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Disney’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is back and Orlando Sentinel tourism reporter Dewayne Bevil has the scoop on the hokey, high-energy show. View the full article

We’ve all got a favorite Disney World ride, right? But do y’all also have a favorite Disney World ride SMELL? Pandora There are some iconic ride smells out there, like the musty smell in Pirates of the Caribbean or the scent of the orange groves in Soarin’. Taking a big ol’ whiff in some of our favorite attractions just brings a flood of nostalgia and happiness. Now, Disney has a way for you to experience that at home for one of the most popular rides in the parks! For years, we begged Disney World to PLEASE make Disney-scented candles. There are 3rd party sellers out there who have ride- and hotel-scented candles, but we couldn’t understand why Disney didn’t have their own line. But over the last few months, they have FINALLY started selling official Disney candles! Disney candles We’ve spotted all kinds of candles in the parks now, from Winnie the Pooh-themed ones to Haunted Mansion scents. And many of these candles are available online, too! That’s true for one of Disney’s newest additions to their candle line, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. This is Disney’s Pandora — The World of Avatar candle! Pandora Candle You might be thinking, “Pandora isn’t a ride in Disney World!” And you’d be right. It’s actually a land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But within that land is the very popular Avatar: Flight of Passage ride, which was the inspiration for this candle’s scent! Specifically, Disney says that the “scent is a replica of the aroma from Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.” Avatar Flight of Passage If you’ve been on Flight of Passage, you probably already know what smell they’re talking about. And if you’re a big fan of the ride, you’ll be happy to know that you can buy this candle both in Disney World and online! It costs $27.99 on shopDisney. If the ride’s popularity is any indication, these candles might sell out FAST, so we recommend getting yours ASAP. It really smells like the ride! The single-wick candle has a stone container with a lid, and there are scenes from Pandora all around the sides. It came out in honor of the Pandora land’s 5-year anniversary in Animal Kingdom, which was on May 27th of this year. We previously saw the candle in Disney World, but now you can buy it online as well! Click here to buy the Pandora — The World of Avatar candle! Looking for more Disney-themed candles? There are several available online at shopDisney now, many of which are on sale! You can find a Stitch-themed candle in honor of 626 day coming up this weekend, or go the more villainous route with the apple-scented Poisoned Apple candle. Poison Apple Candles!! We’ll continue to watch for more of the coolest Disney merchandise, so stay tuned with DFB for all the latest news! This Disney merch is FLYING off the shelves! Get them before they’re gone! 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you a fan of Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post A Flight of Passage Disney CANDLE Just Dropped Online -- Snag It Before It SELLS OUT 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. There’s a LOT happening in the Disney news sphere right now! Let’s do some damage! We’re in the middle of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, things are changing big time in the parks, and we’re already starting to prepare for the holiday celebrations. On top of that, Disney is constantly releasing new merchandise, so it’s basically like Christmas morning for Disney fans! If you want to see ALL the new items that landed online this week, we’ve rounded up a full list! New Collections A couple new merchandise collections landed online this week, starting with new items here to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Lilo & Stitch! The new collection included everything from Loungeflys to pins to puzzles, and if you’re a hardcore Stitch fan, you NEED to check out this stuff before it’s gone. Stitch! Also, the next installment of the Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction collection is here! The “it’s small world” series (including a new pair of ears!) landed on shopDisney and the items are as whimsical and over-the-top as you’d expect. If you like BRIGHT pastels, this collection is for you! New “it’s a small world” Mickey ears Over on Amazon, there’s a new Disney-themed summer collection! It mostly features Mickey Mouse as a surfer, with apparel, plushes, and even water bottles. All your beach essentials! The pastel items are all pretty affordable and would be great for a summer trip to the parks or to the coast. ©Amazon And the last of the new collections is a group of Winnie the Pooh-themed Dooney & Bourke bags — how precious! This set looks like artwork straight from the books and even comes with a backpack design. They’re pretty pricey, but they would be an amazing gift for a Pooh fanatic! ©Disney And if you’re an Annual Passholder, Disney has a specific tote in this collection just for you! Shop All the Winnie the Pooh Bags Here! Disney Accessories If hot pink is your color, then we’ve got the HOT new trend for you! This week, Disney dropped a lot of merchandise in a color they call “orchid” online, including some new, very sparkly ears. There’s also a Spirit Jersey and a PopSocket, so you’ll be able to WERK your favorite color from head to toe. These ears are VERY pink! For all you fans of Marvel’s latest film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there’s a must-have cozy accessory for you. Say hello to the Doctor Strange Cloak Throw which is both a cloak AND a blanket. Yeah, that’s right! ©Disney We’ll be honest — we’ve never seen anything quite like this. You can add it to your blanket collection…or your cloak collection (if you’re THAT guy) for $49.99. Get All the Cloak Details Here! Collectibles Let’s finish up this roundup with some new items for your shelf of collectibles! First up, the Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse 4th of July Plushes are now available. As you’d expect, they’re decked out in stylish stars and stripes! Red, white, and blue Minnie And last but not least, there’s a new Funko POP inspired by not only The Simpsons, but also by an iconic meme! The Homer in Hedges Funko POP Vinyl is a must for anyone who collects Funkos but also has a sense of humor. ©Entertainment Earth It’s currently available for pre-order from Entertainment Earth for $13.99. Order the Funko POP Here! That’s everything new this week, but that’s not all the new merchandise we’ve spotted recently! We’ve seen lots of new items in the parks, including Disney bags, Minnie ears, and even some 50th Anniversary stuff. By the time your Disney World trip rolls around, there will be all kinds of new merchandise to discover! 50th Anniversary Merchandise Coming soon, we’ll have merchandise for the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and Disney has even shared a sneak peek at some of the things we can expect in this year’s holiday collection. We can’t wait! Click Here to See All the 50th Anniversary Merchandise Online! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which of these new items would you want to buy? Tell us in the comments! The post NEW Minnie Ears, Disney Backpacks, and MORE Arrived Online This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Snacking around Disney World and Disneyland is a favorite pastime for many people (hi, it’s us, we’re people). Disney California Adventure From pretzels and popcorn to beignets, Dole Whip, and cheeseburger pods, the Disney parks have plenty of snack options for just about anyone. We recently visited Disney California Adventure for their special Grad Nite After Hours event and tried a NEW sweet treat that we just had to tell you about! We tried the Cherry Cone-Vertible at Disneyland’s Grad Nite event! This year’s special, hard-ticketed event took place on one night only and featured endless thrills, laughs, entertainment and of course — special food and beverages. Over at the Cozy Cone Motel, they were serving up the Cherry Cone-Vertible, a cinnamon bread cone filled with vanilla soft-serve and warm cherries for $7.99. Cherry Cone-Vertible from Cozy Cone Motel This dessert was simple and absolutely delicious! The cinnamon bread cone was warm, fluffy, and had the perfect amount of cinnamon-sugar sweetness to it. It wasn’t too tough or chewy and was easy to bite into. Check out all those cherries! The cone was filled with regular vanilla soft-serve, which wasn’t anything special but still good — but the warm cherries took this snack to the next level. The cold ice cream mixed with the warmth of the cherries was a fun element, and the vanilla cut the tartness of the cherries. Grad Nite Cherry Cone-Vertible This treat is definitely for cherry lovers, so if you’re not a fan of the flavor or just don’t like fruity desserts, we’d probably skip this one. But, if you love cherry pie a la mode, this is kind of like that all wrapped up in a cone! Disney Combined 3 Classic Desserts and the Result is Amazing! Looking for more Disneyland news? The All-American College Band is back! And, check out the 5 changes that could impact your next Disney trip. If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland for the holidays, there are TWO fireworks shows coming back! 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 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 Disneyland or Disney World dessert? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney’s New Ice Cream Cone Isn’t What You’re Thinking…It’s Better first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s been a busy time in Disney World, so it’s easy to miss out on everything new that’s happening! Stage Show Many restaurants have reopened, a lot of entertainment has returned, a new ride debuted, and more. But, besides the really BIG things happening, there are also a lot of smaller new things that pop up in Disney World often that we like to keep you up-to-date on. So, let’s check out what’s NEW in Magic Kingdom! Magic Kingdom Food Updates Main Street Bakery Over at Main Street Bakery, the Starbucks location in Magic Kingdom, we tried out the NEW Pineapple Passionfruit Starbucks Refresher. It’s pineapple and passionfruit flavors mixed together with diced pineapple. This drink was okay, but it tasted a bit artificial to us. New drink alert! We were a little disappointed that it didn’t taste like a Dole Whip! You can get one for $4.79. Click here to read our FULL REVIEW of this Refresher! Magic Kingdom Construction Updates Main Street, U.S.A. On Main Street, U.S.A., the side street is blocked off by a line of trees. What’s going on? We’re not sure what’s going on back there but we’ll let you know if we see it reopen! Magic Kingdom Merchandise Updates The Emporium Let’s talk about the new MERCH! In The Emporium, we found a new Turning Red water bottle for $27.99. How fun is this? A fuzzy water bottle — sign us up! Okay, fun We also found a new Turning Red charm bracelet for $29.99… Perfect for you and a friend! …and a Turning Red friendship bracelet making kit for $24.99. Or, you can make your own! The patriotic red, white, and blue Minnie ears we previously saw in Disneyland have made their way to Disney World! You can get them for $29.99. Just in time for 4th of July Finally, we found a new Mickey blue tie dye shirt that says Walt Disney World. New shirt! You can get the shirt for $36.89. Main Street Cinema There’s a new Orange Bird MagicBand in Main Street Cinema that says “Florida” on it for $39.99. Do you think this is worth $40? And, we found a new 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea T-Shirt! Remember this ride? This one is $36.99. Uptown Jewelers Coming soon to Uptown Jewelers is a Main Street Electrical Parade Dooney and Bourke collection! Coming sooooon And, we saw a new Pandora Mickey Waffle Charm in here. The front shows the waffle… For some serious waffle lovers …and the back says Waffle Lover. Mickey waffles for life The charm is $70. Frontier Trading Post There are 3 new Characters on Parade Pins in Frontier Trading Post. We have Peter Pan… Peter Pan pin …which opens up to show a picture… Inside …Chip ‘n’ Dale… Hey, guys! …and Genie. These open up and show a picture inside and are $19.99 each. Genie There’s also a new Dr. Facilier pin from The Princess and the Frog for $19.99. He’s got friends on the other side And, we saw a Country Bears pin also for $19.99. A Magic Kingdom classic Finally, we found a new Pride Mickey Heart AirPods case — it comes in both sizes for AirPods. New case! This was $19.99. Bonjour Gifts Inside Bonjour Gifts was a new Precious Moments 50th anniversary figurine! What do you think? This souvenir is $95. Magic Kingdom Additional Updates Tomorrowland In front of Tomorrowland, there’s a new 50th sign in the grass by the lake! Just in case you forgot! Disney is apparently not done decorating for the 50th. Festival of Fantasy We’ve been noticing characters go missing and come back to the Festival of Fantasy parade, and it looks like a lot of characters are missing right now. We noticed that the Sleeping Beauty fairies and the Maleficent guards weren’t there on our recent trip. Where is everyone? That’s everything new in Magic Kingdom! Want some more from the park? You can check out our update about fireworks, changes coming to the Mickey meet and greet, or take a look at the best Magic Kingdom attraction according to fans! Remember, Magic Kingdom is the park with the most rides and is usually one of the busiest parks, so it’s probably the best park to use Disney Genie+ in, if you’re going to use the service at all while on vacation. Splash Mountain Lightning Lane Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Disney World’s Most Cringe-Worthy Souvenirs 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which land is your favorite to grab a snack in at Magic Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New in Magic Kingdom: A FUZZY Water Bottle (?!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of cheese over here! This was a BIG cup, y’all. Luckily for us, Disney is always putting out tons of cheesy snacks for us to enjoy! EPCOT just upgraded their cheese crawl around the world for the 2022 Food & Wine Festival, and we tried a GIANT cheesy snack over in Disneyland. Over in Disney California Adventure, we tried Disney’s latest cheesy creation, and it might be the cheesiest yet! Over at Smokejumpers Grill, we tried the Cheeseburger Mac Burger, and this thing was loaded with cheese! This burger had double patties covered in cheese and cheese burger mac and cheese inside. It was topped with more melted cheese, burger sauce, and pickles, and was served with fries. Cheeseburger Mac Burger This is one of the cheesiest things we have ever seen! They packed as much cheese as possible into this burger, and we were here for it. This burger really proved there is no such thing as too much cheese. The patties were thick and juicy, and the burger sauce was delicious as well. It paired nicely with the rest of the burger, and of course, we can’t say no to crinkle cut fries! Look at all of that cheese! Our only complaint about this burger is that it was super messy! It was pretty much impossible to hold it without getting cheese everywhere. This is not the meal to get if you want to keep your hands clean. Expect to have very cheesy fingers when you eat this! But just look at the mac and cheese inside. Are you drooling right now?! Because we totally are! Yeah… this made a huge mess We loved this burger, and how could we not? It was oozing with so much yummy cheese! This one is definitely a must-try for cheese lovers, so if you want to give it a try, you can get it at Smokejumpers during Grad Nites for $15.49! Smokejumpers Grill If cheese isn’t your thing, then maybe Disneyland’s new holiday inspired corn dog or churro is the snack for you! We’ll keep trying everything we see at the Disney Parks, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see ALL of the New Food Coming to Disneyland and Disney World for the 4th of July! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! Check Out Important Details about the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Face Mask Policy Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? 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 Are you gonna try this super cheesy burger from Smokejumpers? Let us know in the comments! The post A Burger Smothered in CHEESE?! We Want MORE of This, Disney! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you know what time it is?! We said: do you know what time it is?! No? Well, it’s time for you to sit down, put up those feet, and take a virtual trip to Disney with us for all of the latest news! We LOVE Mickey Mouse! If you haven’t been keeping a close eye on Disney news lately, we have some BIG updates for you! We’re talking Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party news, the return of more character meet-and-greets, and so. much. more. So let’s get into our round-up of the biggest Disney news from this week! 1 — Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is Coming BACK We start with some HUGE news. This year, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is returning, and it looks like “classic” parties are returning for the holidays too. Disney has announced that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be coming BACK to Disney World this year! There will be a stage show, holiday fireworks, ride overlays, and so much more! To see full details about what’s returning to the party, click here. This event is full of fun surprises! The party will be offered on select nights from November 8th through December 22nd, and ticket prices range from $149 – $199 per person. Click here for a full list of dates and prices for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! 2 — EPCOT Festival of the Holidays NEWS Also returning this year is EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays. Disney has announced that the Festival will be coming back to EPCOT starting on November 25th, 2022 (though an end date has yet to be shared). Festival of the Holidays Returning to the Festival is the Cookie Stroll, Candlelight Processional, holiday kitchens (a.k.a. food booths), and more! Click here to see everything confirmed to return to the Festival of the Holidays! 3 — A Guardians of the Galaxy Ride CHANGE and More! But wait…there’s even more holiday news we have to share! For starters, over in EPCOT, during the holiday season, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will get an extra festive change! During the holiday season, guests will actually get to hear a mash-up of seasonal music while on the ride (instead of the ride’s regular soundtrack options). We can’t wait to hear what songs will be included! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind This week, Disney also shared a first look at some new (and interesting) holiday merch that’ll be available this year, including a Loungefly bag and some spirit jerseys! ©Disney For all you Minnie ear collectors out there, Disney also shared a sneak peek at some new holiday ears and they’re ones you’ll either love…or totally HATE. ©Disney We’re getting ready for the holiday season (yes, already ) so be sure to stay tuned for all of the latest updates! Click here to see EVERYTHING announced for 2022 holiday season in Disney World! 4 — HUGE Meet-and-Greet Updates Disney World is also about to get some HUGE updates when it comes to character meet-and-greets. For starters, more meet-and-greets are returning over the next several months. Characters will be coming back to Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Magic Kingdom, and on July 10th some characters will return to Fantasyland (including Peter Pan!). Other characters, like Aladdin and Jasmine, are also set to return to the park soon. At Animal Kingdom, Donald’s Dino-Bash will be back soon, and at Hollywood Studios some Toy Story toys will be meeting guests once again. So basically, have those cameras and character autograph books ready! Dino Bash At Magic Kingdom things are also changing when it comes to meeting Mickey Mouse. Soon, Minnie Mouse herself will be joining Mickey at Town Square Theater! Hey There Mickey! In Hollywood Studios, Darth Vader is coming back, along with Chewbacca and BB8, over at Launch Bay. Can’t Miss Out! Also, Chip ‘n Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long is coming back to Fort Wilderness, and Mirabel is coming to Disney World with an appearance in the Adventure Friends Cavalcade in Magic Kingdom. We Can’t Wait to See You in the Cavalcade Mirabel! WHEW. That’s quite the set of character news! A CHANGE has been made to Genie+ in Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Click here to find out more 5 — Food News Finally, we wrap up this week’s news with a whole bunch of food updates! Some treats are coming to Disney World for a limited time to celebrate that we’re “halfway to the holidays.” So if you’re all about celebrating the holidays in…June(?!), this is your chance! Gold Holiday Popcorn Bucket At Disney Springs, new brunch items are available at Homecomin’, and price increases hit The BOATHOUSE. Some big menu changes have also hit Chefs de France in EPCOT. Be sure to read about them before you head to this spot. ©Homecomin’ And finally, some treats will be available in Disney World and Disneyland for a VERY limited time to celebrate the 4th of July. You can go through the full list and mark down the ones you don’t want to miss! ©Disney Looking for more Disney news stories? Click the links below to get up-to-date: It just got CHEAPER to get to your Disney World hotel from the airport Buzz Lightyear got a new look in Disneyland and we have some THOUGHTS Get a first look at the new residential community home designs from Disney How you book park passes on the Disney World app has CHANGED Okay, it IS Buzz Lightyear… Could crowds go down soon in Disney World? It’s complicated Check out a list of all the shows and movies coming to Disney+ in July Two test sailings were canceled for Disney’s newest cruise ship Save THOUSANDS on a Disney Vacation Club membership And that’s all the Disney news for this week! Be sure to check back with us for more Disney news. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What news from this week has you the most excited? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 CHANGES That Could Impact Your Next Disney Trip! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve ever taken a spin on Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you may have noticed something peculiar. Expedition Everest Expedition Everest is Animal Kingdom’s only rollercoaster and takes guests on a tour of the fabled Himalayan mountain, but that tour is disrupted when you encounter the mythological Yeti. But, some guests have developed an odd tradition for the ride. The next time you’re taking a spin on Expedition Everest and you get the top of the mountain, look to your right and you’ll likely spot dozens of hair ties. Guests started the tradition of throwing a hair tie onto the mountain when they rode the rollercoaster, and while no one really knows why, many guests do it, the tradition continues. Joe Rohde, a former Disney Imagineer recently commented on the hair tie phenomenon. For those who don’t know, Joe Rohde was the lead designer for Animal Kingdom, and a big part in the creation of Expedition Everest. About the hair tie tradition, he says “The hair tie thing at the top of Everest is weird but also ritualistic.” He goes on to talk about how it is similar to a tradition climbers partake in at the top of the real mountain, which is to leave a rock. Expedition Everest It’s an interesting look at human behavior because, of course someone had to start it, but so many others have followed suit since then. Rohde says that despite disrupting the illusion of the ride, “it creates a very real interactive ceremony at the actual top of the highest point of the ride.” He does go on to say, however, that he does not condone the behavior because, of course, a Cast Member will have to occasionally go up to that point to remove the hair ties. If you’ll be in Animal Kingdom soon and are looking to ride Expedition Everest, it is currently available as a Genie+ selection. It is ordinarily an Individual Lightning Lane purchase, but until August, it is part of the regular Genie+ service that you can get for $15. Theming around Expedition Everest And if you’re looking for other things to do in Animal Kingdom, the reimagined Finding Nemo show, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… And Beyond recently opened, as well. Make sure to keep reading DFB for all the latest Disney World news and information! Click here to see the Disney World rides you should visit FIRST 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 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 thrown your hair tie onto this ride? Let us know in the comments! The post Are Hair Ties a Ritual or Litter? A Former Disney Imagineer Has THOUGHTS first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you like to watch TV and movies, we bet you have a streaming service that you like the most out of all of them. ©Netflix Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock — there are a bunch of options, and many people have subscriptions to multiple of these services. But, services subscriber number go up and down, with ones like Netflix losing subscribers and others like Disney+ gaining them. And now, Netflix’s subscriber loses are impacting their employees. Netflix is laying off 300 employees, according to The Orange County Register. This is about 3% of Netflix’s workforce and the layoffs are mostly taking place in the United States. ©Netflix A company spokesperson told CNN Business that “While we continue to invest significantly in the business, we made these adjustments so that our costs are growing in line with our slower revenue growth. We are so grateful for everything they have done for Netflix and are working hard to support them through this difficult transition.” Previous Disney Content on Netflix Back in April, Netflix said that it had lost 200,000 subscribers, losing subscribers for the first time in over 10 years. Then, in May, Netflix laid off 150 workers, saying it was due to slowing revenue growth. The Irishman ©Netflix Netflix actually said that it expected to lose another 2 million customers in the second quarter. This would set Netflix up for its “worst year ever as a public company.” (Bloomberg) ©Netflix || Tiger King Right now, Netflix has 221.6 million subscribers. For comparison, Disney+ has a total number of 137.7 million subscribers. In the fall of 2021, it was predicted that Disney+ would have more subscribers than Netflix by 2025. Netflix has been talking about a lot of changes lately, as well. They have mentioned introducing ads to the platform, cracking down on password sharing, and more. ©William Antonelli/Business Insider Stay tuned to DFB for more entertainment news and updates. Click here to learn more about ads possibly coming to Netflix in 2022 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which streaming service is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post Netflix Laying Off Hundreds of Employees Amid Streaming Struggles first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney issued an internal memo to employees stating that the company would cover travel costs for all eligible employees seeking an abortion. View the full article

We’re not gonna lie, sometimes we’ve seen some pretty strange things at Disney. Cinderella Castle from the Peoplemover! I mean, we have to admit that we’ve eaten some pretty weird food in the parks too (and then tell you alllll about it). But this new technology that Disney has just patented…well, we can’t tell if it’s awesome, or the start of a science fiction novel. The Walt Disney Company has filed a patent titled “Robotic Sherpa” which would be a moving locker system that would allow theme park guests to store items at their leisure. The robot would feature many cameras to help it move through the crowds of the theme park. Uh, could it make it through THESE crowds? The patent goes on to describe that the unit could have detachable storage compartments that could be put on to a different unit, allowing for a guest to call back their things using an app and potentially not have to wait for the one robotic unit to make its way back to them — their things, protected by a locking mechanism, could just be transferred to another robot. A diagram of the Robot Sherpa from the patent! Disney has said that there are no plans for this technology right now, but that they’re just exploring potential uses for it. The robotic sherpa would be used to bring guests an easier way to store the park items they don’t need all the time, such as umbrellas, lunches, or purchases from a store in the park. Not only would it add convenience for the guest, but it would of course be another revenue opportunity for Disney as well. But would you be able to call for your umbrella in time is the question here… We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on this patent to see if anything comes of it! Slowly but surely, we’re seeing some pretty large changes coming to the Disney parks, such as the release of MagicBand+ (which is still working out its issues) and the Splash Mountain retheme coming soon. And of course, Disney Genie+ is changing the way guests can make it through long Disney lines quicker, but at the cost of spending more. Expedition Everest Lightning Lane Stay tuned to DFB and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the changes coming to the Disney parks! If you’re looking for even more Disney updates, don’t miss the new announcements about the upcoming D23 Expo! All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA for in Disney World & How Much They May Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You May Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn Some Disney Genie HACKS Get a Step-by-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+ See Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland Still Confused About Disney Genie? Check Out These DFB Videos Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe How do you feel about this patent? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below! The post Disney Files a New Patent for a ROBOT That Will Carry Your Stuff in the Theme Parks first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What better way to round out your day in the Magic Kingdom than with some fireworks? Enchantment at the Magic Kingdom Disney Enchantment, the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks debuted in October in celebration of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, replacing the previous show, Happily Ever After. Since then, the show has happened once per night (though the time varies depending on the park hours), but for a limited time, it looks like that is changing! Beginning on July 14th, Enchantment has two showtimes listed on the Disney World website. You can catch it at 9:20PM (it’s usually scheduled time) and again at 11PM. ©Disney This is just for a limited time because by July 25th, the fireworks are back to only one showtime per night at 9:20PM. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the Disney website to see if the second showtimes is added to any other dates in the future. Disney did not share a reason for the added showtime. Enchantment is an immersive fireworks show that incorporates projections on Cinderella Castle as well as projections all down Main Street, U.S.A. into the show. It includes music from popular Disney movies like Moana, Frozen, and Princess and the Frog. Projections on Main Street, U.S.A. during Enchantment fireworks And Enchantment is the only Disney fireworks you can catch nightly. Over at EPCOT, you can watch Harmonious which features choreographed set pieces, lighting effects, and fireworks. We’re always on the lookout for Disney news, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest information! Click here to see 18 Disney World secrets even locals don’t know! 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you a fan of Disney’s Enchantment? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: You'll Soon Be Able to Watch Magic Kingdom Fireworks TWICE in One Night first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

