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DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Part of the pressure of shopping for gifts is ensuring you’re getting the perfect item that your loved one will adore. All the presents under the tree will be perfect! Sometimes, certain people can be more difficult to shop for than others, especially if you don’t know them well or feel like they already have everything they want. It doesn’t feel great to have to re-gift something you received, plus it isn’t too swell for the other person either. Instead, stick to the items on this list and don’t worry about any disappointment! Stanley Adventure Reusable Vacuum Quencher Tumbler Know someone who works hard to stay hydrated? Surprise them with this best-selling tumbler from Stanley Adventure. Available in a variety of colors to fit their tastes, this tumbler comes in a variety of sizes, from 14 ounces to a massive 40 ounces like the version pictured below! Stanley Adventure Reusable Vacuum Quencher Tumbler © Amazon The Stanley Adventure Reusable Vacuum Quencher Tumbler is just the thing for your sister who loves camping or that bestie who’s always hitting the gym. Made of stainless steel, each tumbler is double vacuum-sealed to control the temperature of beverages. It’s even dishwasher safe! You can grab this 40 ounce version for $40. Click here to buy the Stanley Adventure Reusable Vacuum Quencher Tumbler! The Original Isopropyl Alcohol Fireplace One of our editors has this unique item and absolutely loves it! Hundreds of Amazon reviewers do too, saying it became an instant favorite in their house. The Original Isopropyl Alcohol Fireplace is a small freestanding fireplace perfect for cozy winter evenings. The Original Isopropyl Alcohol Fireplace © Amazon By running on isopropyl alcohol, this mini fireplace doesn’t produce any soot or emit dangerous carbon monoxide. It’s safe for both indoor and outdoor use, which means you can enjoy roasting marshmallows even on rainy days! Just 5 ounces of isopropyl alcohol provides 45 minutes of burn time. Surprise your loved one with this unique gift for $99. Click here to buy The Original Isopropyl Alcohol Fireplace! Hans Grill Rectangular Pizza Stone and Pizza Peel Another suggestion from our editors, this pizza stone from Hans Grill will help you create delicious, restaurant-quality pizzas at home. Perfect for the home chef, this stone can accommodate large family-style pizzas and will help create that amazing crispy crust you get from the best pizza places. Hans Grill Rectangular Pizza Stone and Pizza Peel © Amazon The Hans Grill Rectangular Pizza Stone and Pizza Peel comes with both the stone and a wooden peel that helps you slide the pizza off the stone without any burns or ruining the stone itself. Reviewers on Amazon said this stone helped brown their pizza crusts to perfection and one reviewer said they even use their stone to catch any spills when cooking other things in their oven. Give someone the gift of easy and delicious pizza at home with this set for $34.99. Click here to buy the Hans Grill Rectangular Pizza Stone and Pizza Peel! MagBand Magnetic Wristband Talk about a useful gift! While this might not be the most glamorous of items, it isn’t something you see everyday and can save someone from a lot of headaches. Any handyman knows keeping track of tiny screws, nuts, bolts, and other bits and bobs can be a massive pain! Help alleviate this stress with the MagBand Magnetic Wristband. MagBand Magnetic Wristband © Amazon This heavy duty wristband is magnetic and gives easy access to any small, metal-based items that are usually difficult to keep track of. Just use the Velcro band to secure it around the wrist and let nails and other items attach to the strong magnets inside the fabric! Even the reviews said this is a great stocking stuffer. Grab one for all the tinkerers in your family for $10.99 each. Click here to buy the MagBand Magnetic Wristband! Amazon Prime Subscription In this day and age it seems like you can find everything online. From new parents with no time to shop to older family members who might not have the energy to head to the stores frequently, many people on your gift list could probably benefit from an Amazon Prime subscription. Plus, there’s more to Prime than just shopping; members also can take advantage of free streaming through Prime Video, free Kindle e-books, unlimited photo storage, and tons more. Amazon Prime is the gift that keeps on giving! You might not have known this, but you can actually gift a membership to Prime! You might have thought you would have had to just create a new account with their info or a throwaway email address, but you can actually go through Amazon’s “Gift of Prime” page to purchase a Prime membership on behalf of someone else. Then, once they receive the e-gift, they can fill out their information and enjoy Prime for as long as you pre-purchased, either 3 months ($44.97) or 12 months ($139). Once the gift period is over you don’t need to worry about auto-renewal! For more information and to purchase Prime as a gift, click the link below. Click here to gift an Amazon Prime Subscription! Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer Have you ever made yourself a cup of tea and left it to steep only to forget about it, then come back to it hours later and it’s gone completely cold? Plenty of us have, and that could have been avoided with a mug warmer like this one. Whether your giftee is a coffee fanatic or loves sipping on hot cocoa, they won’t want to give up this item. Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer © Amazon The long power cord that comes with the Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer offers freedom and makes this an excellent portable item. It’s super easy to use: just plug it in, switch it on, and let it heat up. Set your mug on the surface and let it warm up your beverage as well as keep it warm while working, watching a movie, or doing anything else! This mug warmer is less expensive than other brands, available on Amazon for $14.29. Click here to buy the Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer! Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket Many people enjoy using a weighted blanket and find that it helps them not only fall asleep but stay asleep. Add on the fact that this blanket also features smooth fabric on one side and plush faux Sherpa fleece on the other, and this is the ultimate winter blanket! Treat one of your friends to the blanket that will see them through until spring. Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket © Amazon This Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket has pockets stitched across its 60″ by 60″ area, each one filled with small glass beads. That’s what gives it its 15 pound weight! This blanket comes in a variety of colors and patterns, including a seasonally-appropriate Buffalo Check Plaid. If this blanket makes it onto your Christmas shopping list, make sure to budget it in for $57.99. Click here to buy this Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket! Electric Lighter Sometimes the best presents are the things you didn’t even know you needed until you were given them. That’s the case for many of our writers who suggested adding an electric lighter to this list! It isn’t the most exciting gift, but for candle enthusiasts this can quickly turn into one of those products you just can’t live without. With an electric lighter there’s no fuel required, so instead of it running out of fuel and you throwing it away, all you need to do is give it a recharge via USB cord and you’re good to go again! Electric Lighter © Amazon This Electric Lighter from RONXS is one of the best on Amazon with over 20,000 reviews. To use it, make sure the safety switch is off, then just hold the button to activate the lighter. This one also boasts an adjustable neck, perfect for lighting candles with hard-to-reach wicks. Reviewers LOVE this product, saying it’s easy to use, and one pointed out this is better for their arthritic hands than traditional fuel-powered lighters that require more gripping. So what are you waiting for? Grab this perfect stocking stuffer now for $7.99. Click here to buy this Electric Lighter! Parlovable Women’s Slippers The holidays are always the best time to gift someone a pair of slippers. It’s such a great feeling to slip your feet into a new pair and enjoy the cushiony softness of them. One of the most popular slipper brands is Uggs but those can get pricey. We poked around Amazon and were able to find some dupes that can stand up to their more expensive counterparts! Parlovable Women’s Slippers © Amazon The Parlovable Women’s Slippers are made of faux fur wraps with a suede outer and look very similar to Uggs. While these are best as comfy house shoes, they do have waterproof and anti-slip soles so if you do need something to throw on to run out and grab the mail, these will do the trick. These slippers come in several other colors and are another reviewer favorite, and for $23.99 they’re pretty hard to pass up! Click here to buy the Parlovable Women’s Slippers! Holiday shopping shouldn’t be stressful. Skip the old standbys like candles and bath sets and instead surprise your loved ones with a gift they’ll enjoy for years to come! Looking for Disney-specific items? Check out this gift guide made especially for Disney lovers! 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 from 2021 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What the top item on your wish list this year? Let us know down below! The post We Promise, No One Will Want to Regift These 9 Christmas Presents first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We love when Disney shares new recipes because we know how many of you, our writers love to recreate the Disney magic at home. Mickey Pretzel! That is why we have built an entire PAGE filled with all sorts of Disney recipes. And today, we have a new one to add to that list. Disney recently shared the recipe for the Plant-Based Spinach and Artichoke Dip from Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant in Hollywood Studios. And we have ALL the details for ya here! Plant-Based Spinach and Artichoke Dip Ingredients: To begin, you’ll need to gather your ingredients and separate them into three sections: panko topping, spinach-artichoke dip, and the dippers. Panko Topping: 1 cup pinko-style breadcrumbs 1 cup grated plant-based Parmesan-style cheese substitute 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley Plant-Based Spinach Artichoke Dip: 1 tablespoon of water 1/4 cup chopped Spanish onion 1/4 cup chopped cauliflower 2 teaspoons canola oil 1 teaspoon chopped garlic 1 1/4 cups vegan chive cheese Oat milk, as needed 1 cup tightly packed baby spinach leaves 1/2 cup chopped canned artichokes 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper 1 teaspoon Tajin seasoning Dippers: Red pepper strips Cauliflower florets Carrot sticks Pita Chips YUM! Directions: Now let’s get started with the fun part, baking! For Panko Topping: Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, stir the breadcrumbs and plant-based Parmesan-style cheese on the baking sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes, stirring once, until it is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes. Add fresh parsley and set aside. For Plant-Based Artichoke Dip: Combine water, onion, and cauliflower in a small food processor. Purée until smooth; set aside. Heat canola oil in a small skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add chopped garlic and puréed cauliflower and cook for 3 minutes. Add plant-based chive cheese and cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted. If the dip is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of oat milk at a time and thin to desired consistency. Add spinach, artichokes, and red bell pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes, until spinach is wilted, and artichokes are warm. Season with Tajin. Keep warm until ready to serve. To Serve: Pour the warm spinach-artichoke dip into a small bowl. Sprinkle panko topping on top and serve with vegetables and pita chips. This recipe is a great appetizer for the holidays, a party, or just a Friday night. Even though the dish is plant-based it is quite delicious. You can read our in-park review of it here! Check out ALL of our Disney recipes here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite Disney recipe to make at home? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Recipe: Spinach and Artichoke Dip From Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant in Hollywood Studios first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World was meant to change and grow, so that means that there are constant construction projects going on. Polynesian Village Resort Over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, a lot has been going on: Kona Cafe got a makeover, while there’s still construction happening on the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas that are being built there. So let’s take a look at the latest updates! When we last took a look at the construction area of the DVC villas, it was pretty much just a lot of dirt. There was also some standing water at the site in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Now, though, the area is dry and it looks like the latest work has been in removing some trees around the edge of the site. Tree removal Several digger vehicles are on site. Digging There are also now dumpsters on the site, where the workers are putting debris and rubble. Dumpsters The concrete barriers we saw previously at the edge of the site have been removed and are now set to the side of the site. Concrete barriers Meanwhile, Kona Cafe’s construction is complete and the restaurant has reopened with a new look. New Kona Cafe look We’ll continue to keep an eye on all the construction at Disney World and keep you updated. We’ll also let you know when we get more details about the new DVC villas being built at the Polynesian. Stay tuned to DFB for more. If you’re worried about construction affecting an upcoming trip, most of this work only takes place during the day and doesn’t interrupt guests during sleeping hours. However, if you think it might be an issue, be sure to contact Disney World to express your concerns — they may be able to accommodate you in a different room or resort. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you stayed at the Polynesian recently? Let us know in the comments! The post Construction UPDATE on Changes at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Now that we’re officially into the holiday season in Disney World, we’re starting to see a few menu changes. Peppermint Mocha is BACK Last month, we had hundreds of price increases, but this month is more about new seasonal offerings (hello, winter Starbucks coffees!), as well as new holiday snacks! We’re also gearing up for the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, where we’ll get even MORE new food. But as for restaurant menus, let’s look at the changes we’re seeing this week. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Mama Melrose’s Ristorante The plant-based Polenta Cake, Mushroom, and Herb Cauliflower increased from $21 to $23. Here’s what’s changed under Mocktails: REMOVED: Grapefruit Spritzer ADDED: Agave Garden— Lyre’s Agave Reserva Spirit, Cold-pressed Lime Juice, Passionfruit-Papaya-Green Tea, and Cucumber for $11 Mama Melrose’s ADDED: Pink London Spritzer — Lyre’s Pink London Spirit, Grapefruit Soda, Pomegranate-Green Tea, Lime, and Mint for $11 Read our most recent Mama Melrose’s review! EPCOT Via Napoli Here’s what’s changed at Via Napoli under Appetizers: ADDED: Arancini — fried risotto balls, fontina cheese, meat ragu for $14 ADDED: Garlic Focaccia for $4.95. Via Napoli Those are the only changes here, though! Here’s a recent review of Via Napoli Disney’s Animal Kingdom Tiffins The Tiffins Bread Service has changed at Tiffins. It was served with the following dipping sauces: Thai Milk Bread, Coconut-Makrut Lime Sauce, Indian Pappadam, Ginger-Pear Chutney, Brazilian Pão de Queijo, and Guava Jam. Now, it’s served with Coconut Curry Sauce, Guava Sauce, and Ginger Pear Chutney. Tiffin’s Bread Service Here’s what’s changed under the beverages (alcoholic): Jenn’s Tattoo increased from $13 to $14.50 Graham Beck Brut Rosé, Western Cape increased from $13 to $14 Don Rodolfo Moscato, Mendoza increased from $10 to $11 Cederberg Bukettraube, Cederberg increased from $12 to $13 Pulenta Estate ‘XIV’ Pinot Gris, Agrelo increased from $11 to $12 Raats ‘Original’ Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch increased from $11 to $12 Matetic ‘EQ’ Sauvignon Blanc, Valle de Casablanca increased from $13 to $14 Tiffins Familia Zuccardi Q Chardonnay​ Tupungato, Argentina increased from $13 to $14 Susana Balbo ‘Crios’ Rosé of Malbec, Mendoza increased from $11 to $12 Alto Limay Pinot Noir, Patagonia increased from $13 to $14 Painted Wolf ‘The Den’ Pinotage, Coastal Region increased from $12 to $13 Catena ‘Vista Flores’ Malbec, Mendoza increased from $11 to $12 Spice Route ‘Chakalaka’ Red Blend, Swartland increased from $13 to $14 Kaiken ‘Terroir Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza increased from $11 to $12 Concho y Toro ‘Marques de Casa Concha’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley increased from $16 to $17 Here’s our latest Tiffins review Warung Outpost The Maharaja Lime Margarita is now made with Lunazul Reposado Tequila, instead of Sauza Silver Tequila. Warung Outpost That’s the only change here, though. Read our Warung Outpost review! Disney’s Beach Club Resort Beach Club Marketplace There’s one addition to the menu at Beach Club Marketplace. The Cookies ‘n Cream Trifle has returned (it got a Halloween upgrade that’s no longer available, but now the classic trifle is back!). Cookies ‘n’ Cream Trifle It’s made with Layers of Chocolate Cookie Sandwich Mousse, Chocolate Cake, and Whipped Cream for $5.49. