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Animal Kingdom is an exciting place to be lately! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest has reopened, there are baby rhinos out on Kilimanjaro Safaris, and we recently got to celebrate Earth Day. But, there’s almost always something new to see at the park, so let’s take a look at what’s new in Animal Kingdom! Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Island Mercantile There are new Safari Binoculars over in Island Mercantile! These will be great to help you check out the animals around the park. You can grab them for $9.99. What animal are you looking for? If you’re looking for a challenge and a toy, you can grab this 50th Anniversary Rubik’s Cube for $19.99! Do you think you could solve the puzzle? That super fun Orange Bird Crop Top we saw in EPCOT recently is now over in Animal Kingdom as well! Okay, we LOVE this Pick up the shirt for $39.99, and maybe complete your outfit with some Orange Bird Ears! Riverside Depot Outside of Riverside Depot, we saw that Ariel Bubble Wands have been restocked! There is still quite a shortage on other bubble wands around Disney World, though. These bubble wands are back! The Muppet Wishables we saw the other day are now in Animal Kingdom! You can get the Mystery Pack for $14.99. Which character would you want the most?! And, the nuiMOs of Judy and Nick from Zootopia are also available in here! These guys are $21.99 each. Besties There’s a new Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Scarlet Witch pin available for $15.99! We can’t WAIT to see this movie!! The Merida and Aurora Designer Princess Pins are over here, too. These are both $34.99 each. So fancy You can also find a new Chip ‘n Dale Floating Down Main Street, U.S.A. Pin for $19.99… Floating away …a Donald Duck 2022 Graduation Pin and a Sword in the Stone 2022 Teachers’ Day Pin, both for $17.99 each. Time to celebrate! There are a lot of new pins to choose from! Windtraders Speaking of pins, there’s ANOTHER new on over in Windtraders in Pandora. Check out this Connected As One Pin for $17.99. Limited Release! There ya go — that’s everything NEW in Animal Kingdom! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates. Click here to see what’s new in Magic Kingdom! 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 ride in Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New in Animal Kingdom: Are Merchandise Stock Shortages on the Rebound? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you know that tomorrow we will be exactly Halfway to Halloween?! So, so soon it will once again be time to watch all the spooky movies, eat Halloween candy, and soak up all the fall vibes. Disney is celebrating Halfway to Halloween this week with some treats (no tricks!), a Hocus Pocus watch party, and even some at-home activities to get you in the spirit! Cinderella Pumpkins at Magic Kingdom Now, even your electronic devices can get in on the Halfway to Halloween fun with this new digital wallpaper! Today, Disney shared a new digital wallpaper specifically in celebration of Halfway to Halloween. ©Disney This digital wallpaper is Hocus Pocus-themed with the much-quoted phrase “Amuck Amuck Amuck” from the movie. It also includes the Halfway to Halloween logo. To download the wallpaper, just go to the Disney Parks Blog website, where you’ll be able to download the image onto your phone or computer. ©Disney And if you can’t get enough of Hocus Pocus, tonight there will be a Twitter watch party for the popular Halloween movie. The watch party will begin at 8PM ET. We’ll be on the lookout for more Halfway to Halloween news and updates, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest! When ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Is Set to Premiere on Disney+ 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 downloading this wallpaper onto your computer or phone? Let us know in the comments! The post BRB, Downloading This ‘Hocus Pocus’ Digital Wallpaper IMMEDIATELY first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When we go into the parks, we love getting some photos to commemorate our time. Even if we go every day! ©Disney PhotoPass Whether you’re taking a solo trip, or have your whole family with you, PhotoPass can help capture the memories from your trip. And if you’re a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Member, Disney World just released a special opportunity for your next PhotoPass session! If you and your family are DVC Members, the next time you’re in the Disney World parks and book a Capture Your Moment Photo Session with a PhotoPass Photographer, let the Cast Member know you want to show off your DVC status! ©Disney The Cast Member will give you this large beige key to hold up, which has “Disney Vacation Club” written on the body of the key, and Mickey’s ears on a globe at the top! It’s a great way to commemorate being a DVC member on your trip and get a special photo that non-DVC members won’t have. As always, keep an eye on DFB, and we’ll make sure you’re up to date on all things Disney! Have you heard about these PhotoPass offerings in Animal Kingdom? 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 Disney Vacation Club Member? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Vacation Club Members Will Love the Latest PhotoPass Offering! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Along with National Geographic, Disney Parks has spread that message as well with unique activations and opportunities. From stage cooking demonstrations to photo walls and National Geographic magazines, there were experiences for all guests to enjoy. View the full article

It’s time to put on your best vintage outfits and head to Disney World because it’s almost Dapper Day! Dapper Day is almost here! Over the years, we’ve seen some pretty epic Dapper Day outfits in the past and we’re looking forward to seeing what guests come up with this year! But, if you’re not sure what you’re going to wear (or if you’re just learning about the event and want to participate), there’s a returning small shop in EPCOT where you can stock up on the latest vintage Disney clothing and accessories! If you’re a fan of dressing up for your park day in Disney World, then you’re probably familiar with Dapper Day events. Dapper Day is an unofficial Disney “holiday” that takes place in the parks on select days of the year where guests are encouraged to wear their very best vintage clothing around the parks. Disney World’s next Dapper Day is set to take place in just a few days on April 30th, 2022 in EPCOT and on May 1st, 2022 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And, to help you prepare, you can now find a Dapper Day Pop-up Shop in EPCOT! We’ve seen this pop-up shop in EPCOT before and it is back again with tons of outfits and accessories to choose from! You can find this ‘County Fair’ dress which features a new pattern for $148… Dapper Day dress …or embrace the spring season with the ‘Citrus Gingham’ dress for $168. Another Dapper Day dress One of the more unique designs is featured on the ‘Roller Coaster’ dress for $148… A unique design …and while we’ve seen this ‘Sharkstooth’ pattern before, it’s in a different cut for $124. The new cut You can also find totes in the ‘Sharkstooth’ and ‘Houndstooth’ pattern for $26 to help you carry around all your Dapper Day essentials. The ‘County Fair’ pattern also comes in a zip bag for $18. Dapper Day bag Need something to keep cool in the Florida heat? There’s a lemon slice, orange slice, and ‘citrus gingham’ fan for $10 each. Dapper Day fans There were also parasols in various patterns for $26 each. We also found this ‘Citrus Gingham’ shirt for $96… Loving the citrus vibes …and there were a few pins available, including this Lounging Lobster Pin for $10. Lobster Pin The sunglasses varied in price… Chic sunglasses! …but these pairs were $29. A style to match almost any outfit! The pop-up shop also included a few other tops like this Passport Confetti Print Top for $68… Passport Confetti Print Top …and this Harvey Shirt in Blue Lagoon Bow Ties is $60! Harvey Shirt in Blue Lagoon Bow Ties Plus, you can take your Dapper Day style to the beach thanks to the Lounging Lobster Beach Towel was $29! Beach Towels There’s also a SECRET discount that you can take advantage of here! Disney World Annual Passholders and Cast Members can receive a 10% discount — just be sure that you have your Annual Pass or Cast ID with you! The shop! PLUS, all guests receive a FREE Dapper Day Spring event button with every purchase! You’ll get a button with your purchase! This little pop-up shop is only around in EPCOT during the Flower and Garden Festival from April 27th to May 1st, 2022, so be sure to make your park pass reservation and head on over to do your shopping! You’ll find it between the American Adventure and Japan pavilions! And, as always, check back here for the latest Disney news! See the FULL Calendar of 2022 Dapper Day Event Dates HERE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 attending any of the upcoming Dapper Days? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: An Exclusive Dapper Day Shop Is Open For a VERY Limited Time In Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I don’t know about you, but two of my favorite things in life are (drum roll please) Disney Cruise Line and summer! If you’re also like me and already looking for vacation options for your family next year, I have some great news for you – Disney Cruise Line will offer a variety of enchanting vacations in summer 2023, including cruises to Europe, Alaska, the Bahamas and Caribbean. View the full article

If you’re planning a Disney World trip for the first time since last fall, it’s quite possible that figuring out Genie+ is the bane of your existence at the moment. Is this new FastPass+ replacement actually worth the cost? And how many rides can you skip the line if you buy it? That’s what we’re digging into now. Disney Genie+…the new way to skip the lines In case you’re not quite caught up on the latest, Genie+ is the FastPass+ replacement that allows guests to skip the line at certain attractions. It costs $15 per person, per day, and guests can make reservations for Lightning Lanes (FastPass Lanes) at certain rides throughout the day. We’ve already discovered all kinds of tips and tricks for you to maximize your purchase if you do buy Genie+. But the big question on everyone’s mind right now is how many rides can you ACTUALLY get on with Genie+? We asked a bunch of Disney World fans — here’s what they said! One of the main differences between Genie+ and FastPass+ (besides the fact that Genie+ is not free) is that you cannot reserve rides days ahead of time. With Genie+, you’ll use the My Disney Experience app to make Lightning Lane reservations one at a time. Once you scan into the Lightning Lane at one ride, you can make your next Genie+ reservation. (The exception is the 120-minute rule, which you can learn more about here.) Learn more about the 120-minute rule here. Reservations can (and do) run out, especially for more popular rides. So how many times will you actually get to skip the line? Disney updated the language on their Genie+ website recently to say that most guests will get on 2 to 3 rides with Genie+ per day. $15 to skip the line on 2 rides? It doesn’t sound like much, so our reporters investigated. Splash Mountain Lightning Lane Our reporters found that they could actually get Lightning Lane reservations for about 6 to 7 rides/shows in a normal day at any given park. (Note that the number of people in your group doesn’t affect this — you choose the Lightning Lane return time before inputting the number of people for your group, so unless you have a group of more than 12 people, the results are the same.) This number (6 to 7) includes bigger rides, smaller rides, and shows. In most parks, it’s possible to use Genie+ on 1 or 2 big rides, a few smaller rides, and a few shows. Lightning Lane at Tower of Terror In order to see if this was true for most guests, we recently reached out to our readers on social media to find out their experiences with Genie+ in Disney World. We asked how many rides people got on using Genie+ on their most recent Disney World trips. Here’s what they said! How Many Rides Do Guests Get On With Genie+? As you might expect, the responses were varied. Some people reported being able to get on many more attractions with Genie+ than others did. But with hundreds of responses, we started to see some overall trends. Magic Kingdom Most people reported being able to book between 5 and 7 Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom. One reader said, “Using Genie+, we did 6 in Magic Kingdom (plus 7 dwarves ILL).” Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a pay-per-ride (or individual Lightning Lane) attraction, meaning guests have to pay a separate fee if they want to skip the line on this ride. It is not included with Genie+. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Lightning Lane We saw several other readers reporting Magic Kingdom Lightning Lanes in this range, even from one guest who “arrived late to the park, at 11AM.” And a couple of readers reported even bigger numbers, with one guest saying, “Last week, we were able to get 10 Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom.” Peter Pan’s Flight Lightning Lane Although most people claimed they got on several rides in Magic Kingdom with Genie+, we did see some reports of fewer Lightning Lanes. One reader said they only got on 2 rides with Genie+: “The first one being a good one and the second one being a junk one. I prefer the original fast pass system by far!” EPCOT With EPCOT, many people reported lower numbers of rides with Genie+. One guest said, “In Epcot it wasn’t very helpful as most of the rides already had super low wait times. We really only used it for Soarin’.” Lightning Lane at Soarin’ EPCOT has fewer rides in general, with only a couple of very popular ones. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a pay-per-ride attraction, so the most popular rides on Genie+ in this park are Test Track and Frozen Ever After. Usually, these rides run out of Lightning Lanes earlier in the day, but guests should keep refreshing to see if more availability pops up later! Lightning Lane Entrance Smaller rides — like Spaceship Earth, Soarin’, and Living With the Land — generally have plenty of availability for Lightning Lanes. But sometimes the standby wait time for these rides is low enough that Genie+ isn’t necessary, like the guest mentioned earlier. One reader, who did use Genie+ for small rides as well as bigger ones, said they got on “6 Lightning Lanes at EPCOT.” Living With The Land Lightning Lane A couple of other readers reported that they only used 2 Lightning Lanes in EPCOT, so it “wasn’t worth it” for this park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom From the many responses we received, most people reported getting on 3 to 4 rides with Genie+ in Animal Kingdom. Like EPCOT, this park has fewer big rides and several smaller rides that don’t usually have high wait times. Lightning Lane sign at Kilimanjaro Safaris One guest said that, even with Park Hopper and only being in Animal Kingdom for half the day, they used Genie+ for 4 rides. The ride that usually runs out of availability the fastest in the park is Kilimanjaro Safaris, so a couple of readers recommended booking that ride at 7AM if you want to go on it. Disney’s Hollywood Studios One reader summed up Genie+ in Hollywood Studios very well: “Hollywood Studios is a wildcard.” About using Genie+ in this park, they said, “One of our trips we did okay. One – hardly any.” Because there are so many popular, big rides in this park (and relatively few smaller, “filler” rides), many of the Lightning Lanes fill up quickly. Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane Another guest said, “The only time I used it was our latest visit to Hollywood Studios, and we got just 2 rides. By the time our 2-hour window passed on the second one, all the other rides we wanted had no availability.” Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Other guests had better luck. One said, “We used Genie+ only in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and we did 5-6 Lightning Lanes per day, arriving late to the park (11:00 am).” Tower of Terror Lightning Lane We saw several reports of 4 to 5 Lightning Lanes in Hollywood Studios, with several people saying they only got on 1 or 2 of the biggest rides (like Slinky Dog Dash or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster). Some Takeaways… Magic Kingdom is the best park for Genie+. With a lot of smaller rides that don’t usually sell out of Lightning Lanes, Magic Kingdom might be the best park for Genie+. One guest said, “We got 5 [Lightning Lanes] in Magic Kingdom (which was definitely the best bang for our buck).” “it’s a small world” Another guest reported that their group got “7 at Magic Kingdom” and only “3 or 4” in the other 3 parks. Lightning Lane So if you’re only going to buy Genie+ for 1 park, our readers advised using it for Magic Kingdom! Then you can skip the line at several rides that can get long wait times but don’t usually run out of Lightning Lane availability (like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin). It depends on if you use Genie+ for smaller attractions. Although you COULD use Genie+ on several rides and attractions in each park, most guests only want to use it on bigger attractions. There are usually plenty of smaller rides available, but with limited time in the parks, some people simply aren’t interested in visiting those attractions at all. Alien Swirling Saucers One reader said that some of the Lightning Lanes they booked were “totally unnecessary because the lines were short anyway,” but they used Genie+ because they had bought it and wanted to make the most of it. So if you use Genie+ on several of these smaller attractions (which groups with younger kids might be more likely to do), we think you can book much more than 2 to 3 Lightning Lanes in one day. Barnstormer However, if you’re only interested in those super popular rides (like Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, Jungle Cruise, and Splash Mountain), you probably won’t get on more than 2 or 3 rides in each park. And in some parks — like Hollywood Studios — it’s tricky enough to get more than 1! Jungle Cruise We’d recommend booking one popular attraction right at 7AM (which is when guests can make their first Genie+ selections each day) and then rope-dropping to a different popular ride. (Rope-dropping just means getting to the park before opening time and speed walking straight to the ride you’re interested in.) You can still rope-drop popular rides and wait in standby lines! And keep in mind that some popular rides aren’t included in Genie+ at all. Right now, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Rise of the Resistance, and Flight of Passage are all pay-per-ride. That means you’ll have to pay a separate fee in order to skip the line on those rides. You’ll get on more rides if you do research ahead of time. Several of our readers that reported getting on more rides with Genie+ noted that they’d done a lot of preparation ahead of time. One reader said, “To be fair I’ve watched everything DFB has put out on Genie+ so I was super prepared!” Lightning Lane Another reader passed along a few tips that helped them find success with Genie+: “Knowing days ahead of time which rides we wanted to prioritize, immediately checking for the next reservations when we were in a queue for a Genie+ ride, refreshing like mad if times weren’t agreeable, and getting up before 7AM to book the first ride immediately at 7AM.” This reader noted that their group got on 6 to 7 Genie+ rides per day in each park, with a peak of 10 to 11 rides in Magic Kingdom. Splash Mountain If you’re preparing for a visit, check out these resources to help you make the most of Genie+: Disney Genie and Genie+: Everything You Need to Know A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Genie+ The 5 Most Important Disney Genie+ Gips to Know Before You Go to Disney World The Big Genie+ Rule that EVERYONE Gets Wrong VIDEO: Disney Genie Hacks VIDEO: Everything We Learned Using Genie+ In general, it seems like Disney’s estimate of 2 to 3 Genie+ rides per day is a little low for most of the parks. Especially if you do your research ahead of time, you should be able to get on more rides than that in a day. Keep following DFB for more tips as you plan your upcoming vacation! Click here to check out some recent Disney Genie+ CHANGES. All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA for in Disney World & How Much They May Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You May Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn Some Disney Genie HACKS Get a Step-by-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+ See Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland Still Confused About Disney Genie? Check Out These DFB Videos Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you used Genie+ in Disney World? Let us know your thoughts about it in the comments! The post How Many Rides Can You Get On with Genie+? Disney World Guests Tell All first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In 2021, Disney made a commitment to inclusivity with their Reimagine Tomorrow program. ©Disney As part of this program, Disney added advisories on Disney+ to warn about culturally insensitive material, and projects such as an alliance between ESPN and My Brother’s Keeper and the Disney Dreamer’s Academy have been established to help African-American youths. Disney was also recently recognized for disability representation in two Marvel projects, and in Disney Parks, you can not only find inclusive merchandise, but other forms of representation too! If you’ve paid a visit to Creations Shop in EPCOT, you might have missed the disability representation you can find throughout the store. Creations Shop is EPCOT’s newest store, and inside you can find a variety of Disney merchandise. Creations Shop There are mannequins in various places around Creations Shop, and if you look closely you can see the efforts Disney has made to represent a diverse group of individuals. Mannequins During a recent visit, we spotted a mannequin sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a beautiful crown of flowers. We love the inclusivity We also noticed a mannequin sporting a cochlear implant, a device intended to assist individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Mannequin wearing a cochlear implant You can read more about Disney’s Reimagine Tomorrow projects on Disney’s website, and stay tuned to DFB for more information and news about these Disney programs. Read more about the Reimagine Tomorrow inclusivity project here. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 noticed these mannequins in Creations Shop? Tell us in the comments! The post The Little Detail That Makes Every Guest Feel Welcome In EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To celebrate Earth Day last Friday, Disneyland Paris brought National Geographic stories to life through multisensory experiences for students, guests, and cast members, with an exciting all-day extravaganza event. From a one-of-a-kind master class with Explorers and unique exhibition that encouraged guests to answer the calls of the wild, to a spectacular nighttime show that […]View the full article

There are a TON of dining and shopping options in EPCOT. France Pavilion in World Showcase You can eat around the world at places like Rose & Crown, Spice Road Table, Biergarten, or San Angel Inn, or wander over to the new restaurants like Space 220 and Connections near the front of the park. There is also a bunch of shopping to be done in the park, like at Creations or inside all of the World Showcase pavilions. And, after one of our recent visits to EPCOT, Disney wanted to know our opinion on shopping and dining in the park! We were sent a survey by Disney after we went to EPCOT recently, and some of the questions were pretty interesting! Let’s take a look. First, the survey asked us where we were from. ©Disney Then, it asked us why we visited Central Florida… ©Disney …and where we stayed. ©Disney The next question was about what time we got to EPCOT on our recent visit. ©Disney We were then asked if we bought any food or drinks while at the park. ©Disney After that, Disney asked about the time we left the park. ©Disney We were also asked if we looked at or bought any merchandise on our visit. ©Disney Disney wanted to know where else we visited on the day we went to EPCOT. ©Disney We were asked about where we ate breakfast… ©Disney …and how likely we would eat breakfast on-property in the next 5 years. ©Disney They did the same thing for lunch… ©Disney …but when we selected that we didn’t eat lunch, they asked why. ©Disney Then, they asked if we would eat on property for lunch in the next 5 years. ©Disney And, the exact same question was asked for dinner… ©Disney …including asking why we didn’t eat dinner when we selected that option… ©Disney …and how likely we are to eat dinner on property in the next 5 years. ©Disney Disney asked where we ate any additional food or drinks that day… ©Disney …including when we ate it… ©Disney …and what it was. ©Disney The survey asked how we and our party felt about eating during our trip. ©Disney Then, we were asked to estimate how much money we spent on food and/or beverages that day. ©Disney The survey asked about anyone in our ground having dietary needs. ©Disney Then, it was time to move on to answering questions about shopping! ©Disney We were asked at what time(s) we shopped at EPCOT on the day we visited… ©Disney …and to rate our overall shopping experience. ©Disney The survey wanted to know if we were looking for any specific items while shopping, like clothing or household items. ©Disney And, we were asked to rate the overall selection and availability of merchandise in the park… ©Disney …as well as asking if we bought anything during our visit. ©Disney We were also asked how likely we would be to buy anything on our next trips to EPCOT… ©Disney …and if we shopped at Creations during our visit. ©Disney Then, we were asked our age and gender. ©Disney The survey asked what type of admission ticket we used on our recent visit… ©Disney …if we used anything like Disney Genie+ during our visit… ©Disney …and if we were an Annual Passholder or belonged to any other Disney organizations. ©Disney We were also asked the month and year of our last visit to Disney World… ©Disney …and how many times we had been to Disney World (uh, that one was a tough for us!). ©Disney The survey also wanted to know the year we first visited Disney World… ©Disney …and how big of a fan we are of Disney, in general. Can you guess which one we picked?! It also asked how big of Marvel fans we are… ©Disney …and Star Wars fans. ©Disney Then, we were asked our race… ©Disney …and our yearly household income. ©Disney And, that was the end of the survey! Some interesting questions, right? It seems like Disney is trying to gauge how much people are enjoying shopping at the parks right now and how often people eat there. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Click here to see the NEW dining spot that just opened up in EPCOT! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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. Where’s your favorite place to eat in EPCOT? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney World is Asking Guests About Dining and Shopping Habits in New Survey first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tokyo Disneyland opened up back in 1983, and many of its opening day attractions are still running to this day! Tokyo Disneyland Resort The resort recently celebrated its 800 millionth (!!) guest, opened up a brand new immersive Toy Story Hotel, and even debuted a new Beauty and the Beast ride a few years ago. But, the changes aren’t done yet — now Tokyo Disneyland is gearing up to refurbish an iconic Disney attraction and land that’s been around since the park first opened! Tokyo Disneyland just announced that Space Mountain and its surrounding area in Tokyo Disneyland will CLOSE in 2024 to make way for a new Tomorrowland Plaza! ©Disney The refurbishment will keep many of the aspects that guests know and love about Space Mountain, but according to Disney, the new version of the ride will have “enhanced performance and immersive special effects that will give guests even more thrills on this exciting rocket ride.” ©Disney And, it’s not just changes to the actual ride that are planned — the plaza surrounding the ride in Tomorrowland is also getting an update! Once complete, Disney says that the new plaza will “express the connection between Earth and the universe, representing an image of a future where humans are in harmony with nature.” It will include spaces for guests to rest and relax during their busy park day and will feature a “spectacular world of light and soundscapes” in the evenings. Owen Yoshino (the Senior Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering) revealed that the changes are meant to “spread awareness of caring for our Earth and what she’s gifted us throughout time as we know it.” ©Disney Tokyo Disneyland Park Concept Art All of the refurbishments are expected to be completed in 2027. So, it may be a few years before we get to ride the newest (or at least the most recently renovated) Space Mountain, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for all the latest updates! And, in the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more of the latest Disney news and updates! Want to hear more Tokyo Disneyland news? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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. How do you feel about this new transformation? Let us know your thoughts below! The post NEWS: Space Mountain CLOSING For Major Refurbishment in Tokyo Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Earlier today Tokyo Disney Resort announced that the classic Space Mountain attraction, a guest favorite since Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, will be closing for a major renovation of Tomorrowland starting in 2024.View the full article

