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When you think about vacationing in the springtime, images of warm sand and tropical island paradise might come to mind, but what about sparkling ice and snow-capped mountains? That’s right, I’m talking about a spring expedition to the Arctic! View the full article

It’s no secret: we’re HUGE fans of Minnie Ears around here! Seriously, every time we think we’ve reached our limit, or added enough to our collection, Disney just keeps releasing MORE! So shiny and new. It’s also not surprising that our favorite Minnie Ears, in both Disney World and Disneyland, happen to be food-related. We are Disney FOOD Blog, after all! Between Disney World, Disneyland, and online releases, Disney is CONSTANTLY giving us a new pair of Minnie Ears to gawk at and obsess over! Encanto Ears Of course, the sheer amount of Minnie Ears means that some new pairs are, umm, less amazing than others, but we applaud the ingenuity anyway, Disney! For definitive proof that Minnie is as much of a foodie as we are, here is a tasty lil recap of the MANY food-related Minnie Ears we’ve seen! Donut Ears How convenient that so many foods come in perfectly round Minnie Ear shape! Case in point: DONUTS. Don’t these look delicious?! Some of the sweetest ears we’ve ever seen in Disney World were Donut Minnie Ears in Disney’s Hollywood Studios — covered in white frosting and colorful sprinkles! With a pretty-in-pink sequined bow, as an added bonus! You may still be able to find these ears at a few merchandise locations in the parks. Apple Orchard Ears Disney loves releasing a new pair of ears inspired by an EPCOT festival, like this apple-themed version for the 2021 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival! Apple Orchard Minnie Ears Channeling a Johnny Appleseed vibe, the Apple Orchard Ears featured a wooden design on the ears and a sequined bow with little green polka dots and red apples! Reminds us a lot of Appleseed Orchard in the Canada Pavilion! Popcorn Ears Trend alert: Disney is REALLY getting into scented souvenirs! In addition to brand new merch, like a chocolate-scented Easter Mickey, we’ve also spotted some aromatic Minnie Ears and spirit jerseys too, like this POPCORN SCENTED pair! Popcorn Ears! These were a pair of translucent red ears filled with little popcorn bits, which actually SMELL like popcorn! It was all capped off with a leather bow clad with lil popcorn buckets! These are another pair that you may still be able to purchase in the parks. You may just need to ask a Cast Member where you can find them! Mickey Waffle Ears Another pair of delicious potent ears we found was one inspired by none other than those iconic Mickey Waffles! Super cute! As part of a new waffle merch collection, syrup-scented Minnie Ears came covered in little Mickey Waffles, along with a pat of butter on the maple-colored bow! Holiday Cookie Ears It’s no secret that Disney really rides hard for the holidays, rolling out all sorts of themed snacks and merch! And this is certainly true of its new Minnie Ears, like a sugar cookie pair we spotted last year! So Fun! Cookie-themed Christmas ears tend to pop up often, so fingers crossed a new fun themed foodie pair is released this year. With red icing (and tiny Santa hats!) on the ears, topped with green and white sprinkles, over a peppermint headband, this was one SWEET accessory for the Christmas season! Macaron Ears Macarons are on of the cutest Disney World snacks, so it makes sense that Macaron Minnie Ears would be the cutest pair in the parks! Macaron Minnie Ears in France Inspired by the France Pavilion in EPCOT, these beauties were made to resemble pink macarons, along with a striped bow, clear sequins, and a tiny Eiffel Tower in the middle! Tres chic! This is another pair of ears that tend to go in and out of stock but haven’t completely disappeared from the parks. Fish & Chips Ears On the opposite end of the cuteness scale, Fish & Chips Ears rank as one of the strangest pairs we’ve ever seen…yet they’re still surprisingly adorable?! Fish & Chips Minnie Ears Inspired by the U.K. Pavilion in EPCOT, we were oddly obsessed with this version that featured a cartoon fish on one side and a cartoon ship (aka fry) on the other, both set against the British flag and connected by a newspaper-style bow! Taste of EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Ears Digging deeper into the Food & Wine canon, we still can’t stop thinking about the wine-themed ears from the 2020 festival… Minnie Mouse Food and Wine Ears at EPCOT …while these are ranked as one of your least favorites, we still kinda love the rich red wine color and sparkly Malbec-tinted sequins. Plus, the cork pattern bow (with grapes!) was a clever idea! Peppermint Ears Peppermint is a recurring flavor for Disney’s holiday-themed snacks and merch, and we’ve seen it inspire some Minnie Ears in the past, including this most recent pair. Peppermint Ears The 2021 ears were stylin’ with blinged-out red sequins and faux fur, along with a puffy green bow and a shiny peppermint candy in the middle! Gingerbread Ears Another one of our FAVORITE holiday-themed Minnie Ears was the gingerbread pair from 2020! Gingerbread Ears This cutie featured a small gingerbread Mickey and Minnie head on each ear, with peppermint candies all over it, including in the middle of the candy cane-striped bow! Pizza Ears Another round-shaped comfort food that makes perfect sense as ears is PIZZA! Although not as inherently CUTE as, say, donuts, we’re still fully on board with Minnie Ears that come with tomato sauce and pepperoni. Pizza Minnie Ears at Epcot Indeed, when we saw this yummy pair in 2020, it came loaded with pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, and olives. So, basically a supreme pizza. The headband matched the gingham ribbon, with the words “Buon Appetito” along the side. Serious points for originality on this one! Pretzel Ears Let’s see, we’ve covered Mickey Waffle Ears already, so it only makes sense that Disney would feature that OTHER iconic Mickey-shaped snack for a new pair of Minnie Ears! That’s right, we’re talking about Mickey Pretzel Ears! Pretzel Ears Released around the same time as the Mickey Waffle Ears, this salty set was pastel yellow with Mickey-shaped pretzels and “sprinkles of salt” all over the ears, along with a mustard yellow bow and a Mickey pretzel in the middle! These ears are making us HUNGRY! Look out for these the next time you are in the parks because you might be able to snag a pair! Limoncello Ears One of the most strangely SPECIFIC Minnie Ears we’ve ever seen (as previously spotted in Disneyland), are the Limoncello Ears (lol wut!) inspired by EPCOT’s Italy pavilion. The Limoncello Minnie ears are here! Although limoncello is a seemingly random choice, it actually makes for a gorgeous pair of ears, made with blue velvet fabric on the headband, bright yellow sequins on the ears, and a blue and yellow bow with a shiny lemon in the middle! Cheers to that! Be on the lookout for these when shopping in EPCOT! Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Ears Now it’s time for some of the NEWEST ears we’ve seen in the parks! Over at Disneyland Resort, there’s a funky new pair inspired by Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival! DCA Food and Wine Festival Ears With a whisk and a wooden spoon in the middle of a maroon bow, along with bright blue ears adorned with various icons from Disney California Adventure Park, they’re giving us serious The Great British Bake Off vibes, and we’re here for it. Makes us want to bake! Clearly, whether sweet or savory, strange or silly, Disney LOVES a food-themed pair of Minnie Ears as much as we do! The only problem is, of course, that wearing any one of these will likely make you hungry… . The Best Minnie Ears to Match Your Disney World Hotel Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which food do you think should be on the next pair of Minnie Ears? Let us know in the comments! The post ALL the Foodie-Themed Minnie Ears We've Seen at Disney World and Disneyland! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Earth Day is April 22. Orlando has ways to celebrate the holiday with eco-conscious events and activities throughout the weekend. View the full article

