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There are several things we’re DREADING about Disney World in 2023, like surge pricing, larger crowds, and several major ride closures. But there are also many ways in which Disney World is going to be BETTER than ever next year. Main Street U.S.A. New rides are going to open, some existing rides and shows will change, LOTS of new restaurants are coming, and there’s still more to look forward to. Here’s a complete list of how Disney World is getting better in 2023! New Rides and Attractions Some of the most exciting changes at Disney World in 2023 are the new rides and attractions coming to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT! TRON: Lightcycle Run TRON: Lightcycle Run is a roller coaster with motorcycle-style ride vehicles that will open at Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland in Spring 2023. TRON: Lightcycle Run The ride is based on the TRON movies and will be very similar to the coaster at Shanghai Disneyland. Get ready to board a train of Lightcycles and “launch into the Grid for a race through a dark, computerized world” reaching speeds up to 59 miles per hour. ©@Bioreconstruct on Twitter Lighting is going to be a major factor in this ride — there are more than 1,200 light fixtures across the canopy. So it sounds like the ride will be even more impressive when it’s all lit up at night! via @waltdisneyimagineering on Instagram We’ve been keeping an eye on the construction site, and we’ve noticed ride vehicle testing and heard some of the music that will be used for the ride. TRON construction We’re watching for a specific opening date, but for now, Spring 2023 is the timeline. Click here to learn more about TRON: Lightcycle Run. Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana Over in EPCOT, Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana is a walk-through attraction that will open in World Nature sometime in late 2023. Journey of Water Concept Art © Disney This attraction is a “lush exploration trail” that allows explorers to “play with magical, living water.” Disney Imagineers wanted guests to be able to “learn about the importance of the natural water cycle.” Journey of Water construction The trail will feature a huge model of Te Fiti (from Moana), which is 15 feet tall and made of over 3,000 pieces of foliage. So Beautiful There will also be fountains, rock structures, trees, and other natural elements. Click here to learn more about Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana. Figment Character Meet-and-Greet Disney announced that a Figment meet-and-greet is coming to EPCOT sometime in 2023. We don’t have any specific date, but Figgy fans are VERY excited about this new additon. Amazing The announcement was made at the 2022 D23 Expo, and the only information released was that “Fan-favorite character Figment will appear to meet park guests by the end of 2023.” Learn all about EPCOT’s huge transformation here. Changes at Existing Attractions Walt Disney World Railroad Will Be Open The Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed for YEARS, but it’s finally reopening this holiday season! Whether that’s in 2022 or early 2023 remains to be seen, but either way, we’ll be on the train soon. Walt Disney World Railroad train The trains were refurbished and updated during the attraction’s closure, and some of the changes include new tracks, a new voiceover narration, and a path through a tunnel near TRON: Lightcycle Run. Learn more about the changes at the Walt Disney World Railroad here. A New Character at Haunted Mansion Disney announced that a popular Disneyland Haunted Mansion character will be making his way to Disney World in 2023. The Hatbox Ghost is coming to Florida! The head appears and disappears! We don’t have a specific date for the Hatbox Ghost’s arrival in Magic Kingdom, but we’ll be watching for more details. Click here to learn more about the Hatbox Ghost. New Fireworks Shows Enchantment Replacement The Disney Enchantment fireworks show in Magic Kingdom will be ending. The fireworks show arrived for the 50th Anniversary and it will be departing in 2023. Disney Enchantment during the holidays in 2021 At the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney announced that the “Happily Ever After” song would be returning in the next fireworks show. Enchantment However, that doesn’t mean that the Happily Ever After fireworks are returning as a full show — it’s possible that just the song will return as part of an entirely new show. We’ll be watching for more details! Click here to learn about Disney Enchantment. Harmonious Replacement Like Disney Enchantment, Harmonious was introduced for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World. And sadly, this fireworks show is leaving as well. Disney announced at the D23 Expo that it will be replaced with a new show for the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. Harmonious No opening date for the new show or closing date for Harmonious has been announced yet. The 100th Anniversary is officially on October 16th, 2023, but celebrations will begin as early as January 1st. Learn more about Disney’s 100th anniversary celebrations here. Return of After Hours Events Disney announced that After Hours events will return to Disney World beginning in January 2023. They’ll kick off on January 4th in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and on January 9th in Magic Kingdom. Disney World After Hours events are separately ticketed parties where you can stay in the Disney theme parks for 3 hours after the park closes. There are specialty treats and drinks included in your ticket, and because the number of tickets sold for the parties is limited, you can often find lower wait times than usual on the rides and attractions. Stay late in the park with lower crowds! At the Magic Kingdom events, over 20 attractions will stay open for the event, including Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. At Hollywood Studios, the attractions that will remain open include Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Land rides, and more. Hollywood Studios at Night Guests with an After Hours ticket can enter the park as early as 7PM and stay 3 hours after closing time. For Magic Kingdom events, the party lasts from 10PM to 1AM; at Hollywood Studios events, the party is from 9:30PM to 12:30AM. Check out a full list of DATES and PRICES for Disney World’s After Hours events. EPCOT Festival Changes We’ll see all of the usual EPCOT festivals in 2023, but those festivals might look a little bit different toward the end of the year! Disney Imagineers are currently working on the new CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza areas, which will be finished in late 2023. ©Disney Both of the CommuniCore areas are in World Celebration in EPCOT. Disney says this area will bring EPCOT international festivals to the center of Walt Disney World. CommuniCore Plaza is an outdoor space where guests can come to relax and experience all the festivals have to offer. There is also an area that can host large-scale concerts or an intimate performance that extends out into the gardens nearby. CommuniCore Plaza ©Disney CommuniCore Hall is within the plaza, and will be the first fully purpose-built structure in festival programing, designed with flexibility in mind. This hall will be able to host a wide variety of experiences with food, art, live music, and more. CommuniCore Hall — Construction in late November 2022 There will even be a demonstration kitchen, a mixology bar, and exhibition and gallery space here. The hall should also help extend the festival experience and give chefs new ways to connect and experiment. Learn more about the new festival areas here. New Restaurants Roundup Rodeo BBQ Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests will experience a “rootin’ tootin’ meal” in a dining room themed to look like a rodeo arena that was built by Andy himself! ©Disney Roundup Rodeo BBQ concept art You’ll dine among “play sets” of a western town and train station while “rodeo festivities” take place around you. The fare is a meal of barbecue eats, served family style. Platters will feature house-smoked meats, classic sides, and miniature “sweet surprises.” Roundup Rodeo BBQ Construction Roundup Rodeo BBQ was originally supposed to open in 2022, but its opening was delayed, and it’s now expected to be ready in the spring of 2023. Learn all about Roundup Rodeo BBQ here! The Cake Bake Shop The Cake Bake Shop is coming to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. It’ll have both a table service dining room and a counter service bakery, so you can enjoy pastries, cake slices, brunch, dinner, or an afternoon tea service. Disney says that this spot will offer a “whimsical atmosphere that complements the magic of the idyllic charm of Disney’s BoardWalk that guests know and love.” @TheCakeBakeShop via Instagram A quick glance at the menu of existing Cake Bake Shop locations shows savory items like Truffle Pommes Frites, Quiche, Sandwiches, and more. Of course, TONS of cakes, pies, and other sweet treats are featured on the menu, too, including French pastries, cheesecake, and other goodies. Bakery display case We were able to learn more about the Cake Bake Shop owner and founder Gwendolyn Rogers, including — but not limited to — her sources of inspiration, her excitement about this new partnership with Disney World, what Afternoon Tea Service is like, and MUCH more (like her favorite Disney World eats!) — in an exclusive DFB interview! Cake Bake Shop construction The Cake Bake Shop will open at the BoardWalk sometime in 2023. Check out our FULL REVIEW of a Cake Bake Shop location here! Carousel Coffee If you want a quick snack or drink to go, you’ll be able to stop by Carousel Coffee, located in the BoardWalk Inn’s lobby. This spot will have lots of options for coffee drinkers, including Joffrey’s blends and a variety of other drinks. ©Disney There will be some breakfast items, pastries, and treats available as well. We recently got a look at the FULL MENU for this spot, which you can see here! ©Disney Carousel Coffee doesn’t have an opening date yet, but Disney said that it should open “soon.” Learn more about Carousel Coffee here. Summer House on the Lake Summer House on the Lake is coming to Disney Springs in 2023! Currently, this restaurant has locations in Chicago and Maryland, and one of the DFB editors did a full review of the Chicago location, which you can read here. ©Summer House Concept Art The other locations serve items like pizza, sandwiches, salads, pasta, wood-grilled dishes, and more, so we’re expecting to see more of the same at the Disney Springs restaurant. Construction has begun! We’re keeping an eye on construction for this restaurant, and we’ll let you know when Disney announces an opening date. Click here to learn all about Summer House on the Lake. Rosa Mexicano Rosa Mexicano will open its first Orlando-area location at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin in early 2023. The new restaurant will offer “an elevated fiesta dining experience” which will include signature menu items and award-winning margaritas. ©Rosa Mexicano The CEO of Rosa Mexicano said that this spot will introduce “Mexican culinary traditions and authentic Mexican heritage” and feature “a fresh take on Mexican food, authentic Mexican heritage, culinary techniques, and lively dining.” Credit: Luke Townsend via New York Magazine The menu will have authentic Mexican cuisine, including both classic and innovative dishes. There will be over 100 varieties of tequila and agave-based spirits on the menu as well. This restaurant is known for its signature frozen pomegranate margarita, which was named the best in New York City! Learn more about Rosa Mexicano here. Dining Changes Along with the new restaurants, there will be a few changes to existing restaurants in Disney World. Cinderella’s Royal Table Cinderella’s Royal Table is a popular table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom (it’s located inside the castle!), but the princesses that usually walked around and interacted with guests during the meal have been missing for quite a while now. Cinderella’s Royal Table Cinderella would greet guests as they entered the dining room and occasionally make brief appearances on the balcony, but the full character dining experience is on pause…until February 28th! Cinderella at Cinderella’s Royal Table On February 28th, princesses are going to return to Cinderella’s Royal Table! We’re expecting to see the princesses walking through the dining room like they used to before the pandemic-related park closures. Learn more about Cinderella’s Royal Table here. Chef Mickey’s Speaking of popular character meals, Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is going to see some big changes soon. This spot has been serving up meals family-style for a while now, but the restaurant will switch BACK to buffet service once again beginning on March 1st, 2023! Chef Mickey’s Disney shared, “Now through February 28, this restaurant offers family-style dining. The buffet experience will return on March 1st. Check back soon to view the buffet menu.” Family-style eats Remember that characters have returned to this restaurant as well, so you can say hello to Mickey and his pals during your meal. Click here to learn all about Chef Mickey’s. Narcoossee’s Over at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, the upscale restaurant Narcoossee’s has been closed for several months now. It’s scheduled to reopen sometime in 2023 with an “enhanced dining experience.” Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort This seafood restaurant has an elegant-yet-casual feel, and some tables have views of the Electrical Water Pageant and Magic Kingdom fireworks. Narcoossee’s is an upscale, yet casual, seafood restaurant located in that very cool circular building that juts out into Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Read our recent review of Narcoossee’s here. Hotel Updates Some hotels are getting updates in 2023, so you may see refurbished rooms and lobby areas soon. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Lots of guests have enjoyed the pirate-themed rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, but unfortunately those rooms are gone now. They’re being replaced with Little Mermaid-themed rooms instead! ©Disney The rooms that will be refurbished are in the Trinidad section of the hotel. Disney shared some pictures of the new rooms, which have new “fin-tastic” touches like new artwork, brighter decor, pastel colors, and a 5th sleeper bed. Check out the new Caribbean Beach Resort rooms here. Remember that several other Disney World hotels recently had updates made to some guest rooms. Check out those changes here: Incredibles Rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Moana Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Mary Poppins Returns Rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Rooms at the Swan Reserve Hotel A Fireworks View Room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is celebrating its 30th anniversary on July 1st, 2023! And, it’s getting a bit of a sprucing up for its birthday, too. We’ve seen Citricos open with a gorgeous new theme, and several of the rooms have been renovated including the DVC villas in the Big Pine Key Building. Grand Floridian Resort DVC Studio But, Disney just announced that as part of these ongoing renovations, the Grand Floridian lobby will be undergoing a refurbishment as well! Disney’s Grand Floridian lobby Disney said that the new look “will maintain the classic theming [guests] know and love with some fresh new enhancements.” Will we see a similar Mary Poppins Returns theme as the popular Citricos? Or even more Poppins theming like the new DVC rooms? We’ll have to wait and see! Disney hasn’t announced a start or end date for this project yet. Check out the new Grand Floridian Resort rooms here. New Deals and Discounts There are already some new deals and discounts that can save you money on your upcoming 2023 Disney World vacation. For example, anyone who has a Disney Visa Card can save up to 25% on Disney hotel stays in early 2023. This offer is valid for select Disney World Resort hotels for stays on certain nights from January 2nd, 2023, through April 30th, 2023. (You must use your Disney Visa Card when booking to apply the discount.) Magic Kingdom There are a bunch of other discounts available as well — check out our Deals and Discounts page to see them all! See all the Disney deals and discounts here. Disney’s 100th Anniversary The Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023, with the party officially kicking off in Disneyland on January 27th. Disneyland will be getting some new shows and even a new ride for the occasion, but not much has been said about the festivities in Disney World. 100 Years of Wonder We’ve already spotted some 100th anniversary merchandise in the parks, so it’s likely that more celebrations will follow. Could there be a new show? Maybe a new parade? Surely some special treats and snacks will show up! We’ll have to wait and see, and we’ll be sure to let you know what we find out. Learn all about Disney’s 100th anniversary here. There’s a lot to look forward to in Disney World if you’re visiting next year! If you want to do some planning before your trip, check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2023. It’s time to pre-order your DFB Guide! Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news and new tips on how to make the most of your next Disney World vacation. Find out what we’re DREADING about 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 planning a Disney World trip for 2023? Let us know in the comments. The post How Disney World Is Getting BETTER in 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Merry Christmas to all! Finally, all the shopping and preparation for Christmas is over. All the presents have been opened and the kids are enjoying all of their new toys. This is traditionally (based on my historical traffic numbers) the time that Mom and Dad start to plan for next year’s vacation. In an effort […] The post Planning Your 2023 Disney Vacation for Military Families appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. You’re a busy person, right? Between work, kiddos, school, cooking, exercise, planning your next Disney trip, and just trying to get a break, some things can fall through the cracks — and that can be especially true when it comes to Christmas shopping (or really shopping for presents of any kind!). Oh No…I Forgot! You’ve made the list and you’ve checked it twice, but days before Christmas you might just realize…you forgot to get a gift for someone! Or maybe someone unexpectedly got you a gift and now you’ve just got to get them a gift too. But there’s no time! Unless you want to brave the stores or you find a gift that’ll get to you FAST, you may need to opt for a digital gift. An ordinary gift card might seem a little too “impersonal” or feel too last-minute for some, but there are some amazing and unique digital gifts you can download RIGHT NOW that’ll actually feel really thoughtful! Here’s our list of the digital gifts you can download right now! Amazon Prime Subscription You might have thought about getting your friend an Amazon gift card — a popular choice. But what if you could do something even better? Instead of an ordinary gift card, why not gift an Amazon Prime Subscription?! If you give the gift of Prime, your friend could have access to free and fast delivery on over 100 million items (that’s a LOT), access to various TV shows and movies through Prime, music and top podcasts ad-free on Amazon Music, and MORE. Part of the fun is finding out what’s inside! It’s a practical gift they’ll use all the time. You can gift 3 months for $44.97, or go big and gift them 12 months for $139. Click here to give the gift of Amazon Prime Not sure if your friend is Prime Member already or not? No stress — if the person already has a Prime membership, the gift can be exchanged for an Amazon gift card in the value of the purchase price plus sales taxes paid! Want to try Prime yourself? Did you know that you could get a FREE trial just by clicking the link below? It’s an easy way to give the service a try for yourself to see if it’s something you’ll want to keep. Audible Gift Subscription Is your friend always going on about the latest audiobook they listened to or talking about how they should listen to more audiobooks while exercising, cleaning the dishes, etc? Then help them along their reading journey with an Audible Gift Subscription! With this subscription, your friend will get access to thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and originals. Plus they’ll get 1 credit a month that they can then use for ANY title within the Audible app which they’ll then be able to keep forever. ©Amazon Rather than just gifting one book, you’ll be gifting them access to tons of titles! Plus, you can gift it at a variety of levels, making it easy for all price points. Gift a 1-month subscription for $15, a 3-month subscription for $45, a 6-month subscription for $90, or 12 months for $150 — the choice is yours! Click here to give an Audible gift subscription! Kindle Unlimited If Audible isn’t quite the right fit, why not try Kindle Unlimited? With this service, your gift recipient could get unlimited access to over 3 MILLION digital books, unlimited access to audiobooks through Audible Narration, magazine subscriptions, and even the ability to borrow some Kindle books. ©Kindle Unlimited What’s great about this subscription is that they don’t need a Kindle device to enjoy it. While you can use it on Kindle devices, you can also read anytime with the free Kindle app. You can give the gift of Kindle Unlimited for 6 months for $47.86, 12 months for $80.30, or 24 months for $143.80. Kindle Unlimited sounds like the PERFECT gift? Click here to grab it for your friends and family! Disney+ Subscription The Mandalorian, Disenchanted, WandaVision, Loki — there are SO many things to watch on Disney+ and many more movies and shows on the way. If you know someone who loves Disney but won’t buy Disney+ for themselves, why not gift them their own Disney+ account?! ©Disney You can gift a 1-year subscription to new subscribers, giving them a way to instantly get in on all the Disney+ fun. Keep in mind, this is only for new subscribers, so it cannot be added to existing subscriptions. You can gift a full year of Disney+ Premium (no ads) for $109.99. Click here to learn more and pick up a gift subscription for your friends and family! Vision Board Class What about that person who has everything? They’ve got Amazon Prime, they have all the audiobooks they could ever need, and they have Disney+ — they have it all! Well, you give them the gift of…clarity. On uncommon goods, you can currently buy a Vision Board class! A what?! Allow us to explain! The Road Ahead: Make a Vision Board is a 90-minute class led by life coach Kristen Radden, where your friend/family member will learn how to create a personal vision board card. Those cards and this entire process could help them really center themselves, evaluate their goals, and develop a plan for the future — inspiring them for the rest of the year. What a gift! ©uncommon goods — Vision Board Class The process starts with guided prompts and then they’ll work on creating the cards. Radden will discuss ways to use the cards. If you want to gift the class all you need to do is buy it for the time/date on which you think your recipient will be available. If that doesn’t work out, you can send an email at least 48 hours in advance and things can be moved around. ©uncommon goods — Vision Board Class You can gift the experience alone for $30, or gift the experience and some mindful moment intention candles for $55. Click here to see more about the vision board experience And there’s more where that came from! Be sure to explore the rest of the uncommon goods site for other “Uncommon Experiences” that could make INCREDIBLE and super unique gifts. You can give an experience that’ll teach your friend how to paint their pet, a class on songwriting for the aspiring artist, a coffee-tasting class for those who cannot get enough of their morning joe, cooking classes, and SO much more! ©uncommon goods — Coffee Tasting Class You can limit the classes by price so you can look at the ones that fit your budget best, but be sure to scroll through and see what unique things you could gift. These could end up being experiences they’ll talk about for a lifetime. Check out all of the “uncommon experiences” you could gift here! Switch Online Subscription Got a gamer in the group? Then pick up the Nintendo Switch Online Gift Subscription. With the Nintendo Switch Online service, they’ll be able to enjoy online play with certain compatible games and get access to NES and Super NES games. There are over 70 classic NES and Super NES games that they’ll be able to play (bringing back a serious sense of nostalgia!) and they’ll be able to compete online with friends too! Plus, they’ll get cloud backup for some of their games and access to certain specials only made available for members. ©Target A 12-month individual membership is $19.99, or you can get the family membership (which allows up to 8 users) for $34.99. Click here to check out the individual membership option! Disney Gift Card If you know the person you’ll be giving a gift to is a massive Disney fan, why not give them a Disney Gift Card? It might sound like something that’s just too easy to gift, but that money could be just the thing they need to help pay off that Disney trip, grab the souvenir they’ve been eyeing for months, or even pay for meals and extra snacks in the parks. Maybe they would have hesitated to buy those new ears, but with your gift card, they’ll jump at the chance and finally treat themselves! And YOU will have made that happen! ©shopDisney It really is the ultimate quick and easy gift for a Disney fan that’s still thoughtful. There are e-gift cards that come in various designs and amounts, so you can make it fun for them and stay within your budget too. Click here to grab a Disney gift card (or two) for someone back home! Fender Play If you have someone who has been wanting to learn guitar, ukelele, and/or bass, now is the time to get them the perfect gift. If you head to the Fender Play website, you could buy a digital gift card that will give the recipient access to Fender’s complete guitar learning platform! ©Fender They’ll get online guitar lessons with a system that has an ever-growing library of popular songs to pick from. There are step-by-step lessons to get them playing like a pro, plus the ability to track their progress. A 12-month subscription is $149.99, which is 37% off what the monthly rate would be. Grab the digital gift card for Fender Play here! MasterClass And finally, if the person you’re shopping for is a Disney fan, a fan of Bob Iger, or just someone who wants to learn about business strategies and leadership skills, grab them a MasterClass lesson from Bob Iger himself! Iger goes through case studies and lessons he’s learned from his 45 years in media and will teach you how to evolve your business and your career. Want to expand your brand, lead with integrity, or make some BIG moves? Iger’s 2-hour class will teach you all that and more! ©Reuters You can gift a MasterClass subscription for $15 per month for an individual, $20 for a duo account, and $23 for a family account. The subscription gives them access to all 180+ classes on the MasterClass service, so they’ll get the ability to learn from more than just Iger! Click here to learn more about Iger’s specific MasterClass offering And click here to learn about gifting a MasterClass subscription! And just as a bonus, if you’ve got a Disney superfan that you’ll be shopping for, why not gift them one of our e-books? Our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, for example, is a book we wrote after decades of visiting Disney World so that we could help others have a stress-free vacation! It’s time to pre-order your DFB Guide! And all that knowledge can now be yours! Click here and use code WDW2023 to get a discount! We hope this list gave you some inspiration to help you grab a unique, thoughtful, and FAST gift for someone this holiday season. For more gift inspiration, click here to see Disney gifts that’ll ship in one day with Amazon Prime, or click here to see 6 gift cards that won’t feel like last-minute gifts. Stay tuned for more Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Tell us your very BEST last-minute gift ideas in the comments below! The post 9 Gifts That Will Arrive INSTANTLY! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Eating in Disney World can be overwhelming especially if you have dietary restrictions. Let’s go to EPCOT! Forget new foods, upcoming EPCOT festival eats, and new dining options — just figuring out an ordinary meal in the World can be worrisome if you know specific restrictions are involved. But don’t let it make you panic. There are many places where you can find gluten-free, dairy-free, or other types of food to meet your specific needs. So today we’re taking a little bit of the stress away and sharing our picks of some of the BEST gluten-free options in EPCOT to make your trip a little easier. What to Know Let’s talk big-picture first. If you will need to eat gluten-free or gluten-friendly foods in Disney World, know that there are a number of options available. Disney truly strives to accommodate guests with all kinds of special diets, including those who stay away from gluten. We have an entire page dedicated to eating gluten-free in Disney World, so be sure to check that out if you have any further questions after getting through this post. We also have a gluten-free guide for Magic Kingdom, so don’t miss out on that one if you’ll be heading to Magic Kingdom as well. Little pillows of goodness — And They’re Gluten Free! Before we dive into specifics, the main thing we want to convey is to just be clear about your needs and ask Cast Members for assistance. If you don’t see anything on the menu specifically marked as gluten-free or gluten-friendly, or you have questions about what a particular item has or is made of, do not hesitate to ask. You may be given the opportunity to speak with a Cast Member who has a more detailed list of ingredients for each dish, or you may be able to speak with a chef who can answer your questions. The key here is to share your specific needs with those who can assist you. You might just be surprised at what kind of delicious magic can be created for you! EPCOT Here are three basic suggested steps: Make your Advance Dining Reservations and note your gluten-free diet on each reservation. (online or when calling (407) WDW-DINE) You may e-mail the Special Diets department (Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com); or call them at (407) 824-5967 if you wish, prior to your trip. Talk to the Chef or Restaurant Manager when you arrive at the restaurant. Alright, let’s dive into more details. Eating Gluten-Free at Quick Service Restaurants at EPCOT To start us off, let’s talk about eating gluten-free at Quick Service restaurants in EPCOT. These are the restaurants where you can typically place a mobile order or order at a counter, pick up your food, and then take it to a table. At Quick Service restaurants, you should request to speak with a Cast Member or a manager who can help guide you through your options before you order. While it might feel a bit tedious, don’t hesitate to ask. Asking for a manager is typically the way to go because they can really help ensure that your order is made correctly. You may want to request a quick chat with the Chef too depending on your concerns. EPCOT Keep in mind that some Quick Service restaurants in EPCOT are available through Mobile Order. With that service, you can place your order through the My Disney Experience app ahead of time, schedule when you want to pick it up, and even pay for it in advance. Before picking where you want to eat in EPCOT, take a second to scroll through the menus on the My Disney Experience app. Typically, near the end of a restaurant’s menu or within a Mobile Order menu, you’ll find Allergy-Friendly options. When placing a Mobile Order, look for the Allergy-Friendly icon! ©Disney Once you tap that, you should see a screen showing you the various Allergy-Friendly menus available. Click the “Gluten/Wheat Allergy-Friendly” menu to see more. ©Disney You’ll then be able to select a meal that hopefully will be friendly for your specific allergy needs. ©Disney The mobile order screen alerts you to confirm your dietary needs with a Cast Member upon arriving. ©Disney You can read Disney’s full notice/disclaimer about the steps they take to make allergy-friendly meals below. ©Disney Again, if you have questions about ingredients, specific items, etc. do not hesitate to ask a Cast Member at the restaurant. They, a manager, or a chef should be able to give you the clarifications you need. In terms of quick service options with foods that are particularly good for those eating gluten-free, you may want to check out Sunshine Seasons at lunch. Sunshine Seasons Sunshine Seasons is in the Land Pavilion and it offers several gluten-free options. For lunch, you can find gluten-friendly versions of the Oak-grilled Rotisserie Chicken, the Oak Grilled Salmon, Sir-fried Chicken, and the Power Salad. For dinner, however, only the Power Salad is still offered out of the gluten-free options, along with some gluten-friendly snacks. ©Disney Another good option is Connections Eatery, one of EPCOT’s newest restaurants. This one is available via Mobile Order, making it very convenient, and it has 10 gluten/wheat-friendly options typically available including a French Bistro Burger, salad, and even gluten/wheat-friendly chicken strips (a great pick for kiddos!). Connections Eatery You can also grab a Quick Service gluten-free meal at Regal Eagle Smokehouse in the American Adventure pavilion. Regal Eagle offers several gluten/wheat-friendly options such as the Memphis Dry Rub Pork Ribs, the Kansas City Smoked Half Chicken, The BBQ Burger, the BBQ Jackfruit Burger, the Sliced Texas Beef Brisket Sandwich, and more! Regal Eagle Smokehouse Check out some of their gluten-free menu below. ©Disney While these are some good options, don’t forget to check out the other EPCOT menus for the gluten-free and allergy options before choosing a spot to visit. Check out our list of ALL the EPCOT Restaurants here Eating Gluten-Free at Table Service Restaurants in EPCOT You will find gluten-free/friendly options throughout EPCOT at the Table Service restaurants too! Keep in mind that for Table Service restaurants you’ll want to make an Advance Dining Reservation. (You can, however, use the Walk-Up Waitlist feature on the My Disney Experience app or otherwise check with the Cast Members at Table Service locations to see if there is any space for you to grab a last-minute table without a reservation.) Before picking a place to make a reservation, check out that restaurant’s menu online. You should be able to scroll down (typically toward the end of the menu) to find some allergy-friendly eats or search for the word “gluten” and see what items are marked as “gluten/wheat” friendly. That’ll help you narrow down the restaurants with allergy-friendly food you’re interested in! While many menus online do note these allergy-friendly options, some may simply say that allergy-friendly menus are available upon request. In that instance, be sure to reach out to Disney ahead of your trip to get more information. Le Cellier Steakhouse If you do make a reservation, your gluten-friendly adventure can begin in advance, which is great. We recommend noting that you are eating a gluten-free diet when making the reservation. If you call (407) WDW-DINE to make your reservation, just make sure to tell the Cast Member that you want that dietary restriction clearly noted on your reservation. Garden Grill Restaurant Many Table Service restaurants should be able to accommodate gluten-free diets when you arrive, but if it isn’t marked down on your reservation, be sure to speak with a Chef or manager when you arrive at the restaurant. If you opt to dine at a buffet-style restaurant, be sure to speak with Cast Members, a manager, or the chef, to see what may be gluten-friendly on the buffet line or see if something else that is gluten-friendly can be made for you. Gluten-Free Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce One Table Service option you might want to consider for gluten-free dining in EPCOT is Garden Grill. This location offers an all-you-care-to-enjoy family-style meal and is a character dining restaurant where you can meet Farmer Mickey and some of his other pals. This restaurant also serves up an allergy-friendly version of its Harvest Feast which is a major plus. ©Disney Even fancy spots like Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion have some gluten-friendly options like a gluten-friendly version of their signature poutine, a gluten-friendly version of the Le Cellier Filet Mignon, and a gluten-friendly version of the Maple Crème Brûlée. So you can enjoy all the deliciousness and meet your dietary needs. Le Cellier These are just some of the spots where you might find a good gluten-free Table Service meal, but there are other options in EPCOT as well, so be sure to explore those menus! Gluten-Free Festival Eating in EPCOT EPCOT’s signature offering is its seasonal Festivals! And while eating gluten-free at a Festival might concern you, don’t let it! There are actually quite a few gluten-free options typically available at each of the Festivals, and Disney does a good job of marking them down so you know what to look for! When you find a Festival Marketplace (food booth) menu at a Festival, look for the items marked as gluten-free/friendly. Look for Gluten-Free and Plant-Based Markingson the booth menus. Click here to see the gluten-free items that were available at the 2022 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Click here to see the FULL menus for the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays (you can search “gluten” to find the options that are friendly to that dietary need). The 2023 Festival of the Arts menus aren’t fully available yet, but bookmark this page to see them once they’re released! Click here to see the full menus from the 2022 Flower and Garden Festival so you can see what was available in the past! Gluten-Free Snacks in EPCOT Luckily, EPCOT also has some great gluten-free snack options! To start, you have to know some of the most iconic Disney snacks are gluten-free. Both the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar and the standard popcorn around Disney World are considered gluten-free and can be enjoyed at tons of different locations around the park. A classic! The Maple Popcorn from the Canada Pavilion Popcorn Cart is also generally gluten-free and adds a bit of variation from your normal Disney popcorn. Yummy! The macarons at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in the France Pavilion are also a yummy (typically) gluten-free snack! We absolutely love this option for a sweet treat. Macarons Collection You may also find gluten-free Chips with a side of Guacamole from La Cava del Tequila. These can be super filling even for a snack. Other potentially gluten-free/friendly snacks in EPCOT include: Look for ice cream and sorbet flavors that may be gluten-free at L’Artisan des Glaces (France) Kakigori at Kabuki Cafe Japan (typically gluten free as well) Ask Cast Members where to find “Snacks With Character” — pre-packaged allergy-friendly snacks Just remember to always double-check with a Cast Member or manager before eating since Disney frequently updates their menus. Overall, Disney has tons of gluten-free options if you just know where to look. Remember to always double-check with Cast Members before ordering and never hesitate to ask questions. While dining in Disney can be overwhelming, you know we’ve got you covered. Make sure to keep following DFB for all of your Disney dining news and updates. Check out our guide to eating gluten-free in Disney World here Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide Check Out the 19 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2022 Our Top 50 All-Time Best Disney Dining Tips These Are the BEST Meals in Disney World for Under $15 Ranking Every Single Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking Every Single EPCOT Restaurant Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney Springs Ranking Every Single Restaurant in Disney World Hotels – Cheap Eats Edition Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which gluten-free dining option will you try? Let us know in the comments! The post EPCOT Gluten Free Ultimate Guide for 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve been to Disney World recently, you might have noticed that some advance dining reservations are nearly impossible to get. Cinderlla’s Royal Table One of those hard-to-get reservations is for Cinderella’s Royal Table because — let’s face it — is there anything more magical than eating INSIDE Cinderella Castle? We think not! But if you’ve been struggling to make a reservation there, we’re going to help you out with our best tips and tricks. Cinderella’s Royal Table Atmosphere Okay, let’s start with a quick rundown of why Cinderella’s Royal Table is so popular with Disney World guests. As we mentioned, the restaurant is INSIDE Cinderella Castle. When it comes to location, this is probably the BEST dining spot in Disney World. Cinderella’s Royal Table is literally INSIDE the castle! It’s not just that, though, either. Inside, you’ll find Cast Members dressed to serve royalty, but in this case, you ARE the royalty — they may even refer to you by a royal title. Seriously, can you beat that kind of service? Cast members are dressed to serve you like you’re royalty Seating is standard tables and chairs in a grand dining room that keeps to the overall royal theme. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll get a table near the window to get a view of Magic Kingdom you won’t find anywhere else! Because, again, you’re looking out FROM THE CASTLE — yes, you will feel very bougie. That View! Even if you don’t score a window seat, though you will never forget you’re dining inside a castle. Even when you enter the restaurant, you realize you’ve stepped into another world. Cinderella’s Royal Table is a unique experience. The interior of the restaurant is simply GORGEOUS with high ceilings and royal banners sprinkled throughout. Look at how beautiful it is! So you’ll want to dine here JUST for the atmosphere, but let’s talk about the food! Cinderella’s Royal Table Food Okay, so you can dine here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This a prix fixe restaurant, meaning you’ll get several courses of food. For breakfast, expect assorted pastries… Pastries …along with entrees that include elevated breakfast fare like Quiche, Avocado Toast, Beef Tenderloin and Egg, and, Shrimp and Grits, Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast. Shrimp and Grits from Cinderella’s Royal Table For drinks, you have a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices, including a Royal Breakfast Flight with a Mimosa, a Bellini, and Sangria. Royal Breakfast Flight You can read a review of breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table here! Lunch and dinner include starters like a Soup of the Day, Mussels, a Castle Salad, and Charcuterie. Castle Salad Main entrees include dishes Tenderloin of Beef, the When Will My Life Begin Chicken and Pasta, Sustainable Catch En Papillote, and more. Pasta and Chicken from Cinderella’s Royal Table Dessert includes a Jaq & Gus Cheesecake, Coffee Pots de Crème, and The Clock Strikes Twelve (Dark Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel and Crunchy Praline Center, served with Chocolate Sauce and Hazelnut Gelato). Jaq & Gus As you can see, the food presentation here is also top-notch! Read our lunch review of Cinderella’s Royal Table here! Cinderella’s Royal Table Characters For the moment, the only character you can meet at Cinderella’s Royal Table is Cinderella. She only makes a brief appearance during the meal, but she waves to guests and walks around one elevated platform. You can take socially-distanced photos, but this is one of the few spots left in Disney World where you can’t hug a character. Cinderella Meet and Greet However, that will change on February 28th, 2023, when true character dining returns to the restaurant. Before, you could meet other princesses, who made their way around the tables and greeted guests in a more personal manner. Sleeping Beauty at Cinderella’s Royal Table We expect to see Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel, and other princesses returning to the dining experience then. How to Get That Cinderella’s Royal Table Reservation Okay, so now that you’ve decided you MUST visit Cinderella’s Royal Table, how do you go about getting those advance dining reservations? Our first tip should be your first course of action — get up early on the day that marks 60 days from the first day of your Disney World trip and try to get a reservation. Get those reservations as early as you can If that fails, though — don’t fret. If you’re flexible with the time of your reservation and the meal, you may have better luck scoring a reservation. Remember, if you’ve already made your park pass reservations, you should be able to change those (barring you’re visiting during a super busy season) so that you can be in Magic Kingdom for the day of your trip you manage to get that reservation for. Also, don’t forget to make a park pass reservation for Magic Kingdom on that day. Such a Beautiful Space You can also keep checking for those reservations — plans change and you might find that more reservations open up as other guests cancel them. Keep your eye on the Disney World website and My Disney Experience app as much as you can. Also, Disney recently made it easier for guests to make last minute changes to dining reservations. So you will want to even refresh My Disney Experience the day before you are hoping to go and the day you are wanting to go to Cinderella’s Royal Table because a reservation just might pop up! Stained glass inside Cinderella’s Royal Table Still no luck? You have one last strategy to try: try to join the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist on the day you’re in Magic Kingdom. Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app often to see what the availability is. Cinderella’s Royal Table Walk-Up Waitlist With a bit of diligence and luck, you should be able to join the waitlist to get into the restaurant. 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. DFB Guide to Disney World Dining 2023 We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 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. Have you ever dined at Cinderella’s Royal Table? How did you score a reservation? Let us know in the comments! The post Tricks To Get Reservations At Cinderella's Royal Table in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy holidays, DFB readers! Crowds We’ve been in the parks this week bringing you updates on crowds from the parks and Disney Springs, and no surprise here — it’s REAL busy! On top of that, freezing temperatures are coming to Orlando for the holiday weekend so bundle up if you’re headed to the parks. But what are the wait times like during one of the busiest times of year? Let’s find out! We’re going to take you through the average wait times at each Disney World ride so that you can plan which lines you would wait for or determine if you want to buy Genie+. The skip-the-line service has been at $25 per person per day this week, however the prices do fluctuate by day. Genie+ To use Genie+, go into the My Disney Experience app where you’ll be able to choose Lightning Lane times for available rides. Once you have a Lightning Lane booked, you will be able to go through an expedited line during the hour window you booked. This service can add up depending on how many people are in your party, but it can be worth it during busy times like now! Lightning Lane So without further ado, let’s take a look at the average wait times during one of the busiest weeks of the year. Magic Kingdom We’re starting at Magic Kingdom, where Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time at 82 minutes this week! Last week the average wait time was 67 minutes so this is a pretty significant increase. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Next, Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 63 minutes, Jungle/Jingle Cruise averaged 54 minutes, and Space Mountain averaged 53 minutes. After that, the ride averages put Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 41 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 40 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 35 minutes, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 30 minutes, Splash Mountain and Astro Orbiter at 29 minutes, and Pirates of the Caribbean at 28 minutes. Splash Mountain After that, “it’s a small world” averaged 25 minutes, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid averaged 22minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin averaged 21 minutes, and The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini averaged 20 minutes. Tomorrowland Speedway averaged 19 minutes, while Dumbo the Flying Elephant averaged 18 minutes and Mickey’s PhilharMagic averaged 15 minutes. Tomorrowland Speedway Next, Mad Tea Party averaged 14 minutes and the 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. Enchanted Tiki Room The Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and Tom Sawyer Island averaged no wait. VIDEO: Sneak Peek of the Huge Changes to the Train in 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 94 minutes, compared to last week’s average of 74 minutes. Frozen Ever After had an average wait time of 74 minutes, which was an increase from last week’s average of 70 minutes. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Next, we have Test Track at 69 minutes, Soarin’ at 48 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 32 minutes, and Spaceship Earth at 22 minutes. Gran Fiesta Tour and The Seas with Nemo and Friends averaged 9 minutes. Spaceship Earth Then, there was Turtle Talk with Crush and Journey into Imagination at 13 minutes and Living with the Land at 12 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. Disney Is Ready to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in EPCOT Hollywood Studios In Hollywood Studios, Tower of Terror topped the list for the sixth week in a row with an average wait time of 120 minutes, compared to last week’s average of 92 minutes. Rise of the Resistance also tied with Tower of Terror this week with an average of 120 minutes, while Slinky Dog Dash took third place with an average of 103 minutes (this wait was 79 minutes last week!). Slinky Dog Dash Next, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith averaged 83 minutes, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run averaged 76 minutes, Toy Story Mania averaged 72 minutes, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway averaged 70 minutes. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster After that, Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 42 minutes, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue averaged 28 minutes, Walt Disney Presents averaged 16 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy averaged 13 minutes, and Muppet*Vision 3D averaged 10 minutes. REVIEW: There’s a New Gelato Cart in 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 145minutes. Last week, the average was 88 minutes. Pandora — The World of Avatar Next up was Na’vi River Journey at 72 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 65 minutes, Expedition Everest at 42 minutes, DINOSAUR at 33 minutes, and Triceratop Spin at 16 minutes. Expedition Everest It’s Tough to Be a Bug averaged 12 minutes and Kali River Rapids averaged 11 minutes. Both The Boneyard and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail averaged no wait time. 5 Places to Escape in Animal Kingdom When Your Anxiety Is Through the Roof Overall, the wait times have significantly increased compared to last week, even at some of those less popular attractions! If rides are a priority to you, you may want to consider buying Genie+ so that you can skip at least a few of these long lines. Pandora crowds Stay tuned to DFB for more updates around the holidays in Disney World! Find out why park hopping will cost you MORE in 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 What’s your favorite park in Disney World? Tell us why in the comments! The post It May Be Worth + to Avoid These Wait Times in Disney World Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Does a perfect day in Disney World actually exist? What about FIVE perfect days? Only one way to find out! Let’s figure out how to build YOUR perfect vacation! EPCOT So, “perfect” is a pretty BIG claim, but the purpose of this post, we’re going to set you up for success. We’re gonna tell you which rides you’re gonna want to prioritize, which shows you’re not gonna want to miss, which restaurants to get up at 5:45AM to book, and – this is the best and most important part – we’re gonna give you the BEST insider tips for 2022 and 2023 to get your trip as close to perfect as possible. We’re in the parks every single day making TONS of mistakes so that we can make sure YOU don’t make the same ones! Since we’re covering a LOT of ground today, we’ve come up with printable checklists for EACH of the parks, covering ALL the must-do’s, recommendations, and tips we’re covering here today. That way, you’ve got a nice little guide to refer back to when doing all your Disney World vacation planning. If you want these checklists sent to your email straight away, just CLICK HERE to get these downloadable PDFs sent to your inbox AFTER we wrap up here today. Driving to Disney World Disney Genie and Genie+ Before we jump right into perfect park itineraries, let’s do a quick review of Disney’s big planning tool, Disney Genie. Planning a Disney World trip can feel overwhelming. There are loads of tips to help with this – including choosing whether or not to buy Genie+, which allows you to bypass main queue lines at over 40 rides in Disney World. Genie Disney Genie is a FREE planning tool on the My Disney Experience App. But with this free planning tool comes premium features. Line bypassing features, to be exact. If you pay $15 per person, per day (or more depending on when you visit) for Disney Genie +, you’ll be able to access Lightning Lanes for MANY rides and select attractions around each of the Disney World parks. These Lightning Lanes will allow you to bypass the main queue lines in exchange for a much shorter queue. Individual Lightning Lanes There’s also a SECOND premium tool — the Individual Lightning Lane Entry tool — which is set up in more of an a la carte fashion. The a la carte Lightning Lane choices allow you to get reservations for the HOTTEST rides in each of the parks, which won’t be featured in the Genie+ set list. These prices usually range around $7-$15 per person per ride. These prices will also vary depending on when you visit Disney World. So if you visit at a more crowded time, expect the prices to be higher. Now, we WILL be mentioning Genie + and the a la carte options throughout this post, but DON’T STRESS over this being REALLY heavy on the Genie + tips. We’re gonna talk about how to manage WITHOUT this extra expense, too, to give it a nice, fair concoction of tips. And, if you want MORE Genie + guidance, you can always check out our video that REALLY gets in-depth with HOW to navigate that service. Disney Genie But there are also plenty of non-paid tips to help you conquer as many rides as you’d like. Stay tuned. So let’s jump into DAY ONE. Day One: Magic Kingdom Many folks make Magic Kingdom a priority park. It IS the OG of the four, after all. So pretty! But not EVERYONE walks away from a day at Magic Kingdom feeling like they were able to accomplish EVERYTHING they wanted to do. Good thing that won’t be you! Rides There are over 27 rides in Magic Kingdom. Actually, in the Spring of 2023, that number will jump up to 28 rides — once the TRON Lightcycle Run coaster is up and running in Tomorrowland. The Mountains So let’s PRIORITIZE your must-do rides! If you and your group love rides with a little more of the “thrill” elements, then you’re gonna want to focus your energy on the Magic Kingdom mountains. These include: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (which some ARGUE isn’t a mountain, but, y’know, it looks awful mountain-y to us. So a mountain it shall be!) Splash Mountain is being re-themed! So how can you get through all these mountains in ONE day? You’re gonna have to start early. REALLY early. Especially considering the lines for all of these can get pretty steep. If you’re staying at one of the Disney-owned resorts on property, you’ll have the Early Theme Park Entry perk — which will allow you to hop into any of the parks on any day 30 minutes before the parks officially open to the rest of the public. So take advantage of that if you have it. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Although Seven Dwarfs Mine Train IS part of the a la carte Lightning Lane options because it tends to see the highest crowds during the day, you can use that 30 minute timeframe to get in line for this one ASAP. (And if you don’t have that 30 minute wiggle room? You’re STILL gonna want to go to the park for rope drop. The earlier you can get started on your Disney day, the better!) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Space Mountain After that, you may wanna head over toward Space Mountain next — since it’ll be located in the next land over: Tomorrowland! Space Mountain Splash and Big Thunder Mountains Now, you COULD aim for Splash Mountain AFTER your trip through space which is located KINDA farther away in Frontierland, but you may also want to wait for the end of the day — considering fewer people seem to want to get all sopping wet before bedtime. Just keep in mind that Splash Mountain will not be open much longer since it’ll start undergoing its major retheme — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — in January of 2023. The new attraction is projected to open in late 2024. So this ride could get more and more popular the closer it gets to its official closing date. If you’re wanting to get absolutely DRENCHED on Splash Mountain, you’re gonna want to sit towards the front and to the right. Riders who sit towards the back left of this log flume tend to make it out of the ride more or less unscathed. When you’re in the Frontierland area, you’ll be right next door to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Out of all the coaster mountains, this one tends to have the shortest wait times of the bunch. Each of the mountains is DEFINITELY a solid first choice for Lightning Lanes, too. But, once again, we’d probably suggest aiming to get Splash Mountain or Space Mountain BEFORE Big Thunder Mountain. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad The Classics Let’s say you’re more into the dark ride scene, OR you’ve already hit up all the thrill rides, and you’re ready to experience the tamer options that Magic Kingdom has available. This park has SEVERAL classic rides to fill your day with. Who said you can’t enjoy a little spookiness around the holidays? Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean are some of the most popular options that you’ll want to add to the top of your to-do list. BUT Haunted Mansion might just SPIKE in popularity in 2023 — since it’ll be adding ANOTHER fan-favorite happy haunt to its attraction — the Hatbox Ghost,whom you can already see over at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, “it’s a small world,” and Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid tend to have much shorter wait times than the others though that doesn’t mean they can’t get long, they tend to make great “filler” rides when other queues are starting to look SUPER intense. Dumbo Rides Without Lightning Lanes Though most rides in Magic Kingdom do have Lightning Lanes, there are some rides that don’t — like PeopleMover and Astro Orbiter over in Tomorrowland. That being said, these aren’t rides you’re gonna need to prioritize earlier or later. They’re fun to hit up if their lines are fairly short. But DO NOT MISS the PeopleMover if you don’t have to. It is a gem and totally meditative and worth the ride when you’re run down after a day in Magic Kingdom. PeopleMover It’s possible to ride everything in one day. No, really, it is. But if that’s your goal, then we tend to enjoy having Genie+ to lean on in Magic Kingdom. More rides = more money’s worth. If you DO go the Genie+ route, you’ll only be able to buy it on the day of your visit, starting at midnight, and the reservations won’t go live until 7AM. The sooner you can start booking your Lightning Lanes, the better off you’re gonna be! Also, if doing everything is your goal, you may want to plan to visit when the parks are a bit less crowded (so avoid holidays, spring break, etc.). The Five Best Rides at Magic Kingdom (And the Four Worst!) Shows Though Magic Kingdom has a LOT of rides, the shows are a good way to get some AC when ride lines are at their peak in the middle of the day. