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Disney Cruise Line is returning to the Bahamas, Mexico and Caribbean in early 2024! Set sail to these picture-perfect destinations from home ports across the country, including central and south Florida, Texas, Louisiana and California. View the full article

Sailings include the Disney Dream’s first full season of departures from Fort Lauderdale, Florida CELEBRATION, Fla. (Dec. 7, 2022) – Tropical destinations, on board magic and a variety of fan-favorite itineraries to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico await Disney Cruise Line guests in early 2024. With two year-round home ports in the Sunshine State, including the first full season of sailings from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, along with voyages from Texas, Louisiana and California, guests of all ages will be able to escape winter with one-of-a-kind magical vacations at sea. Bookings open to the public on Dec. 15, 2022. For more details, visit the 2024 Itineraries page of disneycruise.com. Sun-Drenched Getaways from South Florida The Disney Dream will begin early 2024 with an assortment of cruises to the Bahamas and western Caribbean. Guests will choose from three- and four-night getaways to the Bahamas and five-night vacations to the western Caribbean, all of which will feature classic Disney Cruise Line experiences such as Broadway-style shows, innovative dining, character encounters and fireworks at sea. All sailings from Florida will include a stop at Castaway Cay, a picturesque private island oasis reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests. Located in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, Castaway Cay provides the ultimate escape with something for everyone, including adventure, relaxation and quality time with the family. Tropical Vacations from Central Florida The Disney Wish will kick off 2024 with three- and four-night voyages to Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, Disney Cruise Line’s home port located just one hour from Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Cruises aboard the Disney Wish combine enchanting entertainment and numerous Disney Cruise Line firsts, bringing to life Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars stories around every corner of the vessel. Also from Port Canaveral, the Disney Fantasy will continue seven-night sailings to the white-sand beaches of the eastern and western Caribbean. Disney Cruise Line guests on eastern Caribbean cruises will visit stops in Tortola and St. Thomas, while western Caribbean itineraries will feature the ports of Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; and Falmouth, Jamaica. Every Disney Fantasy sailing also includes a stop at Castaway Cay, along with several days at sea for families to enjoy all the fun and relaxation offered on board. Caribbean Adventures from Texas and Louisiana The Disney Magic will have two limited-time engagements in Galveston in early 2024. After ringing in the New Year from the Lonestar State, the ship will embark on Caribbean adventures ranging in length from four to six nights through the end of January. Upon returning for another month-long stint between March and April, the ship will sail cruises ranging from four to seven nights to the western Caribbean during the popular spring break period. New Orleans will welcome the Disney Magic back for a second consecutive year in February 2024 with four-, five- and seven-night cruises to the Caribbean. Families will have the opportunity to arrive early or extend their vacation to enjoy jazz and jambalaya in the city that inspired Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog.” Mexican Escapes from California After returning from its inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand, the Disney Wonder will arrive in San Diego, California in March 2024 for three- to seven-night voyages to Mexico, including the Baja peninsula. Known for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches and saltwater adventures, families will be able to visit some of Mexico’s most prized destinations, including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Ensenada, along with stops to the inviting shores of Catalina Island off the California coast. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact their travel agent. View the full article

Theme Park Rangers Radar rides holiday version of Cosmic Rewind, notes Universal changes, eats SeaWorld chocolatey bacon. 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. With the holidays right around the corner, there’s been LOTS of shopping going on. Aristocats Collection We’ve been keeping a close eye on all the latest Disney deals online, and letting you in on all the merchandise secrets (like how to get items cheaper online) so you can get the best prices possible. If you’ve been in the market for a new bag, it’s time to drop by Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom, or make your way to shopDisney and grab the new Aristocats Dooney & Bourke collection! This new collection includes 3 bags, the first being The Aristocats Dooney & Bourke Tote Bag for $328! And 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 repping your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store! The DFB Ugly Christmas Sweater T-Shirt is perfect for the season! And as always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news. If you’re procrastinating holiday shopping, this post is FOR YOU Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which bag is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post A New Aristocats Collection Is Available in Disney World AND Online! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

More than 1,850 loved ones of fallen military heroes were welcomed by Disney VoluntEARS in Magic Kingdom Park during the “Walk of Gratitude,” a part of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express.View the full article

The airline industry has been through quite a few challenges over the past few years. Do you fly to Disney World? If you’ve flown anytime between 2020 and 2022, you may have experienced delays, cancelations, high prices, and more, and we’ve talked about how the industry has been suffering from staffing issues and high jet fuel costs. Now experts are predicting a rebound for the airline industry in 2023, and here’s what they’re saying. The airline industry may be able to return to profitability for the first time since 2019 next year. As reported by CNBC, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a report in which they project that the airline industry will earn a net profit of $4.7 billion in 2023, predicting that over 4 billion passengers will fly throughout the year. There could be a lot of travelers next year! To put it in perspective, net profits were considerably higher in 2019, coming in at $26.4 billion. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said, “[There’s] still a long way to go to get back to where we were in 2019, but we are heading in the right direction.” Orlando International Airport Throughout the past few years, the airline industry has lost billions of dollars, with IATA forecasting a loss of $6.9 billion in June 2022. In 2020, the industry lost $137.7 billion, followed by a loss of $42 billion in 2021. Walsh said, “There will be challenges in 2023, but quite honestly, these challenges will be relatively small compared to what we’ve come through.” Southwest Airlines IATA has forecasted a total airline revenue of $779 billion in 2023, with North America leading the world with the highest profit, followed by Europe and the Middle East. Passenger demand is also expected to increase, with IATA predicting demand to reach 85.5% of 2019 levels in 2023. Orlando International Airport crowds When it comes to the chaos of 2022, from staffing issues, delays, cancelations, and more, Walsh is optimistic that the future of the airline industry is bright. He stated, “We should be confident that those issues have been resolved.” Look at that view! If you’re flying to Disney World soon, we recommend clicking on the following links before booking: Complete guide to booking the cheapest flight to Disney World 7 things you should never pay for in airports Our team’s best air travel tips Keep following DFB for more Disney planning news! How flight costs to Disney World are changing for January 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 flying to Disney World in 2023? Tell us in the comments! The post How the Airline Industry Expects to Bounce Back in 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Volunteers at Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend said they unexpectedly received a half-day ticket, not a full-day one. View the full article