It’s SO exciting when new restaurants and food spots open up at Disney World! Dole Whip Flight Just in the past year, we’ve seen a new steakhouse open up, a new space restaurant open in EPCOT, a new food truck roll into town, and even a new Dole Whip stand open in Disney Springs. A NEW ice cream spot is opening soon in Disney Springs as well, and you can actually get FREE ice cream during the grand opening! Salt & Straw officially opens tomorrow, April 20th, at Disney Springs! It’s a family-run ice cream business known for some very unique flavors of handmade, small batch ice cream utilizing local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Some of the wild flavors we’ve seen at other locations in the past include Black Olive Brittle & Goat Cheese, Mushroom, and even Turkey! Mushroom Muddy Buddies But, don’t worry, they have some more traditionally sweet flavors as well. Salt & Straw has said that the flavors we can expect at their Disney Springs location include favorites like Honey Lavender and Chocolate Gooey Brownie, along with unique flavors specific to Florida including The Salty Donut Guava & Cheese and Panther Coffee Chocolate Tres Leches. ©Salt & Straw || Honey Lavender Ice Cream But, the flavors aren’t the only exciting thing happening over at the ice cream shop — Salt & Straw has shared with us that they will be offering the first 100 customers a FREE scoop of ice cream for their official grand opening tomorrow! Coming SOON! So, if you want to try out the new spot AND get free ice cream, we suggest you get their early to be one of the first 100 customers! There is no official opening time for Salt & Straw listed online, but Disney Springs opens at 10AM. So, if you’re REALLY committed to getting that free scoop, you could base your arrival time on that — we just can’t guarantee the ice cream location will be open at that time. We can’t wait to try this spot in Disney Springs! We’ll be checking out the new ice cream spot and bringing you a review, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB for news and updates! Click here to learn more about Salt & Straw! 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 the most excited to try at Salt & Straw? Tell us in the comments! The post 🚨Salt & Straw Is Giving Out FREE ICE CREAM for the Grand Opening in Disney World Tomorrow🚨 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. COVID-19 rules and regulations are CHANGING. Face mask Not too long ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the U.S. mask mandate for planes and other public transportation, as well as transportation hubs. The CDC’s mask mandate was then struck down by a federal judge in Florida. Following that, the TSA announced that it would not enforce the mask mandate on public transportation and other changes have now been made. Now, a big mask change is coming to a form of transportation you might use often in your own town or while on vacation at Disney World and elsewhere. As NBC News reports, Uber, the rideshare service, has announced that it will be lifting its mask mandate effective today, Tuesday, April 19th. Uber’s website now contains the updated information. According to the website, riders and drivers will not be required to use masks when using Uber starting on April 19th. But, the website does note that the CDC still recommends wearing a mask if a person has specific risk factors or if there is a high transmission level in your area. Uber also notes that individuals might feel more comfortable wearing a mask and to remember to be respectful of their preferences. Uber also notes that guest can cancel their trip if they feel uncomfortable. ©Uber Uber has also shared that they have updated their “no-front-seat policy.” Riders are no longer required to sit in the back seat of an Uber ride. Uber does ask, however, that riders only use the front seat if it’s required due to the size of their group. ©Uber Uber also has a message on their website thanking everyone for making an effort to take care of one another, and notes that it is “still important to take safety precautions while riding, driving, and delivering.” They continue ask individuals to roll down windows for extra airflow, sanitize their hands, and cover their cough or sneeze. ©Uber So if you’ll be using an Uber to get around your town or Disney World, make note of these changes ahead of your next ride. Also, keep in mind that the CDC does continue to recommend that individuals wear a mask indoors in public in areas where the community COVID-19 level is high. ©CDC Note that both Orange County, Florida and Osceola County, Florida, the counties across which Disney World’s property falls, are both in the “low” category for community spread. Of course, that could change, so be sure to check and see what the situation is ahead of your trip. Keep checking back with us for the latest Disney news. Click here to see a full list of the 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! The post NEWS: Uber CHANGES Mask Requirements first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With all the exciting talk about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening soon in EPCOT, you’re probably ready to make that park pass reservation to experience the attraction for yourself! EPCOT We don’t blame you — the new omnicoaster is one of the longest indoor roller coasters ever built and promises a thrilling storyline. But if your perfect Disney day ends with taking in the bombastic sights and sounds of Harmonious, there’s one day this summer you won’t want to head to EPCOT! Harmonious made its debut on October 1st, 2021, as part of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, and has been impressing guests ever since. The nighttime spectacular takes place on World Showcase Lagoon, and features five huge, floating barges that house various LED screens, pyrotechnics, lights, lasers, and fountains. Harmonious in EPCOT Disney World has made changes to the park calendar through June 25th, and while we were taking a look we noticed that EPCOT was listed on the calendar as closing at 8PM on June 5th — an hour earlier than normal. You can see that Harmonious is not listed under “Fireworks & Nighttime Entertainment” for that date below. ©Disney Typically, Disney World doesn’t share why they close earlier than normal on occasion, but we’ve seen it happen when private parties rent out the parks or Cast Member events take place. So if you are visiting the first week of June and hoping to watch Harmonious, you might want to avoid EPCOT on the evening of June 5th. If anything changes, we will be sure to let you know. For the latest Disney World news and beyond, don’t forget to stay tuned to DFB! Check Out Our Video of EPCOT’s Harmonious Here! Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Details and Info See Photos & Reviews of All of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Eats and Treats Check Out All of the 50th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get Online Get a Look at Some of the 50th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get in the Parks Click Here to See the 50 Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Check Out Our 50 Pieces of Advice for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Click Here to See the Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary from Home See the New 50th Anniversary Nighttime Looks for All 4 of Disney World’s Park Icons Check Out Our 50th Anniversary Cupcake Crawl Click Here to See Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in Magic Kingdom See Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in EPCOT Check Out Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in Hollywood Studios See Our Rankings of the 50th Anniversary Treats in Animal Kingdom Click HERE for Your Guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you seen Harmonious at EPCOT? Let us know in the comments! The post Why You Might Want to Avoid EPCOT the Night of June 5th first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The runDisney 2023 Disney World Marathon