Disney4me

If you’ve ever been walking right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., then you’ve probably seen Cast Members appearing as though they’re about to float away as they hold giant bunches of the famous Mickey balloons. We love Mickey balloons But, have you ever wondered how those balloons are made (it’s like a balloon within a balloon…how is that even POSSIBLE?)? Well, wonder no more because Disney Parks recently shared an Instagram reel that gives us a behind the scenes look at how the magic is made. In the Instagram reel, we’re shown the process of how each balloon gets blown up every day. (Spoiler alert: they blow up the Mickey part first, THEN the outside). Mickey balloons Once all of the balloons are blown up, it’s time to head out onto Main Street to start selling them! You can watch the full Instagram reel below. What’s New in Magic Kingdom: Designer PRINCESS Ears, an Easter Balloon, and MORE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be buying a balloon the next time you’re in Disney? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: Watch One of Disney's Famous Balloons Be Made first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Here at DFB, we ask the hard-hitting questions. Today’s super-serious question? What’s better than churros and corn dogs? We eat a LOT of churros! The answer? DISCOUNTED churros and corn dogs (obviously). If you agree with that answer, you’ll want to read on to see if this new discount applies to you! D23 is “The Official Disney Fan Club” which brings its members perks like special access to expos (like the D23 Expo this September), merchandise, exclusive content, and apparently discounted churros and corn dogs! Corn Dog! This is arguably one of the best perks we’ve seen for D23 members yet. D23 announced that D23 Gold Members will receive 10% off of their entire purchase at Sunshine Churros at Disney Springs… Sunshine Churros in Disney Springs …California Churro at Downtown Disney… California Churro Co. …and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Downtown Disney. Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs So D23 Gold Members…what’re you waiting for? Go use your 10% discount while it’s still valid! All you have to do is show your D23 Gold Membership card at the time of purchase to score this discount. After you do, be sure to check back here for the latest Disney (and churro/corn dog) news! EVERY. SINGLE. Churro You Can Get at Disneyland Resort Right NOW Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be attending this year’s D23 Expo? Let us know in the comments! The post Are You Eligible For an EXCLUSIVE Discount on Two Classic Disney Snacks?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s that special time of year that people look forward to all spring. The time of year when outfits are thoughtfully selected, photos are specially posed, and everyone comes together to celebrate. (And no, we’re not talking about Easter; sorry Mr. Easter Bunny) It’s time to live vicariously through others and judge celebrity fashion from the comfort of our nice, cozy sofa — Coachella is HERE! We just KNOW fashionista Daisy would thrive at Coachella Of course, you might be wondering, “Umm…what does this have to do with Disney World?” Well, sweet Disney-lovers, let us explain. Toss on a little Harry Styles music and gather around, we’re going to Coachella! Does Joe Rohde even need an introduction? He’s a Disney LEGEND (and, just a cool person in general) who was responsible for the design and creation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Aulani, and SO many more Disney projects. We could write a whole book on his accomplishments, but in short, he’s a creative genius. Got it? Ok, moving on! ©Orlando Sentinel Among all the influencer chatter and “candid” celebrity photos, Joe Rohde decided to join in on Instagram to share his Coachella adventures. Joe Rohde? At Coachella? Bet you didn’t have THAT on your 2022 bingo card. Move over Vanessa Hudgens, sorry Justin Bieber, we have to hand the Coachella crown over to Joe Rohde. In the first of several Instagram posts, Rohde wrote, “Coachella. Might be a little old for this but… We’ll see how this goes. I certainly won’t be running around in yoga pants.” If you’re like us, you might be wondering what a former Disney Imagineer and design ICON wears to a music festival. Luckily, singer Anitta shared this post on her Instagram story, crediting Rohde as her set designer. When discussing his work at Coachella, Rohde explained, “My purpose in retirement was to explore. I haven’t designed a stage show/set for forty years. Could have been a failure…and therefore a chance to learn and grow. Luckily, and because of the talent, energy, and heart of the team…it seems to be well-received. And it was fun and educational for me.” Credit: @anitta on Instagram Coachella has only just begun, but you can all go home. Joe Rodhe already won. In the meantime, stay tuned for more Disney news and theme park updates! You Can Now Eat LUNCH Underground at a 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. Have you been following the Coachella coverage on social media? Let us know in the comments! The post Coachella is HERE and We're Living Vicariously Through a Disney Legend (?!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Easter is almost here, which means Disney World has been BUSY this week! It’s the Easter Bunny! Even though a lot of festive things have been going on, like the giant decorative chocolate eggs, the Easter Bunny, and the special bakery, that hasn’t been enough to draw people away from all of the rides in the parks. So, let’s take a look at the average wait times from this week to see how busy it’s been! Magic Kingdom Let’s head to Magic Kingdom! This week, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time with 94 minutes! Mine Train! After that, we had Jungle Cruise at 75 minutes, Peter Pan’s Flight at 69 minutes, Space Mountain at 58 minutes, Splash Mountain at 57 minutes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 45 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 43 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 42 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 37 minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean at 35 minutes, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 34 minutes, and “it’s a small world” at 30 minutes. Haunted Mansion Next, we had Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini at 29 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin at 28 minutes, Tomorrowland Speedway at 28 minutes,Dumbo the Flying Elephant at 26 minutes, and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid at 24 minutes. PeopleMover Then, we saw Mad Tea Party at 17 minutes, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at 16 minutes, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at 14 minutes, and Mickey’s PhilharMagic at 14 minutes. Teacups And rides that only had wait times in the single digits were Country Bear Jamboree at 4 minutes, Carousel of Progress at 4 minutes, Tom Sawyer Island at 3 minutes, and Liberty Square Riverboat at 3 minutes. Rides with no waits were Hall of Presidents, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. EPCOT Over in EPCOT, the ride with the longest average wait was Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at 80 minutes. Remy’s Then, we had Frozen Ever After at 73 minutes, Test Track at 64 minutes, Soarin’ at 34 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 33 minutes, Spaceship Earth at 21 minutes, The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 13 minutes, Journey into Imagination at 13 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 12 minutes, Living with the Land at 11 minutes, and Gran Fiesta Tour at 10 minutes. Turtle Talk! Most of the theater shows in EPCOT had zero waits this past week! These included: Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China! Hollywood Studios Moving on to Hollywood Studios, Rise of the Resistance had the highest average wait time this week at 135 minutes. Rise of the Resistance After that, we had Tower of Terror at 111 minutes, Slinky Dog Dash at 99 minutes, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at 68 minutes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith at 66 minutes, Toy Story Mania at 56 minutes, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 52 minutes. Hey Howdy Hey And finally, we had Alien Swirling Saucers at 45 minutes, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at 25 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at 16 minutes, Muppet*Vision 3D at 10 minutes, and Walt Disney Presents at 10 minutes. Animal Kingdom Hopping over to Animal Kingdom, the ride with the longest average wait time this week was Avatar Flight of Passage at 90 minutes. Flight of Passage Then, we had Na’vi River Journey at 64 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 64 minutes, Kali River Rapids at 33 minutes, and DINOSAUR at 24 minutes. Safari time! Following behind was Triceratop Spin at 12 minutes, It’s Tough to Be a Bug at 11 minutes, The Boneyard at 0 minutes, and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at 0 minutes. Little baby That’s your look at the average wait times around Walt Disney World this week! Stay tuned to DFB more Disney news and updates. Click here to see what’s new in Magic Kingdom! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which ride from an international Disney park do you wish was in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post 13 Rides Had Average Wait Times Over an Hour in Disney World This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you haven’t heard, Disney World is super busy right now! EPCOT There’s a ton happening at the parks right now, and with buzz around new rides and dining locations, it can get pretty hectic. If you’re going to Disney World next week, keep reading, because we have all of the hour and pass updates you’ll need! Magic Kingdom Park Hours Magic Kingdom will be open from 9AM until 11PM every day next week, with Extended Evening Hours for select resort guests on April 20th until 1AM. ©Disney Now on to EPCOT! EPCOT Park Hours EPCOT will be open from 8:30AM until 9PM every day this week, with Extended Evening Hours on April 18th until 11PM. ©Disney Let’s take a look at Hollywood Studios! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Hours Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open from 8AM until 9PM every day this week! ©Disney Let’s look at the last park, Animal Kingdom! