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From the Parental Rights in Education Bill to the Reedy Creek Improvement District and copyright protections, Disney’s name has been in the news quite a bit lately. Main Street, U.S.A. Recently, another political figure commented on some things related to Disney and we’ve got all the updates right here for you. According to Deadline, U.S. President Joe Biden recently made some comments during a Democratic National Committee fundraiser regarding some of the recent political matters Disney has been involved in. President Biden specifically mentioned Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill (which critics have called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) and some of the actions taken by the Florida government following Disney’s response to the bill. ©AP For context, as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill was being signed into law, Disney released a statement in direct opposition of the bill, indicating that, in their view, it should never have been passed or signed and that their goal would be for the law to be repealed or struck down. Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, indicated that Disney’s statements went too far, and House Republicans later condemned Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s response to the bill. Pride Pin Following this, Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District became a much-discussed topic. Reedy Creek is a special district that has let Disney have a great deal of control over its land in Florida and, in many ways, act as its own county. A bill was ultimately introduced and passed by the Florida legislature, and signed into law by the Florida Governor, which will dissolve Reedy Creek in 2023. A lawsuit was filed regarding the dissolution, which was later dismissed by the judge. But some have noted that there may be some major roadblocks in the way of the dissolution of Reedy Creek. Reedy Creek Fire Department ©Reedy Creek Biden recently spoke about Disney and some of the recent political matters it has been involved it, putting “the targeting of Disney in context with other efforts in states to ban certain books from school libraries.” (Deadline) According to Deadline, Biden said “Did you ever think we’d be in a position in the year 2022 – we’d be talking about banning books in schools? …What’s going to happen to a gay child, an L[G]BTQ child in school? I mean, this thing. It’s one thing to take on Disney World. They’re going to storm Cinderella’s castle before this is over.” Biden then went on to say “If I told you these things, I think you’d think I was crazy.” Deadline shares that he “then deadpanned, ‘You may think I’m crazy anyway, but…'” ©Tiffany Blanchette/The Daily Journal via AP (Obtained via Deadline) Deadline shares that Disney hasn’t commented on some of the more recent political matters and “no Wall Street analysts raised questions about them on the corporate earnings call on Wednesday afternoon.” But, Deadline shares that as campaigns heat up, “a focus on Disney can draw attention.” The “Don’t Say Gay” Bill and Reedy Creek situations aren’t the only political or legislative matters that have involved Disney lately. EPCOT Recently, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley introduced a bill that would impact some of Disney’s copyright protections. The new legislation would “cap the length of copyrights given corporations by Congress to 56 years and retroactively implement this change on companies, including Walt Disney.” (Fox News) According to Deadline, the bill stands “little change of passage and likely would raise constitutional challenges, but Hawley’s focus was on punishing Disney for, in his words, going ‘woke.'” ©Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images (Obtained via Fox News) Disney has also been the subject of some other political/legislative matters. One congressional representative has called for the end of Disney’s no-fly zones, saying that “special interests” have “hijacked” the mandate of the Federal Aviation Administration in the “sheep’s clothing of national security, for commercial gain.” According to Deadline, “attacks on Disney come as corporations in general, often with pressure from employees, have been more willing to weigh in on divisive social issues…Hawley’s message, and that of a number of other Republicans, is that corporations should stay quiet.” ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters We’ve previously shared that how Disney handles large topics in the media and political matters is just one of the areas of the Company that could change in the future. Disney could go a number of routes — choosing to stay out of politics entirely, screening candidates more and being a bit more limiting in who they support, or they might just go back to business as usual. You can click here to see more of our analysis into this issue and what experts have to say. Recent changes in Disney leadership in their communications department could also signal potential changes moving forward. Only time will tell. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more news and share those updates with you. Click here to see when House republicans condemned Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: President Biden Comments on Disney and Recent Political Matters first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s a reason that the word “magic” is in Magic Kingdom’s name. Where magic becomes real Of all four of Disney World’s parks, this one is the most like stepping into a fantasy world, one where fairies are real, one where princesses meet with guests, one with a gigantic castle in the middle of it, and attractions that take you to the Wild West, the Caribbean, the future, and more! So what’s been going on with Magic Kingdom lately? Let’s find out! Magic Kingdom Food Updates Main Street Bakery There are some brand new treats at Starbucks, so we headed to Main Street Bakery to try them out. First up is the Lime-Frosted Coconut Bar for $3.49! This is a combination of coconut and oatmeal with mini white chocolate chips, topped with real cream-cheese lime frosting, then drizzled with a white-chocolate coating and sprinkled with coconut. It’s delicious! Oh, hello there! We also tried the Chocolate Cream Cold Brew for $4.99, which is a traditional Starbucks Cold Brew coffee with Chocolate Cream Cold Foam on top. It’s oh so good! Read Our Full Review Of Both Here! Main Street Confectionery The saga of the Rainbow Popcorn Flavor continues at the Kernel Kitchen in Main Street Confectionery — this time, it’s OFF the menu again. It’s gone! This is one we see come and go a lot, so we’ll keep you updated. Here’s Our Review Of The Kernel Kitchen! Friar’s Nook The Mr. Toad Dome Cake is back on the mobile order menu here! ©Disney And here we thought it was gone forever. Grab him for $7.99. Read Our Full Review Of This Cake Magic Kingdom Merchandise Updates Main Street, U.S.A. There’s a brand new Disney Princesses Balloon for $15! Princess balloon! This balloon is available in both blue and pink (very Aurora of it, right?). See More Photos Of This Balloon Emporium The 3-D Simba Pin is back in stock both here and at Star Traders. It’s $9.99. He can’t wait to be King. If you haven’t had a chance to get your hands on the Loungefly 50th Anniversary Mini Backpack, it’s back in stock! It’s back! We may now actually have the Main Street Electrical Parade in Disney World, but at least we have the Main Street Electrical Parade Spirit Jersey for $74.99. Just a tip, though — if you want to grab this spirit jersey — hurry! There weren’t many left last time we checked! Take a look! That adorable Loungefly Stitch Mini Backpack is back in stock. So if you’re looking for it, grab it now for $85. Stitch! If you love coffee AND Mickey Mouse, you might just need this Mickey Mouse Coffee CardHolder. Okay, we LOVE this. Get this cardholder now for $16.99. How Many of These RARE Disney Characters Have You Met? Main Street Cinema Represent an iconic Disney World character AND be super stylish with an Orange Bird Scarf, which is now available through the Vault Collection. It’s so pretty! The scarf is $38. We’ve Messed Up! Here’s How to Solve Your Disney World PROBLEMS Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. Okay, Marvel fans, you can now get a Moon Knight Magnet AND a Spider-Man Magnet for $14.99. For you Marvel fans Is Space Mountain your favorite ride? Hang it on your Christmas tree — yes, there’s a Space Mountain Ornament now available and it’s pretty cool! Space Mountain Ornament Seriously, who doesn’t want their own miniature version of Space Mountain — and you can have it for $29.99, See More Photos of this Ornament Star Traders The Orange Bird Minnie Ears have arrived here. Squeeze Me! We’ve only previously seen this at EPCOT — grab them for $29.99. See More Photos Of These Ears Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe There’s another ride ornament, too — this one is at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square! It’s a Pirates of the Caribbean Ornament for $29.99. So fun! The Main Street Cinema Ornament is back in stock — it’s a miniature version of the Main Street Cinema and we’re loving it. Such a fun ornament You can grab it now for $29.99. See More Photos of this Ornament Frontier Trading We’ve seen the Marie Patch at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but now it’s arrived here in Magic Kingdom! SO sassy This very sassy patch is $9.99. Guests Share the HARDEST Part of Planning a Disney World Vacation Uptown Jewelers Check out this super fun Dapper Dans Dress we came across recently! We love its colorful stripes! So colorful! This dress is pricey, though — it will set you back $128. See More Photos Of This Dress Bonjour Village Gifts The Mickey Self-Portrait Statue has been restocked. Mickey and Walt There’s also a new Peter Pan’s Flight Statue available now that features Captain Hook’s ship. Let’s sail to Neverland The statue is $99. Can’t Get Into Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World? Go Here Instead! Curtain Call If you love flowers, you might want to check out this Floral Pin Set. Pretty flowers We also saw this pin set at Frontierland Trading. It’s $9.99. Here’s The 50th Anniversary Disney Merchandise You HAVEN’T Seen Yet Those are all the updates we have for now from Magic Kingdom, but stay tuned because we’ll soon be back with many more! 