Weekend has stirred up a ton of excitement — especially from ’90s babies! ©runDisney We know the weekend — January 4th-8th, 2023. We know the theme — Retro ’90s. All that’s left is registration — which opens today! That’s right! General registration for the runDisney 2023 Disney World Marathon Weekend opens today! runDisney The ’90s-inspired races (meant to celebrate runDisney’s 30th birthday) include a 5k with Pluto, a 10k with Chip ‘n’ Dale, a half marathon with Daisy and Donald, and a marathon with — you guessed it — Mickey and Minnie! There are also two challenges runners can choose to complete — Goofy’s Race & a Half (39.3 miles) and the Dopey Challenge (48.6 miles)! The Marathon with Minnie and Mickey! ©runDisney The weekend also includes Virtual Races for each distance/challenge, And the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge for the Disney Cruise Line! There’s options for everyone! Castaway Cay So make sure you register for your race, get your best retro outfit together, and we’ll see you there! You can register for the Marathon Weekend right here. For the latest Disney news, be sure to check back here often. Check out all of the runDisney races 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 registering? Let us know in the comments! The post General Registration is Open NOW for the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s take a step back in time. How far back? Oh, how about the 19th Century? That way, we can visit the boardwalks of Coney Island and Atlantic City by day… and night. Keyword here? “Boardwalk.” This resort is getting a TRANSFORMATION! You’re going to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to decide if this swank-ified resort is worth all your pennies put together, or if maybe you should save your money elsewhere. (Like into THOUSANDS of carnival games! Not a good investment, you say? Meh. To each their own.) Check out our video below The SECRET Reasons People Are Booking This Disney World Hotel — Boardwalk Resort. 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: The SECRET Reasons People Are Booking This Disney World Hotel -- Boardwalk Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Could a feature that is critical to how Disney World operates be in jeopardy? Well, the threat against it has certainly become more real. Welcome to Disney World Not too long ago, we shared about how a Florida representative had indicated that some meetings had been held regarding the potential repeal of the Reedy Creek Improvement District — the district that essentially lets Disney act as its own county and govern its own land. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida then indicated that he would be open to suggestions on this idea of a repeal, and we shared how a repeal of the District could significantly impact Disney World’s operations. Now, what started as an idea and meetings has turned into something much more real. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Governor Ron DeSantis has indicated that he will be expanding the special session of the Florida Legislature, which started Tuesday. What exactly will Governor DeSantis be expanding the special session to include? Well, during the special session the Legislature will now be able to consider “eliminating the Reedy Creek Improvement District.” If you’re unfamiliar with it, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) is a special district that was created back in 1967. It is crucial to how Disney operates in Florida. In essence, it allows Disney to operate as its own county government when it comes to controlling the land it owns in Florida on which it operates its theme parks. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline One political analyst indicated that the repeal of the RCID would be “a disaster for Disney.” You can click here to see our FULL post on the RCID and what a repeal would mean for Disney. Governor DeSantis said, “I am announcing today that we are expanding the call of what they are going to be considering this week…so yes, they will be considering their congressional map. But they also will be considering termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968. And that includes the Reedy Creek Improvement District.” (Orlando Sentinel) DeSantis also gave his thanks to House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson for their efforts in “stepping up and making sure that we make the sunset or the termination on those special districts happen, which I think is very important.” (Orlando Sentinel) Reedy Creek Fire Department ©Reedy Creek DeSantis also indicated that he would “seek to eliminate the special carve out Disney received from the Legislature for the so-called Big Tech law that would allow people to sue social media companies such as Facebook or Twitter if they are censored.” The Sentinel notes that the law has been blocked by a federal judge. (Orlando Sentinel) This is a matter DeSantis had brought up previously as an example of “the one time they (Disney) got something” while he has been in office. All of this follows the conflict experienced between Disney and DeSantis when it comes to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Act. When the bill was signed into law, Disney issued a statement indicating that the bill never should have been passed or signed, and that their goal would be for the bill to be repealed. Disney also paused all political contributions in the state. Governor DeSantis indicated that Disney’s response to the bill, specifically their comments that they would be working to repeal the law, “crossed a line.” ©Fox10 News | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Will Florida’s legislature ultimately be successful in repealing the Reedy Creek Improvement District? It’s unclear. As we had previously shared, Senator Linda Stewart, a Democratic Senator in the Florida Senate, has said “I don’t see how in the world he’s going to be able to dismantle it…It would never get through the Senate and it’s unlikely to get through the House.” (WFTV 9 ABC) Former Republican State Representative Bobby Olszewski also said “This seems like saber rattling in order to draw some headlines…I can tell you they [meaning Disney] have done a lot for our state and for our local community, so it is surprising that this is something that is coming up right now.” (WFTV 9 ABC) Suitability Ratings Map ©Reedy Creek Improvement District We’ll be keeping a close eye on this situation and will share more news with you. Click here to learn more about the Reedy Creek Improvement District and why its repeal could equal “disaster” for Disney Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post BREAKING: Threat Against Disney World's Self Governance Becomes More Real first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What’s better than a Disney World vacation? Saving money on a Disney World vacation, DUH! Cinderella Castle We love finding ways to help you save money, whether it be for discounts on tickets or the best snacks under $10. We’ve already told you about all of the Disney World deals for April, but now, there’s a NEW deal that can help select people save BIG on Disney World hotels later this year! To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, there is a new offer for Disney Visa Cardmembers to save on hotel rooms for most nights from August 28th through September 19th, 2022, as long as you book with your Disney Visa Card! Disney VISA The offer is valid for the following Disney World Resort hotels: Save 30% at: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites Animal Kingdom Lodge Save 25% at: Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Yacht Club Save 20% at: The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Port Orleans — French Quarter Save 15% at: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort All Star Sports Save 10% at: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Beach Club Resort Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Wilderness Lodge The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited and savings are based on the non-discounted price for the same room. The Disney Visa Cardmember must be staying in the room and the offer is non-transferable. Know that additional per-adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults stay in a room. 50th Anniversary Visa The offer cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions and it excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Little Mermaid Standard Rooms. Disney’s Beach Club Resort Remember that tickets for the theme parks are separate and not included in this offer. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Click here to see the latest Disney World deals and discounts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be booking a room at Disney World with this new offer? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Visa Cardmembers Can Save BIG on Disney World Hotels! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve been following our “Everything 50th” series, you’ve likely spotted one of the common threads throughout the 50th Anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World Resort - glowing EARidescence!View the full article

