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Bob Iger is back in control as The Walt Disney Company CEO, and fans have BIG expectations for his return. ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images We’ve been hearing from many Disney fans about all kinds of changes they hope will happen now that Iger is back, from the return of Magical Express to higher pay for Cast Members. Let’s take a look at the FIRST thing Bob Iger should do now that he’s the Disney CEO once again. We asked DFB readers “What’s the FIRST thing you’d like to see changed at Disney now that Bob Iger is the company’s CEO?” There were several common responses, and we’ll list the most popular ones here. But first, a disclaimer. Disclaimer Iger hasn’t announced yet that any of these changes will be made, and it’s possible that not much will change at all in the Disney theme parks. The main reason for Chapek’s departure appears to be heavy streaming losses for Disney+, and Iger is expected to turn things around for the company in that department. So despite the fact that many fans’ chief concerns are for the parks, the main issue for investors and the Disney Board of Directors is profitability for the streaming platforms. ©Disney In fact, Disney lately has needed revenue from the parks now more than ever as the company’s success there has been bankrolling its streaming service losses. Disney’s Parks, Experiences, and Products division now makes up 62% of the operating income for the company, which means the current system is working pretty well. Although the ideas that our readers came up with for Iger’s return may be popular among Disney fans, they aren’t necessarily guaranteed or even likely to happen. Main Street Still, it’s good to know what the fans are thinking right now, and Iger may have plans to make at least small changes in the theme parks. Let’s dive into the ideas! What Fans Hope Will Change On Facebook, DFB readers told us what they hope will change now that Bob Iger is back in charge at Disney. Here’s what you said! Cast Member Pay Raises Many fans said they hope the first thing that changes is that Disney World Cast Members get a pay raise. DFB reader Anna said, “Honestly, the first thing he needs to do is give all the Cast Members a raise. They have suffered the most, including when the pandemic first hit.” Cast Members Sarah agreed, saying, “Take care of the Cast Members! They work way too hard for all […] that they go through.” Wonderful Cast Members Iger previously shared that, when he left the position of Disney CEO in the first place, one of his regrets was not giving Cast Members pay raises earlier. In an interview with CNN in March 2022, Iger said he regretted not increasing the starting hourly wage from $10 to $15 early on. He said, “We were being pushed to go to 15. There was some hesitation in that regard because of the cost associated with it. We should have done that right away.” More Perks for Disney World Hotel Guests Several readers also asked for more perks for guests who are staying at Disney World hotels. Some of those perks — like Extra Magic Hours and Magical Express — were removed or changed in the last couple of years. Disney’s Riviera Resort Extra Magic Hours was replaced by Early Theme Park Entry, which allows guests at all Disney hotels to enter the parks 30 minutes early every day, and Extended Evening Hours, which allows guests at Deluxe Disney hotels to stay a couple of hours past park closing time on certain days. Art of Animation hotel Zac said, “Staying on property used to have so many benefits, made paying more worth it.” And Jackie agreed that perks used to be better: She requested “perks you used to get as a resort guest like FastPass and magic hour [Extra Magic Hours], not half-hour and not just for deluxe resorts, but a full hour early or late at alternating parks. And free parking for resort guests like it was.” Port Orleans French Quarter Pam also requested the return of full housekeeping at the Disney hotels: “Daily housekeeping. Beds made and towel animals to return to, after 15 hours in the parks.” Return of the Disney Dining Plan Chelsey had a straightforward ask of Bob Iger: “Bring back the meal plan already!!!! We’ve waited long enough.” Disney Dining Plan Shirt The Disney Dining Plan (which allows Disney World guests to purchase a package for meals and snacks along with the rest of their vacation) was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic closures, and it still hasn’t returned. However, this is one change that we think is likely to happen in the near future. The Disney Dining Plan comes in handy! Disney confirmed last year that it would be coming back, and since most of the restaurants in the parks are open now, it looks like that return could happen soon. The dining plan is a profitable program for Disney, so they likely would not be cutting revenue with its return. Genie+ Changes A LOT of fans are hoping for changes or even a full removal of Genie+. Genie+ replaced FastPass+ as the way that visitors can skip the lines at some Disney World rides, but unlike FastPass+, the new system is not free. Many have also complained that it’s too difficult to use, as you have to make reservations for Lightning Lanes throughout the day instead of making those plans ahead of time. Disney Genie Christine said, “Give back the fast passes! I wouldn’t mind paying for FP, but I hate the new system — confusing cost. Just make one set price.” Stacy wanted the entire system gone: “Abolish Genie Plus so I can enjoy the day with my kids without my face in the phone.” Using Disney Genie+! Maureen had the idea to change the system so that you could purchase Genie+ and book rides before your vacation begins. She said, “It would allow better rest, and dining wouldn’t overlap.” Zac voiced the opinions of many fans when he said, “The Genie+ system needs to be overhauled.” Lightning Lane at Tower of Terror Hilary noted that the real problem in her opinion was the cost: “I’m not opposed to a type of Genie+ system. But the cost should be a little lower.” Genie+ got up to $29 per person in Disney World ©Disney Despite the requests of many Disney fans, it seems unlikely that Genie+ will go away. For one thing, this system was likely in development during Bob Iger’s first run as CEO, so he was probably involved in creating it in the first place. And Genie+ has been hugely profitable for Disney thus far, with about half of Disney World guests purchasing it. Spaceship Earth Lightning Lane Christine McCarthy (Disney’s CFO) stated during the 4th quarter earnings call that “the continued popularity of premium offerings, including Genie+ and Lightning Lane” was the reason for increased per capita spending in the parks and contributed significantly to park revenue. As much as you may not want to hear it, Genie+ is likely here to stay. Park Hopper Changes Another change that many fans called for was the return of normal Park Hopping in Disney World. Currently, Park Hopping is only allowed after 2PM. Entering Animal Kingdom Christine said, “Let me park hop when I wanna!” And Kenneth requested the return of the “old park hopping system, come and go as you please.” Return of Magical Express Another perk that is now gone is the Magical Express shuttle between the Disney World hotels and the Orlando International Airport. This used to be a free service, but now visitors must choose between a variety of paid services to get to their Disney hotel. Magical Express has been discontinued In response to the question of what fans wanted Iger to change first, Jessica said, “MAGICAL EXPRESS. For the love of all things good……if nothing else!!! Please!! Yes, I’m begging.” No More Park Pass Reservations Another COVID-era change that has stuck around is the Park Pass Reservation system, which requires guests to make park-specific reservations before they visit a Disney World theme park. You can’t just get into Magic Kingdom with a general Disney World park ticket — you must also have a reservation for Magic Kingdom before you can go inside. Magic Kingdom entrance Disney fan Dulcie said, “Get rid of park reservations so we can have the freedom of waking up and choosing a park. Not everyone wants a second-by-second planned vacation.” Many fans agreed with Dulcie, but it’s still not very likely that the park passes will go away. Although the system started as a way for Disney to control capacity after the COVID-19 closures, the company is still realizing all kinds of savings and control from requiring the reservations. Disney can gather a lot of data from the reservations and use that information to plan more accurately for adequate staffing, food, and merchandise in each park every day. Crowds in EPCOT Because the park passes allow the Disney parks to operate more efficiently (and profitably), it’s likely that the reservations are here to stay. Annual Pass Sales Resume Several fans asked for Disney World to resume Annual Pass sales. Zac said, “Bring back WDW annual passes,” and Kristen said, “Would love to see annual passes being sold again.” Annual Passholder sign Most of the Disney World Annual Pass sales have been on pause for over a year now, but their return could happen in the near future. Disney has recently made a few adjustments to the system (including some price increases), which seem to indicate that the passes will be back if not this year then sometime in 2023. Bring Back the “Magic” Finally, a common theme in the responses to our question about what Bob Iger should change first was to bring back the “Disney magic.” Many fans feel that the magic has been missing for a while now, with more focus on price increases and cost-cutting. Partner Statue Steven said that this might look like “an emphasis on returning to creativity and storytelling.” Some experts have said that Iger is known as the “content guy,” whereas Chapek was more the “finance guy,” so this emphasis on creativity may be a shift we’ll see soon. Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen in the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Disney World Again, keep in mind that many of these changes at the Disney parks are unlikely to happen, as demand for the parks is still very high and people generally seem willing to pay the higher prices, even with the unpopular elements like Genie+ and Park Pass Reservations. From a business point of view, the parks are currently very profitable and running well. But you never know what might change in the future! If you want to learn more about Bob Iger’s return to Disney, check out these links: Disney Stock Values Jump Following News About Bob Iger’s Return as CEO Why Disney Replaced Bob Chapek with Bob Iger Celebrities React to Disney’s Decision to Bring Bob Iger Back as CEO Disney CEO Bob Iger’s Salary Revealed 7 Big Challenges Bob Iger Will Face as Disney’s New CEO Bob Iger Is Back as Disney’s CEO — What Happens Now? Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Bob Iger Is Back at Disney. Here’s What Can Change (and What Won’t). Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What other changes are you hoping to see at Disney now that Iger is back? Let us know in the comments. The post The FIRST Thing Disney Fans Want To See from Bob Iger first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Now is the time of year when we think about what we’re thankful for, and that is especially true for our Disney Aspire participants and graduates.  Since its debut in 2018, Disney Aspire enabled thousands of employees and cast members the opportunity to pursue their dreams by providing 100% tuition paid up front at our network of learning partners and […]View the full article

It’s time for the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, friends! Festival of the Holidays 2021 The festival runs from November 25th through December 30th, 2022 and features fun decorations, entertainment, merchandise, and (of course) FOOD! There are over a dozen Holiday Kitchens, plus additional locations where you can get food at Festival of the Holidays, so it can be hard to keep it all straight, but we’ve created a FREE tool to help you out! Our FREE 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Printable is HERE! This is a full list of ALL of the food being offered in EPCOT for the festival, so you can keep track of everything you want to try. The printable is here! Just click on the images below to download the printable! You can either save it to your phone to have it on hand, or print it out and take it with you. You can even use it as a checklist! It’s two whole pages, so make sure you grab both of them! This should help you stay organized We also color coded some details on the printable, like which items are on the Cookie Stroll (those are in red) and which items are gluten/wheat friendly (those are in green!). Click here to grab the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Printable! For more on EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, check out the links below! ALL of the menus for the 2022 Festival of the Holidays FIRST LOOK at 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays merchandise The CHEAPEST time to go to the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays in 2022 6 exciting new details coming to the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Stay tuned to DFB because we’ll be taking you along with us on the first day of the festival! Click here to learn more about EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays! 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 EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays this year? Tell us in the comments! The post Our FREE DFB Printable For ALL the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Booths first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

On Sunday, November 20th, The Walt Disney Company announced that Bob Iger would be taking over as CEO as Bob Chapek steps down from the position. Magic Kingdom A lot has happened in less than 48 hours since the announcement — stock prices are on the rise, celebrities and Disney fans have expressed their opinions on social media, Bob Iger’s salary has been revealed, and Bob Chapek’s “right-hand man” Kareem Daniel has also left the company. This change in CEO was effective immediately as of Sunday night (November 20th) and things are already moving so fast. So what should Iger’s first steps be as Disney’s CEO? Let’s dig into it. What has Iger already announced? Bob Iger wasted no time making a plan about his first moves as CEO. As of Monday, November 21st, Iger was already making changes in the company. He sent an email to DMED employees (DMED stands for Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, a department created while Bob Chapek was CEO) that outlined some of the changes coming to the company, which was shared by CNBC. ©Reuters He started off by sharing his appreciation saying, “As we embark on the transformative work that I mentioned to you in my email last night, I want to begin by offering my sincere appreciation and gratitude to each and every one of you.” He then goes on to mention that the company will be seeing “organizational and operating changes” soon. Iger intends to make changes that “honors and respects creativity as the heart and soul of who we are.” Cast Members handing out free cookies and cocoa Also in this email, Iger announced that Kareem Daniel, Chapek’s right-hand man and chairperson of DMED, would be leaving the company. Iger’s goal is to have a new structure for DMED in the “coming months” and says that “elements of DMED will remain, but I fundamentally believe that storytelling is what fuels this company, and it belongs at the center of how we organize our businesses.” ©Business Wire via CNBC That is what Iger announced in his first 24 hours in the position of CEO, but what other first steps is he planning to take or should he be taking? 1. Make more acquisitions for Disney If there is one thing that Bob Iger excelled at during his first run as Disney’s CEO, it was acquisition for the company. According to Yahoo! Finance, Citi Managing Director Jason Bazinet said, “Iger should look to make more acquisitions to bolster Disney’s scale even further.” Bob Iger During Iger’s first run as CEO from 2005 to 2020 (when Bob Chapek took over), he became known for the acquisitions he brought to The Walt Disney Company. We look at Disney nowadays and associate Star Wars and other Lucasfilm projects, Marvel, and Pixar with Disney — this was all acquired by Disney during Iger’s time in charge. ©Star Wars Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm alone have earned Disney over $33.8 billion in the global box office since they moved under the Disney umbrella, according to CNBC. This does not include production and marketing costs or any benefits from merchandise and theme park additions. Toy Story Statues When it comes to the domestic box office, Disney’s overall performance increased significantly as Iger’s time as CEO went on. Below is a chart showing Disney’s domestic box office market share from the year Iger became CEO to when he was about to step down. “Iger is going to be viewed historically as a major mogul,” according to USC professor and editor Jason Squire in 2019. President of Box Office Analyst Doug Stone also commented in 2019, “Disney is totally different than what it used to be 10 or 12 years ago. Iger came in and was laser-focused on increasing profitability.” Source: Comscore (vía CNBC) As we can see from the numbers this is true, and much of that is due to the acquisitions he focused on — it makes sense that this should be another focus of his as CEO. 2. Work on making Disney+ profitable Based on a report from Disney, we learned that the reason this change in CEOs happened when it did was based on the Quarter 4 earnings call that happened on November 8th, 2022. During the call, Bob Chapek reported that Disney+ gained 12 million subscribers internationally, however the company was still dealing with financial losses. Disney+ has been struggling with its profitability for a while now, and this was one of the reasons that led the board to decide to bring back Iger as CEO. So, how should he go about it? ©Disney According to Yahoo! Finance, Bazinet (who commented on Disney’s acquisitions above) brought up the idea that Iger should reset Disney+’s long-term financial expectations. He said, “Doing so would allow him to stabilize Disney’s business and then drive upside as the potential turnaround gains hold.” The Santa Clauses TV Show ©Disney Bazinet also said, “They may like they need to lower the [streaming] 2024 expectations that they have given the Street. They may know they are not going to hit those or breakeven by the fourth quarter of 2024. If you are going to to make an announcement like that, you are going to want to have someone of Mr. Iger’s caliber to make it more palatable.” During the Q4 earnings call this year, Chapek said that they expect Disney+ to be profitable by 2024 and Christine McCarthy (Disney’s CFO) mentioned that the launch of the ad-supported tier on Disney+ will likely not have an impact on the streaming profitability until later in 2023. Based on experts who spoke with The Wall Street Journal, investors are growing weary of waiting to see profits from streaming services. Disney+ Billboard Since this is one of the reasons Iger was brought back as CEO, this should be a focus of his in the two years he is with Disney. His contract as CEO is set to end on December 31st, 2024 which is when Chapek estimated that Disney+ would be profitable. 