 15th-21st. ©Disney Remember that you can park hop after 2PM, as long as you’ve scanned into the park you have a park pass reservation for earlier in the day. Animal Kingdom Park Hours At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the park hours are from 8AM-7PM on January 15th-16th, and 20th-21st. The hours for January 17th-19th are from 9AM-7PM. ©Disney Now let’s take a look at park pass availability for the week. Park Pass Reservation Availability Your park pass reservation availability is dependent on whether you just have theme park tickets, are a Disney World hotel guest, or have an Annual Pass, depending on which category your ticket falls under. For visitors with Theme Park Tickets, all four parks are available from January 15th-21st. ©Disney This is also the case for guests staying at Select Resort Hotels: all four parks are available from January 15th-21st. ©Disney Disney World uses a different calendar for Annual Passholders. For the Incredi Pass, all parks are available each day from January 15th-21st. ©Disney We’re seeing the same availability for the Sorcerer Pass: all four parks are available from January 15th-21st. ©Disney Those with the Pirate Pass are blocked out on January 15th-16th. There is availability for all four parks, though, from January 17th-21st. ©Disney For those with the Pixie Dust Pass, the block-out dates are January 15th, 16th, and 21st. However, all four parks are available on January 17th-20th. ©Disney That’s everything you need to know about Disney World park hours and park pass availability for next week. If you’re visiting next week, though, make sure you make those park pass reservations as soon as you can! We’ve got a great resource for you when you plan your NEXT Disney World trip – our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We wrote our ebook after decades of visiting Disney World so that we could help you have a stress-free vacation! Click here and use code WDW2022 to get 25% off! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 Disney World next week? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Next Week Might Be A GREAT Time to Visit Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

2023 is a momentous year for Disney. Not only will the 100th anniversary for the company kick off toward the end of January, they will be wrapping up the 50th anniversary celebrations at Disney World this spring. We also have a few other anniversaries to celebrate this year, PLUS attraction closures and openings. Cinderella Castle If that wasn’t enough to keep up with there are of course all the other events that happen throughout the calendar year at the parks like festivals and holiday events! When planning for a Disney trip it’s important to take a look at the calendar — especially if there are any events or holidays you want to celebrate at Disney World. Checking out what’s happening at the parks can also help those who would prefer to visit when the parks are less crowded. Here are 25 dates, events, and other occasions to keep in mind for your 2023 trip! Holidays Holidays tend to be a popular time to visit Disney. Plenty of people choose to celebrate these important moments at the parks, and usually there are some special additions to the parks during these times! You might get to sample special treats, see a show you haven’t watched before, or find limited edition merchandise to bring home. Christmas in Hollywood Studios Valentine’s Day is the first holiday after New Year’s, and the Disney parks can be a fun getaway! We often find lots of sweet treats for the love-centered holiday. While the parks themselves might not be much busier than a typical day, what you’ll need to keep an eye out for is Advance Dining Reservations getting booked up more quickly. Whether you’re hoping for a dinner with that special someone or just with your family, you might want to plan your special Valentine’s Day dinner as soon as you can! Valentine’s Day Plushes Then comes spring breaks in March and early April, and Easter on April 9th! Around Easter, be sure to check out the amazing chocolate eggs on display at the Beach Club and the Grand Floridian, and you can meet the Easter Bunny in Magic Kingdom! Easter Bunny in Magic Kingdom Planning on surprising your parents with a Disney trip? Mother’s Day (May 14th) and Father’s Day (June 18th) are next on the calendar, and some families might want to show appreciation for mom and dad by treating them to some Disney nostalgia. These holidays also get fun seasonal treats, but like Valentine’s Day, you may want to book a Mother’s Day Brunch fairly early to help you get your top pick. Mother’s Day Photopass Sign! Disney’s regular nighttime spectaculars are already pretty amazing to witness, but on the 4th of July it’s extra special! In past years we’ve seen both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT end the day with epic fireworks shows. If seeing these light shows and fireworks are important to you, be ready to fight some serious crowds. In the past we’ve seen park reservation availability disappear as early as April or May. Cinderella Castle lit up for Independence Day Skipping into the fall, the undeniable big holiday for this time period is definitely Halloween! Disney World does the holiday justice with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, a special ticketed event where you can come to Magic Kingdom in the evening and dress up in your favorite costume. For those aged 14 and older, this event is your only chance to wear costumes in the parks, as it normally isn’t allowed. The Halloween Party is a great opportunity to meet rare villain characters, try some spooky snacks, and enjoy unique experiences you don’t get during the day in the parks. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Thanksgiving (November 23rd) is a great time in the parks for foodies because many food service locations feature special dishes and other menu items for the holiday. While some of these offerings are available around Thanksgiving, some are only available on the day, so if you want to try a Disney-fied Thanksgiving meal, come to the parks then! Because this is a food-centered holiday, dining reservations go FAST, so be ready to book yours 60 days out when your reservation window opens. Thanksgiving eats from Liberty Tree Tavern Christmas Day and the dates surrounding the holiday are some of the busiest times in the parks. If crowds are a no-go for you but you still want to enjoy some of the holiday offerings around the parks, try going toward the end of November or in early January. The holiday decorations and treats usually last throughout that period, plus Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party usually runs from early November to late December. Most of the crowds c0me the week after Christmas, so that is something else to keep in mind! Santa Goofy! The last (and first!) holiday of the year is New Year’s, which is another fun, fireworks-centered holiday. That means you’ll see a lot of different lights, fireworks, and other nighttime shows in the parks, like this sparkly display on Spaceship Earth from 2022. If the shows are the most important part of the holiday to you but you don’t feel like fighting the crowds, book a hotel or resort room with the perfect view! New Year’s Lights on Spaceship Earth While not a set date for everyone, you might have personal holidays or milestones you are hoping to celebrate in the parks. Be that a birthday, anniversary, graduation or other accomplishment, check the dates around your occasion to see how reservations are looking for both accommodations and dining. When you arrive don’t forget to get a complimentary celebration button; you might just get some surprises throughout the day! Happy Birthday to Mickey and Minnie! 50 Free Things to Do in Disney World in 2023 Disney World Events Disney World itself has a number of dates throughout the year with important events. Some are annual, like the festivals, while others are unique for this year, like premieres of new attractions and dining offerings. We also added important ride closures so you don’t miss your favorite attraction! Mission Space EPCOT has four festivals throughout the year. Some guests prefer to visit during one of these festivals because they feel it adds an extra layer of activities for their trip to the park. The first of the year is the Festival of the Arts, running from January 13th to February 20th. This festival celebrates art in several different forms, from performance art to visual art to culinary art! Expect Broadway performances, stunning chalk art, and unique food offerings. Tangled chalk art! Next on the calendar is the Flower and Garden Festival, which typically runs from March to July. During this festival EPCOT gets covered with perfectly structured topiaries featuring our favorite Disney characters. The food during this festival focuses on homegrown farm to table ingredients and has plenty of plant-based offerings. EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Next is the festival that started it all: Food & Wine! This long-running fest, which usually spans July to November, is 100% food-themed. Food booths serving up small plates and beverages fill World Showcase, and we look forward to it every year! Food and Wine Festival At the end of the year EPCOT hosts the Festival of the Holidays. The booths, performances, and other special offerings during this festival are designed to celebrate the holiday traditions and cuisines of cultures from around the world. Aligning with the winter holiday season, usually the Festival of the Holidays runs from late November through December. Stay tuned to our site for all the official festival dates! Festival of the Holidays runDisney hosts a few races at Disney World throughout the year where runners descend on the parks to take part in races from 5k up to full marathons. The busiest event of the year takes part in January each year and is the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. This year it spanned from January 4th to the 8th, and the parks were very busy. Another popular race is the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, this year scheduled for February 23rd to the 26th. This year is the 15th anniversary of the event, so we anticipate it being busier than usual. Check out the runDisney events schedule here! Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2022 After a year and half, the Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebrations are drawing to a close. The official conclusion is March 31, 2023, so if you were hoping to visit Disney World to take part in the celebrations you’ll need to do so before that date. Chip ‘n Dale 50th Statue A big event for Magic Kingdom this year is the closure of Splash Mountain. The water-based attraction is being rethemed into an attraction inspired by The Princess and the Frog called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. While the new ride won’t premier until at least 2024, Splash Mountain will be boarding its last passengers on January 22nd, 2023. Splash Mountain is closing permanently in 2023. After a long hiatus, Disney princesses will be returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table! This hard-to-get table service location is known not only for it’s stunning interior but for the Princess character dining experience. Cinderella has been greeting guests as they make their way into the restaurant, but the princesses that used to visit each table had not yet returned. But they’re coming back on February 28th! This is going to be one of those spots you want to try to book as soon as you can! Cinderella Meet and Greet Another dining experience that is slowly returning to normal is Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort. This character dining locale features the classic Fab Five: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. Currently serving meals family-style, Chef Mickey’s will be returning to a buffet service on March 1st, 2023. Chef Mickey’s Last year we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of EPCOT, but this year it’s Animal Kingdom’s time to shine! The park opened 25 years ago on April 22, 1998, and while we don’t know any specifics currently, we anticipate Disney bringing out some fun snacks, merchandise, and maybe even throwing a fun party like they did