Disney World has changed a LOT over the last five years, and it wasn’t all due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cinderella Castle Five years is a long time, even if a global pandemic never happened, and there have been a number of big changes in Disney World. If you haven’t visited Disney World in five years, you might be REALLY confused when you arrive, so we’re here to go over all the changes! COVID-19 Changes Past and Current Changes When Disney World first reopened following the closure in 2020, social distancing was evident throughout the parks. Line markers were placed to distance guests in lines, and any attractions that placed guests in close proximity were either adjusted or temporarily suspended. Distancing Changes Are Happening Throughout the Parks Since then, social distancing markers have been removed and it’s mostly no longer a thing in Disney World. However, you may still see some plexiglass barriers in ride queues, in shops, and at some food locations, though we’ve been seeing those removed lately! Read more about plexiglass removal here. Social distancing has just been removed from character meet and greets, After the 2020 closure, character meet and greets were suspended, and when they were re-introduced in 2021, they were modified so that guests must maintain distance from the characters. We finally got to hug Mickey! Now you can hug Mickey and all of the other characters just like you could pre closure. Read more about the return of traditional meet and greets here. Masks have undergone several policy changes, and currently, masks are no longer required to be worn by vaccinated guests in most areas of Disney World. Masks must still be worn by everyone on enclosed Disney transportation methods, including buses and the Monorail. Orange Bird Mask Recently, Disney adjusted their mask policy so that it’s no longer required for vaccinated guests on board the Skyliner or the Star Wars hotel transportation shuttle, so we’re watching closely for any more changes. Click here for Disney World’s current mask policy. New Security Procedures One of the big changes introduced since 2020 were touchless security check-ins. In the past, security would involve Cast Members checking all guest bags before letting anyone enter the parks. Now, most guests can simply walk through a metal detector, though strollers and larger bags are still inspected. Security Screening at Disney Springs This is one of those changes that generally makes getting to a Disney Park a little faster and easier, but if you’re bringing a stroller or an especially large bag, you will have to stop to have a Cast Member inspect your belongings. There are also a few items (like umbrellas) that will need to be held in your hands when walking through the new security systems. Read more about security at Disney World here. Park Reservation System Something you definitely need to be aware of is the Park Reservation System, which was introduced following the 2020 closure. Before your visit, you need to reserve a park for you (and your group) for each day of your visit. If you don’t, you won’t be able to enter the park. Park passes can sell out too, so if you wait till the day of your visit, it might be too late. ©Disney Park hopping is still a thing, but you can’t park hop until 2PM after you first visit the park you reserved. Although many people wondered if this was a temporary change, it seems that it’s here to stay for the time being. Everything you need to know about the Park Pass Reservation System. Farewell Magical Express We bid farewell to Magical Express, the complimentary transportation service provided to Disney World hotel guests from Orlando Airport, in January 2022. This is one of the reasons why your Disney World trip might be more expensive, because you now have to reserve your own transportation method from the airport. Magical Express bus You can choose from two services that aren’t that different from Magical Express (other than costing money), such as Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer, as well as a variety of other transportation methods. It’s really up to you, but keep in mind that you might have to make your reservation in advance! Here are all the transportation methods from the Orlando Airport to Disney World! Goodbye FastPass, Hello Genie+ If FastPass was still a thing the last time you visited Disney World, we’re sorry to tell you that…it’s been replaced. The new way to skip the standby lines in Disney World costs money, and it’s called Genie+. It’ll set you back $15 per person, per day, and it includes over 40 rides, but the newest and most popular rides will cost you extra through Individual Lightning Lanes. Lightning Lane You won’t be able to make your first Genie+ selection until 7AM on the day you are going to use them. Of course, you can always opt to wait in standby lines for free, but if Genie+ sounds like something you want to do, we recommend reading our guide before your visit! You’ll need a smartphone, the My Disney Experience app, and a plan. The ONLY guide you need for Disney Genie+! Individual Attraction Selection (IAS) has also been introduced. This is separate from Genie+ and you don’t have to purchase Genie+ to use IAS. In this case, you will be x number of dollars per person for highly popular rides that tend to draw long lines, like Rise of the Resistance for example. Rise of the Resistance Prices can vary based on the day of the week and the time of the year. Disney World hotel guests and those staying at locations like Swan & Dolphin and Shades of Green can make their IAS selections day of at 7AM. Off-property guests can’t make these selections until they arrive at the parks. Get all the details on Individual Attraction Selection here! Annual Passholder Program The Annual Passholder program has changed in Disney World, with four brand new tiers of passes. There were some major changes to the program, and out of the four passes, only one (and the most expensive) is available to non-Florida residents. Also, Disney PhotoPass is no longer included with Annual Passes, but it can be added on for $99. 