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Hours Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 7:30AM until 8:30PM every day this week! ©Disney Let’s check out those park reservations! Incredi Pass Reservation Availability Incredi Pass Holders can make reservations at Magic Kingdom every day this week except for April 23rd. EPCOT is available every day, Hollywood Studios is available every day except April 23rd, and Animal Kingdom is only available on April 22nd and 23rd. ©Disney Let’s look at the other passes! Sorcerer Pass Reservation Availability Sorcerer Pass holders can make Magic Kingdom reservations every day except April 23rd, EPCOT reservations every day, Hollywood Studios every day except April 23rd, and Animal Kingdom on April 22nd and 23rd. ©Disney Now for Pirate Pass! Pirate Pass Reservation Availability Pirate Pass Holders are blocked out until April 24th! ©Disney On to the last annual pass! Pixie Dust Pass Reservation Availability Pixie Dust Pass Holders are blocked out until April 25th! ©Disney Let’s look at other ticket reservations! Theme Park Ticket Reservation Availability Theme Park Ticket Holders can only make reservations at EPCOT on Saturday, April 23rd. ©Disney Last reservation check! Select Resort Hotel Reservation Availability Select Resort Hotel Guests can only make reservations at EPCOT on Saturday, April 23rd. ©Disney Based on availability, it’s pretty clear that Disney World will be packed full of guests next week. That’s all for this week’s park hours and pass update! Stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see all of Disney World’s Hours for May and June! 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 Disney World next week? Let us know in the comments! The post Proof That Disney World Will Be PACKED Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Easter is tomorrow (!!!!) and Disney World has rolled out a bunch of new experiences, merchandise and, of course, lots of new treats for the holiday. On top of all that, we even saw the Easter Bunny in the Magic Kingdom earlier this week! Le Petit Cafe Many of these Easter offerings have been available since the beginning of the month until the Easter holiday itself, but this treat from Disney’s Riviera Resort is only available for two days! This Easter offering is the Strawberry Milk Chocolate Bunny! It’s a white chocolate bunny, filled with chocolate mousse and strawberry mousse, sitting on yellow cake with a white chocolate ribbon. Did we mention that it’s pink? It’s pretty cute! It’s pink! The chocolate and strawberry mousse filling, though, is also quite tasty — it’s similar to a cheesecake filling, so it isn’t super sweet. Also, it’s made with REAL strawberries. The cake on the bottom is very tasty — the moist cake has just a hint of vanilla flavor. We liked the cake part so much, we kinda’ wish there were more of it! We can’t even with how sweet it looks! But the best part might just be the ears! They’re actually made with raspberry chocolate, which was a nice surprise! Honestly, we would’ve eaten that part first if we’d known! The ears are delicious! This dessert, though, does have a serious flaw: once we took it outside, it started melting — the ears and the ribbon around the cake were the first things to go, but the inside also lost its texture and turned into something like a strawberry chocolate soup. Pro tip: eat this one inside where there’s some air conditioning. You’ll thank us later. It’s starting to melt… The white chocolate part of the filling was also quite delicious — it reminded us of the chocolate pudding we loved as kids. Inside…(yes, it’s starting to melt) Overall, though, this is a fun dessert to try with some unique flavors! Just remember to eat it right away or keep it refrigerated for best results. You can get this Strawberry Milk Chocolate Bunny for $7.29 at Le Petit Cafe. As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney food news! A Divisive Springtime Treat is BACK 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. Will you be able to try this limited-time Easter treat? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Warning! Do NOT Eat the Newest Disney World Snack Outside! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Round up the gang and settle in for a little story — or should we say, a little Toy Story. Over in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure, Toy Story Midway Mania draws some big lines and invites some fierce competition. (Seriously, getting the “Best in Vehicle” score is SO exciting) Every once in a while, though, the game goes awry and playtime is over sooner than expected. Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Recently, Toy Story Midway Mania had some technical difficulties. Let’s take a look! Toy Story Midway Mania recently experienced some technical difficulties, and thanks to DFB reader Amanda, we can see a little peek of the evacuation in Disney California Adventure. Credit: DFB reader Amanda During an attraction evacuation, the lights come on and guests are typically asked to remain seated until a Cast Member comes to escort them off the attraction. In this case, a Cast Member came over to each ride vehicle to manually open the door. Credit: DFB reader Amanda Recently, we’ve been seeing some long wait times and attraction closures in both Disney World and Disneyland, so be prepared for technical difficulties; you never know when something might break down! Guests exiting Splash Mountain in Disney World You can use the My Disney Experience app to see which rides are temporarily closed and find out when they reopen! ©Disney Since then, it looks like Toy Story Mania is back up and running! We’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more! PHOTOS: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Evacuated in Disney World Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! Check Out Important Details about the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Face Mask Policy Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you ever been evacuated from a Disney attraction? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Disney's Toy Story Midway Mania Attraction EVACUATED! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s hard to believe that there is still so much missing from Disney World nearly two years after its reopening. You still can’t ship your purchases to the front of the park or to your hotel We still haven’t seen the return of Minnie Vans (although Disney has confirmed they’ll return soon). Some entertainment has not yet come back. The Disney Dining Plan is still MIA. And the service that Disney used to offer that would allow you to send your purchases directly to either the front of the park or to your hotel is still gone. However, there is at least ONE purchase you can make at Disney World that you won’t have to lug around the park with you all day. If you happen to visit Windtraders in Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, an item you buy there can be held at the store until the end of the day. Windtraders in Pandora That item is one of the colorful banshees that you can purchase there. We spoke to a Cast Member who told us that if you buy a banshee, you can ask the store to hold it there for you until the end of the day — but note that you have to pick it up by 7:30PM. Banshees can be held at the store These banshees have authentic sounds, along with three ranges of motion — you can move their mouth, head, and wings with your hand. They come in a variety of colors — so you just have to choose which one you want to adopt (aka purchase). When you make your purchase, just ask the Cast Member to hold it for you at the store, and be sure to drop by the store before you leave the park (or before 7:30PM) to pick it up! Banshee We’ll let you know if we find out about any other similar services being offered at Disney World, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! Thousands of Disney Guests Comment On If They Will Buy the Disney Dining Plan When It Returns — Here’s What They Said! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you have one of these banshees? Let us know in the comments! The post It Just Got EASIER to Buy This Unique Disney World Souvenir! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

WAIT! Before you get on that plane or start up the car for your upcoming Disney World trip, you should check out what’s going to be CLOSED in the parks and hotels. Cinderella Castle It can be very disappointing to head straight for your favorite attraction, only to find out that it’s not available at that time. To help you avoid some of that heartache, here’s a complete list of the scheduled refurbishments happening in Disney World this coming week! Let’s start out the list with Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom The Walt Disney World Railroad is still closed in Magic Kingdom. This attraction has been unavailable for a long time now, and it’s not quite ready to reopen. Walt Disney World Railroad We have, however, seen a pretty big update with the Railroad. For a while, the stretch of tracks from Fantasyland to the Main Street, U.S.A. station were gone, but now those tracks are back! We probably still won’t see the Railroad reopen until construction wraps up over at the site for TRON: Lightcycle Run. Tracks are back! We don’t have an opening date for the TRON roller coaster yet, but hopefully Disney will announce that soon. We’ll keep an eye out for specific opening dates for both of these attractions! Check out a video of Walt Disney World Railroad testing here! Disney’s Animal Kingdom In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest has finally reopened! This roller coaster was closed for a 3-month refurbishment, but it’s now open and ready for guests. Expedition Everest is open! As a reminder, Expedition Everest is available with Genie+ from now until August 7th, 2022. Before it closed, this coaster was one of the pay-per-ride attractions in Animal Kingdom, but now it’s on the normal Genie+ system. Genie+ costs $15 per ticket, per day, and it allows guests to reserve times to skip the lines at certain attractions. Expedition Everest Lightning Lane Finding Nemo: The Musical is still closed. When the musical returns, it’ll actually be reimagined with new characters from Finding Dory! Finding Nemo: The Musical is getting some changes! This updated show will be called Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! Disney recently provided an update on the show’s opening timeline, saying that it should debut in the next few months. Learn why Animal Kingdom is THE place to be for treats right now! EPCOT Souk-Al-Magreb, a gift shop in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, is closed right now. Souk-Al-Magreb is still closed. This gift shop disappears from the refurbishment calendar this coming weekend, on April 24th, 2022. It’s possible that the store will reopen on that day, but we’ve seen the shop disappear and then returned to the calendar in the past, so we don’t know for sure. A fire was reported in EPCOT last week following “Harmonious.” Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney’s Hollywood Studios will see a couple of long-term closures continue this week. The Voyage of the Little Mermaid show is closed, and it doesn’t have a reopening date yet. Voyage of the Little Mermaid And the nighttime show Fantasmic! is also still closed. This popular nighttime spectacular will come back sometime in 2022, but Disney hasn’t given a more specific timeline yet. Fantasmic! When Fantasmic! returns, the show will look a little bit different, with new characters and stunts. Another attraction was having some issues in Hollywood Studios recently. Disney World Water Parks Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is closed for refurbishments at this time. Disney hasn’t announced when it will reopen, and the calendar does not show any opening times for the park through the beginning of June at least. Blizzard Beach However, Typhoon Lagoon (Disney’s other water park) is open at this time! So you can still head in to enjoy water rides, pools, and themed snacks. Which Disney World water park is BETTER? Disney World Hotels Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is still open for guests to reserve rooms, but construction has started on 200 new DVC Resort Studios, which are located in the Big Pine Key building. You might see or hear some construction going on during your next visit to this hotel. Construction walls are up If you want to stay in the new rooms, you can book your reservations now. The rooms, which have a Mary Poppins Returns theme, are expected to be ready in the summer of 2022. Take a virtual tour of the new rooms here! Hotel Pool Refurbishments Some Disney World hotel pools are currently unavailable. At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, the Martinique Village pool is closed for refurbishment. The pool is expected to reopen in mid-April 2022. If you’re staying at this hotel, you can still visit one of the other pools located nearby! Martinique Village Pool At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Samawati Springs Pool is closed. It will remain closed through April 2022. Guests at this hotel can head to the Uzima Springs Pool (also located at this hotel) instead. Samawati Springs Pool The Cozy Cone Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has finally reopened! That means that, as of now, all of the pools at this hotel are open for guests to use. Cozy Cone Pool The Righteous Reef Playground, however, is still closed for some refurbishments at Art of Animation. Righteous Reef Playground That’s a wrap on our report of all the closures in Disney World next week! Keep following DFB for more updates as you plan your upcoming vacation. See ALL the Disney World hotels and rides that will be closed in April. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which of these closures will affect your vacation? Let us know in the comments. The post A Popular Disney World Ride Has REOPENED! Here's What’s Still CLOSED! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the Easter season in Disney World and there are so many ways to celebrate! It’s the Easter Bunny! You can get treats over at the special bake stand in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, check out the GIANT decorative chocolate eggs, and even see the Easter Bunny! There are also a bunch of fun limited-time foods around Disney World, and today, we checked out a returning favorite from last year to see if it’s still a winner! This is the Easter Soft-serve from Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! Easter Soft Serve It’s pink vanilla soft-serve with toasted marshmallow flavors topped with Easter sprinkles for $4.99. Easter Soft Serve! We had this treat last year and we LOVED it! It was like Marshmallow Fluff in soft-serve form. But, how is it this year? Does it still live up to the hype? Let’s find out! This was a big hit last year! It’s definitely less pink than the one we tried last year, and this treat was melting FAST! The marshmallow flavor was more on the subtle side, which we loved! The marshmallow taste came through in the vanilla really nicely, and the sprinkles were so fun and cute! Poly’s new soft serve treat! The sprinkles are festive for the season, but they don’t do much except add more sugar to an already sweet treat. Keep that in mind if you don’t have a big sweet tooth! If you’re in the mood for something citrusy or a little less sweet, grab a regular cup of Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai instead. If you like more plain ice cream or are a marshmallow fan, then definitely give this treat a try! This treat is available until April 18th, so you only have a few days to try it! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World food reviews and updates. Click here to see ALL of the foods in Disney World for Easter! 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 of Dole Whip is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post Is Disney World's Limited-Time Marshmallow Ice Cream as Good as We Remember? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is constantly releasing new treats — sometimes, it’s hard to keep up. Main Street Confectionery But we DO keep up, and when we spot new treats, we’re right there trying them out and getting you reviews. Although we’ve been eating a lot of Easter snacks lately (so many bunny butts, carrot cake goodies, and more), we spotted three NEW candy-related treats today — and we tried them out! These new treats were at Main Street Confectionery (we bet you’re imagining that building’s wonderful smell right now, aren’t you?). First up is the Snickers Pound Cake. Yep — that’s what we said. SNICKERS. POUND. CAKE. It’s a vanilla pound cake topped with caramel syrup, chocolate drizzle, crumbled nougat, and peanut pieces. Snickers PLUS Pound Cake? This is literally a Snickers bar in cake form and that’s exactly what it tastes like. The toppings add a lot of flavor to the simple pound cake beneath — we’re glad the cake itself didn’t have too much going on. The pound cake was a little dry, though, but we appreciated that it wasn’t too sweet (the toppings take care of the sugary parts of this snack). If you love Snickers, GET this for $5.29. YUMMY Then we got to try a Dove Chocolate Rugelach for $4.99, This is made with buttery dough that is rolled with chocolate and baked. Um…OH, YEAH. It almost has a cookie-like consistency, and the Dove chocolate is rich and sweet. Swirls The Rugelach is VERY rich and you’ll want to have a beverage handy to wash it all down with. We think milk would be an excellent choice. Note that this is a darker chocolate, so you’ll need to like dark chocolate to truly appreciate the flavor here. Delicious chocolate in those swirls! Finishing out our trio of sweet treats is the Three Musketeers Quesito for $4.99. A quesito is actually a Puerto Rican pastry twist filled with cream cheese. This pastry twist is filled with Cream Cheese and drizzled with Chocolate. This is the lightest of the three snacks, but equally as delicious. The chocolate was also quite good! It’s a quesito! Let’s take a look inside, too — see how wonderful flaky that pastry is? However, that does mean you’ll end up with lots of crumbs, so have napkins ready. The cream cheese filling is also delicious. We would say, though, that because this is so full of air, we felt it wasn’t entirely worth the price. Flaky! These treats are all available RIGHT NOW, so be sure to drop by the Main Street Confectionery the next time you’re in Magic Kingdom! We’ll be sure to let you know when we find more new snacks, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite treat from Main Street Confectionery? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Didn't Know We Needed A Candy Bar CAKE at Disney World...Until Now 😍 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. There are so many ways to cool down on a hot day, even in the parks! Typhoon Lagoon is OPEN! Unfortunately, we can’t always be in the parks to cool down with Splash Mountain or walk around Blizzard Beach with a bucket of ice cream, but pool days can still get the job done! And with shopDisney’s swim sale, you can bring some Disney magic with you wherever you go this summer! The Swim-sational Savings Event on shopDisney makes shopping for new swim gear a splash! This limited-time sale gives you 20% off swim style purchases of $50 or more, for select styles! Finding $50 worth of swim clothes won’t be hard, as there are so many options! There’s enough variety to even buy the whole family a complete outfit — towels, slides, sunglasses, goggles, coverups, swimsuits, bags, and more! ©shopDisney We found this adorable Frozen 2 Swimsuit for Girls, and we can’t let it go! ©shopDisney The swimsuit is $26.99, features Anna and Elsa, and has one spaghetti strap and one shoulder strap with layered mesh (so cute)! Get the Frozen 2 swimsuit here Take a dip with Buzz, Woody, Forky, and our other toy friends with these Toy Story 4 Swim Trunks for Boys! ©shopDisney We love the bright yellows, blues, and purples, as well as the zippered pockets! The artwork is so cool too! These unique trunks are $22.99. Get the Toy Story 4 Swim Trunks here Shield those eyes from the sun with a pair of sunglasses, like the Minnie Mouse Sunglasses for Kids! ©shopDisney These adorable sunglasses are covered in polka dots and feature one of the most popular Disney characters, Minnie Mouse! These sunglasses are for ages 3 and up, and provide 100% UVA and UVB protection! These cost $8.99. Get the Minnie Mouse Sunglasses here And for some eye protection in the water, you can grab a pair of goggles! These Spider-Man Swim Goggles for Kids are $9.99, and help you swing into fun! ©shopDisney With Spider-Man on each lens, your kids are ready to save the day…or the pool! These are for ages 3 and up, and come in one size (which fits most kids). Get the Spider-Man Swim Goggles here When your kiddo is done splashing around, dry them off with a towel, like the Mickey Mouse Swim Towel for Baby! This towel costs $24.99, and brings a splash of color (and Mickey) to the beach or pool! Get the Mickey Mouse Swim Towel here These are only some of the options you can find! Other themes for the swim gear include Star Wars, Disney princesses, and Stitch! So go find some swim gear now, and don’t forget to spend $50 or more (on select styles) so you can get 20% off of your swim style purchases! You’ll also have to enter the code SWIM20 at checkout to receive this deal. After you do, be sure to check back here for the latest Disney news (and sales)! Want to see some adorable Disney swim shoes (that are also included in this sale)? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be buying anything during this sale? Let us know in the comments! The post Need to Stock Up on Disney Summer Items, But Don't Want to Pay Full Price? Now's Your Chance! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy (almost) Easter to all our DFB friends who celebrate it! Easter is here! In honor of the special day, we’ve spent a month at Disney World eating a ton of Easter snacks, including things with bunny butts, birds, and more! We’ve even said hello to Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny! Today, though, we got to see the first Easter Parade at Magic Kingdom — and we’re bringing you along with us! What makes this parade so special is that you only get to see it on Easter weekend! But this is the first time we’ve seen the parade in several years because there wasn’t an Easter parade in 2020 and 2021 due to the global health crisis. But parades are back, so the Easter parade is ON again this year! The Easter parade is back! The Easter Parade is a great chance to see some unique performances by Disney World’s excellent Cast Member performers. The Easter Parade! But it’s also a chance to see some rare characters! Happy Easter! It’s also another chance to see Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny! We’ll be covering all the big Easter things going on at Disney World this weekend, so don’t go anywhere! The ULTIMATE Easter Baskets are Hiding in a Disney World Hotel! Check Them Out! 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 in Magic Kingdom this weekend? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS & VIDEO: First Look at This Year's Easter Parade in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been closed for several months for refurbishment. It was scheduled to reopen in mid-April and, after a brief moment where that reopening timeline was removed from the website, we got the news that it would be reopening on April 16th! Expedition Everest Well, after a bumpy start to reopening this morning (it was closed for several hours due to technical difficulties), we are happy to say that Expedition Everest is officially open! With this reopening also comes a change to how Genie+ and Lightning Lane work for this attraction! Today, when Animal Kingdom opened, Expedition Everest was available with the standard Genie+ service, not as an Individual Attraction Selection. This means that guests who purchase the standard Genie+ service for $15 will be able to book a Lightning Lane for Expedition Everest without paying an additional fee. Expedition Everest Before its closure, in order to get a Lightning Lane for Expedition Everest, you would have needed to purchase it separately. This change will remain in place until August 7th. Here’s the Lightning Lane ready to go at this popular ride! Expedition Everest Lightning Lane is OPEN! It just got a little cheaper to ride one of the most popular Disney World coasters! Now you can pay $15 to skip the line at almost every ride in Animal Kingdom (including Everest), instead of paying the usual $7 fee for one ride on the coaster (prices fluctuate depending on the time of year, but this was the original price). Yay! We missed you, Expedition Everest, and we’re so happy you’re back! The area around Expedition Everest Expedition Everest joins several other rides like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Frozen Ever After, and Space Mountain — all of which will be available through the standard Genie+ service until August 7th. Make sure to keep reading DFB for all the latest Disney news and information! NEWS: Disneyland Won’t Use Genie+ For Character Meet-and-Greets Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you a fan of Expedition Everest? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World CHANGED How You Skip the Line at Expedition Everest! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We don’t know about you, but caffeine is basically its own essential food group in our diet. When you’re walking all over the place and waking up at the crack of dawn, a little boost of energy is critical to success in Disney World. If you’re looking for a little coffee in the Disney parks and resorts, there are two main suppliers: Joffrey’s Coffee and Starbucks. Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew There are TONS of places to grab a coffee in Disney World. There’s a Starbucks in every Disney park and multiple Joffrey’s locations all over Disney World. Recently, we noticed something interesting going on at one of Disney World’s most popular Starbucks locations, and it might signal a looming closure. Let’s take a look! The Traveler’s Cafe is home to the Starbucks location in EPCOT. You can find this little cafe right in the World Showcase, and depending on the time of day, the line might extend past the cafe! (Breaking news: people like coffee ) Traveler’s Cafe We noticed that the Traveler’s Cafe page was updated on the Disney World website. As of April 17th, 2022, Disney lists the normal operating hours. But the next day… ©Disney …the Disney World website shows “No times available” on April 18th, 2022. After a little more digging around, it seems like the Traveler’s Cafe will close indefinitely. ©Disney Every day after April 17th, the calendar shows “No times available” for the Traveler’s Cafe. Disney has not given any official statements on the fate of this Starbucks location, but we’ve got some good news for Starbucks lovers. ©Disney The Connections Cafe & Eatery in EPCOT will soon serve as the new Starbucks location in Disney World! We’re still waiting on an official opening date for this new food and beverage location; any predictions? Now that we know that the Traveler’s Cafe is closing on April 18th, its replacement might take over soon! Connections Cafe We’ll keep our eyes out for more information on the Connections Cafe & Eatery, but in the meantime, stay tuned for all the latest Disney news and park updates! NEWS: OPENING DATE Announced for Salt & Straw 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. Do you order Starbucks or Joffrey’s coffee in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Could THIS Clue Mean a New Starbucks Location is Opening Soon in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

POP QUIZ! What’s the ONE thing that you can’t forget to take with you on a trip to Disney World? Any guesses? That’s right! It’s your…smartphone! Magic Kingdom We used to be able to plan Disney World trips without looking at a screen, and while it’s still technically possible, it’s much more challenging. Nowadays, you essentially need your phone for everything from checking wait times to mobile ordering your food, not to mention the endless vacation photos that you’re going to want to take. And after the trip (or during the trip!), it all goes up on social media! The age of social media and smartphones has had a pretty major impact on Disney World in the last few years, causing them to make some BIG changes. Today, we’re taking a look at just how much Disney World has changed in the age of social media. If you were essentially born with a smartphone in your hand, some of these might not even be changes you’re consciously aware of. For others who grew up with brick cellphones or before cellphones altogether, you’ve likely seen the impact play out around you, but have you noticed just how MUCH Disney has been affected? Let’s dive in! Disney Has Less Control Over the Message With the introduction of social media, there’s one big challenge that Disney World faces when marketing — they can no longer control the message. Gone are the days where the only things you saw about Disney came FROM Disney. Disney now has to manage (to the extent that the can) the message of influencers and content creators who can say essentially whatever they want, whenever they want. In the world we live in now, everyone can have a platform to speak their thoughts and opinions…whether positive or negative toward Disney. Animal Kingdom What does that mean? Well, basically there are a million points of potential disaster for Disney. At the end of the day, anyone can take photos in Disney World. Anyone can post their personal review. Anyone can say what they want online, and whether or not it’s totally true, the people of the internet will decide how they feel about it. Those online comments may affect other guests’ feelings about Disney World, sometimes in the long term. Quite the Crowd A social media post related to Disney could go “viral” and before they know it, Cast Members might start getting asked about “secret menu” items, hacks, difficult recipes that they maybe made as a one-time thing, staged character interactions (like that Andy’s coming incident), and more that guests were never truly supposed to see or know about. A guest may post about their individual experience and others may think it is a standard thing that all guests should expect, when in reality it may have just been a one-time occurrence. Festival of Fantasy! Evacuations, rides breaking down, technical difficulties — everything is more visible to the masses all with the click of a button. And guests don’t miss a single scratch. That can be good for fans so that they know what to expect ahead of their own trips. But it can be dangerous for Disney, as they have to deal with whatever images those fan photos portray and what implications come with them. “It’s totally sold out.” “It’s disgusting.” “It’s ugly.” “It’s gorgeous.” With thousands of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts out there, there can be a lot of (sometimes conflicting) messages, and a lot for Disney to try and manage to make sure (to the greatest extent possible) their message and whatever the truth is ultimately gets out there. Click here to see the biggest lies everyone believes about Disney World News Travels FASTER The other thing about social media is that it moves FAST. Like, 100x the Energizer Bunny fast! On any given day, Disney could get caught up in a media storm or controversy because news travels MUCH faster than it used to. Not only that, but interpretations of situations and stories can be varied, and it’s easy for Disney to get caught in between the many sides of an argument. Spaceship Earth We’ve seen Disney deal with a number of these kinds of political or highly divisive issues multiple times over the past few months and years. Whatever Disney or Disney fans say will quickly flood social media channels, and there’s no real ability to put the toothpaste back in the tube once it’s out, if you get what we mean. Time to go! From Disney’s own CFO saying that cutting portion sizes in the parks would probably be “good for some people’s waistlines”, to Disney’s handling of the Port Neches-Grove High School marching band performance that activists called a “racist depiction of Native American culture,” and all of the situation surrounding Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Act and Disney’s responses to it (and initial lack thereof) — it’s ALL been played out on social media. Pride wall in Disney Springs Say something, don’t