for the 20th anniversary! Animal Kingdom Another anniversary in 2023 is the Grand Floridian Resort’s 30th! One of the three Monorail resorts, the Grand Floridian will be celebrating its birthday on July 1st. Just in time, the resort is getting a bit of a makeover! The lobby is getting a refurbishment and while we don’t know when the official finish date is, we understand wanting to spruce up before your big day. Disney’s Grand Floridian Do you love when you get to peek behind the curtain and learn about the inner workings of the Disney company? If so, the Destination D23 event is perfect for you! This year the event will be held at the Contemporary Resort from September 8th to the 10th. You’ll get to learn about Disney park projects, behind-the-scenes info on upcoming films, and more. Destination D23 2021 Last month we learned that popular thrill ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be closing for refurbishment on February 20th, 2023. While we don’t know the exact date of reopening, a Disney cast member said it is planned to reopen sometime in the summer of 2023. If this is a must-ride for you, try to plan your trip before it closes or later in the fall! Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster We now have an official end date for Harmonious, the nighttime light and water display at EPCOT. The final performance will be on April 2nd, 2023. But don’t worry: a new show will be debuting later this year! This also means the barges in the center of the World Showcase Lagoon will be going away. They house the LED panels, moving fountains, lights, lasers, and pyrotechnics for the show. Many guests, even those who loved Harmonious, are glad to see them go. Harmonious at EPCOT While the other show replacing Harmonious is still under wraps, we do know about one show that will be coming back for the meantime. EPCOT Forever will be returning for a limited run beginning April 3rd! EPCOT Forever Concept Art ©Disney Another nighttime spectacular we’ll be saying goodbye to in 2023 is Disney Enchantment. This Magic Kingdom show will be holding its last performance on April 2nd, 2023. Disney Enchantment Once Disney Enchantment closes Magic Kingdom will also be bringing back an old show. That’s right, Happily Ever After is coming back! The first night it will be back is April 3rd, 2023. This show will have some new additions, like projections down Main Street, U.S.A. Happily Ever After While not technically a date to remember, it is worth noting that overnight self-parking is now FREE again for Disney World hotel guests! This change took effect immediately after the announcement, so this will apply to all trips booked this year. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort UPDATE: We also have an official opening date for TRON: Lightcycle Run! This attraction will officially premiere in Magic Kingdom on April 4th, 2023! There will also be some preview dates for certain groups, and you can read about those below. Annual Passholder Previews for TRON Lightcycle / Run Disney Vacation Club Member Previews for TRON Lightcycle / Run Cast Member Previews for TRON Lightcycle / Run TRON Lightcycle Run Billboard Another new opening for 2023 is Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Hollywood Studios. Originally slated to open in 2022, Disney announced in December that the restaurant should be opening its doors this spring. The latest update gave us some cool interior shots of the food location, which is themed to look like Andy designed it himself. Once this opens we can definitely see it filling up quickly, but that will mean more dining openings at other Hollywood Studios dining spots that you might love! ©Disney Last year at the D23 Expo we saw this incredible model of the new Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana attraction. We’ve watched the construction progress in EPCOT for this immersive, water-based, walkthrough attraction. You’ll be able to learn about the water cycle and see the full-size Te Fiti structure in late 2023! A giant Te Fiti sculpture is being installed at EPCOT! In the coming months, PhotoPass downloads will be free for guests who purchase Genie+. All PhotoPass enabled attractions you ride the same day as your Genie+ purchase will be eligible. We don’t know when this will start, but keep checking our site to stay updated! PhotoPass Discounts are welcome, too! Florida residents can save up to 30% off of their hotel stay at a Disney World resort from May 1st to July 10th, 2023. Check out this post for more info on restrictions. All-Star Sports Along with the return of character dining, other opportunities to meet characters are popping up at Disney World too. One meet and greet coming to EPCOT sometime toward the end of 2023 is with our favorite dragon, Figment! After the chaos that was the Figment popcorn bucket we can see this meet and greet being in high demand. Figment! Disney announced recently that they are doing away with Park Pass Reservations for Annual Passholders after 2PM. This makes it easier for Passholders to enjoy spontaneous trips to the parks! There are some exceptions, which you can read about here. 2022 Passholder magnet Last but most certainly not least, we have the exciting Walt Disney Company 100th Anniversary Celebrations to look forward to! The official start to the anniversary celebrations is January 27th in Disneyland, and although a lot of the events currently scheduled are centering around the West Coast park at the moment, we are hoping to see some special events over in Disney World too. Currently, there are plenty of Disney100 merchandise items for sale at Disney World and online, so you can get a head start on celebrations! ©Disney What dates you plan your trip for can make a huge difference in how your vacation goes. Think about what you want to prioritize (Is going over a certain holiday important? Do you want to avoid crowds? Are there rides you HAVE to get on?), and let that lead you when picking which dates to travel. We’ve got a great resource for you when you plan your NEXT Disney World trip – our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We wrote our ebook after decades of visiting Disney World, so that we could help you have a stress-free vacation! Click here and use code WDW2023 to get 25% off! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World updates! 2023 Dates You Should Know If You’re a Disney World Fan 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 What time of year is your favorite to visit Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post 25 Dates to Consider When Planning Your 2023 Disney World Vacation first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who’s ready for some more special drinks? Joffrey’s in Hollywood Studios There are Joffrey’s locations all over Disney World. While we were walking by the one in Hollywood Studios near the Tower of Terror, we spotted their seasonal drink and decided to give it a try! Right now you can grab two specialty drinks this season — a Strawberry Dipped Mocha and a Strawberry Dipped Mocha Game Changer. We decided to grab the Strawberry Dipped Mocha for $6.09 and tell you how it is! Seasonal offerings This drink contains espresso, milk, dark chocolate sauce, and strawberry syrup, and is topped with whipped cream & dark chocolate sauce. This drink certainly smells like strawberries, and we enjoyed that the flavor was subtlely wrapped in rich dark chocolate and espresso. Strawberry Dipped Mocha The strawberry was giving us a little bit of a floral taste that was a little off-putting to us (however floral fans may enjoy), but other than that, if you love strawberries and dark chocolate, this drink is for you! Yum! Make sure you don’t get mixed up in this potential payment problem at Joffrey’s in Disney World when you go. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news and reviews! Ranking the NEW Joffrey’s Drinks at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide Check Out the 19 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2022 Our Top 50 All-Time Best Disney Dining Tips These Are the BEST Meals in Disney World for Under $15 Ranking Every Single Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking Every Single EPCOT Restaurant Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney Springs Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney World Hotels – Cheap Eats Edition Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Would you grab this drink? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Found Your Next Must-Try Coffee in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re on the hunt for Instagramable Disney food, we just found some menu items you may want to add to your list! Planet Hollywood Planet Hollywood is a restaurant located on the West Side of Disney Springs. It’s hard to miss from the outside, with its huge domed ceiling that’s fashioned to look like an observatory. But it’s best known for the design on the inside since it’s decorated with TONS of movie props and memorabilia. But it turns out the decor isn’t the only flashy thing to see inside this restaurant! We were recently invited to a media event hosted by Planet Hollywood to showcase some food and drinks, including a few newer menu items that made their red carpet debut. Planet Hollywood First up, we tried the Practical Magic, a non-alcoholic specialty drink made with pineapple juice, orange juice, fresh lemon & lime juices, and grenadine. Our drink came served in a light-up souvenir cup that definitely added to the “magical” effect! Practical Magic The drink was fruity and sweet, and it reminded us a little bit of the iconic POG juice that’s found at several places around Disney World. Even though there were a lot of fruit juices involved, we still found the drink refreshing without being overly sweet. Although it is priced at $15 for the beverage with the souvenir cup, so it is a bit pricy. Practical Magic Now, on to the appetizers! And if you thought the light-up cup made for a cool presentation, wait until you see this…we tried the High Roller Sampler, which comes served on a large Ferris wheel platter! Unfortunately the Ferris wheel didn’t spin, but it would still make for a super cool Instagram photo! The High Roller Sampler includes five different appetizers — the World Famous Chicken Crunch, Texas Tostados, Buffalo Wings, Five Cheese Dip, and Fried Jumbo Shrimp. High Roller Sampler We had the chance to sample the Texas Tostados and the Jumbo Fried Shrimp. The Texas Tostados were similar to nachos but were made on gyoza skins, which had a nice and crispy texture. They were topped with BBQ chicken, sautéed onions, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, sour cream, BBQ sauce, and pico de gallo. We really enjoyed these! They were wonderfully cheesy and the gyoza added a nice crispy texture. They were a bit simple but had great flavor. Texas Tostados We enjoyed the Fried Jumbo Shrimp as well. The fried coating had a nice texture and the shrimp were pretty large. We would have preferred more seasoning in the batter, but the sriracha sauce they were served with had a decent kick at least to pair with it. The High Roller Sampler is intended to serve four people and the presentation is definitely the big selling point. But if you have a group big enough to finish it and want to snag that cool Instagram pic, it might be worth the $42.99 price tag. Jumbo Fried Shrimp We also had the chance to try a few entrees, starting with the Bacon Mac-n-Cheese Burger. This was a decent burger, but it was our least favorite of the three entrees we tried. This is Guy Fieri’s award-winning burger, and we were told they sell 300 of them a day. It is a smash-grilled burger with applewood smoked bacon, six cheese mac-n-cheese, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, crispy onion straws, and donkey sauce on a brioche bun. The burger itself was good and juicy, and the lettuce and tomato were very super fresh and crispy and added a much-needed freshness to the burger. We were a bit overwhelmed with all of the flavors that were happening with the burger, which was the main reason it was our least favorite of the entrees. But if you’d like to give it a go, you can snag one for $21.99. Bacon Mac-n-Cheese Burger Next, we had the L.A. Lasagna, which had great flavor! The pasta tubes are filled