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 have a favorite memory from Magic Kingdom? Share it with us in the comments! The post What's New in Magic Kingdom: Attraction Ornaments and Orange Bird Ears first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A reader Asks Lois why the resort she visited in Pompano Beach was unable to split her bill with her traveling companion. View the full article

If you’re a Disney World fan, you probably know about the wonders that are EPCOT Festivals. There is a festival running in EPCOT almost every day of the year at this point! EPCOT sunsets are EXTRA beautiful! The year starts with EPCOT Festival of the Arts, then EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, then EPCOT Food and Wine Festival (the BIG one), and ends with EPCOT Festival of the Holidays. No matter the fest, there are a lot of food and drinks to try and that can get EXPENSIVE — so, how should YOU budget? We’re taking a look at how YOU should manage your EPCOT festival day finances depending on YOUR budget. We’re going to drop three different ways to do the fests from “Tight Budget” to “No Budget” — with tips to help you have a great festival day! Flower & Garden Festival To do this, we’re going to be using an average price of festival offerings. Food items tend to be $4 to $8 and drinks tend to be $5 to $9 with some outliers. We’ll use an average price of $7 per item. EPCOT Festival of the Arts Also, note that we’re primarily budgeting for booth-hopping here! That’s trying all of the food and drinks! If you’ve got your eye on some merchandise, you’ll want to factor in those specific costs and adjust accordingly. Food and Wine! So, how should YOU budget for an EPCOT festival? The “Tight Budget” Budget The goal of this budget is to experience as MUCH of the festival as possible for as little money as possible. The festival food prices can seriously add up, but if you play your cards right, you can still try a number of eats. Deconstructed Key Lime Pie Your first step is to DEFINITELY skip table service and quick service meals and repurpose the $15-20 per person, per meal as a festival budget. That’s about $45-$60 per person for the day. Let’s look at the bottom end of that range. After all, this is the “Tight Budget” budget! La Isla Fresca booth at EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival So, with $45 per day, each person can snag about six or seven items around the festival – use three food items for each meal and snag a specialty drink once! Taste of the Medina spread at the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival We recommend buying each item from a different booth so you get a broader taste of the festival and share, share, share, so everyone gets to try a little bit of everything! Otherwise, stick to free water that you can pick up at quick-service dining locations. Food from the Northern Bloom booth at the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Now, for those with heavier appetites, this might not be quiiiiite enough food. To make sure you’re feeling satisfied, pack a breakfast or eat before heading to EPCOT to make sure you don’t have to worry about getting enough energy first thing in the morning. This is especially important if you are rope-dropping EPCOT, as the festival booths usually don’t open until 11AM. Click here to see more about FREE WATER in Disney World! The “Spend Within Reason” Budget This budget is perhaps the one most commonly used. If you want to have a day at the fest where you’re not constantly worrying about your spending but don’t want to deal with the shock of a surprising card statement later, this budget might be for you! El Artista Hambriento Spread at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts In our (extensive) experience, you can have a GREAT festival day – trying most everything you’d want for between $100 and $150 per person. You can trust us, our team goes to EVERY EPCOT festival EVERY year. Food from the Le Marche De Noel booth at the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays That budget is going to be around 15 items for the whole day per person. If you’re traveling with others and sharing, you could easily try something from every booth at most festivals with this budget. Beyond that, it leaves room for alcoholic beverages and doubling up on dishes at booths that have interesting menus. Food from the Lobster Landing booth at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival This budget should be plenty of food so that you can skip quick service and table service meals easily, even if you don’t grab breakfast before heading out. And, so you don’t have to have your mind on the money all day, use a gift card! Gift cards are so handy in Disney World! At the start of your day, head to a Disney merchandise location and load up a Disney gift card with your $100 to $150 per person. Use that at the booths all day so you don’t accidentally overspend. Want to see what we estimated for a recent fest? Click here! The “No Budget” Budget And finally, we’ve got the “NO BUDGET” budget. If you’ve got the means to do the “No Budget” budget, you get the breeziest option! Flower & Garden With this budget, you can get whatever you want, of course. For most people, that’s not going to be EVERYTHING at the festival. BUT, if you did want to try EVERY. SINGLE. THING. It would cost you around $30 to $40 per booth. At EPCOT’s most recent festival, Flower and Garden, you’re looking at around $850 to try everything. Food and Wine! Now, if you’re going this route we still recommend sharing dishes! Every person isn’t going to like everything, and the festival is a DECEIVING amount of food. Odds are, you wouldn’t be able to eat $850 worth of festival food in one day on your own — even if you wanted to. Looking forward to Food and Wine? Click here! One great investment in any EPCOT Festival trip is to pick up one of our DFB Guides! Did you know we write EXTENSIVE eBooks for festivals? Our critically acclaimed guides include photos of every food item available, planning strategies, and TONS of insider tips! We do ALL the research to help you have the very best EPCOT festival trip possible — it’s why we do what we do! You can pre-order our guide to the 2022 Food & Wine Festival, and get the 2021 version as an instant download! Click Here to Order a DFB Guide! And that’s a rundown of THREE different ways to budget for EPCOT festivals. Hopefully, this helps you get set for your Disney World vacation. As always, keep an eye on DFB for all the EPCOT fest news and tips! Click here to see our BEST of the FEST for the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival! Click HERE to See All the Updated Details for EPCOT's 2022 International Flower and Garden Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2022 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 200+ page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2022 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code SPRING at check-out to get $2 off the cover price! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe How do you budget for an EPCOT fest? Tell us in the comments! The post 3 Budget Plans for EPCOT Festivals first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and in the case of the Wallace family, this rings true. Little did Sandi Wallace know when she joined The Walt Disney Company in the early 90s, she’d be planting the first seed to grow a family career legacy at Walt Disney World Resort. Hailing […]View the full article