3. Repair relationships and Disney’s reputation During Chapek’s time as the Disney CEO, he has been criticized by both experts and Disney fans who visit the parks and watch content. There have been many controversies while Chapek was leading the company including the dissolution of the Reedy Creek District and his delay in comment on the “Don’t Say Gay” law passed in Florida. Not only has Chapek’s reputation been affected during his time as CEO, but the reputation of The Walt Disney Company has been impacted as well. Cinderella Castle Disney’s Board of Directors determined that Chapek had done “irreparable damage to his ability to lead, with a string of missteps resulting in the lost confidence of Wall Street and most senior Disney executives, as well as many rank-and-file employees,” according to the New York Times. Disney has stated that the company “exercised its right to terminate without cause”, but this quote from the New York Times is about the reported determination of the Board. Disney CEO Bob Chapek in Disney World on its 50th Anniversary When it comes to controversial topics, Bob Iger was quick to make statements about them including the “Don’t Say Gay” law that was passed in Florida. Iger commented on the subject before Chapek commented on behalf of The Walt Disney Company, and Chapek’s delay caused Cast Member walkouts and the decision suffered criticism from the public. Pride Month in Disney Springs Celebrities and employees and fans of Disney have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the change in CEOs and based on posts, many seem positive about the change. Former Imagineer Tom K. Morris tweeted “I don’t cry about why I’m not at WDI anymore bc I did feel it was time to leave, but that guy never even took 30 secs to stop in and introduce himself let alone learn my history or what I had accomplished, something all the other park leaders and CEO’s made it a point to do,” when speaking about Chapek. He went on the mention, “Eisner and Iger (& even Ovitz) made it a point to know who everyone was. They were always very engaged in what we did.” The Imagineering Story ©Disney Matt Braly, an animator for Disney, also commented on Twitter saying, “I cannot tell you how elated the entire animation industry is to see this man gone.” Based on all of the controversy surrounding Disney while Chapek was CEO, Iger should make working on reputation and relationships with the public and Cast Members one of his priorities when it comes to first steps. Disney World If you want to read more about the recent changes in the company, check out our posts below: Bob Iger Is Back at Disney. Here’s What Can Change (and What Won’t). Why Disney Replaced Bob Chapek With Bob Iger Celebrities React to Disney’s Decision To Bring Bob Iger Back as CEO Bob Iger Announces Kareem Daniel, a Lieutenant of Bob Chapek, Is Leaving Disney Disney CEO Bob Iger Salary REVEALED Bob Chapek Did “Irreparable Damage to His Ability to Lead,” Disney Board of Directors Reportedly Determined Stay tuned to DFB for updates as Disney goes through this transition. 7 Big Challenges Bib Iger Will Face as Disney’s New 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. What do you think should be Bob Iger’s first steps as Disney CEO? Let us know in the comments. The post Bob Iger Is Back as Disney's CEO -- What Happens Now? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. One of our favorite things to do at EPCOT is to eat, and chances are if you’re reading this it’s probably your favorite thing to do as well! EPCOT One of the best times to visit this park is during one of their seasonal festivals, when booths pop up around the World Showcase offering a variety of interesting small plates featuring cuisines from around the world! Whether you are going to be in EPCOT for the 2022 Festival of the Holidays or are already planning your 2023 Food and Wine trip, there is one thing we recommend bringing to an EPCOT festival to really get the most of your visit. Believe it or not, it’s nothing fancy — you could actually find this item in any public school! Tangerine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina Spread 2021 That’s right, the secret to a happy and fulfilling EPCOT festival is a cafeteria tray! Long-term readers are probably familiar with this tip of ours, but if you’ve never tried it before we highly suggest implementing it the next time you go to see what a difference it makes. Festivals give you the opportunity to try a ton of different food not only because, well, it’s what they’re there for, but also because usually the portions are small, letting you taste more items! CFS Cafe Plastic Fast Food Tray from Amazon is our secret weapon! More dishes to try? Amazing. More dishes to carry? Not that easy. Unless you’re an octopus and have the luxury of eight arms, trying to carry all the foods you want to try can be tricky. That’s why we like to bring trays, because it allows us to pile up with a ton of different food items. Trust us, the experience is totally elevated when you can mix and match from different booths! Another issue with EPCOT festivals is seating. Once the park fills with guests who are all just as interested in sampling all that the festival has to offer as you are, finding a free space to sit can be next to impossible. Even worse, if you’re fine standing, you’ll still be hard-pressed to find a table. 2022 Festival of the Arts Crowds This is really where the tray becomes your savior! It’s much easier to enjoy your food and hold everything together. Take a look at the surface — it’s textured for extra grip! This tray from Amazon is just a regular cafeteria tray — it really is nothing fancy but it makes a WORLD of difference! If you want to purchase different colors for each person in your party you can, and if you really want to get creative, you can use some vinyl letters to personalize yours! Slide it into your backpack for the day, or strap it to your back for a minimalist carrying option. The best part? Each tray is only $7.78! Click here to buy the CFS Cafe Plastic Fast Food Tray! And depending on the merchandise of the year, you may find themed little trays being sold in the parks. These tend to be a bit more pricey but they will say the festival and the year. They also might be a little smaller but sometimes feature a cup holder. So keep your eyes peeled! Food and Wine Logo Food Tray The next time you go to EPCOT for a festival definitely give this tray trick a try. We have a feeling once you start you’ll never go trayless again! Want to know more about the NEXT festival coming to EPCOT? Get all the details here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which EPCOT festival is your favorite and why? Fight for your fave in the comments below! The post How Will Make Your Next EPCOT Festival Much More Enjoyable first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The holidays are coming near, and it’s time to spread some holiday cheer! No matter which holidays you celebrate, ‘tis the season of gift-giving. And you know Disney has some amazing gift ideas — including Disney Princess, Pixar, Star Wars, Avatar, Spider-Man, and Avengers favorites, among so many more. View the full article

It’s almost time for EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, which kicks off on November 25th, 2022! EPCOT Tree The festival will bring all kinds of holiday fun to EPCOT, including tons of food, entertainment, merchandise, and more, and a NEW light show will be making its debut at Spaceship Earth! As part of Disney World’s 50th anniversary, Spaceship Earth debuted a new light show that’s part of Disney’s “Beacons of Magic.” This light show features an array of colorful illuminations, and we’ve also seen special sequences in past EPCOT festivals and holidays. EPCOT at night For the Festival of the Holidays, a brand new light show will be illuminated on Spaceship Earth! Disney announced that Walt Disney Imagineering has created a light display inspired by winter, with images such as candles, snowflakes, and northern lights. ©Disney Spaceship Earth is typically illuminated once the sun goes down in EPCOT, and you can catch the special light sequences at varying intervals. If you really want to see it once the Festival of the Holidays begins, hang out by Spaceship Earth for a bit when it’s dark! Beacon of Magic Remember to check back here for all your Festival of the Holidays reviews and news! Learn more about EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays here! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you planning to visit EPCOT for the Festival of the Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post A NEW Light Show Will Debut in EPCOT For the Festival of the Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let the festivities begin! Check out all the holiday cheer happening at EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays beginning Nov. 25, including the all-new holiday remix for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. It’s getting colder out there, are you changing your wardrobe accordingly? Grand Floridian Christmas Tree You may think Disney World can’t get cold because it’s in Florida, but that’s not true! It can get chilly in the parks during the winter months, especially during the evening and at night. We always suggest being prepared with a jacket, but what about your footwear? Well, Disney’s just released a new pair of shoes online that will…sorta keep your feet warm? We spotted this pair of Pixar Holiday Cozzzy Sandals for Adults by Crocs in the parks a few months ago, but now they’re online for $64.99. ©Disney Sure, we’ve seen fuzzy Crocs before, but your feet are OPEN in these sandals! So don’t wear them when it’s raining/has rained outside, or you’ll be dealing with some wet, uncomfortable fuzz. ©Disney However, these may keep your feet warm, but not too warm, if you’re walking around your house or live in a slightly chilly climate. Fuzzy Crocs! They’re also covered in adorable Pixar holiday artwork as has “Toy to the World” on the front of both shoes. Grab the Pixar Holiday Cozy Sandals here! Now, we’re no strangers to weird Disney merchandise. We’ve seen some strange keychains and dinosaur lightsabers, just to name a few. We’re always keeping an eye out for new Disney merchandise, so keep an eye on DFB! Here are the 12 weirdest moments we had in Disney last year! 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. Would you wear these shoes? Tell us in the comments below! The post You'll Either LOVE or HATE These Fuzzy Pixar CROCS first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are LOTS of ways to in around Disney World. Sunshine Flyer There are the Disney buses, the Skyliner, and the ferries, not to mention that you can take a rideshare service or your own car/a rental car around as well. But what about getting to and from the airport? Disney’s got two direct services, The Sunshine Flyer and Mears Connect, and one of them has a pretty sweet Black Friday deal! From now until Monday, November 28th, you can save 22% on your Sunshine Flyer trip with this Black Friday sale! The discount will be taken off your entire order when you use the code “Magic22” at checkout. This can really help you save if you are planning to use transportation from the airport to Disney World! ©The Sunshine Flyer Looking for other Disney Black Friday deals? You can find tons of them online, and we’ve got an entire post compiling all the Disney deals we find online so you only have to look in one place! And we’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the other ones we see, so stay tuned to DFB! We’ve got a FULL guide to Disney World transportation right here! 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’s your favorite way to travel in and around the property? Tell us in the comments! The post How You Can Save BIG On Disney World Airport Transportation NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The holiday season is a big time for spending, so saving some cash wherever you can is definitely important. Saving on flights is ideal! That’s why we keep our eyes peeled for deals that can help you out! We like to keep up with all of the Disney deals and discounts, as well as any important sales on Disney merchandise. And, you already know that we’ve got some great Black Friday deals picked out for ya! But, what about those more expensive purchases you make around the holidays, like airplane tickets? Well, a new deal could help you save BIG on those, too! Frontier Airlines has some EARLY Black Friday deals available right now! You can save up to 50% off your next flight by using the promo code TAKEOFF. The deal is valid on Mondays through Thursdays and on Saturdays, and you must buy by November 24th, and fly by January 1st. ©Bill Montgomery/Houston Chronicle | Obtained Via SFGATE If these dates don’t work for your plans, you can still save! You can save 25% on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays if you buy by November 24th and fly between January 4th and April 17th, 2023. The promo code is the same for both deals. ©Frontier Airlines Some routes are excluded from this deal and a round trip purchase is required. You must buy your plane tickets by 11:59PM Eastern time on November 24th, 2022 in order to get the discount. There are also some blackout dates, including November 28th, December 22nd-23rd, January 14th, February 11th & 18th, March 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th, and April 1st, 8th, & 15th, 2023. The discount also doesn’t apply to Y, B, and H class fares (the highest fares for Frontier Airlines). Time to Take to the Skies So, go ahead and book your flight with this deal now, because it doesn’t last long! For more on traveling, check out the 5 BIGGEST things you NEED to know if you’re traveling to Disney World soon, a breakdown of how holiday travel is expected to bring MILLIONS through the Orlando Airport, and our team’s best air travel tips. Stay tuned to DFB for more news on deals and discounts this holiday season! The MOST and LEAST Reliable Airlines in the U.S. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be flying anywhere this holiday season? Tell us in the comments! The post Save Up to 50% On Flights Right NOW! Here's How! 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. If you have a big family or a lot of friends to buy gifts for you might be staring down a monstrous list without knowing what to do! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? With December being right around the corner you are probably feeling the crunch. That’s when we like to turn to Amazon because we know we can find anything on there plus it will arrive quickly! As all retailers gear up for their massive Black Friday sales you can still find special sales in the days leading up to it. It’s also a good chance to purchase high-demand items that will sell out fast on Friday. Check out some of the top items on sale right now! Just Play is a popular brand for Disney toys perfect for toddlers and young kids who love these classic characters! This Just Play Mickey Mouse Pirate Adventure Figure Set includes Mickey and his friends on a fun swashbuckling adventure. Just Play Mickey Mouse Pirate Adventure Figure Set Figures The set includes four figures, a boat, and the perfect play time accessories like swords and treasure! Right now this set is 35% off, bringing the price down from $16.99 to $10.99. Click here to buy this Just Play Mickey Mouse Pirate Adventure Figure Set Figures! These gloves are a must-have in the winter! How frustrating is it when you’re trying to shoot a text while outside and you feel like you have to choose between being able to operate your phone or staying warm? Touch Screen Texting Warm Gloves A pair of Touch Screen Texting Warm Gloves can easily solve that issue. Buy a pair for yourself and treat your whole family to their own thanks to this deal! Normally a pair is $11.99, but at over half off they’re now only $5.59. Click here to buy these Touch Screen Texting Warm Gloves! If you’ve read any of our posts about the luggage brands we recommend for Disney trips, you’ll have seen us reference American Tourister before. Besides making quality suitcases, they also don’t skimp on the designs! American Tourister Disney Hardside Luggage This hardside suitcase is covered in adorable sketches of Minnie and Mickey! We like using hardside luggage because it protects our belongings from being thrown around during transit. Bring this to your next trip for only $66.57, originally $199.99! Click here to buy the American Tourister Disney Hardside Luggage! The last time you saw someone walking around in a coat like this you might have wondered where they got it — most likely it was from Amazon! This puffer coat from Outdoor Ventures is one of the popular styles you can find on their site. Outdoor Ventures Puffer Coat If you live somewhere cold (or are planning on visiting family in a colder climate!) definitely try out one of these coats because of their comfort level and sleek shape. They keep you warm without turning you into the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man! You can find this on Amazon in a variety of different colors for $76.79, marked down from $95.99. Click here to buy the Outdoor Ventures Puffer Coat! If you’re looking for a gift for a Marvel or LEGO fan, this item will be a surefire hit! Let them wield the power of universe with this LEGO model of the Infinity Gauntlet. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Infinity Gauntlet This 590-piece set lets advanced builders create a replica of the iconic item from the Marvel films. Once finished, they’ll have an impressive piece to display! Grab this while it’s on sale, marked down from $79.99 to $63.99. Click here to buy the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Infinity Gauntlet! We think this would be an amazing Christmas gift for your friends who love to entertain. Treat them to this unique cheese board shaped like a Mickey Mouse icon so they can add some Disney flair to their next event! Mickey Mouse Cheese Board and Knife Set This set includes three cheese knives with Mickey icons stamped on the handle, plus the board features a pull-out drawer that holds the knives when not in use. Think of all the amazing charcuterie dishes that could be plated on here! Right now this set is 40% off. You can get it for $40.99 instead of $66.95! Click here to buy this Mickey Mouse Cheese Board and Knife Set! Take it from the nearly 30,000 Amazon reviews — these are amazing earbuds! The Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds are made by a leading audio brand but they really hit the ball out of the park with this pair. Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds Reviewers noted that these really truly are noise cancelling, so if you are looking for a pair of earbuds that will provide you with high quality audio while blocking out everything else, now’s the time to grab them while they’re on sale! Normally these are $199, but you can get $20 off and purchase a set for $179.99. Click here to buy these Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds! Whether you’re shopping for yourself or your loved ones, Amazon is a great place to get your shopping list checked off in one spot! Take a look at ALL of the Disney Black Friday deals happening right NOW here! Don’t worry if you don’t have Prime yet — Amazon is offering a whole month for free and now is the perfect time to try it out! Click the banner below to sign up. 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. Let us know the top gift on your list this year in the comments below! The post Beat the Black Friday Rush With These Amazon Best Sellers On Sale first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World’s a BIG place with a LOT of food — but if you want the BEST of the BEST food, then STICK AROUND. Chocolateeeee We’re talking about the DFB team’s all-time FAVORITES today so YOU’LL know where to chow down during your upcoming Disney World vacation. Check out our video below about the The BEST Things to Eat in Disney World. 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! What’s your favorite thing to eat in Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: The BEST Things to Eat in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Let’s settle a classic debate: if you decorate your home for the holidays, do you start before or after Thanksgiving? Hollywood Studios No matter when you decide to deck the halls at home, we can all probably agree that getting new holiday and home decor is pretty exciting. And, it’s even more exciting when you get a great deal on it! If you’re looking for some new Disney holiday and home decor you’re in luck — but you’ll want to hurry! Black Friday is just around the corner, but Disney has already started dropping deals online! Right now, you can shop a ton of home decor and holiday decorations on shopDisney for up to 40% off — but the sale ends tonight, so hurry up and add your favorite items to your cart! You can pick up this Mickey Mouse Icon Holiday Wreath. Pretty wreath Right now it’s on sale for $29.99, but it’s regularly $50 so you’re saving a good chunk of change — plus, how adorable is that wreath? Click Here To Shop the Mickey Mouse Wreath Plan on leaving some milk and cookies out for Santa Claus? Do it with the Star Wars Ewok Milk and Cookie Set! Leave blue milk and cookies out for Santa The set comes with a plate and a glass milk jug — do you think Santa likes Blue or Green Milk better? You can grab this set now for $17.99 before it might go back up in price to $29.99. Click Here To Shop the Star Wars Milk and Cookie Set Celebrate Hanukkah with a new Mickey Plate Set! It comes with four ceramic salad plates — perfect for apps and ‘zerts. ©Disney The Hanukkah plates are normally $44.99, but you can pick them up online now for $26.99! Click Here To Shop the Mickey Hanukkah Plate Set Not into decorating for the holidays? No problem — there are plenty of non-holiday decor items on sale too, like this Mickey & Friends Soap Dispenser. It actually pumps out little Mickey-shaped soap bubbles! Mickey-shaped soap bubbles? Sign us up! The soap dispenser is on sale for $11.99 but is regularly $19.99. Click Here To Shop the Mickey & Friends Soap Dispenser 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! Disney World during the holiday season is purely iconic. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney shopping news and more! ALL of the Holiday Merchandise You Can Find in Disney World Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be shopping this early Black Friday sale? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Is Having a HUGE Sale on Holiday and Home Decor Online -- But Not for Long! 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. If you’re looking for a new pair of Minnie ears, NOW is the time to do your shopping! Minnie Ears in World of Disney We’ve seen SO many new pairs drop in the theme parks and online recently. From character-themed designs to holiday pairs to everything in-between. And now, another version has dropped on shopDisney! This Minnie Mouse Ear Headband with Pom and Sequin Bow has arrived just in time for the new year — we feel festive already! ©Disney The gray, white, and gold color scheme with sequins reminds us of a New Year’s Eve party, so if you’re counting down to 2023 at Disney World, you NEED this accessory. The ears are gray, accented with a sparkly gold bow and white pom poms. ©Disney Right now, you can snag them online for $29.99 per pair. We’ll be on the lookout to see when they arrive in Disney World and Disneyland Resort! Click Here to Shop the NEW Ears! We’ll continue to update you with more merchandise online as it drops, so stay tuned! We’ve seen a ton of holiday items recently, so make sure to check those out if you’re getting your Christmas list checked off. 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! Click Here to See All the Holiday Merchandise 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. Would you wear these new ears? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney’s New Ears Are Making a STATEMENT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We’re currently of the opinion that “Black Friday” needs to be re-named. While it used to be just the day after Thanksgiving, the Black Friday sales are in FULL EFFECT right now, everywhere! Grand Floridian Christmas Tree We have been working hard for several weeks now to keep you up to date on Every Single Disney Black Friday Deal, and we’ve gotta say it’s hurting our wallets! Let’s take a look at the very best Disney Black Friday Deals you can order today! Magic Band Readers If you’re looking for a way to truly bring the magic home with you — or to give that magic to a fellow Disney fan, this is it! There’s no better feeling than seeing that magical circle light up to get you into a Disney Park, and these fun devices let you use your Magic Band at home! Use your Magic Band at home! You can use these Magic Band Readers in conjunction with smart plugs to perform all kinds of tasks in your home — our favorite use right now is to use it to light your Christmas tree!! We have an exclusive discount for your Christmas shopping — use code DFB15 to save! Click here to check out the Magic Band Readers! Holiday Treats Loungefly Who doesn’t want a Loungefly?! We know these are some DFB readers’ most wanted holiday items, and this one is on sale! ©shopDisney Right now, you can order this festive loungefly for $63.75, down from $85! Click here to order the Holiday Treats Loungefly Backpack! Marvel’s Avengers PlayStation 4 Game Video games make frequent appearances on Christmas wish lists, and this one is half price today! ©Target This PS4 game is on sale for just $9.99! Click here to order the Marvel Avengers PS4 game BaubleBar Mickey Necklace BaubleBar pieces are a fun way to share your Disney fan status with a little elegance, and they have some mind-blowing deals for Black Friday. ©BaubleBar This Asymmetrical Mickey Necklace is currently priced at just $15, down from $45. Great stocking stuffer! Click here to order the BaubleBar Mickey Necklace Disney Samsonite Luggage Luggage makes a fabulous gift, and this deal on name-brand Samsonite luggage is pretty amazing! ©Amazon This Minnie Mouse 2-piece set is just $107.77 on Amazon’s Black Friday sale, marked down from $269.99! Click here to order the Minnie Mouse Samsonite Luggage Set Mickey Mouse Stacking Toy The tiny tots in your life will enjoy this stacking toy complete with Mickey Mouse ears. ©Amazon Recommended for ages 6 months and up, this toy is BPA- and phalate-free, and it’s currently half price! Click here to order the Mickey Mouse stacking toy LEGO Disney Encanto Madrigal House Kids and their families can build the home of the Family Madrigal with this fun set. ©Amazon It is currently marked down to $39.99 from $49.99 at Amazon. Click here to order the LEGO Disney Encanto Madrigal House Mickey Mouse Beanie Hat and Texting Gloves Shifting back from the kiddos to older Disney fans, we loves new winter weather gear! ©Walmart The hat has a fun fair isle pattern, and the gloves are made to work with your touchscreen. Plus, this set is on sale for $17.99! Click here to order the Mickey Mouse Beanie and Gloves Stitch Plush Collector Set Stitch loves! We know you’re out there, and this is a great set for you. ©Walmart This one gift has FIVE plush Stitch dolls in various outfits. And it’s currently on Black Friday special for $20. Click here to get the Stitch Plush Set Boba Fett Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure We couldn’t leave out the Star Wars fans … This Boba Fett Funko Pop! is on sale, too! ©Super Hero Stuff This gift is only $10, on sale from the original price of $16.99. Click here to order the Boba Fett Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure That’s a look at some of the very best Black Friday deals you can grab today — ahead of the frenzy this weekend. We are working continuously to bring you the best Disney holiday shopping deals! Keep an eye on these pages for more! Every Single Disney Black Friday Deal for 2022 Every Single Disney Black Friday Toy Deal for 2022 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! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post The BEST Disney Black Friday Deals You Can Order TODAY! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Could a NEW kind of roller coaster be coming to Disney World soon? Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind We’ve seen Disney use many different kinds of ride designs, like trackless vehicles (think Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway), 360-degree ride vehicles (like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind), water rides (like Pirates of the Caribbean), omnimover dark rides (like Haunted Mansion), and classic coasters (like Rockin’ Roller Coaster). So what’s the next big thing coming to Disney World rides? We might have a BIG clue. A new invention could be the first clue that Disney is going to try out a different kind of theme park ride design. We found a patent for a “Park Ride with Drop Swing Propulsion,” which could point to the future of Disney attractions. ©Disney This patent is by Disney Enterprises, Inc., and the invention is described as “a park ride for use in theme parks, amusement parks, and other settings.” The ride has “a track defining a ride path for a passenger vehicle” that is configured “with two or four or more wheels, to roll upon and engage the track.” ©Disney But what’s DIFFERENT about this ride design is that it “includes a drop swing propulsion system that is adapted to drop a section of track upon which the passenger vehicle is supported from a first elevation to a second elevation that is lower than the first elevation.” In other words, the track will drop the ride vehicle to a lower track, and the force from that drop will propel the vehicle forward. ©Disney According to the patent, “The new park ride design is particularly well suited for use in roller coasters, water rides, and the like in which vehicles are configured to ride or roll, at least a portion of the time, upon a track.” ©Disney This invention was created to address the “need for a new way to surprise people when they experience a park ride or attraction they think they know such as a roller coaster, a water ride, and so on.” The new drop swing propulsion system “provides a new attraction experience never before seen in theme or amusement parks.” ©Disney In the patent, it’s estimated that the drop could be between 5 and 20 feet, and the momentum would provide propulsion in a forward motion. However, it also says that “some embodiments of the drop swing propulsion system are configured to propel the vehicle(s) in the same direction after the drop is experienced while other embodiments of the new system provide a concurrent change in direction for each vehicle,” so it might not just be to move forward. Rock n Roller Coaster Disney hasn’t announced what ride this new system might be used in, so we’ll have to wait and see what comes of the new invention. We’ve seen other patents recently that point to potential new rides, including one patent that seems to be for a Moana-themed boat ride. ©Disney Some other patents that we spotted recently include one invention that could make 3D glasses a thing of the past and another that might revolutionize character meet-and-greets. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Click here to see a new invention that might be the CREEPIEST thing you’ve ever seen. 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 ride do you think this could be used for? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney’s New Invention Is “Never Before Seen in Theme or Amusement Parks” first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

For Cassie Armstrong's gift guide picks, consider a made-in-Florida handmade pet collar, a DIY Disney Dole Whip gift or a rush-of-adrenaline adventure at iFly Orlando. View the full article

Universal Orlando guarantees bead-throwing spot, meal with Mardi Gras float experience. View the full article

I’m on the hunt to find you the Very Best Disney Black Friday deals for 2022! In this guide, I’ll be sharing the best Disney Black Friday sales I find in my research. From Walt Disney World and Disneyland Hotel and transportation deals to Disney merchandise available online at Amazon. I’ll be updating this post […] The post Best Disney Black Friday Deals appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Bob Iger is back as Disney’s CEO after Bob Chapek stepped down. Disney fans, investors, and shareholders all have high expectations for this shift in leadership, and Iger’s near-hero status to those groups might make his return more difficult than some expect. Bob Iger After disappointing streaming results in the last couple of quarters, execs are looking for someone to swoop in and make Disney+ profitable by the company’s promised deadline. Fans are looking for more “magic” and fewer price increases in the theme parks. Investors want to see strong results and profits from all aspects of the company. The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors wants a solid plan for Iger’s successor after his 2-year contract is up. Can Iger meet all of these expectations? Bob Iger was Disney’s CEO and chairman for 15 years, from 2005 to 2020. He remained on Disney’s board through 2021 after appointing Chapek as his successor in 2020. In total, he has worked for Disney for over 40 years. But this could be his toughest show yet. According to Fortune, the track record of “Boomerang CEOs” is “decidedly mixed.” Some, such as Apple founder Steve Jobs, have successfully pulled their companies out of difficult positions. But others, like Steve Ells (founder of Chipotle), struggled to rebuild relationships and ended up leaving sooner than planned. ©Disney So how will Iger’s return go? We can tell you one thing: Bob’s to-do list is nothing short of daunting. We’re looking at 7 of the biggest challenges Bob Iger is currently facing (or will soon face) as Disney’s CEO. Making Disney+ Profitable Bob Chapek put up disappointing results for Disney+ earnings during the last report, which many have speculated is one of the reasons that he was replaced. Streaming services are very expensive to start, and up to this point, Disney has mainly focused on getting content on the platform and building subscribers. However, the company has promised investors that Disney+ will be profitable by 2024 — a deadline that’s quickly approaching as Disney+ earnings continue to fall. ©Disney In the fourth quarter of 2022, Disney streaming services’ operating losses increased from $0.8 billion to $1.5 billion, which Disney attributed to higher losses at Disney+ and a decrease in results at Hulu. With losses almost doubling, investors are concerned about Disney’s ability to make their streaming services profitable. Disney+ is about to get a price increase, and an ad-supported tier is being introduced. Both of those changes will take place on December 8th of this year. This could help Disney+ work towards profitability, but will it be enough when Disney has about a year to make up for huge losses? Disney+ Billboard Some experts think Iger should “consider resetting long-term financial expectations for Disney+” (Yahoo Finance), as the current goals seem unattainable. According to Citi Managing Director Jason Bazinet, Iger might be the best man to make an announcement about resetting those goals: “[Disney] may know they are not going to hit those or breakeven by the fourth quarter of 2024. If you are going to make an announcement like that, you are going to want to have someone of Mr. Iger’s caliber to make it more palatable.” Bob Iger ©New York Post According to CNBC, Iger’s strategy with Disney+ pricing is different from Chapek’s. Some people who are familiar with both CEOs have said that “Iger wanted Disney+ to be the lowest-priced major streaming offering […] That way, customers would view Disney+ as a stronger value proposition to its competitors even if it felt other services’ content might be more robust.” Iger’s idea was to “slowly raise prices over time, targeting a $1 per month increase each year for the near future.” So investors and the Board will be eager to see how Iger plans to make Disney+ profitable and what changes (if any) he makes to the current plan. Learn more about the ad-supported tier coming to Disney+ here. Navigating a Recession Most experts have agreed that a recession is imminent in 2023. CNN reported a “98% chance of a global recession” and said, “The question of a recession is no longer if, but when.” When the world does enter a recession, it’s possible that the Disney Parks (currently one of the most profitable parts of The Walt Disney Company) could start to lose some of their impressive profits. Main Street Right now, the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division is responsible for 62% of the operating income for Disney. The success in this area is making up for losses in the streaming section. However, if families choose to put off Disney vacations due to tight finances in a global recession, Disney may lose some of that cushion. That puts more pressure on Disney+ to become profitable sooner. This dilemma also pushes Iger to find ways to keep theme park attendance up. Disney has previously hinted at possible discounts and other tools they’d use in the event of a recession, but we haven’t heard from Iger about what his plan will be. Crowds in Tomorrowland Iger was the Disney CEO during the previous recession in 2008. During that time, Iger said that Disney “made a conscious decision to put in place promotions that would drive attendance. This strategy has had a predictable impact on margins, but it’s also had the intended effect of bringing people to our parks” (LA Times). During that period, Disney certainly felt the impact of the recession (at one point reporting a 46% drop in net income) but was generally applauded for keeping theme parks busy despite the difficult time. Learn about Disney’s potential response to a recession here. Living Up to Expectations Many fans, investors, celebrities, and