say something — the court of social media tends to rule swiftly and quickly in most situations. In essence, there’s a lot less room to make mistakes and mistakes that are made might not be as easily forgiven. Statements that maybe would have only made local papers or random corporate reports are now easily viewable and spreadable for the world to see. Because of social media, Disney World likely has to do much more “damage control” than in the past. When guests are unhappy, word spreads fast, and then Disney has to not only deal with the original problem but those who read about it on the internet and are now upset by association. That can be a very tricky balancing act. Do YOU agree with some of Disney’s most controversial changes? Click here to see our list and let us know! Visual is King Social media has plunged us into the age of digital photos, which means that marketing these days is entirely different. Nowadays, the way that things look — food, hotels, rides, etc. — has become much more important because photos of each item will likely be plastered all over the internet for everyone to see FOREVER. Everything has to be pretty for the photos! This also means that the image has to be consistent! Brands often take staged, beautiful photos to promote things online, and Disney World certainly does that too. But, Disney isn’t afforded the luxury of having those photos be the only ones guests will ever see. If guests show up and realize that an item or experience isn’t the same as what was advertised, they’ll share their own pictures online and Disney will be stuck addressing the situation. Disney relies on a lot of internet promotion for new offerings. So, that cupcake can’t just look good in a promotional photo. It’s got to look good every day, every time a guest buys it, in every single instance. Going Batty Cupcake | 2020 And if it doesn’t look good — you can bet the world will find out about it via social media. That puts a lot of pressure on Disney to deliver 24/7, 365. And quite frankly, as Alexander Pope once said, “to err is human.” Considering the fact that Disney World is operated by humans, it places Disney in the situation of having to reach for a goal of absolute perfection that might not always be attainable. Click here to see 3 of Disney World’s WORST food fails! Marketing Has Changed This photo-heavy social media society has also opened up many more marketing opportunities for Disney, which can, in a way, be good! Now, Disney can make heavy reliance on FOMO (fear of missing out) to attract guests to the theme parks. They encourage visitors to post their experiences online with hashtags and photo ops and Disney Parks even has a series of social media accounts where they share unique offerings and limited-time specialties. They especially like to highlight fun experiences on TikTok, and their videos have been viewed by millions of people. Many people make vacation decisions based on the pictures they see online! To encourage social media sharing, Disney has focused a lot in the past few years on making Insta-worthy moments and setting trends. We’ve seen this with the new PhotoPass opportunities, like where they introduce special Magic Shots and superzoom pictures. (They also went really hard on the Instagram wall trend for a while.) If they can get more guests to share pictures of all the fun they’re having at Disney World, those guests’ friends and followers may feel like they’re missing out if they don’t also visit Disney World soon, and that might finally encourage them to “take the leap” and book that next Disney trip! Purple Wall Things like Instagrammable photo walls, gorgeous treats, character interactions, and more can all encourage guests to post photos on their own accounts. See your friend Sammy having an AMAZING trip in Disney World? Oh my gosh, did she just post a photo of a DOLE Whip? No way — she ate at a character meal with Mickey Mouse?! Oh man, I’ve got to do that! When’s my next Disney trip? Should I book one for next month? And just like that…BAM! Disney got another trip to be booked! (The FOMO works!) See 6 Rules for Taking GREAT Food Photos in Disney World! Disney Had to Make a Big Choice And finally, the age of social media and smartphones has forced Disney to make some big choices about the way that they run the parks and how guests organize and manage their days in the parks. Essentially, Disney had to decide if they wanted to dive into the culture of technology and smartphone-adaptable features, and they did…BIG TIME. MagicMobile has been added to the parks. What do we mean by that? Well, today you can plan an entire Disney World trip in the palm of your hand, straight from the My Disney Experience app. Over the past several years, they’ve introduced features like the ability to check wait times through your phone, Mobile Ordering, and even MagicMobile, which allows you to basically use your phone as your park ticket. You don’t even need a room key to enter your hotel room — you can open your door right from your phone! Mobile Merchandise Check-Out, Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist, and Mobile Dine Check-In are just a few of the other things you can do through your phone now. Mobile Merchandise Checkout On top of that, Disney World introduced Disney Genie in 2021, allowing guests to use a free digital feature to plan their day in the parks (based on pre-selected preferences). Along with Genie came Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection, which brought the end of FastPasses and FastPass kiosks. We’re all relying on our smartphones now more than ever before for a Disney World vacation, and Disney has recognized that. (They even sell portable chargers and a variety of phone accessories in the parks!) Click here to see what to do when your phone dies in Disney World So all in all, the age of the smartphone and social media has changed Disney World a great deal. And it’s likely just a taste of what we’ll see in the future. What will new technology bring to Disney’s marketing and their online image? How will new social media platforms, new phones, or just new topics change how Disney handles things 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years from now? It’s not clear, but you can bet we’ll be watching and sharing all the updates with you. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news! Click Here to See 5 Challenges Even the Most Tech-Savvy Guests Struggle With 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. What do you use your phone for when you’re in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 Critical Ways That Social Media CHANGED Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Routine maintenance and closures are a part of life — especially in Disney World! Expedition Everest is closed right now. While we’re quite sad to see some of our favorite rides close, we’re super excited when they finally come back! Rides close all the time so that Disney can make sure they’re in the best possible shape for guests. A popular ride in Disney’s Animal Kingdom shut down in January, and we saw a couple of test rides with no guests back in February, but it’s FINALLY back! Expedition Everest is finally open again in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The attraction had a rough start this morning; we had to exit the line after some technical difficulties, but it looks like everything is back up and running. It’s BACK! After a brief closure in the morning, the My Disney Experience app started showing the wait time for Expedition Everest a few hours after the park opened. You don’t see a 10-minute wait for Everest very often! (The wait time shot up to 60 minutes a few minutes later) ©Disney Now that Expedition Everest is back, guests can reserve a spot in the attraction’s Lightning Lane (the new name for the FastPass+ line) with Disney Genie+, which costs $15 per person, per day. Genie+ lets you select a Lightning Lane return time and essentially skip the standby line for a variety of attractions in Disney World. Expedition Everest is a POPULAR attraction! Earlier in the week, we caught some Cast Members riding Everest as part of Disney’s special ride preview, and we’ve been excited for the big reopening ever since! If you’re hoping to ride the attraction without waiting in a long standby line (and don’t want to pay for Genie+), we recommend using the single rider line instead! Keep in mind that if you use the single rider line, you won’t be able to ride the attraction with the rest of your party. The single rider line is usually pretty short! We’re so excited that Expedition Everest is finally back! In the meantime, we’ll keep you updated on all other ride closures and reopenings in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see 5 Changes you should plan for on your Next Disney World Trip! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you excited to ride Expedition Everest again? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Expedition Everest is OPEN in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Traditional meet and greets are coming back to Disney World! Get Ready to Hug Mickey! After two years of social distanced character interactions, we’re only a few days away from hugging our favorite Disney characters again! We’re on the hunt for all of the character experiences that Disney World has to offer. We just spotted this SUPER fluffy character meet and greet that’s coming back to Hollywood Studios soon! Hollywood Studios is showing times to meet Sulley from Monsters Inc. starting on Monday, April 18th! Over at Walt Disney Presents, you can meet the best scarer in Monstropolis! According to the Disney website, he’s meeting throughout the day from 9AM until 5PM. ©Disney We’re so excited that Character Meet and Greets are coming back and we can’t wait to see which other characters pop up around the parks! Stay tuned on April 18th because we’ll be tracking all of the new and updated character meet and greets! Sulley We haven’t seen any updates for other popular meet and greets like Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto, but we’ll keep an eye on all of Disney World’s meet and greets. Stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest Disney updates! Click here to see where to find ALL of the Characters 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. Are you excited to meet Sulley in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post A Popular Meet and Greet is Returning to Disney's Hollywood Studios SOON! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What exactly is going on with Expedition Everest? Expedition Everest The ride, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, has been down since January for a lengthy refurbishment. It reopened early for Cast Members a few days ago ahead of its official reopening, which is today. However, Expedition Everest is closed this morning. We arrived at the park and immediately got in line for the attraction, but shortly after the ride closed and we were asked to evacuate the line. We continued to check on Expedition Everest throughout the morning by looking at the My Disney Experience App. The ride continued to be listed as “temporarily closed.” This comes after a three-month closure when the ride was getting a refurbishment. It’s down? We continued to check to see if it was available, but the app continued to show the attraction as closed. Still closed. Note that Expedition Everest has already experienced a huge change — the ride is now one of the Disney Genie+ attractions, meaning that if you pay for Disney Genie+, you’ll get to skip the standby by line and access the ride’s Lightning Lane. Previously, Expedition Everest was an Individual Attraction Selection, meaning you had to pay a fee separate from Disney Genie+ to access the Lightning Lane. Right now, we don’t have an official explanation for the closure, but we’ll continue to keep an eye out to see if it will reopen at some point today. So be sure to keep checking back with us often to stay updated! Muster Up the Courage For a Virtual Ride on Expedition Everest at 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. Are you a fan of Expedition Everest? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments! The post WHAT is Going On With Expedition Everest at Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You’ve heard of Annual Passes, the Disney Vacation Club, and maybe even things like the Castaway Club, Club 33, and other “exclusive” Disney memberships — but have you heard of the Disney Chase Visa? Disney VISA If you’re all about getting EVERYTHING Disney, then you might be thinking to yourself “how do I get this Disney credit card?! And how does it work?” Well, you’re in the right spot! Today we’re breaking down everything you need to know about just how the Disney Chase Visa works! The Basics Basically, the Disney Chase Visa is a Disney-themed credit card through Chase Bank (there are 2 types of cards) that lets you earn Disney Rewards Dollars for purchases made with the card. These Disney Rewards Dollars can then be redeemed into a Disney Rewards Card and used to buy items on shopDisney, in the parks, and more. 2 Types of Cards Let’s start out with what cards are available. Technically, there are 2 different types of Disney Visa credit cards available — the Disney Premier Visa Card and the regular Disney Visa Card. Premier Visa The Premier version of the Disney Credit Card has a number of differences when compared to the “regular” version of the card. For starters, it has an annual fee of $49. The new member offer for the card is also different than the “regular” card. If you are a new cardmember and you get the Premier Visa, you could earn a $300 statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening the account. New 50th design! With the Premier Visa, there’s also a difference in terms of how many points you earn for purchases. Premier Visa cardholders can earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made at select locations — specifically, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney locations. For all other card purchases, Premier Visa cardholders earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars. ©VISA Another special thing about the Premier Visa is that rewards dollars can actually be redeemed for a statement credit to use toward airline travel. Basically, what you’d need to do is purchase your airline tickets with your Disney Premier Visa Card on any airline. Then, you can “pay yourself back” by redeeming any of the Rewards Dollars you have toward a statement credit. Noticing a price increase on your Disney World flight? You’re not alone! Regular Disney Visa Card So, how is the “regular” Disney Visa different than the Premier version? Well, for starters, the regular Disney Visa does NOT have an annual fee. The new cardmember offer is also different. If you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months after opening your account with a new Disney Visa Card, you could earn a $150 statement credit. ©VISA The amount of points you earn with the “regular” Disney Visa is also different. There’s no opportunity to earn 2% here, like there is with the Premier Visa. Instead, “regular” Disney Visa Cardholders earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all purchases made with their card. Also, “regular” Disney Visa cardholders can’t redeem their Disney Rewards Dollars toward a statement credit for airline travel. That’s exclusive to Premier Cardholders. Click here to see the average cost to fly to Orlando in April of 2022 Benefits for Both Now that we’ve gone over the basics of the card itself, let’s go over one of the most important things — the BENEFITS that come with the card! These benefits apply to both the Premier and “regular” Disney Visa. No Limits For starters, the big bonus here is that there are NO limits to the number of Disney Rewards Dollars you can earn, so the sky’s the limit when it comes to racking up the points! Can Redeem Disney Dollars for LOTS of Things The other big benefit is that you can redeem those Disney Rewards Dollars for lots of things — buying your Disney theme park tickets, resort stays, shopping (online and in person), dining at the Disney parks, movie tickets to see Disney films, and more! We’ll get into a bit more of how this works in a second, but basically you’ll (generally) redeem your Disney Rewards Dollars into a Rewards Card. Redemption Card That Rewards Card then functions much like a regular Disney Gift Card would, allowing you to spend it on all kinds of things around the parks (and sometimes online). Disney Cruise Line When it comes to Disney Cruise Line, Disney Visa Cardholders can get a variety of different benefits! ©Disney Visa Cardholders can get discounts on select Digital Photo Packages, select merchandise purchases on Disney Cruise Line ships, Castaway Cay getaway packages, and even select onboard spa treatments! Click here to see what it costs to take a Disney Cruise Merchandise Discounts Disney Visa Cardholders can also get 10% OFF select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at select spots in Disney World or Disneyland. Just be sure to pay with your Disney Visa (and/or a Disney Rewards Redemption Card) and ask about the offer! You can visit the Disney Visa website to see what spots are NOT included for this discount. Disney Merchandise Disney Visa Cardholders can also get 10% off on select purchases made on shopDisney. To get this discount, be sure to sign into your account, use the promo code DRVCMEMBER, and then pay for the purchase with the Disney Visa or a Disney Rewards Redemption Card. Click here to see the official Disney candles that are now for sale ONLINE! Dining Discounts Disney Visa Cardholders can also save on all kinds of meals in Disney World and Disneyland! Specifically, cardholders can get 10% off select dining locations most days in Disney World and Disneyland. At Disney World, the discount is valid at a variety of locations including Boma – Flavors of Africa, Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood, Grand Floridian Cafe, Le Cellier Steakhouse, and MORE! A beautiful piece of meat from Le Cellier Some spots note that “restrictions apply” — that’s mostly a date-related restriction where there will be certain blackout dates on which the discount won’t work. But still, this could help you save a decent amount at a variety of table service spots throughout the Most Magical Place on Earth (and over at Disneyland too!). You can visit the Disney Visa website to see the full list of restaurants where it applies. Click here to see our ranking of every single restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Access to Special Photo Opportunities in the Parks Sometimes Disney Visa cardholders can also get special photo opportunities in the parks. Disney Visa Cardholder Photo Spot at EPCOT | 2020 At the moment, these may not be available or may be more limited, but you’ll want to keep an eye out for potential Cardmember exclusive photo spots in Disneyland and Disney World. Exclusive Access to Certain Perks & Limited-Time Offers Sometimes cardmembers can also get access to items exclusively for them, like special collectible keys, pins, and more. ©shopDisney Cardmembers may also be able to get limited-time offers on things. You’ll want to check year-round for these unique discounts, exclusive merchandise opportunities, and more. Vacation Financing Vacation financing is another thing that might interest quite a lot of folks in this card. If your vacation qualifies (only certain vacation packages do) and you’re a Disney Visa Cardholder, you could get a promotional APR of 0% for 6 months on your trip. Qualifying vacations may be to Disney World, Disney cruises, Adventures by Disney, and more. The key here is that you’ll have to purchase the trip with your Disney Visa Credit Card. The standard APR will then apply after that promotional APR expires. EPCOT The Disney Visa website also notes that cardmembers can get 0% promotional APR financing for 6 months on the “amount of the purchase of a real estate interest…in a Disney Vacation Club Resort” that is charged to the member’s Disney Visa Card. So if you’re thinking of becoming a DVC member, the card could help with some financing there too! MORE Deals at Disneyland In terms of other perks at Disneyland, Disney Visa cardmembers can generally get access to unique Magic Shots, 15% off select guided tours (when available), and even a discount at participant locations like Wetzel’s Pretzels or La Brea Bakery Cafe (with qualifying purchases). Cardholders also currently have access to a special 2022 Disneyland Resort Vacation Package that comes with a Disney Rewards insulted cooler bag, a collectible pin and lanyard, and MORE! ©Disney Visa The key here is to constantly look and see what deals might be available for cardholders at all of the resorts! Other Disney World Deals At Disney World, Disney Visa Cardholders can find exclusive Magic Shots, get 15% off select guided tours (including the Wild Africa Trek — mid-day tours only), get 10% off select recreation experiences (like horseback trail rides at Fort Wilderness!), and save at participating locations like Joffrey’s Coffee, Paddlefish, and more. MORE! Disney Visa Cardmembers can also get access to certain deals for Disney on Broadway shows, use their Rewards Redemption Card to buy tickets to see Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars Movies through AMC Theaters, get fun card designs (including a 50th Anniversary design), and even save at Aulani, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. ©VISA The pro tip here is to really search the Disney Visa website and Disney’s other websites