It’s a happy day — do you know why? Magic Kingdom Because we’re BACK in Disney World checking out all the new eats, merch, and news you might have missed since your last visit! The holiday season is here and that means plenty of shopping, so without further ado — let’s check out what’s new at Magic Kingdom! Magic Kingdom Merchandise Updates Emporium The Toy Story Holiday Minnie Ears have arrived in Magic Kingdom! You can grab them for $34.99 — they’re also available online! Toy Story Holiday Minnie Ears have made their way to Disney World! Get your hands on this Princess Tiana Baking Set for $49.99. It comes with a bowl, spoon, spatula, and whisk! Baking set And, you can keep all your recipes in this Princess Tiana Recipe Box for $29.99. Recipe box This Dumbo mug with big top lid is absolutely adorable. Grab it for $24.99. Dumbo mug Have you seen these character Rubik’s cubes? You can grab Minnie… Minnie! …Mickey… Mickey! …and Winnie the Pooh for $19.99 each! Winnie the Pooh! This plush red jacket features Minnie on one sleeve, and will keep you warm on those chilly Florida nights! Get it for $64.99. Cozy jacket Need a gift for your pet this Christmas? Grab the Marie collar for $24.99. Perfect for your pet If red isn’t your color, you can pick up this monochrome Mickey jacket instead for $69.99. Another cozy jacket This Zootopia keychain is $14.99… Zootopia Keychain …and these hair clips are $12.99. Hair clips Pick up this Mickey Holiday Plate Set for $44.99… Mickey plate set …or this single Christmas Wishes plate for $14.99. Christmas plate But wait, there’s more Christmas merch! Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe We found some new ornaments at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, starting with this Dopey one for $22.99… Dopey …a Grumpy one, also for $22.99… Grumpy …and a The Santa Clause themed ornament for $29.99! The Santa Clause It looks just like the scene from the film! Frontier Trading Post We’re nuts about this Chip ‘n’ Dale pin… How cute are these two? …and this one too! Each is $17.99. Chip ‘n’ Dale You can also pick up this mystery Disney princess pin set. Mystery pin set It’s $17.99 as well. Memento Mori There are some new post cards at Memento Mori! You can grab this Phantom Five one for $6.99. Phantom Five post card There’s also a similar one that features the Singing Busts, also for $6.99! Plaza del Sol And finally, you can pick up this Year of the Rabbit necklace from Plaza del Sol for $49.99. Year of the Rabbit necklace That’s everything new in Magic Kingdom this time around! Keeping up with everything new at Disney is a lot – which is why we bring you posts like this so often. But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. It’s time to pre-order your DFB Guide! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest news from around Disney World! All of the Disney World 50th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get 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 visited Magic Kingdom recently? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New at Magic Kingdom: More Ornaments and a Chaotic Pair of Minnie Ears first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Orlando native Chris Middleton has roots in the military from both sides of his family. Following his high school graduation, he was inspired to continue the family tradition of military service by joining the United States Marine Corps as a third-generation Marine. Upon completing his service, Chris was able to channel his passion for helping […]View the full article

If you’re planning a Disney Cruise Line adventure, there’s an important change you need to be aware of. Time to set sail! Over the past several years, Disney has adjusted its COVID-19 testing and vaccination policies. At the moment, guests are not required to be vaccinated to board a Disney ship, and pre-cruise COVID-19 testing is not required for most sailings. But what if you do happen to test positive before your Disney Cruise Line sailing and want to cancel? Well, soon a bit of that policy will change. Disney has a flexible refund policy in place as it relates to COVID-19, but an important part of that policy will change for sailings booked on or after December 9th, 2022. The Policy For Sailings Booked BEFORE December 9th If you book your reservation before December 9th, 2022, and you have a “qualifying COVID-19-related health concern” within 14 days of your sailing, you’ll be able to get a refund without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. You can also opt to apply that fare toward a future cruise. What’s a “qualifying COVID-19-related health concern?” Well, it can include having symptoms of COVID-19, having a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days, or testing positive within 14 days of the sail date. ©Disney The Policy for Sailings Booked On or After December 9th So what happens if you book your Disney Cruise Line sailing on or after December 9th? At that point, a slightly different policy will be in place. Disney notes that for those sailings, guests who test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of the sail date will be the ones who qualify for the refund without Disney-imposed cancellation fees. So it appears that this is a reduction from the 14-day policy above, to a slightly shorter, 10-day policy. ©Disney Note that the FAQ from Disney’s website above does not address what happens if a person has other “COVID-19-related health concerns” (like exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the past few days) as is addressed in the flexible refund policy from before December 9th. Be sure to reach out to Disney Cruise Line with any questions about your particular situation. For more Disney cruise-related stories, click here to see inside Disney’s STRANGE decision to buy a giant cruise ship, or click here to learn about the special sailings that’ll be taking place for the 25th anniversary of Disney Cruise Line. Click here to see the details released about Pixar Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line! What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Follow Along As We Explore Disney’s NEW Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish Learn ALL the Secrets of the Disney Wish We Ate EVERYTHING on Disney's Newest Cruise Ship -- The Disney Wish Learn About Disney Cruise Line’s COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Policies Disney Wish COVID-19 Testing Mishaps to Avoid A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) A Look at the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Policies For EVERY Major Cruise Line What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Will you be sailing with Disney Cruise Line soon? Tell us in the comments. The post CHANGE Made to COVID-19 Refund Policy on Disney Cruise Line first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time for your total Epcot round-up! EPCOT Our reporters are in the parks every single day so you know this is going to be a pretty big list! From new festival foods to new cocktails to construction updates, Epcot has been busy lately! Today, we’re going to be showing you even more new things we found in the parks! Epcot Food Updates For anyone looking for a sweet, cold drink, we found the Awesome Remix Holiday Drink for $6.49. Yum! You’ll find it at the Joffrey’s near Cosmic Rewind! Check out the full review of this drink here! We also found this Seasonal Negroni over at La Cava Del Tequila! Yummy! This drink is smoky and spicy — grab it for $18. Check out our full review of this drink here! Epcot Merchandise Updates Gateway Gifts Over at Gateway Gifts near Spaceship Earth, we found the 50th Earidescent Champagne Flutes for $17.99. While these aren’t new to Disney World, they are new to Epcot! Creations First up at Creations was this Silver Mickey Mouse Necklace for $19.99. Some silver jewelry! Next, we have a similar Mickey Icon Lock Necklace for $24.99. Is there a matching key anywhere? This necklace has a pair of matching Mickey Lock Earrings for $24.99 too! These are so cute! Continuing in the jewelry department, we have this Gold Necklace Set for $29.99. Perfect for three best friends! In the clothing department, we found this Black Marvel short-sleeve shirt for $36.99. Perfect for the hero in your life. We also found a Grey Marvel long-sleeve shirt for $36.99. So cool! If you’re looking for another kind of hero, we found this Big Foot Baymax Plush for $29.99 inspired by the Big Hero 6 movie. He is adorable! If you’re looking for special occasion items, we found this Epcot 40th Anniversary Ornament for $19.99. This one is for the Figment fans And for $24.99, we also found this DIY Holiday Card Set featuring some of our favorite pals! A perfect DIY. For all of your younger friends, we found this Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse Purple T-shirt for $19.99. How cute is this? If you’re looking for some merchandise from the new Strange World movie, Epcot has got you covered for $19.99. Strange World is a new Disney Movie! We also found this beautiful Castle Engagement Ring Ornament for $44.99. For the perfect proposal! Finally, we found this Mickey Skeleton Dance Plate Set for $49.99. We first saw these in Disneyland! That wraps up at Creations so let’s head toward the World Showcase! Port of Entry Over at the entrance to World Showcase, we found several items that made us a little goofy! The first was this Goofy Button-Up Shirt inspired by the Art of Skiing short for $59.99. We love this shirt! We also found this Goofy Boxing Long Sleeve shirt for $44.99. Goofy is a favorite of ours. Continuing with the Goofy merchandise, we found these awesome Goofy Comic Pants for $49.99. We need these. Finally, this Goofy Concept Art T-Shirt for $36.99 is a need in our lives. Goofy is the best! We also found this really cool neon Inside Out T-shirt for $36.99. We’re feeling lots of Joy looking at this shirt! Perfect for your next trip to the parks! Disney Traders Next door at Disney Traders, we found several items from the Spider-Man 60th Anniversary Collection! First was this Crewneck for $39.99. Our spidey sense are tingling! Second was this Spider-Man Hoodie for $79.99. Nice! We also found this web-slinging Spider-Man backpack for $59.99. Headed to school! And finally, we found this Spider-Man-inspired hat for $49.99. Would you buy this? If you’re more of a Captain America fan, we also found this Captain America Flannel for $64.99. How cool is that? We could shop around EPCOT all day. Holiday Festival Booth This year for the 2022 Festival of the Holidays we found lots of cute merchandise! First was this Olaf and Sven ornament for $19.99. Our favorite duo! There was also another Sven and Olaf Ornament for $19.99. This one was our favorite. If you’re more of a magnet person, we found this Olaf and Sven Magnet for $14.99. Cute! Or this Frozen Magnet for $14.99 featuring Olaf, Sven, Anna, and Elsa! Would you buy this? If you’re looking for more of our Frozen friends, you can grab this phone case for $34.99. We’ll take two. Or you can grab this apple watch band for $36.99. Perfect for our watches! Or even this Epcot Holiday Apple Phone Case for $34.99. How nice! These would make some great stocking stuffers, too! Plaza de Los Amigos For our first pavilion stop, we have lots of items from Plaza de Los Amigos! First is this Hola Tequila shirt for $27.99. Say Hola! Second is another Tequila-inspired shirt for $27.99. This shirt is worth a shot