Ron DeSantis' decision to dissolve Reedy Creek could make others think twice before speaking freely about politics. View the full article

We’ve seen a LOT of new Disney merchandise released in the parks lately, like these Rose Gold and Pink Minnie Ears that might have you seeing double, new Muppets Wishables, and this totally retro 50th Anniversary bag. Creations Shop If you’re not able to visit the parks right now though, it might be a little bit harder to get all of the exciting new merchandise. But, for a limited time, Disney has made it just a tad easier! For today only, you can get FREE shipping site-wide when you get your retail therapy fix on shopDisney! That means that you can get all of your favorite Disney items without worrying about shipping fees! ©Disney All you have to do is use code FREESHIP at checkout! Shipping is usually only free when you spend over $75, so this could be a great time to shop if you’ve only been eyeing a few items and want to avoid the extra fees. Click HERE to shop and score FREE shipping! We spend a lot of time finding Disney merchandise, so here are a few things we’ve seen on shopDisney recently that you might want to grab before this promotion ends! First up, this new Disney World 50th Anniversary Spirit Jersey has made its way over to shopDisney. It features the 50th Anniversary logo on the front… ©Disney …and a gold Mickey Mouse with the words “Walt Disney World” in gold on the back! ©Disney This spirit jersey is $74.99 and we’ve seen it in Disney World, as well as online. Click Here to Buy the New 50th Anniversary Spirit Jersey! The Main Street Electrical Parade returned to Disneyland last week, so now is the perfect time to grab this Limited Edition Elliott Disney Parks Wishable! ©Disney This Wishable is modeled after the iconic Elliott dragon float in the Main Street Electrical Parade. Plus, did we mention that it glows in the dark? ©Disney This Wishable is available for $14.99. Click Here to Buy the Elliott Dragon Main Street Electrical Parade Wishable! Or maybe you feel like splurging and will take this opportunity to purchase this pricey Mickey and Minnie 50th Anniversary Plush set. ©Disney These guys are made with faux gold leather and black satin and will cost you a whopping $149.99! Click Here to Buy the 50th Anniversary Mickey and Minnie Mouse Plush Set! There are also HUNDREDS of other items to shop so be sure to head on over to shopDisney and take full advantage of this deal! And, stay tuned to DFB for more of the latest Disney merchandise news! Click Here to See What’s New in Magic Kingdom! 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 will you be grabbing today? Let us know in the comments! The post A New Disney Deal Will SAVE You Some Major $$$ on Souvenirs -- But Not For Long! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Opening a brand-new restaurant during the heart of The World’s Most Magical Celebration is no easy feat and requires coordination and planning to go off without a hitch. With the help of some phenomenal women leaders, Connections Café and Eatery is now open for everyone to enjoy! Growing up, Jayne Berry, a food and beverage […]View the full article

With a full five-ship fleet at its disposal, Disney Cruise Line spread the love with its deployment for summer 2023. View the full article

You’ve loaded up on sunscreen and you’re ready to get those bags packed. You’re desperately in need of a vacation! But…your travel might not go to plan this summer, and that’s something you’ll need to be prepared for. Orlando Airport The situation with COVID-19 continues to change and develop, travel costs are going UP, and other considerations could complicate your summer trips. Today we’re breaking down the many reasons why travel, specifically travel abroad, might be really difficult this year and what you can do to be prepared. Will People Still Go International? To learn more about the situation with international travel, what guests should expect, and other things, we spoke with Professor Alan Fyall from the University of Central Florida. Fyall is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Interim Chair of the Department of Tourism Events and Attractions, and the Visit Orlando Endowed Chair of Tourism Marketing. He has an expertise in destination marketing and management. Fyall noted that travel to Florida is booming, but it is largely made up of domestic visitors. He shared that there are some international visitors coming, but that it is nothing compared to normal. According to Fyall, it shows the “sheer volume of domestic demand.” Florida Palm Trees But he also noted that it shows just how many people might be traveling domestically, though they may have previously considered traveling internationally. As Fyall puts it, “it’s complicated.” Let’s get into some of the reasons why Fyall and others note that international travel is complicated right now and could continue to be complicated this summer. Airline and Airport Troubles Staffing Shortages, Cancellations, and Other Issues According to CNN, aviation is at the “top of the chaos board.” There are a variety of things impacting the aviation industry, including a lack of crew on flights (leading to canceled flights or a smaller number of available flights), understaffing at airports (leading to long lines), and demand that simply outpaces supply. According to consumer advocate Christopher Elliot, “during the pandemic [airlines] downsized and laid staff off, and now demand has come surging back and they’re caught off guard. They haven’t been able to staff up fast enough to meet demand.” (CNN) Orlando Airport Crowds In mid-April CNN shared that in the United Kingdom, the “chaos at major airports ha[d] made the news every day for the past couple of weeks.” According to CNN, in the U.K., “hundreds of thousands of travelers have seen their flights delayed or canceled, or have simply missed them thanks to the chaos engulfing some major UK airports.” Heathrow airport and Manchester airport have seldom escaped some kind of news coverage since March. Staff shortages at both airports have created a situation where there are hours-long lines for check-in, security, and passport control. (CNN ) In the US, things have been “brewing” for a while, since domestic travel has started to recuperate. (CNN) Orlando International Airport, for example, was recently placed within the top 10 list of busiest airports in the United States. Orlando International Airport in 2021 Both British Airways and easyJet have also been canceling a number of flights lately. According to CNN, both have been impacted by “staff shortages,” which has led them to cancel dozens of flights every day. As Professor Fyall puts it, cancellations, delays, and things of that matter are just “part and parcel” of it at the moment. He also noted that some international carriers have reduced their number of flights, keeping occupancy levels high, though flying less. But, overall, Fyall said that you’ve “basically got to be prepared for delays, cancellations, very expensive car hire, and COVID problems.” He said you’ve just got to “roll with it” when it comes to differing rules and regulations, and internationally it’s even more complex. Time to Fly…Or Is it Too Much Hassle? The lack of staff is also leading to complications for luggage. For one thing, it is leading to longer waiting times for those trying to get their luggage. One family flying from Italy to London said that they waited 3 HOURS for their luggage to arrive at Heathrow airport after their plane arrived. (CNN) But it can also lead to some complications in general with luggage handling. According to CNN, Stansted Airport (located in the United Kingdom) advised passengers traveling during Easter to drop off their luggage 24 HOURS in advance of their flight. (CNN) Get Ready to Wait for That Luggage Things have also become a bit interesting from a legal perspective. Recently, a U.K. consumer organization called “Which?” wrote to the Civil Aviation Authority and said they had evidence from customers of British Airways that the airline had not been “informing them of their rights regarding cancelations and delayed flights.” In a statement to Which? Travel, British Airways said “We always meet our legal obligation.” (CNN) According to Rory Boland (editor of Which? Travel), the staffing issue is a big one. Reportedly, individuals who worked in the aviation industry and were fired during the pandemic have told Boland that they’ve been offered to come back under “worse pay and worse conditions.” Boland says “Unless airports and airlines increase their offer, they’ll take a long time to increase staff.” (CNN) Seats on Spirit Airlines Some have tied part of this staffing issue to Brexit, the U.K.’s exit from the EU. Kully Sandhu from the Aviation Recruitment Network explained that, for aviation jobs in London, they used to receive 50% to 60% of the applications from EU nationals. Sandhu shared, “Not having this European workforce has not only caused problems with recruitment, but it also means that airports have fewer employees who are able to speak a European language. This was a major benefit and not having that facility can impact the time it takes passengers to get through an airport.” (CNN) According to Sandhu, it could take up to 12 months for staffing at airports in the U.K. to get back to pre-pandemic levels. (CNN) Fyall said that travel complications are happening everywhere, even though people think it’s exclusive to the U.S. “It’s a mess everywhere,” he said. Speaking about staffing, he said it’s as though the workers have just vanished. Even places like France, where Fyall said that hospitality work is held in high regard, is experiencing issues with staffing. “It’s bizarre,” he shared. Orlando Airport Lucy Moreton, the “general secretary of Immigration Services Union (ISU),” has told the BBC that the Border Force, which is responsible for checking people coming into the U.K. is “catastrophically understaffed.” (CNN) Prices You may already be feeling like your airfare has increased in cost, but prices for flights are only expected to continue INCREASING, largely due to high jet fuel costs. CNBC explained that jet fuel costs rose by a whopping 32% in just one week at one point earlier this year. Professor Fyall echoed this and noted that gas prices are “a lot.” Fyall shared that this is slowly working its way onto airline fares and will likely work their way through cruise fares too. According to Fyall, “everything over the next two to three years, everything is gonna go up. period. And in every country.” ©Spectrum News Fyall said it really doesn’t matter what country you look at, every developed country, despite their different economic systems, political systems, etc. is experiencing the same inflationary problems. Fyall noted that “Everybody’s suffering from the post-pandemic supply chain, inflation boosting scenario.” For the next few years, Fyall said that this will just make travel really expensive and there’s no way around it. Fyall also discussed prices generally and how there is a higher price index, but not everywhere. Because less people traveled during COVID or may be traveling now still due to COVID, some places may have lower prices to reflect that. So you might actually find that a trip to a place that might normally be very expensive, is actually cheaper at this moment. Technical Issues Technical issues could also impact your flights. In the past, we’ve seen technical issues result in cancelled flights and other delays. That’s something that isn’t specific to the U.S. According to CNN, on the “opposite side of the pond” technical issues have also impacted British Airways. Airplane Back on February 26th, a “systems disruption” actually led to the airline grounding ALL shorthaul flights. It was the 2nd technical failure they had experienced in just 10 days. Heathrow Airport Press Release We reached out to Heathrow Airport, and while they were unable to provide us with an interview or specific statements, they did direct us to a press release they published in mid-April. In the press release, Healthrow notes that “The aviation sector has been rebuilding capacity ahead of a summer peak, so resources are stretched.” They shared that passengers should check with their individual airlines as to when they should arrive at the airport. ©Heathrow In terms of the upcoming summer specifically, Heathrow said that travel is expected to be busy with peak days close to the levels in 2019, and Heathrow is working to increase resources as quickly as they can. They also noted that while the return in demand is “welcome,” “it is unclear whether the current surge in outbound leisure demand is sustainable, or what impact the war in Ukraine, high fuel prices, low GDP growth and potential new variants of concern will have on medium term demand.” Further updates are set to be shared by the airport soon. Flying JetBlue to Disney World might be more difficult this summer — here’s why Rental Cars Aside from flights, there’s the issue of rental cars to consider. CNN notes that while flying to other spots in Europe (outside of the U.K.) might be “smoother,” the situation with car rentals might be more complicated. CNN notes that a “A bubble car can set you back more than your hotel — and that’s before you factor in rocketing gas prices.” The term “bubble car” can refer to small, microcars. Will You Be Renting a Car? Indeed, within the United States, rental cars can sometimes cost you MORE than your ticket to Disney World. Much of this is due to a shortage of certain computer chips utilized for cars coupled with the fact that many rental car companies sold off large amounts of their inventories during the early part of the pandemic, when travel came to much of a stop. Now, these same companies are dealing with increasing demand, an inability to easily obtain a larger inventory of cars, and thus a shrinking supply. ©Kayak | Search from December of 2021 ABC News shares that Russia’s war on Ukraine could complicate matters further when it comes to the car industry as a whole because it has made “critically important electrical wiring, made in the Ukraine” suddenly unavailable. In fact, according to ABC News, “Wells Fargo estimates that 10% to 15% of crucial wiring harnesses that supply vehicle production in the vast European Union were made in Ukraine.” The wiring shortage has already started to impact factories in Germany, Poland, and more. ABC News notes that the damage on the auto industry from this war has emerged first in Europe, but production in the U.S. will likely be impacted eventually too. That could impact the auto industry as a whole and potentially impact rental cars as well. (ABC News) ©CNN According to CNN, the supply chain issues facing cars “means a global