50th Anniversary Annual Passholder Magnet After the release of this new pass system, Disney quickly put most Annual Pass sales on PAUSE once again. Only the Pixie Pass is for sale right now, which is only available to Florida residents. Current Annual Passholders can still renew into the new program, so make sure you renew if you want to keep your pass! Read all about the NEW Disney World Annual Passholder program here. Hotel Renovations and New DVC Rooms Several hotels have undergone some big construction projects, such as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Both resorts received some new and updated room designs, with select Polynesian rooms now featuring a Moana theme, and the Contemporary featuring The Incredibles room designs. The Contemporary Resort also debuted a new restaurant, Steakhouse 71. The new Moana-themed rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Resort A few hotels are also in the midst of (or about to start) construction on additional Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas, like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Hotel & Spa and Polynesian Resort. Before you make your Disney World hotel reservation, it’s not a bad idea to check Disney’s website for up-to-date information about construction. The construction can be loud at times, so that is something to keep in mind if you are looking to stay at one of these hotels. Check out all the refurbishments and construction at Disney World here. Extra Magic Hour Changes Extra Magic Hours were once a perk for people staying in Disney World hotels, which would let guests enter Disney Parks early or stay late on select days. This has been replaced by two separate programs called Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. Early Theme Park Entry is available for all Disney World hotel guests, and it allows early entry into any Disney Park, 30 minutes before opening time. Early Entry Extended Evening Hours is a perk available only to deluxe Disney World hotels, and they’re offered at select parks on scheduled dates after closing time. Not all rides or restaurants are open during that time, but you do get to stay a few hours after the park is closed. Here’s everything you need to know about Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours. BIG Park Changes Pandora — the World of Avatar The land of Pandora opened in 2017 in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and its theme is based on the planet in the film Avatar. According to the lore of this land, the fictional Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE) has established the Valley of Mo’ara as a peaceful site of exploration. Pandora sign Pandora is home to two attractions, Avatar Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey, a quick service restaurant called Satu’li Canteen, and a snack stand called Pongu Pongu. Flight of Passage is one of Disney World’s most popular rides, and trust us, you want to try a Cheeseburger Pod from Satu’li! Read all about Pandora — The World of Avatar here! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2019, and it’s set in the Black Spire Outpost village on the planet Batuu, with the time period based between the films of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge You’ll find attractions such as Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and the very popular Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, as well as five different dining experiences, including quick service, a lounge, and three snack and beverage stands. Here’s EVERYTHING you need to know about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway The Great Movie Ride closed in Hollywood Studios in 2017, and it was replaced by Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in 2020. This is a trackless dark ride, with both screen and physical effects. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway On Runaway Railway, Goofy’s trail derails, and riders find themselves in a variety of scenes as Mickey and Minnie try to save the train. Read all about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway here! Construction in EPCOT EPCOT has been undergoing a multi-year transformation for several years now, and you might feel REALLY surprised to step foot in the park! From a new fountain in front of Spaceship Earth, to the park icon’s incredible nighttime makeover, a lot has changed. EPCOT Construction The construction is still in progress, but we’ve been watching closely for any changes. If you visit, make sure you prepare to see construction walls and understand that not everything has opened. Read all about the big EPCOT transformation here! And those are the BIGGEST changes you might have missed in the last 5 years. Understand that Disney World is very different now, and make sure you plan accordingly! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! The 6 BEST money saving tips — according to Disney World guests! 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 Disney World trip for the first time in 5 years? Tell us in the comments! The post How Disney World Has Totally Changed Over the Past 5 Years first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You might not need a face mask for your next flight to Disney World. The CDC recently extended the federal face mask mandate on public transportation, but a Florida judge ruled this mandate unlawful. Since then, the TSA has stated that it will NOT enforce the mandate on public transportation. So what does that mean for your individual flight? What does the change mean for you? The CDC is still recommending that people wear face masks on transportation, but this will not be enforced. As a result of this decision, many individual airlines have lifted their own mask mandates. Take a look at which airlines no longer have mask mandates here! A federal judge in Florida ruled that the face mask mandate on public transportation was unlawful, as a result of a July 2021 case against the mandate. In response, the TSA confirmed that they would not enforce the mandate on public transportation (which had been recently extended to last through May 3rd of this year). Orlando Airport There have been 5 extensions of the face mask mandate on public transportation. According to USA Today, several airlines and other travel officials have repeatedly requested that these restrictions be eased. The mandate has been removed now, effective immediately, which has prompted many airlines to adjust their own policies. Mask policies are changing Here’s a list of all the airlines that have changed their face mask policy so far (note that these changes are effective immediately): American Airlines — Face masks are no longer required for customers and employees at US airports and on domestic flights. Delta Air Lines — Masks are optional for passengers in US airports and onboard airplanes. United Airlines — Masks are no longer required on domestic flights, on select international flights, or at US airports. Southwest Airlines — Masks are optional for passengers and employees. Alaska Airlines — Masks are optional in US airports and on aircraft. JetBlue Airways — Masks are optional in airport terminals and onboard planes. Frontier Airlines — Masks are optional for passengers and employees in the US. For international travel, the requirements depend on the arrival and departure countries’ regulations. Spirit Airlines — Masks are optional on flights for passengers and employees. Hawaiian Airlines — Masks are optional for passengers and employees. Sun County Airlines — Masks are optional for passengers and employees. Avelo Airlines — Masks are optional for passengers and employees. Breeze Airways — Masks are optional for passengers and employees. You may not need a mask on your next flight. Of course, passengers and employees can still choose to wear a face mask if they would prefer to do so. We’ll keep an eye out for more information about these changes, so stay tuned with DFB for all the latest news that could impact your upcoming Disney trip! How busy is the Orlando International Airport? Find out 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. Are you flying to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments. The post Full List of Airlines that Have CHANGED Face Mask Requirements first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that the special session of the Legislature this week will consider eliminating all self-governing districts in Florida, including Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District around Walt Disney World. View the full article

A theme park attractions designer plans to open a studio in Orlando and hire local talent to staff it. View the full article