Disneyland Resort is slowly but surely returning to a new level of “normal.” Disney California Adventure Recently, nighttime shows returned, parking trams are running, Royal Theatre performances are back, and Downtown Disney is going through a big transformation. Now a red icon is returning to the streets of Disney California Adventure — and here’s what we know so far! The Red Car Trolley is a classic Disney California Adventure attraction that once provided transportation around Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land. It’s designed to look like one of the Pacific Electric Railway trolleys that ran in Los Angeles from 1887 to 1961. Sometimes you might even catch Mickey hanging out on one! Red Car Trolley Today Disney teased the return of the Red Car Trolleys this summer! There’s no official return date yet, but we’ll be watching closely for more announcements. The Red Car Trolley generally runs every 12 minutes or so and there are four different stops to hop on for a ride and an opportunity to rest your feet. It can be a great way to take a break and enjoy some relaxation! Red Car Trolley You might want to start planning a summer trip to Disney California Adventure to catch another trolley ride down Buena Vista Street! Keep following DFB for more Disneyland news! Is $65 a really good deal to feed a family of four in Disneyland? 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 excited to see the Red Car Trolley again? Tell us in the comments! The post Disneyland Hints at the Return of Red Car Trolley first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sure, Disney World might be experiencing some supply shortages, but one thing that never seems to be in short supply is Disney Princess merchandise. Do you love Disney princesses? Not only can you meet Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, and more princesses at Disney World, but you can also rep these iconic characters with everything from bags and purses to Minnie ears to clothing and more! But now there’s one more way you can support the Disney princesses — and this time, it’s with a balloon! Is there anything more iconic than balloons in Magic Kingdom? We love taking photos of all the colorful balloons because they just seem to add just that much more magic to our world. We rarely buy them, but today we saw a balloon that definitely tempted our Disney Princess-loving selves to pull out our wallet and throw it at the Cast Member selling them. It’s a brand new Disney Princesses balloon! One side of the balloon features a group photo of Mulan, Rapunzel, Tiana, Cinderella, Moana, Belle, Jasmine, Aurora, and Ariel. That’s almost ALL of them! There they are! The other side has smaller portraits of each princess just doing their thing, living their best happily ever afters, or in the case of Moana, hanging out with a BFF (we see you, Pua!). Princess balloon! These balloons come in two colors, too, if you have a child with a preference (or if you have a preference — balloons are for adults, too!). You can get this balloon in either blue or pink. A MUST for princess lovers! So even if you don’t regularly buy balloons when in the parks, if you have someone in your party that’s a big princesses fan, this one might be a must-have. So keep an eye out for it during your next trip to Magic Kingdom! We’ll also keep you updated on ALL new merchandise in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more! 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 ever buy balloons at Disney World? If not, would this one tempt you to buy one? Let us know in the comments! The post The Next Disney Princess Souvenir Your Kids Can’t Live Without first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

No matter how much planning you put into your Disney World trip, there’s likely to be a hiccup or two. Disney World We TOTALLY understand. After all, you can’t control the crowds, the weather, or things just not going as planned But don’t worry! We’re breaking down some common Disney problems — and exactly how to solve ‘em. 1. Mobile Order Isn’t Working Mobile Order is a pretty handy tool that lets you order your Quick Service meals from your phone! But sometimes, it glitches — it is technology, after all! Your order may not show on the app after you place it, or you may have issues hitting the “Prepare My Order” button. Mobile Order Pick Up Luckily, there’s an easy solution! Just screenshot your order after you place it. You should get an email confirmation, too, but that may arrive a little later. Your screenshot can be your backup until then! If you’re having any issues, just show your screenshot to the Cast Member at the restaurant entrance. They’ll be able to find your order in the system and get it sorted out for you. Check Out the Mobile Order To Go Option! 2. Mobile Order Filled Up Too Quickly Or maybe, you had a spot all picked out for Mobile Order, only to find out all the spots are filled for the day! Each restaurant only has a limited number of orders they can take, and popular dining locations tend to fill up fast during peak hours and seasons. Flame Tree Barbecue The solution: plan ahead! Figure out where you want to eat your meals and order right when you arrive at the park. You’ll be able to select your pickup time far in advance, so you don’t have to worry about all the slots filling up. You can adjust your pick-up time as needed, too! So don’t feel too locked into a time first thing in the morning. Just grab a spot and go from there! Don’t Make This Mobile Order Mistake! 3. You Didn’t Double-Check Your Party This sounds like common sense, but taking the extra second to check your party could help you avoid some MAJOR issues. We’ll paint a picture for ya: you go to grab your Individual Lightning Lanes for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure only to find out your whole party isn’t linked to your My Disney Experience account. Yikes! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure You’ll want to double-check how many people are in your party — and who! — whatever chance you get, like when you’re adding guests to your dining reservations. And keep an eye out for other tiny mistakes like clicking the wrong Mobile Order pick-up time! It’d be REAL unfortunate if you showed up to a restaurant hungry only to find out your food won’t be ready for another two hours. 7 Little Disney World Mistakes That Will Cost You BIG Money — Click Here! 4. You Missed Your Dining Reservation, but You Don’t Want to Get Charged What if you need to cancel your dining reservation last-minute?! Sometimes an emergency pops up and you aren’t able to cancel the night before, but you don’t want to get charged that $10 per person no-show fee. Be Our Guest Restaurant You’ll usually be charged that fee if you don’t cancel before midnight the night before your reservation, but sometimes, you can avoid the charge! If possible, stop by the restaurant and explain your situation at the check-in stand. Since you showed up, they may waive your cancellation fee! While we can’t guarantee this solution, it can happen, and it’s always worth a try! The Hollywood Brown Derby If you can’t make it to the restaurant, you’ve got a few other options. If your restaurant is in a hotel, try calling the hotel directly — they may be able to transfer you to the podium. You can also call the Disney Dining Line to explain your situation. Sometimes they can help you out, too! Click Here to See the Top 3 Table Service Restaurants in EPCOT, According to Yelp 5. The Park You Want to Visit Is at Capacity If you’re planning your Disney trip a couple of weeks — or even a few days — in advance, you may notice the park you want to visit is fully booked for Park Pass reservations. Disney World has been gradually increasing park capacities since May of 2021, but each park still has its limits! Unless you have a valid ticket AND a Park Pass reservation, you won’t be able to get inside. Tower of Terror The most obvious solution is to book way ahead so you don’t miss out on a Park Pass. You’ll especially want to do this if you’re visiting Disney during a busy time of year or the holiday season. But if you didn’t book ahead — and you’re stuck with no availability — don’t lose hope! Keep a close eye on the Park Pass availability calendar. Disney tends to add more Park Passes as dates draw closer, so you may be able to snag some last-minute! Even EPCOT can fill to capacity on particularly busy days! And if you’re already IN Disney World and you want to Park Hop, call the Disney Park Capacity Hotline at (407) 560-5000 before you try! You’ll have to make sure the park you want to visit isn’t full. But we will note that this rarely happens, so unless you are traveling during a busy season or holiday, you should be ok! The Hardest Dates to Get a Disney World Park Pass Reservation in 2022 6. You’re Overwhelmed by the Crowds The crowds can be a lot in the parks! The sheer amount of PEOPLE in one place can be overwhelming. Magic Kingdom Crowds Establish a quiet place in each park you can go to when you need a break! In Magic Kingdom, turn right when you’re heading down Main Street, U.S.A. You’ll find a quieter area near Uptown Jewelers. Main Street, U.S.A. In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, take a walk on Maharajah Jungle Trek. And in EPCOT, go to the back corner of the Morocco Pavilion. You may have to squeeze by some crowds, as there are some narrow walkways on your way in, but not many people venture all the way to the back of the pavilion. Morocco Pavilion Lastly, in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, head over to Echo Lake. Near Dinosaur Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction, you’ll find fewer crowds. Over 15 SECRET Walkways to Beat the Crowds in Disney World 7. You Got Injured in the Park Sometimes you get a small cut or just need some pain reliever! There are a few places you can go in Disney World if you need help. First of all, most merchandise locations keep a few basic first aid supplies behind the counter for a few dollars. You can find medicine and Band-aids there. Guest Services should also be able to help you out with the bandage basics. We got a Band-aid! Of course, there’s also a First Aid Center at the front of each park. You can head there if you have a more serious concern. Learn How to Handle Common First Aid Concerns in Disney World! 