coworkers have celebrated the return of Bob Iger. Josh Gad (voice of Olaf in Frozen) said, “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.” Fans are speculating that price increases will stop, Magical Express will return, and the tumult of the last two years will suddenly be repaired. However, with so many problems to address, Iger is very unlikely to make everyone 100% happy. His reputation could take a hit if he doesn’t start making the changes that many fans and investors expect. Bob Iger ©Bloomberg One advantage that Iger does have is his experience in this position and his talent for tactfully handling difficult situations. He may not be able to end all price increases in Disney World, but in the past he’s shown that he can address and frame those changes more diplomatically. Iger has to reach “unicorn” status to accomplish all of the goals his proponents are already attributing to his reign. See celebrities’ reactions to Bob Iger returning to Disney. Choosing a Successor One of Bob Iger’s biggest jobs before he left his position as the Disney CEO in 2020 was to appoint a successor. According to some reports, Iger was not completely happy about his final choice of Bob Chapek. ©Disney In fact, some sources said that Iger spent some time “regretting what he has called one of his worst business decisions: the selection of Bob Chapek as his successor.” His decision apparently came during a time when he “got tired of all the things you have to do” and instead wanted to “play around with creative.” A former Disney executive said, “[Iger] said he was tired of being harangued about [succession] and said, ‘Fine, you guys have someone else run the business.'” Another executive claims that Iger didn’t realize Chapek was “such a ‘novice’ when it came to handling complex issues like talent management and political battles, and that Chapek was arrogant and uninterested in other people’s opinions.” ©Disney If the issue of succession was such a disaster the first time around, Iger may be approaching this decision more carefully now. Under his current contract, Iger has 2 years to determine who will take over as Disney CEO once he leaves again. It’s clear that this is one of the main reasons Iger is being brought in — to make a few course corrections and ultimately choose the next CEO. In Disney’s statement, it says Iger was brought back with “a mandate from the Board to set the strategic direction for renewed growth and to work closely with the Board in developing a successor to lead the Company at the completion of his term.” The New York Times also reported that succession is going to be a major issue: “The intrigue is where Iger may turn for the next leader. […] On the succession front, Peter Rice, a top content chief at Disney, and Kevin Mayer, one of the architects behind the launch of Disney+, are no longer at the company. Will Iger try to bring them back?” Peter Rice | ©The New York Times Another possible successor that many have speculated could rise to the position of CEO is Josh D’Amaro, who is currently the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Learn more about Iger’s regrets about choosing Bob Chapek. Politics One area where Bob Chapek seemed to struggle was politics. Disney ran into several sticky situations during his tenure as CEO, including a very public feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law and the status of Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline During the former controversy, many Disney employees were not happy with how Disney handled the situation. There were company-wide walkouts to protest the lack of response by Disney. As we mentioned earlier, Iger was not necessarily impressed with Chapek’s political prowess. He said he hadn’t realized Chapek was “such a ‘novice’ when it came to handling complex issues like talent management and political battles,” implying that Iger believes he would have done better in those situations. ©WFTV 9 Now, Iger is navigating the aftermath of several complicated political issues, and it’s up to him to find a solution that will appease all parties involved and bring Disney through with a repaired brand reputation. Get the latest update on the Reedy Creek dissolution here. Brand Management Another shift that happened at The Walt Disney Company during Bob Chapek’s time as CEO is that many fans began to focus on the cost-cutting measures instead of the “magic.” Disney was frequently called out for being too expensive, and although the Disney parks have almost always been a pricy vacation, the expense was thrust into the spotlight due to frequent and occasionally drastic price increases, services that used to be free now incurring a cost, and surge pricing being introduced in several areas, including tickets and amenities. Disney World Entrance Iger’s role now is to adjust that perspective so that the audience instead focuses on the positive, “magical” parts of Disney. He may accomplish this with a big, exciting announcement, like a new ride or expansion of a park. An announcement like that would certainly fulfill fan expectations and put Disney on a path of looking more and more like the “good guy.” Check out the recent Genie+ price increase here! Working With Investors Iger needs to appease the fans and the Board of Directors at Disney, but he also needs to make the investors happy. According to Bloomberg, he’s already up against some investors who aren’t excited about his return: “His return may be complicated by an activist investor. Nelson Peltz’s fund management firm Trian opposes his rehiring and is pushing for a board seat to advocate for more cost cuts.” Other investors, however, are optimistic about his return. Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall said, “Chapek was seen as an ace on park ops, whereas Iger is the content guru, and we think content is believed to be the lifeblood of the company.” We’ll continue to watch for updates from The Walt Disney Company about Iger’s plans for the future. Want to learn more about Disney’s choice to replace Bob Chapek with Bob Iger? Check out these posts: Bob Iger Is BACK as Disney CEO: Read Disney’s Statement Here Disney Stock Values Jump Following News About Bob Iger’s Return as CEO Bob Iger Is Back at Disney. Here’s What Can Change (And What WON’T). Why Disney Replaced Bob Chapek With Bob Iger Celebrities React to Disney’s Decision to Bring Bob Iger Back as CEO Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of Disney’s decision to bring back Bob Iger? Let us know in the comments. The post 7 Big Challenges Bob Iger Will Face as Disney's New CEO first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With Bob Iger’s return as the Disney CEO, many are expecting a major shakeup when it comes to executives at The Walt Disney Company. ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Now, we’ve seen one of the first moves that Iger is making to adjust leadership and reshape the company into his own vision. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kareem Daniel is going to be leaving Disney. Daniel (who was Disney’s head of media and entertainment) was “a top lieutenant for former Disney CEO Bob Chapek,” and several experts predicted that he may be one of the first to go in this major adjustment. ©Business Wire via CNBC Iger has been directed to “set the strategic direction for renewed growth,” which process will likely involve more changes in Disney leadership. The Reporter stated that “Wall Street analysts and company watchers had been expecting a reorganization of the company’s streaming division, as Iger seeks to reshape the company’s streaming strategy and return to a structure that prioritizes greater decision-making by creatives.” ©Reuters Iger sent a note to Disney employees on Monday, November 21st, which stated, “I’ve asked Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Jimmy Pitaro, and Christine McCarthy to work together on the design of 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. As a result, Kareem Daniel will be leaving the company, and I hope you will all join me in thanking him for his many years of service to Disney.” ©Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images Daniel was appointed by Bob Chapek to head the newly organized media and entertainment distribution group in 2020. Disney is striving to reach its goal of making Disney+ profitable in fiscal year 2024, which is a big ask after the company reported $1.5 billion in streaming losses last quarter. Many of Iger’s decisions now may focus on that goal. ©Disney We’ll continue to watch for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news! Click here to find out what will change (and what WON’T) with Iger’s return. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Bob Iger Announces Kareem Daniel, a Lieutenant of Bob Chapek, Is Leaving Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In a sudden turn of events, Bob Chapek is no longer Disney’s CEO and Bob Iger has returned to lead for 2 years. ©Disney We’ve shared a look at Disney stock values following the news of Iger’s return, a look at why Disney replaced Chapek with Iger, and celebrities’ reactions to the news. But now we’ve got more details about the determination made before Chapek was removed and what his exit payment could look like. According to the New York Times, Disney’s Board of Directors determined that Chapek had done “irreparable damage to his ability to lead, with a string of missteps resulting in the lost confidence of Wall Street and most senior Disney executives, as well as many rank-and-file employees.” (To be clear, this is a quote from the New York Times about the reported determination of the Board. Disney has stated that Chapek was fired without cause.) CNBC reports that (according to some sources) Christine McCarthy, Disney’s chief financial officer, was reportedly one of the executives who expressed a “lack of confidence” in Chapek. ©CNBC According to the Financial Times, some senior executives at Disney actually “led a rebellion” against Chapek in recent weeks. The “covert campaign” reportedly started in the summer. Executives approached the Board to express their concerns, but the final straw was reportedly the earnings release from November 8th (Q4 of fiscal year 2022). Following Disney’s recent report of a $1.5 billion loss in streaming, stock values went down and CNBC host Jim Cramer called for Chapek’s firing. He said Chapek was “incapable of running a fantastic company.” Days after this report, Chapek announced job cuts, saying “We are going to have to make tough and uncomfortable decisions.” ©CNBC Reportedly, Susan Arnold, the chair of the Board of Directors, called Iger on Thursday to ask him to consider returning to the company. Ultimately, the Board’s determination led to bringing back Bob Iger as CEO. He will serve a limited, 2-year term. According to CNBC, Disney “blindsided” Chapek with the decision, and the news caught “Chapek and his inner circle” “off guard.” Chapek was reportedly notified on Sunday night. The Financial Times shares that Chapek reportedly became aware of the moves being made against him but was “caught off guard by the speed of events.” ©Disney According to Disney’s report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company used its right to terminate Chapek without cause. Chapek also resigned from the Board “pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement.” The report goes on to note, “Mr. Chapek will receive the separation benefits payable in accordance with the terms of his previously disclosed employment agreement.” Disney CEO Bob Chapek in Disney World on its 50th Anniversary Bloomberg reports that Bob Chapek will be leaving Disney with a number of “exit payments and benefits that could be worth more than $23 million.” This is in addition to the millions of dollars Chapek could also get if the Disney stock price increases in the coming years. The Financial Times shares that under Chapek’s old contract, “at the end of 2021 he was entitled to an estimated $54mn in cash and stock in the event of early termination.” Keep in mind that Disney has not released the exact financial terms of Chapek’s departure. Bloomberg reached its number by making some calculations based on disclosures from regulatory filings. ©Disney So where do the numbers come from? Well, first, Chapek has a contract that reportedly entitles him to collect a salary for the FULL duration of the contract term, even if he is “ousted prematurely.” Chapek’s contract had been extended through part of 2025. Bloomberg shares that the salary payments from now through that 2025 date would be around $6.5 million. On top of that, Chapek is entitled to collect the pension he has accumulated during his time with Disney. In October of 2021, some filings from Disney showed that the pension number was $16.9 million. According to Bloomberg, “That money is his, regardless of the circumstances of his departure.” Hollywood Studios Bloomberg notes that Chapek will probably get more money too, but it’s not clear just how much he’ll receive. Chapek does have a number of stock options and he also has some stock awards that haven’t vested yet. It’s not clear how much these things will be worth, given how the stock value has dipped over the past several months. But stock values have jumped up given the news of Iger’s return. It’s possible that Iger will take steps that will improve the stock value. That could make Chapek’s stock and options increase significantly in terms of value. ©Google Chapek also has a “non-qualified deferred compensation plan.” Bloomberg shares that this is “akin to a super-sized 401(k).” About one year ago, Chapek had about $8.5 million in his non-qualified deferred compensation plan, but that number may have changed given the changes in the stock market. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more developments on this situation. Stay tuned for the latest updates. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Tell us your thoughts about the leadership change at Disney in the comments below. The post Bob Chapek Did “Irreparable Damage to His Ability to Lead,” Disney Board of Directors Reportedly Determined first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

On Sunday, November 20th, Disney announced that Bob Iger would be taking over the position of The Walt Disney Company CEO as Bob Chapek steps back. ©Reuters Since the news broke, we’ve seen stock rise and learned why this decision was made when it was. Disney fans and celebrities have been sharing their opinions on social media as well. But now, Bob Iger’s salary and more details about the switch in CEOs has been released. We recently learned that Bob Chapek is set to walk away with $23 million from this deal, but now we know more about what Iger’s salary looks like. According to a new report, Bob Iger entered an employment agreement to have an annual base salary of $1 million and a possible 100% bonus each year. The report says the annual bonus will depend on his performance in his position. ©CNBC The employment agreement signed by Iger means he is entitled to The Walt Disney Company’s equity-based long-term incentive plans and programs. For each fiscal year that ends during this employment agreement, Iger will be given the long-term incentive award which has a target value of $25 million. Bob Iger ©New York Post Right now, Iger is only set to be CEO for two years while the company trains a new individual to take his spot. Iger’s term with the company is set to end on December 31st, 2024. ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images The report also says “The Company exercised its right to terminate without cause the employment of Robert A. Chapek as Chief Executive Officer.” Along with the termination, Chapek resigned from the Disney board. Back in June of 2022, Chapek extended his contract for 3 years — Chapek will receive separation benefits that were in that contract. ©Disney Bob Iger took over as CEO in 2005 from Michael Eisner, who welcomed him back with a message on Twitter. He served as the Chief Executive Officer until 2020 when we passed the torch onto Bob Chapek. Stay tuned for more updates as Disney transitions CEOs. Bob Iger Is Back at Disney. Here’s What Can Change (and What Won’t). 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 Bob Iger taking over as CEO again? Tell us in the comments. The post Disney CEO Bob Iger Salary REVEALED first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the most wonderful time of the year around Disney World. Hollywood Studios All the parks have been decked out with festive decorations, and throughout the resorts, you’ll find quite a few gingerbread displays that will knock your socks off. But, gingerbread displays aren’t the only decorations in the resorts that are wowing guests — the Christmas tree has finally arrived at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! The life-sized Gingerbread House isn’t the only holiday spectacle at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort — the gigantic Christmas tree is officially up as well! The Grand Flo Christmas tree is here! You can see just how large this tree is in the photo below — it spans multiple floors of the Grand Floridian. You’ll find it smack dab in the center of the lobby and it’s completely covered in ornaments, garland, beads, and all sorts of other Christmas baubles and holiday decorations. This thing is massive. There are plenty of gold accents and homages to the Grand Floridian, like a few birdcage ornaments. We could spend hours (and have) just looking at all the details on this tree. Plenty of details and ornaments. Head on over to the Grand Floridian to check out this massive Christmas tree, and while you’re there you can check out the incredible Gingerbread House display too. Plus, you might even get to hear some sweet piano tunes while you’re walking around and taking it all in! Looking for more holiday happenings around Disney World? Find out where you can see a gingerbread restaurant in Disney World here and you can see all the treats available at the various gingerbread displays throughout Disney World here. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more! See the FULL MENUS for the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Here Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2022 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2022 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2022 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2022 Pre-Order 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Guide All Three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out Everything Announced for the 2022 Holiday Season in Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Is Coming BACK in 2022 – Get the Latest Details Get All of the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Learn Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events See How Much It Costs to Do Disney World at Christmas in 2022 Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you seen the Grand Floridian Christmas tree? Let us know in the comments! The post Check Out the GIGANTIC Christmas Tree That Just Popped Up at Disney's Fanciest Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article