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and Carousel of Progress have minimum waits, old-school animatronics, and a lot of Disney history running through their roots. There’s really not a bad time to get in line for these rides — but we don’t recommend hitting them up first thing in the morning since that’s prime ride time that you’re not gonna want to miss out on, when you’re starting to feel a little weak in the knees and need to get out of the sun for a bit is the PERFECT time to check these out. They’ll give you a place to sit for a while, indoors, with blasting AC. Country Bear Jamboree In 2021, Philarmagic in Fantasyland got an extreme makeover — with improved 3D and an additional Coco scene. Much like the other shows, Philarmagic can be ridden at any time throughout the day. Fireworks But, of course, the big show you’re gonna want to check out is Disney Enchantment — which happens at the end of each Magic Kingdom night… ©Disney | New Coco Scene Coming to Philharmagic For now — Disney Enchantment WILL be running its final show in 2023 — and will be replaced by a NEW Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular at a to-be-determined date. So, before that switch happens, you’ll more than likely want to see the full-on projection/fireworks combo at Cinderella Castle. The best place to view Disney Enchantment is gonna be Main Street, U.S.A. Plan to stake out your spot 30 minutes early. The best view is actually a bit further down Main Street, U.S.A. This area WILL be crowded. Like, VERY crowded. So if you don’t wanna mess with the crowds, and you wanna stick with JUST the fireworks, you can always opt to watch the show from behind Cinderella Castle, instead, which is a whole lot less people-y. The BEST Places to Watch Fireworks in Disney World Food Are YOU feeling rumbly in your tumbly? Let’s fuel up. Now, before we start listing off some of the restaurants that can help build your picture-perfect Disney day, keep in mind that — with each park — we’ll only be listing a select few that’ve really stood out to us over the years. Eats from Liberty Tree Tavern We’ve got a full guide of EVERY SINGLE DISNEY WORLD restaurant in our 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. And if you’re thinking, “Wow. That’s a lot of information.” Then, yeah, you’re right. It’s restaurant reviews, full-color pictures, budgeting tips, and recommendations. And it’s a project we are all really proud of! It’s time to pre-order your DFB Guide! We’ve also got separate DFB snack guides to help you narrow down what treats you’re really gonna want to prioritize while you’re in the parks. Which you can buy separately OR in a bundle for a discounted price. Okay — It’s chow time! Cinderella’s Royal Table — Character Dining The MOST popular restaurant in Magic Kingdom is located INSIDE Cinderella Castle — at the signature dining experience, Cinderella’s Royal Table. Here, you’ll dine in a royal setting and get the chance to meet Disney princesses for a quick photo op. Because of the restaurant’s popularity, you’ll want to make an Advance Dining Reservation. Dine INSIDE the Castle at Cinderella’s Royal Table! Advance Dining Reservations will open 60 days before your visit, starting around 5:45 EST. And, trust us, you’re gonna NEED to wake up around then to get these hot shot reservations — so set multiple alarms to motivate yourself to actually GET UP before the sun does. Review: Is Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table Worth the Cost Right Now? Crystal Palace — Character Dining If you want to meet a LOT of characters at once, The Crystal Palace is another option for you. This is a buffet-style setup where you can meet the Hundred Acre wood gang for pictures, autographs, and lots of hugs! Piglet at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom Currently, The Crystal Palace is open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Read our review of The Crystal Palace here! Skipper Canteen If you’re wanting something a little more unique, you can always hit up The Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant, Skipper Canteen, instead. Skipper Canteen is a good time — filled with lots of puns and adventure-driven knickknacks. You can also ask for the hidden menu here for access to even more unique eats and appetizers. Not to mention, reservations for this sit down restaurant are way easier to snag than you’ll find at Cinderella’s Royal Table. You may even find a reservation the day-of — just check the Dining Tip Board on the My Disney Experience App to see if a Walk-Up Waitlist or last-minute Dining Reservations are currently available. These may be a little tougher to come by on the weekends — just a head’s up. Skipper Canteen Table service meals are a fun way to experience a unique side of the parks — however, considering there are so many rides in Magic Kingdom, and only so much time to complete as many as possible, table service dining could end up being a huge time suck. Quick Service Restaurants And if that’s the case, you’re gonna want to hit up something quick. REALLY quick. So here are a few quick and counter service restaurants that could buy you more time for rides, shows, and other Disney experiences if you hit them up instead: Columbia Harbour House –This Liberty Square quick service has hearty, grilled, and fried surf-and-turf options. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe — Close to Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (and even closer to Country Bears Jamboree), you can get LARGE Tex-Mex dishes like fajitas, nachos, and rice bowls. Westward Ho — This often-overlooked Frontierland kiosk has our favorite Magic Kingdom pastry — the Wendell’s Bear Claw — as well as some other snacky options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also get flavored Joffrey’s coffees here! Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe –Looking for straightforward theme park food — like burgers, chicken strips, and hot dogs? Cosmic Ray’s WILL provide! Make sure to say hi to Sonny Eclipse for me while you’re there, okay? Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe If you decide to go the quick service route — and you need a little extra snack pick-me-up when the middle of the day rolls around — don’t skip out on those CLASSIC Magic Kingdom snacks! Snacks Some of our personal favorites include the savory spring rolls at the Adventureland Spring Roll Cart, regular and specialty Dole whips (at Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace), and the corn dog nuggets with a side of plastic cheese for an extra $1 at Casey’s Corner. Characters Hold on, friends — we’re not done with Magic Kingdom, yet! If you wanna meet some of your favorite Disney characters, you’re gonna need to know where to track ‘em all down. Though not every meet-and-greet spot has fully returned yet, here are all the places you can find some familiar faces (as of now): Main Street, U.S.A.: Mickey and Minnie are at Town Square Theater — You can even get a Lightning Lane for them! Snow White is (usually) on the Town Square Theater Porch Hey, Mickey! Fantasyland: Rapunzel, Tiana, Cinderella, and Elena of Avalor are at Princess Fairytale Hall. You can even get a Lightning Lane for them! Merida at Fairytale Garden, Peter Pan near Peter Pan’s Flight, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at the Thotful Spot, at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Adventureland: Aladdin and Jasmine like to pay a visit at the Agrabah Bazaar from time to time. Parades But there are also random character encounters you may stumble upon, too! Be sure to check My Disney Experience and the Times Guide for characters and their appearance times. You can ALSO meet characters in passing during the daytime parades and cavalcades! The main parade is the Festival of Fantasy — which usually shows twice a day, at noon and 3PM. Festival of Fantasy These are good times to also try getting back in line for some of the other popular rides — since many guests will flock to the sidewalks to watch the floats as they pass by. But, if you’ve got a kiddo in your group who wants to meet characters — but is still kinda skittish when it comes to meeting ‘em face-to-face — the Festival of Fantasy allows them to wave at them from afar without all the extra meet-and-greet stress. Before the 50th Anniversary Celebration wraps up in 2023, make sure to take the time and visit EACH of the golden statues sprinkled around each of the parks. Lady and the Tramp 50th Anniversary Statues in Magic Kingdom There are a ton in just Magic Kingdom alone. You can find ‘em all. Like Pokémon! Your Ultimate 1-Day Plan For Magic Kingdom Got all that? GREAT. Time for DAY TWO! Day Two: EPCOT You’ve got four different lands to explore in EPCOT: World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery, and World Showcase. Because EPCOT is so spread out, you’re gonna need a solid game plan to get everything done in a day. So let’s start PLANNING! Rides EPCOT isn’t a ride-heavy park like Magic Kingdom is, so being able to hit everything in one go is definitely possible in a single day — even without Genie+. But, that being said, EPCOT is a very involved park — so you’re gonna be filling up your day with way more than just rides. So prioritizing your “must do”s is still gonna be the key to your best day ever. New Rides Let’s start with the newest rides in EPCOT: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Cosmic Rewind! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is (currently) the newest ride in Disney World. It’s got a backwards launch, 360-degree vehicle turns, and a rockin’ soundtrack that’s random EVERY time you ride. It’s also currently using the Boarding Pass system: Which means you’re gonna need to enter a virtual queue instead of waiting in a super-long physical queue. Boarding Groups go live at 7AM and 1PM daily on the My Disney Experience App. And, because of the ride’s popularity, they tend to fill up quick. So if this is a must-do ride for you, try to aim for that 7AM virtual queue drop. That way, on the off-chance you miss your window of opportunity, you’ll have a safety net, and will get the chance to try again when 1PM rolls around. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Cosmic Rewind is also available on the a la carte Lightning Lane options. But even these Lightning Lanes tend to book up quicker than others. Try getting in the virtual queue at 7AM before attempting to grab a Lightning Lane. If you miss your chance at a Boarding Pass, and you don’t want to take your chances and wait on that 1PM virtual queue drop, then you can go ahead and do the Lightning Lane purchase for this one. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — over in the France Pavilion —is part of the regular Genie+ ride list. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is super close to EPCOT’s second park entrance — the International Gateway, which connects the park to the EPCOT-area resorts. If you’re staying in this area or if you’re staying at one of the Skyliner Resorts, you’ll be able to enter through the International Gateway when the park opens and head over to Remy’s first thing in the morning. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure If you’re entering from the park’s main gate, you can still make the trek over to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure for an early morning ride, or you can wait until the evening when the crowds die down for it again. Soarin’ and Living with the Land Now that we’ve got the new kids on the block outta the way, let’s discuss some of EPCOT’s other popular rides: Soarin’ and Living with the Land are located on the first floor of the Land Pavilion. Since they’re pretty close together, you can hit up one, then the other, back-to-back. Soarin’ will have the longer lines of the two — since it’s a fairly popular screen-based flight simulator, that everyone always claps for at the end. It’s an unspoken rule, at this point. That being said, wait times do dip down throughout the day — and, normally, linger around the 20-30 minute mark. Living with the Land Soarin’ actually has a new third queue choice, that’s not part of the main queue or a Genie+ queue. And that’s the single rider line. There are only a handful of single rider options available throughout Disney World, but if you can find them, they often provide shorter wait times for those longer rides. Not always, but often enough that — sometimes — it may be worth a shot, just to get everything done that you wanna accomplish. The Single Rider queue will break up your group, though — so if you’d rather ride altogether, stick with the main queue and just wait things out. Soarin’ Single Rider Entrance Test Track Test Track is another thrill ride with the single rider option. However, the wait times for this one are pretty reasonable if you go right when the park opens. Frozen Ever After And then there’s Frozen Ever After — located in the Norway Pavilion — which is a family boat ride featuring Elsa, Anna, Sven, Olaf, Kristoff, and Marshmallow, the ice monster! Be warned! He’s gonna send you down a little drop that you might not be expecting from a dark ride! Anna and Kristoff Frozen Ever After’s a good one to grab a Lightning Lane for — since the line tends to creep outside its building and extend into the neighboring China Pavilion at times. But, you can also aim to ride this one at the very end of the night. Your wait could be even shorter if you decide to hit this one up while EPCOT’s nighttime spectacular is going on. But you don’t have to jump in line around then to experience this ride if you don’t wanna miss out on the big show. Walk-On Rides Looking for rides that are basically walk-ons? Spaceship Earth, Grand Fiesta Tour: Starring the Three Caballeros, The Seas With Nemo and Friends, and Journey Into Imagination with Figment can be ridden at pretty much anytime. If you see them pushing a 20-minute wait or beyond, don’t get in line for ‘em yet! They should MAJORLY drop at sometime during the day for you to hit up later. The 5 Best Rides at EPCOT (And the 5 Worst!) Shows It’s SHOWTIME in EPCOT, folks! During the EPCOT festivals, you can catch live concert performances. You can watch the Candlelight Processional, if you’re visiting around the holidays, on the American Gardens Theater Stage in The American Adventure Pavilion. Shows are usually pretty easy to catch during their limited afternoon and evening performances, aside from the Candlelight Processional, which brings in BIG crowds that you’re SO not gonna want to underestimate. Just don’t get caught up in all the World Showcase offerings and forget about these performances altogether! There aren’t many showtimes for these groups each day, so if seeing one of the bands is a big deal to you, then add this to your itinerary! America Gardens Stage Later in 2023, you’ll be able to catch these types of festival performances, plus many others, at the BRAND NEW CommuniCore Hall and Plaza — which is currently in-the-works and will become a main hub for the EPCOT festivals once it opens. CommuniCore Plaza ©Disney While you’re making your way around The World Showcase, there are a few shows that you can stop at for a quick pit stop, if you need a much-needed “out-of-the-sun” break. Films These films are located in the Canada, France, and China pavilions. And though they’re not the most exciting things you’re gonna experience in the World Showcase, they’ve got AIR CONDITIONING. They’re also pretty quiet — if you’re looking for an escape from the crowds. Canada Far & Wide The American Adventure pavilion has a more impressive show — featuring numerous audio-animatronics that recount vital points in America’s history — but it’s currently closed for refurbishments ‘til the foreseeable future. We’ll let you know when it’s back up and running again, pronto. American Adventure Fireworks But the big show you’re really gonna want to check out is HARMONIOUS, which takes place on the World Showcase Lagoon. Harmonious takes classic Disney songs and performs them in several different languages — making a nighttime spectacular with international influences and tons of special effects, like shooting water, pyrotechnics, projections, and — of course — fireworks! Harmonious Much like Disney Enchantment, Harmonious’ time in EPCOT will be coming to a sudden end in 2023. We don’t know what show’s gonna replace it yet, but what we do know is that you’re may gonna want to see this one in all its glory when you visit before it disappears for good. The front of the World Showcase (ie: the area BETWEEN the Mexico and Canada Pavilion where you’ll find the main World Showcase gift shops) is gonna give you a straight shot of the performance. Harmonious But, since Harmonious does happen in the MIDDLE of the World Showcase, it’s WAY easier to find a good viewing spot for this one — even 10-15 minutes before showtime. A few of our favorite places to watch this show from are: Behind Rose and Crown in the UK Pavilion (on the right or left hand side — where there’s a LOT of patio space (as long as there’s still room available) To the right of the torii structure in the Japan Pavilion On the Italy patio (as long as there’s not an event going on here — which will block off this area for the rest of the evening) And the big open area between the Mexico and Norway pavilion (with no obstructions whatsoever) A Full List of Showtimes in EPCOT Food Y’know how Magic Kingdom has the most rides? Well, EPCOT has the most dining options! But, then again, it’s got 11 different countries for you to potentially eat at — so it makes sense! Offerings from Hawaii food booth at EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival The highlight of EPCOT dining is all thanks to its four different festivals that happen throughout the year, including: Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival, and Festival of the Holidays EPCOT Festivals Very rarely will you visit EPCOT, and a festival won’t be happening. So you’ll wanna see all the different food booths that’ll be available during your visit to narrow down your must-eats before you get there. Otherwise? All of the different options could be… extremely overwhelming to choose from. Which is why we ALSO have detailed festival guides, too! And best of the fest YouTube videos that we release at the beginning of each new festival! So you’ll know exactly what our personal top-picks are! EPCOT Festivals Space 220 But what if you don’t want to taste test items from around the world? What if you want a full meal that’s OUT of this world? Space 220 is a highly-immersive restaurant that’s set in the Centauri Space Station, with giant windows that look out toward space. That’s right — SPACE. The menu options here aren’t our FAVORITE, by any means, but the atmosphere gets top marks from us — and may be worth a visit if you’ve got an aspiring astronaut in the family. Space 220 Le Cellier If you want something a little classier — you can book a table at Le Cellier Steakhouse — which has a menu of signature Poutines, tender steakhouse cuts, and that oh-so-famous Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup. Look at ALL That Space! Rose ad Crown and Yorkshire County Fish Shop And speaking of comfort foods, Rose and Crown Dining Room has a bunch of comfort foods — like bangers and mash and fish n chips. But if you want an even cheaper option for fish & chips, the Yorkshire County Fish Shop next door has the same entree for WAY less. In fact, it’s usually the only entree on the Yorkshire menu. But, really, it doesn’t need another option. The fish n chips have got things covered plenty on their own. Fish and Chips from Yorkshire County Fish Shop Garden Grill — Character Dining On the second floor of the Land Pavilion is the Garden Grill character dining experience that not only serves some top-notch comfort classics on its menu but is also set in a slow-rotating dining room — so you may look up from your mashed potatoes and mac and cheese and find your view to be slightly different than before. Mickey at Garden Grill Don’t worry — you