SO many things have returned to Disney World in the past few months, and now another popular spot is BACK! It’s BACK! Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has REOPENED in Disney World! The dinner show is officially back in business with an updated menu and some changes to the performances, but still has a lot of its signature foods and entertainment. So, how does Hoop-Dee-Doo hold up? Come along with us to find out! Atmosphere Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a dinner show! It happens over at Pioneer Hall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Let’s go! We arrived and went to check-in in the designated area where Cast Members are with iPads! Check-in area There is also an outdoor drink area where you can get a beverage while you wait for the show to start. A nice refreshing drink while ya wait Here’s a look at the options available: Drink menu This is a pre-paid meal, so you pay when you book your reservation and there are different levels of prices. Category 1 is on the main floor and is $74 for adults and $44 for kids (ages 3-9), Category 2 is on the first balcony that faces the stage and is $69 for adults and $40 for kids, and Category 3 is on the side balconies and is $66 for adults and $39 for kids. The show takes place at either 4PM, 6:15PM, or 8:30PM. We had the 4PM showtime and were seated on the main floor. We’re ready!! Inside, you’ll see a bunch of standard wooden tables and a big stage up front. You get red and white checkered napkins and metal silverware. Tables This is a dinner show, so there are performances throughout the night! The Pioneer Hall Players will bring you some singing and dancing, and interact with the audience. Are you ready? There have been some changes made to the show since it’s returned. The stage backdrop is different and the lighting has been improved. There have also been some things changed for cultural sensitivity reasons, like Native American depictions and some of the raunchier jokes. Background is different The performers will be up on stage but will also come out into the middle of the dining room and up into the balconies! Dinner and a show! There is also a banjo player in the corner who plays throughout the night and is fantastic! The pianist in the show was also incredible. Banjo! The performances here were AWESOME. These Cast Members seriously have so much talent and the audience participation is done in a way that even people who don’t really like participating will probably enjoy it. We missed this! The only part people who don’t like to participate might not want to take part in is the performance near the end of dinner when they Pioneer Hall Players act out The Ballad of Davey Crockett. They pull 4 people from the audience up on stage to play different characters and it’s super fun! But, we can’t totally understand why some people wouldn’t want to participate in this. Audience members up on stage It’s really fun to watch, too! Woohoo! Other than that, the audience participation is mostly just the performers calling out to everyone and coming up to your table! This truly is amazing dinner theater. Sining and dancing! But, do be warned that it is very fast-paced! It gives you just enough time to eat comfortably, but some people might find the pace a bit stressful. This is by no means a leisurely meal. There is a lot going on around you! A great show! We do think the show is paced better than it used to be, though. Menu Hoop-Dee-Doo has a prix fixe menu for everyone to enjoy and the meal is served family-style, so you share food with the people at your table. There have been a few new things added to the menu since the last time we were here! A look at the menu For drink, guests get all-you-care-to-enjoy with fountain drinks, and if you’re 21 and older, beer, wine, and both red and white sangria are also included in your meal. There are some additional cocktails that you can order for an added cost, including the new Giddy-Up cocktail. We weren’t given a menu for the drink options, our waitress just recited them to us! For beers, you can expect an assortment of locally crafted beers including Tampa Bay Brewing Elephant Foot IPA, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale, Orange Blossom Pilsner, Central 28 UnderDuck Lager, and 3 Daughters Brewing Blonde Ale. Drink choices For your meal, you will get The Hoop Salad, House-made Cornbread, and the Creamy Coleslaw to start. Then, for your main, they bring out Pecan-smoked BBQ Pork Ribs, Legendary Fried Chicken, Cornbread-crusted Macaroni and Cheese, Home-style Mashed Potatoes, and Cowboy Beans. And, of course, ‘Ma’s Famous Strawberry Shortcake is served for dessert! If you have any dietary needs or restrictions, you can just let the chef know when you check-in and they’ll get you an alternative dish. Eats & Drinks We started out with the new Giddy-Up cocktail, which is the hall barkeep’s blend of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, and freshly brewed iced tea. So, basically it’s an Arnold Palmer with vodka. It was fine, but its wasn’t anything special, so we wouldn’t pay extra for it again, we would just get one of the alcoholic drinks that’s included with your meal! Giddy-up Then, it was time for our appetizers! Like we said before, we were brought out The Hoop Salad, House-made Cornbread, and Creamy Coleslaw. The hoop Salad has the signature “hoop” vinaigrette topped with sharp white cheddar, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Salad time This was really good for a house salad! The vinaigrette is what makes it, it’s creamy and a little bit tangy but not too tangy. It really elevated what would otherwise be a basic salad! There is also a vegan and allergy friendly dressing available for the salad, which was almost the exact same but was a bit lighter and had more of a lemon flavor. The Hoop Salad The House-made Cornbread is served with honey butter. This is a good sweet and moist cornbread! It’s not the best cornbread we’ve ever had, but it was tasty! Cornbread We will say that a person at our table doesn’t usually like cornbread and did like this one, so that says something! A little loaf The Creamy Coleslaw is one of the new additions to the menu, and it was SO good! Our reporter said this was one of the best coleslaws she’s ever had and it was super flavorful. Creamy coleslaw If you like coleslaw, you should love this one. Our reporter actually said they could’ve eaten a bucket of it! VERY good! Next, our main course was brought out! It’s Pecan-smoked BBQ Pork Ribs with BBQ sauce, Legendary Fried Chicken, Cornbread-crusted Macaroni and Cheese, Home-style Mashed Potatoes, and Cowboy Beans. The ribs are just okay, they were pretty fatty and the meat was not falling off of the bone. The BBQ sauce it comes with is your basic BBQ sauce, it reminded us a lot of Sweet Baby Ray’s. So, these weren’t really anything special. The chicken on the other hand really shined! It has well cooked chicken and a crispy exterior we really enjoyed. But, we would still say that the fried chicken at 50s Prime Time Cafe or Homecomin’ are better. Chicken and ribs! Now, for the sides! The cowboy beans were very tasty and had meat in them which added some more flavor. The macaroni and cheese is one of the new dishes, and it was awesome! It reminded us a lot of the macaroni and cheese at Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridan Resort & Spa. Sides! The cheese sauce is made in house and the cornbread is crumbled on top of it, which is outstanding! We ate almost half of the pot. It’s not your grandma’s mac ‘n’ cheese, but it was really good. The mashed potatoes were also very delicious! They were incredibly creamy and they had the perfect ratio of butter and salt. Are sides the best part of a meal? We also had the allergy-friendly platter which was all vegan and gluten free. It had BBQ Jackfruit, Green Beans, Baked Beans, Cauliflower, Potatoes, and plant-based Sausage. Our favorite on this platter was the plant-based sausage by far! It had a lot of great flavor from the sauce on top, which tasted like a sweet marinara to us. We did NOT like the BBQ Jackfruit — it has sort of a fruity, citric tang to it that gave it an odd sourness. It also had a very robust BBQ flavor. We didn’t enjoy this, however one person at our table said this was the best thing he ate all night, so it’s definitely personal preference! Allergy-Friendly platter The sides on this platter were okay — the cauliflower was just basically a grilled vegetable and could have been cooked a bit more. It also didn’t have a ton of flavor. The same with those potatoes, they were just your average cooked potatoes! The green beans were really good and did have some great seasoning. The corn was just plain ol’ corn, it wasn’t seasoned at all. Allergy-friendly option Finally, it was time for dessert! Everyone gets ‘Ma’s Famous Strawberry Shortcake topped with whipped cream and strawberries. We were OBSESSED with this! Our reporter actually had 3 servings of it because it was so good. AMAZING The cake was very moist and the whipped cream on top is a great addition. What made this so good is that it’s not a traditional strawberry shortcake — it’s sitting in the strawberries and syrup instead of those going on top, so the top of the cake stays together and the bottom soaks up all of the syrup, so there’s a great contrast of textures. 