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DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Are you in need of a mid-week pick-me-up? Well, Disney just might have the solution! Disney shirts at Creations Shop in EPCOT As we get ready to head into summer, Disney has been releasing tons of fun new summery items to get you ready to take on the heat whether that’s in the Disney Parks or at the beach. And, as you clear out some closet space during your annual spring cleaning, Disney is hosting a HUGE summer sale so that you can stock back up at a discount for a limited time! From now until Friday, April 22nd, you can get 20% off on orders of $100 or more, PLUS free shipping on orders of $75 on shopDisney! ©Disney All you have to do is use code SAVEMORE when you checkout! Click HERE to shop the sale NOW! Need some ideas on what to snag during this sale? We’ve got some suggestions! Disney World’s 50th Anniversary is still going strong, and you can celebrate with this Mickey Mouse Classic T-Shirt that is part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration Collection! ©Disney You can grab this t-shirt for $36.99 but with the discount, it will only be $29.59. Click here to buy the Mickey Mouse Classic T-Shirt! If your spring and summer plans include gardening, may we suggest this adorable EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival Garden Stake Set? ©Disney This set comes with six stakes, one with Mickey Mouse, basil, parsley, carrot, cucumber, and tomato! This set is $14.99. Click here to buy the Flower and Garden Festival Stake Set! The weather is warming up, so it’s the perfect time to throw some snacks in a cooler and head to the park, beach, or pool! And what better way to haul your goodies than with this Minnie Mouse Cooler Tote? ©Disney You can grab this tote for $52.99! Click here to buy the Minnie Mouse Cooler Tote! Of course, there are HUNDREDS to THOUSANDS of more items that you can pick up for 20% LESS thanks to the sitewide sale — but it’ll only last through Friday! So be sure to head on over to shopDisney and pick up your summer essentials with code SAVEMORE at checkout! And, as always, make sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news! Is a Trip to Disney World MORE EXPENSIVE Than An All-Inclusive Bahamas Vacation? We Investigate. 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 with this discount? Let us know in the comments! The post THOUSANDS Of Disney Must-Haves Are On Sale Right NOW! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you saved up money for ALL the things you’re gonna need in Disney World? Or have you forgotten to budget for these rip-offs? Yes, you heard me correctly. Magic Kingdom Park 50th Anniversary merchandise The very items you might be rolling your eyes at right now might ACTUALLY be the ones that’ll be MOST beneficial for you on your upcoming trip. Check out our video below 10 Disney World Rip-Offs You Should Still Buy 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! Watch the video and let us know if you are visiting Disney World this year! The post DFB video: 10 Disney World Rip-Offs You Should Still Buy first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you debating on where to take your next family vacation? Where to? If you’re trying to decide between going to Disney World or visiting somewhere else, we understand the struggle. We’ve also wanted to explore other vacation destinations, but obviously, we’re super hooked on Disney! But, if you’re trying to make your decision based on your budget, we’re here to help. We’re going to compare how much a trip to Disney World costs versus an all-inclusive stay in The Bahamas! To get the best comparison, we’re going to be looking at trips in late July 2022 for 7-days and 6-nights. Both trips will be for a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids. Do note that prices can and will vary depend on when and where you book. The Bahamas For our trip to The Bahamas, we’re going to stay at Lighthouse Pointe Grand Lucayan — an all-inclusive resort located in Freeport, the main city on Grand Bahama. ©Grand Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort We chose a trip for July 24th, 2022 through July 30th, 2022. ©Grand Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort With 2 adults and 2 kids, an all-inclusive stay starts at $684 per night. This includes the room, taxes, service charges, resort fees, energy fees, entertainment, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverages (both alcohol and non alcohol). ©Grand Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort It also includes golf, tennis, fitness center, and spa access, as well as WiFi. ©Grand Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort So, if we multiply that starting rate by the 6 nights of our stay, our total comes out to $4,104. Walt Disney World We’re going to choose a Moderate hotel at Disney World, because while the hotel we’re staying at in The Bahamas is on the water, the rooms really aren’t anything special. So, it seems more fair to use a Moderate hotel to compare as opposed to a Deluxe. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort So, for a standard room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort for these same dates, rates start at $273.67 per night, before tax. If we multiple that by our 6 night stay, and add in tax, the total comes to $1,847.28. ©Disney Now, let’s look at theme park tickets. We’re going to get 5-Day Park Hopper tickets for these dates, which are $582.73 per ticket for adults, and $563.80 per ticket for kids. That brings our total to $2,442.12 with tax. The Skyliner is a great way to park hop! Since food is included with the trip to The Bahamas, let’s also factor in food to the Disney World trip. We’ve done the math in our Guide Book and worked out how much money a family of 4, with 2 adults and 2 kids, would spend on food per day in Disney World. If the family eats a quick service breakfast, quick service lunch, a moderately-priced table service dinner with dessert, and has two snacks per person, they will spend $274.23 per day. Satu’li Canteen Spread Obviously, this can vary greatly depending on your family’s eating habits and where you choose to eat at Disney World, but this is our estimate based on the choices mentioned above. So, if you take the amount of money the family will spend per day and multiply it by 6 (5 full days and 2 half days), the total comes to $1,645.38. That’s a lot of Dole Whips Adding all of this up, the total for the Disney World trip comes out to $5,934.78. Magic Kingdom So, overall, a trip to Disney World is more expensive than an all-inclusive trip to The Bahamas! This can differ depending on where you stay, what you do during your trip, transportation, what souvenirs you buy, etc., but this should give you a rough idea of how a trip to The Bahamas compares to a trip to Disney World. We hope this helps you with your vacation planning! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips, info, and news. Click here to see how to take your dream Disney World vacation on a budget! 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! 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. Would you rather take an all-inclusive trip to The Bahamas or vacation in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Is a Trip to Disney World MORE EXPENSIVE Than an All-Inclusive Bahamas Vacation? We Investigate. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Madame Tussauds' latest wax figure reveal had attendees seeing double — even triple — of two-time Grammy Award-winning Latin singer-songwriter and producer, Bad Bunny. One of the two figures will make its way to Orlando. View the full article

Theme Park Rangers Radar looks at SeaWorld dolphins, Tom Daley's dive, old-school Epcot with Ellen DeGeneres. View the full article