8. Your Park Day Got Rained Out Even after checking the weather extra closely, a spontaneous rainstorm can throw off all your plans for the day. But hey — you’ve just gotta be one step ahead! Bring a poncho or some other rain gear if you plan on weathering it out (no pun intended). It’s a rainy day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! You’ll also wanna make sure you have quick-drying shoes so you don’t have to slog around in wet sneakers all day. And while you’re at it, download a weather app with minute-by-minute radar updates! That way you know exactly when to duck into a store for cover. Clouds Moving In! While outdoor attractions may have to close for the weather, you’ll likely experience smaller crowds throughout the rest of the park. If you don’t mind sloshing around in some puddles, you can hop on some indoor rides with lower waits! Or, there’s plenty to do at your Disney resort for a rainy day. 14 Amazon Essentials to Survive Rainy Days in Disney World — Click Here We hope we saved ya from at least one unfortunate incident in Disney World! The moral of the story? Make sure you plan ahead! A little extra time to prep on the front end can save you from a LOT of mistakes once you’re in the parks. We’ll keep bringing you the latest Disney news (and more tips!), so stay tuned to DFB! Click Here for Our Ultimate Guide to Planning Your First Disney World Vacation! 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 made any of these mistakes in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post We’ve Messed Up! Here’s How to Solve Your Disney World PROBLEMS first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Horticulture cast member Stacy Wise started collecting plant identification tags in 2020, but not on purpose at first. They all just started piling up in her pocket at the end of the day after removing each tag, flower after flower replanted into the soil of the Disneyland Resort. After a while, Stacy had a budding […]View the full article

When was the last time you visited EPCOT? Spaceship Earth Chances are, it looks pretty different than the last time you were there! EPCOT has been busy, and with the opening of the new Guardians of the Galaxy coaster quickly approaching, it’s not slowing down any time soon. Much has changed since we last checked in, so let’s find out what’s new in EPCOT! EPCOT Food Updates Connections Cafe (Starbucks) EPCOT’s newest Starbucks location is serving up a new Chocolate Cream Cold Brew… Chocolate cream cold brew … and a Lime Coconut Bar as well! Lime Coconut Bar We tried them both, and you can read exactly what we thought here! EPCOT Construction Updates Last time we checked in, there were construction walls up to the right side of Spaceship Earth, and that’s still the case. Walls up at Spaceship Earth. For now, EPCOT guests will have to exit the ride on the left side of the attraction. EPCOT Merchandise Updates Mexico Pavilion There’s a new collection over in the Mexico Pavilion — first up are these gorgeous new Minnie Ears for $29.99… They are beautiful! … a blouse for $36.99… New floral shirt from Mexico … a tank top for $36.99… Fun and festive! … and a new Mickey jacket for $64.99! Looks pretty darn cozy. We love the floral designs on this new collection! Creations Shop Over in Creations, we spotted a new Harmonious water bottle so you can save the planet and celebrate your favorite fireworks show at the same time! Get it for $24.99. Harmonious water bottle Splash into summer with this Stitch iPhone case. We love his laid back attitude, and we’re counting down the days until we can hang poolside! Hey bud! Get the Stitch phone case for $34.99. Click here to see what’s new in Hollywood Studios! That’s it for what’s new in EPCOT this time — be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more. 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 was your last visit to EPCOT like? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New in EPCOT: Your Favorite New Pair of Minnie Ears and Chocolate Coffee first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time for another trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Disney’s Animal Kingdom We go to the Disney World theme parks almost every day so that we can bring you the latest news and updates, no matter how big or how small! Today, we’re bringing you to Animal Kingdom to see what’s new! Animal Kingdom Food Updates Creature Comforts Creature Comforts is the Starbucks location for Animal Kingdom, and when we stopped by recently, we noticed that there were a couple of new menu items! We spotted the Lime-Frosted Coconut Bar… Lime-Frosted Coconut Bar! …and the Chocolate Cream Cold Brew! Chocolate Cream Cold Brew We’ve also seen both of these items at the Starbucks in Magic Kingdom, as well. Click here to read our review of the Lime-Frosted Coconut Bar and the Chocolate Cream Cold Brew! Animal Kingdom Construction Updates On our most recent visit to Animal Kingdom, we noticed that the sand sculpture that had been located at the front of the park had been removed. It was put there for the release of the Disneynature documentary Polar Bear. The ‘Polar Bear’ sand sculpture is gone! There’s also a new Moana mural that has been put up in celebration of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. A World of Voices The mural shows Te Fiti and Moana and there is another mural that discusses “A World of Voices,” which is Disney’s theme for AANHPI Heritage Month. Click here for 8 construction updates you should know about before your next Disney World trip! Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Riverside Depot We found another pin that’s part of the Beautiful Florals collection over at Riverside Depot. Aurora Beautiful Florals Pin This pin is designed for Aurora from Sleeping Beauty and is available for $19.99. Discovery Trading Post We spotted a couple of new items at Discovery Trading Post! The first was this Dapper Dans Loungefly backpack. This backpack is $75 and we’ve seen it both in the parks and online. Dapper Dans Loungefly Backpack We also spotted this card wallet that has a cup on it that looks like Mickey. Mickey Cup Card Wallet The strap has the Mickey cup, and the print all over the rest of the wallet has cups that look like both Mickey AND Minnie. The card wallet is $16.99. Click here to get a sneak peek at merchandise coming for Pandora’s 5th Anniversary! And that’s what’s new in Animal Kingdom! Make sure to keep reading DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Click here for Animal Kingdom facts straight from Cast Members! 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 thing to do in Animal Kingdom? The post What's New in Animal Kingdom: Starbucks Menu Additions and a Moana Mural first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

During the month of May, we are celebrating the diverse and intersectional Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and their many contributions to United States history and culture. Our Disney cast members’ contributions are an important part of our celebration. As a Filipino-American cast member at the Disneyland Resort, Brittney Sia says it’s […]View the full article

If you were a young kid, tween, or teen in 2006, we can say these words and we know you’ll know what to say. *clears throat* WHAT TEAM? Get Your Head in the Game! WILDCATS! Many of us still absolutely love the High School Musical trilogy (the writer of this post may or may not plan to rewatch it soon). We’ve even got High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (that’s going into its third season) to watch on Disney+! And thank goodness Disney Channel is still making DCOMs (Disney Channel Original Movies) like the Descendants (a fourth film was just announced!) and ZOMBIES films. Sorry for the rant. We just seriously love our Disney Channel movies. And we are SO happy over here, because Zac Efron, who portrayed Troy Bolton in High School Musical, has just said something SUPER exciting in a recent interview! In a recent interview with E! News, Zac Efron admitted he would be open to doing a 4th High School Musical film! AHH! We’re so happy to hear that Zac enjoyed his time filming the trilogy and that his heart “is still there.” Don’t mind us, we’ll be crossing our fingers that this will actually happen, and will of course keep you all up-to-date on any and all details if it does! See how you could watch Disney’s new film for FREE before anyone else! 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 the High School Musical films? Who’s your favorite character? Let us know below! The post Zac Efron Admits He's Open to a Fourth 'High School Musical' Film! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Our team at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has been hard at work to continue providing magic for the local community during the pandemic. From essential donations to small moments of magic, we are proud to support the people of Hong Kong – helping our cast, guests and nonprofit partners at a time when they need […]View the full article