shortage of new cars being manufactured — which means rental companies are still struggling to fill their fleets.” Pair that with the nervousness that some car rental companies still feel around restocking fleets, coming from a sense of fear that another COVID-19 variant will “wreck havoc” on the industry, and things are not in a great place. (CNN) Things could improve for a small period of time though. One Italian rental car company told CNN (informally) that prices could go down after Easter before going up again later in June. (CNN) Click here to see what you need to know about renting a car in Orlando in 2022 COVID-19 Rules and Regulations One of the big things Professor Fyall spoke to us about was COVID-19 and the changing rules and regulations that relate to it. As Fyall noted, COVID-19 has not gone away. We’ve seen this evidenced by rising case numbers or other indicators and even situations that have temporarily shut down international Disney parks. Fyall notes that each country has different rules and regulations when it comes to COVID-19. Do you need a test? What type of test? Do you need a COVID-19 pass? All of those things can vary by country, so you’ll really need to do a “huge amount of homework” to know what’s required. Adventures by Disney Danube River Cruise ©Disney And, Professor Fyall noted, just because you get in the country, doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get into all of the tourist spots you want to visit while there. The museum, show, etc. you want to see might have its own specific rules in place, making matters even more complicated. Sometimes, he noted, getting into the country is actually the easy part! There are also travel restrictions to consider. For example, Japan has very strict rules right now about who can and cannot travel there. And some things have shut down in China due to the COVID-19 situation there. So things could get complicated. Fyall noted that unless those traveling have a lot of money they’re prepared to be flexible with, they might ultimately decide to push their trip to 2023 or beyond. As the situation with COVID-19, the BA.2 variant, and other variants continues to develop, things could keep changing. Click here to see what you need to know about travel restrictions and COVID Other Things Could Impact People’s Decisions to Travel Internationally Aside from price, delays, etc. other things could make some hesitate when it comes to international travel. Professor Fyall specifically mentioned the war in Ukraine and how, despite the fact that Ukraine is very far from Paris, people may not see it that way and still be hesitant to travel abroad. He also shared that it will especially impact people who had planned to visit countries which border Ukraine, or people whose flights would take a path over Ukraine or that area. He also noted that discussions of nuclear weapons — literally just the fact that someone is talking about it and it’s being brought up on the news — can also impact people and their decisions to travel abroad. Adventures by Disney Scotland ©Disney Fyall shared that if there’s a perceived risk in one area of the world, people tend to fly the other way. So, if people see a risky space over toward the left, they’ll fly to the right, or they’ll stay in a domestic spot. Ultimately, people tend to play it safe. It’s Not Just International Spots International destinations aren’t unique in their struggles though. According to CNN, Courtney Miller, the managing director of analysis at The Air Current says that the flying experience in the U.S. “sucks — it’s more expensive, and more wrought with the chance of being delayed or canceled.” (CNN) The sudden rebound of travelers has simply exceeded the infrastructure that airlines have in place at the moment. Miller shares that over 5,000 pilots left or were asked to leave during the pandemic, and new ones just aren’t coming in as quickly. Miller notes that travel demand is now at around 90% of 2019 levels and “airlines simply can’t keep up.” (CNN) Have You Booked a Flight for This Year? Mass cancellations, reduced flight schedules, increased prices, and more are all what travelers will want to be prepared for. But, Fyall said that people have been boxed up for 2 years and they want to get out. Theme parks, national parks, etc. that people can get to relatively easily and which provide a lot of time outdoors (easing some people’s COVID-19 fears) are areas of success domestically. Overall, he said that for domestic tourism, this summer “even with the price of gas, even with inflation, it will be a very good year,” because people may not go abroad, may decide to stay local, and will spend more money in a domestic sense. Things Could Get Worse Before They Get Better CNN shares that consumer advocate Christopher Elliot has said, “I think it’s a preview of things to come — and I do think things are going to get worse.” Elliot shares that this summer will be “chaos” and has advised his followers to avoid traveling to Europe in August of this year. Zane Kerby, the president of the American Society of Travel Advisors has said that he thinks it’ll take “months, not weeks” to get things to a place where they’re running smoother. According to CNN, “George Morgan-Grenville, founder of luxury tour operator Red Savannah” has said “Everyone who didn’t travel in the pandemic now wants to, we’ve gone from zero to 60 in months…We did have the capability — world class airports and infrastructure. But it’ll take time, and the airports are going to need to make the jobs very attractive.” What Can You Do? So what can you do to prepare for some of these travel complications? A few things actually. Professor Fyall said that the big thing is patience! “Be patient, be careful, but keep enjoying life,” he shared. Ultimately, he noted that if you’ve got a flexible mindset and time to accommodate inconveniences, then you may be able to handle the complications of international travel this summer. But if you’re on a tight schedule and a tight budget, domestic travel might be something to consider and might actually be the “easiest scenario.” Adventures By Disney ©Disney He also advised looking at cancellation policies when booking and trying to make sure you build in flexibility to cancel 48 hours in advance or as best you can get things, so you can make changes as necessary. He also advised building insurance into the trip so as to avoid losing a lot of money if things do change and end up being canceled. Adventures by Disney ©Disney If you are determined to travel this summer, consider booking your flight ASAP. As CNN notes, U.S. airlines are starting to reduce some of their flight schedules. That means that there will be LESS flights available on some airlines moving forward. If you book earlier rather than later, then hopefully you’ll be in the system before more flights are cut off. (CNN) Courtney Miller (from The Air Current) explained “If they cancel my flight, they have to find me a new flight; if I wait, the risk is on me.” (CNN) Orlando International Airport And that doesn’t just go for U.S. flights. Miller has shared that the U.S. is about a “year and a half ahead of other western travel industries.” According to Miller, “European markets haven’t yet gone through that extreme shortage, but this summer is going to be very, very telling as passengers return.” (CNN) Booking through a travel agent/advisor is another recommendation some have. The rules are constantly changing around the world. Having a travel agent assist you with your travel plans means that someone will be there to help if things go wrong. They can help you with rebooking flights or otherwise advise you on upcoming travel. (CNN) If your travel plans will take you to Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Resort, Aulani, Universal Orlando, or even an Adventures by Disney trip, we highly recommend working with our friends at Small World Vacations, which have a wealth of knowledge booking Disney trips! How Could This Impact Your Travel Plans? Another tip — don’t forget about that rental car. Book your car as early as possible. You may want to start booking 8-24 weeks in advance, according to Phil Partridge of Rhino Car Hire. You’ll want to keep checking on prices leading up to your trip to see if any better offers become available. Also, consider looking at “off-airport” locations for rental cars. These might offer cars at slightly cheaper prices. (CNN) Be sure to check for any employee or job discounts through your work, and see if reserving an electric car would work out as that could save you on expensive fuel costs. (CNN) You may also want to book through a broker or consider options like renting outside of the traditional car rental companies. Rental cars are getting pricey! Another thing you’ll want to do is become more familiar with your rights when it comes to flight cancellations and delays. Know what compensation you’re entitled to and consider creating a back-up plan. (CNN) According to CNN, in the EU and UK, “airlines must reroute passengers to their final destination ‘at the earliest opportunity.’ That means they must book you on a rival airline (or train, or other form of transport) if they cannot accommodate you themselves. Although, if they can get you there the same day themselves, they may go for that option — even if it’s a much later flight.” (CNN) Stranded overnight? Airlines are supposed to pay for a hotel room and meals for delays. Flight canceled with less than 2 weeks’ notice? The airlines are also supposed to pay you between €250-600 ($270-$649). These apply to flights leaving or going into the EU or UK. BUT caution: don’t cancel your booking or you won’t be able to claim these things. (CNN) Traveling Can Be Challenging Right Now Carefully consider what airline you’ll be flying on, as well. Try flying mid-week for better rates and slightly less chaos in the airport. (CNN) Luggage Other tips? Private rental prices have “rocketed” but hotel rates seem to be holding, so do your research to see what prices are better. Stay flexible! Be prepared for longer waits We’ll keep an eye out for more travel news and let you know what we find! Travel is expensive right now, but is that stopping people? Click here to find out! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you planning to travel abroad this summer? Tell us in the comments! The post Why It Might Be Hard to Travel Abroad This Summer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Nighttime spectaculars have returned to Disneyland, and there is more to come! The Main Street Electrical Parade is back! Main Street Electrical Parade is back, the nighttime fireworks have returned to Disneyland Park, and World of Color is happening again at Disney California Adventure Park! Another show that is returning soon to Disneyland is Fantasmic! and we now have the showtimes for the nighttime spectacular! Fantasmic! is returning to Disneyland Park on May 28th, and will happen every night at 9PM and 10:30PM! ©Disney The show hasn’t happened at the park since before the extended closure for the global pandemic. Fantasmic! at Disneyland And, Disney is actually working on fixing a problem before the show returns — they’re working on “partially modifying” the extended queue of Pirates of the Caribbean, which has led to overcrowding in the area in the past. This important because New Orleans Square usually becomes very crowded with people trying to watch Fantasmic! from the area. Construction for Fantasmic! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Click here to see the return of Main Street Electrical Parade 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 What’s your favorite nighttime show at Disneyland? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Showtimes Announced for Fantasmic! In Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We get it, you’re sad the Great Movie Ride closed and ruined the park, but there are a LOT of our readers who still think Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the BEST park in Disney World and we’re tossing it over to them, today on DFB Guide. Check out our video below on Why Hollywood Studios is the BEST Disney World Park. 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. What’s your favorite thing to get in Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: Why Hollywood Studios is the BEST Disney World Park first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Over just the last few months, the situation with Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) has greatly changed. The Walt Disney World main gate The RCID is a special district under which Disney World has operated since its creation in 1967. The RCID essentially allows Disney World to act as its own county and have a great deal of control and direction over decision-making for the land on which it operates in Orlando. The RCID is now set to be dissolved in 2023 due to a bill that was recently passed by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, and then signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. But the dissolution the RCID could encounter a big roadblock when it comes to the RCID’s debts. According to WESH 2 News, the RCID has been “reassuring investors.” Specifically, the RCID has posted a message regarding bonds and the need to pay debts. The message from the RCID was posted on the website of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, as noted and linked to by the Miami Herald. The statement from RCID was posted prior to the Bill’s passage in the House of Representatives and prior to the signing of the bill by the Florida Governor. Reedy Creek Fire Department ©Reedy Creek As the Miami Herald points out, Reedy Creek “can borrow money by issuing bonds to pay for services and that infrastructure and, while Disney must also pay property taxes to Orange and Osceola counties, the state also allows the Reedy Creek Improvement District to tax itself.” But, for the RCID, “[t]he current tax rate is three times higher than the maximum amount allowed by cities and counties.” (Miami Herald) Hollywood Studios In the statement, the RCID acknowledges that, pursuant to the Bill, RCID would be “scheduled for dissolution on June 1, 2023.” The statement goes on to note that “The Bill further provides that any special districts dissolved as a result of the Bill (including the District) may be reestablished on or after June 1, 2023 pursuant to the requirements and limitations of Florida’s Uniform Special District Accountability Act, which provides, among other things, that unless otherwise provided by law, the dissolution of a special district government shall transfer title to all of its property to the local general purpose government, which shall also assume all indebtedness of the preexisting special district.” Reedy Creek Sign in Disney World They then discuss how within the Reedy Creek Act, the state of Florida had pledged to the holders of any bonds issued by the RCID that “it will not limit or alter the rights of the District (a) to own, acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, maintain, operate or furnish the projects or to levy and collect the taxes, assessments, rentals, rates, fees, tolls, fares and other charges provided for in the Reedy Creek Act…and (2) that it will not in any way impair the rights or remedies of the holders, and that it will not modify in any way the exemption from taxation provided in the Reedy Creek Act, until all such bonds together with interest thereon, and all costs and expenses in connection with any act or proceeding by or on behalf of such holders, are fully met and discharged. “ Because of these pledges, RCID said that it expects to “explore its options while continuing its present operations, including levying and collecting its ad valorem taxes and collecting its utility revenues, paying debt service on its ad valorem tax bonds and utility revenue bonds, complying with its bond covenants and operating and maintaining its properties.” EPCOT In other words, as WESH 2 News puts it, RCID has reminded its investors that Florida has basically “pledged to fulfill the terms of any agreement made with bond holders.” Basically, “the state had a contractual obligation not to interfere with the district until the bond debt is paid off.” (Miami Herald, citing attorney Jake Schumer) Bloomberg Tax posted a piece about this recently as well, it was written by attorney Jacob Schumer. In it, the author notes, “there’s a much more basic reason Florida can’t dissolve Reedy Creek—it promised bond purchasers that it wouldn’t.” So, they’d have to pass something to address this situation. Magic Kingdom Schumer notes that the bill that dissolves RCID doesn’t say what should happen to its debts, but another statue does provide direction. According to that statue’s terms, the county would assume the district’s debts — that would cause Orange and Osceola county to absorb “upward of $1 billion in bond debt.” (Bloomberg Tax) According to the Bloomberg Tax piece, “dissolving Reedy Creek ‘limited’ and ‘altered’ its ability to improve and maintain its project and collect its various charges and taxes, and thus Florida would be violating its pledge to bondholders by dissolving Reedy Creek.” Schumer also notes how the dissolution of the RCID could cause problems under the contracts clauses that exist in both the Florida constitution and U.S. Constitution. They note, “By dissolving Reedy Creek, the legislature essentially rewrote the promises made in the district’s bond offerings. Instead of bonds backed by a special district with the power to levy up to 30 mills in taxes, the property tax bonds will be backed jointly by two governments that can only generate a maximum of 10 mills in taxes.” (Bloomberg Tax) Tree of Life In terms of the situation overall, there’s still a lot up in the air. Orange County, Florida Mayor Jerry Demmings noted, “A lot is undetermined at this point. What I say to everyone is, don’t panic at this time. You know, let’s wait on all of the details, and we’ll just have to see how this all shakes itself out.” (WESH 2 News) Mayor Demings has previously indicated the dissolving the RCID could strain the budgets of Orange and Osceola Counties. Analysts have in fact discussed how stripping Disney World’s power could cost residents and counties. Scott Randolph, the Orange County tax collector, said “Orange County gets Reedy Creek’s assets, debts and obligations…Unless they want to cut services and cut spending elsewhere, they’re going to have to find a way to absorb $163 million.” Randolph shared that the “average increase in taxes would be $200-$250 per year for the median household until the bonds are paid off.” (Miami Herald) Grand Floridian Resort But, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office has issued a statement indicating that it doesn’t expect tax increases to local residents because of this bill. According to his office, “In the near future, we will propose additional legislation to authorize additional special districts in a manner that ensures transparency and an even playing field under the law.” (WESH 2 News) Additionally, DeSantis has indicated, “Under no circumstances will Disney not pay its debts,” but he has not specified how that will happen. (Miami Herald) Scott Randolph, the Orange County tax collector, has shared that he predicts that there will lawsuits (including from bondholders) “alleging the state illegally impaired the contract.” (Miami Herald) Tower of Terror Could Florida handle this issue another way? According to attorney Schumer, they could argue that their pledge was invalid. But Schumer said, “states usually aren’t in the business of arguing that their own promises are bad.” (Miami Herald) Schumer also pointed out that Florida could pass a law that acknowledges Disney’s right to the bonds. Then the state could take the assets using eminent domain and pay off the bondholders with those assets. But Schumer said that there could be complications with this as Disney could give certain assets to the municipalities that were created along with the RCID (Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake). (Miami Herald) Another suggestion came from Representative Randy Fine, who sponsored the bill to dissolve the RCID. He suggested that “the state could require and create a Municipal Service Taxing Unit to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District and use that to collect taxes to provide services and pay the debt.” But there could be complications there too in terms of getting Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake to approve the creation of this taxing unit. (Miami Herald) Mission: SPACE According to the RCID website, the Board of Supervisors for the RCID is set to have their next meeting on April 27th, 2022. The agenda online does not appear to list anything specific to the Bill and its implications, but there are line items for “other business” and more. ©Reedy Creek We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more information on this matter and let you know what we find. Click here to learn more about the situation with Reedy Creek Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post The Major Roadblock Florida May Have in Dissolving Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s almost May, which means that many people are getting ready for those big summer vacations! If you’ve been doing some research, you might have seen that travel can be tricky right now with big crowds at tourist destinations, technical issues and reduced staff at airports, and inflated prices. So why not make it a bit easier on yourself and just sail away on a cruise ship instead? Ready to Get Cruising? Disney has announced their Disney Cruise Line itineraries for summer 2023, and there are some exciting additions to the line-up, including several cruises on the brand-new ship, the Disney Wish! We’ve got the latest updates on the destinations as well as WHEN you can book your cruise for next year. Take a look now, and be sure to set your alarm for the booking date that applies to you so that you don’t miss out. The Disney Cruise Line itineraries for the summer of 2023 are available to see now on Disney Cruise Line’s website. You’ll find sailings to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Pacific Coast, the British Isles, and other destinations. You can even see sailing dates for each itinerary listed, as well as prices for the various rooms available. Disney Cruise Line The Disney Dream will be sailing in Europe for part of the summer, with one itinerary showing a 9-night Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise. This cruise will stop in Marseilles, France Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy Kefalonia, Greece Piraeus (Athens), Greece Santorini, Greece Naples (Pompeii), and Italy Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Disney Dream Or you can book on Disney’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish, which is sailing on 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral. These itineraries list stops at Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island). The Disney Wish You’ll notice that right now the summer 2023 cruises aren’t available for booking. Instead of the “Continue” button, you’ll see “Coming Soon.” So when can you reserve your spot on these ships? Sales open to the general public on May 9th, 2022. Beginning at 8AM EST on that day, everyone can reserve bookings for the new itineraries by going online, selecting a date, and reserving your spot. ©Disney Cruise Line But if you’re a Platinum, Gold, or Silver Castwaway Club Member, you can book your sailings a few days EARLY! (Castaway Club Members are anyone who has been on at least 1 Disney Cruise before, and the ranking of silver, gold, or platinum depends on how many cruises you’ve sailed on.) Disney Vacation Club Members, Golden Oak Club Members, and Adventure Insiders with Adventures by Disney can also book reservations for these itineraries early. Castaway Cay (Disney’s Private Island) Here’s a breakdown of when you can book: Platinum Castaway Club Members: Monday, May 2nd at 8AM EST — Sign in to your account to book online or contact your travel agent. Golden Oak Club Members: Monday, May 2nd at 8AM EST — Call (800) 951-3532 or contact a travel agent Gold Castaway Club Members: Tuesday, May 3rd at 8AM EST — Sign in to your account to book online or contact your travel agent. Silver Castaway Club Members: Thursday, May 5th at 8AM EST — Sign in to your account to book online or contact your travel agent. Disney Vacation Club Members: Thursday, May 5th at 8AM EST — Call Member Services at (800) 800-9800 to book with Reservation Points. Adventure Insiders: Thursday, May 5th at 8AM EST — Call (888) 325-3822 or contact your travel agent. General Public: Monday, May 9th at 8AM EST — Book online or contact your travel agent. Castaway Cay in 2020 If you’re hoping to book a Disney cruise but don’t want the hassle of deadlines, reservations, and all the details, check out our friends at Small World Vacations. The travel agents there are highly experienced with Disney Cruise Line bookings, and their services are absolutely FREE! We trust the professionals there, and we know they’ll help you out with exceptional service. Disney Wonder And right now, Small World Vacations is running a special promotion that could get you an onboard credit of between $50 and $1,000 to spend during your upcoming cruise! The amount of credit you receive depends on the cost of your cruise, and you can verify how much you’ll get when you book with Small World Vacations. The Disney Magic So how about it? Are you ready to set sail on a Disney cruise next summer? Keep following DFB, and we’ll let you know about any other important deadlines and details that you may need to know for your upcoming vacation. Click here to learn all about the different ships in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet. Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Check Out Lots of Details About Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Ship -- the Disney Wish (Including More About the Star Wars Bar and First Attraction at Sea Coming to the Wish) See the Latest on Disney Cruise Line’s Mask Policy Learn About Disney Cruise Line’s COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Policies Check Out 10 Things That’ll Be Different About Your Next Disney Cruise See More About the Virtual Queues and Other Changes Made on Disney Cruises Check Out How Much It’ll Cost to Sail on Disney’s Newest Cruise Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you been on a Disney cruise before? Let us know in the comments. The post Itineraries and Booking DATES Revealed for Summer 2023 Disney Cruises first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has seen some BIG changes lately! Autographs are back! Traditional character meet and greets are back, masks are not required in most places anymore, and entertainment like the Magic Kingdom stage show has returned. So, with all of these big changes, it might be easy to overlook small changes that happen, but you KNOW we’re always on the lookout for anything new that happens at Disney World. And, we just recently saw that a small change has happened at the Disney World hotels! The refillable mugs at the Disney World Resort hotels have NEW lids! Mickey! Aren’t they fun?! These new lids are obviously shaped like Mickey… Mickey lids …and come in 2 different color variations! Which color do you like better? Here’s a closer look! This is what the lids looked like previously: They were just kind of plain They didn’t have much going on — we’d say these new lids are a major improvement! Love! And, the best part? These mugs are still the same price with the new lids — $19.99! Rapid Fill info If you buy one of these mugs at a Disney World hotel, you can get unlimited free refills of fountain drinks, coffee, and tea at any of the resort self-service beverage locations during your entire stay! They can be a really good deal if you drink a lot of these beverages. Look at all of those mugs! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and udpates! Click here to see what’s NEW in Magic Kingdom! 