It has been a BUSY few days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway With new merchandise, character meet and greets changing, and some ongoing construction, there’s a lot to check out. Thankfully, we were there to take note of all the news and pass it along to you guys — this way you won’t miss ANYTHING from Hollywood Studios before your trip! Hollywood Studios Food Updates Hollywood & Vine As we mentioned above, many character meet and greets have gone back to their non-social distanced versions. This also means that there were some changes to character dining in Disney World. Hollywood and Vine Hollywood & Vine is the character meal at Hollywood Studios, and as of April 18th, guests can once again hug the characters and get autographs while they dine. This is the case for both the Disney Junior character breakfast and the lunch/dinner meal with Minnie Mouse and friends. Click Here for Our Last Review of Hollywood & Vine! Hollywood Studios Attraction Updates Character Meet & Greets Not all the character meet and greets around the park were back to normal, but some key offerings were. Mickey and Minnie at Red Carpet Dreams were allowing hugs and autographs, and we got a truly magical moment with our favorite mice! Meeting (and hugging!) Mickey Mouse again! But near the front of the park, we still spotted the socially distanced Donald and Daisy Duck character sighting. They were up on the balcony above the bathroom, waving to guests below. Donald and Daisy were still distanced. These two don’t have a set meet and greet space in the park, so it makes sense that they’re still here for now, but we’ll be on the lookout to see if they move. Click Here to Learn More About These Changes! Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates Mickeys of Hollywood Now for the big one — merchandise! First up, they had the Priya doll from Turning Red here, which we hadn’t yet spotted at the other parks. We found the Priya doll! Also here, we spotted a new Frozen 2 water bottle for kids. It has all your favorite characters, including Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and more. It’s the perfect accessory to keep those kiddos hydrated on a long park day. You can pick up the bottle for $12.99. New water bottle! We also spotted the new Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction series here, it’s inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean. Make sure to check out our post for the full details and all the items in the collection. Click Here to Check Out the New Pirates of the Caribbean Collection! Legends of Hollywood Down Sunset Boulevard in Legends of Hollywood, we found even MORE new items, starting with the Stitch Graduation Pandora Charm. It’s not exactly traditional graduation jewelry, but boy is it fun! That’s a fun gift! And speaking of new jewelry, there was an Annual Passholder exclusive necklace here a few days later. The design features the AP logo inside a pair of Mickey ears and will cost you a whopping $125 to purchase. Annual Passholder necklace Looking for something a little more budget-friendly? Well, there are two new t-shirts on the racks! First is a Mary Poppins design on a dark tank for $36.99. It’s about to be summer, and this breezy shirt will be a good addition to your park wardrobe. New shirts! And the other option is a new shirt inspired by the Pixar classic, Monsters, Inc. It’s also $36.99 and has a design with all the characters from the movie. We don’t see a lot of monster merch! This store was also home to the new Dooney & Bourke collection for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. Get all the details at the link below! Click Here to See the Dooney & Bourke 50th Anniversary Collection! Keystone Clothiers Over at Keystone Clothiers, there were new Marvel FigPins. The three designs featured Taskmaster and Red Guardian from Black Widow, as well as one made to look like The Incredible Hulk. All three new FigPins. You can get any of these three for $15.99 each. Tatooine Traders Tatooine Traders is a great hidden gem for Star Wars merchandise, and inside we found the Myths & Fables Book for sale. It features unique tales from around the galaxy, so hardcore fans will definitely want to get their hands on this one. Fans definitely NEED this. Currently, you can pick up a copy for $44.99. Celebrity 5 & 10 Over at Celebrity 5 & 10, there’s a Star Wars version of the Frozen 2 water bottle for kids, featuring Baby Yoda/Grogu and The Mandalorian! Just like the other one, this bottle is $12.99. Baby Yoda!!! And this store is also home to the Vault Collection, where we’re constantly finding new 50th Anniversary items. This week, there was a new Vault Collection Coffee Mug! Vault Collection Coffee Mug You can pick this up for $14.99 — what a magical way to drink your coffee! Click Here to Check Out More 50th Anniversary Merchandise! That’s everything new in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for now, but stay tuned to DFB for more updates throughout the week! We’ve got you covered with the latest Disney news. Click Here to See What’s New 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. When is your next trip to Hollywood Studios? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New in Hollywood Studios: Meet and Greets and a Character Meal Returns to Normal first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Got a bunch of streaming services you turn to after a long day at work? Maybe you prop up your feet on that recliner and log in to your Netflix account, or your Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, or other streaming service. ©Netflix While Disney+ has definitely been focused on achieving its subscriber goal and has been working steadily toward it, one streaming service recently saw a huge decline. According to Bloomberg, Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter. This marks the first time that Netflix has lost subscribers since 2011. (Specifically, Deadline notes that the global subscriber numbers for Netflix dropped by 200,000 compared to how Netflix ended 2021.) And the loses aren’t over. Netflix has actually noted that it expects to lose another 2 million customers in the second quarter. This would actually set Netflix up for its “worst year ever as a public company.” (Bloomberg) ©Source: Netflix Company Reports | Chart Obtained Via Bloomberg This loss of subscribers has already had a huge impact on Netflix’s stock. Analysts had been “bracing” for a report that indicated Netflix had a sluggish start to the year, but some still expected Netflix to add about 2.5 million customers. Now that this simply isn’t the case, the shares (which were already down about 40%) have dropped significantly. (Bloomberg) After hours, the stock dropped to $261.43, when it was up in the $300s just hours before. ©Google So, here’s the million dollar question — WHY have subscriber numbers dropped? Netflix’s management has pointed to a number of factors. Some of these include how many individuals share Netflix passwords along with growing competition. (Bloomberg) In terms of sharing passwords, Netflix noted that there are 100 million households that actually use the service but don’t pay for it. (Bloomberg) Netflix is well aware of this problem and is actually trying to tackle it by testing a system that would charge individuals to share their Netflix accounts with individuals outside of their household, for an extra fee. ©Netflix Joe Exotic from Tiger King In a letter to shareholders, Netflix said, “Our relatively high household penetration — when including the large number of households sharing accounts — combined with competition, is creating revenue growth headwinds.” (Bloomberg) Netflix also blamed some of the subscriber loss on a price increase. (Bloomberg) As Deadline reports, “Earlier this year, [Netflix] phased in the latest price hike, making its most popular subscription tier, at $15.49, the most expensive in the market.” Additionally, Netflix pulled its service in Russia due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has cost them more subscribers. (Bloomberg) TV cabinet Beyond an impact on Netflix’s own stock, Netflix’s issues could cause problems for other streaming companies. Bloomberg notes that these troubles could cause investors to “question whether the later-arriving media companies will sign up enough customers to justify all the money they are spending on fresh programming.” (Bloomberg) For example, Disney stock has fallen from around $131.91 to $124.98 after hours. Bloomberg reports that Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (owner of HBO Max) also saw a decline in their stock. ©Google Netflix’s current CEOs have reportedly dismissed Netflix’s slower customer growth as just a “speed bump related to the pandemic.” According to the CEOs, the pandemic provided them with a big boost and accelerated their growth. (Bloomberg) Netflix continues to be the largest streaming service in the world. But what is the game plan moving forward? Netflix believes that it can get more subscribers by releasing “better programs and finding more ways to charge its existing user base.” (Bloomberg) ©Hulu According to Deadline, Netflix’s current subscriber count is 221.64 million around the world. As of January 1st, 2022, Disney+ had reached 129.8 million subscribers. ©Disney We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more details about subscriber growth, particularly as it relates to Disney+ and the Walt Disney Company’s goals. Be sure to check back with us for more information. Click here to see everything coming to Disney+ in May! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you a Netflix subscriber? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: Netflix Loses 200,000 Subscribers and Expects to Lose Millions More first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit. Over the past year and then some, Disney World has dealt with ever-changing health and safety guidelines in order to best keep guests safe. Masks on the Monorail Up until recently, face coverings were still required for Disney World guests on buses and monorails — but that has now changed. Disney recently announced during the middle of the day that face masks are no longer required on any transportation in Disney World beginning immediately, and they’re notifying guests via push notification! Disney World updated its face mask policy in the middle of the day today to state that face coverings are “optional for Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations, as well as Disney transportation.” Face mask signage This change comes after a federal judge in Florida struck down the CDC’s mask mandate extension. Guests who were currently in Disney World were notified via a push notification on their cell phones when a notification popped up on the My Disney Experience app. ©Disney The information went on to include the updated mask policy, stating that face coverings are now “optional for guests” but “recommended for guests who are not fully vaccinated in indoor locations and enclosed transportation.” ©Disney We’re continuing to keep an eye on Disney’s response to current health and safety guidelines, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! Check Out the Menu for Salt & Straw in Disney Springs! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of this policy change? Let us know in the comments! The post Guests Visiting Disney World Received Mask Policy Updates Via Push Notification Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The governor's attack on Disney is fueled by political spite. Who will he target next? View the full article

Who doesn’t love some ice cream on a hot day (especially when you’re in Disney World!)? If you’re an ice cream fan, then you’re in luck because a popular ice cream shop that can be found in Downtown Disney in Disneyland is coming to Disney World as well! Disney announced last year that Salt and Straw would be coming to Disney Springs. Coming SOON! Salt & Straw is opening TOMORROW in Disney World, and we can’t wait! We’ve been invited to a media event a little bit early to preview the menu and try out some eats. So now we’re sharing the ENTIRE menu with you here! Take a look at what tasty (and unusual) flavors you’ll find at this spot when it opens in Disney Springs on April 20th. We’ve tried some…unique…flavors at the location in Disneyland, so we were prepared for the unusual concoctions they would unveil in Disney Springs, alongside your more typical flavors like vanilla and chocolate, of course! Salt & Straw in Disney World The menu has a “classic flavors” section along with “limited-edition flavors.” There are 12 classic flavors on their menu year-round, and the limited-edition flavors change every month! These flavors are seasonal, and you can expect to see changes on the first Friday of each month. Sometimes fan-favorite seasonal flavors will return (like pumpkin in the fall), but you can expect to see new flavors each month as well. Menu The classic menu flavors include the following: Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons Double Fold Vanilla Chocolate Gooey Brownie Panther Coffee Chocolate Tres Leches Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cinnamon Snickerdoodle Honey Lavender Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper The Salty Donut Guava + Cheese Arbequina Olive Oil Freckled Mint Chocolate Chip (v) Roasted Pineapple Coconut Sherbert Some of these are pretty standard, like vanilla, mint chocolate chip, and sea salt caramel. But you can also see this shop’s reputation for unusual flavors coming through in the Honey Lavender, Olive Oil, and Balsamic with Black Pepper ice creams! We’re very relieved to see that all 7 of our favorite ice cream flavors from Disneyland have made it to the Disney World location. Classic Flavors Right now, the limited-edition ice cream options are based on flavor combinations chosen by kids! These are the options on the menu now: Bottomless Limes! The Ice Cream of Moo Triple Tropic Twist Rosie the Pink Flamingo The Adventurous Llamanaut The owners of Salt & Straw told us that they plan their menus 1.5 years in advance! The flavors spend 9 months in research and development, 3 months in production, and then the employees are trained for weeks in how to create the flavors. Also, the owners noted that the menu is 20% vegan flavors at any given time. Limited-edition flavors There are also a few “last chance scoops” on the menu, which are flavors that will be removed from the menu soon and likely won’t return for a while. These are seasonal flavors that Salt & Straw has leftover from previous months, so once they’re gone, they’re gone! Currently, these are the choices on that menu: Petunia’s Rainbow Sprinkled Baby Cakes Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache We also took a look at the prices on the menu. For a single scoop of ice cream, it’ll cost $6.95, and a double is $9.50. A kids’ scoop is $5.75. You can also get a split scoop (2 flavors of ice cream) for an extra $0.50. A pint of ice cream is $12.95. If you can’t decide on just one flavor and want to try several, check out the Ice Cream Flight for $14.95! In addition, a waffle cone costs $2, and sprinkles are an extra $0.50. Prices Salt and Straw is always changing up the menu, and no two locations have exactly the same offerings, so you never know what you might be able to try. Remember that Salt and Straw opens tomorrow in Disney Springs and the first 100 customers will get a FREE scoop of ice cream! Right now, the opening time for this spot says 10AM. Stay tuned to DFB to get all the latest Disney World food news. Learn more about this month’s limited-edition flavors at Salt & Straw 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. Which flavor are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Salt & Straw. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post SNEAK PEEK at the Full Menu at the New Salt & Straw Location in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is Disney Springs THE place to be these days in Disney World?! Between giant cookies, humongous donuts, tons of shops, awesome entertainment, and all kinds of new things to see and try, there’s certainly plenty to enjoy here — and all without a park ticket! Disney Springs As if all of that wasn’t reason enough to stop by Disney Springs, a NEW ice cream shop is about to open in Disney World, and we were lucky enough to get a SNEAK PEEK! It’s almost time to welcome Salt & Straw to Disney World! The shop officially opens tomorrow, April 20th, but we got a sneak peek today, April 19th! This fun ice cream shop is known for creating unique flavors of ice cream made with local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. There is already a well-established Salt & Straw location in Downtown Disney in Disneyland, so we’re already pretty familiar with the shop’s delicious reputation. Are You Ready?! The NEW Disney World Salt & Straw shop is located over in the West Side of Disney Springs, closer to the AMC. On the outside, you’ll spot the Salt & Straw sign and notice a waffle cone-type design all along the side. Note that for now there are some white signs up on the doors, but those should be removed, so part of this area will look a little different when the ice cream shop officially opens on the 20th. Let’s GO! When you step inside, you’ll find a long counter, behind which all kinds of ice cream treats are waiting for you! We Can’t Wait to Eat! In terms of design and colors, there’s a lot of wood and brown colors throughout, making it feel a little like you’ve stepped right into an ice cream cone. YUM. That’s just a first look at Salt & Straw! We’ll have tons more details and a full review of this spot soon, so stay tuned for that! What Ice Creams Do You Want to Try? Be sure to check back with us for all the latest Disney news and park updates. REVIEW: Uh, Does this NEW Spot Have the BEST Fries in Disney World?! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 stop by this new location in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS & VIDEOS: Go INSIDE the New Salt & Straw Ice Cream Shop in Disney Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT tends to have tons of new things to see, eat, and do! So, we’re constantly in the park to make sure we’re bringing you the latest news and information. EPCOT So without further ado, let’s get into what’s new at EPCOT! The biggest update from EPCOT (and all of the Disney parks, really) is that traditional character meet-and-greets have returned to the parks! We are once again able to hug our favorite characters, and we’re so excited. EPCOT Food Updates Garden Grill Over at Garden Grill, a Cast Member confirmed that, at this character dining experience, characters are hugging guests and signing autograph books! Garden Grill Sign This may not be the case at every character dining location in Disney World, as they are not all returning to traditional character dining at once. You can see a FULL List of the Character Dining locations that have returned to normal here. La Cava Del Tequila There are two new drinks at La Cava Del Tequila in the Mexico pavilion! The first is the Acapulco Colada which is Mocambo aged rum, Gracias a Dios piña mezcal, Nixta corn liquer, Kalani coconut liquor, and piña colada cream. It is $17. Acapulco Colada The other new drink on the menu is the Negroni Blanco which is Montelobos ensamble mezcal, Cocchi Americano aperitivo, Luxardo bitter bianco, and cucumber bitters. It is $20. Negroni Blanco The menu outside has been updated, as well. Updated menu! Not only does it now include the two new drinks, it also has The Lily, which is a drink that debuted during the Festival of the Arts and is now a permanent item on the menu! EPCOT Construction Updates While we were strolling around World Showcase we spotted a new trash can in the American Adventure. This trash can doesn’t have flaps, so you can throw something away without having to touch the trash can itself. New trash can! We also spotted a couple of new signs! There’s a new tip board across from The Land pavilion… New tip board! …and a new directional sign across from Coral Reef! New directional sign! In the Mexico pavilion, the fountain is still drained and not running. It’s not running! The Traveler’s Cafe (a.k.a. the EPCOT Starbucks) has closed ahead of the opening of the Connections Cafe. It’s closed! We still don’t have an official opening date for the Connections Cafe and Eatery. EPCOT Merchandise Updates Because traditional character meet-and-greets have returned, autograph books are back for sale in the parks! Autograph books! We saw them in the Creations Shop, Gateway Gifts, and in the Mexico pavilion! Club Cool Over at Club Cool, you can try all sorts of different sodas from around the world and pick up some Coke merchandise, as well. We noticed that these jawbreaker lollipops received a packaging update. New jawbreaker packaging Now, they better match the packaging of the other cool (pun intended) items you can find here! Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay Over at the Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay, we spotted some astronaut snacks. Astronaut Ice Cream! These guys are freeze dried bananas and ready to eat. They’re the same kind of stuff that astronauts would bring with them into space! These aren’t new but they sure are fun! Creations Shop Over at the Creations Shop, we saw a restock of the pink EARidescent Loungefly backpacks! Pink EARidescent Loungefly Backpack Speaking of Loungefly, we also saw this red Mickey and Minnie Loungefly backpack for $75. Mickey and Minnie Loungefly Fans of Turning Red will be happy to see that four Turning Red plushes are also available at Creations. ‘Turning Red’ Plushes Plus the Turning Red ears that we had previously only seen online and in Disney California Adventure are also now available at Creations Shop! They are $30. ‘Turning Red’ Ears And the Turning Red love doesn’t stop there because we also saw this pair of panda slippers for $24.99! These slippers are seriously soft on the inside and have Mei as a red panda making two different faces on either slipper. Two words: Panda. Slippers. We also saw this blue hat with a gold Mickey Mouse on it for $29.99. New hat! The Creations Shop also had four of the five Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction Pirates of the Caribbean items! Here, we found the plush for $35… Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction plush! …the ears also for $35… Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction ears! …the pin for $30… Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction pin! …and the Loungefly backpack for $85. Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction Loungefly backpack! There was also a restock of the Walt Disney Vision mug. This mug is $14.99. Walt Disney Vision mug! We also spotted this Minnie Mouse Card Wallet for $16.99. We’ve seen a similar Stitch Card Wallet online. Minnie Mouse Card Wallet There’s also a new Walt Disney World shirt with icons from all of the parks for $36.99. Walt Disney World shirt If you’re looking for a new Apple Watch band, Creations Shop has you covered with three new ones! There’s a white Orange Bird band… White Orange Bird watch band …a black Orange Bird band… Black Orange Bird watch band …and a Figment watch band! Figment watch band These Apple Watch bands are $34.99 each. Camera Center Over at the Camera Center, we spotted this Earth Day 2022 pin. Earth Day 2022 pin! It features Mickey and Pluto watering a flower with a watering can that has the recycling logo on it. The pin is $17. Port of Entry Port of Entry had The Walt Disney Film Archives: The Animated Movies 1921-1968 book. Walt Disney Film Archive Book This book is $25. Disney Traders Speaking of books, Disney Traders had this Marvel cookbook called Marvel Eat the Universe Unofficial Cookbook. Marvel cookbook This cookbook features recipes from the Marvel universe and is available for $29.99. We have seen it at Disneyland before but this was our first time seeing it in Disney World. World Traveler At World Traveler, located in the International Gateway, we saw this new UK hat! Spotted in the UK hat It’s gray and has dogs and the words “Spotted at the United Kingdom” embroidered on the back. It is available for $24.99. House of Good Fortune Here, we saw a pig plush that’s drinking boba tea. Okay, this is adorable The pig is pink and the boba tea that it’s holding is pink, as well. You can grab this plush for $42. American Adventure At a kiosk in the American Adventure, we saw this teapot that seemed a little lost. Alice in Wonderland teapot It’s Alice in Wonderland themed… so shouldn’t it be in the UK pavilion? Regardless, this teapot is super cute and is $34.99! And that’s what’s new in EPCOT! Make sure to keep reading DFB for all the latest Disney news! BREAKING: Mask Requirement CHANGED for Disney World Transportation 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. When is your next trip to EPCOT? Let us know in the comments! The post What’s New in EPCOT: Turning Red and Pirates of the Caribbean Ears! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When I think about spring break and the beach, I think of sun, sand … and flip flops! And who knows more about flip flops than Havaianas? The iconic sandal brand is famous for their bright colors and beach-ready designs. And now they are bringing all things beachy right here to Disney Springs –Waterview Park is in the midst of being transformed into an immersive spring break beach festival and it’s “shore” to be an amazing time.View the full article