to see where you can get benefits, as these benefits can change. When in doubt, ask if there is a Disney Visa discount — you never know when you might be surprised by one! Also, be sure to check the Disney Visa online blog for little tips and tricks about visa points, free printable activities, and more! How Many Points Can You Actually Get? Wondering how many points you’ll earn on your regular, monthly purchases if you start using the Disney Visa card? Well, you can actually use a calculator on their website to see. If, during a month you spend $100 at gas stations each month, $150 on restaurants, and $250 at grocery stores, you’d earn around 10 Disney Rewards Dollars per month with the Premier Card (120 Disney Rewards Dollars for the year), or 5 Disney Rewards Dollars per month with the “regular” Disney Visa (or 60 Disney Rewards Dollars per year). ©Disney Visa One Rewards Dollar is equal to $1 (US) when it’s being redeemed toward most Disney products and at offerings at Disney locations, and for statement credits for airline travel if you’re a Premier Cardmember. More About Disney Rewards Dollars One important thing to note is that there are no block-out dates when redeeming Rewards Dollars (you may find block-out dates when using your Visa for discounts — but that’s different). Another thing to keep in mind is that for most (if not all) of the perks and discounts above, you do need to use the Disney Visa card or a Disney Rewards Redemption Card to get the discount. Check Your Available Rewards Points One BIG thing you’ll want to be aware of is that any Disney Rewards Dollars in your account will EXPIRE after 5 years! Want to make sure your points never expire? Then you’ll want to load them into a Rewards Redemption Card. Once you load them onto the Redemption Card they’ll NEVER expire! You can also combine your Disney Visa discounts with your Redemption Card to get the maximum benefit. In other words, you can generally get a discount with your Visa and then also use your Redemption Card to pay for the item. Back of the Redemption Card Each month, your earned Disney Rewards Dollars are posted to your Disney Rewards account. You can check them online or look at them through the Chase app to see how many Rewards Dollars you have. You can also check to see the balance on your Disney Rewards Redemption Card, reload the balance of this card, and request another card if needed. You can have 2 Redemption Cards per account. Here’s the Balance Also just note that if you return an item that you used your Disney Visa Card to purchase, you will lose the Rewards Dollars associated with that purchase once the credit posts to your account. Step-by-Step Process So, how do you get a Disney Visa card and redeem your Rewards Dollars? Here are the basics. First, you’ll apply for the card, which you can do through the Disney Chase Visa website. If approved, you’ll get the card. Remember there are lots of fun designs to chose from and you can change your design later if you want! Then, you may want to download the Chase app so you can set everything up, track your spending, pay off your card, and see your points all in one spot. In the app, it’ll show you your “Disney Rewards Dollars.” You can hit “Manage Rewards Dollars” to see more information. When you do that, it’ll show you how many dollars you have and what’s pending. You can also see certain details on the Disney Rewards website. Pending Points To redeem your points, you’ll need that Rewards Redemption Card. Again, this is basically a gift card that will hold all of your Rewards Dollars. You’ll load it with whatever points you have and then you can continue to reload it. You’ll Need that Redemption Card! You can then use it to pay for your items online, in the parks, etc. To order your card, you have to have at least 20 Disney Rewards Dollars to load onto it. Once you have the Redemption Card, you can reload it anytime you want with a minimum of 10 Rewards Dollars. Order a New Card You can order or reload the Redemption Card online, on the phone, or in the theme parks at select locations. Reload Your Card in the Parks! And that’s the basics of the Disney Credit Card! What do you think? Is this a card you’d be interested in? Do you have this card? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! Check back with us for more Disney news! Is Disney’s Memory Maker photo add-on worth it? See our thoughts 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. Do you have a Disney Visa? Tell us about your experience with the card in the comments below! The post We're Answering ALL of Your Disney Credit Card Questions first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A zebra at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge died Thursday morning after it ran full-speed into a gate. 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. Disney has a pair of Mickey or Minnie ears for every occasion! What do we think?! They’re the quintessential Disney Parks accessory, and there’s something for everyone! Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, are a fan of all rose gold everything, or want your Disney accessories to reflect how much you love Mickey Pretzels (hey, we get it!) there’s a pair of ears for you. We just spotted a new pair of ears in the Disney Parks that’s perfect for upcoming graduates! Congrats class of 2022! We just spotted these Graduation Mickey Ears in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but they’re already popping up all over the parks! It’s not every day you graduate, so make sure you grab these ears to mark that special occasion! Congrats Class of 2022! These black sequined ears have an adorable mini graduation hat on top, with the tassel and everything! They also have “Class of 2022” embroidered on the side, so they’ll always be a reminder of the year you graduated! Embroidered “Class of 2022” They look great in the sun and are sure to get you loads of “congratulations” in the parks! Make sure you grab these ears next time you’re in Disney World to celebrate your graduation or the graduate in your life! If you can’t make it out to Disney World, not to worry, they’re also available online for $29.99! Click here to get the Class of 2022 Graduation Mickey Ears! These ears are the perfect way to celebrate such a huge accomplishment! Perfect graduation gift! We also spotted just a few of these at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom. We’re always staying up to date on all things Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see the ULTIMATE Vintage Disney World Collectible! 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 graduating this Spring? Let us know in the comments! The post 2022 Graduates -- Your Mickey Ears Have Arrived in Disney World (and Online!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video covering all the latest Disney news! Expedition Everest A new popcorn bucket is going to give Figment a run for his money, updates are coming to the Orlando International Airport, and we tried something we never could have imagined… orange popcorn. We’re covering all of that and more in our latest video below! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: Which Disney news are you the most excited about? The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Ride Reopenings, Must-Have Merch, & NEW Ice Cream in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What’s not to love about a giant board of meat and cheese?? Beer and Charcuterie We did the tasty research and put together a ranking of the best charcuterie boards in Disney World. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it! We tried each cured meat, artisanal cheese, and tasty tidbit to determine which board is the best bang for your buck. Try not to drool while you’re reading! Each of these restaurants has a unique twist and takes on the classic meat-and-cheese board. We based the criteria for our rankings on value, variety, and quantity of items. Let’s look through all of the contestants and see who the winner is! Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room: EPCOT We start off on the bottom of our list with Rose and Crown at EPCOT for their United Kingdom Cheese Platter. Rose & Crown For $14, you can get a selection of traditional British cheeses, each paired with a different accompaniment. United Kingdom Cheese Platter There isn’t much variety on this one, and it is on the smaller side, which is why it’s lingering at the bottom of our ranking. But, we like how they have pre-paired each cheese to ensure you get the perfect bite. Like this Irish cheddar with caramelized onions! McCall’s Irish Cheddar Cheese If you’re just looking for a plate of some tasty cheese, you could really enjoy this one. But if you like the options of meats, complimenting veggies, and condiments, this might not be the board for you. But, nibbling on cheese while staring out into World Showcase isn’t a bad way to live! Order their Imperial Sampler to try a mix of classic UK beers as well! Take a look at our latest experience at Rose and Crown here! Be Our Guest: Magic Kingdom Our next find keeps us in a European atmosphere, but transports us to another park and another culture, Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom! Beast in Be Our Guest Their French-inspired board comes with chicken rillettes, shaved Serrano ham, chorizo sausage, Pleasant Ridge cheddar, truffle Tremor, and Stilton blue with seasonal garnishes. Holding true to the French culinary influence, you’ll see some French preparation on this board. For example, a rillette is a kind of pâté that is cooked in seasoned lard, then shredded and pounded to a smooth paste. The paste is then typically packed into a terrine or a ramekin and served as a cold hors d’oeuvre, to spread onto toast or bread. Can you get much more French than that?! These choices might be too adventurous for pickier eaters, but we love all of the bold flavors! Meat and Cheese Plate Right now, Be Our Guest is doing a prix fixe menu for $62, and the Assorted Meats and Artisanal Cheese Selection is one of the appetizer choices. You can get a Fruit and Cheese plate for the kiddos, too! Check out our latest experience at the reopened Be Our Guest here! Terralina Crafted Italian: Disney Springs Next on the list is the Antipasti Tower from Terralina in Disney Springs! Terralina Crafted Italian Their Italian spin on the charcuterie board comes with prosciutto, spicy capicola, Grana Padano cheese, bocconcini, tomatoes, pickled vegetables, grilled zucchini, parmesan crisp, olives, and house-made Pecorino-Truffle potato chips. Whew, that’s a mouthful! ©Terralina Crafted Italian We love the unique options on this board! Who knew pickled vegetables and grilled zucchini would go so well with cheese?? And house-made Pecorino-Truffle potato chips? We would NEVER say no to that! We’re a lover of cheese (there