with creamy ricotta and Bolognese meat sauce, then fried until golden brown and served with roasted garlic cream and tomato basil sauce. The filling was tender and was seasoned well, and the fried pasta tubes also added a unique touch. We really liked the texture of the pasta and loved how crispy it was, which went well with the tender filling and creamy garlic sauce. Overall we loved the taste and presentation of this one, but like most of the other items, it’s a bit pricey at $22.99. L.A. Lasagna For the third entree, we tried the Roasted Prime Rib of Beef. This slow-roasted Prime Rib, served only after 4PM, was a BIG portion at 14oz. We were told by the chef that it is a premium beef that you can only get in Florida — Buckhead. It was served with an Au Jus and a horseradish sauce and came with a sautéed green bean blend and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. The prime rib was very tender and seasoned well. We really enjoyed the green beans, which were VERY crispy and fresh. The mashed potatoes we pretty typical, but still delicious. This was the most expensive entree we tried — it’s priced at $39.95. Roasted Prime Rib of Beef And to top it all off, we also had the chance to try one of Planet Hollywood’s over-the-top shakes! We opted for the Strawberry Big Bang Supernova Shake, which is a classic hand-dipped strawberry milkshake, topped with sprinkles and a slice of cake. This is a super Instagram-able item, and it wasn’t bad, but it also probably isn’t a dessert that we’d order again. The milkshake had chunks of strawberries, which we enjoyed, but the shake itself wasn’t creamy enough for us and it was definitely VERY sweet, so you’ll have to have a pretty big sweet tooth for this one. If you are up for the challenge of tackling this sugar rush, you can get one for $14.99. Planet Hollywood Shakes And that wraps up our taste test from Planet Hollywood! Overall, we did try some things that we really enjoyed — especially our entrees. But what really stood out to us was the over-the-top presentation of items like the appetizer sampler and the milkshakes. If you’d like to give any of these a try for yourself, be sure to stop by Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs! 6 Things in Disney Springs That Locals Actually Eat 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 been to Planet Hollywood? Share your experience with us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Planet Hollywood to attend their media preview for new eats. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post REVIEW: How To Get Food Served on a Ferris Wheel in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Making your must-get snack list for Disney World? Well, take this critical piece of advice — be CAREFUL. Seaside Brownie Disney World menus change a lot. Sometimes that can be a great thing, with the addition of NEW menu items for you to try. But other times, the changes may result in the removal of a snack you had your heart set on trying. In 2022, a number of food changes hit restaurants inside and outside of Disney, with some popular items like the Choco Taco even meeting their end. Today we’re taking a look at some of the food that DISAPPEARED from Disney World in 2022! A Quick Note on Menu Changes As we noted above, Disney World’s restaurant menus are constantly seeing changes. So, while the items below have disappeared for now, there’s no telling if they might reappear in the future. In other words, you should go into Disney World expecting these foods to be gone, but you may be pleasantly surprised to find they’ve suddenly reappeared! Be sure to check the restaurant menus ahead of and during your trip for all of the latest details. 1 — Turkey at Garden Grill (EPCOT) If you’re looking for a relaxing, fun, and delicious character meal, look no further than the Garden Grill in EPCOT. This restaurant has it all — farmer Mickey, a family-style meal, and a seating arrangement that slowly spins around scenes from Living with the Land. But in 2022, one of this restaurant’s signature items went away. The all-you-care-to-eat family-style “Harvest Feast” here used to include sliced turkey breast with turkey gravy, but you’ll have to look elsewhere for that Thanksgiving-feeling dish for now. (We suggest a stop at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom, where you can get Thanksgiving dinner EVERY SINGLE DAY!) Turkey Instead of turkey, the Harvest Feast now includes Barbecue-Roasted Chicken with a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. We found the chicken to be fatty, but it was cooked really well (moist, not dry!) and we liked the barbecue sauce flavor (we just wanted more of it). To be honest, we like the turkey a bit better — but we’d rate the chicken higher if it had more meat (less fat) and a more pronounced barbecue flavor throughout (rather than just with that sauce sitting on top). Barbecue Chicken Note that the other items on the family-style meal have generally remained the same, with the salad, grilled beef with chimichurri, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, Southern-style spoon bread, and more still on the menu. Despite the menu change, we still think Garden Grill is a fantastic spot to eat and is highly underrated — see if it’s something that would fit your plans/budget for an upcoming trip! Click here for our FULL REVIEW of the updated meal at Garden Grill 2 — Endless Crab Legs at Cape May Cafe (Beach Club) This is a little less of a menu disappearance and more of a menu change, but it’s still something we wanted to bring to your attention! MANY Disney fans absolutely adored stopping by the dinner buffet at Cape May Cafe (in Disney’s Beach Club Resort) for their endless supply of crab legs. While crab legs are still technically available, they’re sadly not endless anymore! 