Disneyland Resort Ambassadors Nataly Guzman and Mark E. King Jr. recently toured Central Bakery’s magical kitchen with Pastry Sous Chef Christina Orejel, who also offered a lesson in how a passion for baking creates memorable desserts. “My dad used to be a chef Christina shared. “There’s a photo of me and my sister on a […]View the full article

Walt Disney World has lifted its rule requiring masks on enclosed transportation at the resort. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. There are all KINDS of ears in Disney World — Princess ears, Orange Bird ears, super expensive ears, 50th anniversary ears, green ears, purple ears, pink ears oof, we’re out of breath! Check THESE out! Disney releases new ears like, all the time, and it doesn’t seem like they plan on slowing down any time soon, because there’s a NEW pair of ears in town! Check out the NEW Rose Gold Minnie Mouse Sequined Ear Headband we found in Disney World today! We’ve already seen these bad boys online, but now they’re in the parks! NEW Rose Gold Minnie Ears! We spotted these over at Discovery Trading Post in Animal Kingdom! They are rose gold sequined ears with a pink satin bow. Bow close-up These are just the latest of multiple iterations of rose gold ears in Disney World, with the most recent being the Briar Rose Gold design Disney released in 2020. The biggest different here is the bow being a more satin material. If you have been following the blog for some time, you might remember the uproar that the original pair of Rose Gold Ears caused. They were sold out for months. While we feel like that overwhelming response has worn off, we are very intrigued to see how these new ears do! Click here to buy these new ears! You can grab these ears for $29.99. We haven’t seen these ears in the other parks yet, but we’ll be sure to let you know when we do! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World merchandise news and updates. Click here to see a very sparkly pair of Minnie ears! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of these new ears? Tell us in the comments! The post No, You're Not Seeing Double. ANOTHER Pair of Rose Gold Ears is in Disney World. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney+ has been releasing a TON of new content since the streaming service debuted back in 2019. ©Disney We’ve had Marvel shows like WandaVision and Loki, Star Wars shows like The Mandalorian, and some pretty great movies, like Pixar’s Turning Red! There is so much coming to the streaming service this year, so let’s take a look at EVERYTHING arriving on Disney+ this May! Wednesday, May 4th New Library Titles Life Below Zero (S18) Disney+ Originals Disney Gallery: The Book of Boba Fett Moon Knight — Episode 6 (Finale) ©Disney || Moon Knight Wednesday, May 11th New Library Titles Just Like Me (S1, S2) Mira, Royal Detective (S2, 10 episodes) Something Bit Me! (S1) The Chicken Squad (S1, 5 episodes) The Wizard of Paws (S2) Disney+ Originals Marvel Studios: Assembled – The Making of Moon Knight The Quest Moon Knight Signs Friday, May 13th Disney+ Originals Sneakerella Sneakerella Wednesday, May 18th New Library Titles Alice’s Wonderland Bakery (S1, 5 episodes) I Cavalieri Di Castelcorvo (S1) Secrets Of The Zoo (S5) Alice’s Unbirthday Party in Disneyland Friday, May 20th New Library Titles Shook Disney+ Originals Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers ©Disney Friday, May 27th New Library Titles Bad Boys D. Wade: Life Unexpected Hubble’s Cosmic Journey Mission Pluto Disney+ Originals Obi-Wan Kenobi — Part I and II We Feed People ©Disney That’s everything coming to Disney+ in May! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney entertainment news and updates. Click here to learn more about the Obi-Wan Kenobi series coming to Disney+! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What are you most excited to watch in May on Disney+? Tell us in the comments! The post Everything Coming to Disney+ in May! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is following through with threats against Disney World’s self-governing powers. DeSantis announced this morning that he would ask Florida lawmakers to eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District during a special Legislative session that started today. ©The Florida Channel | Courtesy of WTVT The announcement escalates the feud between DeSantis and Disney, which until now has largely been a war of words over actions by Disney that DeSantis deems “woke.” The feud began when Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which critics call the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” “The threat to the Reedy Creek Improvement District is real,” Dr. James Clark, a political analyst and senior lecturer in the University of Central Florida Department of History, said in an interview with Disney Food Blog. “Governor DeSantis has found a great culture war issue in bashing Disney and I do not see him stopping the bashing as long as it drives donations and support.” Repeal Would Affect Orange, Osceola Counties’ Bottom Line The Reedy Creek Improvement District, created by the Reedy Creek Improvement Act in 1967, was requested by Walt Disney himself during the planning and building of Walt Disney World. It gives Walt Disney World the powers to create its own municipalities, which in turn allows the company to establish its own building and zoning regulations and run its own emergency services like a fire department. Disney could even build its own airport or nuclear power plant – provided it met all state and federal regulations, Clark said. Reedy Creek Fire Department ©Reedy Creek Dr. Susan MacManus, a political analyst and University of South Florida Distinguished Professor Emerita of Political Science, said she finds the threat against the Reedy Creek Improvement District unusual because of all it would take to unravel it. If the RCID were eliminated, control of the 40+ square miles owned by Walt Disney World would go back to the two counties it straddles – Osceola and Orange. They would have to provide the fire protection, emergency medical services, permitting services and other governance that Disney now does for itself. And they would be doing it without more tax money. The Walt Disney World main gate “The special district does not exempt Disney from paying property taxes,” Clark said. Disney is Central Florida’s largest taxpayer, paying nearly $300 million per year in property taxes to Orange and Osceola counties, as well as about $250 million in other state taxes. So, if those counties had to assume many of the roles the Reedy Creek Improvement District now performs, they would be doing it without any real expanded income, save some potential permitting and other construction fees. The counties could create a special fire protection taxing district to re-coup some of the money needed to replace the 200-employee Reedy Creek Fire Department, which provides 911 emergency services, fire protection, and emergency medical services. But other services counties are expected to provide would fall back to both of the counties to fund, and that might lead to an increase in property taxes for local residents, Clark said. Road construction at Walt Disney World Orange County may even stand to lose some income, Clark said, as the cities contained in the Reedy Creek Improvement District – Lake Buena Vista and the City of Bay Lake – contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for some police protection. The two cities budgeted a combined $22.8 million for this police protection in fiscal year 2022. “I’m not sure they (Orange and Osceola counties) want to take over Disney World,” Clark said. “It’s kind of a bottomless pit in terms of how much it would cost them – it’s the great unknown.” Construction on the new Tron attraction continues at the Magic Kingdom, The establishment of the district has meant that Disney has built – and funded without tax dollars – its own roads and infrastructure as its resort twice the size of Manhattan has developed over the past five decades. Clark said even if Orange and Osceola counties were opposed to the change, they might have problems getting their voices heard in the state capital, since their representatives are Democrats. MacManus – who lived in Orlando when the Reedy Creek Improvement District was created – agreed. “It just doesn’t look like the Dems will make a lot of inroads on anything this session,” she said. “I never thought I’d see the day that Florida’s largest employer, @WaltDisneyWorld, would be under attack by the Florida Legislature. Disney is larger than most cities, complete w fire stations, police officers, hospitals, & now adding affordable housing,” Rep. Allison Tant (D.