If you’re heading to Disney World during the summer months, you’ll still need to worry about Park Passes, hotel reservations, dining selections, Mobile Order, Genie+, and other things, but you’ll also have another important thing to think about — hurricanes. The castle stays right here, even when it hurricanes. Hurricanes can impact Orlando and could affect your trip, bringing strong winds and large amounts of rain. Some hurricanes have even led to reduced hours in the parks or a park closure. We’ve already shared that 2022 is expected to see a LOT of hurricanes, which could affect Disney World, but just what is going on that might be causing this large amount of hurricanes in the Atlantic? We’ve got some updates. According to CNN, a new study that was recently published in the Science Advances journal found that “over the past four decades, a 50% decrease in aerosols — tiny particles of air pollution — over North America and Europe led to a 33% increase in the number of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic.” In other words, as CNN puts it, some of the efforts made to reduce air pollution have had the unintended consequence of increasing tropical storms in certain regions. The study also noted that a decrease in aerosols over Europe and the United States led to DECREASES in tropical cyclone activity over the Southern Hemisphere. Hurricane Day in Disney World The study also found that a “40% increase in aerosol pollution in China and India over the same time period sparked a 14% decline in the number of tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific.” The lead author of the study, Hiro Murakami, shared, “Decreasing aerosol emissions is something that’s good for human health; but on the other hand, we found there are some bad effects when we reduce aerosol emissions — and that is hurricane activity.” Hurricane Skies in Disney World’s EPCOT Aerosols are different than greenhouse gases. Aerosols are “tiny particles of pollution that float in the air” and they actually reflect sunlight back to space, which leads to a cooling effect. That’s different than carbon dioxide or methane, which actually absorb sunlight, having a warming effect. Murakami found that as aerosol pollution decreased, the ocean was able to absorb more sunlight. That has lead to warmer sea surfaces, which can fuel more tropical storms. Storm clouds But Murakami warns that the results of this study don’t mean that we should stop trying to control air pollution. Murakami said, “Aerosol decrease may lead to good health, but on the other hand, hurricane risk increases. This is where good things accompany bad things. It’s kind of like pros and cons.” A senior hurricane scientist at the Clime Service, Jim Kossin, reviewed the study and said that “this steady warming of the ocean that’s been happening in the Atlantic because of the combination of greenhouse gas increases and the particulate pollution decreases, that has a profound effect.” Dark clouds over Cinderella Castle Individuals have suggested that further research should be conducted on the sensitivity of these results with a range of uncertainties related to aerosol. CNN shares that Murakami predicts “that aerosol pollution will remain stable, so greenhouse gas emissions will start to have a stronger influence on hurricanes over time — particularly on their intensity.” Murakami also warned that what we’ve seen over the past years may not be applied to the future because “climate science is very complex and it’s a work in progress.” So things are subject to change. ©AccuWeather The study shares that “it is important to emphasize that changes in anthropogenic aerosols, as well as greenhouse gases, apparently can exert substantial impacts on global [tropical cyclone] activity, which delivers an important message to society regarding the seriousness of the impacts our activities are having and therefore the political decisions we make in the future in terms of changes in emissions and their potential impacts on TC activity on the global scale.” We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates regarding hurricane activity in the Atlantic in 2022 and how that could impact your Disney World trip. Check back with us for all the latest details. Click here to see 8 DFB reader tips for riding out a hurricane in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever been to Disney World during a hurricane? Tell us in the comments! The post Why There Are MORE Hurricanes in the North Atlantic Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As far as dining in Disney World goes, Magic Kingdom isn’t necessarily our top spot. Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Of course, we can’t resist stopping by the Spring Roll Cart or checking out any new secret menu items at Skipper Canteen, but for the most part, there are better restaurants elsewhere in Disney World. One Magic Kingdom spot that has left us salty (literally) in the past is Tony’s Town Square. We recently spotted some menu changes at Tony’s and decided to head on over to see if the new menu items were worth a visit! Tucked away in Main Street, U.S.A.’s Town Square is Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. This Lady and the Tramp-themed spot serves up Italian food with stellar Main Street Views. Time for Tony’s! We haven’t sung its praises in the past and neither have many of our readers, but could the new menu offerings change our tune? Let’s dig in and find out! Atmosphere First things first, let’s check out the atmosphere of Tony’s. You’ll find it directly next to the Town Square Theater at the front of Magic Kingdom. You can make a reservation ahead of time or you can join the Walk-Up Waitlist by using the My Disney Experience app. At the time we joined the waitlist, there was an estimated 10-minute wait. ©Disney There are three dining areas inside Tony’s, including an outdoor patio, an indoor sunroom, and an indoor dining room. The sunroom has beautiful views of Main Street, U.S.A. and as a bonus, it’s air-conditioned! Great views Inside the restaurant, you’ll find TONS of references to Lady and Tramp, like this gorgeous Lady and the Tramp fountain. Lady and the Tramp The main dining room has a black and white checkerboard floor with both table seating and booths. Dining Room Now, let’s move on to the main event — the new menu items! Menu Tony’s recently overhauled their menu to include more “upscale” Italian dishes. There are the Anitpasti and Secondi Piatti offerings… ©Disney … some decadent desserts… ©Disney … and your typical kids’ menu! ©Disney Tony’s also offers a selection of wine, beer, and one wine cocktail. ©Disney Food After looking at the new items, we decided to start with some Antipasti, and first up was the Toy Box Tomato Salad. For $12, you get marinated tomatoes with torn burrata cheese, cucumbers, focaccia, pickled onions, and basil. Toy Box Tomato Salad We thought it was…just okay. The vegetables were fresh but the burrata cheese definitely needed more salt, which was ironic considering our last review. The serving size is quite small for the price tag and really this wasn’t too fulfilling. Toy Box Tomato Salad Of course, it wouldn’t be an Italian restaurant without…CARBS. So, we ordered recently added Tony’s Garlic Bread for the Table, which included toasted ciabatta with roasted garlic-butter and parmesan fonduta for $11. Tony’s Garlic Bread Honestly, this garlic bread was the STAR of our whole meal. The bread was heavy on the garlic (not a problem for us) and the sauce was like a creamy parmesan Alfredo sauce, and it worked perfectly with the garlic bread. We might never look at garlic bread the same again — that’s how incredible it was. YUM Get a closer look at these appetizers in our video below! Nosh or Not You SHOULD try the new items at Tony’s if… You already enjoy eating at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and you’re looking for Italian dishes at Magic Kingdom. These new menu items might not be earth-shattering but we did enjoy a few of them! We will say, you can find better Italian dishes in Disney Springs and EPCOT though. You’re really into garlic bread. Like really into it. We won’t judge if you join the Walk-Up Waitlist just to try that garlic bread! You’re looking for a restaurant with good Main Street, U.S.A. views. If you are seated on the porch, you