1 lb of Crab Legs Your dinner will come with endless access to the buffet line which includes salad, soup, a carving station, fried seafood, a New England Traditional Steam Boil, and more. But if you want the crab legs (Snow Crab Legs, to be specific) you’ll have to pay an additional $29 per pound to add them to your meal. This will set you back $29 We will say, the crab legs we got were delicious, easy to break, and had a good amount of meat. But having them separated from the rest of the buffet made us realize that the rest of the buffet is…just OK. It was good and fresh, but the crab legs are really the STAR of the show. So if you’re wanting the “full” experience, get ready to fork over some extra cash. Click here for our FULL review of the Cape May Cafe dinner buffet 3 — Monte Cristo at The Plaza Restaurant (Magic Kingdom) The Plaza Restaurant is a classic, highly underrated Magic Kingdom spot. While it has several delicious eats (don’t skip on the Plaza Loaded Fries!!), one especially tasty item that arrived as part of the 50th Anniversary of Disney World was the Monte Cristo sandwich. This little piece of fried goodness had Deep-fried Funnel Cake Batter, Bacon, Roasted Turkey, and Provolone sprinkled with EARidescent and Powdered Sugar, and YES, it was as delicious and greasy and cheesy as it sounds and looks. Monte Cristo! But sadly this sandwich didn’t stick around permanently. In May of 2022, the sandwich was removed from the menu due to a “turkey shortage.” We were told (a bit later in May) that only a limited number of these beauties were left for guests to request. Though you never know when an item might reappear, Cast Members weren’t exactly hopeful that this one would come back — one Cast Member even told us that the sandwich was done and wouldn’t return. Monte Cristo Sandwich As of the time of the writing of this post, the sandwich is still missing from The Plaza Restaurant’s menu, but we’ll keep crossing our fingers for its return. Until that time, it looks like a trip to Disneyland will be in our future so we can enjoy a Monte Cristo over there! Click here to read more about the disappearance of the Monte Cristo! 4 — Chicken & Waffles from Olivia’s Cafe (Disney’s Old Key West Resort) If you love a good pairing of chicken & waffles for brunch, there are a few spots to find it in Disney World (including the Grand Floridian Cafe), but one popular location was Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. 2022 brought some big changes to Olivia’s, as brunch is now offered there EVERY SINGLE DAY, and new menu items have arrived. But 2022 also took a beloved dish from Olivia’s brunch menu — the Chicken & Waffles. Brunch is back at Olivia’s Cafe The dish used to include Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Sweet Potato Waffles, Bacon Jam, Fresh Berries, and Maple Syrup, but it has since disappeared. The perfect bite On the menu, you can still find the Southernmost Buttermilk Chicken and Mickey-shaped waffles, so you could hack your way into eating some kind of chicken and waffles dish, but it won’t be the same! If you simply must get chicken & waffles, head on over to the Grand Floridian Cafe (as we mentioned above) or consider grabbing chicken and donuts over at Homecomin’ in Disney Springs! Click here to read more about the disappearance of the chicken & waffles 5 — Some 50th Anniversary Snacks The 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World began back in 2021 and won’t end until March of 2023, but some of the snacks that were originally introduced with the anniversary have said an early “goodbye!” For example, over at Tony’s Town Square in Magic Kingdom, both the Five Alarm Wings and Firehouse Doughnuts are gone from the menu. Sound the Alarms! Plus, the Mickey Mouse Dome Cake from Gaston’s Tavern… Dome Cake …the Showtime With Jose DOLE Whip float from Aloha Isle… Showtime with Jose …the Pecos Bill Widowmaker Sandwich from Golden Oak Outpost… Widowmaker Sandwich …and the Not-Too-Late Tea from Cheshire Cafe have ALL disappeared, along with other specialty 50th Anniversary snacks. Not-Too-Late Tea In many cases, NEW 50th Anniversary or other snacks took their place, but it serves as an important reminder to consider carefully what snacks you choose to “skip” on your Disney trip and leave for next time. If you’ve got a unique snack that you want to try and it’s only in Disney World as part of a special celebration, you’ll want to prioritize trying it before it potentially disappears! Click here to see our photos & reviews of ALL the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary snacks in Disney World 6 — And MORE! Each week we take a look at all of the menu changes that have taken place recently, including what items have been removed from Disney World restaurant menus. If you’re heading to Disney World soon, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and look for these posts as they can be especially helpful in identifying what items have disappeared (or appeared!). Here are just some of the items that we saw removed from menus in 2022: Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery (Animal Kingdom) REMOVED: Spiced Potato Hand Pies (but you can get Impossible Empanadas here) Spiced Potato Hand Pie The BOATHOUSE (Disney Springs) REMOVED: Gibsons “Sandwich King” Award-Winning Burger (but you can still get a classic cheeseburger here) Gibson’s Sandwich King Burger Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar In 2022, all alcohol and alcoholic drinks were removed from this rooftop bar. And that’s just a brief look at some of those menu changes we’ve seen in 2022. Again, stay tuned for our upcoming posts detailing ALL of the menu changes in the parks and resorts. Don’t forget that while an item may have disappeared from the menu for now, there’s no telling when it might reappear, so keep your eyes peeled for future menu additions! Need more help planning your 2023 snack and meal list for Disney World? We’ve got you covered! Click here to see the 23 snacks you cannot miss in Disney World in 2023 Take a look at the 23 restaurants to try in Disney World in 2023 Here’s our list of the best value fast food restaurants in Disney World for 2023 Check out our picks for the BEST Disney World restaurants for adults in 2023 See our list of the BEST Disney World restaurants for first-timers See our video below for even MORE food info!  