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 get a refillable mug when you stay at Disney World resorts? Tell us in the comments! The post Refillable Mugs Just Got an UPGRADE in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Magical Express is gone! Disney has shifted its focus to streaming! Extra Magic Hours have been replaced! A LOT has changed with the Disney company and the Disney parks over the past few years, but things are only just getting started. Flower & Garden Festival There are some major ways that Disney could be different in the future. From the way it handles new movie releases to the types of hotels you’ll get to stay at — Disney could be dramatically different 2, 5, or even 10-15 years from now. Here’s just what things could CHANGE in a big way. 1 — Movie Releases First up, the way Disney chooses to release its movies in the future could be very different. We’ve already seen evidence of that with the way its chosen to release films during the pandemic and post the pandemic closures. Disney films could have shorter theatrical release windows, sort-of like how we’ve seen done with some films already. Variety even published an article back in May of 2021 entitled “RIP to the 90-day theatrical window.” In it, they note that while the 90-day theatrical release window had been the old standard, things have dramatically changed. AMC Disney Springs For example, Disney released Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Free Guy both in theaters, but only for 45 days, after which time they’d become available for fans to watch at home. And Disney wasn’t the only studio to play around with release dates to see how that could impact profit. (Variety) Studios had previously argued that fans wouldn’t pay to see movies in the theaters if they could watch them at home just a few weeks later. But a pandemic and not being able to go into the theaters at all, plus some lingering hesitancy to return to the theaters and the explosion of streaming services, has ushered in a new era. (Variety) Roll out the red carpet That trend of having shorter, 45-day theatrical releases could continue into the future. In fact, Cineworld cinema group’s CEO, Mooky Greidinger, has said that the “new normal window is around 45 days. The big movies we know already from the studios will have even a longer window; some of the movies will have a shorter window.” (Variety) Some Disney/Pixar movies might skip the theaters entirely though. Again, this is a trend we’ve already seen play out. Soul, Turning Red, and Luca are just some of the big films Disney has decided to release solely on the streaming service (for FREE) — skipping theaters entirely. Luca Artwork in the Italy pavilion When discussing the premiere of Soul directly on Disney+, Disney shared, “With over 60 million subscribers within the first year of launch, the Disney+ platform is an ideal destination for families and fans to enjoy a marquee Pixar film in their own homes like never before.” We’ve also seen films released using a combination of methods — like a release on Disney+ through Premier Access (requiring additional payment) or a release on Disney+ and theaters simultaneously. Hi, Raya! How does Disney decide — Disney+, theaters, a combination? Well, during one earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said “It’s going to be dependent, though, on what our slate of titles are and whether we think that we need to put something on the service for those particular guests, or whether this is something that we could use as another data point in our exploration of Premier Access same date with theatrical.” Chapek noted, “it’s really about flexibility, and we’re going to steer our decision-making over time given what information that we get from our guests and our subscriber base on what they prefer.” ©Screen Rant So, if Disney feels that subscribers prefer to just have a movie released on Disney+ or if Disney feels the need to pull in more subscribers, it might release a film there. If it feels like a theatrical run could do well, then that could change things. But the current trends seem to indicate that the long, extended theatrical releases of old is probably not something that’ll return. How much has Disney made with Premier Access movies? Click here to see! 2 — How Disney Handles Hot Topics Disney is no stranger to dealing with big political matters or other hot topics in the world (it’s not as though they exist in a vacuum), but the situation surrounding Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill (what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) and the actions that have followed may change how they handle things in the future. Disney’s initial lack of response to the bill garnered some heavy criticism. Disney’s initial response was also critiqued. The Orlando Sentinel shared that that “Disney [was] criticized by employees, fans and legislators for not taking a firmer position against discrimination against the LGBTQ community.” Pride wall in Disney Springs Ultimately, we ended up seeing Chapek issue an apology for Disney’s handling of the situation, a rejection from the Human Rights Campaign of Disney’s donation to the organization, walkouts from Disney employees, a firm statement against the bill when it was signed into law, and a response to Disney’s statement from the Florida governor. For a while there, Disney and its response to this bill didn’t escape the news. And it’s after-effects are still being felt, in a way. Following Disney’s statement opposing the “Don’t Say Gay” bill’s passage, a Florida representative shared that there have been meetings held by some regarding the potential repeal of the Reedy Creek Improvement Act — the act that essentially lets Disney World act as its own county and govern its own land. Pride Pins Florida Governor Ron DeSantis then expanded the Florida legislature’s special session to be able to consider repealing this act. The bill that will dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District was then passed by the Florida House of Representatives, Florida Senate, and ultimately signed by Ron DeSantis, making it law. What could Disney’s future handling of political and “hot” topics look like in the future? To answer that, we spoke with Professor Aubrey Jewett, an assistant school director and associate professor in the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs at the University of Central Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline Professor Jewett started by taking us on a trip as to how Disney has typically handed political matters in the past. He noted that historically Disney has worked mostly “behind the scenes” to try and influence legislation. They’ve invested millions of dollars in donations to political parties and more over the last 25 years to do this. They’ve also hired lobbyists. In-kind donations (in the form of tickets to the parks or hotel stays, etc.) has also been a tool Disney has utilized. Providing those to political parties, which then trickle it down to candidates or other members, provides a great incentive to keep working with Disney in the political realm. Nothing an all-expenses paid trip to Magic Kingdom can’t heal. Disney World Jewett noted that, like any big corporation (and especially a big business) Disney may give more to the party in charge of the state, but still gives to the other party. Essentially, it was a sort-of “spread the wealth” and get everyone on your side strategy. But, with Republicans essentially in charge of the state of Florida’s government for the last several years, Disney has given disproportionately to Republicans. Jewett noted that as a corporation, taking a big public stance on controversial issues is typically not a smart idea. Disney, in particular, is a business that is trying to be popular to a wide spectrum of people. As Jewett put it, they really don’t want to upset anyone if they can help it, and in the past that has worked. ©Fox10 News | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis But, with the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill they got a heavy amount of criticism for their silence, including from this inside the corporation. Eventually, Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, decided he needed to speak up and do more, including the pausing of political contributions in Florida. And then the situation with Reedy Creek followed, which could directly impact Disney’s operations in Florida. So what’s the path forward when it comes to Disney and its handling of big issues or political matters? Well, Jewett pointed out that there’s no real way to say for sure. At this point, it’s all speculation, but there are a number of ways things could go. Disney CEO Bob Chapek in Disney World on its 50th Anniversary Professor Jewett noted that very often what happens with most big companies is that they simply go back to “business as usual,” and that’s a possibility here. Jewett gave this path more than a 50% possibility, saying it was the most likely possible outcome. Jewett said that oftentimes when businesses find themselves in a controversial issue, they pause their donations, etc., say they’ll reevaluate, and 6-10 months down the line they go back to doing their same strategy as before. Disney could do the same and eventually just go back to its behind-the-scenes work with lobbyists, sprinkling money across both parties, in-kind donations, and more — letting things just blow over. ©Disney Jewett said another alternative is that Disney could really start screening candidates they give money to, the way they claimed they would. They might start really asking questions about what bills those candidates would support, and not just looking for candidates that support favorable business regulation and low taxes. Instead, Disney could make it clear that LGBTQ matters is of big importance to them. So maybe they don’t just go back to sprinkling money to everyone. But, Jewett reiterated that other companies typically go back to “business as usual.” That doesn’t mean Disney will follow that pattern, but the precedent from other companies is there to certainly support it. The big thing Jewett noted is that Disney hopefully has learned that you can’t “straddle” the issue and then later come out with a strong stance. He noted that it simply didn’t work this time. Rainbow Mickey Jewett said that another possibility is that Disney simply gets out of politics entirely — doesn’t donate money to candidates or get involved at all. Though it’s possible, Jewett said it was the “least possible solution” because in modern America, Disney is the type of huge company with many interests that could be impacted greatly by the legislature. Jewett equated it to being a turtle inside of its shell and said this strategy is one he doesn’t think will truly play out. Ultimately, Jewett noted, as a large company, the path forward for Disney may be to (to some degree) avoid controversial issues unless they directly affect the company. In this instance (with the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) they clearly determined that it did affect them. Jewett shared that one strategy Disney could consider moving forward is simply being more clear about their values as a company and the policies that they would and would not endorse, and ensuring the individuals they support on the political end have similar views. Pride Pins At the end of the day, he noted that there’s really “no getting around how important Disney is to the state” in terms of the jobs it produces, taxes it helps pay, and economic activity it stimulates. Florida truly gets a level of international recognition largely due to Disney’s presence, and that has been valued historically by both Republicans and Democrats. Jewett noted that at some point cooler heads may prevail…or they might not. It’ll all just be a matter of time. Disney and the powers that be might not always agree on matters — and it seems they’ll now have to figure out just how to handle that when issues like that arise again the future. Perhaps they could use an arsenal from Jewett’s classroom lessons — people don’t always have to agree, the goal is simply to be able to discuss differences knowledgeably and peacefully. ©Bloomberg Not too long ago, we saw Disney hire a new lead spokesperson with political experience (former roles in both the Biden and Obama administrations), so that seems to indicate that the Company is carefully considering how to handle things going forward. Only time will tell what path Disney chooses to take moving forward when it comes to big issues and political matters. Click here to learn more about Reedy Creek and how changing that arrangement could spell “disaster” for Disney 3 — How Disney Looks at Things That Are or Were “Included” in a Vacation Let’s face it, some of the things that used to be included in your Disney vacation simply aren’t included anymore. MagicBands for hotel guests, FastPass+, Disney’s Magical Express, free parking at the resort hotels for guests — all of these things are either gone entirely or have been replaced by new Disney or third-party programs that cost extra. Bright colors for spring! And yes, it is exactly as you’re thinking — this could all be an indication of where the future is headed. What other “free” things could Disney ultimately charge for separately in the future? Or how could Disney charge guests more in a more roundabout way (like how they’ve made Extended Evening Hours only available for Deluxe Resort and Deluxe Villas guests, rather than for all guests, encouraging guests to stay at the more expensive resorts to get that bonus time in the parks)? Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT We don’t have a crystal ball, but if the past and present are any indication, Disney might be looking at these things to determine what they can and cannot charge for separately in the future. Click here to see 30 things that are still free in Disney World 4 — Hotels Hotels is another area where Disney’s past could indicate a very unique future. Think about the last few years — what hotels has Disney World built or announced will be built in the future? Disney’s Riviera Resort (a Disney Vacation Club Resort), new Disney Vacation Club Villas coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, new Disney Vacation Club rooms coming to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Disney is transforming standard rooms into DVC rooms), and even Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge (a Disney Vacation Club Resort) — all of these have been announced or built within the last few years. See a trend here? Ah yes, it seems like Disney Vacation Club is pretty popular right now. Though not DVC, even Gran Destino Tower (a moderate resort) shows the trend toward focusing on hotels and rooms that are more on the expensive side. Riviera Resort From what it looks like, Disney appears to be prioritizing the creation of new DVC rooms and resorts, presumably because this can improve their profits when it comes to hotel sales and more. New DVC rooms and resorts means the potential for more DVC members and more DVC member stays. Once you’ve paid for DVC points, you likely feel the need to use them and not lose them. That likely encourages DVC members to book trips, which then results in those members spending money on tickets, food, drinks, merchandise, etc., all of which ultimately helps Disney’s ability to make a greater profit. More DVC rooms also gives regular guests more rooms to choose from, but these DVC typically come at a higher cost than standard Disney World hotel rooms (again improving Disney’s bottom line). Construction walls are up If none of that convinces you, consider this — Disney specifically shut down one building at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort that had standard guest rooms and is currently converting those to be 200 brand new DVC Resort Studios. There really is no clearer way to show a preference for DVC rooms over standard accommodations than REMOVING standard ones to replace them with DVC options. The last Value Resort really to open at Disney World was Disney’s Art of Animation Resort back in 2012. That’s essentially 10 years ago. Since then, the focus really hasn’t been on value hotels at all. Concept art for DVC building come to the Polynesian ©Disney And Disney isn’t alone when it comes to reevaluating its focus when it comes to hotels. We spoke with Alan X. Reay, president of Atlas Hospitality Group, regarding hotel trends in general. Reay has a wealth of knowledge in the hotel industry and Atlas Hospitality Group is a market leader in California hotel sales. When we asked what trends Reay has seen when it comes to hotels, he noted that the majority of new hotel development is mainly in the “limited service sector” and in hotels that are on the upper-end. While a full service hotel will typically have restaurants and 24-hour room service for guests to