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jiko — The Cooking Place At Jiko, there’s been a change with the soup. The Roasted Squash Bisque has been removed from the menu and replaced by Sweet Potato-Groundnut Soup, made with Spiced Groundnuts, Finger Lime, Pickled Red Chilies, Sorrel for $15. Jiko There’s also been some changes with teas: REMOVED: Thunderbolt Darjeeling and Floral Jasmine ADDED: Shanghai Rose — Fragrant red rose petals and the sweet, sultry flavor of seductive lychee in this rose petal black tea for $9 ADDED: Imperial Orange Pekoe — A regal tea steeped in the rich history of the Dutch House of Orange for $9 ADDED: Organic Assam — Grown in the mountains of Assam, this fine leaf tea has a strong full-bodied flavor for $9 Read our most recent Jiko review here Be sure to take a look at any Disney World restaurant menu if you have specific dining plans. Menus do change frequently and something you may be looking for might not be available during your trip. You can look at menus on the Disney World website or through the My Disney Experience app. Also, with the holidays coming up, it’s even more important now to make those advance dining reservations as soon as you can. You can do that 60 days before the first day of your trip. Restaurants are going to fill up quickly over the next few months, so planning early could save you some frustration! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be visiting Disney World soon? Where are you planning on dining? Let us know in the comments! The post NEW Menu Items Arrive in Disney World Restaurants This Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Having a great Disney bag can help make your day in the parks better! Loungeflys There are a few essentials you want to bring into the park, but you don’t want a bag that’s too small or too big. That’s where Disney Loungefly backpacks enter the chat — most of the backpacks are the perfect size for your park essentials, so we’re constantly looking out for new ones to share with you. And now, there’s another Loungefly you should check out in Disney World! Over at Curtain Call Collectibles in Magic Kingdom, you’ll find the Alice in Wonderland Loungefly Backpack! Stay tuned to DFB for more! All the Amazon Exclusive Loungefly You Can Buy Right Now Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you wear this Disney World Loungefly? Let us know in the comments! The post The Loungefly Backpack That Is a MUST for 'Alice in Wonderland' Fans in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to get around the Walt Disney World Resort. From buses and monorails to boats and the Skyliner, Disney offers all kinds of free transportation. This sign brings us so much joy! But sometimes, Disney transportation can be a bit…unpredictable, or certain circumstances may leave you considering actually paying for a ride instead. Rideshare services might be the perfect option for you, but figuring out how to use them in the parks and resorts can be confusing. So, we’ve put together 10 pro tips for using Lyft in Disney World! Using rideshare services around Disney World isn’t super intuitive, so before we get into our tips, let’s go over how to use Lyft in the parks! It essentially works about the same as it does anywhere else — download the app to your phone and set up an account. Then, you’ll enter a destination and pickup location and the app will search for drivers. Disney World rideshare sign From there, you’ll be assigned a driver and be able to track their whereabouts so you know exactly when they’ll arrive. Once you meet them at the pickup location and verify the make, model, and license plate number of their car — you can hop in and be on your way! But, if you want to be a real pro, check out our 10 tips for using Lyft in Disney World below. 1. Download the app before you leave This one may sound like a no-brainer, but if you don’t already have the Lyft app and plan on using it during your trip, go ahead and download it before you leave and set up your account. You can also explore the app and familiarize yourself with how it works. ©Lyft That way, when it comes to actually booking a ride — you don’t have to worry about wasting time entering your payment information or setting up an account. If everything is good to go beforehand, you should be able to quickly find a ride. 10 Ways To Use Your Phone in Disney World 2. Check your email before your trip With all of the free transportation options available around Disney World, it can be a little painful shelling out for a private ride even when you need it — but we’ve often seen emails come across our desks with discount codes from Lyft! Lyft If you haven’t used the service in a while or are a new user, keep an eye out for an email from Lyft ahead of your trip and you might be able to save some money on your rides. Why You Should Skip the Monorail on Your Next Magic Kingdom Trip 3. Know where the pickup locations are before you book Depending on where you’re at in Disney World, the Lyft pickup locations can vary — and you might be pretty far away from one. You’ll often find them located beyond the bus stops at the entrance of each park. Lyft pick-up zone at Disney’s Hollywood Studios At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can catch Lyft at the front of the park off to the right side of the parking lot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a rideshare pick-up spot in the last row of the bus station, EPCOT’s drop-off and pick-up location is right as you get into the parking lot on your left, and for Magic Kingdom, you’ll have to catch your ride near the bus terminal at the Transportation and Ticket Center. Transportation and Ticket Center Plus, at Disney Springs guests can take rideshare services at the Marketplace Bus Loop on the east side. And, make sure you’re leaving yourself enough time to get to that pickup location — you don’t want to rack up charges by making your driver wait! The Biggest Rideshare Mistake You May Be Making in Disney World 4. Compare prices with Uber We know, we know — this is an article about using Lyft, but if you’re trying to save money in Disney World it might be worth it to compare prices with Uber. Depending on when you’re trying to catch a ride the prices can vary, and having another option is always nice. Uber could be cheaper Luckily, Lyft, Uber, and taxis all pick up from the same locations, so if one ends up being cheaper than the other you don’t have to travel far (or at all) to use the different service. 6 Tips for Using Uber in Disney World 5. Consider a Lyft Pink Membership How many Lyft rides do you plan on taking in Disney World? Just one? Several? It might be worth it to consider getting a Lyft Pink Membership. For $9.99 per month or $99 annually, members can get faster pickups at no extra cost with upgrades to Priority Pickup. ©Lyft Plus, members can also save on Lyft Lux, XL, and Preferred rides. Depending on how many times you plan on using Lyft during your trip (and beyond) this might end up saving you money. How To Fix 39 Things You’ll HATE About Disney World 6. Plan for downtime You might have to wait several minutes for your Lyft driver to show up depending on how busy the service is at the time. Because of this, it’s important to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to get to where you’re going. Those Disney World dining reservations can be unforgiving, and you don’t want to miss an epic meal because your ride took too long. You wouldn’t want to be late for your fancy meal at Victoria & Albert’s Make sure you’re leaving yourself enough time to get to the pickup spot before you book your ride, too! We know we’ve mentioned it before, but it can really make a difference. Those pickup spots can be FAR. 10 Disney World Rideshare Tips We Learned the Hard Way 7. Travel at off-peak times when possible If you can avoid it, try to plan your ride times at off-peak hours. Park open and close are typically going to be the busiest times where you’ll find yourself having to wait a long time for a ride. Not to mention, the pickup areas aren’t huge, and there can be crowds gathered if others are taking rideshare services too. Crowds Riding at off-peak times can often mean shorter waits, cheaper fares, and an overall easier experience. Disney World Planning Advice We Ignore 8. Look into your credit card benefits Credit cards can be a great way to earn points or cash back on Lyft rides. Not only that, but Lyft will occasionally partner with major credit card carriers to offer additional discounts on rides. Lyft sign Chase, American Express, Citi, Apple, and more all offer some sort of discount, points, or cash back on Lyft or other rideshare services. How To Avoid Surge Pricing in Disney World 9. Use “Priority Mode” if you need to get somewhere fast Lyft offers a “Priority Pickup” mode if you don’t have the ability to wait too long for a ride. This can come in handy if you’re unexpectedly running late for a reservation and don’t have the time to rely on Disney transportation. ©Lyft But fair warning — Priority Pickup does come at an added cost. What the cost might be will depend on where you’re going and when you’re riding, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re really in a pinch. Everything You Need To Know About Minnie Vans in Disney World 10. Schedule your ride ahead of time If you know you need to be picked up or get somewhere at a certain time, you can always schedule a ride in advance! Lyft offers the option to schedule a trip so you don’t have to worry about it when the time comes. The price you pay will be locked in once the trip time rolls around, so keep that in mind. Rideshare at Animal Kingdom But, if you want to leave Magic Kingdom at 7PM to get to a dinner reservation later that night, you can go ahead and book a 7PM pickup time so it’s already taken care of when you need to go! Disney World Character Meals by Travel Time Rideshare services can be really beneficial when it comes to getting around Disney World efficiently, but they do come at a cost. Only you can decide what’s best for you and your travel group, so keep these tips in mind next time you’re looking for a ride. And, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney planning tips and more! Read THIS Before Bringing a Car to Disney World Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip How Many Days Do You Really Need in Disney World? How to Have the CHEAPEST Trip to Disney World 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Booking a 2023 Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Have you used Lyft in Disney World before? Let us know in the comments! The post 10 Pro Tips For Using Lyft in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you haven’t already heard — the holidays have officially arrived at Disney World! Magic Kingdom’s Christmas Tree! Festive decorations started appearing last week, and then the official marker of the season — the Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree — popped up too. But, these aren’t the only new changes we’ve spotted around the parks and resorts, so come with us to check out the biggest Disney World construction updates from this week! Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World Railroad The Main Street Train Station has been all decked out for Christmas, but for now, we’ll still have to wait until we can actually climb aboard the train once again. Holiday decor on the Main Street, U.S.A. Train Station But, Disney recently shared a video on TikTok showing one of the Walt Disney World Railroad conductors actually testing the train! They captioned the video, “Testing is just beginning for the Walt Disney World Railroad crew.” You can read more about the testing and see the video at the link below! Step Aboard a Walt Disney World Train HERE! TRON: Lightcycle Run There’s a whole lot of organized chaos going on over at TRON in Tomorrowland. Last we saw, it looked like crews had completed the concrete work at the end of the ramp. Now, more equipment and materials have been moved into the space. TRON progress This seems to be a step towards progress and that eventual spring 2023 opening date! See the Latest TRON Update Here EPCOT CommuniCore Hall and Plaza Things are starting to take shape over at CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, and here we can see a large crane lifting steel beams into place. Things are taking shape! It looks like what could be the festival hall area is being built over on the left side of the photo. Disney hasn’t shared when construction might be completed on this spot, but we’re hoping it’s around the same time that Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana opens. Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana Speaking of the new Moana-inspired attraction, more details are being added to the largest rock structure — but it also looks like some of the scaffolding has been removed from the smaller rock formations! Moana construction Things are progressing with the construction of this attraction, but we’ve still got a ways to go until it’s done. Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana will open in late 2023. Read More About the Journey of Water Construction Here Disney’s Animal Kingdom Dinosaur The construction bushes are still out in front of the fountain at the entrance of Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom. The fountain was refurbished earlier this year, so we’re not quite sure what’s going on here! Construction bushes We’ll keep an eye out and let you know of any more updates. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Woody’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ Not much has changed since we checked in on the newest table service restaurant coming to Hollywood Studios, but Woody’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ is supposed to be opening by the end of 2022. Woody’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ Whether or not that will actually happen remains to be seen, but we’re crossing our fingers that we’ll get to eat here soon! Check Out the Latest Rodeo Roundup Updates Here Disney Resort Hotels Kona Cafe Kona Cafe has REOPENED after a refurbishment at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. We were there on opening day to see what had changed (see the changes here!), and we’ll be bringing you our latest review SOON! It’s open! Keep these construction changes in mind on your next visit to Disney World so you’re prepared! For more tips on how to have the best trip, see the BIG thing you might forget to do before heading to the parks, and here’s what to do if you can’t get the Disney World hotel reservation you want. Whew. We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT – which is why we bring you posts like this so often But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2022 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. Don’t miss out! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World construction updates and more! The HARDEST Dining Reservations To Get in 2023 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What Disney World project are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: The Latest CHANGES at 'TRON', 'Moana', and More 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. Do you have a family board game night? What are some of your favorite games? “it’s a small world” board game Do you love Disney games? There are a lot of fun ones out there, like Villainous, the Disney Parks-themed games, and even games like Hocus Pocus Yahtzee! If you’re wanting to stock up on MORE Disney board games, though, Target has got you covered! Right now, Target is having a sale on board games — you can buy 2 Disney board games and get 1 completely free! So it’s time to stock up, right? Be sure to grab the Haunted Mansion-themed Call of the Spirits Game. ©Target You can get it now for $18.99. Click here to buy Call of the Spirits If your family loves strategy games, throw it back to a classic Disney animated series — you can get a Gargoyles Awakening Strategy Board Game! Yes, GARGOYLES! ©Target Grab it now for $29.99. Get the Gargoyles Awakening Strategy Board Game There’s even a game for Marvel fans who also love Munchkin. Grab the Munchkin: Marvel Board Game right now! ©Target This board game is $24.99. Buy the Munchkin: Marvel Board Game All these games and more are included in the sale, so be sure to put three in your cart to get one free! This is offer is only good through November 12th, so grab those games while they’re available! 