And don’t forget to pick up our DFB Guide to Disney World Dining! Three Guides in One! Our 2023 Guide is really 3 guides in 1 — with a core guide for the essential things you need to know, a reference guide to get those FULL details on every single restaurant in Disney World, and a printables guide with games, worksheets, and more! Click here to get the guide! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide Check Out the 19 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2022 Our Top 50 All-Time Best Disney Dining Tips These Are the BEST Meals in Disney World for Under $15 Ranking Every Single Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking Every Single EPCOT Restaurant Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney Springs Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney World Hotels – Cheap Eats Edition Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What menu items do you hope Disney brings back? Tell us in the comments! The post 6 Foods Disney World LOST in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We just had a big day in EPCOT! Spaceship Earth at Night during the 2023 Festival of the Arts EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts has officially kicked off, and we were there to bring you along! We tried all the festival booths, checked out the entertainment, and at one spot, you can get a souvenir cup that we HAVE to highlight! Over at the Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey, you can get a Grape Smoothie in a Figment souvenir cup! The souvenir cup is absolutely adorable — it has Figment’s face on the front… Grape smoothie! …and the back has an outline of the back of his head! The back! This is the only place you can grab this souvenir cup, so if you want it, you’ll have to head over to Figment’s Inspiration Station during the festival for $5.50! It’s hiding in the Odyssey building (located between Test Track and World Showcase), so make sure to stop by if this is a must-have from the festival. So cute! Looking for more eats to check out during the festival? Check out our list of everything you need to eat or drink at the festival, and stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news! Check out all the Festival of the Arts merchandise you can grab at this year’s festival! Get the Ultimate GUIDE to the Festival of the Arts! The DFB Guide to the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your Festival trip to EPCOT. Order The DFB Guide to the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts now! It includes over 150 pages of must-have information, including the very best tips to make sure you enjoy every minute of your time at the 2023 Festival! Click HERE to order your 2023 Guide now! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! Check Out the Dates Announced for the 2023 Festival of the Arts Learn About the NEW Food Booths See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Get the Full List of EATS for the Food Challenge at the Festival Here’s Everything That Is CONFIRMED for the 2023 Festival of the Arts Get a Peek at the FIGMENT Merchandise Coming to the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Would you get this smoothie for the cup? Tell us in the comments! The post The Figment Souvenir You Can Get for UNDER in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Imagine: You’ve planned the perfect Disney World trip and secured tickets for each day of your visit. Mickey and Minnie You think to yourself, “I’ve got plenty of time — I can worry about Park Pass Reservations later.” Then, “later” rolls around and you realize it’s too late! There are NO MORE park passes left for the park you want on a certain date during your trip. Don’t panic — we know it might seem like the end of the world, but all is not lost. Here are our secrets to getting Disney World park passes when they’re sold out! Disney introduced the Park Pass Reservation System when the parks reopened in 2020, and park reservations (or park passes) are required for every day of your trip. Disney recently changed the rules for Annual Passholders, though, and after 2PM on weekdays, reservations will not be required soon (so you may not have to worry about any of these tips if that applies to you!). Cinderella Castle Another change that Disney made after park passes were first introduced is that when purchasing 1-day, 1-park tickets, your park pass reservation will be made for you automatically. This is because Disney introduced park-specific pricing, meaning the cost to enter each theme park may vary. For example, Animal Kingdom may be cheaper than EPCOT to visit on any particular day. Main Street U.S.A. But, what can you do if you DON’T get the reservation for the park you want? Think Ahead We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: one of the most important things you can do before your Disney World vacation is to think ahead! That means planning as much as you can before you’ve even stepped off the plane. If you think you know which park you plan on visiting during each day of your trip, you should probably go ahead and make those reservations in advance. Disney’s Hollywood Studios You can always modify your reservations later if you need to, but this way you know you’ll have a spot in at least ONE of the Disney parks (even if it might not be your top choice!). If you really want to maximize your time in Disney World, make your reservations as soon as you book your trip. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Another tip worth mentioning before you make your park reservations is to consider purchasing a Park Hopper ticket. We’ll explain how Park Hopping can come in handy when a Disney park is sold out in a bit, but essentially it’s a different type of ticket that allows you to visit more than one Disney park in one day. 2023 Dates You Should Know If You’re a Disney World Fan Keep Checking Availability If you weren’t able to make park pass reservations in advance for whatever reason, there are still things you can do to try to get a spot in a sold-out park! Who visits Disney World? People. What do people do all the time? Change their minds! Just because someone has a park pass reservation booked doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to keep it. Things come up and plans change, and when that happens you just might be able to reap the benefits. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Keep checking the park pass availability calendar on the Disney World website leading up to your trip. We mean months, weeks, and even days leading up to your trip. In some cases, you might have planned a last-minute Disney trip and weren’t able to get a Magic Kingdom reservation so you booked a Hollywood Studios one instead. But, right before your trip you noticed some availability in Magic Kingdom — you can modify your reservation and switch it to Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom Keep in mind, though, that this only applies to multi-day park tickets. Since 1-day, 1-park tickets are priced per park, you won’t have this luxury. Tomorrowland We’ve also seen Disney release more park passes on sold-out days in order to let more people into the parks (A.K.A. make more money). We recently saw this happen during the 2022 holiday season. Magic Kingdom was sold out throughout Christmas week, and then BAM! Disney released more park passes, allowing more guests to enjoy the parks. Adventureland Just keep checking that availability calendar to see if more passes pop up for the park you want! What To Do If You Can’t Get the Disney World Hotel Reservation You Wanted Park Hop Remember how we mentioned Park Hopper tickets might come in handy here? Well, if the park you want to head to on a certain day is unavailable, you can take advantage of park hopping (assuming you have the right ticket to do so). You can make a reservation for another park that isn’t sold out, and then hop to your desired park after 2PM. EPCOT entrance There are a few things to remember if you plan on using the park hopping method, though. You still have to enter the park you have a reservation for before you can go to the park you actually want to visit — even if it’s after 2PM. For example, you have a reservation for EPCOT but want to hop to Magic Kingdom. You’ll still need to go to EPCOT first and scan your MagicBand or ticket before you can enter Magic Kingdom. Mexico Pavilion This plan isn’t totally infallible, either. There is a chance that on extremely busy days, park hopping can become unavailable. We saw this on Disney World’s 50th Anniversary when guests were unable to hop to Magic Kingdom. Disney has notified guests via the My Disney Experience app in the past, and there’s also a phone number you can call — (407) 560-5000 — to check if a park is full via automated message. Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom Park hopping can be a great way to visit a park without a reservation. And remember, Annual Passholders will no longer need reservations on weekdays after 2PM. Everything You Need to Know About Park Hopping in Disney World Make Other Plans When all else fails — make other plans! We often stress how important it is to plan ahead, but it’s also incredibly important to be flexible on your Disney World vacation. If you can’t secure that pesky park pass, consider visiting other parks of the resort you might not have discovered or spent time at otherwise. Eat to your heart’s content and shop away at Disney Springs. You can even take in shows at the House of Blues or go bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes. We love Disney Springs! Don’t forget about the Disney water parks — Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon — either. Depending on when you’re heading to Disney World, the water parks may be closed for weather or refurbishment. Blizzard Beach Having a day to relax by your Disney World Resort hotel pool can give you the perfect amount of rest and recharging you need to take on the parks for another day! Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club feature a lazy river, and several Disney World hotels have water slides and splash pads. Lazy River There are plenty of other recreational activities you can enjoy at the hotels, too. Go fishing or horseback riding at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, or rent a Surrey Bike at Port Orleans. You can even rent boats from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort! Things You Can Do in Disney World Without a Park Ticket When it comes to planning your Disney World vacation, thinking ahead is almost always the way to go. But, just in case you don’t have that luxury — make sure you keep these tips in your back pocket for when the Disney World park you want to go to is all booked up. Cinderella Castle Whew. We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT. And this Park Pass Reservation thing can be so confusing – which is why we bring you posts like this so often But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more! These Will Be the HARDEST Disney World Dining Reservations to Get in 2023 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 secret to securing a Disney World park pass reservation? Let us know in the comments! The post Secrets to Getting Disney World Park Passes When They’re Sold Out first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve been looking to upgrade your credit card, now is the time. ©VISA Having a Disney Visa card can get you dining discounts and other perks, and back in October it was announced that a new 100th Anniversary card design was going to be coming soon. Now, that day is HERE! Right now, you can get the new 100th Anniversary card design for your new Disney Visa card! The silver, purple, and blue design has Mickey and Minnie in the 1o0 in the front, as well as the 100 Years of Wonder logo on the back. ©Visa If you’re not feeling this design, there are also Maleficent, Retro Disney World, and Tiana designs now available as well! All the options! Confused about all the perks a Disney Visa card can get you? We’ve got you covered by answering all of your credit card questions in one place! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news. Here’s how to avoid paying full price for your next Disney World trip! 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 have a Disney Visa card? Tell us in the comments! The post The New 100th Anniversary Disney Credit Card Design Is HERE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article