Masks are no longer required on Disney World’s Buses and Monorails! 19 April 2022 – Walt Disney World has announced that “Given recent guidance and trends” (meaning a court order) they are dropping the mandatory use of masks on their monorail and bus fleets! These 2 modes of transportation were the last vestiges of WDW’s […] The post Walt Disney World Totally Drops Mask Mandate appeared first on Military Disney Tips 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. The travel industry has been significantly impacted by the global pandemic, which you may have experienced when traveling to Disney World. Airplane We’ve seen quite a few changes with mask policies in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, with updates at Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and more. When it comes to travel, a mask mandate has been in place for anyone traveling by air in the United States, and today a big update to this mask mandate could affect your next flight. This change comes after a Florida judge voided the mask mandate on public transportation. Up until now, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has enforced a mask mandate requiring all travelers to wear a mask on public transportation methods, including on airplanes, at airports, and more. After extending the mandate deadline several times, today is when things change for travelers. Orlando International Airport The mask mandate on public transportation was actually extended recently, but then a federal judge in Florida ruled that the mandate was unlawful. Now, CNBC has reported that “The Transportation Security Administration will not enforce the mask mandate on public transportation after the court’s ruling” according to a Biden administration official. “However, the CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks on public transit.” Masks are no longer required So as of today, people will no longer be required to wear a face mask in airports, on airplanes, or on other public transportation vehicles. Orlando International Airport This change comes as COVID-19 cases decline in some areas of the U.S., with Orange County, Florida and Osceola County, Florida (the counties in which Disney World is located) recently having been downgraded to risk levels of medium and low, respectively, as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ©CDC As you may know, not long ago Disney World recently updated its mask policy to be optional for fully vaccinated guests, with the exception of some transportation methods. Masks are not required on the Skyliner. Mask Sign at the Monorail If you’re interested in keeping up-to-date on how COVID-19 continues to impact the world, here are some of the most recent COVID-19 or mask-related updates we’ve covered: Disney’s Hawaiian resort is changing its COVID-19 policies Disney World counties saw a change in COVID-19 risk category A COVID-19 test-to-treat initiative has been announced by the U.S. President The mask mandate is being suspended for many Disney Cruise Line sailings Face mask rules have changed in Disneyland Paris As we’ve learned, things change frequently when it comes to COVID-19 and mask policies, so we’ll continue to monitor developing situations around the world. Learn more about Disney World’s updated face mask policy 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. The post BREAKING: Masks No Longer Required on Planes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

First Look: New Grand Finale - ‘Main Street Electrical Parade' Debuting April 22 | Disneyland ParkView the full article

There’s one holiday that Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates better than ANY of the other Disney parks. Animal Kingdom In fact, Animal Kingdom even officially OPENED on this holiday back in 1998. Did you already guess what it is? If you said Earth Day, you’re correct! This holiday is coming on April 22nd (this Friday). Let’s check out the BIG way that you can celebrate this special day in the parks this week! We’ve already taken a look at some of the ways you can celebrate Earth Day (including new activities and limited-time treats), but today we saw even MORE additions to Animal Kingdom in honor of this holiday. Rare Character Meet-and-Greets A few animal friends made an appearance in Animal Kingdom to help celebrate Earth Day! We spotted some RARE characters around the park, including the beautiful Gypsy (the moth from A Bugs Life). It’s Gypsy! Gypsy was hanging out in the Tree of Life garden, so it’s easy to miss her if you don’t know she’s there. Gypsy At a different time of day, we saw two Brother Bear characters in the same spot. Say hello to Kenai and Koda! Kenai and Koda And the best part? With the recent character meet-and-greet changes, you can HUG these friends. A couple more furry friends were spotted in a flotilla on Discovery River — the hyenas from The Lion King! Can you spot them? They were sailing away when we spotted them, but Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed were out greeting guests from the river. See how character meet-and-greets CHANGED in Disney World recently! New Wilderness Explorer Badge Caw! Caw! Roar! Have you ever done the Wilderness Explorer challenges in Animal Kingdom? You can stop by any of the several Wilderness Explorer kiosks to grab a pamphlet with different tasks. You’ll travel around the park and complete these tasks, earning badges (stickers) along the way. For the upcoming holiday, there’s a new Earth Day badge! Earth Day Badge To get this badge, you’ll learn about national parks around the US. The activity involves drawing or tracing some nature (like pinecones, leaves, or rocks) in your Field Guide. Wilderness Explorer station for Earth Day Look for a kiosk like this one to get your Field Guide and start your adventures. Wilderness Explorer Kiosk The Wilderness Must Be Explored! Check out the BEST things to do in Disney World this April. New PhotoPass Options If you’re looking for a way to capture your Earth Day memories in Animal Kingdom, Disney’s PhotoPass Service has got you covered. There are a few new Magic Shots available in this park! There’s one where you can say hello to WALL-E and EVE. Find a photographer near the front of the park to get this one. WALL-E Magic Shot And there’s a new Tiny World Magic Shot as well. We’ve seen these before in Disney World, but the Earth Day one in Animal Kingdom adds some extra “feathered friends” to the shot in honor of the holiday. You can find this shot by the exit of It’s Tough to be a Bug! on the Tree of Life Trails. Tiny World Magic Shot If you’re curious about how this photo works, here’s a picture of the PhotoPass Photographer in action! They’ll use 360-degree camera to create these pictures. Creating the Tiny World Magic Shot There’s also a new PhotoPass Lens, which you can access on the My Disney Experience app. Head to the main menu and click “Disney PhotoPass Lenses” to find these. ©Disney The new lens will make you look like a Wilderness Explorer. It’s free from April 18th through April 24th. After the 24th, it will only be available to those who purchase Genie+. Learn all about PhotoPass in Disney World here. Free Virtual Backgrounds Whether you’re in the parks or staying home, you can access free virtual meeting backgrounds, mobile wallpapers, and desktop wallpapers from your My Disney Experience account. ©Disney These Earth Day-themed backgrounds feature animals that you can find in Animal Kingdom, like elephants, miniature goats, and gorillas. ©Disney You can download these for free from your My Disney Experience account for 45 days. Learn about more free, downloadable backgrounds here! LOTS of Treats And of course, we can’t forget about all the TREATS you can find for the special occasion in Animal Kingdom! We’ve already taken a look at these treats in another post, but we just had to remind you about them here. Buzz on over to Animal Kingdom for this treat! You can find a couple of limited-time cocktails, some animal-themed cupcakes, frozen drinks, and more around this park. Yeti Sunset Be sure to try these out before they’re gone! Click here to see more treats coming to Animal Kingdom for Earth Day. That’s it for the special celebrations in Animal Kingdom this week. We’ll continue to update this post as we see more changes in the park throughout this week leading up to April 22nd! Keep following DFB for all the latest updates. Click here to find out what else is 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. Are you visiting Animal Kingdom for Earth Day this week? Let us know in the comments. The post RARE Characters, NEW PhotoPass Shots, and MORE