don’t have to rely on festival booths alone for a quick meal. Quick Service Meals Here are some quick services meals that’ve served us well time and again: Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie (in the France Pavilion) has numerous pastries and croissant sandwiches at reasonable prices Regal Eagle Smokehouse (in the American Adventure Pavilion) has barbecue options inspired by the regions in this nation that are known for their famous BBQ stylings. Karamell Kuche (in the German pavilion) isn’t gonna, like, fill ya up for lunch and dinner or anything — but it’s got great caramel-coated treats that’ll at least satisfy your sweet tooth. La Cava de Tequila (in the Mexico pavilion) doesn’t have a whole lotta hearty food options either — but it does have chips and queso. But what it’s really known for is its tequila. So. Much. Tequila. And Connections Eatery (in World Celebration) is a new quick service location with lots of seating and a few unique options, such as the Apple Pie Gelato Shake and the Curry-Spiced Pizza We’ve Eaten at Every EPCOT Restaurant. These Are the BEST. EPCOT Pavilions While you’re making your way around the World Showcase, don’t forget to really explore these different pavilions. Morocco Pavilion Not only does each country have a lot of food, a lot of shops, and a lot of festival offerings, and, in some cases, a fun dark ride to throw in the mix, but many of them also have side exhibits and galleries that act as a mini self-guided tour through the country’s history and current culture. These little exhibits also double as a great place for a little AC and a moment of peace in an otherwise-busy park. Norway Pavilion Characters And, yes, you can also meet characters in EPCOT too! Winnie the Pooh Disney Pals (like Pluto and Goofy!) tend to hang out near EPCOT’s Main Entrance. While Joy from Inside Out and Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph chill inside ImageWorks. Winnie the Pooh likes to spend time outside near the Imagination Pavilion, often chasing butterflies with his trusty net. And Mickey can be found in the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival Building. Characters also tend to pop up all around the World Showcase (especially the princesses) — so keep your eyes open Be on the lookout for a Figment meet and greet next year, too! Our imaginative purple dragon found will be a new meet-and-greet character by the end of 2023. Your Ultimate 1-Day Plan for EPCOT Third park’s a charm! Let’s get to it! Day Three: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Don’t let the name fool you — Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not gonna be a wild time. This is the more easy-going park out of the four which we are not complaining about! But that doesn’t mean you can’t slack off on your planning here! Despite it being a more relaxing time, this is the biggest park on Disney World property. To make room for ALL those animals! Cloudy day in Animal Kingdom So the more ground you can cover while you’re here, the better off you’ll be. Rides Out of the four Disney World parks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has the least amount of rides. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s still a lot to do at Animal Kingdom, and the rides they do have are a good time. You’re just probably not gonna need Genie+ for this park, since you’re not gonna get a whole lotta use out of it. Flight of Passage The one ride that tends to see the highest waits throughout the day is Flight of Passage — over in Pandora: World of Avatar. But even then, you can only get a Lightning Lane for this ride through the a la carte selections, and not through the regular Genie+ choices. Flight of Passage Don’t be intimidated by those really high afternoon wait times! Flight of Passage tends to cut down its wait times by half of what they were during the day when it’s getting close to the end of the day. But even if you do decide to wait for this one, it’s not the worst queue to pass the time in. Actually, it’s got some really fun theming with a full-on laboratory and a life-sized Navi animatronic featured in the last room of the queue. Na’vi River Journey Na’vi River Journey also tends to see pretty high wait times. And, although it’s a cute boat ride — with bioluminescent plants and one of the coolest ride animatronics out there, the giant Shaman, waiting for you toward the ride’s conclusion — it’s not a ride you’re gonna want to wait over 30 minutes for. Since it’s pretty short. Plan to ride this one early rather than later in the day. Na’vi River Journey Kilimanjaro Safaris Kilimanjaro Safaris — over in the Africa section of the park — is one of those quintessential Animal Kingdom experiences you’re not gonna want to miss. Each time you ride, you’ll see different animals in this full-on 20+ minute safari across an expansive savanna. Elephants! Avoid riding this one during the heat of the day, though — since the animals will be way less active and probably hiding in the shade. Can you blame ‘em? Surprisingly enough, one of the best times to ride this one is when it’s lightly raining. The animals tend to love the showers. You may even see the younger elephants playing in puddles! Thrill Rides In need of some thrills? Expedition Everest (in the Asia section) and Dinosaur (in DinoLand USA) are a little more… intense. Expedition Everest Expedition Everest is the park’s only rollercoaster — and features an 80-foot drop, backwards momentum, and LOTS of interactions with a certain yeti who’s tearing apart your mine train tracks. Dinosaur may not have the drops or backwards track, but it does make you tango with gigantic dinos who wanna eat your face. But it’s all for the sake of science! DINOSAUR Both rides tend to see average wait times around 20-30 minutes long. So if you see them projecting longer than that, just keep an eye on your My Disney Experience App so you’ll know when the crowds start to die down. Expedition Everest DOES have a single rider queue — so if you really don’t wanna wait in the main line, you can bypass a good chunk of it by “ridin’ solo” instead of needing a Lightning Lane for it. The Five Best Rides at Animal Kingdom (And the Five Worst!) Shows There are two major shows in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Festival of the Lion King The first is Festival of the Lion King — which is located in the Africa section of the park. Festival of the Lion King is a party. There’s singing, there’s dancing, there’s giant puppetry, and there are TUMBLE MONKEYS! Depending on what section of bleachers you’re sitting in will determine your “team” for this performance. You’ll either be in the warthog, lion, giraffe, or elephant section. And that’s not gonna be, like, detrimental to your show experience or anything, but you will have to mimic your animal later on. And that’s pretty funny stuff. There’s not really a bad seat in this house, but if you want a better chance of your kiddos being able to participate in some on-stage activities toward the show’s conclusion, then try to sit closer to the front where they’ll be easier to see! Festival of the Lion King Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond The second show is Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond — which was recently reimagined to incorporate characters and scenes from the Pixar sequel, Finding Dory. Again, the seating is stacked — so getting a good view of the performance isn’t too terribly challenging. Though the further back you sit, the more you’ll be able to see the whole picture of the performance. Nemo and Dory! Both Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: Big Blue and Beyond have multiple performances throughout the day — so check those showtime guides and plan to get in line 15-20 minutes before the theater starts letting guests in. Finding Nemo It’s Tough to Be a Bug And then there’s inside The Tree of Life, which shows… It’s Tough to Be a Bug. To cut to the chase… we’re not huge fans of this show, and you might not be either if you’re not a fan of bugs getting all up in yo’ business but if you’re looking for a, err, multi-sensory 3D show centered around Pixar’s A Bugs Life? Then this show runs continuously all day long with very little wait times. A Full List of Showtimes in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Food Ohhhhh yes. Now, these Disney World eats might be good enough to solidify a perfect day all on their own. Quick Service Restaurants For quick services, you’ll always hear us singing the praises of Satu’li Canteen, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Eight Spoon Cafe. Cheeseburger Pods at Satu’li Canteen Satu’li Canteen offers customizable bowls and cheeseburger pods that’ll satisfy picky and adventurous eaters alike. Though there’s lots of indoor and outdoor seating here, Satu’li Canteen can still get pretty packed out. A good rule of thumb for quick services — whether you’re dining at Animal Kingdom or another Disney-owned fast food location — is to: A) Use the mobile order app to order ahead of time. This will allow you to not only place your order, but also select a pick-up window time frame that works best with your schedule B) dine during non-peak dining times. If you can order a late lunch or early dinner, you’re more likely to not have to struggle to find a table, and you won’t get stuck behind a long line to order. Even if you mobile order during those peak dining times, your order could still take a bit to get out to you if the quick service location is getting a lot of traction. Plan your mobile order early! Flame Tree Barbeque is, well, just good barbecue. You can get decent pulled pork and smoked chicken portions here for a more budget-friendly price. Eight Spoon Cafe is an unassuming little kiosk, but it’s got some great baked mac and cheese options, as well as an interesting doughnut and pulled pork sandwich — that could help curb both your salty and sweet cravings in one bite. Meatloaf Platter Sides If you’ve got some picky eaters on your hands, Restaurantosaurus may be a better option — that offers up your typical theme park spread of options in a kitschy setting! Take some time to look at all the details here! Tamu Tamu Refreshments is the place you’re gonna want to go for your traditional and specialty Dole Whip offerings… Simba Sunset …While Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery has some solid plant-based items, like flatbreads and spice potato hand pies, as well as quick/affordable breakfast options, too. Tusker House — Character Dining If you’re looking for some character dining, Tusker House has Donald and the gang, all dressed up in their safari gear, ready to say “cheese” for some more-than-memorable photo ops. All while you dine on an African-inspired cuisine. Well, hiya pal! Yak & Yeti Yak & Yeti is probably one of our favorite sit-down restaurants in Animal Kingdom. And since they often have reservations available after the park closes, you don’t have to worry about wasting daylight in the park! There are a TON of pan-Asian-inspired options here — including a shareables menu, in case you wanna save some money and split a meal with someone else. Yak and Yeti Ahi Tuna Nachos, how we love thee. Nomad Lounge And then there’s Nomad Lounge — another all-time favorite — which serves select small plates from the same kitchen as its signature restaurant neighbor, Tiffins. Nomad Lounge is a hot-spot, and you can’t make reservations for it ahead of time. So get a spot in line before the lounge opens up at 11 AM. Snacks How ‘bout a snack? We’re all for the Ice cream sammies from Dino Bites, as well as the street corn from Harambe Fruit Market. Grab a snack at the nearest spot! A few other classic faves from the DFB team are: The Night Blossom drink and Pongu Lumpia at Pongu Pongu Buffalo Chicken Chips at Trilo-Bites The mini mango pie at Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes And the animal-decorated sweet treats at Zuri’s Sweets Shop The Best Breakfast at Animal Kingdom Walking Trails Do yourself a favor — don’t skip over Animal Kingdom’s walking trails! Animal Kingdom has three main walking trails: The Maharajah Jungle Trek, the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and the Discovery Island Trails. These are fantastic areas to escape the crowds while also taking in the scenery, and saying hello to several animals, too! An empty walkway in Animal Kingdom Wilderness Explorers Activity Before you start exploring all the nooks and crannies Animal Kingdom has to offer, however, get your kiddo all set up for the Wilderness Explorers interactive experience — so they can collect badges as they learn about the surrounding wildlife from trusty Animal Kingdom wilderness guides. You can start your adventure at the Wilderness Explorers Headquarters located on the bridge between Oasis and Discovery Island, or at one of the other Wilderness Explorer Troop Leader locations featured around the park. Wilderness Explorer Kiosk Characters Guess what? You’ve got meet-and-greet opportunities in Animal Kingdom, too! You can meet your Favorite Disney Pals — Mickey and Minnie — at Adventurers Outpost this one gets pretty popular, which is why there’s a Lightning Lane option available! Or you can meet Donald, Daisy, and Chip n Dale at DinoLand USA. Many characters, however, and exclusive to the Animal Kingdom park and roam freely around different areas, like — Kevin, the massive colorful bird from Up, or our good friend De-Vine, who’s kinda hard to spot, but usually hangs out toward the entrance of the park. Flotillas Sometimes, you may be able to catch a character passing by down the river, via flotilla. In the past, we’ve seen Timon and Pumbaa, Pochanonta and Meeko, Dino-riffic Chip and Dale, and members of the Fab Five — as well as several other characters that’ll swing by to catch a boat ride every now and then. Adventure Flotilla featuring Russel Wildlife Express Train/Rafiki’s Planet Watch If you jump aboard the Wildlife Express Train — located in the Africa section — you’ll be able to travel to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Here, you’ll find a plethora of activities — like the Animation Experience drawing class, the Affection Section petting zoo, and the veterinary/nutrition area, where Disney’s animal experts prep to care for the wildlife onsite. DFB Video: Animal Kingdom is the BEST Disney World Park Three parks down, one to go! Day Four: Disney’s Hollywood Studios We’re in HOLLYWOOD, baby! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios But — much like the real Hollywood — things can be pretty fast-paced here. In order to keep up, you’ll need a strategy or two, or three or… a dozen. Rides When it comes to the rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’re gonna have heavy hitter, after heavy hitter, after heavy hitter. Meaning? Those wait times can get extremely long. Low Wait Time Rides The rides that have the lowest waits throughout the day are Star Tours (over in Echo Lake) and Alien Swirling Saucers (over in Toy Story Land). But even those can push 30+ minutes in the afternoon. Though Hollywood Studios doesn’t have as many rides as Magic Kingdom, this is another park where Genie+ could come in handy —especially if you don’t want to spend the majority of your day waiting in line after line. But let’s take a look at how to tackle each of these rides to make sure you’re getting the best ridethroughs, and lowest wait times. Alien Swirling Saucers Rise of the Resistance Starting with the big one — Rise of the Resistance, over in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Rise of the Resistance isn’t just the most popular ride in Hollywood Studios. We’d say it’s THE most popular ride, period. Even those who aren’t big into the whole Star Wars fandom are gonna get a kick out of how incredibly immersive this ride is — from its state-of-the-art animatronics to its trackless ride system, to its sudden thrills, to its multiple preshow rooms… Yeah. It’s a lot. Don’t tell them anything! Even if you’ve got the Early Theme Park Entry on your side, most everyone who is using that extra 30 minutes of time will be flocking towards Rise of the Resistance. And there are two ways to go about this: 1) Follow the crowd. Even if the wave of guests looks overwhelming, these crowd levels still won’t be as bad as they’ll get later on in the day. Or 2) Go to another popular ride and pretty much walk right on. Decisions, decisions… Rise of the Resistance Standby Line Wait Time Sign You can also purchase an a la carte Lighting Lane for Rise of the Resistance — even though it tends to be on the higher scale of that fluctuating price range. If you’re having a hard time getting on this ride without it being over an hour wait, there’s always a chance that those crowd levels will drop down toward the end of the night. There’s an even bigger chance they’ll start to dip during showings of Fantasmic! Many guests will plan to see this popular nighttime spectacular, meaning there’s a strong chance all those guests who usually fill. up the Rise of the Resistance queue in the evening will be flocking towards the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater off Sunset Boulevard. Rise of the Resistance Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Joining Rise of the Resistance in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge scene is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Smugglers Run is…definitely less popular than its younger Rise of the Resistance sib. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its fair share of heavy wait times. That being said, you’re probably gonna see the lines for this one die down toward the end of the night. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run Each time you ride Smugglers Run, you’ll be given a position and assignment to help complete the smuggling mission. As a pilot you’ll get to actually fly the Millennium Falcon. Gunners will shoot down enemies that try to intercept your mission. And engineers make ship repairs when needed to keep this hunk of junk flying. There are two people per assignment — one will sit on the left-hand side of the ship, and the other will sit on the right. Making it, six riders total. Let’s fly the Millennium Falcon! The pilot is the most coveted spot of the three — but it can also be the most stressful. Smugglers Run is one of two rides in Hollywood Studios that has a single rider line — in case you want to try and bypass the lines that way. The other ride that uses single rider is located on Sunset Boulevard — and that’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the park’s high-speed launch coaster that you’ll probably want to hit up earlier rather than later on — when everyone else starts funneling into the park. And, although the Tower of Terror drop ride is right next door, this one’s a good one to wait for ‘til night. Not just because the lines start to dwindle, but also because the vibes are ways spookier once the sun sets. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Both Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror can be intense for younger riders — and some younger kiddos in your party may not be tall enough to ride just yet. To make sure everyone in your party who wants to ride these gets a chance to, you can use a nifty little feature called “Rider Swap.” Stay late in the park with lower crowds! Rider Swap allows the first part of your group to wait in line per usual, while one or two folks wait outside with those who can’t (or don’t want to ride). Just ask a cast member at the front of the attraction for assistance on how to get all set up with Rider Swap — and they’ll take care of the rest for ya! Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Not every ride is gonna be too intense for the whole family. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — located inside the replica Grauman’s Chinese Theater — has no height requirement and is the only ride in Disney World that stars Mickey and Minnie Mouse! Kinda wild, right? Mickey’s and Minnie’s Runaway Railway This ride’s really cute and clever — but you may want to wait to hit it up later in the day rather than first thing. Many guests see the Grauman’s Chinese Theater first, so that’s where they go first — meaning lines can actually be more intense for this one in the morning. But, after the morning crowds die down, the line stays pretty consistent and is usually way more manageable toward the end of the day. However, if the nighttime spectacular is happening the evening of your visit, Runaway Railway’s queue will more than likely close an hour before the show starts. So don’t wait too long for this one — otherwise you might miss it altogether. Runaway Railway Toy Story Land And lastly, we’ve got Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania over in Toy Story Land — two more family-friendly rides with the same theme, but vastly different executions. Toy Story Mania is a competitive arcade-style interactive ride that has no height requirement, and Slinky Dog Dash is a solid introductory coaster for kids and skittish riders, in general. Toy Story Mania Of the two, Toy Story Mania tends to have the shorter lines with an indoor, colorful-and-quirky queue to wait in. Slinky Dog, however, has a pretty intense wait usually at all-times with a partially-covered queue that still gets roasty-toasty during those warm Orlando days. Slinky Dog Dash If you don’t want to prioritize Rise of the Resistance, or you wanna wait for that one later on, then we suggest prioritizing Slinky Dog next, especially if you’re traveling with a bunch of younger riders. Or make it one of your first Lightning Lane choices — if you decide to go that route. 22,000 Disney Fans Rank ALL the Rides in Hollywood Studios Shows This is Hollywood we’re talking about so, of course, you’re gonna have solid show options to choose from! Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular The big three shows you can check out during the day are: Beauty and the Beast: Live On Stage, Indiana Jones: Epic Stunt Spectacular, and The First Time in Forever: Frozen Sing Along. Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage is a Broadway-style retelling of — you guessed it — TANGLED. Just kidding, making sure you’re still paying attention! It’s Beauty and the Beast. This live performance takes place in a covered stadium-style outdoor theater off Sunset Boulevard — so you don’t have to worry about any seat being particularly bad. Performances happen several times throughout the day — which will be listed in your park guide AND on the My Disney Experience App. Beauty and the Beast Stage Show A lot of the same can be said about Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular — which is a behind-the-scenes look at how major stunts and explosions are created for hot-shot films. It’s a big, covered, stadium-style theater with some really cool special effects. Before you pick a showtime for this one, see what the hourly forecast is looking like. The show could be canceled — or cut short — if the weather starts looking bad. Special stunt effects + rain = not a safe combo for anyone. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular The First Time in Forever: Frozen Sing Along is in an indoor theater with great air conditioning! It’s not called FROZEN for nothin’! It’s a fun, upbeat, and interactive show that can also be quite the knee-slapper at times. So if it really is going to rain at some point during your day, this could be a good show to hit up during that time. MuppetVision 3D, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, and Vacation Fun — An Original Animated Short run constantly throughout the day. Out of the three of them, MuppetVision 3D is a personal favorite that never seems to get old — even if the 3D IS slightly outdated. However, all three shows are indoors and a great way to pass time in the afternoon when the ride lines are all pushing those really intimidating wait times. MuppetVision Fantasmic! And the grand finale of your day in Hollywood Studios is Fantasmic! It was closed for a while and returned with a lot of fanfare and some new scenes and special effects! It usually offers two showings, and the second showtime tends to be way less busy than the first. Meaning you can hit up a couple more rides during the first show, and catch the second run later on. Fantasmic! Fantasmic!’s really popular, so plan on getting in line for this one at least 30-40 minutes in advance. You’ll be able to find the outdoor theater close to Tower of Terror, off Sunset Boulevard. From our experience, the best seats are a little further back giving you a better view of the full picture, whereas if you sit in either the first or second row of bleachers, you’re gonna get wet. Fantasmic! uses a lot of water effects to pull the whole thing off — and the spray from those effects is pretty relentless for front-row guests. You can oftentimes find short fireworks shows at the Chinese Theater as well. A Full List of Showtimes in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Food Hollywood Studios won’t be winning any awards for “Best Foodie Park” anytime soon, but you can still track down some stellar eats while you’re here. The Pork Dish Snacks Some of our personal favorite quick eats we like to track down while taking a break between rides include: The Glimmer and Shimmer Blondie at Backlot Express The Carrot Cake Cookie at Trolley Car Cafe The Lunch Box Tarts at Woody’s Lunch Box The Cold Brew Black Caf at Kat Saka’s Kettle and the Wookiee Cookie also at Backlot Express Glimmer and Shimmer Blondie Backlot Express means a lot to us, okay? Quick Service Restaurants Quick service dining is pretty straightforward at Hollywood Studios, but we do have to applaud ABC Commissary for its menu overhaul a while back — which brought with it unique items like shrimp tacos and the Buffalo Grilled Cheese Sandwich. If you want some more “adventurous” quick service choices, head into Galaxy’s Edge and hit up Ronto Roasters for their Ronto Wraps or Docking bay 7 for other intergalactic options — that may be iffy for picky eaters, so check out the menu ahead of time. Fairfax Fare has introduced new bowls and the hot dogs that were once there are now located at Sunset Ranch Market. Fairfax Fare Hollywood Brown Derby The one restaurant that really shines in Hollywood Studios for its A+ quality food is Hollywood Brown Derby — a signature restaurant that has a variety of California-inspired cuisines: from burgers to cheese plates to their Famous Cobb Salad. If you can’t get a reservation for this one, try getting on the walk-up waitlist for the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge on the day of your visit. You won’t have the whole Brown Derby menu at your disposal, but you will be able to order select appetizers, as well as a variety of cocktails and other spirits. Brown Derby 50’s Prime Time and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater The most unique and themed dining in Hollywood Studios are over at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. 50’s Prime Time Cafe is set in a retro-style household, with plenty of sassy family members that’ll pick on ya (all in good fun), while Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is… exactly what it sounds like. You’ll sit in a convertible car and watch cheesy black-and-while sci-fi clips while eating diner-style food in a dim-lit setting. Sci Fi Dine-In at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Reservations for these restaurants tend to go quick, especially the Sci-Fi Dine-In — so mark 60 days before your trip on your calendar and make sure you book those Advance Dining Reservations when the time comes! Hollywood and Vine — Character Dining For character dining, you’ll wanna book a reservation for Hollywood and Vine. For breakfast, this buffet features Disney Junior characters that you’re not gonna see at any other character dining experience, while lunch and dinner have Minnie and friends for Minnie’s Seasonal Dining. Mickey at Hollywood & Vine And don’t forget about the newest option that’ll be opening in 2023 Toy Story Land — Roundup Rodeo BBQ. This will be a colorful table service restaurant that shrinks you down to the size of a toy while you enjoy a variety of smoked barbecue dishes. We’re already predicting that it’s gonna be a pretty popular option since people sure do love their shiny new stuff in Disney, so keep checking back with us for an official launch date. Top 3 Table Service Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, According to Yelp Characters Do you wanna meet a snowman? Because you can do just that! And you can meet so many other Disney and even Star Wars characters here! Olaf can be found for meet and greets over at Celebrity Spotlight, but this Frozen friend is mighty popular — which is why you can make a Lightning Lane to meet him! Mickey and Minnie can be found strutting their finest attire at Red Carpet Dreams Meet Disney Junior Pals like Vampirina and Fancy Nancy at Animation Courtyard Sulley, from Monster’s Inc, is at Walt Disney Presents Head over to Star Wars: Launch Bay to meet BB-8, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader In Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll see several familiar faces strolling the grounds of Batuu Darth Vader at Star Wars Launch Bay in Hollywood Studios While, in many other areas around Hollywood Studios, you’ll see some surprise appearances from those classic Disney pals like Chip n Dale, as well as Goofy and his son, Max. Build Your Own Droid and Lightsaber If you’re looking for the ultimate Star Wars experience, you can always make reservations to build some custom creations — like your very own lightsaber from Savi’s Workshop, or a droid companion from the Droid Depot. These experiences will cost you a pretty penny, though, so make sure to set aside a budget for them ahead of time. Savi’s Workshop Walt Disney Presents And, last but not least, a great way to escape the crowds, heat, and commotion — as well as learn some Walt Disney history, in the process — can be found in the Walt Disney Presents/ One Man’s Dream self-guided tour building. Seriously. This area is super cool — especially for all you Disney buffs out there. The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 Day Five: Disney Springs/Resorts Day Disney Springs If you’ve got a fifth day to spend at Disney World but don’t want to buy a ticket, you don’t have to leave the Disney Bubble if you don’t want to. There are still plenty of things you can do. Disney Springs Disney Springs Food At the Disney Springs shopping district, you’ll find tons of stores and so many places to eat, like Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Chicken Guy, Morimoto Asia, and Jaleo — just to name a few. Thigh High Chicken Biscuits at Homecomin’ One of our favorite things to do while we’re at Disney Springs, though, is to snack around. Cookies! Gideon’s Bakehouse is the most popular dessert destination in the shopping district. So much so that you’ll more than likely have to get on a virtual waitlist just to get in line for one of those massive cookies. The good thing about the virtual waitlist is that even if you Do get on it and have a massive wait of around 2+ hours, yeah, not kidding — it’s that popular, and you won’t have to worry about spending all that time in line. Continue about your Disney Springs day per usual and let the time pass naturally. Just keep your phone’s ringer on so you can hear when you get the text notification, telling you it’s your turn to enter the bakery! July Gideon’s Flavors Snacks If waiting in a massive line — virtual or not — doesn’t sound appealing to you, here are a few other sweet-treat shops we like to munch at, too: Salt and Straw for unique ice cream flavors Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop for traditional ice cream flavors Swirls on the Water for unique Dole Whip flavors Marketplace Snacks for character bubble waffles The Ganachery for fresh chocolates And Amorette’s Patisserie for seasonal petit cakes Disney Springs Entertainment But you’ll also find different ways to fill your afternoon, too! You can… Watch a movie at the AMC theatres Bowl at Splitsville Luxury Lanes Ride in a tethered hot air balloon with Aerophile Create a Lego figurine of yourself at the Lego Store Catch a free concert at various Disney Springs locations Or sail in a half boat/half vehicle Amphicar right next to The BOATHOUSE The great thing about Disney Springs is that many places stay open after parks close. You’ll definitely need to look at each place’s individual hours to check when they close each day of your trip, but the important thing to takeaway here is that you don’t have to wait for a break day to visit Disney Springs if you don’t want to or you simply don’t have a fifth day scheduled into your itinerary at all. You can swing by here after a day in the parks for some last-minute shopping and a late-night meal. Donald Bubble Waffle Shopping You can find all kinds of stores around Disney Springs. World of Disney will carry almost all of the Disney-themed merchandise you will find in the parks. UNIQLO is a great place to grab cheap, unique, and cute Disney tees. There’s also a LEGO store, a bath bomb store, and so much more! Disney Springs is also a good place to go when you first arrive at the Walt Disney World area, and you wanna kick off your vacation immediately. Not to mention, parking is free! And, when you arrive at Disney Springs, you’ll also be able to grab a bus to any other Disney resort or park. Which can be a big game-changer for you, since Disney buses can’t travel between resorts. Disney World Hotels And since we’re on the subject, let’s talk about those resorts! Wilderness Lodge There are several Disney World-owned resorts around property that you’re more than welcome to check out during your vacation. There are often several free and premium activities, dining, beachside hammocks — and sometimes even fireworks views from the parks. Specifically, if you’re hanging around the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT-area resorts. The only big downer of checking several of these Disney hotels out in one go is that you won’t be able to drive up to them if you’re not directly staying at them or if you don’t have a reservation for one of their restaurants. However, as we mentioned earlier, you can still take a bus from Disney Springs or a Disney park and be able to access a different resort. Disney’s Boardwalk Resort hopping is way easier, however, if you’re exploring different hotels along the Disney Skyliner or Disney monorail loop. Hotel Food Many times, we like to escape the parks for an hour or two to enjoy one of the resort’s restaurants. A few of the places we try to visit often for a nice meal are: ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boma (and/or Sanaa) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge And several others that you’ll definitely want to make reservations for 60 days out — just like you would at any other Disney park restaurant. Chef Mickey’s Whether you go to Disney Springs, the resorts, or do a little of both on your free day, try planning for this day outside the parks in the middle of your vacation. Maybe after your first two parks, and before the last two parks of your trip. Think of it as half time performance during a big football game you can have fun and regain your stamina before jumping into the second half of the game. Your Ultimate One-Day Plan for Resort Hopping in Disney World Hip, hip, HOORAY! Now you’ve got an artillery FILLED with info to have the PERFECT Disney World vacation or at least CLOSE to perfect. One final reminder!! Head over to CLICK HERE now— like RIGHT NOW — so we can get those park checklists sent straight to your email ASAP! 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 do your 5 PERFECT days in Disney World look like? Let us know in the comments! The post The Best Disney World Itinerary for a 5-Day Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It is a COLD day in Disney World! Merry (COLD) Christmas Eve! We’re keeping an eye on the Christmas Eve crowds in Disney World today and watching those Disney Genie+ prices. If you’re in the parks today, maybe you have a dining reservation scheduled, but if you don’t, we found a delicious, simple new offering at a quick service location that you can’t miss! While walking around busy Main Street, U.S.A., we spotted that Main Street Bakery has a new offering — Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup for $10.99! We love this classic combo, and it can be found at a few other locations around Disney World like Woody’s Lunch Box! Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup! We were pleasantly surprised by this offering! The grilled cheese had a nice cheese to bread ratio and was warmed up enough that it had a solid cheese pull. Look at all that cheese! The tomato soup had a well balanced tomato flavor but wasn’t bland. It even had a slight spice that we loved. The only downside was that one side of the bread wasn’t toasted, but we could look past that! Overall, we love this addition and we’re happy to see it on Main Street. It’s a quick and easy option for a cool day for sure! Yum! If you’re looking for more recent Magic Kingdom news, we got to see the TRON construction up close on the Walt Disney World Railroad (the first time we rode it in 4 years!!), and we tried a new burger in the park that’s hiding a secret. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Catch up on all that’s new at Magic Kingdom right here! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! How fast would you run to grab this meal in Magic Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: A SIMPLE Magic Kingdom Meal May Be One of Our New Favorites first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World knows how to celebrate a holiday. Christmas Tree at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort So much so that they often start the celebrations WELL in advance. We’ve been keeping up with all the iconic holiday decor, snacks, festivals, and more around Disney World — and now it looks like there’s one more festive way Disney has decided to celebrate Christmas! There are few things as iconic as the Disney monorail. The retro-futuristic method of transportation is considered by many to be a ride you can experience without a park ticket. Hop aboard the highway in the sky and pop from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT, or to the monorail resorts. The (Disney) World is your oyster. And we just so happened to learn a VERY cool fun fact on our Christmas Eve morning monorail ride. Monorail green You might know that there are several different monorail trains, each with a different color. Depending on the day and monorail line, you might be on Monorail Green, Monorail Blue, Monorail Black, and so on. Monorail red We were hopping on the resort monorail line, when a Cast Member told us that for Christmas Eve, the monorails running on that line were festively Christmas colored! Monorails Green, Red, Silver, and Gold are running on the monorail line for Christmas Eve. The Cast Member didn’t share if this would continue tomorrow, but we have a pretty good feeling it might! Monorail silver If you’re heading out on the resort monorail line, you just might be able to hop aboard one of these festive trains. And while you’re at it, why not do a little monorail resort hopping and maybe even a bar crawl? You can also check out the incredible Gingerbread displays at the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary! Monorail gold Be sure to stay tuned as we bring you more news and updates from around Disney World during the holidays! See What Christmas Eve CROWDS Are Like in Disney World Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite Disney World fun fact? Let us know in the comments! The post The Fun (And Festive!) Monorail Fact We Learned in Disney World Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s a holiday week in Disney World, which means higher Genie+ prices, big crowds, and lots of festive snacks, decorations, and merchandise! Main Street, U.S.A. at Christmastime! If you’re in the parks this week, there are a few ride closures you’ll need to know about. Certain rides, hotel pools, and other Disney attractions are closed for refurbishments, and those updates could affect your vacation. Check out a full list of the closures here! But 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 (including some holiday designs!) at our online DFB store — Click here to check out our whole merch line. Rides. Drinks. Snacks. Say no more! 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 BIG NEWS for Magic Kingdom: The Walt Disney World Railroad has FINALLY reopened! Looking sharp! The fan-favorite attraction reopened on December 23rd, so you can hop aboard and hear the new narration, ride through the TRON Lightcycle Run site, and stop at the 3 stations throughout the park. We rode the FIRST Magic Kingdom train in 4 years — Come with us! Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. Tomorrowland Light & Power is still closed for refurbishments, and Disney hasn’t announced when it’ll reopen. 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 hear the story of Beauty and the Beast from Belle herself. Enchanted Tales with 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! BIG CHANGES are coming to the Magic Kingdom fireworks schedule soon. 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. The NEW Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant opening has been DELAYED. 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 a New Year’s Eve set-up in EPCOT! 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.” Oak Manor Leisure Pool at Port Orleans Resort — Riverside The Oak Manor Leisure Pool in Magnolia Bend at Port Orleans Resort — Riverside closed on November 14th for refurbishment. All other pools at this hotel remain open, including Ol’ Man Island Pool. Other pools will remain open The pool is scheduled to reopen sometime in mid-December, so we’ll be watching closely to see when exactly that will happen. CHANGES are coming soon to Disney’s Grand Floridian hotel lobby. Disney World Water Parks Typhoon Lagoon Typhoon Lagoon is closed in Disney World, and Disney hasn’t announced when it’ll reopen. Typhoon Lagoon 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. Get an UP-CLOSE look at TRON construction in Disney World! 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 As One Ride Reopens, 9 Other Attractions Remain CLOSED in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