can get an excellent view of the Festival of Fantasy Parade or the 50th Anniversary Cavalcade. You should SKIP trying Tony’s new menu if… You want really upscale Italian food. Even with these new menu additions, they might not be what you’d consider “upscale” Italian food. You might want to try Via Napoli in EPCOT if that’s what you’re looking for. These dishes are basic and the restaurant has proved to be very hit or miss. You have a limited dining budget. The Shrimp Scampi is $30 and the Penne with Chicken Al Forno is $26, so this isn’t exactly cheap dining. You want a relaxing meal. We felt a little rushed during our meal so this might not be the place to sit and visit. You could instead grab a quick service meal where you can generally sit as long as you like. Overall So, would we come back to Tony’s for the new dishes? We’d love to come back just for the garlic bread, but we’re not sure if we’d return just for the other new menu items. While Tony’s Garlic Bread was a fairly reasonable price of $11, the entree prices and the rushed atmosphere make us hesitant to return. If you’re already a fan of Tony’s, these new menu items might be an even bigger incentive to visit, but they don’t quite deliver “upscale” Italian for us, even if we enjoyed a few of the new menu options. If you don’t care about that and you’re looking for an excellent Magic Kingdom location with great views, you might consider it worth a visit. Keep following DFB for more restaurant reviews! Click here to see our review of an EPCOT World Showcase favorite! 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 do you think of Tony’s Town Square? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: The Most HATED Magic Kingdom Restaurant Just Got a Menu OVERHAUL first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ah, Disney merchandise. Something we love, but our wallets sometimes do not. Dapper Dans Loungefly Wallet But how can we resist all the adorable Loungefly merch, must-have spirit jerseys, and cuddly stuffed animals of our favorite Disney things! Not gonna lie, it can be hard at time. And we will be the first to admit that some merch gets a liiiiittle pricey. And today another adorable yet PRICEY item has dropped in Disney World. While checking out the parks today, one of our reporters came across something that will go perfectly with Disney’s new Dapper Dans Loungefly collection — a Dapper Dans dress! Spotted in Magic Kingdom! Look how colorful it is! The dress features multi-colored vertical stripes (and gives off major spring vibes if you ask us), bright buttons, and tiny Dapper Dan hats and music notes peppered throughout! Look how cute! As cute as it was, we couldn’t help but wince at this dress’s price tag — $128!! Yikes! This is quite typical of these dresses that Disney releases. But no lie, the price still stings a bit every time. If you want this dress, you can find it at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom! And as always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! You HAVE to see this creepy Loungefly bag! 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 do you think, would you pay $128 for this dress? Let us know below! The post A PRICEY Dapper Dans Dress Is Now Available in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hanging out with celebrities, face-planting in front of the castle, or maybe eating with dinos on your wedding night? Crowds in Magic Kingdom I’ve always said every person’s gonna experience Disney World differently – but, WOW, you guys don’t fool around with your SHOCKING Disney World stories! Check out our video below on The Most Shocking Things YOU’VE Done In Disney World. Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! 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. Tell us your most shocking Disney World stories in the comments below! The post DFB Video: The Most Shocking Things YOU'VE Done In Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Exciting things are happening in Disney World! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is opening in just a few weeks (!!) and we’ve already gotten a sneak peek at the ride! Also over in EPCOT, we recently got some updates on ongoing construction projects like Journey of Water — inspired by Moana and a new character meet and greet location called Mickey and Friends! Guardians of the Galaxy Ship One construction project that we haven’t heard as many updates on is the new rollercoaster coming to Magic Kingdom: TRON Lightcycle Run. Yesterday, we saw that a ride vehicle was undergoing testing, and today Disney shared a behind-the-scenes look at the testing for the ride! In the video shared on Instagram, you can see the first full-speed test run of the rollercoaster! The video shows the launch as well as some of the track, and finally the train returning to the station. Make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest TRON updates, as well as other Disney news! Click here to see the Easter Eggs You Won’t Want to Miss on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind! 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 excited for the TRON ride to open in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: The FIRST Full-Speed Launch of the TRON Coaster in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You’re ready to see the main Mouse, eat Mickey-shaped waffles, and ride all of the newest rides, but there’s just one thing — before you get to Disney World, you’ll have to PLAN your trip. That alone can feel like a marathon. Planning for Disney World Can Be a Lot of Work! Between planning for dining reservations, transportation to and from the airport, and Park Passes — it can be a lot. So we took to Facebook to get your thoughts on the hardest part of planning a Disney World trip, and you all had a LOT of thoughts. Planning Woes As we mentioned above, planning a trip to Disney World can require a LOT of effort. Now, don’t get us wrong, if you’re a “go-with-the-flow” type of person, you don’t care about eating at specific places and you aren’t worried about getting on particular rides, then you could totally “wing it” and likely have a great time. If, on the other hand, you want to get on specific rides or a particular number of rides, want to eat at some particular spots, or have other set goals in mind, planning is in your future. How Much Will You Have to Plan? So what are some of the HARDEST parts of planning a trip to Disney World right now? We asked you all, our lovely readers, via Facebook and got over 1,000 responses! Here is just some of what you had to say. Disney Genie+ One of the most common responses we saw had to do with Disney Genie+, the paid system that has replaced FastPass+. A number of readers shared their frustrations with Genie+ and how it impacted their trip planning process. Disney Genie pamphlet Oftentimes what was mentioned was the 7AM wake up call. One reader said, “Having to book Genie plus and LL every morning at 7 am versus ahead of time” was the worst for them. Another said, “Not being able to book fast passes in advance. Getting up before 7 am on vacation has been awful and starts every single day of our trip in such a stressful way.” If you aren’t aware, with the old FastPass+ system, guests could select 3 FastPass+ return times for specific rides they wanted ahead of their trip. With Genie+ that is not a possibility. Instead, the first time guests can make a Genie+ selection is at 7AM on the morning of their trip. (7AM is also the time when Disney World Resort Hotel guests and guests at select other qualifying hotels can make their first Individual Attraction Selection or pay-per-ride pick. All other guests can make that first pay-per-ride selection when the park opens). You can find Lightning Lanes at many attractions within the parks! Waking up early isn’t everyone’s idea of fun on vacation, but getting up early can make a big difference in giving you the best chance to get the picks you want for really popular rides (like Slinky Dog Dash)! Click here to see why 7AM just got WAY more stressful in Disney World Readers were also not excited about the way in which return times are handled through Genie+. For $15 per person, per day in Disney World, guests can use Genie+. This service allows you to pick 1 Genie+ selection at a time throughout the day. When you go to pick the selection, you’ll see the list of rides and the next available return time for each ride. The return times listed are the only ones you have to pick from when it comes to standard Genie+. So, for example, if the next available return time for the “it’s a small world” Lightning Lane is 2PM, you can’t go in and select a 4PM return time. You can either select the 2PM return time or keep checking the app for when the 4PM return time pops up later on. Keep Those Times Straight! Guests shared that this wasn’t an ideal situation for their planning needs. One said that they’d “prefer to be able to pick times for a logical flow through the park so [they] don’t have to double back.” They specifically referenced a situation where one of their return times got changed (perhaps due to a temporary closure or something