Come to Animal Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Character meet and greets are BACK, baby! We’re SO excited! Okay, maybe they’ve been back for a while, but today marks the first day that TRADITIONAL character meet and greets have returned — without the social distancing. You can get back to the hugs, high fives, and autographs with your Disney pals. But which meet and greets are back and which are still missing? Let’s take a look at the COMPLETE list of traditional character meet and greets in Disney World. Note, this list does NOT include the character meals that have returned to regular service! For that, head on over to our COMPLETE list of character dining that has returned to normal. Magic Kingdom Currently, the My Disney Experience app has a pretty big list of characters available for traditional character meet and greets, but keep in mind that you may see additional characters around the parks, too. The meet and greets that have returned to regular operation (we’re talking a regular schedule, hugs, and autographs; the whole shebang) in Magic Kingdom are… Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall Elena of Avalor at Princess Fairytale Hall Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall Captain Jack Sparrow in Adventureland Cinderella’s Stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella, in Fantasyland Belle at Enchanted Tales with Belle Chip ‘n Dale at Storybook Circus We FINALLY can hug Mickey! You can still spot the following characters at a distance in Magic Kingdom: Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland Stitch in Tomorrowland Country Bears in Frontierland (on a balcony near the Country Bear Jamboree) EPCOT The meet and greets that have returned to regular operation in EPCOT are… Classic Disney Pals near Spaceship Earth Goofy near EPCOT’s Main Entrance Pluto near EPCOT’s Main Entrance Alice in the UK Pavilion Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhaus Aurora in the France Pavilion Belle in the France Pavilion Donald in the Mexico Pavilion Jasmine in the Morocco Pavilion Joy in the Imagination Pavilion Mary Poppins in the UK Pavilion Mickey Mouse in the Imagination Pavilion Minnie Mouse at World Showcase Mulan in the China Pavilion Snow White in the Germany Pavilion Vanellope von Schweetz in the Imagination Pavilion HUGS! WOO! You can still spot the following characters at a distance in EPCOT: Winnie the Pooh in the field near the Imagination Pavilion Disney’s Hollywood Studios The meet and greets that have returned to regular operation in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are… Mickey Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams Minnie Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight Pluto at Animation Courtyard Doc McStuffins at Animation Courtyard Fancy Nancy at Animation Courtyard Vampirina at Animation Courtyard Sulley at Walt Disney Presents Bring your autograph book! You can still spot the following characters at a distance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Classic Disney Pals around the park: Chip ‘n’ Dale on the Brown Derby Lawn Daisy Duck on the Front Entrance Balcony Donald Duck on the Front Entrance Balcony Goofy on the Tower of Terror Balcony Star Wars Characters: First Order Stormtroopers in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Kylo Ren in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Rey in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Vi Moradi in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Chewbacca in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Currently, there are no character meet and greets listed on My Disney Experience in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We caught Kevin and Russel meeting guests in Discovery Island, though there is no official meet and greet schedule available at this time. Never a dull moment when Kevin is around! Additionally, some meet and greets that were the standard prior to the park closures have yet to return. We’ll be keeping an eye out for news about these beloved characters returning! Some of the missing character meet and greets include… In Magic Kingdom — Aladdin and Jasmine at Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Alice at Mad Tea Party, Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto, Daisy Duck at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Donald Duck at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Goofy at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Minnie Mouse at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Pluto at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Gaston in Fantasyland, Mary Poppins in Liberty Square, Merida at Fairytale Garden, Peter Pan at Peter Pan’s Flight, Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater In Disney’s Hollywood Studios — Ariel at Voyage of the Little Mermaid, BB-8 at Star Wars Launch Bay, Belle and Beast at Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage!, Woody and Bo Peep in Toy Story Land, Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story Land, Captain Phasma at Star Wars Launch Bay, Edna Mode in Pixar Place, the Incredibles in Pixar Place, Jessie in Toy Story Land, Mike at Walt Disney Presents In Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Dug at Discovery Island, Mickey Mouse at Meet Minnie and Mickey, Minnie Mouse at Meet Mickey and Minnie, Pluto in Dinoland USA, Scrooge McDuck in Dinoland USA, LaunchPad McQuack in Dinoland USA, Chip ‘n Dale in Dinoland USA, Donald Duck in Dinoland USA, Goofy in Dinoland USA, Pocahontas at Character Landing We’ll be updating this post as more character meet and greets change and return so keep checking back! And, as always, keep an eye on DFB for the latest updates! Click here to see the CHARACTER MEALS 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. What meet and greets are you excited about? Tell us in the comments! The post ALL the Character Meet and Greets That Returned to Normal in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Guardians of the Galaxy movies are known for more than just intense action scenes and incredible special effects. One of the key features of these films is the amazing and unique soundtracks! So of course we expected Disney World’s new Guardians of the Galaxy–themed roller coaster to follow suit with an awesome track. We’re getting closer to the opening! Now, we finally have confirmation on what the official soundtrack will be for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which opens in EPCOT on May 27th of this year. Spoiler alert: the soundtrack WON’T be the same every time you ride it! Disney has released the official soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. They said that Imagineers started with a list of over 100 potential songs for this attraction and then “rode the attraction over and over again (it’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it) testing how various tracks fit with the spirit and the movement of the coaster.” Imagineer Zach Riddley shared that at one point he rode the coaster about 30 times over 2 days! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Eventually, the long list was narrowed down to just 6 songs. Here’s the mix for this ride: “September” “Disco Inferno” “Conga” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” “I Ran” “One Way or Another” ©Zach Riddley But here’s the kicker — a single ride doesn’t include all of these songs. In fact, Disney says that “you won’t know which track you’ll hear each time you ride until you actually blast off!” Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Attraction Vehicle Riddley has said that all the songs have different energies and make the ride a different experience. His personal favorite is “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” since it’s so different from the other 5 songs on the list and it was released in 1985, which puts it in the same era as when EPCOT opened (in 1982). ©Disney And you can hear some of the songs that didn’t make it into the final ride mix as you exit the ride! There are “several dozen songs” that will play in this area, so you can hear some of the songs that were considered for the attraction. ©Zach Riddley via Instagram (@thezachriddley) We can’t wait to check out the soundtrack and the rest of this coaster when it opens on May 27th this year! Keep following DFB for more of the latest news from Disney World. Check out the VILLAIN you’ll have to defeat in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? EPCOT’s Three New Neighborhoods Have Debuted — Learn More Here Learn About the NEW Restaurant Coming to EPCOT – Connections Cafe and Eatery A Starbucks Will Be Inside EPCOT’s New Restaurant – Get More Details Here Go Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure With Us Check Out All of the Tasty Details About La Crêperie de Paris Learn All About Space 220, Which Has Officially OPENED in EPCOT See Spaceship Earth’s Permanent New Nighttime Look Learn More About EPCOT’s New Nighttime Spectacular -- Harmonious The Mary Poppins Attraction is on Hold – Learn More Here What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? Learn More About the New PLAY! Pavilion Coming to EPCOT See All the Details You Need to Know About the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster Coming to World Discovery Learn More About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana, Coming to World Nature Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Epcot transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which of the songs on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’s soundtrack is your favorite? Let us know in the comments. The post SOUNDTRACK Revealed for Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Walt Disney World reveals 6 songs for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster debuting at Epcot next month. View the full article

Traditional character meet and greets and character dining in Disney World are BACK in Disney World! Chef Mickey at Chef Mickey’s! We’ve been checking out ALL of the meet and greet options in all four theme parks, but we can’t forget the character dining! So, which restaurants have brought back the hugs and high fives? This is a COMPLETE list of back-to-normal character dining in Disney World! The following character dining locations have returned to normal operation! That means you can take close pictures, high five, and hug your favorite Disney characters. The locations are… Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald) Hollywood and Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and Roadster Goofy at breakfast and Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and sometimes Pluto at other meals) Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie) Garden Grill in EPCOT (Mickey, Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale) Artist Point — Story Book Dining with Snow White at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort (Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and The Evil Queen) Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy) Hi, Snow White! A few meals currently have characters appearing, but still don’t have the full character experience: Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom (see Cinderella!) Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom (see Beast!) Cinderella Finally, a few character meals have still yet to return. Those include: The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom (open without characters) Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort (open without characters) ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (open without characters) Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Resort (open without characters) 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (still closed) Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT (still closed) ©Disney We’ll be updating this post as more character dining changes and returns so keep checking back! And, as always, keep an eye on DFB for the latest updates! Click here to see our experience at Chef Mickey’s this morning! 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. Making a character dining reservation soon? Tell us in the comments! The post The COMPLETE List of Back-to-Normal Character Dining Restaurants In Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Anyone who’s watched the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies knows Peter Quill (a.k.a. Star-Lord) loves music more than just about anything. Classic pop tunes are woven into the fabric of why we adore these films and characters so much, so I’m happy to report there will also be a great playlist for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind when this new attraction debuts May 27 at EPCOT. View the full article

What do you do when it’s your day off from the park? Well, one of our favorite stops is Disney Springs! Disney Springs Disney World’s shopping and dining complex is full of exciting things to do, as well as lots of delicious eats. The past few days have been busy ones in Disney Springs, as they got new treats, new merchandise, and returned offerings, so we’re sharing all of the news that you may have missed! Disney Springs Food Updates Earl of Sandwich Let’s start this party over at Earl of Sandwich, where we tried out their newest addition, the Spicy BBQ Vegan Chicken Sandwich. It’s made with vegan chicken, vegan pepper jack, vegan slaw, onions, and BBQ sauce for $8.49. Spicy BBQ Vegan Chicken Sandwich We honestly really loved this sandwich, and our reporter said that even non-Vegans should try it out! The BBQ sauce was nice and sweet, but we didn’t think it was spicy AT ALL. So if you’re hoping for something mild, don’t be deterred by the title! Click Here for Our Full Sandwich Review! Goofy’s Candy Co. Also in food news, customizable treats are back at Goofy’s Candy Co! You can once again fill out a form that allows you to choose from a variety of toppings and ingredients to create your ultimate bakery case snack. Go make your own! This option is available daily from 12PM to 10PM, and you can choose between a few separate treat options to customize, like Rice Krispies or candy apples. You’ll then get to choose a dipping flavor and a topping to make your sweet snack unique! Click Here to Learn How to Customize Your Treat! Disney Springs Construction Updates Salt & Straw The next addition planned for Disney Springs is one that we’re really excited about — Salt & Straw! This ice cream shop is set to open on April 20th in the West Side area, and it won’t be the first time that they have a Disney location…there’s already one at Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort. We can’t wait! Salt & Straw is known for having unusual flavors (especially for holidays), so we’re eager to see what’s on the menu in a few days. We’ll be there to cover ALL the details! Click Here to See the Weirdest Salt & Straw Flavors! Disney Springs Merchandise Updates World of Disney First up in merchandise news from Disney Springs is a new mug at World of Disney! You can grab this “Enjoy” design for $22.99 — the perfect way to sip your morning caffeine. Okay, we need this. One side has Mickey head, while the other has “enjoy” in cursive print, and it’s all topped off with a stunning golden-painted handle. Art of Disney And a few stores down at Art of Disney, we spotted the Merida doll from the Disney Designer Collection. These pricey collectibles are $129 each, and we’ve seen several other princess designs in the past few months. WERK it Merida! She’s definitely a little more “punk” than the other dolls we’ve seen, but we’re LOVING that complicated braid updo. Perfect for the princess who’s “shooting for her own hand.” Click Here to Check Out the 50th Anniversary Merchandise! That’s everything new in Disney Springs this week! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates from the theme parks and the rest of Disney World! Click Here to See What’s New in Hollywood Studios! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite thing to do in Disney Springs? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New in Disney Springs: Salt & Straw Construction and the Return of Build Your Own Treats first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article