isn’t one that we’d turn away), but Grana Padano is a queen among them. It’s the kind of cheese you want to stuff in your face in a rush of passion and madness, but also have to exercise unnatural restraint to nibble and savor, because this regal cheese deserves to be appreciated. ©Terralina Crafted Italian The menu claims this is a “tower”, but we’ve seen a couple different types of presentation. The whole display provides some original accompaniments, but the $40 price tag is high. It serves 4 and is a great way to start your meal (with a limoncello mojito on the side? Yes, please!). Read our full review of Terralina here! Hollywood Brown Derby: Hollywood Studios Next up, we head back into the parks to the swanky Hollywood Brown Derby Charcuterie Board from Hollywood Studios! The Hollywood Brown Derby On our last visit, this board included cured salami, prosciutto, and bresaola as the meats, accompanied by aged Gouda, blue cheese, and cheddar with an espresso lavender rub. Plus, for some additional flavors, it came with local honey and pickles with pickled onions and olives. And of course, crackers! The Hollywood Brown Derby This is a BEAUTIFUL board (look at that Bresaola rose! We’d be fine if all flowers were made of meat, tbh). The meat selection of this board leans heavily into the Italian influence with salami, prosciutto, and bresaola. For some background, prosciutto is made using the hind leg of pork, while bresaola is typically made using a lean cut of beef. Beyond the difference in meats, prosciutto tends to have a stronger, pork-forward flavor. Depending on its age, it is often saltier and lightly sweet. Bresaola has a slightly milder flavor with touches of spice. Beautiful! The mix of cheeses is a great blend of classic and interesting options. The aged Gouda gives a classic smoky flavor, blue cheese provides some creamy tanginess, and the cheddar with an espresso lavender rub is hearty and aromatic. And we love the entire jar of pickles, which provides some good acidic balance to the rich meats and creamy cheeses! For $21, this is a great price! We definitely could have used some more aged gouda and salami, but it’s a classic take for a classy restaurant! Check out our latest experience at the Brown Derby here! Wine Bar George: Disney Springs Making a strong showing in third place: all of the boards from Wine Bar George at Disney Springs! This is one of our favorite places to eat, not just in Disney Springs, but in ALL of Disney World! Artisanal Cheese Board You have three board options here: the cheese board, the charcuterie board, and the Big Board (with both options). Any of these are pretty much a great option here. After all, cheese and bread are wine’s best friends! Both the cheese and charcuterie board come with four artisanal choices, and the Big Board comes with six kinds of cheese and five types of meat. Each board comes with several delicious accompaniments, including honeycomb, spiced olives, nuts, fruit, and stone-ground mustard, plus grilled bread and crackers! The Big Board These boards are definitely pricier; $28 for the cheese board, $26 for the charcuterie board, and a whopping $61 for the Big Board. But, the selections are high-quality and there is plenty to share, so they are a great option for a large party. Read our full review of Wine Bar George here! Geyser Point Bar and Grill: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Coming in 2nd place is the Handcrafted Charcuterie board at the Geyser Point Bar and Grill! This board comes with a side of a pretty fantastic water view. Now THAT’s a view! While you dine al fresco with this amazing view, you get to enjoy one of the best charcuterie experiences at Disney World. This board consists of toasted sourdough slices, prosciutto, salami, shaved Parmesan Reggiano, arugula, mini pickles, honey grain mustard, and a jar of duck rillette. Yum!! Charcuterie Board We do wish that it came with more cheese options (because we always need more cheese!) but the multiple meat options are the way into our hearts. The addition of arugula basically means it’s a salad, right? Charcuterie Board This board for two is $18, which is still a great price considering there is a substantial amount. Plus, watching the sunset here with a cocktail and this board is a slice of pure HEAVEN. Check out our full review of Geyser Point here! And before we just dive straight into the winning charcuterie board, let’s also look at some that didn’t quite make the cut. Honorable Mention — Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar: Disney Springs It’s not technically a board, but we couldn’t not mention the Air Pirate’s Cargo Loaded Pretzel at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar! Air Pirate’s Cargo Loaded Pretzel This pretzel comes with caraway pickles, prosciutto, sliced brats, artisan pepperoni, smoked cheddar, and black diamond cheddar, and is served with spicy mustard and beer cheese fondue for dipping. Basically, a charcuterie board wrapped in a pretzel! Air Pirate’s Cargo Loaded Pretzel This treat originally started as a specialty holiday item, but is now on the menu full time! And thank you Jock for that, because this thing is tasty! And it’s MASSIVE for $22. Grab a friend or two and chow down (or plow through it by yourself, we won’t judge). Check out our full review of this loaded pretzel here! Board to Avoid — Oga’s Cantina: Disney Hollywood Studio Our last board is found on a galaxy far, far away! But you might want to stay far, far away. Sipping on a Fuzzy Tauntaun or a Bespin Fizz at Oga’s Cantina can require an out-of-this-world snack, but unfortunately, this one doesn’t fit the bill. Charcuterie Board at Oga’s It started as a secret-menu option, and then became not-so-secret once it moved to the regular menu called the Happabore Sampler! In the past, we’ve received bresaola air-cured beef, roasted SPAM (yes, SPAM…), roasted mortadella, and roasted Chorizo sausage. There are also two different kinds of cheeses, which are pulled string cheese (yep…STRING. CHEESE.) and Burrata with black salt. And, there are a few different types of veggies including burnt scallions, roasted radishes, picked caulilini, and roasted shishito peppers Oga’s Secret Menu item It looks….not the greatest. We were unimpressed by the flavors. And $21 is a lot to pay for an unappetizing plate that includes string cheese and SPAM. While this dish was trying so hard to be unique and “spacey,” it forgot to be delicious. We’d definitely recommend passing on this option! Check out our review of this weird board here! And the Winner Is…BaseLine Tap House: Hollywood Studios At the top of our list is one of our favorite hangouts, BaseLine Tap House in Hollywood Studios! It’s the perfect place to stop for a pint, and their incredible list of craft beers pair perfectly with their California Cheese and Charcuterie Plate! BaseLine Tap House It comes with Toma Farmstead cheese, Point Reyes Original blue cheese, Laura Chenel’s Sonoma goat cheese, chorizo, Calabrese salami, cornichons, grapes, and toasted baguettes. That is a LOT of stuff for only $10!!! That’s right. TEN DOLLARS. You can’t beat that price! BaseLine Charcuterie Board This is a great snack option before you fly off to Batuu or play in Andy’s backyard. Grab a $12 beer flight while you’re at it too! Create Your Own Beer Flight For the price, this was an easy winner. There are several varieties of meat and cheese, plus big hunks of bread to go along with it! It checks all of our charcuterie boxes. If you want to score some charcuterie bonus points, also order the Bavarian Pretzel here for $9 and enjoy that delicious cheese and meat with some hearty hunks of that soft, salty pretzel. That makes a pretty filling and delicious meal for two for less than $20! Read our full review of BaseLine here! And that’s our list! Which of these boards do you love the most? We’ll be on the hunt for more charcuterie options, and will keep you updated on all the new restaurant options! 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. Did we miss one of your favorite charcuterie boards? Let us know in the comments! The post The Ultimate Ranking of Charcuterie Boards in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re right in the middle of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration! Magic Kingdom There are tons of 50th Anniversary offerings in the parks right now, especially when it comes to merchandise! We’ve seen all kinds of 50th Anniversary collections in the parks, from shoes to bags and FREE souvenirs. One of the most unique collections has been the Vault Collection, which is inspired by Disney World’s opening day in the 70’s! We spotted a super cool 50th Anniversary Vault collectible in Magic Kingdom recently that fans of the olden days of Disney World HAVE to see! You can shop the Vault Collection on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. Over in the Main Street Cinema, we spotted this beautiful retro map of Magic Kingdom! Magic Kingdom Map We’ve seen the map itself all folded up, and we saw that that folded up map is now back in stock (more on that in a second). This map shows Magic Kingdom as it appeared during its early days! All of the details on this map are amazing, and this could be the perfect souvenir for retro Disney fans. You can grab the map on its own, but if you want to go ALL OUT you can get a special version of this creation. Magic Kingdom Map Pin Specifically, you can get a version of the map that is framed and contains a series of pins of Magic Kingdom landmarks! Here’s the pin for the Walt Disney World Railroad station on Main Street. WDW Railroad It also has a Jungle Cruise pin in Adventureland… Jungle Cruise … and a huge Cinderella Castle pin in the center! There are a number of other pins on the display version as well. Cinderella Castle If you want to get the framed map with all of the pins, it’ll cost you $350. We noticed that it was for sale at Magic Kingdom, but that full display version (with the frame and pins) was not for sale (from what we could see) in Hollywood Studios. So be sure to check at the park you’re visiting to see what is or is not available. If you just want the map (no pins and no frame), you can get it for $7.99. Again, the map is something that we saw before and has now been restocked. Magic Kingdom Map If you want to get this unique item, be sure to head over to Disney World and see if it’s still available! Stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest Disney updates! Click here to see the Newest 50th Anniversary Collection coming to Disney World! 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 Are you going to get this Magic Kingdom map? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: The Ultimate Vintage 50th Anniversary Collectible for Disney World Fans first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article