OKAY, everyone — it’s time for the Sparknotes version of what all happened in the Disney World parks (and the Disney company, in general) during 2022. (Spoiler alert — it was a LOT.) Magic Kingdom The changes, events, and announcements that happened this year will continue to impact the way we navigate the parks NEXT year. So sit tight, grab yourself a celebratory glass of champagne or sparkling grape juice, and enjoy this walk down memory lane here on DFB Guide. Check out our video below about BIG Disney World news in 2022. Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! 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 going to Disney World in 2023? Let us know in the comments below! The post DFB Video: BIG Disney World NEWS in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re spending Christmas Eve in the Most Magical Place on Earth! Hollywood Studios All season long we’ve been trying all the holiday snacks, visiting EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays, and checking out Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Now it’s finally Christmas Eve, which means we’re expecting LOTS of crowds in the parks. Come with us to take a look! We couldn’t wait to kick things off in Magic Kingdom, and it looks like we weren’t the only ones! It’s a pretty chilly day by Central Florida standards, and everyone waiting in line to enter the gates was all bundled up. A little later in the day, we took another lap to see if it was any more crowded than it was when we first got to Magic Kingdom, and we saw a LOT more people in front of the Castle this time around. Maybe folks slept in this morning or waited to see if it was going to get just a little bit warmer before heading to Magic Kingdom! Main Street, U.S.A. Fantasyland was pretty crowded, but we’ve seen this area be shoulder to shoulder on crowded days so this doesn’t look too bad in comparison! Fantasyland Tomorrowland seemed to have a good number of people walking around, but overall we didn’t see anything too congested in this area. Christmas Eve crowds in Magic Kingdom might have been thwarted by those cold temps! Tomorrowland Remember that you can find a Christmas feast in multiple places tomorrow, and be sure to check out our DFB Guide to Disney World Holidays to prepare for a future Christmas trip, or for Christmas Day in Disney tomorrow. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest holiday news! Check out these 6 BIG changes that came to WDW this month! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of spending Christmas in Disney World? Tell us below! The post The SHOCKING Christmas Eve Crowds in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. It’s Christmas Eve and you might be feeling all shopped out. Part of the fun is finding out what’s inside! If you’ve been spending the past couple of months buying gifts for everyone else, you deserve to treat yourself too! You don’t have to wait until after Christmas is over to shop some amazing Disney deals thanks to Amazon. We’re always keeping an eye out for new discounts and sales, so here are the latest finds! Start off 2023 with a plan using this Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade Studios: 2023 Wall Calendar. It includes tons of stunning art that the studios are known for. Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade Studios: 2023 Wall Calendar Each detailed setting is filled with beautiful scenery and your favorite Disney characters! Originally $15.99, you can snag this calendar for $13.24. Click here to buy the Disney Dreams Collection by Thomas Kinkade Studios: 2023 Wall Calendar! Disney Doorables are a fun collectible, and if you don’t collect these minifigures chances are you know someone who does! These special mini sets include travel-themed figures along with a special themed mini poster! Just Play Doorables Let’s Go Figures The Just Play Doorables Let’s Go Figures include 5-7 minifigures of different Disney and Pixar characters. Get these sets for over 50% off, marked down to just $6.29 each from $12.99. Click here to buy these Just Play Doorables Let’s Go Figures! Are you planning a tropical vacation soon? Get yourself a new pair of sandals, like these Crocs Adult Classic Disney X Vera Bradley Little Mermaid Sandals. These slides slip on easily for when you need to take a quick walk from your hotel to the beach! Crocs Classic Disney X Vera Bradley Little Mermaid Sandals These seafoam sandals feature a bright pattern of various tropical flowers and fish, along with the iconic Flounder! These shoes are marked down to $22.50 from $39.99. Click here to buy these Crocs Adult Classic Disney X Vera Bradley Little Mermaid Sandals! Add a little Disney flair to your next dinner party with this Disney Mickey Mouse Cheese Board and Knife Set. The Mickey-shaped board has plenty of space to display your favorite charcuterie snacks. Mickey Mouse Cheese Board and Knife Set It comes with three serving knives that all can be stored in the hidden drawer at the base of the board. Get this set for $40.99, previously $66.95. Click here to buy the Disney Mickey Mouse Cheese Board and Knife Set! Another Mickey homeware, the Mickey Mouse Big Digit 3D Wall Clock would look great anywhere in your house! This minimalist design features 3D numbers and contrasting white hands. Mickey Mouse Big Digit 3D Wall Clock Add to a kid’s room in your house that’s Disney-themed, or place this in the kitchen so you don’t get caught up making breakfast and end up late for work again. This amazing clock can be yours for $21.99, originally priced at $24.99. Click here to buy this Mickey Mouse Big Digit 3D Wall Clock! Petunia Pickle Bottom makes bags that are just as cute as their name, and this product is no exception. The Petunia Pickle Bottom Criss-Cross Sling Bag is a cream-colored bag with a charming Beauty and the Beast print. Petunia Pickle Bottom Criss-Cross Sling Bag Belle, Mrs. Potts, and Chip are all included in the design. A crossbody like this would make for an excellent park bag on your next trip! This bag is usually $68.99 but is on sale now for $48.30. Click here to buy the Petunia Pickle Bottom Criss-Cross Sling Bag! Looking for a new board game to add to your collection? This family-friendly game will surely be a hit! Disney Colorbrain, The Ultimate Board Game for Families Who Love Disney Disney Colorbrain puts your knowledge of Disney characters to the test as you work to guess the colors of iconic Disney items. Normally $19.99, right now this game is on Amazon for $14.20. Click here to buy Disney Colorbrain, The Ultimate Board Game for Families Who Love Disney! With this arctic blast making its way across the United States, plenty of us are feeling the temperature dips! Amazon Essentials makes some cozy joggers, and they come in a variety of fun prints to choose from. Amazon Essentials Disney Fleece Joggers The design pictured above is a heather gray with a fun vintage Mickey print! These are slim sweat pants with a cuffed hem. These comfy pants are $25.20, originally $27.90. Click here to Amazon Essentials Disney Fleece Joggers! For those who love camping and picnics, treat yourself to this cute Disney PTX Backpack Cooler! You can fit so much food inside, and the built-in insulation will keep everything at the correct temperature. Disney PTX Backpack Cooler The red and black bag features Mickey’s ears and his classic buttons. This could also be used to bring lunch into the parks on days when you’re looking to save some money! Originally $68.95, you can get this bag now for $36.41. Click here to buy the Disney PTX Backpack Cooler! Amazon is always releasing new deals, so stay tuned to our site for more awesome finds. If you don’t have Prime yet, click below and you can get an entire month for free! Planning a trip and shopping for your big vacation? Check out this post on the best luggage to bring with you on a Disney 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 plans for after-Christmas shopping? Which stores do you like to hit up for the sales? Share them with us below! The post Find Disney Deals Up to 50% Off On Amazon Now! 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. We’ve seen our fair share of Minnie ears in our day. 100th Anniversary Ears From attraction-inspired ears to character ears, to the ever-popular solid-colored ears — there’s probably a pair out there for just about anyone. Recently, a new pair of Minnie ears popped up in Disney World and Disneyland that we think you’ll either love or hate — and now they’re available online! The Regency Ruffles Minnie Ears are now available on shopDisney! We previously spotted these in the parks, but now you can grab them without needing a park ticket. Ruffle Ears! You can see the pearl details and embroidered flowers a bit better in this photo. And does that bow not remind you of icing?! Close up on the ears You can grab these ears online now for $34.99! Click Here to Shop the Regency Ruffle Minnie Ears If you’re looking for last-minute gift ideas, check out Disney sweatshirts that will make your life better here and see gift ideas for every type of person on your list here. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more! See the Ultimate DFB Gift Guide Right Here Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be adding these ears to your cart? Let us know in the comments! The post The Disney Ears You'll Either LOVE or HATE Are Now Online first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Merry Christmas Eve to those of you who celebrate! If you don’t — Happy Saturday! Christmas in Magic Kingdom! If you’re in the parks, you can watch some special holiday entertainment over the next few days, and there are tons of holiday snacks to grab around the resort. While all of that is wonderful, there can be some downsides to visiting during the most magical time of the year — primarily crowds. And with big crowds and high levels of demand for the parks can come some BIG increases on Genie+ prices. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing… We’ve seen the Disney Genie+ price get pretty high in the past. Though the price for the standard Genie+ service was initially set at $15 per person per date, Disney later changed that so now the price varies depending on the date on which you go. The highest price we’ve seen for the standard Genie+ service was $29 back around Thanksgiving, and reached that price yesterday, December 23rd as well. So we were interested to see how it would be today since we knew the parks would be in high demand. Using Disney Genie+! Today’s Disney Genie+ price is…are you ready…$29 per guest! ©Disney And here’s the pricing for each Individual Lightning Lane, starting with Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios, which is $25 today — that’s $100 extra for a family of four to skip the line. ©Disney Over in Animal Kingdom, you can purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for Avatar Flight of Passage for $16. ©Disney In Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is available for $12 per guest. ©Disney And, the newest Individual Lightning Lane — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — is available for $17 per ticket. ©Disney It’s important to note that these are the same prices we saw for Genie+ yesterday, so it could be the same on Christmas Day. But, keep in mind that this price is per person, per day, AND Genie+ pricing is subject to surge pricing so those prices could change again in the coming days or upcoming holidays. However, there is a way to avoid paying the highest prices for Genie+ if you plan your trip carefully — click here to learn more. We’ll be watching for the Disney Genie+ prices in the upcoming days, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Genie+ news. Still need a last-minute gift for tomorrow? Here are 6 gift cards that won’t feel like last-minute gifts! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s the most you would pay for Genie+ on a holiday? Tell us in the comments! The post Genie+ Stays at Highest Price on Christmas Eve in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Whenever you book a Disney vacation you may recall being asked if you would like to buy travel insurance through Disney. Most people scoff at the thought of paying even more money for their vacation, but if you’re a military family, specifically active duty, you may want to consider vacation insurance. What Is Vacation Insurance? […] The post Why All Military Families Should Buy Travel Insurance appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

We can’t lie, we make stops at Oga’s Cantina more than we would care to admit. Holidays in Disney World We’ve been in Hollywood Studios a lot lately and this park hasn’t been short on news! Between the newest 2023 Mickey Ears to the latest updates about the upcoming restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and new merchandise, Hollywood Studios has been at the forefront of our minds. Today, we found something new over at Oga’s Cantina that Star Wars fans are sure to enjoy! While we were in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge today in Hollywood Studios, we stopped by Oga’s Cantina and found a new tiki mug that’s perfect for Star Wars fans! This mug is the green Battle of Endor Tiki Mug. Battle of Endor Tiki Mug The tiki mug features scenes from the Battle of Endor, the main battle that takes place in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. The mug features Ewoks, AT-ATs, X-Wings, and TIE Fighters. Another view of the mug You can even spot the Death Star flying above the battle. If you like this mug, we think you should head to Hollywood Studios ASAP because we’re sure this one will be gone quickly! Oga’s Cantina While this isn’t the only thing we found in Studios today, it certainly is the most out-of-this-world! Remember to keep following DFB for all of your Disney merchandise news and updates. Check Out The Latest Pair Of 2023 Mickey Ears We Found In Disney World Want MORE Details About Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge? Click HERE for All the News About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge — Including Our REVIEWS! See How to Build Your Own Droid at Droid Depot Dream of Building Your Own Custom Lightsaber? See How to Do It! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance! Get Full Details About Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run See More About Oga’s Cantina and Check Out Our Reviews! PHOTO TOUR: Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities Check Out Galaxy’s Edge Tips and SECRETS Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news right in your inbox! Click Here to Subscribe! Will you try to buy this mug? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS: There's a NEW ‘Star Wars’ Tiki Mug in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the fun parts of being in the parks every day is the thrill of finding new merch! We spotted a new Funko! This is especially true when it comes to collectibles. We know that for those who like to collect certain items or memorabilia, it can be a big deal when a new item is released. Fans of the Haunted Mansion will want to see this latest collectible that we found in Disneyland! Today, in Disneyland, we spotted this spooky Funko Pop! Ride vinyl figure, featuring Mickey Mouse in one of the iconic Doom Buggies from The Haunted Mansion. This is a new figure in the line and is part of others celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World. Mickey is all dressed up for the iconic attraction in his grave digger outfit, complete with a lantern and a shovel. Mickey Mouse Haunted Mansion Funko Figurine He is seated in a small Doom Buggy, the ride vehicles used on The Haunted Mansion. We found this figurine at Gone Hollywood, a store in Disney California Adventure Park on Hollywood Boulevard. Each figurine is priced at $29.99. Mickey Mouse Haunted Mansion Funko Figurine If you’re a Funko Pop! collector, you definitely need this special one in your collection. Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney merch! Hoping to snag some more 50th merch before the celebrations wrap up? We have a master list of all the 50th anniversary merchandise you can find online! 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 Which ride should they feature next? Comment your ideas below! The post See Disney’s NEW Haunted Mansion Collectible! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney CEO Bob Iger re-took the position from Bob Chapek in November, much to the delight of many fans and investors. But that doesn’t mean Iger does the job perfectly or that his decisions go without scrutiny. Bob Iger ©New York Post Although Disney stock initially soared when Iger returned to the company, it’s now facing an almost 50-year low after the less-than-stellar box office performance of Avatar: The Way of Water. But one Disney executive pointed out that Iger has made questionable decisions and faced major mistakes in the past — and somehow the CEO emerges better than ever each time. Bob Iger is known as the acquisition man at Disney. He is responsible for Disney’s acquisition of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm — a trio of triumphs for the company. But not all of his decisions on that front were as successful as those. Iger also made a deal for Disney to acquire Fox for $71 billion, a price that scared away the Comcast CEO who was bidding for the same merger (Deadline). The Fox deal left Disney with $19 billion in debt, which “became hobbling during the pandemic when revenue streams for Disney dried up.” Other parts of the company, like profit from the parks, were able to keep Disney afloat, but the heavy load made some question whether the Fox deal was really a good choice for the company. People — people, everywhere. Still, many Disney fans, employees, and investors welcomed Iger back with open arms when he returned as CEO. Somehow, Iger avoided most of the bad press that usually comes with making questionable deals. Deadline reported that an agency captain of Iger’s said, “Iger gets a lot of praise as an executive, a lot of it well deserved. But one of his greatest accomplishments may be sidestepping his missteps.” ©Reuters He went on, “The billions in debt that came with the Fox purchase, going all in on streaming, hemorrhaging TV and ESPN viewership, and the succession fiascos alone would have killed any other CEO.” Another studio insider said (referencing Hamilton), “He’s teflon like Reagan, but left a lot of mess over the years for others to clean up like (Bill) Clinton.” It’s true that Iger’s mistakes have affected many people but seem to have no impact on the executive’s image. The problem with succession was one that plagued the Disney Board of Directors for a couple of years during Iger’s previous tenure as CEO, and his unwillingness to fully step away from the position once Bob Chapek was selected led to more problems. Bob Chapek and Bob Iger in 2020 ©CNBC For a while, Iger didn’t even leave Disney, staying on as the Executive Chairman. Once he left, he still seemed unable to completely let go. A former Disney executive reportedly claimed that “Iger made it clear, loudly, to anyone who had lunch with him (that) he considered Chapek a failure.” Bob Chapek ©Disney The failure of Iger’s first go at choosing a successor leads some to question whether he will find success this time around, especially with such a short deadline. (Remember that his current contract only extends until 2024.) Iger was also at the helm when Disney decided to go all-in on streaming with Disney+, and he’s dealing with the repercussions of that decision now. Although subscriber numbers have continued to grow, the company lost almost $1.5 billion in operating costs in the most recent quarter (which likely contributed to the coup against Bob Chapek in November). ©Disney Investors are expecting Disney to report profitability in streaming by next fiscal year, which would be a minor miracle considering the heavy losses reported last quarter. Disney hasn’t reversed its promise of profitability, but stock values show that investors are starting to lose confidence. One analyst has suggested that Disney should dump ABC and ESPN to curb streaming losses, which would be a major departure from what Bob Chapek has repeatedly said about ESPN’s value to the company. Disney is also likely to make a deal with Comcast to buy the remaining 33% of Hulu, which would be another pricey deal for the already-indebted company. An insider said that the deal, though questionable, is likely: “Iger likes deals, and he loves acquisitions, so it is only a matter of time for the next one, just watch.” ©Hulu If Iger is so far from perfect, why is he so popular? One employee said that Iger’s success is in how he works with and is able to charm employees and other important people: “Not only do you feel he hears you, but that he will both protect you and your vision.” Iger is skilled in working with talent especially, and his relationships on that front have brought him much success. Bob Iger ©Bloomberg Another insider said that Iger is so involved in the company that he just seems to find a way out no matter the situation: “He lives and breathes Disney, he connects its success and impact to himself, and that will always drive him.” We’ll have to wait and see how Iger plans to solve the current problems Disney faces and whether he’ll have more luck this time around with choosing a successor. Check out these posts for more updates about the Disney CEO: Disney Announces “Organizational and Operating Changes” As a Result of Bob Iger’s Return “They Brought This on Themselves” — Governor DeSantis Responds to Disney CEO Bob Iger’s Comments on Florida Legal Battles Will Bob Iger Reverse Bob Chapek’s Decisions? Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on Reedy Creek and & Don’t Say Gay Controversy CEO Bob Iger Comments on Disney Park Pass Reservation System Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Click here to find out which Chapek decision Iger may reverse. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Bob Iger’s Mistakes “Would Have Killed Any Other CEO” 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. It’s a little too late to complete your Christmas shopping (if you’re doing it online), but that shouldn’t stop you from shopping for yourself! Holiday merchandise in Disney World No matter the time of year, there are some great Disney gifts to check out online, and this week the company dropped even more merchandise that we think you’ll want to see. Let’s dive into the full list! Collectibles Let’s start out with some new collectibles that landed online! First up, we got some more Anastasia merchandise on shopDisney, including these new pins. If you want to celebrate the iconic film’s 25th anniversary, this is the way to do it! Anastasia Pin Also, Tower of Terror fans will want to see the latest Funko POP set we spotted! It features a mini version of the hotel and a golden Mickey Mouse bellhop. ©Disney You can buy the set on shopDisney for $39.99, or you can get the matching Tower of Terror plush on Amazon for $11.99. Shop the New Funko Items Here! Clothes and Accessories We’re just a few days away from kicking off 2023, but the Lunar New Year starts on January 22nd, and Disney is already prepping for the holiday! 2023 will be the Year of the Rabbit, and there’s a new collection of shirts and Loungefly accessories to celebrate. ©Disney We got new t-shirts with various rabbit Disney characters, as well as a Loungefly bag and wallet. We love the Judy Hopps cameo! Click Here to Shop the Lunar New Year Collection! That’s all the new merchandise that we spotted online this week, but we’ll be back with more updates next week — stay tuned. We’re excited to head into 2023 and see what new collectibles and must-have merch Disney releases in the new year! 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! Click Here to Shop the 2023 Merchandise Online! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 completed your Christmas shopping? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney 'Anastasia' and Lunar New Year Merchandise Just Dropped Online first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s almost time for the New Year! (And we honestly, can’t believe it!) Hollywood Studios Disney has been busy preparing for 2023 by reopening the Walt Disney World Railroad, giving us more details about brand-new nighttime shows, and releasing new merchandise for the new year. Now Disney has released even more merchandise for 2023 that’s lighting up our lives — literally! Today in Hollywood Studios, we found these Light-up 2023 Mickey Ears! These ears are see-through on each side, and they’re decorated with sparkles, fireworks, and the date of the upcoming new year. It’s time to celebrate! Not only are these ears perfect for ringing in 2023, but they’ll also be perfect for your nighttime fireworks pictures. That’s because these ears light up! These ears will glow as the midnight fireworks go off. Ears While we love the design, our reporter warned us that these ears do feature a plastic headband that could be potentially a bit more uncomfortable than traditional Minnie Ears. You can pick up your own pair of ears at Mickey’s of Hollywood for $22. Remember, keep following DFB for all of your Disney merchandise news and updates! Check Out The Other Pair Of Ears We Found Just In Time For The New Year Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Do you like these ears? Tell us in the comments! The post See Disney's NEW Light-Up 2023 Mickey Ears! 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. We’re ready to add to our Disney merchandise collection! (We have to be honest though, it’s probably getting out of hand.) Chip N’ Dale From the new Stoney Clover Lane Minnie Ears to the 2023 merchandise collection and the last addition to the Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction collection, we have loved all of this merchandise news. Now we found even more merch online for two of our favorite pals — Chip ‘n’ Dale! Over on Amazon, we found this Chip ‘n’ Dale-inspired Loungefly Mini Backpack! This backpack recreates a poster from the 1952 animated short “Two Chips and A Miss” starring none other than Chip ‘n’ Dale. ©Amazon This backpack features Chip and Dale on the front as well as Clarice, the girl that the boys fall in love with in the feature. The backpack is multi-colored with the main colors being yellow and green. ©Amazon The back of the backpack has a mini drawing of the door to Clarice’s house. You can pre-order this bag for $80 and it will be released on March 5th, 2023. Grab Your Own Chip ‘n’ Dale Loungefly Here In case you need a wallet to match your new backpack, we also found a Chip ‘n’ Dale Wallet! This wallet is inspired by the same animated short as the mini backpack. ©Amazon Chip, Dale, and Clarice are all on the front of the wallet and along with the title of the animated short! The back of the wallet is covered with hanging leaves and has the Walt Disney Archives logo. ©Amazon You can pre-order this wallet for $40 and it will be released on March 5th, 2023. Get Your Own Chip ‘n’ Dale Wallet Here If you’re like us, you’re probably huge Chip ‘n’ Dales fans, so this combo is perfect for you! While you wait for these items to be delivered, maybe you can snag an item or two from the new Disney 2023 collection that just dropped online. Make sure to keep following DFB for all of your Disney merchandise news and updates. Check out Disney’s Latest Minnie Ears Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be buying these items? Tell us in the comments! The post A NEW Disney Loungefly Backpack Is On Amazon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Pull up a chair folks, this has been a BIG week for Disney! Magic Kingdom With the holidays approaching there are some important fireworks changes taking place. Plus, buffets are returning to one restaurant, princesses are returning to another, and we’ve got a massive update about the Walt Disney World Railroad. Join us now as we recap the BIGGEST news from this past week! HUGE UPDATE on the Walt Disney World Railroad For years, the Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed due to the construction that is ongoing with the TRON Lightcycle Run attraction. We’ve seen the train testing and heard about some of the refurbishments going on with the tracks and so forth, but now we have some seriously HUGE news. Disney has announced that the Walt Disney World Railroad will reopen this holiday season! In fact, the train fully reopened today — December 23rd — to all guests! It’s back! But wait…there’s MORE! Not only is train back, but it has a “completely refreshed track” and “another new surprise for fans.” The train now features “an all-new voice to bring guests into the beloved stories they encounter as they travel from one magical land to the next.” That is a massive change for those who might have been emotionally attached to the old narration. The Train is Back For our FULL train posts, check out the links below: See (and hear) the CHANGES made to the train What happens inside the TRON train tunnel? We have video! HOURS posted for the train We rode the train for the first time in years — join us! Get a closer look at TRON through the train Nearby, we’ve seen TRON music testing near the new TRON ride. Progress is steadily being made there and we’re excited to see how the dynamic of this area changes with the train’s reopening and TRON’s eventual opening in 2023. Click here to hear the TRON music being tested in the area! Big Restaurant CHANGES If you’re planning to eat at a Disney World character restaurant soon, get ready for some changes! For a while, Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom has only featured a small meet-and-greet with Cinderella prior to your meal. But soon that’ll be different! Disney Princesses will be coming back to Cinderella’s Royal Table starting February 28th, 2023! So take a look at your upcoming trips and see if you’ll need to make any adjustments in your dining plans. Cinderella at Cinderella’s Royal Table In addition to that change, some updates are coming to Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. For a while, this spot has been offering family-style meals, but buffets are returning starting March 1st, 2023! Meet the Chef… Chef Mickey! So if you love buffets and were waiting to visit this spot until the buffet came back, it’ll soon be time to grab those reservations! Remember dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance at this time (and hotel guests can make reservations for the entire length of their stay up to 10 days 60 days in advance). Click here to learn about all of Disney’s character meals! Fireworks CHANGES and Freezing Temperatures! This weekend is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so you’ll want to be prepared for some big crowds in the parks! We’ve been keeping an eye on the Christmas week crowds in Disney World and they’ve been…confusing! Some days/areas have been packed, while others have felt much more empty. Still, we advise you to go in with the mindset that you’ll encounter some huge crowds so you’re at least mentally prepared. View our full post to get a look at the crowds we’ve seen this week. Very people-y Along with the crowds, expect a few changes this weekend and potentially a bit further as the New Year’s Eve holiday approaches. Right now, you may not be able to park at the Disney World hotels without a hotel reservation or table service dining reservation as the hotels begin to more strictly enforce parking restrictions. ‘Ohana is a very popular dining spot! On top of dining changes, there are fireworks and parade changes on the way. Starting December 23rd, 2022, select entertainment that is normally exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be available during the day/night for ALL guests to enjoy (no party ticket needed)! That includes the popular Christmas parade and the Christmas fireworks too! Click here for the full entertainment details and schedule. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade But if you’ll be going to Orlando, don’t forget to pack those sweaters! Some FREEZING temperatures are coming to the Disney World area and you’ll need to be prepared! We have a few other WARNINGS for you if you’ll be visiting Disney World during the holidays, especially when it comes to mobile order times, lines and waits, unexpected menu changes, and more. Click here to read ALL of our warnings. And click here to see a holiday message from Bob Iger, where he notes that Disney will do its best to “exceed your highest expectations” MORE Food News And finally, we’ve got some more food news for you! Over at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar (in Animal Kingdom), some limited-time eats inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water are now available and they’re STUNNING. Click here for our full review of the new tuna bowl, flourless chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, and kiwi drink! YUM If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to eat at EPCOT’s most expensive restaurant, we’ve got some thoughts for you there too! We stopped by Takumi-Tei in the Japan pavilion for a full meal with their updated omakase menus and we’ve got a review for you right here! Yuba Roll And finally, over at Magic Kingdom, we went on an emotional rollercoaster thanks to some new eats at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. The new food includes a Sully Slush (which didn’t have the purple whipped cream), a grilled chicken sandwich (solid flavors but very messy), and a sweet-and-sour shrimp salad (sweet and tangy with a good crunch). If you’re looking for some new eats, click here to see our full review and find out if these are things you’ll enjoy. Sweet-And-Sour Shrimp Salad Over at the BoardWalk, a NEW coffee spot — Carousel Coffee — will be opening soon and now we’ve got the FULL menu! This spot will offer up some pastries (including a crunchy raspberry danish), snacks (like cereal with milk), coffee (including a caramel macchiato and frozen blended coffee), and more. See the menu here. ©Disney And that’s it for the big stories this week! For more news, check out the posts below: An important warning has been added to the Disney World website Kali River Rapids will close for refurbishment soon EPCOT’s new scavenger hunt is now open — check it out with us here! Get an update on the Brightline Train Service in Florida Get a first look at Loki Season 2 Studying the runes A pool slide is closing at a Disney World hotel Get a first look at the NEW 50th Anniversary collection coming soon More Anastasia merchandise is becoming available online and in the parks There are NEW ticket designs in Disney World “Chapek Screwed Up” But DeSantis Won’t Back Down on Disney’s Reedy Creek District Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. Get the DFB Guide! You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place. Click here to grab the ebook bundle! 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 news from this week surprised you the most? Tell us in the comments. The post Big Train CHANGES, Critical Princess Restaurant News, and Other Massive Disney Updates 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. It’s interesting how everything old is new again — we’re having a mid-2000s revival at the moment, especially when it comes to fashion and pop culture. It’s Stitch! The Disney film Lilo & Stitch, which came out in 2002, has also seen a resurgence of fans. This past year, we’ve been seeing Stitch merchandise everywhere! If you’re a fan of the little blue alien, we just spotted a new item that you’ll NEED. The blue alien who loves Elvis has been popping up on wallets, plushes, and even fog machines! This is great news for Stitch fans who now have plenty of fun merch to choose from. A new item we just spotted recently is this cool Color-Changing Stitch Plastic Tumbler, which is online at Target. The appropriately blue cup features Stitch looking pretty excited, along with the words “Stay Weird” (which we’ve been seeing featured on other Stitch merch). When you add cold liquid, the cup changes colors. Is this some sort of alien technology? © Target The tumbler holds 24 ounces, plus it comes with a lid that screws on securely and a straw so you can sip your favorite drinks on the go! The plastic is both BPA- and toxin-free, but cannot be used in the microwave and must be hand washed to fully preserve the design and color-changing tech. © Target This officially-licensed cup from Toynk can be found on Target’s website for $17.99. Treat yourself and add this to your collection or surprise a friend who just loves Stitch! Click here to buy the Lilo & Stitch “Stay Weird” Color-Changing Plastic Tumbler! You could use this cup at home or at Disney, where you can easily refill your water bottles and cups for free around the parks. Read here to learn more before your next trip! Hankering for some more Stitch merch? Check out these Amazon finds! 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. When you go to the parks, what merch item do you have to get? Share with us in the comments! The post A Color-Changing STITCH Cup Is Online Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the BEST places to get a treat in Disney World is bringing back a popular snack for a limited time! Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs Gideon’s Bakehouse is a hugely popular bakery at Disney Springs (the shopping and dining district in Disney World). The bakehouse even has to use a virtual queue sometimes because of high demand for their half-pound cookies and enormous slices of cake. For a limited time, you’ll be able to get a special holiday snack at this shop! Gideon’s announced on Instagram that they’re bringing back the Snack Cakes Vom Krampus for a short time this season! These treats are 2 layers of Gideon’s “sinfully soft” chocolate cake with a generous amount of Krampus Mint Buttercream frosting in between. Then the full thing is dipped in chocolate! ©Gideon’s Bakehouse The not-so-snack-sized cakes are very limited, so you can expect them to sell out pretty early. They’ll be at the Disney Springs store while supplies last today (December 23rd), Saturday, December 24th, and Sunday, December 25th. There’s a limit of 2 cakes per guest. You’ll want to get there early. Gideon’s also has restocked their tumblers, so you can get these in stores and online today! The tumblers are 16-ounce stainless steel, double-walled cups with straws. You can bring yours to the Gideon’s locations to get it filled with cold brew and save some plastic. ©Gideon’s Bakehouse We’ll continue to watch for more updates from Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news! Click here to see ALL the holiday treats in Disney World this year! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! ⁣⁣Have you been to Gideon’s Bakehouse before? Let us know in the comments!⁣⁣⁣ The post RUN, Don't Walk to Gideon's Bakehouse in Disney Springs for Limited-Time Treats! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article