right? Third, is this shirt for all of our Avocado Margarita lovers for $27.99. It’s a favorite of ours! Finally, we found this Mas Tequila shirt for $27.99. Very cute! Is it weird that we want to go to La Cava Del Tequila now? The Fjording Over in Norway we found this Mickey Holiday Throw Pillow for $34.99. This looks fluffy! And we found this Mickey Holiday Blanket to match for $59.99. We need this for the cold nights! Continuing on we found this Norway mug for $19.99. Perfect for hot coco! This Norway shirt for $36.99. We love this! This Norway-themed glass cup was $14.99. Cute! We found another Norway Ornament for $19.99. Just in time for Christmas! This Beer Mug was only $24.99. How cool! This baking set is $29.99 just in time to make those holiday sweets! This is a need! This long sleeve Norway shirt was having us seeing red (in a good way!) This is the perfect holiday color! This extremely nice quality tote bag was $34.99. How nice! Finally, to complete your Norway look, this Norway Tumbler is a need! Very cool! This coordinating Hoodie is cool at $64.99. Looks cozy! You can also find this ornament for $22.99. Nice! If you’re a Frozen fan, you’ll love these new items from the Brittney Lee Frozen Collection! First, we have this scarf for $44.99. The cold never bothered us anyway! Second, we have this headband for $19.99. Super cute! Moving on we found this Frozen Sweatshirt for $64.99. Nothing better than sisters! This skirt will set you back $54.99. How pretty! And the dress from the collection is $89.99. Beautiful! If you’re looking for a Frozen button-down, we’ve got you covered there too for $59.99. Very nice! The whole family can be decked out in Frozen garb. House of Good Fortune In the China Pavilion at the House of Good Fortune, we found these Holiday Palm Pals just in time for Christmas! This Snow Man Palm Pal is $12.95. So snowy! This Fuzzy Santa is $14.95. So fuzzy! And this normal Santa is $12.95. Hi Santa! If you need a snack, we also found these Lonely God Potato Twists for $5.95. Yum? They’re vegetable flavored! Das Kaufhaus Heading into the Germany pavilion, we found lots of holiday cheer! First, is this Christmas German Hoodie for $54.99. This looks cozy. We also found this Germany-inspired t-shirt for $36.99. Tis the season! We also found two tree ornaments. The first was this Mickey Mouse ornament for $24.99. How cute! The second was this Mickey and Mouse ornament for $22.99. Two of our favorite pals. Continuing with our tree decorating, we found this Mickey and Minnie Tree Skirt for $79.99. How nice! For those looking to cook something up, we found this Mickey and Minnie White Cooking Apron for $34.99. A need for anyone who cooks! Or if you’re looking for something more holiday-forward, this Red and Green Apron for $29.99 is the perfect look. We love this red and green look. Finally, if we’re looking to get cozy, this German Fleece throw for $59.99 might be your best bet. How warm! It’ll keep you cozy all winter long! Kunstarbeit in Kristall If you’re in need of a mug or two, we’ve got you covered! We found this Earidescent Epcot 40th Glass Mug for $29. How pretty! Or this Figment Glass Mug for $29. We love you Figment! We just hope it doesn’t make your drinks taste link skunks smell. Sportsman’s Shoppe Over in the UK Pavilion, we found two sweet treats for you too! The first was the Milk Chocolate Orange for $9.99. Yummy! And we also found the white chocolate version for $9.99 as well! We want to try this! A sweet holiday treat is waiting for you! Northwest Merchantile Canada didn’t disappoint in the merchandise area! We found tons of new items like this Checkered Canadian Long Sleeve Hoodie. This looks so warm! To help keep us warm, we found this Canada Throw Blanket for $59.99. So cozy! This Canada Baseball Hat was only $24.99. Nice! This Canada Pillow for $39.99 pairs nicely with the throw blanket. This looks so comfortable. This Black Canada Shirt is perfect for the summer and it’s $24.99. O’Canada, We love merchandise! If you’re ready for a game or two, we also found this Hockey Puck for $14.99. Ready for a game? This Long Sleeve Canada Inspired Shirt will cost you $39.99. Nice! If you need to keep warm, you can do so in this Canada Hoodie for $54.99. How warm! This Adult Holiday Pajama Top will set you back $74.99. That’s pretty pricy to us! The matching pants will cost you $39.99. We love a matching set! But if you’re shopping for kiddos, these Checkered Bear Onesies for $39.99 will do the job! They’re so small! Overall, we can’t believe how much Epcot had to find recently. Were you able to keep up with all of that? We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT – which is why we bring you posts like this so often. But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. It’s time to pre-order your DFB Guide! Make sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for all of your Disney news and updates. Check out Epcot’s Latest Construction Updates Here Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? EPCOT’s Three New Neighborhoods Have Debuted – Learn More Here See Our Full Review of One of EPCOT’s Newest Restaurants – Connections Eatery Get a Full Tour Inside EPCOT’s New Starbucks Location – Connections Cafe See All the Details You Need to Know About the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster, Now Open in World Discovery NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT Go Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure With Us Check Out All of the Tasty Details About La Crêperie de Paris See Our Full Reviews of Space 220, Which Has Officially OPENED in EPCOT Check Out Spaceship Earth’s Permanent New Nighttime Look Learn More About EPCOT’s New Nighttime Spectacular -- Harmonious See Full Details About the New PLAY! Pavilion Coming to EPCOT Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana, Coming to World Nature The Mary Poppins Attraction is on Hold – Learn More Here What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest EPCOT transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What item would you want to buy from this list? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New at Epcot: Over 80 (!!!) New Pieces of Merch first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re a Disney World newbie, there might be one BIG thing that surprises you about visiting Magic Kingdom… Magic Kingdom …there’s hardly any alcohol there! While the other three Disney World parks sell bottled beer at carts and mixed drinks at snack stands, you won’t see the same in Magic Kingdom. But there are a few places you can imbibe in the OG WDW park, you’ll just need to know where to look! Before we get into the list, let’s start with a short history lesson! When Walt Disney opened Disneyland Park back in 1945, he famously made it an alcohol-free park. In 1956 Walt told the Saturday Evening Post, “No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a rowdy element. That brings people that we don’t want, and I feel they don’t need it.” ©Disney Disneyland Park stayed completely “dry” for decades, and when Magic Kingdom opened, it was the same way on the east coast. Things changed with the opening of EPCOT in 1982, where country-specific drinks were offered in the World Showcase. When subsequent parks opened at Disney World and Disneyland Resort, they all offered alcohol to those over 21, but Magic Kingdom and Disneyland kept their original rules. Be Our Guest That all changed in 2012 when Be Our Guest Restaurant opened in Magic Kingdom, offering wine and beer along with French cuisine. Disneyland Park’s policy was altered with the opening of Galaxy’s Edge and Oga’s Cantina. Since then, more restaurants have been added to the list of places that offer alcohol in those two parks, but today we’re taking a look at Magic Kingdom’s list specifically! Be Our Guest Restaurant Let’s kick off this list with Be Our Guest Restaurant, which started it all. The lunch and dinner menu at this restaurant currently lists three specialty cocktails — the French 75, the Boulevardier, and a Bloody Mary. There are four private-label champagne and wine options, as well as 28 other beers, wines, and ciders to choose from. Be Our Guest Private Label Wine Sampler Many of the options available are French, so you can have a more authentic beverage experience to go with whatever you order to eat. The menu here is prix fixe but alcohol isn’t included in the price, so you’ll need to pay extra for those drinks. Cinderella’s Royal Table The other majorly pricey meal in Magic Kingdom is over at Cinderella’s Royal Table, where you can dine INSIDE Cinderella Castle. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner here and have adult beverages during all three meals. At breakfast, your options are limited to a range of specialty cocktails. Royal Breakfast Flight Once you get to lunch and dinner, the options open up significantly. There’s a wide variety of wines, champagnes, beers, and even dessert wines. Keep in mind that like at Be Our Guest, these drinks aren’t included in the cost of your meal. Crystal Palace At Crystal Palace, you can dine breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a buffet and your favorite pals from the Hundred Acre Wood. And if you would like to pay the additional charge for an adult beverage, you may do that as well. Crystal Palace The menu lists options including beer, hard cider, wine, and specialty cocktails for all three mealtimes. Overall, there are 17 different drinks to choose from. The Diamond Horseshoe Another Magic Kingdom restaurant where you’ll be paying all one price for your food is Diamond Horseshoe. This spot serves a family-style Thanksgiving feast, and if you want some adult beverages in addition to the basic options that are included, they have several to choose from. Diamond Horseshoe On the menu currently are specialty cocktails, beer, hard cider, and wine. You can order any of the options listed during lunch or dinner. Many of the options are American to fit with the theme of Liberty Square. Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen At Skipper Canteen in Adventureland, you’ll find adventurous food and adventurous beverages from all around the world. The beer, wine, and specialty cocktail list here is more exotic than some of the other restaurants. Golden Haze Margarita Fancy a beer brewed exclusively for Walt Disney World or a wine from South Africa or Chile? They’ve got it all here! And since the pricing is a la carte for food at this restaurant, you can order cheaper eats to offset your alcohol cost if you’d like. Liberty Tree Tavern Liberty Tree Tavern is located next door to Diamond Horseshoe, and the menu is very similar, with classic American eats. So you’re probably not surprised that the drink options are similar as well! The Tavern Punch! There are multiple American-made beers, ciders, and cocktails to choose from at lunch and dinner. The Plaza Restaurant Like the other sit-down restaurants, The Plaza Restaurant has specialty cocktails, wine, and beer. White Sangria at The Plaza Restaurant The options here pair well with the comfort foods on the menu, with flavors to please a variety of palettes. There are 13 different adult drinks to choose from. Tony’s Town Square Restaurant And last we have Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, where you can order wine, beer, or cocktails to go with your pasta, pizza, or other Italian fare. Tony’s Town Square Some of the choices on the menu come straight from Italy, including the Tuscan wines. And the cocktails are inspired by the country as well — the Wine Cocktail, the Little Italy Cocktail, and the Limoncello Sidecar. That’s a full list of the places where you can get alcohol in Magic Kingdom. Keep in mind that you will not be able to take your adult beverages to-go when you leave the restaurant, and alcohol is currently only available at sit-down spots. You won’t find beer at the snack carts! Click Here to See the Best Disney World Restaurants for 2023! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your go-to drink in Magic Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! The post Where You Can Buy Beer and Alcohol in Magic Kingdom 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 spotted not one, not two, but THREE new Mickey ears headbands in Disney World today! New Ears! There are a couple of new holiday designs, and a third headband is all about Disney Pixar’s Coco. One of the new accessories is even available to buy online! Come with us to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to check out all the new ears. We spotted all of the new Mickey ears at Discovery Trading Company in Animal Kingdom. Discovery Trading Company The first new pair is the adorable Lumberjack Mickey Ears. Lumberjack Mickey Ears These are plain black Mickey ears with a red and black plaid hat in the middle. So cute The hat has a fleece lining — cozy! You can buy these ears now for $34.99. So far we’ve only seen them in the parks (not online), but we’ll watch for them to potentially appear on shopDisney. $34.99 at Discovery Trading Company The next pair of ears is these Santa Hat Mickey Ears. They’re plain black ears with a hat in the middle, like the lumberjack ears, but these feature an iconic Santa hat instead. Santa Hat Mickey Ears These are also $34.99 at Discovery Trading Company, but you can choose to buy them online instead at shopDisney (also for $34.99). Click here to buy the Mickey Santa hat ears online. The last pair of new ears that we found today were these Coco ears, which we’ve previously seen in Disneyland. ‘Coco’ Ears The ears themselves look like the Papel Picado decorations that are often part of Day of the Dead celebrations, and the headband is topped with tulle Marigold flowers. Closer look at the flowers and ear The headband has a bright blue lining inside, and the outside is black with little white specks (to look like stars maybe?) and a colorful butterfly. Headband You can get the Coco ears for $34.99 at Discovery Trading Company. Looking for more Minnie ears to add to your collection? Check out these posts to see other designs we’ve seen lately! Get Disney’s New Minnie Ears for Cheaper Online! Where To Get Holiday Minnie Ears for UNDER $20 We Found CHAOTIC Minnie Ears in Disney World You’ll Either LOVE or HATE Disney’s Newest Minnie Ears 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! We love our Christmas shirts! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest news from the Disney World parks. Click here to see all the Minnie ears you can get online right now. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which of Disney’s new ears do you like the best? Let us know in the comments. The post Disney Has Lumberjack Mickey Ears and They’re Adorable first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Genie+ has been around since 2021 and how you use it is CHANGING soon! Expedition Everest Lightning Lane In case you missed it, Genie+ has replaced the old FastPass system in Disney World (and the MaxPass system in Disneyland Resort), and it now costs you a fee to purchase daily. Instead of reserving a FastPass lane, guests can now book Lightning Lanes one by one in the My Disney Experience app. And now the way you make those reservations is getting some updates! Coming soon to Genie+ are some pretty big changes! Up until now, Genie+ users could not modify Lightning Lane selections in the My Disney Experience app without canceling their reservation first, which could get pretty annoying. But soon, guests will be able to modify Lightning Lane reservations WITHOUT having to cancel! This change could make the system a lot more convenient for many people. Using Disney Genie+! Also, guests will be able to change specific members within their party who are attached to their Lightning Lane reservation before submitting any changes! That means if someone in your party decides that Splash Mountain is too scary for them, you should be able to adjust your Lightning Lane reservation and remove them. Splash Mountain Lightning Lane This is a bicoastal update coming to both Disney World and Disneyland, so it applies to anyone visiting the parks in the United States. Be aware that Genie+ works somewhat differently between Disney World and Disneyland, and you can read more about that here. Tower of Terror Lightning Lane Note that these changes will NOT apply to Individual Lightning Lanes (also known as the pay-per-ride option). Individual Lightning Lane reservations are not refundable or eligible for modification, so make sure you choose the right time slot when you make your reservation. Peter Pan’s Flight Lightning Lane These changes have not yet taken effect but should roll out soon. Keep following DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Read all about Genie+ right here! All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA for in Disney World & How Much They May Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You May Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn Some Disney Genie HACKS Get a Step-by-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+ See Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland Still Confused About Disney Genie? Check Out These DFB Videos Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you ever used Genie+? Tell us in the comments! The post BREAKING: BIG Genie+ Changes Finally Announced for Disney World and Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve been busy keeping up with all the events that have unfolded since Bob Iger took over as Disney CEO. ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images After it was revealed that Iger signed on for just two years, questions emerged about who exactly would step up to take his place once the clock runs out. And with other executives leaving The Walt Disney Company following former CEO Bob Chapek’s exit, the pool of contenders seems to be getting smaller. But, according to a new report — one Disney executive could be taking the lead. It hasn’t been long since Bob Iger took over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company again, and they’re already looking for his replacement. But, that was part of the deal when he signed back on for another two years — get the company back on track and find his successor. ©Reuters Now that much of the dust has settled surrounding the CEO shake-up, rumors have been swirling about who could potentially replace Iger and be the next leader of this massive company. A new report from Deadline indicates that Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy is a “leading contender” for the role. Christine McCarthy ©The Walt Disney Company According to a “Disney insider,” McCarthy “has always been a force to be reckoned with” and she should be put “on a list of top five possibilities after the last few weeks,” referring to McCarthy leading the charge to go around then-CEO Chapek and raise concerns about his position as CEO to the Board of Directors. If McCarthy did become Disney CEO, she would be the first female to do so in the history of The Walt Disney Company. Cinderella Castle After having been the treasurer of Disney for several years, McCarthy stepped up as CFO in 2015, and was “influential in helping to successfully engineer a string of key mergers, and adept at raising and husbanding cash during the depth of COVID.” She was reportedly “distraught” by the company’s bottom line and “missteps by Chapek over the last 18 months.” And then, in mid-November, McCarthy went to board chairperson Susan Arnold and threatened to resign if Chapek “was not cut loose immediately.” ©Disney But now, it’s Iger who has the job of choosing a successor, and McCarthy is reportedly in the running — along with Disney General Entertainment Content chair Dana Walden. With multiple executive exits in recent years, the pool of contenders is getting smaller, and analysts have called McCarthy “a straight shooter” and “very capable” of being in the role. ©CNBC “She really shined when the pandemic hit. She did exactly what the CFO should do. She lined up enough cash for one to two years of no revenue. She put together a huge bundle of cash at reasonable rates very quickly to protect the company,” said an analyst. It was even McCarthy who handled the difficult questions during the company’s most recent earnings call. Magic Kingdom Whoever the next CEO ends up being, it’s clear that McCarthy has emerged as a top choice to lead The Walt Disney Company, and it doesn’t seem like she’s going anywhere anytime soon either way. She, along with Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, and Jimmy Pitaro will be restructuring Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution at the direction of Iger. Bob Iger ©New York Post We’ll continue to keep an eye on this situation and let you know of any updates. Want to learn more about Bob Iger’s return as Disney’s CEO? Check out these posts: Is Disney CEO Bob Iger on a Collision Course with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis? CEO Bob Iger Reportedly Believed Chapek Was “Killing the Soul” of The Walt Disney Company 7 Big Challenges Bob Iger Will Face as Disney’s New CEO Why Disney Replaced Bob Chapek With Bob Iger Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Every Major Change Since Bob Iger Returned as Disney CEO Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Who do you think will take over as The Walt Disney Company CEO? Let us know in the comments! The post “Top Contender” Emerges to Replace Bob Iger as Disney CEO first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re a Star Wars fan, the Disney Parks have a lot to offer! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge In both Disneyland and Disney World, Galaxy’s Edge can transport you to Batuu where you can build a droid, join the resistance, or have a cocktail over at Oga’s Cantina. It’s no surprise that Star Wars fans are passionate about a galaxy far, far away, leading to some cool fan events that happen in the parks! And, the other day, we spotted a pretty awesome gathering of fans over at Disneyland Resort. Check out ALL of these lightsabers in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park! The group of fans met out in front of the TIE Echelon on the night of Friday, December 2nd to raise all of their lightsabers up in the air. It’s like holiday lights, but make it Star Wars. So many lightsabers! These meetups happen a few times a year in both Disneyland and Disney World, and are put together by a fan group called Galaxy’s Edge Discord, who organizes them through social media. This is also the group that plans the fan events for Star Wars‘ Life Day celebrations. Various colors represented Fans typically meet up in Galaxy’s Edge to pose for pictures, hang out, and occasionally duel each other! In past events, they will march around the land with their lightsabers, but Friday’s rainy weather kept this most recent meetup pretty short. It’s a great way for Star Wars fans to get together for some bonding! Is a duel about to happen?! If you’re interested in a Star Wars meetup over in Walt Disney World, the group is holding a holiday meet up in Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios on December 10th! They said to bring out your tacky holiday sweaters to take pictures out in front of the AT-AT and Christmas tree in the park! So much red! For more on Disneyland, check out what you shouldn’t do to your Disneyland candy cane, 5 rides that will temporarily CLOSE on January 9th in Disneyland, and the new exclusive lightsaber hilt in Disneyland! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Why You SHOULDN’T Stay in a Disney Hotel at Disneyland Resort 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 Have you ever been to a lightsaber meet up in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post These Weren't the Holiday Lights We Expected to See in Disneyland But We'll Take It first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company on its way, lots of new things are coming. Walt’s plane We’ve seen details about when the anniversary celebrations will reach Disneyland and we’ve gotten a peek at new 100th Anniversary merchandise that’ll be online soon. But that doesn’t mean some older pieces of Disney history aren’t getting some love too. During the D23 Expo, we got to admire the restored outside of Walt Disney’s plane — the Mouse. And soon another part of The Mouse will be changing. As part of the D23 Expo experience in California in 2022, Walt Disney’s plane returned to the West Coast for the FIRST time since 1992. Talk about a long absence! During the Expo, we got to take a look at the plane. Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I plane — also known as “The Mouse” — got restored for this exhibit. Here’s a look at it from the past… ©Disney …and now into the present! A view of the front For a long time, the plane had been covered up in Florida. But now the outside has been restored to its former glory. That might lead you to wonder…the outside has been restored, but what does the INSIDE look like? Well, soon that inside will be looking great thanks to a new restoration project that has been announced. On Walt Disney’s birthday in 2022 (December 5th), it was announced that the Palm Springs Air Museum, along with Phoenix Air, will “restore and recreate the interior” of the Mouse to “resemble what it looked like when Walt flew it in the 1960s,” according to D23. A look inside Fred Bell, the Museum Vice Chairman, said, “We know that we have a special responsibility to Walt Disney, to the Archives, and to the millions of Disney fans around the world to do this work as accurately as possible so that the airplane can be enjoyed for decades to come.” The project is expected to take about 2 years to complete. The plane truly was customized! After the D23 Expo in 2022, the Mouse traveled to Palm Springs. It’s on display in the Palm Springs Air Museum, along with “rarely exhibited items from the interior of the aircraft.” If you stop by the museum, you might just be able to look at the customized instrument panel from the plane (it was near Walt’s favorite seat!), a phone that gave Walt direct access to the pilot, a flight bag featuring Mickey, and more. A little bit of history (at the D23 Expo) Did you know that the plane could seat up to 15 passengers and had a galley kitchen, 2 restrooms, 2 couches, a desk, and (of course) nods to Mickey Mouse? And Mickey’s initials (MM) were even included in the tail number of the plane — N234MM! The plane was in service for 28 years for the Walt Disney Company. Walt used this plane to make trips to Florida to lay the groundwork for what would become Disney World. He also used the plane to fly to New York as preparations were underway for the 1964-1965 World’s Fair (which would become the taking-off point for “it’s a small world” and more). And the plane took Walt over El Moro fortress in Puerto Rico as he looked for inspiration for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Walt with the Plane Model in the Background Even Julie Andrews and some U.S. presidents have been on the plane! We can’t wait to see how this project progresses in the upcoming years and see the plane restored to its former glory on the inside, matching its shiny, restored exterior. ©D23 Be sure to stay tuned for more news about this project. For more about unique things in Disney history, check out our post about the man you should really thank for Mickey Mouse (spoiler: it isn’t Walt), or take a look at what Disney World looked like back in 1971. Click here to see Bob Iger’s comments on Walt Disney’s birthday 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 is your favorite fact about Walt Disney? Tell us in the comments! The post BIG PLANS Announced for Walt Disney’s Plane first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Things change pretty regularly in Disney World, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up! Magic Kingdom New foods and merchandise is released, prices change, and sometimes things even go missing. If you can’t keep track of everything, don’t worry — we keep tabs on everything major going on so that we can let you know what you need to know before your next trip! And, starting December 8th, many important things are going to change in Disney World, so we’re breaking them down right here. Ticket Pricing Changes Beginning on December 8th, Disney will be putting a park-specific pricing system in place for 1-day, 1-park tickets. So, instead of just purchasing a ticket that could be used at any of the 4 theme parks, you will have to buy one specifically for the park you want to visit, and the pricing will be different for each park as well. Festival of the Holidays The price of a ticket will vary depending on the park you select. So, visiting Magic Kingdom could very likely cost more than Animal Kingdom on the exact same day. These prices will fluctuate using surge pricing, which we already have seen for tickets in Disney World (tickets during more popular times of the year are more expensive). Haunted Mansion But, do remember that this is only if you’re buying a park ticket for 1 day, with access to only 1 park (not getting a Park Hopper). Multi-day tickets are not affected by this change. So, let’s take a look at what the prices will be under this new system: Disney’s Animal Kingdom — $109-$159 (no change from current costs) Disney’s Hollywood Studios — $124-$179 EPCOT — $114-$179 Magic Kingdom — $124-$189 If you’re planning a Disney trip and want to avoid these ticket prices, buy your ticket NOW before the change goes into effect on December 8th. Click here to learn more about this change to Disney World tickets Park Reservation Changes The next change coming might actually be a positive thing to a lot of people. Starting December 8th, when you purchase one of these park-specific tickets, your Park Pass Reservation will automatically be made at the same time. So, you will no longer need to worry about making a separate reservation, because buying the ticket reserves that park for you, since it’s only for a specific park. Hollywood Studios But remember, this is ONLY for 1-day, 1-park tickets. If you buy a multi-day ticket and/or tickets with Park Hoppers, you will still need to make separate reservations for the parks you want to visit. As a reminder, you need both a ticket AND a Park Pass Reservation in order to enter the