-Tallahassee) said Monday in a tweet. Eliminating Disney’s Improvement District Would Be A Painful Blow Despite the fact that eliminating Reedy Creek may hurt the counties Walt Disney World is located in, Clark says this possibility is also “a disaster for Disney.” Disney’s Animal Kingdom There would be significant impacts to the speed and cost of new construction for Disney going forward, since it would have to look to the counties for zoning changes and permitting, and pay impact fees that it does not pay now. Disney has a 55-year history of managing its own turf, and the potential impacts to its bottom line if it could no longer do that remain to be seen. Fantasyland contruction Both MacManus and Clark indicated that bringing the Disney issue into this Legislative Special Session is surprising because of the “bigger” issues at stake for Florida residents. State Rep. Randy Fine (R.-Melbourne Beach) is a sponsor of the bill, HB3C, which eliminates the Reedy Creek Improvement District. “Disney is a guest in Florida,” he said Monday in a tweet. “Today, we remind them.” “There are so many more pressing things,” MacManus said, pointing to the skyrocketing property insurance rates in Florida, as well as condo safety legislation prompted by the 2021 Surfside Condominium Collapse. “There’s one thing about Florida, though – you never say never.” Disney’s Hollywood Studios While it’s not as if the Walt Disney Company could pick up and move a 27,000-acre resort to a different state because of political woes, there are other aspects of Disney’s business it could choose to engage in elsewhere. A project that will relocate up to 2,000 high-paid Disney Parks, Experience and Products professionals from California to a campus in Orlando’s Lake Nona area has been underway since June 2021. The moves are expected to be completed by the end of 2022. But California Gov. Gavin Newsome has suggested that with the political climate in Florida, Disney may want to put the brakes on the move. “Disney, the door is open to bring those jobs back to California – the state that actually represents the values of your workers,” Newsome said in a tweet. Other Battles on the Horizon Clark brings up another way state Legislative action could “hurt” Disney: loosening the way tourism taxes can be spent. Orlando International Airport crowds “Disney draws tens of millions of people to Florida every year, and Central Florida is dependent on those tourists to pay the bills,” Clark said. “They buy gasoline and pay gas taxes. They pay resort taxes. And that’s another avenue where the Legislature could take a stab at Disney – by re-allocating where the resort taxes can be spent.” Orange County budgeted an expected $175 million in Tourist Development Taxes (aka the resort tax) for Fiscal Year 2021-22. A big chunk of that comes from a 6 percent tax that every Disney guest pays on resort stays. And what is this money used for? To promote the tourist attractions in Orlando – including Walt Disney World. Disney guests actually pay a tax that helps Disney World draw more Disney guests. EPCOT Clark points out that in other areas of the state, the Legislature has permitted counties to use less money for promotion and more money for other expenses, including things like building new infrastructure. But not in Orange or Osceola counties … yet. A bill proposed by state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D.-Orlando) in November 2021 sought to expand Orange County’s ability to spend resort tax money on road construction, after county leaders had to find other sources to fund road construction needed for Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park. ©Universal | Epic Universe Concept Art That bill stalled in the Legislature, largely because of political lobbying by Disney and other theme parks. But Clark said he expects the issue to be brought up again. Disney and Florida Politics: Inextricably Linked? Speaking of those Disney lobbyists, they are a fixture in Tallahassee, where Clark says the corporation employs more than 30 political pros to lobby Legislators on all kinds of issues including, recently, drumming up support for a bill that would have prohibited hotels and motels in Florida from renting rooms at hourly rates. Another issue Disney has spent money lobbying against in Tallahassee? Gambling expansion in Florida. Disney and the Seminole Tribe of Florida together spent more than $26 million in 2018 to put the control of gambling expansion in the hands of voters. Disney CEO Bob Chapek in Disney World on its 50th Anniversary Right now, Clark envisions that team of lobbyists will be turned loose to fight the elimination of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, while Disney lawyers are turning over stones looking for legal arguments and preparing to challenge any potential Legislative action. This all makes for an unusual chapter in the state’s history, as Disney and Florida have shared an almost symbiotic relationship for so long – one that has included many political donations. “This has been a wonderful relationship – Disney helping the Legislators, and the Legislators helping Disney,” Clark said. Not to mention that Disney is the state’s largest single-site employer and the largest driver of tourism, the income from which has kept Florida a no-state-income-tax state for generations. Magic Kingdom That “help” to the Legislators – in the form of political donations Disney regularly makes – is on hold, though. In a March 6 letter to employees, Chapek announced the Walt Disney Company would pause all political donations in Florida after the passage of the Parental Rights in Education Act. Clark said there’s a particular word in Chapek’s announcement that should be heeded: “pause.” “After Jan. 6 (2021), dozens of companies said they were pausing their donations, and after a few months they came back,” Clark said. “I think he (Chapek) chose his words carefully to leave the door open.” Mickey Mouse Clark said this issue is helping DeSantis’s popularity. “I think they (Disney) expected a sharp exchange between themselves and DeSantis, and then for it to blow over,” Clark said. “But Desantis has found that this is a great issue for him. He has been unbelievably successful.” With a rumored DeSantis Presidential Campaign on the horizon, it’s likely Florida’s governor will ride this wave as long as it continues to help grow his base. “Right now, this governor is at his strongest,” MacManus said. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Analysts Say Florida Stripping Disney World’s Power Could Cost Residents and Counties first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit. There have been a LOT of changes over the past few month when it comes to face masks. Face mask signage earlier this year in Disney World Disney World is no longer requiring face masks on any transportation, certain airlines have changed their mask policies, and Uber has even changed their mask requirements. And now, a major change has been made to face mask requirements at Orlando International Airport. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is no longer requiring masks to be worn on public transportation or in transportation hubs like airports. Orlando International Airport posted about the change today saying face masks are now optional in their airport and facilities. The full statement from TSA says in part that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time. Previous face mask signage Several major airlines have also changed their face mask policies, including American Airlines and Delta Airlines, who are no longer requiring face masks for select passengers. Read more about these changes here. Some airlines have dropped face mask requirements Stay tuned to DFB for more travel news and updates. Click here to learn about the recent change to Disney World’s face mask policies Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post There's a NEW Mask Policy at Orlando International Airport first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When Disney World reopened after the pandemic-related closures, not every aspect of the parks returned at once. Hello from Magic Kingdom! Disney began a phased reopening based on health guidelines that extended to parks, hotels, dining, and even entertainment. That’s why we were SO excited when Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade made its debut once again last month in Magic Kingdom. We quickly noticed that not every character had returned with the parade, but now it looks like that has officially changed! When the Festival of Fantasy Parade returned to Magic Kingdom, there were a few familiar faces missing from the floats: The Beast, Prince Charming, Anna, and Prince Naveen. Belle by herself in the Festival of Fantasy Parade We’re happy to share that these characters are officially back in the classic Disney parade! We spotted Belle and the Beast leading the parade… The Beast is back! … and Anna has rejoined her sister, Elsa, too. Anna and Elsa Princess Tiana now has Prince Naveen back by her side… Hey guys! … and Prince Charming has found his way back to Cinderella! Together again. Disney hasn’t made any official statements on why the characters were missing, but it may have had something to do with the physical distancing guidelines regarding character meet and greets that were still in place up until April 18th, 2022. For the latest Disney World news, be sure to stay tuned to DFB! Check Out ALL the Character Meet and Greets That Have Returned to Normal 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. Who is your favorite character in the Festival of Fantasy Parade? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS & VIDEO: Missing Festival of Fantasy Parade Characters Have Returned in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit. Disney World has seen a lot of things change over the past couple of years due to the ongoing global pandemic. Cast Member reminding guests of the rules — August, 2021 Requirements in the parks have changed several times with relation to things like temperature screenings, physical distancing, and face masks. Many things have been returning to how they were before Disney World shut down due to COVID-19, and now, another major requirement is changing. Face masks are no longer required on any transportation in Disney World. Disney World has updated their face mask rules to note that face coverings are “optional for Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations, as well as Disney transportation.” Disney has also removed references to things being optional only for those who are fully vaccinated. But, the new policy does say that it is “recommended” that “Guests who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters and on enclosed transportation.” ©Disney Previously, face masks were required on all enclosed transportation (like the Monorail and buses) for everyone ages 2 and up, regardless of vaccination status. Under these new policy, that has changed. The old mask policy also had certain areas marked as “optional” or not (in terms of mask requirements) depending on whether a guest was fully vaccinated or not. That distinction does not appear under the new policy. Mask Sign Face mask rules have changed a number of times in Disney World. When Disney World first reopened back in the summer of 2020, face masks were required everywhere. That requirement eventually evolved into face masks being required everywhere indoors, and then changed once again to making masks optional indoors for those who were fully vaccinated. Transportation was one of the only places where masks were required for almost everyone. The face mask situation at First Aid Centers is also something to be aware of. Previously, face masks were required for everyone ages 2 and up at the First Aid Centers in Disney World, regardless of vaccination status. When we stopped by a First Aid Center today, these mask signs were still up. From what we saw, masks are not required for those just stopping by the front of a First Aid Center to grab a bandage or something quick. But, if you do go to the back area or further inside the First Aid Center (where there could be individuals who are feeling ill) you will need to have a mask on. First Aid Station These changes from Disney World follow the recent changes when it comes to mask rules on public transportation in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously extended the mask mandate for planes and other forms of transportation, as well as transportation hubs. The CDC’s mask mandate was then struck down by a federal judge in Florida, and the TSA announced that it would not enforce the mask mandate. We have since seen airports, rideshare companies, airlines, and more do away with their requirements. Face mask We’ll keep an eye out for any other policy changes in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more news and updates. Click here to see a full list of airlines that have changed face mask requirements 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. The post BREAKING: Mask Requirements CHANGED for Disney World Transportation first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We’re here to let ya in on a little secret: you don’t have to spend tons of money for pricey souvenirs at Disney World. There’s a CHEAPER way to get ahold of some fun Disney merchandise — no park ticket required. Thanks to Amazon (which has single-handedly changed the way we shop), you can score some sweet deals! Isn’t this neatly-stacked wall of plushes SO satisfying?! If you’re looking for some fun new Disney goodies, we’ve got some good news. If you’re on a spending freeze, we’re sorry in advance; these deals might be pretty hard to resist! Let’s take a look at the best Disney deals you can get on Amazon right now! First up, how about a card game? Remember those eye-spy books you used to read as a kid? Now, you can play the GAME version with this World of Disney Eye Found It Card Game! Hot tip: this would be a great, portable little game you could bring to a Disney dining reservation to keep your little ones busy while you wait for your food. ©Amazon It’s on sale for$5.97, normally $9.99. Click here to buy the World of Disney Eye Found It Card Game These just might be the most PRECIOUS Disney toys we’ve ever seen! This Disney Frozen Elsa & Friends by Little People set includes Queens Anna and Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff! ©Amazon You can find these little cuties on sale on Amazon for $7.95, normally $9.99! Click here to buy the Disney Frozen Elsa & Friends by Little People Speaking of cute toys, there’s a pretty good deal on this Mickey Mouse Stacker Toy right now! ©Amazon This stacking toy is $9.09 right now, normally $12.99. Click here to buy the Mickey Mouse Stacker Toy This Funko Disney “it’s a small world” Game is tempting for the cute cover art alone. Your Disney-themed family game night is about to get even better! ©Amazon There’s a GREAT deal on this game right now; it’s $13.99, on sale from $24.99. Click here to buy the Funko Disney “it’s a small world” Game What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One’s a little lighter! If you laughed at that joke (and all those other classic Jungle Cruise jokes), you need this Funko Pop! Jungle Cruise – Skipper Mickey with Boat figure. ©Amazon It’s on sale for $22.57, previously $34.99. Click here to buy the Funko Pop! Jungle Cruise – Skipper Mickey with Boat Finally, we’ll finish off the list with a vintage-style Disney Men’s “Vintage Mickey Mouse” Watch. It’s a timeless classic for a reason! ©Amazon This watch is $31.99, normally $39.99 on Amazon. Click here to buy the Disney Men’s “Vintage Mickey Mouse” Watch That’s all for this week’s Amazon Disney deals! We’re always on the lookout for the best Disney deals, so stay tuned for more! 11 Items for Almost Any Kind of Disney World Emergency 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 planning a trip to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments! The post You Don't Want to MISS These Disney DEALS on Amazon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Spring is officially in the air, which means that bold colors and bright, fun fashion are too. CORKCICLE wants to be a part of your spring style while enjoying your Disney Parks vacation. As the Official Premium Drinkware of Walt Disney World Resort, CORKCICLE celebrates your unique style with statement making drinkware and experiences across property. Whether […]View the full article