enjoy, limited service hotels may have breakfast in the morning, but generally won’t have a full service restaurant for lunch or dinner. Essentially, it’s a matter of food service options. Reay pointed out a recent hotel sale as a major example of this. Just recently, the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, which features 1,780 rooms(!) recently sold for just around $356 million. Compare that to 2005, when it sold for nearly $738 million and you can see how large, full service hotels are simply not being looked at as the path forward. Coronado Springs In terms of developments being more focused on higher-end hotels, Reay shared that emerging brands seem to be focused more on smaller room types. Reay explained that this could very much be targeted to the millennial audience — the types of guests who spend very little time in their room, and instead come down to the lobby to hop on their laptops and hang out where there’s a bar. Reay shared that the movement is toward a smaller, high-tech room, as opposed to full-service hotels with full-suite concepts. We have seen that reflected in Disney somewhat with hotel spaces like the Riviera, which features some of Disney World’s TINIEST rooms (though the hotel does still have plenty of food options). Riviera resort room But Reay also mentioned that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the segment that did the best was extended stay projects. Reay shared that the kitchen in these spots and the way that they were self-contained was beneficial for those seeking to go out but still stay contained in a single space. He also noted that from an operational standpoint, these extended stay projects tend to be a very profitable model. That could tie into what we’re seeing in Disney with expanded DVC rooms. DVC rooms feature a kitchenette or full kitchen and tend to be larger and more self-contained. That could be one reason why Disney’s investment in this area will ultimately pay off, as more families may simply have gotten used to that format of stay and may continue to seek it out. The Kitchenette Reay shared that the big trend here is that no new budget motels are being added to the supply. Instead, some of these are actually being bought out and even repurposed as apartments or low income housing. Reay said that what has resulted is a big “cleaning out” of budget motels, leaving “very few options left for people who want to have affordable vacations.” In a sense, Reay shared that this might tie into what we’re seeing at Disney. If there are few budget motel options available, then perhaps buying into a Vacation Club membership won’t seem quite as bad of an investment to some people. It can make things more desirable since you’re buying in generally at a set price, especially when you see what some of the other hotel rooms will cost you for just a single night’s stay. Reay did say, however, that (at least from what they’ve tracked) they aren’t really seeing an increase in focus on timeshare properties in terms of it being a trend hotel companies are focusing on. The beds look pretty comfy! Going back to what we mentioned above, focusing on more expensive, upper end hotels is a trend he’s noticed. According to Reay, a big benefit of focusing on upper-end resorts is cost. As Reay put it, if a hotel costs $400 a night and housekeeping is $15 per person per hour, that’s different than a hotel with the same labor costs, yet rooms that cost a fourth of the price. Basically, higher end hotels can afford to pay the labor costs without it taking up an astronomical amount of their expenses. Reay shared that this plays into the focus being pulled away from budget motels. He noted that these are really disappearing because it’s becoming difficult from an economic standpoint to pay the kind of rates you have to pay for wages. He noted that if rates continue to go up in the next 2-3 years, that might just be another good sign for the timeshare industry, which again generally presents people with the chance to buy in at a more set price. A whole new look! What could the future hold for hotels as a whole? We asked Reay this and he shared some thoughts. The trend seems to be that budget hotels are being purchased and “repositioned at a higher and better use,” which is something that he sees continuing. Some of these budget hotels are sitting on valuable land, so what we’re seeing is people purchasing the hotels and either changing them to low income apartments or otherwise finding other uses. Reay also shared that there could be growth in extended stay products, allowing people to feel self-contained but still go on vacation. When it comes to large, full-service hotels, developed for conventions and what not, Reay shared that COVID may have changed that. People have gotten used to Zoom meetings, so will we ever get back to in-person conferences with 5,000 attendees? If we don’t, those larger, more convention-style, full-service hotels could become functionally obsolete. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort In Disney’s case, how do these hotel trends fit in? Disney has played into that upper end trend of smaller hotel rooms and expensive prices (like at Riviera). It has also worked into that extended stay concept, potentially, with more DVC rooms which feature the kitchens or kitchenettes that families may like from extended stay hotels. And if hotel prices rise, standard hotel rooms continue to decrease in size, and more full-service options go away, perhaps investing in DVC won’t seem like as difficult of a financial choice for those seeking to go to Disney time and time again. Ultimately, if demand is strong and Disney sells out those new DVC rooms, gains new DVC membership, etc. then this focus on DVC rooms (and other moderate and deluxe resorts, if similarly popular and successful with fans) could continue. If, on the other hand, the higher prices of these rooms drive out fans, Disney may need to circle back and realign their focus to be more in line with consumer demand and want. That’ll likely all depend on guest response. Click here to learn more about the expansion planned for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! 5 — Focus on Technology Two years from now, or even five years from now, think you’ll be looking at your phone LESS or MORE in the Disney theme parks? If the past few years have been a sign, Disney and Disney guests’ reliance on technology in the parks will only get bigger as time goes on! The last few months and years have really been a time of growth when it comes to reliance on technology. Disney guests can now unlock their hotel room door, obtain a digital park ticket, mobile order their food, check-in for their dining reservation, check wait times, make Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections, chat with Cast Members (though the response times here can be very delayed!), purchase merchandise, and SO. MUCH. MORE. all with a few taps on their phones. Mobile Merchandise Checkout If a guest absolutely REFUSES to use their phone, there are workarounds like regular merchandise checkout lines, etc. But in many ways, the focus on technology is being heavily encouraged. For example, in many places, Mobile Order is essentially required (though Cast Members can work with guests who are using cash or otherwise can’t mobile order). You can see that played out even more with things like Genie+, where there are no in-park kiosks to make Genie+ selections like there were for FastPass+. You could speak with Cast Members for assistance, but it’s not quite the same as walking up to those old kiosks to make FastPass+ selections. In a plan Disney post, a Disney Cast Member even noted that Mobile Order and Genie+ are only available through the My Disney Experience app and require a mobile device. You Want to Use Your Phone to Make Those Lightning Lanes Things like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have also been worked on in spaces like The VOID. But Disney has also filed some patents related to AR and VR that could point to their use in the external theme park environment. Take that and pair it with the walking Baby Groot robot, Genie+ AR filters, Disney’s interest in the metaverse, and other uses of technology in the parks, and it seems pretty clear where this trend is heading. While it doesn’t mean physical things will be going away (after all, the Disney Theme Park Metaverse is “A shared magical world, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual space“), it could mean we’ll see technology play a much larger role in the parks and at home in terms of guest interactions with Disney as a brand, Disney rides, Disney characters, and more. EPCOT Experience Play Pavilion Display What could the future look like in terms of technology in the theme parks? To answer that question we spoke to a few different folks. First, we had the chance to get some answers from Keith Dunphy (Chief Revenue Officer) and Norman Miglietta (Head of Global Marketing) at the Omnico Group. Omnico works with companies in a variety of industries including attractions, retail, and hospitality. They focus on technology to help “unite the customer journey to improve guest engagement and drive spending.” They shared, “Theme Parks and Attractions are entering a brand-new era, an era centered on Technology-Enabled Guest Engagement, and using technology to deliver a seamless visitor journey and to help make sure that guests are getting the most out of their visit.” The pandemic crammed years of development into just a few months, and “[g]uest engagement is never going back to the way it was pre-pandemic.” According to the folks at Omnico, “Theme Parks and Attractions that want to remain successful don’t have a choice but to listen to what their guests want and deliver it.” Mobile Ordering pick-up stations What do customers want? Well, Dunphy and Miglietta shared, “[t]oday’s consumers have grown accustomed to speed and convenience, so keeping them engaged means ensuring seamlessness across the attraction’s many touchpoints.” And the new technology presents exciting opportunities for businesses — including new ways to generate revenue. But, theme parks have to be ready to hop on the train. As they put it, “This isn’t just a short-term change.” How could things change in the future? The folks at Omnico noted that their last research report showed that “visitors welcome innovative tech.” In fact, “over a third of respondents (35%) said they would spend double on food and beverages if they could use a smartphone app for advance ordering.” Mobile Order! The tech we’ve already seen in the parks is just the beginning. Dunphy and Miglietta said that “we have a ways to go in terms of working with customers to drive guest engagement,” so adoption and expansion of the tech will be things driving the future. Other trends that could pop up include leveraging the power of “power of personalization and localization” — “Finding ways to respectfully anticipate the customers’ needs and help direct them inside a property in a way that helps enhance their experience.” That’s actually something we’ve seen implemented in a way through the My Disney Experience app and Disney Genie, where it can prompt you with suggestions of where to go eat, what to do next, etc., anticipating your hunger or other needs. According to Dunphy and Miglietta, technology in the parks will also have to address some of “the biggies” — crowds (especially as concerns with COVID-19 continue and face mask rules loosen), long lines, and the over-selling of events. ©Disney What other ways could theme parks’ use of technology change in the future? We spoke to Professor Carissa Baker to get her thoughts. Professor Baker teaches at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and has an expertise in “Theme Parks and Attractions, Narrative and Culture, Guest Experience, Media Studies, Technology, Sustainable Tourism, Literary and Media Tourism.” Professor Baker noted that while theme parks have always made use of technology, there are 3 big areas that she’s seen in terms of trends. One trend she’s noticed is making more “explicit use of it,” rather than it simply being in the background. “Gamification” is part of that. She specifically mentioned rides like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin or Men in Black as examples of this — places where guests are now competing against one another. She said that utilizing technology for storytelling has been a big thing — specifically adding a narrative overlay at places like the Star Wars Hotel or Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with things like the Datapad. Another thing she mentioned was projection shows and how parks are realizing “everything can be used as a surface for a show.” The second area where she’s seeing a lot of technology used is on the operational side — things that streamline the process. She shared that Disney has typically been at the forefront here, but the pandemic really pushed things to a different level with mobile order, reservation systems, virtual queues, etc. Datapad Time The final area she pointed out is communication technology. She shared that use of social media by theme parks has significantly increased, and more places are leveraging that form of technology and particularly the use of hashtags to communicate and get their message across. When talking about how technology in theme parks could change, Professor Baker shared that traditionally technology has been an “add-on.” But, in some places it’s becoming essentially required, like at Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Park where a tap bracelet system is required to get on most rides there. She said she doesn’t think Disney is quite there yet, but it may get to the part where you are essentially required to use the tech. According to Baker, we could get to a point where “the experience is not as rich if you’re not willing to use the technology.” Annual Pass Baker said there are pluses and minuses to the heavy use of technology in the parks. There are some people who love the customization, personalization, and ease that can come with technology, but others will miss the human touch. But if the technology can improve the guest experience, making individuals more satisfied, that guest satisfaction can lead to important things like greater revenue and repeat visitation. Technology itself can encourage repeat visitation through things like battles or digital badges that cannot all be completed or collected in 1 trip. And, of course, technology like queue products and things like PhotoPass (which cost the guest money) can directly impact revenue streams. PhotoPass Magic Shot ©Disney So what could the future hold in terms of theme park technology, according to Baker? A few things actually. First, more entertainment technology, especially drones and immersive screens. The use of drones at other parks like Disneyland Paris, seems to support this. She also shared that she went to a showcase for future technology in Dubai and there were “tons of drones.” She also pointed to the