parks. Click here to learn more about this update Park Hopper Changes The price for the Park Hopper ticket add on is also changing on December 8th. Park Hopper is what you can add on to your Disney World ticket so that you can visit multiple theme parks in one day. Right now, it’s $65 to add on to a single-day ticket. Skyliner There is also Park Hopper Plus, which does the same thing as Park Hopper, with the addition of the ability to visit the Disney World water parks. This is currently $85 to add on to a single-day ticket. Monorail But, going forward, the cost of both of these add on options will change depending on the date. They could be less expensive during less popular times of the year, and more expensive during the times of high demand. We’ll let you know about the pricing we see when it begins. Click here to learn more about the changes being made to Park Hopper pricing Another thing changing on December 8th is that Annual Passes are getting a price increase. Right now, sales are still paused for most of the pass options, and they should remain that way for the rest of 2022. Annual Passholder Card But, when they do become available again, 3 out of the 4 pass options are going to be more expensive. You can take a look at all of the price increases right here. Click here to see more about the price increase coming to Annual Passes Also note that if you have an Annual Pass right now and are looking to renew it, those prices are going to increase as well. You will still get a renewal discount, though. The renewal price increases will be between $43 and $100, depending on the pass type. Click here to learn more about the renewal price change So, you only have a very short amount of time to grab tickets for Disney World before these price increases go into effect. Purchase them NOW for future trips if you want to make sure you won’t have to deal with these changes! Tree of Life We’ll be bringing you more updates about these changes as they come, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Our NEW Tips for Saving BIG in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. When is your next Disney World trip? Tell us in the comments! The post MAJOR Ticket and Park Hopper Changes Launch SOON in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is so much more than just a beautiful hotel. Animal Kingdom Lodge Home to the largest collection of African art in the world outside of the continent of Africa, Animal Kingdom Lodge also features sweeping views of a private savanna with LIVE safari animals and it’s one of the best hotels in Disney World for food! Disney just revealed some new foods coming soon to a variety of restaurants in Animal Kingdom Lodge, and here’s what we know. Maji Pool Bar Beginning on December 8th, new poolside snacks will be added to the Maji Pool Bar menu. This will include the Shrimp Bakuli, which means “bowl” in Swahili, and made with chilled poached shrimp, pickled carrots, and Basmati rice, with soy-ginger dressing and berbere aïoli. Chef Sahib Bhatti was inspired by the open-air food markets in Zanzibar, where “each evening as the sun sets, the vendors prepare seafood delicacies with the day’s catch.” ©Disney The Multigrain Tabbouleh will be a new plant-based offering, made of a salad with protein-rich grains, fresh herbs, and grilled vegetables. ©Disney You can also get Spiced Pork Nachos, topped with spiced pork, beans, herbed crema, and kachumbari. The spiced pork is actually pork vindaloo, which originates from Goa and is based on a Portuguese dish known as Carne de Vinha D’alhos. The pork is seasoned with paprika, garlic, tomato, vinegar, and a house-made spice blend. ©Disney And the Short Rib Grilled Cheese comes with short ribs that are slow-cooked with a house-made spice blend, tamarind, and red wine, which are sandwiched between buttery brioche bread and topped with gouda cheese and pickled onion. ©Disney On to the next stop! The Mara Over at The Mara, a quick service location, you can order the Marinated Sun-dried Tomato Herbed Ricotta Flatbread beginning on December 8th. This dish is made with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herb ricotta, tomato sauce, a four-cheese blend, and arugula. ©Disney New bowls will also be available! The Chermoula-spiced Shrimp Bowl is made with grilled shrimp, pilau rice, kale slaw, cucumber-tomato salad, and chermoula sour cream. The Oak-grilled Chicken Bowl will be another option, made with marinated chicken thighs that are slow-roasted over the oak-fired spit. Each bowl includes rice made with The Mara’s special spice blend. ©Disney And plant-based eaters can go for the South African Vegetable Bowl, which Chef Wendy Welcovitz and Sous Chef Khuloud Abu Samra were inspired to create based on South African cuisine. It’s made with curried vegetable stew, pilau rice, dried fruit achar, and avocado-tahini sauce. ©Disney Let’s head over to another restaurant! Jiko: The Cooking Place The table-service restaurant, Jiko: The Cooking Place, will be adding a new appetizer, the Sweet Potato-Groundnut Soup. This soup comes with spiced groundnuts, finger lime, pickled red chilies, and sorrel. Groundnuts are a popular ingredient in modern African cuisine — and you may know them as peanuts! ©Disney Don’t worry — other popular Jiko dishes such as the Oak-grilled Filet Mignon or the Braised Wild Boar Tenderloin will still be available! Read our most recent review of Jiko: The Cooking Place here! Various Locations And finally, available beginning on December 16th at Boma: Flavors of Africa, Sanaa, and Victoria Falls Lounge will be the Way of Water cocktail in honor of the release of Avatar: The Way of Water. This drink is made with African Starr Rum, Bacardi Raspberry Rum, Bols Blue Curaçao, and lemonade, with a glowing lotus flower and mint garnishes. ©Disney We’ll be sure to check out some of these new eats so stay tuned for a full review soon. Keep following DFB for more Disney World food news! Read all about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge 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. What sounds like something you would try? Tell us in the comments! The post 10 NEW Menu Items Coming Soon to One Disney World Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you planning to fly soon? Then you’ll need to know about a major change that’s been DELAYED. Orlando International Airport The U.S. passed the Real ID Act in 2005 in order to increase security for travel. The act requires people to update their driver’s licenses or other identification cards before they will be allowed to board a plane. The deadline for obtaining a Real ID has been delayed several times, with the most recent deadline being May 2023. Now, however, that date has been pushed back once again. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security updated its website to show a new deadline for the Real ID Act: Now, this act will not be enforced until May 2025. This is a 2-year delay of the deadline. According to the website, “On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.” ©Department of Homeland Security The original deadline for the Real ID act was 2008, but it has been pushed back several times. According to CNBC, the latest delay is due to “the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,” which “made it more difficult for people to obtain licenses or identification cards that are Real ID-compliant.” ©CNBC via Getty Images You can tell if your identification or driver’s license is Real ID-compliant by looking for a black or gold star in the right-hand corner of the card. If you don’t have one of these symbols, you will need to update your card by May 7th, 2025. These IDs will be required to board domestic flights at that point. ©U.S. Department of Homeland Security If you are unable to update your ID, you can use a different form of identification to fly. Here’s a list of acceptable identification according to the TSA: Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles. U.S. passport U.S. passport card DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Permanent resident card Border crossing card State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized, Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe HSPD-12 PIV card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) Orlando Airport TSA Lines To update your driver’s license, you should look up which facilities in your state offer the Real ID upgrade. This upgrade may cost extra, depending on the state. Want more updates on recent travel news? Check out these posts: 5 Laws You Need To Know Before You Travel to Florida Beaches How Flight Costs to Disney World Are CHANGING for January 2023 How to Save $50 on Your Next JetBlue Flight Holiday Travel Expected To Bring Millions Through the Orlando Airport — See a Daily Breakdown Here. We’ll continue to watch for more updates that could affect your upcoming travel, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news. Click here to learn about a new TSA PreCheck initiative to help you SKIP long lines! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport The Ultimate Disney World Packing List for 2022 You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The BEST and WORST Airlines in the US, Ranked by Customer Complaints The MOST and LEAST Reliable Airlines in the U.S. This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe What are your best tips for flying to Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post Flying to Disney World Soon? A Key Travel Deadline Has Been Delayed first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