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! Don’t Miss These 10 Disney DEALS on Amazon! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite Disney board game? Let us know in the comments! The post Target Is Having a HUGE Sale on Disney Board Games RIGHT NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to keep up with all the restaurant changes in Disney World. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Dining locations have reopened in phases, and there are still some that have yet to open. We’ve also noticed the return of character meals (with hugs!) and buffets being brought back to restaurants that were temporarily made into family-style establishments. Now, a buffet is back at a popular character meal, and we stopped by to check it out! We recently visited Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, because the buffet returned! For more than a year, the restaurant has been operating with a family-style version of its menu, which meant that they were serving limited options. But now, the full experience has returned, and we have some THOUGHTS to share. Atmosphere First of all, let’s talk about the atmosphere of the restaurant. The entrance set-up is a little different than other places in Disney World because of the location. As you’re walking through the Africa section of Animal Kingdom, you’ll want to look out for the Tusker House sign and follow the arrow. Tusker House From there, we walked up to the host’s stand, where the Cast Member greeted us and asked for the name on the reservation. During this exchange, you’ll give the Cast Member your phone number so that you can be texted when your table is ready. Note: you can also check in through the My Disney Experience app. Check-in counter Once you get your text, you’ll walk past the host’s stand and down a side pathway. There we were greeted by a set of Cast Members who were in charge of seating guests inside the restaurant. We had to wait a minute at the door, but then we were led to our table! Follow the signs! Inside the restaurant, there are five different rooms where you could be seated. The main room has the buffet, as well as tables for larger parties… Main room with the buffet …then there’s a section of three different rooms off to the right side. There’s a large room with many small tables… Large room off the main room …as well as a side room that’s a little more secluded. There’s also a second room in the back of the large room, but it wasn’t in use during our visit. Small side room. It’s darker over here. To the left of the buffet area, there’s another side room, where we were seated. This was a mix of small and large tables, and the character experience here was just as thorough as in the other areas. At our table, we were given small bread plates, a set of silverware for each person, napkins, and a drink menu. Table setting The Cast Member who seated us also handed us one of these autograph cards. It has a photo of Donald, Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy (the four characters you meet at Tusker House) along with each of their autographs. Autograph Card Shortly after being seated, our waiter arrived to take our drink order. The options included in the price are basic beverages like water, soda, juice, and coffee. Specialty drinks and alcohol cost extra. We got some POG juice, which is known as Jungle Juice here on the savanna! Jungle Juice! As soon as our beverage arrived, the characters started rolling in. Everyone here is dressed in their safari gear! Hey Mickey! It’s Donald who’s hosting the meal, so obviously, he’s the star. (Or he thinks he is, anyway!) He’s #1! Goofy is there to make us laugh and provide us with lots of funny antics! Oh he’s so…goofy! And of course, we’ve got the fabulous queen of style…Daisy Duck! She’s looking spectacular in the outfit that she told us she designed herself. Fabulous as always! The characters also dance around the restaurant every once in a while to a special song. It’s fun because all the guests start clapping and you get to see some hilarious dance moves! So what’s on the menu? Let’s check out that buffet! Buffet Okay, we hope you’re ready for this, because we’re about to throw a LOT of buffet at you. Try to keep up! For starters, we’ve got the bread station! Here, you’ll find things like cornbread, housemade hummus, mango chutney, naan bread, honey rosemary rolls, and “mini zebra loaves.” Bread Station You also get an assorted basket of breads brought to your table. This restaurant is a carb-lover’s paradise, y’all! Continued Bread Station After that, you get into the salad and appetizers section, where you’ve got turkey cubes (which was just sliced turkey during our visit), ham cubes, cheese cubes (LOTS of cubes!), and kool slaai. Meats, cheeses, grapes. The salad station is stocked with all the toppings you need — everything from greens to cucumbers to diced tomatoes. There are lots of combinations, and if you want to be more “exotic” you can add things like chickpeas and feta. Make your own salad! There are multiple dressings to choose from, including a housemade ranch, a Sambal Vinaigrette, and a Coconut Curry Vinaigrette. At that station, you’ll also find the Kachumbari. Very interesting dressing options! If you don’t want to make your own salad, they have options for that too! We spotted chickpea salad, black-eyed pea salad, and roasted cauliflower salad (more on that one later!). Pre-made Salads Don’t worry, they didn’t forget about your kiddos! Next to the appetizers, there’s a section of the buffet that’s lower than the rest, the perfect height for the little ones to serve themselves. There we found corn, green beans, chicken legs… Buffet for kids …mashed potatoes, corn dog nuggets, and of course, the iconic Tusker House mac and cheese. Some yummy choices! If you like more exotic flavors, then make sure to check out the curry section. There, you’ve got Jasmine rice to use as a base, along with Doro Wat Chicken Curry and Green Curry Shrimp. Two different curry options! The Za’atar Braised Beef and the Tusker Market Mashed Potatoes were both very popular options on the buffet! Mashed Potatoes and Braised Beef Then next to that, we’ve got another big vat of that famous mac and cheese. It’s a favorite of Tusker House guests, as well as the characters (we got word directly from Daisy, Mickey, AND Donald!). Mac and cheese For plant-based eaters, there are options like Cauliflower Bunny Chow and “Fiesty” Green Beans. Sounds yummy! Plant-based foods Also plant-based are the Jollof Rice (with plant-based sausage) and the North African Harira Soup. More plant-based options Continuing down the buffet, we’ve got red-skinned potatoes, chermoula salmon… Potatoes and Salmon …braised root vegetables, Tandoori spice-rubbed rotisserie chicken, and tandoori sauce. Veggies and Chicken If you want more toppings for your naan bread, there’s a whole toppings bar off to the side with cucumber, tzatziki sauce, and more. Naan Toppings Bar And of course, we can’t forget about the protein and meat carving section! We’ve got Beef and Lamb Shawarma… Beef and Lamb Shawarma …sweet and spicy mustard… Sweet and Spicy Mustard …and rotisserie pork. Rotisserie Pork Finally, let’s talk about dessert! There’s a Fab Five Safari Brownie — it has Mickey and friends on top. Safari Brownie There are two types of cupcakes, themed to bumblebees and flamingos! Cupcakes! For vegans and vegetarians, there’s a plant-based chocolate mousse that looks quite delicious. Chocolate Mousse Fruit lovers will want to check out those pineapple tarts. How cute! Pineapple Tarts And of course, the African-inspired Cookie Bars. Look at that little sunflower decor! Cute little cookie bars! For the kiddos or picky eaters, there’s also a selection of basic treats. Here we’ve got a S’mores Pop, sugar cookies… Desserts for kiddos …Double Chocolate Zebra Cookies, and fruit salad. Zebra Cookies and Fruit Salad WHEW! That’s everything on the buffet, now let’s dive into those eats! Eats We loaded up our plate with a variety of items from the buffet. Now let’s dig in! Let’s dig in! First up, we’ve got the mac and cheese! Listen, when people rave about this, they’re not selling it short. It was perfectly creamy and cheesy, and definitely tasted 10x better than anything you could make from a box. It’s one of the best (if not the best!) mac and cheeses in Disney World, and it lived up to its legend. Mac and cheese The mashed potatoes were definitely a level up from what we were expecting. They’re chunky and well-seasoned, with some different mix-ins that included crispy onion straws and some kind of greens. We thought it was a great, unique take on a classic side. Mashed Potatoes We had two different cauliflower options to try, starting with the Cauliflower Salad. It was very light, made with feta and arugula, as well as a light, sweet dressing. There were raisins sprinkled throughout. We loved most of the flavors of this, but that arugula was a little overpowering for the mix. We think it would be a bit nicer with a milder green, that way the other flavors can really shine. Cauliflower Salad Next up was the Cauliflower Bunny Chow, which was one of the plant-based options. It’s cauliflower mixed with potatoes and onions, and it was very well seasoned. The cauliflower was the highlight of the dish — fresh, crispy, and a little tangy. Cauliflower Bunny Chow Moving on to the meats, the Za’atar Braised Beef was tied with the mac and cheese for the BEST thing we ate during this meal. It was tender and had the perfect amount of chew, well seasoned with African spices. It was served on top of a crostini, and it was seriously…just amazing. Braised Beef We also really loved the Green Curry Shrimp, which were tender and chewy and paired well with the jasmine rice. The green curry sauce is mild, but it was a good balance of flavors with the shrimp. Green Curry Shrimp The chicken curry was more spiced than the other meats and sides we tried, and will definitely leave some heat behind in your mouth. The slow heat was the main flavor we got, but it was cooked well and cut into bite-sized chunks. Chicken Curry Finally, we had the North African Harira Soup. Ours was served fairly cold, and we would probably like it more if it were heated up. It’s mostly a mixture of lentils and beans in a broth, so it’s a good option for plant-based eaters, although it wasn’t our favorite option on the menu. North African Harira Soup Now on to dessert! We tried three different options from the buffet. First was the plant-based chocolate mousse, which was shockingly amazing. It was light and fluffy, but rich as well. It’s served on a hard chocolate base, and the raspberry jam in the center was the perfect flavor pairing. Time for dessert! The African-inspired cookie bar was not our favorite of the desserts. It reminded us of a grocery store bakery cookie that was smushed into a bar, and the icing on top was overpoweringly sweet. Cookie Bar Finally, we’ve got the pineapple tart. We loved the presentation. onthis treat, and the filling was smooth and delicious, but didn’t have a very strong pineapple flavor. It’s served with a graham cracker base and topped with a meringue dollop and a white chocolate leaf. Check out that Pineapple Tart! That’s everything we tried at Tusker House. Time to share our final thoughts! Nosh or Not Take a safari with Donald and friends if… You really want to do a character meal with Mickey and friends! This is a great option for a character meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You get to meet four main characters in their safari outfits, and those are pretty rare costumes! You’re looking for a delicious, fit-to-theme table service meal in Animal Kingdom. There aren’t a lot of sit-down options in Animal Kingdom, and this one is great if you really want that authentic Animal Kingdom experience. There are some African-inspired dishes and the theme of the restaurant is perfect. You have a broad variety of palettes in your party. This spot is great for picky eaters or great for adventurous ones, because there’s a little bit of everything. You can’t go wrong with that mac and cheese, or you can branch out and try curry. It’s up to you! Pass and head elsewhere if… You’re on a budget. The meal here isn’t cheap — it’s $45 per adult at breakfast ($29 per child) and $59 per adult for lunch and dinner ($38 per child). You’re paying for a buffet AND a character meal, which can be a BIG bill for a larger party. You’re tight on time. This can be a long meal, considering you want to stay for four character meets and possibly multiple trips to the buffet. If you’re on a time crunch or you’re rushing to do rides, this might not be the right choice. You want to meet Minnie Mouse. If you’re hoping to meet Minnie Mouse, it won’t happen at this restaurant! Here, you’ve just got the four characters listed above. Instead, try Cape May Cafe, Topolino’s Terrace, Chef Mickey’s, or Hollywood & Vine. Overall All in all, our experience at Tusker House was fantastic! We loved almost everything we ate, and it was one of the best buffet experiences we’ve had in Disney World. The food has definitely stepped up a notch since the family-style reopening of the restaurant last year. The character interactions were very special and we felt like we got a significant amount of time with each one. And our server was very attentive, refilling our drinks and taking plates away after each course. We’d definitely come back in the future, and this visit might’ve just bumped Tusker House higher on our list of recommended character meals! Daisy Duck However, that price is definitely hefty. With lunch and dinner at $59 per adult and $38 per child, it might be too much for many guests to pay. Think that you’ll also have to factor in tax and tip. Wow! Our bill wasn’t cheap but our bellies were full and happy afterward. Stay tuned to DFB for more restaurant reviews from all the spots around Disney World. We’ve eaten EVERYWHERE, and we’ve got plenty of thoughts to share! Click Here to See Our Review of Cape May Cafe’s Character Meal! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever been to Tusker House? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Buffets Are BACK at Tusker House in Disney's Animal Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The past few years have been challenging for the Walt Disney Company. Not only did the COVID-19 pandemic shut down every Disney Park around the world (with some still closing occasionally due to the pandemic), but it also created a need for certain health and safety policies at the parks (which have changed over the past few years), including Disney World and Disneyland. Mask Sign This also affected movies and TV shows, with Disney requiring certain health and safety policies for those working on those productions. Previously, Disney required COVID-19 vaccinations for those on set, but that requirement was recently changed. According to Variety, in June 2021, Disney announced that all U.S. employees were required to get a COVID-19 vaccination before returning to work. This was part of the Return To Work agreement between unions and producers. Disney’s health and safety policies in early 2021 Now, though, the situation has changed. According to the L.A. Times, the company has told many of its TV shows that it will no longer require cast and crews to be vaccinated. This comes at a time when COVID-19 hospitalizations have started to wane. The Santa Clauses TV Show ©Disney Although Disney has not directly commented on the change, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is an American labor union (SAG-AFTRA) commented in a statement that producers always had the option to choose to impose the vaccination mandate. National upcoming Treasure TV show ©Disney However, only about a dozen shows are currently affected, including 9-1-1 on Fox. Other health and safety protocols, such as masking and testing, will remain, and Disney may still require vaccines for certain productions. This also comes after Disney recently dropped the vaccination requirement for Disney Cruise Line. The Disney Wish We’ll continue to keep an eye on changes being made to Disney’s health and safety policies and keep you updated. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Here’s Everything Coming to Disney+ This November Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. How do you think these changes will affect Disney’s TV productions? Let us know in the comments. The post Disney Makes BIG Change to Its COVID-19 Policies for TV Shows first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret, a trip to Disney World can be pretty pricy. But here’s why you might want to spend even more money during your time in the parks. Rise of the Resistance The costs of a Disney World trip can add up FAST. By the time you’ve paid for your park tickets, hotel room, transportation, food, and souvenirs, there’s a good chance that your budget may already be super tight. So, after all that, why would you want to pay even MORE money to ride an attraction? As wild as it may seem, there is a mathematical reason you might actually want to shell out more for that must-do ride. What Are Individual Lightning Lanes? Let’s start with a few Disney World attractions basics before we dive into the mathematical breakdown of why you might want to pay extra to experience a particular ride. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Technically, all of the rides at each of the Disney World parks are included in the cost of a ticket. This means that, in theory, there is an option to ride each attraction through a standby line without paying extra on top of your park ticket. But, in October 2021, Disney World launched several new planning tools that gave guests the option to bypass standby lines for select attractions at an additional cost. Lightning Lane Sign The basic version of the planning tool — called Disney Genie — is a complimentary service within Disney World’s My Disney Experience app that provides planning tools and customized itineraries to help guests maximize their time in the parks. In addition to the free planning tool, there are also two optional add-ons available through Disney Genie, each of which can be used for a fee. Disney Genie First, there’s the Disney Genie+ base-price option, which allows guests to select the next available time to arrive at an attraction (similar to the previous FastPass+ time windows) and enter that attraction’s Lightning Lane. Disney Genie+ includes access to the Lightning Lanes of over 40 attractions across Disney World. The pricing for Genie+ varies by date, but we’ve seen the cost per person range from $15 per day to $22 per day. Lightning Lane But, each of the Disney World parks also includes one ultra-popular attraction that is NOT included as a Lightning Lane option with the purchase of Disney Genie+. In order to access the Lightning Lane for these attractions, guests must purchase an Individual Attraction Lightning Lane Selection. Pandora The attractions that require the purchase of an Individual Lightning Lane to bypass the standby line are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom), Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT), Avatar Flight of Passage (Disney’s Animal Kingdom), and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind The pricing for each attraction varies by day, but so far, we’ve seen Seven Dwarfs Mine Train range from $10-$12 per person, Guardians of the Galaxy range from $14-17 per person, Flight of Passage range from $11-$14 per person, and Rise of the Resistance range from $15-$22 per person. Pandora Why would you consider paying extra to bypass the standby line for just one of those rides? Let’s dive into the math! 7 Things We’ve Learned After Using Disney Genie+ for a FULL YEAR When Does an Individual Lightning Lane Make Sense? As mentioned before, there is a standby line available for each Disney World attraction (with the exception of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which is still using a Virtual Queue system that requires guests to get a Boarding Group in order to ride). Tower of Terror But even though you could experience each attraction without paying extra in theory, there is one super important reason why buying an Individual Lightning Lane might be worth it — time is money in Disney World. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Entrance Let’s run through an example to see this concept in action. If, for example, Hollywood Studios is open for 12.5 hours, and you paid $109 for your park ticket, that ticket is costing you $8.72 per hour ($109/12.5 hours) — and that’s assuming you are there from rope drop to closing. If you wait in a 3-hour standby line for Rise of the Resistance, the cost of that time equals $26.16 ($8.72 x 3 hours). ©Disney So from that perspective, you would have saved money by paying for an Individual Attraction Selection for Rise of the Resistance, even if the cost for that day was at the highest pricing we’ve seen so far of $22. Rise of the Resistance Let’s do the same thing over at Magic Kingdom. The park has been open for 14 hours lately, so you’re essentially paying $7.79 per hour. We see Seven Dwarfs Mine Train get to a two hour wait nearly every day, so it would cost you $15.58 to wait in that two hour line. We mostly see the Individual Lightning Lane at $11, so again, you would save money by saving time here. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train This same logic can be applied to the purchase of Genie+, which includes access to Lightning Lanes for multiple attractions across the parks. You can find Lightning Lanes at many attractions within the parks! By purchasing Genie+, Individual Lightning Lanes, or both, you can save a significant amount of time waiting in standby lines. This allows you to get the most out of your day in the park, maximizing the value of your ticket. Tower of Terror Lightning Lane Of course, spending even more money on a day in Disney World might not be in every family’s budget. If you can’t swing the extra cost of Genie+ or Individual Lighting Lanes, there are still options to help you get the most out of your time! Lightning Lane at Kilimanjaro Safaris First, be strategic about your time in the park. Lines for attractions tend to be the shortest right after the park opens and in the few hours before the park closes. To bypass some of the longest lines, try to arrive in time for rope drop in the morning, or plan to stay all the way up until the park closes. A Light Crowd on a Magic Kingdom Morning! If you’re staying at a Disney-owned hotel, you may also be eligible for extra time in the parks through Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Hours. Be sure to check on any extra park hours included for your hotel for another opportunity to take advantage of shorter standby lines! Select resort guests can enter the parks EARLY! We know that a trip to Disney World can be wildly expensive. And that can make it hard to justify shelling out even MORE money to experience an attraction. But if you’re trying to maximize the value of your park ticket and accomplish as much as you can on your vacation, it may be worth splurging on Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes to bypass some of those standby lines! After all, when it comes to Disney World, time is definitely money. 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you used Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes in Disney World? Let us know if you think they’re worth it in the comments! The post Why You SHOULD Pay Extra To Ride Disney World's Most Popular Rides first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s simply not enough time in the world to do everything you want to do in Disney World. Holidays! When you’re trying to squeeze in dining reservations, rides, Genie+ Lightning Lanes, shopping, and more – there are bound to be slow-downs and time conflicts. But there’s also a BIG problem that can happen very easily and Disney has yet to fix it. Dining Reservations Dining reservations are one of the first things you can do as part of planning your Disney World trip. You can make dining reservations up to 60 days before your Disney World visit, although you can also make dining reservations (if available) the day of your visit. Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of the most popular restaurants in Disney World! When you make a dining reservation, you can typically select from a variety of available times, although you can’t make more than one reservation in the same time window. Once you make your reservation, you can modify or cancel it up to 24 hours before your reservation. There was a new option that was rolled out on My Disney Experience but it has experienced some issues. You can read about it here. ©Disney Basically, if you make a number of dining reservations, your day is somewhat restricted around those times, which can limit your visit. But while you can schedule your dining plans in advance, rides are another story entirely. The mistakes everyone makes when booking Disney World dining reservations! Ride Times Genie+ is the new paid version of FastPass+, costing $15-$22 per person, per day (those prices could vary in the future), and your purchase lets you use the much faster Lightning Lanes instead of standby lines. When used correctly, you can save a ton of time by avoiding long wait times. Lightning Lane sign at Princess Fairytale Hall If you decide to use Genie+, you must know that it’s a daily system, which means that you can’t buy Genie+ in advance like you can with Disney World tickets. You must purchase Genie+ for each person in your party beginning at midnight of the date of your visit, and you can start booking your Lightning Lanes as early as 7AM each day. Splash Mountain Lightning Lane When Genie+ Lightning Lanes open at 7AM, some of the more popular rides can end up with available time windows later in the day. Basically, booking your Lightning Lane in the morning doesn’t mean you’ll only get morning availability. You might get time windows for later in the day, so it could still impact your lunch or dinner reservation. Screenshot from My Disney Experience When booking your Lightning Lane, you’re allowed to book one lane at a time, and the available times depend on how many other people are also booking that same ride. That means that you can’t always get the Lightning Lane time you want, and you might end up with a time you don’t like or one that conflicts with something else you had planned. So what happens then? We’ll explain further in a moment. Here’s everything you need to know about Genie+ in Disney World! Conflicts Okay, so let’s say you end up snagging that popular Lightning Lane reservation, but then you realize it’s at the same time as the dining reservation you made 60 days ago! You can’t change the time of either reservation, so what do you do? Don’t worry – we have suggestions! Lightning Lane Cast Members have always told us to prioritize dining reservations over rides. It’s much easier to keep your dining reservation and instead opt to speak to Cast Members about your Lightning Lane reservation at either the location of the ride or at Guest Relations. Keep in mind that they might not be able to change your Lightning Lane time, but it can be worth the ask. Scanning MagicBands We’ve also been told by some Cast Members that they generally wait about 15 minutes past your reservation before giving your table away. Keep in mind, however, that your mileage may vary, so don’t count on this being absolutely always the case. It’s just good to know if you run into a situation in which your Lightning Lane wait time is running slightly long. ‘Ohana You could also try finding a different dining reservation time or Lightning Lane. You can stop by the restaurant to find out if you can get in earlier or later, or you can keep checking the My Disney Experience app for a different Lightning Lane time. ©Disney We also recommend keeping in mind what you prefer to do in each park. If you want your day to be ride-heavy, it might be a good day to stick with quick service rather than table service. If you have a dining reservation you can’t (or won’t) move, consider which rides you’d be willing to skip or try the standby lines first thing in the morning or during fireworks for typically shorter wait times. Stick with quick service if you’d rather prioritize rides! On the flip side, if you’re visiting quite a few table service restaurants during your trip, you might want to skip using Genie+ to avoid the stress of time conflicts. You could also consider only making breakfast reservations, in which case you probably wouldn’t have issues with Lightning Lane time conflicts. The ultimate guide to the BEST breakfast in Disney World! BEWARE of the dining and Lightning Lane reservation time conflict!! If you have dining reservations, make sure you know what time they are before booking those Lightning Lanes, and do your best to have a backup system! Your mileage may vary but you can always try speaking to Cast Members or Guest Relations to help smooth out your situation. Just remember to be kind and patient! Guest Relations in EPCOT Keep following DFB for more Disney World news, tips, and more! These will be the hardest Disney World dining reservations to get in 2023! Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip How Many Days Do You Really Need in Disney World? How to Have the CHEAPEST Trip to Disney World 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Booking a 2023 Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe When’s your next Disney World visit? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Needs to Fix This Huge Problem. Here's How to Avoid It in the Meantime. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

November is Manatee Awareness Month, marking a time to be extra cautious and courteous to Florida's sea cows, who need urgent help. View the full article

Disney World hotels are the place to BE around the holidays! Grand Floridian We’ve seen decor go up around the parks, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off in just a few days, and the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays is just around the corner. But the hotels have so much holiday cheer as well — you’ll find fun decor, special gingerbread displays, and exclusive treats. So let’s look at the latest updates from the Disney World hotels! Disney’s Riviera Resort Food Update Le Petit Cafe Spooky season may be over now, but before it ended we tried the Monster Mousse at Le Petit Cafe! Monster Mousse The treat was $7.99, but it wasn’t our favorite. It was only available for the last few days of October, but we’ll be 0n the lookout for it to come back next year! The Unexpected Reason Disney World’s New Monster Treat Will Give You Nightmares Disney’s Riviera Resort Merchandise Update La Boutique There are a lot of ornaments in Disney World right now, but only DVC members can get the Mickey Disney Vacation Club Ornament! DVC Ornament The ornament is $19.99. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Merchandise Update Calypso Trading Post Aristocats fans will love the new Aristocats T-shirt for $36.99… Shirt …the Marie Sweatshirt… How cute is this? …and the Marie Sweatpants for $49.99. Pink sweatpants We also found this Purple Mickey T-shirt for $36.99. Mickey tee Plus, there’s a Mickey Hoodie in this shop. Mickey Hoodie The hoodie will cost you $69.99. Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Food Update Scat Cat’s Club Cafe Mickey beignets are one of the most iconic Disney World snacks, but around this time of year, they get a pumpkin makeover! Pumpkin Spice Mickey Beignets For $7.49, you can grab an order of these must-have fall beignets! Find out why Pumpkin Spice Beignets are one of our FAVORITE fall traditions here! Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factort That’s not the only fall treat at the resort! We also tried the Praline Pecan Cake for $5.99. Praline Pecan Cake This is a great treat to try if you love pecan pie and want to try it in a new way! Check out this fun twist on a classic treat HERE! Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Miscellaneous Update Right before Halloween, we saw several pumpkin decorating contests with pumpkins created by Cast Members! Pumpkin contest The Cast Members are so talented! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Food Update Contempo Cafe Over at Contempo Cafe, we grabbed the Pumpkin Cheesecake for $5.99. Our Cheesecake! If you like cheesecake, pumpkin, and caramel, this treat highlights each of those perfectly! Give it a try until November 27th. Is this the best Pumpkin Spice dessert on the list? Disney’s Contemporary Resort Merchandise Update Fantasia For $39.99, you can grab these Monsters Inc. Shorts with the logo all over! For Monsters Inc. fans! We’ve seen a few of these pins over at Magic Kingdom (along with a TON of other holiday merchandise) but you’ll find things like the Fairy Godmother Holiday Pin at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for $19.99! Fairy Godmother Pin There are so many other pins here like the Fantasia Contemporary Resort Pin ($19.99)… Fantasia Pin …the Mystery Holiday Pin Set ($17.99)… Mystery Set …the Mickey Wreath Pin ($12.99)… Mickey Wreath Pin …the Chip & Dale Stocking Pin ($12.99)… The dynamic duo …the Pluto Holiday Pin ($12.99)… Pluto Pin …the Goofy Garland Holiday Pin ($12.99)… Goofy Garland Pin …and the Mickey Yuletide Cheer Pin ($12.99). Yuletide Cheer There are also pins that come inside an ornament! We saw several designs including the Kronk Pin Ornament ($24.99)… Kronk …the 101 Dalmatian Pin Ornament ($24.99)… 101 Dalmatians …the Timothy Mouse Pin Ornament ($24.99)… Timothy! …the Abu Elephant Pin Ornament ($24.99)… Abu as an Elephant …the Peter Pan Pin Ornament ($24.99)… Peter Pan …and the White Rabbit Pin Ornament ($24.99). White Rabbit You can also find the Pixar Holiday Mystery Pin Set here for $24.99. Pixar Mystery Pin If you’re counting down to Christmas, check out the Big Hero 6 Holiday Pin for $17.99… Big Hero 6 Pin …the Mickey & Friends Holiday Pin for $34.99… Giant Pin …and the Piglet Pin Ornament for $24.99. Piglet Do you think Stitch belongs on the nice list or the naughty list? According to this Nice List T-Shirt, it looks like Stitch has been good this year! Do you think Stitch belongs on the nice or naughty list? The shirt is $19.99. Bay View Gifts Vineyard Vines has released some holiday merchandise including this Holiday Long Sleeve Shirt for $49.50. Vineyard Vines Even though Halloween is over now, you can still find a Skeleton Dance Denim Jacket at the Contemporary. Skeleton Jacket You can buy the denim jacket for $74.99. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Food Update Gasparilla Island Grill The perfect pumpkin spice treat doesn’t exi–. JK, it does in the form of a Pumpkin Spice Roll! Hello, gorgeous! This treat is soft, has the right amount of pumpkin, and is one of the cheaper specialty snacks at $5.29. Love Pumpkin Spice? Then click HERE. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Construction Update Gingerbread House We’ve been watching the construction progress on the iconic gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Grand Floridian It’s coming along for its grand opening on November 9th! See more construction updates for the gingerbread house! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Merchandise Update Basin For some new bath products, check out the Buried Treasure Sugar Soufflé for $19.99. There’s a coin buried inside of here! Basin The 12 Days of Bath Bombs Set is a perfect gift for anyone who loves to relax in the bath! 12 Days of Bath Bombs The set is $54.99. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Food Update Kona Cafe Kona Cafe has officially reopened! It was closed for a pretty long refurbishment and now it has a new look that matches the rest of the remodeled resort! Inside We tried the breakfast there to see how it held up — check out our review below. Come Along With Us to Eat New Breakfast Items at Kona Cafe in Disney World Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Merchandise Update Boutiki In need of some new jewelry? Check out the Minnie Necklace and Earrings Set ($39.99)… Minnie Jewelry Set …the Bow Tie Necklace and Earrings Set ($39.99)… Bow Tie Jewelry Set …and the Gold Mickey Necklace. Gold Mickey Necklace The necklace is also $39.99. Disney’s Beach Club Resort Food Update Beaches & Cream OMG, is that a piece of pumpkin pie on top of that milkshake?! Yes, it IS! This is the Pumpkin Pie Shake from Beaches and Cream. Pumpkin Pie Shake For $15, you can try this salted caramel shake topped with pumpkin pie. We can’t decide which part is better — the pumpkin pie or the shake! Check out this dessert-topped milkshake HERE! Disney’s Beach Club Resort Construction Update Gingerbread Carousel The construction on the iconic gingerbread carousel began this past week and it is now complete! This year the theme is Disney Princesses, so you’ll find a Tiana, Jasmine, Snow White, Elsa, and Belle horse at the carousel. It’s running! There’s also a sweets shop with a few treats to purchase next to the carousel — be sure to check it out on your next visit to Beach Club! See more photos of the Gingerbread Carousel here! Disney’s Beach Club Merchandise Update Guess what else we found in the merchandise shops — if you guessed pins, you’d be correct! There’s the Peter Pan Holiday Pin… Peter Pan Pin …the Yacht Club Alice in Wonderland Holiday Pin… Alice in Wonderland Pin …and the Beach Club Little Mermaid Holiday Pin! Little Mermaid Pin Each pin will cost you $19.99. Disney’s All-Star Movies Food Update World Premiere Food Court At All-Star Movies, you can have a fun turkey-themed treat to gear up for Thanksgiving. Say hello to the Gobble Wobble Bundt Cake! Gobble Wobble Bundt Cake This cinnamon apple cake really impressed us AND the treat is cute. It’s a win, win! This treat costs $5.99. Click HERE for our review of the Gobble Wobble Bundt Cake! Any plant-based eaters will want to see this new treat. It’s the Falling for Plant-Based Cupcake and it costs $5.49! Cupcake The flavors are simple but it is a delicious cupcake! You can grab this at several locations around Disney World. Did we FALL for this plant-based cupcake? Find out here! Disney’s Saratoga Springs Food Update Backstretch Pool Bar Did someone say new Dole Whip? Yep, you’ll find the Cherry Vanilla Dole Whip at Backstretch Pool Bar for a limited time! CHERRY! This Dole Whip creation is $5.99 and it’s a lovely flavor combo to refresh you on a hot Florida day! Wanna know what CHERRY DOLE WHIP tastes like? Then click HERE. The Artist’s Palette This next treat looks like a home decoration, but it’s actually the Mini Pumpkin Treat! We grabbed this delicious pumpkin treat for $5.99. Mini Pumpkin There’s also a Pumpkin Whoopie Pie which was simple, but in a very good way! Fall Whoopie Pie This treat is also $5.99. Find out what made us “FALL” in love with these snacks HERE! Disney’s Art of Animation Food Update Landscape of Flavors Want an excuse to eat dessert for breakfast? Look no further than the Maple Pot de Crème! Maple Pot de Creme This had a great maple syrup flavor so if you want to call it breakfast, we won’t judge! It costs $5.79. Find out why we were a little confused by the Maple Pot de Creme HERE… Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Food Update BoardWalk Deli Over at the newly reimagined BoardWalk Deli, there are two new pastries to try! First up is the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin… Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin …and the second is the Cranberry Orange Scone! Scone You might be surprised which one is our favorite here, but (spoiler alert) it’s the scone! The scone is $3.79 and the muffin is $3.99. You may be surprised which of these two treats was our favorite… Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Merchandise Update Screen Door Disney Vacation Club members have more merchandise to shop with the DVC Member Spirit Jersey for $79.99! DVC Spirit Jersey There are a couple more pins at the BoardWalk like the Mickey Holiday Pin… Mickey Holiday Pin …and the BoardWalk Cinderella Holiday Pin. Get both pins for $19.99 each. BoardWalk Pin Those are all of the updates we have for you from the Disney World hotels! We’ll continue making our way around the hotels and bringing your updates, so stay tuned for more. Your ULTIMATE Guide to All the Gingerbread Displays Coming to 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 from 2021 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you staying at a Disney World hotel during your holiday trip this year? If so, which one? Tell us about it in the comments! The post What's New at Disney World Hotels: Amazing Gingerbread Displays and 14 Treats first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration is still going on. Cinderella Castle for the 50th Anniversary Sure, we’re reminded every time we look at Cinderella Castle, and see all the gold character statues, and 50th merchandise. But we’ve already tried all the 50th anniversary snacks, right? Or have we? Well, a NEW 50th anniversary snack turned up and surprised us! We spotted a new 50th anniversary treat! It’s the Shimmer and Glimmer Earl Grey Cupcake. Okay, that sounds interesting. It’s an Earl Grey cupcake topped with orange buttercream frosting, celebratory shimmery sprinkles, and a 50th chocolate coin. A NEW 50th anniversary treat! We’ll start with the frosting — it’s very whipped and SO creamy. Although it says it’s an orange frosting, we didn’t get a very orangey taste from it. But we liked that it was subtle! YUM! That frosting, y’all. The cake itself is moist and has a great flavor — not too spicy or anything like that. It tastes just like Earl Grey tea! That combined with the subtle frosting is a PERFECT flavor combo. Perfect cupcake If you’re looking to try this treat for yourself, you can grab it at the Trolley Car Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for $5.99. If you’re looking for our reviews of other 50th anniversary treats, you can find them all here (warning: THERE ARE A LOT OF TREATS). WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! DFB Guide Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! Use code WDW2023 to get 25% off! Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Details and Info See Photos & Reviews of All of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Eats and Treats Check Out All of the 50th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get Online Get a Look at Some of the 50th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get in the Parks Click Here to See the 50 Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Check Out Our 50 Pieces of Advice for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Click Here to See the Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary from Home See the New 50th Anniversary Nighttime Looks for All 4 of Disney World’s Park Icons Check Out Our 50th Anniversary Cupcake Crawl Click Here to See Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in Magic Kingdom See Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in EPCOT Check Out Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in Hollywood Studios See Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in Animal Kingdom Click HERE for Your Guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite 50th anniversary snack? Let us know in the comments! The post We Tried a NEW 50th Anniversary Snack in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you haven’t noticed, we LOVE Disney food, and we take every opportunity we can to try ALL of the Disney food — in the parks, on the cruises, and even overseas! Tokyo Disney Sea A good friend of ours, Heather Sievers, recently got a chance to cross the Pacific and explore Tokyo Disneyland and explore their restaurants! Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina is in the Lost River Delta port-of-call at Tokyo DisneySea and serve food inspired by Mexico and the North American southwest. It is themed as a weathered cantina in the remote jungle, which fits well with the story of the Lost River Delta. Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina at Tokyo Disney Sea The backstory here is that the owner Miguel went to El Dorado (the “City of Gold”) with aspirations of finding gold. But since he never found the fortune he sought, he settled by opening a cantina for other explorers to rest and spend some of their coin. When we visited Miguel’s, we had the opportunity to taste some snacks themed after one of Duffy the Bear’s newest friends, LinaBell. Duffy and LinaBell Mural Duffy the Bear has a HUGE fan club in the Disney Parks in Japan. He might even rival Mickey in terms of popularity (but we all know who’s really #1). He has a whole backstory and heroic journey that you can read more about HERE. Disney describes LinaBell as “…a fox with an inquisitive mind and the intelligence that supports it. She finds joy and excitement in solving problems and mysteries.” So, she’s a little pink, foxy version of Dora the Explorer. She seems precious, and we LOVE the adorable snacks that Tokyo Disney has been known for, so let’s head in to check out these new LinaBell snacks! Order counter at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina at Tokyo Disney Sea As we mentioned, Miguel’s is a counter service restaurant, so guests place their order with a Cast Member and pay at a register, collect their food at the counter, and then find a spot to sit in the open seating areas. It is very similar to the process in Disney World Counter Service locations. The menus have English translations, and there are often displays of the food with descriptions to help guests determine what they’d like to order. Food Display at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina at Tokyo Disney Sea After pursuing the food displays and the menus, we approached the Cast Member to place our order. Menu And once we ordered and paid, we proceeded to the counter to collect our order. Waiting at the counter for our order While we waited, it was fun to see the different drink options and determine if we’d tried any of these drinks at Club Cool in EPCOT. Are any of these at Club Cool? If you didn’t order a drink, there are water fountains and cups for you to help yourself to some water. Drink options and water Once we collected our food, it was time to find a seat. Now, Miguel’s is just HUGE, with two levels of seating, plus outdoor seating. And it was pretty empty during our visit. There were plenty of plexiglass or acrylic partitions for health and safety. We had our choice of options from the main level seating area… Main level seating area in Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina at Tokyo Disney Sea The second level… Second level seating area at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina at Tokyo Disney Sea …or the outdoor seating area. Outdoor seating area at Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina at Tokyo Disney Sea It was such a pretty day that we decided to dine outside. Our outdoor view Now that we have our seat and our pretty view, let’s take a look at what we ordered! We started with the Miguel’s Special Set, which was a Pita Sandwich with Beans, Curry, and Cheese Sauce, with a side of Corn Chips. Miguel’s Special Set. This was a plant-based option and was full of flavor. The beans had a falafel-type consistency to them, and the flavorful spice from the curry really amped up the savory tones. And the fact that it was wrapped up in a LinaBell-pink flatbread was just the perfect presentation. Next up was LinaBell’s Tapioca Tea. The cutest tea you ever did see We couldn’t pass up that furry little LinaBell souvenir cup sleeve, which was just perfect on this drink! The tea itself was frothy and sweet, but not too thick, and those tapioca balls provided the perfect little pop of flavor. We indulged in a few desserts, the first being the Lychee Mousse with Jellied Raspberry (which we snagged with the souvenir plate to go with our LinaBell cup sleeve). Lychee Mousse with Jellied Raspberry It even has the little purple flower, just like LinaBell! Lychee Mousse The lychee was subtle, and the mousse was so light it was almost like whipped cream! It was on a simple white cake base. This was one of those desserts you could eat a whole dozen of. So light and sweet. And finally, we snagged that Cream Cheese Cookie Sandwich LinaBell Cream Cheese Cookie Sandwich The filling was more like cheesecake than just straight cream cheese, and the cookies were just simple sugar cookies. There was nothing truly standout about this little dessert, but it was also simple and perfect for just a classic sweet tooth craving. Though all of the snacks we had were good, it was the little LinaBell touches that made them special. The food spread! We enjoyed our venture over to Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina, and though nothing was a super standout snack, everything was good and super cute. If anything, we became even bigger LinaBell fans, because how could not love that cute pink, foxy face!?! Keep reading DFB for more Disney dining reviews, news, and updates! Heather Sievers is DisneyFoodBlog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist! Check out more of her adventures at @DininginDisney on Instagram! How to HACK IT: ALL the DFB Disney Snack Hacks! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of these LinaBell snacks? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: We're Eating a LinaBell-Themed Meal at Tokyo DisneySea first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When we say Werther’s Caramel, what do you think of? Big Top Treats We bet you immediately think of Karamel Kuche in EPCOT and all those delicious Werther’s snacks available there — the Caramel Popcorn, the Boozy Caramel Flight, and one of our faves, the Gingerbread Salted Caramel Buttercream Cookie Sandwich. But you can get ANOTHER Werther’s Caramel snack in Magic Kingdom — and we’re checking it out! So this snack is a Werther’s Caramel Bar (Disney didn’t have an official name for the treat, so this is what we’re going with!). But we’ve never tried it before, so we got it! But once we got it, we realized that it’s sort of like a thick, but moist, granola bar with a ton of caramel on top. No idea what the name of this thing is, but CARAMEL That made it very crumbly, meaning that it was a weird texture — almost like eating two separate snacks (and the caramel just wanted to slide right off). A caramel granola bar? We did see some dried cranberries in there, but the taste of the bar itself was more sweet than tart. Are there nuts in this thing? Who knows? It kinda’ looks that way, but it was hard to tell. Also, even if it was like a granola bar, we’d be fooling ourselves if we called this “healthy” — there’s a LOT of caramel on top. Not all that healthy Overall, it was…weird. This isn’t a flavor combo we wouldn’t put together ourselves and it’s one of those things we don’t think we’d get again. There are way better treats available in the same bakery case, particularly ones with Werther’s Caramel. Still, if you want to try this for yourself, we found it at Big Top Treats for $4.99. All kinds of stuff in there Speaking of snacks, we’ll be trying out all the new holiday treats available at the parks and for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party soon, so be sure to stay tuned for more reviews! WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! Use code WDW2023 to get 25% off! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite caramel treat in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post The Caramel Snack in Disney World That Truly Confused Us 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. Amazon has been where it’s AT lately when it comes to Disney finds. That’s why we do a round-up of the best Disney deals twice a week, so you don’t miss out on big savings or anything exciting and exclusive. ©Amazon Well, now, a NEW Little Golden book is available for pre-order on Amazon and we just had to share! Good news! The Little Man of Disneyland is getting a Golden Book sequel! Original Little Man of Disneyland ©Amazon In this sequel to the 1955 classic, Little Man of Disneyland, Patrick Begorra is out for a walk when his lucky hat blows away in the wind! (Oh no– not the lucky hat!) Good thing he lives at the Happiest Place on Earth and Mickey steps in to help save the day! ©Amazon Little Golden Book is one of the most beloved book series of many of our childhoods. Add one magical leprechaun, one fun-filled adventure, and THE Mickey Mouse and you have yourself quite the story! This adorable Little Golden Book is available for pre-order on Amazon, and is set to release on January 3, 2023. You can pre-order your very own copy for $5.99. Get the Little Man of Disneyland Golden Book here! Whether you are looking for a fun, adventurous story, a heartwarming tale, or simply a fun gift — this book is perfect! Stay tuned to DFB to see all the latest Disney merchandise news! Looking for more Little Golden Books? Check out our post on the Best Disney Little Golden Books here. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you collect Little Golden Books? Let us know in the comments! The post A NEW Little Golden Book Is Available for Pre-Order on Amazon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the jolliest time of year in Disney World — the holidays! The holidays are here! Disney World wait times have been trending down over the past few weeks (after a VERY busy time period) but did Halloween affect those times at all? We were very surprised by the Halloween crowds but what are the average wait times as we head into November? We recommend making a list of all your favorite Disney World rides before scrolling down. Why? It’s a good way to determine whether you actually need Genie+ or not! Genie+ is similar to FastPass but it now costs you $15 to $22 per person, per day (it could cost more in the future) and it lets you skip standby lines in favor of much faster Lightning Lanes. That Lightning Lane Access Might Cost You MORE Knowing which rides are on your must-do list may help you strategize your time in the parks, whether you decide to buy Genie+ or you opt to budget your time accordingly. If all your favorite rides tend to have 60+ minute wait times, you know that you’ll be spending a lot of time in line — that is unless you buy Genie+. Using Disney Genie+! We’ve compiled all the average wait times of every Disney World ride this past week below, so scroll down to check them out! Magic Kingdom We’re starting with Magic Kingdom, where Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time at 48 minutes! It actually averaged 53 minutes last week, so it continued to decrease this week. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train After that, Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 46 minutes, followed by Jungle Cruise at 38 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 37 minutes, Space Mountain at 30 minutes, Splash Mountain at 28 minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean at 24 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 24 minutes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 23 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 22 minutes, and Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 21 minutes. Haunted Mansion! Next up, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, and “it’s a small world” all averaged 13 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin averaged 11 minutes, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover averaged 10 minutes, the Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel averaged 9 minutes. “it’s a small world” Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Mad Tea Party averaged 8 minutes. Dumbo the Flying Elephant The rides with the lowest wait times were Mad Tea Party at 9 minutes, Liberty Square Riverboat at 5 minutes, and Carousel of Progress at 4 minutes. Rides with no waits were Country Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer Island, Hall of Presidents, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. The best breakfast at Magic Kingdom! EPCOT Over in EPCOT, the ride with the longest average wait time was Frozen Ever After, with an average wait time of 64 minutes, compared to last week’s average of 69 minutes. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure followed up with an average wait time of 58 minutes, which is a HUGE decrease from the previous week’s average of 72 minutes. Frozen Ever After Next up was Test Track at 48 minutes, Soarin’ at 26 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 15 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 11 minutes, Journey into Imagination at 9 minutes, Spaceship Earth at 9 minutes, Gran Fiesta Tour at 9 minutes, Living with the Land at 8 minutes, and The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 8 minutes. Test Track The attractions with zero wait times this week were Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China. We’ve eaten at every EPCOT restaurant — these are the BEST! Hollywood Studios Next up is Hollywood Studios, where Rise of the Resistance had the highest average wait time per usual this week at 91 minutes. Last week, the ride averaged 94 minutes, so that’s a three-minute decrease. Hey, we’ll take it! Rise of the Resistance Slinky Dog Dash averaged 69 minutes followed by Toy Story Mania at 51 minutes, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at 50 minutes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith at 48 minutes, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 46 minutes, and Tower of Terror at 40 minutes. Slinky Dog Dash Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 30 minutes and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue averaged 15 minutes, followed by Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at 15 minutes, Walt Disney Presents at 8 minutes, and Muppet*Vision 3D at 7 minutes. Check out the return of Fantasmic! in Hollywood Studios! Animal Kingdom And finally, let’s stop by Animal Kingdom, where Avatar Flight of Passage had the longest average wait time at 87 minutes. Last week, the average was 98 minutes. Flight of Passage Next up was Na’vi River Journey at 57 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 35 minutes, Expedition Everest at 20 minutes, Kali River Rapids at 17 minutes, and DINOSAUR at 16 minutes. Kilimanjaro Safaris It’s Tough to Be a Bug averaged 9 minutes and Triceratop Spin averaged 6 minutes. Both The Boneyard and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail averaged no wait time. The BEST quick and filling meal in Animal Kingdom! You may have noticed that Disney World wait times are trending DOWN! Even with Halloween this past week, wait times still decreased from the previous week. So what kind of wait times do your favorite rides have? They could help you decide whether Genie+ is right for you, but keep in mind that we will likely see those wait times increase as the holidays get closer. Also, the last week of October and the first part of November seem to be a nice time to visit the parks. Crowds are a bit lower and you get to experience both Halloween and Christmas in the parks!!! Santa Mickey Cookie Keep following DFB for more Disney World news and updates! How to do Disney World on a budget in 2022 and 2023! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite ride in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Why the Beginning of November May Be an IDEAL Time to Visit Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s not easy to decide which restaurant you should visit in Disney World when there are so many great options. And you’d be surprised by how many amazing eats are hiding in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Disney’s Animal Kingdom We’re in Disney World every single day, and we’ve tried just about everything there is to eat there. We’re here to help you find the best possible food, drinks, and snacks for your upcoming vacation! Come along with us to see the best places to eat in Animal Kingdom. In this post, we ranked the 3 best table service (sit-down) restaurants, the 5 best counter service (fast food-style) restaurants, and the 5 best places to get a snack or treat. Of course, there are a lot more options than what’s listed here, but we focused on only the BEST eats for this list. If you want to see the rankings for ALL the restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, check out our video below. Now on to the best eats! Table Service Restaurants You will need a reservation for table service restaurants in Disney World (although sometimes you can join walk-up waitlists, depending on availability). You can start making those reservations 60 days before your trip. These meals tend to be more expensive than most counter service meals, and they’re also usually bigger and fancier. But which table service spot should you choose? We’ve got the answer. 3. Tusker House Restaurant Tusker House is the only character dining spot in Animal Kingdom, so this is the place to be if you want to meet Mickey and his pals during your meal — they’ll be dressed in their safari best! As a character meal, it’s going to be a bit more expensive than most sit-down meals in Disney World. It’s located in the Africa section of this park and is designed to look like an open-air market (although it’s all inside). Tusker House Tusker House is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Until recently, the food here was served family-style with all-you-care-to-eat skillets. Now, however, buffets have returned. Some of our favorite eats here include Mickey waffles and Durban chicken and egg curry for breakfast and bottomless bread service, Cape Malay green curry shrimp, and Moroccan spiced beef for lunch and dinner. PROS: Great for those looking to see a lot of popular characters at once Also great for those who are HUNGRY and want a LOT of adventurous eats Oh, did I mention the bread service is *bottomless*? Ask for a refill anytime! CONS: This is another pricey meal $$$ If you don’t plan on eating a ton OR you don’t really like a lot of the options on the buffet, you’re not going to get your money’s worth This experience takes an hour or two out of your park day to experience OVERALL: 8/10 Check out our recent review of Tusker House here. 2. Tiffins As this park’s only signature dining location, Tiffins is the fanciest restaurant at Animal Kingdom. The decor inside is fascinating, with 3 different dining rooms including the Asia-themed Trek Gallery, the Africa-themed Safari Gallery, and the animal art Grand Gallery. If you dine here, definitely take some time to look at all the artifacts. Tiffins The pricey menu, decadent eats, and upscale atmosphere mean this is a great option for special occasions or date night. But it’s not going to be the most budget-friendly choice in Animal Kingdom. Some of our favorite things to get here are the signature bread service, the Tamarind-braised short rib, and the chocolate ganache. Keep in mind that you can sometimes order from the Tiffins menu if you’re visiting Nomad Lounge — and that might save you some cash! PROS: *The* park’s signature dining restaurant (which is perfect for special occasions) Beautiful rooms with artifacts and decor that celebrate travelers and their stories Adventurous offerings CONS: $$$$ Menu does have a few more “familiar” items to choose from, but the limited “safer” options may not be worth the price tag Takes a chunk out of your park day to sit down and enjoy this signature meal OVERALL: 9/10 Read our full review of Tiffins here. 1. Yak & Yeti Restaurant Our #1 pick for table service restaurants in Animal Kingdom is the Yak & Yeti Restaurant in the Asia section of this park. Seriously, you’d have NO idea that the same group that runs Rainforest Café is also responsible for Yak & Yeti (no offense Rainforest Cafe). This is a beautifully themed restaurant that serves Asian-fusion cuisine. Yak & Yeti This spot also has an intricate backstory. Apparently, the building is owned by a former merchant named Arjun, who transformed his ornate home into lodging for travelers who need a place to crash during their long journeys. There are some great sharable plates here (like the ahi tuna nachos and lettuce cups) that are definitely big enough to split between a few people, so you can feed a group without hurting your wallet. Yak and Yeti Ahi Tuna Nachos, how we love thee. Some of our other favorite eats include the firecracker shrimp, chicken tikka masala, Bhaktapur duck, and fried wontons (for dessert). Don’t forget to try the Yak Attack cocktail! PROS: High-quality Asian-fusion cuisine Great for groups looking for a sit-down meal that doesn’t break the bank Fun story and overall theming CONS: Takes time away from your park day Not great for those who don’t enjoy Asian cuisine If you’re looking to save even MORE money, you can always try its sibling restaurant, Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes OVERALL: 10/10 Read our latest review of Yak & Yeti here! Counter Service Restaurants Now we’re moving on to the counter service restaurants in Animal Kingdom. You don’t need a reservation for these spots, and they tend to be much cheaper than the table service options — but that doesn’t mean they’re not as good! In fact, we sometimes prefer these eats to the fancier table service meals. Animal Kingdom Check to see if the restaurant you choose has Mobile Order available. That can save you time because you won’t have to wait in line to order! 5. Pizzafari — on Mobile Order Coming in as the #5 best counter service restaurant in Animal Kingdom is Pizzafari at Discovery Island. Although this isn’t our favorite place to eat, we have to give it some credit for having a LOT of indoor seating and some unique dining rooms covered in colorful murals. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and the menu (as you can probably tell) is hearty Italian-American options, including pizza. Pizzafari The problem with the pizza here is that it’s Disney World’s classic fast-food puffy pizza. You can find it in all 4 parks at various counter service locations, and it’s just not anything to write home about. BUT we know that lots of kids are big fans of these pizzas, so this is a good place to go if you’re trying to please some younger eaters. PROS: Great for kiddos and/or choosier eaters looking for a familiar meal Beautiful murals! Quick and affordable CONS: Very standard theme park food options Not great for more adventurous pallets If you’re a pizza snob, don’t get your hopes too high for the pizza here… OVERALL: 6.5/10 See our latest review of Pizzafari here. 4. Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery You might not think that a coffee shop is the best place to get lunch, but Kusafiri will surprise you. This little window located near Kilimanjaro Safaris has recently seen some impressive menu updates. Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery For breakfast, you’ll find a selection of pastries or a more substantial breakfast sandwich. For the rest of the day, the menu includes heartier eats like chicken and pork flatbreads or spiced potato hand pies. The snacks here are big enough to be meals (and they’re a pretty good deal for the price), and we’ve really enjoyed everything we’ve tried! PROS: Great for those trying to track down breakfast Unique lunch options available CONS: Coffee IS served here, but you don’t have a giant VARIETY like you do other locations Not the best lunch option for picky eaters OVERALL: 7/10 See a recent review of Kusafiri here. 3. Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafés You might be confused about how we’re back at Yak & Yeti even after we already crowned it the best table service restaurant. Well, that spot has a sister restaurant that’s a counter service location! Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with hearty portions of pan-Asian specialties. Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafes There’s no indoor seating here, so it might not be the best option for rainy or super hot days. But we’d still brave the weather to get the chicken fried rice or mini mango pie. (That fried rice is one of our favorite meal hacks in Disney World — it’s technically a side, but it’s hearty enough for a small lunch and only $6.99!) PROS: Great selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options Some stand-out options – like the mini mango pie and hearty chicken fried rice – make us dream about this place for days on end CONS: Outdoor seating only (which can be bad if the elements are working against you) Can get REALLY packed during prime lunch and dinner times OVERALL: 8.5/10 Check out our latest review of Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafés here. 2. Flame Tree Barbecue — on Mobile Order Flame Tree Barbecue is a great option for families, as it has lots of familiar and hearty eats on the menu. It’s located near the Discovery Island bridge to DinoLand, and the outdoor seating boasts some gorgeous views of Discovery River. The tables are located inside colorful pavilions, so even though they’re outdoors, you’ll still be sheltered from the sun or rain. Flame Tree Barbecue The menu here has barbecue classics like smoked chicken, St. Louis ribs, a pork sandwich, and baked mac ‘n’ cheese with pulled pork. And you can usually find seasonal cupcakes here as well! Even though the food isn’t super adventurous, we still think it’s a step above the average theme park eats. And the fact that it won’t break the bank doesn’t hurt either! PROS: Tasty and affordable barbecue Great for those looking for a hearty meal on a budget Familiar options for pickier eaters CONS: Not great for those on a plant-based diet A heavy meal might not be great for those looking to snack throughout the day Straight-up – you don’t love bbq? You won’t love it here. OVERALL: 8.5/10 Read our recent review of Flame Tree Barbecue here. 1. Satu’li Canteen — on Mobile Order Our favorite place to get a fast food meal in Animal Kingdom is Satu’li Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar. The theming for this spot fits right in with the land, as it’s a mess hall for the RDA that was converted into a peaceful dining location for visitors to Pandora. Satu’li Canteen The menu features customizable bowls that include a base (rice, noodles, potatoes, or lettuce), a protein (or fried tofu), and sauce. But we’re also big fans of the cheeseburger steamed pods, which are basically cheeseburger-flavored bao buns! There’s plenty of indoor seating here as well. PROS: A great option for those who aren’t necessarily *completely* picky eaters, but also aren’t necessarily *completely* adventurous eaters, either High quality quick service dining Customizable options = ability to accommodate MANY types of eaters CONS: Not exactly the *quickest* quick service out there Prices here aren’t outrageous, but they can be pricier than other quick service options in the park Bowls can be TOO much food if you’re not super-hungry. (You may want to consider splitting one if you’re looking to snack later on?) OVERALL: 10/10 Read our full review of Satu’li Canteen here! Snacks/Dessert 5. Dino-Bite Snacks Head to DinoLand U.S.A. to find one of our all-time favorite treats in Animal Kingdom: the Dino-Bite Snacks ice cream cookie sandwiches! This treat is pretty simple — just ice cream sandwiched between 2 cookies — but somehow it’s so much more than the sum of its parts. Dino-Bite Snacks There’s a standard chocolate chip-vanilla ice cream option available year-round, but keep an eye out for seasonal flavors too. You can also get floats, chips, and Mickey pretzels (with cheese sauce) here, but other than that, there isn’t much on the menu. Still, we keep coming back for those ice cream sammies! PROS: Best. Ice cream sammiches. Ever. Also serves other sweet treats – like hot fudge sundaes and ice cream floats CONS: Only has two salty options available (Mickey Pretzels and bags of chips) Not great for those looking for something more *sustaining* OVERALL: 8/10 Read our most recent review of the ice cream sandwiches at Dino-Bite Snacks here. 4. Pongu Pongu You’ll find more unique eats over in Pandora — The World of Avatar when you visit Pongu Pongu. This snack stand’s name means “Party Party” in the language of the Na’vi, and the story goes that an ex-pat fell in love with Pandora so he decided to stay and set up shop. Pongu Pongu There are some alcoholic and non-alcoholic sips here, including the Hawkes Grog Ale (a green beer!) and the Night Blossom (a non-alcoholic specialty drink). The Pongu Lumpia is a famous snack — it’s a spring roll filled with cream cheese and pineapple, and it’s been known to be fairly divisive (the DFB team is split on this one). A safer option might be the french toast sticks for breakfast or the Na’vi-sized pretzel with beer cheese sauce in the afternoon. PROS: Selection of breakfast options available Unique (and tasty!) frozen beverages (that are more interesting than a Frozen CocaCola) CONS: Not a place for a substantial meal (unless a giant pretzel with beer cheese will do the trick) Ponga Lumpia is a hit or miss for many. (Will YOU take a chance on it?) OVERALL: 8/10 Read our recent review of Pongu Pongu here. 3. Anandapur Ice Cream Truck Honestly, just the look of this snack stand is enough to get it on our list. It’s a beautifully decorated truck that serves soft-serve ice cream and other cool snacks over in Animal Kingdom’s Asia. Anandapur Ice Cream Truck Vanilla, chocolate, or swirl ice cream can be served in a waffle cone, or you can try a float (with your choice of a fountain drink). This spot usually also has specialty sundaes, which might change based on the time of year. We recently saw a Yeti Sundae here, which has chocolate and vanilla soft serve, blue cake crumbs, sugar snowflakes, and chocolate yeti decal. PROS: Great for those looking for unique soft-serve options BEAUTIFUL artwork on the truck (can someone paint a room in my house like this?) CONS: No seating VERY limited menu (if you’re looking for a BUNCH of soft serve places in one location, you may be disappointed) OVERALL: 8.5/10 Read our review of a seasonal treat at Anandapur Ice Cream Truck here. 2. Eight Spoon Café If you’re not careful, you’ll walk right past Eight Spoon Café and not even notice the amazing eats on the menu! But don’t worry — now you know to pay close attention to this unassuming kiosk. You’ll find it on Discovery Island, just before the bridge that leads to Asia. Eight Spoon Cafe This spot has some truly unique snacks like the baked mac ‘n’ cheese with pulled pork and the pulled pork-jelly doughnut sandwich! If you want something classic, there’s also a Mickey pretzel on the menu here. Keep in mind that you’ll need to get to this spot early in the day — it usually closes around 5PM. PROS: Tasty, creamy, and affordable mac and cheese Adventurous jelly doughnut? (Because why not??) CONS: Not great for those looking for something light to snack on Closes early OVERALL: 10/10 Read our review of Eight Spoon Café here. 1. Nomad Lounge The #1 BEST place for a snack or drink in Animal Kingdom is Nomad Lounge. This lounge is connected to the signature restaurant Tiffins, so you can sometimes order from the Tiffins menu here. There are hand-crafted cocktails, mocktails, and small plates on the menu, along with African, Asian, and South American wines and beers. Nomad Lounge The indoor lounge area has unique decor and comfortable seating, but we love the outdoor covered patio with its views of the Discovery River and relaxing ambiance. Nomad Lounge Churros and Dipping Sauces Some of our favorite eats here have been the Tiffins bread service, the baked lobster mac ‘n’ cheese (this is a secret menu item that’s only available sometimes — ask your server about it!), and the amazing CHURROS. Seriously, these are the best churros in Disney World. The only downside to Nomad Lounge is that it can be tricky to get into. Seating is limited, so you’ll want to get your name on the walk-up waitlist ASAP. That wait list typically opens at 11AM and fills up quickly. PROS: A great selection of cocktails, wines, and beers Fantastic views Tasty small plates for adults; solid lunch options for kiddos CONS: Walk up waitlist has the potential of filling up (And filling up QUICK) Small plates are tasty but don’t offer a huge variety Not the best for less-adventurous eaters who also aren’t big on the whole cocktail scene OVERALL: 10/10 Read our recent review of Nomad Lounge here. There you have it! All the best restaurants in Animal Kingdom, whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal, a quick bite, or just some dessert. With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. Take the DFB Guide Wherever You Go We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2022 at checkout for 25% off. And keep following the DFB Blog for more updates on all the newest eats in Disney World. Click here to find the BEST restaurants in EPCOT. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite thing to eat in Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments. The post We've Eaten at Every Restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom. These Are the BEST. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s that time of the year — there’s snow on the castle and a ton of new merchandise in the stores. Disney California Adventure That’s right — the holidays have arrived at Disneyland Resort. Even “it’s a small world” is getting in on the holiday spirit (which is why it’s closed right now). The Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure starts soon — and we’re already seeing the food booths going up! We recently got a full list of all the booths coming to the festival, but seeing the food booths out in Disney California Adventure just makes it that much more real, right? The booths we’ve seen so far include Winter Sliderland… Winter Sliderland …Visions of Sugarplums… Visions of Sugarplums …Making Spirits Bright… Making Spirits Bright …Holiday Duets… Holiday Duets …Grandma’s Recipes… Grandma’s Recipes …Favorite Things… Favorite Things …Brews & Bites… Brews & Bites …and A Twist on Tradition. A Twist on Tradition Will you be attending the Disney Festival of Holidays? Be sure to follow along with us as we take you through the WHOLE festival — we’ll be telling you all about the entertainment and activities, as well as giving you full reviews of the food! Are you heading to Disneyland for the holiday season? Here’s everything confirmed so far for the holidays in the parks and at Downtown Disney! Go Behind-the-Scenes of Disneyland’s “it’s a small world”; Holiday Transformation Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! See Our DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Get All the Info About Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Should You Go to Disneyland in 2022? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite holiday tradition at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Food Booths Are Up for Festival of Holidays at Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you all set for your upcoming Disney World trip? If you’re going to the parks next week, you probably already made advanced dining reservations, started on a packing list, and decided which rides you’ll visit first. Disney World entrance But before you go, you’ll want to find out which rides, attractions, and restaurants will be CLOSED temporarily in Disney World. Disney will close down certain things in order to update and refurbish them, and we’ve got a full list of those closures right here. A quick note before we dive into the closures: If you’re going to visit Disney World soon, you’ll need the perfect outfit to wear into the parks! We’ve got a lot of great tees and sweatshirts (including some holiday designs!) at our online DFB store — Click here to check out our whole merch line. DFB shirt Now that you’re ready with the perfect Disney shirts, check out our full list of what’s going to be CLOSED in Disney World this week. Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World Railroad Yep, the Walt Disney World Railroad is STILL on our closures list. This attraction has been closed for a long time now (we’re talking multiple years), and Disney hasn’t announced an official reopening date yet. Walt Disney World Railroad Water Tower We have seen many signs that it could reopen soon. Disney released a video showing engineers testing the trains, and a crew has been hard at work replacing tracks that were removed for construction in Tomorrowland. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear about its return! Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. Over in Tomorrowland, the Light & Power Co. gift shop is still closed as well. This gift shop is located at the exit of Space Mountain, so visitors to that attraction are being directed to exit a different way. Tomorrowland Light & Power Disney hasn’t announced yet when this store will reopen, but it disappears from the refurbishments calendar on November 6th, so it’s possible that we could see it open on that date. We’ll keep an eye out for updates. Enchanted Tales with Belle If you’re hoping to meet Belle in Magic Kingdom, you may still be able to spot her over near the Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction — we’ve seen her meeting guests here recently! But the full attraction (where you can help her tell the story of Beauty and the Beast) is still closed. It’s Belle! Disney hasn’t announced when Enchanted Tales with Belle could reopen. Pete’s Silly Sideshow Another character location is closed as well — Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus previously hosted Minnie, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy in their circus performer outfits. Pete’s Silly Sideshow This spot is still closed, but Disney has announced that it will reopen sometime “in the coming months.” We’ll be watching for updates! Meet Ariel at Her Grotto Back over in Fantasyland, one more character meet-and-greet spot is also closed. Meeting the Little Mermaid at Ariel’s Grotto is currently unavailable. Ariel’s Grotto If you want a Little Mermaid-themed experience, though, you can still ride Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid, which is located nearby. Disney hasn’t announced when Ariel’s Grotto will reopen. See the FIRST holiday treats in Magic Kingdom here. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid One popular show returned to Hollywood Studios this week, but another remains closed. The Voyage of the Little Mermaid stage show is still unavailable. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney hasn’t announced when this show could reopen. Check out the holiday decorations at Hollywood Studios. EPCOT Canada Far & Wide in CircleVision 360 Canada Far & Wide is a film that plays in a 360-degree theater in EPCOT’s World Showcase Canada pavilion. That theater is currently being used to house the Appleseed Orchard festival booth for the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, so the film isn’t playing currently. Appleseed Orchard in the Canada pavilion We’re expecting the film to resume playing after the festival ends on November 19th. American Adventure Show Another World Showcase show is also closed — the American Adventure show. Disney hasn’t announced when it might return, but we’ll keep watching to see when it’s back. The show is still closed. According to a Cast Member in this pavilion, the closure is for some routine refurbishments on the animatronics. Cool Wash Cool Wash is a little kiosk near Test Track that’s served a few different purposes in the past. Now, it seems to be in the midst of another remodel. We recently saw a new name on the sign that said “Refreshment Station.” Refreshment Station When we checked back later, the sign had been covered up by a tarp. We’ll have to wait and see when this spot opens because Disney hasn’t released any information about it. See where you can find a SECRET message in EPCOT. Disney World Hotels Narcoossee’s — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Narcoossee’s (the upscale seafood restaurant) has been closed for a few months now. Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort This spot will reopen in next year, but Disney hasn’t announced a specific return date for it yet. See a list of the WORST Disney World hotels for 2023. Disney World Water Parks Blizzard Beach One of Disney World’s water parks — Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park — is still closed right now. This park is scheduled to reopen SOON on November 13th! Ski Lift at Blizzard Beach When Blizzard Beach reopens, Typhoon Lagoon (Disney World’s other water park) will close for its own round of refurbishments. Check out the new Frozen area of Blizzard Beach here. Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts! What to Do When Your Phone Dies in Disney World Our NEW Tips for Saving BIG in Disney World 3 Terrifyingly Easy Ways to Ruin Your Disney World Vacation Your Ultimate 1-Day Plan For Magic Kingdom Step-by-Step Guide to Ordering Instacart Grocery Delivery to Disney World We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Find out how you can avoid paying full price for your 2022 Disney World trip. Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip How Many Days Do You Really Need in Disney World? How to Have the CHEAPEST Trip to Disney World 5 Simple Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023 EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Booking a 2023 Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post Every Ride, Show, and Park that’s CLOSED in Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s face it — flying right now can be challenging. Flying is stressful Not only are airlines experiencing pilot shortages, numerous delays and cancellations, but some airlines are dropping flights altogether. Add that into problems with luggage and long security lines, and going to the airport can just be stressful for passengers. But there’s a way to make at least one part a little less stressful — and it now costs less! Let’s talk about security lines at the airport. Those are constantly long and it can be such a hassle to have to go through taking off your shoes, pulling out your little bag of liquids, and all the other things you have to do to get through there. But if you have TSA PreCheck, you can keep your shoes on, keep everything in your bags, and breeze through security. ©TSA We’ve got some good news about that program, too — it now costs less! It previously cost $85, but the TSA has dropped the price to $78 per passenger. The cost to renew online remains at $70 per person. The program is open to all U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents. All you have to do is go online to the TSA website and apply for pre-approval. You’ll then book an interview, where you’ll need to provide a valid photo ID and proof of citizenship. ©TSA Once you’re approved, you’ll be given a Known Traveler Number that you can input when booking your flights — this will give you access to a special PreCheck lane at airport security, where you’ll find you can move more quickly through security. It’s a win! ©TSA If you’re still concerned about paying the fee, though, there are ways to get TSA PreCheck for free. All active members of the armed forces can get TSA Precheck for free, many travel rewards credit cards offer reimbursement for TSA PreCheck, and some airline and hotel rewards programs allow you to redeem points or miles for TSA PreCheck. With the lower price, now is a good time to sign up for the service and most who use it will tell you it’s worth it! Here Are Our Team’s Best Air Travel Tips Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you have TSA PreCheck or are you planning on signing up? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Now Is the BEST Time to Sign Up for TSA PreCheck 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. Not everyone is into the traditional holiday aesthetic, and that’s okay. Some of us are less A Christmas Carol more The Nightmare Before Christmas! Who said you can’t enjoy a little spookiness around the holidays? This could mean they’re a little more difficult to shop for. You still want to find them the perfect gift? Take a cue from Disney’s spookiest attraction! The Haunted Mansion is an attraction beloved by many. If you find yourself scratching your head trying to figure out what sort of stocking stuffers to purchase for someone who truly loves this ride, there are plenty of Haunted Mansion items that they’d be delighted to receive. Here are some of our favorites we’ve found! The Haunted Mansion Coffin Trinket Box Keep your family heirlooms in this Haunted Mansion Coffin Trinket Box. Shaped like one of the caskets you might see in the classic ride, this box is the perfect size to hold rings and other jewelry. It bears the clever phrase “Tomb Sweet Tomb” and we can only imagine what sort of ghouls would reside in a full-size version in the Haunted Mansion! The Haunted Mansion Coffin Trinket Box © Amazon At 6″ long, you have space inside to hide tiny treasures. The lid simply lifts off to reveal the interior. This black trinket box is trimmed in purple with silver scrollwork and matching silver detailing all around. For only $19.99 this tiny (and creepy) item can be yours! Click here to buy The Haunted Mansion Coffin Trinket Box! The Bride Light-Up Living Magic Sketchbook Ornament You can find a variety of Haunted Mansion ornaments on shopDisney featuring iconic specters from the attraction. This ornament features Constance Hatchaway, who you might recognize as the deadly bride who resides within the halls of the Haunted Mansion. Part of their Living Magic Sketchbook series, this ornament is inspired by drawings of this character by Disney artists. The Bride Light-Up Living Magic Sketchbook Ornament – The Haunted Mansion © Disney The Bride Light-Up Living Magic Sketchbook Ornament is just the thing to add to a Disney-themed Christmas tree. You can also set this item on a mantle or along with other Disney collectibles you would like to display. Besides being an eerie replica of the murderous bride, this ornament also lights up to give her an otherworldly glow! This ornament is on sale right now, marked down from$24.99 to $20. Click here to buy The Bride Light-Up Living Magic Sketchbook Ornament! The Haunted Mansion Bangle Bracelet by Alex and Ani Does your giftee prefer wearing their Disney merch? Surprise them with this rose gold bracelet from Alex and Ani. Along with several other charms, this bangle also has a hefty oval portrait charm. The image inside is of Constance with one of her dearly departed husbands. The Haunted Mansion Bangle Bracelet by Alex and Ani – Rose Gold © Disney The other included charms on The Haunted Mansion Bangle Bracelet by Alex and Ani include a Mickey Mouse charm as well as their signature “Made In America With Love” charm. This bracelet is adjustable and can expand to fit a variety of wrist sizes. It’s available on shopDisney for $49.99. Click here to buy The Haunted Mansion Bangle Bracelet by Alex and Ani! The Haunted Mansion Urn Mug For the coffee fan, slip this Haunted Mansion Urn Mug into their stocking! This large mug can hold 12 ounces of your favorite beverage, almost twice the amount of your standard coffee mug. This mug was also designed especially for the Disneyland and Disney World parks! The Haunted Mansion Urn Mug © Disney The design for this mug was inspired by vintage urns. This ominous shape has been converted into a vessel for hot beverages with a sturdy handle. On the outside is the Haunted Mansion logo in gray, contrasting with the dark green-black color. You can find this mug on shopDisney for $24.99. Click here to buy The Haunted Mansion Urn Mug! The Haunted Mansion Ghost Portraits Mystery Pin Blind Pack Pin collectors will be thrilled with these! The Haunted Mansion Ghost Portraits Mystery Pin Blind Pack is the perfect gift for someone looking to expand their pin collection. Each pack contains 2 mystery pins — which ones will they receive? The Haunted Mansion Ghost Portraits Mystery Pin Blind Pack – 2-Pc. – Limited Release © Disney Each pin features a portrait of a different character from The Haunted Mansion. Grab a few packs of these to throw in their stocking for an exciting Christmas morning surprise! These are a limited release and the packs are currently marked down from $15.99 to $12, so if they’re on your shopping list act fast! Click here to buy The Haunted Mansion Ghost Portraits Mystery Pin Blind Pack! The Haunted Mansion Little Golden Book This book is for the kid who just has to ride The Haunted Mansion every time you’re at Disney! Part of the classic Little Golden Books collection, The Haunted Mansion Little Golden Book is an addition to the many Disney stories that have been featured amongst these iconic children’s books. The Haunted Mansion Little Golden Book © Target This book is the perfect size for little hands to hold and is filled with colorful illustrations of scenes and characters from the classic ride. In this book you’ll be led by The Ghost Host around the Haunted Mansion to meet other happy haunts and discover the secrets hidden within this house. You can add this book to your child’s library for only $4.99 at Target. Click here to buy The Haunted Mansion Little Golden Book! Haunted Mansion Traveling Ghost Action Figure Collectors and kids alike will be happy to pull this figure out of their stocking! The Haunted Mansion Traveling Ghost Action Figure is an officially licensed sculpture of Phineas, one of the famous Hitchhiking Ghosts you might remember from the attraction. Haunted Mansion Traveling Ghost Action Figure © Target Phineas comes complete with suitcase, ready to hitch a ride with whoever is willing to pick him up! Collectors can leave this figure inside the original packaging or remove to set him up in their display area. Kids might enjoy playing with him along with their other action figures! This figure can come home with you from Target for $20, marked down from $25. Click here to buy the Haunted Mansion Traveling Ghost Action Figure! Haunted Mansion Funko POP – Constance Hatchaway Chase There are even Haunted Mansion Funko figures! These popular collectible figurines feature TONS of Disney characters, both from movies, shows, and even rides. This one shows the older version of Constance, from her portrait in the Stretching Room (did you recognize her?). Haunted Mansion Funko POP – Constance Hatchaway Chase © Target The Haunted Mansion Funko POP of Constance Hatchaway Chase looks just like an exaggerated cartoon version of her official counterpart in the attraction. Perched atop one of her husbands’ graves, she doesn’t look one bit regretful! This figurine measures 3.75″ high and can be displayed inside or out of her Funko box. Gift to the Funko collector in your life for $36.99. Click here to buy the Haunted Mansion Funko POP – Constance Hatchaway Chase! Disney Doorables The Haunted Mansion Collection Another gift for collectors, the Disney Doorables The Haunted Mansion Collection contains a whole gaggle of ghouls straight from their spooky abode! Unlike the usual Doorables mystery packs, in this set you’re guaranteed to receive 12 exclusive figures, including classics like Opera Singer, The Bride, and The Hatbox Ghost. Disney Doorables The Haunted Mansion Collection © Amazon This collection does have one surprise — some boxes contain a bonus RARE mystery figure! The Haunted Mansion Collection is a must-have for any Doorables collector because you can’t find these figures anywhere else. It’s also an Amazon Exclusive, so if you know someone who would love this as a gift grab it there for $16.99. Click here to buy the Disney Doorables The Haunted Mansion Collection! Pick up 1 or 2 gifts for the Haunted Mansion fan in your life or go all-out and fill their stocking with a bunch of these items for a fun themed surprise! For more gift guides, check out our list of the BEST gifts for Disney-lovers! Stay up to date with all of our gift guides, holiday posts, and more by signing up for our newsletter below. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. If your stocking was filled with merch based on a Disney ride, which one would it be? We want to hear from you in the comment section below! The post The Ultimate List of Disney Stocking Stuffers for Haunted Mansion Fans! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the HOLIDAYS in Disney World now, folks, and there are a lot of ways you can celebrate! The holidays in Disney World! Between the food, decorations, gingerbread displays, and more, it’s understandable that people want to flock to the parks to check everything out. Also, the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party since 2019 is next week, so you KNOW it’s gonna be popular (and it’s sold out!). So, if you’re heading to the parks next week, we’ve got your look at the hours and park pass reservation availability for the week — let’s go! Magic Kingdom Park Hours We’re starting in Magic Kingdom, where on November 6th, 7th, 9th, & 12th, the park will be open from 9AM to 11PM. On November 8th, 10th, & 11th, Magic Kingdom will be open from 8AM to 6PM due to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which runs from 7PM to 12AM on those dates. ©Disney On November 9th, Extended Evening Hours (for qualifying Disney World Resort hotel guests) are scheduled from 11PM to 1AM. EPCOT Park Hours EPCOT will be open from 9AM to 9PM on November 6th, and open from 8:30AM to 9PM from November 7th-12th. ©Disney Extended Evening Hours will take place on November 7th from 9PM to 11PM. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Hours Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the same hours as EPCOT, opening from 9AM to 9PM on November 6th, and 8:30AM to 9PM for the rest fo the week. ©Disney If you want to park hop in Disney World right now, you have to have a Park Pass Reservation to start your day and you have to wait until after 2PM to scan into your second park (you have to go to your first park first!). An easy way to travel between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios is via the Disney Skyliner! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Hours And Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 8AM to 8PM on November 6th, 11th & 12th. On November 7th-10th, the park will be open from 8AM to 7PM. ©Disney Now, let’s check out the availability of Park Passes next week! Park Pass Reservation Availability The Disney World Park Pass availability calendar is divided by theme park tickets, resort hotels, and Annual Passes. For visitors with Theme Park Tickets, both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are booked up for November 11th. Then, only Magic Kingdom is full for November 7th, 9th, & 12th. ©Disney If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, the availability is the same as it is with the theme park tickets. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are booked up for November 11th. Then, only Magic Kingdom is full for November 7th, 9th, & 12th. ©Disney If you’re a Disney World Annual Passholder you have a different calendar of park pass availability. Next week, the Incredi Pass has no blockout dates with full park availability except for on November 11th, when Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are booked up. ©Disney Sorcerer Passholders is the same thing — there is full park reservation availability next week except for on November 11th, when Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are booked up. There are also no blockout dates next week, but they’re coming up soon. ©Disney If you have the Pirate Pass you also have no blockout dates and every day is fully available except for November 11th, when Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are full. ©Disney And, the Pixie Dust Pass is blocked on November 6th & 12th, but the rest of the week is open for reservations, besides on November 11th, when Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are sold out. ©Disney And that’s what you need to know about Disney World’s park hours and Park Pass availability for next week! We’ve got a great resource for you when you plan your NEXT Disney World trip – our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We wrote our ebook after decades of visiting Disney World so that we could help you have a stress-free vacation! Click here and use code WDW2022 to get 25% off! If you’re planning a Disney World trip right now, take a look at the hardest dining reservations to get in 2023, 5 ways to save $1,000 on your Disney trip, and what to do if you can’t get the Disney World hotel reservation you wanted. Magic Kingdom at night Stay tuned to DFB for everything you need to know to plan your next Disney World trip! The Planning Tips You Need to Know About Before Your Next Disney World Trip Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2023 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. When is your next trip to Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post 2 Parks are Sold OUT for Everyone Next Week in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article