use of really great screens in places like The Bourne Stuntacular in Universal Orlando or the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride in Shanghai Disneyland of potential looks into where the future could be headed. The other thing she mentioned was Augmented Reality (which we touched on above), like what we’ve seen utilized for Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge in Super Nintendo World in Universal Japan. Professor Baker shared that there could be spaces in dark rides that utilize AR to put in overlays, and she shared that Disney has put in several patents for similar types of technology. Things like EPCOT’s upcoming PLAY! Pavilion are a good example of all of this. The entire space is described as a “digital metropolis” and is going to have interactive experiences, games, hands-on activities, and Disney characters in both virtual and real forms. So it just shows where things appear to be headed. PLAY! Pavilion And finally Professor Baker pointed out the metaverse and how this could probably involve layers of technology and storytelling. It’s another thing she said that Disney has mentioned quite a bit about lately and could point toward their goals for the future. ©Disney Will technology become essential for fans to use to really enjoy theme parks in the future? We asked Professor Baker this question and she cautioned that she doesn’t think technology will be “necessary” for people to use to experience the parks. BUT she did she that she thinks at some point, “if you’re not tech savvy you’re not going to get the complete experience.” She pointed directly to the Datapad experience utilized on the Star Wars Hotel and Galaxy’s Edge. She noted, while you can probably enjoy these things without the datapad, you get a more full and complete experience by utilizing it to interact with the world around you, especially at the Star Wars Hotel, where it has been so highly integrated. Your phone does a LOT during your Disney World vacation! Will you have to be a tech expert though? Omnico’s Dunphy and Miglietta don’t think so. They said, “Depending on the guest being technically savvy is a mistake…One of the main benefits of the most successful technology that is being used at parks currently is that they utilize much of the same intuitive user interfaces that customers use at home such as touchpad screens. Any future designs must follow this same approach.” So while you may need to use your phone for many things or to get the complete experience, it doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily need to be an absolute pro when it comes to tech stuff, things should still be user-friendly — at least in their view. Drop Down Menu on My Disney Experience Ultimately, a greater emphasis on technology in theme park attractions, shows, and experiences could change the Disney experience in the future. Only time will tell how they impact things from a storytelling, narrative, and operational standpoint, and just how many people will get bumped into as everyone stares at their phones. Click here to see why the PLAY! Pavilion could be much more than we think! 6 — Greater Inclusion Wider inclusion of people of other cultures, races, genders, sexual orientations, and more is another thing that could be part of Disney’s future. Back in 2020, “inclusion” was added as the 5th key of Disney’s guest services model (the other keys being safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency). The key was so important that rather than getting a specific rank of importance, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Josh D’Amaro said that inclusivity will actually be encouraged through all the keys. Inclusion will “not only serve as its own key, but it will be incorporated into all the other four keys.” ©Disney Following the situation with the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Disney also announced that it would be “creating a companywide task force to develop strategies and action plans to work with employees, creators and Disney partners to be a more positive force for the LGBT community.” Part of the focus of the task force would be new content for children and family, and Chapek and other leaders indicated that they would do a “global listening tour of employees.” Rainbow Mickey Following backlash on Disney’s handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill situation, a same-sex kiss was also put back in to the Lightyear film. In an earlier letter signed by “The LGBTQIA+ employees of Pixar, and their allies,” the signatories shared, “We at Pixar have personally witnessed beautiful stories, full of diverse characters, come back from Disney corporate reviews shaved down to crumbs of what they once were. Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar. Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it.” ©Pixar | Obtained via Variety According to some sources, Pixar effectively “engaged in self-censorship…out of an abiding belief that LGBTQ content wouldn’t get past Disney review because Disney has needed the films to play in markets traditionally hostile to LGBTQ people: namely China, Russia, much of West Asia and in the American South.” But now it looks like things have changed, at least when it comes to Lightyear and that same-sex kiss being put back into the movie. We’ve also seen LGBTQIA+ characters in other Disney shows like Owl House (which has Disney’s first bisexual lead character per Variety), the Disney short Out which is on Disney+, the Disney+ original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and more. ©Pixar And we’ve seen more cultures represented in the more recent Disney films, like how Raya and the Last Dragon is Disney’s first Southeast Asian princess, how Encanto is meant to be inspired by Colombia, and how Coco showcases Mexican culture. Disney stories themselves have also changed. While classic romance stories still exist we’re seeing some stories focused more on adventure (Raya and the Last Dragon), sisterly love (Frozen and Frozen 2), family and brotherhood (Onward), and family dynamics across generations (Encanto and even Turning Red). Plus, we recently saw 2 Marvel properties recognized for disability representation, in this case actors who are deaf. Encanto Sign at EPCOT Disney seems to be dedicated to inclusion and that could truly impact the characters we see on the screen in a few years. Our lead characters and side characters could end up being much more diverse in a number of ways a few years from now and they could look a little bit more like the diverse people we see around us. Click here to see how Disneyland is embracing diversity in its shops! 7 — The Unique Projects Disney Tackles Theme parks, movies, merchandise, cruise ships, Adventures by Disney — you may already be very familiar with Disney’s involvement in these things. But recently Disney has gone far beyond its more “typical” realms and that could be a sign of what’s to come. With Golden Oak, Disney built a high-end housing community (drawing back to its time building the town of Celebration in Orlando, which it no longer runs). With Flamingo Crossings, Disney worked on a new shopping and dining area complete with hotels, restaurants, a new College Program housing area, and more. ©Disney || College Program Housing now Disney also recently announced that it would be working on new master-planned communities, starting with one in California. And in Orlando, it has announced that it will be working with a developer on a new affordable housing project. In other words, we’ve already seen Disney expand far beyond the world of movies and theme parks, and that could be a trend that continues. Disney could go into more general travel-related things (more along the lines of Adventures by Disney), home-related things (like Golden Oak or those master-planned communities), or expand into areas you’d never even think of! We also spoke to Professor Carissa Baker to get her thoughts on this topic. Again, Professor Baker teaches at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Storyliving, Master-Planned Community Concept Art ©Disney When we asked why she thinks Disney is getting into some of these more unique projects, Professor Baker said there could be a few things at play here. One is brand loyalty — the more areas where you can engage with a brand, the more likely you are to have brand loyalty. She shared that inevitably there will be someone who wants to live at Storyliving by Disney purely because it’s Disney. Second, she shared that getting more into things like affordable housing can create good will with the community. Disney already gives a lot of money to charity, but this involvement in the local community could also booster things. Finally, Professor Baker said that diversification could be factoring into things. Sure, living communities can be risky and messy, but if it’s successful, she noted that this could be something that Disney could build in several areas around the country, expanding them well beyond their core markets. ©Disney What unique areas could Disney explore in the future? Well, Professor Baker said there’s a key difference here between could and should! In terms of what they’re already doing, she pointed to the fact that they’re expanding fan-favorite properties that had been a bit more hidden (like the SEA), expanding into different media markets (like by buying a media company in India), and tapping into niche markets through streaming (with things like Moon Knight and more, which might not be considered traditional “blockbuster” material). There could be more of all of that in the future. One thing Professor Baker noted that she thinks Disney should be doing more of is LARPing (live action role playing) for general guests. We’ve seen this through the Star Wars Hotel (which is essentially one big play that you’re a part of), but that’s something that is at such a high price point, many guests won’t get the chance to experience it. It’s All a Part of the Experience She pointed to things like Ghost Town Alive (an interactive, large scale, immersive show at Knott’s Berry Farm where guests can really change the outcome every day and engage with characters) as an example of something more accessible to guests at lower price points. She also shared that she’s unsure why Disney hasn’t gotten into things like escape games that are guest-facing, considering how popular those have become. In terms of future projects, Professor Baker said that people just “don’t realize how much research Disney does.” We might not see things for years, but they are constantly looking and play-testing things for the future, so we really can’t know everything that’s on the horizon. Hello, friends! But the future might not just be full of adding NEW business ventures, Disney could also shut some other ones down. We’ve already seen them to this in a way. A number of years ago, Disney shut down Radio Disney. They’ve also closed a large amount of Disney stores across the country. We spoke to Professor Baker about this as well and she brought up Disney Interactive as another business Disney shut down not too long ago. When asked what big part of Disney’s business could change or be shut down in the future, Professor Baker said “cable.” She noted that Disney has seen just how popular their streaming service is, quickly gaining millions of followers. Baker said she thinks Disney will “reevaluate traditional media networks” because of that streaming success. According to Baker, there are lots of “cord cutters” out there and some people who have only ever known streaming (especially as you get into the younger generations). She pointed to Disney Parks soundtracks, and how those have recently been made available on streaming platforms, not really physical media as much. Hawkeye Bus She also pointed to movies and how Blu-rays are still being made, but how that could change as streaming gets bigger. According to Baker, it’s not that this area is “in trouble,” but that things will likely be reassessed since they’ve done so well with non-traditional media. Click here to learn more about Disney’s new master-planned communities! 8 — Price Increases It’s all about the…MONEY. At the end of the day, Disney is a business, meaning its goal is to create money, serve its shareholders, and create a financial situation where the company can thrive for years to come. A focus on financial standing could lead to more price increases — something that Disney is no stranger to and something we’ve clearly seen carried out in recent years and months. Hotel costs, food costs, ticket prices, merchandise — there are lots of things that are MORE EXPENSIVE now than they were a few months or years ago. And that’s just the beginning. Price increases hit Aloha Isle! During a recent earnings call, one individual asked Disney CEO Bob Chapek how he would address concerns some fans have about price increases and asked “what is driving those prices up? Is it inflation, is it labor shortages?” Chapek noted that what is actually driving prices up is demand. Chapek noted, “This is a supply and demand business,” and the physical parks have a fixed supply. According to Chapek, Disney commits to giving guests “the absolute best Disney experience no matter when they come” and one of the ways that they do that is “by taking those guests that want to have a more bespoke, more personalized, more customized, more expensive day and using that essentially to keep the lower prices on again, the second Tuesday in September. And so, it’s really demand that drives it.” Disney CEO Bob Chapek in Disney World on its 50th Anniversary As long as guests continue to come to the parks and that demand for Disney continues (the crowds we’ve seen lately certainly indicate that the demand is there), it seems that prices will likely continue to increase in accordance with Chapek’s statements on demand and supply. Yes, you’re spending MORE at the Disney parks now — here’s why! And that’s a look at just some of the big ways that Disney could be DIFFERENT in the future. What big changes do you think are coming to the Walt Disney Company, its theme parks, its movies, and beyond? Tell us in the comments! And stay tuned for more Disney news! Click here to see how inflation could impact your 2022 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. What big things do you think could change in Disney’s future? Tell us in the comments! The post 8 BIG Things That Will CHANGE in Disney’s Future first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As many of you know, our biggest and best Disney #HalfwaytoHalloween celebration is now less than 24 hours away. And on the eve of all of the eerie and enchanting magic, we’re unearthing yet another early surprise with the release of a wonderfully wicked wallpaper - created especially for readers! View the full article

In an area that once felt the footsteps of Walt Disney himself, I am thrilled to announce that we gathered in Rancho Mirage, California, to celebrate work starting on the first Storyliving by Disney community. View the full article