10/10 We also tried the allergy-friendly version of the Strawberry Shortcake. This was good too, but since it’s also the allergy friendly option, it was gluten free, so it was a bit dry. Vegan/Allergy-friendly option It wasn’t the best ever, but it was still good and we did eat all of it! Vegan/Allergy-friendly Strawberry Shortcake We were excited to see that Hoop-Dee-Doo made their iconic dessert in an option that more people can eat. Nosh or Not Scoot down to Hoop-Dee-Doo if: You want dinner AND a great show! This is more of an overall experience than just a meal, and it is definitely a memorable one! You like comfort food and a large meal, and are okay with the choices offered (AKA you’re not a picky eater!) You want to have an experience unlike any other at Disney World — one that is fun for the whole family! Skip out on Pioneer Hall shenanigans if: You want a quiet, leisurely meal that’s calm and relaxing. It’s fun here, but we wouldn’t call it calm! You like to have a lot of different choices at restaurants or are a picky eater and don’t like the food options offered You don’t like singing and dancing to be happening while you’re trying to eat, or performers coming around the dining room Overall Overall, Hoop-Dee-Doo is a hootin’ good time! The performances are incredible and very entertaining — there is almost always something to look at or listen to. It’s truly a very special experience that you can’t find in many other places, at least not to this level and theming. At the end of our show, one of the performers got emotional during the curtain call because she was so happy to be back at Hoop-Dee-Doo, and it was really special! We got a little teary-eyed ourselves. The energy in here is just unmatched! But, if you want quiet meal where you aren’t on a set, timed schedule and don’t have to share food, this might not be the best choice for you. It’s loud and rowdy, and there will be entertainment happening pretty much the whole time. There also is a set menu, so you can’t customize your choices or order something else. Depending on how much you eat and drink, this could definitely be worth the price, especially since you get entertainment, too. Remember, beer, wine, and sangrias are included in the price, which is a pretty great deal for Disney World! Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue This experience is something we think most people should do at least one time at Disney World, and some people even swear by doing it on every single trip they take, considering it a staple! We do think it’s still as great as it was before, and maybe even better! We’re thrilled that this dinging option is back. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food news and reviews! Click here to see 18 Disney World Secrets Even Locals Don’t Know 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 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 booking a reservation at Hoop-Dee-Doo next time you’re in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post Menu Changes Hit Hoop-Dee-Dee Musical Revue in Disney World! Come Along With Us As We Try Them Out! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Many have been closely following updates regarding the Supreme Court’s recent debate on Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that protected a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion during the first 2 trimesters of pregnancy. Protesters outside the Supreme Court ©Variety On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, giving individual states the power to set their own abortion laws. In response to the Court’s decision, several companies — including Disney — have reached out to their employees, promising to cover the cost of travel if the employees must go to a different state to access an abortion. With the ability to choose to have an abortion no longer considered a constitutional right, “almost half the states are expected to outlaw or severely restrict abortion” (CNBC). Some states will likely keep more liberal legislation regarding abortion. That means that women may need to travel to another state in order to access family planning and reproductive care. Several companies — such as Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Comcast, Meta, and Sony — have reached out to their employees to confirm they “will cover the travel costs for employees seeking abortions,” according to Variety. Walt Disney Company Headquarters ©LA Times According to Variety, Disney’s message to their employees on Friday said “they recognize the ‘impact’ of the Supreme Court’s decision and ‘remain committed to providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care’ for all Disney employees and their families, which includes family planning and reproductive care, ‘no matter where they live.'” Walt Disney Company Logo ©Disney Disney employees will have a travel benefit that includes “affordable coverage for receiving similar levels of care in another location” if they are not able to get the care they need where they live. Netflix is offering travel reimbursement coverage “for full-time U.S. employees and their dependents who need to travel for cancer treatment, transplants, gender-affirming care, or abortion.” Comcast, Meta, Paramount, and Sony all have similar plans for employees. ©Netflix This is a developing story, and we will continue to update as more information is released. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Disney Makes Statement on Employee Abortion Access Following Roe v. Wade Decision first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are lots of hotels to choose from in Disney World — more than 20, in fact! The hotels range from Value resorts like Disney’s Pop Century Resort to Deluxe resorts like Disney’s Riviera Resort. Some of the biggest and fanciest hotel rooms on property are the Disney Vacation Club villas and studios, which are located at several different Deluxe resorts. Disney’s Grand Floridian Disney Vacation Club members have access to these rooms, but the general public can also book the villas and studios — they just usually cost more than the average Disney hotel room. Now, one of Disney World’s most luxurious (and ehotels has NEW DVC resort studios! We’re heading inside to check them out, so come along with us for a full tour of the brand new resort studios at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. We attended the opening ceremony for the DVC resort studios at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort yesterday. After the ceremony (which was hosted by Alice in Wonderland characters), we had the chance to tour both the updated DVC villas and the NEW resort studios. Welcome to the Grand Floridian! We have another post with a full tour of those updated villas, but right now we’re interested in the brand new rooms! The Grand Floridian Resort is one of Disney World’s fanciest and most expensive hotels. It’s one of the Monorail resorts, which means it’s just a short ride away from Magic Kingdom. In fact, you can see the Magic Kingdom across the Seven Seas Lagoon, so guests can watch fireworks from the hotel! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort It also has very elegant theming, and Disney has been adding touches of Mary Poppins decor to various parts of the resort. For example, Citricos (a restaurant at this hotel) is now subtly Mary Poppins–themed. Citricos More amenities at this resort include several dining options, access to walking paths to Magic Kingdom, a spa, and 2 pools. Grand Floridian Lobby The new Mary Poppins theme has extended to the DVC resort studios, which have nods to the sequel, Mary Poppins Returns. You’ll find these rooms in the Big Pine Key building of the Grand Floridian, which used to house normal guest rooms. Big Pine Key building entrance Remember that you don’t have to be a DVC member to book these rooms, and reservations are available now. The lobby area of Big Pine Key received a few updates, with new furniture, artwork, and paint. Lobby The pastel mixed with rich jewel tones, floral patterns, and velvet fabric reminds us a lot of the new look at Citricos! Hallway ambiance Heading into one of the resort studios, you’ll see more floral patterns and pastel shades. On one side when you enter, there’s a desk and mirror against a wall that’s been painted with a nature scene mural. A bench is tucked under the desk. The brushed gold accents are a theme throughout the room. Front entryway The other side of the entryway has a small coffee station, which holds a Keurig coffee machine, some mugs and glasses, and a container for ice. If you look carefully at the wallpaper here, you can spot some characters from Mary Poppins Returns, along with umbrellas hidden in the pattern! Note that many DVC villas have a kitchenette area, but the resort studios do not. There’s a mini-fridge in each room, and that with this beverage station is the extent of the kitchen amenities. Coffee station Once you get past the entryway, the room opens up to the main area. There are 2 beds with a nightstand in between them and a small shelf (and outlets — very important!) on either side. There are also wall sconces with lights on either side of the beds and recessed lighting above. Each side of the beds has its own light switch for this lighting. The room! And can you see that elegant, gold chandelier? It’s also got some Mary Poppins touches! There are little glass birds on the outside circle of the fixture. Chandelier You’ll spot more theming in the vents, which hide both a hidden Mickey AND hidden umbrellas! Can you find them? Hidden Mickey AND umbrellas! Look carefully at the lampshade on the nightstand as well to find even more umbrellas. Lampshade The room we toured had its own balcony, with a sliding door and seating outside. There’s a closet next to the beds, where guests can store their luggage and clothes. The closet has floral wallpaper decorating the doors. The other side Inside, you’ll find extra pillows and blankets, a rod for hanging clothes, and suitcase stands. Cabinets For more storage, there’s a dresser across from the beds, which is also where you’ll find a sofa and the TV. Some watercolor artwork here shows a landscape that looks a bit like Cherry Tree Lane. Couch and dresser And is that Mary Poppins herself that we spot flying through the air? Artwork The sofa actually folds down to become a daybed, which is how these studios can sleep 5 people. Sofa as a bed Believe it or not, one of our favorite parts of this room was actually in the bathroom. Can you believe that mirror?! It has a gold frame and lighting all around the border in intricate patterns. More brushed gold continues into the vanity area, along with watercolor artwork. There are 2 sinks, towels under the counter, and Disney’s signature H2O products. The bathroom But seriously. THAT MIRROR. Oh, and if you wanted a smaller lit mirror, there’s a fold-out one as well beside the large one. THAT MIRROR There’s a separate water closet for the shower and toilet. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are located inside the shower. The room we toured had a shower-tub combo, with a sliding glass door. Water closet And that concludes our tour of the new DVC resort studios at Disney’s Grand Floridian! The rooms are open now and available for booking. Big Pine Key If you want to learn more about the DVC, visit our page to learn all about the club. Click here to learn more about the DVC. The Grand Floridian isn’t the only hotel to have updated rooms and a new look! At Disney’s Polynesian Resort, you can check out the new Moana-themed rooms, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort has Incredibles-themed guest rooms. Moana rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Lots of changes are on their way to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn as well, with new restaurants and an updated lobby coming soon! Disney’s BoardWalk Keep following DFB for more of the latest Disney news! Click here to see the definitive ranking of EVERY Disney World hotel. Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels Our Picks for the Best Disney World Hotels in 2022 These Are the WORST Disney World Hotels for 2022 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel You Couldn’t Get the Disney World Hotel Reservation You Wanted – Now What? The 6 Disney World Hotel Problems No One is Talking About See Why You Might BAIL on Your Disney World Hotel A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details Are Disney World Hotel Perks Worth the Hefty Price Tag? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you stayed at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of the new resort studios at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post PHOTOS: Tour the NEW Resort Studios at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort With Us! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It might only be June, but Disney is already thinking about the holidays! Christmas in Disney California Adventure Quite a bit of planning goes into creating the magic that surrounds the Disney parks around Christmastime — from festive holiday decor to special parades and exclusive holiday parties. And to celebrate being Halfway to the Holidays, Disney has released a whole bunch of exclusive treats in Disney World and Disneyland — and we’re giving one a try in this review! We like to think we know a thing or two about corn dogs here at DFB. Miniature, hand-dipped, pickle-and-cheese-dust-crusted — you name it. We were in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District recently and stopped by Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs to check out the Christmas Dinner Corn Dog! Christmas Corn Dog Menu This is a turkey hot dog hand-dipped in batter, rolled in panko breadcrumbs, and served with a side of cranberry sauce for dipping. You can get it for $14.50. You get a corn dog, chips, and a side of cranberry dipping sauce This is a turkey dog rather than a typical beef hot dog and we actually enjoyed the turkey dog more than a beef corn dog! The batter with the panko crumbs was nice and crunchy and really tasty. We really liked this turkey corn dog! The cranberry dipping sauce was a sweet cranberry flavor but it was kind of hard to get a good dip because of the consistency (it was VERY thick). If we ordered this again, we wouldn’t even bother with the sauce because the actual corn dog was so tasty it didn’t need anything else! The cranberry sauce is THICK This was a pretty heavy meal, so we wouldn’t recommend grabbing it as a snack. But if you’re looking for a filling meal on the go, this would be a great option! It doesn’t even need the sauce If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat after your Christmas Corn Dog, you might want to stop by California Churro in Downtown Disney for another Halfway to the Holidays treat, the Peppermint Churro! This is a SUPER minty churro, and it’s a great option for anyone who wants a peppermint treat before the holiday season. Peppermint Churro Fair warning, though, these Halfway to the Holidays eats are only available for a limited time, so head on over to Downtown Disney between now and June 26th for the corn dog or through June 30th for the churro if you want to give them a try! Don’t forget to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney food news and more. Click Here to See MORE Halfway to the Holidays Treats in the Disney Parks! If you’re getting ready to head to the parks on your summer vacation, keep in mind that temperatures are rising and it’s important to stay hydrated! We’ve got plenty of tips on how to beat the heat. Make sure you’ve got your park pass reservations booked before heading out to the parks! Both Disney World and Disneyland are still using the Park Pass Reservation System to manage park capacity. Check out our realistic look at Disney World’s summer park pass availability here. Click here for a review of another Halfway to the Holidays Disneyland treat! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! Check Out Important Details about the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Face Mask Policy Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? 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 Will you be rushing out to try the Christmas Dinner Corn Dog? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Disney Turned Christmas Dinner Into a CORN DOG?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is considered one of the most luxurious hotels on Disney property by many guests, and it just got a whole lot fancier! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa The Big Pine Key building at this resort recently underwent a total renovation and now includes updated Disney Vacation Club Villas. We had seen some sneak peeks of the new rooms, but now we’re taking you on a full room tour! It’s hard to miss Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, with its iconic red roofs and expansive property. This Victorian-style hotel brings unexpected elegance to Disney World, not to mention that it’s one of the Magic Kingdom resorts — putting you almost in the middle of the action! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa The main lobby of the Grand Floridian is just that — grand. High ceilings and chandeliers really give off that high-end vibe. The Grand Flo is also home to several restaurants, including Grand Floridian Cafe, Gasparilla Island Grill, and Victoria & Albert’s. Grand Floridian Main Lobby But, the new DVC Villas are over in the Big Pine Key building, so that’s where we’ll start the tour! Big Pine Key building entrance When you enter the building, you’re immediately met with a completely refreshed lobby seating area. Although there aren’t any check-in desks like your typical lobby, there are plenty of places to have a seat. Big Pine Key renovated lobby As you make your way through the building and over to the guest rooms, you’ll notice gorgeous floral accents along the walls… Hallway ambiance …and plenty of chairs in case you need to sit down! Hallway seating We’re taking you on a tour of a 2-bedroom Lake View Villa, but there are also studios, deluxe studios, and 1-bedroom villas as well! This room starts at 54 DVC points per night. When you walk in, you’re met with a view of the full kitchen… Full kitchen …and there’s also a breakfast nook and eating area as well. Breakfast nook and eating area On the other side of the kitchen is the main living area, which includes a sofa that pulls out into a queen bed… Main living area with pull-down queen bed and pull-down twin bed …a pull-out twin bed, and a television. Pull-down twin bed Oh, and can we talk about these views?! View from the room Since we’re in a 2-bedroom villa, let’s take a look at the primary bedroom first! There’s a king bed with a nightstand on either side, plus a chair… Bedroom one …and opposite the bed you’ll find a dresser, television, and desk with another chair. Dresser, desk, and TV in the main bedroom Each bedroom has an attached bathroom, and this one is HUGE! There’s a vanity with large mirror and sink, along with H2O bath products… Vanity area …and a free-standing bath tub as well. Bathtub In between the two bedrooms is a hallway that has another desk and chair, which leads you to the… Writing area in the hallway …second bathroom! This one also has a large vanity with mirror, plus a waterfall shower. Bathroom two with shower and tub There’s also another bath tub, and of course, the toilet. Bathroom two The second bathroom leads you right into the second bedroom — how about that?! In this room you’ll find two queen beds… Bedroom two …plus a dresser, television, and table with two chairs. Bedroom two with dresser, seating area, and TV And we had to take a picture of these adorable Mickey & Minnie silhouettes on the wall, too! Room artwork That’s our FULL look at a 2-bedroom Lake View DVC Villa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! If the Grand Floridian is a little too fancy for you and you’re looking for more Disney theming, check out Disney’s Contemporary Resort! This Magic Kingdom resort was recently updated and rooms are now themed after Pixar’s The Incredibles. Click Here to See a FULL TOUR of a Room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort If you’re looking for a less expensive Disney World Resort, consider a moderate resort like Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort! And don’t forget, all Disney Resort hotel guests can take advantage of Early Park Admission to all four theme parks, but only Deluxe Resort hotel guests receive Extended Evening Hours. The Definitive Ranking of Every Disney World Hotel 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 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 World Resort hotel? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of the new Grand Floridian DVC Villas. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post PHOTOS: Tour Disney's NEW Grand Floridian Hotel 2-Bedroom Villas With Us first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

This Sunday, watch as Disney Channel’s “ZOMBIES 3” stars compete in an incredible race throughout the neighborhoods of EPCOT in a way that’s never been done before, all during The World’s Most Magical Celebration – the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.View the full article