Disney-loving runners are already lacing up their shoes to get ready for the 2023 Marathon Weekend! But if you’ve been hoping to reserve your spot to take part in these races, we have some disappointing news for you. runDisney banners in Disney World The marathon weekend opened reservations this morning and immediately began experiencing some technical issues. Runners were put in a waiting room or couldn’t access the site at all due to technical problems. Finally, reservations opened around 12:30PM ET and some runners were able to secure their spots. However, many of the races sold out FAST. As of 1:20PM ET, 5 of the 6 main races/challenges in the 2023 Disney World Marathon Weekend have SOLD OUT. Currently, the sold-out races include the Walt Disney World 5K, the Walt Disney World 10K, the Half-Marathon, Goofy’s Race-and-a-Half Challenge, and the Dopey Challenge. UPDATE: As of 1:45 PM ET all 6 of the main races/challenges have sold out, including the Walt Disney World Marathon. ©Disney Note that the Castaway Cay Challenge (on the Disney Cruise Line) and Virtual Races are still available. runDisney 2023’s marathon weekend is celebrating runDisney’s 30th anniversary with a retro theme! This exciting anniversary might be part of the reason for the races selling out so quickly, although these events tend to sell out every year. ©runDisney We’ll be updating this post if more races sell out, so keep an eye on DFB for more of the latest news. Click here to see the full schedule of runDisney races and events. 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 racing during the 2023 Marathon Weekend in Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post All Races in Disney World’s 2023 Marathon Weekend Are SOLD OUT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. This might come as a surprise to you, but we care a lot about Disney food! The ICONIC Mickey Ice Cream Bar! We do our best to try every single new snack, treat, and meal that pops up in the Disney Parks so that you can know what you HAVE TO try on your Disney World trip, and what you should avoid. However, appreciating Disney Food isn’t exclusive to the parks. You can make your own Disney culinary creations at home inspired by the parks and your favorite movies, and we’ve got just the books to get you started! Here are all of the Disney Cookbooks you can currently get online! The Disney Eats Cookbook is available on shopDisney, and features TONS of Disney recipes inspired by different characters! ©shopDisney Get it now on shopDisney for $29.99! Click here to get the Disney Eats Cookbook! If you’re feeling creative, you can try this Disney Tsum Tsum Sushi Cookbook! These sushi rolls are absolutely adorable, and who can say no to Disney sushi? ©shopDisney It’s on shopDisney for $17.99! Click here to get the Disney Tsum Tsum Sushi Cookbook For the Star Wars fans out there, you can recreate recipes from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with this Black Spire Outpost Cookbook! ©shopDisney You can get it now on shopDisney for $35! Click here to get the ‘Star Wars’: Galaxy’s Edge Cookbook Disney can also help you get healthier! Who knew? This Disney Princess Healthy Treats Cookbook is full of healthy Princess inspired snacks! ©shopDisney Get this cookbook on shopDisney NOW for $19.99! Click here to get the Disney Princess Healthy Treats Cookbook! If you need even more Princess recipes, you can check out The Disney Princess Cookbook! ©shopDisney Check it out for $15.95 on shopDisney! Click here to get the Disney Princess Cookbook! If you’re looking to try some more elevated Disney recipes, try the Delicious Disney: The Fresh Edition cookbook with recipes from the Disney Parks and Cruise Ships! ©shopDisney It’s available on shopDisney now for $34.99! Click here to get the Delicious Disney Fresh Edition Cookbook! If you’re planning a whole Disney themed event, then check out this Entertaining with Disney book! It’ll show you recipes and event plans inspired by all kinds of Disney characters! ©shopDisney This one’s on shopDisney for $29.99! Click here to get the Entertaining with Disney Book! If you’re all about Disney Parks food, then check out the Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook! It’ll show you how to make everything from Dole Whips to Mickey Pretzels! ©Target You can get it now from Target for $11.99! Click here to get the Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook! If you need something to wash all of those Disney Parks snacks down with, then check out the Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book! ©Target This one’s available from Target for $8.49! Click here to get the Unofficial Disney Parks Drinks Cookbook! If Disney Villains are your thing, then check out the Disney Villains Devilishly Delicious Cookbook! These villainous recipes are sure to get your party started! ©Target It’s available at Target for $13.79! Click here to get the Disney Villains Cookbook! If you’re already prepping for the Holidays, then check out Disney’s A Merry Christmas Cookbook! ©Target You can get all of the Disney Holiday Recipes you need for $8.49 at Target! Click here to get the Disney A Merry Christmas Cookbook! If you’re newer to cooking, then you can try Disney’s The Simple Family Cookbook! This one’s full of simple Disney recipes that are sure to be crowd pleasers! ©Target You can get this from Target for $16.99! Click here to get the Disney Simple Family Cookbook! Love eating around the world in EPCOT? Then check out this Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook! You can learn to make some of your favorite EPCOT snacks! ©Target Get it now from Target for $19.79! Click here to get the Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook If you’re feeling royal, then you can check out the Disney Enchanted Recipes Cookbook! This book has some fantastical Disney recipes you can make from your own home! ©Target You can get it now from Target for $29.99! Click Here to get the Disney Enchanted Recipes Cookbook! Hosting a Disney Princess themed Tea Party? This cookbook is perfect for you! This Disney Princess Tea Parties cookbook tells you everything you need to throw the perfectly magical tea party! ©Target This one’s also at Target, and you can get it now for $19.99! Click here to get the Disney Princess Tea Parties Cookbook! More into baking? Check out the Disney Princess Baking Cookbook to make some pastries fit for royalty! ©Target Get it from Target for $11.49! Click here to get the Disney Princess Baking Cookbook Who doesn’t want to cook as well as Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog? You can learn some of her recipes in this Disney Princess Tiana’s Cookbook! ©Target This cookbook is available from Target for $17.99! Click here to get Tiana’s Cookbook! If you’ve been dying to make some of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary snacks, then check out this Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World cookbook! ©Amazon You can get it now from Amazon for $31.50! Click here to get the Delicious Disney Walt Disney World Cookbook! That’s all for the Disney Cookbooks you can get online! Stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see out Review of this Recently Reopened Disney World Restaurant! 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 going to try any of these Disney Cookbooks? Let us know in the comments! The post ALL of the Disney Cookbooks You Can Get Online Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article