of that nature), which then forced them to adjust their path through the park. Another shared that they too would like to pick times for the rides, rather than be stuck with what the system shows at the time. That reader said, “We had a couple days that we went later in the afternoon. I had to keep checking the app until [Lightning Lane return times] opened up for that time of the day.” But they shared that, despite it being a bit of a pain, it didn’t ruin their trip. ©Disney For others, simply having to use their phones all the time for Genie+ was the big concern. One shared, “I hate being on my phone in the parks. I like to entirely disconnect.” Another shared that for them, being on the app all the time was the worst part of their planning. They said, “Being in the app ALL the time was the worse. You feel like you have to constantly check wait times.” ©Disney One reader, however, wasn’t as bothered by this. They noted that you still had to pick more FastPass+ selections with the old system (above the initial 3) 1 at a time throughout the day on your phone, so in that sense, Genie+ isn’t terribly different in requiring you to be on your phone. We won’t deny it — if you’re really trying to maximize your time with Genie+, you likely will be on your phone a LOT. The big thing there is to be prepared — come with phone chargers, consider designating a phone-person for the day, become really familiar with the app, and just go into the trip knowing that your phone will be key. Click here to see the 5 most important Disney Genie+ tips to know before you go to Disney World Park Hopping For others, the changes that still exist with Park Hopping were a planning frustration. Right now, guests still need a Park Pass for the original park they want to go to, they must enter that first park, and then (only after entering the first park) they can hop to other parks starting at 2PM each day. Not hopping until 2PM seemed to be the main concern. One reader said, “We arrived at AK at 7:00 and were done with what we wanted to do by noon. Would like to be able to hop whenever you want!” Get Ready to Hop! The 2PM park hopping rule still exists and Disney has not announced any future changes at this time, so it’s something you’ll definitely want to keep in mind when planning out your park plans for the days you’ll be at the Most Magical Place on Earth. Click here to see the park hopping DANGER you need to know about! The $$MONEY$$ A big thing that was brought up in the responses was the cost of a trip to Disney World and having to plan ahead for that. There were PLENTY of responses on this topic — “saving enough money for the additional costs;” “Costs in general and planning for costs;” and “Affording it” were just some of the things people said were the hardest parts of planning for Disney. Main Street Popcorn Cart menu Some even noted that the hardest part was “The second mortgage to be able to afford the experience.” We got quite a few “second mortgage” responses actually! There’s no kidding around here — Disney World can be very expensive. Between price increases for food, tickets, and other things, you’ll likely find yourself spending THOUSANDS more on your 2022 trip than you ever did before. Dole Whip got an increase at Aloha Isle. But not all hope is lost — there are ways to save while at Disney World! There are special discounts and other things that fans can take advantage of to help save money where they can. Even a dollar or two can add up! Click here to see our page full of details about discounts and deals available at Disney World! MORE! There were a number of other things readers shared as their big planning frustrations. For some, it was the loss of the Disney Dining Plan or scheduling dining reservations in general. Others shared their desire for the 180 dining reservation planning window to return (currently dining reservations can only be made 60 days in advance). A fork-full! For others, it was the uncertainties that surround trips at this moment, particularly due to COVID-19. One noted that they have had to cancel trips due to COVID in general or due to a family member testing positive for COVID. Another reader shared that their uncertainties come from the changes being made in the parks. They shared that the hardest thing with planning for them is “Not knowing what exactly I’m planning for…Am I including the meal plan or will it not be back[?]” Things are constantly changing in Disney World so a small level of uncertainty is something to be prepared for. COVID-19 Health and Safety Sign Others shared that “getting to grips” with the greater use of technology was their biggest issue. Linking tickets and hotel reservations to the My Disney Experience app, making Park Pass reservations, reserving meals — all of it requires some use of technology. And while this reader managed to do it, they shared “Now I need a holiday to recover. ” Drop Down Menu Planning woes went all the way down to park outfits! One reader shared that their toughest planning moment is deciding what lipstick to wear. Hey, planning a park outfit is no joke! Seriously — there’s a LOT to plan for when it comes to Disney World, which leads us to our next point… . Planning Itself For many readers, the planning itself and the level of planning required is the biggest problem they face when getting ready for Disney World. One shared, “I get overwhelmed by trying to plan it, then overwhelmed by researching how to better plan it, and then overwhelmed by the price when I finally get it planned and just give up.” The Fact that You Have to Plan So Much Can Be the Root of the Issue Others shared that their issue with planning a trip was that, at least in their opinion, spontaneous trips are now out of the question. One said that their biggest planning problem is that “Everything has to be planned. My life outside of vacation is scheduled I want a break from it.” Another echoed that and said “Having to make reservations for absolutely EVERYTHING” is the hardest part. Another shared that they feel there’s “No spontaneity or flexibility allowed” particularly since Park Passes are required. Do You Like to Plan a Lot? One reader said that the hardest part for them is the “over excessive planning [of] every minute of each day.” They shared, “I seem to be on my phone all day. Run, run and rush, then more planning…That is just so exhausting.” Another said that they feel “Everything books so fast you have to plan it all out if you want to have a good time.” A Classic Mickey Pretzel For another, planning was the problem but in a different way. They shared that the biggest planning hurdle for them is “Resisting the urge to plan and micromanage your trip. Once you get past that obstacle, it is so much more fun and enjoyable. Go with the flow!” For many, just the amount of planning that goes into a trip and the urge to over-plan is the biggest issue. Certainly, there can be a lot of planning required for a Disney World trip. But, as that last reader noted, over-planning can also turn into a curse, setting yourself up for disappointment when things (inevitably) don’t go perfectly to plan. It’s a fine balance! Don’t make these 5 rookie mistakes when traveling to Disney World! Maybe Expectations Need to Change? One reader brought up a really interesting point. To them, the hardest part of planning a Disney World trip is “changing your expectations.” They noted that this is not the 1980s version of Disney or the 20teens version either. Disney is, undoubtedly, different now compared to how it was before. They shared that this new approach to vacation planning “perhaps requires something we have forgotten…patience [and] flexibility.” They also mentioned how families can turn long wait times into more fun times by playing games with their family members, talking with people in line, and enjoying interactive queues. Heading to Disney World Soon? They shared how a recent trip, where they were more spontaneous, didn’t use Genie+, and hardly used the My Disney Experience app, ended up being one of their favorites because they went in with totally different expectations. This advice can be taken a number of different ways. If you want to go in and “wing it,” then you will want to set your expectations appropriately. If you want to go in and tackle it ALL, then your expectations will be different. But knowing what you want out of your trip and what you’ll need to do to get there can really help you set expectations appropriately and that could change the entire feel of your trip. Click here to see 10 Disney World tips that really are as good as people say And there you have it, a look at some of the responses from our fabulous readers about the hardest part about planning a Disney World trip right now. From Park Pass reservations to Genie+, there was a little bit of almost everything sprinkled in there. The truth is that the hardest part of planning a vacation will differ from person to person, but as that last reader mentioned, setting appropriate expectations could make all the difference. What’s the hardest part of planning a Disney World vacation for you? Tell us in the comments! And stay tuned for more Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 the hardest part of planning a Disney World vacation for you? Tell us in the comments! The post Guests Share the HARDEST Part of Planning a Disney World Vacation first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Summer may be just around the corner, but we’re already looking forward to HALLOWEEN in Disney World! Happy Halloween! In April, Disney released a TON of major Halloween-themed news as part of the “Halfway to Halloween” celebration. And one of the announcements that we’re most excited about is the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to Magic Kingdom this year! The last time Magic Kingdom hosted Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was prior to the park closures back in 2019. Last year, it was temporarily replaced with the BOO Bash Halloween event, but there were some notable differences between the two events. Halloween at Magic Kingdom If you’ve been missing some of the awesome entertainment and spooky Halloween vibes of the former Magic Kingdom holiday celebration, now’s your time to shine — tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are on sale NOW for Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guests! Mickey Pumpkin Ticket prices range from $109 to $199 depending on the event date, and you can purchase tickets on the Walt Disney World website or by calling 407-939-4240. You will have to link your resort reservation in order to purchase your tickets. There are a limited number of tickets for each date and they often sell out FAST, so if you’ve got a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to go snag the tickets for your visit now! Read MORE about ticket pricing for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party here! Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will go on sale to the general public on May 18th, 2022 — so mark your calendars! We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more Halloween news around Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates! What You Need to Know About Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Halloween at Walt Disney World Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is Coming BACK! See the Full List of PRICES and DATES for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Check Out Everything CONFIRMED to Return to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Get All of the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Get a First Look at the Halloween Merchandise Coming to Disney World See Photos and Reviews of the Fall and Halloween Treats in Disney World from 2021 Take a Look at the Halloween Decorations in Magic Kingdom from 2021 Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe What’s your favorite holiday to spend in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post 🚨Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party TICKETS Now On Sale for Select Disney World Guests🚨 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It doesn't wear cute clothes. It won't make small talk. But you still have to tip it. Royal Caribbean is bringing it futuristic Bionic Bar to Port Canaveral aboard the new Wonder of the Seas this fall. Swinging its mechanical arms among 140 liquor bottles and 16 mixers the robotic bartender can make up to 250 drinks an hour. View the full article

Disney World revamping “Fantasmic” at Hollywood Studios and “Finding Nemo” show at Animal Kingdom. View the full article

Walt Disney Co. executives boasted about another blockbuster quarter Wednesday at its theme parks even as they remained mum about their feud with Gov. Ron DeSantis. View the full article

Inflation — it’s something you’ve undoubtedly heard a LOT about in the news over the past several months. In fact, it might be something that you’ve felt like you couldn’t escape. Well it turns out Disney can’t escape it either. Spaceship Earth We’ve already shared a thorough analysis of inflation, what it is, why it’s increasing, what current numbers look like, and how it could impact your Disney trip. But now we’ve got an update and some statements from Disney executives on just how the Company is feeling the effects of inflation. On May 11th, 2022, Disney released its earnings report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2022, and held its earnings call on the same topic. During the call and through the report we got updates on Disney’s financial status, Disney+ subscriptions, and other things. But we also got to hear a little bit about the Disney executives’ thoughts when it comes to inflation. Magic Kingdom For starters, inflation is something the Company is very much aware of and attending to address. This is something we knew based on Christine McCarthy’s comments from back on the 2021 Q4 earnings call. McCarthy is the Chief Financial Officer of the Disney company. During this most recent earnings call, McCarthy said that in terms of margins, the one that is more “challenging” is what the Company faces with inflation. McCarthy said they do “pay close attention to all the recent inflationary pressures…That covers everything from merchandise to food and beverage.” She said that for those they are always looking at mitigating impacts of rising costs. Main Street Popcorn Cart menu She then provided an example of something they’re executing on — the rising cost of fuel. McCarthy said that they have a robust fuel hedging program at Disney World and that reduces risk and “minimizes volatility” in the cost of fuel. McCarthy said that they had suspended the program while the parks were closed but it has since been reopened and they’re doing what they can to minimize the impact on that particular cost. Disney World gas station McCarthy then discussed other impacts of inflation, specifically labor impacts, rising wages, and a tighter labor market. And in terms of supply chain issues, McCarthy said “our business isn’t immune to the global supply chain challenges.” To the extent we experience any product availability impacts given strong demand that we’re seeing, we’re working with our suppliers…to diversify some of our suppliers. And we’re also working with shippers to expedite the time to receive those through shipping.” EPCOT In terms of diversifying suppliers, McCarthy had sort-of discussed this before as a possible way in which Disney could address inflation. During the Q4 2021 earnings call, McCarthy said that some of the ideas the team had suggested included adjusting suppliers, substituting products, cutting portion sizes, and more. Overall, McCarthy shared “Right now, it’s very difficult to accurately forecast the potential financial impact due to the fluidity of the situation but you can trust that we are fully aware of it and we’re working hard to mitigate any pressure on the margin.” Christine McCarthy ©The Walt Disney Company But Disney CEO Bob Chapek shared that Disney continues “to see really strong demand” and they’re “encouraged by the trends” that they’re seeing. In discussing Park Pass reservations and more, Chapek said their “domestic yield strategy has really structurally allowed [Disney] to increase that per capita spending meaningfully without having to rely solely on raising ticket prices.” And, he added, “we don’t see any end in sight for that.” Disney CEO Bob Chapek in Disney World on its 50th Anniversary In fact, the parks saw growth when it comes to guest spending during this recent quarter. In the earnings report, Disney shared that “Guest spending growth was due to an increase in average per capita ticket revenue, higher average daily hotel room rates and an increase in food, beverage and merchandise spending. The increase in average per capita ticket revenue was due to a favorable attendance mix and the introduction of Genie+ and Lightning Lane in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.” Overall, Disney’s message seems to be that they feel good about attendance levels and current and future bookings. Check out prices before you come! On the Disney+ side, Chapek said that they’re carefully watching their content cost growth. Disney’s direct-to-consumer division as a whole did see an increased operating LOSS this quarter, as compared to the prior-year quarter. Disney shared that this was due to higher losses at Disney+ and ESPN+ and lower operating income at Hulu. At Disney+ specifically, Disney shared that the lower results “reflected higher programming and production, marketing and technology costs.” ©Disney Still, Chapek expressed his belief that strong content should drive subscriber growth and lead to better profits. Click here to learn more about Disney+’s current subscriber numbers As the situation with inflation continues to change and develop, things at the parks and beyond could be impacted. We’ll continue to look for more updates and share those all with you. Check back with us for the latest info! Click here to read our full post on inflation and how it could impact your Disney World trip Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Disney Executives Comment on How Inflation is Impacting the Parks first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article