At the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions convention held last month in Orlando, about 30,000 industry leaders gathered to discuss the latest trends in food, festivals, and rides. And then, there was a session with the title: “Is Cash Dead?” The IAAPA Expo at the Orange County Convention Center Why would a theme park convention be taking on this economic issue? It turns out there are several reasons Disney World — and other attractions — would just rather not take your cash (most of the time). If you have visited a stadium in the past couple of years, you may have noticed the trend — many of them are going to a cashless system. What does that mean? Just what it sounds like — you literally cannot use cash. You must use a card, an app or another form of payment. Disney World and other vacation destinations have offered ways to have a cashless trip for decades — with systems that range from the simple “charge it to my room” to wearable ways to pay that are linked to a credit card (think MagicBands). MagicBands This new wave utilizes those systems but goes much further — to attractions where cash is simply not accepted. We’re digging into the reasons why Disney World and other attractions no longer want to accept cash as frequently, as well as the challenges they are facing in the transition. What’s So Bad About Cash? Industry leaders cite several advantages in going cashless. Labor Savings The biggest motivator for the Splish Splash Water Park in Long Island, New York, to go cashless was to save labor. In an era when labor shortages are dramatically affecting the attractions industry, moves to reduce labor needs are happening everywhere. Accepting cash requires behind-the-scenes labor that accepting cards and digital forms of payment does not. Accepting cash requires behind-the-scenes labor the public does not see. Theme parks usually have an entire “cash control” department — employees charged with counting cash, maintaining the levels of change needed in cash drawers in dozens of locations, moving cash around the theme parks, depositing cash, etc. After Splish Splash went cashless earlier this year, “0ur cash control team was no longer needed,” said Mike Bengtson, the park’s general manager, “and those team members could be used in other areas.” Jim Forrester, VP of Finance for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, said accepting cash also requires cashiers to count their drawers at the beginning and ending of each shift — and that 15 minutes or so each time a drawer is counted adds up when it is done by dozens of employees each day. Speed Even though we recommend again and again to eat your meals during non-peak times, we’ve all experienced that crazy lunch rush at a Disney World quick-service location. The theme park industry is continually looking for ways to reduce those wait times for customers. After all, less time in lines generally makes us all happier, and moves us along to the next spot for us to spend more money. Casey’s Corner The fact is, it takes longer to accept cash and make change than it does to swipe a card. Sure, it’s just a few seconds more, but with thousands of transactions each day, those few seconds add up to several extra minutes you wait in line each day. ‘Shrinkage’ This is the one industry leaders are less excited to talk about, but it is the area where they often see the most savings. “Shrinkage” is the retail industry’s term for, well, theft. In locations where cash is accepted, some of that cash disappears. It is just a fact of life for businesses that a certain amount of the cash they accept will go into the pockets of a few not-so-well-meaning employees. Some theme parks report that going cashless in their parking lots has increased revenue. Theme parks put all kinds of systems into place to prevent employee theft, but it still happens. Bengtson said the shrinkage savings for the Splish Splash water park was huge this year — especially in its parking lots. Parking revenue increased significantly when cash was no longer accepted, he said — indicating that many cash parking fees were going into employee pockets. Increased Revenue As you can see from the reasons theme parks want to go cashless, stopping accepting this form of money is actually all about, well, money. Labor savings and less theft add up to more profit. But there’s also a psychological factor here. You (we, most of us…) spend more money when we’re not spending cash. “If you’re using cash in particular, real paper greenbacks, when your purse or wallet is empty you’re done, so you can limit your spending in that way,” Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education at Experian told CNBC. Primo Piatto Cashier Station Eric Summers, Director of Finance at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, said the psychological aspect of spending from a card rather than cash is a motivating factor. “Going to a cashless model has helped our revenue growth,” Summers said. Bengtson said that per capita spending at his park is also up since going to the cashless model. “When you have cash, you’re counting it. When you have a piece of plastic, you’re not counting it, you’re just spending it.” said Bob Frimet, CEO of Kiosk Prepaid. “The spend goes up 30 to 40 percent.” How Staffing Shortages Are CHANGING Theme Park Menus Cashless Concerns SeaWorld encourages guests to pay through its app or with a card, but still accepts cash. “There is a lot of upside (to going cashless), but there is some risk we think,” said Forrester. Inclusion Issues While it may seem that everyone has a debit card these days, there are roughly 5.9 million households in the United States that are “unbanked” — meaning no one in the household has a bank account, according to a 2021 FDIC report. In addition, Forrester said SeaWorld’s international visitors “typically use more cash.” A Kiosk Prepaid “Reverse ATM” on display at the 2022 IAAPA Expo. Disney and other theme park companies don’t want to eliminate any customers because they usually spend cash, so they sometimes put “Reverse ATM” systems into place when they go cashless. “This gives you the option to put cash into a kiosk and get a Visa Card, and now they can use that Visa Card anywhere,” Frimet, whose company provides Reverse ATMs, said. Another group that could have trouble in a theme park that doesn’t accept cash: Children. Summers said groups of children that come to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk — on day camp field trips, with church groups, etc. — are typically handed spending cash by their parents for the outing. Bengtson said these “camp kids” were also a concern for Splish Splash, but the company developed a procedure for reaching out to the groups and educating them beforehand. As for Frimet’s Kiosk Prepaid machines, he said there’s no age limit on using them. They collect a phone number and ZIP code, but no other personal information. “A 7-year-old can use it,” he said. Technology Infrastructure The switch to a cashless system comes with technology concerns — as the transactions all rely on a network. Network issues that require Disney World to only accept cash for a short time are not all that uncommon. And paying through phone apps requires a good cell signal — one that will support hundreds or thousands of customers using data at the same time. Mobile Order sign at Alien Pizza Planet “There is a fair amount of IT infrastructure investment” that would be required at SeaWorld Orlando before the park could go completely cashless, Forester said. So, theme parks adopting this model would need to have capital to spend on the improvements. Legal Concerns Despite seemingly ubiquitous social media posts claiming it, there is no federal law or regulation that requires U.S. businesses to accept cash. “Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether to accept cash unless there is a state law that says otherwise,” according to the Federal Reserve. Cashiers at Disney World But that doesn’t mean there aren’t legal concerns. States such as Colorado and Massachusetts, and cities including New York City and Washington, D.C., do have laws on the books requiring businesses to accept cash. These laws were mostly passed to protect the significant amount of households that are unbanked, as we mentioned above. That’s where the Reverse ATM comes into play. The business IS accepting cash through those machines, and converting it into a card that the food and beverage and merchandise locations around the park can accept. “You can still bring cash, you just have to convert it into a card,” Bengtson said. “The transition was pretty seamless for people.” Tips While many theme park employees are not usually tipped, there are some locations — such as table service restaurants and lounges — where tips are generally accepted. Employees in those locations might naturally be concerned about getting tips in an environment where guests are told to leave their cash at home. Space 220 Lounge Forester acknowledged that potential tipping issues were one of the concerns that SeaWorld still has questions about. “Now we want to understand how to make efficiencies without taking things away,” he said. The Harsh Reality Behind Mobile Ordering in Disney World ‘On Life Support’ “If cash is not dead, it is at least on life support,” Forester said. Theme parks including Disney World and other larger chains are all examining the issues, to see if they can make the leap that appears to have been successful at smaller parks. “The trend will be to go ‘no cash’ in 5 to 10 years,” he said. We will be keeping an eye on this trend as more parks move toward cashless systems. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest! 8 HUGE Ways to Save on Your Next Disney World Trip Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think about theme parks going cashless? Share your thoughts in the comments! The post The Secret Reason Disney World Doesn't Want Your Money first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A LOT has changed – and is still changing – in Disney World. Cinderella Castle With a new CEO cleaning house, pandemic changes in flux, and surge pricing taking over just about everywhere, you need to know how your 2023 trip will be different from any other trip you’ve taken to Disney World. And what tools you’re going to need to navigate it! Check out our video below about DON’T Visit Disney World in 2023 Without THIS! 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! 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! Are you going to Disney World soon? Universal Orlando? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: DON’T Visit Disney World in 2023 Without THIS first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge has some foodie updates coming your way! Explore what's cooking at the resort and embark on your own culinary adventure during your next visit.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 into the first official full week of December! Have you begun present shopping yet? There are plenty of Disney deals on Amazon if you know where to look Whether you’re the type to start shopping at the beginning of November or prefer to lean into the adrenaline from doing last-minute shopping, it’s never a bad idea to keep your eyes peeled for some great deals. Luckily, we can help you out with finding some great discounts! One of the best places to find some discounts on popular Disney merch is actually on Amazon. If you spend some time looking through their hundreds of thousands of items, there are some real diamonds in the rough hidden in there. And if you don’t have an Amazon Prime account, you can get a free trial to score even more savings. Click the link below! Because we know you don’t have all the time in the world to devote to finding the top gifts on sale, save yourself some time by checking out some of our favorite deals we spotted this week! Shopping for a Loungefly collector can be tricky! Their bags are well-made but can be pricey. That’s why when you see one on sale, it’s best to pounce. Loungefly Belle’s Castle Mini Backpack Part of the Loungefly Castle series, the Loungefly Belle’s Castle Mini Backpack features Belle reading to the village’s sheep with the Beast’s castle glimmering in the background. The entire scene is recreated in a beautiful stained-glass style, a reference to the opening scenes of the iconic film. Save $10 on this bag when you purchase it on sale from Amazon — it’s now priced at $65! Click here to buy the Loungefly Belle’s Castle Mini Backpack! Amazon Essentials makes some comfy clothes! Their pieces are a nice middle-ground between being easy to wear without looking sloppy. Recently, they’ve added some new fun designs to their line that features Disney, Star Wars, and even Marvel. Amazon Essentials Marvel Shirts This 2-piece set of their Amazon Essentials Marvel Shirts is a must-have for any Marvel fan. These two contrasting polos include a variety of classic Marvel logos in flattering colors. This set is usually $34.99 but is currently on sale for $22.99. Click here to buy these Amazon Essentials Marvel Shirts! Lenox is a brand that creates high-quality mementos, including a line of ornaments that are just stunning. One of our favorites is this Disney Castle Ornament that includes the year stamped at the base. Disney Castle Ornament If you took a trip to Disney this year, you need this ornament as the perfect collectible to remind you of your trip! The ornament comes in shining gold and silver and will fit right in on your tree. Normally $60, this gorgeous piece is half off and now $29.99. Click here to buy this Disney Castle Ornament! The Walt Disney World 50th Country Bear Jamboree Collectibles belong in your 50th merchandise collection! This set is unique compared to the others because, unlike earlier releases, it includes characters from the ride instead of Mickey and friends dressed to theme the attraction. Disney WDW 50th Country Bear Jamboree Collectibles Three of our favorite characters from the Country Bear Jamboree are immortalized in this collectible set that comes complete with accessories and a display box. This special set is on sale for $59.99, previously $71.79. Click here to buy these Disney WDW 50th Country Bear Jamboree Collectibles! Is it time for your little one to get their own suitcase? Surprise them this Christmas with this Disney Softside Upright Luggagethat’s decorated with some of our favorite princesses! This suitcase is just the right size to hold all of their belongings while being easy for them to tote around the airport themselves. They’ll feel so grown-up! AMERICAN TOURISTER Kids’ Disney Softside Upright Luggage This piece of luggage has two front wheels and a back stand to hold it upright when not in use. The handle telescopes closed and zips away to protect it during transit. You can buy this suitcase for $50.43, normally $64.99. Click here to buy the AMERICAN TOURISTER Kids’ Disney Softside Upright Luggage! This adorable beanie lets you show off another pair of ears while yours are covered, cozy, and warm! The Mickey Mouse Beanie comes in a rainbow of colors, so either pick your favorite or get several to match all of your winter coats! Mickey Mouse Beanie The cap is knitted and stretchy to accommodate a range of head sizes. Two giant pompoms are attached on top to mimic that classic Mickey shape! Snag this cozy hat for $15.99, originally $24.99. Click here to buy this Mickey Mouse Beanie! Stemless glasses like these have been trending for the past year or two, and if you don’t have a set in your kitchen, now is the time to add them to your drinkware collection! If the idea of purchasing glasses like these makes you feel old, it’s okay; the fun Mickey designs around each glass will help combat that! JoyJolt Disney Mickey Mouse Stemless Glasses The JoyJolt Disney Mickey Mouse Stemless Glasses are great for dinner at home, entertaining friends, or picnicking in the park! The set comes with 4 clear glasses, each surrounded with a hand-drawn art style of various Mickey patterns. This set is usually priced at $34.95 but is currently marked down to just $17.95! Click here to buy these JoyJolt Disney Mickey Mouse Stemless Glasses! These are just some of the deals we’ve seen lately that caught our eye — stay tuned to our site for more sales, promotions, and other ways for you to save money on those items on your wish list! Click here to see some gift ideas for Disney fans. 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. How often do you like to order from Amazon? Are you a regular shopper or do you prefer to wait until the holidays? Comment below! The post 7 Disney Deals on Amazon You Won't Be Able to Resist first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Bob Chapek is out. Bob Iger is back. And BIG changes are already taking place. ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters We’ve taken a look at how Iger’s return has impacted stock values, organizational changes that are set to take place now that Iger is back, and whether Iger will reverse some of Chapek’s biggest decisions. But Iger’s return seems to also be having an impact when it comes to some executives. A few Disney executives have left the Company following Iger’s return to the CEO position, and now another has joined the list. According to Variety, Heather Hust Rivera will be leaving the Disney Company, after nearly 20 years of working with the Company. Hust Rivera is senior vice president of communications at DMED (Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution). In a statement to Variety, Hust Rivera said “I’m grateful for the incredible opportunities I have had in the past 17 years at Disney, working across multiple businesses with some of the industry’s hardest working, most talented, and amazingly creative people…I wish the team nothing but the best, and look forward to what the next chapter holds.” ©Disney Hust Rivera was named to her role as senior vice president of communications for DMED in 2021. According to Disney’s website, under that role, she oversaw global communications for ALL of DMED — that includes Disney+, ABC, Disney Channel, and more. Before that, she served as Vice President of Communications for Disney Consumer Products, Games, and Publishing. The Hollywood Reporter points out that Hust Rivera’s departure isn’t all that surprising, because she was the chief communications representative for Kareem Daniel. Just one day after Iger’s return was announced, Kareem Daniel, a “top lieutenant” for Chapek (per the Hollywood Reporter) left Disney. Daniel was predicted to be one of the first to go as Iger makes moves to adjust some of the strategic direction and organization at Disney. ©Business Wire via CNBC Under Chapek, Disney massively restructured its media and entertainment business to focus on streaming. With this new structure, there were the “creative engines” — focused on making new content, while “distribution and commercialization activities” were centralized in the Media and Entertainment Distribution organization (DMED). That is the section Daniel was in charge of and for which Hust Rivera was the senior vice president of communications. Upon his return, Iger shared that he would be taking steps to design a new structure that “puts more decision-making back in the hands of our creative teams and rationalizes costs, and this will necessitate a reorganization of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution.” ©CNBC But Hust Rivera and Daniel aren’t the only ones to leave Disney in recent weeks. Executive Arthur Bochner also left on November 26th. Bochner was Chapek’s former vice president of strategic communications and lead speechwriter. Who will be next to depart the Disney Company as Iger brings organizational changes to DMED and potentially more of Disney? Only time will tell. We’ve got a multitude of articles that take a DEEP dive into what’s going on at the Walt Disney Company right now, what Iger’s return could actually mean for ordinary guests, and more. Check out our posts below: How Iger’s return has impacted stock values “They brought this on themselves” — Governor DeSantis responds to Iger’s comments on Florida legal battles EVERY major change since Bob Iger returned as Disney’s CEO Will Bob Iger reverse Chapek’s biggest decisions? Iger comments on the relocation of employees to Central Florida Iger comments on the Park Pass system Iger is back — here’s what can change and what won’t Stay tuned for more updates on the Disney Company. Click here to see what Bob Iger had to say on Walt Disney’s birthday 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 are you hoping Bob Iger changes at Disney? Tell us in the comments. The post Another Executive Leaves Disney Following Bob Iger’s Return as CEO first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article