Who is ready for the holiday season?! We love the holiday season! We know, it’s only June, but Disney is celebrating Halfway to the Holidays with some fun foods, and we’re checking them out for ya. We’ve also recently learned about some of the holiday festivities that will be returning this year, like Haunted Mansion Holiday over in Disneyland. So, come with us as we check out a very festive treat for the holly jolly celebration! This is the Peppermint Churro from California Churro in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District! Peppermint Churro in Downtown Disney It’s a churro rolled in crushed peppermint and drizzled with a mint frosting topped with peppermint candy pieces. Peppermint Churro! We’ve seen a very similar treat at this churro cart last holiday season — the White Peppermint Churro. ©Disney We’ve also had some Peppermint Churros from places like Sunshine Churros in Disney Springs at Disney World last year! They forgot our candy pieces on top! So, how does this churro compare to the ones we’ve had in the past? If you can’t wait until December to get your peppermint on, then this is definitely the churro for you. The mint icing gave it a great mint taste, and the crushed peppermint made it even mintier. This is also a great treat if you need to freshen your breath! Peppermint Churro If you’re a big fan of peppermint, then give this churro a try. We could definitely see how this treat could be a little too minty for some people, so if you’re not into that kind of freshness, then maybe opt for a different churro. Did this churro make our breath smell better? If you want to try this treat out for yourself, you better hurry! This churro is only available from June 23rd to June 30th. You can get it for $7.99. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food news and reviews! Click here to see more of the eats and treats in Disneyland for Halfway to the Holidays! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! Check Out Important Details about the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Face Mask Policy Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? 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 Are you ready for the holidays to be here already? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Does This Disneyland Churro Double as Breath Freshener?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s hop over to Disney Springs, shall we? Pride Decor in Disney Springs There’s so much to see in Disney Springs. Recently we’ve seen price increases hit a Disney Springs restaurant while we found another one brought the HEAT. Also, select guests can qualify for a special discount for Cirque Du Soleil shows this summer! Back in May, it was announced that an Art Walk would be coming to Disney Springs, and now it’s here! Let’s take a stroll! As Disney acknowledges Juneteenth and Black Music Month, the latest mural is painted by Everett Spruill and documents the history of jazz and blues music from his point of view. A stunning work of art! His work joins the artwork of Laci Jordan, Chad Mize, Stacey Aoyama, and Eric Tan. Artwork by Chad Mize We even spotted a painting of Mickey done by Dom Corona! Look at him! And look at these beautiful “windows” painted by Eric Tan! The attention to detail is incredible and our jaws are on the floor. Beautiful! We loved seeing all the artwork by these creatives, and are looking forward to seeing who paints murals next! This one just exudes joy! More artists will be adding their artwork to the art walk in the coming months, and you can bet we’ll be stopping by! While you’re in Disney Springs checking them out yourself, make sure you’re up to date on these restaurant menu changes, and if you’re looking for the best dessert you can find, we’ve made a definitive list so you don’t have to do the work! As always, keep an eye on DFB for all your Disney news! Visiting Disney Springs for the first time? Catch up on our Disney Springs YouTube playlist to be prepared for your visit! 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which piece of artwork is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! The post Take a Stroll Around the NEW Art Walk in Disney Springs With Us first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s face it — driving to Disney World can be expensive! Cars heading into the Magic Kingdom parking lot Gas prices are very high right now in the United States, including around Disney World. Driving can also take a long time depending on where you’re coming from, cutting into time that you could be spending exploring the parks or relaxing at your hotel. But, when it comes to traveling to Disney World right now, driving could actually be your best option. So, let’s talk about why you still might want to drive to Disney World. Gas Tax Suspension We know that gas prices are high right now, but there might be a little relief on the way. President Joe Biden recently asked Congress to suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes for three months, according to CNBC. He is also asking states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief. Speedway Gas Station Outside of Magic Kingdom There is currently a 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal tax on gas and a 24.4 cents-a-gallon federal tax on diesel. If these taxes are suspended, people could save about 3.6% on gas when prices average around $5 a gallon. This may not seem like a lot, but it could definitely add up. The Speedway Gas Station in Disney World However, this might not necessarily fix gas prices in the long run, and ultimately gas prices that are set by global markets, gas companies, and consumer demand. But, President Biden has also called on energy companies to accept lower profit margins to increase oil production and refining capacity for gasoline. Energy companies are also meeting soon to discuss ways to increase their supply. Disney Springs Speedway So, while gas prices might not be ideal at the moment, there could be a little bit of a drop in prices in the future if the tax suspension is approved. This could really help your gas bill if you’re driving to Disney World! Click here to check out what gas prices are looking like around Disney World Airline Issues If you don’t drive to Disney World, the other option is to fly. We totally understand flying if you live somewhere very far away, like in California or Canada. But, if you are within a reasonable road tripping distance, it can be a tough call between driving and flying. Ready to Fly? While gas prices are high right now, flights are also very expensive! You can probably save a lot of money driving one car down to Florida instead of paying hundreds of dollars EACH to fly there with your family. Sure, that price at the gas tank might make you wince, but hundreds of dollars on gas for a road trip might be better than thousands of dollars on flights! Orlando International Airport You also have to take into consideration what the airline industry is going through right now. There are significant staffing shortages, meaning there are less routes available, delays, cancellations, and more. You could take a connecting flight to Disney World, only to find out once you arrive at your connecting airport that your flight has been canceled. Then, you have to deal with getting rebooked and possibly messing up your schedule for your vacation. ©Travel and Leisure There have been a LOT of flights canceled in recent months, which can make it a risky and expensive option. If you’re driving, you might run into traffic, but at least you know you’re completely in charge of getting where you want to go. Of course, you have to factor in food on the way and the fact that the car could break down or have a flat. So those are things to factor in as well. Here’s what to do if your flight to Disney World gets canceled No Magical Express Disney’s Magical Express was discontinued at the start of 2022, meaning there is no longer a free transportation option between Orlando International Airport and Disney World. Now, you have to either get a rental car, use one of the paid replacements for the service, or take a rideshare like an Uber. Magical Express has been discontinued There are two options available that are very similar to Magical Express, but they cost money. Mears Connect is the first, costing $16 per adult, $13.50 per child one way, and $32 per adult, $27 per child round-trip using their Standard service. They also have an Express service, which is only offered round-trip at $250 for 4 people and an additional $55 for each extra person. Mears Connect Bus The other option is the Sunshine Flyer, which is $17 per adult and $12.50 per child for a one-way trip, and $34 per adult and $25 per child for round-trip service. Kids under the age of 2 ride free. These are the standard prices, but sometime the Sunshine Flyer has special deals and offers, like right now, children can ride for free and adults are only $16 if you book by July 31st. Sunshine Flyer Whichever way you decide to get to and from the airport and Disney World, it’s going to cost you. So, driving yourself could save you some money in that regard. But, remember that if you bring your own car you have to pay for parking at Disney World hotels, so the cost could be about the same either way, depending on how many people are in your party and how many nights you’re at Disney World. Click here to see what you need to know about renting a car in Orlando in 2022 Freedom of Having Your Own Car Having your own car with you at Disney World also gives you a certain amount of freedom. You can be completely on your own schedule, not having to wait for Disney transportation or a rideshare service to get where you want to go. Do you prefer to drive to Disney World or take another mode of transportation? You also have the ability to go park at the actual theme park, which allows you to arrive and leave whenever you want, and it can also help you park hop faster. Keep in mind that if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you can park at the theme parks for free. Animal Kingdom entrance If you have your own car with you, you can also go out and explore beyond Disney World much easier. You can pop over to the other theme parks in the area, head to the beach for the day, and more. It will also allow you to go to the grocery store, pharmacy, or wherever else you might need to go while you’re on vacation. Sure, you could take an Uber to do these things, but it’s probably much easier just to hop in your car to run to the grocery store. Click here to see the BIG reasons people aren’t traveling this summer So, driving to Disney World right now might not be a terrible idea after all! But, that’s not to say that it won’t still cost you a big chunk of change. Gas prices ARE high across the country, so you would need to factor the cost of driving into your budget depending on what kind of car you have, how much gas costs around where you live and around Disney World, and how far you’re driving. But, when the alternative is pricy plane tickets, it might not be such a bad call (unless you can score some really great flight deals!). Speedway Also keep in mind that you do have to pay for overnight parking at Disney World hotels. It’s $15 per night at Value resorts, $20 per night at Moderate resorts, and $25 per night at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts. Those costs can add up too, but remember that you do get free parking at the theme parks if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel. Port Orleans — French Quarter Parking Ultimately, you should probably price out your two options and weigh out what is best for you family. You may like the luxury of not having to drive to Disney World and you may have a large number of flight points racked up! Or you may love taking long road trips with the fam and find that it’s much cheaper for you to drive than fly. We track flight prices monthly and have been keeping a close eye on gas prices in the Orlando area, so we can make sure that you know all of your options and what prices are looking like. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest and most up to date information! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips and info on planning your next vacation. Click here to see how much it costs a family of 4 to do Disney World in 2022 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 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 prefer flying or driving to Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Why Driving Might Be Better Than Flying to Disney World Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Indiana Jones is a BIG deal in Disney — he has his own stunt show in Disney World and his own ride in Disneyland! Be careful, Indy! ©Disney Even just hearing Indy’s name makes his iconic theme song get stuck in our heads (it’s happening to you too now, right?). Well, this is the perfect time to get that song stuck in your head because Disney just released a NEW merchandise collection in honor of the Indiana Jones movies! So, get ready to swap out your money for some ancient artifacts. The new collection is being released in Disney World and Disneyland today, but it’s also available online RIGHT NOW! First up, we have a brown leather jacket inspired by Indy himself! ©Disney You can get the jacket for $399. Click here to get the Indiana Jones Jacket! There are also several “ancient artifacts” in this new collection which are inspired by some of the objects you may have seen in the Indiana Jones movies! Check out this Sankara Stone, which lights up! ©Disney This ancient artifact is $80. Click here to get the Sankara Stone! Another item available is this Fertility Idol, which Disney actually had already released for the 40th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it sold out fast! ©Disney You can get this idol for $130. Click here to get the Fertility Idol! Want even more ancient artifacts? You got it! Grab the Crystal Skull, which also lights up. ©Disney The Crystal Skull is available for pre-order for $250. Click here to get the Crystal Skull! Finally, we have the Holy Grail — literally. Disney said they paid careful attention to making these artifacts look “as authentic as possible.” ©Disney The Holy Grail is available for pre-order for $49.99. Click here to get the Holy Grail! Each collectible in this collection comes with unique packaging, a backstory of the item in the Indiana Jones movies, and a backstory of the real artifact that the movie prop was based on. ©Disney Since items like this tend to go fast, we would suggest grabbing whatever you want soon, because they can sell out! And remember, you can get FREE shipping on shopDisney for orders $75 and over with the code SHIPMAGIC — don’t forget to take advantage of those savings! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney merchandise news and updates! Click here to see EVERY pair of Minnie Ears you can get online RIGHT NOW! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which new piece of Indiana Jones merchandise will you be grabbing? Tell us in the comments! The post The Holy Grail of Disney Collections Is NOW ONLINE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Cruise Line announced it was forgoing the traditional godmother role of its new ship Disney Wish in favor of godchildren, the children past, present and future that have often fatal illnesses and are recipients of the charity of the Make-a-Wish foundation. 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. Oh, all the Disney merchandise we would buy if we had all the money in the world! Disney merchandise abounds! Unfortunately, that’s not the case for us, so we have to pace ourselves. But we love seeing all the new merchandise Disney releases, like the glow-in-the-dark Avatar merchandise we recently saw in Animal Kingdom, the celebration merch dropped for Lilo & Stitch‘s 20th Anniversary, and the merchandise our readers just can’t seem to stop buying! If you’re looking for some great deals, there’s a huge Disney sale going on online right now, and we’ve gathered some of the best items that are under $10! It’s a shopDisney shopping spree! Let’s begin with the CUTEST plush, the Frozen 2 Bruni Mini Bean Bag Plush! ©Disney A fire spirit has never been cuter. This Bruni plush is on sale for $4.98 (!!!) instead of its original price, $14.99. The plush is made to look as similar as possible to Bruni in the film, including screen-printed diamonds on his back. Buy the Bruni Bean Bag Plush here! Lovers of The Mandalorian will want to snag this Star Wars: The Mandalorian Poster Book while it’s on sale for $4.98! ©Disney This book includes 16 double-sided pull-out posters featuring The Mandalorian, The Child, and so much more! It’s usually $7.99, so grab it now before the price goes back up! Buy The Mandalorian Poster Book here! Marvel fans will want to snatch up this cute Captain America Plush for only $7.98! ©Disney This 10-inch plush is usually on sale for a whopping $22.99, so this is a steal! It’s a part of Disney’s Marvel Plush Collection, so someday you can collect them all! Buy the Captain America Plush right here! Or maybe Marvel fans are more interested in a mystery surprise! The Marvel Collectible Mystery Key is on sale for only $7.98! ©Disney Which key will you get? No one knows! The collection includes keys inspired by Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Groot, Ant-Man, and there is one ”mystery” key. Grab one (or two!) today and start to grow your collection! Grab the Marvel Collectible Mystery Key here! Remember Forky from Toy Story 4? Did you know shopDisney has a Forky Interactive Talking Action Figure?! ©Disney Currently on sale for $7.98 instead of $19.95, Forky has 12 phrases he can say and can detect other interactive Toy Story characters nearby! This action figure also wiggles back and forth on his base and moves his legs up and down when you push him. Grab the Forky Interactive Talking Action Figure here! And to finish us off, how about a challenge for your brain? The Mickey Mouse and Friends Rubik’s Cube Puzzle is on sale for $9.98 instead of $19.99! ©Disney If you solve the puzzle, you’ll see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale in the Disney parks! You might solve it in 15 minutes, or it could take you hours, and there are countless ways you can mix it up to challenge yourself each time. Buy the Mickey Mouse and Friends Rubik’s Cube Puzzle here! Looking for more items to grab online? Check out the new merchandise headed for shopDisney and the parks, and you can also see how to get a FREE Disney World 50th Anniversary item online! Oh, and if you’re a fan of Disney Starbucks cups, RUN to grab this popular cup online before it sells out (again). As always, stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney news! You can get these 3 awesome Disney deals on Amazon Prime 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! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 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 order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which item is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post 6 Disney Items You Can Get For Under Right NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Wow, we’ve seen a lot of Disneyland news recently! Disneyland! We’ve heard that two fireworks shows will be returning for Disneyland’s holiday season, as well as seen the merchandise that will be coming to the parks. While most of the offerings that were stopped due to the COVID-19 Pandemic are back in the parks, there are still a few offerings that are just making their return. One of which just made its return on June 21st — that’s right, this Disneyland All-American College Band is BACK! The Disneyland All-American College Band made its return to Disneyland Park on June 21st, just in time to celebrate 50 years of performing on Main Street, U.S.A. The band dates back to 1971, and the tradition is that the Disneyland All-American College Band (AACB) is comprised of 21 college musicians from around the country. For 11 weeks, they perform in the parks as Cast Members. This year’s band represents 13 universities across 10 states and has band members ranging from ages 21 through their early 30s. ©Disney The last band performed in the park in 2019, so this is the first time Disneyland is seeing these performers in 2 years! The band members are known for their perfected musical performances, but also learn choreography to bring the classic Disney soundtracks to life. See their introduction video below! While you’re in Disneyland this summer, be sure to check out the personalized photography sessions coming to the park, and feel refreshed with this new sundae from Gibson Girl! But check your dates before you head over to Disney California Adventure because there are some dates you might want to avoid! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney news! Is Disneyland’s Parade dining package worth the money? We tried it out so you don’t have to! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! Check Out Important Details about the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Face Mask Policy Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you ever seen Disneyland’s All-American College Band perform? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: The Disneyland All-American College Band Is BACK! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article